Leave Her to Heaven: A possessive love affair that creates a storm

Everyone wants to feel loved and appreciated at some point or the other in their life. Being loved is one of the needs of being human and in a sense it completes us and becomes our crowning glory. But when that love becomes obsessive and stifles everything we do it becomes a problem. A possessive love can cause suffocation in a relationship and lead to problems such as the ones presented in the 1945 film Leave Her to Heaven which was directed by John Stahl.

Richard Harland is an accomplished novelist taking a train journey to New Mexico for a vacation at a lodge. On the train, he meets a socialite by the name of Ellen Berent who is also to stay at the same lodge along with her mother and sister. The Berent’s used to visit the lodge frequently and have returned to scatter the ashes of their recently deceased patriarch, a job which Ellen takes up as her own because of her extreme attachment to him. Ellen soon realises that Richard has many resemblances of her deceased father and is immediately infatuated with him. Richard and Ellen fall in love gradually and she abruptly calls an end to her engagement with politician Russell Quinton while immediately announcing her engagement to Richard. They are soon married but not to live happily ever after as Ellen’s increasingly possessive love for Richard wrecks their married life and causes problems for them, Richard’s brother Danny, Ellen’s sister Ruth and the couples unborn child.

Leave Her to Heaven tells the story of a woman who is entirely obsessed with her father to the point of his death. After he passes, she imposes the same love on a man who resembles him in image and likeness to the point where she stifles his freedom by trying to keep him all to herself. It is hailed as a classic which is clear from the use of colour in an early period of film, scenic locations which play an important part of the plot and the course of the plot which lead to the gradual unnerving of a particular character which in turn leads to never before seen circumstances. It also creates a clear distinction of class and then breaks it down which it manages by creating a setting of high society families and eventually leads to their destruction down to a common point of criminal law.

The use of colour and long shots of scenic locations lend to the appeal of the film. While it begins seemingly as a romance, it eventually ends up being much more as it drifts into the throngs of drama-slash-thriller and has often been claimed to be film noir. Gene Tierney plays the role of the deranged Ellen Berent quite crisply as she leads the audience into her charms before unleashing a string of horrors upon the characters in the plot.

A rare to see colour classic in film noir, Leave Her to Heaven peaks as its characters fall deeper into their miseries. It has a charm which leads its audience in before gently shocking them, just as Ellen Berent does to her family and friends.

Death in Gaza: The reality of fear and loathing in Gaza

The crisis in the Gaza Strip is a well known conundrum in our modern world. There is a horrible violation of human rights which occurs in this war ravaged zone which is a well documented fact and it needs attention. The issue is, while most people are aware of the existence of the problem, they are unaware of the life being lead by the residents in the area. James Miller’s Death in Gaza was an attempt to provide a perspective on how day-to-day life goes on in the Gaza Strip.

The documentary mainly focuses on the lives of children who are living in the Gaza Strip. It goes deep into the war zone by following the lives of three children in the most terribly affected region known as Rafah, the southernmost sector which shares a border with Egypt. Ahmed is a 12 year old boy who is pro-militant and wants to become a martyr for the cause of liberating the Palestinians and giving them their own land. He wants to kill as many Israelis as possible and doesn’t mind giving up his life for the cause. Mohammed is his best friend who is also twelve years old and wants to follow in Ahmed’s footsteps. He is willing to follow Ahmed to his death as long as he can be with his friend in this life and the next. Najla is a 16 year old girl who goes to school and helps in her duties at home. She hates the Israelis because of the number of deaths in her family and wishes the worst upon them in the hope of having a great Palestinian state. The film also focuses on the views of the militants as they carry out their operations behind masks while talking to the journalists freely about their plans. During the course of the documentary, we are also introduced to the ideals of the society in the area. Every person that dies as a consequence of interaction with Israeli Defence Forces is celebrated as a martyr, a fate which was met unfortunately by director James Miller.

While the documentary sets out to have a neutral perspective, it can’t help but portray a biased opinion. It starts off by showing the children as they are; as mere kids who lead a difficult life in a war zone and are afraid. But then the film opens up the lives of the kids further as it shows their inner hatred for their oppressors and their desire to be pro-active by taking matters into their own hands. The documentary innocently shows the boys discuss about hurling stones at tanks and preparing their version of homemade hand grenades that could take out their enemies.

