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Academy Awards

Tigers: Pressured to Perform

December 12, 2021 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Sometimes, our wildest dreams can be a nightmare in reality.

Based on the true story of Martin Bengtsson (Alfred Enoch), a promising footballer who was offered the world at the young age of sixteen. As Sweden’s top player, he is invited to play for one of Italy’s most high-profile clubs and he finally feels like he’s achieved his dream. However, this life of success comes at a much higher price than he could have imagined. The incredible pressure placed on him by the club threatens his mental health and he begins to crumble under the weight of his loneliness and sacrifice.

Written and directed by Ronnie Sandahl, Tigers is an intense film that takes the shine off the glitzy and glamorous world of professional sports and highlights the emotional damage that can be inflicted on the human soul when its trapped in an abusive environment. Whereas most sports films offer themes of the ‘triumph of the human spirit’, Tiger does so in an entirely different manner. 

Based on the memoirs of the real-life Bengtsson (whom he also has a close personal friendship with), Sandhal grounds his story in the gritty reality of stardom. This is not a story about the ‘comeback kid’ or ‘unexpected hero’. Instead, Sandahl’s film points to a more psychological triumph in the face of abuse. Set at a time when mental health was rarely discussed in the world of sports, Tigers pulls back the curtain on the intense pressure that players experience at the hands of clubs who demand the highest levels of performance. In some ways, its fair to expect that sports clubs expect to get the most out of their substantial investments. However, Tigers highlights the unbelievable emotional toll that this sort of environment can take on the players themselves as teams view their players more as ‘commodities’ than they are as human beings,.

Centering the film around young Enoch’s performance, the camera rarely deviates from his face, revealing the internal anguish that he’s experiencing. Wherever he goes, Sandahl wants us to watch him. Like the world around him, this is a story that is intently focused on the abilities of its star. (In fact, it’s worth noting that he even zooms in on Enoch during in-game scenes instead of broadening the shot to include wide crowd shots. Rather to portray these as moments of celebration,  Tigers insists that we intently watch the young man for his own safety.) Even so, Enoch does an excellent job portraying both the innocence and insecurity in the eyes of youth. the pressures of stardom begin to take their toll, we both hope for him and fear for him at the same time. 

The film gains its title from a photograph featuring a caged tiger who eventually turns on his owners. Wild at heart, this beast of the jungle may be locked away but his soul yearns for freedom. Visually, Sandhal reinforces this metaphor by enclosing Bengtsson in cages throughout the entire film. Whether it’s in his training facility or in hospital, we recognize quickly that Martin is unable to move or breathe. Like the animal itself, Bengtsson is a man repressed from the outside while the rage continues to build within him.

At a deeper level, one of the more intriguing conversations going on within the film is the value of the human soul. Having worked his entire life to become a professional soccer player, Martin has finally achieved his dream. However, the fame he has fought for comes at a price. Because they are essentially owned by the club they work for, high-level players are treated as commodities to be bought and sold at will. As they bring their clubs glory, so too are their livelihoods lie fully in the hands of those that write their paychecks. 

Pressured to produce, the joy of his experience evaporates quickly, leaving Martin feeling empty inside. However, when he experiences love for the first time, he begins to feel a sense of rebirth inside. To Martin, there is a sense of refreshing that takes place when someone finally values him for himself as opposed to their expectations of him. As a result, hope and healing begin to replace the feelings of anxiety and anger. Of course, this creates an emotional tension within him, especially as the club further tightens its grip upon him. But the proverbial damage has been done. Despite the best efforts of his team to force him into their mold, life has been sprung within his soul once again. Suddenly, he begins to wonder if the very thing he has wanted most may not in fact be that thing he wants most.

Suddenly, there is a world beyond his obsession.

Poetic and powerful, Tigers is a deeply affective journey. Rooted in his friendship with the real-life Bengtsson, Sandhal’s story feels personal and real as it explores what it means to be valued in a world where the financial bottom line matters more than a player’s humanity. Though he was one of the first to speak out about his suffering, Bengsston’s story still resonates today in a world where salaries continue to rise and social media keeps a close eye on the lives of its stars. Most importantly, Tigers serves as a reminder that he is not alone.

