Last Sunday’s 98th Academy Awards saw Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” win six Oscars, including Best Picture, while “Sinners” added four. Autumn Durald Arkapaw also made history with a surprise cinematography victory.
It was a great night for cinephiles.
But earlier that Sunday, some much more epic awards were handed out — ones which, like the Oscars, were earned through the ultimate showcase of skill and knowledge in their craft.
Last week, the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) in Tallahassee held the 25th annual Florida Lineman Competition, bringing together hundreds of workers and judges from across the state to demonstrate their abilities in a demanding line of work. Participants tackled challenges such as replacing fuses and insulators, changing fiberglass guy links, relocating cross arms, transferring equipment from pole to pole, and even competing in a realistic simulation of rescuing an injured fellow lineworker.
No stone left unturned in the world of linework.
Pictured are the 2026 Overall Journeyman Team Award Winners, who were presented to Lance Rivenbark, Jordan Reddick and Jason Smith of the City of Tallahassee.
Points were awarded based on speed, with deductions for failing to follow safety standards and proper work practices.
Just like the Oscars, there were various categories for competitors: the “Journeyman teams” consisted of three lineworkers, including at least one with five or more years of experience. The “Apprentices” category featured lineworkers in training competing individually.
The Silver Jubilee competition included utility workers from 13 companies, with 156 lineworkers — 72 apprentices and 84 journeymen — competing across 26 teams. Fifty-eight judges from across the Sunshine State helped fairly and objectively score the competition.
And here in the 850 — the “Old fields,” Capitol City, aka Tallahassee — it just means more, as the 2026 Overall Journeyman Team Winners’ Cup was presented to Lance Rivenbark, Jordan Reddick and Jason Smith of the City of Tallahassee. That’s on top of the Overall Apprentice Award, which went to Dalton Gowdy of the City of Tallahassee.
The City of Tallahassee Electric Utility’s strong showing comes alongside a broader recognition of its safety record, earning a 2025 Safety Award from FMEA for maintaining one of the lowest incident rates among similarly sized utilities.
A Tallahassee sweep — and a safety win to match.
___
Coming up, the usual assortment of news, intel, and observations from the week that was in Florida’s capital city by Peter Schorsch, Drew Wilson, Drew Dixon, Liam Fineout and the staff of Florida Politics.
But first, the “Takeaway 5” — the Top 5 stories from the week that was:
— Take 5—
First up — Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the first new laws emerging from the 2026 Legislative Session. “We have some of the best beaches in the world in the state of Florida, and something that we are very proud of,” DeSantis said in Bradenton as he signed SB 302 and HB 1417 during a news conference. “It also requires that we be good stewards of it and that sometimes requires that you put your money where your mouth is.” SB 302 blocks developers from building a cruise terminal at Manatee County’s Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, which is home to mangrove forests and freshwater and saltwater wetlands. The bill bans any more dredging there unless it’s approved for public recreational opportunities, such as a new dock or pier.
Fighter — President Donald Trump announced Monday that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, a longtime Florida political consultant, has breast cancer. Trump said Wiles has an early-stage diagnosis and will continue to work full-time at the White House. “Susie Wiles is an incredible Chief of Staff, a great person and one of the strongest people I know, but unfortunately, she has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, and has decided to take on this challenge, IMMEDIATELY, as opposed to waiting,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “She has a fantastic medical team, and her prognosis is excellent! During the treatment period, she will be spending virtually full time at the White House, which makes me, as President, very happy!” Trump praised Wiles’ work ethic and expressed optimism about her condition.
Pushback? — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd literally held up signs to push back against media reports that he and other Sheriffs are opposing mass deportation efforts. Media reports this week on a recent State Immigration Enforcement Council meeting said Judd and other Florida Sheriffs sought to “rebel” against the immigration policy pushed by Trump and DeSantis. “Not true,” Judd said during a news conference. “We, in fact, support the mass deportation of illegal aliens — those who are criminals, those who have warrants of deportation, those who are here creating havoc and problems. …” Still, Judd advised Tuesday that elected officials need to outline a path forward for tens of thousands of non-criminal illegal immigrants who are only guilty of a civil offense but otherwise have a proven track record of positive contribution to society. Judd clarified to the public that crossing into the United States without documents violates federal law, but it is only a civil offense, not a criminal offense.
