Change Your Image
arunkrlal
Reviews
Bobby (2006)
pretty good film
This film is not like Gandhi, not close either. Still, it is very good. Because it is not about RFK really. It takes a slice out of history. And it tries to visualize what common people were going through/doing without knowing what an extraordinary day that would become. A choppy story-telling but the I liked the treatment. With such an ensemble cast, and still not a single frame for Charlie Sheen. But Everyone has acted well. One grudge, did Demi Moore refuse to work without his dork hubby? He is a total waste. And yeah,all screen goddess of yesteryear's looks so old. Look for Helen Hunt and Sharone Stone. Worth spending few bucks.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
absolutely fabulous
I went to see this movie on Sunday. I had never seen that many viewers for a limited release, and also when it is already in the third week. Devils Wears Prada sprang similar surprise, which I went to see in its 6th week.
But Little Miss Sunshine is not little at all. The small-time cast have opened their hearts to please us. You will love Abigail Breslin aka Olive. The jerk-less story moves along with first-rate acting from everyone. I thought it would be a sad movie. It was not. A movie delving relationship complexities (mostly frustrations)? No, it is not. It is about laughs. It was a treat. Go, and enjoy it.
Speak (2004)
Really moving, a well made film
What was special about this movie? I didn't know much about the film beforehand. It was rated 7.9 on IMDb.com and I have never found a movie with this high rating disappointing. Sometimes it is best to start a movie without knowing or expecting much, and it might turn out a stirrer. Well, that happened this time again and I am pleased.
Right from the beginning the film sends feelers that it is indeed an independent film. I associate iconoclastic attributes with a film that has been categorized an independent film. And it was.
It is always difficult to portray trauma on screen. Because some may find it exaggerated and some may write it off for being too shallow. This film finds a balance or at least attempts it while dealing with a delicate subject of underage rape. The problem is the girl has not communicated the crime to anyone. Her best friends loathe her now for calling on cops the night. She walked home without telling anyone anything. Now she is starting school and she is just not into it.
While battling with herself she doesn't seek any alliances, but doesn't want to relinquish whatever weak bonding she has. She finds an outlet shown by his art teacher. You see her pouring her emotions black, white, and colors sometimes. She is not completely lost though. She still cares about her friends, and want her life back. But perhaps she does not know how to do it by herself. Depicting her self-help techniques works wonderfully.
The director and her crew have done fantastic job. Kristen Stewart assays her role as a traumatized teen with confidence. Steve Zahn is first rate. I am keeping this movie for my own collection.
The Interpreter (2005)
UN fame, but this is shame!!!
Sean Penn put me in awe after "I am Sam" and "Mystic River." I was gasping clueless thinking what did he see in the script when greed doing it. My guess is he is UN kind of person (I still vividly remember his Oscar speech). But he is mistaken. All talents are completely wasted. The movie fails to connect. The trauma that Silvia (Nicole Kidman) and Keller (Sean Penn) are going through does not ooze past the screen. What in Silvia motivates Keller to do more than his regular job of protecting dignitaries was beyond my comprehension? The chemistry between them is very superficial. Just because this is a Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman starer, and it is a big budget movie, should I rate it above 6? I don't think so. I will pass some good credits to the cameramen: 4 out of 10. That was the only thing that kept me going on. To add little more: I would agree with Mark Kermode's review on BBC. It's boring even if it's the only movie ever been shot inside the UN. He informed that it could be possible that Kofi Anan himself approved the shooting just because every 5 minutes Nicole Kidman gives speech on how great is the UN. Yeah, it looks like a product promotion. Totally boring!! It's a shame.
Serendipity (2001)
adorable
Sarah is a girl who believes obsessively in destiny. So, according to her, if two people are meant to be together they'll be; the fate would decide the time though. Until then, they've to be content with signals that will remind them of their soulmates. Two perfect strangers bump into each other on a Christmas evening while shopping for gloves. Jonathan feels instant spark, but Sarah is not so sure. She would rather wait for an appropriate time. For now, they would spend a wonderful evening together. At the end of that, Jonathan gets to know her first name. Years pass by; they are about to get married to two different persons. But, hardly there have been a day when didn't think of each other. What they do now? It's a passionately romantic movie. Not too much drama like Titanic. It has the flavor 'Sweet November'. The comedy is kept to minimum. John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale have played their parts convincingly. Beckinsale is adorable, and Cusack has some bohemian charm. His disheveled look sometime contradicts his Romeo-like role. But it contributes positively to his constant confusedness. The ending is so predictable. Only that it may not happen when you think. Peter Chelsom deserves applaud for making a beautiful film, even though when you know what would happen next.