Oscars Capture the Moment in a Fast-Changing World
The biggest surprise of Sunday night's Oscars was how the ceremony transcended the usual self-congratulatory air of Hollywood awards shows. Winners talked about racial inequalities, immigration…
Academy Awards
Alejandro G. Inarritu on Oscar Glory and Why He Wouldn’t Have Minded Losing
Alejandro G. Inarritu was as unabashedly frank backstage at Sunday night's Academy Awards as his movie "Birdman," about a washed-up superhero-movie actor attempting to reinvent himself on Broadway…
Amount of ‘Must-See TV’ Creates Event Fatigue in Entertainment
Add to the growing list of modern media maladies Event Fatigue Syndrome, a viral strain that is simultaneously under-diagnosed and, like so much these days, over-reported. The entertainment industry…
How to Fix the Oscars in 5 Easy Steps
This year's Oscars weren't just a disappointment in terms of viewership — down 16%, with tepid reviews for host Neil Patrick Harris — it also speaks to a much larger problem for Hollywood. The Oscars…
James Gunn Defends Comic Book Films After Oscars, Indie Spirit Awards Pile-On
“Guardians of the Galaxy” director James Gunn has come to the defense of superhero movies after the genre was criticized and lampooned at the Oscars and Independent Spirit Awards last weekend…
Four Big Lessons From This Year’s Oscars
The 87th Academy Awards are over, and the campaign season (which was equally brutal, mean and fascinating) provides several lessons. 1. Festivals are a big deal. This year it was unanimous: All eight…
Can an Oscar Speech Spark Social Change?
It’s routine for Oscar winners to use their platform before a worldwide audience to push a social problem into the spotlight. That was true in spades at this year’s Oscarcast, as recipients called…
Critics Debate the Best and Worst of the Oscars
Three Variety critics agree to disagree about Oscar winners and losers both onscreen and on the Dolby stage. PETER DEBRUGE: Last year, the Academy made a statement in giving the best picture award to…
‘Imitation Game’ Screenwriter Graham Moore’s Heartfelt Oscar Speech Almost Didn’t Happen
If social media is the judge, it was the most daring and heartfelt moment of the 2015 Oscar show. And it almost didn’t happen. Screenwriter Graham Moore recounted Monday that, as he thanked family…
Inside Oscar’s Glamorous After-Parties
The night doesn’t end when the final Oscar is handed out. In fact, the party is just getting started as stars and execs exit the Dolby Theater, heading to a flurry of post-awards celebrations…
