Truth in Oscars

Rick McKee, Cagle Cartoons, The Augusta Chronicle Feb 27, 2012 Dig deeper

Sacha Baron Cohen’s ‘Dictator’ Act Not Welcome at the Oscars

Staff / Truthdig Feb 23, 2012 This year, Sacha Baron Cohen can thank the Academy Awards for giving his latest politically flavored comedy, "The Dictator," some excellent free publicity. Not that he didn't engineer it himself. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

We’d Like to Thank the Academy … for What?

Carrie Rickey / Truthdig Feb 22, 2012 In the beginning it was called the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and/or Sciences. While its ostensible purpose was management-approved mediation, its implicit goal was to pre-empt actors, writers and directors from organizing, as carpenters, musicians and electricians had done in 1926. Statuettes were an afterthought. Is it cynical to ask whether the Academy Awards have outlived their relevance? Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Exile in Oscarville: Ratner’s Slur Shakes Up Oscar Lineup

Staff / Truthdig Nov 10, 2011 A bad strain of foot-in-mouth syndrome that apparently favors film directors has struck again In the spring, we watched Lars von Trier's ill-conceived Hitler joke get him summarily ejected from the Cannes Film Festival, and now (more). Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Not Much ‘Sunshine’ in Kaufman’s Next Act

Staff / Truthdig Oct 10, 2011 Screenwriter and director Charlie Kaufman made his name in lights with his Academy Award-winning script for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," but six more years in showbiz have apparently dimmed his Oscar afterglow, given the details on his latest project that The Wrap served up. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bigelow Pushing Forward With ‘Kill Bin Laden’

Staff / Truthdig May 2, 2011 After her Oscar win for "The Hurt Locker," director Kathryn Bigelow set her sights on another ambitious project that has taken on new significance over the last 24 hours, given the subject matter: "Kill Bin Laden." However, as Deadline's Mike Fleming pointed out Monday, the movie isn't solely focused on the late al-Qaida leader. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Kiss the Oscars Missed

Staff / Truthdig Mar 4, 2011 You'd think the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences would be cool with Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin's stolen Oscar kiss, as it involved two demonstrably straight men locking lips for the sake of filmed entertainment, but audiences at home . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Women on the Brink of an Academy Award

Staff / Truthdig Feb 2, 2011 The tone of this Daily Beast article -- starting with the title, "Crazy Chick Flicks" -- is a tad flip with a touch of lad mag, but the idea that several actresses who've played women not fully in command of their mental faculties does hold up under scrutiny . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

2010: The Year of Staggering Irrelevance in Oscarland

Richard Schickel / Truthdig Jan 29, 2011 It begins sometime in early December, in a screening room near you, with a handful of middle-aged men and women impatiently awaiting the start of a new movie.This week’s very routine nominations hinted that I was not entirely wrong in my suppositions. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Critics Call ‘King’s Speech’ Historically Incorrect

Staff / Truthdig Jan 28, 2011 With "The King's Speech" sitting comfortably atop this year's heap of Oscar-nominated films, it's not surprising that there might be some grumbles from critical corners about the movie's actual merits But in this case, a couple prominent voices . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘King’s Speech’ Rules in Oscar Race

Staff / Truthdig Jan 26, 2011 Score 12 for "The King's Speech" Even with the recently retooled Academy Awards format, which includes 10 contenders for best picture, the quirky story of a verbally challenged King George VI nailed a dozen nominations in this year's Oscar lineup. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Filmmaker to Spill Scientology Story

Staff / Truthdig Jan 6, 2011 His defection from the Church of Scientology's celebrity coterie was big news in 2009, and now writer and director Paul Haggis is following up with a detailed exploration of his former organization, in the form of a book collaboration with journalist Lawrence Wright. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )