tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87412829687021922292024-03-15T14:00:08.753+05:30Movie Reviews, Mini. / Snehith Kumbla Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-68084504743446694172021-09-07T23:32:00.006+05:302021-09-07T23:48:19.912+05:30Timbuktu (2014)<p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HsmsgJ0sjOb1OzU1Izx43CzmOk3iP8xyjaCbaeDtSgHagA3-YOX9YgKXjPI0WQtQziNrmLhJXAMIwgXVA3F36Xg-c1-hRtsI7IRDyR-7XJ1owugqnR0UlOFvSFbHIh1ovre15QmwWQ/s262/Timbuktu+movie+review+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="193" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HsmsgJ0sjOb1OzU1Izx43CzmOk3iP8xyjaCbaeDtSgHagA3-YOX9YgKXjPI0WQtQziNrmLhJXAMIwgXVA3F36Xg-c1-hRtsI7IRDyR-7XJ1owugqnR0UlOFvSFbHIh1ovre15QmwWQ/w224-h304/Timbuktu+movie+review+1.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">(***1/2 stars / *****)</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to pandemic-induced run of online film festivals and a <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2016/03/shahid-2013.html" target="_blank">movie</a>-passionate friend, I came upon this Abderrahmane Sissako written and directed <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2018/09/mulk-2018.html" target="_blank">drama</a>, a tragic tale of extremist and <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2011/11/bol-heart-rending-despite-hiccups.html" target="_blank">religious</a> imposition. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What would you do if religious extremists took over your resident state and imposed extreme restrictions on your life? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What if playing games and music is forbidden, and women are forcefully asked to cover their body from 'tempting' view? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">How stifling and caged would that life be? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Would you flee from that place or stay and suffer the consequences? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Timbuktu is no championed, heroic tale, but a stark true events-inspired portrayal of scrapping a crushed existence under gun-wielding extremist force.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Mauritanian-French language tale is set in the desert-ridden, barren landscape of Timbuktu, Mali. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuOdjPQj-TYXVAmfYx0gLhT3PCjVTRJSjDatxexOekrwuJPQjaBCZSUyOLmiWB-7w7gfmQuOMMLmCOtEdSQ50JdzJF3CoIh52MksqeIhqpYYfvq1hHYa0aBOrMbGwZm8IBT8qu_EzTA/s2048/Timbuktu+movie+review+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="2048" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuOdjPQj-TYXVAmfYx0gLhT3PCjVTRJSjDatxexOekrwuJPQjaBCZSUyOLmiWB-7w7gfmQuOMMLmCOtEdSQ50JdzJF3CoIh52MksqeIhqpYYfvq1hHYa0aBOrMbGwZm8IBT8qu_EzTA/w368-h154/Timbuktu+movie+review+3.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Kidane (Ibrahim Ahmed dit Pino) lives a difficult but peaceful life with his wife Satima (Toulou Kiki), young daughter Toya (Layla Walet Mohamed) and a 12-year-old shepherd boy Issan (Mehdi Ag Mohamed). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But when one of his cow's is killed by a local fishermen, things fall apart. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The dominant Islamic religious militia interpret the religious law for their fanatic benefit. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">From children forbidden to play football, music banned as a crime, women asked to cover their body (even their hands with gloves!), and death by stoning for adultery, Kidane's fate is sealed, but there is a catch. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Timbuktu </i>may be set in Mali, but its derelict occurrences could be happening anywhere in the world. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Reckless, merciless and foolish rulers causing the sufferings of millions is no longer distant fiction, but a writhing reality even in so-called superpowers like America. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The screenplay hangs loose at times, but the hard realism, desert-sand emptiness, numbness of curtailed freedom gets through in the silent, telling moments. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Despite some great and some not-so-great acting, sparse setting, limited-budget art, cinematography and music direction, <i>Timbuktu </i>is a grim yet slow-burn warning call to oppression in religion's name.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Cinema that is tragic and telling, true to life. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DtXTnuOZ7-77tbWxXd_RJO9oexd7vO21PK1K1eelSwdI6gUMtISZ5ukWvSRgckoaEuGKUojmDS_xErDHAsNMk64dD3d_SULCkJyRjeMRG6MP5PL-VcL8VSpu3vhCrP3fPAPzGLdrGg/s700/Timbuktu+movie+review+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="700" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DtXTnuOZ7-77tbWxXd_RJO9oexd7vO21PK1K1eelSwdI6gUMtISZ5ukWvSRgckoaEuGKUojmDS_xErDHAsNMk64dD3d_SULCkJyRjeMRG6MP5PL-VcL8VSpu3vhCrP3fPAPzGLdrGg/w360-h192/Timbuktu+movie+review+2.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><p></p>Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-16904558289386556942021-07-31T20:46:00.005+05:302021-09-07T23:33:35.337+05:30Fading Gigolo (2013)<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_gBmLnyLSEQTAzNBKUze7OeYzwsgkMxJD3XdUh9mGcJbWss-jDv6-vlZtkKqV3WO7JloSX7FQfk1GlX1o1l3yQghmo2hGfeSYQw2FHF5NdAaCNQPgs0BLNp0oB4LDQi9pKHi-f7Hnqw/s1600/Fading+Gigolo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_gBmLnyLSEQTAzNBKUze7OeYzwsgkMxJD3XdUh9mGcJbWss-jDv6-vlZtkKqV3WO7JloSX7FQfk1GlX1o1l3yQghmo2hGfeSYQw2FHF5NdAaCNQPgs0BLNp0oB4LDQi9pKHi-f7Hnqw/s1600/Fading+Gigolo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">[*** stars/*****]</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fading Gigolo Story: </b>A seller of rare books (Woody Allen) is down on business, until a revelation of need from his affluent dermatologist (Sharon Stone) leads him to offer his flower-arranging friend (John Turturro) a career as a gigolo. Things go well, as Allen plays pimp to Turturro, trying to fish in needy women. Then the gigolo falls in love.<br /><br /><i>Fading Gigolo</i> has a flimsy premise in its midst and would have been pretty much a no show but for the chemistry and humour its cast generates. </span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">Woody Allen in a film not directed by him is good match for John Turturro, the film's director and main protagonist. The lonely women roles by Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara and <span itemprop="review" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review">Vanessa Paradis are part of the film's winning moments, as is Allen's legendary monologue bumbling wit. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span itemprop="review" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><span itemprop="review" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review">Turturro is an unlikely dark horse, he exudes vulnerability and eagerness for life, it is certainly a self-casting that works.</span><br /><br /><span itemprop="review" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review">The Jewish background works incidentally as a comic statement on societal rules, it is otherwise a half-baked afterthought. The climax is unreasonably conclusive and tepid, a saving grace is the final Allen-</span><span itemprop="review" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review">Turturro scene, unexpected and warm to a degree. In fact,</span> with some daft screenplay, the film could have explored the story further from where it ends. <br /><b><br /></b><span itemprop="review" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review"><b>Fading Gigolo review: </b>Finally, </span><span itemprop="review" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review"><i>Fading Gigolo </i>is a adult comedy that doesn't rise to great heights, but keeps it relevant and light with some sparkling moments, enough to exit the theatre with a satisfied air. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTB5ADPYnG-nUBbSYSE1wmWVVY4C40xVJ40kme-WalcP8JnRoP-ZpEp-zhir8YBW2AOmZtFAgrQnKls61IzPN2YSqJPP301YtUEKzsAZOlfZnvyel7Dwo6xQyQKN0QuqOBLvZruyjfHs/s1600/Fading+Gigolo+1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTB5ADPYnG-nUBbSYSE1wmWVVY4C40xVJ40kme-WalcP8JnRoP-ZpEp-zhir8YBW2AOmZtFAgrQnKls61IzPN2YSqJPP301YtUEKzsAZOlfZnvyel7Dwo6xQyQKN0QuqOBLvZruyjfHs/s1600/Fading+Gigolo+1.JPG" width="210" /></span></a></div></div>Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-91359186160541612612021-04-01T21:11:00.005+05:302021-04-01T22:11:12.669+05:30Sir (2018) <div class="separator"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="358" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKo5J-DOhIknG8QId6TQR3vG6ivoqqw5R-ALrEmL5eJ_x0670vhlaWDO_Ptfztx2cAMmHNoGamQMhGh4XthTihOjpgn4kaQEjQNFXAATkUwLHJ0kdlxzpRNmhiqlSkhyFCmeUM8jOc1w/s320/Is+Love+Enough+Sir+Movie+Review.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></b></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">[**** stars /*****]</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2012/10/english-vinglish-smooth-heartfelt-take.html" target="_blank">Understanding</a> and <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2018/09/movie-review-manto-tragic-melancholic.html" target="_blank">empathy</a> in movies and 100% efficacy in COVID vaccines are a rarity, lately. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What if you confessed your love to your housemaid? How would the housemaid react?</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">How would a movie made on such a subject usually pan out? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Bold </i>scenes and what not? No attempt to explore characters, thoughts, hearts? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Most probably, yes. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Writer-director Rohena Gera's <i>Sir </i>is surprise, surprise, not that <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2012/09/movie-review-barfi-ode-to-innocence.html" target="_blank">movie</a> by the long shot.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUvqBu-2X7Gemp2gNgHiGgpplT2dASts782-O45nrDBRPphNYF5hNPWaxRs4HKUntmlQ1Dt6jO857-6bnGrN3KbqcDe2Ui4OnMbpsQM7t7msoiJxSaNsJMtOuukeRI0S_Y-8TxCAO_A/s1220/Is+Love+Enough+Sir+Movie+Review+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1220" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUvqBu-2X7Gemp2gNgHiGgpplT2dASts782-O45nrDBRPphNYF5hNPWaxRs4HKUntmlQ1Dt6jO857-6bnGrN3KbqcDe2Ui4OnMbpsQM7t7msoiJxSaNsJMtOuukeRI0S_Y-8TxCAO_A/w400-h219/Is+Love+Enough+Sir+Movie+Review+2.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ratna (Tillotama Shome), widowed at 19, works at soon-to-be-married Ashwin (Vivek Gomber) and Sabina's spacious high-rise Mumbai apartment. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">An independent woman supporting her younger sister's education and family at her village, Ratna is asked by Ashwin's mother (Divya Seth) to rejoin work. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Apparently Sabina has cheated on Ashwin, the marriage has been called off. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7uQ-2Hg47DZpU6FSNt6yCK5-S6Tm1W52nyUFDeMY7zZWHywxkDmt11zezq4F_DxLgnMbJzR7QR4LpgQkP-bVbflKpbNN0ZQEDDomSCE1cd6Z8zk1PYnhFeU9xJ35mB8jiLSNxh-nBQ/s718/Is+Love+Enough+Sir+Movie+Review+6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="718" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7uQ-2Hg47DZpU6FSNt6yCK5-S6Tm1W52nyUFDeMY7zZWHywxkDmt11zezq4F_DxLgnMbJzR7QR4LpgQkP-bVbflKpbNN0ZQEDDomSCE1cd6Z8zk1PYnhFeU9xJ35mB8jiLSNxh-nBQ/w400-h216/Is+Love+Enough+Sir+Movie+Review+6.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ratna doesn't mind working for a single man, she is unaffected by what <i>others</i> may think. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ashwin's continuing gloom over weeks causes her to remind him that life goes on despite setbacks, citing her own life as an example. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ratna also aspires to be a fashion designer, Ashwin encourages her to pursue her passion. He sees her as an equal, never as a servant. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Gently, gradually like the changing of seasons, love blooms. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo07XAubAroFoYCvmW9-FBCvTC9xSefM6pFG3Fyi_67rrgB_0by9MoWhcrIe8VEeEr6Xq9Hj3s0_7p7c8ki4xKiwZIrFzYESOLObQM49oEBxoPcdZSNolcO-d9sgEaQHLYzaixsEJTaQ/s719/Is+Love+Enough+Sir+Movie+Review+3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="719" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo07XAubAroFoYCvmW9-FBCvTC9xSefM6pFG3Fyi_67rrgB_0by9MoWhcrIe8VEeEr6Xq9Hj3s0_7p7c8ki4xKiwZIrFzYESOLObQM49oEBxoPcdZSNolcO-d9sgEaQHLYzaixsEJTaQ/w400-h211/Is+Love+Enough+Sir+Movie+Review+3.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nuanced, sensitive take</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">An Indian housemaid is at the deep end of India's ruptured social fabric. Life is fragile, and loving someone from the so-called higher class, unthinkable. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Gera channels this brick-hard premise through Shome's splendid, sparkling lead act, Gomber's controlled play, with some great supporting turns, Geetanjali Kulkarni as Laxmi is excellent. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8uaH9p2ojDch9XtM_BRuKqHCS9tgR3GV8lh44CJgzjYJpq2-luN1coSwwEL8yVxg8OKqXz5Y1kCZdNzRNYSXLyotq9faHPEj_o39be_JfuI1vVmP50wBp1gjzxrw4UzHXuHlPh2bzw/s761/Is+Love+Enough+Sir+Movie+Review+5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="761" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8uaH9p2ojDch9XtM_BRuKqHCS9tgR3GV8lh44CJgzjYJpq2-luN1coSwwEL8yVxg8OKqXz5Y1kCZdNzRNYSXLyotq9faHPEj_o39be_JfuI1vVmP50wBp1gjzxrw4UzHXuHlPh2bzw/w400-h199/Is+Love+Enough+Sir+Movie+Review+5.png" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">The nobility and intent of <i>Sir </i>won my heart<i>.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The makers keep it real, the screenplay barely striking any cluttered notes. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The pacing is lovely, no melodrama, understated tone elevates proceedings. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A realistic, steady mirror to class disparities, affluent city life, dreams and passions, <i>Sir </i>is a rare flower, seeking-depth cinema. </span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">As seen on Netflix </span> </i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQMtz7VA00Yz3dK2MptWLTY80iy7ufovasqJl7vuIrwqeHkXj-AuTnnvOTsZOu2Km8jqHc9lWdAuUH-HnyTdqPJN7iPhMyAo_Ei7jKsRa1gXe_Sun1XYEuR5nJKqg1HDqQo_ifj2I8w/s700/Is+Love+Enough+Sir+Movie+Review+4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="700" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQMtz7VA00Yz3dK2MptWLTY80iy7ufovasqJl7vuIrwqeHkXj-AuTnnvOTsZOu2Km8jqHc9lWdAuUH-HnyTdqPJN7iPhMyAo_Ei7jKsRa1gXe_Sun1XYEuR5nJKqg1HDqQo_ifj2I8w/w400-h221/Is+Love+Enough+Sir+Movie+Review+4.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-54145565500686087422020-10-28T12:59:00.001+05:302020-10-28T13:10:29.846+05:30On the Waterfront (1954)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPSDA52habK7DJR_ALYw6trlkpFSLBJm5xFJkl0nMRQNXk6udB4F9UUxtTRUKKF-_AqvssO8Y5K3rxzYT84qtsReAaC-Gppl5HvVsNUVXHvSWBWnaU50sn-RubeDNRXJ3GYT8fAxjgw/s1024/On+the+Waterfront+Marlon+Brando+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1024" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPSDA52habK7DJR_ALYw6trlkpFSLBJm5xFJkl0nMRQNXk6udB4F9UUxtTRUKKF-_AqvssO8Y5K3rxzYT84qtsReAaC-Gppl5HvVsNUVXHvSWBWnaU50sn-RubeDNRXJ3GYT8fAxjgw/w405-h315/On+the+Waterfront+Marlon+Brando+1.jpg" width="405" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>[**** stars / *****]</b></span></div><br /><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><b style="font-size: x-large;">Terry Malloy</b><span style="font-size: x-large;">: </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">You don't understand! </span></b></i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. </span></b></i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.</span></b></i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever had that sinking feeling bursting out of you, been put down by a near one, that this life could have been lived better, that your best days are done? </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">Marlon Brando <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/07/to-catch-thief-1955.html" target="_blank">immortalized</a> that feeling forever, an <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/06/black-narcissus-1947.html" target="_blank">unforgettable</a> scene in <i>On the Waterfront. </i> </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">A mobster union boss, the waterfront he rules with <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/06/psycho-1960.html" target="_blank">fearsome</a> force, a profiting gang, right hand man and his 'has been' dockworker brother, dead man's sister seeking answers and a reform-seeking church Father. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>
