Family Friendly I: The Kid Who Would Be King ⚔️
Also, a dive into the Best Supporting Actress race at the Oscars.
🦃 Happy Monday! Welcome back.
Since many of you are going to be home for Thanksgiving, let’s talk about movies for the whole family. All the movies I’m recommending this week are safe for kids to watch, but also have a little something extra for the adults. For example, today’s movie is a classic kid’s adventure and an allegory for Brexit! You know, light stuff.
Also, a dive into the Oscar race for Best Supporting Actress.
Okay, here’s day 1️⃣.
Today’s movie: The Kid Who Would Be King
STREAMING ON HBO
What it’s about: A twist on the classic tale of King Arthur set in the present day, The Kid Who Would Be King follows 12-year-old Alex (Louis Serkis — Andy Serkis’ son) who finds Excalibur and unknowingly unleashes a wicked sorceress on the world (Rebecca Ferguson). With the help of the wizard Merlin (Angus Imrie and Patrick Stewart), he sets out on a mission to save the world.
Why you should watch it: The Kid Who Would Be King is clearly made for kids — the corny humor, easy-to-follow plot, and creepy but not scary visuals. However, there’s certainly a lot for adults to enjoy. Without getting too into the weeds, The Kid Who Would Be King is a clear allegory for the current state of affairs in the UK and, in particular, Brexit. It also has plenty of heart as you watch the Knights of the Round Table (Serkis, Dean Chaumoo, Tom Taylor, Rhianna Doris) learn how to put their differences aside and work together. What a concept!
Details: 🎬 Joe Cornish // ⏳ 120 minutes // 🗓 2019 // 📺 Trailer
Fun fact: Almost every name and place in the movie is a play on something connected to the legend of King Arthur.
Also available on: Prime Video | iTunes | YouTube
State of the Oscar Race: Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress is one of my favorite categories at the Oscars because the nominees are always interesting and deserving. This year should be no exception since the category is stacked.
Sharing frontrunner status are two industry veterans looking to finally get their due. The first is Laura Dern for Marriage Story. She fits the profile for a winner in this category, a past nominee who has never won in a scene-stealing role in a Best Picture frontrunner. Plus, Dern is an Academy Governor.
However, STX Entertainment is going all-in for Jennifer Lopez. She is the main focus around their campaign for Hustlers and she will be headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show the week of Oscar voting. She could upset.
The frontrunners: Laura Dern (Marriage Story), Jennifer Lopez (Hustlers), Margot Robbie (Bombshell)
Other contenders: Zhao Shuzhen (The Farewell), Florence Pugh (Little Women), Scarlett Johansson (Jojo Rabbit)
Dark horses: Margot Robbie (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)*, Meryl Streep (Little Women), Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey), Annette Bening (The Report)
*Yes, it’s possible to get more than one nomination in a category
Thanks for reading! I’ll be back in your inbox on Wednesday.
Have a great week!
Karl (@karl_delo)