Culture & Arts

Black filmmaker points out inconvenient truth

Culture | Amazon initially rejects documentary by renowned screenwriter Shelby Steele

by Megan Basham
Posted 10/20/20, 05:07 pm

At the height of this summer’s Black Lives Matter protests, Amazon Prime put up a series of billboards promising to “Amplify Black Voices.” It also added an “Amplify” branded carousel of African American films to its home page.

But Amazon deemed black filmmaker Shelby Steele unworthy of amplification, at least until the company faced a barrage of negative press.

Clouds director puts lens on faith

Culture | The real-life family behind the Disney movie shared its beliefs with cast and crew

by Sharon Dierberger
Posted 10/13/20, 01:36 pm

After watching numerous auditions, director Justin Baldoni knew he’d finally found in Fin Argus the right young man to portray teenager Zach Sobiech in the new movie Clouds, based on a true story. But he did not cast him until consulting with Zach’s mom, Laura.

“This is Zach! I feel it. I feel it,” she quickly agreed with Baldoni.

Associated Press/Photo by Carolyn Kaster (file)

American poet takes home Nobel

by Rachel Lynn Aldrich
Posted 10/08/20, 01:19 pm

The Swedish Academy on Thursday honored New York–born poet Louise Glück with the Nobel Prize in literature “for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal.” Glück, 77, has avoided publicity and did not immediately offer a comment. The last American to win the Nobel Prize in literature was musician Bob Dylan in 2016.

Netflix makes the China connection

Culture | U.S. senators question the streaming company’s commitment to human rights

Sharon Dierberger | 9/29/20, 03:35 pm

Netflix shrugged off concerns five Republican senators voiced last week over a new TV series planned by the streaming service. The lawmakers accused the company of normalizing Chinese atrocities against ethnic minorities by adapting a Chinese book trilogy.

Working from home didn’t work for the Emmys

Entertainment | Pandemic takes away Hollywood’s sequins, leaves self-infatuation and elitism

Collin Garbarino | 9/22/20, 06:33 pm

TV personality Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 72nd Emmy Awards on Sunday in the largely empty Staples Center in Los Angeles while nominees waited at home to discover whether they had won. Winners gave their acceptance speeches via livestream and, in most cases, received their trophies through prearranged delivery.

Oscars get a symbolic makeover

Culture | The best picture category has new diversity standards

Collin Garbarino | 9/15/20, 06:06 pm

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences suffered embarrassment in 2015 when #OscarsSoWhite started trending on social media. April Reign, the activist who started the hashtag, noted at the time that the academy’s membership was 92 percent white and 75 percent male. The controversy went from bad to worse when the list of 2016 nominees for the Academy Awards had less ethnic diversity than the 2015 slate.

Book critic wins cancel culture showdown

Culture | Carlin Romano refuses to plead guilty to systemic racism

Megan Basham | 9/01/20, 05:11 pm

After months of infighting at the National Book Critics Circle, a member who refused to endorse an anti-racism statement will keep his seat on the board of directors—for now.

Nothing cute about child exploitation

Culture | An upcoming Netflix film about pre-adolescent dancers draws criticism

Megan Basham | 8/25/20, 03:47 pm

Netflix apologized last week after promotional materials for one of its upcoming films sparked accusations it hypersexualized young girls.

The summary for the French drama Cuties, which is scheduled to hit the streaming platform on Sept. 9, originally read, “Amy, 11, becomes fascinated with a twerking dance crew. Hoping to join them, she starts to explore her femininity, defying her family’s traditions.”

Breaking ranks with Hollywood

Culture | Actress and #MeToo activist questions liberals’ record on sexual assault

Collin Garbarino | 8/25/20, 10:46 am

Pro-Trump she’s not, but actress Rose McGowan had no love for Democrats, either, at the close of their national convention last week. “What have the Democrats done to solve ANYTHING?” she tweeted. “Help the poor? No. Help black & brown people? No. Stop police brutality? No. Help single mothers? No. Help children? No. You have achieved nothing. NOTHING.”

Masks at the movies aren’t just for superheroes

Entertainment | Major theater chains reopen with new coronavirus precautions

Sharon Dierberger | 8/17/20, 04:16 pm

More film lovers can go back to the movies this week, but they should be prepared to pay more, wear masks, and choose from a limited number of releases.

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