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 ‘This is going to be cherished’: Samuel L Jackson and Elaine May receive honorary Oscars Samuel L Jackson grew up watching movies on Saturdays at the Liberty and the Grand, segregated movie theatres in Tennessee. Some of the early roles he got in Hollywood didn’t even have names: he was cast, he said, “as ‘gang member number two’, ‘bum’, ‘hold-up man’, and, unforgettable, ‘Black guy’.” But over fifty years and 152 films later, Jackson has made himself one of America’s most enduring film stars, as well as the actor whose movies have earned “more than any other actor in history,” his friend and fellow star Denzel Washington said. Jackson’s box office total is estimated at $27bn. Despite this, Jackson, 73, had never won a single Oscar, not even for his celebrated performance as a hit man in Pulp Fiction. The Academy finally awarded him an honorary Oscar on Friday, as part of the annual Governors Awards, which mark lifetime achievement in film and in humanitarian efforts. “I’m really, rea

 Oscars 2022: When will we stop ranting #OscarsTooMale? Here's why this year should've ended that The argument here is not necessarily a comparison between the efficiency of a male director and a female director. Instead, the ask is simple: do not overlook movies by female filmmakers in favour of an all-male lineup. “Where are the female voices at the Oscars?” is a question I find myself asking every award season. At this point, it is hard to say whether excluding women from an Oscar lineup has become tradition or if it is pure habit. It is as if the word “snub” has now become an exclusive cross for women to bear. And we are talking about a year in which one had to really be blind to even think of not acknowledging the fierce display of feminine brilliance. Still if the Oscar loves one thing, it is repeating history and only awarding men. The statistics this year are as dismal as we have come to expect from the Oscars: Women barely register in the major gender-neural categories

The most empowered Disney heroine of all has returned. Here is a rousing and forthright live-action remake of the 1998 Disney animation with a blue-chip cast, all about the female warrior in 4th-century China who disguises herself as a man and joins the army to fight an invasion threat against the emperor. The result is an entertaining if straightforwardly glossy action-adventure from the Disney workshop. Liu Yifei plays Mulan, a young woman from a small village, whose parents are fondly indulgent of her unladylike energy but secretly plan to get her married off. There is a nice performance from the veteran Chinese-American character actor Tzi Ma as Zhou, Mulan’s gentle, kindly father, who is himself an old soldier, still nursing a painful leg injury incurred in battle. But out in the wider world, storm clouds are gathering. Rebellious warrior Böri Khan, played with pantomime ferocity by Jason Scott Lee, is leading an attack on the emperor – a suitably stately performance from Jet Li –

 Black Lives Matter protests put spotlight on racist, homophobic work culture at global fashion brands When luxury fashion lined up social media posts to show solidarity with Black Lives Matters protests, brands got a whole lot of blowback. When luxury fashion lined up social media posts to show solidarity with Black Lives Matters protests, brands got a whole lot of blowback. Transgender model and actress Munroe Bergdorf jumped on L’Oreal’s #BlackoutTuesday posts to accuse the beauty brand of hypocrisy for having fired her three years ago when she complained about racism in strong language. US actor Tommy Dorfman, who appears in a recent campaign for Salvatore Ferragamo, called out the Italian luxury brand for what Dorfman called a “homophobic and racist work environment.” And ordinary Instagram followers piled on, challenging fashion houses to do more than post a black square on their virtual real estate, to instead make runways, magazine covers, boardrooms and creative studios living

 Black Lives Matter protests put spotlight on racist, homophobic work culture at global fashion brands When luxury fashion lined up social media posts to show solidarity with Black Lives Matters protests, brands got a whole lot of blowback. When luxury fashion lined up social media posts to show solidarity with Black Lives Matters protests, brands got a whole lot of blowback. Transgender model and actress Munroe Bergdorf jumped on L’Oreal’s #BlackoutTuesday posts to accuse the beauty brand of hypocrisy for having fired her three years ago when she complained about racism in strong language. US actor Tommy Dorfman, who appears in a recent campaign for Salvatore Ferragamo, called out the Italian luxury brand for what Dorfman called a “homophobic and racist work environment.” And ordinary Instagram followers piled on, challenging fashion houses to do more than post a black square on their virtual real estate, to instead make runways, magazine covers, boardrooms and creative studios living

Oscars 2022: By nominating Belfast, Licorice Pizza, West Side Story, Academy recognises the power of growing up tales in 2022 The Academy has kept rooted, simpler storytelling alive by nominating smaller films, some that have won at film festivals and might even be called alternate cinema. Making films about a child always proves difficult. Such stories require everything to be done from a kid’s perspective, which means refashioning the way the screenplay is written; the camera is positioned, and adapting the scale of visuals and sound. In the final edit, a feeling of light-heartedness, less complicated emotions and defining moments have to add up to the reality of a child’s experiences. Films that take a filmmaker or writer back to their childhood and youth don’t add up to a big number but they make for precious storytelling. Think of Roma. While awarded films emerge every year the canvas of this film has been unmatched for some time. Oscars this year feature quite a few stories that

She is one of her kind.  A natural-born scene stealer who never got her due. Farida Jalal has always struck me as being shortchanged. Not that she has ever complained. “At 74, what is there to complain about in life? God has been great,” she says now leading a semi-reclusive life. The roles have now dried up. But that’s no problem. Farida  Jalal is  a fighter. She is enjoying every minute of her time with family and friends, so please don’t feel sorry for her. Flashing back to her career’s beginnings, Farida started her acting career when she was just out of my school St Joseph’s Convent in Panchgani, in a film called Taqdeer in 1967. Farida is still remembered in that film for frolicking in the arms of Nature singing Lataji’s  'Aaayiye baahar ko hum baant ke'. It all started when Farida had taken part in a talent contest and even won. Rajesh Khanna and  Farida were the finalists. How was Farida to know that she would soon do Aradhana with him?!  “I virtually grew up and grew o

 Avantika Dassani on her debut Mithya, learnings from her mother actor Bhagyashree and more 'A lot of my work ethic comes from striving to be even half as talented as my mother. Which I know comes from relentlessly working, trying and testing things and being open,' says Avantika Dassani That's quite a debut in Mithya! Was your character Rhea a tough not to crack for you? Especially as your maiden performance? I think the excitement took over the nerves when I was getting into Rhea’s skin. It wasn’t easy but challenges and roles like these are what an actor yearns for. Also being a series we didn’t have the luxury of time like you do when you’re shooting a film so there was constant learning, and risks that I took not knowing how it would turn it out, since we didn’t workshop or prep much before shoot, but I’m overwhelmed by the welcoming response towards my performance. I’m also grateful to the whole cast and crew for making me feel comfortable and supported throughout our