Not on board — House Speaker-designate Sam Garrison is on record as being against what could be part of a proposal by DeSantis to pay the way for the state’s poorest counties in the event voters decide to eliminate property taxes in November. Garrison also suggested that even Republicans who recognize the burden of millage may disagree on how to alleviate it. On Thursday, he told members of the Jacksonville Bar Association that he is “very concerned that whatever we do be done uniformly.” … “I don’t want to get in the business, especially on a constitutional referendum, of having different rules for different counties,” he added. Garrison noted that Clay County, the northern part of which is a functional suburb of Jacksonville, is in a “donut hole” between urban areas like Duval and 32 of Florida’s 67 counties designated as fiscally constrained.
‘Systemic failures’ — A new report from Disability Rights Florida says at least six deaths inside the state’s mental health hospitals over the past five years were preventable and stemmed in part from missed safety checks, falsified records and broader failures in oversight. The watchdog organization found basic procedures meant to ensure patients were alive and not in distress were repeatedly ignored. The report, finalized last month and announced this week, examined deaths at Florida State Hospital, Northeast Florida State Hospital, North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center and South Florida State Hospital, highlighting what its authors characterized as a pattern of negligence that contributed to deaths by suicide, homicide and untreated medical complications. “These are not isolated incidents,” Disability Rights Florida Executive Director Cherie Hall said in a statement. “These are systemic failures in facilities responsible for the care of some of Florida’s most vulnerable individuals.”
— Payday —
10 has been achieved, so 20 is next.
Last week in Naples, everyone’s favorite former collegiate baseball player, DeSantis, announced that Florida has reached the milestone of 10,000 bonuses awarded through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Program.
$5 million was distributed to 744 officers across the state. The program, launched in 2022, aims to highlight Florida’s commitment to its law enforcement officers.
“Today in Naples, I was proud to announce a milestone for Florida’s Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Program: More than 10,000 bonus payments of $5,000 after-tax have now been distributed to law enforcement personnel across our state,” said DeSantis.
More than 10,000 bonus payments have landed in LEO checking accounts.
“Floridians are grateful for their service every day.”
The program provides a one-time bonus of $5,000 after taxes to newly relocated and employed officers as a thank you for choosing Florida. It has distributed more than $67.9 million since its inception.
“This milestone of more than 10,000 recruitment bonuses is a tremendous achievement for our state and the dedicated men and women who choose to protect our communities. Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ leadership, these bonuses not only help our new officers and their families get settled, but they also strengthen our neighborhoods, improve public safety and support the long-term well-being of communities throughout Florida,” added Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly.
For the 2025-26 fiscal year, DeSantis secured $49 million for pay increases for 16,200 state law enforcement officers, raising minimum base pay to $60,000 and creating opportunities for raises of 10% for entry-level and 15% for veteran officers.
— Subpoenas sent —
Attorney General James Uthmeier says he’s opening another investigation into a communication platform he argues is contributing to a growing number of sexual predator cases.
At a news conference in Sarasota, Uthmeier said he initiated a civil investigation into Discord. He has stepped up such probes since taking over the state’s top law enforcement post about a year ago.
He said many sexual predator cases begin on platforms like Roblox, Snapchat and others, but eventually shift to Discord.
“What we learned here is that all roads lead to Discord,” Uthmeier said.
The AG is going after the popular messaging app.
Discord is a messaging and voice chat platform widely used in the gaming community. Its website describes it as “great for playing games and chilling with friends, or even building a worldwide community. Customize your own space to talk, play and hang out.”
But Uthmeier said predators are taking advantage of the platform and argued the company is not doing enough to police illegal activity.
“We’re going to stand in the way,” Uthmeier said. “And we’re going to investigate and hold this company accountable for taking advantage of our kids.”
