What to watch May 3, 2024: Movie awards contenders

“The Fall Guy” is swinging into theaters this weekend, as are the indie masterpieces “I Saw the TV Glow” and “Evil Does Not Exist.” Fortunately, a handful of fun and intriguing titles are also hitting digital platforms, including a dynamic documentary about a rock ‘n’ roll linchpin. 

The contender to watch this week: “Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg”

No, this isn’t a “Hunger Games” sequel. Anita Pallenberg was an actress, a New York It Girl, and a denizen of Andy Warhol’s Factory, but she is best known as an associate of the Rolling Stones. She dated founder Brian Jones and, later, guitarist Keith Richards, with whom she had three children. Some people have called her the band’s muse. Pallenberg’s life was not always as glamorous as it sounds, though, and directors Alexis Bloom and Svetlana Zill mine her highs and lows for a compelling documentary about one of rock’s somewhat forgotten superstars. “Catching Fire” opens in select theaters and premieres on VOD simultaneously. 

Other contenders:

• “The Idea of You”: Michael Showalter‘s starry-eyed romantic comedy is heading straight to Prime Video, but not for lack of credentials: Jennifer Westfeldt adapted Robinne Lee‘s bestselling novel, and the movie features Anne Hathaway as a divorced art curator who falls for a Harry Styles-esque boy-band singer (Nicholas Galitzine) at Coachella. It’s a delight. 
• “Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World”: Romania’s most recent Oscar submission, a dark comedy about a harried production assistant (Ilinca Manolache) filming a giant corporation’s workplace safety video, is available on Mubi. 
• “Butterfly in the Sky”: Calling all “Reading Rainbow” fans. This sweet documentary pays homage to the revered PBS series and its host, LaVar Burton. It’s on VOD. 
• “Femme”: George MacKay and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett star in this polarizing thriller about a drag performer who encounters his homophobic attacker at a gay sauna and decides he wants revenge. Following a limited theatrical bow, the movie is now on VOD. 
• “Unfrosted“: And now, Jerry Seinfeld‘s Pop-Tarts movie. Joining a robust line of recent movies about how commercial products got made, like “Flamin’ Hot” (about the spicy Cheetos) and “The Beanie Bubble” (about Beanie Babies), “Unfrosted” stars Seinfeld and Melissa McCarthy as the brains behind the beloved breakfast pastries. Netflix didn’t give it a theatrical release — sorry to Meghan Trainor and Jimmy Fallon, whose original song won’t be eligible for the Oscars but could land Emmys recognition — but the starry supporting cast includes Hugh Grant, Christian Slater, Amy Schumer, Peter Dinklage, Maria Bakalova, and Cedric the Entertainer. 

PREDICT the 2024 Emmy nominees through July 17

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