Global Pulse

分类： entertainment

  • It’s ‘Sinners’ v ‘One Battle’ as Oscars day arrives

    It’s ‘Sinners’ v ‘One Battle’ as Oscars day arrives

    Hollywood’s most anticipated night has arrived as the 98th Academy Awards ceremony commences Sunday evening at the Dolby Theatre, with the best picture race representing one of the most unpredictable contests in recent Oscar history. The cinematic showdown pits Michael B. Jordan’s supernatural horror ‘Sinners’ against Leonardo DiCaprio’s political thriller ‘One Battle After Another,’ both films positioned to potentially break the all-time Oscar wins record currently shared by ‘Ben-Hur,’ ‘Titanic,’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.’

    Industry analysts note the extraordinary convergence of factors making this year’s ceremony particularly compelling. ‘Sinners’ has already achieved a historic milestone with 16 nominations, the most ever received by a single film, while ‘One Battle’ enters as the season’s frontrunner after dominating earlier awards. The directing category presents its own landmark possibility, with Ryan Coogler potentially becoming the first Black filmmaker to win best director in the Academy’s 98-year history for his work on ‘Sinners.’

    The acting categories demonstrate similar uncertainty, particularly in the best actor race where early favorite Timothée Chalamet (‘Marty Supreme’) has seen his prospects diminish following controversial public statements. Michael B. Jordan’s dual performance as twin brothers in ‘Sinners,’ which earned him the Screen Actors Guild Award, now positions him as a strong contender against DiCaprio’s revolutionary character in ‘One Battle.’

    Supporting categories remain equally unpredictable, with veterans Sean Penn (‘One Battle’), Stellan Skarsgård (‘Sentimental Value’), and first-time nominee Delroy Lindo (‘Sinners’) competing for best supporting actor. The supporting actress category features compelling performances from Amy Madigan as a horror villain (‘Weapons’), Teyana Taylor as a revolutionary (‘One Battle’), and Wunmi Mosaku as a Hoodoo healer (‘Sinners’).

    Amid heightened security concerns due to global political tensions, the ceremony hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien will feature musical performances including the nominated song ‘Golden’ from Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ performed by the vocalists behind fictional girl group HUNTR/X. The traditional in memoriam segment will honor recently departed icons including Robert Redford and Rob Reiner, though producers remained silent on speculation regarding a musical tribute from Barbra Streisand.

    International film contenders include Norway’s family drama ‘Sentimental Value’ and Brazil’s surreal political thriller ‘The Secret Agent,’ while best actress appears to be the evening’s most predictable category with Jessie Buckley (‘Hamnet’) maintaining her frontrunner status throughout awards season.

  • Oscars 2026: What to expect, how to watch and who will win

    Oscars 2026: What to expect, how to watch and who will win

    The 98th Academy Awards ceremony promises an evening of suspense and glamour as Hollywood’s elite gather for cinema’s most prestigious night. With several categories featuring neck-and-neck competitions, this year’s Oscars present one of the most unpredictable award seasons in recent memory.

    The best picture race has narrowed to a dramatic showdown between two exceptional films: the political thriller ‘One Battle After Another’ and the genre-defying vampire horror ‘Sinners,’ which made history by securing 16 nominations—the highest tally ever recorded. While ‘One Battle After Another’ enters as the statistical favorite following its dominant performance during precursor ceremonies, industry insiders acknowledge the passionate support for ‘Sinners’ within the Academy membership.

    In the acting categories, Irish actress Jessie Buckley stands as the undeniable frontrunner for best actress following her critically acclaimed performance in ‘Hamnet,’ having dominated the category throughout awards season. The best actor race, however, remains remarkably fluid with Michael B. Jordan (‘Sinners’) and Timothée Chalamet (‘Marty Supreme’) emerging as the leading contenders after a season of surprising outcomes across various award ceremonies.

    The supporting acting categories demonstrate even greater volatility. Sean Penn’s transformative portrayal of a white supremacist in ‘One Battle After Another’ has gained significant momentum following his wins at both the BAFTA and Actor Awards. The supporting actress competition features three legitimate contenders: Teyana Taylor (‘One Battle After Another’), Wunmi Mosaku (‘Sinners’), and Amy Madigan (‘Weapons’), each having claimed major precursor awards.

