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B-15 : Charlie Chaplin - The Man Who Was Always There For Me

It would be incorrect for me to start by talking about Charlie Chaplin as a cinema pioneer. Like movie pundits, I wouldn't say he is a cinematic genius. Like other cinephiles, (maybe) I would say that he is one of the greatest entertainers of his time - and his influence continues to exist even today.

For me, he was like that cool elder brother or uncle I would approach to comfort me during any "crisis" or hard times. Somebody hurt me, someone shouted at me, somebody made me cry real bad - Chaplin would make it all disappear. The two similarities between him and my father are that they're both funny - and were born on the same date (only 82 years apart).

I did not realize that he was a movie genius (for his multiple talents and the movies that resonated with the masses - and the courage to go political) until I started understanding films in the final months of my nineteenth year.

I was seven when I saw Chaplin's first short film, The Rink - on one of my father's VCDs. After that, I started watching other short films like The Immigrant, The Fireman, Laughing Gas, The Floorwalker, and many more. I finished all his short films by the time I turned 9. It was 2010 and early 2011 - when DVDs were available with 8-10 films for about a hundred (Indian) bucks - all the pictures in good quality and with subtitles for the ones with sound.

After turning 10, I came across his feature films (a term I wasn't aware of back then) - the ones he made under his creation, United Artists. The ones I enjoyed watching the most were The Gold Rush, The Circus, Modern Times, and The Great Dictator. I'm mentioning The Kid and Limelight separately because they're dramedies - and I didn't understand them back then. I would eventually skip to laugh at the funny sections.

I've never had the opportunity to read his autobiography - but I (might) know a lot about his life from a 2003 documentary about his life and career that was part of one of the DVDs I mentioned earlier. It covered everything - his films, his tragedy, his wives, among many other things in and around his life. It would be foolish of me to miss out on the 1992 biopic with Robert Downey Jr. as Chaplin.

He was a liberal. He was a lover of peace and humanity. He believed in a world where nobody shed a single tear. His ban in the United States did not stop the love and admiration from his fans - and he truly deserved it.

He may have been a man of many colors, but never disappointed me. He was always by my side. Even at this moment, things were unfavorable. However, I'm keeping the bad stuff aside because I've been remembering the funny things that Chaplin did to make us laugh - and also, I have to be happy so that I don't disappoint my father on his birthday.

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B-14 : Oscars 2025 – Predictions vs Reality

The 97th Academy Awards, a.k.a. The Oscars® took place today. Unlike the previous ceremonies, this year was filled with obvious wins. The best part was that this year’s Oscars telecast had zero incidents again (as the host Jimmy Kimmel pointed out in the end two years ago). This time, with Conan O'Brien replacing Kimmel as the host.

Amid all of this, here's a look at the predicted winners and the actual winners (in order of their presentations):-

Best Supporting Actor

Prediction: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)

Reality: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)

Best Animated Feature

Prediction(s): Inside Out 2 (Kelsey Mann and Mark Nielsen)/The Wild Robot (Chris Sanders and Jeff Hermann)

Reality: Flow (Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža, Ron Dyens, and Gregory Zalcman)

Best Animated Short Film

Prediction(s): Magic Candies (Daisuke Nishio and Takashi Washio)/Yuck! (Loïc Espuche and Juliette Marquet)

Reality: In the Shadow of the Cypress (Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi)

Best Costume Design

Prediction: Wicked (Paul Tazewell)

Reality: Wicked (Paul Tazewell)

Best Original Screenplay

Prediction(s): Anora (Sean Baker)/A Real Pain (Jesse Eisenberg)

Reality: Anora (Sean Baker)

Best Adapted Screenplay

Prediction: Conclave (Peter Straughan; based on the novel by Robert Harris)

Reality: Conclave (Peter Straughan; based on the novel by Robert Harris)

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

Prediction(s): The Substance (Pierre-Oliver Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, and Marilyne Scarselli)/Wicked (Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, and Sarah Nuth)

Reality: The Substance (Pierre-Oliver Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, and Marilyne Scarselli)

Best Film Editing

Prediction: Anora (Sean Baker)

Reality: Anora (Sean Baker)

Supporting Actress

Prediction: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)

Prediction: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)

Best Production Design

Prediction(s): The Brutalist (Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Patricia Cuccia)/Wicked (Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales)

Reality: Wicked (Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales)

Best Original Song

Prediction(s): "El Mal" from Emilia Pérez (Music by Clément Ducol and Camille; lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard)/"Never Too Late" from Elton John: Never Too Late (Music and lyrics by Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt, and Bernie Taupin)

Reality: "El Mal" from Emilia Pérez (Music by Clément Ducol and Camille; lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard)

Best Documentary Short

Prediction(s): Incident (Bill Morrison and Jamie Kalven)/Instruments of a Beating Heart (Ema Ryan Yamazaki and Eric Nyari)/The Only Girl in the Orchestra (Molly O'Brien and Lisa Remington)

Reality: The Only Girl in the Orchestra (Molly O'Brien and Lisa Remington)

Best Documentary Feature

Prediction(s): No Other Land (Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, and Yuval Abraham)/Porcelain War (Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev, Aniela Sidorska, and Paula DuPré Pesmen)

Reality: No Other Land (Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, and Yuval Abraham)

Best Sound

Prediction(s): A Complete Unknown (Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey, and David Giammarco)/Dune: Part Two (Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, and Doug Hemphill)

Reality: Dune: Part Two (Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, and Doug Hemphill)

Best Visual Effects

Prediction: Dune: Part Two (Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer)

Reality: Dune: Part Two (Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer)

Best Live Action Short Film

Prediction(s): A Lien (Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz)/The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent (Nebojša Slijepčević and Danijel Pek)

Reality: I'm Not a Robot (Victoria Warmerdam and Trent)

Best Cinematography

Prediction: The Brutalist (Lol Crawley)

Reality: The Brutalist (Lol Crawley)

Best International Feature Film

Prediction(s): Emilia Pérez (France) in Spanish – directed by Jacques Audiard/I'm Still Here (Brazil) in Portuguese – directed by Walter Salles

Reality: I'm Still Here (Brazil) in Portuguese – directed by Walter Salles

Best Original Score

Prediction: Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist)

Reality: Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist)

Best Actor

Prediction(s): Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)/Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown)

Reality: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)

Best Director

Prediction(s): Sean Baker (Anora)/Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)

Reality: Sean Baker (Anora)

Best Actress

Prediction(s): Demi Moore (The Substance)/ Fernanda Torres (I'm Still Here)

Reality: Mikey Madison (Anora)

Best Picture

Prediction(s): Anora (Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker, producers)/ The Brutalist (Nick Gordon, Brian Young, Andrew Morrison, D.J. Gugenheim, and Brady Corbet, producers)/ Conclave (Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, and Michael A. Jackman, producers)

Reality: Anora (Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker, producers)

Which categories met your expectations? Don’t forget to share them in the comments below.

[diptanshukashyapofficial]

B-13 : Oscars 2025 Predictions - A Film Fan’s Take

The 97th Academy Awards, also known as The Oscars®, will take place on March 3rd at 4:30 AM IST, as the excitement of the awards season is reaching its peak.

2024 has been a rather disappointing year for cinema—at least since I’ve been seriously following it. Many highly anticipated films failed to leave a lasting impact, making this year feel underwhelming. Hopefully, 2025 will bring a stronger slate of films, delivering multiple hits and unforgettable cinematic moments. I’d also like to mention that most of my predictions are likely to go wrong—this year’s race just hasn’t been that exciting.

2024 was also a year of sequels, with long-awaited follow-ups to classics like Dune: Part Two, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Joker: Folie à Deux, and Gladiator II hitting the big screen.

Now, with less than 24 hours until the ceremony, let’s dive into the major categories and my predictions for the winners. These are based on industry trends, results from other major awards (like the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Critics’ Choice, and Guild awards), and, of course, my personal take.

So sit back and stay with me till the end!

P.S. SPOILER ALERT!!!!

Best Picture

Nominees:

Anora – Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker, producers

The Brutalist – Nick Gordon, Brian Young, Andrew Morrison, D.J. Gugenheim, and Brady Corbet, producers

A Complete Unknown – Fred Berger, James Mangold, and Alex Heineman, producers

Conclave – Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, and Michael A. Jackman, producers

Dune: Part Two – Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, and Denis Villeneuve, producers

Emilia Pérez – Pascal Caucheteux and Jacques Audiard, producers

I'm Still Here – Maria Carlota Bruno and Rodrigo Teixeira, producers

Nickel Boys – Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Joslyn Barnes, producers

The Substance – Coralie Fargeat, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner, producers

Wicked – Marc Platt, producer

Prediction(s): Anora / The Brutalist / Conclave

The Academy might favor The Brutalist, a film about accomplishing the American dream. However, Conclave, a political film involving the church, and Anora, a Cinderella story about a New York stripper and Palme d’Or winner, are strong contenders too.

