MY MOVIE WORLD

Personal Favorite: Bringing Up Baby

2012-01-26T17:32:00.001-06:00

"Definitive Screwball Comedy"

In screwballs like these story hardly matters as its the comic moments that makes the movie really good and Bringing Up Baby is a definitive screwball comedy, as each and every reel of the movie is filled with unforgettable screwball moments after moments, utterly charming Hepburn delivering bullet fast dialogues after dialogues and Grant with his amazing comical timing managing Hepburn as well as Baby.

Baby here is a Leopard that Hepburn’s and Grant’s character let loose in the town and the movie revolves around bringing the baby back. David Huxley (Grant) is the stuffy paleontologist who is about to get married when he is spotted by a zany heiress Susan Vance (Hepburn) who soon falls in love with him and decides that she must have him at all costs. To that affect she uses her pet leopard and tricks him into driving to her home in Connecticut. Once in Connecticut, all the hell break looses and all the elements combine together to deliver a movie filled with funny, fast-paced, and wacky moments.

There are some movies which are simply unforgettable, actually quite a few for me, and this is one among them. I stumbled across this for the first time few years back on TCM (oh! the greatest television channel ever) and has become instant favorite of mine.

There are few movies that I am so passionate about that I make my friends and now my wife watch them and this one is among them. Recommended for anyone who need a good laugh in their life.

Rating: 10/10

Recommendations: The Philadelphia Story, Monkey Business

Was I wrong about Woody Allen…or why I think Midnight in Paris is that good?

2012-01-26T13:56:00.004-06:00

While watching Midnight in Paris, I keptasking myself “Did I really overlook WoodyAllen and his movies?” and by the end of the movie I convinced myself thatI did, indeed. Allow me, some six years ago I decided to explore Woody Allen's work and started with two of his most revered movies, Annie Hall and Manhattan. The result, I didn't likethem at all and thought they were too boring and egocentric. That was the endof Woody for me, until Midnight in Paris.

Point of note though, in the 6 years that followed I got chance to explore some movies of IngmarBergman and Federico Fellini,apparently major influence on Woody Allen, and Andrei Tarkovsky which helped me understand cinema a little betteror atleast helped me appreciate them better. Now movies, even though some boreme, some are good or bad, satisfying or dissatisfying, atleast for my taste I learnt to appreciate them, appreciate the crew working behind the movie and nurturing the movie as their child and bringing them to the world. Idon’t stop watching movies anymore because they bore me (not Classics at least) because if I had done that I might have missed so many great satisfying moments that I got afterfinishing them (I initially thought Doctor Zhivago by DavidLean was a bore but when I finally finished it few days later I was completelytaken back by its vastness and beauty that I watched it second time immediatelyand now I cherish it). This is not to say movies are not bore or bad, they are and that's the reason they are not in my memory or blog!

I love nostalgic movies that deals with certain time period in the past. Midnight in Paris is nostalgic look at 1920’s Paris. Having recently read The Paris Wife byPaula McLain which tells Hemingway’s time in Paris after First World War fromhis first wife’s point of view and the circle of intellectuals during that time,to some extent I learnt about the Lost Generation and intellectual movement inParis at that time.

The movie is about a scriptwriter (Gil) who is not fulfilled with writing same old stuff for Hollywood andis looking to taking his career to new direction, writing books and what betterplace for inspiration than Paris. While vacationing in Pariswith his fiancée (Inez) he fells in love with the city and begins to imaginehis future here and cutting strings from Hollywood,a move Inez is completely against. One night while wandering drunk in the cityGil is transported to the 1920’s era, an era he idolizes. There he encounterssome of the great artists from that era and is completely taken back by meetingand knowing them in person. Soon the story evolves and he understands that Inezis not suitable for him and breaks up with her and decided to remain in thecity, city that he loves walking in rain.

Gil meets many artists of thatera which includes Cole Porter, Josephine Baker, Zelda, F. Scott Fitzgerald, PabloPicasso, Ernest Hemingway, Salvador Dalí, Man Ray, and Luis Bunuel. He alsomeets Gertrude Stein, who agrees to read and comment on his manuscript, andPicasso’s mistress Adriana who he falls in love with.

Owen Wilson as Gil is first classand some agrees channels Woody Allen perfectly, which really suits well for thecharacter. Rachel McAdams is Inez is perfect casting as well, while hercharacter is A-rate b**** she delivers it perfectly; I hated her the whole timeshe was on screen. All the other actors portraying lost generation artists areagain perfectly cast. Cinematography and background score compliments the storyand presents Parisas a city of present as well as of bygone era in most vivid manner. Directionwise, Woody Allen wrote a nostalgic poem for Paris and gives life to the city.

Storyline of the movie is simple butwhat attracts one to it is Parisof bygone era, knowing the lost generation and the artists hanging in the greatcity for inspiration.

Recommended for anyone who lovesnostalgia. And as for me, soon I will be transporting myself to Silent era through The Artist.

As redemption I started exploringWoody Allen’s work again and as a starter I watched another nostalgic movie ofhis, Radio Days, which I fell inlove with as well. I think soon I will give another chance to Annie Hall and Manhattan and let them workthe magic as Midnight in Paris and Radio Days did.

Personal Favorite: The Spirit of the Beehive

2011-06-21T09:18:00.006-05:00

“Art is a lie that makes us realize truth.” Pablo Picasso

I had first seen The Spirit of the Beehive some 3 years ago and was completely taken by surprise then by its beauty and simplicity. That time around the movie remained with me for many days with its beauty which I cherished for sometime. Watching it again brought back all those haunting memories and once again I am experiencing astonishing beauty and power of cinema.

There are very few directors (that I have come across) who actually through their work make us dig deeper into our soul and makes us think. This movie comes close to the work of those great masters of cinema (Tarkovsky, Bergman and Kieslowski) and opens a door for us to get into child’s soul and mind and make us understand how sensitive their young minds are.

