Uncover the Hidden Secrets of this Year’s Oscar Nominees!

If you were to hear unexplained noises from beneath your house, how long would you wait before alerting law enforcement?

A week? A day? Perhaps just an hour?

Having learned of that event, I’ll be on edge the next time I receive even a simple knock at my front door. In hindsight, it could have been much worse. It could have been these guys opting for a makeshift bedroom to save on accommodation expenses.

I am Glenn Whipp, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and the host of The Envelope’s Friday newsletter. Why can’t I get this song out of my head?

Oscar selections are plentiful, if you know where to look

The much-awaited sequel to the popular Ridley Scott film, “Gladiator II”, which is a follow-up to the best picture Oscar winner from nearly 25 years ago, has just concluded its debut screening at the Paramount Pictures studios. Paul Mescal, the actor who takes over the leading role from Russell Crowe, is socializing with the audience, who due to the film’s running time and start at dinner time, are more preoccupied with their meals than anything else.

While in conversation with a Paramount publicist, I receive a crash course on how the Romans staged naval battles in the Colosseum by filling it with water. Something similar was orchestrated in the movie by Scott, where he pits two ship crews against each other – one of Roman soldiers and the other of gladiators. But, in typical Ridley Scott fashion, he introduces an unexpected twist — sharks.

“There’s no way sharks were actually used in reality,” I argue. The publicist disagrees, and another studio representative chimes in. “Someone questioned Ridley about it and his response was, ‘Sharks are cool. Did the Romans really use them? Who gives a damn?’”

Who gives a damn? This question is not only pertinent to the scene we’re discussing but also, let’s be honest, to the entire awards season – a drawn-out and self-inflated event that generally ends with Oscars being awarded in ways that leave us frustrated. Yet, it is this unpredictability that keeps the Oscars entertaining, along with them being a valuable indicator of what films and performances the Academy considers notable at a specific point in time.

So, for now, let’s not get into what just happened in our country (though it could potentially impact the Academy Awards next year), and let’s not debate about the possibility of sharks in the Colosseum. However, allow me to mention Scott’s response to that question in a recent interview: “Man, if you can build a Colosseum, you can fill it with water. Are you kidding me? And to catch a couple of sharks from the sea, are you joking? Of course, they could.”

I wouldn’t necessarily include Scott among the year’s best directors for “Gladiator II.” But just for that quote, I might be inclined to do so. Is that any worse than voting for Brendan Fraser to win an Oscar because you used to watch “George of the Jungle” on repeat as a child? I’ll let you decide. As I said, the Oscars can be frustrating.

The general consensus is that, due to production delays caused by the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, the selection this year is rather limited. That is, if you stick to a narrow definition of what makes a movie or performance “Oscar-worthy.”

But who wants to do that? In a recent column, I attempted to broaden the perspective, advocating for some movies and performances that deserve consideration. Take a look. Your favorite might be there. If not… what have I overlooked?

Payal Kapadia makes her mark with ‘All We Imagine as Light’

While we’re on the topic of films that unquestionably warrant consideration…

Have you ever been so engrossed in a movie that you wished you could reside in its universe?

Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia recalls watching Wong Kar-wai’s “Chungking Express” as a teenager and becoming so enamored with its dreamy atmosphere and romantic yearning that she wanted to board the next plane to Hong Kong to lose herself in the city’s neon-illuminated streets.

“I was seriously captivated by that film,” says Kapadia. Years later, when she finally visited the city, she made a beeline for Hong Kong Mansions, the bustling marketplace and eating hub prominently featured in Wong’s movie.

Unsurprisingly, it fell short of her expectations.

“How could it not?” Kapadia says, chuckling. “It’s all Wong Kar-wai. But it did make me reflect on subjectivity and how a film’s setting can be imbued with emotions to make it so much more enchanting.”

Kapadia harnessed that insight, combined with her training at the Film & Television Institute of India and the knowledge accrued from making two short films and her award-winning 2021 documentary, “A Night of Knowing Nothing,” to craft her impressive feature film debut, “All We Imagine as Light,” which debuts today at the Laemmle Royal.

The film does for Mumbai what Wong did for Hong Kong, capturing the disorderly bustle of the city during the day and the eerie tranquility of its rain-drenched streets at night. It revolves around the camaraderie of three women: two nurse roommates, the stern Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and the youthful Anu (Divya Prabha), and Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam), a widow and activist, recently evicted from her home by real estate developers.

There are men as well, but their roles are complex. Prabha’s husband, whom she married as per an arranged setup, works in Germany and is unsure about returning; Anu has a committed boyfriend, Shiaz (Hridhu Haroon), but due to him being Muslim and her being Hindu, they are forced to keep their relationship secret due to societal norms.

“All We Imagine as Light” beautifully portrays the uncertainty of their lives with heartfelt sensitivity, making the personal political. It was the first Indian feature to compete at Cannes in almost 30 years and went on to bag the festival’s Grand Prix prize at its premiere in May. A stunning, heartfelt depiction of a city and its inhabitants, it truly deserves the honor. You might be inspired to plan a trip to Mumbai after watching it.

Kapadia and I recently shared a Sunday brunch, discussing her film, sampling the caviar served on a tiny pancake while passing on the unlimited mimosas. I hope you get the opportunity to watch her film in the coming weeks.