Seen on 1-9-2009 - Zee Studi0 movie
Cast: Julie Walters (Annie Clark), Helen Murren (Chris Harper), et al
Dir.: Nigel Cole
"Calendar Girls is about the women of the Rylstone Women's Institute in North Yorkshire. This Women's Group produces a calendar each year based around scenes of the Yorkshire dales. In 1999, one of the ladies husbands became ill with leukemia. He would say that if the ladies planted Sunflowers, he'd make sure he'd get better so he could see them. Unfortunately, he didn't pull through and in order to raise funds for Leukemia research the women decided to make an alternative calendar of themselves in the nude hoping to sell a few hundred copies around their villages. This calendar in fact became a worldwide sensation, out-selling even those of Britney Spears and Cindy Crawford."IMDB summary.
We enjoyed this movie. The exploration of the ramifications of a bold out-of-box thinking is good. Husbands leave their wives using this as a pretext (as it happens in the case of Annie Clark's), misunderstandings develop in the family (as it happens in case of Chris Harper), snide and even vulgar remarks are heard all around, and people ridicule, but when the idea succeeds they become icons of worship and praise. Meanwhile, however, the ones who take the plunge suffer alienation.
This way this film is original and imaginative.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
There will be blood (2007)***+
Seen on 30-8-2009 - A Star Movies film
Cast: Daniel Day Lewis (Daniel Plainview), Paul Dano (Eli Sunday)
Dir.: Paul Thomas Anderson
Loosely based on Upton Sinclair's Oil (1927)
Cast: Daniel Day Lewis (Daniel Plainview), Paul Dano (Eli Sunday)
Dir.: Paul Thomas Anderson
Loosely based on Upton Sinclair's Oil (1927)
This is about an ambitious, greedy ruthless oil prospector, Daniel Plainview, at the turn of the century. He despises and hates people to boot. He comes to the West on information that the Sunday family ranch has oil. He leases land here with false promises to build schools and hospitals, becomes rich. In the process of expanding his business he needs to build a pipeline around a hill through the farm of William Bandy who is prepared to allow him to lay the pipelines only if he gets baptized in his Church of Third Revelation. Daniel goes through the humiliating and self-abasing process to which he is subjected by the fanatic priest Eli Sunday in order to get the leasing rights. But being a man of fierce temperament he is not the one to forget his wounds. He takes it out on the evangelist Eli Sunday at the end. His monstrous treatment of his only dumb-deaf son is another instance of his devilish nature. He kills a man for deceiving him into believing that he is his long lost step-brother. He forces the religious fanatic into repeating aloud that he is a false prophet and that there is no god. After forcing him to do this, he batters him to death. He has no one who loves him, nor does he care for one. His relentless misanthropic nature is at once the cause of his success and his misery.
The film is powerful in its impact on the audience and makes it difficult to dismiss it.
The film is powerful in its impact on the audience and makes it difficult to dismiss it.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Equilibrium (2002)**
Seen on 28-8-2009 - A Star Movies Film
Cast: Christian Bale (John Preston), Emily Watson (Mary O'Brien)
Dir.: Kurt Wimmer
Cast: Christian Bale (John Preston), Emily Watson (Mary O'Brien)
Dir.: Kurt Wimmer
"In a futuristic world, a strict regime has eliminated war by suppressing emotions: books, art and music are strictly forbidden and feeling is a crime punishable by death. Cleric John Preston (Bale) is a top ranking government agent responsible for destroying those who resist the rules. When he misses a dose of Prozium, a mind-altering drug that hinders emotion, Preston, who has been trained to enforce the strict laws of the new regime, suddenly becomes the only person capable of overthrowing it."--IMDB summary
Like all sci-fi films this one also has a simple moral at its heart: it emphasizes what makes us human--i.e. emotions, feelings.
Antonia and Jane (1991)***
Seen on 28-8-2009 - Star Movies film
Cast: Imalda Staunton ("Freedom Writers" & "Veera Drake" (Jane), Saskia Reeves (Antonia)
Dir.: Beeban Kidron
The story line is built around the idea that contrary, reason-defying impulses and emotions coexist in human beings and that often we do things that we hate or that we are drawn to things we hate. That contradictions and contrarian principles are built into our behavior and our relationships. And as it often happens we are even aware of this and yet can't help doing what we do.
This is beautifully brought out in this short film about two women who hate each other while being loving friends at the same time; who keep having an annual reunion meeting for years in spite of frequently not wanting it.
Jane is plain and loves books and classic writers while her friend Antonia is beautiful, talented and has a nifty job at a publisher. Antonia steals Jane's boyfriend, invites Jane to her wedding with him and for this Jane hates her although she attends the wedding. The whole series of love-hate contrariness of evens is cast in comic mode.
They keep seeing the same therapist psychiatrist and the narrative comes through their confessions to her. This is cleverly done.
Since the movie was scheduled for early morning (5:55) screening, mom missed it so she could do her regular exercise.
"Plain Jane Hartman hates her life. She's goofy, boring and only has sex if she reads Iris Murdoch novels out loud to her loopy boyfriend. Her oldest friend Antonia McGill knows about everything. She orders the right food; she can complain and get results. She's beautiful and has a brilliant career. Is it any wonder that they hate each other's guts? "--IMDB summary
Cast: Imalda Staunton ("Freedom Writers" & "Veera Drake" (Jane), Saskia Reeves (Antonia)
Dir.: Beeban Kidron
The story line is built around the idea that contrary, reason-defying impulses and emotions coexist in human beings and that often we do things that we hate or that we are drawn to things we hate. That contradictions and contrarian principles are built into our behavior and our relationships. And as it often happens we are even aware of this and yet can't help doing what we do.
This is beautifully brought out in this short film about two women who hate each other while being loving friends at the same time; who keep having an annual reunion meeting for years in spite of frequently not wanting it.
Jane is plain and loves books and classic writers while her friend Antonia is beautiful, talented and has a nifty job at a publisher. Antonia steals Jane's boyfriend, invites Jane to her wedding with him and for this Jane hates her although she attends the wedding. The whole series of love-hate contrariness of evens is cast in comic mode.
They keep seeing the same therapist psychiatrist and the narrative comes through their confessions to her. This is cleverly done.
Since the movie was scheduled for early morning (5:55) screening, mom missed it so she could do her regular exercise.
"Plain Jane Hartman hates her life. She's goofy, boring and only has sex if she reads Iris Murdoch novels out loud to her loopy boyfriend. Her oldest friend Antonia McGill knows about everything. She orders the right food; she can complain and get results. She's beautiful and has a brilliant career. Is it any wonder that they hate each other's guts? "--IMDB summary
Kamine (2009)-minus*
Seen on 27-8-2009 - Laxman Theatre
Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor
Dir.: Vishal Bharadwaj (Of Omkar fame)
Namrata Joshi's Outlook (Aug 31,2009) misleading feature on Vishal Bharadwaj's recent flick inspired us to see this movie, only to be utterly disappointed. Of the director Ms Joshi said he kept "pushing Bollywood's boundaries"; boundaries, my foot! It's the same old unoriginal gangster story about twins told in the most pretentiously beguiling narrative. We (Naveen and I. Mom refused to see it!) came back swearing not to trust the snobbish presold reviewers.
Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor
Dir.: Vishal Bharadwaj (Of Omkar fame)
Namrata Joshi's Outlook (Aug 31,2009) misleading feature on Vishal Bharadwaj's recent flick inspired us to see this movie, only to be utterly disappointed. Of the director Ms Joshi said he kept "pushing Bollywood's boundaries"; boundaries, my foot! It's the same old unoriginal gangster story about twins told in the most pretentiously beguiling narrative. We (Naveen and I. Mom refused to see it!) came back swearing not to trust the snobbish presold reviewers.
Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004)**
Seen on 27-8-2009 - Zee Studio Movie
Cast: James Caviazel (Bobby Jones)
Dir.: Rowdy Herrington
Biopic about the golf legend Bobby Jones who rose from obscurity and retired at the age of 28.
Cast: James Caviazel (Bobby Jones)
Dir.: Rowdy Herrington
Biopic about the golf legend Bobby Jones who rose from obscurity and retired at the age of 28.
"Robert Tyre Jones, Jr., aka "Bobby Jones" rises from complete obscurity to become a golfing legend. Jones overcomes his own fierce temper, intense passion, and perfectionist tendencies to master the game and win the Grand Slam, the U.S., British, and Amateur Opens in golf, a feat unequaled even today. But it is Jones's style, personality, and character that separate him from the other professionals in his field. When Jones realizes that his unparalleled success may be destroying those he loves he's presented with an astounding proposition, one that shocks the world." Written by IMDb Editors
We found this engrossing although there isn't much to it.Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Reader (2008)****
Seen on 26-8-2009 - In Kakatiya
--Cast: Kate Winslet (Hanna Schmitz), Michael Berg (Ralph Finnes)
--Dir. : Stephen Daldry
--Kate Winslet won 2009 Oscar for Best Actress
During the post-WWII trials of War criminals, Hanna Schmitz was accused of being responsible, as one of the guards, for the death of 300 Jews. Her argument in self-defense was that she was merely doing her duty as a guard which was to keep the Jews locked within the Church, but the judges hold her guilty for not opening the gates when the Church was set on fire (who set the Church on fire was not as important as that she allowed them to burn alive by keeping the gates locked). To establish her guilt the judges produce a report allegedly written by her. This was a crucial piece of evidence. And when they ask her to give a facsimile of her writing she, after a great deal of deliberation, refuses to write and merely admits to having written that report. Based on her admission she was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Now, Michael Berg who was attending those trials as a law student was the only one who intimately knew Hanna Scmitz as a teenager and could have testified that she couldn't have written that report because she was illiterate; he knew this because he used to read to her stories and poems of writers like Chekov; she couldn't read those books herself. And, she used to show extraordinary sensitivity and emotional involvement during these readings (She used to say "first reading and sex afterward"). He could have testified that she as a person was warm and kind and took care of him even though he was a complete stranger. His testimony could have saved her from being harshly punished to life imprisonment; her sentence could have been commuted to a shorter period of incarceration. But he couldn't bring himself to testify in her defense because that would mean confessing publicly to his disgraceful affair with an elderly woman who is guilty of mass murder.
He suffers pangs of guilt (for not testifying) in the years that follow and in expiation he sends her, all through her prison years, a continual stream of his readings from writers and poets recorded on tapes. He helps her suffer her prison years less. And in the end he seems to purge himself of his guilt by confessing his shame to his young grown up daughter at the grave of Hanna Schmitz.
The film appears to be more about Michael Berg's guilt rather than that of Hanna Smitz. Viewed from this angle, the film appears to exculpate her of her complicity in holocaust. It would be interesting to know how the Jewish community had reacted to this movie. For such an exoneration of war criminals (who pleaded that they were only obeying orders in the holocaust) was held to be a sacrilege, a heresy. They must have come down heavily on such a defense of war criminals put forward by the film, just as they castigated Hannah Arendt's, Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil (1963).
--Cast: Kate Winslet (Hanna Schmitz), Michael Berg (Ralph Finnes)
--Dir. : Stephen Daldry
--Kate Winslet won 2009 Oscar for Best Actress
During the post-WWII trials of War criminals, Hanna Schmitz was accused of being responsible, as one of the guards, for the death of 300 Jews. Her argument in self-defense was that she was merely doing her duty as a guard which was to keep the Jews locked within the Church, but the judges hold her guilty for not opening the gates when the Church was set on fire (who set the Church on fire was not as important as that she allowed them to burn alive by keeping the gates locked). To establish her guilt the judges produce a report allegedly written by her. This was a crucial piece of evidence. And when they ask her to give a facsimile of her writing she, after a great deal of deliberation, refuses to write and merely admits to having written that report. Based on her admission she was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Now, Michael Berg who was attending those trials as a law student was the only one who intimately knew Hanna Scmitz as a teenager and could have testified that she couldn't have written that report because she was illiterate; he knew this because he used to read to her stories and poems of writers like Chekov; she couldn't read those books herself. And, she used to show extraordinary sensitivity and emotional involvement during these readings (She used to say "first reading and sex afterward"). He could have testified that she as a person was warm and kind and took care of him even though he was a complete stranger. His testimony could have saved her from being harshly punished to life imprisonment; her sentence could have been commuted to a shorter period of incarceration. But he couldn't bring himself to testify in her defense because that would mean confessing publicly to his disgraceful affair with an elderly woman who is guilty of mass murder.
He suffers pangs of guilt (for not testifying) in the years that follow and in expiation he sends her, all through her prison years, a continual stream of his readings from writers and poets recorded on tapes. He helps her suffer her prison years less. And in the end he seems to purge himself of his guilt by confessing his shame to his young grown up daughter at the grave of Hanna Schmitz.
The film appears to be more about Michael Berg's guilt rather than that of Hanna Smitz. Viewed from this angle, the film appears to exculpate her of her complicity in holocaust. It would be interesting to know how the Jewish community had reacted to this movie. For such an exoneration of war criminals (who pleaded that they were only obeying orders in the holocaust) was held to be a sacrilege, a heresy. They must have come down heavily on such a defense of war criminals put forward by the film, just as they castigated Hannah Arendt's, Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil (1963).
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Return to Paradise (1998)****+
Seen on 25-8-2009 - HBO movie
Cast:
Dir.: Joseph Ruben
"Joseph Ruben's ``Return to Paradise'' is a thriller that traps its characters in an exquisite dilemma involving life and death. Lewis, Sheriff and Tony are three Americans who meet in Malaysia and fool around in cheap huts on the beach, ``God's own bathtub,'' enjoying the rum, the girls and the hashish. Sheriff and Tony return to New York. Lewis plans to go on to Borneo for a Greenpeace project to protect the orangutan. Instead, he's arrested for possession of the leftover hash and sentenced to death....." (Ebert).
The moral dilemma set in motion in Lewis' friends to own up their share of responsibility in his guilt is one part of drama, while the other is the shocking reversal of judgment in Malayasis, making Sheriff's sacrifice pointless when Lewis is sent to gallows as a reaction against the critical report in American media about the unjustness of Malayasian legal system.
We were deeply shaken and disturbed by this movie.
"Three friends share an exciting vacation in Malaysia, full of fun, drinks, women and hash. When the vacation is over, each have dreams of continuing their lives, and they all go their separate ways. One of them (Phoenix) remains on the tropical paradise to fulfill a dream of working with apes for research. Two years later, a lawyer (Heche) comes to New York and hunts down the other two friends to give some sad news. A few days after they left the island, police raided their camp and found amazingly large quantities of hash left about. Phoenix was still residing there, so he had to take the blame. He is set to be put to death in 8 days, and the only way the charges can be decreased is if the two friends come back to paradise and take their share of the responsibilty. If they do, they both will spend three years in prison. If only one does, he will spend six years behind bars..." Written by R.P. Falvey
Cast:
Dir.: Joseph Ruben
"Joseph Ruben's ``Return to Paradise'' is a thriller that traps its characters in an exquisite dilemma involving life and death. Lewis, Sheriff and Tony are three Americans who meet in Malaysia and fool around in cheap huts on the beach, ``God's own bathtub,'' enjoying the rum, the girls and the hashish. Sheriff and Tony return to New York. Lewis plans to go on to Borneo for a Greenpeace project to protect the orangutan. Instead, he's arrested for possession of the leftover hash and sentenced to death....." (Ebert).
