The Movies That We Love And Breathe

Review: Gone Baby Gone, 2007

2008-06-09T02:11:00.004-04:00

Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Cast: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Amy Ryan, Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris
Director: Ben Affleck

There are two ways of measuring achievement - in the absolute, and relative to others. Some efforts stand out because we have seen mediocrity and failed attempts so often that we rush to laud that which is merely not bad. Then there are those efforts that stand on their own - which when judged on their own merits, when confronted with great legacies and acknowledged excellence, still hold their own. "Gone Baby Gone" is a movie that might have easily fallen into the former category, owing to the oft ridiculed acting career of its first-time director, Ben Affleck. It is a pleasure and relief that it falls resoundingly into the latter.

One might be forgiven for going into a movie with a title that seems straight out of a Vanilla Ice number, starring the unheralded younger brother of an infamously unlucky and much-maligned actor who is himself helming his first film, with expectations set a little low. "Just don't let it be too bad", we pray. The predictable montages begin - the gritty underside of Boston's shining exterior, the media circus and sensationalism that surrounds the disappearance of little Sarah McReady, the two private investigators hired by the missing girl's aunt and uncle. The girl's mother is a crack addict, socializes with drug dealers and can earn every possible disqualification from being a mother. But what's this? A hint of sadness and vulnerability beneath all that bravado? Could it be that she really loves her daughter? Could this movie be more than what it seems?

Ben Affleck weaves his web around you with unbelievable dexterity, and rather than the forgiveable lapses of a débutante, you sense the assured hand of a master craftsman at work. Little hints in scenes that add up, without being thrust in your face, invoke a growing sense of uncertainty within the viewer, mirroring the protagonists' changing view of their own reality. Moral questions apart, this is a wonderfully wrought investigative piece that leaves just enough to the imagination. Events unravel slowly but surely, bringing into light deeper events and motives, effectively building up to moments where fundamental questions of right and wrong are raised.

However, there is not just one Cinderella story in this movie's production - there are two. Casey Affleck uses his brother's direction to the fullest, exhibiting hard-headedness, vulnerability, sensitivity and determination in his portrayal of private investigator Patrick Kenzie. He would go on to score his first Oscar nomination for "The assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford" in the same year, but this performance will remain a watershed in his career, marking the point where he stepped outside his big brother's shadow and proclaimed his arrival as a serious, talented actor.

Despite its many other merits, this movie would not have worked without the complex supporting characters and the commendable ensemble cast who brought them to life. Amy Ryan secured an Oscar nomination for her tortured, atypical performance as Helene McReady, the mother of the missing child. Michelle Monaghan does commendably in a fairly straightforward role, while Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris manage to stay outside the limelight just enough for their characters to have precisely the effect intended. It is because of them that the movie works, and we justifiably remember their characters long after the movie is over.

Just a few years ago, Clint Eastwood succeeded exceedingly well in adapting another of Dennis Lehane's novels, "Mystic River" to the big screen. Undaunted by his predecessor and without taking anything away from the raw power of "Mystic River", Ben Affleck manages to impart his own signature to "Gone Baby Gone" - not in the least, that of a Boston which he knows and understands like no other. "Gone Baby Gone" is a masterpiece that powerfully raises deep moral questions within the framework of an astutely crafted detective thriller. It's a film any filmmaker would be proud of, and makes one wish that Ben Affleck would stay behind the camera more often than in front of it.

P.S. Kierthi, wake up! This blog needs you!

A Scanner Darkly (2006).

2007-01-06T12:59:00.000-05:00

Directed by
Richard Linklater

A Scanner Darkly is not just another drug movie. Its more subtle than say, Requiem for a Dream. However, the characters and imagery are a drug trip in itself.

The film is animated by a revolutionary technique using a software called Rotoshop which I guess, basically allows GFX artists to sketch, paint and trace over video to make Winona Ryder look like this.

Post Production work took care of most of the sets, props and costumes. The actors didn't even need makeup. Cool eh? More films should be made this way, right? But Rotoshop is proprietary software thats not commercially available and the owners don't plan to give it away anytime soon.

This experimental movie is set in a future where drug addicts are hooked on to a deadly substance and undercover agents spy and infiltrate gangs but no sir, this is no matrix or anything you'd normally associate with scifi movies. Its not an edge of the seat thriller - on the contrary it's slow and most scenes contain little or no action at all. The movie works as a dark drug abuse drama with occasional doses of hilarious dialogue from Robert Downey Jr. Definitely on the "must buy the DVD" list.

The movie is an adapation of a book and by virtue of which it must skip certain subplots and characters. A Scanner Darkly - Philip K.Dick immediately after watching the movie makes for a great read and is highly reccommended to fill up what might seem like plot-holes.

The Departed

2006-10-06T23:48:00.000-04:00

I havent been able to depart from thinking about this movie in the past 3 hours since I have seen the movie. This is the best movie of the year so far, period. Scorsese has proved yet again what a masterful director he is and some of the scenes are just open-mouthed amazing!!!! I dont want to give out anything about this movie yet.

To the Academy Award......please just give the fucking Best director award to him.