    Television personality Conan O’Brien returns to host the ceremony following his widely praised performance in 2025. The production will feature numerous presenting appearances by acclaimed actors including Nicole Kidman, Robert Downey Jr., and last year’s acting winners. Only two of the five best original song nominees will be performed during the broadcast: ‘I Lied to You’ from ‘Sinners’ and ‘Golden’ from ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ performed by the virtual girl group Huntr/x.

    The ceremony will be broadcast on ITV in the UK beginning with red carpet coverage at 22:15 GMT, while American viewers can watch on ABC starting at 16:00 PT/19:00 ET. This year’s slightly later date reflects the Academy’s traditional scheduling around major international events like the Winter Olympics.

  • ‘Hate-watch classic’ War of the Worlds sweeps Razzie Awards

    ‘Hate-watch classic’ War of the Worlds sweeps Razzie Awards

    In a stunning sweep of cinematic infamy, the 2025 Razzie Awards crowned Prime Video’s ‘War of the Worlds’ adaptation as the year’s most disastrous film achievement. The controversial production, featuring Ice Cube in a stationary battle against alien invaders, captured five unwanted honors including Worst Picture, Worst Actor, and Worst Director.

    The Razzie committee described the film as achieving ‘cult hate-watch classic’ status almost immediately upon release. Their official statement lambasted director Rich Lee for ‘utterly destroying H.G. Wells’ classic novel’ through what they characterized as ‘a goofy gimmick, hack dialogue, and a particularly hilarious performance by its lead.’

    Other notable ‘winners’ included Rebel Wilson, who received Worst Actress for her performance in ‘Bride Hard,’ and Scarlet Rose Stallone (daughter of Sylvester Stallone), named Worst Supporting Actress for Western film ‘Gunslingers.’ In a particularly cutting assessment, Disney’s computer-generated dwarfs from their 2025 ‘Snow White’ remake collectively received both Worst Supporting Actor and Worst Screen Combo awards.

    Amid the recognition of cinematic failures, Kate Hudson provided a redemption narrative, receiving the Razzie Redeemer Award. Previously nominated for three Razzies, Hudson has now earned Oscar recognition for her performance in ‘Song Sung Blue,’ demonstrating a remarkable career turnaround.

    The announcements came just before Hollywood’s prestigious Oscar ceremonies, maintaining the Razzies’ tradition of highlighting the year’s most disappointing cinematic efforts alongside the industry’s highest honors.

  • Joining the ranks of Walt Disney – meet the director nominated for 2 Oscars for 2 different films

    Joining the ranks of Walt Disney – meet the director nominated for 2 Oscars for 2 different films

    American filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir has achieved a remarkable milestone in Oscar history, earning dual nominations for two distinct documentary projects at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. This extraordinary accomplishment places her among an elite group of only six filmmakers in the Oscars’ nearly century-long history to receive simultaneous nominations in both feature and short documentary categories.

    Gandbhir’s nominated works include ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ for Best Documentary Feature and ‘The Devil is Busy’ for Best Documentary Short. The filmmaker described the recognition as both ‘a thrill and an honor,’ admitting to the BBC that ‘our minds are kind of blown’ by the achievement.

    In a strategic decision to manage expectations, Gandbhir intentionally slept through the nomination announcements. ‘It’s anxiety inducing to watch the actual announcements. I’ve done it before,’ she explained during the Academy Awards luncheon. Her plan was interrupted by her husband’s celebratory shouts upon learning the news, as he contacted her co-director on ‘The Devil is Busy’ to share the excitement.

    The historical significance of Gandbhir’s accomplishment extends beyond the dual nominations themselves. She now stands as the first woman ever to achieve this distinction, breaking new ground in an industry where such double recognition has previously been dominated by male filmmakers, including Walt Disney who accomplished the feat in 1954 with four Oscar wins across different categories.

