Fascination or horror? War film directors test their limits by pushing moral, artistic, and technical boundaries to the max. Hardly any other genre has such intense visuals and such an impact on the viewers.
Fascination or horror? War film directors test their limits by pushing moral, artistic, and technical boundaries to the max. Hardly any other genre has such intense visuals and such an impact on the viewers.
Best Picture Potentials Offer a Time Capsule of the Current Zeitgeist
Tim Gray, provided by
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Oscars are a time capsule. Though pundits may quibble about nominees or winners, one thing is beyond question: The film choices reflect the year in which they were released.
For example, in 1946, “The Best Years of Our Lives” hit a nerve as people were trying to rebuild their lives after WWII. The 1969 “Midnight Cowboy” captured all the sexual confusion, excitement and fear of that tumultuous decade.
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This year’s contenders similarly reflect the moment we’re living in: a time of racial tension, gender battles, political wars, health issues and an overriding sense of doubt and isolation. A montage of 2020 film highlights would sum up the year just as accurately as newsreel clips.
Jay Baruchel on Random Acts of Violence and George Miller s Justice League: Mortal
Brent Lang, provided by
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Jay Baruchel doesn’t give up easily.
The actor spent a decade trying to get “Random Acts of Violence,” his twisty look at a serial killer whose murder spree is inspired by comic books, made. Part of the problem, Baruchel admits, is that he wanted to direct a straight-up horror film, which puzzled backers who associated the actor with his roles in comedies like “This is the End” or “Tropic Thunder.”
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The hesitation may also have been related to the fact that “Random Acts of Violence” seems equally interested in unsettling its viewers by examining the moral quandaries surrounding all the on-screen bloodletting, while raising questions about the responsibility artists have when it comes to depicting cinematic carnage. The central character in the film, the writer of a comic book called Slasherman, discovers during a
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Meryl Streep s style evolution in 60 photos: How actress became long-standing queen of the red carpet
Prada certainly isn t the only label you ll find in this star s wardrobe
Meryl Streep, in a white blazer and embellished dress, in London, England, on March 25, 1980. WireImage
Meryl Streep, in a gold-hued maxi, at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on April 11, 1983. Getty Images
Meryl Streep, in a floral embroidered midi, and Don Gummer attend the 56th annual Academy Awards at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, on April 9, 1984. Getty Images
Meryl Streep, in a metallic skirt suit, at the 46th annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 28, 1989. Getty Images