To hear our conversation with writer/director Ronnie Sandahl, click here (YouTube) and here (audio).

Tigers is Sweden’s submission in the Best Foreign Language category for the 2022 Academy Awards.

Filed Under: Film, Film Festivals Tagged With: Academy Awards, Alfred Enoch, Oscars, Ronnie Sandhal, Tigers

Academy Awards 2021: Boseman Loss Shows Why We Still Do (and Don’t) Need the Oscars

April 26, 2021 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

It wasn’t supposed to go like that.

After unexpectedly re-arranging the schedule to push Best Picture up and let the acting categories shine, the Academy clearly wanted to send a message. With the foregone conclusion that Chadwick Boseman would posthumously take Best Actor for his work in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, it was going to definitively celebrate a young man who was taken from us far too soon after losing his battle with cancer last year. 

An African-American man. 

Black Panther.

The significance of the moment was going to be a victory to end that night that would be both emotional and satisfying. After all, at a moment when Black culture is looking for heroes, a Chadwick victory would have been a symbolic statement in honour of a young man who had become a beacon of hope for many, sending viewers home with a truly feel-good moment.

Well, we all know how that went.

After Phoenix announced Anthony Hopkins as Best Actor to close out the show, the shock was palpable. The room was fairly quiet. Phoenix had to fumble through an awkward acceptance on Hopkins behalf as he was the only nominee not available. Of course, Twitter erupted. (In some ways, you almost feel bad for Hopkins. At home in Wales, even HE didn’t think he was going to win. If I were him, I likely would have slept through the ceremony as well.)

In a moment that felt like the reverse of the La La Land/Moonlight fiasco of a few years ago, the ‘feel-good’ finale completely backfired.

Within seconds, people took to their social media and responded accordingly. Outrage! Fury! Cancel! The response was completely understandable—and expected. After all, around this time, it’s almost tradition for people to take to the inter-webs to complain about the Oscars and the choices that they proclaim are ‘Best’. People decry from the rooftops that the films the Academy selects show their irrelevancy (and, sometimes, that’s a totally fair complaint). Comments like ‘this is why I don’t care about the Oscars’ flood social media with tsunami-like force.

But the irony is that same blow-up on the Twitter-verse shows that people still do care.

While people may either be happy or furious, the fact that the reactions to these awards are so strong suggests that there’s still an interest in the results. For over 90 years, the Academy Awards have been the ‘standard’ by which success in the industry has been measured. To win an Oscar is considered one of the highest honours in the industry and, even though culture has changed a lot in recent years (and continues to do so), there remains a respect for that golden statue that continues to endure. To win an Oscar still says something. 

They matter because they matter to us.

The reason people were upset about Chadwick losing the award is not because Hopkins didn’t deserve it but rather that it meant something to them. Hopkins turned in the performance of the lifetime in the role but a Chadwick victory would have felt not only poignant but powerful. With his career still reaching his potential before his death, Chadwick still felt like someone that people could relate to, especially amongst the Black community. A win for him seemed like it would have felt like another win for them.

And it might have.

But, if the awards truly didn’t matter to anyone outside the industry, no one would have cared. There would have been no outcry or frustration. It would have simply passed on from the cultural zeitgeist and landed on the entertainment pages… not the front page… 

The problem may be that we’ve given too much credibility to the Academy. Though filled with over 1000 industry professionals, with this responsibility comes the expectation that it will represent the values of the people and the time. The truth is that they don’t always. Yes, they strive for representation and want to speak the voice of a culture. That’s why these films matter as much as Marvel films or alien invasions. They connect with a heartbeat that speaks the cries of our world.

But they don’t always speak for you and I. How could they?

With this in mind, the loss by Chadwick shows that, maybe, we don’t need the Oscars to play the same role in our culture. The truth is that, while considered the highest heights of the industry, the loss to Hopkins does not take away from his performance (or career) in any way. So many of history’s best films and performances were never recognized by the Academy. Citizen Kane, Raging Bull, Do The Right Thing, Pulp Fiction and innumerable others were robbed of ‘Oscar glory’ yet remain the most influential films of the last century. (And let’s not forget Delroy Lindo from the list of snubs this year…)

Regardless of who the Academy chooses to take home the gold, Chadwick Boseman will be remembered.