I'm sure the story of the movie has been gone over countless times on reviews online, so I'm not going to give out anything. But I would like to mention a few points to watch out for. Sometimes with an all star cast such as this the motivation for some of the actors to act may not be that great. But DiCaprio, Damon, Nicholson, Warlberg none of them have taken a wrong step. A few words about the each of them.

DiCaprio - I went into the movie not expecting much from him but he just stole the show. In fact I think DiCaprio just out performed everybody including Nicholson!!!!

Nicholson - sigh!!!! nobody else can portray a crazy ass m*&@&*@#$%&* like he does. And he has done just that.

Damon - Matt Damon has just proved why he is well regarded among the acting circles of late. He brings out a very good performance here.

Warlberg - I cant believe that Im still thinking about an underwear models acting three hours after I have seen the movie. His character has been my favorite. His dialogues and character was portrayed perfectly. Watch out for the scene between Alec Baldwin and Mark Warlberg!!!!! Just ripped me apart.

More than anything else it has been a Scorsese movie till the final scene and it was just awesome!!!!!!!!

Plzzzzzzzzzz Academy just fucking give it him!!!!!!!!!!!

A Woody Allen Masterpiece

2006-06-26T11:52:00.001-04:00

Title: Match Point (2005)
Director: Woody Allen

I have seen only one other Woody Allen movie, Manhattan Murder Mystery and I kind of liked it. This movie makes me want to see his other movies, directed or acted. What starts of as a story of passionate love both forbidden and otherwise builds into a crescendo with a fitting finale.

Chris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a tennis pro takes disillusioned with the tour takes up coaching rich and exclusive people at a tennis club in London. He befriends Tom (matthew Goode) one of the players and falls in love with his sister and marries her. With a beautiful wife, a nice cushy job in her fathers company, a house and a chauffered car, he seems to have finally done something with his life. That is only until he meets a struggling american actress Nola (Scarlett Johansson), va va voom. Johansson plays the femme fatale to a T and why not. Shes one of the very few today who can carry out such a role with poise and grace. Incidentally Nola is engaged to marry Tom.

From a stolen moment of passion to a full fledged affair, the story moves fast when Nola and Tom break up and Chris begins a stormy and lust filled affair with Nola. (Is there an unrated version of this movie anywhere :P ) While Chris and wife try everything to get pregnant, it is Nola who gets pregnant first. Having come to a point where Chris must decide between Nola and his wife, how he reacts to the situation forms the rest of the movie.

A thing to mention would be the opera which serves as the background music and the art and culture of London is beautifully captured by Allen. All the characters have performed and Jonathan Rhys Meyers has been revelation of sorts in some scenes, there are some scenes where his body language is just queer (I found his walk weird). Would definitely recommend watching it.

Cheers.

2006-06-26T11:52:00.000-04:00

Compelling. Shocking. Graphic.

2006-04-02T04:16:00.000-04:00

Irreversible(2002)

(French, with English subtitles)
Genre: Drama / Horror / Thriller
Director: Gaspar Noé

Cast:
Monica Bellucci .... Alex
Vincent Cassel .... Marcus
Albert Dupontel .... Pierre

Written and Directed by Gaspar Noe(I haven't seen his other films) this French movie is by far one of the most disturbing movies ever made. If you thought A Clockwork Orange was violent, you really need to see this. Its not entirely gore, there's no gangsters, no guns,.. the characters are regular people. One moment you're squirming in your seat at some of the most disgusting and violent acts ever viewed on screen and in the other you're lost in a tender love scene of a couple waking up to each other.

When it was shown at Cannes Film Festival, around 200 people(mostly professional film critics) walked out of the screening, sickened(physically) and needing medical attention. I don't believe in giving out any spoilers so I won't delve into the story. Basically, the gruesome events taking place on a night in Paris are shown backwards (a la Christopher Nolan's Memento). I can't even begin to tell you how real the movie is. It consists of 12 seperate single-take continuous segments without cuts. Camerawork is mostly handheld and its constant movement might cause viewers to get nauseated. The acting is very natural, much of the dialogue is unscripted and Monica Belucci is beauty personified.

The film doesn't glorify or glamorize violence. Yes, there is a stark & horrifying rape scene and a brutal murder, both shot very explicitly but then again, its a sick world, face it. These things happen at alarming rates as per crime statistics in the US/India/anywhere in the world.

Verdict: Unforgivingly disturbing. Not for the faint of heart.

The Winds Of Change

2006-03-16T21:55:00.000-05:00

Title: Goodbye, Lenin! (German, with English subtitles)
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Wolfgang Becker

Alex Kerner is a young East Berliner caught in turbulent times. It is 1989 and the socialist dream is fast disappearing. However, there are old-timers like his mother, who are still fiercely devoted to the socialist ideals. In a fateful accident, he joins a protest march against the Berlin Wall, during which his mother sees him being arrested. Unable to bear the shock of her own son protesting against everything she holds dear, she has a heart-attack and subsequently falls into a coma.

When she wakes up, eight months later, Germany has changed forever. The Berlin Wall has been torn down, the socialist dream lies shattered and a unified German Democratic Republic (GDR)'s soccer team is making waves in the World Cup! Capitalism and its effects are everywhere, from imported pickles to western television shows.