    Gandbhir’s nominated films address pressing social issues. ‘The Devil is Busy,’ available on HBO Max, provides an intimate look at an abortion clinic in Atlanta through the perspective of a security guard, highlighting the dangers faced by staff and patients amid America’s evolving political landscape. Meanwhile, ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ on Netflix utilizes police body camera footage to examine the tragic story of a young mother killed by a neighbor who repeatedly complained about children playing nearby.

    When questioned about preparation for potential wins, Gandbhir responded with cautious optimism, noting that for ‘The Devil is Busy,’ she would share the stage with co-director Christalyn Hampton. The ceremony, set for Sunday evening in Los Angeles, will determine whether Gandbhir joins the even more exclusive group of filmmakers who have won in both categories simultaneously.

  • Pink Floyd guitar sold for record-breaking $14.6m

    Pink Floyd guitar sold for record-breaking $14.6m

    A legendary piece of rock history has achieved unprecedented status in the auction world as David Gilmour’s iconic ‘Black Strat’ guitar sold for a staggering $14.6 million at Christie’s New York. This monumental sale establishes a new benchmark as the highest price ever paid for a guitar, surpassing all previous records.

    The 1969 Fender Stratocaster, affectionately known as the ‘Black Strat’ among Pink Floyd enthusiasts, served as Gilmour’s primary instrument across six of the band’s seminal albums between 1970 and 1983. This includes landmark recordings such as ‘The Dark Side of the Moon,’ ‘Wish You Were Here,’ and ‘The Wall’ – albums that fundamentally shaped the landscape of progressive rock.

    The historic auction, part of the late billionaire Jim Irsay’s extensive memorabilia collection, witnessed intense bidding activity that concluded after 21 minutes with an unnamed collector securing the instrument. Christie’s had initially estimated the guitar would fetch between $2-4 million, but competitive bidding drove the final price nearly four times above the high estimate.

    Julien Pradels, President of Christie’s Americas, characterized the event as historic, noting that ‘the Irsay sale did justice to the brilliance of the collector, and the monumental pieces he brought together – iconic objects that tell the story of our culture and our times.’

    The ‘Black Strat’ dethroned the previous record-holder: Kurt Cobain’s 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic-electric guitar from Nirvana’s legendary MTV Unplugged performance, which sold for $6 million in 2020. Notably, another Cobain guitar—a blue Fender Mustang featured in the ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ video—sold for $6.9 million in the same auction.

    Other significant sales from the 44-lot collection included Jerry Garcia’s ‘Tiger’ guitar ($11.6 million), John Lennon’s piano ($3.2 million, setting a Beatles memorabilia record), handwritten Bob Dylan lyrics ($2.5 million), and Ringo Starr’s drum kit ($2.4 million). The auction realized a combined total of $84 million, demonstrating the enduring cultural and financial value of music history artifacts.

  • Brazil’s soap opera industry is the secret agent behind powerful films at the Oscars

    Brazil’s soap opera industry is the secret agent behind powerful films at the Oscars

    RIO DE JANEIRO — While Hollywood’s elite gather for the Academy Awards, Brazil’s unique entertainment ecosystem reveals a different path to stardom. Unlike the U.S. film-dominated system, Brazilian actors typically achieve national recognition through television’s powerful telenovela industry before transitioning to cinematic roles.

    TV Globo, the nation’s broadcasting behemoth, operates a sophisticated production machine spanning 13 studios, three dedicated set towns, and 122 editing bays. Its soap operas reach approximately 60 million viewers weekly—nearly one-third of Brazil’s population—creating an unparalleled platform for actor visibility. This television exposure has become the essential launching pad for performers later appearing in Oscar-contending films like ‘Central Station’ (1998), ‘I’m Still Here’ (2024), and this year’s four-category nominee ‘The Secret Agent.’

    The economic and cultural dominance of telenovelas emerges from Brazil’s limited cinema infrastructure, with only about 3,500 movie theaters predominantly located in urban centers and dominated by American blockbusters. This has created a circular talent ecosystem where actors gain fame through television, transition to film projects, and often return to television—a virtuous cycle that sustains careers.

    Notable examples include Wagner Moura (‘The Secret Agent’) who appeared in the telenovela ‘A Lua Me Disse’ 21 years ago, and Fernanda Torres (‘I’m Still Here’) who gained recognition through TV Globo’s comedic series before achieving cinematic success.

