Akele Hum Akele Tum

A strange amalgamation of Kramer vs. Kramer and A Star Is Born? Perhaps. Aamir Khan and Manisha Koirala fall in love, envisioning a life of following their dreams straight into success as recording artists. However, Manisha's goals get pushed to the side after the birth of her son. Fed up, and feeling suffocated, she leaves her home to pursue her own singing career.

As she becomes successful and discovered as an actress, she then seeks custody of her son.

I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel about this movie. Aamir's character has the opportunity to get to know his son and build a relationship that he otherwise would not have had if his wife had stayed. At times she is villified, and at other times she is sympathetic. I think it was a brave attempt at tackling a deeper social theme about the roles of women, but it somehow just falls short. She gains the custody of her son through very unfair testimony and her lawyer twisting the facts around. Yet, at the end, when she comes to collect little Sonu, she tearfully tells Aamir that "this is his home" and no amount of her trying can change that. At which, Aamir tearfully responds "This is your home too." I will admit, I knew that line was coming and yet when I heard it, it was satisfying. I was crying. It was sweet. She turns and comes back to the center of the room and the family group hug that awaits. Honestly, as saccharine as that was, I didn't mind.

That's one of the things that I love about Bollywood movies... they typically end well. Not always... but typically.

But it feels like a movie that makes an attempt at a more serious subject shouldn't end like that. How does a popular actress live in a little flat in a middle-class area? How will her problems with her husband about who brings home the bacon resolve? Not with a group hug....

Reality isn't necessary to film, but in one that attempts a "grittier" subject it would have made a "better" movie.

Bunty Aur Babli

My life has not afforded me many opportunities for movies lately. I am moving and getting geared up for that.... I am a bit disappointed in my blog, not being able to take the time to do with it what I really wanted. Especially in the next two months, I don't know how often I will really get the chance to even glance at this page-- Or heck, watch a movie.

But last night, I did watch a Hindi movie (sometimes called Bollywood). Bunty Aur Babli was silly and wonderful. I thought that Rani Mukherjee was very funny in it....(and SO BEAUTIFUL) but what really got me was the first few minutes. The rest took crazy plot turns, was pretty cheesy, and relatively predictable, but I did go into this movie with that expectation. This is a typical "masala" movie, not high art. The opening monologue by the wonderful distinctive voice of Amitabh-ji was great. He described the "two Indias" that exist. It was really lovely as the camera showed the beauty of the country and then the little towns, the completely unglamorous side of life. From there, there is not a moment of reality in the movie, which fit. The movie was about escape from mundane reality, after all. :) The first song "Dhadhak, Dhadhak" had me dancing in my seat. Loved it. Loved the way it was picturised, loved the lyrics.... absolutely great song. In fact, I really liked all of the music in this movie. I might buy the soundtrack at some point... The plot follows the two as they have a chance meeting, and team up to follow their ambitions far away from their native villages all the way to Mumbai, conning all the way. It's been compared to Bonny and Clyde (with far less tragic outcomes) and has some really funny moments. However, I wouldn't recommend this particular movie if you have never seen a Bollywood movie before.

Dear Frankie

I remember seeing a preview for this ages ago. I added it to my netflix and watched it the other day.

Synopsis: Lizzie has been writing letters to her son, pretending they are from his father. This elaborate lie is in danger of total collapse when the ship that his dad supposedly crews is coming to port. Lizzie sets out to find a man to play the part of Frankie's father.

It sounds a little bubble-gummy, but it's really not. It's rather sad and sweet. I loved it. I haven't actually got a lot to say about it, even though I did watch it twice. The color is great. I always notice color... It's all very muted and subdued. Frankie is deaf and the lack of vibrant color does for us visually what Frankie experiences aurally.

And this is a moment that I absolutely CANNOT spoil for anyone who hasn't seen this movie... Gerard Butler plays the Stranger, the terse and mysterious man that Lizzie employs to be Dad for the Day. During a conversation between the Stranger and Lizzie, he gives a look that will absolutely break your heart. I just stopped short and then started boo-hooing. That moment might have been the best moment of acting I have seen from Butler, and he doesn't have to say a word.

This was really a favorite. I loved it and would like to eventually add this to my DVD collection.