On the Waterfront</i> is Marlon Brando in earnest, intense, face-as-expressive-canvas glory. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">Budd Schulberg's story and tipsy-turvy screenplay both touches and misses the bigger picture. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">The Elia Kazan direction is not consistently solid.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">The setting has its atmospherics, be it the stark buildings or the dock, the story is certainly throbbing, though the love track seems forced at times. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">Kazan and the art department do triumph in the indoor settings and the cast - they totally feel like waterfront residents. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyEIepC-E2UqiCvSRp-R_TzrCgw1X2BFAJh_VYHCnvrbrJ7BmgX6eaFP94e7fX6EQST1iliJgf9Mgh9VKNiEf2b0n7m4yTsiMePtjy0oyV701N1hTUQeFqjNn2AUNQorLm6gKY20gGg/s475/On+the+Waterfront+Marlon+Brando+5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="380" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyEIepC-E2UqiCvSRp-R_TzrCgw1X2BFAJh_VYHCnvrbrJ7BmgX6eaFP94e7fX6EQST1iliJgf9Mgh9VKNiEf2b0n7m4yTsiMePtjy0oyV701N1hTUQeFqjNn2AUNQorLm6gKY20gGg/s320/On+the+Waterfront+Marlon+Brando+5.jpg" /></a></div></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>A waterfront, for starters, is a part of town near to the river or the sea, with its own geographical dynamics, a gritty working class neighbourhood, details that the steady Boris Kaufman cinematography captures with assurance. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH27ZET71F0owUakl2GqE7lJ-SYN_QRdnnpptJM_FlmaMdk7UBiZXKkpfCs0M8JUoe3pUXftIyi2umjA6029ttx_tDBBzSa-HGr8ZEJVmTO0XZq4iPgwMSmQe9mqVcrLHEw-lGXRQuvA/s1276/On+the+Waterfront+Marlon+Brando+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1276" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH27ZET71F0owUakl2GqE7lJ-SYN_QRdnnpptJM_FlmaMdk7UBiZXKkpfCs0M8JUoe3pUXftIyi2umjA6029ttx_tDBBzSa-HGr8ZEJVmTO0XZq4iPgwMSmQe9mqVcrLHEw-lGXRQuvA/w370-h223/On+the+Waterfront+Marlon+Brando+2.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Marlon Brando show</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">Brando makes <i>On the Waterfront </i>tick. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">He looks every bit Terry Malloy, a faded boxer whose elder brother is part of a notorious local gang. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">His new found love for Elie (Eva Marie Saint) leads him to steadily grow a conscience and set things right. But Terry's change of heart is not without tragic consequences. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlHD09JKaxJmqfEAR2VRbbY8jJ-KXtY2WGs-YF_wXtC4oZPCo2iTu8X3A-xSxQDnhXrZbFPkQqwVTrR63efRvhaGIltMusZj-E_HwEW4rAD162PXwqj49zxfe7c5ehTtsnR9Ff2yAKA/s789/On+the+Waterfront+Marlon+Brando+8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="789" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlHD09JKaxJmqfEAR2VRbbY8jJ-KXtY2WGs-YF_wXtC4oZPCo2iTu8X3A-xSxQDnhXrZbFPkQqwVTrR63efRvhaGIltMusZj-E_HwEW4rAD162PXwqj49zxfe7c5ehTtsnR9Ff2yAKA/w434-h244/On+the+Waterfront+Marlon+Brando+8.png" width="434" /></a></div><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">The climatic confrontation between Terry and Charley (Rod Steiger) is the standout scene, Brando and Steiger sparkle, vulnerability and rawness of the relationship bursting out between the siblings, leading to the famous Brando outburst. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">The Father Barry (Karl Malden) talk on Christian values, the Jesus analogy is another notable aspect of the story curve. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTohGHuRm8KFCzG2PWau5eI0oMG3CnRpY1tnlMtzBdSCb-lHo0rB4Q_ga3tBnL-KS1n5QryKVX8C7VDY0-NufQ9IkRzMsaOlOhowfoIIz-I4ovOidfIgEmPxCBaD0hsJRp5ttiH-Misw/s1798/On+the+Waterfront+Marlon+Brando+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1798" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTohGHuRm8KFCzG2PWau5eI0oMG3CnRpY1tnlMtzBdSCb-lHo0rB4Q_ga3tBnL-KS1n5QryKVX8C7VDY0-NufQ9IkRzMsaOlOhowfoIIz-I4ovOidfIgEmPxCBaD0hsJRp5ttiH-Misw/w356-h214/On+the+Waterfront+Marlon+Brando+4.jpg" width="356" /></a></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">Lee J. Cobb as Johnny Friendly almost steals the show playing a small-time ferocious, bull of a man with a murderous streak. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">The cinematography and frames could have been sharper. When the camera frames one character at a time, it momentarily dwarfs the storytelling. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>On the Waterfront </i>is not an outright classic, there are many superb moments, especially in the final fifteen minutes that redeems the movie experience, brings the drama to a rousing end.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">Watch it for Brando's towering performance, Cobb's fiendishly enjoyable villain shades and Saint's fragile romantic turn. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3qeZZehXZoSeaO_2PV6tU-o0MoKfS0v3HBUWgWiFTlQ5QW2Sf7IJQ3sup3SqhzA4m5d2wNd42vH-g-iluXRzcMRQ4t8NE-LRvez5LtNJLUsOZ0Z1nFgK2QiYRrf6hHjNPqmZ07gJMg/s772/On+the+Waterfront+Marlon+Brando+7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="772" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3qeZZehXZoSeaO_2PV6tU-o0MoKfS0v3HBUWgWiFTlQ5QW2Sf7IJQ3sup3SqhzA4m5d2wNd42vH-g-iluXRzcMRQ4t8NE-LRvez5LtNJLUsOZ0Z1nFgK2QiYRrf6hHjNPqmZ07gJMg/w389-h225/On+the+Waterfront+Marlon+Brando+7.png" width="389" /></a></div></span></div>
</div></div>Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-2894579842408510742020-10-16T20:48:00.003+05:302021-04-05T19:44:38.269+05:30The Disciple (2020)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiJlkwiKX1H3lSYyWN2e9k8EeYPSkRegqJiAY_hhmW-3GEfmlQsAa_5iJoAcD5RmlpCfEEWOJgfVMOtqHnOInFkYL0dQT5l8Wynr8gi2NTe2gKohnSPAIKPo7x3B1CAS1duaLfZXTeg/s1874/The+Disciple+movie+review+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1874" data-original-width="1300" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiJlkwiKX1H3lSYyWN2e9k8EeYPSkRegqJiAY_hhmW-3GEfmlQsAa_5iJoAcD5RmlpCfEEWOJgfVMOtqHnOInFkYL0dQT5l8Wynr8gi2NTe2gKohnSPAIKPo7x3B1CAS1duaLfZXTeg/w262-h378/The+Disciple+movie+review+1.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">[***1/2 stars / *****]</span></b></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Marathi filmmaker Chaitanya Tamhane struck film festival gold with his first full length feature, the deep, subtle, insightful <i>Court </i>(2014), a telling drama on the Indian judicial system. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This time he trains a keen, settling eye on the life of an aspiring Indian classical singer. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Michał Sobociński's cinematography casts a single-minded, wide angle view on the rigours of learning <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/07/eyes-wide-shut-1999.html" target="_blank">classical</a> music through the singular <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/06/duel-1971.html" target="_blank">experience</a> of Sharad Nerulkar (Aditya Modak).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The quieter side of Mumbai coincides with continual <i>tanpura </i>(background string instrument) strains, blending with the disciple's unending <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/06/android-kunjappan-version-525-2019.html" target="_blank">journey</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Bound by centuries old <i>guru-shishya parampara </i>(teacher-disciple tradition), Sharad has to ward off family, financial limitations and bodily desires to pursue his passion. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCIOCYKTI6MhdFSNm99_0iKxQBNDOXb1b0oPgY5Pe66Fi2bcxpTbO5im41XZaDAZ3KMfbZXbkn4BCxQnNRWX71YmVf0g10xsueVBejMmt4UHgyZdjsNy1Mv98bekd9nxKJZ0hMXpx-w/s1200/The+Disciple+movie+review+4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCIOCYKTI6MhdFSNm99_0iKxQBNDOXb1b0oPgY5Pe66Fi2bcxpTbO5im41XZaDAZ3KMfbZXbkn4BCxQnNRWX71YmVf0g10xsueVBejMmt4UHgyZdjsNy1Mv98bekd9nxKJZ0hMXpx-w/w369-h245/The+Disciple+movie+review+4.png" width="369" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">The unending quest </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We catch Sharad first in his twenties as outwardly calm, inwardly restless soul attempting turbulently to master the <i>eternal art</i> from the elderly <i>Guruji</i> (Arun Dravid). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In his mid-thirties, Sharad has a music teacher job to support his passion, his ailing master points out that Sharad's singing skills have a long way to go.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are short flashbacks to Sharad's childhood too, that partly explains Sharad's interest in music, while providing a few answers to his personality. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The most telling part features Sharad in his forties, echoes of human perseverance and courage in the most damning yet effective way. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">How does human endeavour fare largely, flashes across Sharad's face in the final scenes, beautiful strokes to sum up a life journey.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIRXn8PUTj22Q0_uY21FB_Mus-YD2c1sa-AZx48GP-B5QC5CJ9d-kdVPmpa5ClBVdMcKUBRVXrkYJrF3tJgf6LT9yZfzWY6ZrS95XHyNlWFhDGt6SeFGZrQranm3L5Ln_qrmLiK_5bw/s670/The+Disciple+movie+review+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="670" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIRXn8PUTj22Q0_uY21FB_Mus-YD2c1sa-AZx48GP-B5QC5CJ9d-kdVPmpa5ClBVdMcKUBRVXrkYJrF3tJgf6LT9yZfzWY6ZrS95XHyNlWFhDGt6SeFGZrQranm3L5Ln_qrmLiK_5bw/w372-h259/The+Disciple+movie+review+2.jpg" width="372" /></span></a></div><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Slow burner </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Disciple</i> takes a while to get going, but writer-director Tamhane is surefooted and steady in chronicling various aspects of a classical singer's life. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Underplayed drama and the three timeline variations are the movie's strength. The lead performance is too underplayed, especially Modak's lead act. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Disciple,</i> not as sharp and fiery as <i>Court</i>, is a studied unflinching take on the lonely, hungry road to sculpting one's art, and thanks to its unblinking, uncompromised treatment, is a good watch for cinema lovers. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Now playing on Netflix </i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_Qe-gT0yCNP-Ep5vMhEasRAAq14jBciwvdCFMiH8b1RrqZiMEz5oMLVHXB4QMu17OKdhaUfGe-cLmS70wK1-AaHlel1vu5MW5r7OWvk10PaKzPII8E70DsPSZw1V2oNf-mkGEGn5lQ/s1500/The+Disciple+movie+review+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="1500" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_Qe-gT0yCNP-Ep5vMhEasRAAq14jBciwvdCFMiH8b1RrqZiMEz5oMLVHXB4QMu17OKdhaUfGe-cLmS70wK1-AaHlel1vu5MW5r7OWvk10PaKzPII8E70DsPSZw1V2oNf-mkGEGn5lQ/w390-h214/The+Disciple+movie+review+3.jpg" width="390" /></span></a></div>Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-78286178153782917702020-07-23T12:05:00.000+05:302020-07-23T13:29:04.006+05:30Batman Ninja (2018) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAw2_CK5BP5D70vPxhpSK-coWqYTowZC07LX-R9YHnD91sPT-yo1beLgGUzLPTr72xFQ_CFZ9bL2ux9djETMI-JtmF70feHLzeB7frub4ur7lcpYrF11qcs5PelsKwknGd7TIFtCQfig/s1600/batman+ninja.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="592" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAw2_CK5BP5D70vPxhpSK-coWqYTowZC07LX-R9YHnD91sPT-yo1beLgGUzLPTr72xFQ_CFZ9bL2ux9djETMI-JtmF70feHLzeB7frub4ur7lcpYrF11qcs5PelsKwknGd7TIFtCQfig/s400/batman+ninja.jpg" width="281" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">[***1/2 stars/*****]</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The tale begins at Arkham Asylum where a time machine made by Gorilla Grodd ends up transporting the major villains of Gotham, <a href="https://punedc.blogspot.com/2008/07/movie-watch-dark-knight-dark-darker.html" target="_blank">Batman</a> and his crime-fighting team to ancient Japan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2016/03/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-2016.html" target="_blank">Batman</a>, last to be enveloped by the time machine, arrives two years later back in time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The villains have wrecked havoc in the meantime, displaced the original feudal lords, built weapon-heavy super castles and are constantly battling each other for supremacy and dominance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2017/11/justice-league-2017.html" target="_blank">Batman</a> now has the cliffhanger test in stopping the master criminals from rupturing the past and consequently, the present. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He then has the seemingly impossible task to taking everyone safe and sound, back to the present. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAm_AKd6GlEDQg07lOG6kc5WmhUhvtUdyCm9qnkhbTzTEuPdadykI1IquysCTeMRDWLgGYJhUJEu8kQX0Kfmmre0xYzElWXU5u4_GroReL_d6G_DMh2-yhcOfDCIjYy63PitdzsMkQgw/s1600/batman+ninja+movie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1440" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAm_AKd6GlEDQg07lOG6kc5WmhUhvtUdyCm9qnkhbTzTEuPdadykI1IquysCTeMRDWLgGYJhUJEu8kQX0Kfmmre0xYzElWXU5u4_GroReL_d6G_DMh2-yhcOfDCIjYy63PitdzsMkQgw/s400/batman+ninja+movie.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Batman re-imagined</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What happens when manga-based illustrators carve their magic to reinvent Batman and his enemies via time-travel in ancient Japan? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You get <i>Batman Ninja</i>, richly illustrated, stylish Batman animation movie that is particularly good and has a lovely, beautifully orchestrated Batman-Joker finale fight that more than makes up for some sluggishness and lack of any major surprises. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That giving up is not even an option for Batman is a lovely emphasis, as is the plot element when, in the absence of modern technology, Batman is left with only his will to overcome his enemies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The illustrated rich manga texture, bold colours and style, lavishly imagined battle of the castles may not be everybody's plate of Sushi, I loved it though. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2019/10/joker-movie-review-joaquin-phoenix-is.html" target="_blank">Joker</a>, brilliantly voiced (Wataru Takagi, Japanese version) and drawn is the scene-stealer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvLWU_41TcKsSB6sqbg_CiHBhTC8YfKeA_lgoez8akgy4LrSk00yvvaU_AvIetkkZYxWniJ2wNzZZSCUorcPXUm_FpUnCStkgILUC1Nw3WwdZX7pMBgkSuCa7OzOtQqFkkmSJBY7PiA/s1600/batman+ninja+movie+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="536" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvLWU_41TcKsSB6sqbg_CiHBhTC8YfKeA_lgoez8akgy4LrSk00yvvaU_AvIetkkZYxWniJ2wNzZZSCUorcPXUm_FpUnCStkgILUC1Nw3WwdZX7pMBgkSuCa7OzOtQqFkkmSJBY7PiA/s400/batman+ninja+movie+1.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Eternal enemies </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why is the Joker way ahead of the pack in Batman villains? <i>Batman Ninja</i> gave me more reason to wonder on the uncanny Bats-Joker chemistry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They are a perfect foil, one can sense Batman having empathy for Joker - after all the Joker is deranged and delirious, he may be less at fault as compared to other foul-minded villains. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But the madness and the dash of unpredictability also makes him the most dangerous of the lot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Batman almost has his face ripped off by a Joker move and yet, Batman holds his ground, avoids killing anyone, and fights clean against all odds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Japanese touch </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For more fun, watch the Junpei Mizusaki-directed <i>Batman Ninja</i> in the original Japanese audio version with subtitles. The Batman story attains a nice, robust rural flavour in that language. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Definitely worth a watch for fans of Gotham's eternal protector. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(<i>Batman Ninja </i>is streaming on Netflix (India).)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMchh5drZZnarS2GRKlNFRgCwo475ESfYMWIuewI_O8_DaRUroryIfK8gyNaiLaiPqGKgpL3webw-NPNW8UhR3kaKUoJxaAFlmemkxKsGIqnbSxoTbrsGJetSmddyhzB4XwN5gtg5m7A/s1600/batman+ninja+movie+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMchh5drZZnarS2GRKlNFRgCwo475ESfYMWIuewI_O8_DaRUroryIfK8gyNaiLaiPqGKgpL3webw-NPNW8UhR3kaKUoJxaAFlmemkxKsGIqnbSxoTbrsGJetSmddyhzB4XwN5gtg5m7A/s400/batman+ninja+movie+3.jpg" width="323" /></span></a></div>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-82671376045302519182020-07-19T19:56:00.002+05:302020-07-19T20:03:13.962+05:30Thazhvaram (1990) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXz6I_wnH_DkFv5yg8APFqflBaLTPTNXBdcOL1QgsYDCjLh6BhitP-9FpNaugj32oQ-vG3U0zmC4L40T5vSq3D5gI4qPKXzh9U7LJRKIaRDLZ21elsaBfoX0toxTOMjLanTN-FiOU1g/s1600/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="270" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXz6I_wnH_DkFv5yg8APFqflBaLTPTNXBdcOL1QgsYDCjLh6BhitP-9FpNaugj32oQ-vG3U0zmC4L40T5vSq3D5gI4qPKXzh9U7LJRKIaRDLZ21elsaBfoX0toxTOMjLanTN-FiOU1g/s400/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">[**** stars/*****]</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is a framed black and white photograph of two smiling friends on an indistinct wall. A hand picks up the frame, places it on the ground, picks out the photograph. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then with a sharp pointed knife, the photograph is cut into two. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the deadly silence, the photograph is further cut to the size of a profile from the chest up. We are introduced to an untidy, stubble-faced Balan (Mohanlal) looking down gravely at the photo of his childhood friend Raju (Salim Ghouse). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJm6cvOnzYtLxUEbE94uCvUQ_MACYHbD-uDEDSZ4Gd8a8eAaNxumhrA1YbR1DVszmDPeG2OcEh-5fk-yIbIFKs6aC9YYyx3ytu7jO-zZP1TeEeD9NPsg1aMuUW9wXOSjWvfDi5NKeHkA/s1600/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="671" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJm6cvOnzYtLxUEbE94uCvUQ_MACYHbD-uDEDSZ4Gd8a8eAaNxumhrA1YbR1DVszmDPeG2OcEh-5fk-yIbIFKs6aC9YYyx3ytu7jO-zZP1TeEeD9NPsg1aMuUW9wXOSjWvfDi5NKeHkA/s400/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+7.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then with a view of pointed cliffs, beautiful streams and a green landscape, Balan sets out in search of Raju. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What has transpired between the two friends? What is it a weary Balan seeks among </span><span style="font-size: large;">Kerala's</span><span style="font-size: large;"> desolate hills and valleys? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVz6jnQGH6ytj9Q7CqPhnxKQomjs8KDWPxlw7r2OhZa__vNJIT0_515X-RImISqKQrzIGUJLc6ZrwtsXBAVxNQP6LyRBgmrd32osVUze4WpRY-5POl_Vg-SwJBfp5ked_7xGhhNSxPAA/s1600/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="586" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVz6jnQGH6ytj9Q7CqPhnxKQomjs8KDWPxlw7r2OhZa__vNJIT0_515X-RImISqKQrzIGUJLc6ZrwtsXBAVxNQP6LyRBgmrd32osVUze4WpRY-5POl_Vg-SwJBfp5ked_7xGhhNSxPAA/s400/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Friends, foes and lovers </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Thazhvaram</i> (The Valley) is a Malayalam thriller coloured in shades of Spaghetti Western movies (The Dollar <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollars_Trilogy" target="_blank">trilogy</a>), nature of an old world tale of deceit, innocence, revenge and greed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is also a fascinating study of rural life, human settlements, good and evil, life choices and consequences. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mrqAhNlEztrSnmvMRsveNvcfxTL3YTqM85OSHHoNcwPYlEyw7N6ODHHO_fwVFKqn_9gzsuhrlVU7HZP23UdKXDa4DBfn0V_72PfPcUSoZXWzR4lsQGDyhRJxOJB5-VXWeAx31MQkwQ/s1600/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="578" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mrqAhNlEztrSnmvMRsveNvcfxTL3YTqM85OSHHoNcwPYlEyw7N6ODHHO_fwVFKqn_9gzsuhrlVU7HZP23UdKXDa4DBfn0V_72PfPcUSoZXWzR4lsQGDyhRJxOJB5-VXWeAx31MQkwQ/s400/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+3.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Balan has shades of Clint Eastwood's unnamed character from the Sergio Leone trilogy on the exterior. But as the tale unfolds, we see a simple, naive village man who is undone by the company he keeps. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The extended battle with a former friend is constantly fascinating, as Balan and Raju try to outwit each other, leading to a fiery climax featuring vultures and explosives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Thazhvaram </i>is also a window to Kerala's enigmatic allure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The southern-most Indian state, with its isolated, resplendent unspoiled natural beauty, earthy people and snail-paced urbanization makes a far-off, abandoned appearance. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtZCKv0dtH5hmpb9ySzULk_AvUA_aYb1yZuZIUr9f_HuHmXgY2HMMf48j_cXXE1eU5Jz5_NRZGHwjDzun8hAKdBB21FYAEyxwn3zXlzfoRRHfOiSi40V311xb-VB2oNPOeDAsiMhVsA/s1600/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="562" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtZCKv0dtH5hmpb9ySzULk_AvUA_aYb1yZuZIUr9f_HuHmXgY2HMMf48j_cXXE1eU5Jz5_NRZGHwjDzun8hAKdBB21FYAEyxwn3zXlzfoRRHfOiSi40V311xb-VB2oNPOeDAsiMhVsA/s400/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Mohanlal, the born actor</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Johnson background score is sparsely, effectively used. Silence adds to the suspense and gravity in key scenes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bharathan directs with sure-footed assurance, building on noted writer M. T. Vasudevan Nair's gritty story, using simple every day elements and mirroring basic human nature to carve out a throbbing realistic drama. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mohanlal is <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/06/android-kunjappan-version-525-2019.html" target="_blank">extraordinary</a>, and <i>Thazhvaram</i> is further proof of why he is considered among the best <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/04/manichitrathazhu-1993.html" target="_blank">actors</a> in the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hindi movie audiences will remember Mohanlal as Mumbai Police Commissioner V. Srinivasan in Ram Gopal Varma's underworld drama <i>Company</i> (2002).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQd7TFM0ax9TvkU_p3RV8CMGFw4sdAJo7BcVIGb0mmrFF6rN4XEa1qS8EjfERf3RiGSZUJc8nQUhREi_71mA7_G2G8gNpcjSmypZrr_so2rCzplX1cVq3KX1v6aoe6szSUtuH8aFr8g/s1600/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="567" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQd7TFM0ax9TvkU_p3RV8CMGFw4sdAJo7BcVIGb0mmrFF6rN4XEa1qS8EjfERf3RiGSZUJc8nQUhREi_71mA7_G2G8gNpcjSmypZrr_so2rCzplX1cVq3KX1v6aoe6szSUtuH8aFr8g/s400/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+5.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Salim Ghouse makes a good villain, the sturdy supporting cast includes Sumalatha, Anju and veteran actor Sankaradi as the chatty father. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Venu's cinematography is steady, editing cuts by B. Lenin and V.T. Vijayan keep it crisp. Lip-synced songs, though brief, mar the narrative. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Watch <i>Thazhvaram</i> to witness how cinema can exist in <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2018/12/njandukalude-nattil-oridavela-2017.html" target="_blank">minimalism</a>, and consistently engage thanks to sheer film-making passion. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxICHQUK7uk_Nsqgg-SIy13BQIN1CG7FqUsgXX_UNMawERSc2h6FSLx865Aw3Rv5cYYXvAtGoTXor_XeD1-U7YwN5-M95EvkusTuEWATYuYRcBQ3biQZ-iYSp8NRkCFQj8sVWwVHt3wQ/s1600/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="547" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxICHQUK7uk_Nsqgg-SIy13BQIN1CG7FqUsgXX_UNMawERSc2h6FSLx865Aw3Rv5cYYXvAtGoTXor_XeD1-U7YwN5-M95EvkusTuEWATYuYRcBQ3biQZ-iYSp8NRkCFQj8sVWwVHt3wQ/s400/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+4.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Cinema, down south </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The golden age of Malayalam <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2019/11/jallikattu-review-tense-visually.html" target="_blank">cinema</a> extended from the 1980's to the mid-1990's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Directors like Bharathan and Padmarajan balanced art and commercial <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2018/12/odiyan-length-and-poor-editing-mars.html" target="_blank">elements</a> in free-flowing <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2016/01/premam-2015.html" target="_blank">narratives</a> to create compelling middle-of-the-road cinema.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many of these films are regarded today as iconic, path-breaking and classic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As a cinema lover, would love to see many early Malayalam classics restored and redistributed to a larger world audience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In popular culture, Bharathan is best-known for directing the Kamal Hassan Tamil starer <i>Thevar Magan </i>(1992), later remade as <i>Virasat </i>(1997) by Priyadarshan. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The multi-talented Bharathan passed away in 1998, he was only 51. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(<i>Thazhvaram</i> is streaming with English subtitles on Disney + Hotstar (India).)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkrrTiTZKFVBdzzTN57WaKEvZYGFRT4-kRPlHf6NG6pA4niTE7Fw0XQeR7lk0KpmydPg5UDgmyj0Ozw0aK4ciI7eg6pvw8OJuAEFD2d6ID15YItsLpKwZRVOKuxMBp87CAoXidbpB9Q/s1600/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="560" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkrrTiTZKFVBdzzTN57WaKEvZYGFRT4-kRPlHf6NG6pA4niTE7Fw0XQeR7lk0KpmydPg5UDgmyj0Ozw0aK4ciI7eg6pvw8OJuAEFD2d6ID15YItsLpKwZRVOKuxMBp87CAoXidbpB9Q/s400/Thazhvaram+movie+Mohanlal+6.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-5578811821153919732020-07-18T13:00:00.001+05:302020-07-19T16:58:35.057+05:30The Shining (1980) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauSVY5oeDjfTws2ufpIx6FVeyQmf2yJ2YHjquSY8EemYROsd79pfjHgK7eTq5Sy-ciDToNC_WxEb_3ElfTAO6cmI3H4kKsblkQONlq-RS_Sowhri_kYgIp7WQSlPw1nZSaefgXgxyyg/s1600/The+Shining+movie+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauSVY5oeDjfTws2ufpIx6FVeyQmf2yJ2YHjquSY8EemYROsd79pfjHgK7eTq5Sy-ciDToNC_WxEb_3ElfTAO6cmI3H4kKsblkQONlq-RS_Sowhri_kYgIp7WQSlPw1nZSaefgXgxyyg/s400/The+Shining+movie+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">[**** stars/*****]</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is a job vacancy at the remo</span><span style="font-size: large;">tely-located 1909-established Overlook Hotel, Rocky Mountains. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wanted: A caretaker during the off-season snow-drowned winter months. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For aspiring writer Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) the job might offer just the solitude he needs to work, with wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and son Danny (Danny Lloyd) for company.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jack seems to have aced the interview. Manager Stuart Ullman (Barry Nelson) adds just one little detail. The previous caretaker, Charles Grady, got a wee bit restless during his stay. Grady ended up killing his wife and two little daughters in the process. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNhdpr0IRJu8pbOSEu0uIICsETg1aHUz6XXZv0XKSZWQDlbsUKqGEP17ox0B6dt0U77B4X48n13zagkV44E7T8rdJr5EcywM7kl0jCQtpLTl6loVyatWuqkI1ytPJaqTaT_LMijYk9g/s1600/The+Shining+movie+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNhdpr0IRJu8pbOSEu0uIICsETg1aHUz6XXZv0XKSZWQDlbsUKqGEP17ox0B6dt0U77B4X48n13zagkV44E7T8rdJr5EcywM7kl0jCQtpLTl6loVyatWuqkI1ytPJaqTaT_LMijYk9g/s400/The+Shining+movie+1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jack is unaffected and says that his wife loves hearing horror stories. The job is his. Meanwhile, back at Jack's home, Danny has a blood-flowing nightmare about the hotel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Torrance family moves in soon after, days began to pass, snow begins to gather and things start to unravel at the good old Overlook Hotel. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW66BOAxqOQh5Frq1aVybkGrH2kqc0Z0Ap5nJX0zYQH8JiQJa4Pm3aMU3nb4SS4aNr91p3ZeTIsOX8p-c5YifUILr32NYd6SlyH6Iii-YtSiCinDB-BT56y1wnOPIymwsqlI6TK2mzgw/s1600/The+Shining+movie+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW66BOAxqOQh5Frq1aVybkGrH2kqc0Z0Ap5nJX0zYQH8JiQJa4Pm3aMU3nb4SS4aNr91p3ZeTIsOX8p-c5YifUILr32NYd6SlyH6Iii-YtSiCinDB-BT56y1wnOPIymwsqlI6TK2mzgw/s400/The+Shining+movie+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A master at work </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Apart from extracting <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/06/psycho-1960.html" target="_blank">incredible</a> performances from the three main cast members, director Stanley <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/07/eyes-wide-shut-1999.html" target="_blank">Kubrick</a> literally weaves a maze of visual and audio intricacies to <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2018/04/a-quiet-place-2018.html" target="_blank">terrify</a> the audience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The overbearing sense of location, the maze, eye-catching use of geometrical shapes, I can't get my mind off the sublime John Alcott cinematography, the terrific score by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Shining </i>is a learner's </span><span style="font-size: large;">guide to making a timeless <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2018/10/movie-review-tumbbad-immersive-horror.html" target="_blank">horror</a> movie. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDk1eYfF7PzwgS7Zge8aiasbCX9k-xpYbDDghENa_4ud8RazKJJTRba0zVzwMV0IuIiTMaYTQRZ-kQD_NX3GkNkapkA4iieSwB6z7ZE2rr5k0opLJ5WnSrEcxhb7eutNwa1ii5gpbRnQ/s1600/The+Shining+movie+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDk1eYfF7PzwgS7Zge8aiasbCX9k-xpYbDDghENa_4ud8RazKJJTRba0zVzwMV0IuIiTMaYTQRZ-kQD_NX3GkNkapkA4iieSwB6z7ZE2rr5k0opLJ5WnSrEcxhb7eutNwa1ii5gpbRnQ/s400/The+Shining+movie+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The hypnotic use of enclosed spaces, of movement, sound, colours and textures is unbelievably precise. The wolf and the three pigs story is twisted about for axe-pounding scares. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The strong green paleness of Room 237, shroud white curtains, calculated lighting, lingering tense pace, ominous use of red...how the hell did Kubrick get Danny Lloyd to give such haunting expressions?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nicholson's highly<a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2018/09/movie-review-stree-fresh-funny-take-on.html" target="_blank"> enjoyable</a> act in the final parts is a prelude to his Joker in Tim Burton's <i>Batman </i>(1989). Shelley Duvall is a great horror movie face, that's how a scared-to-death woman should look. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAnQolZZ_yyvlytsfGt0vok295s6Ganycu6r33Fz8lDA96EcS1LSWkJrA7Lc0kq5Gpl3GDSRuXJHUcig8khk8Lj1NuS_N-FCWn1Gf5daNYVCPmMZSUryb7t0L7Fo4AuZlixqe52TufA/s1600/The+Shining+movie+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAnQolZZ_yyvlytsfGt0vok295s6Ganycu6r33Fz8lDA96EcS1LSWkJrA7Lc0kq5Gpl3GDSRuXJHUcig8khk8Lj1NuS_N-FCWn1Gf5daNYVCPmMZSUryb7t0L7Fo4AuZlixqe52TufA/s400/The+Shining+movie+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I saw <i>The</i> <i>Shining </i>on my cell phone screen, and its distinct imagery has stayed with me for over two days. I wonder what a late evening big screen experience would have done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a magnificently orchestrated <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2020/06/bulbbul-review-strong-partly.html" target="_blank">horror</a> masterpiece. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you love horror movies (otherwise the genre has gone redundant lately), among the clutter of jump scares and cheap tested tricks, <i>The Shining </i>is what Lionel Messi is to football...unspeakable brilliance...something else. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxs2miOH38mj1WZHvIuh8GC-uPnEzEJmlWN5Ywglx_8IT303T_OJPqmEmSvWdurQymb1tU3A-ugutJPAOdgfY0wMiaxvGmSFCVtYi7KjwleHIe09luT5OfkrShr1PdQPVor9hRGgxCg/s1600/The+Shining+movie+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="586" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxs2miOH38mj1WZHvIuh8GC-uPnEzEJmlWN5Ywglx_8IT303T_OJPqmEmSvWdurQymb1tU3A-ugutJPAOdgfY0wMiaxvGmSFCVtYi7KjwleHIe09luT5OfkrShr1PdQPVor9hRGgxCg/s400/The+Shining+movie+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-90318592562389297322020-07-16T13:28:00.002+05:302020-07-17T03:12:30.317+05:30Eyes Wide Shut (1999) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkXF90-4wuy6NYO3HUitTJmf0El2F4ky94lck60WpTbUir9fOEa5ydXF25TsjzB0xfw1g7SpRbJ2GGcU_kn3C44r5BUv0VhePAkn95badk8_2XMNb65kBJIeb5onHmPgXGwpbGs1Rwg/s1600/Eyes+Wide+Shut+Stanley+Kubrick+Tom+Cruise+Nicole+Kidman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1035" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkXF90-4wuy6NYO3HUitTJmf0El2F4ky94lck60WpTbUir9fOEa5ydXF25TsjzB0xfw1g7SpRbJ2GGcU_kn3C44r5BUv0VhePAkn95badk8_2XMNb65kBJIeb5onHmPgXGwpbGs1Rwg/s400/Eyes+Wide+Shut+Stanley+Kubrick+Tom+Cruise+Nicole+Kidman.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">[*** stars/*****]</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What does monogamy in marriage mean? Surely fantasizing about another person is not betrayal? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How many of us assume that faithfulness in marriage is natural ...or as Bill puts it - woman are loyal to their partner by nature? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dr. William "Bill" Harford (Tom Cruise) and Alice Harford (Nicole Kidman) seem <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2017/07/movie-review-jagga-jasoos-part.html" target="_blank">happily</a> married, and live in New York with Helena, their seven-year-old daughter. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then one Christsmas eve, the handsome, beautiful, and well-off couple are at a party hosted by one of Bill's affluent patients, Victor Ziegler (Sydney Pollack).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bill ends up running into good friend Nick Nightingale (Todd Field), medical school dropout and now pianist. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7wZZjZ8eH-La7xl0rxW6jmK_M6m6PI35URmaTqBN25xUiDcB2W-hpuCDDRbDa-Zfpjy0wwCeKxD_lbDZmwLQfL_0Uv7rPMA0dSLidp-SjVQf4zMy1lx1trk3gceaCARgWrwJbe4dbw/s1600/Eyes+Wide+Shut+Stanley+Kubrick+Tom+Cruise+Nicole+Kidman+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="550" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7wZZjZ8eH-La7xl0rxW6jmK_M6m6PI35URmaTqBN25xUiDcB2W-hpuCDDRbDa-Zfpjy0wwCeKxD_lbDZmwLQfL_0Uv7rPMA0dSLidp-SjVQf4zMy1lx1trk3gceaCARgWrwJbe4dbw/s400/Eyes+Wide+Shut+Stanley+Kubrick+Tom+Cruise+Nicole+Kidman+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, a Hungarian businessman Sandor Szavost (Sky du Mont) attempts to unsuccessfully seduce Alice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bill is flirted at by two young models, then abruptly called in by his host to help Mandy (Julienne Davis), who apparently overdosed on a drug while having sex with Ziegler. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mandy recovers, thanks to Bill's timely intervention. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next evening at home, Bill and Alice smoke marijuana, and idly discuss monogamy and temptations. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bill sounds traditionally righteous, that he is never jealous of other men hitting on Alice, as a women's <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2014/04/dvd-picks-bommarillu-2006.html" target="_blank">nature</a> is to be faithful. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjJGreVZjzIwtW9_Nr7EnGMP4I7R2ZbvTOjjjJLcacqdL2CyVrUhQ338Ru25yyyP6z6bl257c4-4f7JpHmjjM-2ZKcwJm4KAKtFEaNLYutI069y7HdzgGmLiix-R9UA0h5Q2c8tfGAQ/s1600/Eyes+Wide+Shut+Stanley+Kubrick+Tom+Cruise+Nicole+Kidman+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjJGreVZjzIwtW9_Nr7EnGMP4I7R2ZbvTOjjjJLcacqdL2CyVrUhQ338Ru25yyyP6z6bl257c4-4f7JpHmjjM-2ZKcwJm4KAKtFEaNLYutI069y7HdzgGmLiix-R9UA0h5Q2c8tfGAQ/s400/Eyes+Wide+Shut+Stanley+Kubrick+Tom+Cruise+Nicole+Kidman+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Alice laughs at this remark, and reveals how she fantasized having an affair a year ago. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She was charmed by a naval officer whom she never met, during their summer vacation hotel stay back then. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Alice casually </span><span style="font-size: large;">admits</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">that she considered leaving Bill and Helena for the officer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The disclosure shakes up Bill, and in a turn of events over the next couple of days, he strongly considers having sex outside marriage, leading to dangerous, alarming events. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Kubrick's last hurrah </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Though <i>Eyes Wide Shut </i>limps to its last act, turning into a mitigated, ambiguous social satire (hence the title) from an erotic mystery <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/04/manichitrathazhu-1993.html" target="_blank">thriller</a>, I was blown <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2017/08/titli-2014.html" target="_blank">away</a> by the sheer visual power. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Larry Smith cinematography, the Jocelyn Pook score and eerie use of classical music, including a <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2018/11/imaikkaa-nodigal-2018.html" target="_blank">Tamil</a> song in the shocking mansion scenes, director Stanley Kubrick lured me unblinkingly deep into the half-baked conflict. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Every frame is magnificent and painstakingly clean in detail, the art direction is exemplary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Adapted, with many major changes, from <i>Traumnovelle</i> (Dream Story), a 1926 German novella by Arthur Schnitzler, Stanley Kubrick last film (he died six days after a director's cut screening to Warner Brothers and the lead cast) is undone by its writing and boxed <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2017/07/a-death-in-gunj-2017.html" target="_blank">characterization</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Prominent questions are seldom confronted or juggled around with. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The one-track journey of Bill's search for sexual encounters, required a varied voice of Alice to build up the drama. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But Alice's side in largely muted by Bill's journey, which, despite the shock, doesn't add up. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bill is played up as a Hollywood hero, rather than a person, creating a detached feel - Cruise only lacks a superhero cape. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Eyes Wide Shut </i>is muted in voice and reason, neither does it deliver on its dark and potentially devastating premise. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The resultant nudity, sexual imagery and orgy scenes end up as gimmicky, having no bearing on the story. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Eyes Wide Shut </i>is worth a watch for its incredible visual charisma, the Cruise-Kidman and ensemble acts, despite the failed yet assured attempt at cinema immortality as in Kubrick's <i><a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/03/full-metal-jacket-1987.html" target="_blank">Full Metal Jacket</a> </i>(1987) and <i>The Shining </i>(1980). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Wonder what more lethal worlds Kubrick would have conjured, if he had lived a decade more. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: right;">(<i>Eyes Wide Shut</i> is streaming on Netflix.)</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: right;"> </span></span><br />
