Showing posts with label monthly movie round up. Show all posts
Showing posts with label monthly movie round up. Show all posts
Sunday, June 3, 2012
May 1 - Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl - A silly and pointless endeavour.
May 2 - Kambakht Ishq - Don't judge. I'm allowed to watch atrocious movies once in a while
May 5 - The secret in their eyes - A 2009 Argentine movie. Won an Oscar for the best foreign language film. I was unaware of such weighty credentials before watching the movie. But after having experienced the magic of such powerful cinema, I can safely call it the best I've seen this year and definitely one of the most compelling onscreen romances ever. On the face of it, the plot's about a legal thriller panning 3 decades, involving a brutal and unresolved rape. That the movie is set in a class ridden, bureaucratic Argentinian society of the 70s adds to the atmosphere. Stylishly directed; as you peel further, the story offers strands of love, humour, hatred, hope, longing, loss and retribution. The romance is achingly unalloyed and ethereal. It is completely to the credit of the makers to have portrayed such raw and complex emotions so sincerely. Ricardo Darin and Soledad Villamil make for a superb lead and are pitch perfect in their performances. It is impossible to remain untouched by this story.
May 11 - Hugo - A visual extravaganza and heartwarming performances. I'd give anything to inhabit such a beautiful Paris. Highly recommended for cinema lovers.
May 12 - Blue Valentine - So, my first Ryan Gosling movie. THE Ryan Gosling. Boy, was I stumped! The next I know, I'm watching his movies in a row for the entire month. This one's a well made film - a distressing story about the dissolution of a relationship. The film is difficult to watch due to its imminent melancholic climax. Yet, it works on several levels, especially the performances.
May 16 - Before the devil knows you're dead - A Sidney Lumet thriller. A one time watch.
May 17 - Drive - Ryan Gosling. Superb music that I've been listening to almost everyday. An intense, stylish thriller which re-enforces the thought that 'still waters run deep'.
May 18 - Lars and the real girl - Yeah, Ryan again. Though I'm yet to watch Half Nelson (a movie which won Gosling an Oscar nomination), this one's my favourite. The movie has such unbelievably generous characters that I wished to meet them in person. If only the world was this kind. You've to see this movie to believe what Ryan is capable of.
May 19 - Ides of March - Ryan Gosling. A political thriller. A decent watch
May 20 - The Notebook - So, apparently this Ryan flick makes women lose all grey cells and act against their better judgement. Well, I hate saccharine filled movies about 'louuvve' and am just not into a Romeo-Juliet kind of saga. So, I found it trash. Don't get me wrong. This one too is about eternal love and the blah, but it just didn't work for me.
May 20 - Crazy, Stupid, Love - I enjoyed this romantic comedy. An uber cool performance by Ryan and an equally funny act by Steve Carell. For those of you who have seen it, I found the "Steve Jobs" scene hilarious.
May 22 - All good things - Tada! Ryan Gosling again. This one's based on a real life incident. I don't have much to say here apart from the usual "Ryan was good".
May 25 - Fracture - A rather boring Ryan movie. Supposedly a thriller.
May 26 - Vicky Donor - An ingenuous plot and neat performances.
May 27 - Keith - A random teen romance I picked which left me pleasantly surprised. Not your run of the mill stories. A different plot with commendable performances by the lead.
May 31 - The Artist - I had a wide smile plastered on my face throughout this one. Every single minute was a pleasure to watch. Every actor, perfect. It takes real skill and bucket loads of audacity to make a B&W, silent movie in this age. With all things doctored and cosmetic around us, The Artist comes an absolute delight and confirms that great stories can still be told simply. And Jean Dujardin - they don't make men like him anymore! What a handsome and expressive face! The tap dance at the end had me mesmerised. But, everything said and done, I'd still have a difficult time deciding the better performer between Juan Dujardin and Uggie. Wouldn't you?
May 2 - Kambakht Ishq - Don't judge. I'm allowed to watch atrocious movies once in a while
May 5 - The secret in their eyes - A 2009 Argentine movie. Won an Oscar for the best foreign language film. I was unaware of such weighty credentials before watching the movie. But after having experienced the magic of such powerful cinema, I can safely call it the best I've seen this year and definitely one of the most compelling onscreen romances ever. On the face of it, the plot's about a legal thriller panning 3 decades, involving a brutal and unresolved rape. That the movie is set in a class ridden, bureaucratic Argentinian society of the 70s adds to the atmosphere. Stylishly directed; as you peel further, the story offers strands of love, humour, hatred, hope, longing, loss and retribution. The romance is achingly unalloyed and ethereal. It is completely to the credit of the makers to have portrayed such raw and complex emotions so sincerely. Ricardo Darin and Soledad Villamil make for a superb lead and are pitch perfect in their performances. It is impossible to remain untouched by this story.
