My Oscars 2022 Predictions

It’s that time of the year, the Academy Awards 2022 are due in less than 48 hours!

Having watched all the nominated films, with some really great ones, and some not so much, some being the popular frontrunners and some still not known on a mass level…

Here are my predictions for the Oscars 2022 –

• Best Picture – CODA / Belfast

(While The Power of the Dog seems to be the frontrunner in this category, amongst the ten nominated films in the category, Belfast and CODA stand out far higher than the rest, for me. Either of those wins, I’ll be glad)

• Best Actor – Andrew Garfield

(Every performance in this category is simply incredible, Will Smith in King Richard may win here and will be second in my list, but Andrew Garfield was exceptional in tick, tick… BOOM and I loved that film, so personally biased to predict his win here)

• Best Actress – Jessica Chastain

(A bunch of power-packed performances in this category… do we really have to choose? One that stood out and I would pick for the win is Jessica Chastain in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, her role was fantastic in that one, just wow!)

• International Feature Film – Drive My Car

(While it already is a great film, if it has been nominated for the Best Picture category, there should be no surprises it would win here too)

• Best Original Song – No Time to Die (Billie Eilish, FINNEAS) [No Time to Die]

• Best Animated Feature – Luca

(The Best Animated Category is such a tough one this year, usually, there seems to be a frontrunner here, and I’m predicting Luca for the win… But highly likely Encanto could be the one or any of the others too)

• Best Supporting Actress – Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog)

• Best Supporting Actor – Troy Kotsur (CODA)

(Kodi Smit-McPhee is another favourite in this category, but all my bet’s on Troy Kotsur for the win, what a performance in CODA)

• Best Director – Sir Kenneth Branagh (Belfast)
(I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jane Campion take this award, and she seems to be the favourite in this category too, but I’m hoping for a surprise here)

• Best Original Screenplay – Belfast

(No doubts about this one, Belfast is far ahead in this category and taking the award)

• Best Adapted Screenplay – CODA (Sian Heder)

• Best Visual Effects – Spiderman: No Way Home

(While Dune is an equal match for the win, Spiderman: No Way Home is all visual effects and would be a surprise if it doesn’t win here))

• Best Cinematography – Dune (Greig Fraser)

• Best Original Score – Dune (Hans Zimmer has created magic here, and it’s a riot if anyone else wins here ;))

• Best Makeup and Hairstyling – The Eyes of Tammy Faye

• Best Costume Design – Cruella

• Best Film Editing – tick, tick… BOOM (Andrew Weisblum, Myron I. Kerstein)

• Best Production Design – West Side Story

• Best Sound – Dune (All bets on Hans Zimmer)

My Top Songs/ Movies/ Shows and more of 2021

As 2021 comes to an end and having watched a ton of movies and shows, plus listening to music and podcasts, this is a list of, according to me, my top songs, movies, shows, podcasts of 2021.

Here we go…

Top 5 Malayalam Films of 2021 –

1. Drishyam 2
2. Joji
3. Nayattu
4. Kurup
5. Malik

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Top 5 Tamil Films of 2021 –

1. Master
2. Maara
3. Jai Bhim
4. Karnan
5. Sarpatta Parambarai

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Top 5 Hindi Films of 2021 –

1. Shershaah
2. Sardar Udham
3. Sherni
4. Sandeep aur Pinky Faraar
5. Sooryavanshi

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Top 5 Telugu Films of 2021 –

1. Most Eligible Bachelor
2. Love Story
3. CinemaBandi
4. Thimmarusu
5. Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020)

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Top 10 English Films of 2021 –

1. Zack Snyder’s Justice League
2. The Mauritanian
3. Pig
4. The Harder they Fall
5. CODA
6. King Richard
7. Don’t Look Up
8. tick, tick… BOOM
9. Belfast
10. Spiderman: No Way Home

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Top 10 Indian Songs of 2021 –

1. Kutti Story [Master] (Tamil)
2. Lagan Laagi Re [Songs of Love – Amit Trivedi] (Hindi)
3. Raataan Lambiyan [Shershaah] (Hindi)
4. Leharaayi [Most Eligible Bachelor] (Telugu)
5. Nenjame [Doctor] (Tamil)
6. Saranga Dariya [Love Story] (Telugu)
7. Rang Lageya (Hindi)
8. Lut Gaye (Hindi)
9. Aashiqui Aa Gayi [Radhe Shyam] (Hindi version)
10. Theerame [Malik] (Malayalam)

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Top 10 International Songs of 2021 –

1. Amaraya (Lucky Ali x Botzer)
2. The World We Left Behind (KSHMR x Karra)
3. Astronaut in the Ocean (Masked Wolf)
4. Anita (Armin van Buuren x Timmy Trumpet)
5. Gone Are The Days (Kygo x James Gillespie)
6. Cadillac (Morgenshtern x Eldzhey)
7. Sorry (Alan Walker x ISAK)
8. Follow You (Imagine Dragons)
9. On The Way (Russ)
10. Sideways (Illenium x Valerie Broussard x Nurko)

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Soundtrack Album of the Year – Zack Snyder’s Justice League

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Top 5 Indian TV Shows of 2021 –

1. TVF’s Aspirants
2. Ray
3. Aarya 2
4. Potluck
5. Jeet ki Zid

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Top 10 International Shows of 2021 –