    ‘Globo’s telenovelas are fundamental to Brazil’s audiovisual production ecosystem,’ stated Amauri Soares, director of TV Globo and Globo Studios. ‘They represent a continuous platform of content creation and production.’ Soares noted that ‘The Secret Agent’ features numerous Globo-affiliated actors and crew members, with the broadcaster maintaining investment stakes even in independent productions.

    The production scale is staggering: TV Globo simultaneously broadcasts three soap operas daily from early evening through prime-time, each running approximately six months from Monday to Saturday. These productions employ over 1,000 people and generate such cultural significance that finale episodes become national viewing events, with bars, restaurants, and gyms adjusting schedules to accommodate viewers.

    The industry maintains remarkable adaptability, with some episodes written mere days before airing based on audience response metrics. This flexibility creates an indirect co-creation process between writers and viewers. The economic impact is substantial—a remake of the hit ‘Vale Tudo’ reportedly generated over 200 million reais ($38 million) in advertising revenue, quadruple the global box office returns of ‘The Secret Agent.’

    TV Globo’s talent pipeline systematically recruits approximately 70 new actors annually from theater, film, and regional productions. These performers undergo year-long development programs utilizing high-end equipment and contemporary techniques before branching into various productions.

    According to industry veteran Dira Paes, a frequent Globo commentator during Oscar ceremonies, the interconnection between Brazil’s soap opera and cinema industries continues strengthening. ‘Professionals fluidly move between mediums for creative fulfillment and financial stability,’ noted Paes, who recently appeared in both the popular soap opera ‘Pantanal’ and the critically acclaimed film ‘Manas.’

    Cultural critic Mauricio Stycer observes that Brazil’s socioeconomic inequality historically boosted free television channels like Globo, inadvertently diminishing public interest in cinema. ‘This dynamic created lingering resentment within Brazilian cinema circles regarding telenovelas’ broader reach,’ Stycer explained.

    Many actors face what Stycer terms a ‘Hamletian dilemma’ when considering soap opera roles: ‘Choose guaranteed monthly income and popularity, or pursue the artistic risks of theater and cinema? Television remains a safe haven for most performers.’

    While competing networks have attempted to challenge Globo’s dominance, none have achieved significant success. Even Globo’s supremacy has gradually diminished since its peak in the early 2010s, with executives acknowledging growing competition from streaming services.

    Despite these shifts, ‘Globo remains Brazil’s most significant company for actors,’ Stycer affirmed. ‘Until the year 2000, Globo alone accounted for approximately 50% of all television ratings in Brazil.’

    Actor and director Lázaro Ramos, who transitioned from theater and cinema to telenovelas, believes Brazilians have developed equal appreciation for both mediums when they successfully portray the nation’s complex identity. ‘Brazilians increasingly recognize themselves in telenovelas,’ Ramos observed. ‘Our acclaimed writers often adapt literary classics, creating an investment in national voice through characters, language, and aesthetics that resonate deeply with audiences.’

    Ramos, who will attend the Academy Awards before returning to film his new soap opera ‘A Nobreza do Amor,’ emphasizes the practical necessity of medium-hopping for Brazilian performers. ‘While American actors might command $10 million per film, that isn’t our reality. Telenovelas aren’t inferior products—they represent the highest quality storytelling that sustains our industry.’

  • German museum celebrates famed Japanese artist Kusama in vast new exhibit

    German museum celebrates famed Japanese artist Kusama in vast new exhibit

    COLOGNE, Germany — The Museum Ludwig has inaugurated a spectacular retrospective honoring Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, marking the institution’s 50th anniversary with a transformative exhibition. Opening Saturday for a nearly five-month engagement, “Yayoi Kusama: A Retrospective” presents over 300 works spanning the nonagenarian artist’s revolutionary eight-decade career.

    The comprehensive exhibition guides visitors through Kusama’s artistic evolution from her earliest childhood drawing in the mid-1930s to a specially commissioned “Infinity Mirror Room” created exclusively for this presentation. Now 97, Kusama has achieved global recognition through her distinctive visual language characterized by vibrant polka dots, organic shapes, and immersive installations that have made her work a social media phenomenon.