May 11 - Hugo - A visual extravaganza and heartwarming performances. I'd give anything to inhabit such a beautiful Paris. Highly recommended for cinema lovers.
May 12 - Blue Valentine - So, my first Ryan Gosling movie. THE Ryan Gosling. Boy, was I stumped! The next I know, I'm watching his movies in a row for the entire month. This one's a well made film - a distressing story about the dissolution of a relationship. The film is difficult to watch due to its imminent melancholic climax. Yet, it works on several levels, especially the performances.
May 16 - Before the devil knows you're dead - A Sidney Lumet thriller. A one time watch.
May 17 - Drive - Ryan Gosling. Superb music that I've been listening to almost everyday. An intense, stylish thriller which re-enforces the thought that 'still waters run deep'.
May 18 - Lars and the real girl - Yeah, Ryan again. Though I'm yet to watch Half Nelson (a movie which won Gosling an Oscar nomination), this one's my favourite. The movie has such unbelievably generous characters that I wished to meet them in person. If only the world was this kind. You've to see this movie to believe what Ryan is capable of.
May 19 - Ides of March - Ryan Gosling. A political thriller. A decent watch
May 20 - The Notebook - So, apparently this Ryan flick makes women lose all grey cells and act against their better judgement. Well, I hate saccharine filled movies about 'louuvve' and am just not into a Romeo-Juliet kind of saga. So, I found it trash. Don't get me wrong. This one too is about eternal love and the blah, but it just didn't work for me.
May 20 - Crazy, Stupid, Love - I enjoyed this romantic comedy. An uber cool performance by Ryan and an equally funny act by Steve Carell. For those of you who have seen it, I found the "Steve Jobs" scene hilarious.
May 22 - All good things - Tada! Ryan Gosling again. This one's based on a real life incident. I don't have much to say here apart from the usual "Ryan was good".
May 25 - Fracture - A rather boring Ryan movie. Supposedly a thriller.
May 26 - Vicky Donor - An ingenuous plot and neat performances.
May 27 - Keith - A random teen romance I picked which left me pleasantly surprised. Not your run of the mill stories. A different plot with commendable performances by the lead.
May 31 - The Artist - I had a wide smile plastered on my face throughout this one. Every single minute was a pleasure to watch. Every actor, perfect. It takes real skill and bucket loads of audacity to make a B&W, silent movie in this age. With all things doctored and cosmetic around us, The Artist comes an absolute delight and confirms that great stories can still be told simply. And Jean Dujardin - they don't make men like him anymore! What a handsome and expressive face! The tap dance at the end had me mesmerised. But, everything said and done, I'd still have a difficult time deciding the better performer between Juan Dujardin and Uggie. Wouldn't you?
Sunday, May 6, 2012
April 8 - Housefull 2 - I liked it. Good, mindless, time pass.
April 15 - Midnight in Paris - I'd been meaning to watch this one for long as I've always been enamored by all things Parisian. I expected a beautiful looking movie with bowl-full of Allen'ish humour. Beautiful and sweetly nostalgic it is. But I found it too mild and not in the league of previous Allen movies. Give me a Bullets over Broadway any day.
April 16 - A Separation (Iranian) - One of the best movies I have seen in recent times. Highly nuanced and vivid characters - the movie is rich in its understanding of human emotions. I loved the detailing in the plot and the various shades to each character. I should also add, I was surprised to see a different side to the Iranian society and its social mores.
April 18 - Certified Copy (French) - The writing was clever and I couldn't help trying to make sense of the plot. Foolish me. This is one of those capers which will engage you, tease you and finally leave you baffled. And Juliette Binoche - Gorgeous doesn't begin to describe her!
April 25 - Saving Private Ryan - One of the most compelling opening sequences and possibly the most honest war movie I've ever seen. The entire experience was deeply moving and I haven't been able to get the performances out of my head. Every second day, I revisit scenes that most impacted me, which is actually most of the movie. Anything else I say will be a waste of your time. Just watch it.
