Potential Best Picture Nominees Find Humor Among the Drama
At an early screening of “Bombshell,” which chronicles the Fox News sexual harassment scandal, director Jay Roach was nervous. Writer-producer Charles Randolph says it was because of the audible audience reaction: “It’s just too much laughing!”For many of this year’s prominent Oscar contenders for best picture, one of the most important questions is how well they balance the serious themes being explored with a natural instinct to, in the immortal words of Donald O’Conner in “Singin’ in the Rain”: “Make ’em laugh.”“I think we’re conditioned to think that Oscar movies are serious and heavy,” says “Hustlers” producer Jessica Elbaum. But from the witty dialogue of “Parasite,” to Adam Sandler’s brash and hilarious performance in “Uncut Gems,” to “Dolemite Is My Name’s” loving tribute to low-budget filmmaking, comedic elements have worked their way into many 2019 favorites.Fox Searchlight’s “Jojo Rabbit” represents a perfect example, ...