Article snippet: Gail Collins: Frank, it’s so exciting to take a break from Donald Trump and converse about — movies! Although I truly believe that almost everything about the Academy Awards this year will be political. Frank Bruni: That is a bit of unimpeachable soothsaying, Gail. I’d suggest that the drinking game for this year’s Oscars is a quaff every time there’s a reference, explicit or oblique, to our 45th president, but I fear I’d be blamed — rightly — for a national cirrhosis epidemic. Gail: Well, I definitely blame/credit our president with the fact that I’ve seen all nine best picture nominees. Once they went above five, I gave up the challenge. But right now I’ll do anything to divert my mind from the White House. Frank: Maybe in this conversation we should analyze every movie through the lens of Trump, because it seems to me right now that all of American life is discussed through the lens of Trump. He’s an all-consuming lens. Like some Hubble telescope of commanders in chief. Gail: That’s quite the image. I’m now imagining the lovers in “La La Land” going to Griffith Observatory to look through — Donald Trump? Euew. Although if “La La Land” is named best picture, it’ll probably be because the president made everyone desperate for cheer. I did think it was a good movie, despite the part about Ryan Gosling showing the black guys how to really play jazz. Did you have an artistic/political favorite? Frank: “Moonlight” all the way. I agree with you on “La La Land” — a go... Link to the full article to read more