Amadeus

This is an epic. You instantly know that this was made with an intent of being the magnum opus. Milos Forman's effort brought him 8 Oscars (of 11 nominations). It won him plenty of other awards as well.

It is easy to see why. From a cinematic perspective, this film has got most things right. A great subject, awesome narrative, impressive acting, extraordinary sets and costumes and a background score by, well the best in the business - Mozart. In some ways, this movie reminded me of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane and K. Asif's Mughal-E-Azam. There is an overwhelming grandiosity about the film. You instantly know that this is not one of those frugal Clint Eastwood movies or earthy, street-smart Scorcese types. It's more Spielbergish, I'd say.



The narrative becomes especially poignant because its told by Antonio Salieri - Mozart rival so to speak. Salieri, no mug with the keyboard himself, tells the story of his bitter-sweet relationship with the wizard. In doing so, Forman brings in a deep philosophical undertone to the movie. The story operates at two levels - one, the obvious chicanery that Salieri uses to sabotage Mozart's career and life and two, the underlying theme of a mediocrity vs genius (reminds me of The Fountainhead).

And these two themes have been interwoven brilliantly. The main characters have been developed thoroughly with great attention to detail. There are plenty of relationships in the film. Mozart with his atypical music; his deep devotion toward his dad. Constanze (Mozart's wife) with him and their life together. Salieri and the boy-wizard. Salieri and his faith. The establishment with Mozart. etc..... Forman has done an excellent job of holding all this together until the end.

The set and costumes look authentic and classy. The Opera's and the lavish use of Mozart's music are charming and delightful. The acting is fantastic. Amadeus got two best actor nominations and Murray Abraham won deservedly. Tom Hulce is also good, but Abraham steals the show throughout. He is controlled yet passionate. Scheming yet humane. Imperfect, yet not evil. Amazing!

The only drawback I thought was the length. I saw the director's cut and at 2 hrs and 52 minutes, it's a touch too long. The final runtime was 160 minutes, I read, but even at that, it's a touch too much. This didn't win the Oscar for editing. Something in there I guess.

A good watch, if you really like the movies. Otherwise, get a bag of popcorn and watch the last season of Friends.

Pink Panther

I haven't seen the original by Blake Edwards starring Peter Sellers as French Inspector Jacques Clouseau, but the 2006 version (call it a remix?) is good only in patches. PP is from the 'wacky comdey' stable. If Austin Powers were a 3 and Naked Gun were a 2, then PP is 1. Get the drift?

PPs positives are a good plot, great actors and some hot GQ (galmour quotient). Any story which has a murder interwined with a missing diamond is sure gonna kick in some audience interest. Add to that Steve Martin and Jean Reno. Then some Beyonce Knowles. Mix it up with a little funny French and you have something to work with.

Unfortunately Shawn Levy, the director, left it at just that. Unlike Naked Gun or Austin Powers, PP lacks great dialogues. Those witty, quirky one-liners; those double-entendres (Allota Fagina, Felicity Shagwell). . Not there :(

Screenplay doesn't evoke any laughter either (remember Mini-me?). Levy seems to have lost track of other characters in the movie. The short screen times for the other actors could have been forgiven if atleast their characters were properly developed and weaved into the plot. That doesn't happen here (the whole scene with 006 is a total wreck).

Amidst all this, Steve Martin shines. He antics are hilarious, accent funny and expressions awesome (one scene where he asks Reno "You Knew?" tells us what a phenomenol actor Steve is). PP survives because of Steve.

All in all, an average flick.

PS: I don't think there's been a comedy that ranks right up in IMDB. Except Dr. Strangelove. Weird, I thought. Isn't a comedy a serious movie? Pun intended.

Edward Norton

is God.

Man I've seen this guy from Primal Fear through Larry Flint through Italian Job through Fight Club.

Today I watched him in American History X. There's some serious talent in this guy. There is this one scene in AHX where he surrenders to the cops while looking back at his kid brother, and boy Norton nails the whole scene with just the look in his eyes. Acting-wise, this guy ranks right up there with Nicholson and Hanks. Plus, for this role in AHX, he prepped up as well.

I'm just surprised that he didn't win an Oscar. Lemme check out who did......

.....ah! Lost out to Roberto Benigni for Life is Beautiful in 1999. Hmm, tough one that....

But I digress. This movie is as much about WAR as much it is about Edward Norton. The story involves Derek Vinyard(Norton)'s travails with a neo-nazi gang in LA. There isn't much to the story; its pretty plain vanilla. However, the screenplay, the acting and the background score infuse life into this piece of cinema.

