Spring15 Reviews

Out of Africa (1985)

Perfection!

[10/10 · 22 October 2019]

I had seen this movie long ago on VHS but could not remember it very well so I watched it on DVD recently. How I wish I had seen it in a theatre! The gorgeous cinematography and the sweeping score by John Barry deserve the big screen. However, the story is told so well and it is so well acted that it is very enjoyable even on my TV.

Colonial Africa is shown very well. There are so many brilliant scenes! The characters stay with us long after the movie ends. Meryl Streep shows once again what a great actress she is. Her Danish accent and her portrayal of baroness Karen Blixen seem perfect. Sydney Pollack did a great job as director. Although the main focus is on Karen, everyone around her is an important part of the story. The screenplay and dialogues are excellent.

The story evolves slowly but it never becomes boring. Klaus Maria B. as her philanderer husband is perfect in a supporting role. Some scenes between the two are memorable. Although this is a marriage of convenience (he marries her for her money, and she for the title), they begin to like each other. His infidelity deals a death blow to their marriage, however.

The scenes between Streep and Redford are excellent, but I have one complaint. In real life Denys Finch Hattan was British, not American. I have to assume that the producers wanted Redford for the box office. In that sense he was miscast but he portrayed the character well. I don't know how close it was to the real life Denys, but it makes a convincing love story in the movie. The two have great on screen chemistry.

The biggest success of this movie comes from the incredible cinematography, which made me want to visit this part of the world some day. The score by John Barry is among the best ever. I would rank this movie among the top 10 best ever movies.

Sophie's Choice (1982)

Meryl Streep's amazing performance could not save this movie

[4/10 · 22 October 2019]

I saw this movie recently on DVD only to see Meryl Streep's Oscar winning performance in the Lead Actress category. She fully lived upto the hype, but not the movie. It is a drag, and not because it is 2.5 hours long. The screenplay is terrible. Nothing happens for about half hour, except the threesome having fun.

This topic is worthy of so much more. The only interesting parts were in the Holocaust related scenes, and Streep was absolutely brilliant in them. She plays a completely different personality effortlessly in other scenes. Her Polish accent seems perfect (I have just two Polish friends).

Even though one character is telling the story, the focus should have been on Sophie's past, and not so much on her present. Just when the movie starts getting interesting, we are thrown back to the present situation, which is a total waste of time, in my opinion. The ending made no sense to me at all.

The acting by the top three actors (one of them Meryl Streep) was very good, but the screenplay just about ruined the whole movie for me.

I would still recommend that people see this movie, only to see Meryl Streep's brilliance as an actress. She is definitely the greatest actress of our time.

The Aftermath (2019)

A very good movie worth seeing if you like drama

[9/10 · 12 April 2019]

I like movies about WWII and after seeing the trailer of this movie couple of times I decided to see it. However, I read the poor reviews and low ratings and I kept postponing seeing this movie. When I finally saw it, I liked it very much, despite its predictable plot.

'The Aftermath' is about lives of people after WWII, their losses, and their suffering. The story is gripping, with some twists and turns. The screen play, direction, cinematography, production design are all excellent. The strongest point of this movie is the acting by the three main characters. Jason Clarke has really established himself as a strong character actor. He and Keira Knightly portray very well the troubled couple who lost a child. Alexander Skarsgaard is very good as the German widower. His daughter Freda is played well by a young actress who I am not familiar with. The pace is just right. The story slowly unfolds to display what these characters are going through.

It seems romantic movies don't get good reviews from the critics or the audiences. I can enjoy a good romantic movie that is well done but does not fit the current formula of perpetual action, fights and CGI. 'The aftermath' is a sensitive film about people who are suffering in different ways. Besides the three main characters, the general population of Germany was suffering greatly after the war. Their pain, anger, frustration is shown very effectively. It is easy to feel empathy for all the characters.

If you enjoy a sensitive, serious film, do see 'The Aftermath'.

