Here is what the page “‘Once Upon in the Middle East’ Review: China’s Oscar Entry Is a Breakneck Blockbuster That” contains. China’s 2023 Oscar submission for Best International Feature is “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East,” a bombastic blockbuster epic that blends culinary spectacle with wartime devastation. Directed by the team behind the hit “Wolf Warrior” franchise, the film follows a Chinese chef who travels to an unnamed Middle Eastern country amid conflict, showcasing elaborate cooking sequences alongside explosive action.
Despite its commercial ambitions, the film is unlikely to end China’s two-decade Oscar drought in the category, which dates back to Zhang Yimou’s 2002 wuxia spectacle “Hero.” The review notes that China’s recent entries have leaned toward patriotic blockbusters rather than the arthouse dramas that tend to resonate with Academy voters. The film’s mix of food porn and warfare, while crowd-pleasing, may not align with the nuanced storytelling typically favored by the Academy. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.