Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) - Movie Review

Once there was a Hushpuppy, and she lived with her daddy in The Bathtub.
Even after a million years, the scientists and moviebuffs of the future will be delighted to know it.

Directed by Benh Zeitlin, 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' is a compelling piece of art about a mystical land of the beasts and love of a father and his daughter. 

 

The plot is set in the fictional island/community called 'The Bathtub'; a secluded locality on the other side of the wall of civilization. The movie follows the lives of it's residents leading a life of beasts and in particular HushPuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis) and her father Wink (Dwight Henry).

The movie is narrated as experienced and understood by it's 9 year old protagonist HushPuppy. This transforms the audience into a mystical world innocence and a universe built over interesting ground-rules. The equation of life on The Bathtub is simple; even though the dynamics are harsh and unforgiving. The man and the beasts are one and the same. The inhabitants are uneducated, have no jobs, eat uncooked meat, make merry and do not cry in the face of hardships. Everything and everybody living is considered meat; all part of the grand buffet of the universe.

The story takes a turn when the melting of polar ice and an imminent storm poses permanent submersion of the island. The inhabitants have to either choose between facing extinction or evacuation. While most of the inhabitants relocate, a handful of people including our protagonists choose to stay back.

The best part of the movie is the father-daughter relationship and of course HushPuppy's mystical world and its revelation over 90 minutes. Wallis as HushPuppy is an absolute delight (youngest actor ever to earn an Oscar nomination for the leading role). Her emotions are real, actions affable and dialogue delivery impeccable. The charm and innocence lending an undeniable sincerity to the narrative and the plot.

Strong animals know when your hearts are weak.

Dwight Henry (first time actor) portrays the complex character of Wink; striking the balance between a concerned father and the fearless beast of the community. His concern and love for is daughter in the most unorthodox ways forms some of the best moments in the movie.

In spite of an offbeat plot and narrative, the outcome is exceptional. The camera is consistently shaky, but the background music more than just makes up for it and any other technical irregularities. The music succeeds immensely in simultaneously painting the dual picture of the grim situation and the cheerfulness in its protagonists.



There are also subtle social messages driven in the movie such as the preservation of nature, ecological balance and even man-beast relation. But it not what makes the movie an above-average experience. In the run-time of 90 odd minutes, one can't help being smitten by HushPuppy and life in The Bathtub.

In the end, 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' packs a compelling narrative and powerful performance in a heart warming story. One of the spectacular movies made in the recent times. Do not miss it.

My rating: 8.5 / 10


Related Trivia:

• Quvenzhané Wallis was five years old when she was chosen for the role
• Dwight Henry is a first time actor and a victim of Hurricane Katrina

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Silver Linings Playbook (2012) - Movie Review

Based on a novel by the same name, 'Silver Linings Playbook' may not be the most memorable of movies. But it definitely has an inescapable charm driven by an ensemble of affable characters and sterling performances. 

A testimony to that being the 8 Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

Written & Directed by David O. Russell (director of The Fighter), the movie deviates to a large extent from the book as well as genre of RomCom (Romantic Comedies). 

The movie follows the life of Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) and his near ones. Pat is a mentally not-normal person who has recently rejoined his parents after a brief stint at a correctional facility. We soon learn of his strained relationship with his wife who has sought a distance from him through a legal restraining order. 

However, Pat refuses to accept the fact that his wife has left him for good while everyone around him is convinced about it. He refuses to accept that the fact is determined to set things right and get back to his previous life; so much so that it defines his craziness.

Along the line, Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence); someone more mysterious and crazier than him. What follows next is no big surprise. But, how it unfolds is surprisingly fresh and quite charming.

Coming back to the ensemble of impressionable characters and sparking performances.

Jacki Weaver plays Dolores Solitano (Oscar nominated performance for Best supporting Actress); the caring mother who defies the court's suggestion to bring her son back home from the mental institution. Her portrayal of the over protective and concerned mother makes an noteworthy performance.
Robert De Niro is cast as Pat's father (Oscar nominated performance for Best supporting Actor); a pensioner and die-hard fan of the local football team. He delivers an impressionable performance in a character that juggles between being a loving father, superstitious gambler, an angry husband and even a man who can beat up his 30 year old son to teach some discipline.