Capernaum (2018)

A pleasant surprise

[10/10 · 20 January 2019]

I had never heard about this movie, until its Golden Globes nomination for best foreign language film. Even then it was not at the top of my 'must see' movies. The whole time everyone was crowning 'Roma' and occasionally Cold War. I happened to see these three movies within 4 days of one another, and this movie had the strongest impact on me.

First, I had no idea what to expect. I read about a 12 years boy suing his parents. It didn't sound particularly interesting, but I was blown away when I saw this movie today. Beautifully directed, raw with emotions, and with great acting, particularly by Zain, the 12 year old boy. The toddler was amazing too. Nadine Labaki has done a great job directing this movie.

I had never seen a movie from Lebanon, and knew very little about that country, outside of politics. There is poverty in all countries. It is just that movies don't always show it. They actually try to run away from those issues. This movie faces them head on and takes the audience on an unforgettable journey.

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

Very disappointing

[2/10 · 5 January 2019]

First, I need to make it clear that I was no fan of 'Moonlight' but I was very interested in 'If Beale Street...' because of the topic. It was getting many nominations and rave reviews (just like Moonlight). I knew that the movie was about a black man accused of a crime he did not commit and that interested me. Racism is a major social problem, and it has produced some very good movies. So it was not unreasonable to expect a high quality film.

I was very disappointed that what could have been a very good movie that was based on probably a very good book (I have not read the book, but I may in the future) was ruined by a terrible screenplay, and poor editing. It is broken into pieces that don't fit, so there is no flow. It moves slower than snails. First 20-30 minutes were OK, but later it became boring and tiresome to watch due to the slow pace. I was very bored, and rather irritated by the lame attempts to be artistic. Scenes go on forever, as if the editor and the director were both asleep and forgot to cut.

The acting by all actors was good. Regina King is winning nominations and/or awards. I find that surprising. Nothing wrong with her acting, but the role idoes not offer much, except for two emotional scenes near the end, and she does well in them. When compared with her competition for Best Supporting Actress, I don't feel this is a strong enough role when compared with others, that is, not strong enough to win.

Overall, this could have been a very good movie but whatever approach they used for telling the story has not worked for me.

First Man (2018)

A big disappointment

[6/10 · 13 October 2018]

As a big fan of movies about space travel, and real life astronauts, I had eagerly looked forward to this movie. It was a disappointment for 90 minutes out of the total 130 minutes of the movie. The last 40 minutes, when the Moon trip finally begins, and the spectacular shots of the moon surface, were worth seeing. Rest of the movie- not at all. It moves at a snail's pace. The interesting parts are about the astronauts, but they are frequently interrupted by- for example- Janet Armstrong yelling at her son or her husband, etc. Not much chemistry between the two actors. The frequent closeups are rather irritating.

The editing and the screenplay are terrible. They could have shaved off 30 minutes of this movie and made it much more effective. The characters display various emotions but they don't touch the audience. Granted this is Armstrong's story but did they really have to ignore someone like Buzz Aldrin, who is one of the most famous astronauts? The third astronaut Michael Collins, on the Apollo 11 mission was totally ignored. Those two sat there like plastic dolls. As if Armstrong single handedly made it all work!

No flag on the moon, but Armstrong throws his late daughter's bracelet on the moon. Ridiculous! Also the great historical significance of this event was completely ignored. Instead it was all about Neil and his wife. Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy are good, but Oscars? She may get the supporting actress nod though. Ryan Gosling is a good actor but he is not as effective as I have seen him in other roles. This movie deserves some technical nominations though.

The moon scenes are spectacular. It is like I am right there! It made up (partially) for 90 minutes of boredom. That is why I gave it a 6/10. Otherwise it would have been 3 or 4.

This movie could have been so much better! Damien Chazelle is a gifted director. I wonder what happened to him? How could he go along with something like this? If this movie gets the Best Picture nomination, it could be solely due to name recognition (Chazelle, Gosling).

Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)

The Soul is missing in this Star Wars movie. Very disappointing.

[5/10 · 17 December 2017]

What separated the Star Wars movies from the rest of the Sci fi movies and action films was the depth it brought to the story. No other movie franchise touched so many fans the way Star wars did. The characters were well developed, there was the philosophy about the force, the Jedi were certain types of people that many of us admired. We loved all characters, even the villains.

I had enjoyed The force awakens and Rogue one. I had even enjoyed the three prequels. So I went in to see The last Jedi with great expectations. I could not believe how bad this movie was. It was not Star wars at all. The Story was poorly told. It was being jerked around. Really bad use of humor. So many whys and hows that were never explained. So many disconnected and 'makes no sense' type scenes! Awful screenplay. The Snoke character is so badly portrayed!. Kylo Ren keeps getting on the screen and disappearing. Luke Skywalker is to be accepted only because he bears the name, and we know Mark Hamill is playing it. We never find out much about Rey or anyone else. Rey miraculously becomes a great fighter without any visible training, except in one scene. The new character Rose, the maintenance worker, added nothing. The group of goats, foxes, color, fire, just created more distraction. The fight scenes were unbearably long. Chewbacca was (mis)used just to create humor. The persistent theme for me throughout was- confusion.

There was a constant onslaught of special effects, as if they would make up for what was lacking in the story, dialogue and characters. I kept hoping that somehow the story would get on track. It never did. Rian Johnson did a terrible job as Director and writer.

There were a few positives. Daisy Ridley was very good again as Rey. Some of the scenes were spectacular. It was good to see Carrie Fisher one last time in a movie.

I couldn't wait for the movie to be over. It was boring, disappointing, and it made me angry to see what they did to my favorite movie series. I read a couple of reviews by critics and they were praising the movie! I couldn't believe it! I can't believe how bad this movie is. It's not like a Star wars movie at all. Its soul is missing, and what we got is a ton of special effects that obliterate an already flawed story. The only touching moment was at the end of the credits- "In loving memory of our princess Carrie Fisher". It brought tears to my eyes.

Will there be an Episode 9? I have no desire to see it. George Lucas should never have sold the rights to his beloved Star wars franchise. This is the worst Star wars movie, and really the only Bad Star wars movie.

Wonder (I) (2017)

A 'wonder'ful movie

[10 December 2017]

I was happy to see a Family movie, for a change. No violence, dependence on CGI and/or loud music, no blood/gore, no nudity/sex. The only fights are between children, and they never get truly violent. This is a heart warming and inspiring story of a boy and his family, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Now I want to read the book this is based on.

Jacob Tremblay, who I remember from the movie 'Room' gives yet another excellent performance as August Pullman (Auggie), though he looks very different here. The makeup artists have done a good job of making him look 'different' but not scary or repulsive. Other child actors have provided good support. The school scenes are well done. Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson are very good as the loving parents. Izabela Vicovich as his elder sister Via is a great new find. She is beautiful, but seems a little older than what someone who is just 4 years older than Auggie would look like, but that is a minor point, in my opinion.

There is a message of embracing diversity in subtle ways throughout the movie (Via's boyfriend, and Auggie's new friend are both African American), and Auggie is of course very different from those around him. The movie does not become preachy about diversity, which is good.

The story is told by different characters, but mostly by Auggie, from the time he was born, and the effect of his cranial disease on his family is described in his words, and later in scenes. The different relationships between the family members, and friends are well portrayed.

This is a feel good movie, which is perfect at this time of the year. I really enjoyed it.

Jackie (V) (2016)

Disappointing and Overrated

[3/10 · 11 January 2017]

I went to see this movie mainly because I had read rave reviews of Natalie Portman's performance, which according to some, will certainly win her her second Oscar.