The moral dilemma set in motion in Lewis' friends to own up their share of responsibility in his guilt is one part of drama, while the other is the shocking reversal of judgment in Malayasis, making Sheriff's sacrifice pointless when Lewis is sent to gallows as a reaction against the critical report in American media about the unjustness of Malayasian legal system.
We were deeply shaken and disturbed by this movie.
"Three friends share an exciting vacation in Malaysia, full of fun, drinks, women and hash. When the vacation is over, each have dreams of continuing their lives, and they all go their separate ways. One of them (Phoenix) remains on the tropical paradise to fulfill a dream of working with apes for research. Two years later, a lawyer (Heche) comes to New York and hunts down the other two friends to give some sad news. A few days after they left the island, police raided their camp and found amazingly large quantities of hash left about. Phoenix was still residing there, so he had to take the blame. He is set to be put to death in 8 days, and the only way the charges can be decreased is if the two friends come back to paradise and take their share of the responsibilty. If they do, they both will spend three years in prison. If only one does, he will spend six years behind bars..." Written by R.P. Falvey
Scoop (2006)**
Seen on 25-8-2009 - St. Movies film
Cast: Scarlett Johansson (Sondra), Sidney Waterman (Woody Allen), Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman), Ian McShane (Joe Strombel), et al
Dir.: Woody Allen
A young American journalism student in London (Sondra) gets a hint of a scoop from the ghost of a recently expired Fleet Street reporter. The scoop is about the identity of the Tarot card serial killer. Sondra sets out to investigate with the help of a magician, Sidney Waterman and in a funny sequence of events unknowingly falls in love with the killer himself who happens to be the suave handsome aristocrat, Peter Lyman only to realise at the end that her own life is in danger....Here is a summary from IMDB
"In the funeral of the famous British journalist Joe Strombel, his colleagues and friends recall how obstinate he was while seeking for a scoop. Meanwhile the deceased Joe discloses the identity of the tarot card serial killer of London. He cheats the Reaper and appears to the American student of journalism Sondra Pransky, who is on the stage in the middle of a magic show of the magician Sidney Waterman inn London, and tells her that the murderer is the aristocrat Peter Lyman. Sondra drags Sid in her investigation, seeking for evidences that Peter is the killer. However, she falls in love with him and questions if Joe Strombel is right in his scoop." Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Cast: Scarlett Johansson (Sondra), Sidney Waterman (Woody Allen), Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman), Ian McShane (Joe Strombel), et al
Dir.: Woody Allen
A young American journalism student in London (Sondra) gets a hint of a scoop from the ghost of a recently expired Fleet Street reporter. The scoop is about the identity of the Tarot card serial killer. Sondra sets out to investigate with the help of a magician, Sidney Waterman and in a funny sequence of events unknowingly falls in love with the killer himself who happens to be the suave handsome aristocrat, Peter Lyman only to realise at the end that her own life is in danger....Here is a summary from IMDB
"In the funeral of the famous British journalist Joe Strombel, his colleagues and friends recall how obstinate he was while seeking for a scoop. Meanwhile the deceased Joe discloses the identity of the tarot card serial killer of London. He cheats the Reaper and appears to the American student of journalism Sondra Pransky, who is on the stage in the middle of a magic show of the magician Sidney Waterman inn London, and tells her that the murderer is the aristocrat Peter Lyman. Sondra drags Sid in her investigation, seeking for evidences that Peter is the killer. However, she falls in love with him and questions if Joe Strombel is right in his scoop." Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Monday, August 24, 2009
Cassandra's Dream (2007)***
Seen on 24-8-2009 - Zee Studio Movie
Cast: Colin Farrel (Terry), Ewan McGregor (Ian), Tim Wilkinson (Howard)
Dir. : Woody Allen
Cast: Colin Farrel (Terry), Ewan McGregor (Ian), Tim Wilkinson (Howard)
Dir. : Woody Allen
"In London, the loser brothers from a working-class family, Ian and Terry, buy a second-hand sailboat name Cassandra's Dream for their leisure. Ian poses of big shot and has big dreams, saving money to invest in two hotels in California while the unstable Terry is an alcoholic gambler addicted in pills and mechanic. When Terry loses a great amount in a card game, Ian lends his savings to pay part of the sum Terry owes to loan sharks. When their wealthy uncle Howard arrives in London coming from China, the brothers see the chance to borrow the money they need to quit the debt with the loan sharks and to invest in the hotel. However, Howard asks them to get rid of his former associate Martin Burns who is threatening him and his businesses. Ian and Terry have to decide whether they shall cross the line and help family or face the lack the money to resolve their issues." Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Actually Ian and Terry do commit the murder to get help from their uncle, Howard. But Terry is deeply affected by his misdeed and is disturbed enough to the point of surrendering to police. At this junction Ian decides, against impulse and better judgment, to do away with his unstable brother but at the last minute he couldn't do it. Finally, in a scuffle Terry pushes Ian and kills him. Subsequently he kills himself too.
Ed Wood (1994)**
Seen on 24-8-2009 - Zee Studio Movie
Cast: Johny Depp (Edward Wood), Sarah Jessica Parker (Doleres), Martin Landau (Bela Lugosi)
Dir.: Tim Burton
This is true-life story about Edward D. Wood, Jr. for whom making films was a passion although he was subsequently voted all-time worst director of some very awful horror films of 50s like Glen or Glenda (1953), Bride of the Monster (1955) and Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959).
What is striking about the man here is his indefatigable spirit, his passion for film making against many odds and his humanity in developing a touching relationship with an aging impoverished horror star, Bela Lugosi. Also, the film successfully brings out the pathos of compromises a film director is forced to make by his sponsors and by artists. The movie was fittingly made in black and white.
Cast: Johny Depp (Edward Wood), Sarah Jessica Parker (Doleres), Martin Landau (Bela Lugosi)
Dir.: Tim Burton
This is true-life story about Edward D. Wood, Jr. for whom making films was a passion although he was subsequently voted all-time worst director of some very awful horror films of 50s like Glen or Glenda (1953), Bride of the Monster (1955) and Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959).
What is striking about the man here is his indefatigable spirit, his passion for film making against many odds and his humanity in developing a touching relationship with an aging impoverished horror star, Bela Lugosi. Also, the film successfully brings out the pathos of compromises a film director is forced to make by his sponsors and by artists. The movie was fittingly made in black and white.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Reindeer Games (2000)***
Seen on 22-8-2009 - A Star Movies Film
Cast: Ben Afflick (Rudy), Charlize Theron (Ashley),
Dir. : John Frankenheimer (who made "Birdman of Alcatraz," "Manchurian Candidate," "Iceman Cometh", etc)
Cast: Ben Afflick (Rudy), Charlize Theron (Ashley),
Dir. : John Frankenheimer (who made "Birdman of Alcatraz," "Manchurian Candidate," "Iceman Cometh", etc)
"Action-adventure master John Frankenheimer directs this sordid tale of deadly deception. Fresh out of prison, Rudy (Ben Affleck) poses as his cellmate Nick so he can meet Nick's alluring pen pal, Ashley (Charlize Theron). Little does he know that Ashley has less romantic reasons for befriending Nick; as Rudy soon discovers, Ashley and her brother (Gary Sinise) are plotting a heist that requires his participation, whether he agrees to it or not."--A Netflix movie.
A very riveting movie.
