And the Oscar goes to...

The Academy Awards are Sunday and it's that one night of the year when everyone is a film critic. What was your favourite Oscar-nominated movie or performance this year? (Mine: BlacKkKlansman, which left me speechless in the final scenes.) 

To help you get ready for Hollywood's big night, I've assembled several great movie-related reads from around The Conversation global network.

Have a great weekend and we'll be back in your Inbox on Monday.

Scott White

Editor

Weekend Reads

The Oscars: what you may have missed in ‘Roma’

Alejandro Hernandez, Carleton University

Director Alfonso Cuarón's 'Roma' has received 10 Oscar nominations. Here, a sociologist explains the hidden historical and cultural context of the film.

What ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ can teach us about resilience

Nikki Martyn, University of Guelph-Humber

Even superheroes can't do it alone -- relationships are the most important factor in protecting us from negative outcomes and teaching us adversity doesn't have to be harmful.

Black Panther roars. Are we listening?

Benjamin Woo, Carleton University

Black Panther arrives at a moment of possibility. Its popularity demonstrates that people are crying out for chances to see themselves and their communities portrayed with dignity—as heroes.

If Beale Street Could Talk is a sumptuous, emotional follow up to Moonlight

Stuart Richards, University of South Australia

The new film from Moonlight writer and director Barry Jenkins delivers on high expectations.

Oscars 2019: Beyond the stats, why diversity matters

Dorinne Kondo, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Numbers alone don't relay the importance of people seeing their own experiences and lives mirrored in popular culture.

I am not your nice ‘Mammy’: How racist stereotypes still impact women

Cheryl Thompson, Ryerson University

Stereotypes of Black women continue to impact how they are treated in institutions.

The Favourite: at last we’re seeing lesbianism take centre stage in popular culture

Mary Harrod, University of Warwick

The hit film about a lesbian Queen Anne is the latest in a wave of films, TV series and books which make woman on woman sexuality a central theme.

Stan and Ollie: new biopic of the ageing comedy duo is a touching love story

David James, Manchester Metropolitan University

A new film tells the moving story of the twilight years of comedy's most successful double act.

Oscars: winning is more about appealing to the middlebrow than making art

Meredith Miller, Cardiff University

Virginia Woolf's satire of readers who use easily accessible art to acquire class and culture might just reveal why certain films win awards like Oscars.

2019 Oscars may be more remembered for the crises than the ceremony

Julie Lobalzo Wright, University of Warwick

There has been a stream of bad publicity in the lead-up to the film industry's night of nights.