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-7956986567289634202020-07-15T12:00:00.000+05:302020-07-15T13:06:54.008+05:30Uncut Gems (2019) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">[***1/2 stars/*****]</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is a bumbling, restless, shrewd, gambling-crazy New York <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2012/10/english-vinglish-smooth-heartfelt-take.html" target="_blank">City</a> jewelry store owner. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We first meet Ratner on the brink of cracking a huge deal, in his street-<a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2018/11/movie-review-andhadhun-smart-slick.html" target="_blank">smart</a> rambling 'Sandler lazy casual-drawl' manner.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But life is not a bed of priceless gems. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ratner has a huge gambling debt to pay off, including over $100,000 to his menacing brother-in-law Arno (Eric Bogosian). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But that doesn't stop Ratner on his roller-coaster madcap ride for infinite <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2018/10/movie-review-tumbbad-immersive-horror.html" target="_blank">wealth</a>...</span><span style="font-size: large;">even when Arno sends over his men to the jewelry store - short-tempered Phil (Keith Williams Richards) and Nico (Tommy Kominik) to physically intimidate and embarrass Ratner before his customers</span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Things come to the head when a black opal, a rare priceless gem extracted by Ethiopian miners reaches Ratner, setting off a chaotic chain of <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2020/06/da-5-bloods-review-black-history.html" target="_blank">events</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Already, Ratner is on the verge of divorcing his separated wife, barely has time for his children, and is having an affair with his employee Julia (Julia Fox). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Is there a rainbow waiting for Ratner as he spirals out of control, curving down his adrenaline rush for money, money, and more money? </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Fast-paced entertaining drama </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Writers Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie (also co-directors) and Ronald Bronstein churn a madcap, hypnotic, feverish drama thriller, symbolically pinning the black opal, and channeling insatiable greed through Ratner's circling fetish for gambling.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The turbulent celebration in Daniel Lopatin's brilliant background <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2020/07/my-ennio-morricone-good-bad-ugly-theme.html" target="_blank">score</a> is magnetic, as is the constant deliberate busy shift in Darius Khondji's <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2019/11/jallikattu-review-tense-visually.html" target="_blank">cinematography</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Adam Sandler is a revelation, superb and immensely compelling as Howard Ratner. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sandler's intonation and body language to create a man consumed and not in control of himself is unforgettable. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A city beast throbbing in a unabated blood rush, this is a career-defining performance.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I won't ever take any competent typecast actor for granted, thanks to Sandler's wolfish, trippy act. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Lakeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, basketball player Kevin Garnett (as himself), Idina Menzel, Eric Bogosian and Judd Hirsch make a good support cast. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Jewish-American community representation steers clear of stereotypes. The directors ensure that it is only incidental to the pulsating drama. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Striking tension-induced mood settings makes up for the sketchiness, <i>Uncut Gems</i> is a whirlwind manic thump of a drama. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(<i>Uncut Gems</i> is streaming on Netflix.)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRWdAEp_8bZ173pz1YMBo2vQXHHSL9hjjzbJ7UW3SGUzseI_yV1JaDA0_5sUq4wBiC5Az3Mxvxl-8mt0WLNPfnyEApn2Q4XVDhSdB_ziNUISiGHI0ubn4vzQqRmAXTFTcbF7pn_2T5Q/s1600/Uncut+Gems+Adam+Sandler+Julia+Fox+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRWdAEp_8bZ173pz1YMBo2vQXHHSL9hjjzbJ7UW3SGUzseI_yV1JaDA0_5sUq4wBiC5Az3Mxvxl-8mt0WLNPfnyEApn2Q4XVDhSdB_ziNUISiGHI0ubn4vzQqRmAXTFTcbF7pn_2T5Q/s400/Uncut+Gems+Adam+Sandler+Julia+Fox+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-14755486814963575312020-07-11T11:54:00.000+05:302020-07-15T15:05:34.579+05:30The Disaster Artist (2017)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SlZB_v_-HS-5FazwD5dm4n1vWRB1WLY2P60NYfga2_hpMCqYEC_vljDADPToaCQbpaZNvjETYEIBeiR6J01usShpH80RNNpAk54cKU5Dxf3R6inlSdzFKRheISfgAD-6NdQrUKulsw/s1600/The+Disaster+Artist+Movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="420" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SlZB_v_-HS-5FazwD5dm4n1vWRB1WLY2P60NYfga2_hpMCqYEC_vljDADPToaCQbpaZNvjETYEIBeiR6J01usShpH80RNNpAk54cKU5Dxf3R6inlSdzFKRheISfgAD-6NdQrUKulsw/s400/The+Disaster+Artist+Movie.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>[*** stars / *****] </b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What is it to sit through the premiere of your debut movie, and witness the audience laugh out loud at what was intended to be serious drama? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Disaster Artist</i> is about how a really <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2019/12/dabangg-3-review-how-to-survive.html" target="_blank">bad</a> movie got made. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A movie so <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2019/09/saaho-review-how-to-survive-prolonged.html" target="_blank">bad</a> that audiences the world over still love it for its <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2018/06/race-3-incredibly-dumb-so-bad-that-it.html" target="_blank">unintentional</a> humor, incredibly bad acting and lame storytelling. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Disaster Artist</i> is a neat, well-paced chronicle of how Tommy Wiseau's cult 'so baaaad that it is goooood' flick, <i>The Room</i> (2003) was made. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">James Franco does an impressive turn directing the movie and playing Wiseau, mimicking the strange spirit, drawl and body language of the determined man. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Franco's brother Dave, playing Wiseau's friend and co-star Greg is sincere too. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Disaster Artist</i> is a good, often funny and engaging experience about what most critics call the "best worst movie ever made." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is a brave, clean attempt, and in its way, applauds friendship against all odds and is a cheerful shout out to every one out there who find the courage to follow their dreams. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Disaster Artist </i>tells us why pure conviction and drive matters, irrespective of the outcome. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A little nitty-bitty funny fight of a film. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2No0DF2NAb9HQlC2Q0_jWH2UPSArChIcOdX_A9joBz52hgGgv_dZFub0hi0rnH-yrYDexehS76qy-3NhnE7UCtVMWYBtN-agTU5kXBhO9c9e-W5FPDZEkgvQTjGRdahYjDSV_0Qa6-w/s1600/The+Room+Movie+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="518" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2No0DF2NAb9HQlC2Q0_jWH2UPSArChIcOdX_A9joBz52hgGgv_dZFub0hi0rnH-yrYDexehS76qy-3NhnE7UCtVMWYBtN-agTU5kXBhO9c9e-W5FPDZEkgvQTjGRdahYjDSV_0Qa6-w/s400/The+Room+Movie+Poster.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-21317463887209663412020-07-08T18:00:00.000+05:302020-07-09T23:57:28.356+05:30The Sweet Herafter (1997) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGgJqTgii8qGwR2P14QCn0vma5eJFgch3oXCZIj370qm3ON2ZfEx4EqQGU18LzwA7w0x1HSCcRmx5KJr9_n6w__3hm2OtmMGFo2-4ltUzHyjXYZloyo70oLgDHwxL1-bvYVdzcJGj-Q/s1600/The+Sweet+Hereafter+1997+movie+cinema+Ian+Holm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGgJqTgii8qGwR2P14QCn0vma5eJFgch3oXCZIj370qm3ON2ZfEx4EqQGU18LzwA7w0x1HSCcRmx5KJr9_n6w__3hm2OtmMGFo2-4ltUzHyjXYZloyo70oLgDHwxL1-bvYVdzcJGj-Q/s400/The+Sweet+Hereafter+1997+movie+cinema+Ian+Holm.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>[***3/4 stars/*****]</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once upon a time on a snowy day in the little <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2017/08/movie-review-bareilly-ki-barfi-sweet.html" target="_blank">town</a> of Sam Dent, British Columbia, a <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2017/07/movie-review-spider-man-homecoming.html" target="_blank">school</a> bus driven by the experienced Dolores Driscoll (Gabrielle Rose) cuts across a road barrier and falls into a lake, killing 14 children. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mitchell Stephens (Ian Holm), a lawyer fending off personal issues with his separated drug-addict daughter Zoe (Caerthan Banks), descends vulture-like on the town folk and grieving parents, literally manipulating them to ask for damages. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQfL4QAQlrR2X-twZzFQUrckhr2eoYGiaitvOsh1nltSzZtV7vShxho8O9TsXwcKk_5K938kfUhFf_aoChbBK12BSFNjVJBJeOBv-_wfSFwSoqPwxUZ0-PbZqh3Kcj6IsQH53PT4qrQ/s1600/The+Sweet+Hereafter+1997+movie+cinema+Ian+Holm+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="651" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQfL4QAQlrR2X-twZzFQUrckhr2eoYGiaitvOsh1nltSzZtV7vShxho8O9TsXwcKk_5K938kfUhFf_aoChbBK12BSFNjVJBJeOBv-_wfSFwSoqPwxUZ0-PbZqh3Kcj6IsQH53PT4qrQ/s400/The+Sweet+Hereafter+1997+movie+cinema+Ian+Holm+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stephens plans to build a case based on alleged negligence of the bus manufacturer and the road barrier makers. His condition is to keep one-third of the damages won, and take no fees if he loses the case. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As Stephens goes around craftily persuading affected parents to fight the case, the quiet town is divided for and against filing charges. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOJz0MM3X_YiHTomHKPiCHCx_zPDm-gssJ2sss9cG01Up3ItTbBRmmLPS3FSIvffWWEEFS2AEIMlAZt61g2tFA7rLy7Z-3pUljlzAMg5vrnFJUgoowuEf59VobES966YYHpmo5jGDQg/s1600/the-sweet-hereafter-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="400" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOJz0MM3X_YiHTomHKPiCHCx_zPDm-gssJ2sss9cG01Up3ItTbBRmmLPS3FSIvffWWEEFS2AEIMlAZt61g2tFA7rLy7Z-3pUljlzAMg5vrnFJUgoowuEf59VobES966YYHpmo5jGDQg/s400/the-sweet-hereafter-03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Billy Ansel (Bruce Greenwood) who was driving his car behind the school bus as usual to wave at his children when the accident occurred is furious with Stephens, threatening to bash him up for good. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile Stephens wants Nicole Burnell (Sarah Polley), 15, accident survivor, now paralysed from the waist down, to make the 'right' statement to win the case. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But there is more to the grieving and tragedy - an illicit affair, child abuse, daddy issues, unashamed need for money, guilt and greed. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HH5Fy_oreCjakKUHpehgs5G1JitIQCTCoMy5nliDyewW-jO7PZ_NjsrR1UfUQvROaIe61WBpwjkNbztmzaV_hUYl3I-DnmZMwJMO6OlLN4vksKh5WXFFnb9Z87vdl4teK4Rbz5QuHA/s1600/The+Sweet+Hereafter+1997+movie+cinema+Ian+Holm+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="1280" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HH5Fy_oreCjakKUHpehgs5G1JitIQCTCoMy5nliDyewW-jO7PZ_NjsrR1UfUQvROaIe61WBpwjkNbztmzaV_hUYl3I-DnmZMwJMO6OlLN4vksKh5WXFFnb9Z87vdl4teK4Rbz5QuHA/s400/The+Sweet+Hereafter+1997+movie+cinema+Ian+Holm+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Haunting moments </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Based on the 1991 novel, <i>The Sweet Hereafter </i>by Russell Banks, a book loosely inspired by the Alton, Texas bus crash that killed 21 students, the screenplay by </span><span style="font-size: large;">Canadian</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">director Atom Egoyan is a near-masterpiece. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The events go back and forth, cutting across timelines, Egoyan keeps us guessing and intrigued, building up the drama like a snow sculpture, that gradually shapes into coherence. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The recently deceased Ian Holm is particularly terrific as the immoral lawyer. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This may be the act that won him the role of Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy. It is a seething, nervy act. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bruce Greenwood as the righteous angry dad and Sarah Polley as Nicole are excellent, the rest of the ensemble is superb too. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUqCgoTqTna52t2svlw-FsKEHhD4PUVmUOvVnDKxOSSjCesKR_SXq1Xxhnm61Q_vo_i8iln2hMnjGf1yr62Lyanojlp6krt9NmsxMFQNxPz0rJmmtjRxa1ZIhy8D99I6DPmVXEBCuaQ/s1600/the-sweet-hereafter-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUqCgoTqTna52t2svlw-FsKEHhD4PUVmUOvVnDKxOSSjCesKR_SXq1Xxhnm61Q_vo_i8iln2hMnjGf1yr62Lyanojlp6krt9NmsxMFQNxPz0rJmmtjRxa1ZIhy8D99I6DPmVXEBCuaQ/s400/the-sweet-hereafter-01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Pied Piper analogy </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The haunting bits involve Nicole's reading of 'The Pied Piper' fairy <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2020/06/bulbbul-review-strong-partly.html" target="_blank">tale</a> to Billy's children, emphasized and revisited in effective voice-overs to match the tragedy of the tale and the bus tragedy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How the fairy <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2019/02/ek-ladki-ko-dekha-toh-aisa-laga-great.html" target="_blank">tale</a> ominously runs parallel to the tale are parts that elevate the drama in <i>The Sweet Herafter. </i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-size: large;">The part about the dying baby and the implications of what a father needs to do to save its life - the telling is pure cinema. </span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Sweet Herafter</i> cuts above many, similar, slow-burner movies, for its haunting, snow-lush quality, despite the absence of anything overtly dramatic, apart from the accident scenes. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Cinema lovers will find a lot to <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-best-movies-of-2017-as-on-august-15.html" target="_blank">admire</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My take - this is how you make a sensitive fictional drama based on a real-life tragedy. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzatxsGIWHAo2zVsu2reIz16OAxyP1FUlYrmDt-SqXaBizTeLKQ4kfrPqTJUyFRFoFQTricEMaLi9Ozg8B1EKLBc6sCbQfF5ZM_K3nVSOtNaqrRuAyLxy7qfGOskkag8xDBlVLMyC8g/s1600/The+Sweet+Hereafter+1997+movie+cinema+Ian+Holm+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzatxsGIWHAo2zVsu2reIz16OAxyP1FUlYrmDt-SqXaBizTeLKQ4kfrPqTJUyFRFoFQTricEMaLi9Ozg8B1EKLBc6sCbQfF5ZM_K3nVSOtNaqrRuAyLxy7qfGOskkag8xDBlVLMyC8g/s400/The+Sweet+Hereafter+1997+movie+cinema+Ian+Holm+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-26292735266525299072020-07-07T18:00:00.000+05:302020-07-07T18:07:02.771+05:30To Catch a Thief (1955) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrKJHwc9FIDzSKlmb6SYy-uOOsMgQeikOTeeVpEJYDDOrEH68rhtd0cpmqQF-XYgtkLnlKVmH_upuuoLS-cHn6ous0DIpu2ENJApKsKuLBQBqjcbnTb_nNlXdhmysLsr1nBRkfyVUEg/s1600/To+Catch+a+Thief+Grace+Kelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrKJHwc9FIDzSKlmb6SYy-uOOsMgQeikOTeeVpEJYDDOrEH68rhtd0cpmqQF-XYgtkLnlKVmH_upuuoLS-cHn6ous0DIpu2ENJApKsKuLBQBqjcbnTb_nNlXdhmysLsr1nBRkfyVUEg/s400/To+Catch+a+Thief+Grace+Kelly.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">[***3/4 stars/*****]</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Francie</b>: "<i>Do you want a leg or a breast?</i>"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Robie</b>: "<i>You make the choice.</i>"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">John Robie (Cary Grant), a former master cat burglar enjoys a leisurely retired life in a splendid, airy French villa. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But when a string of jewel robberies occur at the French Riviera, Robie is the main <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2019/03/badla-skilful-engaging-remake-of-crime.html" target="_blank">suspect</a>, forcing him to go on the run. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Robie seeks help from his old (now restaurant-managing) gang, who are on parole for their World War II heroics as part of the French Resistance. </span><span style="font-size: large;">He is met with hostility, as they are now prime suspects too. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzh6Miu3MBmLgJuyOLE9z4ZAQ4yO9cBZGqEyiGnmS2h6Yo90_D893OZnEdkRf9XQ-gzrvIupLQFkH0pq0YYIJ2QjUxJdjGPjXzqINILkYV-lYYfmlnpuz6cM6m_zwl1afiauFthTw-Q/s1600/To+Catch+a+Thief+Cary+Grant+Alfred+Hitchcock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="720" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzh6Miu3MBmLgJuyOLE9z4ZAQ4yO9cBZGqEyiGnmS2h6Yo90_D893OZnEdkRf9XQ-gzrvIupLQFkH0pq0YYIJ2QjUxJdjGPjXzqINILkYV-lYYfmlnpuz6cM6m_zwl1afiauFthTw-Q/s400/To+Catch+a+Thief+Cary+Grant+Alfred+Hitchcock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Robie escapes the police again, and schemes to catch the elusive burglar in the act. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">He arranges to meet H. H. Hughson (John Williams), an insurance agent who trusts Robie enough (and can't afford more robberies of insured jewels) to disclose the list of the wealthiest jewel-owning Riviera folk. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">American tourists, rich widow Jessie Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis) and daughter Frances (Grace Kelly) incidentally top the list. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Engaging romance, screeching car chases, sunny French locales and throbbing rooftop chases ensue. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYYfE3OPhy7UeQ136_P09cd28jYFkBwuquaVMYhoqiJDPf4h2nC2eyk-LFBCyROD-7d8P76Qh5hZgzroJWax03wR9IPzN9BpXEZ1O8vfnT8jOYir7eVlotNquMdgGCmRu0dvFIYYgJg/s1600/Cary-Grant-and-Grace-Kelly-To-catch-a-thief.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYYfE3OPhy7UeQ136_P09cd28jYFkBwuquaVMYhoqiJDPf4h2nC2eyk-LFBCyROD-7d8P76Qh5hZgzroJWax03wR9IPzN9BpXEZ1O8vfnT8jOYir7eVlotNquMdgGCmRu0dvFIYYgJg/s400/Cary-Grant-and-Grace-Kelly-To-catch-a-thief.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Not Hitchcock's best, but utterly enjoyable</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The cat analogy, superb French locales, trademark witty Hitchcock remarks, breathtaking locations, the uncanny Cary Grant-Grace Kelly chemistry, stirring, timely background score - <i>To Catch a Thief </i>is a breezy suspense <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2019/06/article-15-effective-strong-take-on.html" target="_blank">drama</a>, low on thrills and surprises, compared to other <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/06/psycho-1960.html" target="_blank">superior</a> Hitchcock suspense movies. </span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-size: large;">The stretched climax threatens to derail the fun, the buildup to the final rooftop chase makes up for it, even if the <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2012/06/movie-review-gangs-of-wasseypur-part-i.html" target="_blank">gun</a>-shooting part is a tad lame. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Just when it seems to lag, there are enough twists and character development that keep <i>To Catch a Thief </i>engaging. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ny8YY59SB7HzdmZbBHv-dkOclSa1SQC0fSr_koPEwg8jXKRZuD4Zi0-9XBTqxp8bmnZ8NzDmKXfQ8QnEADc-mRpEdfGsoi1_KX5RuKXVeye4Qz70EB0dqhxo40aoPAhZP7rV1R1yOg/s1600/To+Catch+a+Thief+Cary+Grant+Grace+Kelly+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ny8YY59SB7HzdmZbBHv-dkOclSa1SQC0fSr_koPEwg8jXKRZuD4Zi0-9XBTqxp8bmnZ8NzDmKXfQ8QnEADc-mRpEdfGsoi1_KX5RuKXVeye4Qz70EB0dqhxo40aoPAhZP7rV1R1yOg/s400/To+Catch+a+Thief+Cary+Grant+Grace+Kelly+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Grant and Kelly sparkle like priceless jewels. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Their jovial presence allowed me to largely ignore that <i>To Catch a Thief </i>is robbed of the usual Hitchcock bounce. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The graceful, elegantly beautiful Kelly was half of Grant's age during filming, nowhere do their flirtatious scenes seem sleazy or awkward. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's a pairing of a lifetime. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The clever dialogue interplay, the implied sexuality, relationship dynamics that run smooth with the main plot - elements we sorely miss in <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2018/11/imaikkaa-nodigal-2018.html" target="_blank">modern</a> crime thrillers. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qTrGbitOy1-X4jByrGVwRnOA0CzKTohs54IAuwmAcIhqOzx3PUTiW1M8XUEcdD4ke1KrOs7HqEEuA8eeVO01jQlALBipNOIy9AZV88hhw7eg0uszaVxqUo1al0bN0SeMBkOGWactKg/s1600/To+Catch+a+Thief+Cary+Grant+Grace+Kelly+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="852" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qTrGbitOy1-X4jByrGVwRnOA0CzKTohs54IAuwmAcIhqOzx3PUTiW1M8XUEcdD4ke1KrOs7HqEEuA8eeVO01jQlALBipNOIy9AZV88hhw7eg0uszaVxqUo1al0bN0SeMBkOGWactKg/s400/To+Catch+a+Thief+Cary+Grant+Grace+Kelly+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Take the final unexpected dialogue, "Mother will love it here," and Grant's startled expression to top it off. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Superlative, fun cinema despite the lightened proceedings. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>To Catch a Thief </i>is not vintage Hitchcock, but a happy vacation-mode, hard-to-ignore sunshine of a drama, a lovely rush of springy energy and charm. </span><br />
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-33212726901171458612020-07-05T18:33:00.000+05:302020-07-07T16:09:18.436+05:30Whiplash (2014) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7-V0eDPMABt-TceAYGsHApYnsECfgmYB-Vy9NkragjMBFrYBpEGrtqycLzzwoF3BJI7bTzRB20MMuyn0HRF5fFUbswyW876FiUPt4oD0Jk0LGJEk8E23J03rKznNvIr0p3aOdu3r3g/s1600/Whiplash+Poster+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7-V0eDPMABt-TceAYGsHApYnsECfgmYB-Vy9NkragjMBFrYBpEGrtqycLzzwoF3BJI7bTzRB20MMuyn0HRF5fFUbswyW876FiUPt4oD0Jk0LGJEk8E23J03rKznNvIr0p3aOdu3r3g/s400/Whiplash+Poster+1.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>[**** stars / *****] </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Terence Fletcher:</b><i> </i><i>"Truth is I don't think people ..understood..</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>what it was I was doing at Shaffer. </i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">I was there to push people beyond what is expected out of them.... </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I believe that is an absolute necessity...otherwise we are depriving the world of the next Louie Armstrong, next Charlie Parker...</i><i>I told you that story about how Charlie Parker became Charlie Parker, right?" </i></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Andrew Neiman:</b> <i>"Joe Jones threw a cymbal at his head." </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Terence Fletcher: </b><i>"Exactly." </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), a 19 year-old drummer at Shaffer Music Conservatory, New York, seeks the attention of Terence Fletcher (J.K.Simmons) a reputed teacher /composer. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Aspiration meets reality when Andrew is selected as alternate drummer in the Fletcher-headed conservatory band. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then all hell breaks loose. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Neiman experiences firsthand why other band members cower like nervous school children at Fletcher's arrival. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In his cream-lighted indoor dark room sessions (recurring movie ambiance), the teacher subjects the band and especially Neiman to utter humiliation, abuses and insults. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Always wanting to be a great drummer and nothing else, a demonic rush to please Fletcher seizes Neiman. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Drumming becomes a sole, life-threatening obsession. Everything else becomes insignificant, even as his love life lies ruptured. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Intense, Fiery </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There is no escaping <i>Whiplash's</i> well-directed intensity. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The major storytelling triumph is the minimalist, straight-forward character-driven approach. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The story vein stays with the two main protagonists, both fiery, unyielding, turbulent and riveting. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fletcher and Neiman are the film's metaphorical wrestlers and bookends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Barely a dull moment, barely. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Beyond the Music</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Director Damien Chazelle doesn't use any jazz-based soundtrack for inducing overwhelming emotions from the audience. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Instead, unlike many other music-based movies, he banks on revealing the uneasy, stormy, agitated human spirit. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That demented spirit behind the seemingly tranquil music making. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Top grade performances by Teller and Simmons, a clean screenplay and razor sharp editing </span><span style="font-size: large;">(love the ending) makes <i>Whiplash</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">a mini-classic, a must-watch.</span></div>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-64392836693437598402020-07-04T21:00:00.000+05:302020-07-04T21:00:50.433+05:30Memento (2000)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>[**** stars / *****] </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As far as cinematic experiences of the mind go, nobody has influenced and hypnotized us in recent times like director Christopher Nolan. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Though often leaning towards the <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2017/07/dunkirk-movie-talk-case-of-smiling-extra.html" target="_blank">incomprehensible</a>, incoherent and logic-defying, The <i><a href="https://punedc.blogspot.com/2008/07/movie-watch-dark-knight-dark-darker.html" target="_blank">Batman</a></i> trilogy (2005-2012), <i>Inception</i> (2010), <i>Interstellar</i> (2014) and <i><a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2017/07/movie-review-dunkirk-restrained.html" target="_blank">Dunkirk</a></i> (2017) were unforgettable big <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2017/08/movie-watch-dunkirk-on-imax-or-liemax.html" target="_blank">screen</a> experiences.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHdSrgUw5YL1MXKqp8UL8SXVzZpyIM0OTpJE-J_z1W95xQYhcjVPj19SFRJgQbQQi-6_8p3lr_l6Coi-fcpmNt45KWD9uT9PDSjta9-wcE24DX6iqe-NVmoRRbjgWMkYUiSrL4AK7tg/s1600/memento+Chirstopher+Nolan+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="700" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHdSrgUw5YL1MXKqp8UL8SXVzZpyIM0OTpJE-J_z1W95xQYhcjVPj19SFRJgQbQQi-6_8p3lr_l6Coi-fcpmNt45KWD9uT9PDSjta9-wcE24DX6iqe-NVmoRRbjgWMkYUiSrL4AK7tg/s400/memento+Chirstopher+Nolan+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nolan's best movie yet?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For me <i>Memento</i> is Nolan's finest, grounded and most convincing 'mind-awe' film. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Based on a short story by Christopher's brother and frequent collaborator Jonathan Nolan, <i>Memento </i>is a jigsaw puzzle that comes together with alarming clarity.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVhMHyxvgHupQPXeERhgbhG2wkePr5Ax1_gOPGH-GAnIPEEx2baWmXALbsPA2HDRv2JCxRriHI3pIBYp7xtoK9bd9pr3gmOBlj5yvij_HeC2x5s5Cd533Cmkk_ygmhhLJtTcTXepjEw/s1600/memento+Chirstopher+Nolan+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1149" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVhMHyxvgHupQPXeERhgbhG2wkePr5Ax1_gOPGH-GAnIPEEx2baWmXALbsPA2HDRv2JCxRriHI3pIBYp7xtoK9bd9pr3gmOBlj5yvij_HeC2x5s5Cd533Cmkk_ygmhhLJtTcTXepjEw/s400/memento+Chirstopher+Nolan+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Memento story </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The reverse-chronological narrative cuts across two timelines. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Both story nerves feature at its center, Leonard, an insurance investigator who suffers from anterograde amnesia (short-term memory loss). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Leonard's condition, as he puts it, is a consequence of two men attacking, raping and killing his wife, while severely injuring Leonard. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The first attacker was caught, Leonard is in search of the second fugitive attacker, believed to be called John G. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Memento review </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As habitual viewers of linear storytelling, <i>Memento </i>may get you disconcerted and impatient at first. There's a good chance you will pause and opt for another movie. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Don't. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Hang on and watch carefully. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Cinema lovers will relish if they are patient, as the threads untangle the horror and puppetry of it all. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">As a vindication of Christopher Nolan's early, unmistakable genius, <i>Memento is </i>his finest psychological/mystery thriller film yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">(<i>Yes, Indian film viewers will identify the similarities to A.R.Murugadoss directed revenge films, the Tamil version, Gajini (2005) and the Hindi remake Ghajini (2008). Both films just used Leonard's memory loss premise, rest was a rehashed formulaic revenge saga, at best.)</i></span><br />
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-46567655120080381322020-07-01T20:38:00.000+05:302020-07-02T23:25:43.054+05:30Hey Ram (2000)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiok9RzIQd1gCx7B5ep7Y_H9bV1ZdEd-YWQ6JGBBmUbpvvqaG_9ba83NQFitdQpSzUKLKDKqMd5VMWSq_PiumE1MCNpZPPR_1PQWNQ4dZjJbRto6_Q9C7sA88x9cagJEDTpjEjsel79dg/s1600/Hey+Ram+Kamal+Hassan+Shah+Rukh+Khan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="656" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiok9RzIQd1gCx7B5ep7Y_H9bV1ZdEd-YWQ6JGBBmUbpvvqaG_9ba83NQFitdQpSzUKLKDKqMd5VMWSq_PiumE1MCNpZPPR_1PQWNQ4dZjJbRto6_Q9C7sA88x9cagJEDTpjEjsel79dg/s320/Hey+Ram+Kamal+Hassan+Shah+Rukh+Khan.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">[**** stars/*****]</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"About thousands of years before Christ, even back then this civilization knew the need for a sewage system. A civilization where children were given toys to play. Not like ours, where we adults use our religion to fight each other with."</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fury, madness, savageness. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What does it take for a man to kill another man?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">India is on verge of <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2018/09/movie-review-manto-tragic-melancholic.html">partition</a>. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Saket Ram is an archaeologist working at the Mohenjo-daro remains with his colleague and dear friend Amjad Ali Khan (<a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2015/01/movie-review-darr-1993.html">Shah Rukh Khan</a>). </span><span style="font-size: large;">The excavation is abruptly stopped in fear of widespread rioting. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopy-FWzZRsndYIlHjYFHF_gczeHDaI6E7k8we7yDMuxFWHYDkkJMNeN7ga6LUWxbcU-kcvIMYi_HFSdvurKtxGnYs4EOlqpcCClRvHtvFKm0jjJ9gu0GHfVLnZlyZ6bt7u_UFhgptxQ/s1600/Hey+Ram+Kamal+Hassan+Rani+Mukherjee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="495" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopy-FWzZRsndYIlHjYFHF_gczeHDaI6E7k8we7yDMuxFWHYDkkJMNeN7ga6LUWxbcU-kcvIMYi_HFSdvurKtxGnYs4EOlqpcCClRvHtvFKm0jjJ9gu0GHfVLnZlyZ6bt7u_UFhgptxQ/s320/Hey+Ram+Kamal+Hassan+Rani+Mukherjee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Saket rushes home to Calcutta, into the arms of his beautiful school teacher wife Aparna (Rani Mukherjee). Meanwhile, riots erupt in the city, and a chain of horrific events culminates in sadistic, retaliatory killings. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A chance meeting with Hindu nationalist Shriram Abhyankar (Atul Kulkarni) sets Saket on the extremist path. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Such is Saket's crazed resolve that he hallucinates practice-shooting with a sniper gun while making love to his wife in a drug-induced haze. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDMpyaLm3zicDBgN-2UGnK9fohO7NIg0qj9UqH0AJEG3NOClni-fCR3hOP5lcv2JrRx9mnrJfMUT3dfdJIN5i4_HM1GyrVEfCDJw85RnurNXkmQ4TlwZkV4rB3STwxfNpJ55ae1_QGA/s1600/20200605_112955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="720" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDMpyaLm3zicDBgN-2UGnK9fohO7NIg0qj9UqH0AJEG3NOClni-fCR3hOP5lcv2JrRx9mnrJfMUT3dfdJIN5i4_HM1GyrVEfCDJw85RnurNXkmQ4TlwZkV4rB3STwxfNpJ55ae1_QGA/s400/20200605_112955.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Brave, compassionate cinema</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Hey Ram</i> (Oh God) is a 196-minute ambitious, intense period drama on the aftermath of India's barbaric, shameful partition violence and the malicious mob mentality thrust into free-thinking individuals.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hatred and killings in the name of religion remains a widespread phenomenon in <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2018/09/mulk-2018.html">India</a>, years after independence. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Director, story and screenplay writer Kamal Haasan delves sensitively into the canvas of this alternate historical drama, making stark, powerful points on India's communal divide. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The screenplay master cuts involve a misplaced gun, tense dialogue interplay between the two lead characters, an impactful death, light at the end of the tunnel and inevitable, irreversible loss.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyY-ZinKonvnTSJdN1A6gdL18SroN8aTC91R4ygvRmWg4sRMoB9M2yAmRcxzmlZIWoALiFsJaXYuCBaV7nRUBAT3iAIe78M-4mwJ_6gxkBLOYk6B6_wacIks6-LIbmubIfj_g2Fxmsg/s1600/20200605_113012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="720" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyY-ZinKonvnTSJdN1A6gdL18SroN8aTC91R4ygvRmWg4sRMoB9M2yAmRcxzmlZIWoALiFsJaXYuCBaV7nRUBAT3iAIe78M-4mwJ_6gxkBLOYk6B6_wacIks6-LIbmubIfj_g2Fxmsg/s400/20200605_113012.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Kamal Hassan is superb as Saket Ram, how he gradually turns grave anguish into single-minded deadly intent is enthralling to watch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2017/08/bollywood-specials-shah-rukh-khan-and.html">Shah Rukh Khan</a> (excellent in brief role), Rani Mukherjee, Atul Kulkarni, Vasundhara Das, Naseeruddin Shah, Vikram Gokhale, Saurabh Shukla, Girish Karnad, Hema Malini and Gollapudi Maruti Rao (wonderful emoting) are among the aptly chosen supporting cast. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The art direction, cinematography by Tirru, the Ilaiyaraaja soundtrack add conviction and layers, the length never feels stretched. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The initial revenge-death scenes seem to be mass-audience appeasing, the rest is bold cinema. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8l6alWWxxPlUsVYkSL4N38wiWKrAaNhoNkzW3erpEUHFk2QsZxbZAxieGjqOFVsWb_EreUOBn9t04bGSCA7b6MpwOF4MQBubuixCjh0wLyxVnep7PIxBjU8U7XXcgcB5e8X-aXAd32A/s1600/20200605_113035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="720" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8l6alWWxxPlUsVYkSL4N38wiWKrAaNhoNkzW3erpEUHFk2QsZxbZAxieGjqOFVsWb_EreUOBn9t04bGSCA7b6MpwOF4MQBubuixCjh0wLyxVnep7PIxBjU8U7XXcgcB5e8X-aXAd32A/s400/20200605_113035.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Hey Ram</i> is a towering achievement of heart, goodwill and purpose, overtly relevant, powerful cinema.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> (Hey Ram, </i>streaming on Amazon Prime (India) in its Tamil version<i> </i>(English subtitles available)). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0MzSm6vHbLczSWMRDf7eQ8OHOvDiAIdKsQEeJa9VkVLr9Zi7S1N1Put9mEITl0H_9ZH6BjdokV0jHdheYhQCghI-dxqnLbZEt3TVfpaFHelOoqJuCpJFBscZmrLWVioXox0Y5aENSA/s1600/20200605_113048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="720" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0MzSm6vHbLczSWMRDf7eQ8OHOvDiAIdKsQEeJa9VkVLr9Zi7S1N1Put9mEITl0H_9ZH6BjdokV0jHdheYhQCghI-dxqnLbZEt3TVfpaFHelOoqJuCpJFBscZmrLWVioXox0Y5aENSA/s400/20200605_113048.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-49088642399621767802020-06-30T18:00:00.000+05:302020-07-01T21:09:00.480+05:30Black Narcissus (1947) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7w8NjGlCEULMxo_ojm7PLp0tZqKnc0ffDvMLpljDCJnfp8cBSaVcUr2azjeRmvrqM4VWQVGTh6O7u01v03OaMejap-Js5rnH7okgruCiL5oEAtxFT-TKbYb76skPVlaswECHItMODw/s1600/Black+Narcissus+1947+cinema+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1224" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7w8NjGlCEULMxo_ojm7PLp0tZqKnc0ffDvMLpljDCJnfp8cBSaVcUr2azjeRmvrqM4VWQVGTh6O7u01v03OaMejap-Js5rnH7okgruCiL5oEAtxFT-TKbYb76skPVlaswECHItMODw/s400/Black+Narcissus+1947+cinema+review.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">[***1/2 stars/*****]</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When the forces of nature take hold upon you, there is no escaping it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A psychological drama with a hint of erotica, <i>Black Narcissus</i> stands for allure, and a deep, relentlessly rising foreboding attraction. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Caught </b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>off guard</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A group of nuns are sent high up into the Himalayas at a Rajput king's request. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It doesn't help that the place allocated for the nuns formerly housed mistresses of the king's father - a harem. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Previously, a group of monks tried setting up their establishment at the place, but left soon after. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Will the nuns succeed where others of their kind have failed? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What is it about the mountains, the inhabitants, in the light of repressed desires, and disciplined lives in the service of the lord? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvuLAtGcGOH751PyCfgxny5OwtHbGx5nCUPbPgsVzlIJQWSaz-SwuvFTDK-YfwY8BQoREDocdJmVuJKVMv3ZEXpKdRvPpgNKC0VRZrAfZblus6yUwcQjsOU7ymjAcDNDoLNAris0ToQ/s1600/Black+Narcissus+1947+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvuLAtGcGOH751PyCfgxny5OwtHbGx5nCUPbPgsVzlIJQWSaz-SwuvFTDK-YfwY8BQoREDocdJmVuJKVMv3ZEXpKdRvPpgNKC0VRZrAfZblus6yUwcQjsOU7ymjAcDNDoLNAris0ToQ/s400/Black+Narcissus+1947+review.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr), the appointed 'Sister Superior' along with five more nuns, is determined to educate the local Indian villagers, provide free medical treatment, set up a vegetable garden, and to teach lace-making to the local girls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But there is something overpowering about the Himalayas, the rich clean breeze and its people. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A raw sensuality pervades the surroundings, and soon Sister Clodagh and the other nuns struggle to control their senses to the sheer beauty and allure of the place. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is on the troublesome Sister Ruth (Kathleen Byron) that the locale has its most alarming effect, leading to envy, sexual tensions, murderous intent and tragedy. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E9cETIv6ImN_m6-PqFGpnmHEPJUZNHFgg0cYACr0u4kYAMPfCwxYbsAzLDDQu328WFgfR7KaPV-QjT7wmdBpzm1Ita1URvBf3T9-HrR3ixrpmODDTKRCSb0QihVscyL1gPcU_gUwtg/s1600/Black+Narcissus+1947+review+cinema+film.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="950" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E9cETIv6ImN_m6-PqFGpnmHEPJUZNHFgg0cYACr0u4kYAMPfCwxYbsAzLDDQu328WFgfR7KaPV-QjT7wmdBpzm1Ita1URvBf3T9-HrR3ixrpmODDTKRCSb0QihVscyL1gPcU_gUwtg/s400/Black+Narcissus+1947+review+cinema+film.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Mountain air, repressed souls </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Based on Rumer Godden's 1939 novel <i>Black Narcissus</i>, co-directors and screenplay writers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger deftly embroider this drama.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Kathleen Byron is a steal as Sister Ruth, a forceful character who powers this psychological drama. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Deborah Kerr is good too, as is Jean Simmons as the beautiful Kanchi, Sabu as the curious </span><span style="font-size: large;">young</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">general and David Farrar as Mr. Dean - the general's agent. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47gJdfUBT2_wowjPEfqfemHWhNtoZrgtyllTgUka1eMwyMV7NC4IkOlevw6vT-jM2R6zfGcMgkotMDovIKJ_F3mhSUjPCMWAgLb3RW3okhti3nJOHi_I8-sShuvXF3zA6z59jA0UqzQ/s1600/Black+Narcissus+1947+review+Jean+Simmons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="984" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47gJdfUBT2_wowjPEfqfemHWhNtoZrgtyllTgUka1eMwyMV7NC4IkOlevw6vT-jM2R6zfGcMgkotMDovIKJ_F3mhSUjPCMWAgLb3RW3okhti3nJOHi_I8-sShuvXF3zA6z59jA0UqzQ/s400/Black+Narcissus+1947+review+Jean+Simmons.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Balanced take, largely...</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Though most of the film was shot in-studio and not in India, the makers convey the sense of location competently. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Even if you make out the painted mountains in some shots, the elevation conveyed in the ringing of the bell scenes is commendable.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The characters are relatable, the screenplay rushes on skillfully, there is no overplay, but for a touch of British dominance and superiority, compared to the 'natives.'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The unprecedented climax scenes curve this drama up several notches. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Black Narcissus </i>is a good entertaining British drama, lit with exceptional moments - a cautionary and discreetly insightful tale on self-denial, repression and </span><span style="font-size: large;">cultural divides</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A 40's British mini-classic. </span><br />
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-72093508558903971992020-06-22T23:00:00.000+05:302020-06-22T23:00:59.470+05:302012 (2009)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyyFK8xukskAod1_yDv1-fJnEhG-ZsHcHwI4mJgDxoZvj0UkATubobZsBn_1HYnLYRYtAY7nJzuGuAPfVUd-y6LbV_JDKR9915hHM74vgFz8MXDu5lCE6IBBxOIqZXslF3lS6FuJssg/s1600/2012+movie+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyyFK8xukskAod1_yDv1-fJnEhG-ZsHcHwI4mJgDxoZvj0UkATubobZsBn_1HYnLYRYtAY7nJzuGuAPfVUd-y6LbV_JDKR9915hHM74vgFz8MXDu5lCE6IBBxOIqZXslF3lS6FuJssg/s400/2012+movie+poster.jpg" width="268" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>[** stars / *****] </b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Why do cliche-ridden, consistently mediocre Hollywood disaster movies do so well? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Many of us yearn for a sense of disbelief and an enlarged, impossibly fantastic perspective, in our largely non-incidental lives. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Like, who wouldn't want to die in epic style, with millions of fellow earthlings? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Watch a whole island turn into a mammoth volcano and jump in manic glee? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Do a wide-mouthed eternal scream with the tongue lashing, shivering out, while falling into those mega earthquake cracks? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That's the way to go! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Nobody dies the usual way in a template-ridden, mega-budget, end of the world (yes it's that time of the year again!) Hollywood disaster movie <i>2012</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Director Roland Emmerich loves bringing the world to the brink of its end, and he does love to watch world famous landmarks crumbling, the earth giving away, and lead characters tottering off the edges but never ever managing to die.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Watch Charlie Frost (</span><span style="font-size: large;">Woody Harrelson) jumping gleefully at a volcanic eruption at the </span><span style="font-size: large;">Yellowstone National Park - that's probably Emmerich channeling himself. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Predictably, the lead characters survive to save the day. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So it is left to the VFX team (hail the visual effects people!) to make it all fun and convincing, even as cities fall apart and everything world-renowned is reduced to rubble. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The loud soundtrack does the rest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2012 movie review </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't look for a story, expect emotional pep talk on universal brotherhood, Asian mystic talk (the cup is full and you keep on pouring...blah blah) and have fun. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>2012</i> is a movie to be enjoyed and forgotten, to the unhealthy crunch of tub </span><span style="font-size: large;">popcorn</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and in dreading a fatal asteroid attack, more deadly incurable virus, mayhem, zombies, nuclear war, and other mega end of the world scenarios. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(First edit - Aug 11, 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Second edit - 22nd June, 2020) </span></div>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-49451095077776227662020-06-17T20:00:00.000+05:302020-06-18T17:18:09.106+05:30October (2018)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMMBiBkGkLfPP9m32XzcGgBz1lAGHpZQL1ZCzVMIN242otlztTQIfXac9tDTI54jsFgaWLgeIvEA9_WW_BEOgFSe_eye2GbJb5hqOx1G4C-hE6RxB86Qla_pD8pxyVte4oN_nktLIFA/s1600/october-movie-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1280" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMMBiBkGkLfPP9m32XzcGgBz1lAGHpZQL1ZCzVMIN242otlztTQIfXac9tDTI54jsFgaWLgeIvEA9_WW_BEOgFSe_eye2GbJb5hqOx1G4C-hE6RxB86Qla_pD8pxyVte4oN_nktLIFA/s400/october-movie-poster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>[**** stars / *****] </b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There are love stories and then, there is <i>October. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><i>October</i> is easily the best romantic drama I will see in a very long time. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On paper, the story may seem 'unfilmable', but director Shoojit <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-best-irrfan-khan-movies-every-man_6.html">Sircar</a> and writer Juhi Chaturvedi create an artful, haunting symphony here. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfYVM3QF2oJ0s9gNniOS8Q8z1RzICvqeMv-MYc6dTJe2idePuQadndBON16glT5Qgub_aIZHO99sSmtnFFh7OB-QG7yngOkBJil1PFuUFT0jBcsUc7L6uPRe-4HR44M7aL-bWnzYXyg/s1600/October+Movie+Varun+Dhawan+Banita+Sandhu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="660" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfYVM3QF2oJ0s9gNniOS8Q8z1RzICvqeMv-MYc6dTJe2idePuQadndBON16glT5Qgub_aIZHO99sSmtnFFh7OB-QG7yngOkBJil1PFuUFT0jBcsUc7L6uPRe-4HR44M7aL-bWnzYXyg/s400/October+Movie+Varun+Dhawan+Banita+Sandhu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>October story </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Among hotel management trainees interning at a Delhi hotel are Danish aka Dan (Varun Dhawan) and Shiuli (Banita Sandhu). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dan is an ever-complaining, irritated and short-tempered trainee. His friends, colleagues, and manager find it hard to put up with him. Dan ends up been assigned repeated errands related to cleaning rooms and laundry. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Shiuli is, on the other hand, calm and professional. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The last words? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On New Year's Eve, the trainees have a party on the hotel terrace. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Shiuli sits on the terrace parapet asking, "Where is Dan?" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She then slips and falls down four storeys. Severely injured, Shiuli is moved to a hospital and goes into a coma. Shiuli's mother (Gitanjali Rao), uncle and siblings arrive.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">The absent Dan comes to know of the accident and visits Shiuli. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">He is bewildered when he discovers that Shiuli's last words were about him. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dan starts visiting Shiuli daily, even as his internship suffers and his friends and roommates fail to understand his concern for a girl he barely knows.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZR1HUwUtOB0sUhATCLLu3YNfybHtchxdJH2ATBP29FgUb3R563uMDsELyJ41J-M6rseBfDfV5Gx8ngHvr5wZFNlU3_AKRsityo7D8KHwrz2HCfQnk_KuBIETxYOfLjgoiC51iZXPRuQ/s1600/October+Movie+Varun+Dhawan+Banita+Sandhu+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="631" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZR1HUwUtOB0sUhATCLLu3YNfybHtchxdJH2ATBP29FgUb3R563uMDsELyJ41J-M6rseBfDfV5Gx8ngHvr5wZFNlU3_AKRsityo7D8KHwrz2HCfQnk_KuBIETxYOfLjgoiC51iZXPRuQ/s400/October+Movie+Varun+Dhawan+Banita+Sandhu+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></i> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>October review </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>October </i></span><span style="font-size: large;">is based on a true story and interprets the tragedy with insight and poetry, mingling with nature's wonders. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was riveted. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">No sexual release, no dramatic moment, no sweet exchange of sugar candy dialogues. Just quiet, melancholic change as seasons pass and life glides by.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Never have hospital visits seemed so romantic. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The cinematography (Avik Mukhopadhyay), the sense of location, the overcast atmosphere, add to the mood. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Varun Dhawan is earnest and seeking depth. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Banita Sandhu nails an unusual, difficult role with great stillness. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Gitanjali Rao is well cast as the IIT professor and mother. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The supporting cast is solid. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLRIWm8CLXjfwWt740fz7zrYa6x17XjMu-oeyxIjcPxQN2qocTiP7fI2JbH9ci7iJT2z9ERGDn1BjhtFzwfJIcf5pgETRVjRc1nrCzuNKcqK9eE640y3Ff6AQB8C16wdOTM5Embs1rQ/s1600/October+Movie+Varun+Dhawan+Banita+Sandhu+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="660" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLRIWm8CLXjfwWt740fz7zrYa6x17XjMu-oeyxIjcPxQN2qocTiP7fI2JbH9ci7iJT2z9ERGDn1BjhtFzwfJIcf5pgETRVjRc1nrCzuNKcqK9eE640y3Ff6AQB8C16wdOTM5Embs1rQ/s400/October+Movie+Varun+Dhawan+Banita+Sandhu+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A director in fine form </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sircar explores every scene minutely.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The 115-min running time, the deliberate use of minimal background music, absence of songs, add to the film's impact. Nothing is underlined or overstated. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Is caring for a person you barely know, love? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Is just giving love enough? How selfless can you be in love? What if you never knew whether the other person loved you? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How many romantic films have made you ponder on such questions? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>October </i>left me with the fragrance of the night jasmine long after the end credits rolled. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't miss it. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWxE-aIUG2GaDLREVBh1D9ElZnY7t1OtgZa7YQfTh6MTS_3s-ikdMinn5h_5QJVG_2Jm8_wT6y80sqTd2glFTtc2KtmEcktUTkQMCpfBa9i2EfjTKZKRZWnMk2Q1RgItbCgJjEaTeGQ/s1600/October+Movie+Banita+Sandhu+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWxE-aIUG2GaDLREVBh1D9ElZnY7t1OtgZa7YQfTh6MTS_3s-ikdMinn5h_5QJVG_2Jm8_wT6y80sqTd2glFTtc2KtmEcktUTkQMCpfBa9i2EfjTKZKRZWnMk2Q1RgItbCgJjEaTeGQ/s400/October+Movie+Banita+Sandhu+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-20942277823404720832020-06-16T23:00:00.000+05:302020-06-17T14:06:56.301+05:30Ankhon Dekhi (2013) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw22i8LON38MeaaNqEpTdkExIZjlXqpaVWKzPCin-2jOYcOM9JpY-HgHY8z2cuTDh2X1GvgFRzeik5iUB5LMuK_xPewWKF9zcuC-D5yCp8mjOxBz4BRw-BAKApIP-wnnm1dx48uSisUw/s1600/Aakhon+Dekhi+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="1001" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw22i8LON38MeaaNqEpTdkExIZjlXqpaVWKzPCin-2jOYcOM9JpY-HgHY8z2cuTDh2X1GvgFRzeik5iUB5LMuK_xPewWKF9zcuC-D5yCp8mjOxBz4BRw-BAKApIP-wnnm1dx48uSisUw/s400/Aakhon+Dekhi+1.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>[*** 1/2 stars / *****]</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Sab kuch yahan hai, </b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>aankhen khol kar dekho </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(Everything is here, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">open your eyes and see)</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Is it too late to ask ourselves - who am I, what am I to this world and how is life meant to be lived? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The coronavirus-induced lockdown has been a time of perspective for some. For most, random thoughts and actions have guided our actions, the inculcated burden is to be <a href="https://punedc.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-i-am-busy-fiction.html">busy</a>, or perish. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The urban perception of the truth is defined by Internet browsing, television news, newspapers, movies, WhatsApp forwards and how we view the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But do we really view the world around us without judgement, as children do? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Are the blind more sensitive to life and those endowed with vision, blind? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Ankhon Dekhi </i>(Through My Own Eyes), streaming on Amazon Prime and Disney + Hotstar (India), is a person's journey onto himself, reflective of individuals who feel the urge to pause and delve within. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhGvDSPGG3BPsJEExY_SuE1SWBq8p2NTNC4PabiPMyuPV5C4Fb0zYG9zpSwVA-_Beg86EVFULxm86AukJilcGbW0yuL0o8tLjgYjp03fbwtiQB3QrKdaKd9zbQbTMtHb7pUTy5VCM8A/s1600/Aakhon+Dekhi+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhGvDSPGG3BPsJEExY_SuE1SWBq8p2NTNC4PabiPMyuPV5C4Fb0zYG9zpSwVA-_Beg86EVFULxm86AukJilcGbW0yuL0o8tLjgYjp03fbwtiQB3QrKdaKd9zbQbTMtHb7pUTy5VCM8A/s400/Aakhon+Dekhi+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Question everything...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What would you do if a family member, who you thought to be perfectly sane, abruptly changes their habits, outlook, and starts questioning life itself? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We are reluctant to see change in ourselves, how would changes in our dear and near ones affect us not? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In a life of absolute ordinariness, Bauji (Sanjay Mishra), the head of a </span><span style="font-size: large;">Old Delhi </span><span style="font-size: large;">joint family decides, after a chain of events - he will only believe what he experiences through his own eyes. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This abrupt announcement rattles up the family members. Bauji quits his job, gathers a trail of unintended followers.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiHZGTbD5NP2-hZzLIZ0JxZSPwHKX2OFm7qxILUBXmgFX8FF-iL3M0sP08XdQWk3NeM2dl7OcDTK2ZTkqQZbqdneQZv-K2lPcuxa8IHpWloiwGOSJwsIP_GucqYyldZu6akFcpErCyg/s1600/Aakhon+Dekhi+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="550" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiHZGTbD5NP2-hZzLIZ0JxZSPwHKX2OFm7qxILUBXmgFX8FF-iL3M0sP08XdQWk3NeM2dl7OcDTK2ZTkqQZbqdneQZv-K2lPcuxa8IHpWloiwGOSJwsIP_GucqYyldZu6akFcpErCyg/s400/Aakhon+Dekhi+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Ankhon Dekhi </i>(2013), Rajat Kapoor's insightful yet feathery drama on questioning and absorbing life, is infused with a beautiful lead performance by Mishra. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You may end up perceiving the world differently at the end of this one. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I do not agree with the shocker ending - goes against the </span><span style="font-size: large;">lead character's</span><span style="font-size: large;"> sensibilities. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But for the most part, <i>Ankhon Dekhi</i> is a curious self-discovery of a sensitive rebellious life. </span><br />