Plot in one simple sentence: Affect of cinema on child’s sensitive innocence.

The child here is six-year-old Ana and the cinema is Frankenstein (1931). Watching the movie she engulfs herself with the monster and little girl that dies in the movie and with the little misleading from her elder sister (a child too) she soon looses her touch with reality and is pushed into an imaginary world of her own.

Set in an isolated Spanish village during civil war period, Victor Erice, the director uses this period in history to his advantage in showing the oppression of people during that time; most of the dialogues are whispered throughout the movie, except for cinema show there is hardly any entertainment or public gathering shown in the movie, as much as not even girls family (her Father, Mother, and older sister Isabel) are ever shown together in one single frame.

In the last scene, we see Isabel pulling her sheet to cover her face to avoid looking outside the window in night time (as normally kids do) and on the other hand Ana gets up, opens the window and stares outside trying to connect to her friend, a spirit. As the movie ends, we are not sure if Ana will ever become normal, even though doctor said with time she will, but we know her innocence is lost forever.

Some might find the pacing of the movie slow but, like walking through an art exhibit, it is necessary to move slowly as it gives us time to contemplate and appreciate the work of art thoroughly. Film is beautifully shot utilizing barren vast empty landscape which perfectly complements the tone of the movie.

The movie belongs to Ana, portrayed by Ana Torrent, through her shy, innocent and yet serious melancholy gaze she conquers your heart and at the same time breaks it.

Rating: 9/10

Recommendations: Cria Cuervos (1976) which also features Ana Torrent.

Personal Favorite: Fanny and Alexander (1982)

2011-06-20T14:31:00.009-05:00

Having watched few Bergman movies before this one, it’s as if with this work he is saying I am already sure of death but now I know of life too. I feared death for too long it is now life I want to celebrate.

And it’s a grand celebration here. Fanny and Alexander is a celebration of life which is mysterious at times and hypnotizing throughout. It is a festival of art (work) by one of cinema’s most beloved director.

Fanny and Alexander, set during the first decade of 20th Century in a Swedish town, is a tale of Ekdahls family seen through the eyes of siblings and title characters, but more so from Alexander’s eyes. Ekdahls family consists of many characters, Helena, grandmother and matriarch of the family, her eldest son who is married to Emilie and father of Alexander and Fanny, local bishop who later Emilie marries after her husband’s death and Isak, dear friend of Helena. There are many more characters that play strong supporting roles in the story.

Everyone in the cast is near perfect in their respective roles. But especially Gunn Wallgren (in a role once intended for Ingrid Bergman), who plays Helena, the grandmother. She is not just the head of the family but is also most warm person among the bunch. Alexander is an important figure in the story, as a spectator as well as the person fighting devils of his own, and is portrayed superbly by Bertil Guve.

The movie is, as expected of any Bergman film, is astonishingly beautifully shot. The cinematographer Sven Nykvist, Bergman's longtime collaborator, uses different color schemes for different places to depict the character condition and suit the mood of the story. Most notably, fills Ekdahls household with exuberant colors and warmth, and bishop's household is stark, grim, while the scenes at Isak’s house are filled with mysticism look just like the characters in the house.

Even though the theatrical version runs over 3-hours, it doesn’t seem long and makes only want more. This is why I can’t wait to see the original television version (5 hour running time) as I am sure it will be not just as fantastic as shorter version but will be much more satisfying.

Reading back, I don't like what I have written here. But I feel this urge to write something about the movie and so for now I will leave it as it is, and will hope that I can re-visit this post in near future and express my feeling much more coherently. Until then this will do.

Rating: 10/10

Recommendations: Any Bergman film and for some reason I keep thinking about Amarcord (1973) by great Federico Fellini.

Personal Favorite: There Was a Father (1942)

2010-10-24T15:38:00.010-05:00

There Was A Father tells the story of a single, widowed father and his son. Father is a school teacher and truly loves his job but after an accident with one of his student which he thinks was his fault, he is so overcome with guilt that he quits his job as a school teacher. This leads him to move to his hometown and the boy is sent to a boarding school, which causes a lot of pain to the boy who wants to live with his father. But time goes by and the son is now himself a teacher and spends whatever little time he gets with his father. Both of them enjoy their company a lot and a have genuine love of each other but are sad for not being able to live together. The film puts a lot of stress on education (similar to The Only Son) and also ones sense of duty. Son is frequently reminded by his father to perform his duties to the best of his capabilities even if that means they cannot live together, which the boy longs for throughout his childhood to adulthood.

Ozu made There was a Father in 1942 almost after 6 years of The Only Son; while both the movie is almost completely different there are certain elements in both the films that while very similar contrasts the characters mood. In this movie parent is not disappointed with their child, and none of the characters are disappointed with life and also the life in Tokyo is not too gloomy unlike his previous feature. The characters are still disappointed and this because of their separation as their duty doesn’t allow them to live together. Also this movie is about finding redemption in life too as the father dies immediately after the party thrown by his ex-students almost as if he found his redemption for being careless which lead to the accident several years ago with the students.
Here are some of the contrasting scenes of both the movies:
1. The opening scene where some women are carrying silk baskets on their back is very similar in both but while it’s little gloomy in the previous film in this one it doesn’t look that gloomy.
2. In previous movie the gloomy scenes of factories, buildings and houses dominated the landscape; in this movie it’s the rivers, mountains and the constant images from Buddhism that dominates the landscape.
3. While The Only Son provides glimpses of influence of other cultures There was a Father stresses more on Japanese culture. In the previous feature where we see international posters, in this movie we see Japanese scriptures on the walls.
4. The son in the previous film was a teacher but not by choice and one can see he doesn’t really enjoy his work, see the scene when he tries to explain the student the mathematic theory and one can sense from his explanation how vague it is. While in this movie the father is a teacher, a job he is really passionate about, see the scene when he tries to explain almost similar theory to his students and how passionately he does his job.
5. Another important little scene shows the spoiled child in both the movies where they need money to make them happy and obedient (In The Only Son when teachers son comes crying he gives him some money, similarly in this movie son of fathers friends asks for money to obey his elders).