The harsh realities in this documentary show the problems that are being lived through on a daily basis in Gaza. The most shocking and gripping fact of the documentary is the notion that the people on screen are exactly as the audience, but they are twisted and manipulated by harsh living conditions. It becomes a shocking reality when the audience finds out just how bad it is to live in Gaza and how difficult life can be in a war zone and the fear and hatred it brews. The fact that the director was killed during the making of this documentary which was captured on tape, and even features in the film, is what adds to the tension of the setting and goes to show how insecure the people living there must feel.

The documentary was meant to be one half of an overall perspective; the second documentary that was planned was from the point of view of the Israeli children. Unfortunately, the second documentary was never made, and will never be made. But no one should miss the chance to watch this documentary and this perspective of the matter.

The Reader: One summer’s love that wrecks a boy’s life

The most significant events to have taken place over the past century have been the two World Wars; in particular, the Second World War which saw the deaths of millions of people and had the world introduced to a very serious threat of nuclear weaponry. What was most astonishing about the Second World War was the number of casualties, both military and civilian, a key cause of which was The Holocaust. It is because of this reason of being so dramatically impactful to human life all over the world that films made on the topics of the Second World War and The Holocuast can be immense.

Michael Berg is a divorced father and a lawyer. He shares a dicey relationship with his daughter who thinks he has always been aloof emotionally. The reason for this, as Michael recalls, is because of a heartbreaking experience he endured as a teenager. When Michael was 15 years of age, he met a woman called Hannah Schmitz. Michael was suffering from an illness and Hannah helped him home one day which was enough to form a bond for Michael to return to thank her. Awkwardly, Michael and Hannah being to have an affair with him returning to her house every chance he gets. Hannah, who is illiterate, enjoys listening to people reading aloud and has Michael read to her every time they make love. As Michael’s infatuation begins to increase to a point that he falls in love with Hannah, they begin to have fights which causes Hannah to promptly leave without informing Michael which leaves him heartbroken and emotionally scarred for the rest of his life. Years later, Michael is a law student on a field trip to a criminal proceeding in a court where he sees Hannah and discovers a hidden truth about her which he was unaware of in all their time together.

The film demands more from the audience in terms of patience and attention than what it delivers in terms of entertainment. It is a slow moving non-linear film which takes its time between the protagonist in the present and his flashbacks to his younger days. As a young man, Michael is played by David Kross, who performed the role admirably, and the present day character is played by renowned actor Ralph Fiennes who deserved much more screen time in this production than he was granted. Kate Winslet also put in a strong performance as the female lead in the film.

The most astonishing problem with The Reader is the fact that serious problems such as child sexual abuse and murder are brushed aside while the issue of illiteracy takes precedence. Not to say that illiteracy isn’t a problem that has to be dealt with, but the casual manner in which genocide and child sexual abuse are merely swept under the mat seems to be a hindrance with this film. In fact, the irony of the matter is that the film does point out how serious the matter is as one of the characters dramatically exclaims that people should have killed themselves knowing that genocide was being conducted in their country without being able to stop it, but the film does not really take a standpoint over the matter.

With a few good performances and a good story, the film is a good watch. But it should have achieved more with the non-linear style and if it had dealt with the bigger problems more appropriately rather than ignore them as the elephant in the room.

The Departed: A symphony between the mafia and police

Everyone loves a good mafia story, especially if it is done well. For a mafia based film, this requires a well written script which is matched with a great representation on film. We have seen many good mafia stories in the past but quite often they fall short of hitting the benchmark of being truly spectacular. This may be due to the fact that most people automatically put a gangster-mafia film on a pedestal, when in actual fact, it needs to be made well to become one of the ‘greats’.

The Departed is a mafia based drama film which covers two sides of a coin by portraying the atmosphere in both camps; the cops and the gangsters. Frank Costello is the kingpin of the Irish Mafia in Boston. He is feared in the city and receives tribute from every small and big business which helps him keep his reputation intact and run his side business of drug peddling. He takes Colin Sullivan under his wing as a kid and trains him to be an important asset for him. Colin eventually graduates from the police academy and joins the Massachusetts State Police to become an informant to Frank about how the police are running their investigations which helps Frank stay away from their radar. On the other side of the tracks, Billy Costigan also attempts to join the Massachusetts State Police on graduating from policy academy. Unfortunately for him, his family history is riddled with the who’s who of the city’s mafia which is known to his commanders. He is given the option of becoming an undercover officer in the mafia to work as an informant for the police about the mafia’s plans. Frank and the police both become increasingly aware of informants in their ranks and both try to smoke them out. The situation becomes grave for Colin and Billy as both try to keep their cover while exposing the other.

