It's been around 1.5
months (or more) that I disconnected from the social media world (facebook).
Surprisingly there has been no withdrawal symptoms or any inclination to even
login to facebook. That's a really good sign, I could detach easily. Now that I
had additional time, I built in more things that I could do productively and
one of them was watching movies that I haven't watched before (and am positive
90% of you haven't watched either).
But didn't I log out
of facebook to save me time? That’s correct and that’s why I decided I wouldn’t
spend more than 15-20 mins a day to watch movies, which is quite reasonable
isn't it? But that still allows me 10 hours
of movie a month which roughly translates to 4-5 movies (1.5 - 2 hours
duration) per month. Which is 50-60 additional movies per year. I bet you never
thought spending 20 mins a day was enough; isn't it? ;)
Now let me come to
the main purpose of this blog. I thought I will also share with everyone the
names of the movies I watched, some insights around movie storyline and
importantly, should you watch it ? I won't really talk about aesthetics and
cinematography unless it's needed. Focus will be more on story and hopefully,
you will find it worthwhile.
Starting with
April……. Presenting the review of 4 movies I watched. Oh but first, this is how
I will rate them.
- Hang me: Prefer death over watching this movie. (People who have already watched it, my condolences to you)
- You are kidding: Watch this movie if you have absolutely nothing to do...and I mean even boredom is better. But you won't die watching.
- Yea - Ok: Can watch the movie one time. It may not wow you, but for some groups & people the storyline could be appealing and cause an impact.
- RocknRolla: Movie is awesome, go ...run ...watch it now. No excuses.
- O' Master - I bow to thee: Masterpiece, no words can describe the movie. If you don't watch this, you won't go to heaven.
Movies: [Caution: All these movies have some aspect of
nudity / graphical violence, please exercise discretion while watching]
- Antwone Fisher: This is a true story , a biopic about an American author & director by the same name Antwone Fisher, but it just chronicles couple of phases of his life. Movie begins with his life in US Navy, wherein he is shown as a very quiet but disturbed sailor. He aggressive, impulsive, picks up fights with his fellow mates and seniors. Post one such showdown with a fellow mate, he is demoted and also sent to a psychiatrist (Denzel Washington) to undergo an evaluation to see if he is fit for duty. The ever defiant Antwone decides non cooperation with the psychiatrist come what may, even at cost of his job. Will the psychiatrist be able to break Antwone, understand the root of his problems, his aggression and his deep rooted anger? Where does it come from? Did something happen to Antwone to him in his childhood? How will he deal with it? The movie gives you glimpses in his life and at some point you really think can he become normal? Can he forget and forgive? You will feel sorry for him and at same time you want to shout and say cmon man just move forward. But I guess it's easier said than done. Watch the movie and You will know what I am talking about.
Do I recommend to watch?: Yes, especially to
people who struggle to come out of the past / childhood incidents. You must
watch this.
My Rating : Yea -
Ok.
- Wild: This again is a true story, a biopic about an American author named Cheryl Strayed. Movie begins with Cheryl (Reese Witherspoon) on top of a mountain, taking off a nail off her bloody feet due to days of walking in the woods and screaming her lungs out, when her shoe falls in the valley. Then it flips back a couple of months when Cheryl takes a room in a motel to begin a 3 month long hike along pacific crest trail, all alone. Why is she taking this journey? You see glimpse of her life as she thinks about her life, her bereavement post her mothers death, her destructive behavior towards self , he anguish, she depression, basically you see her life along the journey that she takes. When you see those glimpses & her destructive behavior, it makes you get angry on her , hate her, sympathize with her and some of you may not feel like forgiving her, while some may relate to her experience and say mentally am like her or going through as she. Then the journey itself, which she takes all alone scares her as well as fulfils her. Many times along the journey she thinks of going back, but she does not. What happens at the end of that journey? Well watch and find out.
Special Mention: Reese Witherspoon is at her
best in this movie. What a performance...wow. Applaud!!
Do I recommend to watch?: Oh hell yeah.
Absolutely. Everybody has a past. Everyone goes through some emotional and
mental upheaval during life. Especially girls / ladies, if you something is
eating you up inside, some choices you made in the past, please please watch
this movie.
My Rating :
RocknRolla
- Stoker: This one is a psychologically disturbing movie. Really Disturbing and I don’t know how to explain this movie to you. But let me try anyways. This movie is about Stoker family. On her 18th birthday, India Stoker's (girls name) father Richard dies in a car accident. India is very attached to Richard and post his death, her behavior becomes weirder than it already is. Her mother Evelyn Stoker (Nicole Kidman) doesn't look too aggrieved, Richard's death doesn’t seem to impact her much and India (Mia Wasikowska) observes this. During that time a visitor , an extremely mysterious and good looking man Charlie Stoker (Matthew Goode) enters their house. He is Richard's brother, whom Richard never mentioned. Charlie claims to be a world traveller, is an excellent cook and at same time mysterious and because of this Evelyn is drawn to him. But Charlie shows a very special interest in India. Why? During that time, two women (India's aunt and their head servant) both who seem scared of charlie seem to disappear mysteriously. What happened to them? Did Charlie kill them? Who is Charlie anyway? India also starts developing feelings for Charlie, but what she feels is really twisted and dark. The movie itself is slow, slowly building the plot and in last 20-25 mins, movie takes a very disturbing and dark turn culminating in a violent climax.
Special Mention: Mia Wasikowska is at her
sublime best. No one could have portrayed that character better than her.
Loved a dialogue from the movie: Sometimes you
need to do something bad to stop you from doing something worse.
Do I recommend to watch?: Only if you are into
psychologically twisted movies. Else BIG NO.
My Rating: You are
kidding. [But for those who get kicks
from Psychological stories - RocknRolla]
- Calvary: This movie WOWed the cinema lover in me. A simple yet gripping story based in a catholic town in Ireland. Father James (Brendan Gleeson) is a priest in the church of the town. He is friendly, practical and genuinely concerned for people and towards his faith. During the Sunday confessional, one of the local man tells him that he was sexually abused by a priest as a child and that he wanted revenge. Now that the priest who abused him has died, he will kill father James next Sunday. Now Father James knows the person threatening him, but if he complains to the police it will be against the faith and against his duties as a priest. What does he do? He just has one week to decide. During that week his daughter also visits him. She has recently come out of bad relationship and attempted suicide. Father James has a duty to guide her. He also has duty to guide the entire town, but times have changed, really changed. People in the town mock him and church, some have contempt towards him and church and during that week someone kills his ill dog as well as burns down his church. What does Father James do? Choose faith or what is right? Clock is ticking for his death and the town would not care if anything happens to him. Watch the movie.
Special Mention: Brendan Gleeson is such a
natural actor and when you watch this movie, you think, are you sure he is not
a priest? I would have loved to talk to such a priest and a friend.
Do I recommend to watch?: Yes, no doubt. Watch
It.
My Rating: RocknRolla.
Well there it is,
the movies I watch in April. Would love to hear from you incase you watch any
of these movies. Let me know your thoughts and opinions. Also please recommend me movies to watch.
Till next month,
when I come out with next set of movies which I watched in May.
Ciao & God
Bless,
Chetan Pai.
Sanpada - 6 May
2017.
