In director Shimit Amin's second outing he has proved that he is India's most versatile up and coming director. Mr. Amin's first feature was , Ab Tak Chappan a taught cop drama, that has been called "the best Michael Mann film not directed by Michael Mann." For his second outing Mr. Amin totally changed gears and created a breezy at turns stirring and sweet sports drama.
The story is about a filed hockey player, Shah Ruk Khan, who has found himself disgraced. In a bid to prove himself he takes on coaching a neglected girls field hockey team, through the world cup competition.
Translating the American version of the sports film into an Indian film could only be compared to making two American sports films together. The sports film is part of the genre of a war film, there aren't really individual characters, the team is one character in itself, and the film is about the development of that one character. At over two hours the film never fails to be entertaining. The whole thing moves along at a brisk pace.
If you want a clue to the intelligence of this young director, look into the representation of the press in this film. The Indian film press is this hysterical monster. Like the jealous girl at school who lives off the drama she creates, the Indian film press is a real life gaggle of girls pouncing on any rumor. They are the villain in the story, and their representation in the film echoes the coverage the film received in the Indian Press. That was until they saw the film, and fell all over themselves loving it.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Stardust
What is wrong with this movie? For the life of me, I could not tell you why I did not like this movie.
A youth unaware of his magical princely beginnings goes on a quest to retrieve a fallen star in a gambit to win the heart of his local beauty. The characters , many of them are ironic, with frisky modern sensibilities. Probably not so modern really, just the kind of kitschy thinking people that no one had thought to make characters until lately.
I'm told by a fan of the novel by Neil Gaman, that this film uses as it's source, that there are all sorts of arbitrary changes to the script that make little sense. Like turning the Lightning collector, Robert Deniro's character into a swishy pirate. I guess as some sort of nod to Pirates of the Caribbean, or ploy to resemble it.
It just didn't bake right this one. It needed a scene way upfront that really pulled the tone together. And that whimsical funny tone needed to be more consistently presented to work alongside the overwrought and meant to look rundown production design. The film looks like someone said, lets make it look like a Terry Gilliam movie, but not as expensive. They should have just hired Terry Gilliam. This one doesn't bode well for an adaptation of the Xanth series.
The fact is that Fantasy and humor have gotten along in many a film. The Princess Bride, Time Bandits, Eric the Viking, Jabberwocky, I'm sure their are more. Please sing out and add to the list.
It's not a horrible film, it's watchable. Probably fun on a lonely night on cable. Still, it was like going to versaille (wonderful Cuban restaurant in LA) and getting dried out chicken. Anyway, you go see it and explain to me why it was disappointing.
A youth unaware of his magical princely beginnings goes on a quest to retrieve a fallen star in a gambit to win the heart of his local beauty. The characters , many of them are ironic, with frisky modern sensibilities. Probably not so modern really, just the kind of kitschy thinking people that no one had thought to make characters until lately.
I'm told by a fan of the novel by Neil Gaman, that this film uses as it's source, that there are all sorts of arbitrary changes to the script that make little sense. Like turning the Lightning collector, Robert Deniro's character into a swishy pirate. I guess as some sort of nod to Pirates of the Caribbean, or ploy to resemble it.
It just didn't bake right this one. It needed a scene way upfront that really pulled the tone together. And that whimsical funny tone needed to be more consistently presented to work alongside the overwrought and meant to look rundown production design. The film looks like someone said, lets make it look like a Terry Gilliam movie, but not as expensive. They should have just hired Terry Gilliam. This one doesn't bode well for an adaptation of the Xanth series.
The fact is that Fantasy and humor have gotten along in many a film. The Princess Bride, Time Bandits, Eric the Viking, Jabberwocky, I'm sure their are more. Please sing out and add to the list.
