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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Cuarón’s ‘Roma’ is an early Oscar favorite

Dan Webster

Alfonso Cuarón's film "Roma," which opens Friday at the Magic Lantern Theater, is capturing a number of awards.

As the New York Times reports, "Roma" won two awards at the recent Golden Globes (Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film), was awarded three honors by the New York Film Critics Circle (directing, cinematography, film), two by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (cinematography, best picture) and a total of tour by the Critics' Choice Awards (foreign film, cinematography, director, best picture).

And now, because of all this, "Roma" — which despite a limited 2018 theatrical opening was available to see mostly through the streaming service Netflix — is considered the film to beat at the forthcoming Academy Awards broadcast.

That's yet to be seen. What's amazing, though, is that between Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Guillermo Del Toro, Mexican filmmakers have dominated the Academy Awards of late.

Cuarón won Best Director for "Gravity" (2014), which also took home an editing Oscar. González Iñárritu won back-to-back Best Director Oscars for "Birdman" (2015) and "The Revenant" (2016), with "Birdman" winning also Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture. And Del Toro is the reigning Best Director for 2018's Best Picture winner "The Shape of Water."

And to think: Just a few years ago, some critics were saying that Mexican cinema was dead. Of course, those directors named above have enjoyed their best success in Hollywood. Maybe "Roma" is a sign of better things to come for Mexico's film industry.