I cannot adequately express my disappointment in the movie and in Portman's performance. The first thing that bothered me was the horrible accent she had put on. I don't know if Jackie Kennedy really spoke this way but it felt forced, artificial. She was good at expressing grief, but I was unable to feel any sympathy. This is shocking, considering how devastating the event - JFK assassination- was to the whole country.

In this movie Jackie came across as self centered, which can be forgiven, considering the magnitude of her loss. Natalie Portman couldn't touch me emotionally. The frequent close ups were annoying. We know she was devastated, but it was unnecessary to show closeups if her blood stained face, crying and tears again and again.

The worst part of the movie was the interview which went into the past, in segments, asking how she felt, and Portman's acting in those scenes was way below her ability. Natalie Portman is a good actress, but in thus movie she felt artificial. It was totally unnecessary to create the interviews. If the point of the movie was to show Jackie Kennedy's feelings and courage at the worst time of her life, a more direct approach might have worked better. The screenplay, background score, direction were all deficient in putting life into this tragic story. I couldn't wait for the movie to end.

The saving grace was the costumes and the White House interior at that time. They were wonderful. Acting wise no one other than 'Jackie' had much room. The screenplay certainly didn't help.

The whole movie felt like someone wanted to create a movie that would show Natalie Portman on the screen all the time. Sadly she remained Natalie Portman to me. She never felt like Jackie Kennedy.

Passengers (I) (2016)

Surprisingly good as pure entertainment

[8/10 · 26 December 2016]

I was not keen on seeing this movie but I went to see it because I wanted something light. I was pleasantly surprised by it. It is creative, entertaining, and the sets and CGI are amazing, I was surprised by the criticism it is getting due to one moral issue. The critics are not in the situation these characters are in. What right do they have to pass moral judgment on this fictional character?

The only criticism I have is that the last part, where Jim risks his life to save others and Aurora brings him back and heals him was unnecessarily stretched too long. I assume it was done to create more excitement. Making it tidier/shorter by 5-7 minutes would have made the movie better. Other than that, I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it. I may see it again, next time in 3D.

The space scenes are amazing. The acting is good too, by Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence. I also enjoyed the robot Arthur, played by Michael Sheen.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)

Just an OK movie, with some very good things

[6/10 · 21 November 2014]

Being a big fan of the books may have colored my opinion of this movie, but here it is.

I thought it was an OK movie. I am not sure I would watch it a second time, but eventually I will, because I want to own the full set of the HG movies on DVD. This was only a set up for part 2, and that's how the book is written. The movie did a good job of consolidating several scenes from the book, and adding some details that Katniss doesn't know in the book (action scenes- blowing up the peacekeepers, etc. were good). The best consolidation brought Effie in the movie much earlier than I expected. She simply replaced Katniss's prep team, and that was a masterful job of writing.

Some (including me) had felt that it was unnecessary to make Mockingjay into two movies, but making just one movie would have sacrificed a lot of useful information. So I don't have a problem with it now. Part 1 is just a set up to part 2, which I expect to be much better, just as the book is. The visuals were great. It ended at the most obvious point, but I would have liked them to carry the movie way past it. It would have allowed them to put more detail into part 2. Now they have to cover too much in part 2, so I don't know what will be sacrificed in it. I didn't have a major problem with where it ended because it was well done. I would say the beginning and the end were both well done. The middle part was not always good.

Couple of scenes bothered me a lot because those were big deviations from the book, and completely unnecessary, and IMO bordering on silly. They could have dropped those and instead spent more time on a couple of other scenes to make them more meaningful. The conversation between Katniss and Finick was kind of cut short in the movie. These two have formed a special bond since the quarter quell and the film makers could have used it better. Instead they wasted film on those added scenes.

The deviations were both introduced to show how 'great' Katniss is, while in the book she has a more objective opinion of herself, and I prefer that approach to what the movies show- making her superhuman.

The first scene that I disliked is when Katniss goes looking for her sister, while bombing is taking place. In the book her sister is late, but Katniss stays inside and asks the guards to keep the door open. It was ridiculous to show them outside during the bombing.

