Letters from Iwo Jima

I went to watch this film with very high expectations and was not disappointed. Maybe it was because it was in Japanese or maybe it was because of the hue and color the movie was shot in... I really don't know. All I know is that this film touches your soul in places which its companion film, Flags of our Fathers, did not even know existed. This not a knock against Flags. Flags was taken with a Western mindset laced with the kind of melodrama that is always visible in most American war films. Letters bow to the Eastern sentiment. What is startling is that both are directed by the same person. Clint Eastwood does a fine job of realistically portraying the US assault on Iwo Jima from the Japanese standpoint without a hint of partiality.

Thank you, Mr. Eastwood, Mr Haggis...
Arigato, Yamashita san, Watanabe san, Ninomiya san, Ihara san....

Rating: * * * *

Look Both Ways

A cartoonist who sees death everywhere. A photographer who has been diagnosed with cancer. A reporter who has gotten his girl friend pregnant. A man being run over by a train is witnessed by the cartoonist. The incident is covered by the reporter and the photographer. A film that flirts with a morbid fascination with death but with a streak of life infused in it.

I saw this movie with Aromal as usual. By the 50th minute he walked out swearing he would acquaint Wenerd with much pain and suffering if he met him. I agreed to help him dole out punishment to the twisted bastard. But I continued to watch the flick with a sense of foreboding depression. But around the hour mark something happened. Everything just clicked. Maybe it was the soundtrack or the rain or the fact that the "death animations" stopped . I really don't know. All I can say is that I have never seen such a powerful movie before.

Rating: * * * *

Notes on a scandal

Secrets are harmful and can be manipulated - as Sheba Hart finds out. Fantastic performances from the two leading ladies make this movie worth it. Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench outdo themselves in their respective roles of a confused "lonely" married teacher and a vile lonely spinster teacher. An entertaining drama that entirely rides on their performances.

Rating: * * *

Nochnoy Dozor

Known as 'Night Watch' in english and has been on my watch list for sometime. A fantasy film set in modern day Moscow where battlelines are drawn between the nighttime and daytime forces. Spectacularly made movie that keeps you entertained right through.

Rating: * * +

Half Nelson

An idealistic white school teacher, in a predominantly black neighbour hood, teaches History and coaches the girls' basketball team. But clearly he is not listening to what he tells the kids about Change and Being Responsible for one's choices. The idealism has led into junkiedom. Its as much about his battles as it is with what he believes is wrong with the world.

At the outset, it seemed like a promising movie & a classic - which it was in most respects - performances, directing and music. But somehow, at the End Of The Day and All Said And Done, it was less than the sum of parts.

Rating: * * +

Funeral in Berlin

A classic spy film that you wish to see more of. Based on a Len Deighton novel, and directed by Guy Hamilton - the maker of many Bond movies. The story is all right - apropos a paperback spy novel. But the pithy lines delivered by the immaculate Michael Caine along with the stark (some call it lazy directing) nature of the flick, made it an extremely enjoyable watch.

I was checking out Guy Hamilton's filmogrpahy and hes got loads of famous Bond films to his credit directing Sean Connery and Roger Moore at various points in time. But am quite certain, he couldnot have seen a better spyster performance from that of Caine as a reluctant Harry Palmer.

Harry Palmer gets imbroiled in a plot that turns out to be very different from that he was originally recruited for. But with minimal bloodshed, he manages to find his way out of the mess.

Rating: * * *

Stone Cold

Tragic.

Rating: * -

When trumpets fade

Deep in the Hurtgen Forest in late 1944, a private could not be more keen to get out of the scene claiming mental instability and is pretty honest about it - many of the others feel the same, but hold it against him. But he keeps being promoted on the face of growing casualities as the Germans put up a tough resistance. After being challenged to take out a German outpost, Private Manning has to motivate his small force to do the impossible.

Reasonably well made flick, but wouldnot reflect in the top war movies list.

Rating: * *

In her shoes

When ones recuperating, one ends up watching anything. A tale of two sisters that begins with conflict and ends with a wedding in neigbourhood Jamaican restuarant. No surprises.

Rating: * +

Mad Dog and Glory

A Martin Scorsese produced movie staring two of the prime artists of our time and a beauty. The tagline of the movie describes it best:

A cop who'd rather be an artist. A mobster who'd rather be a comic. And a woman who'd rather be anywhere but between them.

