Gangs of Wasseypur

 

Was reminded of this * * * * movie when I saw Nawazuddin Siddiqui in The LunchBox recently. Plucked seemingly out of nowhere, NS plays Faizal Khan to perfection - a shadowy, chillum-smoking character who reluctantly transforms to become the lynchpin of one of the gangs involved in a bloody multi-generational tussle. GoW, the finest hour of Anurag Khashyap's career thus far, in a way is also a study of the evolution of India from independence to "modern" day. Outstanding soundtrack. And a brilliant cast of nobodies.

Rating: * * * *

Breaking Bad

I was late on this one. I first heard about this series only last September as I witnessed frenetic activity on the twitter timeline about the upcoming series finale. Once I began on episode 1, it was easy becoming a junkie. Blitzkrieged through the rest of the 5 seasons in 5 weeks.

This Vince Gilligan production is as close to perfection as Richmal Crompton's Just William series of books and the British TV series 'Jeeves and Wooster' were to me. At the outset, the hook for me was the underground crystal meth operation spearheaded by an unlikely pair of underdogs - Walter White (WW) & Jesse Pinkman. Gradually it became much more than that. It was like I had shaved my head, grew a french beard and decided to switch on a bomb - a Heisenberg whirlpool that unwittingly took in many others in for a ride as well. All for the family, not.  

All of the surrounding characters were brilliantly scripted and casted - a big factor in the success of the show in my opinion. Each one of the characters had enough depth to spin off a series entirely on their own. 

After watching the entire season, I have browsed through quite a few reviews and interviews. Much of it has been about the bewilderment about viewers rooting for Walter White despite his evilness. Frankly, it is not the first time an anti-hero character in a movie/TV series has proven popular.  At some level, everybody wants to be bad because of all the 'injustices' that one has had to endure. The urge to take on the establishment / society is something again, I reckon, a lot of people would relate to.

What really was cool was the depiction of the inner workings of a crystal meth empire. Which is no different from managing any other business. For instance, there were insights into: (a) strategising - both micro and macro from Saul Bellow-DEA-WW-Gus Fring; (b) managing operational efficiencies from WW-Mike-The man who makes them disappear; (c) people management skills - grooming talent, empowering nobodies, sidelining competition and (d) money laundering from Saul-Skyler.

While searching for stuff to read about the show, I came across an entire series of interviews by Rolling Stone with most of the cast in the run up to the final episode. Some of the ones I found interesting were the one with Giancarlo Esposito 'Gus Fring' (The ending I want is to see is his head on a pike) and Dean Norris 'Hank' (Is Hank the only major character in this show who hasn't broken bad? Absolutely). The others also should be checked out. 

I also discovered some great music through the 60 odd episodes - painstakingly shazamed my way to a playlist of 15 odd songs. While David Porter's original score does immense work in the subconscious, here are few songs that stood out - in chronological order: TV On The Radio's DLZ (lead singer being Tunde Adebimpe), The Be Good Tanyas' Waiting around to die and Gnarls Barkley's Who's gonna save my soul.


Rating: * * * *

Philip Seymour Hoffman

 

Much has already been written over the past few days about the actor that he was. I think I saw him first in '25th Hour' and thought here was a discovery. Some one, with the right role, who would be the finest. Then as I watched more of him I realised he was the finest already. 

It all got personal some time in 2012, as I contemplated the arrival of junior, that I came across an interview of him where he talks about his experience as a father, parenting - past and present. The relevant bits starts after the 5th minute I reckon.

And now he is gone. As a friend put it, he was getting prepared to bat out a day with some 80 bags of heroin, but then fell in the first over. Sad. I want to understand more about the man - the genius that he was as an actor and a person who eventually succumbed to all kinds of internal strife.

In order to commemorate the man, I have decided I am going to hunt down every movie of his.

Rating: * * * *

Photo source: http://danbusta.tumblr.com/

 

Dhobi Ghat

The film opens with a handy cam's jerky motions welcoming the viewer and Yasmin, a newlywed lass to the world of Mumbai. In retrospect it seems like an apt intro to the lives of four disparate individuals intertwined in the bustling city. There is Arun, a lonely painter who seeks more introspectiveness and shies from contact. Except that Shai the annoying ABCD investment banker on a sabbatical in India to "discover" herself, follows him around. Munna the dhobi and wannabe actor flits between them both.

You would think this is just another multiple plot line converging type films that have become uber popular in the past decade. For one there is a unique depth and stillness to it with a storyline that has no clear beginning end or middle. Just a chunk of time from a few people's life. Kiran Rao seems more like a conjurer than a director, smoothly transitioning the characters between ebb and flow of scenes that pull in the viewer in to the movie like a whirlpool. There are moments where you hope and pray that she does not allow her actors to tread the beaten path and she always brings them tantalizing close only to pull them away at the last instance. 

