Godzilla Minus One is now available for streaming on Netflix, with a black-and-white version coming later this summer. The film, set in post-WWII Japan, has received critical acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It is also available for digital purchase and rental on platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV.
Richard Gere pays tribute to his late An Officer and a Gentleman costar Louis Gossett Jr., praising his dedication to his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley and his historic Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actor. Director Taylor Hackford also lauds Gossett's groundbreaking performance and explains the decision to cast a person of color in the role originally written for a White man.
David Seidler, the Academy Award-winning writer of The King's Speech, passed away at the age of 86 while on a fly-fishing trip in New Zealand. The cause of death was not disclosed. Seidler, who had a profound stutter as a child, was known for his passionate storytelling and had multiple projects in active development at the time of his death. He is survived by his adult children, Marc and Maya.
Wes Anderson won his first Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar," but was unable to attend the ceremony as he was in Germany shooting a new movie. The film is an adaptation of Roald Dahl's story and features a star-studded cast. Anderson expressed gratitude in a statement read on his behalf, acknowledging his collaborators and paying tribute to Owen Wilson. American Fiction star Issa Rae and US comedian Ramy Youssef accepted the award on his behalf. Despite previous nominations, this win marks Anderson's first Oscar victory.
Sean Ono Lennon developed an 11-minute animated short film, "War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko," based on his parents' 1971 protest song "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." The film, nominated for an Academy Award, expands the song's message through a narrative set in a World War I-like battle zone, aiming to keep the message of peace and love relevant for younger generations and prevent the fading of his parents' artistic legacies.
Wim Wenders' latest film "Perfect Days" features public toilets in Tokyo as a central theme, inspired by the city's architecturally stunning public bathroom buildings. The movie, nominated for an Academy Award, tells the story of a public-toilet cleaner with a mysterious past and showcases the unique design and artistry of the Tokyo Toilet project, originally intended to welcome visitors to the 2020 Olympic Games.
Norman Jewison, the acclaimed Canadian-born director known for films like "In the Heat of the Night" and "Fiddler on the Roof," has passed away at 97. Throughout his career, he combined light entertainment with topical films, often addressing themes of racism and injustice. Jewison received three Oscar nominations and won an Academy Award for lifetime achievement in 1999. He leaves behind a legacy of influential and diverse films, and is remembered for his impact on the film industry.
Sissy Spacek, the iconic movie star known for her role in the horror film "Carrie," looked very different in high school. She has had a successful career in Hollywood, winning an Academy Award for Best Actress and starring alongside top actors. Spacek underwent a physical transformation before entering showbiz, and her breakout role in "Carrie" earned her critical acclaim. She later won an Oscar for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn in "Coal Miner's Daughter." Spacek's personal life includes a marriage to production designer Jack Fisk and raising two daughters. She released a memoir in 2020 and shared her experience working with Harvey Weinstein.
A CBC report has raised questions about the indigenous heritage of singer/songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie, who has been celebrated as the first Indigenous person to win an Academy Award. The report obtained a birth certificate showing that Sainte-Marie was born to parents of European ancestry in Massachusetts, contradicting her claims of being born on Tribal land and adopted by white parents. Sainte-Marie responded by affirming her Indigenous identity and addressing allegations of sexual abuse by her brother. The report also highlighted inconsistencies in how Sainte-Marie has been identified with different Indigenous nations throughout her career.
Gwyneth Paltrow was seen using her Academy Award trophy as a doorstop in a video interview with Vogue. The actress, who won the Best Actress award in 1999 for her role in "Shakespeare in Love," joked that it works perfectly. Fans on social media found her nonchalant treatment of the prestigious award to be iconic. In the past, Glenn Close criticized Paltrow's win over Fernanda Montenegro, but Paltrow claimed she was unaware of the criticism. Close herself has been nominated for an Oscar eight times but has never won.
Glenda Jackson, a two-time Academy Award-winning actress and former British lawmaker, has died at the age of 87 after a short illness. Jackson won Oscars for her roles in "Women in Love" and "A Touch of Class" in the 1970s before entering politics in 1992. She returned to acting after leaving Parliament in 2015 and had some of her most acclaimed roles, including the title character in Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” She won a BAFTA award for her performance in the 2019 movie “Elizabeth is Missing” as a woman with Alzheimer’s trying to solve a mystery.