Weekend Watch - May 2022 Recap

                Welcome back to the Weekend Watch, where each weekend we take a look at new movies and/or television that has recently come out and give recommendations on whether or not to watch. This weekend is May’s last Saturday, meaning we are going to be recapping the quality films that came out in the U.S. this month by categorizing them by their likelihood to make it into the blog’s list of Greatest Films of All Time. Just wanted to offer a quick reminder that the analysis is my own opinion, but the list and rankings are based on ratings from movie critics and fans, box office numbers, and awards. Without further ado, let’s take a look back at the month of May.

Long Shots:

The Duke: Technically, this film was released last year in the U.K. and received minimal BAFTA buzz, but it didn’t drop in the U.S. until this past month. All told, the Jim Broadbent led comedy about a taxi driver who steals a painting from the National Gallery in London sounds like a solid watch but is going to need a wild awards season push in the U.S. to break onto the list, and I just don’t see that happening. Watch it if you want, but don’t expect to see a review on this blog come next March.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: Marvel’s latest outing is incredibly fun, but also apparently fairly divisive amongst both fans and critics. Its mediocre Metacritic Score (60) and Letterboxd rating (3.4) seem likely to keep this film from adding to the ranks of superhero films that are part of the Greatest Films of All Time. Solid box office numbers and the potential for some technical awards keep it as a long shot as it currently stands.

Operation Mincemeat: Another British film that released somewhat later here in the U.S., Operation Mincemeat stars Matthew Macfayden and Colin Firth in a historical drama about a British espionage operation in World War II. My mom really enjoyed this movie, but that might have more to do with its stars than the actual content. It currently has middling scores, no theatrical release (only Netflix), and little awards buzz to help elevate its scores out of the 70s and onto the list.

On the Count of Three: This indie dark comedy about two friends planning a joint suicide attempt has struck a chord in the groups where it has been seen. A solid Tomatometer score (86%) has it Certified Fresh, and I haven’t seen anyone talking about it in a negative way. Unfortunately, its audience ratings aren’t quite high enough to elevate it to greatness, and its indie nature seems to be an indicator that we won’t be seeing its name up in lights come awards season.

Downton Abbey: A New Era: The second follow-up to the successful British television show appears to be even more well-loved than its predecessor. Critics and fans of the show alike have come out in favor of the film’s blend of newness and playing the hits. Outside of Downton Abbey fans, this hasn’t seemed to be quite as resonant, resulting in scores solidly in the 70s for the new sequel. A cast with a few names that pop up in awards season and the potential for costuming and production design awards keep it worth mentioning as a long shot.

Emergency: Amazon’s latest comedy/drama/thriller about college students who find a dead(?) body during the ultimate night of partying has opened on the Prime streaming service to some interesting ratings and reviews. Its scores on Rotten Tomatoes are surprisingly high, perhaps high enough to get it some writing buzz when awards season comes around. However, such an event is not the most likely, so it’ll stay as a long shot that you might should look into checking out if you have the service.

Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers: I talked about this film on here last week. It’s fun for the whole family and has a solid blend of Lonely Island and Disney humor. Unfortunately, such a combination rarely wins awards, and that’s what this one will need to elevate it out of the slightly above average category and into greatness.

A Chiara: An Italian film released by American studio NEON at Cannes this past week and with limited release in the U.S. It currently has limited reviews, but they are mostly positive. It follows the story of a 15-year-old girl whose family is abandoned by their father, an interesting premise that sounds awards-y. I haven’t heard a ton of buzz about it compared to some other Cannes releases, but its numbers make it worth noting, even if it is a long shot.

Memoria: This Tilda Swinton science fiction drama received a wider release in the U.S. this past month. It was submitted by Colombia for consideration in this past Oscars cycle but was not nominated. Critics seem to love this film, but fans have certainly not. Its 91 Metacritic score keeps it high enough to keep an eye on as more people see it and rate it, but its lack of awards success in the past makes it unlikely to succeed now.

Possible Things:

The Bob’s Burgers Movie: This film follows in the footsteps of the other animated adult comedy show turned into a movie (The Simpsons) in terms of its success. It looks to be receiving solid reviews, and the show is well-liked by many, so it’s not unimaginable that it could garner some heavy box office numbers and maybe even some animated feature nominations.

Sure Things:

Happening: A French film from 2021 that got its release in the U.S. this month, Happening tells the story of a woman’s experience with abortion when it was still illegal in France in the 1960s. Its aptly-timed release has given it a slew of positive ratings from both viewers and critics. A BAFTA nomination last year and potential for some Oscars buzz this year mean that it could rise very high on the list indeed.

Petite Maman: In the same vein as Happening, Petite Maman also released in the U.S. this past month after being made in France and receiving a BAFTA nomination. While its fan ratings are not quite as high, its critic ratings are even higher than its counterpart. It apparently is either very moving or way too slow for its own good depending on who you ask. At any rate, its scores mean that you will definitely be seeing this on the blog at some point in the future.

Top Gun: Maverick: The 35-years-later sequel to Top Gun is doing critical and box office numbers that its predecessor could only dream of, looking to open with around $150 million domestically this weekend with a 6-minute standing ovation at Cannes, a 97% Certified Fresh Rating on Rotten Tomatoes and currently sitting at 99th on IMDB’s list of highest rated movies of all time. This is May’s can’t miss film, with the potential to be the best film of the summer season (May to August). With all of its critical success, it’s hard to imagine it missing out on some Oscars buzz as well, come awards season.