The Actor Who Can't Go Wrong

Denzel Washington. Every actor in his movie career does films that pose questions to the viewer on the basic necessity of doing that film. Frivolous ideas, faulty execution, bad performances or any other reason can be the culprit. But one actor in Hollywood who stands out from this is Denzel Washigton. An actor par excellence, Denzel has not done one single film which does not have some unique flavour to his role. From the righteous nuclear submarine subordinate officer in Crimson Tide to the frustrated/upset father in John Q, DW has given one astonishing performance after the other. Be it sensitive emotions or fiery outbursts, Denzel has done it all and so effectively I must add. He won the Best Actor Oscar for Training Day but has a lot of winner performances in his kitty even before that. Kudos to this great performer and may he do many more astonishing roles in many more great movies. Wondering why not Spielberg and Washington team up? Now thats a swashbuckling thought!

Oscar or Not

Indian movies have been knocking on the Oscar door consistently for the last 3 years. Only one of the movie has gone in the final five. That one with the villagers standing tall against their self-proclaimed masters and overwhelming them in a game ;) That sort of created a void that happens when you're so near and yet so far from winning the statue. It has now translated into a sort of a fascination (not fanatic yet) for the Oscars. It has generated a divided opinion with the advocation for an Oscar winning movie on one end and the undue importance being given to a "foreign" award with "foreign" parameters and its inapplicability to Indian cinema on the other. While I partly support both, I am a tad more on the 'win-the-Oscar' level movie side. The reason is plain. Irrespective of whether your movie reaches the final nominations or not and likewise win the Oscar or not, if its worth sending to the Oscars you have a technically correct and entertaining movie. It will separate your movie from the usual gutter served out majority of the time. Your team behind the movie will feel proud to do better work consistently. That is only great news for quality-entertainment-hungry viewers like me. But thats it. No more importance for the Oscars. Don't compare Hollywood movies with Bollywood and their 'level' for competing at the Oscars. Its like comparing a donut with a jilbi. Both round, sweet and taste better when hot but one is Hollywood and one is Bollywood. Completely disparate but equally enjoyable!