The movie is yet another triumphant for Ozu and his impeccable art. Actor Chishu Ryu , Ozu’s regular actor, too does a perfect job in portraying father searching for his own redemption in life even if that means sacrificing living together with his son. Others too are perfect in their respective roles.

For thorough satisfaction, I would recommend anyone to watch it along with The Only Son, both now available in excellent editions from Criterion Collections. But watching it separately will also be a wonderful experience, just like any of Ozu’s other movies.

Rating: 9/10

Personal Favorite: The Only Son (1936)

2010-10-24T15:35:00.005-05:00

The Only Son opens in a country town of 1923 where the widowed mother and her only son live together. The mother works in a silk mill and is barely able to meet ends but despite their financial situation she is forced into sending her son away from her to Tokyo for further study and to become a “great man”. After a decade mother decides to visit her son in Tokyo once he gets a job. When in Tokyo she is surprised to know that her son has got married, has a child too and that he quit his high profile job and is working as a night school teacher living in poverty. She also meets the school teacher who was responsible for influencing her decision to send her son to Tokyo has himself failed to realize his own dreams and is reduced to frying pork cutlets.

She is disappointed that her son has not realized the dreams he had before he left to Tokyo and that all her toils over the year has gone to waste, and that all her sacrifices by keeping her son away from her has gone waste. But she is more disappointed to see that her son has given up hopes of becoming a successful man and that he has accepted being a failure. Even the son realizes this and is disappointed that he is not able to meet his and his mother’s expectations for him. The movie ends in a very ambiguous mode; the son takes the resolution to give his everything to become a successful man he always dreamt of and his mother while back in her hometown is just seen sitting outside her factory with sadness on her face which is one of the most heartbreaking moments in the movies. She probably knows the future is bleak for her son, that all her sacrifices have not helped anyone.

In the movie, Ozu’s characters are not bad people, they have good caring hearts, they have profound love for each other but it’s the difficult time they live in, the depression era that makes them hopeless, discourage them making them to give up in life easy. Both the son and teacher blame Tokyo for their failures, they have given up in life too easy or too soon and this being their only negative point. When son sees his mother after a long time we know he is genuinely happy and wants to do everything possible to make her happy. Though he may have not inform her about his wife and son but once we see the affection between them it doesn’t really matter and that don’t make him a bad son at all.

The major plots Ozu frequently explored in his films were parent’s disappointment in their children, characters disappointment in life and the life in Tokyo. His first sound film is not any different where he depicts these themes with utmost superior hand. In this movie Ozu also provides glimpses of growing foreign influences in the society of Japan at that time in the subtlest way. There is a poster of Germany in the son’s house, a poster of woman, probably Joan Crawford, he takes his mother to see German movie, where the theater looks full and he likes Chinese food. Though they might not have any direct affect in the movie, but it helps in placing the conditions of that era in Japan a little better especially knowing what happened after a couple of years later once the world war started.

Ozu in his first sound film manages to offer his exquisite touch to the subjects he most loved exploring through this medium that of sacrifice, disappointment, and broken dreams.

Rating: 9/10

Inception

2010-07-17T07:45:00.006-05:00

Mankind has been fascinated with dreams, since like forever. Dreams are the world we wake up to in our unconscious mind when the body goes to sleep. More often than naught this world is made of our memories, aspirations, unfulfilled expectations, hopes and desires. George Bernard Shaw once said “You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?'” This movie shows that side of humans when anything is possible and everything is within reach even our own world, world of people we love, of places we love and infinite possibilities.

This, along with Shutter Island, is by far the best movie of the year so far. Without giving away anything, though I probably cannot explain the whole movie myself, it deals with dreams, inception of dreams, entering and breaking of dreams. Leonardo plays Dom Cobb an expert in invading dreams of others and planting ideas in them and along with his team Joseph Gordon, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy and other takes up an assignment from businessman played by Watnabe to hack the dreams of his competitor played by Murphy. What begins as a simple enough assignment, by their standards, becomes complicated due to some human elements especially the haunting memories of Cobb's wife played by Marion Cotillard and soon we are caught in the multilayered dreams the characters are creating in order to finish the job.

Every actor fits perfectly in their roles. Leonardo and Watnabe as seasoned actors as they are portray their characters with certain flair. Cotillard is excellent again and looks elegant throughout, Joseph, Hardy and Ellen too play their part with ease.

Nolan has a habit of putting screws in our head, either with plot structure (Memento) or characters (remember Joker anyone??) and with every frame tightens that screw and simply blows our mind and it’s no different this time. Throughout the movie, we play lost and found in the landscape of dreams he created. We keep trying to understand what’s happening before we move onto next level and by the end of the movie we are in the complete grip of the plot and its characters and wonder what just happened, was I dreaming!!!! Pinch…no I am not, what the!!!!

Final words, Christopher Nolan does it again, does it big again and does something magnificent, again. He is undoubtedly among the finest film makers around and possibly of all time too. A must watch movie for anyone, and one to revisit for complete understanding as well as complete satisfaction.

Rating: 10/10, at least until I exhaust myself with few more viewings and start to look beyond the excellence of the movie for its minor flaws if any.

Antonia's Line

2010-06-25T14:32:00.001-05:00

Antonia’s Line is a story of strength, courage, and generosity of central character Antonia, it is charming portrayal of mother-daughter relationship, it is a story of friendship, it is collection of weird characters, it is a story of living openly without judging others, and above all it is about life of joy, and all this time it is simple fun to watch.

