In America

Based on an episode in Director Jim Sheridian's early life in America. In true tradition of his other masterful movies (like, In the Name of the Father), he gets the best out of his cast to tell a human story. Paddy Considine (this bugger is a talent), Samantha Morton and the Bolger sisters provide some real performances as they come face-to-face with their weaknesses, overcome their fears and ultimately redeem their faith in hope. Emmanuel Eboue look alike Djimon Hounsou also checks in with a strong performance.

Rating : * * *

Winter Solstice

I am sure many of you will remember Anthony LaPaglia from TV series "Without a Trace". Here he plays a single parent of two teenage boys. The elder one wants to uproot himself and move away. The younger one in spite of being smart refuses to apply himself at school. A peek into the life of a slightly different American family in a typical American suburb.

Rating: * *

The Ice Harvest

Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this mobster thriller. Which doesnt exactly make you jump off your seats, but makes a good laugh. And decent entertainment. Randy Quaid in a classically bit role and John Cusack as the innocent crook.

Rating: * * +

Look at me

A music teacher and her struggling writer husband, a famous author and his over weight daughter all find their lives intersecting harshly. The author and daughter are looking for someone to love them and the teacher and her husband are hoping for a shot at fame. The movie gave me an eerie feeling of spying on the lives of the above group of people but with no sense or purpose. The interesting parts were the portrayal of what fame can do to one's life but other than that the film was dull and lackadaisical.

Rating: * *

Shi gan

The latest Kim Ki-duk film is a rant against plastic surgery and its evil ways. Considering that we just met the greatest plastic surgeon this side of the pond, could appreciate what Kim was getting at. Its all evil and makes you evil. Absurd story of an absurd couple.

Rating: Absurdly, * *

Other Kim movies can be found here - 3-iron and Nabbeun Namja

300

The Frank Miller graphic novel inspired by the Greeks holding off the Persians at Thermopylae has been painstakingly brought to life on the big screen. Please note the usage of the word "inspired" as this is a far cry from history. Among other things, the Greeks held off the Persians due to geography and better body armor. The only armor Miller has given his warriors are six packs (not the ones you drink) and undies. And for some reason the Persians seem to have penchant for piercings and tattoos. But still a very watchable movie if you are prepared to come out of the theater drenched in SGI blood.

Rating: * *
PS: There also seems to be a lot of commentary about how this film reflects todays world. But I am a little confused about the identity of Xerxes and King Leonidas :-)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Zzzzzzz... Snore... Zzzzzzz...

Rating: *

Killer's Kiss

Kubrick's second film that put him on the road. About a boxer on the way out of people's memories who tries to resurrect his life by saving a pretty neighbour. He then gets embroiled in a far dirtier fight than any boxing ring will ever provide.

No sign of the classic funniness that one associates with him, but brilliantly shot in New York.

Rating: * * +

Other Kubrick film reviews are over here and here.

Japanese Story

As they say, Jack and Jill went up the hill. To fetch some stones, despite being difficult strangers. Jack, as expected, fell and then broke his crown. Jill came crumbling after. A sad (as in, horrible) film, but with some outstanding Aussie desert footage.

Rating: * +

Dogville

The movie is an experimental piece of film-making I suppose, which would either make you switch-off the DVD player after a few minutes or exhibit patience and watch it over some 3 sittings. Chose the latter option, more so because of the length of the movie - 3 hours.

The film about a remote town in the US was shot in a one large set with minimal, rather, no props - gives you a school theatre like feel. It takes a while getting used to the wall-less town, prop-less stage, blueberry-less blueberry bushes, dog-less dog called 'Moses', type of shit. But as the movie (and the viewer) settles down, the cast (Paul Bettany, Chloe Sevigny and James Cann) come into their own & provide some real performances as they stand up for their moral code when they come across a stranger into the town - Nicole Kidman. After a while the prop-less existence does not bother you that much and instead brings the performances into focus.

The movie by Lans Von Trier was considered an attack on the American way of life in many circles of filmdom - which is a bunch of crapola. But, Nicole Kidman just keeps climbing in the list of good actors.

