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'Anora': The Anti-'Pretty Woman' That Divides Despite Its Oscar Win

Bélinda Ibrahim, 11/03 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Oscars Film Analysis Culture Anora Pretty Woman

With Anora, Sean Baker delivers a film that blends drama and social satire. Crowned at Cannes and later at the 2025 Academy Awards—where it won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Mikey Madison—this feature has nonetheless divided critics. Through the story of Ani, a stripper who marries a Russian oligarch, Baker revisits ...

Oscars viewing figures surpass expectations with mobile and PC boost

This is Beirut, 05/03 12:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Oscars Ceremony Art Culture Awards

More people watched the Oscars than previously thought, Disney said Tuesday, after they totted up those tuning in on their mobile phones and laptops. The company, which owns network ABC and streamer Hulu, had initially reported that ratings were down for the show, which saw indie sex worker romp Anora take home a bevy of awards. Yet, on Tuesday, ...

From 'The Pianist' to ' The Brutalist,' Adrien Brody, Master of Immersion

Bélinda Ibrahim, 04/03 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Oscars Actor Adrien Brody Cinema Culture Movie

Adrien Brody possesses the rare gift of completely disappearing into his characters. Since his Oscar triumph in 2003 — becoming the youngest Best Actor winner at 29 — to his resurgence with The Brutalist, he has excelled at portraying men molded by war. His extreme method-acting approach has led him to explore the psychological depths of ...

The Oscars’ Winners and Losers: ‘Anora’ Triumphs as Others Celebrate Backstage

Madeleine Cadoux, 03/03 09:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Los Angeles Oscars Awards Academy Awards Culture Ceremony

Hollywood’s biggest night saw Anora emerge as the dominant force, securing five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Meanwhile, those who left empty-handed found solace in the revelry of the evening, with the backstage bar becoming the unofficial gathering place for relaxed nominees and industry insiders. The Oscars are often ...

The Top Nominees at the 2024 Oscars: A Tight Race

Madeleine Cadoux, 28/02 14:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Oscars Cinema Competition Awards Ceremony Culture

As the Oscars revelations are unfolding very soon, the battle is intense between Sean Baker’s tragicomedy Anora and Edward Berger’s Vatican thriller Conclave. Once considered a strong contender, Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez saw its Oscar hopes crumble following controversies surrounding its lead actress. Meanwhile, Ralph Fiennes’ ...

'The Brutalist': Fact, Fiction, and the Architect Debate Sparks

This is Beirut, 21/02 10:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

United States Cinema Oscars Film Art Culture

The Brutalist, an epic drama loosely inspired by the life and work of architect Marcel Breuer, is one of the favorites for Sunday’s Oscars. However, the film has drawn scorn from design experts, who accuse it of glaring errors and question whether its main character is even a Brutalist architect. Here are five things to know about the film, ...

Adrian Quesada’s Oscar Journey: Music, Representation, and Hope

This is Beirut, 20/02 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Music Oscars Culture Art

As a child, Adrian Quesada dreamed of success at the MTV Video Music Awards, but now, he is on an even bigger stage—with an Oscar nomination. The American musician with Mexican roots hopes the presence at the Academy Awards of someone from the Texas border town of Laredo will help serve as an inspiration for other people from minority ...

'Emilia Pérez': French Cinema Renaissance at 2025 Oscars Nominations

This is Beirut, 24/01 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Oscars Film Cinema France Culture Hollywood

The 2025 Oscars are marked by a strong presence of French cinema, with several films in contention in top categories. Among them, Emilia Perez by Jacques Audiard has set a record with 13 nominations, a rare feat for a non-English language film. This musical drama on gender transition has been praised for its cosmopolitan dimension, with sets ...

Oscars Nominees’ Lunch Cancelled, Industry Rallies Amid LA Wildfires

This is Beirut, 14/01 16:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Los Angeles Oscars Nominees Culture US

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday the cancellation of its glitzy nominees’ luncheon, as Los Angeles grapples with devastating wildfires. Nominations will now be revealed during a virtual event on January 23, marking a major adjustment to the traditional awards season. “We are all devastated by the impact of the ...

Olivia Hussey, the Star of Shakespearean Hollywood

Bélinda Ibrahim, 2024-12-29 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Film Actress Homage Oscars Culture Cinema

Olivia Hussey, forever remembered as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 masterpiece, passed away at the age of 73 on Friday, December 27, 2024, in her California home, surrounded by her loved ones. Her passing marks the end of an era in cinematic history, as her portrayal of Shakespeare’s heroine resonated deeply with generations of viewers ...

Exiled Filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof Represents Germany at Oscars

This is Beirut, 2024-11-25 18:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Iran Germany Cannes Oscars Film

After his hasty escape from Iran, his latest film will represent Germany at the Oscars: a symbolic escape for director Mohammad Rasoulof, both grateful and overwhelmed by having to reach this point to have his art recognized. The Seed of the Sacred Fig, his paranoid thriller shot clandestinely in Iran, has enchanted critics and won the Special ...

Quincy Jones Posthumously Honored with Governors Awards Oscar

This is Beirut, 2024-11-18 15:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Oscars Music Awards Hollywood

A titan of the music industry, Jones produced iconic records for legends such as Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, and countless others. Beyond music, he left an indelible mark on Hollywood, producing films like The Color Purple and earning Oscar nominations for his work on In Cold Blood and The Wiz. He passed away two weeks ago at the age of 91, ...

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