This movie won the Oscar for the Best Animated Short. And boy they deserved it! It is a is a classic retelling of the Prokofiev's musical tale. But, the way it has been portrayed left me amazed about how a beaten to death story can be presented in a new form.
The animation is nice. My only gripe against the movie that the creators did not pay much attention to rewriting the stroy despite having adapted it. Nevertheless, watching this movie was 30 minutes very well spent
Direction 7/10
Animation 8/10
Showing posts with label Oscar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oscar. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Friday, March 27, 2009
Aliens
Only a few 2nd parts are as good as the original. This movie thrills you. Held together mostly by two characters. Ripley- an epitome of an action heroine and Newt-one of the cutest child characters.
Its an action/Sci-fi movie everybody is bound to love. However something I missed in this movie is a twist which was novel in Alien. The music is gripping and you too feel a part of this movie. Enjoy it.
Overall 7.5/10
Its an action/Sci-fi movie everybody is bound to love. However something I missed in this movie is a twist which was novel in Alien. The music is gripping and you too feel a part of this movie. Enjoy it.
Overall 7.5/10
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The Tin Drum (Polish)
This is one of the most disturbing and haunting movies I have ever seen. It has all kinds of adultery superposed with a spastic child's view of the commencement of the 2nd world war. In a way its just a disturbing Forrest Gump.
Its a totally different kind of cinema..where the director shocks you out of your senses. The performance is awesome. The kid really looks like a man trapped in a child's body. The expression of his eyes haunt you for life.
A point I found noting about this film is the personalization of the state of uncertainty. It is set in Danzig, which is a free state. It cant decide whether to be Polish or German. Its the same case with Oscar(the kid protagonist). He never wanted to be an adult. Yet as he grew, his body remained that of a kid, yet he possessed an adult mind. He was infact jealous of his father who "snatched" his first love from him probably only because he looked like a kid despite being 16. It is this conflict of mind that he ends at last, when he decided to grow again. Symbolically Danzig too gave up its freedom to be German.
Its better to see this movie than read any review.. nothing can really describe it.
One suggestion, don't eat before you see this movie. You may puke. But then probably you wont be able to eat after this movie too. Also I wont recommend this movie to any one who is easily offended. There are even some child pornographic scenes.
But this is a rare cinematographic experience.
Overall 8/10
Acting 9/10
Its a totally different kind of cinema..where the director shocks you out of your senses. The performance is awesome. The kid really looks like a man trapped in a child's body. The expression of his eyes haunt you for life.
A point I found noting about this film is the personalization of the state of uncertainty. It is set in Danzig, which is a free state. It cant decide whether to be Polish or German. Its the same case with Oscar(the kid protagonist). He never wanted to be an adult. Yet as he grew, his body remained that of a kid, yet he possessed an adult mind. He was infact jealous of his father who "snatched" his first love from him probably only because he looked like a kid despite being 16. It is this conflict of mind that he ends at last, when he decided to grow again. Symbolically Danzig too gave up its freedom to be German.
Its better to see this movie than read any review.. nothing can really describe it.
One suggestion, don't eat before you see this movie. You may puke. But then probably you wont be able to eat after this movie too. Also I wont recommend this movie to any one who is easily offended. There are even some child pornographic scenes.
But this is a rare cinematographic experience.
Overall 8/10
Acting 9/10
Friday, November 14, 2008
Amadeus
An evergreen classic... speechless.. a film that encompasses all emotions and touches all hearts...the music oh the music...if you dont intend to see it, you are sacrificing something..
Well you wanna hear all that cliche praise go to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086879 . Here I intend to expand and rectify the theme to some extent.
Salieri says he is "patron saint of the mediocre" huh... he is someone who has written 40 operas and was the court composer. Its like a Nobel Laureate saying he is mediocre!!!!! What do they know about the pangs of mediocrity?? Huh
There are two kinds of intellectually famous people- the Genii and the Miracles. The genii get their position by hard work accentuated by super brain power. People admire them. But then there are Miracles. They perform 'impossible' deeds: Deaf composing music, propose astounding theories based on apples, Remember a whole book with one read... and what not... These are the demi-gods ppl worship. And it is this worship that the Genii crave for but cant get anything beyond admiration. There are some heights hard work cannot help you scale.
And among the rest there are two kinds of people- the mediocre and the common mass. Both of these worship the Miracles and admire the Genii. But there is a big difference between them. The common mass have no big ambition and are happy with their family. Its the mediocre whose life is torturous. They start out with big ambitions. When they are kids they think they too would be worshiped some day. That drowns with the fantasies of the youth. Frustrated, they strive hard to be at least admired. Admired they are in a small circle; which rather than helping only infuriates further. It seems like a taunt. They waste their life like a dog to be one among the Genii. Its only at the fag end of life that they realize it was much easier to live the life of a common man. You get just one life. If you haven't even enjoyed it, was the effort any worth? Even if the Mediocre is elevated to the elite group of the Genii, he will not be contented, he will regret not having been sent by God as a Miracle..as Salieri did. Hundred years later only the Miracles will live. If you are anything short better enjoy life as you go along. A grain of sand in a beach of mediocrity is indistinguishable; only the Pearl is.
