The Motorcycle Diaries" visits this early part of Guevara's life. It could have been a brutal, intense, probing story of a fascinating personality, but unfortunately the film was directed by Oscar-winning soft-pedal Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles. This is the equivalent of getting Mike Nichols or Ron Howard to direct a biopic of Sid Vicious.
Watered down and concentrating mostly on pretty pictures, Salles guts Guevara's story, turning it into a Hallmark card.
For the film's first half, med student Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal) joins the slightly older doctor Alberto (Rodrigo de la Serna) on a beat-up, run-down motorcycle dubbed The Mighty One. Salles photographs The Mighty One scooting across picturesque frames, alternating with scenes of spectacular wipeouts. The friends meet beautiful girls, dance, smile and generally have a good time. The Motorcycle Diaries could be a road/buddy comedy.
In the second half, Guevara
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
REVIEW OF PULIJANMAM
filPulijanmam is based on the famous play with the same title by N Prabhakaran. The basic idea of the plot stems from a renowned 'Theyyam'(folk art of northern Kerala) named 'tiger turned Thondachan', which talks about a martial art-master from the lower caste, named Kari, who goes to the nether world of tigers(Tiger world) to get tiger nail and tail as a cure for the ruler's mental trauma. The film uses the myth of master Kari as a theme as well as metaphor to explore the current political and social life in Kerala.
The film tells the story of contemporary society through the eyes of an activist, Prakashan(Played by Murali) who finds it difficult for him to reconcile with prevailing social norms. Kari, the hero of the myth was brave and bravery, most of the time, involves naiveté. Kari was naive enough to fall into the trap of the ruler and sacrifice his human-life and take up the loneliness of a tiger. Prakashan is also brave(also naive) in his own terms to fight against a numb society and accept his loneliness which is mostly political in nature.
The film also addresses many social issues of Kerala, like non availability of drinking water, construction boom, revenue recoveries, the growing spiritual inclination of the people and communal tensions. Murali as Prakashan has again raked in a absorbing performance through out. The film is ably scripted with excellence by N Prabhakaran and N Sasidharan. Cinematography by K.G.Jayan is masterful.
Priyanandanan masterfully mixes a myth with current political life of Kerala, in this wonderful film simultaneously bringing up the politics of ecology, womanhood and social existence. Pulijanmam won the national award for best film(India) and is easily one of the best Malayalam films of the decade. m. Only it has no point to drive home.
Pulijanmam is based on the famous drama with the same title by N. Prabhakaran. The film highlights the struggle between oppressors and those who resist society"s exploitative forces. It stars Murali, Sindhu Menon, Vineeth Kumar, Salim Kumar, Sreeraaman, Samvritha Sunil and Irshaad. The film, produced by M.G. Vijayan under the banner of Amma films, was the director"s second film; his first was the critically-acclaimed Neythukaaran.
Director:Priyanandanan
Release Date:May 2006 (India)
Genre:Drama | Fantasy
Language:Malayalam
Subtitles:English hard coded .
TRAFFIC SIGNAL
Madhur Bhandarkar has a penchant for stories that expose different aspects of modern society. And he imbues his movies with an element of realism. After the hard-hitting 'Page 3' and 'Corporate', the unconventional filmmaker completes his trilogy with 'Traffic Signal', which attempts to take you into the world of people making a living on traffic signals.
The characters in the film are straight out of life: beggars, petty sellers, goons, prostitutes, drug addicts, gays and pedophiles etc.
One by one, the film takes a peek into the lives of these characters. But the story lacks a common thread. Instead of a linear plot, the story keeps shifting tracks for most part of the film. The assorted and disjointed subplots only make the first half of the movie a collage with little meaning. The movie picks up in the second half, after a murder. And the conclusion to the story is very unconventional by Bollywood standards.
Yet 'Traffic Signal' keeps the audience interest alive for most part of its running time. And the credit should go jointly to Bhandarkar and the actors for portraying the characters with conviction.
And some of the characters are indeed interesting. There is Silsila (Kunal Khemu), the manager of Kelkar Marg signal who collects hafta from those 'working' at the signal. There is Rani (Neetu Chandra), who sells traditional clothes at the signal. There is Noorie (Konkona Sen Sharma), a prostitute who solicits customers at night. There is Dominic (Ranvir Shorey), a drug addict telling his sad stories to everyone. And there is Haji (Sudhir Mishra), a local Mafioso to whom all the money collectors from signals give their share.
At many instances it appears that Madhur wanted to shock his audience by bringing forth certain aspects of lives of these people which laymen may never have known. For instance, the man who begs during day goes to see a movie in a posh multiplex at night. Or beggerboys buying fairness cream from their day's labour. Or a gay who offers his services to those willing to take.
The characters in the film are straight out of life: beggars, petty sellers, goons, prostitutes, drug addicts, gays and pedophiles etc.