Doctors warn Alex and his sister, however that their mother cannot bear any more shocks, leading Alex to realize that she cannot be told the truth about the collapse of East Germany. He therefore proceeds to stage an elaborate, often comical show to convince her that things are still the same and that reunification never happened.

It's not a complex or particularly original storyline, but the treatment and focus are solid enough to make the movie worth a watch. Moreover, this is not really a movie about the fall of the Berlin Wall or a debate on capitalism vs. Socialism. At the most fundamental level, this is the story of a young man's love for his mother.

There are a couple of interesting references for movie buffs - in one scene, Alex's friend is showing him his latest amateur film. In this movie, he inserts an absurd reference to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and points out to Alex with great enthusiasm (who is so bored, he falls asleep). Five minutes later, the movie itself features a scene which is a direct reference to the famous threesome scene from another Kubrick movie, A Clockwork Orange. The director seems to have modeled Alex's friend on himself!

Gimmicks apart, the movie has many genuinely funny moments and some natural, yet touching ones. The director even manages to bring in a few serious issues (like the identity crisis young Germans faced after the Wall fell) without making things seem artificial or destroying the pace of the movie. Despite its length, the movie holds your attention quite successfully. The performances are pretty good as well, particularly the lead characters of Alex (played by Daniel BrÃ¼hl) and his mother (played by Katrin SaÃ).

There are even a few superb cinematic touches that made me sit up and take notice. My favourite was a scene where Alex's mother walks out of her room into the street for the first time in more than a year. She is shocked by the changes that she sees around her, in the form of giant Coca-Cola hoardings and flashy cars. Then a helicopter appears, transporting a gigantic statue of Lenin, with his right arm extended, as if he is taking the observer's hand in his. When the statue passes by her, it seems like Lenin himself is offering her a chance to go back to the way things were. What could have been said with a thousand words is shown in one beautiful visual. Glorious.

In summary, if you want to see a simple, funny and very real movie with moments of uniqueness, this is for you. It's not a movie that will change your life, but one that can easily touch your heart.

Australian cinema at its best

2006-02-16T14:24:00.000-05:00

ROMPER STOMPER(1992)

Directed by: Geoffrey Wright
Writing credits : Geoffrey Wright

Cast:
Russell Crowe .... Hando
Daniel Pollock .... Davey
Jacqueline McKenzie .... Gabe

The DVD cover screams STUNNING and INTENSE. Romper Stomper is exactly that.

Russell Crowe(Hando) heads a team of neo nazi skinheads who are enraged at the influx of Asian immigrants into Australia. The story follows the grim events that unfold in the life of the gang members who get involved in a turf war with the immigrants. The movie is complete with disturbing scenes of hate crimes, graphic violence and sex.

Due to similarities in theme, comparisons with American History X are unavoidable. But it would be something tantamount to a hatecrime to compare Romper Stomper and American History X. (There are huge IMDb threads about it!)

AHX is polished, packaged and glossy, sometimes kind of sugarcoats the brutalities(there was room for a lot more). Some minor flaws apart, American History X is definitely a good movie. Edward Norton is brilliant as the protagonist in AHX. However, towards the latter part of the movie, he is depicted as undergoing drastic changes in his beliefs after a stint in prison. The reasons for his menacing skinhead character reforming are quite weak and frankly, very Hollywood. Somewhere the directors wussed out. [sensiblystoned, Edward Norton rules as always :) . I was in total awe of AHX before I watched Romper Stomper. I could be wrong, but in my opinion, the movie didn't quite make the cut.]

Romper Stomper is raw and a relatively more accurate portrayal of the ruthless skinheads without being too preachy. It is dark, ugly and in your face. The lowbudget feel and the camera work add to the realism. The authenticity in costumes and dialogues are startling, maybe something you can relate to in your rebellious days(if you were/are one!). The creators have done their homework a lot better than the AHX guys.

If there was a flaw, it would be that the some of the characters are not well developed. Not much is known about Hando. Not much is known about the origins of most of the other characters either. They're just thrust on screen leaving the viewer to imagine their past, which I think is good in a way too. It doesn't hamper your viewing experience but a little more history on the characters would've helped.

Russell Crowe gives one of the finest performances of his lifetime. Its a wonder how this movie went unnoticed because it ranks high up there with Gladiator, Beautiful Mind and Master&Commander when it comes to his acting abilities. If you're a Crowe fan, this is a must see! The actors who play Davey and Gabe give out powerful performances as well.

To sum it up, if you're not too much of a prude to handle the theme, you won't be disappointed. You will emerge shocked, disturbed and sickened.

Verdict: Must watch.

P.S: Sorry for the image-heavy post.

The ending will take you by surprise

2006-02-03T12:11:00.000-05:00

Title: The Life of David Gale (2003)
Director: Alan Parker
Writing Credits: Charles Randolph

Usually im not a guy who tries to outthink the screenplay and guess the plot. I prefer to let the movie play itself. But im quite sure even if I tried to guess the plot it would have been fruitless for this movie.

