WHERE TO WATCH OSCAR-NOMINATED FILMS BEFORE FEB. 24
91st Academy Awards telecast is Feb. 24
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Oscar season offers promise and frustration at the same time.
While it’s impossible to find a movie theater or multiplex that’s playing every single film with a major nomination, most corporate chains and art houses are capitalizing on the lead-up to the 91st Academy Awards by catering to their audiences with limited, crowd-pleasing selections.
In that way, enterprising cinephiles can track down many of this year’s big titles before the Feb. 24 telecast on ABC. And if that fails, there’s always streaming (see below).
For clarity, we declined to list mainstream films that are still in first-run theaters and that did not receive a Best Picture nomination — such as “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse” (a Best Animated Feature nominee) — given that they’re widely available through the end of the month. Here’s a quick guide to what’s playing:
Sie FilmCenter
What: The home of the Denver Film Society is showing both individual features and package screenings this year covering foreign-language, documentaries and shorts categories, including “Shoplifters” and “Free Solo.”
When: “Shoplifters” (various times, at least through Feb. 14), “Free Solo” (through Feb. 14), “The Wife” (Feb. 8-14), and Oscar Nominated Documentary Short Films package (Feb. 8-14). There’s also an Oscar Predictions panel on Feb. 18 (which, full disclosure, this reporter is taking part in) and an Oscar party/fundraiser on Feb. 24. Where: 2510 E. Colfax. Ave. Cost: $9.50-$11.50, denverfilm.org
AMC Best Picture Showcase
What: A pair of marathon screenings on Saturdays this month that cover the Best Picture nominees — minus the Net-
flix entry “Roma.” They include “The Favourite, “BlacKkKlansman” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Feb. 16), and “Vice,” “Black Panther,” “A Star Is Born” and “Green Book” (Feb. 23).
When: Screenings begin at 11 a.m. Feb. 16 and Feb. 23
Where: AMC Dine-In Southlands 16 (Aurora), AMC Flatiron Crossing 14 (Broomfield), AMC Highlands Ranch 24, AMC Westminster Promenade 24
Cost: $35-$40, amctheatres.com/bps
Harkins Theatres
What: Best Picture nominees “BlacKkKlansman,” “Black Panther,” “A Star Is Born,” “Green Book,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Vice” and “The Favourite”
When: Beginning Feb. 15 and running through Feb. 24; individual screenings throughout the day
Where: Harkins Arvada 15 and Harkins Northfield 18 (Denver)
Cost: $35 per person, harkins.com/best-picturefilm-fest
Regal and UA Cinemas
What: Best Picture nominees “BlacKkKlansman,” “Black Panther,” “A Star Is Born,” “Green Book,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Vice” and “The Favourite” through a festival pass, and individual screenings of most of those at more theaters, plus Oscar shorts at select locations including UA Denver West Village Stadium 12,
When: Various times through Feb. 24
Where: Regal Interquest (Colorado Springs), Regal Village at the Peaks (Long- mont), Regal SouthGlenn (Centennial), Regal UA Denver West Village (Lakewood). Note: While they won’t offer the full festival program, Best Picture and documentary nominees such “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Free Solo” and others are playing at Regal UA Denver Pavilions, Regal UA Colorado Center & IMAX (Denver), Regal River Point (Sheridan), Regal Continental (Denver), Regal UA Colorado Mills (Lakewood), Regal Cinebarre Boulder and Regal UA Meadows (Littleton).
Cost: $35 per person for the festival; $9.25-$12.50 per individual screening, regmovies.com
Landmark Theatres
What: Oscar-nominated Short Films packages for live-action and animation (Feb. 8-14) and individual films such as “Roma” — which is hard to see outside of Netflix — “The Favourite,” “Capernum” (a Best Foreign Language nominee), “The Wife” (Best Actress nominee for Glenn Close), “Green Book,” “Vice,” “Can You Ever Forgive Me” (Best Actress for Melissa McCarthy), “Cold War” (Best Foreign Language) and more. When: Feb. 8-14
Where: Mayan Theatre (Denver), Chez Artiste (Denver) and Landmark Greenwood Village
Cost: $9-$11.50, landmarktheatres.com
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
What: Best Picture nominees ”A Star Is Born,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Green Book,” “The Favourite,” “Vice” and others
When: Various times individually through Feb. 24Where:
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Littleton and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Sloan’s Lake
Cost: $10-$12.75, drafthouse.com/denver
Streaming services
What: Don’t forget that many of these films can be streamed from the comfort of your own couch. In fact, you’re not likely to find Netflix’s “Roma” anywhere outside of that service, and while you’re there you may as well check out “Black Panther.” Other services also offer most of the Best Picture nominees for purchase — minus “Vice,” which has not yet been digitally released. When: Right now Where: Amazon, Google Play, Netflix, iTunes, Vudu, YouTube Cost: $5-$25 per film John Wenzel: 303-954-1642, jwenzel@denverpost.com or @johnwenzel