The Departed is a great film directed by Martin Scorsese from a screenplay written by William Monahan. This film which was released in 2006 was based on a 2002 Hong Kong film called Infernal Affairs. The Departed is a gem of a film which shows all sides of the coin of law enforcement. It goes into depth for the three main characters and shows their development as the story progresses with the police informant getting unhinged, the mafia informant becoming increasingly paranoid and the head of the mafia being calm and collected. It shrouds the character of Madolyn in mystery, the psychiatrist who carries on relationships with both the informants while being unaware of who they really are until the end of the film.

The film has a certain sweet symphony to it, especially during the main action sequence which sees a standoff between the police and the mafia. It shows both the emotions and the mental state of the characters as they chase down each other being entirely unaware of who they are but the audience knowing their true identities. Every close call for the characters in the film is a skipped heartbeat for the audience. The title of the film comes from the death of a subsidiary character and in hindsight, there is a bittersweet way in which it ties to the end of the film.

Scorsese has also taken the opportunity to pay tribute and show his audience what influences and drives him. The multiple mentions of Sigmund Freud and his theories show that Scorsese has respect for his ideas and put them in the film. He has also used a quotation by John Lennon which shows his background and interest in music. This is also reflected in the background music which involves music from Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, and others. The music was selected in collaboration with a close friend of his, Robbie Robertson, a member of the band called The Band and the use of the song I’m Shipping Up to Boston by Dropkick Murphys features heavily in the film.

Scorsese brings impeccable style to all his films. Although he does not have a particular recurring style in every one of his films, each film has a unique identity to set it apart. The use of music to coincide with the events of the film and the edits to go along with the music are a part of Scorsese’s style and can be seen evidently in this film.

The Departed is one of Scorsese’s best works. It is a must watch film for lovers of mafia-themed films and those who enjoy good cinema.

50/50: Laughing through a fight with cancer

The general mood that follows the onset of a terminal disease like cancer is one which is downcast and solemn. Whether being inflicted by the disease personally or having a loved one around you who has the disease, it casts a shadow every time your thoughts go in the direction of the disease. It is a grave illness and claims many lives in its different forms. So, ideally, humour would not be associated with cancer. But that is where the 2011 film 50/50 breaks the norm.

Adam is a very focused and hard working individual who plies his trade at a radio station. He believes strongly in his work and likes it to be perfect before it goes on air. He has a loving mother, who takes care of his dad day-and-night because of his Alzheimer’s disease. He also has a happy-go-lucky, morally-unbound best friend Kyle and a girlfriend Rachael who spends most of her time with Adam at his house but stays away from physical pleasures with him. Adam is a careful person; he does not own a car for fear of having an accident and never learned how to drive which leaves him dependent on his family and friends to escort him everywhere he needs to go. In this mix, Adam visits a doctor for a backache and is revealed to have a tumour in his back of a rare form of cancer called schwannoma neurofibrosarcoma. Adam’s world slowly crumbles as he faces the cancer and treatment with the help of his family and friends while learning who really cares about him and will stand by him through thick and thin.

The premise of the film is about a guy with cancer who deals with life as it is thrown at him. But what makes the film brilliant is the way in which it has been dealt. Although it would be presumed that any humour involving a serious illness such as cancer would be black comedy, the film deals with the illness and its seriousness with poise. The humour is subtle with the protagonist and his best friend being the main vessels. As the protagonist opens to his condition and accepts it, his friend introduces him to new ideas whereby he can take advantage of his illness to procure medical marijuana and get compassion from women for one-night stands. As such, there is no disrespect towards the illness and people who suffer from it.

Although Joseph-Gordon Levitt plays the role of the protagonist well, the show is stolen by Seth Rogen in the supporting role. Rogen is actually cast as himself in a script written by Will Reiser based loosely on his own experience with cancer when Rogen helped him combat the illness just as Kyle does with Adam in the film. A tip of the hat also goes to Anna Kendrick who has played the role of the relatively inexperienced and awkward therapist who coaches Adam as he struggles with his illness.