When this movie was suggested by my friend one fine saturday afternoon I was groggy and bleary eyed (too much drinking on friday nite, as usual) when it started playing out. But at the end of it, I was sitting up and most definitely wide awake. I had absolutely no idea what the movie was about but it had a very strong cast including Kevin Spacey, Laura Linney and Kate Winslet. The movies starts off with Kate Winslet, a reporter for a magazine being asked to cover the story of a death row criminal, Kevin Spacey for the rape and murder of Laura Linney. Both Spacey and Linney, professors at the local college are ardent death penalty activists. Why would Spacey rape and murder Linney, nobody knows and hes willing to talk only to Winslet about his story. The story unravels as Kevin Spacey reveals parts of his story and leaves Kate Winslet to figure out the remaining and solve the mystery.

The movie is to be strictly viewed objectively, as your stance on death penalty maybe conservative or liberal as is the case. Conservatives are likely to find this movie distasteful in all aspects. True movie viewers would love this movie for its treatment and the strong portrayal of all the characters in the movie. And the ending is the bonus. Personally this movie had one of the best endings I had seen in a long time. Period.

Not Another Psycho Clone

2006-01-25T05:47:00.000-05:00

Title: American Psycho
Genre: Thriller/Horror/Crime
Starring: Christian Bale, Reese Witherspoon
Director: Mary Harron

Hitchcock's 1960 masterpiece has affected generations of moviegoers so profoundly, that many of us are unable to encounter the word "Psycho" without conjuring up images of Janet Leigh's terrifying shower murder scene. It is natural then, that a movie (originally a book) named American Psycho pays tribute to this legendary piece of cinema. The name of the protagonist, Patrick Bateman, is therefore a tribute to the legendary Norman Bates.

However, the comparisons with Psycho can and should stop there. American Psycho is a great psycho movie with its share of chills, gore and tension. But that's only half the story.

The movie is also a commentary on the degeneration of society, particularly in modern America. It shows the shallowness of people's everyday lives, in a world where people have lost touch with their humanity. For example, people refer to each other by the wrong names all the time. It doesn't really hamper them, because they are not really communicating, just talking. The vice-presidents of a large Wall Street form have do little other than listen to music all day and party at night. Materialism is so ingrained in their psyche that they seek to outdo each other in the most trivial things possible: fancy visiting cards and reservations in the most posh restaurant in the city. Of course, Patrick Bateman really doesn't like it when one of his colleagues gets a better-looking visiting card than he does!

Coming to the central character, Bateman is born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. He is the son of the owner of a large financial firm and has a degree from Harvard Business School. He has a high-paying job at his father's firm with little work to do. A posh apartment, a fine physique and a beautiful fiancee complete the rosy picture. Just like the society he inhabits, his outward success and comfort mask the hollowness and cold lack of emotion underneath. We are shown this aspect of his character and his world in degrees, until they both come together in a chilling finale.

Of course, all said and done, the psycho factor is central to the movie. We expect every psycho movie to chill us, keep us on the edge of our seats and perhaps even sicken us a little. A strong central character is therefore called for, and delivered with resounding success by Christian Bale. I was impressed with his performance in the lead role of Batman Begins, but this role is on a different plane altogether.

What appealed the most to me in his characterization was the way he portrayed the many idiosyncrasies of Patrick Bateman. For instance, during a normal conversation with his secretary, he abruptly admonishes her for leaving a used spoon on the table instead of in the cup. She hurriedly complies, and the moment is past, the characters returning to normal conversation. However, it leaves a jarring note in our minds - a hint that something is not quite right with this character and a foreboding of bad things to come. Ah, the power of suggestion!

A word about the ending. Though powerful, it is unconventional and surprising and may not appeal to all viewers. But then, this isn't a conventional psycho movie in the first place! All I ask is that you think a little about the ending in the context of the kind of society depicted in the movie - you just might find it beautiful, as I did.

I hate my job!

2006-01-11T12:17:00.000-05:00

Title: Office Space (1999)
Director: Mike Judge
Writer: Mike Judge
Lead Actors:
Ron Livingston .... Peter Gibbons
Jennifer Aniston .... Joanna
David Herman .... Michael Bolton
Ajay Naidu .... Samir Nagheenanajar
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151804/

I know this is not any groundbreaking thought provoking hardhitting movie.. Its just one of those movies you pick out from your DVD collection and say, "Hey I haven't seen that in a while." An when you do watch it , you remember how much you laughed the first time you saw it. You probably were in school or college when the movie first came out(I was!). Its so much more relevant now! And a lot more funnier!

Okay for those haven't seen it, here's the review.. for those who already have, here's something you already know ;)
Office Space is your dose of comedy if you are currently stuck in your cubicle and you hate it. Hate it so bad that you could just get up, take an axe and hack your computer to pieces(the word 'hack', also means To cut or chop with repeated and irregular blows.)

The characters in the movie are people you see everyday in your office -Your manager, your co-workers and who can forget, underpaid and underutilized you!
Office Space is about Peter Gibbons, a cubicle worker in a computer firm which is in the process of downsizing. Peter's friends Samir and Michael Bolton(thats his name!) are employees getting the pink slip. Lumbergh(Gary Cole) plays the part of the Evil Boss to a T. Also contains a serving of Jennifer Aniston, slurp!(Why do you hate her again? C'mon, she's not a bad actress.)

