Showing posts with label Book Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book Review. Show all posts

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Les Miserables (2012) - Movie Review



It wouldn't be just to review this movie in isolation to the masterpiece from Victor Hugo. So, I wouldn't even attempt to do it. All the more when Les Miserables (2012) remains so faithful to the novel. After all, who dares flirt with near perfection.

The Plot:
For the unaware, Les Miserables is a timeless tale; one that will test the corners and the depths of the heart and stir up every emotion residing in there.

Set in the early to late 19th century, the tale follows the life of Jean Valjean enslaved by the law for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's dying son. After serving 19 years for the petty theft, he gets released on parole. But then, the society humiliates him further into desperation & hatred. Finally, a priest takes him in, offers food, wine and shelter. Allow him to rest from pain and wrong; motivating him to give up hatred.

Jean Valjean then decides to give up his old life and to start afresh. Only this time around devoting his life to the way of god and righteousness in the process breaking his parole. But it wouldn't be easy as Inspector Javert (his parole officer) will stop at nothing to put him in chains.

What follows is a heart wrenching tale that puts Valjean's conscience to test in turbulent times. Can Valjean walk the path of righteousness till the very end? Can he keep his promises against all odds? Will his past haunt him and those he care about? Will he finally learn to let go, forgive & love?

The Review:
Prior to this, there have been at least 12 movie attempts based on this novel; the earliest of them (in English) being in 1909. As Victor Hugo pointed it out himself, "As long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, books like this cannot be useless". One can easily replace the word 'useless' with 'irrelevant'.

Even the smallest characters (if there were such a thing) in the novel have such interesting persona about them. Their battles of the heart and mind, even though set against the backdrop of the Paris uprising in 1860's are still relevant today; and across the world. That's what perhaps makes 'Les Miserables' a timeless classic.



The 2012 adaptation on the big screen is worth every penny. The director, Tom Hooper (King's Speech) has done full justice to the novel deserving 8 Oscar nominations including the 'Best Picture'. The movie drags you into a magical world right from the first scene and the first verse. The visualizations are near perfect and the technical aspects equally flawless.

The performances by the actors are brilliant. Most of them have lived upto the high expectations of the novel; few seem to have surpassed it.

The novel introduces Jean Valjean as someone with of extraordinary physical and mental toughness. Hugh Jackman (6' 2") fits right into the description and delivers a convincing characterization. His acting and voice modulation are commendable. He personifies the man who has to frequently break the law to keep his conscience. He brings out all of Valjean's rage, hatred, confusion, fear, doubt, joy, bliss, possessiveness, love in vividness worthy of the Oscar nomination. I hope he wins it.

Inspector Javert is a man who follows duty without a conscience. He only sees things as lawful or otherwise than right or wrong. Russell Crowe meets expectations of this character. His voice has a natural essence of authority that lends some advantage.

Anne Hathaway surpasses expectations as Fantine, the lady who has been wronged in all possible manner. A hard working single mother, burning at both ends to keep her child alive. Look out for her rendering of 'I dreamed a dream'; one of the most powerful moments of the movie and also most poignant moment in the tale.

Another actor who surpassed expectations is Samantha Barks in her role as Éponine.

Why this movie works:

The Narrative: The most appealing aspect of this movie is clearly it's musical narrative. This is perhaps, the most successful mainstream Hollywood movie in over a decade with this narrative. The lyrical dialogues and background music makes the saying more powerful. It is commendable how the actors have balanced their acting and singing simultaneously.

Overlapping dialogues: One of the beautiful things that music allows is to have overlapping dialogues presented in the same tune. This has been used to great effect several times in this movies. In multiple scenes, protagonists sing out their lines (unconnected to each other) in the common tune leading upto a crescendo.

Renderings/Lyrical: No better way to express your emotions than to sing it out. Les Miserables is a treat of some of the finest musical pieces. Here are my top 5 picks (in the order) from the movie.
  1. I dreamed a dream - Fantine (Anne Hathaway) - The undisputed No.1
  2. Empty Chairs at Empty Tables - Marius (Eddie Redmayne)
  3. On my own - Eponine (Samantha Barks)
  4. One Day More - (Several actors from the cast)
  5. Javert's Suicide - Javert (Russell Crowe)

I think, if you haven't read the book, you're missing something big in life. If you skip the movie, you wouldn't realize that something this-good even exists.