Maybe I got too carried away with Norton's portrayal because I watched this movie right after seeing a Nat Geo feature on MS-13 followed by Obama's 'A More Perfect Union' (Tube here). But for the most part, Tony Kaye has shown it as it is. The only let down was the rather rapid or more like the sudden turn of events that lead Vinyard into a reformist life (pardon the spoiler). At 119 mins, I guess Kaye still had about 10-15 mins of screen time to devote Vinyard's transformation. I read somewhere that is was a true story, but heck it still took THREE years to unfold. 10 minutes of screentime does not capture the intricacies that the audience is expected to understand. It just comes off as a load of moral yada.

Other than that, this is a good movie. Avery Brooks (as Dr. Sweeney) is solid, but could have got more time. Edward Furlong as Derek's younger brother has done a good job (no matter what he does, he can't escape being John Connor). Technically the film is average, but the acting is first class.

Good watch.

Rockatouille!!

Yes! Ratatouille rocks!! Even for a rat movie! A three on five.


Pixar has done an amazing job here. In all departments, not just the animation (which of course, brought home an Oscar). The story is good; so too is the screenplay.

Popcorn. Large Cinema Hall. Lazy Sunday Afternoon. Good movie.

Bruce not that Almighty

Naah. Not talking about that one right now.

Just watched Die Hard 4.0....aka Live Free or Die Hard

Average man. Just average(like my life right now).

You know that Die Hard is Bruce's show all the way. I mean you watch it just to see what kind of a pain in the ass Bruce becomes to NYCs tormentor.

4.0 is pretty standard issue of the Die Hard series. The stage is set within minutes of the opening. Everything is DH style. Bruce enters early. The villan enters early. The plan is quite straightforward. Its NYC. There is Bruce's family too. Then you watch as Bruce chases down the villan until they meet in the final minutes. Typical DH. Throw in a couple of car chases, an F-35 and some cool stunts.

Only that this time the villan doesn't give out a bad-guy vibe. He's too sophisticated. And geeky. No Hans or Simon here. Plus, this guy is an American. Ex-FBI. Hangs out with computer geeks. No muscle. No good.

No Sam Jackson, NO partner. No fun. Its Bruce all the way. With a kid. Even the heist is about some financial data being stolen. Nothing like trucks loaded with gold. Too sophisticated for a DH heist. No good one-liners too.

The good parts are of course the action elements. Some cool fights; neat car chases(more like car crashes).

All in all an average flick. Just like Rambo 4, which I watched a couple of weeks back. Rambo 4 was all about two things: gore and Stallone's one dialogue, delivered in that coarse and husky voice of an aged fighter......'Live for Nothing or Die for Something'...... man, now that is a line!

Segal, Stallone and Willis are my action favs and I'll watch their movies anyday, just for the heck of it.

Just for the heck of it.

From now, its only Movies

Just Now: Letters from Iwo Jima
Brilliant!

Full marks for direction and cinematography. Watanbe impresses with his act as a tenacious general, but Kazunari Ninomiya shines as Saigo, the survivor. In the end, its all about who is alive and goes back to the family and the final shot of Saigo watching the sun go down into the pacific in essence captures the point of it all - or the lack of the point of it all.

Eastwood is not preachy here, but manages to capture some endearing moments in what is otherwise a savage time. He develops multiple characters with subtlety and juxtaposes them to etch a common story.

This is a must watch.

Last Night: 10,000 BC

Total wreck. Ice Age, Deserts, Tropical forests, Big Ostriches(or some huge creatures), fcuking huge tiger, not to mention hairy mammoths, one Hero dude(who is not sure why he is the Hero dude throughout the movie), pyramids, Nile.......WTF!!!

On the other hand, big time paisa vasool!

Day Before: In the Valley of Elah

Good!
I've always like Tommy Lee Jones. He's always been the underdog performer. Has this gritty, no-nonsense thing about him. No surprise that he got nominated for best actor (Academy-In the Valley of Elah) and best supporting actor (BAFTA-No Country for Old Men).

In 'Elah TLJ delivers another powerful performance. Even in the last shot, where he looks up to the American Flag and sighs with his eyes closed. Made me wince.

Aside from the political message Paul Haggis tries to get across, the film itself is structured well. The story is tight and the casting perfect(alteast the main protagonists). Charlize Theron --- man, this chick is something! She's worth all the money and praise she's getting. Susan Sarandon - she gets you with that one scene where she stares back at a MP officer and says 'You don't have a child, do you.....do you?'

Mark Isham has done a good job with the background score. Editing and screenplay could have been slicker, but its solid package nevertheless.

A good watch - this one...Bad that TLJ missed out on the Oscar (but its to Danny Day Lewis, so maybe we can call it square, if there is something like that)