Hi Friends,
How are you doing?How was Thanksgiving Day?Hope you feasted as you also expressed gratitude for all the wonderful gifts God has bestowed upon you,your loved ones and the world at large.Here's a post that I found in my archives section which you might like to re-visit this Thanksgiving Day.(Click here) Though Thanksgiving Day is officially over but I believe that everyday is Thanksgiving!
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So, now without any further delay let's right away begin with this month's post!
Recently,I read positive reports on some forthcoming films (of course by now most of them must have released) like-The Imitation Game, Selma and The Theory of Everything and I observed a common thread running through them.And no,it had nothing to do with their plot or story structure! So I decided to blog about it here!
While the three films mentioned above are biopics (based on the life of real-life personalities whether living or dead) with The Imitation Game being about a genius mathematician and crypt-analyst, Alan Turing (played by the versatile,Benedict Cumberbatch) who cracked Germany's Enigma Code during World War II.
Then we have Selma which chronicles the tears,struggles and the lasting victory of the legendary civil rights activist,Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his epic march from Selma to Montgomery that changed the course of American history forever.By the way this iconic role was played by yet another talented actor,David Oyelowo.
And finally,The Theory of Everything is an account from the life of world renowned and much revered physicist of our times, Stephen Hawking(played by a young and shining actor,Eddie Redmayne who is fast climbing the ladders of success in Hollywood with films like My Week With Marilyn, Les Misérables etc in the recent years).This film is about the uphill challenge Stephen Hawking faced when at the age of 21 he learned of his motor neuron disease.But with his sweet-heart and wife by his side how he went on to make remarkable discoveries in the fields of medicine and science considering that doctors had predicted not much time for him to live is what this film is all about.
But these three outstanding films I just mentioned above also celebrate the triumph of the human will to push beyond your limits and conquer insurmountable odds and is also about the trials and tribulation each of them faced to reach the pedestals of glory! These films are about the rise of ordinary people who did something extraordinary in their life-time such that their legacies will live on and shine like a beacon of hope,inspiration and knowledge in our lives and for generations to come.And I also wish that these films are hailed at the box office and felicitated at all award ceremonies as well with appreciation and recognition they truly deserve.
In the past we've had films like A Beautiful Mind based on the life of Nobel Laureate in Economics,John Nash meet with success both at the box-office and at award ceremonies as well.However,last year a film based on the life of the world's most beloved luminary figure, Nelson Mandela - Mandela-Long Walk To Freedom was snubbed at all award functions and sank without a trace. You have to actually Google it to even recall that such a film was made on the life of an inspiring South African anti-apartheid revolutionary who went on to lead a nation!
However I do hope that in the coming awards season the three films I just mentioned above are showered with all the nominations and awards for the pain-staking effort, detail and research that has gone all-round into giving us a slice of history!
Psst...Benedict is fast becoming a 'specialist' in the genre of biopics as he seems to have mastered the art of internalizing the lives of people in history and real-life personalities.Last year we saw him play Julian Assange to a T and this year he simply convinced us that he was indeed Alan Turing! Earlier on Benedict Cumberbatch also did a flawless portrayal of Stephen Hawking in a TV movie.(Yup you read that right! Eddie Redmayne better watch out!Comparisons are inevitable!!) Now let's wait and watch to see who's next on Mr. Cumberbatch's list!
With films like The Imitation Game, Selma and The Theory Of Everything -it is evident that Brits are all set to dominate the nominations when it comes to the Best Actor. And here's a proof of it!
I can easily picture Benedict Cumberbatch,David Oyelowo and Eddie Redmayne as the front-runners for Best Actor nominations in their respective films.Even if Alan Turing does not instantaneously ring a bell with the jury but Benedict Cumberbatch's soaring popularity and precise portrayal simply cannot be ignored.Likewise,here's a chance for America to honor their very own hero,Martin Luther King Jr. in the film,Selma.And what could be a more befitting tribute and an apt occasion to celebrate his legacy when the film scores nominations and notches up a win or two at different award functions (particularly at the Oscars!).Thus,I see David Oyelowo securing a berth for Best Actor.Last but not the least,you have a living legend before us whom the earth and galaxies adore and know by the name of Stephen Hawking. So if not the people of earth,at least the galaxies would be dismayed if Eddie Redmayne is overlooked for his portrayal of a celebrated physicist,Stephen Hawkings in the film,The Theory of Everything.So,that's the third nomination I see in the Best Actor category.
Joining this illustrious list of fine performances in the nominees for Best Actor (co-incidentally once again a British actor) could possibly be a surprise if Christian Bale secures a nomination for Best Actor in Exodus:Gods and Kings.(Of course,we'll wait until December 12th to see how critics pan out the film as a whole and Christian Bale's performance as Moses.) So there we are as Brits get set to rule the roost.
In the last four years we've had two British actors - Colin Firth and Daniel Day-Lewis take home the Best Actor trophies at the Oscars and this year in all possibility we might have four British actors fighting it out to make it on the list for the Best Actor nominees...howzzat? However on the contrary,gauging the popularity of the aforementioned films as on today,we could see just Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne making the cut to the list of Best Actor nominees.
In the last four years we've had two British actors - Colin Firth and Daniel Day-Lewis take home the Best Actor trophies at the Oscars and this year in all possibility we might have four British actors fighting it out to make it on the list for the Best Actor nominees...howzzat? However on the contrary,gauging the popularity of the aforementioned films as on today,we could see just Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne making the cut to the list of Best Actor nominees.
Then which actors(other than those discussed above) could make it to the list of five?The competition is heating up as we have not one,not two but three worthy contenders competing for the coveted Best Actor trophy,they are-Mark Wahlberg in The Gambler,Steve Carell in Foxcatcher(yet another biopic!) and Michael Keaton in Birdman.
So,we've seen Mark Wahlberg nominated twice earlier.Could he be third time lucky as he plays Jim Bennett,an English Literature college professor by day and a high stakes gambler by night?
Steve Carell has always tickled our funny bone but this time around he transforms himself into something lethal!At the first glance he is barely even recognizable as he plays a millionaire sponsor, John du Pont who drives a wedge between the two Schultz brothers competing for the 1988 Olympics thus propelling the trio towards an unforeseen tragedy.
Could Steve Carell take home the statuette for Foxcatcher in his first Oscar outing? Chances are there!
From Batman to Birdman... Michael Keaton has come a long way and with Birdman he transforms from a superhero(B for Birdman... Batman...some coincidence here!) into a washed-up actor lost in obscurity on the path to reclaim his former glory!
Coming from the stable of films directed by Alejandro González with Amores Perros,21 Grams, Babel and Biutiful to his credit...this performance might just catapult Michael Keaton into the list of nominees and might possibly fetch him his first win too!
(Here's the latest buzz coming in-Trade pundits are betting on Michael Keaton and Eddie Redmayne as winners for Best Actor at the Oscars.)
(Here's the latest buzz coming in-Trade pundits are betting on Michael Keaton and Eddie Redmayne as winners for Best Actor at the Oscars.)
With stellar performances by so many fine actors,the stakes are high when it comes to Best Actor and genre-wise,it is biopics for Best Director and Best Film! Who'll take the cake? We'll know,come February 2015.
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Finally,before I sum up this month's post,it's time for me to express gratitude to all my wonderful readers and well-wishers as we bring down the curtain on yet another successful year at Sonyaa's Random Musings.With your support by my side,I do hope we grow in numbers and strength in the coming year as well.
Wishing you all a bright, wonderful and a fantastic New Year ahead!
God bless
Love,
Sonyaa
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