Even though, I am nearing a saturation point, need something to truly be creative for me to root for it, the craze is not going down. And my `talab` is taking me to films that I wanted to see for a long time but never got around to them. In this process, it has been a remarkable year so far. I have not seen most of the oscar winners, yet I am still very content. I give kudos to my selecting abilities.
Also, among other things, even in theatre halls, I am now more keen to view drama/story oriented films instead of Avengers.
The Piano by Jane Campion
4.5/5
BBC did a poll of 100 best films by women directors, they invited 300+ critics to make a list and The Piano topped it. I was not aware that it was made by a woman director. I wanted to see The Piano because of Michael Nyman. Its been a long time coming.
The Piano is a story of a single mother who is a mute by choice, piano player, sold to a New Zealander for marriage. She and her daughter land in NZ with their piano which can not be transported back to their home as it is too bulky. Later, her husband strikes a deal with one of the Maori worker George Baines, played by Harvey Kietel, to have the piano and his wife goes to Baines to take lessons. What follows is a love triangle but in the most un-cliched ways. Everyone has their motivations and none are white. The daughter's acting varies from high maturity to innocence. Both Holly Hunter (mother) and Anna Paquin (daughter) won Oscars and so did the best picture.
It is not easy to understand the behavior of each on. Jane makes no effort to describe it anyway. You have to step in the shoes of each character, bear in mind what you have seen so far and then you could see how their reaction is indeed plausible. It is definitely a very layered movie.
Nyman's music is the soul, the 'aatman' and it is pure. There is no Piano without Nyman. period.
Two popes by Fernando Merilles
4.5/5
This came via a recommendation by Parul. I had always enjoyed movies/plays in which two actors just talk and that is the story. Two Popes is inspired by true events, it is dramatization of a period of transition between Pope Benedict (by Anthony Hopkins) to Pope Frances/Cardinal Bergoglio (played by Jonathan Pryce).
The dialogues are paced very well. For those who know the real facts, this transition phase takes a long time to come and rewards the patience. The background of Cardinal Bergoglio is a revelation and it has been handled very well. No movie has been bad after choosing Abba or the Queen in its title sequence.
But above all, it is Jonathan Pryce that I loved the most. He is caring, energetic and human. I think his would be my best Pope so far.
Mard ko Dard nahin hota by Vasan Bala
4/5
This alternative cinema from India is pure gold. Surya has a rare disease - congenital insensitivity to pain. This and a whole lot of Hong Kong crime movies, Shaolin soccer high, you get a goofy, absurdist movie that is a pure gem. Where the villains are most psychotic and action scenes out of the world. Full marks for giving meaty role to women, perhaps little too much in a couple of occasions, this one is for all those Jaane bhi do yaaron fans who love action movies aka me.
Pain and Glory by Pedro Almopdovar
4/5
There are few directors who create cinema with so much life thrown into it that each film is a celebration. Alfanso Curan, Walter Salles and Pedro Almdovar are few of them.
It is in fact Pain and Glory that has started my movie reflection period of this year. I am missing Pedro Almodovar's earlier films. Pain and Glory has brilliant performances by Penelope Cruz (I am craving for her other movies too) and a too good Antonio Banderas. The story is of a famous director now old and suffering with lots of pain medicines and trying to make sense of his life now. Told with lots of flashbacks, some say it is auto-biographical. It is pure cinema
Gully Boy by Zoya Akhtar
3/5
The best thing going for Gully Boy is the character of Alia Bhatt. She has no two qualms on being possessive, lying, or blackmailing others. In a scene, when our hero asks her to swear on his life that she won't be physically aggressive in future, she responds - "tu mar jayega". Rap songs are decent, Dharavi setting is good. Amruta Subhash is a scene stealer - no one can share screen space with her, she takes up everything, not even Vijay Raaz. From schwaas, to Killa, to Sacred Games and now this - her anthology is a solid one. She deservedly is the best of the lot. The weakest link is Ranveer himself. Even though he has mellowed down so much for this role, still he does not look like a guy from Dharavi. Kalki needs to stop doing this sidey love interest roles, I think she has done way too many of them.
But kudos to Zoya for making a main stream movie about rap music. My other best point about the movie was the bridge - the meeting point of Ranveer and Alia which is on top of a sewer. Zoya, except for a panoramic shot does not dwell on it but once you have seen it, you can not un-see it.
Marriage Story by Noah Baumbach
5/5
Adam Driver, Scarlett Johannson, Laura Dern, Alan Alda - it is a dream cast. Adam Driver can portray any role - From Blackkansman, The Report, Star Wars and now this, Adam fits in so well in each one that he can do anything.