PENELOPE (spoilers)

A modern-day fairy tale about self-love and being true to yourself. As cheesy as that sounds, this movie was great. It's a feel-good movie and an good entertainer. (James McAvoy doesn't hurt the equation either, I have to admit.) Christina Ricci can sometimes get on my nerves, but not a bit in this movie. I thought she was wonderful as the young woman from old money born with a curse-- the snout of a pig.

The look and feel of the movie is great. It's set in the modern day, but in an alternate world. You can't really place it, and the ambiguity adds to its charm. It maintains the feeling of a TRUE fairy tale; it's not just a "fairy tale romance" which is often synonymous for a crap movie. I can imagine telling this story while putting a kid to bed. Penelope's narration helps set this tone at the beginning as she tells the background of how her family became cursed. Because an ancestor loved the servant girl, who later "fell off a cliff" when she was rejected by his rich relations, the town witch, her mother, placed a curse on the family. The first girl born to the family would bear the curse that could only be broken if she were truly loved by "one of her own kind."

Her mother hides her away from the world to "protect" her and when she turns 18, sets up a steady stream of rich blue-bloods to come to the house and break the curse. They even set a high dowry to attract more suitors. However, every time Penelope shows herself, the young men flee (through closed second-story windows, no less!)

Penelope's world is full of whimsical elements; the production design gets a major nod from me. (To get an idea, think Lemony Snicket, but far brighter, not in the least creepy. Or even Tim Burton, were he not emotionally disturbed.) I loved all the color, especially in Penelope's room, which is really her world. It is starkly different from the rest of the house which is very formal and clean. Her room is a colorful, low-lit, cluttered place, filled with childhood toys, fake windows with scenes of pyramids, a rope swing, and.... a two-way mirror looking out into the parlor where Penelope's suitors meet her without being able to see her. This was one of my favorite devices.
Here, she is playing chess with suitor Max, and I LOVED this scene and the way it contrasted her personality with that of her family. You can see her side is lit differently, has bolder color, mostly reds and celery green, while the parlor is brightly lit, sterile, cold, and the color palette is white, grey, and blue. On her side there are also items under bell jars, which I thought was interesting, because in a way, she is under glass herself. (Also note what looks like a rose under the bell jar to her left in the picture... bit of a visual reference to Beauty and the Beast don't you think?)

Max is hired by a little person reporter (who lost an eye in pursuit of Penelope's picture) and Edward, massive git of a suitor, who saw her face and got away before her mother could force him to sign the gag order. As a down and out blue-blood with a gambling problem, they pay him to get in and snap a photo with a secret camera hidden in his jacket. The scenes with Max and Penelope interacting through the glass are really charming. I loved them. I am really impressed with James McAvoy's acting here because he manages to show us a comfortable, easy friendship (and something more?) growing for Penelope without ever directly interacting with her.

now just for some basic plot... There isn't a lot more to say critically. Maybe if I had the opportunity to watch it again, but I'm poor and not spending the money. lol.

When she finally does reveal herself to him, he is startled and accidentally triggers the hidden camera. She runs, he chases.... and she asks him to marry her. He awkwardly asks what would happen if the curse weren't broken... what would happen if marrying him wouldn't fix it. She protests that it will, but with no luck. Max leaves.

After this most painful rejection of all, Penelope runs away from home. Discovering the outside world while hiding her snout behind a scarf, Penelope's journey makes you want to stop and appreciate the little things. As she throws open the gate to her parents' estate, the whole city looms up in front of her and you feel how huge what she has been missing is. This is another really cool shot that I loved. The buildings seem to grow up out of the ground at impossibly high angles, all crowding together. I wish I could find a screen cap of it, I love it.

While Penelope's parents (read: Mother) are frantically searching the city for their daughter, she is doing just fine and enjoying a taste of real life. (and beer on tap... through a straw) Max is working on paying back the money he was given to get her picture, not wanting to have any part of it. This middle section isn't the best. Lots of stuff is going on, Penelope reveals herself to the world and it loves her, Max is working and no longer gambling, slime-ball Edward is eating crow, etc.


(This is where the spoilers kick in big time, so I recommend you read no further if you haven't seen it and want to.)

