Hollywood
Tom Felton’s ‘Against The Sun’ to release on 6 March
MUMBAI: Tom Felton, best known for the character of Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, stars in one of the most harrowing true stories of World War II called Against The Sun. The movie is all set to release in India on 6 March, 2015.
Against The Sun is the story of three US Navy Airmen who crash land their torpedo bomber in the South Pacific and find themselves on a tiny life raft, surrounded by open ocean. No food. No water. No hope of rescue.
Against incredible odds, these virtual strangers must survive storms, sharks, starvation and each other as they sail more than a thousand miles to safety.
Felton, who was looking for a challenge after literally growing up in the hallowed halls of Hogwarts, said, “It’s a very unique film in that its only three characters and the film stays with these three characters the entire way, there are no set changes or anything like that. That presents a challenge for any actor or filmmaker. Anything that seems challenging right now is a good thing.”
The film also stars Garret Dillahunt, who essays the role of Navy pilot Harold Dixon. “I liked the physical challenge of what it represented. And honestly, it was a little more serious of a diet than I thought. When we spoke, we all thought, well I’ll lose a little bit and then make-up will help us out because we will never be able to get as skinny as those guys really were. But then when I got (to the studio) and there was a nutritionist, I was like ‘oh this is serious – you want us to lose a pound a day’,” said Dillahunt.
The third leg of the trio is played by Jake Abel. “I’ve done a lot of genre work, franchise work and there’s been specific reasons to do those because of the filmmakers and the people involved and I’ve been so wanting something more contained and based in the real world where I’m not having to twist the mustache — and to work with a filmmaker who’s really hungry. And I never want to leave the genre world for good, its treated me so well and I’ve had a lot of fun doing it, but I’m very happy for the introduction of period dramas and biopics,” added Abel.
Against The Sun is an Aghor Raj Productions’ Presentation. The company also makes its foray into the field of distribution with this film.
Hollywood
Who won what at the Oscars 2026? Full winners list from the 98th Academy Awards
A night of history, high drama, and gingery wit at the 98th Academy Awards
LOS ANGELES: If the 98th Academy Awards taught us anything, it is that Hollywood still loves a tortured genius and a well-timed ginger joke. While the night was technically a coronation for Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling war drama One Battle After Another, the real battle was fought in the stalls of the Dolby Theatre as host Conan O’Brien unleashed a monologue that was part roast, part group therapy session.
The evening belonged to the cinematic heavyweights. One Battle After Another lived up to its title, clinching Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Anderson, the perennial bridesmaid of the Oscars, finally took home the big prizes, cementing his status as the industry’s favourite auteur.
In the acting categories, Michael B. Jordan made history. Winning Best Actor for his visceral performance in the supernatural thriller Sinners, he became only the fourth Black man to win the trophy. His speech was a masterclass in humility, though he spared a moment to thank his trainer for “making me look like I could actually fight a demon.”
The history books were rewritten several times over. Autumn Durald Arkapaw shattered a long-standing glass ceiling by becoming the first woman to win Best Cinematography for Sinners. Meanwhile, the newly minted Best Achievement in Casting category saw its inaugural trophy go to the ensemble of One Battle After Another.
Returning to the stage with his signature quiff and self-deprecating bite, Conan O’Brien did not hold back. He began by acknowledging the elephant in the room: his own presence.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he quipped. “Why is the ghost of a Victorian chimney sweep hosting the Oscars? It’s because AI is too expensive and I work for sandwiches.”
The controversy kicked off when he turned his sights on the Best Visual Effects nominees. Pointing at the Avatar: Fire and Ash table, he remarked:
“James Cameron has spent so much money on blue people that the actual ocean is now jealous of his budget. Jim, at some point, you have to admit this is just a very expensive aquarium hobby.”
He also took a cheeky swipe at the trend of method acting, specifically targeting Sean Penn.
“Sean stayed in character for so long that his own family had to serve him a subpoena just to get him to come to Sunday roast,” O’Brien joked, to a mix of nervous titters and Penn’s trademark stony glare.
The night was not without its “did he really say that?” moments. During a bit about the length of the telecast, O’Brien noted that the show was running so long that:
“By the time we get to Best Picture, the winner will have already been rebooted as a gritty limited series on Max.”
He also touched on the industry’s obsession with youth, pointing at a young starlet and saying:
“You’re so young that your first memory is actually a TikTok of this monologue.”
While most took it in stride, some critics on social media called the joke “typical boomer energy,” though O’Brien seemed entirely unfazed.
The full winners’ circle:
Best Picture: One Battle After Another
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)
Best Animated Feature: K-Pop: Demon Hunters
Best Original Song: “Golden” from K-Pop: Demon Hunters
As the curtains closed and the A-list headed for the after-parties, the mood was one of relief. Hollywood had managed to celebrate its past while poking fun at its increasingly digital future. Whether the night belonged to the war heroes of PTA or the witty barbs of a tall redhead remains a matter of debate.
