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Casablanca (1942)
The movie that sort of saved my life
The purpose of writing this commentary is to solely state that the Writer in no way intends to compare Casablanca to any other movie in the history of motion picture; for the work is not only the pinnacle of Michael Curtiz career but also stands as a magical masterpiece in Twentieth Century Cinema.
I hope I have the criterion to write a justifiable and unbiased review because this Movie is very special to me and I try not to become emotional when writing about this iconic monumental work.
Considering the fact that there's nothing new to be said about Casablanca, I wonder where to start; probably from Rick's (Humphrey Bogart) philanthropy, Ilsa's (Ingrid Bergman) reciprocation—well reasoned and timely— her grace and heroism, the Battle of Anthems (German National Anthem vs French National Anthem), friendship, love, sacrifice, gallantry, patriotism, or plethora of amazing supporting actors such as Paul Henreid, Dooley Wilson, Claude Rains etc.
Michael Curtiz surpasses in telling his story masterfully, directing every single actor in brilliant and indelible performance of a life time, illustrating principles and inspiring his audience to think. The writers and the Director truly outshine themselves with the phenomenal multidisciplinary story of humankind.
There's so much to grab onto with a remarkable film like this; say the soothing music for example--as time goes by--or the memorable dialogue:
We'll always have Paris. We lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night. When I said I would never leave you. Here's looking at you kid. Are you one of those people who cannot imagine the Germans in their beloved Paris? It's not particularly my beloved Paris. Can you imagine us in London? When you get there, ask me! I wasn't sure you were the same. Let's see, the last time we met... Was La Belle Aurore. How nice, you remembered. But of course, that was the day the Germans marched into Paris. Not an easy day to forget. No. I remember every detail. The Germans wore gray, you wore blue. Play it, Sam. Play "As Time Goes By." Oh, I can't remember it, Miss Ilsa. I'm a little rusty on it. I'll hum it for you. Da dy da dy da dumb, da dy da dee da dumb... The best movies are ones that touch the soul. It takes a movie like Casablanca to touch the soul. The only other movie I have ever seen that influences me as strongly is The Shawshank Redemption. Both movies leave me feeling influenced for having watched them; they have the power to inspire people and therefore I certainly say both pictures are neatly perfect organism.
But just suffice to say that in addition to watching Casablanca habitually, I also tend to watch it on the following occasions: When I see or hear cruelty or crises anywhere in this—according to the movie, crazy—world. When I decide to travel to places not being recommended by my family or friends. On the eve of Eid and New Year's Day. Every-time when I am down or empty, or whatever they call it.
Finally, this timeless classic deserved not only three Academy Awards but definitely the remaining five nominations that it lost unjustifiably.
The Terminal (2004)
The Terminal is more than just a joyfully juvenile comedy romance
It starts at JFK International Airport where upon his arrival, Viktor Novorski (Tom Hanks) learns that a coup has taken place in his home country Krakozhia (a fictional state name believed to be located in the Eastern Europe.) Viktor has very limited knowledge of the English language. He is barely able to answer airport's officials' repetitively bureaucratic questions.
After he is stranded in the lounge, he struggles hard for his right to enter the US. But no body (airport staff/passengers) not only help him understand the news translation on TV, but also DO NOT facilitate the immigration process with his paper work.
Amelia (Katherine Zeta Jones) plays her part as a flight hostess brilliantly. In parts you think she's made for the profession. Viktor and Amelia have a unique chemistry in this movie. The dialogue throughout the movie is very soothing no matter it's among Gupta and his co-workers accusing Viktor for being a spy or between Viktor and Enrique who wishes to win the heart of officer Dolores with the help of no other one but Viktor and or leading casts' history chat- specifically on Napoleon Bonaparte's genius and gallantry.
The story is so well written. Viktor's adventure is to fulfill a promise and soon it turns into a survival story. In a scene, he goes from one store to another to make a living (three times meal.) At one shop, he's asked for contact details that much to everyone's surprise, he gives the nearby public telephone number and waits there for a phone call all day long and when finally the phone rings "what are you going to do now?" asks the owner of the shop rejecting him. "I'm go to the bathroom" Viktor replies.