The acting is steady all around with not a hint of overacting which is the norm in many Hindi films. Aamir Khan is an almost silent brooding presence through the film but his mark is felt everywhere especially on the budding Prateik. Monica Dogra was about to be abused in this review but then again that is the kind of reaction her character was meant to evoke. Kirti Malhotra is some ways has the toughest role as she only interacts with the viewer and boy does she hold your attention. 

To sum it up, this is the answer to abomination that was Slumdog Millionaire!

Rating: * * * *

Lemon Tree

Salma Zidane leads a simple albeit poor existence tending a lemon grove on the Israeli-Palestine border.  When the Israeli defense minister moves in as her neighbor, she receives an Israeli government order stating that the lemon grove has to be wiped out due to security concerns. Most Palestinians would say this is par for the course when living on the border. But for Salma the grove is much more than just her livelihood. The memory of her father and husband are buried in the soil. So she decides to take the might of Israel to court. 

The decision opens up the film to many dimensions. The juxtaposition of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle. The bullying nature of Israel. The treatment of women in Palestine. The rocky marriage of the minister aptly named, Israel Navon and Mira, his wife. The silent relationship between Salma and Mira (Rona Lipaz-Michael). But the most interesting dimension is the quiet romance between Salma and her young lawyer, Said (Ali Suliman). And through all this Salma, played beautifully by Hiam Abbass, carriers herself with quiet dignity. All in all, director Eran Riklis has crafted a masterpiece.

Rating: * * * *

Mumbai Meri Jaan

July 11th, 2006 saw seven bombs explode in the space of 11 minutes on various suburban trains in Mumbai. July 12th saw the common man in Mumbai look at life in his city through different lenses.  It is this chilling aftermath and the ensuing media mongering that this film focuses on.

When the aam junta are played by folk like Irrfan Khan and Madhavan the effect is telling. Irrfan says little in his role of a Tamilian living in Mumbai but like always he doesn't need to. As angry young man, Kay Kay Menon makes a comeback to acting in this film as he grabs the screen like he did in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. But the man who dominates the film is a very svelte Paresh Rawal in a soon to retire policeman's guise. The only weak link is Soha Ali Khan trying desperately to cut a sorry pensive figure. Nishikant Kamat is the man holding the threads of the film and for a refreshing change none of the threads meet or interesect. A film that truly reflects life...

Rating: * * * *

Jellyfish

Snippets from the lives of three women float by and everything else stood still. sometimes when you watch a film everything is in sync. The movie absorbs you and its inner wavelength is in sync with yours. This was one of those films for me.

Rating: * * * *

Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha

Most Mallus are familiar with the tale of the cousins Chandu (Mammootty) and Aaromal Chekavar (Suresh Gopi) who are famous warriors from North Kerala. Legend says that Chandu jealous of Aaromal skill and wealth, betrayed him as a second, in a fight where he had metal rivets in a sword replaced with wooden ones. M.T. Vasudevan Nair, the genius he is, took this premise and turned it on its head. He potrays Chandu as a misunderstood soul who had life itself conspiring against him.

Mamootty dominates the movie with his brilliant portrayal of Chandu which won him a National Award. Madhavi is stunning as Unniyarcha. But it is Captain Raju as "Aana mayaki" Aringodar who in my opinion that steals the show.  So if you can ignore the poorly choreographed Kalarippayattu sequences, you are in for a epic masterpiece.

Rating: * * * *

Ore Kadal

Every person is an island in some ways. The amount of water surrounding the land mass is what makes an individual. Swimming in a sea of poverty and despair, housewife Deepthi (Meera Jasmine) finds herself drawn to an isolated man, Nathan (Mammootty), who knows not how to love. The question she is faced with is if one can swim to all islands or are there some that always appear on the horizon.

The film based on Sunil Gangopadhyay’s novel, "Heerak Deepthi" has Shyamaprasad behind the lens. The man in my opinion is one of the few remaining shining lights in the Kerala film industry. Though it does help to have a brilliant cast and outstanding script but it takes a genius to make it all come together seamlessly.

Rating: * * * *

The Visitor

Walter (Richard Jenkins) is a straight laced university professor, silently grieving the death of his wife by trying to recreate the sounds of the piano. He suddenly finds himself forced to visit his apartment in New York to attend a conference. He strangely finds it to be occupied by a couple, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira). After throwing them out initially, he inexplicably invites them back in. As he starts to get embroiled in the couple's complicated situation, Walter finds himself opening up and rediscovering the man he maybe once was. Jenkins has outdone himself in this role. A brilliant film that exposes the glaring holes and the sterile nature of the US immigration system.

Rating: * * * *

The Shawshank Redemption

Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins)  finds himself serving two life sentences for a crime of passion at the Shawshank prison. With nothing left but all the time in the world to think about it, Andy finds himself bonding with a fellow jail-mate, Red (Morgan Freeman), as he meanders his way around prison life. Corny as it sounds it is movie a movie about hope with just the right amount of melodrama. And with Mr. Freeman playing the narrator you will be left haunted forever by some of the dialog. 

