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