Director Mike Judge is the guy behind Beavis and Butthead. This is his first full-length non-animated movie and he demonstrates his comic abilites once again with this satire.
If you like Scott Adams' Dilbert, this is right up your alley.

You can't help but think of the characters in this movie long after its over and have quick laugh.

Caution: Might cause you to quit your current job and provoke you to look for alternate careers.

Verdict: Refreshing :)

How the hell did hollywood lose their plot of making good movies

2005-11-05T01:47:00.000-05:00

Title: 12 Angry Men (1957)
Director: Sidney Lumet
Writing Credits: Reginald Rose

Alrighty, I promised kaushik that I would do a review of my favorite edward norton movie, but it has to hold for another of my favorite movies.

How exciting can a movie of 12 men deliberating about a case inside the jury room get? More exciting than you can imagine. Logic and reasoning never got more gripping than this. 12 men, 12 chairs, one long table, windows and a fan; no really Im not kidding. Often overlooked as just another classic, this movie defines the meaning of the word classic.

Henry Fonda, the protagonist, happens to be on the jury for what looks like an open and shut case of a teen killing his father after an argument. Eleven others are convinced that the kid is guilty based on what they think is conclusive evidence. Henry Fonda, though wants to go over the evidence, not because he thinks the boy is innocent but only to clear himself of any doubt. This does not go down too well with the others and the tension among the jurors is palpable and gripping. Fonda has to contend with antagonism, indignation, ridicule and disrespect from the others. How he breaks down the evidence and whether his arguments win over the jurists form the rest of the story.

The strong point of the movie as you would have garnered by now is not slick direction, multimillion dollar sets, special effects or wonderful soundtracks instead it relies on the core aspects of the movie viz dialogue and acting. The screenplay is simple yet intelligent and makes the viewer think. Makes you think how movie production houses and directors fail to make such movies. This is one movie I would watch over and over again, and force my friends to watch them along with me.

The Worst Director Of All Time

2005-11-02T14:58:00.000-05:00

Title: Ed Wood (1994)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Bill Murray
Genre: Biography/Comedy/Drama
Director: Tim Burton

This is the second Tim Burton movie I've reviewed on this blog - expect many more. He is one of those directors who makes you think "How did this guy survive in Hollywood?". He has made the occasional bad movie like "Mars Attacks!", but his successes far outnumber his failures. And only he could have made a black-and-white movie about the worst director of all time and garnered spectacular reviews for it too.

Edward D. Wood, Jr. made movies. His movies were universally trashed as being the worst examples of filmmaking. He was laughed out of many a producer's office. However, many decades after his death, his films became universally famous. In particular, Plan 9 From Outer Space sold hundreds of thousands of copies on CD & DVD. Unlike Citizen Kane, however, this newfound success was not the result of a new critical evaluation of his work. Everyone still considered his movies terrible. But it was now universally agreed that his movies were so terrible, they had to be seen to be believed!

This is his story. This is the story of how he got together with a bunch of failed and talentless actors, actresses and crewmen. And how he made the worst movie of all time.

"Ed Wood" is therefore, not a film about his successes - he simply had none. Here is a guy who sorely lacks talent, money and connections - he has none of the attributes necessary to make it in the world. He makes up for all that with love - love for cinema and filmmaking. He loved movies, he lived movies and so, quite naturally, he wanted to make movies. That he was terrible at it was merely an irrelevant detail.

Through the story of Ed Wood, the film gives us a glimpse at what lies at the bottom of the Hollywood barrel - the thousands who dream of making it big and never do. How they spend entire lives, moving from one terrible job to another, living on peanuts, being treated like garbage by the high and mighty of the establishment - all for the sake of a dream.

The cinematography and music in the movie are outstanding, as in any Burton film. Perhaps the best example is the opening sequence - one that is familiar to all of us. A dark and stormy night, an eerie piano tune, a gloomy castle, a body in a coffin that gets up and introduces the film in a creepy voice. Burton's genius lies in taking this hackneyed scene and using it effectively as a tribute to B-movies everywhere. It also creates the right scenario for us to appreciate the story of a man who made such movies for a living.

Johnny Depp has quickly become one of my favourite contemporary actors because of his refusal to be typecast. When you watch a Johnny Depp movie, you can rarely predict the nature of the character he will play. However, you are assured of a quirky, unexpected and extremely unique performance. In playing the title role of this movie, he creates a truly lovable character - a man who is so much in love with his work and so optimistic about life, that all the failures in the world cannot deter him. His depiction of Wood's goofy optimism, flashes of (self-professed) brilliance, an almost childlike love for his work and his tender nature creates a memorable character.

For all of Burton's vision and Depp's brilliance, this movie could not have succeeded without its stellar supporting cast. Martin Landau is spectacular as Bela Lugosi, the aging former star who has descended into obscurity and morphine addiction. He fully deserved the Best Supporting Actor Oscar that he received for his role. Sarah Jessica Parker is quite good as Wood's first wife, Dolores Fuller, who discovers that Wood is a transvestite. Only Bill Murray is completely wasted as Bunny Breckinridge - Wood's friend who is contemplating a change of sex. He has maybe one funny line in the whole movie - a tremendous waste of his considerable talent. Watch out for a brilliant cameo by Vincent D'Onfrio - he plays the great Orson Welles, whom Wood looked up to and modeled himself after.