PS: I found it funny that Salieri's character got the Oscar while Mozart's didnt
Well you wanna hear all that cliche praise go to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086879 . Here I intend to expand and rectify the theme to some extent.
Salieri says he is "patron saint of the mediocre" huh... he is someone who has written 40 operas and was the court composer. Its like a Nobel Laureate saying he is mediocre!!!!! What do they know about the pangs of mediocrity?? Huh
There are two kinds of intellectually famous people- the Genii and the Miracles. The genii get their position by hard work accentuated by super brain power. People admire them. But then there are Miracles. They perform 'impossible' deeds: Deaf composing music, propose astounding theories based on apples, Remember a whole book with one read... and what not... These are the demi-gods ppl worship. And it is this worship that the Genii crave for but cant get anything beyond admiration. There are some heights hard work cannot help you scale.
And among the rest there are two kinds of people- the mediocre and the common mass. Both of these worship the Miracles and admire the Genii. But there is a big difference between them. The common mass have no big ambition and are happy with their family. Its the mediocre whose life is torturous. They start out with big ambitions. When they are kids they think they too would be worshiped some day. That drowns with the fantasies of the youth. Frustrated, they strive hard to be at least admired. Admired they are in a small circle; which rather than helping only infuriates further. It seems like a taunt. They waste their life like a dog to be one among the Genii. Its only at the fag end of life that they realize it was much easier to live the life of a common man. You get just one life. If you haven't even enjoyed it, was the effort any worth? Even if the Mediocre is elevated to the elite group of the Genii, he will not be contented, he will regret not having been sent by God as a Miracle..as Salieri did. Hundred years later only the Miracles will live. If you are anything short better enjoy life as you go along. A grain of sand in a beach of mediocrity is indistinguishable; only the Pearl is.
PS: I found it funny that Salieri's character got the Oscar while Mozart's didnt
Friday, November 7, 2008
Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid
One of the best Westerns I have ever seen... after Good bad and the Ugly probably..... and what makes it different from other westerns is its attitude..... An attitude one should take in life... laugh at every situation in life....Even when Butch and Kid were shot and were surrounded by forces on all sides he was joking about going to Australia... hats off..
The script is witty and full of dialogues that will make you exclaim.... The acting is one of the best of the actors concerned..Newman's comic timing is simply superb..
Its a movie one can enjoy in all moods... Enjoy it if you havent already...
Overall 7.5/10
The script is witty and full of dialogues that will make you exclaim.... The acting is one of the best of the actors concerned..Newman's comic timing is simply superb..
Its a movie one can enjoy in all moods... Enjoy it if you havent already...
Overall 7.5/10
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Crash
You think you know who you are. You have no idea.. I am in love with this movie... many movies achieve a brilliant cinematic style, music , camera angles and all the technical shit associated with it... yeah some do even touch you.. but only a few crash with you.. this one did....
It tells the life of many....flawlessly achieving what many directors have tried their hand at...interweaving multiple stories..technically and acting wise its brilliant but the message yes the message....
We are born haughty..... Probably each of us thinks we are better than the others in something.. atleast I do... and lo....even now I am assuming that all of you are as bad as me or even worser...anyway let me rectify myself.. yes I assume that I am good in a lot of respects and that many others out there are bad....I form the judgment myself...But there is Good and Bad in all of you...Atleast for me, I often fail to see the case...and you reader can judge yourself... The next time I will think 10 times before judging somebody....praising is easy, the opposite...darn difficult...
This movie also hit hard at the racist attitude...I dunno if its the case but as it protrays...a big chunk of the problem is that the "BLACK" consider themselves as black!!!!! and the so called liberal minded WHITES who try to bring equality by making the ride of blacks widen the gap even more.....It struck me that its the same we are doing in India.. with the idiotic reservation scheme...there are two classes of people who advocate these: 1. the so called liberal minded who sympathisize with the so called low castes.. 2. The so called low castes themselves who still suffer from an inferiority complex themselves....(of course I have ignored the vested interests).. what they dont understand is that the new generation cares a shit about the castes and all this idiotic reservation is infuriating this generation.....The SC/ST/OBC will have to live with the comment "Oh they got through the entrance exams via the Quota"... They may be damn good students who could have cracked it anyway but still the tag lives and the century old barbaric system of diving people still continues....what I fear is the kind of backlash that we have seen in Orissa... USA has already faced it...with the KKK and stuff...are we heading towards it...OOHHHHH....