He matters. And he’s as important as he was yesterday.

I admit it. I love the Oscars. I love the pageantry, the music and the speeches. Unlike many, I love the fact that winners use the platform to speak their hearts about issues that matter to them. (I mean, they’ve been given a voice. They should use it.) I even love my Oscar pool with friends.

Ultimately though, they don’t determine which films or performances matter most. Only the ones that mattered to these people. That’s why it doesn’t really matter in the end if Boseman posthumously took home the gold. His performance in Ma Rainey’s was a thing of brilliance and it will be remembered. (In fact, it should be remembered.) This year’s Oscars may have been the most diverse in the Academy’s history. Chloe Zhao. Daniel Kaluuya. Yuh-Jung Yoon. H.E.R. Soul. Jon Batiste. All of these winners from last night show that things are changing. This was not #OscarsSoWhite, even if it did feel like #OscarsSoWrong.

The loss by Boseman doesn’t change any of this… but it’s all anyone’s talking about.

Yes, it would have made an amazing story to see him cap off his young but incredible career with a win. It would have been an emotional moment for us all. But there’s a reason that they announce the winner by saying ‘the Oscar goes to…’ They don’t want the other nominees to feel as though they are someone lesser than the others.

Because they aren’t. Not Riz Ahmed. Not Boseman. None of them, regardless of category. They all achieved something great with their cinematic achievements. And, like Chadwick’s performance, their work lives on. 

The Academy knows that. We may have forgotten it.

Message received.

Filed Under: Editorial, Featured, News, Oscar Spotlight Tagged With: Academy Awards, Anthony Hopkins, Black Lives Matter, Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, Chloe Zhao, Daniel Kaluuya, Joaquin Phoenix, Jon Batiste, Marvel, Oscars, racial injustice

7.18 Meeting THE FATHER + Oscar Talk!

April 24, 2021 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Roll out the [digital] red carpet and strike up the [Zoom] speeches! Believe it or not, It’s Oscar season and time to crown the Best Films of the pandemic year. As efforts such as Nomadland, Judas and the Black Messiah and Sound of Metal all duke it out to claim the top prizes, Seeing and Believing’s Kevin McLenithan drops by to talk about some of the potentially important smaller awards and mistakes that the Academy may reward come this weekend. What’s more, we also take a deep dive into Florian Zeller’s nominated film The Father and discuss the fragile nature of safety and the relationship between humility and perspective.

You can stream the episode on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts!

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 area.

7.18 The Father + Oscar TalkDownload

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Podcast Tagged With: Academy Awards, Florian Zeller, Imogen Poots, Isolation, Nomadland, Olivia Cooke, Oscars, The Father

7.07 Reviving History in MANK

December 11, 2020 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Set in 1930s Hollywood, Mank tells the story of Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman), a screenwriter with a scathing wit and a passion for alcohol, as he channels his experiences with the cultural elite into what will become his greatest achievement… the script for Citizen Kane. This week, we welcome Pop Life’s Richard Crouse and In The Seats’ Dave Voigt to chat about reading the present in our past and the relationship between integrity and power.

You can stream the episode on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts!

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 area.

7.07 MankDownload

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Netflix, Podcast Tagged With: Academy Awards, Amanda Seyfried, Atticus Ross, Citizen Kane, David Fincher, Gary, Herman J. Mankiewicz, Mank, Netflix, Orson Welles, Oscars, Richard Crouse, Trent Reznor

THE FISHING HOLE: Oscars 2019

February 24, 2019 by Chris Utley Leave a Comment

Welp, the name of the game here at ScreenFish is MOVIES.  So the team embarked on their annual pre-Oscar chat where they discussed who WILL win and who SHOULD win on Hollywood’s biggest night!

Chris U: Alrighty! Pre-Oscar Fishing Hole Time! Who WILL win? Who SHOULD win?

Arnaldo R: Lol, I know nothing so will contribute nothing…Wakanda Forever!

Chris: I thought you saw Star Is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Arnaldo: Nope, no interest in them. 2018 I saw probably 3 movies. And all 3 were with my daughter. Poppins, Spiderverse and Incredibles 2.

Chris: Let me call the easiest win first…Shallow will win Best Song. That race was over when the first trailer dropped.