The movie, spanning 40 years, revolves around life of Antonia and people around her from the time she moves back to her hometown just after the war to the last day of her life. Shortly after the war Antonia returns with her daughter, Danielle, to her dying mother in her hometown. With ease she gets accustomed to her old town and begins a great journey towards life of joy with her daughter. As time passes many other people of the town, some simple, some quirky, some chirpy, embarks on this journey of hers. Soon she becomes a matriarch of her extended family/friends consisting of Danielle, Therese (Danielle’s daughter), Danielle’s lesbian partner, Farmer Bas and his sons, Crooked Finger (a philosopher who never comes out of his house), Deedee and her husband, Letta and ex-priest and their kids. It is one huge happy family.

The movie shows many faces of society, one in which man treats women badly, one where one is still struggling to find answers about life, death, and god, one where women can have a child without wedlock, can be lesbian and still fit perfectly in the society and many more. Marleen Gorris, writer and director of this drama does a wonderful job in presenting to us a fairytale of love and kindness.

All the actors fit perfectly in their characters and does a very good job of gaining our affection and respect and in some cases despise.

This winner of an Academy Award in 1996 for Best Foreign Language Film is worth watching even though it may seem little women centric at first.

Rating: 8/10

2010 Golden Globe: My Favorites

2010-01-17T12:10:00.004-06:00

Tonight Golden Globe Awards will be handed over to the best from last year and having seen most of the nominated movies I have decided to pick my own favorites. I am yet to see Avatar, A Single Man, Crazy Heart, Precious, The Last Station and The Young Victoria and so my picks are from the ones I have watched though I am quite sure my favorites will remain as it is except for one or two changes which I will mention in my following picks. Remember these are not predictions but only my favorites.

Best Motion Picture-Drama: The Hurt Locker

Though I have not watched Precious and Avatar these movies does not excite me and will probably not watch any sooner. So between The hurt Locker, Inglorious Basterds and Up in the Air, I will pick The hurt Locker as the best drama of the year.

Best Motion Picture- Musical/Comedy: The Hangover

Only category in which I have seen all the movies and the serious contenders were only (500) and Hangover and I pick The hangover for it was the best comedy I have seen in years.

Best Actor- Drama: George Clooney

I have not yet seen Crazy Heart and A Single Man and my choice is only from the remaining three in this category. Having read rave reviews about Colin Firth’s performance in A Single Man I wouldn’t be surprised if I change my choice once I see the movie but for now will go with Clooney.

Best Actress- Drama: Carey Mulligan

I have not watched The young Victoria, The Last Station and Precious and my choice from the remaining two movies is Carey Mulligan for An Education. Unless one of the actresses from the unseen movies gave extraordinary performance I will hold my ground with Ms. Mulligan, she was charming and perfect in the movie.

Best Actor- Musical/Comedy: Robert Downey Jr.

I have not seen Matt Damon in The Informant but the trailers didn’t excite me (even though he is one of my favorite actors) I would stick with Downey Jr. Though the real competitor for Sherlock Holmes was Tom Hansen (500 Days of Summer) played by Gordon-Levitt.

Best Actress- Musical/Comedy: Marion Cotillard

Another category in which I have seen all the movies and seriously Sandra Bullock and Julia Roberts even getting nominated is a shame and I am sure there were other performances, Mélanie Laurent comes to mind immediately, among others who were much better and more deserving to be nominated than these two. But I will stick to the ones already nominated and among them Marion was the best and she gives yet another beautiful performance in Nine.

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph waltz

No questions. No doubts. Both hands down. Forget others. Really!!

This is the easiest category of the year and I wouldn’t be surprised if Golden Globe thinks so too.

Best Supporting Actress: Anna Kendrick

I read some very good reviews about Mo’Nique and Julianne Moore’s performances but not having seen them yet I would go with another young and talented actress find of the year (along with Carey Mulligan) though I was tempted to go with Penelope Cruz for her tempting performance in Nine but Ms. Kendrick’s performance was refreshing.

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow

I think The Hurt Locker was one of the best pictures of the year and the person behind it deserves all the accolades.

Best Screenplay: Mark Boal for The Hurt Locker

Tough category to pick from especially between THL and Up in the Air.

Best Foreign Language Film: The White Ribbon

The White Ribbon was one of the best movies of the year in any language including English.

I picked my favorites and now will wait and see if Golden Globe picked any of my favorites (other than Christoph Waltz, he is a sure bet) to honor them for their excellent cinematic achievements in 2009. But no matter who wins my congratulations to all those who entertained us throughout the last year and hope to see them continue the same this year too.

Evening with Classics

2009-11-29T08:35:00.005-06:00

It always gives me immense satisfaction to catch up with Classic movies and last evening was full of it.

It all started with watching the gamblers Marlon Brando trying his luck to woo a girl, and Frank Sinatra trying his luck to arrange money for gambling event of the year and keeping his girl and much more in musical “Guys and Dolls” on DVD.

After G&D I started changing TV channels where I came across TCM playing “The Mortal Storm”, unaware of the movie I decided to watch especially once I found out it had James Stewart in the leading role. Stewart and Cary Grant are two actors whose movies I would not mind watching at any time.
This movie is set in early 1930’s small town in Europe about the same time when Hitler rose to power in Germany and deals with one family’s involvement with these events that would change their lives for ever. The movie still is as powerful and relevant as it would have been during its release in early 40’s. It depicts how youth blindly followed Hitler without any of their own convictions and concerns for their family and friends. It depicts how few handfuls who protested Hitler’s ideas were either crushed or fled the country for safety.

Followed by Bogart/Bergman WWII classic “Casablanca” which is my all time favorite and have now seen many times but haven’t learned the right words yet to describe my views of the movie!! and until then we wait and wait and wait!!!

Next came along the biggest surprised hit of the evening, considering first time viewing, “The Devil and Daniel Webster”. I would rank this movie as one of the best from 40’s era. It shows the poor man’s fall from goodness in order to raise money for survival in the hands of loaner and how anyone can sell his soul to the devil for money and power. I will have to watch the movie again to fully appreciate it and to write the reasons as to what I like most about it.

