Movies - Rahul's Take

15 Park Avenue

2006-04-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

Just watched this new movie from Aparna Sen ... the sweetheart of "serious" cinema community of India (or bengal). This is a story about Schizophrenic girl (played by Kankana - Aparna's daughter). But it is more about the whole concept of reality/realism and the notion of how it meshes with our daily reality. It brings out a basic question ... what is reality. Obviously it's a philosophical question and yet to be really answered.
Aparna Sen takes this question from a different perspective. Instead of really arguing on what reality is ... she allows her central charector ... who is schizophrenic and lives in her own little reality ... to move into her own reality at the end of the movie and finally reach happieness. And at that point everyone starts to find their own little "personal" reality ... and search for the "15 Park Avenue". Its a dramatic end ... and a great one.
But I have complains too. Why she needed to go through various incidents to kick Schizophrenia into Kankana ... I can understand that's what medical science says ... but for a movie that ends with a defying stubbornness ... those were unnecessary. Also some specific scenes which are created to build the case for Kankana's schizophrenia were out of proportion ... just may be little bit out of context ... just don't go well with the overall symphony of the movie.
But overall it stays with a very sweet experience and kicks off certain questions about self and reality.
Overall ... you will either like it or hate it ... Hopefully the earlier ...

A River Runs Through It ...

2005-01-01T14:39:00.000-08:00

This touches so many aspects of relationship between men, man and
nature ... It just grows and defines the moments of clarity as the
movie moves on ... Its realistic simplicity along with wide Montana
Canvas paints the life and its equations and in-equations with majestic
simplicity and the definition of art emerges ... Its probably more than
a movie ... its a poetry ...

Its a movie to feel and love ... Its a movie of passion and life ... its a movie of truth and simplicity ...

Robert Redford's direction was like his
movies ... different from mainstream but to the point and spectacular.
He delivers messages through this ... while telling a simple story in a
gracious manner ...

Bread and Tulips

2004-08-27T14:13:00.000-07:00

What comes into mind when we say "classic"? Well, it has to be universal and deep and yet simple. It should appeal beyond the "critics" and reach the critical mass. I can't say if "Bread and Tulips" can be termed as a Classic already ... but it does satisfy all three above mentioned conditions. It is simply put, very universal yet subtle and deep. It builds intriguing moments ... that viewer keeps even after the movie ends.
How real or logical or practical the story is or is it a fairy tale?
Well, how many times in real life we act logical? The fact that human being is NOT a logical creature and they act per their impulse and dream for their dreams to come true ... this can be catagorized as a quite close thing that may happen to someone. Or atleast someone may not be disappointed if that happens to her/him. In short, its not a everyday incident. But YES ... it can happen and well, bits and pieces DO happen in life.
Overall it gives a tremendously optimistic view towards life ... I would argue a real inspiring outcome. It portrays a middle aged woman getting close to her real life and real likings when circumstance puts her away from the typical and logical setting in her family. She finds her confidence back, finds friends, finds likings and music ... and finally yes, finds her love. Its a transformation that she goes through ... and none of which is quite "aceptable" or "normal" in our civilized society. But even then, she had to go out of defined way to get that.
In that process, this movie creates great shots and moments that builds the environment and confirms it to a classic comedy.
Worth watching ... and worth owning.

In America

2004-08-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

This is a movie about a couple migrating from Canada to United States or specifically to New York City. Unlike many other movies, it doesn't get into the typical "struggle and inspiration" story but eventually it gets more and more personal. It moves along from the eye level of a little girl (older one in the family) and her perceptions about this move. This gets even more personal to the family when she brings in her dead brother "franky" into the story and creates some sort of connection with him through her imagination. It gets even more symbolic and abstract when they gets connected with the african guy living in the same shady apartment building. At some point the movie graduates from being a story to a level of self-reveleation and uses abstracts and visuals to build certain moments or to destroy them. Don't get wrong, abstracts are used very effectively in a limited way so that the audience doesn't loose their track. However their use revealed many words which otherwise would remain difficult to be told.
Finally the connection between the african guy with this family and his death same time when the new baby sees the light of the world is quite dramatic ... but never out of control. Its a well thought of and well managed movie ... worth seeing.