It's not a horrible film, it's watchable. Probably fun on a lonely night on cable. Still, it was like going to versaille (wonderful Cuban restaurant in LA) and getting dried out chicken. Anyway, you go see it and explain to me why it was disappointing.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Rocket Science
Mrs. Movie and I caught this one at Sundance this year. It's a well made film with some different types of characters. We found the film a little boring and unsatisfying. Many of the characters are off-putting, gross in a tawdry way, and this is in place of interesting development.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Time to rev up your engines
Well, the summer movies are mostly here, and it’s time to get ready for the films of fall and what comes with it; Namely, lots ‘o screenings. So drop Mrs. Movie a line and remind her that she needs to climb back on the old blog.
Mr. Movie is quite upset. It seems he was told that Beerfest was “not that funny.” This is a woeful misrepresentation. Beerfest, is very much funny.
Seen 2007 Harry Potter, forgettable. Rescue Dawn, most complete movie I’ve seen in a while. Transformers, almost not boring. Bourne Ultimatum, you might want to wait for the Bourne Addendum. Charlie Bartlett, amusing. Goya’s Ghost, the paintings are better. Ratatouille, Food and rats – How could you miss? Who Killed the Electric Car, Brilliant Documentary makes you feel the growing gestalt for useable technology available today. Sicko, Makes you feel like stabbing a member of the AMA, or a Republican politician.
Mr. Movie is quite upset. It seems he was told that Beerfest was “not that funny.” This is a woeful misrepresentation. Beerfest, is very much funny.
Seen 2007 Harry Potter, forgettable. Rescue Dawn, most complete movie I’ve seen in a while. Transformers, almost not boring. Bourne Ultimatum, you might want to wait for the Bourne Addendum. Charlie Bartlett, amusing. Goya’s Ghost, the paintings are better. Ratatouille, Food and rats – How could you miss? Who Killed the Electric Car, Brilliant Documentary makes you feel the growing gestalt for useable technology available today. Sicko, Makes you feel like stabbing a member of the AMA, or a Republican politician.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Babel
My favorite part of this movie is when this crazy deaf girl like goes after the cop. The part where they shoot the Arabs was cool too. This one was kinda all over the map.
I told my mom to see it, so I guess I can tell you to do the same thing.
My nephew who is attending OCC is filling in for me.
I told my mom to see it, so I guess I can tell you to do the same thing.
My nephew who is attending OCC is filling in for me.
Kinda LIke Crouching Tiger
This guy Chow Yun Fat, who does all these amazing movies where he's always pointing a .45 in someones face, he's in this one too. Except he's a Chinese King, and his wife is doing his son.
I think Hero was better. It didn't suck to hard.
My nephew who is attending OCC is filling in for me.
I think Hero was better. It didn't suck to hard.
My nephew who is attending OCC is filling in for me.
The one about the Magicians.
These two magicians like are trying to kill each other, it was okay I didn't hate it.
My nephew who is attending OCC is filling in for me.
My nephew who is attending OCC is filling in for me.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Mr. Movie reviews: "Lady in the Water"
I guess what M. Night is up to in “Lady in the Water," is to make a children’s film. It’s a silly film, and there’s this kiddie notion of some sort of wacky community comprised of an apartment building. The whole thing is fanciful and should be taken that way. I say this as much a children’s film as “Snow White.” Which has the first scene of someone tripping that I ever saw.
Shyamalan has made much of how this story grew out of a bedtime story for his kids. Which is what the story feels like. You can imagine a dad inventing this story to explain to his little girl where her “my little pony” necklace disappeared to after she left it at the pool. Well, fanciful and protective parents might do that. Anyway a water pixie in the pool, a Narf, is the entity that stole your fountain pen grandfather gave you from his death bed, that time you wrote a letter next to the pool in Daytona on spring break and fell asleep. The film does not describe which type of Narf steals socks from the dryer.
So the Narf in this story, much like E.T., needs to get home. And there is a whole cosmology that needs to be invoked before she can get there. So for her to be redeemed we all have to clap our hands and say “I do believe in fairies.” There is this syrupy storyline for a character that is a writer played by Shyamalan. It’s a horribly self-obsessive and indulgent turn in the story and I enjoyed it very much. It goes right to the heart of anybody who has bouts with delusions of grandeur.