The end of the classic saga night came with romantic comedy “Bedazzled” which had Peter Cook playing the devil to the Dudley Moore’s cook unable to hook up with his love at his work place and that's the most I would write about it. With this movie, though not the best, ended what otherwise was an unforgettable evening with Classics.

My Ratings: Guys and Dolls (1955/I) 7
The Mortal Storm (1940) 8
The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941) 9
Bedazzled (1967) 5

Il Postino:The Postman (1994)

2009-11-25T11:42:00.005-06:00

Poet look at things differently from others, where we use adjectives to describe our feelings poet thinks of metaphors to describe their views and feelings of world. The movie is simply set up on that idea where a common man grows interest in poetry to woo his girl and develops his own brands of metaphors first for his girl and later for the sufferings of common working man.

Though the plot seems simple, the movie in its own way deals with nostalgia, friendship between complete strangers and love. Mario lives with his old father and works with him as a fisherman, a job he is not suited for and is living an uneventful life which changes forever when an exiled poet comes to stay in their village. Upon arrival of an exiled poet Pablo Neruda, Mario gets job as a postman whose only deliveries will be to the poet who gets lots of fan mails especially from women. He slowly develops interest in poetry and gets involved more when he encounters Beatrice in a bar and falls in love immediately. Mario then starts learning trade of poetry from the poet and eventually impresses the love of his life with his own poems and metaphors. Just when everything seems to be working for Mario, marrying his love, becoming a friend of the poet, the poet decided to leave for his country leaving Mario unemployed and almost friendless. Mario never hears from his so-called friend poet but he doesn't loose his hopes for friendship. Finally when the poet arrives in the town it is already too late to meet his friend who died in a rally where he was using poems for working man’s suffering.

Massimo Troisi as Mario is exceptional and knowing that he put this movie before his health and that he died on the last day of shooting really saddened me, especially in the end when the character Mario is shown dead and we really miss him both as Mario and even more as Massimo, for he was a good actor. The movie belongs to him from start to finish. Philippe Noiret as Pablo is as with his other credited roles does full justice to the character and becomes a friendly face for you in the movie. Maria Grazia as Beatrice though doesn't really have a solid role is good as Mario's girl.

The music is beautiful throughout as it blends beautifully with the story, poetry, metaphors, and island and creates some nostalgic moments.

Il Postino is poetry of plain simplicity of the life and people surrounding us. The movie has a nostalgic feel to it but while the movie is set in small town in Italy where most men are fishermen and there is no water lines for the houses, the movie never goes in the territory of the village and its people except for our main protagonist, in some way that was only downer for me in the movie.

Poetry even when sad fills life with something beautiful, something surreal, something though understood easily is harder to explain. Though the movie may not be called a masterpiece it succeeds in weaving some beautiful memories for the viewers.

Rating: 8/10

Recommendations: Cinema Paradiso (depicts love of cinema)
Life is Beautiful (depicts love/passion of living)

Personal Favorite: Okuribito (2008)

2009-11-25T08:52:00.004-06:00

Okuribito (Departures) is hands down one of the finest films of this decade. While watching this I could not help but draw comparison with one of US televisions most powerful drama 'Six Feet Under' especially in first few scenes when main protagonist starts to work with his company and the first episode of the TV series. But the comparison ends there and both in their own unique ways excels at showing chaotic times of human. While SFU is about dysfunctional family dealing with death in more chaotic ways, Departures finds peace in both life and in death. Every scene of Departures is like a free flowing verse not following any strict rules but at the same time creating complex patterns and the melody of which are still recognizable as poetry and reaching the height of emotions at the end of every stanza.

Daigo Kobayashi, is a passionate Cello player but unable to make living of it for his family. Left with no options he unwillingly decides to move back to his hometown, of where he has bad memories of his childhood. Once in the town he starts looking for a job and replies to one employment ad not knowing the nature of work and which turns out to be that of preparing dead bodies for funeral. Initially he has some reservations but soon he starts liking and becomes good at his work, though he hasn't told anyone about his job. Once his wife knows about his job she despises him for it but in spite of everything, he continues his job and finds peace in helping families bid final goodbye to their loved ones. As movie progresses Daigo's childhood relationship with his father and reason for their estrangement is revealed. Though Daigo never gets chance to reconcile with his father he gets one last chance to redeem himself towards the end when he has to prepare his body for Departure.

The beauty of the movie lies in the fact that there is never a moment that feels too sad, or depressing, never over sentimental instead almost every scene is filled with serenity while dealing with dead people and funeral homes preparing dead bodies for last rite. Few scenes stand out on this account, watch Daigo's wife's face when she watches Daigo prepare the dead body of local spa owner and realizes her husband's work and grows respects for him and his work.It is not spelled in words but just the serenity in her face makes us realize what she just found out. In another scene watch all the characters involved when Daigo is preparing his fathers dead body and the sheer emotion flowing from their faces that of pure peace is one of the most effective and beautiful scene of the movie. No words are required to emote their feelings just their eyes does all the talking which is an achievement of cinema or any art form for that matter.

The three actors playing Daigo, Ikuei Sasaki (Daigo's boss) and Mika (Daigo's wife)are wonderful actors and plays their respective parts with utmost honesty and ably portrays their traits. The Direction is very effective along with photography which plays an important role in making the movie what it is.

To sum it up, 'Departures' finds serenity in dealing with one of the most chaos times of peoples life that is the Departure of their loved ones. Finding peace in chaotic times is an achievement.

My Ratings: 9/10
Recommended: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
The Cave of the Yellow Dog

Spoorloos (The Vanishing)

2009-05-09T19:18:00.007-05:00

This post may contain spoiler!!

First thing first, the ending of this movie, and most of the people who have seen the movie would agree with me, is one of the most shocking moments/ disturbing revelation ever seen in cinema. Now that’s been said, let’s talk about the whole movie.