Jacob S: I need to see Vice and Green Book.

Chris: Won’t get to see Vice. Didn’t play well out here in GOP-heavy Texas.  Wait, Arnaldo!  Didn’t you see Black Panther?

Arnaldo: Oh yeah, that one also. And Avengers. So five. LOL

Chris: So you saw 2 Best Animated Feature nominees. That qualifies!

Arnaldo: Spiderverse wins.

Chris: Agree 1000% percent, Incredibles 2 was very mediocre; hated the ending.

Jacob: Agree on Spiderverse. Disagree that Incredibles 2 was mediocre.

Chris: I felt no sense of real danger with the villain. Also didn’t buy her criminal machinations. Jack Jack and the raccoon was cute.  The Elastigirl/Mr. Incredible role switch was good. (Same thing has been going on in my house for the last 12 years).

Arnaldo: Incredibles 2 wasn’t better than the first.

Chris: Agreed.  15 year wait for a sequel have packed a much bigger punch.

Arnaldo: What were the other animation films nominated?

Chris: Isle of Dogs, Ralph Breaks The Internet, Mirai

Arnaldo: Oh yeah, I saw Ralph lol.  Spidey wins.

Chris: So, allegedly, Roma stands to win 4 Oscars for 1 person: Picture/Director/Cinematography/Producer.  Who HAS seen Roma?

Jacob: Saw some of Roma. I don’t read subtitles.

Chris: I liked The Favourite. Three women with varying degrees of wickedness and depravity…in corsets!

Steve N: Sooooo, you liked the wickedness and depravity? Or the corsets?

Chris: LOL!  Definitely not the corsets!  Although you do get an eyeful of Emma Stone! Very glad BlacKkKlansman didn’t get lost in the awards shuffle. It was on shaky ground after Thanksgiving but rebounded in the race after Christmas. Probably the pre-Christmas awards rush turned out to be wack. There are 3 $200 million + grossers on the list.

Darrel M: My expectation for best pic is Black Panther. It or Roma would get my #1 vote. I think best doc will go to RBG, should go to Free Solo, although Of Fathers and Sons is perhaps the most important. Cinematography to Cold War. Animated feature to Spidey. I hope Spike Lee gets director, but it will probably go to Cuaron. Actor Rami Malek (I’d prefer Christian Bale). Actress Glenn Close. Sup actor: Mahershala Ali.  Sup Actress: Regina King. Foreign Language: Roma, but I’d prefer Shoplifters.

Chris: They predict Spike will get Adapted Screenplay They’re also predicting Amy Adams over Regina King, which will INFURIATE me to no end.

Darrel: My choices for screenplays: First Reformed and Beale Street.

Chris: Hopefully Beale Street wins Score too.  That score was FANTASTIC.

Darrel: Yeah, I may throw things at the TV if it doesn’t get score.

LATER THAT EVENING, CHRIS U watches Roma on Netflix…

Chris: Well…the mainstream cinema has stepped up its game. The snobby, pretentious, talk AT YOU stuff that the elitists adore had to answer with vigor. Roma is the answer.

Chris: Cannot believe Black Panther is gonna lose to THIS!

Jacob: We agree on that.

Chris: Sound on this is probably insane in an Atmos equipped movie theatre.  I’ll give it that. My soundbar is capturing the ambiance.  I DO see why it will win.  Movie closed out with 4 of the saddest movie scenes of the year.  Can’t share without spoiling. But…yeah.  Legit gut punches.  But is that fair for it to win just off of 3 gut punching scenes when the rest is just an exercise in Ego Filmmaking? Best Foreign Film? I’d buy it. But Best Picture?  Green Book, Star, KkKlansman, Favourite, Bohemian AND Black Panther –  ALL better than this! But…I get it.  Awards Season -is for the elite. Roma is the type of film they eat up. It’s almost…WEINSTEINIAN!

Shelley M: Anybody seen Cold War? I’m seeing it tomorrow on recommendation of a friend – says it’s the best she’s seen all year.

Darrel: Cold War is very good. Outstanding cinematography. Great music. The story may keep the characters at arm’s length a bit..

Chris: As far as Best Picture, Roma will win.  Black Panther ABSOLUTELY SHOULD win.

