Movies

Terence Blanchard, Longtime Composer For Spike Lee, On His First Oscar Nomination

8:14pm February 20, 2019

by Tim Greiving

Terence Blanchard received his first Oscar nomination for the BlacKkKlansman score. The 56-year-old jazz trumpeter from New Orleans has been Spike Lee's right-hand composer since Jungle Fever in 1991.

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Alex Honnold's ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park — without ropes or safety equipment — was the subject of the documentary film Free Solo.

Arts

The Documentary Is In — And Enjoying — An 'Undeniable Golden Age'

10:06pm February 19, 2019

by Mandalit del Barco

With a proliferation of streaming services to distribute their work, and a boom at the box office, budgets and opportunities are rising for documentary filmmakers.

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A satire of women's social discourse in the Queen Anne period depicts six women taking tea in a parlor, with figures on the left signifying hidden emotions and power struggles behind a genteel facade. Circa 1710.

Arts

The Real 'Favourite' Of Queen Anne's Era? Tea, And The Gossip That Swirled Around It

8:47pm February 19, 2019

by Nina Martyris

The Oscar-nominated film has reignited interest in the life (and love interests) of a corpulent, gouty, queen who liked chocolate more than tea. So why are Queen Anne and tea-drinking so closely tied?

Economy

Are Movies Getting Better?

10:40am February 19, 2019

by Greg Rosalsky

Spoiler Alert: An economist has evidence that we're in a golden age of cinema.

The courtship ritual between Rapayet (JosÃ© Acosta) and Zaida (Natalia Reyes) sets a tone for Birds of Passage â that this is no ordinary organized-crime drama.

In 'Birds Of Passage,' A New Lens On The Narcotrafficking Drama

6:16pm February 18, 2019

by Bilal Qureshi

Colombia's submission to the Oscars this year addresses the beginnings of the drug trade in rural Columbia — and how it shattered the traditions and families of the indigenous Wayúu people.

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Adam Lambert performs with Queen in Budapest in 2017. The collaboration will take the stage at the Oscars on Sunday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science announced.

Queen And Lambert To Rock The Oscars

6:01pm February 18, 2019

by Francesca Paris

Bohemian Rhapsody, a biopic about Queen's late frontman Freddie Mercury, is up for five awards. Two surviving band members will play at Sunday's ceremony, joined by Adam Lambert singing lead.

Academy Awards Live Broadcast To Include 4 Cinematography Categories After All

8:33pm February 15, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

In its latest reversal, the Academy Awards restores four awards to its live broadcast. It had tried to shorten the program by handing them out during commercial breaks.

Rapayet (José Acosta) and Zaida (Natalia Reyes) perform a public dance in Birds of Passage.

An Indigenous Community Is Drawn Into The Drug Trade In 'Birds Of Passage'

2:44pm February 15, 2019

by Justin Chang

An epic new film by Colombian director Ciro Guerra taps into the family versus business tension captured in great American mob sagas like The Godfather and The Sopranos.

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Arts

Director Paul Schrader Tests His Faith In 'First Reformed'

2:44pm February 15, 2019

by Terry Gross

First Reformed, which Schrader wrote and directed, is up for an Oscar for best screenplay. It tells the story of a divorced minister experiencing a crisis of faith. Originally broadcast June 12, 2018.

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The Academy Awards will have four award categories not aired live in the broadcast this year, which is drawing criticism from members of the movie industry.

Arts

Academy Defends Decision Not To Present 4 Awards Live

5:10pm February 14, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

Some Hollywood luminaries have criticized truncating the broadcast of awards for best cinematography, film editing, live action short, and makeup and hairstyling. Some parts will be shown later.