Mystery involves four pieces of puzzle namely how, what, why and when of the incident and until all the pieces are not put together the mystery remains and fascinates human until it’s solved. For me, the movie is one such example of putting together all the pieces of puzzle and it kept me waiting till the end to solve the mystery myself which is an example of brilliant film making to involve viewer completely into it.

The movie begins with a young Dutch couple Rex and Saskia driving on a vacation in France. Everything seems normal, both Rex and Saskia madly in love with each other and then Saskia talks about her recurring dream of terrifying loneliness. I cannot decipher dreams, but someone in love getting recurring dreams of loneliness; does it suppose to mean that there is something wrong in their relationship, or is it her insecurity, or is it complete normal? I for sure don’t know how to put that dream in their relationship. Moving on, as she tells her dream, their car runs out of gas which causes a quarrel between the two. And, this is where I actually began to decipher the dream, she told him about how loneliness scares her, and yet when they fight, he leaver her all alone in the car in the middle of the dark tunnel to get gas. May be I am wrong in trying to connect dream to their relationship, as when he comes back he actually gets scared when Saskia is not in/near the car and feels glad when he finally sees her outside the tunnel. They now make up and are off again on the trip. On their way when they stop at a rest stop, Saskia goes into a convenient mart and never returns.
Rex now spends his next three years trying to find, get a clue of what happened to her but without any luck. In the meanwhile we are introduced to another character Raymond Lemorne who is a school teacher and married with two children.

The movie now divides into two, one showing the normal life and the obsession of Raymond, and the other dealing with the obsession of Rex.

Raymond is obsessed in an eccentric way where he is trying to test his own character, whether he deserves the high opinions of others, or if even the good of people can commit the evilest of crime. In one scene, Raymond saves a girl from drowning but he doesn’t pick the doll with her, just to prove to his family and others that he is not necessary a hero. To prove that he is not a hero to himself, he starts planning kidnapping and through shear coincidence kidnaps Saskia (her bad luck).
Rex, on the other hand, spends his three years obsessed with Saskia, not so much as because she is his love (as he is dating other women), but because of the need to know as what happened to her. He has been advertising to find out if anyone has any clue about Saskia and then finally does an interview on TV and then things finally starts to roll.

Finally after some failed meetings, the two man meets and Raymond takes Rex to France to show him what happened to Saskia. Raymond asks Rex to drink some thing which after some resistance, Rex does and when the final scene rolls, both Rex and viewers are in for the shock of the lifetime, at least in the movie.

What’s interesting about the movie is the way two men have been depicted. Both are obsessive and for the wrong reasons. Raymond trying to prove he is not a hero or as good as other believes. Rex trying to determine the fate of his ex-girl friend may be he was still in love with her or just to solve the mystery, I am not sure and the reason being the recurring dream of Saskia.

Throughout the movie, the dream of Saskia stayed with me and everything I saw I felt like connecting it to the dream and when the grand finale scene rolled I wasn’t sure anymore if my understanding of the dream was right, as who else, but a person deeply in love would go to such an extreme by putting himself at the mercy of the total madman who might do anything with him just to know a fate of a person who he firmly knows is dead.

The reason movie is so good or works so well is that right from the beginning we know who kidnapped Saskia; soon we come to know how and why, but not till the end we know what happened to her, and we are as obsessive as Rex in trying to find the truth. As not knowing what happened to her, we keep guessing if she was killed, raped or what on earth happened to her which really discomforts us and Rex too as we both are just viewers, the only advantage being we know who and why, but what happened is really uneasy to forget and even painful is to forget that once the mystery is revealed.

My Rating: 9/10
Recommended: Insomnia (1997), Watch original first not the English remake.

"Big Fish"......Full of Charm and fairy tales

2008-11-16T11:01:00.005-06:00

Most of us grew up listening to stories our parents, grand parents told us which as a kid we tend to believe them but as we grow old we forget them, until one day it’s our turn to tell such stories to our kids and everything comes back even our own imagination, which in today’s busy world we don’t have much time for fabricating fairy tales. “A man tells his stories so many times that he becomes the stories. They live on after him.” This simple line from the movie sums up "Big Fish". We have Ed Bloom who tells the stories all his life about him and his incredible life which are very fascinating, interesting and most of which are absolute lie. We have his son Will, who listened to his father’s stories all his life and is fed up with his lies and wants to know the real side of him. Throughout the movie we go back and forth in Ed’s life through his stories of how he became the best citizen of his town, how he finds his wife, how they fell in love, what happened the day Will was born and so on. Will soon becomes fed up with his father’s lies and stop talking to him, until when his father is dying and he himself starts telling those stories and realizes how fascinating it is.
The main vehicle for the story is the narration, which really keeps the viewers interested in the journey of Ed taking them to the incredulous past of his and then bringing back to the present. The narrators include Ed-Young (Ewan McGregor), Ed- Sr (Albert Finney), Will (Billy Crudup) and Jenny (Helena Carter), and all have done excellent work as they never let any dull moment in their narrations. Also all of them in their respective roles are good but for me it’s the narration, the special effects and the fairy tales which made the movie enjoyable for me. There is also Marion Cottilard, most notably known for her Oscar winning portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Mome, but she is almost passable here. Among other cast we have Jessica Lange as wife of Ed, Steve Buscemi as poet/ criminal Winslow, and Danny DeVito as entertainer Calloway and all of them are likable in their small roles.
For me though the actual heroes of the movie are the novelist, the screenwriter, the director, the musician, the cinematographer, and the editor. Oh what the fascinating world of stories they have created for us. Pablo Picasso once said, “Everything you can imagine is real”, I can’t see why not after watching movies like this (Other being Pan’s Labyrinth). The imagination of the novelist, the vision and creativity of the director along with his screenwriter, and the persons behind the scene are all worth of praises.
There is a sequence in the movie when a family doctor tells the real story about the day Will was born and after finishing it he admits that the real version isn’t fascinating and if he has to choose between real and fancy version, he would choose the fancy one. I guess there is something in most of us which makes us choose the fancy one as it is more fascinating, free of old-cliched world. I know I would enjoy the fancy versions, but just enjoy not believe in them.

