Oscar Drama

Sony Exec Defends ‘Zero Dark Thirty’

Says film “does not advocate torture.”

And the award for Best Drama goes to … the debate over Zero Dark Thirty. Sony Pictures executive Amy Pascal defended the Oscar Best Picture nominee against an Academy member who said he would not vote for the film because it promotes torture. “We are outraged that any responsible member of the Academy would use their voting status … as a platform to advance their own political agenda,” Pascal said, adding that the film “does not advocate torture.” Pascal’s comments were made in response to actor David Clennon, who posted his opinion on the progressive website Truth-out.org. Zero Dark Thirty is up for five Academy Awards.