Best Director

Nominees:

Sean Baker – Anora

Brady Corbet – The Brutalist

James Mangold – A Complete Unknown

Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez

Coralie Fargeat – The Substance

Prediction(s): Sean Baker / Brady Corbet

Palme d’Or winner Sean Baker faces strong competition from Corbet, who has received multiple wins at award ceremonies this year.

Best Actor

Nominees:

Adrien Brody – The Brutalist as László Tóth

Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown as Bob Dylan

Colman Domingo – Sing Sing as John "Divine G" Whitfield

Ralph Fiennes – Conclave as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence

Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice as Donald Trump

Prediction(s): Adrien Brody / Timothée Chalamet

Brody, a Golden Globe winner, plays a man chasing the American dream, while SAG winner Chalamet portrays the poetic genius Bob Dylan. While Brody is the frontrunner, Chalamet cannot be ruled out.

Best Actress

Nominees:

Cynthia Erivo – Wicked as Elphaba Thropp

Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez as Emilia Pérez / Juan "Manitas" Del Monte

Mikey Madison – Anora as Anora "Ani" Mikheeva

Demi Moore – The Substance as Elisabeth Sparkle

Fernanda Torres – I'm Still Here as Eunice Paiva

Prediction(s): Demi Moore / Fernanda Torres

Both actresses, who won Golden Globes this year, have delivered career-defining performances. However, Moore appears to have the edge.

Best Supporting Actor

Nominees:

Yura Borisov – Anora as Igor

Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain as Benji Kaplan

Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown as Pete Seeger

Guy Pearce – The Brutalist as Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr.

Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice as Roy Cohn

Prediction: Kieran Culkin

Culkin, brother of Home Alone’s Macaulay Culkin, delivers a standout performance as a free-spirited man unafraid to express himself.

Best Supporting Actress

Nominees:

Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown as Joan Baez

Ariana Grande – Wicked as Galinda "Glinda" Upland

Felicity Jones – The Brutalist as Erzsébet Tóth

Isabella Rossellini – Conclave as Sister Agnes

Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez as Rita Mora Castro

Prediction: Zoe Saldaña

While I didn’t enjoy Emilia Pérez as much as others, Saldaña was the highlight. Having swept key awards, she is the undeniable favorite.

Best Original Screenplay

Nominees:

Anora – Sean Baker

The Brutalist – Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold

A Real Pain – Jesse Eisenberg

September 5 – Moritz Binder and Tim Fehlbaum; co-written by Alex David

The Substance – Coralie Fargeat

Prediction(s): Anora/A Real Pain

While the former is this year's Palme d'Or winner, the latter has won numerous accolades. The competition seems tough in this category.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Nominees:

A Complete Unknown – James Mangold and Jay Cocks; based on the book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald

Conclave – Peter Straughan; based on the novel by Robert Harris

Emilia Pérez – Jacques Audiard; in collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius, and Nicolas Livecchi; based on the opera libretto Emilia Pérez by Jacques Audiard and the novel Écoute by Boris Razon

Nickel Boys – RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes; based on the novel The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Sing Sing – Screenplay by Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley; story by Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley, Clarence Maclin, and John "Divine G" Whitfield; based on the book The Sing Sing Follies by John H. Richardson and the play Breakin' the Mummy's Code by Brent Buell

Prediction: Conclave

There’s been a history of political movies winning in this category – and Conclave shall continue to practice this tradition.

Best Animated Feature

Nominees:

Flow – Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža, Ron Dyens, and Gregory Zalcman

Inside Out 2 – Kelsey Mann and Mark Nielsen

Memoir of a Snail – Adam Elliot and Liz Kearney

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl – Nick Park, Merlin Crossingham, and Richard Beek

The Wild Robot – Chris Sanders and Jeff Hermann

Prediction(s): The Wild Robot/Inside Out 2

The former is a beautiful film with a sweet and strong message, this film was a craze across the world. However, the latter’s prequel won an Oscar – hence, a strong contender.

Best International Feature Film

Nominees:

Emilia Pérez (France) in Spanish – directed by Jacques Audiard

Flow (Latvia) – directed by Gints Zilbalodis

The Girl with the Needle (Denmark) in Danish – directed by Magnus von Horn

I'm Still Here (Brazil) in Portuguese – directed by Walter Salles

The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany) in Persian – directed by Mohammad Rasoulof

Prediction(s): Emilia Perez/I’m Still Here

The former has separated the favorable critics from the not-so-merciful audience. The critics’ choice win the awards. I personally hope that the latter win.

Best Documentary Feature Film

Nominees:

Black Box Diaries – Shiori Itō, Eric Nyari, and Hanna Aqvilin

No Other Land – Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, and Yuval Abraham

Porcelain War – Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev, Aniela Sidorska, and Paula DuPré Pesmen

Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat – Johan Grimonprez, Daan Milius, and Rémi Grellety

Sugarcane –Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie, and Kellen Quinn

Prediction(s): No Other Land/Porcelain War

While the former is a work of Palestinian-Israeli collective of four activists amidst the ongoing conflict in the region, the latter is a tale of artists amid the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The Academy favors war documentaries.

Best Documentary Short Film

Nominees:

Death by Numbers – Kim A. Snyder and Janique L. Robillard

I Am Ready, Warden – Smriti Mundhra and Maya Gnyp

Incident – Bill Morrison and Jamie Kalven

Instruments of a Beating Heart – Ema Ryan Yamazaki and Eric Nyari

The Only Girl in the Orchestra – Molly O'Brien and Lisa Remington

Prediction(s): Incident/Instruments of a Beating Heart/The Only Girl in the Orchestra

The first choice is about police brutality and racism – which a multicultural Academy might favor. However, the other options can follow trend of rewarding documentaries about music – like last year’s The Last Repair Shop.

Best Live Action Short Film

Nominees:

A Lien – Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz

Anuja – Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai

I'm Not a Robot – Victoria Warmerdam and Trent

The Last Ranger – Cindy Lee and Darwin Shaw

The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent – Nebojša Slijepčević and Danijel Pek

Prediction(s): A Lien/The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

It’s a tough choice between a tale about a family facing the challenges of achieving the American Dream amidst an immigration interview – and the latter being about a man who stands against the ethnic “cleansing” of innocent civilians in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1993.

Best Animated Short Film

Nominees:

Beautiful Men – Nicolas Keppens and Brecht Van Elslande

In the Shadow of the Cypress – Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi

Magic Candies – Daisuke Nishio and Takashi Washio

Wander to Wonder – Nina Gantz and Stienette Bosklopper

Yuck! – Loïc Espuche and Juliette Marquet

Prediction(s): Yuck!/Magic Candies

While the former contender is about pre-adolescence innocence and the feelings kids have, the latter is a Japanese flick about a young boy coming across loneliness, connection, and self-awareness.

Best Original Score

Nominees:

The Brutalist – Daniel Blumberg

Conclave – Volker Bertelmann

Emilia Pérez – Clément Ducol and Camille

Wicked – John Powell and Stephen Schwartz

The Wild Robot – Kris Bowers

Prediction: The Brutalist

The music of The Brutalist is likely to continue the trend of epic scores winning the trophy – after Dune, All Quiet on the Western Front, and Oppenheimer.

Best Original Song

Nominees:

"El Mal" from Emilia Pérez – Music by Clément Ducol and Camille; lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard

"The Journey" from The Six Triple Eight – Music and lyrics by Diane Warren

"Like a Bird" from Sing Sing – Music and lyrics by Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada

"Mi Camino" from Emilia Pérez – Music and lyrics by Camille and Clément Ducol

"Never Too Late" from Elton John: Never Too Late – Music and lyrics by Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt, and Bernie Taupin

Prediction: El Mal/Never Too Late

This year’s Golden Globe winner was a Spanish song – hence a possibility. However, the latter comes from the two-time Oscar winner Elton John. The latter might make him a three-time winner.

Best Sound

Nominees:

A Complete Unknown – Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey, and David Giammarco

Dune: Part Two – Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, and Doug Hemphill

Emilia Pérez – Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldère, Maxence Dussère, Cyril Holtz, and Niels Barletta

Wicked – Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson, and John Marquis

The Wild Robot – Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A. Rizzo, and Leff Lefferts

Prediction(s): A Complete Unknown/Dune: Part Two

Sci-fi adventure films are like to win in this category. However, the sound design of the Bob Dylan biopic was also magnificent. It’s a win-win for Timothee Chalamet either way.

Best Production Design

Nominees:

The Brutalist – Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Patricia Cuccia

Conclave – Production Design: Suzie Davies; Set Decoration: Cynthia Sleiter

Dune: Part Two – Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau

Nosferatu – Production Design: Craig Lathrop; Set Decoration: Beatrice Brentnerová

Wicked – Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

Prediction(s): Wicked/The Brutalist

Wicked is the film I’m least interested about. However, the Wizard of Oz prequel can win in this category. I’m rooting for The Brutalist due to its architectural theme.

Best Cinematography

Nominees:

The Brutalist – Lol Crawley

Dune: Part Two – Greig Fraser

Emilia Pérez – Paul Guilhaume

Maria – Edward Lachman

Nosferatu – Jarin Blaschke

Prediction(s): The Brutalist

Although I think that Dune: Part Two might win this year, The Brutalist would be the one – due to its stunning framing, composition, and color.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Nominees:

A Different Man – Mike Marino, David Presto, and Crystal Jurado

Emilia Pérez – Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier, and Jean-Christophe Spadaccini

Nosferatu – David White, Traci Loader, and Suzanne Stokes-Munton

The Substance – Pierre-Oliver Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, and Marilyne Scarselli

Wicked – Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, and Sarah Nuth

Prediction(s): The Substance/Wicked

Theformer is definitely going to win for make up – as we saw one of the most horrifying looks in recent movies. The latterstands achance – but theodds are not its favor. 

Best Costume Designing

Nominees:

A Complete Unknown – Arianne Phillips

Conclave – Lisy Christl

Gladiator II – Janty Yates and Dave Crossman

Nosferatu – Linda Muir

Wicked – Paul Tazewell

Prediction: Wicked

This can be another win for the fantasy tale.

Best Film Editing

Nominees:

Anora – Sean Baker

The Brutalist – Dávid Jancsó

Conclave – Nick Emerson

Emilia Pérez – Juliette Welfling

Wicked – Myron Kerstein

Prediction: Anora

The film editing of Anora was marvelously rapid in certain scenes – to make up for the pace of the film. This might make Baker the first man to win four awards in a ceremony.

Best Visual Effects

Nominees:

Alien: Romulus – Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin, and Shane Mahan

Better Man – Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft, and Peter Stubbs

Dune: Part Two – Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story, and Rodney Burke

Wicked – Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, David Shirk, and Paul Corbould

Prediction: Dune: Part Two

And finally, Dune will follow the trend of sequels winning the Visual Effects award – with past cases like Avatar and Star Wars.

That's all for now. Let's see who wins what this year. See you at the Oscars.

[diptanshukashyapofficial]

B-12 : John Ford@131: His Works That Refuse to Age

While interviewing John Ford for his 1971 documentary Directed by John Ford, Peter Bogdanovich asked him about his picture called 3 Bad Men (a large-scale western). “You had a quite elaborate land rush in it. How did you shoot that?” Ford replied, “With a camera.”

John Wayne, John Ford & James Stewart on the sets of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

I’m sure many movie watchers would know Ford (1894-1973) either through his westerns (mainly through The Searchers)- or his portrayal by David Lynch in Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans (2022). However, he is more than just a film director - he is a cinematic legend. His directorial works include sweeping landscapes, strong visual storytelling, and a deep connection to American history. His films often explore complex themes of morality and redemption. He is a man one would call the “director’s director” globally- from Orson Welles to Akira Kurosawa to Satyajit Ray to Ingmar Bergman. Besides his career in Hollywood, he also served in the United States Navy - directing documentaries to shape public perception and garnering support for the war effort. One can catch up on his military career from the 2017 Netflix series Five Came Back - with English director Paul Greengrass narrating his heroic naval stint.

Exactly a couple of months ago, it was the Hollywood auteur’s 131th birth anniversary (February 1)- which I celebrated by watching one of his movies I never saw before - 1948’s 3 Godfathers. Talking about my first rendezvous with Ford - through a WatchMojo video on the top 10 Western films back in 2017- with The Searchers at the second spot (below 1966’s The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly). I never watched his movies until December 2021 - his 1939 Western Stagecoach. It was his first (and successful) collaboration with John Wayne/the “Duke” - from which many directors have taken inspiration while framing their scenes.

Since then, I’ve watched the following films of Ford:

The Informer (1935)

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

How Green Was My Valley (1941)

My Darling Clementine (1946)

3 Godfathers (1948)

The Quiet Man (1952)

The Searchers (1956)

Than Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

(Clockwise from top-left corner) Stagecoach (1939), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), The Searchers (1956), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

In a career spanning over five decades (both silent and talkies), Ford directed more than 140 films, yet he remains best known for his westerns. Some of my favorites of Ford are Stagecoach, The Searchers, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Released in 1939 (which many consider Hollywood’s Greatest year), Stagecoach set the template for action-adventure films. The Westerns following this masterpiece are classics - which film schools and societies continue to screen globally.

However, more than Stagecoach, the film that stays close to my heart is The Grapes of Wrath - leaving an emotional impact on me. Released in 1940, this adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel about the Joad family’s struggle during the Great Depression is one of Ford’s most humanistic and socially conscious works. The film’s stark portrayal of poverty, injustice, and resilience remains as relevant today as it was over 80 years ago. The themes resonate even more today. We can relate it to the shared hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic - when we saw such horrifying sights on the internet and television. Ford’s ability to capture the plight of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances makes his films timeless. The Grapes of Wrath isn’t just a great film; it’s an essential part of American cinematic and cultural history - synonymous with other nations.

(Left to Right) The Informer (1935), How Green Was My Valley (1941), The Quiet Man (1952)

A guy of Irish origin, he has captured his European heritage in films like The Informer, The Quiet Man (Irish), and How Green Was My Valley (Welsh). He excelled in making historical dramas(Young Mr. Lincoln, Mary of Scotland), war films (They Were Expendable, The Wings of Eagles), and even romantic comedies. His versatility is part of what makes him such a towering figure in cinema. He could convey a sweeping sense of American mythology in one film and deliver intimate, emotionally rich character studies in the next. The visual sensibility, combined with his deep empathy for his characters, allowed him to create films that were not only entertaining but also meaningful.

Auteurs-turned-military men - Col. Frank Capra & Cdr. John Ford during World War II

John Ford’s influence on cinema is immeasurable. I find myself revisiting his films not just as works of art - but as profound statements about life, morality, and the world around us. Whether through the lens of the Old West or the hardship of the Dust Bowl, Ford’s cinematic vision continues to resonate, inspiring new generations of filmmakers and viewers alike.

[diptanshukashyapofficial]

B-11 : Oscars 2024 - Predictions vs Reality

The 96th Academy Awards, a.k.a. The Oscars® took place today. The ceremony was filled with obvious wins. The best part was that this year’s Oscars telecast had zero incidents again (as the host Jimmy Kimmel points out in the end last year).

Amid all of this, here's a look at the predicted winners and the actual winners (in order of their presentations):-

Best Supporting Actress

Prediction: Da'Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers)

Reality: Da'Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers)

Best Animated Short Film

Prediction: War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko (Dave Mullins and Brad Booker)

Reality: War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko (Dave Mullins and Brad Booker)

Best Animated Feature Film

Prediction: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Amy Pascal)/The Boy and the Heron (Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki)

Reality: The Boy and the Heron (Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki)

Best Original Screenplay

Prediction: Anatomy of a Fall (Justine Triet and Arthur Harari)

Reality: Anatomy of a Fall (Justine Triet and Arthur Harari)

Best Adapted Screenplay

Prediction: American Fiction (Cord Jefferson; based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett)

Reality: American Fiction (Cord Jefferson; based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett)

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

Prediction: Maestro (Kazu Hiro, Kay Georgiou, and Lori McCoy-Bell)

Reality: Poor Things (Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier, and Josh Weston)

Best Production Design

Prediction: Barbie (Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer)/Poor Things (Production Design: James Price and Shona Heath; Set Decoration: Zsuzsa Mihalek)

Reality: Poor Things (Production Design: James Price and Shona Heath; Set Decoration: Zsuzsa Mihalek)

Best Costume Designing

Prediction: Barbie (Jacqueline Durran)/Poor Things (Holly Waddington)

Reality: Poor Things (Holly Waddington)

Best International Feature Film

Prediction: The Zone of Interest (United Kingdom - Jonathan Glazer)

Reality: The Zone of Interest (United Kingdom - Jonathan Glazer)

Best Supporting Actor

Prediction: Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer)

Reality: Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer)

Best Visual Effects

Prediction: Godzilla Minus One (Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi, and Tatsuji Nojima)

Reality: Godzilla Minus One (Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi, and Tatsuji Nojima)

Best Film Editing

Prediction: Oppenheimer (Jennifer Lame)

Reality: Oppenheimer (Jennifer Lame)

Best Documentary Short Film

Prediction: The Last Repair Shop (Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers)

Reality: The Last Repair Shop (Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers)

Best Documentary Feature Film

Prediction: 20 Days in Mariupol (Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner, and Raney Aronson-Rath)

Reality:  20 Days in Mariupol (Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner, and Raney Aronson-Rath)

Best Cinematography

Prediction: Oppenheimer (Hoyte van Hoytema)

Reality: Oppenheimer (Hoyte van Hoytema)

Best Live Action Short Film

Prediction: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (Wes Anderson and Steven Rales)

Reality: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (Wes Anderson and Steven Rales)

Best Sound

Prediction: Oppenheimer (Willie Burton, Richard King, Gary A. Rizzo, and Kevin O'Connell)

Reality: The Zone of Interest (arn Willers and Johnnie Burn)

Best Original Score

Prediction: Oppenheimer (Ludwig Göransson)

Reality: Oppenheimer (Ludwig Göransson)

Best Original Song

Prediction: "What Was I Made For?" (Barbie – Music and lyrics by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell)

Reality: "What Was I Made For?" (Barbie – Music and lyrics by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell)

Best Actor

Prediction: Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer)

Reality: Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer)

Best Director

Prediction: Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer)

Reality: Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer)

Best Actress

Prediction: Emma Stone (Poor Things)/Lily Gladstone (Killers of The Flower Moon)/Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of A Fall)

Reality: Emma Stone (Poor Things)

Best Picture

Prediction: Oppenheimer (Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, and Christopher Nolan, producers)

Reality: Oppenheimer (Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, and Christopher Nolan, producers)

Which categories met your expectations? Don’t forget to share them in the comments below.

[diptanshukashyapofficial]

B-10 : Oscar 2024 Predictions - A Film Fan's Perspective

The 96th Academy Awards, a.k.a. The Oscars®, are set to happen on March 11 at 4:30 AM IST. The celebrations of the Oscar season are at their full peak. Amid the fun and excitement - and less than 24 hours for the ceremony to start, here's a look at the movie categories and our predictions of the winners. These are predictions based on the trends, previous award ceremonies this year (like Golden Globes, BAFTA, Critics Choice, and SAG), and the winners - along with my perspective. So sit back and stay with me till the end:-

P.S. SPOILER ALERT!!!!

Best Picture

Nominees: 

American Fiction – Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson, and Jermaine Johnson, producers

Anatomy of a Fall – Marie-Ange Luciani and David Thion, producers

Barbie – David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, and Robbie Brenner, producers

The Holdovers – Mark Johnson, producer

Killers of the Flower Moon – Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese, and Daniel Lupi, producers

Maestro – Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Fred Berner, Amy Durning, and Kristie Macosko Krieger, producers

Oppenheimer – Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, and Christopher Nolan, producers

Past Lives – David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon, and Pamela Koffler, producers

Poor Things – Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Emma Stone, producers

The Zone of Interest– James Wilson, producer

Prediction: Oppenheimer 

It's highly doubtful that the Academy would not give the highest honor to Nolan's cinematic masterpiece of the year. Not doing so would lead to havoc.

Best Director

Nominees: 

Justine Triet – Anatomy of a Fall

Martin Scorsese – Killers of the Flower Moon

Christopher Nolan – Oppenheimer

Yorgos Lanthimos – Poor Things

Jonathan Glazer – The Zone of Interest

Prediction: Christopher Nolan

Nolan has given the ultimate blockbuster of the year - a period film with intense acting and technical excellence. It's time to make up for the snubs of the past.

Best Actor

Nominees: 

Bradley Cooper – Maestro as Leonard Bernstein

Colman Domingo – Rustin as Bayard Rustin

Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers as Paul Hunham

Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer as J. Robert Oppenheimer

Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction as Thelonious "Monk" Ellison

Prediction(s): Cillian Murphy

With his wins at the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and the SAG, it's time for the Irishman to get the golden man for his first role as a leading man in a Nolan (after playing supporting or character roles in movies like The Dark Night Trilogy, Inception, and Dunkirk).

Best Actress

Nominees: 

Annette Bening – Nyad as Diana Nyad

Lily Gladstone – Killers of the Flower Moon as Mollie Burkhart

Sandra Hüller – Anatomy of a Fall as Sandra Voyter

Carey Mulligan – Maestro as Felicia Montealegre

Emma Stone – Poor Things as Bella Baxter

Prediction(s): Emma Stone/Lily Gladstone/Sandra Hüller

The competition for best actress is intense - as Gladstone has showcased her method acting (which might make her the first Native American to win the trophy). Meanwhile, Stone's feminist portrayal of a woman on her purpose to stand for equality and liberation seems Oscar-worthy (with her acting wins this year). Hüller, on the other hand, has given a breathtaking performance in the trilingual thriller.

Best Supporting Actor

Nominees: 

Sterling K. Brown – American Fiction as Clifford "Cliff" Ellison

Robert De Niro – Killers of the Flower Moon as William King Hale

Robert Downey Jr. – Oppenheimer as Lewis Strauss

Ryan Gosling – Barbie as Ken

Mark Ruffalo – Poor Things as Duncan Wedderburn

Prediction(s): Robert Downey Jr

RDJ might be memorable for Tony Stark/Iron Man. However, it's his portrayal of Strauss that's going to win this year. With two previous nominations (including one for portraying Charlie Chaplin), RDJ would likely be the first Marvel hero to win the Golden Man. He would also repeat the feat of Actor-Supporting Actor wins for the same film - after 1959's Ben Hur (Charlton Heston - Charles Laughton), 2003's Mystic River (Sean Penn - Tim Robbins), and 2013's Dallas Buyers Club (Matthew McCoughnahey - Jared Leto).

Best Supporting Actress

Nominees:

Emily Blunt – Oppenheimer as Kitty Oppenheimer

Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple as Sofia

America Ferrera – Barbie as Gloria

Jodie Foster – Nyad as Bonnie Stoll

Da'Vine Joy Randolph ��� The Holdovers as Mary Lamb

Prediction(s): Da'Vine Joy Randolph

Randolph's portrayal of a grieving mother stuck in a boarding school during the holiday season involves her comedic timing and emotional depth.

Best Original Screenplay

Nominees:

Anatomy of a Fall – Justine Triet and Arthur Harari

The Holdovers – David Hemingson

Maestro – Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer

May December – Screenplay by Samy Burch; Story by Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik

Past Lives – Celine Song

Prediction(s): Anatomy of A Fall/The Holdovers

While the former is this year's Palme d'Or winner and Golden Globe-winning screenplay, the latter is what would become a holiday classic. It's going to be a tough contest between the two films.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Nominees:

American Fiction – Cord Jefferson; based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett

Barbie – Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach; based on characters created by Ruth Handler

Oppenheimer – Christopher Nolan; based on the biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin

Poor Things – Tony McNamara; based on the novel by Alasdair Gray

The Zone of Interest – Jonathan Glazer; based on the novel by Martin Amis

Prediction(s): Oppenheimer/American Fiction

The former might be possible with the guaranteed Best Picture & Director awards - which could make Nolan another director to win writing, directing, and producing Oscars. However, the latter would pose a tough competition - as it has already won the Writers Guild of America (WGA) Award, the Critics Choice Award, and several other precursor accolades. Its poignant exploration of race, family, and the American dream resonates with critics and audiences.

Best Animated Feature

Nominees:

The Boy and the Heron – Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki

Elemental – Peter Sohn and Denise Ream

Nimona – Nick Bruno, Troy Quane, Karen Ryan, and Julie Zackary

Robot Dreams – Pablo Berger, Ibon Cormenzana, Ignasi Estapé, and Sandra Tapia Díaz

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Amy Pascal

Prediction(s): Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse/The Boy and the Heron

It'll be Marvel's turn to preside over this category - with its innovative animation style, captivating story, and emotional connection. However, the Golden Globe-winning Japanese anime with a timeless tale of loss and resilience is a strong contender for the American animated film.

Best International Feature Film

Nominees:

Io capitano (Italy) – directed by Matteo Garrone

Perfect Days (Japan) – directed by Wim Wenders

Society of the Snow (Spain) – directed by J. A. Bayona

The Teachers' Lounge (Germany) – directed by İlker Çatak

The Zone of Interest (United Kingdom) – directed by Jonathan Glazer

Prediction(s): The Zone of Interest

The Grand Prix-winning tale of a Nazi leader's family living next to Auschwitz is a tale that will send chills down the spine.

Best Documentary Feature Film

Nominees:

Bobi Wine: The People's President – Moses Bwayo, Christopher Sharp, and John Battsek

The Eternal Memory – Maite Alberdi

Four Daughters – Kaouther Ben Hania and Nadim Cheikhrouha

To Kill a Tiger – Nisha Pahuja, Cornelia Principe, and David Oppenheim

20 Days in Mariupol – Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner, and Raney Aronson-Rath

Prediction(s): 20 Days in Mariupol

A tale about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 20 Days in Mariupol has won several documentary awards at multiple film festivals and award ceremonies. If it wins, it would be another film about the dark side of Russia to win the Oscar.

Best Documentary Short Film

Nominees:

The ABCs of Book Banning – Sheila Nevins and Trish Adlesic

The Barber of Little Rock – John Hoffman and Christine Turner

Island in Between – S. Leo Chiang and Jean Tsien

The Last Repair Shop – Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers

Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó – Sean Wang and Sam Davis

Prediction(s): The Last Repair Shop

Showing Los Angeles as one of the few United States cities to offer and fix musical instruments for its public school students at no cost, it might win the Oscar - as it has previously won the Critics Choice Documentary Award for the same category.

Best Live Action Short Film

Nominees:

The After – Misan Harriman and Nicky Bentham

Invincible – Vincent René-Lortie and Samuel Caron

Knight of Fortune – Lasse Lyskjær Noer and Christian Norlyk

Red, White and Blue – Nazrin Choudhury and Sara McFarlane

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar – Wes Anderson and Steven Rales

Prediction(s): The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

I guess it's time for Anderson to win his Oscar now - with his colors, symmetry, and star cast.

Best Animated Short Film

Nominees:

Letter to a Pig – Tal Kantor and Amit R. Gicelter

Ninety-Five Senses – Jared and Jerusha Hess

Our Uniform – Yegane Moghaddam

Pachyderme – Stéphanie Clément and Marc Rius

War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko – Dave Mullins and Brad Booker

Prediction(s): War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko

Inspired by and featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono's peace anthem "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," It is a simplistic take on war and humanity - which the Academy might honor.

Best Original Score

Nominees:

American Fiction – Laura Karpman

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – John Williams

Killers of the Flower Moon – Robbie Robertson †

Oppenheimer – Ludwig Göransson

Poor Things – Jerskin Fendrix

Prediction: Oppenheimer

With his 54th nomination (and final because of his retirement), John Williams has entertained with his latest rendition of one of Hollywood's greatest film franchises. However, Goransson's Oppenheimer soundtrack adds tension to the film's plot - particularly with "Can You Hear the Music?" He can easily add an Oscar to his collection of Awards for Oppenheimer.

Best Original Song

Nominees:

"The Fire Inside" from Flamin' Hot – Music and lyrics by Diane Warren

"I'm Just Ken" from Barbie – Music and lyrics by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt

"It Never Went Away" from American Symphony – Music and lyrics by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson

"Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)" from Killers of the Flower Moon – Music and lyrics by Scott George

"What Was I Made For?" from Barbie – Music and lyrics by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell

Prediction: What Was I Made For?

It's likely a second win for the Eilish-O'Connell siblings - after No Time to Die. 

Best Sound

Nominees:

The Creator – Ian Voigt, Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van der Ryn, Tom Ozanich, and Dean Zupancic

Maestro – Steven A. Morrow, Richard King, Jason Ruder, Tom Ozanich, and Dean Zupancic

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One – Chris Munro, James H. Mather, Chris Burdon, and Mark Taylor

Oppenheimer – Willie Burton, Richard King, Gary A. Rizzo, and Kevin O'Connell

The Zone of Interest – Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn

Prediction: Oppenheimer

It's Nolan's year when it comes to technical awards. The sound design and editing show that Nolan has duly followed the laws of physics - and ensured tension in the other scenes.

Best Production Design

Nominees:

Barbie – Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer

Killers of the Flower Moon – Production Design: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Adam Willis

Napoleon – Production Design: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Elli Griff

Oppenheimer – Production Design: Ruth De Jong; Set Decoration: Claire Kaufman

Poor Things – Production Design: James Price and Shona Heath; Set Decoration: Zsuzsa Mihalek

Prediction(s): Barbie/Poor Things

Fantasy films have eye-grabbing sets and decorations that are attractive to the Academy voters. It can be either of the two women-centric films.

Best Cinematography

Nominees:

El Conde – Edward Lachman

Killers of the Flower Moon – Rodrigo Prieto

Maestro – Matthew Libatique

Oppenheimer – Hoyte van Hoytema

Poor Things – Robbie Ryan

Prediction(s): Oppenheimer

Hoytema's camerawork captures expansive desert vistas and painfully intimate close-ups using IMAX film cameras (in color and monochrome). A win for him is confirmed

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Nominees:

Golda – Karen Hartley Thomas, Suzi Battersby, and Ashra Kelly-Blue

Maestro – Kazu Hiro, Kay Georgiou, and Lori McCoy-Bell

Oppenheimer – Luisa Abel

Poor Things – Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier, and Josh Weston

Society of the Snow – Ana López-Puigcerver, David Martí, and Montse Ribé

Prediction(s): Maestro

Although other movies have dominated the major categories, a Bradly Cooper film can win an Oscar this year - with the magnificent transformation of the lead actor into Leonard Bernstein. 

Best Costume Designing

Nominees:

Barbie – Jacqueline Durran

Killers of the Flower Moon – Jacqueline West

Napoleon – Janty Yates and Dave Crossman

Oppenheimer – Ellen Mirojnick

Poor Things – Holly Waddington

Prediction(s): Barbie/Poor Things

Like many fantasy films, it's a tough pick between the two films in costumes - like the production design category.

Best Film Editing

Nominees:

Anatomy of a Fall – Laurent Sénéchal

The Holdovers – Kevin Tent

Killers of the Flower Moon – Thelma Schoonmaker

Oppenheimer – Jennifer Lame

Poor Things – Yorgos Mavropsaridis

Prediction(s): Oppenheimer

It goes with saying for the technical awards and Nolan - with the montages, parallel storytelling, and transitions that accompany the screenplay.

Best Visual Effects

Nominees:

The Creator – Jay Cooper, Ian Comley, Andrew Roberts, and Neil Corbould

Godzilla Minus One – Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi, and Tatsuji Nojima

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – Stéphane Ceretti, Alexis Wajsbrot, Guy Williams, and Theo Bialek

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One – Alex Wuttke, Simone Coco, Jeff Sutherland, and Neil Corbould

Napoleon – Charley Henley, Luc-Ewen Martin-Fenouillet, Simone Coco, and Neil Corbould

Prediction: Godzilla Minus One

I'm deeply offended that Oppenheimer didn't get a nomination in this category. However, with the nominees, I'd have to pick Godzilla - with its first-ever nomination in the franchise - and also because it is a visual spectacle besides Oppenheimer this year.

That's all for now. Let's see who wins what this year. See you at the Oscars.

[diptanshukashyapofficial]

B-9 : Schindler’s List @ 30 - A Tale of Courage & Compassion

A still featuring Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley

December 15 marks the 30th anniversary of director Steven Spielberg's 1993 magnum opus Holocaust drama Schindler's List. Produced by Spielberg - with Gerald R. Molen and Holocaust survivor Branko Lustig, the film stands erect as a towering testament to the power of human resilience and the enduring fight against injustice and inhumanity.

One must remember that 1993 was "a living hell" for Spielberg - as he made Jurrasic Park - a contrasting adventurous film that same year. Fortunately, both movies emerged as blockbusters. While Jurrasic Park maintained Spielberg's obsession with stories filled with action and adventure, Schindler's List confirms the auteur's tribute to his parents and their shared Judaism and Jewish identity.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, screenwriter Steven Zaillian adapted Australian novelist Thomas Keneally's novel Schindler's Ark. Schindler's List chronicles the extraordinary story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a wealthy German businessman associated with the Nazi Party who defied the Nazi regime by employing over 1,000 Jewish people in his factories, saving them from the horrors of the Holocaust - particularly from the atrocities of the SS commander Amon Göth (Ralph Fiennes). The film's unflinching portrayal of the atrocities committed against the Jewish people is both harrowing and thought-provoking, forcing viewers to confront the depths of human cruelty. With a cast featuring Ben Kingsley, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagall, and Embeth Davidtz, the film has escalated to a level of excellence that very few movies could reach.

Standing: Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, and Liam Neeson; Sitting: Steven Spielberg

Beyond its historical significance, Schindler's List has also contributed extensively to cinema. Spielberg's masterful direction, Janusz Kamiński's monochromatic cinematography, and John Williams' sorrow-filled score combine to create an immersive and unforgettable cinematic experience. The film's black-and-white palette, an unexpected product from Spielberg at that time - and a shift to critical topics add to its stark realism and emotional impact.

The film challenges us to confront the darkest chapters of human history while inspiring us to strive for a more benevolent world. Its enduring impact underscores the power of cinema to transcend entertainment and serve as a catalyst for social change. It also highlights the significance of preserving and sharing historical narratives. The film's impact extends beyond the confines of theaters - as its stories and characters continue to be discussed, analyzed, and shared through online platforms and social media.

Schindler's List retains its position as a cinematic masterpiece and a powerful testament to the human spirit. Its enduring legacy lies in its ability to challenge our perceptions, ignite our emotions, and inspire us to confront injustice and uphold the values of compassion and humanity.

[diptanshukashyapofficial]

B-8 : Sixty Years of The Beatles - The Memories of A Fan

As I write this article, I've started watching the Disney+ Series called The Beatles: Get Back. It was about the recording of Let It Be, their final album. It talked about the tension and differences among the Fab Four (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr) and the end of an era of music. 

What you're going to read is not a theoretical research paper about the history of the four Liverpool lads. It's not about their early stint as The Quarrymen, their original lineup with bassist Stuart Sutcliffe & drummer Pete Best, or their early gigs in Hamburg (Germany). It's not even about how manager Brian Epstein discovered the young talent, or for that matter - how Ringo replaced Pete Best as the drummer. It's about how a fan feels about it and its place in the fan's heart - as the band celebrated sixty years of its first album, Please Please Me (1963) - in March this year.

Talking a bit about myself, I first heard about the Beatles in a childhood story of John Lennon (1940-1980) that got published in Scharda Dubey's book The Best Days of Our Lives. I read it in September 2012. More than three years later (December 9, 2015), I came across a news story about the Beatles Ashram reopening at Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. I know the exact date because the previous day was the 35th death anniversary of Lennon. After reading it, I searched for them on YouTube - and that's when I heard the first ever song of The Beatles - We Can Work It Out. I kept listening to it for days before exploring the other musical gems. I was fourteen - and in ninth grade back then.

Every teenager faces adolescence-related problems (physical & emotional changes, insecurities, mental health, peer pressure, etcetera). For rescue comes a solution that proves to be life-changing. In my case, it was the music of the four lads from the unknown coastal city of Liverpool (not to mention that it became famous because of the band). Many of their contemporaries came along the way.

My personal Beatles souvenir Collection (Which I have maintained since 2016)

Coming back to The Beatles, my favorite Beatle was Lennon. Seeing them in live performances and music videos, I began practicing their songs on my keyboard - and eventually bought a guitar to match them. Like an ordinary obsessed fan, I bought souvenirs - guitar pics, music CDs, T-shirts, books, phone covers, etcetera online. I don't think any Indian fan could get such stuff in here that easily - even during the band's popularity years. They would get in the USA and UK - where such things would sell like hotcakes. I even made a poster at 15 about the band - which I pasted in my room.

Thanks to the band, I had quite a reputation as a music performer in school, college, and my locality. I would perform their covers at parties and musical events. Although, I couldn't play their songs in school. But thanks to them, I could look beneath myself to find the skills I possess. Hence, I decided to pursue entertainment journalism/writing. I often write similar songs - and try looking for a music producer to record them. When people suggest music software for completing the songs, I politely respond, "They won't have the same fun as the Beatles - and I want to keep that element in my songs."

As their first single, Love Me Do (1962), celebrated its diamond jubilee on October 5 last year - and their debut album on March 22, I can only say that the boys with the mop-tops are immortal and irreplaceable. Even today, I listen to the entire album the way I did seven years ago. I'm sure there are similar fans like me in different parts of the world - who admire the boys and express their admiration and obsession through various methods. With this, I put my pen down.

[diptanshukashyapofficial]

B-7 : No Posts in a long while :(

Hey there everyone! How’re you doin’?

It’s been over two months since I haven’t posted any video. I do have a couple of videos planned though (mostly music covers). Unfortunately, because of my office commitments and house renovation (which has been going on for a while now), I haven’t been able to do so. 

I keep listening to & practicing the songs I intend to cover. However, circumstances restrict me from putting my efforts on video. I have been reading a couple of books for my book analysis section as well.

I’m not apologizing for not posting anything (an advice from a friend in marketing). Also, apologizing makes you look weak and under confident

There are problems right now. There will be problems in the future. However, I’m assuring you that I’ll be back with fresh content. it’s because there’s always a comeback to every setback.

See you soon!!! Thank you very much :)

[diptanshukashyapofficial]

B-6 : Oscars 2023 - Predictions vs Reality

The 95th Academy Awards, a.k.a. The Oscars® took place today. The ceremony was full of obvious wins (and some unexpected ones too). The best part was - this year’s Oscars telecast had zero incidents (as the host Jimmy Kimmel points out in the end).

Amid all of this, here's a look at the predicted winners and the actual winners (in order of their presentations):-

Best Animated Feature Film

Prediction: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar, and Alex Bulkley)

Reality: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar, and Alex Bulkley)

Best Supporting Actor

Prediction: Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Reality: Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Best Supporting Actress

Prediction: Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

Reality: Jamie Lee Kurtis (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Best Documentary Feature Film

Prediction(s): All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, John Lyons, Nan Goldin, and Yoni Golijov)/A House Made of Splinters ( Simon Lereng Wilmont and Monica Hellström)

Reality:  Navalny (Daniel Roher, Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller, and Shane Boris)

Best Live Action Short Film

Prediction: An Irish Goodbye (Tom Berkely and Ross White)

Reality: An Irish Goodbye (Tom Berkely and Ross White)

Best Cinematography

Prediction: All Quiet on the Western Front (James Friend)

Reality: All Quiet on the Western Front (James Friend)

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

Prediction: Elvis (Mark Coulier, Jason Baird, and Aldo Signoretti)

Reality: The Whale (Adrien Morot, Judy Chin, and Anne Marie Bradley)

Best Costume Designing

Prediction: Elvis (Catherine Martin)

Reality: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Ruth E. Carter)

Best International Feature Film

Prediction(s): All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany - Edward Berger)/Argentina, 1985 (Argentina - Santiago Mitre)

Reality: All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany - Edward Berger)

Best Documentary Short Film

Prediction(s): The Elephant Whispers (Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga)/The Martha Mitchell Effect (Anne Alvergue and Beth Levison)

Reality: The Elephant Whispers (Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga)

Best Animated Short Film

Prediction: My Year of Dicks (Sara Gunnarsdóttir and Pamela Ribon)

Reality: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (Charlie Mackesy and Matthew Freud)

Best Production Design

Prediction: Elvis (Production Design - Catherine Martin and Karen Murphy; Set Decoration - Bev Dunn)

Reality:  All Quiet on the Western Front (Production Design - Christian M. Goldbeck; Set Decoration - Ernestine Hipper)

Best Original Score

Prediction(s): The Banshees of Inishrein (Carter Burwell)/Babylon (Justin Hurwitz)

Reality: All Quiet on the Western Front (Volker Bertelmann)

Best Visual Effects

Prediction: Avatar: The Way of Water (Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, and Daniel Barrett)

Reality: Avatar: The Way of Water (Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, and Daniel Barrett)

Best Original Screenplay

Prediction(s): The Banshees of Inisherin (Martin McDonagh)/Everything Everywhere All at Once (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert)

Reality: Everything Everywhere All at Once (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert)

Best Adapted Screenplay

Prediction: Women Talking (Sarah Polley - based on the novel by Miriam Toews)

Reality: Women Talking (Sarah Polley - based on the novel by Miriam Toews)

Best Sound

Prediction: Top Gun: Maverick (Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon, and Mark Taylor)

Reality: Top Gun: Maverick (Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon, and Mark Taylor)

Best Original Song

Prediction: "Naatu Naatu" (RRR - Music by M. M. Keeravani; Lyrics by Chandrabose)

Reality: "Naatu Naatu" (RRR - Music by M. M. Keeravani; Lyrics by Chandrabose)

Best Film Editing

Prediction: Top Gun: Maverick (Eddie Hamilton)

Reality: Everything Everywhere All at Once (Paul Rogers)

Best Director

Prediction: Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans)

Reality:  Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Best Actor

Prediction(s): Austin Butler (Elvis)/Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin)/Brendan Fraser (The Whale)

Reality: Brendan Fraser (The Whale)

Best Actress

Prediction(s): Cate Blanchett (Tár)/Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Reality: Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Best Picture

Prediction: The Fabelmans

Reality: Everything Everywhere All at Once

Which categories met your expectations? Don’t forget to share them in the comments below.

[diptanshukashyapofficial]

B-5 : Oscars 2023 Predictions - A Film fan's perspective (Part - 3)

We are just a week away from the 95th Academy Awards, a.k.a. The Oscars®. It will happen on March 13 at 5:30 PM IST. The celebrations of the Oscar season are at their peak. Amid the fun and excitement, here's a look at the final segment of the technical award categories and our predictions of the winners:-

Best Sound

Nominees: 

All Quiet on the Western Front – Viktor Prášil, Frank Kruse, Markus Stemler, Lars Ginzel, and Stefan Korte

Avatar: The Way of Water – Julian Howarth, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Dick Bernstein, Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, and Michael Hedges

The Batman – Stuart Wilson, William Files, Douglas Murray, and Andy Nelson

Elvis – David Lee, Wayne Pashley, Andy Nelson, and Michael Keller

Top Gun: Maverick – Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon, and Mark Taylor

Prediction(s): All Quiet on the Western Front/Top Gun: Maverick

It's usually a war/military movie or a musical that wins the Sound award. Topgun: Maverick seems to be a strong competitor because of the Action-filled dogfighting scenes and final combat in the climax. Western Front is also a strong contender because of the battle scenes. 

Best Production Design

Nominees: 

All Quiet on the Western Front – Production Design: Christian M. Goldbeck; Set Decoration: Ernestine Hipper

Avatar: The Way of Water – Production Design: Dylan Cole and Ben Procter; Set Decoration: Vanessa Cole

Babylon – Production Design: Florencia Martin; Set Decoration: Anthony Carlino

Elvis – Production Design: Catherine Martin and Karen Murphy; Set Decoration: Bev Dunn

The Fabelmans – Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara

Prediction: Elvis

From the 1950s to the 1970s, the sets well-exhibit the story of the King of Rock n Roll - from his home to the carnivals to the stadiums to the TV and recording studios to the lavishing hotels of Las Vegas.

Best Cinematography

Nominees: 

All Quiet on the Western Front – James Friend

Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths – Darius Khondji

Elvis – Mandy Walker

Empire of Light – Roger Deakins

Tár – Florian Hoffmeister

Prediction: All Quiet on The Western Front

It's because the camera work of James Friend captures the horrors of the First World War. The fighting in broad daylight is realistic and gives chills every time you see it.

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

Nominees:

All Quiet on the Western Front – Heike Merker and Linda Eisenhamerová

The Batman – Naomi Donne, Mike Marino, and Mike Fontaine

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Camille Friend and Joel Harlow

Elvis – Mark Coulier, Jason Baird, and Aldo Signoretti

The Whale – Adrien Morot, Judy Chin, and Anne Marie Bradley

Prediction: Elvis

Is it possible to make a movie on Elvis Presley without his puffed hair and sideburns? Hairstyles play a crucial role in his era of the 1950s-70s.

Best Costume Designing

Nominees:

Babylon – Mary Zophres

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Ruth E. Carter

Elvis – Catherine Martin

Everything Everywhere All at Once – Shirley Kurata

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris – Jenny Beavan

Prediction: Elvis

The film is all about colors, nostalgia, and costumes of the Presley years.

Best Film Editing

Nominees:

The Banshees of Inisherin – Mikkel E. G. Nielsen

Elvis – Matt Villa and Jonathan Redmond

Everything Everywhere All at Once – Paul Rogers

Tár – Monika Willi

Top Gun: Maverick – Eddie Hamilton

Prediction: Top Gun: Maverick

The editing of the sortie scenes and the final aerial battle is what makes the Top Gun sequel the ultimate winner of the editing award.

Best Visual Effects

Nominees: 

All Quiet on the Western Front – Frank Petzold, Viktor Müller, Markus Frank, and Kamil Jafar

Avatar: The Way of Water – Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, and Daniel Barrett

The Batman – Dan Lemmon, Russell Earl, Anders Langlands, and Dominic Tuohy

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Geoffrey Baumann, Craig Hammack, R. Christopher White, and Dan Sudick

Top Gun: Maverick – Ryan Tudhope, Seth Hill, Bryan Litson, and Scott R. Fisher

Prediction: Avatar: The Way of Water

Cameron's film can become the first sequel to win the same award in this category. The beautiful visuals of the world of Pandora would surely take the trophy home.

[diptanshukashyapofficial]

B-4 : Oscars 2023 Predictions - A Film fan's perspective (Part - 2)

The 95th Academy Awards, a.k.a. The Oscars®, will take place on March 13 at 5:30 AM IST. The celebrations of the Oscar season are at their peak. Amid the fun and excitement, here's a look at the movies categories and our predictions of the winners:-

Best Animated Film

Nominees:

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio – Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar, and Alex Bulkley

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – Dean Fleischer Camp, Elisabeth Holm, Andrew Goldman, Caroline Kaplan, and Paul Mezey

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – Joel Crawford and Mark Swift

The Sea Beast – Chris Williams and Jed Schlanger

Turning Red – Domee Shi and Lindsey Collins

Prediction: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

del Toro's first attempt at stop-motion animation to present the classic tale of the wooden boy in a different style has received several accolades this year. An Oscar is gonna be another such honor.

Best International Feature Film

Nominees:

All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany) – directed by Edward Berger

Argentina, 1985 (Argentina) – directed by Santiago Mitre

Close (Belgium) – directed by Lukas Dhont

EO (Poland) – directed by Jerzy Skolimowski

The Quiet Girl (Ireland) – directed by Colm Bairéad

Prediction(s): All Quiet on The Western Front/Argentina, 1985

While the former is an anti-war film appreciated by critics & audiences, the latter was the Golden Globe winner in the same category this year. Hence, the two are gonna be strong contenders.

Best Documentary Feature

Nominees:

All That Breathes – Shaunak Sen, Aman Mann, and Teddy Leifer

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed – Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, John Lyons, Nan Goldin, and Yoni Golijov

Fire of Love – Sara Dosa, Shane Boris, and Ina Fichman

A House Made of Splinters – Simon Lereng Wilmont and Monica Hellström

Navalny – Daniel Roher, Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller, and Shane Boris

Prediction(s): All the Beauty and the Bloodshed/A House Made of Splinters

The former is about the life of photographer and activist Nan Goldin and her efforts to hold Purdue Pharma, owned by the Sackler family, accountable for the opioid epidemic. On the other hand, the latter is about an orphanage with children dealing with the Russia-Ukraine war. Both themes have been a crucial topic of discussion among cinephiles and filmmakers - and the Academy might be a part of it as well.

Best Documentary Short Subject

Nominees:

The Elephant Whisperers – Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga

Haulout – Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev

How Do You Measure a Year? – Jay Rosenblatt

The Martha Mitchell Effect – Anne Alvergue and Beth Levison

Stranger at the Gate – Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones

Prediction(s): The Elephant Whispers/The Martha Mitchell Effect

The Academy can have a split decision between a human-elephant relationship and the whistleblower of the biggest political scandals of the world - Watergate!

Best Live Action Short Film

Nominees:

An Irish Goodbye – Tom Berkely and Ross White

Ivalu – Anders Walter and Rebecca Pruzan

Le Pupille – Alice Rohrwacher and Alfonso Cuarón

Night Ride – Eirik Tveiten and Gaute Lid Larssen

The Red Suitcase – Cyrus Neshvad

Prediction: An Irish Goodbye

The story of two siblings reuniting after their mother's death - filled with humor & drama would be the ultimate contender.

Best Animated Short Film

Nominees:

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse – Charlie Mackesy and Matthew Freud

The Flying Sailor – Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis

Ice Merchants – João Gonzalez and Bruno Caetano

My Year of Dicks – Sara Gunnarsdóttir and Pamela Ribon

An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It – Lachlan Pendragon

Prediction: My Year of Dicks

A teenage girl's obsession with finding the right partner for sex amid a comedic journey of disappointment and self-discovery can win the golden man for depicting female sexism.

Best Original Score

Nominees:

All Quiet on the Western Front – Volker Bertelmann

Babylon – Justin Hurwitz

The Banshees of Inisherin – Carter Burwell

Everything Everywhere All at Once – Son Lux

The Fabelmans – John Williams

Prediction: The Banshees of Inishrein/Babylon

While John Williams has become the most nominated living person (53 - winning 5), Hurwitz and Burwell would be giving The Fabelmans' score a tough competition. While the former gives the 1920s Silent Hollywood vibe, the latter's Irish folk composition is full of humor and intense tension as the film progresses.

Best Original Song

Nominees:

"Applause" from Tell It Like a Woman – Music and lyrics by Diane Warren

"Hold My Hand" from Top Gun: Maverick – Music and lyrics by Lady Gaga and BloodPop

"Lift Me Up" from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler, and Ludwig Göransson; Lyrics by Tems and Ryan Coogler

"Naatu Naatu" from RRR – Music by M. M. Keeravani; Lyrics by Chandrabose

"This Is a Life" from Everything Everywhere All at Once – Music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne, and Mitski; Lyrics by Ryan Lott and David Byrne

Prediction: Naatu Naatu

Undoubtedly, this "feel good" dance number can make the Academy members shake their legs as well. The audience's love and the Golden Globe for Keeravani are enough to ensure an Oscar for another South Indian composer (first since AR Rahman for Jai Ho).

[diptanshukashyapofficial]

B-3 : Oscars 2023 Predictions - A Film fan's perspective (Part - 1)

The 95th Academy Awards, a.k.a. The Oscars®, will take place on March 13 at 5:30 AM IST. The celebrations of the Oscar season are at their peak. Amid the fun and excitement, here's a look at the movies categories and our predictions of the winners:-

Best Picture

Nominations: 

All Quiet on the Western Front

Avatar: The Way of Water

The Banshees of Inisherin

Elvis

Everything Everywhere All at Once

The Fabelmans

TAR

Top Gun: Maverick

Triangle of Sadness

Women Talking

Prediction: The Fabelmans

The Academy might favor a movie that exhibits the love for cinema through the eyes of one of Hollywood's most-respected directors - Steven Spielberg. Either originally-written movies like Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Banshees of Inisherin can give tough competition.

Best Director

Nominees:

Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans

Todd Field, TÁR

Ruben Östlund, Triangle of Sadness

Prediction: Steven Spielberg

Spielberg would be the rightful winner for it. If it happens, he would be the third person to win three directing Oscars - after Frank Capra and William Wyler.