Witty clever interplay between 2 characters who are accidentally brought together. The friendship is cut-short on an inevitable face-off over a woman. Quite funny and amusing.

David Caruso appears in a bit role. A pity that we havent seen more of the fellow.

Rating: * * +

Milwaukee, Minnesota

Another of those stories about an odd guy in an American town (like this one). Branded an idiot by the community at large, gets caught in an intricate web of events. Fraudsters lured by his money making ability of winning ice fishing tournaments. Randy Quaid as a sleazeball was deadly.

Rating: * * +

Fat Pizza

One of the most offensive movies have come across. Though theres not a moment that one isnt laughing. Made in the Cheech & Chong tradition, tells us the day in the life of a lebanese pizza delivery boy in sub-urban Australia.

In what can be construed as rascism - he spares no one - the vietnamese, aussies, Indians, lebanese, italians and americans. Its sexist as well; rude and abusive of disabled people. The idea is that no one is left feeling that they are the only ones to be abused. A philosophy that deserves more merit.

Theres a bit performance by the great Merv Hughes: as an axe-wileding serial killer - fucking hilarious!

A classically orey the funny movie.

Rating: * * *

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge

An unemployed man is told about a treasure hidden in a house opposite a Red Bridge. The owner of the house turns out to be a beautiful woman who has a strange ailment. She fills up with water and the easiest way for her to vent is to have sex. Our unemployed friend, Koji Yakusho (Babel), has no problem in obliging. Yes, only the Japanese can come up with this kind of a theme. There a few sub-plots surrounding the venting. Most hilarious being that of the African who is training to run in the Olympics. One of the strangest and wackiest movies I have seen in a while.

Rating: * *

Lust for Life

Adaptation of Irving Stone's fantastic novel of the same name. Recreates the madness that inspired Vincent Van Gogh and also shows footage of the original lanscapes & people that moved him to create some of the most famous pieces of art ever known.

Kirk Douglas, quite naturally, fits the bill of the crazed lunatic. But the american accent does jar and seem out of place. Anthony Quinn is impressive, in an Oscar winning performance, as Paul Gauguin. The discussion on their respective motivations to paint is quite interesting. And intense, of course.

Vincente Minnelli created, apparently, one of the most picturesque and original movies of his time. But to me, the performances and dialogues were way too dramatic (just like the movie versions of Fountainhead and To Kill a Mocking Bird). Thats the way movies were made - but my image of Irving Stones story was a lot quieter.

Worth a watch - especially, if you wish to see the landscapes that inspired V V G - and a whole lot of his art which are less famous.

Rating: * * +

The Quiet American

"They say you come to Vietnam and understand a lot in a few minutes.
"The rest has got to be lived.
"They say whatever it was you were looking for you will find here."

It is the year 1954. The Indochina war is drawing to a bloody close in Vietnam and the seeds of US involvement in Vietnam are being sown. Michael Caine plays Gordon Fowler, a Brit correspondent stationed in Saigon, who has the breathtaking Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen) as his mistress. Caine himself has called this role one of his finest. He conveys sadness and loss with poise and reckless abandon. I wish I could ask Tony Leung if he has been influenced by this Brit. Brendan Fraser finally shows he can act as Alden Pyle, an idealistic US aid worker. A love triangle forms between the three which is mirrored by the triangle between the Communists, the Americans and the people of Vietnam. Chris Doyle, ever watchful behind the lens ensures that you don't miss a single color in this wonderful palette.

The movie is based on a novel by Graham Greene. I have to say I enjoyed both tremendously. After my recent South East Asia trip I can identify more with Fowler doing the Saigon Flip. The easy paced life with a goddess by your side and opium to numb ones brain plus the warmth of the common man can bewitch most people.

The movie at its close left me with this feeling... What matters the most at the end of the day is the one you love...

Rating: * * *

D (Hindi)

Even though this movie was directed by Vishram Sawant, it has the stamp of Ram Gopal Varma who produced it. I wonder how much freedom Sawant got in making this film. But at the end of the day it has turned out to be a brilliant flick. It is supposedly based on Dawood Ibrahim's rise to fame. Like Satya and Company this movie too is peppered with violence but with very little melodrama. Randeep Hooda plays the lead and I think he is going to be an actor to look out for.