1. Schitt’s Creek
2. Cobra Kai
3. Only Murders in the Building
4. Succession S3
5. Mare of Easttown
6. Dave
7. The White Lotus
8. Down to Earth with Zac Efron
9. Midnight Mass
10. What We Do in the Shadows

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Top 10 Podcasts of 2021 –

1. My First Million
2. Sway/ Pivot
3. Armchair Expert
4. HBO’s Succession Podcast
5. Naan Curry
6. Renegades: Born in the USA
7. The Ranveer Show
8. Cyrus Says
9. Variety Awards Circuit
10. The Big Shots – Dosa King

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Top 5 Performances of the Year –

1. Fahadh Faasil (Joji/ Malik)
2. Sushmita Sen (Aarya 2)
3. Andrew Garfield (tick, tick… BOOM)
4. Vicky Kaushal (Sardar Udham)
5. Nicolas Cage (Pig)

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RTHReviews: SpiderMan No Way Home (Spoilers ahead)

this review contains spoilers

I, like many others, have been following the Marvel Cinematic Universe journey for quite a while now, first the movies, now the tv shows, everything. So when the first news came of this film, and bit by bit, the news and the trailers came out, this was the most hyped I’ve ever been, for any Marvel or any superhero film.

How did the movie deliver and what! In mere sentences, it’s impossible to explain all the rush of emotions and goosebumps experienced throughout the film and at these specific Marvelesque moments in the film. Marvel has now reached a stage, after delivering so much, that they’re now able to go above and beyond, experimenting with film-making in the process, and the outcome is off the roof.

(Here’s a quick synopsis of the film – With Spider-Man’s identity now revealed, our friendly neighborhood web-slinger is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life as Peter Parker from the high stakes of being a superhero. When Peter asks for help from Doctor Strange, the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.)

Speaking of Spiderman: No Way Home, while the film is bigger than any of the previous Spiderman films, they’ve still managed to maintain the simplicity of Tom Holland’s Spiderman, his superpower (i.e. his heart), and how he has matured after every event he has faced.

There is so much happening in this 2 hr 28 mins masterpiece, that it’s difficult to pinpoint a mere few pointers that make it great. The film has quite successfully given respect to the Spiderman legacy, with respect to their villains and the multiple Spiderman(s), we’ve all grown up watching. Those moments and the storyline, in general, were so beautiful to watch, with a definite feeling of nostalgia, and also making you teary-eyed here and there.

Just when you thought how amazing are these villains all together, in one scene, sometimes showing their human side and at another moment, all villainy… Marvel takes the film to another level, with the introduction of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. I never thought it was ever possible, nor can I describe how extraordinary it was to watch three Spiderman together in one scene, fighting off the baddies. Not only the fights, but every scene with the three of them was a joy to watch.

Not only did it feel so nostalgic to especially see Maguire suited-up (since he was the first Spiderman we saw on the big screen), but another incredible aspect was the justice they gave to Garfield’s character, keeping in mind how ‘amazing’ he was, and how he was suddenly just cut off from his role, back then.

There’s so much happening to simply pinpoint a few things, but apart from these major appearances and this massive storyline that’s happening, the film is only so good with the equally-great performances from Benedict Cumberbatch, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, and all the others.

Overall speaking, as incredible as Avengers Endgame was, I don’t think a film like Spiderman: No Way Home has happened before, nor will it ever happen again. This was one of those epic moments in film history that we got to witness here with this film. (Sure, Marvel’s going to level up again, and in the future, but what other moment is going to make you nostalgic like this one).

I’m sure I’m going to later realize I didn’t mention this or I didn’t mention that in this review, only because I still haven’t wrapped my head around the film and that scene of all the three Spidermans swinging around is on a constant loop, in my head.

RTHReviews: tick, tick… BOOM

How can a film be so powerful, so mesmerizing, and so moving as well? tick, tick… BOOM is all of that. Lin-Manuel Miranda has created a musical masterpiece here, and of course, the one on whom the film is adapted, Jonathan Larson, whose story is so moving and simultaneously inspiring as depicted in the film.

Andrew Garfield plays the role of Jonathan Larson, and what a power-packed performance that was. Right from the start to the end, you can see the character he’s playing, and not him as the actor, and that says a lot about the kind of work and effort he has put into the role. So much so, that I’m predicting an Academy nomination for him.

Speaking of the film (musical), it touches upon Larson’s life and his journey to writing his musicals, whilst touching upon the areas of love and relationships and work and passion, and how it all intersected. As the film progresses, it touches upon a lot of emotions, especially towards the latter half, it does leave you teary-eyed upon a number of occasions.

Not only that, but as it touches upon those subjects of his life, it’s not just a depiction of his life, but there are multiple takeaways that can be looked upon in one’s own life and that’s one of those powerful aspects of this film.

(Here’s the official synopsis: Based on the autobiographical musical by playwright Jonathan Larson. It’s the story of an aspiring composer in New York City who is worried he made the wrong career choice, whilst navigating the pressures of love and friendship.)

The film’s fast-paced, the songs are quite wonderful, and you do have to keep an eye because as a musical, the storyline revolves around them. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Andrew Garfield have done a stellar job with this one and I’m actually glad I watched this one. I’m a fan.