The film deserves accolades and may actually be worth a rating which is better than it has received thus far. At the very least, it deserves to be watched a few times.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy: A benchmark of the best that fantasy has to offer

Great films come by only once in a while. And great trilogies, or great film series, are even rarer to find. So when a great trilogy does come by, it should definitely be watched and enjoyed by everyone who loves films. Great film trilogies, or series, also become benchmarks for future productions, and that shows the true value of their quality. One such series is The Lord of the Rings trilogy which is an epic story with roots in high fantasy novels.

The Fellowship of the Ring: Frodo Baggins is a hobbit who lives with his fellow beings in their peaceful region called The Shire. Around the time that his uncle is to celebrate his 111^th birthday, a trusted wizard called Gandalf returns to their peaceful town and discovers that the ring gifted to Frodo by his uncle is the One Ring, a powerful magical ring which was created over 2,500 years earlier by a dark lord named Sauron. Gandalf tells Frodo to leave the protection of The Shire as Sauron’s servants, the Nazguls, would be pursuing him to retrieve the ring. Gandalf decides to consult head wizard Saruman the White and entrusts Samwise, a fellow hobbit, to travel with Frodo and keep him safe. Gandalf discovers that Saruman has pledged allegiance to Sauron by helping him build an army of a new breed of warrior Orcs called Uruk-hai. During this time, Frodo and Sam are joined by two happy-go-lucky hobbits, Merry and Pippin, as they continue their journey and encounter the Nazguls. In the fight, they are assisted by a mysterious ranger named Aragorn who promises to escort them to Rivendell where they are reunited with Gandalf. In a counsel of the races, it is decided that the One Ring has to be taken to the fires at Mount Doom to be destroyed. Frodo takes it upon himself to complete the task and is joined by his hobbit friends; Sam, Merry and Pippin – along with the wizard Gandalf, the ranger Aragorn, Legolas the Elf, Gimli the Dwarf and Boromir, a man from the lands of Gondor. This group forms the Fellowship of the Ring which sets off on their journey as they battle Sauron’s Orcs in the Mines of Moria and Saruman’s Uruk-hai leading to their numbers being depleted and the Fellowship being scattered across the lands of Middle Earth.

The Two Towers: Frodo and Sam continue their journey towards Mordor where Mount Doom is located. They are attacked by Gollum, a previous possessor of the ring who is consumed by his desire for it and wants it back. Eventually, Sam and Frodo overpower Gollum and have him guide them to the Black Gate of Mordor. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli continue their search for Merry and Pippin and arrive at Rohan where the King Theoden is under a trance put on him by Saruman and his accomplice, Grima. The king’s nephew, Eomer, accuses Grima of being a spy and Grima has him banished from the kingdom. Eomer leaves Rohan but travels and collects an army of loyal men. Eomer and his men kill the Uruk-hais who had taken Merry and Pippin as prisoners. During the battle, Merry and Pippin flee and enter into Fangorn forest where they meet Treebeard, the oldest of the Ents. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli continue their search for Merry and Pippin and confront Eomer who informs them of the battle with the Uruk-hais. The trio find the trail of Merry and Pippin which leads them into Fangorn forest where they are reunited with Gandalf. They return to Rohan where Gandlaf frees king Theoden from the spell he is under. Theoden decides it would be safer to move his people into their stronghold, Helm’s Deep. Saruman dispatches his army to Helm’s Deep to kill the people of Rohan. The battle at Helm’s Deep lasts for many hours as citizens of Rohan and an Elven army try to hold off Saruman’s forces before they are assisted by Eomer’s army in finally banishing the Urak-hai army. Meanwhile, Merry and Pippin try and eventually convince Treebeard and the other Ents to attack Saruman’s base at Isengard. Frodo and Sam continue their journey with Gollum as they are met by Boromir’s brother, Faramir, and his army of rangers. The army is attacked by Orcs and a Nazgul which leaves Frodo, Sam and Gollum alone to continue their journey.

