Watch With Us is here to help you out if you need the perfect streaming watch for this weekend.
On HBO Max, you can find any type of movie you’re looking for. An ambitious epic, a sweeping romance, a laugh-out-loud comedy or a chilling horror story. Max really is the one to watch.
This weekend, we want to highlight three movies in particular that make great home movie night picks.
At the top of our list is Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, a major awards darling from 2017.
‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ (2017)
With still no arrest made, Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) is relentless in seeking justice for her daughter, Angela, who was sexually assaulted and killed seven months ago. In a powerful statement of rage and defiance, Mildred has three provocative billboard signs erected outside of her small town of Ebbing, Missouri to urge the chief of police (Woody Harrelson) to take action. Despite attempting to reopen the case, the chief’s violent deputy (Sam Rockwell) doesn’t take Mildred’s billboards in stride — and neither do the townspeople. But Mildred pays no mind to gossip and scrutiny; she’s ready to burn the whole place down.
Martin McDonagh‘s Best Picture-nominated Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is an exceptional black comedy that weaves in biting, timely social commentary. No actress could have better played Mildred than McDormand, and for her searing performance, she received a well-deserved third Oscar for Best Actress. In addition to McDormand, Harrelson and Rockwell, the film features a fantastic ensemble cast that includes Caleb Landry-Jones, Lucas Hedges, Peter Dinklage and Samara Weaving.
‘The Spectacular Now’ (2013)
Popular high school party boy Sutter (Miles Teller) meets the introverted Aimee (Shailene Woodley) in an unusual way: after getting blackout drunk and ending up on someone else’s front lawn, where Aimee finds him the next day. The two unexpectedly hit it off despite the vast differences in their personalities, and Sutter asks Aimee to tutor him in geometry. As their relationship grows, it goes from friendship and mentor/mentee to genuine romance. As Sutter deals with the problems in his home life and Aimee prepares for her life beyond high school, their love grows stronger — but will it survive past graduation?
Then-newcomers Woodley and Teller showed off their acting talents in The Spectacular Now, a sweet and charming high school coming-of-age drama. The film does a terrific job at avoiding typical high school movie tropes and clichés, instead crafting a nuanced portrait of teenage problems that feels authentic. Not only do Teller and Woodley look the part, they feel it too, and it’s in the film’s very refreshing ordinariness that it manages to become extraordinary.
‘Love and Basketball’ (2000)
Childhood best friends Quincy (Omar Epps) and Monica (Sanaa Lathan) have remained side by side for years, unchanged, but their friendship eventually becomes more than platonic. However, they both dream of becoming professional basketball players. Quincy has large shoes to fill, since his father, Zeke (Dennis Haysbert), plays for the Los Angeles Clippers. Still, Quincy has natural talent, while Monica is gifted but extremely competitive, sometimes allowing her emotions to get the better of her while on the court. As they embark on their separate athletic journeys, can the two lovebirds manage to stay together?
This romantic sports drama is as much an insightful look at the pressures and anxieties of being a young athlete as it is an exceptionally affecting love story embodied to perfection by Lathan and Epps. Love & Basketball marked an impressive directorial debut from Gina Prince-Bythewood, who helms the film with style and confidence. With great character writing, exciting basketball sequences and a realistic romance, Love & Basketball is a rare swoon-worthy sports film.
