So they decided to make a silent movie in 2011/12 and it won the Oscar for best movie. Well deserved! The silent movie managed to grip my attention throughout and I don't know why... I have a feeling that if it was a 'talkie', it wouldn't have been that powerful a movie.
I was simply mesmerized with the detailing and the sets and even the behaviour of people throughout the movie. The font in the newspapers, the clothing, the hair of the women, the cars, the homes, the sidewalks... The bulky actor suited the 1920s, the actress - Berenice Bejo - OMG!! I was quite impressed by her performance. She oozed of sex appeal, her body language cried of oomph and damn, she had one expressive face. There were moments in the movie where I literally gasped when she would strike a pose or express an emotion.
The story was simple. A leading proud actor falls behind the times. "Talking" movies would soon replace the era of silent movies - similar to how 3D movies will soon kill 2D movies - and this guy is a silent movie actor; the audience now wants new, young faces. Dude slips into depression along with the economy (1929/30); Berenice Bejo loves him secretly.. climax scenes... It's not an extraordinary plot, but it's a fantastic motion picture. The old ways were simple, and life seemed to proceed along just fine... movie makes one think along those lines...
Addendum: Berenice Bejo did not win the best supporting actress award at the Oscars but daym... some of her poses in that skinny frame of hers with those wonderful eyes and high bones of the face... ooooo laa laaaa
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
J. Edgar
One of the beauties of hollywood lies in the justice it can serve to historical movies. The biopic J. Edgar may well go down in history as a memorable creation. It was hard to imagine such an authentic recreation of the past. Leonardo is, as always, stupendous but somewhere, he ought-did himself. And it's not about the makeup, it's about scenes that become memorable.
When he cries in fear and calls Miss Gandy into his office, he makes her promise to keep safe the secret files.
To be honest, yes it was slow and might be considered boring by some. Comments from an audience member such as, "That is so gay.", during such a movie ruin the experience.
The movie did justice to portraying J. Edgar's motivations, personal flaws, progress through his personal life, his insecurities and his emotional disorders.
My ability to write about movies has deteriorated, if ever it was any good. :)
When he cries in fear and calls Miss Gandy into his office, he makes her promise to keep safe the secret files.
To be honest, yes it was slow and might be considered boring by some. Comments from an audience member such as, "That is so gay.", during such a movie ruin the experience.
The movie did justice to portraying J. Edgar's motivations, personal flaws, progress through his personal life, his insecurities and his emotional disorders.
My ability to write about movies has deteriorated, if ever it was any good. :)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Pursuit of Happyness
Few movies I have loved as I have this one. The viewer may well forget that it is the same Will Smith from Independence Day. The story is a quintessential rags to riches story, without the riches; that is because the story ends as soon as the protagonist gets a job :)
The story is about Chris Gardner who had above-average intelligence, circumstances led him to a life as a salesman, living with his wife/ partner and his son; it's a true story of a guy by the same name. Troubles with his wife/ partner, difficulties accepting his situation, his reliance on an obsolete technology he is trying to sell, his experiences trying to make ends meet (quite literally) and his journey through a six-month unpaid internship forms the basis for this movie's story.
He loses a shoe when he is hit by a car as he is chasing a 'bum' who had stolen his portable bone density scanner.
He is forced to live in the restroom of a subway train station.
He arrives for a job interview with white paint on his face after being released from jail - the crime, unpaid parking tickets.
Will Smith played an outstanding part, unbelievably convincing and quite heartening. Favourite quotes (aah, I love them):
Christopher Gardner: It was right then that I started thinking about Thomas Jefferson on the Declaration of Independence and the part about our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And I remember thinking how did he know to put the pursuit part in there? That maybe happiness is something that we can only pursue and maybe we can actually never have it. No matter what. How did he know that?
Christopher Gardner: This part of my life... this little part, is called happiness.
One of my all-time favourites.
The story is about Chris Gardner who had above-average intelligence, circumstances led him to a life as a salesman, living with his wife/ partner and his son; it's a true story of a guy by the same name. Troubles with his wife/ partner, difficulties accepting his situation, his reliance on an obsolete technology he is trying to sell, his experiences trying to make ends meet (quite literally) and his journey through a six-month unpaid internship forms the basis for this movie's story.