The second one is much worse. While a team is out to rescue the victors from the capital, Katniss asks to be put in contact with President Snow on the screen, and they have a conversation. She offers to trade places with Peeta. There is no such a thing in the book, and that added scene was totally unnecessary. The rescue operation was shown well, but it could have been shorter.

About acting - Jennifer Lawrence was very good, and she was the only one that had some good material to work with. Others didn't have much to work with. Julianne Moore's President Coin came across as too nice- could be a flaw in the screenplay. Philip Seymour Hoffman is/was such a great actor! His Plutarch Heavensby shows his true colors in this. He is a slime ball who doesn't care about people, but wants to use them in his propos. He does it with a smile on this face. I don't think many actors could have dug that deep into this character.

In the pictures published earlier, I had seen President Snow flanked by Peeta and Johanna, all wearing white. That scene never takes place in the movie. Apparently it was edited out. In any case there was no such scene in the book, but I would have been OK if they had shown what was being done to Johanna and Peeta. The movie doesn't even show Johanna till almost the end (that is actually consistent with the book, which is written from Katniss's perspective).

On the positive side, the movie keeps moving fast, despite the boring material and it is well edited, with a few exceptions. Visuals are excellent. I liked it that they brought the 'hanging tree' song in it- I didn't expect them to. Now I expect to see it in part 2.

Overall I would give it a 'B' grade. Here I gave it 7/10 because some things were handled very well (consolidating some scenes, and using Effie in place of Katniss's prep team). It is worth seeing once, but not more.

Side Effects (I) (2013)

Very interesting, edge of your seat thriller- a psychological one

[8/10 · 18 February 2013]

I won't say much about this movie because I don't want to spoil it in the least, even though I have checked the spoiler box, just in case I do let out a secret.

The story is well told, and is full of twists and turns. Young, beautiful and depressed Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara) and her psychiatrist Dr. Banks (Jude Law) (Dr. Banks)are the central characters, and both absolutely delivered. I am particularly impressed with Jude Law, who is totally in his character. Could be one of his best performances. Not so impressed with Catherine Zeta Jones who played Emily's former psychiatrist. She is simply not credible as a 'Dr.' Too flirtatious. The rest of the cast is fine. Channing Tatum is good as the loving husband. I have not been Soderberg's fan in the past, but after watching this movie, I really hope this is not his last one. I want to see more.

I recommend that you read as little as possible about this movie before you see it. I happened to read a review in a magazine and it spoiled a little bit for me, but it did not do a big damage, because that's how the movie starts.

A Separation (2011)

Absolutely brilliant!

[9/10 · 25 February 2012]

I saw this movie about 10 days ago and I am still thinking about it. The more I think, the more I see in it. This is a complex, layered film about human nature, and it takes place in Iran. There is no good vs evil here. Everyone has some good and some bad in him/her. The wife (Simin)who wants to move abroad with her daughter, while ignoring her father in law with Alzheimers, the husband (Nader)who loves his family so much that he cannot tell the whole truth in a court of law, a maid (Razieh)who is too afraid to tell her husband she is working for a family.

There are so many shades of gray in this movie, and despite the seriousness of the subject, it never become melodramatic. I felt sympathy for all the characters- even Hojjat the hot tempered husband of the maid. The 11 year old girl Termeh is caught in the middle of it all, and she sees the lie more easily than the adults. The maid's little daughter is very cute.

The acting is top notch by everyone; the screenplay is one of the best. The characters are not only vivid but very realistic. The direction is very good. So why did I give it 9 and not 10? It's a personal preference that I like to see a real end to a story. After putting us through the roller coaster for 2 hours I wanted to know which parent the daughter decided to live with. The fact that we did not get an answer seemed like a cop out to me. OTOH I have my own theory about who she will choose. Some people like generating discussion like that after a movie ends.