Anyway its time to give up the "holier than thou" attitude... GO njoi this movie... you wont leave your seat until this is over..
Overall 8/10
Direction 8.5/10
It tells the life of many....flawlessly achieving what many directors have tried their hand at...interweaving multiple stories..technically and acting wise its brilliant but the message yes the message....
We are born haughty..... Probably each of us thinks we are better than the others in something.. atleast I do... and lo....even now I am assuming that all of you are as bad as me or even worser...anyway let me rectify myself.. yes I assume that I am good in a lot of respects and that many others out there are bad....I form the judgment myself...But there is Good and Bad in all of you...Atleast for me, I often fail to see the case...and you reader can judge yourself... The next time I will think 10 times before judging somebody....praising is easy, the opposite...darn difficult...
This movie also hit hard at the racist attitude...I dunno if its the case but as it protrays...a big chunk of the problem is that the "BLACK" consider themselves as black!!!!! and the so called liberal minded WHITES who try to bring equality by making the ride of blacks widen the gap even more.....It struck me that its the same we are doing in India.. with the idiotic reservation scheme...there are two classes of people who advocate these: 1. the so called liberal minded who sympathisize with the so called low castes.. 2. The so called low castes themselves who still suffer from an inferiority complex themselves....(of course I have ignored the vested interests).. what they dont understand is that the new generation cares a shit about the castes and all this idiotic reservation is infuriating this generation.....The SC/ST/OBC will have to live with the comment "Oh they got through the entrance exams via the Quota"... They may be damn good students who could have cracked it anyway but still the tag lives and the century old barbaric system of diving people still continues....what I fear is the kind of backlash that we have seen in Orissa... USA has already faced it...with the KKK and stuff...are we heading towards it...OOHHHHH....
Anyway its time to give up the "holier than thou" attitude... GO njoi this movie... you wont leave your seat until this is over..
Overall 8/10
Direction 8.5/10
Friday, October 31, 2008
Star Wars IV-VI (Original Trilogy)
If you have seen the movies...May The force with you...if you haven't, you must have been Tattooing on Tatooine....
Epic, this trilogy is, in cinematic history. Conceived how the idea Lucas did, know not I . Traveling above light speed in hyperspace and an empire over galaxies....Robots advanced enuff in AI.... digesting difficult this is. 1977 made this movie was in .OMG!!!!!
disagree with me, you may.. acting substandard, think I... Steal the show the bots (droids) do.....made in1977, this movie was.. enjoyable the special effects are even now... hats off Lucas...
Understood you may have.... Yoda's wisdom words, love I do.....Down on self-confidence, if you are, boost u these will...
"Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try. "
"Always in motion is the future"
"Great Warriors.. Wars not make one great."
"Size matters not. Judge by .. size do you?"
"Luke: I don't, I don't believe it.
Yoda: That is why you fail."
"So certain are you. Always with you it cannot be done."
Enuff said I have.. Enjoy you now.. Off I am..Earned the rest I have :)
Overall 8.5/10
Epic, this trilogy is, in cinematic history. Conceived how the idea Lucas did, know not I . Traveling above light speed in hyperspace and an empire over galaxies....Robots advanced enuff in AI.... digesting difficult this is. 1977 made this movie was in .OMG!!!!!
disagree with me, you may.. acting substandard, think I... Steal the show the bots (droids) do.....made in1977, this movie was.. enjoyable the special effects are even now... hats off Lucas...
Understood you may have.... Yoda's wisdom words, love I do.....Down on self-confidence, if you are, boost u these will...
"Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try. "
"Always in motion is the future"
"Great Warriors.. Wars not make one great."
"Size matters not. Judge by .. size do you?"
"Luke: I don't, I don't believe it.
Yoda: That is why you fail."
"So certain are you. Always with you it cannot be done."
Enuff said I have.. Enjoy you now.. Off I am..Earned the rest I have :)
Overall 8.5/10
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (Russian)
This film triumphed over Kurosawa and Truffaut's creations to grab the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 1981...and its not hard to see why.. Its a complex tale of three girls through their youth till middle age..
In youth, all pretty girls probably vie for, is a piece of everybody's undivided attention. They are carefree and the society revers them then...but then beauty is nothing but a fleeting shine of glamlight..... it slowly fades....and then..its just the pangs of being single or being in a rickety marriage loosely bonded in the haste of youth...
Liuda is hot and beautiful, Katerina is charming and Antonia is simple..... despite contrasting characters they form a bond of friendship... A famous sportstar dissolves himself in the champagne of Liuda's beauty.... Katerina gets into a relationship, bears a child but the guy refuses to marry her as she was a simple working woman...Laughed at by others, Antonia marries a simple guy....