Moviemaking, like any of the more unconventional professions, is filled with uncertainties, self-doubt and desperation. However, inspiration can sometimes come from the unlikeliest of sources - Tim Burton shows us exactly how.

Ed Wood is therefore, an unlikely hero - a man who inspires us despite being a complete failure. He teaches us that the journey to success or failure can define who you are rather than the end result itself.

Bosnian Bomb...

2005-10-22T09:32:00.000-04:00

Title: No Mans Land (2001)
Director: Danis Tanovic
Writing Credits: Danis Tanovic

"Neutrality does not exist in the face of murder. Doing nothing to stop it is, in fact, choosing. It is not being neutral"

A hard hitting story woven around present day issues such as ethnic cleansing, the use of landmines, journalism and the role of UN. An Oscar winner for the year 2001 in the Best Foreign Film category, No Mans Land tells the story of two men, a Bosnian and a Serb, stranded between each others lines, in other words, stranded in No Mans Land. Each cannot leave the trench due to multiple reasons which are morbidly funny at times. The situation hangs in a delicate balance and under gun point, leading to some funny situations.

The film also cleverly masks a swipe taken at "war" started due to ethinicity by simultaneously showing the camaraderie and distrust between the Bosnians and Serbs. I believe this movie brings out the current situation situation in most ethnic fighting taking place around the world. The film also raises some pertinent questions about the use of landmines/bouncing mines, the "neutral" role played by the UN and how often have we seen in times of war, one side blaming the other for starting the war. A short but worthwhile and currently relevant movie sometimes touted as the modern day Catch-22.

Have You Ever Had One Of Those Days?

2005-10-12T15:39:00.000-04:00

Title: Groundhog Day (1993)
Director: Harold Ramis
Cast: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell
Genre: Comedy/Fantasy/Romance

You wake up in the morning and there's no running water. You are caught in a traffic jam and reach work late, to get yelled at by your boss. You reach home tired and irritated after a long, hard day to find that your neighbour's having an all-night party with extremely loud music and lots of screaming.

We've all had days when all we could think of was when the day would end and how nice it would be to go to sleep at night and wake up to a new day tomorrow.

But what if there was no new day tomorrow? What if the next day was exactly the same as today? Not just in spirit, but in reality - the same lack of running water, the same traffic jam, the same messed-up presentation, the same loud party. What if you were 'trapped' in this day - finding yourself waking up to the exact same sequence of events every single day, for all eternity?

The interesting basic premise of "Groundhog Day" grabs your attention from the very beginning. Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is a weatherman who hates life and (rightly) believes that life hates him. He is inconsiderate, self-centered and cynical and consequently not very popular with his colleagues. He arrives in the town of Punxsutawney to cover the annual event of Groundhog Day. This is the day a groundhog (a kind of large squirrel) named 'Punxsutawney Phil' is taken out of its burrow. Local superstition has it that if Phil sees his shadow, he will come out of his burrow, signifying the end of winter. If, however, Phil does not see his shadow and goes back into his burrow, winter will continue for another six weeks.

Highly uninterested in the proceedings, Phil Connors is forced to cover the event along with his cameraman, Larry and producer, Rita (Andie MacDowell). Having had a bad day right from the start, things go from bad to worse when a blizzard leads to the roads out of the town being closed. Phil is stuck in a town he doesn't like, on a day where nothing goes right. When he wakes up the following morning, he realizes to his chagrin that he is also stuck in the same day - it's Groundhog Day all over again and everything happens exactly as it did the previous day.

All too often, Hollywood has been known to mess up a good idea with poor execution. This movie is a pleasantly surprising exception. The treatment of the situation is mature, realistic and logical. Phil goes through a set of believable emotions as he realizes what has happened - disbelief, acceptance, greed, voyeurism and lots more. In the process, he comes to realize his own shortcomings and grows as a person.

Bill Murray carries the movie effectively - he is eminently despicable when he needs to be and charmingly sensitive when the plot demands it. He is an excellent comedian, raising laughs without really seeming to try. Harold Ramis and Murray are old friends, having worked together in previous movies like the Ghostbusters series. This association seems to have helped, with Ramis utilizing Murray's abilities very effectively. Andie MacDowell is also pretty good as Rita - the beautiful, career-minded woman who is more than what she appears to be.

Ultimately, the movie is about discovering oneself and making the most of one's life. It leaves you with the simple, yet strong message that to get the best out of life, just treat each day as though it were your best. One of my top feel-good movies and a surprisingly overlooked little gem.

An Italian masterpiece

2005-10-03T17:27:00.000-04:00

Title: Malena (2000)
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Writing Credits: Giuseppe Tornatore
Cast: Monica Belluci, Giuseppe Sulfaro

As the tagline goes: A world at war. A young man coming of age. And the woman who changed his life forever.