I have not seen the other foreign films nominated for the Oscar this year, so I can't say if this is the best movie in that category, but I have to say it's one of the best and one of the most interesting movie I have seen in the last few years.

If you don't see it, you will miss something very special.

The Artist (I) (2011)

Very creative, a truly 'artistic' movie

[9/10 · 22 January 2012]

I was initially reluctant to see this movie because it is in Black & White and is silent, but I could not resist seeing it because it received such high acclaim from so many. I finally saw it, and was not disappointed, but my expectations had reached sky high, so the movie came up just a little short. I may have to see it again, minus the expectations to truly appreciate it.

I will not go into the story, since it has been told already. The B&W cinematography is absolutely brilliant. The sets are excellent, and the whole atmosphere really captures the era. They could have made it in color, with dialogs, and it could have been a very good film, but not an extraordinary one. It took great creativity and skills to make this a success. It also took great courage to make it in this format, in today's technology driven movie market.

The acting was top notch by the main characters and the little dog was adorable. There was humor and sadness. I could not help feeling nervous for the actor who had lost everything and was in such despair as to try to kill himself. 'The artist' and 'Hugo' both deal with the old era of movie making, and the old actors having to deal with a fall from grace. What a great coincidence that they both came out in the same year! Ironically Hugo used today's technology (3D) and 'The artist' went all the way back to the 1920's. They were both excellent in their own way, which tells us that a movie can be excellent regardless of what technology (or lack of) is used to make it. The most important thing is the story and how it is told.

Jean Dujardin and Berenice are brilliant in their roles that require them to use their faces and bodies, without the help of dialogs, to portray the characters. That is so hard to do! The music is wonderful and without it, the movie might not have been successful. The final dance number is outstanding. This movie has so many subtleties and details that I may have missed some, so I will have to see it again.

The artist is definitely worth seeing. I am not convinced it is the best movie of this year, but it is one of the best, and most certainly the bravest one.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)

Touching. Starts slow but picks up and reaches emotional highs

[9/10 · 20 January 2012]

I was not sure at first this movie was going to work, but it picked up after may be 20 minutes, and became very interesting, ultimately reaching some great heights. I was totally absorbed in it. I did not care if it was realistic or not. This is not a documentary, and least of all on 9/11. It is just a story told on the silver screen.

'Extremely loud and incredibly close' is a story of a boy who suddenly lost his father and is grieving, without realizing that others are grieving too, because he is too young to understand. He finds his own way of working through the grief. Thomas Horn as the 9 year old totally carries the movie- great talent. Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock attracted me to this movie, and they did well in their roles, as did Max Von Sydow, as the surprising and at times a bit scary renter, but the movie belonged to young Thomas Horn. He kept me glued to the chair. Viola Davis was a nice surprise; I did not know she had a small role in this movie. Alexander Desplat continues to amaze me with his scores; it is excellent,like his work in other movies.

The 9/11 connection is not necessary for the story, but it does give it more intensity, born out of familiarity, because we know about the national shock and grief. I did not feel that 9/11 was exploited in any way.

This is certainly an emotional movie, and those who dislike emotions may find it melodramatic, but there are some that don't mind shedding some tears in a movie because it touched their hearts. I prefer drama/family to sci-fi effects, stunts, fights and non-stop action, so I enjoyed the movie, once it got on track. I felt deeply touched toward the end when there was some kind of resolution about the key- the one thing the story revolves around. The rest of the audience in the theater seemed to be totally in it, with occasional laughter, and some tears.

ELAIC has its flaws. It needed to be shorter by about 10 minutes. It seemed to drag in parts. The first part definitely needed to get on track faster, and it may have lost some audience because it did not. Usually I don't care for the back and forth flashback format, but it works in some movies and I thought it worked well in this one. I have not read the novel, but I would have preferred a shorter title for the movie. The very long title did not make a whole lot of sense to me. That is a minor point however.

