Week two - Films 8

Thursday, the 19th April - The second week of my resolution began with a Steven Spielberg directed film 'MUNICH'.

This film is about Israeli governments' secret plans of revenging the executors of  Munich Summer Olympics 1972 massacre. A group of 5 non-contracted  people are deployed to kill members of Black September group who planned the Munich attacks. Eric Bana plays Avner who leads the group of 5 which also include Steve played by Daniel Craig. The Israeli government takes revenge of assassination of 11 Israeli athletes who died in Olympic attacks.

The film is very intense. But it fails to give something different apart from its true story. Being a Spielberg film, Munich turns out to be predictable. Eric Bana delivers a promising performance but does not help lifting the film up. Even the reasons for Munich Olympic attack is not explained clearly, hence the whole purpose of the film gets diluted.

Although, this is not as great as Steven Spielberg's other films like E.T. or The Terminal, Munich is a film which you won't mind watching once.

Friday, the 20th April - The two Japanese islands Iwo and Jima played a key role during American attack on Japan during WWII. This film is about the courageous fight the Japanese soldiers gave to supremacy of American attack in order to protect these islands and prevent Americans from reaching their mainland. Director Clint Eastwood’s ‘Letters from Iwo Jima’ is a tribute to those soldiers. Eastwood has used the letters sent by Japanese soldiers to their dear ones from the battlefield, which carries forward the narrative of the film. It is one of finest war film in which wars appear like they were. Very unnerving!

Film focuses on many small things which convey big messages. Japanese men irrespective of their choice were forced to join army in order to fight and save their country. The double game American diplomats played with Japanese. As Japanese soldiers at Iwo Jima had no hopes for any help from mainland some of them chose to surrender only after surviving the worthless efforts. The most courageous was the General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, based on his letters this film was made.

Ken Watanabe who played General Tadamichi Kuribayashi and Kazunari Ninomiya who played Saigo a young newlywed bakery man sent to war are the heart of this film. Both have given splendid performances. The war sequences of film are astounding. Eastwood has made them real, especially the one where fleet of American battleships hits the Japanese shores. One can imagine the strength of US defence had back then in WWII.

Overall it is a good film where you need to be alert to read subtitles as it is in Japanese which makes it even real!

Saturday, the 21st April -  BEST PICTURE award winner film NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN at 2008 Academy Awards, is about three people whose lives crisscross. One of them is sheriff of a county, where a person finds a cash-bag with no takers who is followed by a contract killer to get that bag to its owner. Then begins the cat-mouse chase which ends in death for other two except sheriff.

Director duo Coen brothers - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen have once again given a runaway thriller. Javier Bardem who played the role of contract killer is fantastic to portray merciless killer. His always smiling face and calm composer during killing others is spellbinding. He is the hero of this film. Tommy Lee Jones as sheriff and Josh Brolin as money-taker have done their roles very well.

Coen Brothers have worked out a superb story where circumstances, conscience and fates of all three get entangled. No doubt they won Best Director award at Oscars.

But, to be frank, I did not find this film as great as Oscar winner. But, it is true that Oscars have been under fire for last few years because of their shocking results. One reason could be that, I watched it on laptop. But for sure, this film is enthralling to watch and worth for Javier who won his Best Supporting Actor Award at Oscars.

Sunday, the 22nd April - MASALA is the first Marathi film I watched in my resolution. It comes from a camp of Umesh and Girish Kulkarni who recently won National Awards.

It’s a story of a couple who is trying to solidify their position in a business. But due to debt from customers, they find it difficult to return money to their suppliers. When it reaches a point, they move from that place to other. And the cycle goes on till he decides to start making chakna (snacks used with drinks) with his brother-in-law.  In the end, he finds his line of making Masala and then becomes a businessman.

Despite having an interesting storyline, director Sandesh Kulkarni could not manage to keep the momentum. Till the very last half hr, no incidents occur in film which can create a good drama and give direction to the story. Few are there, but they are not that effective, mainly because of their scattered positioning. Film flows with the story, but cannot take audience with it. There are moments which create some emotion in audience, but they are very few. The similarity gauged between a scientist’s experiments and business is noteworthy. Also, film underlines the fact that any business runs on trust. The best scene which ‘touches’ audience is the one where the neighbour of protagonist finds the kick in the masala which is used to make chakna while drinking (snacks with drinks).

All actors including Girish Kulkarni, Hrishikesh Joshi and Amrita Subhash have done justice to their work.

Film appears very loose which does not make it exciting to watch. After watching it, we cannot say whether it is a good film or bad. Because, there is nothing to declare it bad and hardly anything extraordinary to say it a good film.

