Drake

Finally, I've decided to write about this artist - Nick Drake. He's dead now, wish he was still creating his art :)
There is a raw emotion in his voice, which by the way is not really sweet or melodious. But it's so truthful. I can see him crying while he was singing his songs. The sad part about this is that I cannot describe the psychological superiority that he may have had.
His words are so simple and yet, amazingly powerful.
The music is just original and can make one cry.
I am disgusted at how poorly I am writing this post because this guy deserves some real words.

"So I leave the ways that are making me what I really don't want to be."

My Blueberry Nights

One of those movies which remain hidden. Could easily see this movie again :) Was sincere, painful, sweet and romantic. Once again, the direction stood out. Once again, time was utilized as it should be... slowly. Norah Jones did a pretty good job, wonder if she might take up acting as a career. The best scenes in the movie? Jude Law reaching out across the table towards a sleeping Norah, especially in the last scene of the movie. Indescribable. A must watch scene :)

I enjoyed seeing Norah miserable when her boyfriend decided to cheat on her and dump her. Enjoyed seeing Jude's ex-girlfriend (may be?) come back to him just for a goodbye. Enjoyed the cameos by Natalie Portman and Rachel Weisz (her story). Take chances my friend.

Monster's Ball

Patience is missing too often nowadays... The director did a great job of taking his time with filming each scene. Often times, loosely woven stories and bad actors make movies slow, and in this case, great acting, especially by Halle Berry, combined with a well-knit story made this movie easy to watch. When I say easy, I refer to how quickly the movie passed me by; it was, however, a movie that was subtly grotesque.
There was a guy who was going to be executed, and he liked drawing. He said that he disliked pictures - portraits were better. This statement stood out: "Truly takes a human being to see a human being".
Loved the way the movie tackled racial discrimination in the US, the way sexual satisfaction tends to make humans happy, the way we are forced to think of our plight once we grow old... This movie touched so many nuances. Wouldn't call it one of the best movies I have seen.. Would call it a very good movie. But surely, a must watch.

Million Dollar Baby

I have seen many movies but I have not come across any actress who I have been crazy about, may be because there are very few woman-centric movies.
Never thought I would adore or be in awe of a female actor, but Hillary Swank... I have no better way of saying this. I am terribly attracted to her character in the movie, and on a certain level, to her. Clint Eastwood lends charisma to the movie and Hillary is simply outstanding. The movie does get a bit slow towards the end but certain aspects of human relationships were highlighted so well that it made me smile.
What was the bond that Clint and Swank shared? Why was Swank so loyal to her family? What emotions did Freeman go through the entire movie? Why was Clint such a devout follower of a religion? The movie was made magnificently and I'm not surprised that it won the best movie, best directing and best actress awards at the Oscar.

Before Sunset

A simple movie, a simple plot, complex emotions and a messy history filled with regret. A guy (Ethan Hawke) and a girl (Julie Delpy) met nine years ago, spent an evening and a night together, promised to meet each other six months thence; the guy arrived, the girl did not. They did not see each other for the next 9 years. The guy wrote a book about his life and that night. He comes to Paris (Julie's hometown), and they meet each other at the bookstore where he's signing books.

The movie begins, they walk, they talk. They laugh and they break down (internally, at least). You see the love in their mannerisms and in their eyes; you see that they don't know if they want it, you see that both of them are overjoyed and overwhelmed. One can continually smile through the movie and hope that they end up together. The movie ends rather abruptly but on a positive and joyous note.
There isn't much to describe but it is, by far, one of my all-time favourites.