Danny Leigh

Danny Leigh, FT's insightful film critic known for his compelling interviews, joins India Ross, the deputy news editor with a knack for cultural commentary, to discuss the film 'Anora.' They explore its unconventional love story between a Brooklyn sex worker and a Russian oligarch's son, examining its comedic and melancholic tones. The conversation dives into themes of power dynamics, societal critiques, and the respectful portrayal of marginalized communities, while highlighting the film's critical acclaim and its potential Oscar buzz.

This week, we discuss the future of movies with FT film critic Danny Leigh. Will we see a wave of apocalypse dramas once this is over? Are mid-budget films under threat? And what little-known films should we be watching? In the second half of the show, Gris and Lilah take stock of how culture has been adapting to a new virtual reality, from online exhibitions to gigs on Instagram Live. What's working in URL vs IRL culture — and what isn't? Will the lockdown democratize the arts?We’d love to hear your thoughts. Which cultural experiences have you been enjoying from your sofa? What are you watching, reading or listening to right now? Let us know at ft.com/culturecallout, or record a short voice note on your phone and send it to culturecall@ft.com. You can tweet us at @FTCultureCall, and you can find us on Instagram @lilahrap and @griseldamurraybrown. Links from the episode: –Sign up for the FT's Coronavirus Business Update newsletter and get free access to our journalism for 30 days: www.ft.com/culturecallcovid–The TV adaptation of Normal People: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p089g8rs/normal-people, https://www.hulu.com/series/normal-people-57048262-2ca5-41ee-9b57-53bb9b9e1596–Gris's podcast interview with Sally Rooney, author of Normal People, from 2018: https://www.ft.com/content/03af4b54-01a0-4220-8f52-168355b36024–Danny Leigh's review of The Perfect Candidate (paywall), which you can stream online: https://www.ft.com/content/ae5d4364-741e-11ea-95fe-fcd274e920ca–Danny Leigh's review of And Then We Danced (paywall), which you can stream online: https://www.ft.com/content/61c4f594-7016-11ea-9bca-bf503995cd6f–Fiona Apple's album Fetch The Bolt Cutters on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0fO1KemWL2uCCQmM22iKlj–BBC Museums in Quarantine - Warhol: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000hqml/museums-in-quarantine-series-1-1-warhol–Cyprus Avenue at the Royal Court Theatre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptCyZYzUx4M&feature=emb_logo&has_verified=1–Dance Church on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dance_church/?hl=en–Gris's FT piece on having a ballet lesson with Adam Cooper: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Film critic Danny Leigh, known for his insights in the Financial Times, joins to dissect Francis Ford Coppola's ambitious yet polarizing project, Megalopolis. They explore its complex narrative pitting idealism against pragmatism, and the film’s portrayal of civic responsibility. The discussion dives into Coppola's 40-year journey of artistic commitment, addressing its unique societal implications. Leigh also highlights the film’s mix of brilliance and flaws, prompting questions about audience reception and the role of moderation in film criticism.

This weekend, we speak with Ukrainian journalist Olga Tokariuk, who is currently in western Ukraine. Olga reflects on how Ukrainians forged the resolve they are showing now in the fight against Russia. She shares how Ukraine’s identity has shifted and strengthened over the past 30 years since its independence, especially in the seven years since the Maidan revolution. Then, FT film critic Danny Leigh joins us to discuss this year's Oscars nominees, from ‘Power of the Dog’ to ‘Don't Look Up’. With a drop in viewership over the years, it seems the Academy is scrambling to make us care. But should we? Special offers for Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial are here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast--------------Want to say hi? We love hearing from you. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap. --------------The first US FT Weekend Festival is on Saturday, May 7 in Washington, DC. To attend virtually or in person, buy tickets at http://ft.weekendfestival.com – use the discount code FTFriends2022 for 10% off.--------------Links and mentions from the episode: –Key coverage of the war in Ukraine is free to read: https://www.ft.com/content/77ab8dcf-cb02-4e57-aff0-85c8a84f5a1f  –Olga is on Twitter @olgatokariuk. You can also keep up with FT coverage by following @financialtimes on Instagram and Twitter.–Mary Elise Sarotte on Ukraine’s history since 1991: https://www.ft.com/content/742f15fc-675a-4622-b022-cbec444651cf –Danny’s roundup of this year’s Oscars nominees: https://www.ft.com/content/d9000eb2-11ec-40af-aa8f-2e5f654bde4e –Danny’s review of Power of the Dog:  https://www.ft.com/content/8f2af17e-cad5-4fc6-9ea7-68e5402dda5d –Lilah made a Hark list of some of our favorite moments from the show so far, which you can listen to here https://short.harkaudio.com/3pwwAMH--------------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner and Hannis Brown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukrainian journalist Olga Tokariuk dives deep into Ukraine's evolving identity, shaped by the struggle against Russian aggression. She reflects on thirty years of independence and the profound changes since the Maidan revolution. Meanwhile, film critic Danny Leigh analyzes this year's Oscars nominees, discussing relevance and representation amid declining viewership. The conversation touches on the shifting cinematic landscape and questions whether the awards still hold cultural significance in a changing world.