He loses a shoe when he is hit by a car as he is chasing a 'bum' who had stolen his portable bone density scanner.
He is forced to live in the restroom of a subway train station.
He arrives for a job interview with white paint on his face after being released from jail - the crime, unpaid parking tickets.
Will Smith played an outstanding part, unbelievably convincing and quite heartening. Favourite quotes (aah, I love them):
Christopher Gardner: It was right then that I started thinking about Thomas Jefferson on the Declaration of Independence and the part about our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And I remember thinking how did he know to put the pursuit part in there? That maybe happiness is something that we can only pursue and maybe we can actually never have it. No matter what. How did he know that?
Christopher Gardner: This part of my life... this little part, is called happiness.
One of my all-time favourites.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Lord of the Rings
The most fantastic trilogy ever!
"Arise! Arise! Riders of Theoden! Swords shall be shattered, shields shall be splintered! A sword day!!!! A red day!!!! Ere the sun rises!!!!!!
Death!!!!!! Death!!!!!"
(Rohan Horn blowing)
This particular scene when the riders of Rohan have assembled on top of a hill, with the rising sun behind them and a sea of orcs before them. The horn blows, the music starts and the riders charge and whenever I have seen this scene (7 to 10 times up until now), I have had goosebumps. It may possibly go down in history as one of the best scenes ever.
The movie did not do justice to the book - they usually never do. But Peter Jackson did one of the best works ever. If one would ever read the book, it would be rather inconceivable to make a movie out of it, because the movie demands expenditure and grandeur. I am sad that I can't write much about the three movies; but the three movies are awesome.
People have generally rated The Return of the King (part 3) as the best, but for me The Fellowship of the Ring comes first.
The bridge of Khazad-dum, the Shire, the mystery surrounding the elves and the Black riders, the formation of the fellowship - everything gels so well as an introduction to an epic of our times.
"Arise! Arise! Riders of Theoden! Swords shall be shattered, shields shall be splintered! A sword day!!!! A red day!!!! Ere the sun rises!!!!!!
Death!!!!!! Death!!!!!"
(Rohan Horn blowing)
This particular scene when the riders of Rohan have assembled on top of a hill, with the rising sun behind them and a sea of orcs before them. The horn blows, the music starts and the riders charge and whenever I have seen this scene (7 to 10 times up until now), I have had goosebumps. It may possibly go down in history as one of the best scenes ever.
The movie did not do justice to the book - they usually never do. But Peter Jackson did one of the best works ever. If one would ever read the book, it would be rather inconceivable to make a movie out of it, because the movie demands expenditure and grandeur. I am sad that I can't write much about the three movies; but the three movies are awesome.
People have generally rated The Return of the King (part 3) as the best, but for me The Fellowship of the Ring comes first.
The bridge of Khazad-dum, the Shire, the mystery surrounding the elves and the Black riders, the formation of the fellowship - everything gels so well as an introduction to an epic of our times.
The Resident Evil series
Fantastic! You see... there's something awesome about the combination of zombies (the living dead), hotties, guns and killing, stupidity and the sincerity that goes with the stupidity. I love the franchise and I am referring to the English movies.
The first one has been aired so often that it sets the stage for getting attracted to the series. The second was poor but it had Sienna Guillory (drool). The third one was cool - imagine, zombie crows! loving it :) and it had Ali Larter (the best hottie so far).
I saw the fourth one yesterday - Resident Evil Afterlife. Super cool :) It was made in 3d, but luckily I saw it at home in normal 2D.
Ali Larter again :) plus there is some confusion about what's happening with the Umbrella Corporation and there is a weird mutant type head honcho. Milla crash lands on the terrace of a building surrounded by zombies. Combine this with excellent shots and a 12 foot menace wielding a human sized axe. OMG. Brilliant stuff.
The first one has been aired so often that it sets the stage for getting attracted to the series. The second was poor but it had Sienna Guillory (drool). The third one was cool - imagine, zombie crows! loving it :) and it had Ali Larter (the best hottie so far).
I saw the fourth one yesterday - Resident Evil Afterlife. Super cool :) It was made in 3d, but luckily I saw it at home in normal 2D.
Ali Larter again :) plus there is some confusion about what's happening with the Umbrella Corporation and there is a weird mutant type head honcho. Milla crash lands on the terrace of a building surrounded by zombies. Combine this with excellent shots and a 12 foot menace wielding a human sized axe. OMG. Brilliant stuff.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
The Beatles!!