Then, predictably, Edward as part of his penance proposes to Penelope, although he is still disgusted by her appearance. (jerk) I have to say this as well-- I have heard some people complain about this, that it is predictable, Edward is too through-and-through bad... blah, blah, blah. I don't remember many multi-faceted villains from the fairy tales that were read to me. So, it WORKS, people. Stop being snobby about it. Lemon, the relentless reporter finds a heart somewhere in his little chest.... Max- well, we'll get there... but you can't have everyone reform in a fairy tale. There has to be a bad guy. Edward is that guy!

::steps off soapbox:: a-hem. Now where was I?
Penelope runs away from the wedding, back into her bedroom that was for so long her whole world. Mom, naturally, chases her, while Edward is visibly relieved that he has been let off the hook. Penelope finally lets her mother have it: "I like myself the way I am!" And wham. There went the curse. Now, this I do have a bit of a problem with. She likes herself the way she is, so she changes? I wish it had been: I like myself the way I am... and she looks exactly the same because her nose is no longer a curse to her. But that's just me. And honestly, it wouldn't have been very fairy tale. But then again, even in Beauty and the Beast, as a kid and even today I am sad to see him change from the beast to the prince. Maybe I am just weird. Anyhoo, the whole time someone of her own kind just had to love her. Not necessarily romantically, just genuine love from one of her own. This does get some major guilt going for Mom and Dad... but I feel that more could have been done with it. I wish they had gone just a smidge further. Everyone is surprised that they actually miss her snout. Her mother's mantra "You aren't your nose" takes on a whole new meaning.

Oh! And in the meantime, a shocking discovery is made by Lemon. He got the wrong guy. "Max" is really Johnny, not a blue-blood at all, who left because of the guilt of knowing that he couldn't break the curse. Lemon shares his mistake with the family. In the end, at Halloween, after the mysterious disappearance of Penelope, the pig-nosed girl is the costume of choice. Reese Witherspoon's character has tracked down Johnny and brings Penelope to see him. Wearing a Penelope mask, the real Penelope goes to his room above a dance hall. Reese Witherspoon's character shoves her through the door sharply asking if he has a bathroom she can use... and leaves Penelope standing there. Johnny is in the process of packing, bitter and determined to get away from the fact that he couldn't do anything for the girl that we know he had come to love. Through their little conversation, flickers of confusion go over his face as he thinks he recognizes her. When she admits who she is, he kisses her before she can even get the mask off-- he doesn't know that the curse is lifted. I really liked that. It made up for the fact that she got a normal nose. He loved her with the nose for who she truly was.

(Spoilers over)

What I loved about this movie was how it looked. I loved that it really WAS a modern-day fairy tale. I thought it was a brave idea. (How many actresses would sign up to wear a pig snout for over an hour of film?) It is not an attempt at high art, but it is truly entertaining and a good family movie. Acting-wise.... It's James McAvoy's show. Christina Ricci is good, she's sweet, but her character doesn't have as much to do as McAvoy's, in my opinion. Caroline O'Hara is a great psycho mom, but we've seen it before. I *loved* Peter Dinklage as Lemon the reporter as well.

This movie snob liked it. But only because I totally bought into the fairy tale, bedtime story premise from the get-go.

ONCE

I hadn't heard of this movie until the night "Falling Slowly" won an Oscar for Best Original Song. Hearing the performance was wonderful, and the song was so beautiful that it sort of haunted me until I decided to see if I could find it on DVD. I did, and I now have a new addition to my list of favorites! I am going to have to purchase this one.

The music in this film plays a major role, it's almost a character in itself. The story follows a street musician who meets a young Czech immigrant street hawker. He writes music that he only plays when the streets are mostly deserted, explaining to her that nobody would give him any money for the songs that they don't know. When she asks him why he doesn't just get a job in a shop, he tells her that he does work in a hoover shop with his father. Delighted, she tells him that her vacuum is broken and asks if she can bring it to him the next day. When she does, he tries initially to blow her off. She insists and they go off to lunch, she dragging the blue vacuum by its hose behind her like a dog on a leash. It's a quirky and completely charming moment.