When you mix a Rocket Singh, Guru and Bunty aur Babli in proportion with a tinge of Valu, what you get is a MASALA. But, this Masala could have been a lot tastier.

Monday, the 23rd April - Critically acclaimed film (1959) HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR (Hiroshima, My Love) is a passionate love story of a Japanese guy and a French girl. Having a background of attack on Hiroshima, the film narrates their brief relationship. Both of them argue over each other’s memories.

Back then, it created a new type of non-linear narration with constant use of small flashbacks. Director Alain Resnais has done amazing job to compare both these character with each other’s hometowns and taking a similarity. She has lost her love who was a German soldier in her native place. Here, her situation is compared with the situation of Hiroshima after the bombing.

In the beginning this new style of narrative creates some confusion. A question arises in mind about what is going on. But as film moves on, we can easily connect with it.

This film got deserved a great applaud which triggered the Nouvelle Vague (French New Wave). And yes, watching a black-n-white film has some peculiar factor which holds audience’s attention.

Tuesday, the 24th April - So far this year, VICKY DONOR has film came out as one finest films which is true to its heart and allows audiences to be true to their feelings as well. It’s a story of a sperm donor played by Ayushmann Khurrana of MTV. It definitely a good watch film and hence I should not speak about its story. The title may create a doubt about the film and how it gonna be, but I assure you, it is a clean film which you can watch with families.

Director Shoojit Sircar has done a fantastic job to take this subject to audiences with an ease as audience can take it with same ease. The portrayal of Punjabi family and Bengali family is one of most enjoyable part of this film. Newbie Yami Gautam appears refreshing on screen but needs to work out acting. Also, it is indeed fun to watch Annu Kapoor as Dr. Chaddha who ruled the first half of the film.

But the show is stolen away by Ayushmaan. This being his first film, he is excellent because of the transformation he played from a brat to a matured husband. In addition to it, a song ‘Paani Da Rang’ written and sung by Ayushmaan underlines the talent this young actor has. He will make you laugh out loud and hold your breath as well.

Frankly, I did not expect Vicky Donor to be such a wonderful film. I expect John Abraham to produce similar magnificent films. For me this is the best film so far of 2012.

Wednesday, the 25th April - MILK is a film based on life of Harvey Milk who was America’s first gay man got elected to public office when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Milk fought for gay rights in San Fransisco for 8 years since 1970 till his death. The film captures the era of US’s most controversial elections which was led by a law for equal rights for homosexuals in US. After successful efforts, it was unfortunate that Harvey Milk was assassinated by Dan White, his colleague in Board of Supervisors.

 Sean Penn delivers yet another stand out performance just as he did in my favourite ‘I AM SAM’. The ease with which he has played the character is really noteworthy. He makes you believe that homosexuals are human beings who think, behave, work, just like any other heterosexual. Also, other members of cast have done good job which also includes James Franco of 127 HOURS.

Being a real life biopic, director Gus Van Sant has used some of the original footage of TV news in the film which makes it even realistic. I think, showing the bonding between homosexuals purely based on emotional terms was the challenge and director along with his cast have done it very well.

It would be really appreciable to see Indian film makers handling the seriousness of such subject rather making spoofs out of it.

Attempts to put Milk's life to film followed a 1984 Oscar-winning documentary of his life and the aftermath of his assassination, titled The Times of Harvey Milk, which was oosely based upon Randy Shilts's biography, The Mayor of Castro Street.

Thursday, the 26th April - WE BOUGHT A ZOO

Benjamin Mee, a father of two, is adventure loving person. Difficult times after wife’s demise force Benjamin to look for a change, for himself and his son and daughter. While finding a home, he comes across a home on a zoo land. In their first visit, he sees his daughter very happy after losing her mom. He decides to buy that place and that agreement includes opening a zoo as well. And then, he gets his team with a zookeeper to open it successfully.

Director Cameron Crowe has given a fun film which a family can watch together with enough drama, emotions, comedy and lots of lovable animals.

Matt Damon playing Benjamin has done a wonderful job in a role of a father. It was refreshing to see him playing such a soft role compared to his other action films. He looks convincing, especially when he finds difficult to interact with his adolescent son. All other cast members including Scarlett Johansson have done fine work. But the real heart is Benjamin daughter Rosie played by Maggie Elizabeth Jones who is sweet, cute and adorable.

WE BOUGHT A ZOO is definitely a good film with a good heart in place.

This is how my second week of the resolution went, indeed tough. Actually, I watch 3 films on single day to catch up with the date. Thankfully, it went well. It followed by 3 day visit to Ratnagiri. And due to no internet there, I could not post my this blog post on Friday. Sorry for the delay.

Tomorrow, it will be a holiday, 1st May. I hope I shall manage at least two films!