Wait Until Dark

This is one gem of a movie. Is quite slow as per my likings, but since i'd heard that its a very nice movie,I held on to my patience and saw the entire movie. Its a movie made in the sixties, so you know what to expect in terms of grandeur of sets or wardrobes or background score.
It stars Audrey Hepburn in a most fascinating role, that of a recently blinded woman. The movie starts on a very slow note, and the plot is not unfolded until after the first one hour or so. But once it starts rolling, there's no option but to sit glued to your chair.
How easy cons feel it is to fool a blind person, but little do they know that even though he/she is blind, he/she has the ability to outsmart those who can see...just you wait until dark! That's the conviction with which Susie(Audrey Hepburn) saves herself from the three thieves.
The performances were unbelievably good, especially Susie's. So simple, elegant and yet so powerful.
This movie is a must watch, on the big screen. But since its impossible to find this movie playing in any multiplex now, I recommend watching it with the room pitch black. The goosebumps you will feel are a much needed part of the experience. So go and enjoy this movie.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Starts off with a very nice note about credit cards and how handy they are and how we spend so much shopping just because of this magic card...the credit card.
This movie has a very cute lead pair in the form of Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy. The director P.J Hogan has done full justice to the script, but since the script was a little too predictive, it wasn't that different. However, some scenes are definitely enjoyable like the one when Rebecca and Luke are in a ball dance and Rebecca has no clue about ball dancing. Another one worth mentioning is the one at the meeting of shopaholics to try and cure themselves and Rebecca ends up convincing each and everyone present there that shopping like your addicted to it, is not wrong.
The movie starts off very well, and showing rooms full of clothes and accessories to go with them at the victims house. The after effects of overusing the credit card are also well highlighted. The part where Rebecca is supposed to speak in Finnish when she knows nothing of the language is impractical and can be attributed to luck alone, which is non-existent.
As far as the acting goes, Isla Fisher and Lrysten Ritter have done a fantastic job. The rest of the cast have also played their parts well, but its these two who steal the show.
The trial to fit in a romantic story didn't go very well, as there was not much scope for their love story to develop. It appears as if a usual story was picked up and squeezed through the main plot. The movie would have definitely survived without the love story.
So, as far as the watchability of this movie goes...I would say it is definitely seeable since its a short movie of one and a half hour. But, its definitely not a must watch.

Crash

These days, we don't touch people. That is why we crash into them, to feel human. This line sets the mood for the movie. The theme is racism. Yes, it still exists in the heart of the US of A. There are 6-7 characters whose stories unfold individually. The way each character and his story is built right from the beginning is nice. All these threads get intertwined at some point and thus the director very smartly starts bringing in meaning to each scenario. Some people support racism to the hilt. Some others have been victims and thus mean to harm only the whites. Some whites are so scared of the hatred planted in the hearts of the blacks that they commit regrettable actions.
Innocence is also displayed very well where this father tries to encourage his five year old daughter by giving her an invisible cloak which won't let any bullet penetrate. When the father is held at gunpoint, the daughter believes she can save her father and boom. There are stronger relationships in this world than friendship. A friend does not help her friend when she needs to be rushed to the hospital, just because she was having a massage. Such is the world. Portraying harsh reality in a way that it has the desired positive impact is very difficult. All such scenes have been handled very well.
Fear, hatred, innocence, regret, inabilty of action its all here in one movie. Well put together and well enacted. I would recommend a must see.

The Notebook

That's a movie's name I saw yesterday. Was a recommendation from a friend of mine Hemant, whose choice usually is repelling. But this choice was worth the watching. A very nice, sober, well put story. A hindi flick U Me aur Hum is also based on the same theme. There are minute differences in the way the story proceeds, but overall its the same.

If you've seen both the films, you are bound to appreciate Nick Cassavetes' (Director for 'The Notebook') direction. There is no need to show the lead protagonist yelling and screeching every 10 minutes to generate pity. Overacting doesn't create the much needed impact, which many bollywood movies have proved every now and then, by trying hard to make an "inspired" copy of a well known hollywood flick.

The most difficult part, the part when she has to make "the" choice, is so well portrayed. Compare that to any hindi movie and there is no dearth of all the typical dialogues talking about the true power of a woman and blah blah.

Yes, it is a love story, which i usually don't recommend (except a few like Serendipity, City of angels) but this one is a must watch. N yes, it did mobilize my tear glands, which is very difficult for any movie.

How would you judge...?

I saw this movie "House of sand and fog" and had to write about it...right away. It sure made an impression on me.

Imagine that you are the judge. The people pitted against each other, each have a reason...a justified reason and you have to choose the guilty from amongst them. If each of them are right...(yes try and prove any one of them to be unjustly right...its impossible) how would you judge? How would you react if you were put in any of these situations?

I thought about it, and the only conclusion I reached is that, money kills. It makes one so desparate that we cannot see, that we are digging a grave, not only for ourselves but for everyone we love. Money makes us so helpless...and when we see an opportunity to earn it, however immoral it may be...we go for it.

So true, and so well done. The best shot I liked is the one where the colonel loses his most precious (won't mention who..coz I don't want you readers to miss the emotions due to foresight..;) ) and then, is in a dilapidated state. Hats off to the actor Ben Kingsley and the director Vadim Perelman. They have done a fantastic job. I've seen such a 'worth it' movie after a long time.

Thanks to whoever made it 'access'ible..thanks..:)

Fashion ka hai ye jalwa...

Wanted to see this movie for so long...and finally...saw it...not first day first show..but in the first week itself...(how else can the proximity of a multiplex from office be justified...:D )

It is a nicely done movie...the glamour quotient is as high as expected...

Some parts of the movie ... like the easy climb up the ladder of success for our female protagonist...or the ohhh....sooo supportive friends...etc etc...seem 'not so real'. However maybe this could be justified as it seems the movie was more focused on the life after becoming a success in the 'fashion' industry.

The background score of the movie is awesome...loved it..!

Actors are good...all the emotions seem real...good work..but I still wanna kno..why does kangana always get the role of an addict...she's always drinking...crying screeching...in all her movies...(I heard an awesome explanation for this doubt of mine today – it said she's a natural when it comes to being an addict, and having to screech...:P )

The movie did portray the not so good happenings inside...and one would obviously think the movie was about someone going against it and stuff..but I was happily surprised when it wasn't.

One thing that he has portrayed ... and portrayed well is .... one cannot and should not mix their professional and personal lives. This industry demands a lot, one has the choice...decide and decide well. No one's gonna be able to revamp everything but you sure have your choices...and these choices are only yours to make. You choose to compromise or live on your own terms.

I liked the way the movie was put together, each character built and their lives intertwined.

 

All in all its a nicely made movie on a mature subject showing the nitty gritty (not so nice) details in a sophisticated ... clean...manner...

I wouldn't say it's a must watch...but ya its worth a watch...:)