I Think I Love My Wife (2007)***
Seen on 22-8-2009 - A Star Movies Film
Cast: Chris Rock (Richard Cooper), Kerry Washington (Nikki), Gina Torres (Brenda)
Dir.: Chris Rock
As writer, director and actor Chris Rock did exceedingly well in this film; most of its comedy is in the frank admission of his problems with his otherwise happy married life. It's a story of Richard Cooper, married for seven years with two lovable kids, is sexually frustrated although he loves his wife; it's just that they haven't been able to have sex for one reason or other. He begins to fancy other women but thoughts of betraying his wife are from him yet. Into this scene enters a seductive old friend Nikki who puts in her moves calling him at office too often, frequently taking him away from his work thereby bringing him to the brink of losing his job, etc. He find her irresistible, but has no thoughts of quitting on his family. Finally, the pull of his bonds with family triumph over his temporary distraction.
This is a comedy about marital relationship to which every married man would relate.
Cast: Chris Rock (Richard Cooper), Kerry Washington (Nikki), Gina Torres (Brenda)
Dir.: Chris Rock
As writer, director and actor Chris Rock did exceedingly well in this film; most of its comedy is in the frank admission of his problems with his otherwise happy married life. It's a story of Richard Cooper, married for seven years with two lovable kids, is sexually frustrated although he loves his wife; it's just that they haven't been able to have sex for one reason or other. He begins to fancy other women but thoughts of betraying his wife are from him yet. Into this scene enters a seductive old friend Nikki who puts in her moves calling him at office too often, frequently taking him away from his work thereby bringing him to the brink of losing his job, etc. He find her irresistible, but has no thoughts of quitting on his family. Finally, the pull of his bonds with family triumph over his temporary distraction.
This is a comedy about marital relationship to which every married man would relate.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Awake (2007)***
Seen on 21-8-2009 - A St.Movies film
Cast: Hayden Christensen (Clay Beresford), Jessica Alba (Sam Lockwood), Terrence Howard
(Dr. Jack), Lina Olin (Lilith Bersford)
The beautiful Sam conspires with a Cardiologist Surgeon to kill the billionnaire, Clay she just married in his heart transplant surgery in order to get rich. But Clay's mother outwits her by having her own heart transplanted in her son with the help of an eminent Surgeon. The culprits are exposed and arrested.
The narrative is quite innovative and is attuned to maintain the suspense until the end even as it helps the plot move forward quietly unraveling the conspiracy.
Netflix summary
--"While undergoing a heart transplant, Clay (Hayden Christensen) experiences "anesthetic awareness," a conditiA on that allows him to see and feel everything that's happening to him but leaves him paralyzed and unable to do anything about it. From his unique and painful vantage point, Clay learns troubling truths about his young wife (Jessica Alba) as she struggles with her own demons. Terrence Howard and Lena Olin co-star."
Cast: Hayden Christensen (Clay Beresford), Jessica Alba (Sam Lockwood), Terrence Howard
(Dr. Jack), Lina Olin (Lilith Bersford)
The beautiful Sam conspires with a Cardiologist Surgeon to kill the billionnaire, Clay she just married in his heart transplant surgery in order to get rich. But Clay's mother outwits her by having her own heart transplanted in her son with the help of an eminent Surgeon. The culprits are exposed and arrested.
The narrative is quite innovative and is attuned to maintain the suspense until the end even as it helps the plot move forward quietly unraveling the conspiracy.
Netflix summary
--"While undergoing a heart transplant, Clay (Hayden Christensen) experiences "anesthetic awareness," a conditiA on that allows him to see and feel everything that's happening to him but leaves him paralyzed and unable to do anything about it. From his unique and painful vantage point, Clay learns troubling truths about his young wife (Jessica Alba) as she struggles with her own demons. Terrence Howard and Lena Olin co-star."
December Boys (2007)***
Seen on 21-8-2009 - HBO movie
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe (Maps) (Harry Potter fame), Lee Cormie (Misty), et al
Dire.: Rod Hardy
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe (Maps) (Harry Potter fame), Lee Cormie (Misty), et al
Dire.: Rod Hardy
Based on a novel by the Australian writer, Michael Noonan
As a birthday gift four boys in a Catholic orphanage are given a holiday in a seaside town to spend summer vacation with an old couple. Here they have the most memorable time of their lives. Here the oldest boy called Maps gets to know a girl who initiates him into his first experience of sex but leaves him disappointed in love as she goes away without even a word of farewell. Here too the other three boys' hopes of finding an adoptive home are raised, but eventually they realize that their bonds cannot be broken. Their friendship of the December boys is strengthened after the summer experiences here.
As a birthday gift four boys in a Catholic orphanage are given a holiday in a seaside town to spend summer vacation with an old couple. Here they have the most memorable time of their lives. Here the oldest boy called Maps gets to know a girl who initiates him into his first experience of sex but leaves him disappointed in love as she goes away without even a word of farewell. Here too the other three boys' hopes of finding an adoptive home are raised, but eventually they realize that their bonds cannot be broken. Their friendship of the December boys is strengthened after the summer experiences here.
The movie is engaging with its poignant narrative.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Big Fat Liar (2002)**
Seen on 20-8-2009 - HBO movie
Cast: Frankie Muniz (Jason), Amanda Bynes (Kaylee)
Dir.: Shawn Levy
"Junior high school students Jason and Kaylee are a couple of precocious kids who want to see (screen) credit where credit is due. After a greedy Hollywood producer turns Jason's essay into a hit film -- and leaves Jason's name on the proverbial cutting room floor -- the youngsters travel to Hollywood to twist a few arms for some payback. Tinseltown moral: Don't double-cross teens with driving permits!"--A Netflix summary.
---Is TRUTH OVERRATED? The movie is a hilarious comedy trying to prove that TRUTH IS NOT OVERRATED.
--It now occurs to me that the paradox at the heart of the film is that it seeks to demonstrate that truth cannot be overrated by using a compulsive liar of a boy who is understandably a budding inventive writer capable of helping the impoverished Hollywood producer. And doesn't a fictionist writer always try to reach truth through an imaginative lie?
Cast: Frankie Muniz (Jason), Amanda Bynes (Kaylee)
Dir.: Shawn Levy
"Junior high school students Jason and Kaylee are a couple of precocious kids who want to see (screen) credit where credit is due. After a greedy Hollywood producer turns Jason's essay into a hit film -- and leaves Jason's name on the proverbial cutting room floor -- the youngsters travel to Hollywood to twist a few arms for some payback. Tinseltown moral: Don't double-cross teens with driving permits!"--A Netflix summary.
---Is TRUTH OVERRATED? The movie is a hilarious comedy trying to prove that TRUTH IS NOT OVERRATED.
--It now occurs to me that the paradox at the heart of the film is that it seeks to demonstrate that truth cannot be overrated by using a compulsive liar of a boy who is understandably a budding inventive writer capable of helping the impoverished Hollywood producer. And doesn't a fictionist writer always try to reach truth through an imaginative lie?
A Daughter's Conviction (2006)**
Seen on 20-8-2009 - HBO Movie
A young woman's alcoholic mother is framed for the murder of her father who is a cop. The daughter doesn't believe her mother did it and she starts investigation on her own although the DA had already filed an iron-clad case against her. As she digs she discovers loopholes and pursues the leads she gets along the way. Finally she succeeds in proving her mother innocent by gathering evidence against the real culprit who turns out to be her own close friend.