April 28 - The Green Mile - The Green Mile refers to the last mile that a prisoner walks from his cell to the electric chair. The story is set in the 1930s and is an adaptation from a Stephen King novel. I've always been a King fan and hence had sky high expectations. I came back with more than I'd asked for. The movie offers some fabulous moments. I loved the smooth and slow build up and the delicate bonding that develops between the guards and prisoners. The supernatural elements are beautifully woven together and every actor gives a classy performance. Highly recommended.
April 29 - Cast Away - This month has been great as I've watched some of the most memorable movies of Tom Hanks. Again, this was a superb act. And I was glad for not being forced to suffer much philosophical drama. I mean, for god's sake! The guy is abandoned on an island and I'd die if they showed him deliberating on larger existential issues or the purpose of his life. I'm not saying that doesn't happen or there was no philosophy at play here - there was, but Hanks played it out subtly, mostly in his head. I say this because I was reminded of a few scenes from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara - especially Hritik's deep-sea diving experience. The point that had been ably made through his tears and Javed Akhtar's soulful poetry was rendered useless when Katrina's character asked him to spell out and describe his life altering experience. We are dodos when it comes to subtlety. I was mighty irritated with the scene and thought Zoya could have done better than that.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
I was able to manage only four movies past month. This could have been a matter of concern, had the rest of the days not been spent fruitfully - watching Community and Yes Minister.
Here goes -
Carnage (March 7) - A highly nuanced movie, deliciously sarcastic and superbly enacted. I was very happy to watch Christoph Waltz; he is study in perfection. Again, one doesn't need too many props to make good cinema. Well written is more than half done.
Leaving Las Vegas (March 8) - A depressing story of alcoholism and abuse. Well performed. Probably the only time I felt positive about the otherwise irritating Nicholas Cage.
The Great debaters (March 9) - Some movies pick up the gauntlet of entertaining as well as lending meaning to the larger canvas of life. This is one such exquisite story.
Kahaani (March 31) - I was glad to see an almost well constructed thriller. While the climax didn't sit too well with me, Kahaani has too many strengths, to complain. And, personally, if I ever have to choose a second favourite actress after Madhuri, it'll have to be Vidya Balan. Sorry Kajol.
Friday, March 2, 2012
I know I haven't been regular here. In my defense, I have a life.
Presenting to you, the movies I watched in February -
The Royal Tenenbaums (Feb 3) - A dysfunctional family (of child prodigies) comes together to bid farewell to their ageing patriarch. I found myself giggling at all inopportune times here. That's how this movie pans out. The Tenenbaums' tragedy becomes the viewer's comedy, and, a good one at that.
Notes on a scandal (Feb 9) - Watch this one solely for the performances.
Manhattan (Feb 12) - Wood Allen. Just the name makes me smile. Manhattan is an irreverent look at twisted human relationships. I liked the movie, though, I have seen better from Allen.
Ek main aur ekk tu (Feb 13) - Let's call this my guilty pleasure. And, I'm not ashamed to admit that I liked the movie. Having known people with similar stories (of misdirected and mis-understood emotions) it was easy to laugh at the improbability of the romance. The only disappointment was Amit Trivedi's music.
The Descendants (Feb 15) - I loved the movie and pray that we make such messy, yet refreshingly humorous and uplifting family dramas in Bollywood. And say what you want to, but Sid stole the show!
Friends with benefits (Feb 18) - Second guilty pleasure of the month. Same old story; it could have been bolder but chose not to push the envelope. I, however, developed a tiny crush on Justin Timberlake.
Presenting to you, the movies I watched in February -
The Royal Tenenbaums (Feb 3) - A dysfunctional family (of child prodigies) comes together to bid farewell to their ageing patriarch. I found myself giggling at all inopportune times here. That's how this movie pans out. The Tenenbaums' tragedy becomes the viewer's comedy, and, a good one at that.
Notes on a scandal (Feb 9) - Watch this one solely for the performances.
Manhattan (Feb 12) - Wood Allen. Just the name makes me smile. Manhattan is an irreverent look at twisted human relationships. I liked the movie, though, I have seen better from Allen.
Ek main aur ekk tu (Feb 13) - Let's call this my guilty pleasure. And, I'm not ashamed to admit that I liked the movie. Having known people with similar stories (of misdirected and mis-understood emotions) it was easy to laugh at the improbability of the romance. The only disappointment was Amit Trivedi's music.
The Descendants (Feb 15) - I loved the movie and pray that we make such messy, yet refreshingly humorous and uplifting family dramas in Bollywood. And say what you want to, but Sid stole the show!