Chris Tucker (as Danny) and John Ortiz (as Ronnie) cast as Pat's cell-mate from the facility and neighbor respectively. They both lend valuable laughs with their spirited performancess.

Anupam kher + Cast of Silver Linings

Veteran artist Anupam Kher plays the role of Dr. Cliff Patel, the consulting psychiatrist for Pat & Tiffany. His screen presence is brief and character not very significant to the plot. The Bollywood audience have seen him delivering more powerful performances. 

Frankly speaking, Pat's character suffers from few inconsistencies. His level of craziness is inconsistent along the length of the movie. Several times during the movie, one is unsure if Pat is really crazy or is it just has anger management issues. 

Bradley Cooper has done a better than average job in portraying Pat (Oscar nominated performance for Best Actor). He is very convincing in the first half of the movie after which the inconsistencies surface. 

Unfortunately for Pat, Forrest Gump & Raymond (from Rain Man) have pushed the bar for such characters till exosphere. 

Unmistakably, the single largest charming aspect of the movie is Jennifer Lawrence's performance as Tiffany (Oscar nominated for best Actress). Tiffany is an instinctive, emotionally spontaneous and the girl next door with a mystery buried deep inside her. Jennifer portays this mystery and craziness with a flair and conviction that makes the audience curious and connect with her role. Her acting is convincingly consistent all along the movie.

Another highlight of the movie is that the movie never slips into pure comedy mode. In over a large part of the movie, the plot takes itself quite seriously. The part in which the not-so-normal protagonists try to make sense of the seemingly abnormal world is quite convincing. 

In fact, the serious confrontations between Jennifer & Pat about each other's craziness forms some the most powerful moments in the movie. 

In spite of a plot that strikes the right balance between seriousness and romantic drama,  'Silver Linings Playbook' is a movie made special by sterling performances. 

My Rating: 7.5/10 


ps: I've intentionally NOT include a link to the trailer. They seem to be giving up too much about the movie. Avoid if possible.

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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

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Django Unchained (2012) - Movie Review

Yes, the old jungle saying is still true."Nobody can film a bloodbath better than Tarantino and none can spill blood more beautifully than his characters". 

Surprise to none, Django Unchained, written & directed by Quentin Tarantino is indeed a glorified account of blood sputtering revenge; set in an age of nobody's seen no nigger on a horse.

In keeping with the code of Tarantino-esque school of film making, the first scene sets the tone and standards for the next two-and-half hours to folow.

Opening credits flash in over sized block RED letters to the tune of Django by Luis Bacalov.

Django, have you always been alone? Django, have you never loved again?
Love will live on. Life must go on... You cannot spend your life regretting.
Django, you must face another day.

The protagonist, Django (Jamie Foxx) and few other slaves in chains are being dragged barefoot across a forest on a chilly night. They come across Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz); a German dentist turned bounty hunter looking for our protagonist.

Sooner than than you know, Shultz lures Django to join him in the bounty hunting business. Django unsurprisingly accepts the ludicrous offer of killing white men and even getting paid for it. Then we're told of some German mythology and also of Django once having a wife who is now the property of Calvin Candi - a hard core slaver, powerful and wealthy man in Mississippi. The duo then decide to travel South and retrieve the girl. The rest of the movie is a no-surprise tale of Django becoming the fastest gun in the South.

In spite of excellent story telling, the plot never by itself becomes the highlight of Tarantino movies. This time around too, his movie will be remembered for 2 things - A set of impressive characters and some convincing satire on human nature/morality. Full credit to Tarantino for introducing 4 more characters and in such stye. The actors have done equally well in  characterization.

