What a triumphant win for Steve McQueen, last night, for his “12 Years a Slave.” Let us hope that more black filmmakers will advance in their craft and career and reach their place in the sun some day, too (Lee Daniels and Ryan Coogler of “Fruitvale Station” have been leading the charge). The international film industry is rather too homogeneous, color-wise, so last night’s mega-win for the ... more >
ARCHIVES
12 YEARS A SLAVE CROWNED AT ACADEMY AWARDS
It's the first time a black filmmaker gets the top nod
Full list of the winners included below
2013—The year’s best
So much to be thankful for
Best hairdo: Bobby Canavale's nape in "Blue Jasmine." Best scene: Greta Gerwig running in "Frances Ha" to David Bowie's "Modern Love." Best newcomer: Barkhad Abdi in "Captain Phillips." Best acting award: New York City in "Inside Llewyn Davis." Best documentary: "The Act of killing." So much to be thankful for this year. Here are my favorites among those films which had an official U.S. ... more >
12 Years a slave
The story that needs to be retold
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’o and Michael Fassbender
Directed by Steve McQueen
Among movies about race in America, how many great films have been made about slavery? We’ve seen gentle drivers ("Driving Miss Daisy"), sisterhoods of maids ("The Help") and pizza places going up in smoke for our sins ("Do the Right Thing"). Most of these films focus on the sixties or the modern day. Even Lincoln barely touches on slavery as more than legal theory. This enormous, shocking gap ... more >
BRAVO TIFF
A bite-size take on the Toronto Fest that was
Film excellence at the Toronto International Film Festival which ended Sunday was on full display, reminding us why cinema is also called the seventh art, a qualifier a critic can’t always use nowadays. British director Steve McQueen’s superb “12 Years a Slave” which won the prestigious audience award is already a front-runner contender for an Academy Award. Other great films were Geoffrey ... more >