Cut down 20 years later..Liuda is divorced.....Katerina rose up the ranks by sheer determination but her sense of emptiness is well portrayed when she hides her face in one of the pillows...the other lying idly by her...Antonia is the most happy of the three...
All three tried to find happiness in Moscow...but in a chauvinistic society thats a difficult find.... Katerina's case is the most appalling...she fought hard against the odds to be a successful single mother yet "Once you have achieved what you wanted, all you feel is just howling in despair" ... because "Fate like a rocket flies in a parabola usually in gloom, rarely along rainbows"....
Is being single so tiresome??????
Overall 8.5/10
In youth, all pretty girls probably vie for, is a piece of everybody's undivided attention. They are carefree and the society revers them then...but then beauty is nothing but a fleeting shine of glamlight..... it slowly fades....and then..its just the pangs of being single or being in a rickety marriage loosely bonded in the haste of youth...
Liuda is hot and beautiful, Katerina is charming and Antonia is simple..... despite contrasting characters they form a bond of friendship... A famous sportstar dissolves himself in the champagne of Liuda's beauty.... Katerina gets into a relationship, bears a child but the guy refuses to marry her as she was a simple working woman...Laughed at by others, Antonia marries a simple guy....
Cut down 20 years later..Liuda is divorced.....Katerina rose up the ranks by sheer determination but her sense of emptiness is well portrayed when she hides her face in one of the pillows...the other lying idly by her...Antonia is the most happy of the three...
All three tried to find happiness in Moscow...but in a chauvinistic society thats a difficult find.... Katerina's case is the most appalling...she fought hard against the odds to be a successful single mother yet "Once you have achieved what you wanted, all you feel is just howling in despair" ... because "Fate like a rocket flies in a parabola usually in gloom, rarely along rainbows"....
Is being single so tiresome??????
Overall 8.5/10
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Last Emperor (Chinese+English)
There are some films are there are some evergreen epics..This falls in the latter category. It swept 9 Oscars and I would not waste time praising the movie...
We often blame kings and aristocrats of not caring for the common mass, this film as an exception makes one think of their viewpoint. We all know of Marie Antionette's so called famous dialogue that sparked the French Revolution: "If they dont have bread they can eat cake" . People despised her for that.. but think of it from her point of view.. she has been enslaved in aristocracy...she has not been allowed to know whats going on in the outer world..cake and bread are so easily available that she has not been allowed to know the difference....How could she know...Its the society that has imprisoned her in broadening the horizons...
In this film the theme is portrayed through the life of the Last Emperor of China. He was told he was the Lord of 10000 years...he could do whatever he wanted as long as he never stepped outside teh Forbidden Palace...He lived a boring life of superfluity...yet one day he was evicted from his palace...what could he do....he couldnt live the live of a normal man...from the age of 3, he was made to believe that he was the Lord. So he teamed up with the Japanese to regain his throne...He became the emperor but a puppet again...People condemned him for his action..but he had no remorse...for he thought he was right!!!!!!!!
Anyway the film is a treatise because it vividly portrays Chinese traditions and its metamorphosis from imperialism to communism through the eyes of the man who suffered the most.
At 3:38 hrs its a long watch but I can assure you its worth it.
Direction 8.5/10
Overall 8/10
We often blame kings and aristocrats of not caring for the common mass, this film as an exception makes one think of their viewpoint. We all know of Marie Antionette's so called famous dialogue that sparked the French Revolution: "If they dont have bread they can eat cake" . People despised her for that.. but think of it from her point of view.. she has been enslaved in aristocracy...she has not been allowed to know whats going on in the outer world..cake and bread are so easily available that she has not been allowed to know the difference....How could she know...Its the society that has imprisoned her in broadening the horizons...
In this film the theme is portrayed through the life of the Last Emperor of China. He was told he was the Lord of 10000 years...he could do whatever he wanted as long as he never stepped outside teh Forbidden Palace...He lived a boring life of superfluity...yet one day he was evicted from his palace...what could he do....he couldnt live the live of a normal man...from the age of 3, he was made to believe that he was the Lord. So he teamed up with the Japanese to regain his throne...He became the emperor but a puppet again...People condemned him for his action..but he had no remorse...for he thought he was right!!!!!!!!
Anyway the film is a treatise because it vividly portrays Chinese traditions and its metamorphosis from imperialism to communism through the eyes of the man who suffered the most.
At 3:38 hrs its a long watch but I can assure you its worth it.
Direction 8.5/10
Overall 8/10
Monday, September 22, 2008
Leaving Las Vegas
Some films haunt you for life... This is one of them... A tragic romantic film that offers no solace..
Love stories are cliche...so is this...to the barebones..its an unexplainable relation between a drunk and a hooker and yes both know it....The drunk has only one aim in life- to drink himself to death..the hooker is beautiful..she does not respect the job she does yet she knows she is one of the best in her business...But..she is tired of being single...and then she meets this man..who respects her for what she is...thinks she is her angel..
