If you watched the recent Academy Awards telecast, you will remember its strange and stunning conclusion. The show’s producers unwisely broke tradition by saving the announcement of the Best Actor award until last, presumably to honor the posthumous expected winner, Chadwick Boseman.
When Anthony Hopkins was named as the winner instead, the Oscarcast ended with a hushed thud, especially as Hopkins was overseas and unavailable to give an acceptance speech.
Many people wondered how such an upset could happen – even Hopkins admitted later that he did not expect to win – and this led to a question: What did Anthony Hopkins do to capture the Academy’s vote?
You can find out this month when the Flint Institute of Arts presents Hopkins’ Oscar-winning performance in “The Father,” a British drama that certainly ranks as one of its star’s greatest works. The June 4-6 screenings will mark the return of in-person films to the reopened FIA Theater after months of online movies presented by the museum.
In a poignant look at the human condition, Hopkins portrays an elderly man who refuses assistance from his loved ones. In the grips of dementia, he attempts to make sense of his changing circumstances. Olivia Colman – as a daughter attempting to deal with the loss of her father – and Olivia Williams co-star in “The Father,” which earned six Oscar nominations, including best picture.
“The Father” will launch the Dort Financial Credit Union summer film series at the FIA. The new series is slated to continue June 11-13 with another recent Academy Award contender, “Collective,” an investigative film about fraud and corruption in Romania’s health care system uncovered in the wake of a tragic fire. It gained Oscar nominations for best documentary and best international feature.
The Dort Financial series continues with two vintage films to round out the month. “Saturday Night Fever,” the disco musical that made John Travolta a movie star, will be shown June 18-20, and “Reservoir Dogs,” Quentin Tarantino’s breakout film, is slated for June 25-27.
Information on tickets and upcoming films can be found online at FlintArts.org. Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Safety procedures will be followed in accordance with current governmental regulations regarding COVID-19 conditions.
Meanwhile, as the world continues its return to something resembling normal, don’t forget to patronize your local commercial theater. I’m looking forward to checking out “Cruella,” “A Quiet Place II,” “The Misfits” and, especially, the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical “In the Heights,” coming June 11.