 Christoph Waltz (Oscar nominated for this performance) steals the shows in the beginning with all his flamboyance. Watch out for the scene where he draws comparison between the business of bounty hunting and Slave trade. Calling one as 'Cash for corspe' and the other as 'Cash for flesh' trade.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays the hard core slaver madman. In one convincing scene, he tries to justify why the niggers are a submissive lot and need a master. (I couldn't help remembering the squirrel-rat analogy with German-Jews from Inglourious Basterds).

The best performance in this movie comes from Samuel L. Jackson. His portrayal of 'Stephen', the black caretaker of an estate will perhaps be the most memorable part of Django Unchained. He portrays the role of an old man confused with his hierarchy in the social order. 

Having spent 7 decades as the estate care taker, Stephen behaves like a master and looks down on other colored folks.

Over the course of the movie, Jamie Foxx's Django transforms from a lost soul to a legend and to put in his own words - 'One in a thousand Nigger'. Once he is armed, there is no stopping.

The intensity of gun shots and blood sputtering in this movie sets new standards. The gore is just one part of it. The choreography of the bloodbath is replete with close-ups and slow motion that one can be certain of director's over indulgence.

In the end, Django is a glorified tale of brutality on slaves and one man's revenge with the gun.  
Will be loved by Tarantino's fans.
Rest will wonder, yet again - "What was so special"?

My rating: 7.5/10

Personal rant: 

 
Call it Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds or Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino's movies don't seem to be too different from one another. They all conform to the same plot/thinking.  
An underdog protagonist. Meets a mentor. Trains on combat skills. Seek vengeance. Connect these with blood & gun shots. Your movie is served cold. And in blood.

Not that Quentin Tarantino has an unassailable lead in depicting bloodshed. Tim Burton, Sylvester-Rambo-Stallone and his expendable men are catching up fast. It's about time something fresh comes from the superstar director. 

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Lincoln (2012) - Movie Review

Lincoln (2012) infuses life into the history books; unlike any other on this topic. This winner from Steven Speilberg is a delight for historians as much as the Oscar jury. With a total of 12 nominations that include Best Picture, Best Direction, Best performance in the lead and supporting roles, Lincoln leads the race for the Oscars (85th Annual Academy Awards).

As the American civil war (1861-1865) between the United States (Union/North) and the Confederate States (Confederacy/South) draws to an end, it puts a nation and it's leader through a great test - one that will define both for the time to come. This biopic vividly captures the dynamics leading to one of the most proud moments of American history and perhaps the world as well.

During the course of the war, Abraham Lincoln exercised his warpowers to pass the Emancipation Proclamation - a temporary war-period arrangement that liberates (not having to return back to their masters) the captured slaves. While Lincoln was captivated with the idea of abolishing slavery, the confederate states and a large majority of the congress do not share his enthusiasm. The people too look at the arrangement as an act of negotiated peace than a permanent solution.

As the war reaches its final days, Lincoln is fully aware that his and warpowers will end and the judicial reversal of the Proclamation inevitable. He has to push for the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the US constitution thereby formally abolishing slavery. Lincoln has to walk a tight rope. Not only does he have to convince the Congress against the popular sentiment, but also race against the time to get it done. If the forces of the South surrender before ratification, they will most likely negotiate to keep their slaves - a condition that his cabinet won't mind.

In the end, it comes to either winning the civil war or abolishing slavery. But not both. This equation opens up the plot for some very interesting drama.

Can Lincoln kill two birds with one stone? Can he push an idea before it's time has come? How will he convince the Congress against the popular sentiment? 

Will he pursue unconstitutional means in getting the constitution amended? Will he keep the war going, endure loss of lives and money to buy more time? Can he keep the war updates a secret untill the voting?

And well, add to all this the turbulence in his own personal life; strained emotions with his wife and son.


Why this movie works:
As it is evident, there are several parameters and people influencing the the dynamics and each one of them connected to every other. Lincoln (2012) shines not only for the immense research that has gone into the script but also for how intriguingly these nuances are dramatized. Director Steven Spielberg asserts his genius yet again in binding the several threads of the story to the common end.