Often mistaken and dismissed as smutty and mildly pornographic, Malena is anything but that. Italian cinema can be perceived as rather queer for people fed on a staple Hollywood diet, including me. The acting is unrestrained, the actors are very expressive both with their body language and voice inflections, as it should be in real life with real people. It was even mildly amusing to me in the beginning. But Italian cinema stands for a simple and powerful method of storytelling as is evident in Malena and other movies made by Giuseppe Tornatore viz Starmaker and Cinema Paradiso.

Malena, set during World War II is a story told from the view of an adolescent boy, Renato (Giuseppe Sulfaro) who is enamored by Malena (ravishing and captivating, Monica Belluci). His feelings towards Malena metamorphosises from ogling, fantasizing, pity and protectiveness. As it happens, her husband is called to war and pronounced as killed in action in a public function. Widowed and beautiful, all the men in the town take to lusting her with their tongues sloshing the ground she walks, inspite of their jealous wives. But Malena still yearns and pines for her husband, her only true love. Drooling husbands, jealous wives, rumor mongers, townspeople who refuse to sell her good food in the market and denying her any means of living, Malena is pushed to desperation. While all this happens, Renato, still young and unable to protect her from lies and half truths resorts to beseeching God, all the while endearing himself to the viewer. How Malena survives through the period of war and what happens to her after the war is told very beautiful from Renato's point of view. The climax does not have a twist or an extraordinary ending but packs quite a punch and cracks you up real good. Be ready to get emotionally bombed.

Giuseppe Tornatore, builds a masterpiece from a simple storyline, loaded with great shots of Italy and a wonderful soundtrack. Renato, as the boy carries off a very challenging and complex role. Monica Belluci, as Malena, shows what a class act she is. She does not have more than five lines throughout the movie but speaks a thousand words through her eyes and makes you weep for her plight. On a personal note, I always considered Belluci one of the most beautiful women but after seeing this movie Moi has two posters of Belluci on my walls; she beats everybody else hands down fellas. The movie maybe about just three people; Renato, Malena and Tornatore, but they provide a wonderful and poignant film experience.

Caution: if you plan on seeing the movie, do not read the following passage until you have seen the movie. Its loaded with spoilers and provides a sneek peak into the directors mind.

Giuseppe Tornatore, writer and creator of the movie, says the character of Malena in many places alludes to his homeland, Italy. He alludes that Italy as a country, is raped, tortured and is left as a desitute after the war, much like Malena. Speechless.

Movie Magic

2005-09-29T03:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Big Fish (2003)
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Albert Finney, Ewan McGregor, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange

Senior Ed Bloom: People needn't worry so much. It's not my time yet. This is not how I go.
Will Bloom: Really?
Senior Ed Bloom: Truly. I saw it in the eye.
Will Bloom: The old lady by the swamp?
Senior Ed Bloom: She was a *witch*.
Will Bloom: No, she was old and probably senile.
Senior Ed Bloom: I saw my death in that eye, and this isn't how it happens.
Will Bloom: So how does it happen?
Senior Ed Bloom: Surprise ending. Wouldn't want to ruin it for you.

Will Bloom (Billy Crudup) grows up in a small town in Alabama, listening to his father Ed Bloom (Albert Finney) tell the story of his life - a set of fantastic tales filled with adventure and romance. When he grows up, Will is desperate to know the real story. Unable to get his father to give him the facts, Will breaks off relations with him and moves to the city.

Three years later, upon hearing that his father is on his deathbed, Will comes home with his pregnant wife, to comfort his mother and determined to uncover the real story of his father's life. This time, however, Ed finds a more receptive audience in Will's wife, Josephine (Marion Cotillard) and proceeds to tell her the story of his life - the same fantastic story that he has told Will since his childhood.

Young Ed Bloom (Ewan McGregor) is the stereotypical American do-gooder, who embarks on the grand adventure of his life. It's an adventure filled with witches, giants, utopias, golden-haired girls, hardships and sweet victory. In the meantime, Will tries to piece together clues that he finds around the house to find out the true story. The two parallel tracks finally converge in a spectacular ending.

The promo poster says "From the imagination of director Tim Burton", which is an accurate description of the movie. The director's characteristic style is evident throughout - brilliantly crafted sets and precise, well-conceived shots. Some frames are done so well, that they seem to have come right out of paintings. You can even see traces of Sleepy Hollow and Batman when young Ed Bloom walks through the dark woods leading to the town of Spectre and you are reminded of Edward Scissorhands in the depiction of rural life. The visuals are serene - young Ed Bloom fishing in the opening credits, the lovely town of Spectre and the scenic last frame. The director makes brilliant use of soft and hard lighting, perspective and colour throughout the movie - but it's the climax that really blows you away.

Danny Elfman's Oscar-nominated background score is unobtrusively wonderful, creating the right moods to help us appreciate the visuals.

The acting is superb overall, with Albert Finney simply stealing the show as the senior Ed Bloom. Ewan McGregor is also excellent as the young Ed Bloom, with a very well-done Alabama accent (not an easy task for an Scotsman) and just the right expressions of innocence and cheerful good-naturedness. The supporting cast is also pretty good, with the exception of Billy Crudup, who does nothing of note until the end. The women, both young (Alison Lohman and Helena Bonham Carter) and old (Jessica Lange) are beautiful and the cameos from Danny DeVito and Steve Buscemi are enjoyable.