I haven’t watched Tim Burton’s movie before this, but I am going to explore his other works soon.

My Rating: 8.5/10
Recommended: Pan’s Labyrinth

"The Lion in Winter" Lion Indeed..

2008-11-15T12:24:00.010-06:00

I cannot explain what an extreme pleasure it is to be in your home on a chilly Saturday morning sitting on a cozy chair in front of television and watching “The Lion in Winter”, Oh what a joy it is to see two acting giants together giving one of their most Royal performances. I couldn’t agree more with Roger Ebert when he wrote in his review “One of the joys which movies provide too rarely is the opportunity to see a literate script handled intelligently. The Lion in Winter triumphs at that difficult task...… but "The Lion in Winter" also functions at an emotional level….” Although Ebert was referring to A Man for all seasons in his comparison I for one couldn’t help but remember another movie “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” which I think used a literate script and handled intelligently. Though the only similarity I could draw between these two movies is the use of sharp-razor dialogues backed by some strong performances.

Coming to “The Lion in Winter”, this is the story of the King Henry II, Eleanor, their three sons, and King Philip and their conflicts, their dangerous games of plots, deceitfulness to claim the throne as a successor to Henry. Also we have a mistress (hoping to be wife soon) of Henry but she isn’t the deceit type like everyone else involved. The story is carried forward by the sharp interactions between the key players all trying to trick each other one way or the other. The acting pack lead by Katharine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole gave a powerful performance and delivers their lines to perfection with such sheer intensity that there were time when I couldn’t make it if they were acting or was it real, if they really hated everyone that much, if they loved power so much, in any case I loved to despise them. Scenes between these two, their interactions to each other stand out for me. Also a scene where Hepburn is talking to herself in a mirror is such a joy and shows once again why she is one among great performers of all-time. Hepburn deservedly won her Oscar for portraying Eleanor and I feel O’Toole deserved to win too for his Henry II but had to be satisfied with just being nominated. Others too are well cast and works within their portrayed character limits. It was especially good to see Anthony Hopkins delivering such a good performance early on in his illustrious career. The interactions between each of the players were like seeing a firework showing its varied colors and providing sounds of blast.

The script is tight and there is not a single dull moment and is very well supported with the dialogues at every point. Direction is first class. The background musical score was like a tide rising high to raise the tempo of the scene and falling down with the emotions of the players, with tears coming down on Hepburn’s cheek, smirk on Henry’s face, anger on their sons language and so on.

Overall I would conclude a great start to a day and I wouldn't mind inviting this Royal family to cat-fight on my television again and again to make my days. Also I am sure this has to be in my all-time favorite list, but not sure yet where to put it, may be someday...

"When the king is off his ass, nobody sleeps!"---Henry II

My Rating: 9.5/10
Recommended: A Man for all seasons, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

My Favorites: Top 100

2008-11-13T06:46:00.009-06:00

Hello All! Here is the list of my all-time Top 100 movies.
I must admit though this list is not affirmative, as I am yet to explore many hidden gems of world cinema (classics) and might also find profound love for some new movie, so till then this can be considered as my top 100. I had most difficult time coming up with this list as I tried to uncover the numerous movies I have seen over time and then putting them in order and I still feel I did injustice.For example,I wanted to put movies from 11-15 in my top ten and so on with some other ordering. In such cases I tried to weigh down movies using various factors (such as genre, director, actor, time released and more).

My 100 Movies:

1. Schindler’s List (1993)
2. The Godfather (1972)
3. Gandhi (1982)
4. Sholay (1975)
5. The Seven Samurai (1954)
6. The Seventh Seal (1957)
7. Andrei Rublev (1966)
8. Tokyo Story (1953)
9. Cinema Paradiso (1988)
10. Life is Beautiful (1997)
11. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
12. Casablanca (1942)
13. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
14. The Godfather Part II (1974)
15. City of God (2002)
16. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
17. Bringing Up Baby (1938)
18. Hiroshima, My Love (1959)
19. Red Beard (1965)
20. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
21. The Deer Hunter (1978)
22. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
23. Forrest Gump (1994)
24. The Lost Weekend (1945)
25. The Last Picture Show (1971)
26. Shawshank Redemption (1994)
27. Ikiru (1952)
28. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
29. The Virgin Spring (1960)
30. Ballad of a Soldier (1959)
31. Inherit the Wind (1960)
32. Talk To Her (2002)
33. In the Mood for Love (2000)
34. Wild Strawberries (1957)
35. Come and See (1985)
36. The Spirit of the Beehive (1973)
37. Stalker (1979)
38. Burnt by the Sun (1994)
39. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
40. Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
41. The Pianist (2002)
42. The Shop on the Main Street (1965)
43. Downfall (2004)
44. Paper Moon (1973)
45. Day for Night (1973)
46. Breathless (1960)
47. La Dolce Vita (1960)
48. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
49. There Will Be Blood (2007)
50. The Dark Knight (2008)
51. L.A.Confidential (1997)
52. The Departed (2006)
53. Rashômon (1950)
54. Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
55. The Lives of Others (2006)
56. Casino (1995)
57. The Green Mile
58. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
59. Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
60. Pulp Fiction (1994)
61. Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
62. M (1931)
63. Battleship Potemkin (1925)
64. Cool Hand Luke (1967)
65. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
66. Goodfellas (1990)
67. Taxi Driver (1976)
68. Children of Heaven (1997)
69. Nostalghia (1983)
70. Our Hitler (1977)
71. Shoah (1985)
72. Maria Full of Grace (2004)
73. Hud (1963)
74. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
75. Wings of Desire (1987)
76. Harakiri (1962)
77. Cave of the Yellow Dog (2005)
78. Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter… and Spring (2003)
79. Wages of Fear (1952)
80. Fight Club (1999)
81. Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005)
82. Metropolis (1926)
83. I am Cuba (1964)
84. The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
85. Forbidden Games (1952)
86. The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
87. Ace in the Hole (1951)
88. The Sting (1973)
89. Jurassic Park (1993)
90. In a Lonely Place (1950)
91. Divorce Italian Style (1961)
92. Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
93. Kolya (1996)
94. Ugetsu monogatari (1953)
95. Sophie’s Choice (1982)
96. The Battle of Algiers (1966)
97. Underground (1995)
98. Psycho (1960)
99. Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)
100. Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Future Task: To write personal reviews to all these movies. It's going to be a strenuous task and will take lot of time to get there, but I hope I do get there.

