The Drama Review - The Drama So Engaging you grab the popcorn!

 Ever rubbed your hands together while laughing, and the back of your mind is like why still, after all this? That is exactly what this Zendaya-Robert Pattinson make you feel. Feel - because a movie like 'The Drama' cannot be explained - you just feel it - you feel the character's anxiety, you feel the whirlwind inside the character's mind, and most importantly, you understand something which we as humans always do - perceive something towards our liking. The Drama explores relationships from an angle which we would never take. While you laugh at its silliness, you feel uneasy in your movie seat, constantly fidgeting and trying to figure out the ending. Writer-director Kristoffer Borgli's exceptionally smart screenplay, intertwined between the past and the present, makes you invested in the 107 minutes of the movie's runtime and is ably supported by probably the standout performances of Zendaya and Robert Pattinson and probably the best chemistry we have seen onscreen for Zendaya!

What's Good: The performances in this movie lift the movie because, in a relationship-centric movie, chemistry is a must, and the leads ensure you envy their chemistry in each and every moment onscreen while also appreciating the individuals they portray in this drama.  The Drama could've fallen flat if the screenplay had not been written in the way it was, and the direction could've faltered big time except for Mr Borgli's commanding control behind the camera and on the paper. The crisp and tight screenplay should definitely earn him a best screenplay nod at the award season next year!

What's Bad: In its 107-minute runtime, the movie falters majorly towards the last 15 minutes. The rom-comish ending to this brilliant piece of drama minimises the impact, making you question - After all this time? Even if your movie focuses on 2 characters, the side characters of the movie have little to no character development, which breaks your heart. A little more conflict, a little more drama could've been fun!

Final Word: 'The Drama' is a must-watch for people who love watching well-made and well-written dramas. I am going with an absolutely bonkers 4.25 rating for this movie. Even after 2 days of watching this movie, I sometimes think about the movie - that's the power of this movie. 

P.S. Here is hoping the movie gathers enough conversation to compete in the screenplay category of almost every award show. 

Oscar Predictions: Nominees and Winners

 Just like Moira Rose from Schitt's Creek says, "My Favorite Season - The Awards Seasons". Similar to that, my favorite season too, is the awards season. With Hollywood's biggest platform to announce it's nominations, the Bollywood Elephant makes those predictions and predicted winners of the trophy on 9th March 2026.

So lets dive right into it:

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

Predicted Nominees:

• Ryan Coogler, Sinners
• Jaochim Trier and Eskiel Voaght, Sentimental Value
• Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
• Noah Bombach and Emily Mortimer, Jay Kelly
• Eva Victor, Sorry Baby

Predicted Winner: Ryan Coogler for Sinners

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:

Predicted Nominees:

• Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
• Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, Train Dreams
• Chloe Zhao and Maggie O'Farrell, Hamnet
• Rian Johnson, Wake Up Dead Man: Knives Out Mystery
• Guillermo Del Toro, Frankenstein

Predicted Winner: Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (MALE):

Predicted Nominees:

• Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another
• Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
• Paul Mescal, Hamnet
• Stellan Skarsgard, Sentimental Value
• Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein

Predicted Winner: Stellan Skarsgard for Sentimental Value

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (FEMALE):

Predicted Nominees:

• Teyena Taylor, One Battle After Another
• Ariana Grande, Wicked
• Amy Madigan, Weapons
• Inga Ibsdotter Illeaas, Sentimental Value
• Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners

Predicted Winner: Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another

BEST DIRECTOR:

Predicted Nominees:

• Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
• Chloe Zhao, Hamnet
• Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
• Kleber Mendonca Filho, The Secret Agent
• Ryan Coogler, Sinners

Predicted Winner:  Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another

BEST ACTOR (FEMALE):

Predicted Nominees:

• Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
• Timothee Chalamet, Marty Supreme
• Joel Edgerton, Train Dreams
• Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
• Michael Jordon, Sinners

Predicted Winner:  Timothy Chalamet for Marty Supreme

BEST ACTOR (FEMALE):

Predicted Nominees:

• Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another
• Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
• Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
• Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
• Amanda Seyfried, The Testament of Ann Lee

Predicted Winner:  Jessie Buckley for Hamnet

BEST PICTURE

Predicted Nominees:

• One Battle After Another
• The Secret Agent
• Hamnet
• Sentimental Value
• No Other Choice
• Sinners
• It was Just an Accident
• Marty Supreme
• Train Dreams
• Frankenstein

Predicted Winner:  ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Whilst One Battle After Another is going to walk away with the maximum trophies, Sinners is expected to have maximum nominations. I can confidently say that the predicted winners in these categories, one can safely bet their money and reap returns!

SAPF Review: 'Faraar' from Cinema Halls but making Bollywood Proud.

 Dibakar Banerjee's 'Sandeep and Pinky Faraar' finally released after a 3-year delay. The movie opens with a random guy making a certain misogynistic comment and does it with so subtlety that it all makes sense towards the end of this movie. The movie talks about the gender imbalances and stereotypes with so subtlety that leaves you thinking after the movie ends. 'Sandeep and Pinky Faraar' is directed by Dibakar Banerjee and stars the amazing Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yada who ably support the revelation of an actor Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor have turned out in this mind-boggling drama laced with dark humor, a great story, and disturbing visuals. 

                                            

What's Good:  Acting: OMG! I cannot just begin how amazing of an actor Parineeti is. She literally owns the movie as Sandeep Kaur. Her performance is phenomenal. Arjun too is supremely amazing! It is truly said that every actor is a great actor just needs the right director. Neena Ji and Raghubir Ji are amazing as usual. Story: Just trust Dibakar Banerjee to churn out an amazing movie! He does an outstanding job as a writer, director, and music composer.  Pacing: At a tight 123 minutes, the movie does not go a bit over or is lesser, just perfect including scene-to-scene transition.