Subpoenas are being sent to Discord officials seeking the company’s policies on age verification and other safeguards meant to protect children. Uthmeier’s Office is also seeking records related to marketing plans, complaints of sexual exploitation and data on how many children are using the platform.
“It’s clear predators can get away with some pretty disgusting stuff using that platform,” Uthmeier said.
— ‘House of horrors’ —
A Central Florida man could face the remainder of his life in prison after being arrested on dozens of charges related to possessing child sexual abuse material.
Attorney General Uthmeier held a news conference in Sanford, where he detailed the investigation into Blake McKinniss, who was arrested on March 9. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement acted on a tip and began investigating McKinniss alongside the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and the Sanford Police Department.
A search warrant was executed earlier this month. Uthmeier said that when investigators arrived, they found a “house of horrors” at the home of the 37-year-old.
Law enforcement walked into a house of horrors… and not the Halloween kind.
“What law enforcement saw when they arrived left them speechless,” Uthmeier said.
Investigators say McKinniss’ home was decorated with children’s attire, toys and other paraphernalia. Uthmeier said McKinniss had no contact with children at the time of his arrest, but children’s clothing and toys were strewn throughout the residence despite no children living there.
Investigators also reviewed digital images in McKinniss’ possession. He was charged with 53 counts of possessing child sexual abuse material, 46 counts of artificial intelligence-generated child sexual abuse material and one count of possessing a childlike sex doll.
— Bravo from Blaise —
Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia is celebrating the Legislature’s approval of two measures he helped draft aimed at increasing oversight of local government spending.
Both chambers passed the bill (HB 1329), sponsored by Republican Rep. Yvette Benarroch. Republican Sen. Nick DiCeglie sponsored the companion measure (SB 1566). The legislation requires cities and counties to post budgets and employee salaries online in a clear, accessible format for taxpayers.
The bill crossed the finish line.
“As Chief Financial Officer, I have made it my mission to provide real transparency into local governments’ spending, so Floridians know exactly what their tax dollars will go toward. For far too long, local governments have benefited from ambiguity and inaccessibility in their spending habits,” Ingoglia said in a news release Monday.
Gov. DeSantis still needs to sign the measure.
Ingoglia was inspired to push for the bills after a yearlong effort in which he traveled the state, criticizing local governments for “overspending.” He has singled out more than a dozen municipalities, saying he has uncovered nearly $2 billion in excess spending.
— Robbed —
Got fraud? Better call Blaise.
This week, CFO Ingoglia announced the arrest of Jacques Denomme for alleged $1 million workers’ compensation fraud.
The arrest was made by the Department of Financial Services’ Criminal Investigations Division after Denomme allegedly concealed payroll information to avoid paying higher workers’ compensation premiums.
“A scheme to commit fraud of this magnitude is no minor offense. This is deliberate fraud that hurts small businesses, their employees, and Florida insurance policyholders by driving up workers’ compensation insurance premiums. This guy got greedy, but now he’s getting booked. My investigators are actively working to stop those who orchestrate these types of large-scale fraud schemes and put them behind bars,” Ingoglia said.
Fraud isn’t a good long-term career under Blaise Ingoglia’s watch.
Denomme allegedly used two money service businesses to conceal payroll and failed to notify his insurance company of significant payroll changes, allowing the scheme to continue for two years.
In total, he is accused of depriving the insurance company of $1,090,504 in premium payments and of failing to cover his employees properly.
Denomme was arrested on March 3 and charged with organized scheme to defraud and workers’ compensation premium avoidance fraud. The case will be prosecuted by the Martin County State Attorney’s Office. The CFO also released a video of the arrest, available here.
The Department of Financial Services is asking anyone with knowledge of fraud to report it at FraudFreeFlorida.com.
— Breaking Benjamin —
St. Patrick’s Day is officially over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still find a pot of gold.
On March 17, Ingoglia announced there are more than 13 million claimable accounts of unclaimed property, totaling over $4.5 billion in assets.
Unclaimed property occurs when financial assets are abandoned, unclaimed or left inactive after a business, bank or government entity holds them beyond a dormancy period, typically around five years.
St. Patrick’s Day may be over, but that doesn’t mean the CFO doesn’t have some gold waiting for you.