The film which is based on a short story by Stephen King, is like fine wine. It seems to age very well and just keeps getting better with time.

Rating: * * * *

The Usual Suspects

The film starts with a police line up of the usual suspects for a hijacked truck. But this time lining up the usual suspects takes us on twisted journey that ends with a burning ship filled with dead bodies.

A movie that I have seen many times and have enjoyed it each time around. How can you not when it has golden dialogs like "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist". A film about which the less is said about the better.

Rating: * * * *

Raincoat

Mannu (Ajay Devgan) with a heavy heart and an empty wallet leaves his small town of Bhagalpur for Calcutta in an effort to raise money for his business. As he wanders around Calcutta he finds himself at the doorstep of Neeru (Aishwarya Rai), his childhood love...

Mr. Devgan is decent in this unusual stoic and pensive role which he underplays. Ms. Rai is breathtaking as always and even acts for a change. But the actor who steals the show is Annu Kapoor in his ten minute cameo. And while giving kudos let us not forget 0. Henry and Rituparno Ghosh without whom the film would not be possible.

Rating: * * * *

Factotum

It's just a slow day
Moving into a slow night
It doesn't matter
It doesn't matter what you do

Henry Chinaski (Matt Dillon) drifts from job to job in an alcoholic storm. The only anchor for him is his writing. The rest is all inconsequential. Based on the stories of Charles Bukowski, the film shows you a side of Matt Dillon that has never been seen before.

Rating: * * * *
PS: The film strangely resonates with the way I feel at this moment...

Lives of Others

The film is set in during the 1980s in East Germany when the Stasi ruled supreme with its limitless cadre of informants and spies. Big brother was indeed watching every little move of all its citizens. Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe) is a surveillance expert who is asked to eavesdrop on a high profile director and actress couple. Slowly he is drawn into their lives and the warmth of their love. At the end of the day everyone needs a little human touch and 1 is indeed the loneliest number.

Rating: * * * *

Stealing Beauty

October 21st, 2007
Lucy (Liv Tyler) travels to beautiful Italy to have her portrait done, chase the ghost of her mother and grasp the reins of love. Bernardo Bertolucci film is thick with sexual tension which shimmers like heat waves over the lush countryside. Liv Tyler dances around these waves in an Italian villa where a group of bohemian artists and friends have gathered to spend the summer. Jeremy Irons is poignant in his role of a dying playwright. But it is Tyler's ethereal beauty that captures the screen. You are often left wondering if it is film or phantasmagoria. For me the it was magical and it had nothing to with the film.

Rating: * * * *

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

A friend mentioned in passing about the BBC adaptation of John Le Carre's "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy". I was skeptical at first since I firmly believed that Le Carre's books are hard to dramatize on screen. But on hearing that Sir Alec Guinness plays the role of George Smiley I took the plunge. So I re-entered Smiley's world and his hunt for the the mole in the British secret service. I soon found myself whispering, "Control always said that there were three of them and Alleline" as I walked the company corridors :).

Sir Alec's decision to play the role brought in the cream of the Brit actors of that era into this series. So every character is portrayed beautifully. Guinness's himself as Smiley is breathtaking. He has captured every nuance of the spy with a certain panache and effortlessness. A must watch for every Le Carre fan out there.

Rating: * * * *

The Weather Man

Every now and then you see a movie that has been viewed by more than 100000 people and you think there is hope for humanity. But then again maybe they didn't like it.

The only thing that goes smoothly in the life of David Sprintz (Nicolas Cage) is his job. He is a weather man and the minute he steps out of work his life is akin to the Chicago weather he predicts. Divorced and alienated from his kids, David walks his life in a disconnected stupor. David tries hard to clear the cobwebs and grab on to every lifeline available just to feel connected. Sliced with some cunning humor the film takes you to that place where you float blissfully. And to think I decided to see the movie just for Michael Caine...

Rating: * * * *

Twilight Samurai

Yôji Yamada's masterpiece set around the time of the Meiji Restoration follows Seibei Iguchi (Hiroyuki Sanada), a low ranking Samurai. The role of the Samurai is fast disappearing and its effect is magnified for people like Seibei. But he stoically moves on struggling to look after his two daughters and ailing mother. The film is beautiful and caresses the screen with poise and elegance. The acting of Sanada and the direction of Yamada have much to do with that. A movie that needs to be revisited every now and then.

Rating: * * * *

Caché

A still camera welcomes you with the names of the cast and crew arranging itself across the screen. Michael Haneke's slick psychological drama grips you from that very calm beginning. Georges (Daniel Auteuil) and Anne (Juliette Binoche) lead an innocuous life with their teenage son. Boring tapes of someone watching them start to show up on their doorstep and the idyllic layers of their lives start to peel.

Rating: * * * *