Rating: * * +

Late August, Early September

A group of friends in their late 30s struggle to come to terms with the problems in their lives - career, lost relationships, money and other existential concerns. But the foremost worry in their minds is the health of their enigmatic author friend. The main character in the film seems completely lost trying to juggle two women from the past and present respectively, understanding what it is that he really feels for his author friend and getting his personal writing career on track.

Fine performances littered through out the movie that make you a part of their lives; but at the end of it all, the movie has little to offer in terms of brilliance - which I think is because of the lack of closure at the end. But should that really matter?

Rating : * * +

Le Samouraï

As the tag line goes this is a part gangster part samurai flick though in my book it more of a ronin flick. Very well shot with smoothly transitioned frames shows Jef Costello, an assassin for hire, precisely planning his killings. The movie tries to portray bushido in a western setting but leaves you feeling empty at the end which is very different from mu-shin. If you feel like watching this, I suggest that you curtail the urge and watch Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai instead.

Rating: * +

Dot the I

A sexy love triangle forms on the eve of Carmen's (Natalia Verbeke) wedding, when Kit (Gael Garcia Bernal) recklessly kisses his way into her life. Her rich and boring husband, Barnaby (James D'Arcy) is left clutching at straws as he watches his fiancee unravel. The in the middle of the unraveling, director Matthew Parkhill looses the plot and decides to dot the I in "I am confused".

Rating: * +

6ixtynin9

When God give you a gift...
...he also gives you a whip.

- Truman Capote

What will you do if you find a box of money on your doorstep? Tum (Lalita Panyopas) decides to keep. The movie traces a day in her life after she finds the money. This is one of Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's earlier films. I have to hand it to him for keeping us glued to the movement of this morbid film which he has magically infused with snatches of humor. And he does indeed have fine taste in women.

Rating: * * +

Little Miss Sunshine

Do what you love and fuck the rest

A dysfunctional family... A father who is trying to sell his "9 steps" self help plan, a heroin snorting granddad, a uncle who is suicidal and a Proust scholar, a son who has taken a vow of silence, a daughter who hopes to be crowned in a beauty pageant and an overworked mother who is trying to string this family together. They decide to take a road trip in a beat-up VW mini-bus to the "Little Miss Sunshine" beauty contest. A quirky family drama that leaves in you splits at various moment.

Rating: * * +

A Scanner Darkly

This Philip K. Dick novel floats its way onto the screen with its wavy characters trying to weave a story... It is a world seven years from now. A drug called Substance D rules the minds of people. You see its effects and the people trying to fight it. But after a point you wonder who is on drugs? The director, the author, the actors or you...

Rating: * +

The Number 23

8 + 8 + 7 = 23
92 / 4 = 23
Even my date of birth adds up to 23. Oh my God, the number is going get us all.

Rating: *

Invisible Waves

The triumvirate from this movie is back with a dream like 2 hour sequence. Pen-Ek Ratanaruang returns to make a story of Tadanobu Asano as a hired killer who increasingly feels that he has been fucked over in more ways than one.

Like the director says, the story unfolds quite naturally and believably, but the core of the movie lies in the atmosphere. Atmosphere and atmosphere. And more atmosphere. Thats where our friend Chris Doyle makes his presence felt with superb footage of overcast Hong Kong, dilapidated Macau and quaint Phuket. Some critics complain about the visual quality - which I dont get at all. Fucking far from it. But am not entirely convinced about Pen-Ek's ability to develop a storyline thats as robust as his atmosphere-creating capabilities.

Rating: * * +

Dor

Two women at the two corners of the country are brought together by a cruel thread (Dor) of fate. One's husband is accused of killing the other's loved one. The movie is inspired by Perumazhakkalam. Given the current state of Malayalam cinema I find it hard to believe that it could outdo this film.

Nagesh Kukunoor has done a wonderful job of guiding his actors through this amazing film scape. Tight acting all around especially from Shreyas Talpade, who is like a breath of fresh air in world of Indian comedians. People say that Ayesha Takia has outdone herself in this role. I am sure she has but it was Gul Kirat Panag who caught my eye and tugged at my heart. She is beautiful and has a stunning screen presence. She will surely haunt my dreams.

Rating: * * +

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: * * *