The acting is superb..earning Oscar for Cage and nomination for Shue...Its a difficult film yet if you can delve into it..you would be dissolved in their lives...Sera(Shue) is pained by the way Ben(Cage) was destroying himself..yet never complained...she complied with his bouts...and tried to make his life as easy as possible...Las Vegas is the land of phoney lights and deceit..yet it was in Las Vegas that the unconditional love developed...
its difficult to write a review for this movie..see it to understand the depths..
"see how hard you make me angel?"
Acting 8/10
Overall 7.5/10
Love stories are cliche...so is this...to the barebones..its an unexplainable relation between a drunk and a hooker and yes both know it....The drunk has only one aim in life- to drink himself to death..the hooker is beautiful..she does not respect the job she does yet she knows she is one of the best in her business...But..she is tired of being single...and then she meets this man..who respects her for what she is...thinks she is her angel..
The acting is superb..earning Oscar for Cage and nomination for Shue...Its a difficult film yet if you can delve into it..you would be dissolved in their lives...Sera(Shue) is pained by the way Ben(Cage) was destroying himself..yet never complained...she complied with his bouts...and tried to make his life as easy as possible...Las Vegas is the land of phoney lights and deceit..yet it was in Las Vegas that the unconditional love developed...
its difficult to write a review for this movie..see it to understand the depths..
"see how hard you make me angel?"
Acting 8/10
Overall 7.5/10
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Monster's Inc
We Scare because we Care ....its a animation movie you wont want to miss.
Splendid animation with cute characters adorn this movie. If there was a lost of the best anime movies ever, this would be in it....
But what sets the story apart is the ingenuity... What a concept...a city of monsters who derive energy from children's screams.....and yet at the end it is proved that laughter is a better source of energy than screams.....
Often you do some work as part of routine life without ever giving a thought to what effect it has on others....but if you are ever shown a snapshot of how "monsterish" you appeared, you would probbaly change yourself....I guess that is the theme of the movie..
An entertainment for the whole family...see it...
Overall 8/10
Splendid animation with cute characters adorn this movie. If there was a lost of the best anime movies ever, this would be in it....
But what sets the story apart is the ingenuity... What a concept...a city of monsters who derive energy from children's screams.....and yet at the end it is proved that laughter is a better source of energy than screams.....
Often you do some work as part of routine life without ever giving a thought to what effect it has on others....but if you are ever shown a snapshot of how "monsterish" you appeared, you would probbaly change yourself....I guess that is the theme of the movie..
An entertainment for the whole family...see it...
Overall 8/10
Thursday, July 24, 2008
No Country for Old Men
Well I was late in watching the latest Oscar buzz...but better late than never....this was a never before experience..
This has a western feel...Yet, devoid of music-a haunting silence where Javier bardem haunts...this is different from anything I have seen before....It keeps you on your toes and shocks you....Even the Sheriff is incapable of culling the violence...The lunatic violence in the society has been brought out with shocking precision.
This film rides passionate flawless performances filled with Texan accents...Javier bardem delivers a psychopaths' role which will go down in the history of American cinema...and yes there is everybody else....just perfect....even guest appearances...
Its bloody, its gory..aptly encompassed by the stunned looks of the two children in the closing scene..but even then damage done by the "apple of sin" of our society (money) has been beautifully portrayed...
Overall 8/10
Acting 9/10
This has a western feel...Yet, devoid of music-a haunting silence where Javier bardem haunts...this is different from anything I have seen before....It keeps you on your toes and shocks you....Even the Sheriff is incapable of culling the violence...The lunatic violence in the society has been brought out with shocking precision.
This film rides passionate flawless performances filled with Texan accents...Javier bardem delivers a psychopaths' role which will go down in the history of American cinema...and yes there is everybody else....just perfect....even guest appearances...
Its bloody, its gory..aptly encompassed by the stunned looks of the two children in the closing scene..but even then damage done by the "apple of sin" of our society (money) has been beautifully portrayed...
Overall 8/10
Acting 9/10
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The Red Balloon (French)
This will remain in my list of all time favorites. Movie lovers, your kitty is incomplete if you havent seen this movie...This to me is like "The Solitary Reaper" of the world of cinema.
Analysis of this film can result in a huge book on the nature of human character. BUTTTTTTTTTTT this film is primarily a children's film...a film about a boy and a Red balloon. Its like an onion, it has different layers.
We are so uncaring, jealous and destructive. As we grow up, our minds cease to be pure and playful as a free balloon. A free soul is trampled by the society.......
I wouldn't reveal more... watch this movie for an experience. This is what a movie should be like...precise(just 34 minutes); yet haunting enough to last you a lifetime and give you a sneak peak into yourself.
