Mercy and The Rip couldn’t be more different—and that contrast makes for one of the most revealing conversations of the awards season.
In this episode of The Screening Lounge, we break down Mercy, The Rip, and react to the biggest Oscar nominations surprises, snubs, and history-making moments.

Mercy: Watch the Trailer

Mercy stars Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson in a near-future courtroom thriller where an AI system replaces human judges. When a detective who helped build the system is accused of murder, he has 90 minutes to prove his innocence before judgment is carried out.

We discuss why the concept raises compelling questions about justice, surveillance, automation—and ultimately it's biggest struggles.

The Rip: Watch it on Netflix

The Rip is a gritty Miami-set crime thriller starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as police officers entangled in corruption, loyalty tests, and a massive cash discovery.

From the opening scene, the film maintains pressure through sharp dialogue, escalating stakes, and the effortless chemistry between its leads—plus what makes it one of the most engaging watches this season.

Oscar Nominations: Surprises, Snubs & Records:

We break down the biggest talking points from the newly announced Academy Award nominations, including:

• Sinners setting a record!
• First-time nominations for Michael B. Jordan, Teyana Taylor, and Wunmi Mosaku
• Major snubs including Jesse Plemons and more..
• Also.. what happened to Wicked??
• See Full Stats at Oscars.org

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