“This St. Patrick’s Day, Floridians might be able to discover their own pot of gold awaiting them through the Division of Unclaimed Property. My team is working every day to reunite Floridians with the money that rightfully belongs to them. To see if you have property waiting to be claimed, visit FLTreasureHunt.gov,” said Ingoglia.
Unclaimed property can include dormant bank accounts, insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit balances and refunds. In some cases, it also includes valuables such as watches, jewelry, coins, currency, stamps and even historical items from abandoned safe deposit boxes.
The available totals include Pensacola ($382,911), Panama City ($206,397), Tallahassee ($233,202), Jacksonville ($917,011), Gainesville ($184,124), Orlando ($2,343,186), Tampa/St. Petersburg ($2,676,385), Fort Myers/Naples ($751,188), West Palm Beach ($1,470,852) and Miami ($4,074,684).
— Instagram of the week —
— Tidal Wave: Portugal. The man —
Key Largo, Montego, baby, why don’t we go?
Last week, the Florida Highway Patrol’s Criminal Alien Apprehension Team, alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection, conducted a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Key Largo under “Operation Tidal Wave.”
CAAT troopers and CBP agents apprehended 15 individuals unlawfully present in the United States from countries including Cuba, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico and Guatemala.
“The Florida Highway Patrol leads in the apprehension and arrest of criminal illegal aliens who have committed violent crimes here or abroad,” said Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner.
FHP’s latest operation snagged 15 people who entered the U.S. unlawfully.
“This is what accountability looks like, and Florida will continue to lead with decisive action to protect our residents.”
All 15 individuals had prior criminal histories, including deportation offenses, multiple counts of battery and domestic violence, driving without a license, crimes involving minors, failures to appear in court, cocaine possession, marijuana-related offenses, burglary, home invasion involving deadly weapons, felon in possession of a firearm, aggravated battery and obstruction of justice.
“Border security is a whole-of-government effort and the success of our mission depends on strong partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies, including the Florida Highway Patrol. Our partners are vital to our operations and serve as a force multiplier, enabling us to respond swiftly and effectively to threats, protect our communities, and uphold the security of our nation’s borders,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Samuel Briggs of the Miami Sector.
Since March 2025, through a partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the 287(g) program, FHP has apprehended more than 9,000 individuals unlawfully present in the country.
— Out on top —
Sometimes taking a victory lap can be sweet — especially when it’s earned.
In recognition of the 2026 Legislative Session concluding its 60-day Regular Session (but don’t worry, it’s really just getting started), Sen. Colleen Burton highlighted a slate of priorities that passed both chambers and now await action from DeSantis, including SB 1404, SB 594 and SB 314.
SB 1404, dubbed “Memory Care,” would require assisted living facilities that provide or advertise memory care services to be licensed.
“So often when securing assisted living facility arrangements for our loved ones, it is difficult to determine what level of memory care is available for our seniors, with no uniformity in what constitutes memory care,” Burton said.
Colleen Burton has some wins from the 2026 Session to celebrate.
“I am proud this legislation secured bipartisan and unanimous support in both the House and Senate and look forward for this legislation to become law to ensure those facilities offering memory care services are licensed and, indeed, offer exemplary care across our state.”
SB 594, known as Local Housing Assistance Plans, would allow counties and eligible municipalities to use certain funds for lot rental assistance for mobile homeowners during a specified period. SB 314, “Payment Stablecoin,” would revise the Florida Control of Money Laundering in Money Services Business Act to include payment stablecoins and prohibit unlicensed activity by issuers.
“Florida continues to lead the nation in innovation, and the issue of stablecoin is one such example. Establishing guidelines related to stablecoin, which is tied to currency, not only aligns with our federal partners’ request for processes and procedures but also supports robust economic development initiatives in our business-friendly state,” Burton said.
— New faces for FLBC —
2026 is a big election year — even for legislative caucuses.
Recently, 27 members of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus elected new leadership for the 2026-28 term, selecting Rep. Felicia Robinson of Miami Gardens as Chair. The caucus’s mission is to enhance the welfare and quality of life of the communities it serves across Florida.