On Golden Pond - The perfect one

2004-07-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

IMDB Link

Well, well well ... This is probably it.
When I go see a movie, I want to see through it ... learn stuff from it ... feel emotional about it ... get amazed by it and finally last but not the least ... "feel good" and "like" the movie. Usually all these are not met ... some of them make me think a lot ... but doesn't really charm me emotionally or personally. Some of them turn me on emotionally ... but have little to think about.
On Golden Pond is probably the perfect mix of all ... its thought provocating, emotional, loving, beutiful and charming. It almost puts a spell on the viewer. I like to be charmed by such a simple movie.
I am not a real "fan" of Jane Fonda ... but becoming more respectful of her with time. My respects to her for producing such a movie ...
Its about relationship between a very old couple (Henry Fonda and Cathy Hepburn) and their relationship with their daughter (Jane Fonda) and her step-son and gap in mind and generations.
But the movie goes way beyond that little story. It deals with absolute and eternal rules of relationship and age and beuty and spirit of modern women that got us here and finally death and life. It really doesn't have a great story ... but the daily happenings and usual life events and subtle touches and treatments of the director displays the intricate details of life. Simplicity coupled with great artistic capabilities of Henry Fonda, Cathy Hepburn and Jane Fonda and direction of Mark Rydell makes it complete. The lake itself creates a simple but very subtle environment that plays perfectly with the movie.
The interview with Jane Fonda after the movie is very intriguing and interesting. In my opinion it was one of best interviews I ever seen.
Everybody should watch it.
By the way ... it has terrific photography too ... but the wide panorama of life and the ambience of the charecters never let the shots going beyond its needs ... Its a very important balance that every director have to maintain ...

After watching this one of my friend (and his wife) commented "we can't wait to get old" ...

Eight and Half

2004-07-06T18:03:00.000-07:00

Quick Facts:Director: Federico Fellini

Casting: Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, Rossella Falk ...
IMDB Link

I watched this movie long back and frankly speaking didn't understand single thing except few shots that were embedded into my mind. This time it was an entirely different experience.
Its a film about a film director who is trying to make a movie and really doesn't know how or what or why ... His internal tension gets aggrevated by the enormous pressure from the people involved around the movie as well as his own family and folks. Its about the confusion and helplessness of the film director (Mastroianni) and the interplay of expectations and his stereotype reactions to that.
It brings out quite stereotype reaction from each type of people associated and almost makes a mokery of all of those including the "intellectual" theory towards film making. But, at the very end, the decision of NOT making the movie is the real break away and that's the point where the stereotypes are burnt down. The director goes back to his own self and rediscovers his feelings and life which is so much inter-related with so many people and in some way it rotates and circles around.
Although it seems like he accepts the defeat towards his helplessness ... I see it as his triumph that finally gets his to his real feelings which ensures truth and nothing but the truth.
Few shots need to be mentioned ... The first dream sequence where he tries to get out of a traffic jam locked into a small car and can't come out of it. But after so much strugglethat's portrayed through the whole movie finally he sets himself free ... and flys over the whole city.
Probably each of us can identify to some extent with this film director guy with our daily hypocracy as well as struggle to hide or understand the truth. Its the pain of being "intelligent" or price of thought that we all pay ...
Its a landmark movie ... it grows on you as it moves on. It should be watched multiple times ... and can be read differently.
Its more like a modern poetry that portrays the internal complexity of human behavior in the backdrop of social and influencial power play. Its canvas is quite wide ... encompassing s wide array of contexts. It doesn't bear the responsibility of "explaining" everything (and rightly so) ... but just presents its commentary. Its an unique experience to watch Eight and Half.
Now I understand why it is known as one of the greatest movies of all time ...