IN A LONELY PLACE (1950) - ENGLISH

I believe, there is peace in a black and white noir film. 

Humphrey Bogart as Dix Steele played one of the most complex characters of his career and he pulled it off menacingly well. Hats off to Humphrey Bogart for the portrayal of the character that has a sine-curve of emotions. It goes up and down every now and then and I could not so expect what Dix would do all through the film. Even at the end, it surprised me that he was quiet. 

This is a hypnotic film as per me. There is an attraction power that made me sit through the film and at the end I thought it was just a breeze. So much happened in the breeze and it's tough to understand each aspect of it, yet it made sense. 

Why does one act in one way or the other depends on many factors and it's all psychological. Human reaction I think is triggered primarily by how the action is perceived and not necessarily by judging if it's good or bad. Reaction time for brain is so less that to show that we are present we need to spontaneous. In quest for spontaneity we loose our volition, our judgement and more often than not our senses too. 

I can simply put that for many movie lovers in the world, this film is a must watch. Nicholas Ray has done a fine job and full marks to him. I am going with 4/5 for this classic. 

आह में

साया था मेरा यार ज़िन्दगी की चाह में 
हमसफ़र को पाऊ में चल पड़ा इसी चाह में 
मंज़िल करीब थी पर मैं था तन्हा वहां पर 
करू तो क्या करू, अब जी रहा हूँ आह में

उदासीपन का एहसास

उदासीपन का एहसास न होने देना 
दूरी कभी महसूस न होने देना 
पास न हो हम तुम्हारे 
पर मिलने का आस न खोने देना

ज़ालिम

ज़ालिम केहता है तुम्हे ज़माना तन्हा जो छोड़ दिया हमें 
इल्ज़ाम लगाती है क़त्ल कि, क़त्ल जो किया हमें 
पर मैं तो केहता हूँ मरगया मैं कब का 
ज़िन्दगी जो बिताया था कुछ पल तेरे साये में
अब कोई कुछ भी कहे, हम आराम करते है 
साथ लेकर वो यादें जो तुमने दिया हमें

ZODIAC (2007) - ENGLISH

Man is the most dangerous animal - A line in the film. 

All humans are perverts - David Fincher.

Oh did Fincher really say that? Well, I did hear him in a video saying this and I do second him on that. About the line in the film, it's a line in the cipher by Zodiac. OK, this film is not about zodiac signs in any which way but about a killer whose name is Zodiac. There existed an animal with  the name "Zodiac" and he did murder in 1960's and 70's. 

This is a scene by scene heart wrenching film where one scene is difficult to handle emotionally than the earlier one. It's a drama that's heart wrenching and a psycho thriller that's like slow poison. We are made to sit and savor the poison and actually it tests a lot of patience being 2 and half hours long before it actually kills us.

Performances by Jake Gylenhall and Robert Downey Jr. stand out while all other played their part well. Fincher has a way of extracting great performances and he shows his skill through the film. Music played a part in the film and music was driven by the characters. Cinematography and production design were good and set the mood well. The mood was terrific all through the film and the variations of camera angles, the music, the emotions, everything came together in nearly every scene of the film. 

Thanks to Fincher for giving me Zodiac and a 4/5 for a good thriller.

36 VAYADHINILE (2015) - TAMIL

An important film in today's times.

"Do dreams have an expiry date?" a question asked by Vasanthi (Jyothika) is an important one and worth revisiting each time in our lives.

The film touches upon issues like women empowerment, cut off age for jobs, organic farming and a few other. The connection of the issues is connected very well all across the film. Kudos the director Rosshan Andrews for maintaining consistency in characters and sticking to a theme and also touching upon various issues. That's a feat worth applauding.

Jyothika is superb as Vasanthi, she has delivered a subtle yet strong performance in this film. The other cast was apt and did their role well. The production design was something I wished was better. I felt like watching a TV serial at times.

A 3/5 for a film that deserves a clap if not a standing ovation.

THE GODFATHER (1972) - ENGLISH

This epic shall be one of the best ever films made for a very long time to come.

To sum it up, it has nuanced characters, universal plot, terrific mood setting and sublime performances. Thus, it makes it one of the best if not the best.

I am happy to have understood this film early in my life (around 15 years back) and am also happy to have seen other films by this director and these actors. This film was made by a great bunch of people who went on to become great post release of the film.

The beginning is as spine chilling as the end. There are moments of surprise, jaw-drop and goosebumps. This is a pinnacle if I may say in elevating viewers emotions and making him involved along the journey.
If I can pick one scene that defines Godfather for me, it has to be the slow camera movement to the horse head. The screams, the cries, the vendetta still linger in front of my eyes for days after I finished my viewing.

Mario Puzo gave it in writing but Coppola took this book to another level. Francis Ford Coppola shall remain in the list of best directors just because of Godfather. Although, he made many movies later on, Godfather remains tall. Marlon Brando and Al Pacino shall be forever the gangster son and father duo that's impeccable.

I loved it and when I watch it again, perhaps for some 30th time, I will love it more. The pace, the style, the environment all are enviable. A 5/5 for this epic.

TOY STORY 3 (2010) - ENGLISH

I love these even today and I can play with them for long.

There is nostalgia in these toys, this was indeed my first animation film I can remember seeing in a theater. I adored them then and it was a WOW. Even now, the WOW factor is still there and it actually grew. 

Good becomes great at times and we start appreciating for being kids. We may be good as adults  but as kids we were more or less great. I loved it when I saw this in 2010 in a theater and when I saw this again, I loved it more. It has a flow and the characters are so brilliantly etched. From the cowboy Andy to the astronaut Buzz to the two potato heads, each one is very neat and actually have a role to play. There is a significance to each character and they come together as a team to achieve their objectives. There are many aspects I can learn from this film, should I take it seriously.  

Technically, as any PIXAR film this is brilliant. Toy Story was the first film made by PIXAR and even after 15 years in the third installment, the theme is still relevant. PIXAR had redefined the animation industry since Walt Disney started it. I would firmly put PIXAR and DISNEY side by side if ever I were to rate animation companies. PIXAR, although goes further in exploring universal themes, blending them with emotions that we as humans can relate to.  

I don't want to single out anyone be it the director, writer, animator or any actor in appreciating their work. This is team film and everyone did their job extremely well. This film will stand among one of the finest animation films ever made for a very long time to come. 

A 5/5 for this.

WAITING (2015) - HINDI

A gem that depicts a poignant issue.

It's a hopeful film on the hopeless state of many and eventually, everyone including me has to be part of at the end of our lives.

Life and death are just a second apart in each of our lives. Once we are termed dead, our names are forgotten, our memories are lost. We are termed as "body" and only the cremation/burial process will be on everyones mind. In such a cruel world, there are loved ones who love us and will miss us. This film is about such lovers.

Naseeruddin Shahs and Kalki Koechlin play the principal leads who wait for each of their respective spouses to be out of danger. They are full of hopelessness at the same they need to get over it and although with every passing day, hope fades away they fight. Also, commendable is Rajat Kapoor. The cast is superb and their performances are memorable.

The writing is apt and subtle. I feel that the director Anu Menon is one of the most sensitive directors we have. To touch upon this subject and execute it subtly is an achievement in itself. I thank her for making the viewers part of the journey and emotions by making them endure.

The two track of the film "Zara Zara" and "Tu Hai" will be on my playlist forever. "Zara Zara" is one of the best songs in recent times.

A 4/5 for a wonderful journey of emotions.