Shyamalan has made much of how this story grew out of a bedtime story for his kids. Which is what the story feels like. You can imagine a dad inventing this story to explain to his little girl where her “my little pony” necklace disappeared to after she left it at the pool. Well, fanciful and protective parents might do that. Anyway a water pixie in the pool, a Narf, is the entity that stole your fountain pen grandfather gave you from his death bed, that time you wrote a letter next to the pool in Daytona on spring break and fell asleep. The film does not describe which type of Narf steals socks from the dryer.
So the Narf in this story, much like E.T., needs to get home. And there is a whole cosmology that needs to be invoked before she can get there. So for her to be redeemed we all have to clap our hands and say “I do believe in fairies.” There is this syrupy storyline for a character that is a writer played by Shyamalan. It’s a horribly self-obsessive and indulgent turn in the story and I enjoyed it very much. It goes right to the heart of anybody who has bouts with delusions of grandeur.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Mr. Movie reviews: "Dead Man's Chest," POTC 2
Captain Sparrow is back, and unless I am mistaken he’s butched up a little. Although, the whole plot of the movie revolves around the fact that he’s definitely confused. I’d heard this movie described as merely a preview for Pirates III. In truth, Dead Man’s Chest delivers. It’s got some great gags, and does not stint on length with a running time of 150 minutes. I’d like to think the writers have something to do with this, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. I have been an admirer of Terry’s for years his blog Wordplayer has been inspirational for me.
This time ‘round an international conglomerate, The East India Trading Company, has usurped the government in the Bahamas and imprisoned young lovers Will Turner (Bloom) and Swann (Knightley). The evil technocrat exhibiting Disneyesque business sense wants to control the whole seven seas. His plan involves sending Turner out to retrieve Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp).
Okay let me tell you sumt’in ‘bout Davey Jones and his crew. It is seriously Oscar time for the CGI guys, never have a buncha monsters withstood the light of day and remained scary and interesting, nay intimidating.
This time ‘round an international conglomerate, The East India Trading Company, has usurped the government in the Bahamas and imprisoned young lovers Will Turner (Bloom) and Swann (Knightley). The evil technocrat exhibiting Disneyesque business sense wants to control the whole seven seas. His plan involves sending Turner out to retrieve Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp).
Okay let me tell you sumt’in ‘bout Davey Jones and his crew. It is seriously Oscar time for the CGI guys, never have a buncha monsters withstood the light of day and remained scary and interesting, nay intimidating.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Mr. Movie reviews: Scanner Darkly
If you have a problem with truck size plot holes then you may dislike “Scanner Darkly.” Most people who are not looking for an opportunity to see this film will point to the animation style. The Schwab ads, that ape Richard Linklater’s “Waking Life” rotoscope technique are a major annoyance. There are people out there going, “Oh no I hate that shit.” "Scanner Darkly" is better than those ads. The Schwab ads are more like a photo-shop filter. “Scanner Darkly” is animated. The lines have interpretive value, thick and thin variations, things kind of slide around in the frame adding a druggy mood. The Schwab ads also suffer from this put-on anger, loser frat-boy proto-fascist anger.
There are animated bugs and good editing, I loved the way that the sets kind of swam around, this is an animated film. Keanu Reeves is alternately Bob, Fred, and Bruce an undercover cop who very quickly loses sight of himself in his drug use and the total infiltration of surveillance that his life has become. Much of the film is spending time with Bob/Fred/Bruce’s subjects as they clown around stoned. You very quickly begin to wonder how these fools could require this level of surveillance. Don’t worry though; the movie will explain it for you. This is an American film after all, god forbid their should be something vague in an American Film.
The film is very much a trip. The film often makes use of dream logic, One moment we are at HQ with Fred and then the next moment we are on a road trip to San Diego. The characters also often suffer from that uncertainty in what you know, that you may or may not be familiar with. These aspects of the film are used to skirt or create the gaping plot holes. So are they plot holes or part of the effect?
I enjoyed it.
