Outside Hollywood, movies are produced, programmed and released by a close-knit community that goes back several generations. When someone from that world drops out of the picture, the support system usually comes out of the woodwork.
Movies about African American experiences have always been in the minority, but this year’s slate of potential Oscar contenders provide a startling counter-example: From the newly released police violence drama “Fruitvale Station” to Lee Daniels’ upcoming “The Butler,” Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” and “Black Nativity,” there’s a vast array of black movies with a lot on their minds and the …
This week on DVD/Blu-ray: The surprise front-runner to snag this year’s Best Picture Oscar; Joe Wright’s radical take on a Russian classic; a crowd-pleasing retro-musical set in Russia; one of Marlon Brando’s best films; and a creepy horror film from the makers of “Insidious.” Â #1. “Argo” “Argo,” the surprise last-minute front-runner to win this Sunday’s Best Picture prize at the Academy Awards …