The acting department is a powerhouse to say the least. Lincoln is popularly known to be calm, composed and confident. But Daniel Day-Lewis (2 time Oscar winner) takes you on an exploration of Lincoln-the-lesser-known and the grey shades of his personality. The president hops from being an inspiring leader to a perturbed father, a repenting husband, an advocate, a negotiator and at times, even being a dictator. As the movie explores the twin faces of the president, the vivid portrayal of the Lincoln's character is clearly the high point of the movie.

Daniel Lewis fits right into the role - in form and character. His humanization of the legend - all his confusion and conviction truly deserves a third Oscar. 

The acting from the supporting cast is equally brilliant. Sally Field (2 time Oscar winner) is cast as the first lady and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the rebellious son. David Strathairn plays the Secretary of State and Tommy Lee Jones (Oscar winner) plays Thaddeus Stevens, one of the party leaders who has a difference of opinion with Lincoln.

The technical aspects of the production are also top notch. The lighting and sets takes to back to the 19th century and the war scenes are as real as they can get. In the end, Lincoln (2012), is a winner and deserves half a dozen awards at the 85th Academy Awards. If you enjoyed Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List and Munich. you'll most certainly like this too.

However, it might take a bit of patience to appreciate the nuances. After all, the civil war and the politics behind getting an amendment passed is not a very popular topic.

My Rating: 8/10


Related Trivia:

• Liam Neeson was first chosen for the lead role. After the project started, he decided to drop out
• Steven Spielberg spent 12 years in research for this movie
• Initially, the movie was conceived of as a bio film exploring Lincoln's entire life story. Later it was decided to cover the last 6 months of Lincoln's life
• Daniel Day-Lewis had his reservations in taking on this challenging role. Eventually, it was Leonardo DiCaprio who convinced him.
• In 2012, Tim Burton also made a movie titled, "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter"

About Daniel Day Lewis:

• Several times offered and turned down the role of Aragorn (Strider) in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
• Zack Snyder offered him the role of "Jor-El" in Man of Steel (2013). Role went to Russel Crowe in the end
• Was considered for the role of Jesus Christ in The Passion of the Christ (2004)
• He won 23 acting awards for his performance in There Will be Blood, including the Oscar.

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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011) - Movie Review

Based on a novel by the same name, 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)' is a heart warming story of a 9 year old boy coming in terms with the untimely death of his father. One of the most under rated movies, ELIC brilliantly captures an innocent mind's struggle to make sense of the not-so-logical world of the grown ups.

The Plot:
The protagonist Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) suffers from Asperger syndrome; an anomaly characterized by difficulty in socialization and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. He is intelligent, inquisitive and at the same time different. Oskar shares a very attached to his father Thomas Schell (Tom Hanks) but maintains a distance with his mother Linda Schell (Sandra Bullock). Thomas leaves no stone unturned to assure his son that he is special and often sends Oskar on outdoor explorations; get him to understand the world through logic and reason and of course socialize with people.

All is well until 9/11 when Thomas gets killed in the WTC. The young mind reasons hard to understand why someone should kill a building full of unknown people. While randomly looking in his father's closet, he stumbles on an unknown key in an envelope.

Oskar tells himself, it takes eight minutes for the sun's light to reach earth. Even if the Sun were to disappear, we wouldn't know for 8 minutes. Oskar is convinced that his father wanted him to find whatever this key opens and this was his eight minutes with his father. The young-different mind sets out on a mission to make sense and the most of his eight minutes. 

Will Oskar find the lock which the key opens? Why did Thomas leave behind a random key? What does the key open? What did Thomas want his son to find?

What makes it special:
The plot has an inherent innocence to it which lends the essential charm to an otherwise ordinary plot. An adult mind may find many a loop holes and flaws, but then, this movie is intended to be seen through the eyes of an nine year old different/special kid. Once you get on with it, ELIC is a wonderful journey following Oskar's innocence and live though his discoveries and realizations as your own. That makes this movie a winner which in the end a journey from denial to acceptance, fear to strength, unknown to discovery, strangers to friends and innocence to realization. 

