MARCH 9 • 2023 | 49

home movies of his (real) 
daughter every year on her 
birthday. We follow her as 
she grows into adulthood.

BEST PICTURE
There are 10 nominated 
films. The Oscar goes to the 
film’s principal producers. 
Here are six best picture 
nominees with a “verified” 
Jewish producer(s).
Avatar: The Way of the 
Water, was co-produced by 
Jon Landau, 62. Landau 
is either freakishly lucky 
or a kind of genius. He’s 
only produced nine films, 
including the three Avatar 
movies (Avatar 3 to be 
released in 2024). But 
these nine include Titanic 
(grossed $2.2 billion) and 
the two released Avatar films 
(together, grossed about $6 

billion).
Jon’s late parents, Ely 
and Edie Landau, were top 
producers who made scores 
of films and TV shows.
Tár, a strong drama, stars 
Cate Blanchett as Lydia Tár, a 
top classical conductor. The 
producers include Alexandra 
Milchan, 51, the daughter of 
Aron Milchan, 78, an Israeli 

billionaire who is a prolific 
film producer. Her mother, 
a former French model, is a 
convert to Judaism. 
Top Gun: Maverick, 
a hit action sequel, was 
co-produced by veteran 
“uber-producer” Jerry 
Bruckheimer, 79. Maverick is 
his first best pic nomination. 
Bruckheimer, a Mumford 
High grad, was born and 
raised in Detroit, the son of 
German Jewish immigrants. 
The Fabelmans: Spielberg 
and Kushner also produced 
this film.
Elvis is about the real 
Elvis, not an imitator. The 
producers include Gail 
Berman, 66, a longtime 
Hollywood “big player,” and 
Schuyler Weiss, 40. Elvis is 
his first big hit. 
Women Talking is about 

female members of an 
Amish-like religious sect 
who stand up against sexual 
abuse by male members. The 
producers include Jeremy 
Kleiner, 43. This film was 
directed and written by 
Sarah Polley (her screenplay 
is nominated). As I have 
written before, she found out 
as an adult that her biological 
father is Jewish. 

ANGELA GEORGE

Jerry Bruckheimer

IMDB

Alexandra Milchan