The Return of the King: Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Theoden and his army meet Merry, Pippin and Treebeard at the flooded Isengard. They travel to Edoras where they split once again and Gandalf and Pippin set out to seek Denethor, the steward of Gondor. Against Denethor’s wishes, Pippin lights a beacon which signals for ally armies to be sent to Gondor as they fall under siege. Aragorn receives the sword Anduril which helps him prove that he is the heir of the king Isildur as he recruits the Army of the Dead who owe their allegiance to Isildur’s bloodline. Sauron’s armies lay siege to Minas Tirith. Theoden and his Rohirrim army arrive midway to provide support to the falling army of Gondor. They manage to hold off the might of Sauron’s army which is led by a Witch-king until Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli arrive with the Army of the Dead and help win the battle. Frodo, Sam and Gollum continue their journey into Mordor via Minas Morgul. Sam overhears Gollum’s plan to kill Frodo and steal the ring. He tells Frodo of this but Frodo banishes him after being convinced by Gollum that Sam only wants the ring for himself. Sam is heartbroken and leaves but returns to find that Gollum has led Frodo to a giant spider and left him paralysed. Sam defends Frodo from the spider but can do nothing as an Orc patrol captures Frodo and takes him to Sauron’s fortress. Sam rescues Frodo and they continue towards Mount Doom. At this time, Aragorn takes the remaining army from the war and lays siege to the Black Gate of Mordor to divert Sauron’s attention as Frodo and Sam continue their final surge to destroy the One Ring.

The film trilogy is an adaptation of a three volume novel which was written by J. R. R. Tolkien. Each volume of the novel corresponds to one of the three films which they are adapted and draw their name from. Although the novel is one whole piece with a continuous storyline from start to finish, the films are only complete as a trilogy with each individual film being only a part of the whole and standing as an incomplete story by itself. The trilogy is an approximate 12 hours in its extended edition (approximately 9 hours in its original theatrical edition) which is made up of 3 films of roughly 4 hours each, but in fact, the trilogy is actually like a 12 hour long film since the storyline is continuous.

The trilogy falls under the fantasy genre. In the literary form, it is an epic from the high fantasy genre; a fantasy story which creates a world of its own which is beside the real world. The trilogy itself is epic in the realm of epic fantasies. It also falls under the genres of action and adventure. It sets a bar in the world of fantasy which is not easy to accomplish for other films. It probably stands by itself as one of the greatest productions and film adaptations of a fantasy series ever made. It also has amazing elements of adventure with characters making long journeys with new discoveries and new additions to the plot. Even the action is brilliant with its amazing battle sequences.

The trilogy tells the tale of a long arduous journey from the point of view of the protagonist and also has subordinate stories running along which are about camaraderie and loyalty to one’s own friend or country, courage in the face of adversity, pride and honour in doing what you love and are required to do, the triumph of good over evil, and many more. The storyline has taken a great load of work and it shows. The characters in the trilogy come out splendidly, with complete sketches being visible at the end, after a gradual revealing of each character’s traits during the course of the plot.

The action sequences which include fight scenes, battles, chases, and more, are really well done. The battle scenes which are shot in the trilogy may be among the best ever produced in a film. The special effects and CGI work is extremely well done which can be seen in the battle sequences and with the coming to life of the character of Gollum. The performances put in by the actors have passion which brings the story to life beautifully. The score in the trilogy also creates a great feel to it and is used repeatedly during the course of the three films.

The trilogy is awesome. It should be watched by anyone and everyone just to understand and acknowledge how epic it really is. Without watching the trilogy from start to finish, it is impossible to really understand, praise or criticise it. Hence, watching it is a must.

Ted: A filthy-mouthed, pot-smoking teddy bear

Growing up is a really difficult process for some people, especially the adolescent stage which is hailed as the most confusing time. This becomes even more difficult if you do not have any really close friends to keep you company as you are figuring out life and everything around it. In order to cope, many people substitute real friends for things or made-up imaginary friends. Ted is a 2012 movie which picks up from a similar story.

John never had any really good friends who he could bank on. He was socially awkward as a kid and was not accepted by the bullies or even the people being bullied. One Christmas Eve, his parents got him a teddy bear for a gift who he was excited to have as a companion. Later that night, John wished his bear could come to life to be his best friend forever and the wish came true. Years later, John is living in with his girlfriend of 4 years while Ted, his childhood teddy bear, bunks in the same apartment. Ted and John are 30-something slobs who sit around and smoke bongs all day which makes John slack at his job in a rent-a-car company. John’s girlfriend is fed up of Ted and the laid back lifestyle which doesn’t let John and her move forward with their lives. She gives John an ultimatum of picking between her and Ted moving out. Around the same time, John is approached by an old fan of Ted who asks John to ‘sell him the bear’. John has to figure out his life and how to balance the ultimate conundrum of his best friend versus his girlfriend.

