The film that deserves to win the Best Picture Oscar (but won't)

The Independent’s entertainment newsletter [SUBSCRIBE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( February 11, 2023 [View in browser](   This week I watched the film that should win the [Oscar for Best Picture](. Sarah Polley’s Women Talking probably won’t take the crown, but it’s out in cinemas this weekend and [I’d urge you to see it](. Based on Miriam Toews’ 2018 novel about a true event, in which over 100 women and girls were raped by men in their isolated, religious community, it’s a gentle meditation on abuse and survival. The soundtrack, the cinematography, the all-star cast: they all work on you to create an experience of raw power that I’d say is the first great piece of post-MeToo cinema. With the arrival of February, we’ve seen a bit of colour return to our lives. Not only are the evenings getting lighter, but an abundance of brilliant new exhibitions have made our art galleries the place to be. This week,[our editor Geordie Greig spoke to national treasure David Hockney]( about his new show, which uses innovative technology to turn his artworks into an immersive experience. And our chief art critic Mark Hudson reviewed two major new exhibitions: [Donatello at the V&A](and [Peter Doig at the Courtauld Gallery](. He heartily recommends them both. In living colour: Hockney at his new exhibition at Lightroom, London (Justin Sutcliffe) And… you wait ages for a controversial music awards ceremony, and then two come along at once. There was outcry at the start of the week when Beyoncé once again did not win Album of the Year at the Grammys. We all thought[it would be a two-horse race between Queen Bey and Adele](, who famously pipped her to the post in 2017. But the winner turned out to be… Harry Styles. Mark Beaumont argued that Styles and Beyoncé are “[in different leagues: Beyoncé pioneers, Styles imitates](”. And tonight the Brit Awards will take place, having already caused a furore when no women were nominated in the new gender-neutral Artist of the Year category. [Isobel Lewis spoke to Mo Gilligan](, who is back on hosting duties for the second year and wants to revel in the night's "organised chaos". And Craig McLean found out about the thinking behind its newly designed trophy, [from artist Slawn](. Have a great weekend, Jessie [@jessiecath](   What to do this weekend Exhibition | Action, Gesture, Paint: Women Artists and Global Abstraction 1940-70, Whitechapel Gallery This revelatory exhibition on women’s contribution to the most notoriously macho of art movements, Abstract Expressionism, is a feast of furious brushwork and riotous colour. While the likes of Helen Frankenthaler and Lee Krasner challenged Rothko, Pollock and co on their own turf, there were exuberant parallel developments as far afield as Korea and Mozambique. Mark Hudson | Chief Art Critic   Theatre | Phaedra, National Theatre Anyone who saw Yerma at the Young Vic in 2016 will understand why this is such a hot ticket: Australian theatremaker Simon Stone has a gift for making old stories feel dizzyingly modern. When I spoke to the show’s star, [two-time Oscar nominee Janet McTeer](, she explained that this Greek myth about a queen falling in love with her stepson would be told in a totally new way. Jessie Thompson | Arts Editor @jessiecath   Film | Your Place or Mine Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher, the stars of this glossy, new Netflix romcom, went viral this week for appearing almost wincingly disconnected at the film’s LA premiere – co-stars so devoid of chemistry it felt like they’d barely met, let alone pretended to fall in love in a movie. It wasn’t the most promising of starts for this syrupy throwback about long-time friends who swap houses and realise they might actually be romantically compatible. Still: romcom nostalgia! From the writer of The Devil Wears Prada! You’ll absolutely be watching it on Sunday afternoon with a hangover. Adam White | Film Editor @__adamwhite   TV | The Gold, BBC One On 26 November 1983, six armed men broke into the Brink’s-Mat depot near London’s Heathrow Airport, where they were expecting to find a million pounds worth of foreign currency. Instead, they stumbled upon gold bullion worth £26m. The heist, which at the time was the largest robbery in world history, is being dramatised in new BBC thriller The Gold. Those missing Happy Valley will be pleased to hear that irreverence and bad-ass antics abound. Ellie Harrison | TV Editor @Ellie_Harrison   Books | Victory City by Salman Rushdie The latest novel from Salman Rushdie arrives in bookshops this week following a raft of glowing reviews. Martin Chilton, our Chief Books Critic, said the book – Rushdie’s first publication since he was brutally attacked on stage last summer – [reminds us that]( “Rushdie’s courage and steadfast belief in free speech continue to be a source of inspiration and his exuberant writing remains a source of pleasure”. Jessie Thompson | Arts Editor @jessiecath   [The Saturday Interview – Bryan Cranston]( [Oscars image]( Bryan Cranston stars in the second series of 'Your Honor' (Frank Ockenfels/SHOWTIME) I loved Annabel Nugent's [brilliant conversation with the legend that is Bryan Cranston](. Ahead of a new series of Your Honor, he showed Annabel his Breaking Bad tattoo, explained the fundamentals of being an actor, and discussed whether he'd ever make a Malcolm in the Middle film. [Oscars image]( Cranston in 'Your Honor' (Showtime) Read an extract from our Saturday Interview below… Cranston often speaks like this, in earnest and in second person – not to deflect, which is its typical purpose, but to instruct. He’d make a fantastic film professor. He lets me in on the four-step guide to becoming a good actor: talent (“it can’t be taught but it can be nurtured”); an insatiable curiosity (“a willingness to read and read and read”); a treasure chest of your personal experiences (“not just joy but also despair; here’s pain, here’s anger, here’s vengeance, all those ugly things”); and lastly, a keen imagination to connect the pieces. “You put it all together, and those are the tools to create an interesting, compelling character.” I feel like I owe him a tuition fee. [Read the full interview here](   Weekend Shelf-Care Weekend Shelf-Care Julia May Jonas Students make allegations against their English professor in Julia May Jonas's novel – but we hear the story from his wife, also a professor herself. Many described this book as one of last year's best debut novels, and it's released in paperback this week. A book I recently read and loved is… My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley. So specific, brutal, funny, real – I read it in one sitting and then immediately read it again. My three fantasy literary dinner party guests would be… I think Iris Murdoch, Grace Paley, and Colette would be an ingenious or disastrous trio. Either way they would be fascinating. Not finishing books: my stance is… If it's not serving you, put it to the side. If, weeks, months, or years later you pick it up and feel affectionate, then start again. If you feel aversion, or boredom, let it go – you tried your best. My writing routine is… Once everyone is out of the house I take a walk to shake off the busyness of the morning. Then I write for 2-4 hours, sometimes mingling that with reading if I'm feeling scattered. I try not to rewrite, that's for later in the day, though sometimes I can't help myself. 'Vladimir' by Julia May Jonas is out now in paperback   Enjoying this newsletter? Unlock unlimited, ad-free reading on the website and in The Independent app when you subscribe – plus, benefit from our [welcome offer when you join today](.   [INDYBEST]( / [VALENTINE'S DAY]( [Spark romance with these last-minute gifts and supermarket meal deals]( you forgot about Valentine's Day, we've got you covered with [last-minute gifts]( and delicious [meal deals]( from [Aldi](, [Tesco](, [M&S](, [Sainsburys]( and more. [Shop next day delivery gifts](       OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE [Climate News] Climate News Every Friday, 12pm (UK time) Written by Louise Boyle [Join now]( [Simon Calder's Travel Week] Simon Calder's Travel Week Every Friday, 7am (UK time) Written by Simon Calder [Join now]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's entertainment newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's entertainment newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Culture_Newsletter_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. 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