Clearly, this project is inferior to Spielberg's previous works such as Schindler List or Saving Private Ryan but needless to say, once again, he's paying attention to our deepest emotions as well. Imagine when it's peace again in Viktor's country, how hard he fights to fulfill his father's wish and then return to his home. It unfolds the curtains in front of the viewers' eyes and helps them to vividly see the twenty first century bureaucracy most governments adhere- the borderline mankind draws on their respective territories. It shows - the more - than - necessary formality of governments' departments which reminds us of Leo Tolstoy quote "Government is an association of men who do violence to the rest of us." It's about how Viktor copes with the unsettling conditions created by Frank Dixon (Stanley Tucci) who is the head of the airport and monitors the monitor room occasionally. Frank gradually becomes jealous or better said worried of Viktor because his inner self sees Viktor's popularity and patience larger than it actually is. It's as if he fosters a depravity inside himself the kind that John Claggart did in Herman Melville's famous novel Billy Budd. Claggart too was jealous of Billy's youth, strength and natural charisma.
In concluding this commentary, the terminal is simple in the meantime a serious comedy that goes beyond the boundaries of the locations it's been filmed and repeats to thousands (well, HUNDREDS if thousands sound exaggeration) Viktors daily, weekly and monthly
Viktors who are living in the third world countries and are being officially invited to wedding parties in countries rather their own- to a Western Country. Viktors who wish to fly to fulfill promises. Viktors who dream to embark on spiritual journeys, to make pilgrimage to the tombs of all those autonomous spirits- those literati and illuminati since middle ages instead faces severe tortures of bureaucracy since aviation facility or visa endorsement.
Highly recommended to those with mildly humanitarian sensibility
Spread (2009)
Spread has eclectic and pseudo style
The protagonist: With all his ambiguities and uncertainties, Nikki (Ashton Kutcher) is catapulted in LA to try his luck and envisage a better future there. He already knows the art of seduction to what is believed to be perfection- being tall, elegant and vulpine. He seduces women different from his own milieu. Callous Nikki's actions throughout the movie add a really chilling level of apathy to the character whereas from a technical standpoint, it all changes and one can see the gallantry on his eyes when he flies to New York to bring back the only love of his life, Heather.
The theme: In a sense, Spread can be labeled as the element of unreciprocated love story for after building relationships with so many women (including best friend of his mother's who used to tell him "you are going to be a little hearth-breaker
" to Emily to Samantha- Nikki meets Heather, who unbeknownst to him, is playing the same game
The female actresses: In most cases, the female actresses have played their parts brilliantly: Samantha (Anne Heche) on a number of fight scenes with Nikki. Heather (Margarita Levieva) telling Nikki the story of his sick brother or at the end of the movie when Nikki enters the apartment until Heather's husband comes to her final words "Honey, do you have a five for the grocery boy?"
The music: Great music, lucid dialogue, glittering lighting "both the sun's and the candle lights'" and various amorous scenes provide jovial hue to the film that for these qualities alone, I've watched it four times in a row in less than two months.
The shortcomings: Though, on a certain level, the movie has got some minor flaws as well i.e. the dialogue fails to convince us of the authenticity of the situation when Nikki's best friend Harry (Sebastian Stan) ends up their friendship for no particular reason except for Nikki to parody him/himself..? Likewise, in a similar argument scene where Nikki is caught by Samantha while being given a blue job by a regular female friend; that (Nikki's and Samantha's brief argument) cannot either provide enough reason to make the audience believe in the genuineness of the scene.
Except for a fraction of a Times Square scene, the whole movie is filmed in LA. It would have been a more successful one if the makers included occasions such as Christmas or Halloween; just to have provided the movie goers some divergence.
Given all that has been written, to everyone's credit especially Ashton's and David's for they have done it with great verve. An exquisite paean I must admit- well done! If you like comedy romance, go watch this. I'm sure you enjoy it. Bear in mind, it has got several sex scene.