There are many scenes that will take you down the memory lanes of your own childhood. Kid-under-the-cot scenes, a hidden closet of precious items, relationship with grandmother among others.

The characters of ELIC coome out very real; thans to the perfect cast. We all know Tom Hanks can put life to any role and there is no denial of Sandra Bullock's hyper-specialization in emotional roles. However, the true gems of the movie are Thomas Horn as the special/different kid and Max von Sydow as the mysterious-mute neighbor. Max dos not speak one word in the movie and yet has been nominated for an Academy Award (Best Supporting Role); I earnestly hope he gets it.

Watch trailer:

Movies like these are rare to come; a ride like this is ought not to be missed. 

Do not take your grown-up-mind to the movie.

My Rating: 8/10 

Fav Lines:

• I didn't know what was waiting for me. Although my stomach hurt and my eyes were watering I'd made up my mind that nothing was gonna stop me. Not even me.
• Everyone took more time than I had planned for... to try and comfort me and make me feel better about my dad... and to tell me their stories. But I didn't want to feel better and I didn't want friends... I just wanted the lock. I wasn't getting any closer to my dad... I was losing him.
• Were you snooping on me? No, I was searching for you.

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The Descendants (2011) - Movie Review

Written and directed by Alexander Payne, The Descendants (2011) is really one man's struggle to come in terms with a bumpy stretch of his life and bonding with his children.

Plot is set against the exotic locales of the contemporary Hawaii. Matt King (George Clooney) is a land deal consultant and an average unsuspecting husband of an adventurous wife and father to two rebellious daughters. While contemporary movies take about 30-40 mins to set the premise, the Descendants chooses to tell us (quite unconvincingly) over a 5mins monologue that Matt is trustee to a large piece of prime land and spent most of his life on work and never really cared much about the family. Matt's wife, Elizabeth gets into a coma after a boating accident forcing him to take charge of what is left of the family. Knowing that his wife doesn't have much time left, he gets on a mission to inform her near and dear ones to pay their last visit.

Matt learns from his elder daughter Alex (Shailene Woodley) that Elizabeth was cheating on him and that there was another man n her life. After the initial perturbation, he asks himself is this other man should also be informed of Elizabeth's condition considering that he meant so much for her. 

The crux of the movie is about Matt's emotional ordeal through loss, pain, grief, doubt, shock, rage, forgiveness and in the end finding peace.

The movie works on multiple counts; first of which is a perfect balance between drama and humor. George Clooney convincingly personifies the confused husband in all his emotions and floral design shirts. All characters have a certain depth that makes it easier to relate to their feelings. What is absent though is a good peek into Matt's life before the ordeal that could've highlighted the magnitude of his journey.

In the end, the movie does go a little further from 'the average', but not too far. A good watch if you have the time. Else, you aren't missing too much in life.

My Rating: 6.5/10

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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) - Movie Review

Most contemporary British spy movies (read James Bond series) have got us a good look at suave agents paired up with hot chicks, chasing super villains on fast cars and hunting them down with uber cool gadgets. That is one extreme of the genre. Directed by Tomas Alfredson, and based on a novel by the same name, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (TTSS) is a gem of a movie belonging to the other extreme end of the genre.

Set in the the early 1970s during the heights of Cold War, the plot follows the tension in the British Intelligence bureau (also referred to as Circus) after a failed operation. Control (John Hurt) heads the Circus and sends Jim Prideaux (Mark Strong) on a secret mission to meet a certain general in Budapest and get vital information about a soviet mole in their team. The Soviet intelligence intercept the mission and kill Jim. After the incident, Control and his close aide George Smiley (Gary Oldman) get expelled from the Circus.
 

Years later, when Control is dead, Smiley is summoned to conduct an off-record investigation in to the incident and identify the traitor within. He takes up the task to solve the ONE puzzle that remained unsolved in his otherwise illustrious career. Smiley now has to carefully examine four of his close buddies - Bill haydon (Colin Firth), Percy Alleline (Toby Jones), Toby Esterhase (David Dencik) and Roy Bland (Ciarán Hinds); one of who is a traitor.