A young woman's alcoholic mother is framed for the murder of her father who is a cop. The daughter doesn't believe her mother did it and she starts investigation on her own although the DA had already filed an iron-clad case against her. As she digs she discovers loopholes and pursues the leads she gets along the way. Finally she succeeds in proving her mother innocent by gathering evidence against the real culprit who turns out to be her own close friend.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Shine (1996)*****
Seen on 18-8-2009 - A Star Movies film
Cast: Geoffrey Rush (David Helfgott), Armin Mueller-Stahl (Peter)
Dir.: Scott Hicks
"A riveting profile of Australian keyboard virtuoso David Helfgott (Geoffrey Rush) and his ultimate triumph over a domineering, abusive father (Armin Mueller-Stahl); schizophrenia; and an obsession with the all but unplayable Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3. Sir John Gielgud, superb as ever, plays Helfgott's tutor. Richly deserved Oscars went to Rush (Best Actor) and to Mueller-Stahl for his supporting turn."---A Netflix summary
My comments: This kind of movie makes our day; it adds meaning to the humdrum routine of life. The Australian pianist's genius appears to have been thwarted by his circumstances; it would have flourished and reached great heights in happier circumstances. Although you'd end up blaming the father's oppressive influence, given the holocaust trauma that the father himself had suffered (he is a Polish Jew who survived Hitler), you couldn't have blamed. His desperate but savage aggression on his hapless son when he gets the chance to go to the US to study music is understandable because of his fears about family disintegration. If he pushes his son to pull off Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 against the local tutor's warnings, it is to enable his son reach the pinnacle of achievement of which is fully capable. The son himself measures against the standards set by his father all his life and seeks his approval and pride even after estrangement. This is pathetic. In a way the father as well as the Rach 3 are the undoing of David although he finds some solace from a woman admirer in the end.
But what is most amazing about David is that although on the outside he is insane, he insanely coherent and passionate when he begins to play music. These words of Roger Ebert about David are instructive: "What is terrifying for him is that the better he gets, the closer he comes to expressing feelings that his father has charged with enormous guilt. The ``Rach 3'' is a tumult of emotion, and what happens is that David cannot perform it without being destroyed by the feelings it releases." We feel absolutely handicapped by the lack of background necessary to appreciate the Western music which sends all those people into ecstasy.
This is a great biopic.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Six Days Seven Nights (1998)**
Seen on 16-8-09 - A St. Movies film
Cast: Harrison Ford (Quinn Harris), Anne Heche (Robin Monroe)
Dir. : Ivan Reitman
Into a typical the marooned are cast several interesting atypical ingredients:
Cast: Harrison Ford (Quinn Harris), Anne Heche (Robin Monroe)
Dir. : Ivan Reitman
Into a typical the marooned are cast several interesting atypical ingredients:
- For a start, an elderly gruff rough-around-the-edges pilot of a hired plane flies a disagreeable skeptical uppish young woman--unlikely pair to fall in love--who eventually, after a series of exciting brushes with dangerous situatious, is transformed into a lover in spite of being engaged to be married to someone else .
- They were being attacked by a bunch of pirates and their back-to-wall efforts to save themselves.
- A couple of instances of ingenious methods to survive: like killing a peacock for food, camouflaged as an innocuous tree, or picking up the remains of WWII Japanese fighter plane and making good their escape from the island.
- The woman companion taking over the flying of the plane from the injured pilot and saving them from the pirates' fire.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
My Beautiful Laundrette
--Viewing on 15-8-2009 interrupted by Naveen's visit (he just returned from Bangalore writers' conference where he presented the paper I fixed for him)
--Hanif Khureishi's popular play, MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE that I had heard so much about could not be viewed today.
--Hanif Khureishi's popular play, MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE that I had heard so much about could not be viewed today.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Georgia Rule (2007)***
Seen on 14-8-2009 - Zee Stud.movie
Cast: Lindsay Lohan (Rachel), Felicity Huffman (Lilly), Jane Fonda (Georgia)
Dir.: Garry Marshall (of "Keeping with Steins" fame--in which he acted as grandpa. He is
a writer, actor as well as a producer)
"Fed up with the antics of her unruly daughter, Rachel (Lindsay Lohan), exasperated Lilly (Felicity Huffman) takes her to Idaho to live with her flinty, no-nonsense grandmother, Georgia (Jane Fonda). The two lock horns at first, but the angry Rachel starts to mellow as she gradually connects with Georgia. Also starring Dermot Mulroney and Laurie Metcalf, director Garry Marshall's redemptive tale explores themes of forgiveness and family ties."---A Netflix summary
My comment:
Bonds win over although there are radical personality differences and clashes between the three women. Rachel the daughter who was to go to Vassar is frustrated further with the ways of his alcoholic mother. Basically she is a free spirit and is very impish. The bohemian Californian girl looks totally misplaced in the conservative Mormon Idaho; the film clearly shows this contrast. Also, beneath all that waywardliness, she is refined and well educated (remember the scene where a quiz is in progress on tv, she casually traces the quoted lines from Poe's "Raven"). We liked the conception of all the three women--stubbornly individualistic yet caring. In the end, together they overcome the problem that has shadowed them--the molestation of Rachel by her stepfather! Rachel may have seduced the older men but that seems to be in a way to test their moral rootedness. Her mother's former boyfriend Simon passes the test while the stepfather doesn't (and ends losing his wife.)
Cast: Lindsay Lohan (Rachel), Felicity Huffman (Lilly), Jane Fonda (Georgia)
Dir.: Garry Marshall (of "Keeping with Steins" fame--in which he acted as grandpa. He is
a writer, actor as well as a producer)
"Fed up with the antics of her unruly daughter, Rachel (Lindsay Lohan), exasperated Lilly (Felicity Huffman) takes her to Idaho to live with her flinty, no-nonsense grandmother, Georgia (Jane Fonda). The two lock horns at first, but the angry Rachel starts to mellow as she gradually connects with Georgia. Also starring Dermot Mulroney and Laurie Metcalf, director Garry Marshall's redemptive tale explores themes of forgiveness and family ties."---A Netflix summary
My comment:
Bonds win over although there are radical personality differences and clashes between the three women. Rachel the daughter who was to go to Vassar is frustrated further with the ways of his alcoholic mother. Basically she is a free spirit and is very impish. The bohemian Californian girl looks totally misplaced in the conservative Mormon Idaho; the film clearly shows this contrast. Also, beneath all that waywardliness, she is refined and well educated (remember the scene where a quiz is in progress on tv, she casually traces the quoted lines from Poe's "Raven"). We liked the conception of all the three women--stubbornly individualistic yet caring. In the end, together they overcome the problem that has shadowed them--the molestation of Rachel by her stepfather! Rachel may have seduced the older men but that seems to be in a way to test their moral rootedness. Her mother's former boyfriend Simon passes the test while the stepfather doesn't (and ends losing his wife.)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Juno (2007)***
Seen on 13-8-2009 - HBO movie
Cast: Ellen Page (Juno), Jason Bateman
Dir.: Jason Reitman
"Facing an unplanned pregnancy while she's still in high school, quirky teen Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) devises a plan to locate her unborn baby's perfect adoptive parents. But the seemingly ideal couple (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner) Juno chooses still has some growing up to do. Michael Cera co-stars in this offbeat coming-of-age comedy with an Oscar-winning original screenplay penned by Diablo Cody."
---A Netflix summary
What I liked best abt this movie is the sane and practical view she takes in deciding not to abort, to bring forth the child, choose suitable adoptive parents for her child so that she could move on with her life. And she does all this without guilt, without mush about motherhood.
Cast: Ellen Page (Juno), Jason Bateman
Dir.: Jason Reitman
"Facing an unplanned pregnancy while she's still in high school, quirky teen Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) devises a plan to locate her unborn baby's perfect adoptive parents. But the seemingly ideal couple (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner) Juno chooses still has some growing up to do. Michael Cera co-stars in this offbeat coming-of-age comedy with an Oscar-winning original screenplay penned by Diablo Cody."
---A Netflix summary
What I liked best abt this movie is the sane and practical view she takes in deciding not to abort, to bring forth the child, choose suitable adoptive parents for her child so that she could move on with her life. And she does all this without guilt, without mush about motherhood.