This movie is a 9/10
The novel will forever remain 11/10



Friday, November 23, 2012

Life of Pi - Book Analysis


Life of Pi restores the good old faith back in to life. A vivid narration that blends powerful metaphors and subtle humor into a tale of adventure and miracles.

*** Spoiler Alert - This article is an analysis of the book and essentially goes far beyond revealing the story/plot. If you haven't read the book (or) seen the movie and intend to do either.. PLEASE skip this ****

Published in 2001, Life of Pi is a novel by Yann Martel. After a shipwreck in the pacific ocean, Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel survives 227 days on a life boat stranded with a Bengal tiger.


The tale of Pi is a fresh perspective on faith; a roller coaster ride through some of the elemental and potent instincts of life. A journey that traverses fun, frolic, innocence, shock, loss, denial, disbelief, grief, barbarism, fear, terror, despair, exhaustion, persistence, friendship, adventure, hope, mysteries, miracles, realization, bliss and not the least - faith.

The adventure unravels in three parts/acts; each covering significant ground. Put in a very crass manner; first part scratches the surface of the concept. The second covers the breadth and the third sinks in deep.

Act 1: THE CALM - (Author calls it 'Toronto and Pondicherry')

The plot in the first part of the book is generous and is set in the coastal Indian city of Pondicherry. The story emphasizes on two important aspects of Pi's childhood; the two powerful belief systems that will guide him through the ordeal to come.

Animals and Zookeeping: Yann Martel is renowned for employing animals and their instincts as metaphors to dissect human behavioral patterns. In this part of the book, author talks about the nature of animals and zoo being a stable ecosystem (
contrary to popular belief). However dangerous and unpredictable, mutual fear can establish a self sustaining relationship between man and the beast.

Spiritual unity and religious pluralism: The protagonist is a follower of 3 popular religions - Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. This part of the story introduces the basic belief system in all the three religions. The author finds common ground in the three religions and pitches for the viability of religious pluralism. The larger objective here is to prepare the readers to see the  miracles in life from a religion-neutral perspective. 


Act 2: The ordeal (The author calls it 'The Pacific Ocean')

Pi is the lone survivor of a shipwreck. He is stranded on a lifeboat with 4 animals. An injured zebra, a female Orangutan, a wicked hyena and a terrifying Bengal Tiger. First the hyena devours the Zebra organ-by-organ while it is still alive and then kills the defenseless Orangutan too. Pi senses a threat t his own life but just in the nick of time, the Bengal Tiger (named Richard Parker) springs to life and kills the hyena. 



"When your own life is threatened, your sense of empathy is blunted by a terrible, selfish hunger for survival." - Life of Pi (Pg 120)

The second part of the book is the longest and follows Pi's ordeal across the mightiest of oceans with the most unlikeliest of companions. The plot here elaborates on the groundwork laid in the first. While the first act of the book introduces the reader to miracles and spirituality; the second tests it.

The two go through an unbelievable ordeal across the pacific ocean. This part of the tale is really about Pi realizing the elemental instincts of life and coming to terms with it. In this framework of endless space and time, the author draws upon the readers the paired extremities extremities of human nature. The most prominent being the co-existence of Fear-Hope. Fear drives hope and asserts a sense of purpose to life and assigns meaning to the things one does.

Pairs of related extremities that Pi learns in his journey

  • Bright and Dark (day/night)
  • Heat / rains
  • Feast / Starvation
  • Calm Sea / High tides
  • Overwhelming vastness of the sea / Suffocated in the tiny life boat
  • Boredom / terror
  • Courage / helplessness
  • Celebration / depression


"When you've suffered a great deal in life, each additional pain is both unbearable and trifling." - Life of Pi (Pg 5)

“Oncoming death is terrible enough, but worse still is oncoming death with time to spare. You see with utter lucidity all that you are losing.” - Life of Pi (pg 147)

The reason death sticks so closely to life isn't biological necessity; it's envy. Life is so beautiful that death has fallen in love with it, a jealous, possessive love that grabs at what it can.” - Life of Pi (Pg 6)


In short, the second part talks about confronting fear and living with adversities while the two sail through miracles of life. 


“Life on a lifeboat isn’t much of a life. It is like an end game in chess, a game with few pieces. The elements couldn’t be more simple, nor the stakes higher.”(Pg 217)



Act 3: the realization (Author calls it 'The Infirmary')

This is the most interesting part of the book. This is precisely where the book becomes more than just a story.

