Movies – Non English
The Secret in Their Eyes (Argentina, 2009)[ IMDB: 8.2/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 91% ]
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhEuUDO0YUQ
One of the best films to have come out in the last decade. A young women gets murdered and that leaves her husband shattered. Midway through the film the murderer is identified but then the movie is not just about finding the culprit. At its core is the idea of justice and passionate love. The story is narrated by the investigator of the case. I don’t understand much of Spanish but if the English subtitles are anything to go by, the dialogues are top notch. Watch out for the football stadium scene and the way the camera moves through the sequence. The eyes. They speak.
The Barbarian Invasions (France, 2003) [IMDB: 7.6/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 81% ]
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH6v62yp29Q
The final days of a man spent with his friends and family. Heart warming, with some strong performances. The striking thing about the movie is the strength in the screenplay. It says an ordinary story with such ease that you are enthralled by the pace and the treatment. Neatly fits into the tradition of French movies which does not rely on visual splendor to say an effective story in an affecting way.
Cinema Paradiso (Italy, 1988) [IMDB: 8.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 96% ]
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maV1ZYdAExw
An ode to cinema. In my opinion, the best movie climax ever. A filmmaker’s journey growing up in a small town in post war Italy, his introduction to cinema through the local theater’s projectionist and more. A treat for film lovers and may be the best movie on movies. Swept all the awards when it was released. With 2013 being the silver jubilee year of the film, discover there is hardly a better way of falling in love with movies. Special mention: The score by Ennio Morricone.
Hollywood Retrospective
The Mission (1986) [IMDB: 7.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 76%]
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvWaD-NErlY
Jesuits help a South American Indian tribe to stand up to the Portuguese. The film set new standards for cinematography and even higher standards for sound. The absolutely riveting background score does aid the cause. To add to all this are sublime performances by Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons.
The Shining (1980) [IMDB: 8.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 90% ]
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cb3ik6zP2I
Stanle Kubrick’ss classic horror film with a menacing Jack Nicholson. You can practically feel the chill of the winter. The final scene where the kid is chased is truly memorable.
Movies I saw this week
Killer Joe (2011)
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxpvzmvFHTM
From IMDB: ‘When a debt puts a young man’s life in danger, he turns to putting a hit out on his evil mother in order to collect the insurance.’
Good performances are hampered by a weak story line. Fit for niche audiences.
Deadfall (2012)
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IWaBAwTf2U
From IMDB: ‘A thriller that follows two siblings who decide to fend for themselves in the wake of a botched casino heist, and their unlikely reunion during another family’s Thanksgiving celebration.’
The thing with thrillers is that once you lose steam midway, it is a hard act to get it back. Eric Bana must have found this role easy. His acting is constrained to keeping a dead face.
Documentary pick of the week
Enron: The smartest guys in the room (2005) [IMDB: 7.7/10]
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dNZaKLjYbc
The rise and fall of Enron, at one point in time one of the world’s most admired companies. Could have been funny if it had not been tragic.
Eagerly waiting for: ‘The Great Gatsby’ because of Leo, Carey and Baz.
Did you know: The movie ‘Fargo’ (1996) says in its beginning that ‘it is based on a true story’. Well the fact is that, it is not. The directors once came up with an explanation that people would not believe the story without this ‘artistic liberty’
