Recommendations 

A Real Pain 2024: 1 Hour and 30 Minutes (Comedy, Drama) 

Director: Jesse Eisenberg, 

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin

Summary:  Two cousins embark on a trip to Poland to honor their late grandmother. As they travel they reconnect and resurface tensions that have been hidden for years.

Where to watch: Hulu and Disney+ (subscription), AppleTV, Amazon Prime, and YouTube (rent)

Ginny’s rating: 4/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• • • Both Culkin and Eisenberg’s performances were great, and the two interacting as cousins seems natural. Eisenberg’s storytelling and touch on uncomfortable topics in the film are done tastefully, shedding light on thoughts many don’t think about when visiting places where death strikes.

Rated: R (swearing and drug use)

Awards:

• • • The film won Best Comedy from Critics Choice (alongside Deadpool & Wolverine)

    • Kieran Culkin has won Best Supporting Actor for his role from Golden Globes, Critics Choice, and British Academy (BAFTA), he is also up for the same award at the Oscars

    • Jesse Eisenberg won Best Screenwriting at the BAFTA

Conclave 2024: 2 Hours (Mystery, Thriller, “Political-Thriller”) 

Director: Edward Berger

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and Isabella Rossellini

Summary:  Based on the mystery thriller novel, Raph Fiennes stars as Cardinal Lawrence who is organizing the Vatican’s Conclave, also known as the Papal Election where Cardinals from around the world gather to elect the next pope. However, during the conclave, secrets are revealed about the cardinals and Lawrence is the one who is to set everything in order.

Where to watch: Peacock (subscription), AppleTV, Amazon Prime, and YouTube (rent)

Ginny’s rating: 4 1/2 /5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 

• • • Fiennes always knows how to lead the room with his roles, and he continues to do so in Conclave. This film had many surprising moments, however, the “surprise ending” wasn’t as striking as it should have been. The movie is filled with many great scripting moments, especially at the end and topics/issues that are brought up in the film should be discussed more when involving the Catholic Church.

Rated: PG (smoking and “thematic material”)

Awards: 

• • • Conclave has been taking home many awards this season, specifically for screenwriting from Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. At the BAFTAs, they won Best Film for 2025.