“I am deeply honored to be elected as the Chair of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus for the 2026-2028 term. This position is not just a privilege but a responsibility to advocate for our communities and address the challenges we face,” Robinson said.
Felicia Robinson was elected to serve as FLBC’s next Chair.
“Together, we will work tirelessly to improve and sustain the quality of life for all Floridians. I am excited to collaborate with my colleagues and community leaders as we strive for progress, equity, and empowerment throughout our great state.”
Over the years, the caucus has championed issues including affordable health care, education funding from K-12 through higher education, business and economic development and civic, social and criminal justice reform. More recently, it has also focused on alternative energy and environmental policy affecting future generations.
Joining Robinson on the 2026-28 Executive Board are Sen. Rosalind Osgood as Vice Chair, Rep. Kevin Chambliss as Secretary, Rep. Leonard Spencer as Treasurer, and Sen. Barbara Sharief as Parliamentarian.
— Be careful, festival goers —
To the ravers out there: be careful while dancing and enjoying the music — and make sure you don’t take anything you shouldn’t.
This week, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, with assistance from the South Florida State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication Task Force, announced the arrests of Charlene Forti, Carmen Lo, Hannah Le-Nguyen and An Tan Ly in connection to the death of Jenniha Le.
At the time of the incident, Le-Nguyen was known as Hung Nguyen.
“Securing a capital murder charge in a drug-related death case is not easy, but the task force agents’ unrelenting investigative capabilities ensured that these four suspects are held accountable for bringing illegal drugs into our communities. These four arrests reflect the hard work and coordination between the FDLE, the State Attorney’s Office, and the Miami Police Department,” said FDLE Special Agent in Charge John Vecchio.
FDLE will find you after the music stops.
The investigation began on March 31, 2025, when the Miami Police Department responded to a report of a deceased woman at Jackson Memorial Hospital. FDLE’s South Florida task force later assumed the case and linked the death to illegal drugs.
Investigators determined that Le attended the ULTRA Music Festival with Le-Nguyen, where she ingested a pressed MDMA pill. After being evaluated at a medical tent, Miami Fire Rescue transported her to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
The investigation found that Lo connected Forti with Le-Nguyen, after which Forti arranged the drug transaction. Ly allegedly provided the MDMA to Le-Nguyen, who then gave it to Le.
“The City of Miami will not tolerate the sale or distribution of illegal narcotics. Anyone engaged in drug trafficking or delivery will be held accountable. If the substances you provide result in serious bodily harm or death, the Miami Police Department will pursue all applicable charges to the fullest extent of the law,” said Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales.
Forti has been charged with one count of first-degree murder. Forti and Lo also face charges of conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful use of a communication device. Le-Nguyen and Ly are charged with possession of MDMA.
All four individuals have been arrested, and the investigation remains open.
— New face of FCC —
Meet Madam President.
This week, the Florida Coalition for Children, a nonprofit that has spent more than 60 years advocating for Florida’s abused, abandoned, neglected and at-risk children, announced that Denise Marzullo will serve as its new President and CEO.
Marzullo, who holds an MBA from Saint Leo University and a Master of Arts in counseling psychology from the University of North Florida, is a licensed mental health counselor with more than 17 years of experience across Florida’s child welfare, early learning, mental health and juvenile justice systems.
“I am honored to join the Florida Coalition for Children at such a pivotal moment. The Coalition’s mission to advocate for Florida’s most vulnerable children deeply aligns with my professional experience and personal values,” Marzullo said.
Denise Marzullo has joined the Florida Coalition for Children as president and CEO.
“I look forward to working closely with the Board of Directors and our members and to building upon FCC’s strong foundation to advance a child welfare system that is responsive, collaborative, and focused on lasting outcomes for children and families across Florida.”
Marzullo most recently served as CEO of All Star Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit providing trauma-informed therapeutic services for children in foster care. She also previously served as President and CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Duval, where she oversaw a $100 million annual budget and led strategic initiatives serving thousands of children and families.