Rating: * * *

Ronin Gai

Set in the 1830's in Japan during the decline of the Feudal Tokugawa shogunate system sees Shintaro Katsu (Zatoichi) playing a Mifune-like role. A bunch of ronin who hang around an inn take on a group of Tokugawa retainers who are terrorizing the local prostitutes. Nothing to write home about.

Rating: * +

Nina's Tragedies

Nadav is obsessively in love with Nina. Nina is his mother's sister. Nadav is 12 years old. Do I need to say more? A touching film with many moments of cunning humor as can be seen from the poem below.

This reminds me of a beautiful poem by Yuri Bukovsky.
It goes like this.
"When I take off my clothes
My personality falls to the floor with them
And I remain a tiny little dot
Between the closet and the bed
And a little bird sings and laughs in your heart
Because my dick makes you feel good."
He's a great poet. - It's a nice poem.
So should I take off my clothes?

Rating: * * +

Pan's Labyrinth

The film is set in Spain during the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. It shows you this world through the eyes of young girl who's day and night fluctuates between reality and fantasy. The girl played by Ivana Baqero is ethereal in this role. Infused with Guillermo Del Toro's trademark grittiness, darkness and violence; this fairy tale is not meant for children. I just wish there was more depth to the storyline or maybe more magic than realism.

Rating: * *

3-Iron

This is what the director Kim Ki-duk had to say about the movie:

We are all empty houses
Waiting for someone
To open the lock and set us free.

One day, my wish comes true.
A man arrives like a ghost
And takes me away from my confinement.
And I follow, without doubts, without reserve,
Until I find my new destiny.

A silent man goes about breaking into homes (reminded me of this film because of that) when the owners are out vacationing or getting away from their abused spouses. In one such experience, he is prevented from moving on.

Its almost a silent movie; with the plot moving on stealthily. Definitely recommend this to KK.

Rating: * * +

Dev

Govind Nihalani has tried very hard to portray the politically driven Hindu - Muslim conflict in India and kudos to him for that. But the film falls well short. He should learn from this film. The overall theme and concept is good but the direction and screenplay lacks focus causing your attention to waver. The acting from Amitabh Bachan and the Puris are alright. Fardeen Kahn and Kareena Kapoor should go back to acting school.

Rating: * +

The Big Kahuna

I saw this movie a few years ago and it did not leave much of an impression. I guess it had to with my frame of mind then or maybe it had to with the person whom I watched it with. But I saw it again and I am glad I did.

I don't smoke, you quit drinking, Bob here wouldn't even dream of looking at another woman with lust... between the three of us, we're practically Jesus.

Kevin Spacey and Danny DeVito play the role of two veteran salesmen trying to land a big client. Peter Facinelli plays a young protege who has come along for the ride. Some very fine acting all around. The movie is centered around conversations happening in a hotel suite. The focus in on their sales pitch but it meanders into life, universe and everything. The screenplay is out of the world. Spacey and DeVito show yet again why they are the finest character actors in the business.

Rating: * * *

Broken Flowers

Its one of those that can possibly allow for a lot of thinking / discussion - if you are the sort i.e. Esp if you love contemplating past loves.

There are long periods of stillness in terms of action, dialogue and camera movement, possibly attempting to replicate the brain speed of the main character. Urged by his stoner neighbour, Bill Murray heads out to find something, which he eventually _______.. ??

The reason for the rating below := the cast (Chloe Sevigny, Sharon Stone, Jessica Lange, Julie Delpy, Jeffrey Wright) put together for this rather thin story + the outstanding soundtrack + stoic performance by Bill Murray. Another cool flick by Jim Jarmusch.

Rating : * * *

A Touch of Zen

Sambar's choices become more dubious by the day. Couldn't take more than 45 min of this mind numbing shite.

Rating: +

Snakes on a plane

Rating: As good as The Titanic

Confessions of Pain

The title possibly refers to a viewer's first comments on the movie. Billed as the movie from the maker of 'Infernal Affairs' and despite putting together as good as a cast as it can get, I was disappointed. Which wasnt entirely unexpected.

Rating: * +

Singles

Since it was that time in December, thought I would watch a Korean 'rom-com'. After watching this, have decided that in moments of such weakness I would rather re-watch 'rom-coms' that I have enjoyed in the past.