A Phenomenal Masterpiece

2008-03-19T10:29:00.000-05:00

Bollywood has produced innumerable movies from the starting till now, but if we look back there are some movies which made us laugh, some made us cry, some made us jump from our seats in excitement, some made our hair raised in fear to death, some made us feel good, some made us sing, and what not you name it and we felt that way in one movie or another. We remember hundreds of movies from that million list, we have some tens of movies which we liked very much, we have few movies which are our favorites of all time, and when we look at those movies we have our reasons for picking them for our top honor. So now, my point, think of a single movie which you like very much (if not favorite of all time, but I will doubt that) which made you feel every emotion there is possible, which you still remember almost from each scene to scene, dialogue to dialogue, each characters, songs, dance sequence, characters name their acting style and almost everything. So what name came in your mind, was it not what I am thinking, now c’mon don’t lie, don’t hide I know it is what I think it is. Which other movie can you remember for almost everything for every single frame of it, which other movie you think is most imitated in other films, shows, TV, and even today people talk about it in day to day life talking to friends, family, making someone laugh by their jokes and everything? That my friend is a phenomenon of Bollywood and India in general called “SHOLAY” that hit Indian screens some 30years ago and still is the most adorable movie of all time, fresh in peoples mind like ever. Who can forget Jai, Veeru, Thakur, Basanti, Gabbar, Kaalia, Samba, Jailor, Soorma Bhopali, Imaam Saab, Ramlaal, Radha, Ahmed and others, the indelible characters created on screen and played by actors who are now legends of film industry? Forget the people, can you forget Dhanno, Ramgarh, Jail, I know I can’t and I almost believe neither can you. It’s not easy to forget something that you have watched from your childhood days innumerable time, in fact watch it once and it gets into your head from then on, and there’s no escaping this Film of the Last Millennium (ranked by BBC India). This movie and every person related to the movie, and I mean everything that is connected to this movie is a legend now. Movie itself is a timeless classic that you can’t miss and we even today love to take a glimpse whenever it’s aired on television or whenever we get a clipping of it be anywhere around the globe.
I will not write anything more here, for I can go pages after pages, repeating same points to points and even then the true tribute to this movie will not have begun so I wont write much for something’s are held tight in your heart and no words can express the true feeling for that. But I will say this though Sholay is the best thing to ever happen to Indian Film Industry, a phenomenon, a blockbuster, legendary, masterpiece, a timeless classic, charming, powerful, uproarious, riveting, first rate and all other positive adjectives there are available in dictionary can be used for this one single movie.
Wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sholay
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRQfxrJt8Xw
Songs and Some Scenes: http://ww.smashits.com/video/hindi-songs/music/198/sholay.html
Just type “Sholay” on Google, you tube and go nuts with the clippings, videos available.
Oh! and Gaaonwalo, this is my all time favorite movie and I think only Indian movie in my top 5 personal favorite movies of all time. List keep changing but this movie will still be there in every list.

PADOSAN

2008-03-12T18:35:00.000-05:00

Guys, let me now re/introduce to you one of the funniest MOVIE EVER ‘Padosan’ and I have to admit it is one of my all-time favorite comedy movies which had amazing star cast, most of them legend in comedy roles and Sunil Dutt legend in himself played character of Bhola one of the most lovable character on screen. Other characters in the movie too are unforgettable, starting with ‘Guru’ played by immortal Kishoreda, ‘Master Pillai’ played by Mehmood, yet another comic legend of Bollywood, ‘chelas’ of Guru played by Mukri, Agha and Keshto Mukherjee, all three brilliant actors with their own style for comedy and off course cameo by talented Om Prakash as bhola’s ‘mama’. Also worth mentioning is Saira Banu after all she is the pyari ‘Bindu’, Bhola is after. Story was simple; a guy falls for a girl and does all the tricks to be with her with the support of his musical friends and add little complications here and there in the plot and your usual masala Hindi movie is ready, just like any other movie. But then add to any movie seven stars of comedy, one great music director, great playback singers, good lyrics and moments after moments of laughing stock and the result is what Padosan is all about, it is special, because of the star cast, comic sense of each one of the actors, music, songs, which makes it a blockbuster and way above par any other Hindi love stories/dramas or comedy movies, it is a non-stop laughing riot. Very few movies with such genuine comedy has been made in India and among them are ‘Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi’, 'Golmaal' and ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, some must watch Hindi comedy.
Some special moments worth mentioning/ my favorites from this movie:
When Bhola goes to meet Guru for the first time and they are rehearsing for some play.
When Guru and company along with Bhola goes to see Bindu for the first time.
When Mehmood sings ‘Saawariya Saawariya’ and others see him from the window. Absolute Genius work in all departments.
When Guru teaches Bhola to sing. Absolute laugh riot.
‘Ek chatur Naar Karke Shringar”, yet another powerhouse work in all departments, especially by the actors and off course two geniuses’ playback singers.
When Kishoreda sings “Meri Pyari Bindu”
And….many many more..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padosan

Hi!!

2007-06-24T11:01:00.000-05:00

Hi!! Everyone
I will be using this blog to discuss movies and review them. All of you are welcome to read my post and post replies to them, and also to discuss your own movies in your own ways.
Have Fun...