At lunch, Guy finds out that Girl plays the piano and they run by a music shop so she can play for him. He ends up teaching her the song "Falling Slowly" and it's instant magic. I just have to give you the lyrics here and hope that you will go find the song and listen to it.

"I don't know you
but I want you
all the more for that.
Words fall through me
and always fool me
and I can't react.

And games that never amount to
more than their meant will
play themselves out.

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We still have time.
Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice,
you've made it now.

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
and I can't go back.
Moods that take me and erase me
and I'm painted black.

You have suffered enough and
warred with yourself
It's time that you won.

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We still have time.
Raise your hopeful voice, you had a choice,
You've made it now. (2x)

Falling slowly, sing your melody
I'll sing along. "

From here on out, you can see Guy falling for Girl. They have a tentative and never outright attraction to each other. In fact, she tells him to go get back the girl who broke his heart. She reveals that she has a daughter and an absent husband. There are many complications and responsibilities that keep them from ever having a complete relationship.

The movie takes place over a week or so time, so the anonymous pair's hesitance is perfectly real for the beginning of an acquaintance. That's another thing that makes this movie so lovely, it's very real. There isn't any high drama, only the little things that happen in life. Driven by the music, it takes a deeper look into how people express themselves through that medium. These are the most emotional moments, with every other dialog having the normalcy of every day interactions. Don't get me wrong, though, this isn't exactly a musical. There isn't any singing-dancing numbers. Instead the music just happens through the scenes. Girl writes lyrics to a song, they start recording in the studio, etc.

Both characters' lives are currently broken, they have aching hearts, and this comes through in their music. Girl is more hopeful than Guy, but she is a catalyst that motivates him. Both will never be the same. The end I will not give away, but I will say this: It doesn't deliver what you expect, which is rather refreshing. The fact that the main characters don't have names contributes to the anonymity of their lives and contrasts the intimate emotions that are expressed without any apparent intimacy on the screen. It also creates an "everyman" kind of character, chasing a dream without knowing what will happen. You can imagine anyone at that stage and it's really interesting. I didn't even notice that they didn't have names until the credits rolled. Then the lightbulb went off... what an interesting choice! Love it.

It's bare-bones, the main characters are played by musicians rather than actors, and the whole thing is perfect. It feels so natural, the plot progresses realistically, and in the end you walk away feeling like you've just spied on a week of these people's lives, a week that they will remember forever-- and so will you.

A Few Oscar Nominees: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford AND 3:10 to Yuma

I started looking through the list of nominees and decided to check up on which of them had come to DVD to put them on my netflix... I haven't done extremely well with this endeavor. Okay, I suck. BUT here are the two that I will have been able to watch before the big night.

1. THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD
Whew. What a title. Can you imagine walking up to the ticket counter and requesting THAT one? lol. My verdict- I liked it, but didn't LOVE it. It's definitely worth a watch, if only for its cinematography. And SURPRISE, when I looked back at the nominee's list to see what this film had been nominated for, I saw Achievement in Cinematography and Best Actor in a Supporting Role. There were moments that I really loved Casey Affleck's performance. Robert Ford goes from a clueless kid idolizing his hero to a young man trying to prove himself greater by betraying his hero. The movie's pace is slow, but this is largely due to the long takes and long periods without dialog. If the cinematography hadn't been so fantastic, it would have been unbearable. I loved the shots that looked like they were done with a fish eye lens. It added visual interest, and was also mirrored a few other times when a shot is looking through a thick, wavy glass window. It makes the scenes look slightly ethereal and added to the sense of fantasy that is associated with the legend of Jesse James. The legend is larger than life, but this movie depicts the man much different from the romanticized stories we are familiar with. The colors are cold, the scenery vast and empty, the tone bleak. There were some really interesting choices made in this film. My favorite things: Cinematography and the periods of narration. The narration is absolutely beautiful prose. The ending narration is the most moving part of the film. It highlights the end of Ford's life in comparison to the end of James' life... so poignant and heavy with irony.