Ted is directed by Seth MacFarlane, the maker of the Family Guy animated television series. It is the story of an awkward kid and his bear, which has been brought to life. As the kid grows up to be a man, so does the bear and they continue to hang out together with the progression of Lego blocks becoming weed bongs. The film uses similar humour as that used in Family Guy. It also uses similar background scoring as the television serial and has a common voice which is dubbed from the television series, that of director Seth MacFarlane. In fact, the film acknowledges the similarities by poking fun at the fact that the voice of Ted is the same as the voice of a famous Family Guy character.

The background music is reminiscent of the scoring used in 90’s family films. There is also use of a few comedic sound effects like that done in family comedies of the 90’s. The movie seems to replicate family films, which may be from a satirical viewpoint, but it isn’t actually a family film because of abrasive language and adult content which includes innuendos and partial nudity. There is a sense of confusion in the film which takes it from being a comedy to a drama to a thriller-action flick with the use of a seemingly misplaced car chase.

The film is nothing great in terms of its comedy. It is only a mildly humorous flick which can be a little disappointing if anyone watching it has great expectations from the cast and crew.

Liv & Ingmar: A broken love story that inspired greatness

When verifying facts, to state that the fact has come directly from a very reliable source, we use the term ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’. To put it simply, the phrase implies that the information received is guaranteed to be correct since it is firsthand without having to fall under the scrutiny of any Chinese whispers. Straight from the horse’s mouth is the most appropriate words that can be used to describe Liv & Ingmar, a documentary about the relationship between famous actress Liv Ullman and highly acclaimed Swedish director Ingmar Bergman.

The docu-drama is inspired by Ullman’s autobiography titled Changing. After reading about the relationship between Bergman and Ullman, as told by Ullman, director Dheeraj Akolkar was impressed and decided to track down the source to dig deeper into their lives and find more information about the famous director and his muse. This voyage is what turns into the documentary titled ‘Liv & Ingmar’ where Liv Ullman speaks about her years with and without Ingmar Bergman, the lives they led and the happy and troublesome times they faced. The documentary is spliced with stock footage from home videos, old Bergman films and a few shots and scenes for dramatic effect, accompanied by an interview with Ullman and a substitute narration for Bergman.

To dig deeper into the life and nuances of one of the most influential filmmakers in the world of cinema, this documentary is a great insight. The theme of the documentary covers more of the personal lives and relationship of the two, eventually turning into an emotional rollercoaster as was the relationship between Ullman and Bergman. It only briefly touches on the aspects of Bergman’s work but the inseparable nature of their relationship means that every moment Bergman spent with Ullman eventually landed up being part of his inspiration for his great films.

From a completely impartial standpoint, it provides a deep look into two lives which were completely entwined, torn apart, revolved around each other gently and ultimately tied them down together as close as people can get.

The Angels' Share: A light hearted change of heart

What would someone do if they are given a fresh leash on life? A chance to start over after making a mistake with a fresh slate or merely a second chance after disappointing someone who is close to them; usually, anyone would grab the chance with open arms and try to stay away from anything detrimental. But when trouble keeps coming back after you it can be quite taxing and, as we witness in Ken Loach’s The Angels’ Share, it can be quite hilarious as well.

Robbie is a to-be father who is always caught on the wrong side of the law. From causing trouble in gang fights to run-ins with police officials, he has always been getting the short end of the stick. So when he tries hard to stay out of trouble with his pregnant girlfriend, he manages to keep away from a court trail for 10 months before he is dragged back in and confined to multiple hours of community service. In the community service group, Robbie meets a bunch of similar people who find it difficult to maintain stable jobs and stay clear of trouble because of the stigma attached to their previous prison terms. In this break, Robbie’s girlfriend gives birth to his son who he names Luke. Robbie vows that Luke will never have to suffer the same social stigma he has faced since he was a teenager and in his attempt to provide a stable future for Luke and his girlfriend, Robbie and his group of delinquents hitch a plan to make loads of money overnight at a whiskey distillery.