Noah tells a marriage story through a story about divorce. The film opens with both husband and wife narrating good things about each other as they are trying out counseling. The writing is warm, soft and so fresh. There is a scene where Adam gives feedback to Scarlett on her recent performance, says - "thanks for indulging me" and she goes to her room and then cries. She is trying to be strong in front of him and the kid but internally, it is all in turmoil. Scarlett moves to LA and then files for divorce in LA claiming that they are an LA family while Adam is still living in his reality that she would move back to NY.
It is a story on non-communication between couples, it is a story of honest communication with each other, it is a story of pain, misunderstandings, no-one being right, and people being people with their failings. My other favorite scene comes in the end when Laura Dern claims that as part of divorce deal, Scarlett will get 55% of time over her kid and Adam will get 45%. She being very happy in getting an upper hand while Scarlett is shocked that it was always meant to be 50-50. In a flash, Scarlett's expression says that she is not aware what else has Laura said to Adam on her behalf.
Laura Dern is sassy and too good. Alan Alda, is the goody-good person from our West Wing and he is perfect for this role.
The Irishman by Martin Scorsese
3/5
I have a confession about Martin Scorsese. I have seen his Goodfellas, Silence, Wolf of Wall Street, Departed and Shutter island. Will not count Hugo in this list, as it is an exception. Each of his films are stories where too many things happen and Martin does a great job in covering the breadth. But I find it difficult to identify with his films, nor do I find his brand of humor very funny.
From a screenwriting and direction point of view, the fact that he can pack so much in a film is his ingenuity but I do not relish. His use of music is also very creative and there I think I find a good overlap with his taste.
The only exception is Goodfellas which I thought to be very creative as I was watching a genre for the first time. Silence has a whole different feel to it and I may revisit it again. I found Wolf of Wall street to be okay-ish. The same feeling goes to The Irishman.
Well, outside of The Irishman, the reason to watch this film was Joe Pesci. The use of de-aging technology is very shoddy, I found that the gait of Robert De Niro gives it away in any scene. The story, well it is there and it is okay. It is a very well made film and hence watchable.
Bombshell by Jay Roach
3/5
The unraveling of the Fox CEO - Roger Ailes, his sexual harassment of Fox's prominent anchors and god know how many other women, is the story of Bombshell. It is a story of courage, of our present #metoo age. Plus, it has wonderful actors - Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie. However, would have liked if the movie went deeper, also explored harassment by other people at Fox as well.
Also, among other things, even in theatre halls, I am now more keen to view drama/story oriented films instead of Avengers.
The Piano by Jane Campion
4.5/5
BBC did a poll of 100 best films by women directors, they invited 300+ critics to make a list and The Piano topped it. I was not aware that it was made by a woman director. I wanted to see The Piano because of Michael Nyman. Its been a long time coming.
The Piano is a story of a single mother who is a mute by choice, piano player, sold to a New Zealander for marriage. She and her daughter land in NZ with their piano which can not be transported back to their home as it is too bulky. Later, her husband strikes a deal with one of the Maori worker George Baines, played by Harvey Kietel, to have the piano and his wife goes to Baines to take lessons. What follows is a love triangle but in the most un-cliched ways. Everyone has their motivations and none are white. The daughter's acting varies from high maturity to innocence. Both Holly Hunter (mother) and Anna Paquin (daughter) won Oscars and so did the best picture.
It is not easy to understand the behavior of each on. Jane makes no effort to describe it anyway. You have to step in the shoes of each character, bear in mind what you have seen so far and then you could see how their reaction is indeed plausible. It is definitely a very layered movie.
Nyman's music is the soul, the 'aatman' and it is pure. There is no Piano without Nyman. period.
Two popes by Fernando Merilles
4.5/5
This came via a recommendation by Parul. I had always enjoyed movies/plays in which two actors just talk and that is the story. Two Popes is inspired by true events, it is dramatization of a period of transition between Pope Benedict (by Anthony Hopkins) to Pope Frances/Cardinal Bergoglio (played by Jonathan Pryce).
The dialogues are paced very well. For those who know the real facts, this transition phase takes a long time to come and rewards the patience. The background of Cardinal Bergoglio is a revelation and it has been handled very well. No movie has been bad after choosing Abba or the Queen in its title sequence.
But above all, it is Jonathan Pryce that I loved the most. He is caring, energetic and human. I think his would be my best Pope so far.