Overall, I came out feeling that it was a very touching movie, but it is not for everyone, as the mixed reviews indicate.

Never Let Me Go (2010)

Quietly horrifying, but definitely worth seeing

[10/10 · 2 January 2012]

This is an amazing movie. I recently watched it on DVD. While it was in theatres, I don't even recall hearing about it, which is a pity.

It indirectly addresses the issue of the ethics of scientific research, but it is not preachy. It tells the story of three children who appear to be just normal children at a boarding school in England, who grow up to become young adults. Slowly we learn the truth behind their existence and the life that is planned for them. It is shocking and heart breaking at the same time. The acting is first rate by the three main characters Carey Mulligan (Kathy H.), Andrew Garfield (Tommy D.) and Keira Knightly (Ruth). The supporting cast is very good. The children who play the younger versions of the characters have also done well, particularly the girl who plays young Kathy.

The movie takes place in an alternate universe. It starts by telling us about a scientific breakthrough, which would improve human life expectancy, and then we hear words like Carer, people making donations, etc. Those make sense as a little of the truth is revealed as the movie progresses. We see their lives through the eyes of Kathy, the narrator. We experience their joys and sorrows, their helplessness and sometimes their anger about their fate, their desire to do something about it, and finally acceptance.

I developed a strong dislike for Miss Emily, the principal (I think) of the school, but she too was a pawn in the hands of those who created this cloning farm, to prolong the life expectancy of some humans. I did not see the movie as sci-fi. It's more like the story of humanity- the suffering due to old age, the fear of death. The clones also have the same fears, they too feel emotions. They too want to spend more time with their loved ones, but they cannot because they are trapped in their situations. It indirectly addresses the fear of old age and diseases, the fear of death which all humans- clones or not- face. In the end Kathy says - (paraphrasing) everyone "completes" which is a word used for the ending of life of a clone in the movie.

The music is hauntingly beautiful, and English countryside is photographed wonderfully. Both add to the impact of the movie.

This movie made me sad and disturbed for a few days after watching it. It's tragic and it made me think about scientific breakthroughs in a different light. The credit must go to the writer Kazuo Ishigura of the book, and to those who made this movie. I just wish it had been more successful at the box office.

If you like thought provoking movies, this movie could be for you, but be prepared to feel many emotions even after the movie ends.

The Descendants (2011)

A remarkable movie and a pleasant surprise

[9/10 · 26 December 2011]

This movie was not at the top of my 'to see' list but when I saw it got many nods from critics, I decided to go see it. I expected to see 'too much George Clooney', and yes, there he was in nearly every scene, but he portrayed the character so well! The elder daughter (played by Woodley) nearly stole the show with her acting.

The movie starts with a woman enjoying a boat ride, and the next thing is she is in a coma, with her husband (Clooney) narrating the story. From that point on, we learn more about the family, the inheritance, the daughters he must bring up, and dealing with the secret revealed by his elder daughter about her mother, which is devastating. Clooney has done a marvelous job of showing all the mixed emotions- anger, rage, pain, sadness, confusion, helplessness, and the underlying love in subtle ways. The director has done a splendid job of mixing humor with the underlying tragedy that is at the base of the movie. The Hawaiian scenes are gorgeous, as expected. This is a movie about the challenges of life- we all have different ones- and some people, like Matt King (Clooney) find a way to overcome them. The changes in the daughters are remarkable too, as the movie goes along. There are many touching scenes but they never become melodramatic. The movie unfolds at a leisurely pace, and it quietly ends in a family room.

This is not a movie if you are seeking sci-fi/special effects type entertainment (and I do enjoy those too), but if you want something about everyday characters and life, and want to laugh while some serious material, this may be the movie for you. I must admit that it was way beyond my expectations- I never expected it to be this good-, and I am glad that I did not read the story before seeing it.

I was totally engrossed in the movie from beginning to end and I came out feeling totally satisfied that I saw an excellent movie.