                                                           

What's Bad: Joining the Dots: Like every DB movie, this one wants you to join the dots and pay proper attention while the movie runs. Predictable Climax: SAPF suffers from the classic ruin the impact syndrome: Predictable Climax which was spotted from a mile away but you play along with the gender disparity tone the movie has put you in.

                                           

Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar has come 3 years than its original release date but we're glad it did.Makes meso proud ofmy Bollywood which has churned out some really great cinema in the recent past. The movie is dark, gritty and disturbing and gives a tight slap about the misogynist nature prevalent in our society even today without being preachy. It is a Must Watch. I have going with 4 stars and thismakes it my second favourite movie of the year. DO NOT MISS IT!

                                             

 

 

Sardar ka Grandson Review: Blessed to have a Grandson like him!

 This week, apart from an abomination called Radhe greeted us, Netflix brought Neena Gupta, Rakul Preet Singh, John Abraham, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kumud Mishra, and Arjun Kapoor together in a family-drama backed by John as the producer and debutant Kaashvie Gulati directing it. Apart from bringing a mature take on India Pakistan relations, the movie brought forward the concept of Home Relocation.

                               

What's Good: Acting: Neena Gupta shines as the grumpy Sardar through and through. Surprisingly, Arjun Kapoor does a great job as Amreek whereas Rakul is phenomenal and flashes of her character from 'De De Pyaar De' come in at times. John,  Aditi, Soni, Kumud, provide an excellent support to our 2 dynamic leads. Music: The music by Gulraj Singh and Tanishq Bagchi are amazing with the recreated 'Jee Nee Karda' being the best. Concept, Story and Screenplay: The story and screenplay by Kaashvie and Anuja Chauhan is simply unique and brilliant. Technicalities: The editing, cinmatography, and editing are great and fall in place with narrative. 

                                    

What's Bad: Melodrama: While maojrity might find the movie to be over-dramatic but the scenes of melodrama are mainly between John and Aditi so one cannot complain as they seem more on the endearing side. Exploring: While the idea is new and unique, I only wish they could have explored more on the house relocation and a little lesser insight into family dynamics would have been a fair deal.

                                          

Final Word: Sardar Ka Grandson is a scintillating debut by Kaashvie Nair. The subject the movie picks, it tackles beautifully. Netflix is finally churning out good movies but however I wish I could get n opportunity to watch this movie on the big scren. I am going with 3.5 stars for this beautiful movie. You cannot miss it. Sardar ka Grandson is one emotionally chargd movie.

                                           

Platform: Netflix!

Oscar Predictions: Who bags the conveted trophy?

The Blue Dragon Film Awards of Korea, The Filmfare Awards of India, the BAFTAs of the UK, the AACTA Awards of Australia, the Canadian Guild Awards, the European Film Awards are all sort-after awards across the world but the award season is always incomplete without the awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture and Sciences, or commonly as we know, the Oscars. The Academy Awards are due for the 25th of April and here is the Bollywood Elephant predicting the winners of the 93rd Academy Awards after inferring the results from 18 Award Shows. The Bollywood Elephant presents 2 categories of "Should Win" vs "Likely to Win" for all major categories.

                                                              

• Best Production Design:

Should Win: Mank

Likely to Win: Mank

• Costume Design:

Should Win: Emma

Likely to Win: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 

• Cinematography (One of the toughest split):

Should Win: Nomadland 

Likely to Win: Man

• Animated Feature:

Should Win: Soul

 

Likely to Win: Soul

• Original Screenplay:

Should Win: Trial of Chicago 7

Likely to Win: Promising Young Woman

• Adapted Screenplay: 

Should Win: Nomadland

Likely to Win: Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm 

• Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

Should Win: Paul Raci for Sound of Metal

Likely to Win: Daniel Kaluuya for Judas and the Black Messiah 

• Best Actress in a Supporting Role:

Should Win: Maria Bakalova for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Likely to Win: Glenn Close for Hillbilly Elegy (Glenn might not have won accolades for her role in this movie but considering the Academy's old history of moving over their guilt by awarding the actor's next worthy performance like they did with Judi Dench in 1999 (snubbed her for 'Mrs. Brown'[1997], Ingrid Bergman in 1975(subbed earlier for The Constant Wife [1966], Renee Zellweger in 2003 (subbed/lost 'minorly' in 2002 for Chicago). Therefore, the Bollywood Elephant speculates Close's much deserving and overdue Oscar win!

• Best Actor in a Leading Role:

Should Win: Sir Anthony Hopkins for The Father

Likely to Win: Late Chadwick Boseman for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

• Best Actress in a Leading Role (The toughest as it has quite an even split):

Should Win: Frances McDormand for Nomadland (cannot stop raving about this performance!!!) Hope this woman creates history by being the 1st Actress to win 3 Oscars in the Lead Actress Category and deservedly so!!

Likely to Win: Viola Davis for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (becomes the 13th woman to win both a supporting oscar and lead actor oscar)

• Best Director:

Should Win: Chloe Zhao for Nomadland (2nd woman to win a directing oscar)

Likely to Win: Chloe Zhao for Nomadland

• Best Picture:

                                                                 NOMADLAND

                              

So here are Bollywood Elephant's predictions for this year's winners of the converted trophy! It would be great to hear from you! Thank you! Cant' wait for hearing from you!