Mard ko Dard nahin hota by Vasan Bala
4/5
This alternative cinema from India is pure gold. Surya has a rare disease - congenital insensitivity to pain. This and a whole lot of Hong Kong crime movies, Shaolin soccer high, you get a goofy, absurdist movie that is a pure gem. Where the villains are most psychotic and action scenes out of the world. Full marks for giving meaty role to women, perhaps little too much in a couple of occasions, this one is for all those Jaane bhi do yaaron fans who love action movies aka me.
Pain and Glory by Pedro Almopdovar
4/5
There are few directors who create cinema with so much life thrown into it that each film is a celebration. Alfanso Curan, Walter Salles and Pedro Almdovar are few of them.
It is in fact Pain and Glory that has started my movie reflection period of this year. I am missing Pedro Almodovar's earlier films. Pain and Glory has brilliant performances by Penelope Cruz (I am craving for her other movies too) and a too good Antonio Banderas. The story is of a famous director now old and suffering with lots of pain medicines and trying to make sense of his life now. Told with lots of flashbacks, some say it is auto-biographical. It is pure cinema
Gully Boy by Zoya Akhtar
3/5
The best thing going for Gully Boy is the character of Alia Bhatt. She has no two qualms on being possessive, lying, or blackmailing others. In a scene, when our hero asks her to swear on his life that she won't be physically aggressive in future, she responds - "tu mar jayega". Rap songs are decent, Dharavi setting is good. Amruta Subhash is a scene stealer - no one can share screen space with her, she takes up everything, not even Vijay Raaz. From schwaas, to Killa, to Sacred Games and now this - her anthology is a solid one. She deservedly is the best of the lot. The weakest link is Ranveer himself. Even though he has mellowed down so much for this role, still he does not look like a guy from Dharavi. Kalki needs to stop doing this sidey love interest roles, I think she has done way too many of them.
But kudos to Zoya for making a main stream movie about rap music. My other best point about the movie was the bridge - the meeting point of Ranveer and Alia which is on top of a sewer. Zoya, except for a panoramic shot does not dwell on it but once you have seen it, you can not un-see it.
Marriage Story by Noah Baumbach
5/5
Adam Driver, Scarlett Johannson, Laura Dern, Alan Alda - it is a dream cast. Adam Driver can portray any role - From Blackkansman, The Report, Star Wars and now this, Adam fits in so well in each one that he can do anything.
Noah tells a marriage story through a story about divorce. The film opens with both husband and wife narrating good things about each other as they are trying out counseling. The writing is warm, soft and so fresh. There is a scene where Adam gives feedback to Scarlett on her recent performance, says - "thanks for indulging me" and she goes to her room and then cries. She is trying to be strong in front of him and the kid but internally, it is all in turmoil. Scarlett moves to LA and then files for divorce in LA claiming that they are an LA family while Adam is still living in his reality that she would move back to NY.
It is a story on non-communication between couples, it is a story of honest communication with each other, it is a story of pain, misunderstandings, no-one being right, and people being people with their failings. My other favorite scene comes in the end when Laura Dern claims that as part of divorce deal, Scarlett will get 55% of time over her kid and Adam will get 45%. She being very happy in getting an upper hand while Scarlett is shocked that it was always meant to be 50-50. In a flash, Scarlett's expression says that she is not aware what else has Laura said to Adam on her behalf.
Laura Dern is sassy and too good. Alan Alda, is the goody-good person from our West Wing and he is perfect for this role.
The Irishman by Martin Scorsese
3/5
I have a confession about Martin Scorsese. I have seen his Goodfellas, Silence, Wolf of Wall Street, Departed and Shutter island. Will not count Hugo in this list, as it is an exception. Each of his films are stories where too many things happen and Martin does a great job in covering the breadth. But I find it difficult to identify with his films, nor do I find his brand of humor very funny.
From a screenwriting and direction point of view, the fact that he can pack so much in a film is his ingenuity but I do not relish. His use of music is also very creative and there I think I find a good overlap with his taste.
The only exception is Goodfellas which I thought to be very creative as I was watching a genre for the first time. Silence has a whole different feel to it and I may revisit it again. I found Wolf of Wall street to be okay-ish. The same feeling goes to The Irishman.
Well, outside of The Irishman, the reason to watch this film was Joe Pesci. The use of de-aging technology is very shoddy, I found that the gait of Robert De Niro gives it away in any scene. The story, well it is there and it is okay. It is a very well made film and hence watchable.
Bombshell by Jay Roach
3/5
The unraveling of the Fox CEO - Roger Ailes, his sexual harassment of Fox's prominent anchors and god know how many other women, is the story of Bombshell. It is a story of courage, of our present #metoo age. Plus, it has wonderful actors - Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie. However, would have liked if the movie went deeper, also explored harassment by other people at Fox as well.
