The Oscar nominees for Best Documentary (Short Subject) show us some of the real life struggles that people face. Through these films we get a chance to examine issues of race, aging, drugs, mental illness, and chances for former prisoners to find new lives. Some of these films may be hard to watch because we… [Read More]
Oscar Watch – Best Animated Short
These films vary greatly in terms of artistic style as well as in the kind of stories they tell and the messages the share. Many people may think of Animated Shorts as an unimportant category within the Oscars, but I’m really impressed with this year’s nominees. Give just a slight difference in how one weighs each film, any one of them could be a worthy winner.
Oscar Watch – Best Live Action Short
Five films have been nominated for Best Live Action Short. It is an eclectic set of films including a comedy, some “ripped-from-the-headlines” type stories, and a children’s advocacy piece.
4.10 Anger, Loss and Grace in THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
With the release of this week’s Oscar nominations, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI cemented itself as an Oscar favourite with multiple nominations. Starring Francis McDormand and Sam Rockwell, BILLBOARDS is an intense drama (or is it a comedy?) and Steve welcomes back Shelley McVea to discuss the film’s interest in loss, anger and the power… [Read More]
4.09 Digging for Truth in THE POST
In his latest film, THE POST, Steven Spielberg and his all-star cast aren’t satisfied with merely retelling a chapter in American history. They’re on a search for truth and justice in our culture today. This week, Steve welcomes back Kevin McLenithan (Seeing and Believing) to dig into THE POST while also offering their Top 3… [Read More]
Hail to The Post: 1on1 with Bruce Greenwood
Set in the later years of the Vietnam War, Katherine Graham, publisher of the Washington Post, and her editor Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks) suddenly find themselves in the possession of papers exposing the American government’s cover-ups. As her shareholders are growing anxious and question her ability to lead, she and Bradlee must decide whether they… [Read More]
Freeing Lady Bird – 1on1 with Lois Smith
Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird is a coming-of-age drama that tells the story of Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan), a young woman growing up in Sacramento in 2002. Living with her parents and adopted brother, she has an increasingly strained relationship with her mother, Marion (Laurie Metcalf), as she prepares to… [Read More]
Moonlight: Best Picture Winner – Who Is You?
While we might look at Chiron’s life and see the various influences that pushed him, we know that in the end it is Chiron who is ultimately responsible for who he is and who he is yet to become.
3.13 Finding Ourselves in the MOONLIGHT
This week, Steve welcomes back Audra Grey-Choy and Shelley McVea to wrestle with issues of identity, sexuality and cultural definitions of masculinity in Barry Jenkins’ MOONLIGHT! Want to continue to conversation at home? Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your… [Read More]
Manchester By the Sea – Moving through Grief and Pain
In some ways this is a slice-of-life story of a family in grief. It is a disconcerting experience that triggers emotions in strange ways.