I was driving to work today and a song played and I heard myself singing along and tapping my foot (while driving) and just lost myself. It went on my BB status. And then I thought that I need to blog about these guys...
I feel fine, Can't buy me love!, All you need is love, Imagine, Help!, With a little help from my friends, Love me do, She loves you (yeah yeah yeah!!), Yesterday... and even after listing these songs, readers of this post will say.. "Hey! you missed out on "this" song..!!!"
The Beatles will be classic and timeless; when I heard "I feel fine" today morning I didn't realise that it had been released in 1964! That is 47 years ago!! Ridiculous eh??! The song feels like a 2011 release :)
There is humour and light-ness and flakiness and love and romance and joy and philosophy and sincerity in their songs. Lennon's voice is magnificent. Feel bad when people haven't heard songs like "What is life?" - this was sung by George Harrison, so Lennon fans tend not to like him :)
One can listen to The Beatles almost anytime and they can promise to make one think or make one forget thinking :) Cheeeeeerj!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
I feel fine, Can't buy me love!, All you need is love, Imagine, Help!, With a little help from my friends, Love me do, She loves you (yeah yeah yeah!!), Yesterday... and even after listing these songs, readers of this post will say.. "Hey! you missed out on "this" song..!!!"
The Beatles will be classic and timeless; when I heard "I feel fine" today morning I didn't realise that it had been released in 1964! That is 47 years ago!! Ridiculous eh??! The song feels like a 2011 release :)
There is humour and light-ness and flakiness and love and romance and joy and philosophy and sincerity in their songs. Lennon's voice is magnificent. Feel bad when people haven't heard songs like "What is life?" - this was sung by George Harrison, so Lennon fans tend not to like him :)
One can listen to The Beatles almost anytime and they can promise to make one think or make one forget thinking :) Cheeeeeerj!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Nick Drake
This is my second post about Nick Drake, the first one is here. I had to write about this (as I always do :P).
There is a song called 'Milk and Honey'. Nick sung this song which was originally by Jackson C. Frank in a 1965 album. Before he starts strumming his guitar and singing, Nick mumbles something so beautiful :D
"What could I do? What would be interesting?" But he says it more like... "Whattt-uh could-iii dooo-uh?" and when he says this, he is adorable or as my friend described it - orgasmic.
It is sad that he is no more.
There is a song called 'Milk and Honey'. Nick sung this song which was originally by Jackson C. Frank in a 1965 album. Before he starts strumming his guitar and singing, Nick mumbles something so beautiful :D
"What could I do? What would be interesting?" But he says it more like... "Whattt-uh could-iii dooo-uh?" and when he says this, he is adorable or as my friend described it - orgasmic.
It is sad that he is no more.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Zombieland
Alas. This be a movie that will fade away, but it be so precious :'(
It is an outstanding creation and I say it with a lot of sincerity. The humour associated with 'monster' movies has been dry and repetitive; the humour in this movie is phenomenal. Casting Jesse Eisenberg of "The Social Network" fame was brilliant.
Rules of surviving in zombieland. For example, "Do Cardio, it's the fatties who go first." One needs to be really high to come up with statements such as this.
Enticing zombies with a eukele? Using chainsaws? Having a fetish for twinkies? A zombie in a bikini? Cute little zombie girls?
Woody Harrelson (one might remember him as the zonked dude from 2012) and Abigail (from Little Miss Sunshine) have outstanding roles, especially Woody. As I write this, I am laughing.
"Gotta enjoy the little things"
It is an outstanding creation and I say it with a lot of sincerity. The humour associated with 'monster' movies has been dry and repetitive; the humour in this movie is phenomenal. Casting Jesse Eisenberg of "The Social Network" fame was brilliant.
Rules of surviving in zombieland. For example, "Do Cardio, it's the fatties who go first." One needs to be really high to come up with statements such as this.
Enticing zombies with a eukele? Using chainsaws? Having a fetish for twinkies? A zombie in a bikini? Cute little zombie girls?
Woody Harrelson (one might remember him as the zonked dude from 2012) and Abigail (from Little Miss Sunshine) have outstanding roles, especially Woody. As I write this, I am laughing.
"Gotta enjoy the little things"
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