In the heights of the Cold War, strength of the intelligence network is the back bone of a nation. As decisions and alliances are formed based on the intelligence, the role of Circus in the security of the nation is critical. In this context, the rumor of a soviet mole in the top echelon of British intelligence forms the premise for TTSS.

The movie is a winner on two counts - the plot and performance by the protagonists. The plot reveals itself wonderfully, with all its intricacies and all the actors do extremely well to hold up the suspense. Gary Oldman leads the pack with a deserving Oscar nomination for best actor in a lead role. The very talented Tom Hardy makes his mark yet again in his brief yet powerful portrayal of Ricki Tarr.

A large part of the movie is shot in dark sets, dull colors and with slow dialogues. This makes the run time of 2 hour and 10 mins seem much longer. Clearly, TTSS takes a lot of concentration is not your average peppy-feel-good-over-weekend movie. More likely to find an interest among those that appreciate intense and de-glamorized drama and have a taste for mind-games.


Fav Quotes:

• We are not so very different, you and I. We've both spent our lives looking for the weaknesses in one another.
• I need you to do something for me. You have to assume they're watching you.

My Rating: 7.5/10

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Black Swan - Movie Review

Black Swan is one of the most intriguing movies one will get to see this year. The Director, Darren Aronofsky delivers the perfect concoction of Art, Drama, Suspense and Hysteria. Black Swan has everything in it to become the Dark Horse on the Oscar Night.

The plot revolves around New York City ballet company and their opening production of the new season, "Swan Lake". Much to the envy of other ballerinas, the artistic director, Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) chooses Nina Sassey (Natalie Portman) to play the leading role. 

Nina is a typical innocent 'Sweet Girl' and someone who has worked her way up through discipline and hard work. The role of the Swan Queen was all she ever dreamt of and is determined to make the act perfect.

The act of Swan Queen has two aspects; one of the White Swan and the other of the Black Swan. While, Nina is all perfect as the graceful White Swan, Leroy doubts if she can do justice to the dark side as well. While she has all the grace and charm to play the White Swan, can she play the alter ego?

Dedicated to make the act perfect, Nina is forced to shed her innocence and the image of 'sweet girl' to embrace the dark side. There is also Lily (Mila Kunis) who is naturally perfect as the Black Swan and someone Nina fears will steal the role away from her.

Pushed too much by exhaustion and fear of not being perfect, Nina loses control of herself; or at least her mind and falls into a world of surreal. Alonofsky builds an effective world of surrealism with essence of violence, sex and drugs that confuse Nina just as much as the audience. The climax is surprising and unfolds brilliantly keeping the audience at the edge of their seats till the last line.

Two aspects of the movie are truly remarkable that makes the viewing all the more special. The direction and Natalie's portrayal of Nina. Natalie looks and dances exactly like as a ballerina. The choreography is excellent and Natalie's portrayal of Nina, her innocence, fear and anxiety is definitely a leading contender for the Oscar.


My Verdict: Movie is thoroughly intriguing, quite literally till the last line.
My Rating: 4.5/5

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The King's Speech - Movie Review

With 12 Oscar nominations, The King's Speech leads the pack in the race to the coveted black beauties. The movie revolves around the Duke of York (Colin Firth) who has a speech problem; his wife (Helena Carter) and Lionel (Geoffrey Rush) - the speech defector.

The best part of the movie, is undoubtedly, Colin Firth's performance as stuttering Duke who goes on to to become King George VI. Colin strikes a perfect balance between being an assertive angry king and the stutterer with low confidence.

Helena play's the role of Queen Elizabeth who is supportive and proud of her husband in spite of his condition. She encourages her husband to seek professional assistance and eventually introduces him to Lionel Logue.

Geoffrey Rush is cast as Lionel, a speech therapist known for his unconventional and uncompromising means of treating his patients. Lionel helps the king confront the causes that lead to his condition, instills confidence and helps in overcoming the condition. The two characters bulild a strong friendship over time. The relationship between the King and Lionel  forms the crux and also the most affable part of the movie.