FCC is headquartered in Tallahassee and works closely with members, state and local lawmakers, lobbyists, and both the legislative and executive branches to monitor and advocate on child welfare policy.
— FAMU taps Scriven —
A hearty congratulations from the Green and Orange as a new chapter begins.
This week, Florida A&M University named Darryl Scriven as executive director of the FAMU Centers and Institutes, where he will oversee the university’s portfolio of 27 research centers and institutes.
A Purdue University graduate with a doctorate in philosophy, Scriven brings more than 25 years of experience in interdisciplinary research and expertise in building partnerships across academia, industry and government. He has also held several leadership roles at FAMU.
“Dr. Scriven brings strategic leadership and a collaborative approach that will elevate the impact of our centers and institutes. His experience connecting research, policy and innovation will strengthen our ability to advance discovery while supporting workforce development and community impact priorities for our state and nation,” said FAMU Provost Allyson Watson.
FAMU has named Darryl Scriven Executive Director of Centers and Institutes. Image via FAMU.
Scriven previously led the FAMU Cyber Policy Institute, where he established student and faculty fellowship programs supporting interdisciplinary research and national policy engagement, along with mentorship opportunities. He also led the AI Advisory Council, a faculty initiative exploring the role of artificial intelligence in teaching, research and institutional policy.
“I am honored to serve Florida A&M University in this role. Our centers and institutes are critical engines for research, innovation and community engagement. I look forward to creating an integrated ecosystem among faculty, students, and partners to strengthen their impact and expand opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration,” Scriven said.
Scriven was selected following a national search conducted by Greenwood Asher & Associates, with his experience across the humanities, arts and sciences and his commitment to collaborative research cited among the key factors in his selection.
— Playing and dancing —
Good thing the “Dune: Part 3” trailer just dropped and looks amazing, because ballot and opera jokes about Timothée Chalamet are getting a little too easy these days.
This week, the Florida State University School of Dance announced it will offer a new “Dance Accompanying Certificate” beginning this Fall.
The program is a partnership with the College of Music that will provide formal training for musicians interested in working in the dance field, helping them develop the flexibility and experience needed to collaborate with performers and choreographers in academic institutions, conservatories, onstage and in professional studios.
In partnership with the College of Music, the School of Dance will begin offering the Dance Accompanying Certificate this Fall. Image via FSU College of Fine Arts.
“This certificate offers students a rare hands-on opportunity to develop both the musical and collaborative skills needed to work with dancers. Dance accompanying is a sophisticated musical practice that requires creativity, artistic awareness and a deep sensitivity to movement,” said School of Dance assistant professor and program director Daniel Smith.
The program is believed to be the only one of its kind in the nation focused specifically on the intersection of musical accompaniment and dance. It is open to a wide range of instrumentalists, not just pianists, and is available to both undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of formal or informal training backgrounds.
“Programs devoted specifically to training musicians to accompany dance are exceedingly rare. FSU, with its strong dance and music programs, is in a prime position to provide this specialized training to many kinds of musicians, benefiting our students as well as the field at large,” Smith added.
Students will be guided by faculty from both the School of Dance and the College of Music. Applications are now open for the Fall. For more information, visit dance.fsu.edu under the “Explore Our Programs” tab.
— UF Oscar winner —
Everyone in the state of Florida knows how renowned Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts is.
The film school has produced major industry names, including Oscar winners Barry Jenkins and Adele Romanski, as well as directors like Wes Ball and David Robert Mitchell, underscoring FSU’s deep bench of filmmaking talent.
Needless to say, FSU film runs deep and have the industry’s attention. But in this rare case, it’s great to be a Florida Gator.
This past Sunday at the Academy Awards, Netflix’s “The Perfect Neighbor,” built entirely from police body camera and CCTV footage, was widely expected to win Best Documentary. Instead, the BAFTA-winning “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” pulled off the upset.
David Borenstein (center) brought one home for the Gators last weekend. Image via AP.
The film follows a Russian teacher documenting curriculum changes in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war and the pressures educators face amid rising propaganda and militarization. It was co-directed by the teacher Pavel Talankin and the filmmaker David Borenstein.
