The Oscar Project #66: Schindler's List (1993)

by Chris Marshall:

Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest directors of all time, and I think it’s unfortunate that, at least in some circles, his contributions to cinema aren’t appreciated to the fullest extent. I think most people enjoy his movies, but he’s not often considered as one of the top “artistic” auteurs in the medium. Perhaps there’s some truth to that, but when you have a filmography like his, it’s impossible not to acknowledge his genius.

I believe this lack of universal respect for his artistry is the main reason why only one of his movies has won Best Picture. He’s considered more of a populist director, and while many of his biggest blockbusters have been nominated, only Schindler’s List took home the top prize, likely because it is an “important” movie in addition to just being a great one. Just to be clear, I am taking nothing away from Schindler’s List; it is brilliant, but I wish his more “fun” films garnered more respect.

Anyway, about the movie. I assume it’s a movie where, even if not everybody has seen it, at least everybody knows what it’s about. It is a holocaust film, yes, but more than that, it’s about a man who dared to take action, at great personal risk, in an attempt to save the lives of more than 1,000 Jews.

The Oscar Project #55: Gandhi (1982)

by Chris Marshall:

Gandhi is a film that brings me back to Oscar winners of old, in that they take an Indian man, a man who devoted the second half of his life entirely to securing India’s independence from the British Empire, and they cast an actor (Ben Kingsley) who is white and British. I’m sure there’s some kind of symbolism in that. I’m just not sure what it is.

That being said, Kingsley was fantastic as Gandhi. In the first part of the film, which takes place in South Africa, everything seemed a little off. Honestly, though, I think that has more to do with seeing Gandhi (who was an attorney, after all) wearing suits and other European clothing. I’m so accustomed to seeing him in his traditional Indian garb that it just seems wrong to see him wear anything else.

After Gandhi returns to India, by which point he has already overcome grave injustice toward his fellow Indians in South Africa, Ben Kingsley stops being Ben Kingsley and transforms entirely into Mohandas K. Gandhi. I don’t think anybody ever doubts his acting skills in general, but if they do, they need look no further than this film.