Overall 9/10
Analysis of this film can result in a huge book on the nature of human character. BUTTTTTTTTTTT this film is primarily a children's film...a film about a boy and a Red balloon. Its like an onion, it has different layers.
We are so uncaring, jealous and destructive. As we grow up, our minds cease to be pure and playful as a free balloon. A free soul is trampled by the society.......
I wouldn't reveal more... watch this movie for an experience. This is what a movie should be like...precise(just 34 minutes); yet haunting enough to last you a lifetime and give you a sneak peak into yourself.
Overall 9/10
Saturday, July 19, 2008
It happened one night
Well, it didnt happen in a night...spread over 3 nights..but yes the declaration of love came one night.... [:)]
This is a sweet Romantic comedy....10 minutes into the movie, I bet you can predict the whole story line....but wait....you can do that you have seen numerous movies that have copied the theme from this...you wasted your time watching the dumb imitations..watch this one out...
The plot is like a rich girl..runs away from her father in anonymity...but a newspaperman caught up with her, treating her like a story material at first..but later falls in love with her....the ending is sweet ..watch it out yourself...I got a whizz of Roman Holiday and a bunch of other famous movies....yet this is one worth spending 2 hours on..5 Oscar...whoa!!!!!!
Overall 8/10
This is a sweet Romantic comedy....10 minutes into the movie, I bet you can predict the whole story line....but wait....you can do that you have seen numerous movies that have copied the theme from this...you wasted your time watching the dumb imitations..watch this one out...
The plot is like a rich girl..runs away from her father in anonymity...but a newspaperman caught up with her, treating her like a story material at first..but later falls in love with her....the ending is sweet ..watch it out yourself...I got a whizz of Roman Holiday and a bunch of other famous movies....yet this is one worth spending 2 hours on..5 Oscar...whoa!!!!!!
Overall 8/10
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Sabrina
La Vie En Rose : See the world through a rose colored glass...You cant see the world though any other glass when Audrey Hepburn sizzles as a trained cook.. :P . But why the hell does she always end up with older men, I dont really understand(see My Fair Lady, Love in the Aftenoon etc )
This is a sweet romantic movie. Humphrey Bogart with his cliche Nester like appearance and Audrey as sweet n cute as in Roman Holiday...William Holden (Sunset Blvd fame) puts in a fine comic performance and is completely belivable as the easy-going 'playboy'. But Audrey as a commonplace chauffer's girl is not at all comprehendible. Its good that she quickly switches gears to be the elegant lady that she suits better. Nevertheless, the plot of the movie is a bit stale. Same rich guy falls for beautiful poor girl stuff. But with some comic reliefs the well etched out characters, its an enjoyable romantic comedy.
There are some wonderful dialogues in this movie which will stay me forever like "La vie En Rose " and "No Poor is ever called democratic for marrying the rich" ..
And that song really haunts.. "Isnt it romantic...."
Rating 7/10
This is a sweet romantic movie. Humphrey Bogart with his cliche Nester like appearance and Audrey as sweet n cute as in Roman Holiday...William Holden (Sunset Blvd fame) puts in a fine comic performance and is completely belivable as the easy-going 'playboy'. But Audrey as a commonplace chauffer's girl is not at all comprehendible. Its good that she quickly switches gears to be the elegant lady that she suits better. Nevertheless, the plot of the movie is a bit stale. Same rich guy falls for beautiful poor girl stuff. But with some comic reliefs the well etched out characters, its an enjoyable romantic comedy.
There are some wonderful dialogues in this movie which will stay me forever like "La vie En Rose " and "No Poor is ever called democratic for marrying the rich" ..
And that song really haunts.. "Isnt it romantic...."
Rating 7/10
Thursday, May 22, 2008
As Good as it gets
Jack Nicholson probably has a strong disposition of being a crackpot...I am really at sea to understand how he can pull off the characters of 'ab'normal people so well!!!!!!! we saw it in One Flew over the cuckoo's nest, The Shining...and now this...
This is a strange film....Its difficult to classify it in genre nevertheless, it brandishes human emotions and shades so fervently that you cannot duck...The frustration of Helen Hunt, a single mother at not having someone who loves her is touching...When she says-"That is why I make Spence(her kid son) hug me more that he wants to", Mr Sigmund Freud must have danced in Hell... :P ..but yes it's probably true...
Greg Kinnear as the gay artist shines...He dazzled in Little Miss Sunshine and he supports the film brilliantly..I am probably wrong at interpretation but I felt the character of Helen Hunt was attracted to him, despite knowing that he was gay...which is pretty much comprehensible given the fact that the only guy who probably craved for her was a psycho like Jack...