Watch out for that spectacular scene in which Colin Firth discusses his personal life with Lionel. Unable to speak and unwilling to contain, he partially sings and swears to get his thoughts and sentiments out. That one scene alone explains Colin Firth's claim for the year's best performance.

The movie is an engaging easy watch; one that spares the audience of any heavy philosophy or message within it.


My Verdict: Watch it for one of the spectacular performances of the year in a lead role.

My Rating: 3.5/5 

ps: This Movie Review was adjudged a winner at Masand's Verdict by CNN IBN (link) 

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The Fighter - Movie Review

The Fighter, nominated for 7 Oscars, follows the early days of Mickey Ward's career in boxing. Clearly, the strength of this movie is in the ensemble of characters that lend great depth and realism to the plot. As a result of which, The Fighter rises beyond just being about Mickey's career.

Mark Wahlberg is cast as Mickey Ward, the upcoming boxer. He trains with his elder brother for the fights that are managed by his mother. All along the movie he fights the tag of being branded as a 'stepping stone' for others. He is also troubled with the thought that his fights are not managed well and that his mother likes Dicky more than him.

Amy Adams plays the role of Charlene, Micky's girlfriend who takes on his family to assert what is best for him. She insists that Mickey separates from the family that is not looking out enough for him. Her confrontations with Alice makes up for some of the best scenes of the movie.

Melissa Leo plays the role of Alice Ward, Mickey's mother. She is the breadwinner for a family of 8 siblings and manages the fights for Mickey. She has portrayed well the role of a stressed out mother trying hard to keep the family together.

However, the best performance of the movie comes from Christian Bale. He surprises you right from the very first scene as the Dicky Eklund, a one time 'Pride of Lowell' fallen from his days of prime to being a drug addict. Christian Bale has lost a lot of weight for this role reportedly by eating very little. His character in the movie is just the opposite of what we have seen him lately. After carrying himself well in larger than life characters such as Batman, Bruce Wayne and John Connor, Bale shines exceptionally well as Dicky. Watch out for the scene in which Bale confronts Amy Adams and convince her that they are on the same side and he is trying hard to help.

This movie is slightly different from others in the genre.While, other movies are more about the protagonist coming in terms with the world and himself, this one is about several sub plots falling in place with boxing as the backdrop. The depth in the characters does the magic for this one. The director, David Russel has done extremely well in binding together interesting characters in a story; something that the audience will surely appreciate.


Verdict: Must Watch
Rating: 4/5

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True Grit - Movie Review

True Grit, written and directed by Coen Brothers is adapted from a 1968 novel by the same name, authored by Charles Portis. This Oscar Nominated movie follows the life of a 14 year old girl who sets out to avenge her father's murder.

Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) talks the U.S Marshal Rueben Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) into pursuing Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) for a reward of $ 50 (Note that the plot is set in early 20th Century). Along comes the Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) also looking for the same convict for a different reason. 

After a while, the three set out together to catch the convict. The movie has a simple yet interesting plot; one that reveals itself nicely. 

The story unfolds as well laid out drama that will keep you interested all through the 110 mins of the movie. As the story progresses and the going gets tough, each of the protagonists find their own 'true grit' challenged and eventually overcome it. They build a special bond between each other as they come in terms with themselves and each other.

All the three lead actors of the movie have delivered top notch performance on top of the well laid out plot. Now that's a favorite combination for the Academy Award jury. I am not sure if True Grit will go on to win the the Oscar for best movie. But it definitely is in the league. 

If you've enjoyed movies like Unforgiven and The Assassination of Jesse James, this is something that you will definitely appreciate.


My Rating: 3.5/5
My Fav Lines:

• You go for a man hard enough and fast enough, he don't have time to think about how many's with him.
• You must pay for everything in this world, one way and another. There is nothing free except the grace of God.

Read my other movie reviews

Avatar | Shutter Island | Ishqiya | Inception | The Expendables | Peepli Live

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