Happy Monday, everyone! It was a packed weekend in entertainment, and as your intrepid critic, I had my eyes on three major events: the Independent Spirit Awards, the SAG Awards, and the much-anticipated Suits LA premiere on NBC. With the Oscars just around the corner, these last pre-cursor awards offered a mix of locked-in wins and some surprising twists.
Spirit Awards: Indie Excellence Takes Center Stage
Held as always on the beach in Santa Monica, this year’s Spirit Awards were hosted by the ever-charming Aidy Bryant, known for her work on SNL and indie films. While I was particularly invested in two categories—one of my podcast guests had their first feature film up for the John Cassavetes Award (for best feature made under $1 million), and its star, Isaac Krasner, was nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance—unfortunately, neither took home the prize. Still, you can catch my exclusive interview with the film’s writer and director, Corey Sherman, tonight on Bears of a Certain Age Podcast on the Left of Str8 Podcasts network.
The big winner of the night was Anora, which dominated with three major awards: Best Feature, Best Director (Sean Baker), and Lead Performance (Mikey Madison). Other notable wins included Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) for Best Supporting Performance and Sean Wang (Didi) earning both First Feature and First Screenplay honors.
SAG Awards: A Glimpse Into Oscar’s Future
The SAG Awards solidified some front-runners while keeping the Oscar race intriguing. The night’s top prize, Outstanding Cast, went to Conclave. Demi Moore (The Substance) continued her winning streak, reinforcing her position as the Best Actress favorite, while Kieran Culkin claimed his second trophy of the weekend for Best Supporting Actor.
Other major wins included Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) and Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez), both delivering memorable acceptance speeches. Chalamet’s speech, in particular, struck the perfect balance of confidence and appreciation, a testament to his growing stature in Hollywood.
Looking ahead to the Academy Awards, I think Culkin is now a lock, Saldaña’s chances are stronger than ever, and Chalamet may have dampened Adrien Brody’s shot at the gold. My money is still on Demi Moore for Best Actress, but with Mikey Madison’s Spirit and BAFTA wins, she might just face an unexpected challenge.
Television Spotlight: Suits LA Premieres
After a nine-season run on USA Network and a major resurgence on Netflix in 2023, the Suits universe expanded with Suits LA. Developed from another idea by original creator Aaron Korsh, the series brings a fresh take to the franchise while retaining some familiar beats.
As a huge fan of the original and an admirer of Stephen Amell, I had high expectations—and the premiere both met, missed, and exceeded them in different ways. This is a very different show, and while it hasn’t found the rhythm of its predecessor yet, there’s potential.
Without giving away spoilers, the pilot set up a compelling backstory: Stephen Amell’s character, Ted, has relocated from New York to LA under mysterious circumstances, and a split between the firm’s two founders, Ted and Stuart, forces the team to pick sides. Unlike the slow-burn partner drama of Pearson Hardman to Litt Wheeler Williams Bennett, Suits LA is diving straight into its firm’s power struggles from day one.
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good:
The standout moment was Ted’s “dance” with a potential client—pure Suits magic with swagger and sharp dialogue.
Bryan Greenberg’s Rick has the makings of a strong buddy dynamic with Ted in the series.
Kristen Hager’s Valerie Thompson, a pro bono attorney, brings the kind of banter and tension that made Harvey and Donna a fan-favorite duo.
The Bad:
The show has heart, particularly through the character interaction of Ted and Eddie, Ted’s brother. However, with the big reveal at the end of the episode, his arc already feels more like a season-one hook than something that will be fully developed.
The legal drama needs more entertainment industry intrigue—this is LA, after all! Instead of focusing on a murder plot, why not dive into the messy world of Hollywood legal battles?
The Ugly:
I can appreciate a well-placed flashback, but an entire season built on them to establish one character's motivations? That might get tiresome quickly. Personal note, if it was built to show where the partners Ted and Stuart and their firms are NOW and how they got there, that could have been a little more interesting.
Lex Scott Davis’ character, Erica, had great setup but little payoff in this first episode. Her ambition and rivalry were told to us rather than shown. The dynamic rivalry between her and Rick will surely deepen over time. She is an amazing actress and hopefully, future episodes will allow her to truly showcase her presence.
Final Verdict
The Suits LA premiere earns a C+, but glimpses of A-level performances and storytelling leave me optimistic. Hopefully, it won’t take too long for the series to find its stride and deliver on its potential.
What did you think of the weekend’s biggest entertainment moments? Let’s discuss!
Comments