| February 20, 2026 
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Hey, movie fans! While the Oscars are still a few weeks away, it’s never too early to begin educating yourself on some of the tougher categories for your Oscar pool. To help you out, the Oscar-nominated short films are once again being released in theaters. Three of our critics weigh in on the programs, with thoughts on which are standouts and which, well, could be shorter. In other Oscar news, our Projectionist columnist, Kyle Buchanan, caught up with one nominee who has been in movies for more than three decades: Ethan Hawke. The actor, nominated for his lead performance in “Blue Moon,” offered plenty of reflection, but also thoughts on the various ways he is keeping busy outside of acting. “I think part of my obsession with making documentaries, doing theater and writing novels is making sure that nobody can take this away from me — I’ve learned enough that I’ll find another way to contribute,” he said. And one final Oscar thought for the week involves the newest category to be added to the roster: casting. In talking with a governor in the academy, as well as casting directors, the writer Esther Zuckerman aims to get to the bottom of the question, what criteria do you use to judge casting? Enjoy the movies! |