One by one, the film takes a peek into the lives of these characters. But the story lacks a common thread. Instead of a linear plot, the story keeps shifting tracks for most part of the film. The assorted and disjointed subplots only make the first half of the movie a collage with little meaning. The movie picks up in the second half, after a murder. And the conclusion to the story is very unconventional by Bollywood standards.
Yet 'Traffic Signal' keeps the audience interest alive for most part of its running time. And the credit should go jointly to Bhandarkar and the actors for portraying the characters with conviction.
And some of the characters are indeed interesting. There is Silsila (Kunal Khemu), the manager of Kelkar Marg signal who collects hafta from those 'working' at the signal. There is Rani (Neetu Chandra), who sells traditional clothes at the signal. There is Noorie (Konkona Sen Sharma), a prostitute who solicits customers at night. There is Dominic (Ranvir Shorey), a drug addict telling his sad stories to everyone. And there is Haji (Sudhir Mishra), a local Mafioso to whom all the money collectors from signals give their share.
At many instances it appears that Madhur wanted to shock his audience by bringing forth certain aspects of lives of these people which laymen may never have known. For instance, the man who begs during day goes to see a movie in a posh multiplex at night. Or beggerboys buying fairness cream from their day's labour. Or a gay who offers his services to those willing to take.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
THE GREAT DICTATOR- REVIEW
REVIEW OF GREAT DICTATOR
RUNTIME;2 hr. 6 min
Genre:drama,classic,comedy
Director;charles Chaplin
The great dictator is one of the greatest satires ever filmed and Chaplin's most fully realized comedy.A beautiful blend of the usual Chaplin slapstick and pathos along with a very effective social and political commentary. Charlie is Adenoid hynckle,dictator of an only slightly fictional country of Tomania.He also plays a jewish ghetto barber.. Dual roles have been played very effectively.His script never gets too preachy atleast without an equal dose of satire.Hisapproach is to make people laugh as well as gain some knowledge too.The final monologue is very much effective.After a predictable mistaken identity episode,Chaplin as ths unnamed Jewish barber speaks of yhe horrorw of the Nazism.This climazes what may be the greatest performances in the history of the comedy films.It does not only make us laugh but also make us think.the film earned Chaplin well deserved Oscar nominations fo Best Picture, Screenplay and Actor.On the whole this is a very determined movie which deals with satiric reasoning.it makes us to laugh as well as to think.
Genre:drama,classic,comedy
Director;charles Chaplin
The great dictator is one of the greatest satires ever filmed and Chaplin's most fully realized comedy.A beautiful blend of the usual Chaplin slapstick and pathos along with a very effective social and political commentary. Charlie is Adenoid hynckle,dictator of an only slightly fictional country of Tomania.He also plays a jewish ghetto barber.. Dual roles have been played very effectively.His script never gets too preachy atleast without an equal dose of satire.Hisapproach is to make people laugh as well as gain some knowledge too.The final monologue is very much effective.After a predictable mistaken identity episode,Chaplin as ths unnamed Jewish barber speaks of yhe horrorw of the Nazism.This climazes what may be the greatest performances in the history of the comedy films.It does not only make us laugh but also make us think.the film earned Chaplin well deserved Oscar nominations fo Best Picture, Screenplay and Actor.On the whole this is a very determined movie which deals with satiric reasoning.it makes us to laugh as well as to think.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Fiddler on the roof takes place around 1910 in a small Ukranian village,it is an uncertain time.Unrest caused by the Pogroma(when Jews were driven from their homes),rising anti-Tsarist sentiment and the approach of World war one.The historical realities of the time do not simply provide a colorful backdrop to this story.A central theme is how the old traditions are disintegrating under the pressure of the world culture that is being reshaped by industrialization and mechanization.
Tradotion play very important role here in this movie.During his open monologue, which Tyve directs at the audience, the beleagured man likens living in Anateveka to being a fiddler making music while perched precariously on a rooftop.the songs are catchy. I liked most the character of Tevye(Topol). Being a compassion and rational father, he has played his role effectively. He is supported by other characters such as Norma Crane, Rosalind Harris, Paul Mann, Leonard Frey, Neva small etc. On the whole the movie is very interesting and catches ones attention very quickly.
Tradotion play very important role here in this movie.During his open monologue, which Tyve directs at the audience, the beleagured man likens living in Anateveka to being a fiddler making music while perched precariously on a rooftop.the songs are catchy. I liked most the character of Tevye(Topol). Being a compassion and rational father, he has played his role effectively. He is supported by other characters such as Norma Crane, Rosalind Harris, Paul Mann, Leonard Frey, Neva small etc. On the whole the movie is very interesting and catches ones attention very quickly.
REVIEW
DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER: NORMAN JEWISON SCREENPLAY: JOSEPH STEIN CINEMATOGRAPHY: OSWALD MORRIS Fiddler on the roof is one of the best movie which I liked most.It was inaugurably one of the most beloved music...
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