28 Days (2000)***
Seen on 13-8-2009 - St.Movies
Cast: Sandra Bullock (Gwen), Viggio Mortensen (Eddie), Dominic West (Jasper)
Dir.: Betty Thomas
Written by: Susannah Grant (of "Erin Brocovitch" fame)
Gwen is sent to a rehab for crashing stolen car into a house in a fit of wild, crazy drunken driving. When she confesses she is a mess, her boyfriend says he likes her because she is a mess. On his visits he sneaks for her designer drugs and champaign from which she is supposed to keep away. Jasper joins her when she ruins her sister's wedding with her crazy riotous dancing and shouting. But at the rehab she gradually manages to learn restraint and control and even when she comes out of the rehab she even discards her boyfriend.
This is said to have been written by Susannah Grant who also wrote Erin Bracovitch.
Cast: Sandra Bullock (Gwen), Viggio Mortensen (Eddie), Dominic West (Jasper)
Dir.: Betty Thomas
Written by: Susannah Grant (of "Erin Brocovitch" fame)
Gwen is sent to a rehab for crashing stolen car into a house in a fit of wild, crazy drunken driving. When she confesses she is a mess, her boyfriend says he likes her because she is a mess. On his visits he sneaks for her designer drugs and champaign from which she is supposed to keep away. Jasper joins her when she ruins her sister's wedding with her crazy riotous dancing and shouting. But at the rehab she gradually manages to learn restraint and control and even when she comes out of the rehab she even discards her boyfriend.
This is said to have been written by Susannah Grant who also wrote Erin Bracovitch.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A Civil Action (1998)***
Seen on 12-8-2009 - HBO movie
Cast: John Travalota, Robert Duvall
Dir.: Steven Zillian
BASED ON JONATHAN HARR'S NON-FICTION BESTSELLER WHICH WON NATIONAL BK AWD.
"In this true story, John Travolta stars as a personal-injury lawyer who sues a major corporation for big bucks when the drinking water in Woburn, Mass., is found to contain high levels of industrial solvents. Believing the contamination is responsible for the large number of leukemia deaths among the town's children, the citizens -- lead by a woman (Kathleen Quinlan) whose child has died -- hire a lawyer to take on the corporate polluters."
----A Netflix summary
Roger Ebert is interesting on this: "'Civil Action' is like John Grisham for grownups. Watching it, we realize that Grisham's lawyers are romanticized hotshots living in a cowboy universe with John Wayne values. The real world of the law, this movie argues, has less to do with justice than with strategy and doesn't necessarily arrive at truth. The law is about who wins, not about who should win."
This in a way recalls ERIN BROCOVICH, but required greater concentration on our part to follow the fast-paced script.
Cast: John Travalota, Robert Duvall
Dir.: Steven Zillian
BASED ON JONATHAN HARR'S NON-FICTION BESTSELLER WHICH WON NATIONAL BK AWD.
"In this true story, John Travolta stars as a personal-injury lawyer who sues a major corporation for big bucks when the drinking water in Woburn, Mass., is found to contain high levels of industrial solvents. Believing the contamination is responsible for the large number of leukemia deaths among the town's children, the citizens -- lead by a woman (Kathleen Quinlan) whose child has died -- hire a lawyer to take on the corporate polluters."
----A Netflix summary
Roger Ebert is interesting on this: "'Civil Action' is like John Grisham for grownups. Watching it, we realize that Grisham's lawyers are romanticized hotshots living in a cowboy universe with John Wayne values. The real world of the law, this movie argues, has less to do with justice than with strategy and doesn't necessarily arrive at truth. The law is about who wins, not about who should win."
This in a way recalls ERIN BROCOVICH, but required greater concentration on our part to follow the fast-paced script.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Beyond Borders (2003)***
Seen on 12-8-2009 - a HBO movie
Cast: Anelina Jole (Sarah), Clive Owen (Nick callahan)
Dir.: Martin Campbell
"Nick (Clive Owen), a medical student turned international disaster relief worker, and Sarah (Angelina Jolie), a philanthropist socialite, gradually fall in love after meeting time and again against the backdrops of disasters and wars throughout the world. Teri Polo plays Sarah's sister Charlotte, a globetrotting journalist."
---A Netflix summary
I want to understand why Roger Ebert found fault with this movie. He said:"'Beyond Borders'has good intentions and wants to call attention to the plight of refugees, but what a clueless vulgarization it makes of its worthy motives." To substantiate his point he says: "When the suffering of real children is used to enhance the image of movie stars who fall in love against the backdrop of their suffering, a certain decency is lacking. 'Beyond Borders' wants it both ways -- glamor up front, and human misery in the background to lend it poignancy." For better treatment he recommends MICHAEL WINTERBOTTOM'S recent IN THIS WORLD. But for such pernickety faults, I thought Campbell did well in extending his canvas from Ethiopia, Knomn Phenn (Cumbodia), to Chechen,etc, maybe in order to emphasize everywhere it's the same whatever the circumstances: that is, poor common folk is caught in the crossfires of power politics in the developing countries and the good-intentioned aid workers like Nick had to take phenomenal risks and sometimes even had to deviate from neutral stance to do their work!! The politics of Aid politics was treated differently in CONSTANT GARDNER which too I had liked.
Cast: Anelina Jole (Sarah), Clive Owen (Nick callahan)
Dir.: Martin Campbell
"Nick (Clive Owen), a medical student turned international disaster relief worker, and Sarah (Angelina Jolie), a philanthropist socialite, gradually fall in love after meeting time and again against the backdrops of disasters and wars throughout the world. Teri Polo plays Sarah's sister Charlotte, a globetrotting journalist."
---A Netflix summary
I want to understand why Roger Ebert found fault with this movie. He said:"'Beyond Borders'has good intentions and wants to call attention to the plight of refugees, but what a clueless vulgarization it makes of its worthy motives." To substantiate his point he says: "When the suffering of real children is used to enhance the image of movie stars who fall in love against the backdrop of their suffering, a certain decency is lacking. 'Beyond Borders' wants it both ways -- glamor up front, and human misery in the background to lend it poignancy." For better treatment he recommends MICHAEL WINTERBOTTOM'S recent IN THIS WORLD. But for such pernickety faults, I thought Campbell did well in extending his canvas from Ethiopia, Knomn Phenn (Cumbodia), to Chechen,etc, maybe in order to emphasize everywhere it's the same whatever the circumstances: that is, poor common folk is caught in the crossfires of power politics in the developing countries and the good-intentioned aid workers like Nick had to take phenomenal risks and sometimes even had to deviate from neutral stance to do their work!! The politics of Aid politics was treated differently in CONSTANT GARDNER which too I had liked.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Sling Blade (1996)****
Seen on 8-8-2009 - HBO Movie
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton (Karl Childers), Lucas Black (Frank Whitley, the boy)
Dwight Yoakam (Doyle), Natalie Canerday (Linda, the boy's mother
Dir.: Billy Bob Thornton (Oscar-winning tour de force)
Committed to a psychiatric hospital, Karl Childers is released after 12 years on being found reformed and normal. He was sent here 12 years ago for killing his mother and her lover whom he found in a "wrong" position. Asked if he would kill again, he matter-of-factly answers he has no reason to. On coming out, he has no where to go and he is being regarded as a 'retard.' But he is observant, keeps to himself, acts with great restraint even when people make fun of him and his responses are intelligent and tactful
Eventually, he makes friends with a boy called Frank who take to him immediately. A great bond develops between them and he begins to live with the boy's family which consists of his mother and her lover. The lover is always abusive, drunken and violent. He ill-treats the boy as well as his mother. The boy would have killed him if he could.
Karl finally decides to kill Doyle and surrender to authorities. He liberates the boy and his mother from the clutches of this evil person.