Borenstein, who also wrote and produced the documentary, is a University of Florida graduate who was valedictorian and a Fulbright Scholar. Now, he can add Academy Award winner to his résumé.
He used his acceptance speech to draw comparisons to current events in the United States and warn viewers.
“Mr. Nobody Against Putin is about how you lose your country… you lose it through countless, small, little acts of complicity,” Borenstein said.
“When we act complicit, when a government murders people on the streets of our major cities, when we don’t say anything, when oligarchs take over the media and control how we could produce it and consume it. We all face a moral choice. But luckily, even a nobody is more powerful than you think.”
— Duo directors take on weekend —
Back to the movie theater we go after a week off for Oscar talk.
“Hoppers” continues to be a cute success for Disney/Pixar, while “Reminders of Him,” an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s work, overperformed, and A24’s divisive horror “Undertone” saw a solid debut.
From Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the Oscar-winning duo behind the “Spider-Verse” films and “The LEGO Movie,” comes their new sci-fi comedy drama “Project Hail Mary.” It’s their first live-action effort since the infamous “Solo: A Star Wars Story” shake-up.
The $200 million film is Amazon’s biggest movie yet and is based on the novel by Andy Weir, author of “The Martian.” It stars Ryan Gosling, coming off “The Fall Guy” and “Barbie,” alongside Sandra Hüller.
Ryan Gosling stars in this weekend’s big release, “Project Hail Mary.” Image via AP.
The 2.5-hour film is being praised across platforms, with strong scores and early buzz pointing to a box office hit and possible awards attention. The film appears to be dripping in humor, style and heart, and was worth the gamble for Amazon. Go ahead and take the whole family — even the little ones will love the practical puppet “Rocky.”
Seven years ago, “Ready or Not” turned a modest budget into a hit — and Hollywood never forgets. Now comes “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.”
The film reunites directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett with star Samara Weaving. Reviews praise the blood and humor, and if you loved the first, chances are you’ll like this one too. The campy horror isn’t for everyone, but for some, it scratches the perfect itch.
On the family-friendly side is “The Pout-Pout Fish,” starring Nick Offerman and Amy Sedaris. The film follows two polar opposite fish on a journey to save their home and has drawn mixed-to-positive reactions.
At home, Amazon Prime has the semi-sequel to “Jury Duty,” “Company Retreat,” which follows the same undercover format. Prime also dropped the first three episodes of Season 4 of “Invincible,” starring Steven Yeun and J.K. Simmons.
Or catch the conclusion of “Peaky Blinders” with “The Immortal Man,” starring Cillian Murphy, now available on Netflix.
— Capitol Directions —
Ron DeSantis — Up arrow — Say what you want, he’s still golfing with Gruden and Spieth.
Byron Donalds — Basketball hoop — If you’ve watched the tourney, you’ve seen the ad. Repeatedly.
Paul Renner’s camp — Down arrow — Somewhere, Nate Silver just sighed.
Andrew Sheeran — Crossways arrow — Like 2008 Wall Street, Hope Florida’s farm system is quietly elite.
Redistricting — Crossways arrow — April 20 is set. The reason for it is … still loading.
Jim Boyd — Up arrow — If that was the trailer, the feature’s looking like a hit.
Jason Shoaf — Up arrow — That one travels well back home.
AIDS patient advocates — Clock — Take your time. It’s not like this is life or death.
Grady Judd — Down arrow — 900 → revert → manual → multiplier intact.
Dariel Fernandez — Down arrow — The captain’s supposed to go down with his own ship, not sink someone else’s.
Emily Gregory — Down arrow — That wasn’t a misstep. That was a decision.
Jackson Peel — Up arrow — Wherever he’s headed, they’re getting a good one.
Thomasville gas stations — Up arrow — Good thing Georgia’s southern border is wide open.
The Cake Shop — Up arrow — That kind of marketing deserves a menu item. La La Ladyfingers, First Man Flan, Hail Meringue, Place Beyond the Pineapple Muffin… get out The Notebook, we’ve got more.