You come out of watching this movie confused, sad and happy - the experience is a tribute to the magic of storytelling.

You haven't seen anything until you've seen......

2005-09-27T16:22:00.000-04:00

Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Director: Michel Gondry
Writing Credits: Charlie Kaufmann
Cast: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet
A note: Very heavy on spoilers, so Kaushik be warned.

How happy is the blameless Vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd.

"Eloisa to Abelard" by Alexander Pope

Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the better even of their blunders.

"Beyond Good and Evil" by Nietzsche

Whats better than a movie having a great script, great acting and great direction? A movie which quotes Nietzsche and having a undercurrent philosophy, which is not evident until the very end. That is what Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is all about. Are we all on a train track, set on an unalterable and inevitable course? Are the forgetful blessed, as Nietzsche says, for they get the better even of their blunders? Can memories be truly erased or is it just suppressed?

"The thing about Clementine is she does not give you any of the mundane stuff" quoted roughly from this movie. This movie does not give you any of the mundane stuff. If you are the kind of person who needs to have a rough idea of a plot, direction of the story or the depth of the characters 15 minutes into the movie, then this probably is not the movie for you. For those who like to keep guessing till the very end, who like to be as much a part of the movie as watching it and like to be surprised by the path the movie takes, then you better get hold of this movie.

The beauty of the story is that it can be interpreted in different levels. It can be viewed as a dark romantic comedy, partly science fiction and partly philosophical. Jim Carrey, Joel, portrays a socially inept, journal dabbling, introverted, single male. Kate Winslet, Clementine, talks to the dozen, is impulsive, works at Barnes & Nobles and has this thing about hair colors. Joel and Clementine, are on the opposite end of the pole, but they connect instantly. Joel, loves people, but where he never approaches anyone, Clementine completes the equation there.

But, like all relationships, theirs sours after sometime. Each nursing grouses against the other. Clementine takes the first step predictably on impulse and decides to have her memory about Joel completely erased. Joel, learns of this through mutual friends and decides to get the same thing done. Enter Tom Wilkinson as Dr.Mierzwiak and his assistants Kirsten Dunst as Mary, Elijah Wood as Patrick and Mark Ruffalo as Stan. Their contribution to the movie goes beyond being just props for the memory erasing experiment. How ethical is memory erasing? Kaufman blends the answers to this question using these characters like a perfectly placed punctuation in the screenplay without shifting the focus from Joel and Clementine.

As a part of the memory mapping process when Joel retraces his memories, the screenplay is interspersed with memories showing Joel and Clementine basking in the joy of love and life. So, when Joel undergoes the memory erasing process, he realises that he loves Clementine too much to have her removed based just on reprisal. Unable to physically stop the process, he resorts to squirreling away memories of Clementine among other memories of humiliation, cowardice and childhood, regions where the memory erasing software does not look for memories of Clementine.

Much of the movie takes place inside Joel's head, quite like Kaufman's other movie Being John Malkovich. The movie also jumps frequently in timeline and shifts seamlessly from memories to the present. This can be quite confusing and jarring to many, but stick with it and give the movie multiple viewings. Superfluous, this screenplay is definitely not, every scene, every character and every thing is there for a reason. Credit to the writer and director for masterfully controlling the direction and pace of the movie and for not losing the thread. Equally brilliant are Jim Carrey, who shows that he can do more than Ventura-ish movies and to Kate Winslet, who has to be one of the most under-rated actors in recent times.

This movie is not your run of the mill Hollywood romantic farce, it is abstract, witty, intelligent and an emotional roller coaster. When you are in a relationship, you never think of things that you dont like about your partner but when you get bored or feel trapped, you will. After that, will you still feel the need to get back together? This is how real it gets in the movie, you get to be a part of the movie. You cheer for the characters, you plead for them to get back another time, you feel frustrated and disappointed for them. Very few movies can do all these things in less than 2 hours. Period.

*bows down to all those involved with the making of this movie and a silent thank you*

Whats all the noise about?

2005-09-27T09:36:00.000-04:00

Have you ever thought of scenes in a movie 24hrs after seeing it, go back to the movie to see those parts again? The majority of reviews of the movies that will be posted here will about such movies. Original screenplays, great direction and extraordinary acting. If you are one of those people who like to relax and let the action, special effects and soundtrack dull your senses, this is not for you. Wake up people, theres more to see. Movies arent always trite, crass, about megabudgets or megastars.........in short if you like Jerry Bruckheimer's movie's get your ass off this blog. So, sit back, read the reviews, watch the movies, lets discuss them and enjoy the things what a movie should really be about.

Here are some ground rules which need to be followed:

1. Reviews of all kinds of movies viz. English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, French, Italian, Chinese, Spanish are welcome.

2. Reviews should be in English and please refrain from using internet chat lingo.

3. As a courtesy, please mention beforehand if the review contains spoilers.

4. The post should contain the following information
Title & year:
Director:
Writer:
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5. To join please send a nice email to raydenin@yahoo.com extolling my talents as a movie critic :P