Pi and Richard Parker make it to land after a miraculous journey (spanning 227 days) that the world would not believe possible. As soon as the boat hits the land, Richard Parker vanishes into the woods, never to be seen again. Pi finds himself explaining to a fact-finding committee the possible reasons for shipwreck and his journey from there. In spite of Pi's best efforts, the committee does not believe in this story for two reasons. 

  • The tale is not verifiable through facts
  • The tale does not conform to logical reasoning
The committee, in reality represents the vast majority of people living a life of preconceived realities and impossibilities. The reason is only a function of known knowledge. Our understanding of the world and its governing forces is constrained and only limited to known knowledge. Is it then correct to categorize everything that is incomprehensible as impossible?

Many aspects and incidents in life are beyond reason and logic. Not everything in life can be verified and reasoned out. What do you do when you witness the incomprehensible-unknown in life?



"World isn't just the way it is; It is how we understand it." - Life of Pi (Pg 303)

in order to satisfy the fact-verifying committee, Pi narrates an alternate version of the story. A version that is the exact opposite of the first. In this version, the animals are replaced with humans and miracles by acts of horror and barbarism. Both the versions are equally unverifiable yet the reader/fact-verifying committee has to choose one among them.

The book raises the following question. How would you like to understand the incomprehensible-unknown? Without verifiable facts and logic, what do you choose to believe are the driving the forces of life?

Since it makes no factual difference and either versions cannot be verified, which version of the story do you believe in?

In other words, what do you CHOOSE to BELIEVE? FAITH or FEAR ?


The gentlemen hearing the story decide to go with the story involving animals and miracles. Pi Patel says, "Thanks you. And so it goes with the god."



"Atheists are my brothers and sisters of a different faith, and every word they speak speaks of faith. Like me, they go as far as the legs of reason will carry them - and then they leap" - Life of Pi


Thursday, April 15, 2010

Book Review of 'Who Moved My Cheese'

The book is a wonderful compilation of myriad metaphors and parallels. The cheese, Cheese (with a ‘C’), maze, jogging suit & shoes, little people, mice and the incidents are very well thought about and presented. On a high level, the book deals with the various ways in which people respond to an unforeseen and unkind change introduced into their lives. The story is about different types of responses to change and what could be the result of each one of them.


The characters are metaphors to broadly two types of people. The littlepeople signify the type that are meticulous, upholding special belief and yearn for special treatment/behavior (Cheese). The other type, Mice - are those people who are the undemanding and instinctive type who do not overcomplicate things.


Both the types of people go out in the world (maze) and have created a lifestyle of their own. The world they live is similar to the real world. Both have dark and unknown corners and both have alleys that hold promises.


What happens when a significant change is introduced into their world forms the crux of the story.


(i) Mice

I think mice are the metaphors for The proletariat/blue collared workers who respond to the things in their life instinctaneously. These are the people who usually do not crib and are not hesitant to change instantly. Before the change was introduced,

 They had their skills intact and close by (jogging suit and shoes)
 Frequently sniffed (checked for changes/modifications in their environment)


When they were exposed to the change,

 They acknowledged the change
 They decided to move on (almost instantaneously)
 They did not spend time analyzing what went wrong and how to fix it


It is also noteworthy that they did not make any effort to restore their life back to normalcy. They decided to leave things as such and move on. Moreover, start new things from scratch.

(ii) Littlepeople
I believe that littlepeople are metaphors for White collared workers/middle level managers. They are typically the people who carry a pre notion of all things. They are also the ones who are more likely to demand things in a certain way always. They are also hesitant to change their belief system even in the case of clear evidence. Before the change was introduced, these people,
 Let go of their skills (Complacent)
 Did not foresee the things to come
 Were not prepared for any change
When the change was introduced,
 They went into a denial mode
 Cried foul (believed that they deserved better)
 Expected the things to return back to normalcy
 Hesitant/fearful to change
 Suffered from inaction.


Even though the mice and littlepeople had the same lifestyle and lived in the same maze, their attitude and outlook towards change and self-adaptation yielded different results. This book, written in such a metaphoric manner will certainly have many interpretations. I think that it teaches the following lessons,


 Sense your environment for changes constantly
 Do not be denial of changes. They are bound to happen
 Accept them and work to change yourself
 Help others during the change