There are animated bugs and good editing, I loved the way that the sets kind of swam around, this is an animated film. Keanu Reeves is alternately Bob, Fred, and Bruce an undercover cop who very quickly loses sight of himself in his drug use and the total infiltration of surveillance that his life has become. Much of the film is spending time with Bob/Fred/Bruce’s subjects as they clown around stoned. You very quickly begin to wonder how these fools could require this level of surveillance. Don’t worry though; the movie will explain it for you. This is an American film after all, god forbid their should be something vague in an American Film.
The film is very much a trip. The film often makes use of dream logic, One moment we are at HQ with Fred and then the next moment we are on a road trip to San Diego. The characters also often suffer from that uncertainty in what you know, that you may or may not be familiar with. These aspects of the film are used to skirt or create the gaping plot holes. So are they plot holes or part of the effect?
I enjoyed it.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Mr. Movie reviews: Superman Returns
He’s back and he’s got a lot of explaining to do. Superman’s been gone for 5 years and the mystery of where he’s been is about as compelling as a discussion of socks missing from the dryer. In his absence Lex Luthor has been taking lessons from Anna Nicole Smith, and Supermans Metropolis is beginning to feel reality pains. The film flirts with a laundry list of modern problems, but never any of the real scary ones. ie no terrorists. There’s something akin to global warming, and there’s bank robbers, and even a gas station hold up. Spacey is really great in this movie, and his performance is pared way down.
It’s understandable that some of the buzz on this film was that this may be the gay Superman movie. It’s been said about many Jewish men, but what people are confused about is the soft attitude and caring demeanor. It’s definitively not a gay Superman movie but Louis Lane is leaning to a polyamorous life style. We so often root for Superman to throw off his Kent persona and live large in an uber Superman style. In this film we’re looking to Louis to throw off her shackles of domesticity, or at least cheat a little bit. Not like real cheating just the different state only necked, it wasn’t cheating really, kind. We also root for something to happen, anything to happen. There is so little super-dupering in this film, it’s kinda sad. More super-dupering please!
Warner Bros. should have stuck with Brett Ratner to direct this film. They decided to change over to Bryan Singer a better director to be sure. Singer’s got a great touch for just the right amount of old school to make this story updated, it’s all just a little too dull. And then Ratner made the worst of the X-Men films. I think Ratners larger cruder style would have given us the Superman movie that we needed, an entertaining one.
When Superheroes where invented they first fought organized crime, later it was Nazi’s and then Communists; Always the big fear of the day. So why can’t any of the Super heroes take on Osama Bin Laden. I’d love a fairy tale ending to our fight with Radical Islam so that Superman could go back to fighting Goombahs.
It’s understandable that some of the buzz on this film was that this may be the gay Superman movie. It’s been said about many Jewish men, but what people are confused about is the soft attitude and caring demeanor. It’s definitively not a gay Superman movie but Louis Lane is leaning to a polyamorous life style. We so often root for Superman to throw off his Kent persona and live large in an uber Superman style. In this film we’re looking to Louis to throw off her shackles of domesticity, or at least cheat a little bit. Not like real cheating just the different state only necked, it wasn’t cheating really, kind. We also root for something to happen, anything to happen. There is so little super-dupering in this film, it’s kinda sad. More super-dupering please!
Warner Bros. should have stuck with Brett Ratner to direct this film. They decided to change over to Bryan Singer a better director to be sure. Singer’s got a great touch for just the right amount of old school to make this story updated, it’s all just a little too dull. And then Ratner made the worst of the X-Men films. I think Ratners larger cruder style would have given us the Superman movie that we needed, an entertaining one.
When Superheroes where invented they first fought organized crime, later it was Nazi’s and then Communists; Always the big fear of the day. So why can’t any of the Super heroes take on Osama Bin Laden. I’d love a fairy tale ending to our fight with Radical Islam so that Superman could go back to fighting Goombahs.
