Q

Why Annihilation is receiving both praise and criticism for its casting

Tina Hassannia and Eli Glasner discuss the backlash facing the female-led sci-fi thriller and why casting Natalie Portman is being seen as controversial.
In the new science fiction film, Natalie Portman played a biologist trying to solve the mystery of 'The Shimmer": a force that has rendered plants and animals unlike anything ever seen before. (Paramount Pictures)

Every Monday, the q screen panel convenes to look at big stories happening in the film and television worlds. This week, arts and entertainment writer Tina Hassannia and CBC's film critic Eli Glasner will talk about the film Annihilation, which has faced criticism for "white casting" Natalie Portman in the role of a half-Asian character, but has also received praise for its almost entirely female cast.

Hassannia and Glasner also share their predictions for the Oscars and discuss whether Netflix is becoming the equivalent of direct-to-video after a number of critical trainwrecks.

Produced by Chris Trowbridge