Arnaldo: I want BP to win because I’m a comic guy and of course I LOVE the movie.

Chris:That movie transcended the movie screen and left an unprecedented and immovable footprint in the culture of the world. Chadwick’s acceptance speech at SAG said it all.  I don’t think I put this in my review. But halfway through the first viewing, I turned to my wife  and said “THIS IS A DAGGONE SHAKESPEARIAN TRAGEDY, not a comic book movie!”

Arnaldo: I also want it to win because I want the bath in the tears and whining of those who will say “it’s a PC SJW win and the only reason it won”

Chris: The thing about those folks. Those tears are because we live in a world that is leaving them behind. And it’s their fault for not getting on the train.

Arnaldo: Oh yeah I know their problem. Also their loss. BP was more than a comic book film! And no amount of tears will change that.

Join the conversation! Agree or disagree with our band of ScreenFishers? Ready to challenge their POV? Feel free to share in the comments!

Filed Under: Current Events, Fishing Hole, Reviews Tagged With: Academy Awards, oscars 2019, winners

4.11 Paying Attention to LADY BIRD

February 14, 2018 by Steve Norton 1 Comment

http://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/4.11-Lady-Bird.mp3

Is there a difference between ‘love’ and ‘attention’? Can you ever truly break free from your family upbringing? These issues and more lie at the heart of Great Gerwig’s directorial debut, Lady Bird. Having held the record (briefly) for highest rated film in history on Rotten Tomatoes, this film is connecting audiences in a big way. This week, Steve welcomes back Paul and Julie Levac to talk coming of age in the 21st Century and the help (and damage) inherent to family relationships.

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 area.

4.11 LadyBird

Thanks Paul and Julie for joining us!

For those of you in Canada who are interested, you can donate to ScreenFish by clicking the link below and simply selecting ‘ScreenFish’ from the ‘Apply Your Donation…’ area. 

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/connect-city/

Filed Under: Film, Film Festivals, Podcast, TIFF Tagged With: Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Greta Gerwig, identity, Lady Bird, Laurie Metcalf, Love, Oscars, Saoirse Ronan, Timothee Chalamet

4.10 Anger, Loss and Grace in THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

January 28, 2018 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

http://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/4.10-Three-Billboards-Outside-Ebbing-Missouri.mp3

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 of grace. PLUS, they give their thoughts on the snubs and surprises of this year’s Oscars!

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 area.

4.10 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Thanks Shelley for joining us!

For those of you in Canada who are interested, you can donate to ScreenFish by clicking the link below and simply selecting ‘ScreenFish’ from the ‘Apply Your Donation…’ area. 

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/connect-city/

Filed Under: Film, Film Festivals, Oscar Spotlight, Podcast, TIFF Tagged With: Academy Awards, Francis McDormand, Oscars, Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, Woody Harrelson

3.14 Losing LOGAN

March 12, 2017 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

http://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/3.14-Logan.mp3

This week on the show, Steve reconnects with Arnaldo Reyes and Peter Adourian to talk about purpose and hopeful death in James Mangold’s LOGAN.  (We may even answer the eternal question: Why Arnaldo doesn’t like Jackman’s Wolverine!)

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 area.

3.14 Logan

Thanks to Peter Adourian and Arnaldo Reyes for joining us on the show!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Academy Awards, Hugh Jackman, Logan, Marvel, Oscars, Patrick Stewart, Professor X, superhero, superhero film, western, Wolverine, X-23, X-Men

Yes, One Last Top Ten List

February 26, 2017 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Yes, tonight is Oscar night

Yes, it’s the end of February.

Still, I wanted to wait until I’d seen enough of last year’s films to truly give a proper ‘Top Ten’ list… and that takes time.  While there were many films that could have been on here, I felt that these were my picks as the ten most engaging film experiences I had in 2016.  Do you agree?  What would be on yours?

10) Doctor Strange – I admit it.  Over the last two years, I’ve grown tired of Marvel’s overall repetitiveness.  While they often create interesting characters, they often lack in bringing anything particularly new.  Doctor Strange was the exception to the rule.  By introducing magic into the MCU, director Scott Derrickson also introduced a heart of spirituality that has often been lacking from the franchise.  It would take a lot for me to enter a Marvel film into my Top 10 but I couldn’t deny this pleasant surprise from an appearance.

