Many of the movies nominated for Oscars this year gain a great deal of thematic and storytelling meaning from their locations.

"Over the past five years, roughly three-quarters of movies nominated for best picture or screenplay have been place-centered," according to Jenny Schuetz.
The story is no different this year, with place-centered nominees like "If Beale Street Could Talk" (New York City in the 1970s), "The Favourite" (18th century England), and "Black Panther" (set in what Schuetz describes as "the meticulously created fictional country of Wakanda").
Urban location also factor heavily among the place-centered movies in 2019. "Among the 2019 nominees, primarily urban movies are 'BlacKkKlansman' (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 'If Beale Street Could Talk,' and 'Roma' (Mexico City)."
"Non-urban movies include the 'Ballad of Buster Scruggs' (American West), 'The Favourite,' and 'First Reformed' (small town in upstate New York)," adds Schuetz.
Maps and further analysis of the themes place can conjure for a film are also included. Schuetz also offers a pick for the clear 2019 winner of "Best Picture in an Urban Setting" (click through to find out what it is).
FULL STORY: And the Oscar for “Best Movie in an Urban Setting” goes to…

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie