It's that time of the year again when cine-buffs from around the world look forward to the biggest annual cine-event- The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars. Well, not all cine-buffs have good things to say about it..... nor are they expected to. The Oscars are as much about the marketing blitzkrieg as they are about celebrating quality cinematic offerings. So, for many it is a time to pinpoint at the vagueness behind the claims of superlative content; however, for others, it is a vindication of their own choices matching with the Academy's prize-winners.
This time, the film 'Slumdog Millionaire' has created the maximum buzz at the nominations, and many an Indian has been keeping the fingers crossed - the film already having won top honors at the Golden Globes this year - believing that the Danny Boyle film winning Oscars will in a way be a boost for the Indian films and the diaspora, sadly they are mistaken. 'Slumdog Millionaire', though technically brilliant, is a typical offering from British director Danny Boyle who has woven a modern-day fantasy out of the Third World horrors of low-life. It is a pastiche of colors-and-images-and-sounds that works as a great hook for the Western audience. It is kitsch being passed off as a contemporary classic.
'Slumdog Millionaire' is one of the most watched films, from the list of films in the Oscar nominations list, in this sub-continent. I too haven't seen many of the other apparently interesting films that I got to know only from the news reports about the nominations. I hope to see them but I doubt if I really be able to, as most of these are unlikely to be released in theaters in Kolkata! However, here I am taking a nod to all the films I have seen from this year's Oscar nominations - in whatever category or categories.
From top to bottom, scenes from the following:
Presto
Changeling
The Dark Knight
Kung Fu Panda
Iron Man
Australia
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
Wanted
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Courtesy: www.oscar.com
This time, the film 'Slumdog Millionaire' has created the maximum buzz at the nominations, and many an Indian has been keeping the fingers crossed - the film already having won top honors at the Golden Globes this year - believing that the Danny Boyle film winning Oscars will in a way be a boost for the Indian films and the diaspora, sadly they are mistaken. 'Slumdog Millionaire', though technically brilliant, is a typical offering from British director Danny Boyle who has woven a modern-day fantasy out of the Third World horrors of low-life. It is a pastiche of colors-and-images-and-sounds that works as a great hook for the Western audience. It is kitsch being passed off as a contemporary classic.
'Slumdog Millionaire' is one of the most watched films, from the list of films in the Oscar nominations list, in this sub-continent. I too haven't seen many of the other apparently interesting films that I got to know only from the news reports about the nominations. I hope to see them but I doubt if I really be able to, as most of these are unlikely to be released in theaters in Kolkata! However, here I am taking a nod to all the films I have seen from this year's Oscar nominations - in whatever category or categories.
From top to bottom, scenes from the following:
Presto
Changeling
The Dark Knight
Kung Fu Panda
Iron Man
Australia
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
Wanted
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Courtesy: www.oscar.com
5 comments:
'Everyone is gifted - but some people never open their package!'
- that's what I want to tell the detractors of the Oscar contenders/winners, as they rue the fact that only some lucky films get noticed, while many a talent bites the dust.
I loved the cinematic vision of Danny Boyle in all his films, and 'Slumdog Millionaire' is no exception, it may not be the Mumbai you or I have known or seen, it may seem cliched to many, but it is still a dream-realization on celluloid, that befits the celebratory nods.
My Oscar favorites:
Presto, Australia, Milk, The Dark Knight, Channgeling, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon and Wall-E.
But I am rooting for 'Slumdog Millionaire', especially for A. R. Rahman for the best original score!!!!!
It is a pity that u got to see just a few of the Oscar contenfers. I am sure u will catch up with many more from the comlete listing in the days/months to come. Here are my predictions for the Oscars, 2009 (based on the bias and preferences of jury members, as often regarded as the most predictable thing, there might be few last minute surprises, who knows!):
Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
Best Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, Milk
Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Animated Short: Presto
Best Animated Film: WALL-E
Best Foreign Language Film: Waltz With Bashir
Best Documentary Feature: Man on Wire
Best Editing: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Cinematography: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Costume Design: Revolutionary Road
Best Original Score: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Original Song: “Jai Ho” (Slumdog Millionaire)
Best Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Sound Editing: The Dark Knight
Best Sound Mixing: WALL-E
Best Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
I am sure 'Slumdog Millionaire' will win some top awards, and so would 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'. Among my other favorites in the list of nominees this year (that you have not seen and hence not listed here) are 'The Wrestler' and 'The Reader'.
Crazily..... all the films that are showcased in the pics are my hot favorites! I am thrilled to bits!!!!
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