    Curator Stephan Diederich describes the exhibition as “very diverse, wide-ranging, and depicts an immensely rich, creative life spanning more than eight decades, still looking ahead.” The collection includes seminal pieces such as her ongoing series “My Eternal Soul” (2009-2021), featuring an expansive patchwork of paintings, and the breathtaking “The Universe as Seen from the Stairway to Heaven” constructed from mirror, glass and acrylic sheets.

    Notable installations include the iconic 2009 “Pumpkin” sculpture greeting visitors at the museum entrance, while the rooftop display presents painted-bronze sculptures “Flowers That Speak All about My Heart Given to the Sky” (2018). The immersive environment “I’m Here, but Nothing” (2000) transforms domestic spaces through fluorescent stickers and ultraviolet lighting.

    Kusama’s artistic journey mirrors her personal transformation from patriarchal postwar Japan to New York’s avant-garde scene, where she engaged with Flower Power and anti-Vietnam war movements during the 1960s before returning to Japan in 1973. Her multifaceted works frequently draw inspiration from nature, reflecting her childhood in her family’s seed nursery in Matsumoto, where she began experiencing vivid hallucinations involving polka dots and proliferating flowers.

    Despite living in relative seclusion in a Tokyo clinic, Kusama maintains daily artistic practice “as far as her health allows” and has actively participated in curatorial planning for the exhibition through indirect communication. The retrospective continues through August 2, offering an unprecedented examination of one of contemporary art’s most influential visionaries.

  • Two long-lost episodes of ‘Doctor Who’ have been found. Fans will soon be able to watch them

    Two long-lost episodes of ‘Doctor Who’ have been found. Fans will soon be able to watch them

    In a remarkable discovery for television history, two long-lost episodes from the iconic British sci-fi series “Doctor Who” have been recovered after being missing for nearly six decades. The Film is Fabulous! charity announced the find on Friday, revealing that the 1965 episodes were located among the collection of a deceased film enthusiast.

    The recovered installments, titled “The Nightmare Begins” and “Devil’s Planet,” feature William Hartnell as the original Doctor in adventures against the show’s infamous Daleks. The episodes were found preserved in film cans wrapped in plastic bags and have since undergone professional restoration by BBC archivists.

    This discovery reduces the number of still-missing episodes to 95 from the classic series that originally aired from 1963 to 1989. The loss of these historical television artifacts stems from the BBC’s former practice of discarding or reusing film recordings and video tapes during the 1960s-1980s, a period when broadcasters routinely disposed of content they considered disposable.

    Justin Smith, cinema professor at England’s De Montfort University and chair of Film is Fabulous!, described finding missing “Doctor Who” episodes as “the holy grail of classic TV discoveries.” The charity confirmed the collector’s estate wishes to remain anonymous despite the significance of the find.

    Peter Purves, who played the Doctor’s companion Steven Taylor in 46 episodes, expressed both delight and melancholy at the discovery. “Twenty-seven of mine still are missing, but I’m delighted that two have been found,” the 87-year-old actor told the BBC.

    This marks the first major recovery of lost “Doctor Who” episodes since 2013, when nine installments were discovered in a Nigerian television relay station. The newly found episodes form part of a 12-part storyline, much of which remains missing, though preservationists remain hopeful that additional episodes may surface in private collections.

    The cultural phenomenon of “Doctor Who” has endured through its innovative premise allowing the time-traveling alien protagonist to regenerate into new forms, with Ncuti Gatwa currently portraying the fifteenth incarnation of the Doctor in the series that was revived in 2005 after a 16-year hiatus.

  • Netflix announces KPop Demon Hunters’ sequel

    Netflix announces KPop Demon Hunters’ sequel

    Netflix has officially confirmed production of a sequel to its record-breaking animated feature ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ the platform’s most-watched film in history. The announcement arrives amid significant awards season momentum for the original production, which has received two Oscar nominations ahead of Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony.

    The sequel represents the inaugural project under co-directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans’ newly signed exclusive multi-year creative partnership with Netflix. This strategic collaboration signals the streaming giant’s continued investment in animated content with global appeal.