The film recalls ONE FLEW OVER CUCKOO'S NEST.
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton (Karl Childers), Lucas Black (Frank Whitley, the boy)
Dwight Yoakam (Doyle), Natalie Canerday (Linda, the boy's mother
Dir.: Billy Bob Thornton (Oscar-winning tour de force)
Committed to a psychiatric hospital, Karl Childers is released after 12 years on being found reformed and normal. He was sent here 12 years ago for killing his mother and her lover whom he found in a "wrong" position. Asked if he would kill again, he matter-of-factly answers he has no reason to. On coming out, he has no where to go and he is being regarded as a 'retard.' But he is observant, keeps to himself, acts with great restraint even when people make fun of him and his responses are intelligent and tactful
Eventually, he makes friends with a boy called Frank who take to him immediately. A great bond develops between them and he begins to live with the boy's family which consists of his mother and her lover. The lover is always abusive, drunken and violent. He ill-treats the boy as well as his mother. The boy would have killed him if he could.
Karl finally decides to kill Doyle and surrender to authorities. He liberates the boy and his mother from the clutches of this evil person.
The film recalls ONE FLEW OVER CUCKOO'S NEST.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
In Bruges (2008)**
Seen on 6-8-2009 - HBO movie
Cast: Colin Farrell (Ray), Brendan Gleeson (Ken), Ralph Fiennes (Harry)
Dir./Writer: Martin McDonaugh (who is often compared to playwright, David Mamet)
Two Irish hitmen are holed up in Bruges for two weeks, Belgium to cool off heels and evade apprehension. As they begin to absorb the beauty of the best-preserved medieval Venetian town in Belgium, Ken is ordered to kill Ray by their boss. When the order is not carried out, the boss himself comes down to kill Ray and kills both. But surprisingly he also kills himself because he realises he has killed a dwarf (a midget) in the process of killing his mercenary colleagues.
The important thing about the film is the beauty of the place.
Cast: Colin Farrell (Ray), Brendan Gleeson (Ken), Ralph Fiennes (Harry)
Dir./Writer: Martin McDonaugh (who is often compared to playwright, David Mamet)
Two Irish hitmen are holed up in Bruges for two weeks, Belgium to cool off heels and evade apprehension. As they begin to absorb the beauty of the best-preserved medieval Venetian town in Belgium, Ken is ordered to kill Ray by their boss. When the order is not carried out, the boss himself comes down to kill Ray and kills both. But surprisingly he also kills himself because he realises he has killed a dwarf (a midget) in the process of killing his mercenary colleagues.
The important thing about the film is the beauty of the place.
The Crossing Guard (1995)***
Seen on 6-8-2009 - St.Movies
Cast: Jack Nicholson (Freddy Gale), David Morse (John Booth),Angelic Huston (Mary)
Dir/Scr.Play: Sean Penn
Freddy Gale has sworn to kill the man, John Booth, who ran over his daughter in a case of drunken driving and is sent to jail. The film takes up action when Booth has come out of prison and Freddy is determined to kill him. The opening scenes show Freddy confronting Booth in his trailer with a gun that fails to work, while Booth himself is surprisingly ready to be shot. Booth even persuades him to kill him and says he doesn't seek forgiveness for what has happened. But Freddy leaves giving him 3 days in which he will come back to kill him. The rest of the action reveals the harrowing effects of guilt in John Booth on the one hand, and on the other the state of Freddy's mind. Freddy's problem is he is deeply affected by the death of his child, but at the same time aware that John Booth doesn't deserve to be killed for it especially when the latter has done his time and is still very remorseful about it.
In a crucial scene he phones his divorced wife in the middle of the night to tell her, while choking with suppressed grief, about a dream in which he saw school children crossing the street while the John Booth the killer himself is guiding them as the crossing guard. From the way the roles are reversed in this dream, one begins suspect that John Booth, in spite of being cast as an unwitting killer of the girl, is also conceived as Freddy's doppleganger.
In any case Freddy's feelings towards his daughter's killer are not an unmixed affair.
Freddy himself is chased by police for drunken driving. Both men--Freddy Gale and John Booth--can't enjoy their carousals and their encounters with the women they pick up. Yet both turn to women for help, although they cannot accept their help. It seems as if Freddy has no alternative but shoot John Booth, while the latter cannot but be shot. The last scenes show how Booth will not and cannot shoot Freddy when he could have easily done it, nor does he want to be shot because he keeps running away to escape being shot. Similarly, Freddy runs after Booth with a gun pointed at him but seems half-hearted in shooting him. Together they end up near the grave of Freddy's child and they seem to join hands over the grave in a gesture of reconciliation.
The film appears to be confused in its delineation of the psychology of the two protagonists who refuse to get on with life long after the tragic accident of death.
Or, it is possible that the tragedy of these two individuals lay in their confusions.
In the final analysis, I found the film too contrived in its situations.
Cast: Jack Nicholson (Freddy Gale), David Morse (John Booth),Angelic Huston (Mary)
Dir/Scr.Play: Sean Penn
Freddy Gale has sworn to kill the man, John Booth, who ran over his daughter in a case of drunken driving and is sent to jail. The film takes up action when Booth has come out of prison and Freddy is determined to kill him. The opening scenes show Freddy confronting Booth in his trailer with a gun that fails to work, while Booth himself is surprisingly ready to be shot. Booth even persuades him to kill him and says he doesn't seek forgiveness for what has happened. But Freddy leaves giving him 3 days in which he will come back to kill him. The rest of the action reveals the harrowing effects of guilt in John Booth on the one hand, and on the other the state of Freddy's mind. Freddy's problem is he is deeply affected by the death of his child, but at the same time aware that John Booth doesn't deserve to be killed for it especially when the latter has done his time and is still very remorseful about it.
In a crucial scene he phones his divorced wife in the middle of the night to tell her, while choking with suppressed grief, about a dream in which he saw school children crossing the street while the John Booth the killer himself is guiding them as the crossing guard. From the way the roles are reversed in this dream, one begins suspect that John Booth, in spite of being cast as an unwitting killer of the girl, is also conceived as Freddy's doppleganger.
In any case Freddy's feelings towards his daughter's killer are not an unmixed affair.
Freddy himself is chased by police for drunken driving. Both men--Freddy Gale and John Booth--can't enjoy their carousals and their encounters with the women they pick up. Yet both turn to women for help, although they cannot accept their help. It seems as if Freddy has no alternative but shoot John Booth, while the latter cannot but be shot. The last scenes show how Booth will not and cannot shoot Freddy when he could have easily done it, nor does he want to be shot because he keeps running away to escape being shot. Similarly, Freddy runs after Booth with a gun pointed at him but seems half-hearted in shooting him. Together they end up near the grave of Freddy's child and they seem to join hands over the grave in a gesture of reconciliation.
The film appears to be confused in its delineation of the psychology of the two protagonists who refuse to get on with life long after the tragic accident of death.
Or, it is possible that the tragedy of these two individuals lay in their confusions.
In the final analysis, I found the film too contrived in its situations.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Loving Lea (2009)******
Seen on 4-8-2009 - Star Movies
Cast: Adam Kaufman (Jake), Lauren Ambrose (Lea), Christy Pusz (Carol--Jake fiance)
Dir.: JEFF BLECKNER---WATCHOUT-DIRECTOR
Writer: PNENAH GOLDSTEIN -- WATCHOUT SCRIPT WRITER
"When his rabbi brother dies, Jake (Adam Kaufman), a 30-year-old cardiologist, is called upon to marry the widow, Leah (Lauren Ambrose), under orthodox Jewish law. While initially just going through the motions to satisfy their mothers (Mercedes Ruehl and Susie Essman), the two soon find themselves in love. Ricki Lake is the rabbi who helps Leah through her new situation, and Christy Pusz co-stars as Jake's confused girlfriend." --Netflix summary
My Comments: 1. Going by the story and its sensitive handling, this film ought to get 5-star rating. The slow gradual complex processes by which the agreed relationships make a turn about and surprisingly get changed is imaginatively handled. The script makes this turn-about entirely convincing.