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-22858808422037323932020-06-10T00:11:00.001+05:302020-06-10T00:11:49.208+05:30Psycho (1960) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NeZuoSo3ZL7NNIKOmvRlXpwHq4Ha1vnhpjuL7GDN1ejV1kvVtd5a5iRIVIYhDeXHFwvYtZTUgEjswp36NXFYHE9kNGWtxZjqdbUCnzmtwpVjkunawP5-CXeFIh6lBnAX22OvTEhN_DA/s1600/psycho+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NeZuoSo3ZL7NNIKOmvRlXpwHq4Ha1vnhpjuL7GDN1ejV1kvVtd5a5iRIVIYhDeXHFwvYtZTUgEjswp36NXFYHE9kNGWtxZjqdbUCnzmtwpVjkunawP5-CXeFIh6lBnAX22OvTEhN_DA/s400/psycho+2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">[****1/2 stars/*****]</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Marion Crane<b> </b>and her boyfriend discuss the financial costs </span><span style="font-size: large;">of getting married</span><span style="font-size: large;"> (during office lunch hour in a secret hotel room meeting) and find that they don't have enough. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Crane returns to her employer's real estate office and is entrusted with $40,000 of the client's money. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9LsJtckhbdWlqcyIDCU3Ge9k2n0VPFqgGXJ-8XYcqJ_WBhLVk0WPlM9gp3j3r6shagkgS8Y9zE1QMBQWDvtCicFJ0mUnIOHvfE5SLdPm-dL5fXnV-JTGhUL53ZNn73p6IK8ruo0lFQ/s1600/Psycho+Hitchcock+1960+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9LsJtckhbdWlqcyIDCU3Ge9k2n0VPFqgGXJ-8XYcqJ_WBhLVk0WPlM9gp3j3r6shagkgS8Y9zE1QMBQWDvtCicFJ0mUnIOHvfE5SLdPm-dL5fXnV-JTGhUL53ZNn73p6IK8ruo0lFQ/s400/Psycho+Hitchcock+1960+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On impulse, she hits the road with the loot, exchanges her car for a used one, until rain causes her to stop for the night at Bates Motel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here she meets the young, nervous yet pleasant motel owner, Norman Bates. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bates tells her of his mentally ill mother and is appalled on the suggestion of sending the mother to an institution. As they talk, our thief has made up her mind to return the loot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thus relaxed and assured, the now 'righteous in the eyes of the audience'</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Marion Crane, </span><span style="font-size: large;">decides to take a shower... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqAbioTt4aU236cww5Nz86mBTVwNM8CLK5suuukmD7Q1iUJQxT745_A9aYkGzKt0MMOditaHFD_ydgSoaFPJ72oQ9L-rTaDwA5Ggiy0yMjkRhyybl1VyZMtQxAHLwVcdHML2P_FyiQw/s1600/Psycho+Hitchcock+1960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1600" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqAbioTt4aU236cww5Nz86mBTVwNM8CLK5suuukmD7Q1iUJQxT745_A9aYkGzKt0MMOditaHFD_ydgSoaFPJ72oQ9L-rTaDwA5Ggiy0yMjkRhyybl1VyZMtQxAHLwVcdHML2P_FyiQw/s400/Psycho+Hitchcock+1960.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Psycho</i> is Alfred Hitchcock at the height of his film making powers.</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Shot effectively at a modest budget, this horror-<a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/05/searching-2018.html">suspense</a> thriller stands the test of time for its chilling atmospherics, skilled <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2017/05/memento-2000.html">storytelling</a> and slow-burn dark poetic use of black and white. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The film was a business risk for its unconventional story line, absence of any crowd-pulling star cast, and daring depiction of voyeurism and sexuality. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hitchcock’s genius lay in placing dark elements in scenes of daily life - toying with our minds and making it scarier and unforgettable. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidq254lxVaWKfUWnKkujhFrd7SFMJaje-8k5bZU0nestimnjjjtteVRTiupjDnoQq5qr8LgaMbnBfSl4vov6ZiXzYcwsxXagPST3bt6qXBLWtBnhXEbky00TsEy_on9avWiNQv6pFZ5Q/s1600/Psycho+Hitchcock+1960+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="1080" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidq254lxVaWKfUWnKkujhFrd7SFMJaje-8k5bZU0nestimnjjjtteVRTiupjDnoQq5qr8LgaMbnBfSl4vov6ZiXzYcwsxXagPST3bt6qXBLWtBnhXEbky00TsEy_on9avWiNQv6pFZ5Q/s400/Psycho+Hitchcock+1960+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The house adjacent to the motel, the forbidding feelings it evokes just by its appearance, Hitchcock is one director who seemed damn sure of what precise effect each scene will have on the audience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Go watch the unusual six-minute long <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZr0G9_h4GE">trailer</a> featuring Hitchcock and you will find a magician at ease with his art. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bates Motel, a car disappearing into dark water, chilling background music, and the final sinister smile are stuff of cinema legend now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have played <i>Psycho</i> once for a family member, just to relish the person's reaction during the shower scene. It was totally worth it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you love <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/04/manichitrathazhu-1993.html">suspense</a> thrillers, there are few as compelling, shocking and believable as <i>Psycho</i>. <i> </i></span></div>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-70543572513666176922020-06-04T20:19:00.001+05:302020-06-05T19:28:47.406+05:30Anand (1971)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqWlOF3EfLLosVxkLFvBean-EtQf3HPLAIEQmrvzfa_tdXGT2tH-4To5FfBnXRL_6q1NmSJAyQADG07lu_PW4uALLE6TulogwdG-49g6sNor9K0D8V5zcTFkQs5npyPkK9vi-NXB3fQ/s1600/Anand+film+1971+Rajesh+Khanna+Amitabh+Bachchan+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1493" data-original-width="976" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqWlOF3EfLLosVxkLFvBean-EtQf3HPLAIEQmrvzfa_tdXGT2tH-4To5FfBnXRL_6q1NmSJAyQADG07lu_PW4uALLE6TulogwdG-49g6sNor9K0D8V5zcTFkQs5npyPkK9vi-NXB3fQ/s400/Anand+film+1971+Rajesh+Khanna+Amitabh+Bachchan+1.jpg" width="260"></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">[**** stars/*****]</span></b></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Babu Moshai, </span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">zindagi badi honi chahiye...</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">lambi nahi...</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(My friend, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">life must be great...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">not long...)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSZr1_1pr9gkEPt1LWQ5i6uYkW4tyQ1kK-ch4hmjKtq0mp0flaf7BO5PZH06RVGWYny9Gz1LbAt-3UtY7KdilCyiR9KWtNCauWuLdDBZ-lffhB2CHfLa_42Nn3xRQ5UX0GbGTJtvGfQ/s1600/Screenshot_20200604-155040_YouTube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="1262" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSZr1_1pr9gkEPt1LWQ5i6uYkW4tyQ1kK-ch4hmjKtq0mp0flaf7BO5PZH06RVGWYny9Gz1LbAt-3UtY7KdilCyiR9KWtNCauWuLdDBZ-lffhB2CHfLa_42Nn3xRQ5UX0GbGTJtvGfQ/s320/Screenshot_20200604-155040_YouTube.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Anand</i> continues to tug at my heart. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span style="font-size: large;">Hrishikesh Mukherjee's <i>Anand</i> remains heart-wrenching, delicately beautiful like a crushed memory embedded between pages of poetry. </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHsQiLoSfCZNCitIfBWpiFGOSHIU1T1_d5llaVNest0jVvO9SrXZ82ee0KA3_-2Smfa5paVT8Q5rT3up8lUI90_MYTvBh3DqDSWAHL-xuhvbJ4RcXZpDGZUTK_K7ly8KmFocVzqsC7Q/s1600/Screenshot_20200604-155030_YouTube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHsQiLoSfCZNCitIfBWpiFGOSHIU1T1_d5llaVNest0jVvO9SrXZ82ee0KA3_-2Smfa5paVT8Q5rT3up8lUI90_MYTvBh3DqDSWAHL-xuhvbJ4RcXZpDGZUTK_K7ly8KmFocVzqsC7Q/s320/Screenshot_20200604-155030_YouTube.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Cancer specialist Bhaskar Banerjee (Amitabh <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2016/01/amar-akbar-anthony-1977.html" target="_blank">Bachchan</a>) is disillusioned with the illness, sadness and poverty he experiences every day. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The tall doctor visits his friend Dr. Prakash Kulkarni (Ramesh Deo) at his clinic when Anand Sehgal (Rajesh Khanna) bursts into the room chattering cheerfully. It's like a cool breeze has flown in! </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6giXTAvMNGSgKpwr3chyY2aN-YpYIMdqT8Ls-hXs_Fn04mDTSph4YNiKABZ5NpE-1PWGjuoQf0rdM5sX4vhGxyf6o08kGc7CeXfjt4QI2u6uBvFrXeE6LXZMItZN8ZGDovWJ7j7yNVw/s1600/Screenshot_20200604-155038_YouTube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1273" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6giXTAvMNGSgKpwr3chyY2aN-YpYIMdqT8Ls-hXs_Fn04mDTSph4YNiKABZ5NpE-1PWGjuoQf0rdM5sX4vhGxyf6o08kGc7CeXfjt4QI2u6uBvFrXeE6LXZMItZN8ZGDovWJ7j7yNVw/s320/Screenshot_20200604-155038_YouTube.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kulkarni has already informed Bhaskar about Anand - he has a rare lethal form of cancer and is expected to die in four-six months. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When Bhaskar confronts Anand with this fact, he is taken aback that Anand is aware and unaffected. An unlikely friendship takes root.</span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bhaskar gradually realizes </span><span style="font-size: large;">Anand is a young man with a energetic, restless desire to live life to the fullest, </span><span style="font-size: large;">despite his limited life span</span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg458WJ71EuH91c4ZrJCe5Ajx-LiVZzrCnJqHLU5MTFsbeNblazJ8TnCYS02qQqcM-XRp9kt4LqLhjydlWSeXVV2pMDZ9DnL48CGe7c4FiSkwEqGqwOwFEhFLMLLWfJFvOrCovMDE53pA/s1600/Screenshot_20200604-155050_YouTube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="1270" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg458WJ71EuH91c4ZrJCe5Ajx-LiVZzrCnJqHLU5MTFsbeNblazJ8TnCYS02qQqcM-XRp9kt4LqLhjydlWSeXVV2pMDZ9DnL48CGe7c4FiSkwEqGqwOwFEhFLMLLWfJFvOrCovMDE53pA/s320/Screenshot_20200604-155050_YouTube.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Life and death poetry </span></b><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Anand </i>(Happiness) is a lively brightly-lit (Eastmancolor blues) tale of a man facing death with courage and a tinge of sadness.</span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mukherjee's wrote the story for his friend, the legendary Raj Kapoor. Kapoor fell ill once, Mukherjee feared for his life - and a classic film idea came into being. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kapoor used to call Mukherjee 'Babu Moshai', the name Anand opts for Bhaskar. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The movie is dedicated to the city of Bombay and Raj Kapoor. </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vAX7b8o6caRf3mHIm9rqFexZf3Jr0NB9esaDJ3D0QVIVOx2ucR_bd3uGe9o8Oz1qONo72dZrYAht4L7ZGHRWD4NxDq0TEosy9YWPvsy8u7o2Gn7SXMnMaBDDKRvSZXx622Bv04aomA/s1600/Anand+film+1971+Rajesh+Khanna+Amitabh+Bachchan+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vAX7b8o6caRf3mHIm9rqFexZf3Jr0NB9esaDJ3D0QVIVOx2ucR_bd3uGe9o8Oz1qONo72dZrYAht4L7ZGHRWD4NxDq0TEosy9YWPvsy8u7o2Gn7SXMnMaBDDKRvSZXx622Bv04aomA/s400/Anand+film+1971+Rajesh+Khanna+Amitabh+Bachchan+2.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Anand-Bhaskar friendship is the core, the extrovert Anand and an anguished, gentle Bhaskar make good company. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The scene where Bhaskar nudges Anand to share his grief is touching among many other moments. That Anand adamantly refuses and in return wishes to share only joy, establishes the two characters. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How Anand sets Bhaskar up with his lady love Renu (Sumita Sanyal) is good entertainment. His spontaneous befriending of strangers, and finally meeting 'Murari Lal' (Johnny Walker) - a lovely story curve. </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGt4MlYVzkwitzUU1UtIFPEsygnZ2-OpIARVjMSfoClEU870uNP-CnQnuMkGaFoNqWwZlzSGkP_yT40tqLJIMbLpDIXQhQhgm_g0vX7wCVyQClVzln5bochYnaX1P_I1I9bk8HybSrxA/s1600/Anand+film+1971+Rajesh+Khanna+Amitabh+Bachchan+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="787" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGt4MlYVzkwitzUU1UtIFPEsygnZ2-OpIARVjMSfoClEU870uNP-CnQnuMkGaFoNqWwZlzSGkP_yT40tqLJIMbLpDIXQhQhgm_g0vX7wCVyQClVzln5bochYnaX1P_I1I9bk8HybSrxA/s400/Anand+film+1971+Rajesh+Khanna+Amitabh+Bachchan+3.png" width="400"></a></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Maut tu ek kavita hai, </span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">tujhse ek kavita ka wada hai,</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">milegi mujhko...</span></b></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(Death, you are a poem, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">with you there is promise of a poem,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">you shall meet me...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The radiant life-affirming lightness leading up to the climatic final scenes makes <i>Anand</i> unforgettable despite the glitches. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's hard to forget the immortal last lines that sound abruptly in the death silence. </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-1dYnaXbX5m28IYxHpEeLiY2UWqmNa-E5MQ_KNH7LLxKuTY2aXs8fgrA9RRCpbLVOBu3f3c8HjuFSNzqIJLrrLFup_TbXDAXsxCnQQAXaJ56u6IljHsI6pu61TdoisbO1RB-gEB17w/s1600/Anand+film+1971+Rajesh+Khanna+Amitabh+Bachchan+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="788" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-1dYnaXbX5m28IYxHpEeLiY2UWqmNa-E5MQ_KNH7LLxKuTY2aXs8fgrA9RRCpbLVOBu3f3c8HjuFSNzqIJLrrLFup_TbXDAXsxCnQQAXaJ56u6IljHsI6pu61TdoisbO1RB-gEB17w/s400/Anand+film+1971+Rajesh+Khanna+Amitabh+Bachchan+5.png" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Did I say glitches?</b> </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Commercial Hindi film makers are infamous for avoiding realism and keeping everything beautiful for the heck of it. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Why else does Anand looks unaffected, in the pink of health despite his worsening condition? </span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">Multiple</span><span style="font-size: large;"> imaginative frames, varied lighting and shades could have added more depth. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Miraculously, the best Hrishikesh Mukherjee movies remain watchable, despite largely absent art direction and structured story-boarding. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Anand</i> stands out despite the bare set up. Why? </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's in Gulzar's dialogues that the movie has its furious blood-pumping heart. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuff6vvZI43WlrWhqyvPqubjSTHbHDDuMnL9kgvBP5K0NiqkCywYc_-PvG0GzA2s1WxY1KtDokAVraUsms4P_A2ExVJoj83Pz8OfcGKoySAvp6DwZEFVpYmy3L42R_z1ZI492ERPBUA/s1600/Anand+film+1971+Rajesh+Khanna+Amitabh+Bachchan+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="695" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuff6vvZI43WlrWhqyvPqubjSTHbHDDuMnL9kgvBP5K0NiqkCywYc_-PvG0GzA2s1WxY1KtDokAVraUsms4P_A2ExVJoj83Pz8OfcGKoySAvp6DwZEFVpYmy3L42R_z1ZI492ERPBUA/s400/Anand+film+1971+Rajesh+Khanna+Amitabh+Bachchan+7.png" width="400"></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Anand review</span></b><br>
