Adult actors in ‘The Whale’ won Oscars for best lead and supporting acting in 2023, but if you catch up with awarded movies this holiday, the film’s depiction of teens warrants scrutiny.
When the film premiered, theatergoers fainted and vomited. It went on to inspire a series of copycat films – while fomenting a cultural panic about the demons in our midst.
A focus on financial compensation for subjects of ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ overshadowed the need to examine storytelling conventions and creative practices in contemporary documentary filmmaking.
Gregory Camp, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Both Babylon and The Fabelman’s were nominated for Academy Awards for best score – and both take opposing but equally successful approaches evoking nostalgia.
Awards aren’t just about improving chances in the eyes of funders – the recognition of an award can mean the difference between stopping and continuing.
‘Tár’ shines a spotlight on the challenges of working in the ultraconservative world of classical music, including complex social issues such as misogyny, racism and homophobia.
Several films have portrayed violence and fear under Argentina’s most recent dictatorship, but the Oscar-nominated ‘Argentina, 1985’ is the first to explore the trial that brought junta leaders to justice.