Love in the Time of Cholera (2007)
Poetic
Before writing this commentary, I went through most of the reviews- skimmed and scanned those which did not meet my expectations. Here is what I think of this film: To be honest, the movie in most parts covers the entire book bearing in mind that the three and half hundred page book has been written by one of the world greatest fiction maestros. Who would have ever thought that the makers of this movie will bring that Belgian photographer “taking Fermina Daza and her cousin’s pictures” on screen or watching the poetry function scene- the same amount of time- attended by Fermina, Florentina and Juvenal where at one point the amateur from China wins. And so on and so forth… The music is spellbinding as if you are in a beautiful spring night dream. The songs are by Shakira and obviously are timeless. Cinematography is brilliant- as if being in a painting exhibition.
If some movie goers think there are minor facial or make up flaws, which I personally don’t think there are, it’s because the movie is filmed in a steamy and humid portal city of Columbia. It’s Caribbean climate! Make up artists had to apply it again and again every minute. Speaking of setting, it took director years to convince the author to give him the right to make this movie. At first they had Brazil as the set in mind but later they decided to change the location to Columbia.
Giovanna Mezzogiorno playing Fermina Daza for me is the highlight of the movie who performs her role very well. The part when Florentina Ariza meets Fermina Daza after almost quarter of a century professing his fidelity and everlasting love; in return tormented Fermina replies “Florentino Ariza, get out of here! And don’t show your face again for the years of life that are left to you.” I thought that was outstanding.
Language critics must adhere that the readers and makers of the movie are English speakers; it’s as simple as that. Committee decision!
Those who have read the novel will find the movie more enjoyable for it has achieved every element of Marquez’s book from sex and taboos to metaphors and poetry. Those who haven’t, I implore them to read the book first, forget being dyspeptic and watch it with uncluttered mind.
8.5/10
99 (2009)
Magical and Euphoric
Magical and Euphoric
The latest comedy by Krishna D.K and Raj Nidimoru undoubtedly is a hit. The last time I’d watched a bollywood flick was either Fanna or Doom 2; I don’t quite recall. The following is a summary of my observation on 99
The cast: More than anything else I loved the cast because of the authenticity and naturalism they brought into the movie i.e. the protagonist Kunal Khemu having the magical chemistry with Soha. On the other hand, supporting actor Syrus Broacha whom I had the chance to seeing him again after six or seven years when he hosted Love Line and Bakra on MTV. Moreover, bearing in mind that Kunal being this athletic heartthrob, Cyrus on the other hand is playing the role of a pudgy and pantomime who has been lubricated on the body making him seem something about 100 kg.
The Dialogue: Next I thought the dialogue was superb: Boman Irani habitually a betting freak who gets home late at nigh and begs his wife to let him in. there’s a scene when he buys his wife a birthday present that I found both hilarious and vulpine. In parts, the inner psychological annoyance the characters have specially that of Boman’s reminds me of the similarity of disturbance the characters of Forest Whitaker’s The Air I Breathe and Tom Cruise’s Magnolia get to fight with. In my opinion, all of them deliver one single theme in a way or another.
The humor: When you read about this picture on IMDb, the genre obviously is comedy. Although I think it’s tough to put a label on it because there’s crime, romance, thriller etc involved in it. There’s a task assigned for Kunal and Syrus to travel to Delhi. When they get the capital city on the way airport to hotel, all of a sudden Cyrus clamors over the cab driver “You son of a b**ch! You crossed this very circle 5 minutes ago why do you keep shuffling around the town? Why don’t we arrive in the god dame hotel? Do you think you can fleece us? "Sir mind your language. There are many similar circles in Delhi." replies taxi driver
In a word or two, 99 is very thick with ideas. Furthermore, it has a lot more to deliver e.g. topnotch music and direction and the rest of the cast: Mahesh Manjreker and Vinod Khanna who have performed their role astonishingly well. The ending is triumphant, magical and euphoric.
I would rate this one 8.5/10