Best Original Screenplay

Nominees:

The Banshees of Inisherin – Martin McDonagh

Everything Everywhere All at Once – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

The Fabelmans – Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner

Tár – Todd Field

Triangle of Sadness – Ruben Östlund

Prediction: The Banshees of Inisherin/Everything Everywhere All At Once

Unlike the first two categories, the Daniels and Martin McDonagh would be fighting for this award. It's the fight between the battle of multiverses & the conflict between two friends.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Nominees:

All Quiet on the Western Front – Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson, and Ian Stokell (based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque)

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery – Rian Johnson; based on characters created by Johnson and the film Knives Out

Living – Kazuo Ishiguro (based on the original motion picture screenplay Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, and Hideo Oguni)

Top Gun: Maverick – Screenplay by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks; based on the film Top Gun written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr.

Women Talking – Sarah Polley (based on the novel by Miriam Toews)

Prediction: Women Talking

Women Talking would be the ideal winner for the film adaptation of the atrocities by men against women (inspired by the Manitoba Colony, a remote and isolated Mennonite community in Bolivia).

Best Actor

Nominees:

Austin Butler – Elvis as Elvis Presley

Colin Farrell – The Banshees of Inisherin as Pádraic Súilleabháin

Brendan Fraser – The Whale as Charlie

Paul Mescal – Aftersun as Calum Paterson

Bill Nighy – Living as Mr. Rodney Williams

Prediction: Austin Butler/Colin Farrell/Brendan Fraser

Fraser's portrayal of an obese, depressed man can bring the Academy in his favor. He would compete with Austin Butler's portrayal of the King of Rock n' Roll & Farrell's character of an Irishman betrayed by his best friend (both actors won this year's Golden Globes).

Best Actress

Nominees:

Cate Blanchett – Tár as Lydia Tár

Ana de Armas – Blonde as Norma Jeane Mortensen / Marilyn Monroe

Andrea Riseborough – To Leslie as Leslie Rowlands

Michelle Williams – The Fabelmans as Mitzi Schildkraut-Fabelman

Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Evelyn Quan Wang

Prediction: Cate Blanchett/Michelle Yeoh

It'll be the fight between Blanchett's complex character of an orchestra conductor & Yeoh's role of a superwoman protecting the multiverse from her daughter.

Best Supporting Actor

Nominees:

Brendan Gleeson – The Banshees of Inisherin as Colm Doherty

Brian Tyree Henry – Causeway as James Aucoin

Judd Hirsch – The Fabelmans as Boris Schildkraut

Barry Keoghan – The Banshees of Inisherin as Dominic Kearney

Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Waymond Wang

Prediction: Ke Huy Quan

This one's gonna go to Indiana Jones' sidekick - Short Round, i.e., Quan - for playing a kind and friendly person to his wife in different universes.

Best Supporting Actress

Nominees:

Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as Queen Ramonda

Hong Chau – The Whale as Liz

Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin as Siobhán Súilleabháin

Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Deirdre Beaubeirdre

Stephanie Hsu – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Joy Wang / Jobu Tupaki

Prediction: Angela Bassett

All hail the Queen Mother!!! Bassett's likely to take the trophy home for portraying the grieving mother of the late Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa.

[diptanshukashyapofficial]

B-2 : Why Indians Need to Watch Frank Capra’s Movies?

If you're a fan of Old Hollywood, you can realize the significance of Frank Capra (1897-1991) in the American Film Industry. An Italian by origin, he spent 89 years in the United States. His life story was that of a "rags to riches" one - an ideal example of achieving the American Dream. He also served in the United States Army during the Second World War - and made several war documentaries. One can learn about it in the Netflix series Five Came Back - with Guillermo del Toro narrating his story. Capra has influenced many directors of the post-World War II era (from Indian directors like Satyajit Ray & Raj Kapoor to foreign directors like Akira Kurosawa, Steven Spielberg, & Francois Truffaut). But what is it that makes Capra's work evergreen?

Before I start, I wish to talk about my rendezvous with Capra. I first heard about him when he attended the 1972 Oscars to co-present the Best Director Award with Natalie Wood (to William Friedkin for The French Connection). I watched six of Capra's movies between December 2021 and July 2022. They are:

It Happened One Night (1934)

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)

You Can't Take It with You (1938)

Mr. Smith s Goes to Washington (1939)

Meet John Doe (1941)

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in It Happened One Night (1934)

Raj Kapoor and Nargis in Chori Chori (1956)

I loved every single picture. While watching It Happened One Night, I found it similar to the 1956 Raj Kapoor-Nargis starrer Chori Chori (not to mention their final collaboration). The screwball comedy got remade in several Indian languages - even the 1991 movie Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (with Aamir Khan and Pooja Bhatt). The key themes the movie exhibits are the class and socio-economic differences between the two lead characters - along with love, freedom, poverty, unemployment, etcetera.

It would also be interesting to know that It Happened One Night was the first of the three movies to win the "Big Five" awards at the Oscars: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay. The other two movies are One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and Silence of The Lambs (1991).

Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)

Claude Rains and James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Mr. Deeds and Mr. Smith grabbed my attention because of the themes discussed in the two (like corruption, misuse of power, beliefs in democracy, patriotism, etcetera). The most significant element is the depiction of the ideal 'American Hero' - which one can see in Gary Cooper and James Stewart, respectively. However, the hero is something that every nation wishes to have - including ours. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town got remade in Bengali (Raja-Saja of 1960 with Uttam Kumar) and Tamil (Nallathambi of 1949 with S. Krishnan). Whereas Mr. Smith Goes to Washington did not have an Indian adaptation.

However, Mr. Smith reminded me of how the English tried to suppress such movements during the freedom struggle. Scenes like 'young boys printing newspapers and citizens launching movements to prove a man's innocence & bureaucrats and politicians trying to stop it' remind us of such events. One must remember that it got released less than three years before Gandhiji launched the Quit India movement of 1942. Even after independence, now and then, we come across news headlines featuring similar happenings.

Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck in Meet John Doe (1941)

Amitabh Bachchan and Shabana Azmi in Main Azaad Hoon (1989)

Meet John Doe is about a "grassroots" political campaign created unwittingly by a newspaper columnist with the involvement of a hired homeless man and pursued by the paper's wealthy owner. The renowned Indian adaptation of the film is the Amitabh Bachchan-Shabana Azmi starrer Main Azaad Hoon (1989). It's one of the rarest movies where Bachchan has not fought the corrupt violently.

Although John Doe survives in the end, Azaad kills himself to stay true to the words of the reporter's fictional character. Azaad could have avoided it - but he did not do it so that the people's anger and urge to fight the corrupt system never cool down. Azaad also leaves a message for his supporters and appeals that Azaad should evolve in them. Capra claimed that he never found a satisfying ending for Meet John Doe. However, Main Azaad Hoon provides a finale that suits the main character's commonality and mythic stature.

(5) Lionel Barrymore, James Stewart, Jean Arthur, and Edward Arnold in You Can’t Take It with You    

And finally, You Can't Take It with You (for which he won his third Directing and second Best Picture Oscar) has a similar theme to It Happened One Night. It's a love story of a successful banker's son and his stenographer. In several Bollywood movies, we see romances between a rich boy and a poor girl (and vice versa) - but they are not like the romances between Capra's characters.  

(6) Donna Reed, Stewart, and Karolyn Grimes in It’s A Wonderful Life

This article would be incomplete without talking about It's a Wonderful Life (his first movie after leaving the Army) - which gives an important lesson about the significance and beauty of human life. It teaches us that our work can impact the people we come across - and those with friends are never lonely.

But that's not all!

We live in his world. It is the "Capra Universe" - where demons of society have surrounded us - and all we need is a "hero" to fight against them. Indeed, there are various Indian movies with similar themes (and distinct from Capra's plots). However, one can the difference only after watching them. Capra has taught us that you can be a rebel or an "angry young man" - without having a gun or a weapon to fight the system and beating up the bad guys. All you must do is to believe in yourself and the moral principles of society. He gave complex social and economic problems a human face - showing unemployment and vast concentrations of economic power.

Elaborating on the themes expressed in Capra's most famous works, two of the most reoccurring subjects are selflessness and a familial sense of community. That's why there is always strong support for the lead characters.

The only difference between Capra's movies and the Indian versions is the inclusion of songs - a standard Indian Cinema formula.

With themes depicted in them and the problems we see around us, Indians must watch some of Capra's movies. There have been directors who have remade them in the Indian context (and there will be in the future, no doubt). However, they won't have the exact authenticity as those of Capra's movies.

[diptanshukashyapofficial]

B-1 : The beginning!!!

Hey there everyone! How’re you doin’?

I’m happy to announce that I have also started a blog of my own to express my feelings about movies and music in words. Although I make videos about them every now and then, I decided to start it for certain topics of my choice. Hope you like them.

See you there. Thank you very much:)