Controversial film, now on Blu-ray/DVD, that begins with a rape scene brought French actress her first Oscar nomination and her first Golden Globe win
Receiving an honorary award at the 42nd annual César ceremony in Paris on Friday night, George Clooney used the occasion to speak out against the “hate” and “fear” promulgated by U.S. President Donald Trump, warning the world “not to confuse dissent with disloyalty” and that “we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.”
Meryl Streep is nominated once again for her performance in Florence Foster Jenkins. The queen of the big screen broke her own record this year by earning her 20th(!) career Oscar nod – the most for any actor by far (Katharine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson are tied for second place with 12 nominations apiece). But even Meryl had a first time – the 67-year-old’s first nomination came back in 1978 for The Deer Hunter, when she was just 29.
Paul Verhoeven is accustomed to pushing moviegoers out of their comfort zones. The Netherlands-born director has crafted some of Hollywood’s most provocative blockbusters, from RoboCop to Starship Troopers. Since premiering at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, Elle has received rave reviews as well as more measured reactions for its depiction of a woman who doesn’t exactly follow traditional societal norms.
A new spot for the button-pushing psychological drama