Rating: *

The Illusionist

Again, a waste of time and quality actors. If you want to watch a movie with magic thrown in, watch this.

Rating: *

Kiss Daddy Goodnight

Uma Thurman's first movie where she plays the lead in this dark, avant-garde flick. Its one of those movies where one is constantly adjusting the TV settings or cleaning one's ears for wax. Nothing to talk about; unless, one is studying the various stages in the evolution process of a beauty.

Rating: * +

Kabul Express

What a waste of time. It starts with John Abraham doing push-ups on a dusty Afghan road. And it ends with him, a muslim Indian, letting a Pakistani-turned Taliban guy escape from his Afghani pursuers only to be shot dead by his own countrymen. Nothing really new and a watch not worth it.

Rating: *

Akale

Supposedly an adaptation of a Tennessee Williams play. Whatever, its a rather moving, but simple, story of an anglo-indian family in kerala. The story's being told by a man, whose present is slowly being eaten away by his guilt of the past. Excellent performances; reminds me of the malayalam movies of many years ago - in its performances, dialogues and realism.

Rating: * * *

Steamboy

I was looking forward to this anime from the maker of Akira with much anticipation. But Katsuhiro Otomo disappoints. The flick highlights the ever ensuing fight against using science for destruction. It is very rich in detail and portrays some wonderful animation but does not have the deep philosophical and mystical storyline that Akira had.

Rating: * *

Eragon

Based on the book by Christopher Paolini, the movie like the book mashes LOTR, EarthSea and few other fantasy classics into a barely palatable dish. But hey I can't resist a movie or book with dragons in it...

Rating: * +

50 Lost Movie Classics

Interesting piece at the Guardian which highlights 50 movies that lost their way, rather unfortunately. Some good suggestions for Christmas viewing.

Kinamand

A movie very much inspired by "In the Mood for Love". Bjarne Henriksen is a Danish Bill Murray. After his wife of 25 years abruptly leaves him, he starts to frequent his neighborhood Chinese grill. He befriends the grill owner who offers him a sizable sum of money to marry his sister so that she can remain in the country. And so the story goes...

Rating: * * +

Schizo

Mustafa a.k.a Schizo is kicked out of school because he his strange and slow. The rest of film shows that schizophrenia has not affected him much. After leaving school he signs on to scout for fighters for an underground fighting ring. One of the fighters he brings dies in the ring. Schizo takes it on himself to help the dead fighters family and soon gets intricately involved in their daily life.In spite of the simple and linear storyline, the film made out for some fine viewing.

Rating: * * +

Khosla ka Ghosla

This should have been the movie going to the Oscars; instead of the other UTV over-rated-piece-of-dog-piss production, Rang De Basanti. Glad to see more such real & funny mainstream movies making its way into the theatres. There slowly appears to be a core group of actors regaling in the freedom of making non-larger-than-life-fucking-bullshit cinema: a throwback to the early 80s indie film movement. Boman Irani as an evil land grabber is certainly one of them.

Rating: * * * +

The King

Return of the prodigal son. And the resultant impending doom. A dark movie thats set in a religious Texan town and how the top church family is infiltrated by a virus - of sin. Good performances that make it fairly a distant, bleak movie.

Rating: * * +

Paradise Now

"How can one take the role of oppressor and victim?"

Two friends living in Nablas on the West Bank are chosen for a suicide bombing mission in Tel Aviv. Both are eager and willing but on the day of the mission things go wrong. The events that follow opens a window into life on the Palestinian side and the role of violence and terrorism in their struggle. The terrorist are shown in the light of normal people living without much hope. Their only hope is that their role of martyrs in the struggle will give rise to a better tomorrow. A stunning film indeed...

Rating: * * *

The Indian Runner

Sean Penn's directorial debut film - and its got every bit of the 'tragedy' element that Penn, the actor, thrives in.

The movie is apparently inspired by Bruce Springsteen's 'Highway Patrolman'; about 2 brothers, one who is upright and the other who is not. The lyrics of the song is pretty much drives the movie.

Excellent, expansive photography of rural Nebraska and some good strong peformances all around. But, if you take a 6 minute song and make into a 2 hr movie, one shouldnt really expect a gripping plot.