Friday, June 30, 2006
A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion was actually better than I was expecting it to be. It is not far from the standard Altman path with an incredible ensemble cast and the actors constantly talking over one another. All in all I thought it was kind of charming but incredibly niche. I think unless you actually listened to the show that it is about or have a huge love of silly NPR-like shows then you are not its target audience. There are definitely some cute and clever moments but not sure if this will carry an entire film for non radio or Altman fans.
Mrs. Movie
Mrs. Movie
The Break-Up
The Break-Up was a pleasant surprise, I was curious but had
Pretty much convinced myself that I wasn't going to like it as I assumed it would follow the standard Romantic Comedy equation. Which of course is Great Beautiful Successful Woman meets Unemployed, Crazy or Loser Man - Women rearranges entire life in order to create a scenario where she can be with the Loser Man - They Live Happily Ever After?????? Barf! This definitely does not fit that bill. I would hazard a warning to anyone that has actually recently gone through a break up - this might not be a good film for you as it will certainly be poring some salt in the wounds. All in all I was happy to not be beaten over the head with the unrealistic saccharin endings that Hollywood seems to damn fond of!
Mrs. Movie
Pretty much convinced myself that I wasn't going to like it as I assumed it would follow the standard Romantic Comedy equation. Which of course is Great Beautiful Successful Woman meets Unemployed, Crazy or Loser Man - Women rearranges entire life in order to create a scenario where she can be with the Loser Man - They Live Happily Ever After?????? Barf! This definitely does not fit that bill. I would hazard a warning to anyone that has actually recently gone through a break up - this might not be a good film for you as it will certainly be poring some salt in the wounds. All in all I was happy to not be beaten over the head with the unrealistic saccharin endings that Hollywood seems to damn fond of!
Mrs. Movie
The Road to Guantanamo
This is a Docu-Drama in the same vein as Touching the Void - but with a lot less edge of your seat tension. This is the story of a few young British/Pakistani men that go to Pakistan for a friend's wedding and decide it would be a good idea to venture over to Afghanistan to see what it is really like and how they might be able to help the people - in late September of 2001. Not the brightest of ideas most people might think. A number of things go wrong and ultimately they get arrested by the American Army and transferred to Guantanamo Bay. This is definitely a disturbing tale - and somewhat timely with the recent Supreme Court ruling. While I was definitely interested in the telling of this horrible story I can't say that I ever was as invested as I was hoping to be. I am not sure this is the best made film but it certainly is relevant.
Mrs. Movie
The Lake House
Hmmm, I have to start with the fact that I am not a Keanu Reeves fan - especially when it’s not an action film. This is also not my favorite genre either so it did already have two strikes against it before I even stepped into the theater. The premise is pretty out there and then the film doesn't even pretend to stay within the limits of the absurd boundaries that it sets up. If you want a totally schmaltzy romantic melodrama and have no issues with suspension of disbelief than this is your film.
Mrs. Movie
PS: Whoever decided on the hairstyle for Ms. Bullock should be fired!Thursday, June 29, 2006
District B-13
District B-13 is an exploitation film. Think “Electric Bugaloo,” and not “Satan’s Cheerleaders.” The exploitation is of a newer extreme sport called “Parkour,” it’s Urban trick running. In B-13 the gated community has taken the ultimate turn and just gated the ghetto in. Buildings each have their own boss, or protector. Damien is the good guy, and he can basically run up to a second story window, jump through it, run around the room on the walls and kick the henchman into the evil Boss Leito. Which is really cool to see.
Mrs. Movie and I discovered some time ago that there was always a little extra leeway in foreign films for cheesy stuff. District B-13 so abuses this leeway that I think from here on in, all foreign films must be as dreary and unfanciful as American Films. We must call it when we see it. Pretentious instead of deep, moronic instead of direct, childish instead of whimsy. This means you to Hong Kong and Japan. All because of some really really crappy adolescent speeches in “B-13.” Which is otherwise a rocking kick-ass movie. Graceful elegant violence, that doesn’t look like it’s all on the end of a wire.
Let’s face it Luc Besson has a flipping great eye for what is cool.