This is really as good as a film on human(and dog) relations and emotions gets.....I simply cannot forget the cute expressions of Verdell the dog.....The cold war between Greg and Jack on the ownership of the dog is probably symbolic..there was a scene I wont forget...jack tells greg that Verdell is more fond of him only because he keeps bacon in his pocket....but the dog retreated to Jack lap even when Greg had the bacon....food and shelter it not at all that matters....We are emotional people and cannot live without communicating in the universal language of love....watch the movie and debate with me... :)
Overall 8/10
Acting 8.5/10
This is a strange film....Its difficult to classify it in genre nevertheless, it brandishes human emotions and shades so fervently that you cannot duck...The frustration of Helen Hunt, a single mother at not having someone who loves her is touching...When she says-"That is why I make Spence(her kid son) hug me more that he wants to", Mr Sigmund Freud must have danced in Hell... :P ..but yes it's probably true...
Greg Kinnear as the gay artist shines...He dazzled in Little Miss Sunshine and he supports the film brilliantly..I am probably wrong at interpretation but I felt the character of Helen Hunt was attracted to him, despite knowing that he was gay...which is pretty much comprehensible given the fact that the only guy who probably craved for her was a psycho like Jack...
This is really as good as a film on human(and dog) relations and emotions gets.....I simply cannot forget the cute expressions of Verdell the dog.....The cold war between Greg and Jack on the ownership of the dog is probably symbolic..there was a scene I wont forget...jack tells greg that Verdell is more fond of him only because he keeps bacon in his pocket....but the dog retreated to Jack lap even when Greg had the bacon....food and shelter it not at all that matters....We are emotional people and cannot live without communicating in the universal language of love....watch the movie and debate with me... :)
Overall 8/10
Acting 8.5/10
Friday, May 16, 2008
My Fair Lady
Audrey..Audrey...Audrey....she sizzles..she enthralls..she carries herself with grace...who other than her could have been "My Fair Lady".. [:)]
It's a witty musical with dialogs you will remember forever..The movie has simple plot. 'enry 'iggins [:P] claims he could transform a 'lowly ' flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a high society phony(reminds me of Breakfast in Tiffany's). Higgins is a misanthrope who treats everybody with contempt...and is particularly severe on women...("Why cant a woman be more like a man?")...But he feels: "l'm an ordinary man Who desires nothing more Than just an ordinary chance to live exactly as he likes And do precisely what he wants......But let a woman in your life And your serenity is through She'll redecorate your home From the cellar to the dome.....then go on to the enthralling fun of overhauling you!"
Its a long film but you not even think of dozing off...The antics will keep you on your feet(or stomach [;)])..THe film has everything you want in a romantic comedy(though Shaw's original play Pygmalion on which this movie is based had a strict disclaimer on romance)...hearty laughs...touching sentiments-the misogynist Higgins finally realizes that however might he belittle Eliza, he misses her absence....
Despite being a big Audrey fan, I would say that she did not fit the common flower girl at all...And infact her dialogs had to be dubbed too..[:(] but then who cares...I care only for her screen presence and acting with the expression of eyes....Dont you?
Overall 7.5/10
It's a witty musical with dialogs you will remember forever..The movie has simple plot. 'enry 'iggins [:P] claims he could transform a 'lowly ' flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a high society phony(reminds me of Breakfast in Tiffany's). Higgins is a misanthrope who treats everybody with contempt...and is particularly severe on women...("Why cant a woman be more like a man?")...But he feels: "l'm an ordinary man Who desires nothing more Than just an ordinary chance to live exactly as he likes And do precisely what he wants......But let a woman in your life And your serenity is through She'll redecorate your home From the cellar to the dome.....then go on to the enthralling fun of overhauling you!"
Its a long film but you not even think of dozing off...The antics will keep you on your feet(or stomach [;)])..THe film has everything you want in a romantic comedy(though Shaw's original play Pygmalion on which this movie is based had a strict disclaimer on romance)...hearty laughs...touching sentiments-the misogynist Higgins finally realizes that however might he belittle Eliza, he misses her absence....
Despite being a big Audrey fan, I would say that she did not fit the common flower girl at all...And infact her dialogs had to be dubbed too..[:(] but then who cares...I care only for her screen presence and acting with the expression of eyes....Dont you?
Overall 7.5/10
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The Heiress
Is it always right to be true? What if the truth is bitter? Is it right to be pratical? Is the exterior which is apparently visible the all-encompassing truth?
Catherine is a lady of good heart. But she is not 'pretty'. According to her father, she has no qualities. He despises her and always compares her with her mother rendering her miserable. More importantly he communicates his views to everybody..
If you have seen Taare Zameen Par (the review is on my blog), you would know the theme...a child's life becomes miserable when he/she grows in somebody's shadow...In "The Heiress", it is her mother...
But everybody in the world has some qualities and even the mildest of hearts could be tough from inside.....only tough situations are required to incite it. If a soft heart turns tough, it is more rigid than the cruelest ones...