2. 3:10 TO YUMA
I LOVED THIS MOVIE! It was so entertaining from beginning to end. The music was really distinctive, and I found myself humming it as the credits began to roll. Once again, I looked to see what it had been nominated for as I came here to write.... and.... Original Score and Sound Mixing. =) No wonder!
This is a movie that anyone would like. There are some films that get Oscar nods that most people just don't get. This is not one of them. It kept me on the edge of my seat, introduced characters in a way that keeps you interested and caring about them... and every once in a while throws something unexpected at you. Just enough to keep you stressed about what's going to happen!!
Christian Bale can really do no wrong, if you ask me. (He had two dialogs that brought a little tear to my eye, sniffle) He is great in this movie, as is Russell Crowe. I was surprised to find myself laughing as often as I did in this one. There are some great one-liners and sharp exchanges between characters. This is a great throw-back to the hey-day of Westerns, though with a bit more language and violence than in those days, and I enjoyed every second of it.
I don't have anything too deep to say about it, but it's an all-around entertainer. SEE IT!!

I have to say that the fact that I noticed the things that each these movies were nominated for really boosted my confidence in my understanding of film. Haha. I didn't intend to have an outlaw movie week, but it worked out! It's so interesting that the movies have so much in common as far as subject matter (and even a slight plot similarity- one man bringing an outlaw to justice), and yet are so different. This is what makes movies great. Just think how we as an audience can be manipulated by the choices of the filmmaker. All of those choices do so much to make each of us have a unique experience with the film; we come away from each of these with a completely different emotional response. Think about why. Color is a huge part. One is gray, cold, and dark. The other is full of dusty browns and gold light, heat, and extremely bright light. Both have moments in the script that depend on banter between characters, but again it's completely different. In both films you begin to care for the outlaw. In both films you feel for the man bringing with the mission to bring him to justice. So similar and SO DIFFERENT. It's amazing how one can bring together some of the same elements to create a completely distinct film.

THE NAMESAKE

The story centers around an Indian family in the American Northeast. Ashima comes to Boston as Ashoke's bride and has both of her children in America. Their oldest son has an interesting name, Gogol, one that was never meant to be his "good name" but a nickname. Ashoke has a special affinity for Nikolai Gogol, which is one of the mysteries that Gogol never understands. Gogol's issue with his name reflect his issues with his conflicted identity.

An interesting movie. I absolutely loved Irrfan Khan and Tabu, though Kal Penn didn't sit well with me in some parts. I know he was supposed to be an awkward teenager, but it was just... He looked too old and it was a bit creepy, to tell the truth.

Having already read the novel, I felt that this film remained as true as was possible and did a fine job of capturing the feeling of the novel. Maybe I shouldn't have read the book first, as I am ALWAYS of the opinion that the book is better. However, having read the book might have allowed me to understand the movie better. So much about the characters happens internally. Kal Penn doesn't have as much scope in this respect as Tabu and Irrfan Khan. These two transmit their emotions without words with the apparent ease that is the mark of a great actor. Kal Penn has his moments, but I don't feel that he was on the same level as these two.

Overall, it is worth a watch. It is visually rich and sets up the dichotomy between the American and Indian influences driving the film in a beautiful way. That said, do yourself a favor and read the book. Jhumpa Lahiri is one of the best contemporary novelists I have had the good fortune to read!!

CLOVERFIELD ... contains spoilers

I went to see Cloverfield, despite my initial skepticism. After seeing a preview, I was not sure I could make it through a feature-length film shot in this manner without coming away with little more than motion sickness. I also had a feeling that a movie that depended so heavily on the hype and mystery surrounding the plot was kind of a cop-out. I'll admit it. I was wrong. :)

It wasn't the best movie I've ever seen, but there were some really interesting things going on. The effects were great, it was pretty terrifying, and the camera-wielding Hud was hysterical. The beginning was great, you were entertained and got really interested in the characters so that when you finally hear the first signs that the destruction is about to begin, you think "oh no." I felt like the movie should have ended before it did though. It drew out just a little too long. And I know that a monster movie isn't ever supposed to be realistic, but there were a few escapes from death that were just too unrealistic even for this type of a movie... (e.g. Beth is still alive and able to run around without bleeding to death after having been impaled by a metal rod... or that the 3 remaining main characters survive a horrific helicopter crash only to be further terrorized by the monster.)