Rating: * * +

New Guy

Gregg starts work in a new company only to find his cubicle covered with Post-It notes left by his predecessor. And there ends all the novelty in the film. Another one of those "Why did I put this on my queue?" movies.

Rating: *

Water

The final installation in Deepa Mehta's trilogy, Water portrays the plight of windows in India during the 1930s. The film has a excellent story line and screenplay but having Lisa Ray and John Abraham in the lead roles made the movie fall flat.

Rating: * *

Flags of our Fathers

These days when I see the words - 'A CLINT EASTWOOD FILM' - I shut the laptop and head to the nearest queue for cinema tickets. And when its based on a WWII incident, I am found missing from office for the rest of the day.

Its about the Battle of Iwo Jima; one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific; and specifically, the legendary flag raising photo and the heroes that it creates accidentally. However, the real truth behind the picture has emerged only slowly and thats what the movie centres on. It also shows how one of the largest and most highly promoted capital market bond roadshow was conducted - very interesting. It was instrumental on how WWII eventually turned out.

The timing of the film couldnt have been more appropriate - it shows nothing has really changed. Nothing that we see today about Bush/Iraq/Weapons of Mass Manipulation is new. Its been happening for a long long while and will continue to happen for a long long time to come.

The movie is a long one, and captures a lot through substantial 'to&fro' switching between the past & the future. Theres no real continuous motion of events and therefore quite different from other war movies. From purely a 'war' prespective, it would rank lower than 'The Thin Red Line' - arguably the best war movie out there.

Despite the inappropriateness of the underlying theme at this present moment & no real quality performances to talk about, it should be a front runner for the the Academy Awards.

Rating: * * *

Apparently, Clint Eastwood is also directing a complementary film on the battle from the Japanese viewpoint. Its titled Letters from Iwo Jima, and will star Ken Watanabe.

Revisting some classics

Over the past few days, I came across couple of movies that drew me to cinema a long time back. And fortunately, even after many years, the inherent strength of the movies remain intact. Or, probably even further enhanced. Which is not true of many other movies that I had thought was brilliant at one point in time. 


Would be a pity if they dont get a mention here, and therefore.. I see a worrying trend here - there are going to be many a blast from the past. Anyways..

In The Name of the Father



Powerful is the word that comes to mind when one watches the movie - starting with the opening Belfast street riot scene and right until the end. And an excellent soundtrack to boot.
Rating: * * * *


Stand By Me

A road trip of sorts, which becomes a character building experience of a lifetime for all involved. 'Dead Poets Society'esque. Took me back to Madras.

Rating: * * *

The Buffalo Boy

Vietnam is beautiful even when covered with water. You get to literally soak up the countryside in this movie. Set in the 1940's before the split, it shows the tale of Kim. There is a bit of everything in this film... booze, weed, fights, young lust, death and life... A young boy's coming of age tale.

Rating: * * +

The Double Bill

Infernal Affairs
Tony Leung is a police mole in the mafia. Andy Lau is a mafia mole in the police. Let the cat and mouse games begin. One of the tightest gangster flicks I have ever seen. Completely stripped of unnecessary melodrama. Even the love interests of the two characters are subtly portrayed. Just a few conversations here and there to get the message across. And Tony Leung rules!!! Every time I see him on screen he just blows. The man's acting is effortless.

Rating: * * *

The Departed
Why would someone like Martin Scorsese have to dig into the Asian pocket and adapt a film, I know not. Andy Lau's role is played by Matt Damon and Tony Leung's is taken over by (snicker snicker) Leanordo Di Caprio. In an attempt to give more background and depth to the characters, Scorsese has made the film more noisier without adding anything to it except of course the unnecessary love triangle. But I have to say that Jack Nicholson does get under your skin as the Mafioso don.

Rating: * *

Kikujiro

Kitano reprises his role as Beat Takeshi in this film. One of the funniest films I have ever seen. Beat Takeshi is a loud mouthed ex-Yakuza who is handed the role of a companion to a young shy and awkward boy who is looking for his mother. This unlikely pair go on a road trip that will leave you rolling on the floor with laughter.

Rating: * * *

Casino Royale

The Joseph Stalin professor makes his appearance in a role thats more his scene. A return to the beginning of 007 - an indication that they believe the fellow is going to be here for a while. A good watch - especially, the hand combat scenes and less of gadgets.

Rating: * * +