The climax where Catherine shows how tough she can be is shocking....she herself says "I have been taught to be cruel by masters"
Its a wonderful film that can be seen time and again..and all those who have been cheated in love, you must see this.. [:)]
This film had won 4 oscars
Overall 8/10
Catherine is a lady of good heart. But she is not 'pretty'. According to her father, she has no qualities. He despises her and always compares her with her mother rendering her miserable. More importantly he communicates his views to everybody..
If you have seen Taare Zameen Par (the review is on my blog), you would know the theme...a child's life becomes miserable when he/she grows in somebody's shadow...In "The Heiress", it is her mother...
But everybody in the world has some qualities and even the mildest of hearts could be tough from inside.....only tough situations are required to incite it. If a soft heart turns tough, it is more rigid than the cruelest ones...
The climax where Catherine shows how tough she can be is shocking....she herself says "I have been taught to be cruel by masters"
Its a wonderful film that can be seen time and again..and all those who have been cheated in love, you must see this.. [:)]
This film had won 4 oscars
Overall 8/10
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind
"Blessed are forgetful for they get the better of even their blunders"-Nietzche...this line is probably the very antithesis of the theme of the movie.
Is it really good to have memories erased......a child is like a uniform lump of clay with no impressions....as he/she grows up, various impressions shape it up....however it is these impressions that cause him all the pain that a child is spared of....should such painful impressions be obliterated or be fossilized for eternity?
Pain is nothing but the friction caused due to strong attraction.....the malicious pain tends to shroud the dove of love....it is only when the bond breaks that one realizes what has gone missing.......
This is a excellent movie with an original style....it may be difficult to grasp the proceedings w/o a bit of concentration...but the two hours you spend on this will be worth it.
overall 8/10
acting 8/10
originality 9/10
Is it really good to have memories erased......a child is like a uniform lump of clay with no impressions....as he/she grows up, various impressions shape it up....however it is these impressions that cause him all the pain that a child is spared of....should such painful impressions be obliterated or be fossilized for eternity?
Pain is nothing but the friction caused due to strong attraction.....the malicious pain tends to shroud the dove of love....it is only when the bond breaks that one realizes what has gone missing.......
This is a excellent movie with an original style....it may be difficult to grasp the proceedings w/o a bit of concentration...but the two hours you spend on this will be worth it.
overall 8/10
acting 8/10
originality 9/10
Monday, March 10, 2008
Lost in Translation
Sofia Coppola's venture is one of the unique pieces of cinematography in recent times. Its about depression, yet its hilarious in parts. Crisp editing, symbolism, realistic situations and acting, life like camera movements etc transform the film almost into almost a flawless piece.
Two characters are extremely depressed....in the middle of an alien land(Japan) and lost in translation....nobody to talk to.....This string leads them to develop a bond.....They are akin in many sense..both of them are facing a crisis in their married life....both desperately want to return to their homeland...to stage a 'prison break'...this bond would lead probably nowhere but both of them would cherish it forever and store it in a niche corner of their heart.
You would recede into a gloomy cocoon at the sight of Bill Murray's face, Scarlet's blank stare at the skyline of Tokyo would blow a whiff of the pangs of solitude onto your mind....yet the situational comedy will blast your stomach. Scarlet's smile will change your mood. The conversations with tuned pauses and seemingly idiotic statements will make you forget that this is a film.....need I say more....To convey the sense of depression, the director has shown a scene where the protagonists sit and watch 'La Dolce Vita'-the mother of all films on depression and frustration. In my opinion in that category, Lost in Translation is not far beyond the Vita masterpiece.
Watch this movie sometime. It wont be a waste of your time...
Overall 8/10
Acting 8.5/10
Two characters are extremely depressed....in the middle of an alien land(Japan) and lost in translation....nobody to talk to.....This string leads them to develop a bond.....They are akin in many sense..both of them are facing a crisis in their married life....both desperately want to return to their homeland...to stage a 'prison break'...this bond would lead probably nowhere but both of them would cherish it forever and store it in a niche corner of their heart.
You would recede into a gloomy cocoon at the sight of Bill Murray's face, Scarlet's blank stare at the skyline of Tokyo would blow a whiff of the pangs of solitude onto your mind....yet the situational comedy will blast your stomach. Scarlet's smile will change your mood. The conversations with tuned pauses and seemingly idiotic statements will make you forget that this is a film.....need I say more....To convey the sense of depression, the director has shown a scene where the protagonists sit and watch 'La Dolce Vita'-the mother of all films on depression and frustration. In my opinion in that category, Lost in Translation is not far beyond the Vita masterpiece.
Watch this movie sometime. It wont be a waste of your time...
Overall 8/10
Acting 8.5/10
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