Just when we thought cinema couldn't surprise us anymore, 2021 decided to prove us wrong. Our love for cinema was reignited with masterpieces that, in their unforgettable way, not only entertained us but also raised pertinent, hard-hitting questions that reverberated beyond the silver screens.
Awards season is almost upon us, and experts seem divided on the cinematic champions. From gritty crime dramas to heart-rending rom-coms, audacious streaming platforms to the much-adored studio flicks, this year’s Oscar race is shaping up to be all but predictable.
The Venice Film Festival opened the floodgates with Jane Campion's 'The Power of the Dog' stealing the limelight. The unsettlingly raw performance by its lead actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, and the intriguingly layered storytelling left critics raving, pushing it squarely into the Oscars buzz.
And then, there was the Toronto Film Festival. A bellwether for Best Picture at the Oscars, its audience awarded 'Belfast' their highest honor. Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical black & white film, set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, quickly emerged as a frontrunner.
It’s hard not to talk about Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’. After premiering at the American Film Institute Fest, it was touted as a potential Oscars heavy-hitter, thanks to a fresh take on a beloved classic that commands respect.
However, the competition is intense. Streaming platforms are determined not to fade into the shadows this awards season. 'Don’t Look Up' and 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' both Netflix exclusives, threaten to upset the traditional cinema apple cart. Meanwhile, Amazon’s 'Being the Ricardos' portrayal of America’s iconic television couple is garnering acclaim.
While we have strong contenders, the underdogs could still steal the show. Indie masterpieces like French 'Titane', which clinched the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and Questlove's ’Summer of Soul’, won’t go down without a fight.
Predicting this year's Oscar winners is no less challenging than solving a Rubik’s cube. Wherever you turn, there's a fascinating mixture of creativity, skill, and raw emotion.
At the end of the day, every movie that graced our screens this year shed light on a different aspect of life, human behavior, and society. And that in itself holds the true beauty of cinema.
Whatever the outcome may be, the Oscars 2022 race is a testament to the evolving cinema landscape. And this is a change we all ought to be excited about as we delve deeper into the beautiful, enigmatic world of international cinema.
Demystifying the Art of Cinema: Shaping up the Oscars 2022 Race