    The original Sony Pictures production, which follows fictional K-pop girl group Huntr/x as they navigate dual lives as pop idols and supernatural demon hunters, has achieved remarkable critical and commercial success. The film’s soundtrack has already made music history, with the song ‘Golden’ securing a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media—marking the first time a K-pop composition has received this prestigious honor.

    Director Maggie Kang expressed profound cultural significance in the project’s continuation, stating via Netflix’s social media announcement: ‘I feel immense pride as a Korean filmmaker that the audience wants more from this Korean story and our Korean characters. There’s so much more to this world we have built and I’m excited to show you. This is only the beginning.’

    The sequel decision demonstrates Netflix’s commitment to expanding successful intellectual properties while celebrating diverse cultural narratives. The combination of K-pop’s global popularity with supernatural animation elements has proven to be a winning formula that resonates across international markets.

  • Winners, Sinners and record breakers: 17 fun facts about this year’s Oscars

    Winners, Sinners and record breakers: 17 fun facts about this year’s Oscars

    As the 2026 Academy Awards approach, this year’s nominations reveal extraordinary behind-the-scenes stories and potential record-breaking achievements. The awards race features two dominant contenders: Ryan Coogler’s genre-blending ‘Sinners,’ which merges blues music with vampire horror in 1930s Mississippi, and the critically acclaimed ‘One Battle After Another,’ creating one of the most suspenseful Oscar competitions in recent memory.

    Disney’s ‘Zootopia 2’ leads the box office among nominees with $1.86 billion globally, though European audiences know it as ‘Zootropolis’ due to trademark conflicts. Emma Stone makes history as the youngest woman to achieve seven Oscar nominations at age 37, surpassing Meryl Streep’s record. Meanwhile, Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ adaptation represents a 207-year gap from Mary Shelley’s original novel, though it falls short of the 2,700-year adaptation gap for ‘O Brother Where Art Thou.’

    Newcomer Chase Infiniti carries cinematic destiny in her name—inspired by Nicole Kidman’s character in ‘Batman Forever’ and Buzz Lightyear’s iconic phrase. British actress Miriam Margolyes receives her first Oscar recognition for ‘A Friend of Dorothy’ after decades of acclaimed performances, though she remains vocal about her previous snub for ‘The Age of Innocence.’

    Several director-actor partnerships demonstrate remarkable loyalty, with four lead acting nominees appearing in films by their frequent collaborators. Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater lead with nine joint films, followed by Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler, and Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos with five collaborations each.

    Jessie Buckley could become the first Irish winner for Best Actress, having already swept major awards ceremonies. Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ breaks a 35-year trend by scoring a Best Picture nomination without corresponding directing, screenplay, or acting nods—the first since ‘Beauty and the Beast’ in 1991.

    Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ aims for a rare double victory in Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, a feat previously achieved only by ‘Toy Story 3’ and ‘Frozen.’ Timothée Chalamet matches Marlon Brando’s record as the youngest actor since 1954 to receive three acting nominations by age 30.

    Norwegian cinema celebrates a breakthrough with two acting nominations for ‘Sentimental Value’ stars Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, joining Liv Ullmann as only the third Norwegian actor recognized by the Academy. Leonardo DiCaprio ties Robert De Niro with his 12th Best Picture-nominated film, while ‘One Battle’ director Paul Thomas Anderson could join an exclusive group of filmmakers who’ve won for writing, directing, and producing.

    Brazil’s Wagner Moura enters the prestigious circle of Best Actor nominees for performances entirely in non-English languages. Several veterans return after lengthy gaps, including Kate Hudson (25 years), Benicio del Toro (22 years), and Amy Madigan (40 years), though none approach Judd Hirsch’s record 42-year gap between nominations.

    Delroy Lindo’s supporting actor nomination arrives without precursor recognition, a rare occurrence last seen with Andrea Riseborough in 2022. Finally, ‘Hamnet’ completes an unexpected cultural circle by featuring Max Richter’s ‘On The Nature of Daylight’—previously heard in everything from ‘Arrival’ to ‘EastEnders’—creating an improbable Shakespeare-Albert Square crossover at cinema’s most prestigious ceremony.