What other friends that I went with hated the most about it, however, was what I liked: The fact that there isn't any resolution. The film doesn't even have opening credits, rather it opens with a screen with US Military codename "Cloverfield." It tells us that this is evidence discovered at a region formerly known as Central Park. This was an interesting way to begin and really supports the illusion of realism. Going into the home video feel from typical film credits would not have felt the same. I loved this choice. I thought it was brilliant.

The plot was short of stellar (for some of the reasons I stated above), but as I was watching, there was an interesting 9/11 subtext at the beginning. Off camera you can hear people saying "do you think it's another attack?" and when there is an explosion in the distance, you get more of the same sentiment. I thought this highlighted a vague fear in our country that has come about since 9/11. There are tons of visual references! Scenes in the street at times echoed some of the handcam footage of clouds of dust and rubble rushing down between buildings as people were lost in the cloud that we saw on the news that day. The idea of the first-hand account as it's happening via this video camera is reminiscent of this footage as well. As people fled Manhattan, they attempted to go across the Brooklyn Bridge. The movie showed this mass crossing the bridge, and I, once again, could not help but think of 9/11. My cousin who worked at #7 World Trade fled Manhattan by the same route that day. As the film continues, it becomes evident that there is an actual monster attacking the city. We never know where the monster came from and we never know an ending. We don't know if the monster died and the military eventually prevailed or if it and it's crazy little insect-like offspring are still ravaging the country. That very mystery also adds to the 9/11 subtext-- We do not know the outcomes, we do not know what happened to our enemy. I think this is what made this movie a success: it exploits the pervasive and elusive fear that we live with.

I only wish that someone had asked my opinion in the editing process! haha. There were just moments that became so thin, the movie would have been far better with their omission. For example, I feel that a much more effective ending would have been for the movie to have ended after the helicopter crash with the camera just directed at the ripped seat of the chopper. The idea of the 3 main characters making it out of the helicopter not only ALIVE but able to run from the monster is absolutely ridiculous. And then for the monster to somehow have "snuck up" on Hud.... yeah... the enormous monster surprises and kills Hud as he is picking up the camera. Wow. It could be just me, but I felt it should have ended at the crash. The final scene with Beth and Rob under the bridge was weird for me... But on second thought, I understood why the filmmakers did it. Interspersed throughout the movie are moments of what Hud is filming over, Rob and Beth's romantic tryst that forms the whole basis for why he is so determined to go and find her. The last scene is the end of that tape when they are summing up their day together saying "Great day" and smiling into the camera. Ooh, feel the irony. It was effective. I just wish they had taken a slightly different path to get there.

The scariest moment: Malena. If you've seen it, I need say no more.
Having a pretty intense hatred for spiders, camel crickets, roaches, etc, the little (excuse me, enormous) insect-like things were TERRIFYING. I have not been able to walk down my hallway in the dark since seeing this movie. Too like a subway tunnel. haha. Malena is totally hardcore and beats the crap out of one of them, saving Hud. I was cheering for her, and she was my favorite character in the movie. But in the madness, she is bitten. She begins to feel sick and gets really pale. When they come to a military medical station, she suddenly says "I don't feel good." and when Hud brings the camera onto her, she is bleeding from the nose and eye, a la ebola. A nurse screams "We've got a bite!" and they drag her off screaming into a quarantine, where we only see her silhouette through opaque plastic as she explodes. This sequence of events is the most terrifying in the movie.

So all in all, this was a great movie! I don't even typically go for this genre and I am really glad that I gave it a chance. I have not been as stressed out while watching a movie in a really long time. As soon as Lady Liberty's head comes rocketing down the street, you don't have a moment that you're not waiting for something awful to happen. And let me also just say in closing that not only does this film have a great driving vision, nice effects, good cast.... there are some breathtakingly perfect shots with the coolest camera angles... How they managed it while preserving the believability of the camcorder is beyond me.

a new endeavor

I talk about movies all the time, and I have decided to blog my reflections on the films that I see. Other stuff will inevitably work its way in, I am sure, but for now my goal is focused. (A disclaimer to all that will follow is that I am a huge fan of Hindi films-- they will most likely appear often.)

Who doesn't love movies? But more than just sitting back to watch and enjoy, I want to become more adept at analyzing and really being able to discuss more than plots. It's something I enjoy doing, and I hope that whoever ends up reading will enjoy and comment.