<span style="font-size: large;">The lead actors compliment each other beautifully. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Rajesh Khanna </span><span style="font-size: large;">manages to tweak his trademark mannerisms to make Anand unforgettable.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Amitabh <a href="https://sholayism.blogspot.com/2015/10/before-sholay-notable-amitabh-bachchan.html" target="_blank">Bachchan</a> holds his own with a measured, intense performance.</span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The screenplay by Mukherjee, Gulzar, D.N. Mukherjee and Bimal Dutta touches on goodness, compassion, and an optimistic outlook. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Salil Chowdhury's illuminating music is set to lyrics by Yogesh and Gulzar - the </span><span style="font-size: large;">four beautiful songs continue to feature in popular retro playlists. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mukesh as Anand's playback voice is a masterstroke, as Kishore Kumar was the preferred voice for Khanna back then. The singer's melancholy voice brings out the necessary pain to the character's voice. </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51IC9yZhxBKGFiEXYnUY1OtSZ-CVSZtcaPJD-qEqo3nTHp_-clMhJ9_oGxhdUCrhR5QIoNvyrKysDymoh3wcihi2hUerDOvGPdRHhTK34LpMSW84S4s6ARiJRFBdXPy_W1vJU68Wshw/s1600/Anand+film+1971+Rajesh+Khanna+Amitabh+Bachchan+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="442" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51IC9yZhxBKGFiEXYnUY1OtSZ-CVSZtcaPJD-qEqo3nTHp_-clMhJ9_oGxhdUCrhR5QIoNvyrKysDymoh3wcihi2hUerDOvGPdRHhTK34LpMSW84S4s6ARiJRFBdXPy_W1vJU68Wshw/s400/Anand+film+1971+Rajesh+Khanna+Amitabh+Bachchan+6.png" width="325"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jaywant Pathare's cinematography makes good use of the predominantly indoor settings, scenes have a clean, washed up feel. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bombay (now Mumbai) appears fleetingly in the opening credits, some lovely outdoor shots are showcased in the famous Manna Dey song <i>Zindagi Kaisi Yeh Paheli</i>. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Go watch <i>Anand </i>for a joyous lead character, the impermanence and celebration of life, lovely music, </span><span style="font-size: large;">bright </span><span style="font-size: large;">poetic sparkle and timeless good-hearted message. </span><br>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-78396388709034409342020-06-03T21:30:00.000+05:302020-06-04T00:37:48.352+05:30Duel (1971) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcElPfWaNXBOPe84PdLunwlb-PAZffnalLVd89u9ic4xecq5t0-8-EMp6yDfSBiYMZTnyavbEuP93z_Fx55pWBI-MP0ezp_b2qIE7iRmQMnDbffNgujxlzSDzyzdmBKUEZziwG6JNaEQ/s1600/Duel+1971+Steven+Spielberg+review+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="580" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcElPfWaNXBOPe84PdLunwlb-PAZffnalLVd89u9ic4xecq5t0-8-EMp6yDfSBiYMZTnyavbEuP93z_Fx55pWBI-MP0ezp_b2qIE7iRmQMnDbffNgujxlzSDzyzdmBKUEZziwG6JNaEQ/s400/Duel+1971+Steven+Spielberg+review+1.png" width="285"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>[**** stars/*****]</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's just another day, another business trip for California salesman David Mann (Dennis Weaver).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Now put yourself in David's shoes. </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2X8C3VosVJ3oeNUXTIhEH2DB4dOjdquTDSRxr4dLYowpbsWMdTPPVTl8vR-_C3co0UR4veSKiSGTs8wsBD5QSwdPjGbaoJ2hjZoEQhZF0umnm0oPzEdCdvSXLs_s_6eA2ijzisWjHQ/s1600/Duel+1971+Steven+Spielberg+review+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="500" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2X8C3VosVJ3oeNUXTIhEH2DB4dOjdquTDSRxr4dLYowpbsWMdTPPVTl8vR-_C3co0UR4veSKiSGTs8wsBD5QSwdPjGbaoJ2hjZoEQhZF0umnm0oPzEdCdvSXLs_s_6eA2ijzisWjHQ/s320/Duel+1971+Steven+Spielberg+review+2.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What would you do if, out of the blue, a monstrous truck driver starts obstructing your vehicle and then deliberately tries to cause your death? </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">David is at first stunned at the possibility - is this really happening? The day otherwise seems ordinary and David is clearly one who has lived a fairly routine life. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Why would a stranger want to kill him? Who is this truck driver and what does he want? </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Truck vs. Car is the brilliant premise of Steven <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/05/close-encounters-of-third-kind-1977.html" target="_blank">Spielberg</a>'s impressive road trip action thriller <i>Duel </i>(1971), </span><span style="font-size: large;">inspired by a Richard Matheson short story (Matheson wrote the screenplay). </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The theatrical version is available on YouTube, at the time of writing. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Consider it from <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/04/jurassic-park-1993.html" target="_blank">Spielberg</a>'s perspective now. </span></b><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64o7KRdD6CRI755VSheRtMfvyoQqSXXTHXUhyphenhyphenp7K7J_YYbWTt_lCCmsVRX0bUVk3B_rUI1tK7wB5rKZSm55QZUlQTGVgUq-bZpFdoFx-t-VCN_A_FWKub-_ebhzM4b5PDXm5ccQjY6Q/s1600/Duel+1971+Steven+Spielberg+review+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="636" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64o7KRdD6CRI755VSheRtMfvyoQqSXXTHXUhyphenhyphenp7K7J_YYbWTt_lCCmsVRX0bUVk3B_rUI1tK7wB5rKZSm55QZUlQTGVgUq-bZpFdoFx-t-VCN_A_FWKub-_ebhzM4b5PDXm5ccQjY6Q/s400/Duel+1971+Steven+Spielberg+review+3.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How does the director ensure constant audience engagement throughout this unusual one-track 89-min (theatrical running time) action adventure? </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Years later, in an interview to legendary Indian actor Amitabh <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2016/10/pink-2016.html" target="_blank">Bachchan</a>, <a href="https://bollysound.blogspot.com/2017/07/movie-news-close-encounters-of-third.html" target="_blank">Spielberg</a> spoke on how <i>Duel</i> was treated like a monster movie. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The ace director went on to credit the sound effects editors in creating the truck's menacing personality - something like a Godzilla on wheels. </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeNUSHrkeUBZOsGM6OBYFAihVqNqqZar8sTXJ1iEWvhO3phvswPk7GfnnJepc7BZcEBCVc5n5wd0pgWob-LAnSf9g4Mn6R6B21j18BNHDys98W3LUA5B_RiaopwxV2FM7V-z-B2qX_g/s1600/Duel+1971+Steven+Spielberg+review+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="919" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeNUSHrkeUBZOsGM6OBYFAihVqNqqZar8sTXJ1iEWvhO3phvswPk7GfnnJepc7BZcEBCVc5n5wd0pgWob-LAnSf9g4Mn6R6B21j18BNHDys98W3LUA5B_RiaopwxV2FM7V-z-B2qX_g/s400/Duel+1971+Steven+Spielberg+review+4.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jack A. Marta's cinematography and the Frank Morriss edit powers this turbocharged experience. The visuals from the driver's perspective, the doctored engine sounds make the experience personal. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Billy Goldenberg's impressive background score adds measured weight to the relentless face-off. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">David's 'ordinary working man in danger' aspect connects instantly. You want David to be safe, he's like a typical colleague you know from work. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The strength is in the writing, the stark Mojave Desert setting that adds authenticity to the scary proceedings, and the tank truck's unpredictable, absorbing audio-visual traits - we never see the truck driver, an aspect that adds to the thrill of the chase. </span><br>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Duel review </span></b><br>
<span style="font-size: large;">If <i>Duel</i> is a lesser movie, it is in the budget constraints - resultant scale limitations in production quality, cinematography and sound effects - <i>Duel</i> was initially a 74-minute made-for-TV ABC network special.</span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Would <i>Duel</i> be a better movie if attempted on a larger budget (probably later in the 90's) with upgraded technology and equipment? </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is no end to the ifs and buts, and incredibly<i> Duel </i>remains extremely watchable and untarnished by time. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Spielberg's first feature film is impressive for the director's near perfect execution of an unusual, challenging premise. </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Go watch <i>Duel</i>, a robust reminder of how the most influential director of our times (arguably) began enthralling audiences around the world. </span><br>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-39149439324572529392020-06-02T14:03:00.002+05:302020-06-03T19:32:09.741+05:30Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 (2019)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcu9C0smeK18tGKhoxVd3v7UMm9WvyMINB2A9ArYsgK-I7T1TyfRQlWVX6hW8gu3JKHcuC9_Jjmg9rRFOCzMWp7j5yWoKFjVZ-Tmrfm-6-oIq1aFDn5muuodWuT-HYyf-EoPhseq9Xg/s1600/Android_Kunjappan+Version+5.25+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1280" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcu9C0smeK18tGKhoxVd3v7UMm9WvyMINB2A9ArYsgK-I7T1TyfRQlWVX6hW8gu3JKHcuC9_Jjmg9rRFOCzMWp7j5yWoKFjVZ-Tmrfm-6-oIq1aFDn5muuodWuT-HYyf-EoPhseq9Xg/s400/Android_Kunjappan+Version+5.25+poster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>[***1/2 stars/*****]</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Can a robot replace a son? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the single line premise of this delightful <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2020/04/manichitrathazhu-1993.html" target="_blank">Malayalam</a> sci-fi drama, currently streaming on Amazon Prime (India).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hollywood action film makers may have made another city-demolishing, people screaming, robot gone bad movie out of this, was surprised at how <i>Android Kunjappan Version 5.25</i> is a social drama with a message - man's greatest need is to be needed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The straight-faced wit, simplicity, compassion and emotional interplay in debutant director Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval's Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 is immediately relatable and compelling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The director sourced the core theme from his own experience - he was not always around to help his bedridden mother. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEWHEZ_3hvGRPOTrs94e-IEN_fuOqd8YtM12XILdcySKTeQyHXw766_HSCC3zERYSvcEtWv6FWzcTH48fl5ZJJTHtZ8dn2w1RdiHxKrNYfzmScMliRgzEmH5sZouGdts_N7LQ2Fen5g/s1600/Android_Kunjappan+Version+5.25+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEWHEZ_3hvGRPOTrs94e-IEN_fuOqd8YtM12XILdcySKTeQyHXw766_HSCC3zERYSvcEtWv6FWzcTH48fl5ZJJTHtZ8dn2w1RdiHxKrNYfzmScMliRgzEmH5sZouGdts_N7LQ2Fen5g/s400/Android_Kunjappan+Version+5.25+review.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 story </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Bhaskara Poduval, a stubborn, grumpy and conservative old man (Suraj Venjaramoodu) lives in a sleepy <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2018/12/njandukalude-nattil-oridavela-2017.html" target="_blank">Kerala</a> village with his son Subrahmannyan (Soubin Shahir). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">As events unfold, Subrahmannyan procures a lucrative job in Russia at a Japanese robot-making firm but is unable to urge his father to join him. He can't abandon the job offer either. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Later, the son gifts the father a helper robot prototype, intending to make the ageing man's life </span><span style="font-size: large;">easier and less </span><span style="font-size: large;">lonesome. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The repercussions are comic-tragic and uncommonly captivating, except for some unresolved plot threads.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2u_fQ_nz-W3riH1IORAgyJ_98bwj2QqXaHqjYgg2eSDVMxcLG2rMhC0ULLbAzMeeqPQ8rFP1tM1xZoycv2vfvkaxqyEeasVGZ0YpvRxJyjNOhMHjdxKndWIoa3PJvTwP4vaYCYtmLBA/s1600/android-kunjappan-ver-5-25-kendy-zirdo-xelae%255Bwww.malayalamplainmemes.download%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="1024" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2u_fQ_nz-W3riH1IORAgyJ_98bwj2QqXaHqjYgg2eSDVMxcLG2rMhC0ULLbAzMeeqPQ8rFP1tM1xZoycv2vfvkaxqyEeasVGZ0YpvRxJyjNOhMHjdxKndWIoa3PJvTwP4vaYCYtmLBA/s400/android-kunjappan-ver-5-25-kendy-zirdo-xelae%255Bwww.malayalamplainmemes.download%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Simple, slice of life storytelling </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Suraj Venjaramoodu, a middle-aged actor known for his comic timing, is brilliant as the old man. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Soubin Shahir, Kendy Zirdo and Saiju Kurup make up a superb supporting cast</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The makers sketch a </span><span style="font-size: large;">universal</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://wolfmermaidbookreview.blogspot.com/2013/01/fiction-reads-tiger-for-malgudi-by-rk.html" target="_blank">Malgudi</a>-like quality into the colourful rural characters. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The jokes and life lessons come at unexpected points in the story. The old man's initial reactions to the robot are hilarious, reminding us how getting used to technology can be a scary, discomforting experience. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 review </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 </i>deserves to be viewed by a world audience to ponder over the <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2016/01/premam-2015.html" target="_blank">fascinating</a> aspects of future robot-human interactions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Kunjappan means - a 'small man.')</span><br />
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741282968702192229.post-64274145372046069152020-05-28T20:09:00.000+05:302020-06-02T17:11:32.621+05:30Super Deluxe (2019) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ohVKX91XrILw-98ZFw-gvdSMe39ckHY0s7AJJTsl3icB6-eReKxiaOu_dMom_LdZf_kq2juYp424tqyvcaIhO8k8zN-rNQLIRBdBr6cHhXIaJ4da8plLjDXdJ9hxGGvwOM5EljNGtA/s1600/Super+Deluxe+review+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ohVKX91XrILw-98ZFw-gvdSMe39ckHY0s7AJJTsl3icB6-eReKxiaOu_dMom_LdZf_kq2juYp424tqyvcaIhO8k8zN-rNQLIRBdBr6cHhXIaJ4da8plLjDXdJ9hxGGvwOM5EljNGtA/s400/Super+Deluxe+review+6.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>[**** stars/*****]</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What is it to confront unfaithfulness, death and the absence of love in a marriage? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Does it take a child's innocence to unconditionally accept a transformed father? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why does a lone tsunami survivor believe god can cure any person through him? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once in a decade a movie comes along to steal you away from conventions, spring you into surprises and culminate with a soothing message you will never see coming.</span><br />
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<i>Super Deluxe </i>is that once-in-a-decade uplifting <a href="https://moviereviewsmini.blogspot.com/2018/11/imaikkaa-nodigal-2018.html" target="_blank">Tamil</a> drama. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFyYNrpJasmNYMDJn3C0AtHyawxa_Ato4vLz8XPXLa_HQXNKhr2LFuEZdNJOT7oNVnmIn4TuU9msUERizVaMY4GBDik0C94SD2mk6B0YdyJWsLYUbTdGqemp-h-Bub7K6oJ1VQ9Ybhw/s1600/Super+Deluxe+review+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="830" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFyYNrpJasmNYMDJn3C0AtHyawxa_Ato4vLz8XPXLa_HQXNKhr2LFuEZdNJOT7oNVnmIn4TuU9msUERizVaMY4GBDik0C94SD2mk6B0YdyJWsLYUbTdGqemp-h-Bub7K6oJ1VQ9Ybhw/s400/Super+Deluxe+review+9.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Super Deluxe story </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A married couple, Vaembu (Samantha) and Mugil (Fahadh Faasil) have to face the nightmarish consequences of an unexpected death in the hands of corrupt, sadistic cop Berlin (Bagavathi Perumal). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Three boys gather to see a porn film, where events lead to one of the friends desperately needing money to replace a shattered TV before his father gets to know. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Leela </span><span style="font-size: large;">(Ramya Krishnan)</span><span style="font-size: large;">, a soft porn actress, is devastated when her son </span><span style="font-size: large;">Soori (Naveen) </span><span style="font-size: large;">discovers her profession and </span><span style="font-size: large;">gets seriously injured in an angry outburst.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Leela's preacher husband Arputham (Mysskin) adamantly believes that his son will recover by religious healing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A demure wife, Jyothi (Gayathrie) and her cheerful 7-year-old son Rasakutty (Ashwanth Ashokkumar), along with the extended family eagerly await the return of Manickam (Vijay Sethupathi) to the household. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A shock awaits them.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Qsz_c9-0LwUV9DNHog7_-uVOUp9P2IMdYtL_0RXTu2WrSO2TyZEM5MGHxI1ikn7Oc6vNH-TVEuUR4HXxmJD2LZpbX1l3LO0qzopPIGVKo4vYmsDiFtsdCEZUriyVAM4PNH4TbIA8Hg/s1600/Super+Deluxe+review+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="726" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Qsz_c9-0LwUV9DNHog7_-uVOUp9P2IMdYtL_0RXTu2WrSO2TyZEM5MGHxI1ikn7Oc6vNH-TVEuUR4HXxmJD2LZpbX1l3LO0qzopPIGVKo4vYmsDiFtsdCEZUriyVAM4PNH4TbIA8Hg/s400/Super+Deluxe+review+4.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Outlandish entertainer </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Out-of-the-blue funny, game-changing, quietly rebellious, harrowing and entertaining...if you ain't seen <i>Super Deluxe</i> yet, </span><span style="font-size: large;">you ain't seen anything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Director Thiagarajan Kumararaja's follow up to his astonishing 2011 action thriller debut <i>Aaranya Kaandam</i> (featuring an excellent Jackie Shroff) is unprecedented and heart-warming in a zillion unexpected ways. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspdvjVQSGF4yISHtOvc9oCd4X4JW8kYoykM-YXvNA_IyGZ0afRe-N6Qx_Tqa8Oz2noxsAfbvaXj2Zxwke_EdL0v7oTBZeQkTJY601RLStKRcI-ro9ObwrMI00GzfANx3y6uyzGscBrg/s1600/Super+Deluxe+review+8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="792" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspdvjVQSGF4yISHtOvc9oCd4X4JW8kYoykM-YXvNA_IyGZ0afRe-N6Qx_Tqa8Oz2noxsAfbvaXj2Zxwke_EdL0v7oTBZeQkTJY601RLStKRcI-ro9ObwrMI00GzfANx3y6uyzGscBrg/s400/Super+Deluxe+review+8.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Among the amazing ensemble cast, Vijay Sethupathi is notably stunning in a challenging role, child artist Ashwanth Ashokkumar is a gleeful natural.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kumararaja directs with an assured crystal clear voice, showcasing an intense </span><span style="font-size: large;">dance of human emotions in full flow - love, anger, frustration, pity, lust, faith, laughter and more in four colourful subplots. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is only appropriate to repeat - if you ain't seen <i>Super Deluxe</i> yet, you ain't seen anything. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4RtfRUSXJ8DfQG-NV03bCpb8PYiJLh8H-vCgKtSuUnNx_sT0xwNWKCTUu6GT5giBmkQB0fvPbnpWl9FaoUsAZcg_Qq_3NVd1n6mCDrh8zrnK-LFZ_RLTQqNoWCh-NWp2agwXuxYQDQ/s1600/Super+Deluxe+review+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="814" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4RtfRUSXJ8DfQG-NV03bCpb8PYiJLh8H-vCgKtSuUnNx_sT0xwNWKCTUu6GT5giBmkQB0fvPbnpWl9FaoUsAZcg_Qq_3NVd1n6mCDrh8zrnK-LFZ_RLTQqNoWCh-NWp2agwXuxYQDQ/s400/Super+Deluxe+review+7.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Snehith Kumblahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16704781688152689984noreply@blogger.com0