N.Y. film awards rife with political drama
Steven Spielberg’s newspaper drama “The Post” took a bow at the politically charged National Board of Review Awards, where Robert De Niro lambasted President Donald Trump with an expletive-laden tirade and Meryl Streep took a moment in an awards season thick with gender politics to praise the men who have been her mentors and collaborators.
It was already decided that Tuesday night’s gala at Cipriani’s in Manhattan would belong to “The Post.” The National Board of Review announced the winners last month, with “The Post” taking best picture, best actress for Streep and best actor for Tom Hanks. But given that the film was unexpectedly shut out at Sunday’s Golden Globes, Streep and Spielberg were able to trot out speeches they might have given earlier.
Streep, a prominent voice on gender equality, sounded some optimistic notes. “The men, I just think we can get through this moment,” she said, referring to the #MeToo movement and sexual harassment scandals that have hit Hollywood.
Accepting the best picture award, Spielberg said he felt “a social imperative” to make the film about a free press standing up to a corrupt Nixon White House.
“We are in a fight, and it’s a fight not just about alternative facts, but it’s a fight for the objective truth,” he said. “President Obama said in a recent interview, ‘It’s not that democracy is fragile, but it’s reversible.’ I wanted to do more than just sit down and watch television and complain to (wife Kate Capshaw) and my kids about what’s happening to our country.”