9) Sing Street – This little rock n’ roll film film from the director of Once is pure joy.  The film moves along at a solid pace and the characters fit well with the world in which they exist.  Despite their youth, they struggle with the effects of poverty and tensions within 1980s Ireland but they find hope as the come together in their music.  Also, it’s a ton of fun.  And ‘Drive It Like You Stole It’ will stick in your head all day.

8) Kubo and the Two Strings – While this likely won’t win Best Animated Feature tonight, it really should.  This surprise is all about the power of our stories and how they drive us.  The animation is simply beautiful–given to look like paper themselves, re-emphasizing the story motif–and the film is simply amazing.  See it.

7) Birth of a Nation – Yes, it has it’s issue.  Yes, it’s controversial… but there’s a lot of good in this Braveheart-style film (which was, incidentally, ‘mentored’ by an uncredited Gibson.  Much of the backlash towards the film was related to writer/director Nate Parker but the film itself is focused and has much to say.  The story of Nat Turner is one that Parker wants you to experience and feel, and personally, I felt he accomplished this.  In addition, the film has lots to talk about who owns the Scripture, which I found very interesting.

6) Silence – This film breaks my heart–not because of the torture scenes of Christians but actually due to the lack of support it received from the Evangelical community.  Seen as one of the biggest bombs of Scorcese’s career, it really is only because people didn’t show up.  The quality of the film is superb and provides a riveting challenge to faith while also demonstrating the value of it.  Frankly, the church missed out on an amazing opportunity.  This film was brilliant.

5) Jackie – To me, this was undoubtedly one of the best scripts of the year.  Following Jackie Onassis on the week after JFK’s assassination, this character study was a fascinating exploration of the relationship between fame and politics.  Portman’s performance is, in my mind, the best lead actress of the year (though she likely won’t win the Oscar).  She plays Jackie O with ferocity and fragility and it’s truly something to see.

4) Hail, Caesar! – Clooney arguing the Communist dialectic.  Channing Tatum tap dancing on a table.  “Would that it t’were so simple?”  This Coen brother’s comedy is hilarious in its absurdity but also an interesting look at Hollywood’s connection with faith-based culture.  I laughed.  A lot.  And it earned them.  Definitely one of my favourites of the year.

3) Arrival – I love thoughtful sci-fi… and Denis Villeneuve… but this film earns the position based on it’s own merits as well.  While not truly a ‘twist’ ending, the film’s finale does bring everything together in an engaging and thought-provoking matter.  Plus, I found the exploration of language and suffering is moving.  I’d say more but the less you know before you see, the better.

2) La La Land – Yes, it’s good.  I’ll admit it.  I simply don’t get the emerging backlash against the film.  It’s fun, the music is wonderful and the performances engaging.  Chazelle proves yet again that his direction is something to be noticed and the set design is eye popping.  More importantly though, the story does have something to say by talking about the tension between nostalgia and moving forward.  Does it deserve 14 nominations?  I struggle with that… but it’s a worth Best Picture film should it take gold tonight.

1) Moonlight – No other picture surprised me as much as this film did this year.  Moving and powerful, Moonlight explores sexuality and masculinity in an urban African-American setting that is rarely explored.  The slow, panning camera let you feel each moment as Little grows to Chiron and transforms to Black.  In the end, this film simply gave me more to think about than any other film this year.

Filed Under: Film, TIFF Tagged With: Academy Awards, Amy Adams, Arrival, Birth of a Nation, Caesar!, Dr. Strange, Hail, Jackie, kubo and the two strings, La La Land, Moonlight, Oscars, Silence

3.13 Finding Ourselves in the MOONLIGHT

February 25, 2017 by Steve Norton 1 Comment

http://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/3.13-Moonlight.mp3

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 area.

3.13 Moonlight

A very special thanks to Audra (Adonai Creative Arts) and Shelley for coming back on the show!

Filed Under: Film, Oscar Spotlight, Podcast Tagged With: Academy Awards, Barry Jenkins, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Janelle Monáe, Jimmy Kimmel, La La Land, Mahershala Ali, Moonlight, Naomie Harris, Oscars, OscarsSoWhite

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