From the screen to stream
It’s no easy feat to stay on top of all the Oscar-nominated pictures, especially when so many are crammed into the fall months to be eligible for consideration.
But many nominees are available for digital streaming, rental or purchase. Here’s the best way to watch them.
THE BIG GUNS
Of the nine best picture nominees, only two won’t be available for digital download before Oscars night on March 4: Steven Spielberg ’s The Post and Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread. The Shape of Water and Call Me by Your Name joined digital platforms on Tuesday, but both will be available only for purchase, not rental, for the next few weeks.
Other best picture nominees you’ll need to pay about $20 to buy outright are Darkest Hour, Lady Bird and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. The two best picture nominees available for rent or purchase are the war epic Dunkirk and the horror/comedy/allegory Get Out.
SLIGHTLY SMALLER GUNS
Of the films nominated for major awards but not among the best picture contenders, Roman J. Israel, Esq. (starring Denzel Washington, best actor), The Florida Project (Willem Dafoe, best supporting actor), Blade Runner 2049 (cinematography, sound editing, sound mixing, production design and visual effects) and Baby Driver (film editing, sound editing and sound mixing) are all available for digital rental.
The Disaster Artist (adapted screenplay) is still in the purchase-only window and I, Tonya (Margot Robbie, best actress) and All the Money in the World (Christopher Plummer, best supporting actor) aren’t up for grabs yet.
WHERE TO FIND ’EM
With a few exceptions, all of these movies can be found on Canada’s major digital platforms, including iTunes, Google Play, the Microsoft Store, the PlayStation Store and the Cineplex Store. They cry out to be seen on as large a screen as possible, so select the digital delivery that meshes best with your own entertainment setup.
For Apple aficionados, iTunes is a good choice, especially if you have an Apple TV. Google Play purchases and rentals tend to be accessible across the widest variety of devices, but video game consoles like Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4 are great media machines, too. The digital Cineplex Store accepts Cineplex Scene points.
THE STREAMING FREEBIES
On Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, the Oscars pickings are pretty slim. The only major Oscar contender on Netflix is the streaming service’s own Mudbound, nominated for best supporting actress (Mary J. Blige), adapted screenplay, cinematography and song. Logan — the final outing for Hugh Jackman’s weary Wolverine, nominated for best adapted screenplay — is also on Netflix, while The Big Sick, Emily V. Gordon and Ku mail Nanjiani’s original screenplay nominated romantic dramedy, is on Amazon Prime Video.