This Sunday is the ninety-third Academy Awards. It’s been a trying year for the film industry, with the pandemic shuttering theatres and halting film productions. But the unusual circumstances have contributed to a remarkable crop of Oscar nominees. For years, the Academy has struggled with diversity and inclusion, but this year’s nominees are among the most diverse in Oscar history. Some have suggested that this year might be a turning point for Hollywood, though others have cautioned against assuming that a permanent change has occurred. Michael Schulman, a New Yorker staff writer, joins the guest host Carla Blumenkranz to discuss what the 2021 Oscars tell us about the politics of pandemic-era Hollywood, and what the future of the movie business might look like.
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Culture Desk
Oscars Spotlight: The 2021 Nominees for Best Picture
One film seems likely to win, but this category has plenty of room for surprises.
By Michael Schulman
Culture Desk
Oscars Spotlight: A Runaway Favorite for Best Director
This year’s front-runner is all but certain to win—and she would be the first woman of color to do so.
By Michael Schulman
The Front Row
2021 Oscars Predictions: Who Will Win Versus Who Should
A critic’s picks for Best Picture, Best Director, and more.
By Richard Brody
Our Local Correspondents
Donald Trump Is Being Ritually Humiliated in Court
At his criminal trial, the ex-President has to sit there while potential jurors, prosecutors, the judge, witnesses, and even his own lawyers talk about him as a defective, impossible person.
By Eric Lach