2. This touching movie recalls "Ek Chadar Mailee Si" in its theme and story.
3. The script and direction and acting performances rise to searing heights to create several memorable moments in the film. (i) When Lea goes away unannounced for the first sabbah, Jake is worried and when his girlfriend suggests that she must have left to have fun, his value-neutral defense that she is not that kind of person naturally result in unintended hurt feelings in her, leading to irreparable damage in their relationship. (ii) To assuage his guilt feeling over wronging her dead brother and to set things right, Lea leaves Jake. But the way they are reunited is managed without any awkwardness. (iii) The two arcs of Jake's relationships with Lea and Carol [his lover]--growing care of one and the other declining love relationship--are convincingly and sensitively handled.
Cast: Adam Kaufman (Jake), Lauren Ambrose (Lea), Christy Pusz (Carol--Jake fiance)
Dir.: JEFF BLECKNER---WATCHOUT-DIRECTOR
Writer: PNENAH GOLDSTEIN -- WATCHOUT SCRIPT WRITER
"When his rabbi brother dies, Jake (Adam Kaufman), a 30-year-old cardiologist, is called upon to marry the widow, Leah (Lauren Ambrose), under orthodox Jewish law. While initially just going through the motions to satisfy their mothers (Mercedes Ruehl and Susie Essman), the two soon find themselves in love. Ricki Lake is the rabbi who helps Leah through her new situation, and Christy Pusz co-stars as Jake's confused girlfriend." --Netflix summary
My Comments: 1. Going by the story and its sensitive handling, this film ought to get 5-star rating. The slow gradual complex processes by which the agreed relationships make a turn about and surprisingly get changed is imaginatively handled. The script makes this turn-about entirely convincing.
2. This touching movie recalls "Ek Chadar Mailee Si" in its theme and story.
3. The script and direction and acting performances rise to searing heights to create several memorable moments in the film. (i) When Lea goes away unannounced for the first sabbah, Jake is worried and when his girlfriend suggests that she must have left to have fun, his value-neutral defense that she is not that kind of person naturally result in unintended hurt feelings in her, leading to irreparable damage in their relationship. (ii) To assuage his guilt feeling over wronging her dead brother and to set things right, Lea leaves Jake. But the way they are reunited is managed without any awkwardness. (iii) The two arcs of Jake's relationships with Lea and Carol [his lover]--growing care of one and the other declining love relationship--are convincingly and sensitively handled.
Miss Potter (2006)***
Seen on 4/8/2009 - Star Movies
Cast: Rene Zelwiger (Miss Beatrix Potter), Ewan McGregor (Norman Warne)
Dir.: Chris
"Blending lush animation sequences with live-action drama, director Chris Noonan constructs this biopic about the personal life of beloved children's author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. Featuring the Academy Award-winning Renee Zellweger as the title character and co-starring Emily Watson and Ewan McGregor, the film traces Potter's private life as well as her contributions to literature such as the timeless 'Tale of Peter Rabbit.'"
My comment:1. We get to see the famed Lake District here where Miss Potter, after the premature death of her fiance buys a country home with a working farm and settles down. She even uses her hard earned money to buy up hundreds of acres of neighboring farms just in order to preserve it from being sold to land developers and later bequeaths the same to land preservation agency!
2. It's touch tale of a young spinster who breaks restrictions of upper class early twentieth century family by (i) venturing into writing for children and illustrating them herself (ii) by boldly persuading the publishers to publish a female writer and succeeding in the efforgts (iii) by deciding to marry a person she loved from the inferior social class of tradesman against the staunch opposition of her parents.
3. Renee Zellweger is superb in playing the strong-willed female writer.
4. The director Noonan often imaginatively uses two bit animations to show how Miss Potter saw her fascinating stories and to bring them alive in her imagination. Thus her characters also gain vibrant existence as her life long companions.
5. Miss potter finds a confidante and soul-mate in the suffragette sister of the man who lovingly publishes her books and later was to marry her had it not been for early unexpected death. The triangular bonding is sensitively developed in the film.
Cast: Rene Zelwiger (Miss Beatrix Potter), Ewan McGregor (Norman Warne)
Dir.: Chris
"Blending lush animation sequences with live-action drama, director Chris Noonan constructs this biopic about the personal life of beloved children's author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. Featuring the Academy Award-winning Renee Zellweger as the title character and co-starring Emily Watson and Ewan McGregor, the film traces Potter's private life as well as her contributions to literature such as the timeless 'Tale of Peter Rabbit.'"
My comment:1. We get to see the famed Lake District here where Miss Potter, after the premature death of her fiance buys a country home with a working farm and settles down. She even uses her hard earned money to buy up hundreds of acres of neighboring farms just in order to preserve it from being sold to land developers and later bequeaths the same to land preservation agency!
2. It's touch tale of a young spinster who breaks restrictions of upper class early twentieth century family by (i) venturing into writing for children and illustrating them herself (ii) by boldly persuading the publishers to publish a female writer and succeeding in the efforgts (iii) by deciding to marry a person she loved from the inferior social class of tradesman against the staunch opposition of her parents.
3. Renee Zellweger is superb in playing the strong-willed female writer.
4. The director Noonan often imaginatively uses two bit animations to show how Miss Potter saw her fascinating stories and to bring them alive in her imagination. Thus her characters also gain vibrant existence as her life long companions.
5. Miss potter finds a confidante and soul-mate in the suffragette sister of the man who lovingly publishes her books and later was to marry her had it not been for early unexpected death. The triangular bonding is sensitively developed in the film.
Little Voice (1998)**
Seen on 3/8/09 - HBO
Cast: Jane Harrocks (Little Voice/Laura), Brenda Blethyn (Mari), Michael Caine
(Ray Say, the Talent scout),Ewan McGregor (Billy, breeds homing pigeons)
Dir.: Mark Herman
Based on Stage Play by Jim Cartwright.
The teenage girl called "Little Voice" or Laura is grief stricken over the loss of her father. She is reclusive and quite lost in the world of her father's music records, singing to herself the old songs of Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, et al. Her loud-mouthed eccentric mother Mari is busy picking up beaus. Her present lover Ray Say is a club promoter now fallen on hard times. When he hears LV sing he finds in her his opportunity for promoting a great singing star. His attempts to persuade her to come out of her grief and sing on the stage meet with partial success. Eventually she recedes into her shell snuffing out dreams of riches in her mother and her beau. Meanwhile she is unknowingly and quietly drawn to the telephone repairer, Billy who also keeps homing pigeons.
Cast: Jane Harrocks (Little Voice/Laura), Brenda Blethyn (Mari), Michael Caine
(Ray Say, the Talent scout),Ewan McGregor (Billy, breeds homing pigeons)
Dir.: Mark Herman
Based on Stage Play by Jim Cartwright.
The teenage girl called "Little Voice" or Laura is grief stricken over the loss of her father. She is reclusive and quite lost in the world of her father's music records, singing to herself the old songs of Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, et al. Her loud-mouthed eccentric mother Mari is busy picking up beaus. Her present lover Ray Say is a club promoter now fallen on hard times. When he hears LV sing he finds in her his opportunity for promoting a great singing star. His attempts to persuade her to come out of her grief and sing on the stage meet with partial success. Eventually she recedes into her shell snuffing out dreams of riches in her mother and her beau. Meanwhile she is unknowingly and quietly drawn to the telephone repairer, Billy who also keeps homing pigeons.
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