Mr. Movie
Parkour: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour
Electric Bugaloo: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086999/
Satan’s Cheerleaders: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076665/
Mrs. Movie and I discovered some time ago that there was always a little extra leeway in foreign films for cheesy stuff. District B-13 so abuses this leeway that I think from here on in, all foreign films must be as dreary and unfanciful as American Films. We must call it when we see it. Pretentious instead of deep, moronic instead of direct, childish instead of whimsy. This means you to Hong Kong and Japan. All because of some really really crappy adolescent speeches in “B-13.” Which is otherwise a rocking kick-ass movie. Graceful elegant violence, that doesn’t look like it’s all on the end of a wire.
Let’s face it Luc Besson has a flipping great eye for what is cool.
Mr. Movie
Parkour: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour
Electric Bugaloo: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086999/
Satan’s Cheerleaders: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076665/
Monday, June 19, 2006
An Inconvenient Truth
Go see “An Inconvenient Truth.” But in case you don’t remember this… There is no debate about global warming, it is happening. There is no debate about CO2, It is inextricably linked to global warming. Cars are by far the biggest contributor to CO2 in our atmosphere.
What you should do about the above is the debate.
What you should do about the above is the debate.
Poseidon and Da Vinci Code, one of them is all wet.
We all want to be entertained and want our movies to be entertaining. “Poseidon,” very entertaining; “The Da Vinci Code,” not so much. Mrs. Movie and I saw Poseidon after a 10 hour plane ride, and were riveted. “…Code” earned a few long blinks after a normal day.
Both films are flawed, Poseidon is pitched at such a level that you miss all the fear and uncertainty of the situation. There are never any choices just go go go, but some of the gags are pretty suspenseful. It works as a film. Sometimes you take bread, cheese and tomato sauce and get satisfactory results even if it isn’t the best pizza you ever had.
Kurt Russell is great; he gives the least drawn out death scene ever in a film. None of the dialogue will stand out in your memory good or bad. Characters all get a speech to tell you who they are, everyone gets a heroic scene. The airshaft scene was very tense. A real pins and needles experience and as well as a triumph of the small in a movie that did most things very big.
The Da Vinci code gets points for being the first American film to feature a Smart Car; made by Mercedes goes for 14,000 Euro. The script feels like it was outlined by a twelve year old. “…And then they went to the Vatican, and they went to the Louve, and then they went to the old guys house from X-Men.” Most of the mysteries are obvious from the start. You don’t feel involved in solving the puzzles, which is really the point of this kind of story.
After “Cinderella Man” we really had a lot of respect for Ron Howard. That movie got luke-cold reviews, but it was wonderful. “…Code,” has really earned its grey badge of Wednesday. Perhaps it was the foreign soil that tripped up our most American of directors.
Both films are flawed, Poseidon is pitched at such a level that you miss all the fear and uncertainty of the situation. There are never any choices just go go go, but some of the gags are pretty suspenseful. It works as a film. Sometimes you take bread, cheese and tomato sauce and get satisfactory results even if it isn’t the best pizza you ever had.
Kurt Russell is great; he gives the least drawn out death scene ever in a film. None of the dialogue will stand out in your memory good or bad. Characters all get a speech to tell you who they are, everyone gets a heroic scene. The airshaft scene was very tense. A real pins and needles experience and as well as a triumph of the small in a movie that did most things very big.
The Da Vinci code gets points for being the first American film to feature a Smart Car; made by Mercedes goes for 14,000 Euro. The script feels like it was outlined by a twelve year old. “…And then they went to the Vatican, and they went to the Louve, and then they went to the old guys house from X-Men.” Most of the mysteries are obvious from the start. You don’t feel involved in solving the puzzles, which is really the point of this kind of story.
After “Cinderella Man” we really had a lot of respect for Ron Howard. That movie got luke-cold reviews, but it was wonderful. “…Code,” has really earned its grey badge of Wednesday. Perhaps it was the foreign soil that tripped up our most American of directors.
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