Friends with benefits (Feb 18) - Second guilty pleasure of the month. Same old story; it could have been bolder but chose not to push the envelope. I, however, developed a tiny crush on Justin Timberlake.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Starting 2012, I have decided to post a monthly round up on prominent movies watched during the month.While I'm interested in documenting the range of movies I watch, I hope you'll find movies that interest you enough to give them a try.
Recently, I have been handed a collection of movies by a cinema lover whose taste is different from mine. Hence, watching movies has been a strange experience lately. I may not have given preference to some of these movies, and may have skipped others completely. But that's the good part of watching movies from a collection that's different from your own. You end up experimenting and watching newer directors and exploring more themes.
Another practice I've followed is to randomly pick movies and watch and not whet my expectation with reviews or rankings.
L.A. Confidential (Jan 4) : A crime thriller set in the 1950s. 3 LAPD cops on the trail. An absolute must watch! Crisp writing and strong, believable characterisations. Given the ambitious scale of the project (since it is an adaptation from a book), I felt the movie assumed a life of its own and is standalone piece of art.
Let the right one in (Jan 10) : A Swedish, vampire love story. My first Swedish movie. My first vampire love story. My last vampire love story. I hate vampires, especially when they are in their pre-teens! Having said this, I loved the mood and the cinematography and feel the winter in Mumbai added to enhance my late night movie watching experience.
True Grit (Jan 13) : Decent performances and that's that. I couldn't understand the hype, except for that it's a 'Coen brothers' movie.
Winter's bone (Jan 13) : The plot is fairly basic and the movie is simple in style. Yet, this was one of the most engaging movies I have seen of late. A spectacular performance by the lead actress, Jennifer Lawrence. Winter's bone is the actual True Grit.
The Fighter (Jan 14) : My only motivation to watch this one was Christian Bale. While he didn't disappoint, I didn't think much about the movie.
The constant gardener (Jan 28) : A political drama about the nexus of governments, large (and evil) corporations and the impact on third world countries. A fairly engaging watch, with some great shots of Africa. While I wasn't too impressed with the political theme, I enjoyed the parallel romantic theme, especially, because of its non linear treatment.
Other decent movies : The squid and the whale (poignant, funny, family drama with good performances. The more I see Jesse Eisenberg, the more I like him), Man on the train (French movie, a lovely theme and good performances. I enjoy movies which have two or at the most three characters, and are completely dialogue driven. It is a minimalist approach and can serve as a litmus test to see how good a writer one really is).
Recently, I have been handed a collection of movies by a cinema lover whose taste is different from mine. Hence, watching movies has been a strange experience lately. I may not have given preference to some of these movies, and may have skipped others completely. But that's the good part of watching movies from a collection that's different from your own. You end up experimenting and watching newer directors and exploring more themes.
Another practice I've followed is to randomly pick movies and watch and not whet my expectation with reviews or rankings.
L.A. Confidential (Jan 4) : A crime thriller set in the 1950s. 3 LAPD cops on the trail. An absolute must watch! Crisp writing and strong, believable characterisations. Given the ambitious scale of the project (since it is an adaptation from a book), I felt the movie assumed a life of its own and is standalone piece of art.
Let the right one in (Jan 10) : A Swedish, vampire love story. My first Swedish movie. My first vampire love story. My last vampire love story. I hate vampires, especially when they are in their pre-teens! Having said this, I loved the mood and the cinematography and feel the winter in Mumbai added to enhance my late night movie watching experience.
True Grit (Jan 13) : Decent performances and that's that. I couldn't understand the hype, except for that it's a 'Coen brothers' movie.
Winter's bone (Jan 13) : The plot is fairly basic and the movie is simple in style. Yet, this was one of the most engaging movies I have seen of late. A spectacular performance by the lead actress, Jennifer Lawrence. Winter's bone is the actual True Grit.
The Fighter (Jan 14) : My only motivation to watch this one was Christian Bale. While he didn't disappoint, I didn't think much about the movie.
The constant gardener (Jan 28) : A political drama about the nexus of governments, large (and evil) corporations and the impact on third world countries. A fairly engaging watch, with some great shots of Africa. While I wasn't too impressed with the political theme, I enjoyed the parallel romantic theme, especially, because of its non linear treatment.
Other decent movies : The squid and the whale (poignant, funny, family drama with good performances. The more I see Jesse Eisenberg, the more I like him), Man on the train (French movie, a lovely theme and good performances. I enjoy movies which have two or at the most three characters, and are completely dialogue driven. It is a minimalist approach and can serve as a litmus test to see how good a writer one really is).
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