The Angel’s Share is a story of people trying to make it out of a rut to make a better future for themselves. In hind sight, there is a pleasant irony in the plot whereby they attempt to leave a life of crime behind by possibly committing a big crime in the bargain.  The film brings together a mix of characters including a person who is always indulging in brawls, a reckless dunce who might cause harm to society and himself, a vandal who holds grudges towards public property and a kleptomaniac. The course of the film leaves the lives of the three supporting characters shrouded in a mild sense of mystery while delving further into the life of the protagonist, Robbie.

Ken Loach brings subtle humour to the table with this film which has elements of slapstick and situational comedy. This 2012 comedy-drama film isn’t about hard hitting facts but an enjoyable viewing experience. It isn’t a feel good film but doesn’t fall short of bringing a smile to the face of the audience every now and then, and at a few instances, it is also good for a chuckle or two.

The film has a light hearted tone from the beginning until the end. It maintains its style of being an enjoyable film to watch from its opening frame right until the closing one.

Insidious: Attempting to terrify our non-physical bodies

One of the most fascinating theories of the ancient world is astral projection. Astral projection is an out-of-body experience which involves leaving the physical body behind to travel to higher planes in the form of an ‘astral body’. It is fascinating to think that in the modern world, in spite of science and the requirement of solid facts, there is place for belief in such ideas as astral projection; a form of living beyond the bounds of the physical body to experience more.

The Lambert family has recently shifted into a new house. The family consists of the patriarch, Josh, his wife, Renai, their two sons Dalton and Foster, and their newborn daughter. Dalton is an adventurous boy who likes to play with action figures and imagine new worlds as their battlefields. He does not lose a chance to explore new things and it is this curiosity that brings him to the attic of their new house. In trying to reach the light switch in the attic, Dalton has an accident and suffers a mild concussion. He goes to sleep that night as usual but unfortunately does not wake up the next morning. The doctors reveal that he is in a comatose state but medical science has no reason to explain his grave condition. Renai takes care of him for 3 months but finds it difficult to continue to live in the house which has an ominous presence. The family shifts houses but the hauntings continue. Finally, consulting with a paranormal expert, the family discovers that it wasn’t the house that was haunted but Dalton himself. Josh must take matters in his own hands to make sure his son comes back to his normal state safely.

The film begins with the story of an ordinary family who have just started their new life by welcoming a new member and moving into a new house. From there, the story goes into a tragedy of a mother taking care of her son before turning on its heels to become a horror about a paranormal condition of astral projection. The film starts decently and becomes quite interesting with the theories of astral planes and travelling beyond physical existences. The expectation of watching the characters take on what is called ‘The Further’ in the film, i.e. the astral plane where non-physical persons roam, becomes quite exciting. Unfortunately, the manner in which it has been dealt is quite disappointing. Towards the end of the plot, the horror elements in the film actual become quite ridiculous.

The film is not really terrifying. It does use a few scare tactics with good costume and makeup alongside quick cuts and sound effects, but that is as far as it goes. Overall, the film would have been more interesting if the astral planes were dealt with better and if the film maintained its consistency.

Queen Live at Wembley

When it comes to a music concert, all the elements have to come together on the day to have a perfect show. There are many small factors like avoiding technical glitches and excellent weather conditions, and much more, which come into play, but the main elements to have a grand success of a show are inextinguishable reserves of energy from the band, a well rehearsed set list and amazing audience participation. One of the best examples where everything has come together perfectly for a great concert is Queen Live at Wembley.

The concert film begins with visuals of the entrance to the stadium and shots of the stage and equipment being set up with a background instrumental track. Following this, Freddie Mercury walks out onto the stage with his microphone in his hand and drives the crowd wild by leading the band into their first song, the energetic track titled One Vision, which is followed up with Tie Your Mother Down. Here Freddie takes a break to speak to the audience and welcome them before continuing with a few more songs including the hit A Kind of Magic. Once again, Freddie takes a break from the music as he leads the 72,000 plus fans into a session of chanting for which he receives an amazing whole hearted response from the crowd. The band continues with the performances of classics Under Pressure, Another One Bites the Dust, Who Wants to Live Forever and I Want to Break Free before having an impromptu jam session on stage followed by guitarist Brian May’s solo performance of Brighton Rock which leads into the song Now I’m Here. The concert moves forward with a small acoustic set which includes both originals and covers. After this, the band puts in a stellar performance of Bohemian Rhapsody as they leave the stage during the third section of the song which has them singing in the style of an opera. During this bit, the video of the empty stage is shown with a translucent video and audio from the music video of the song. Just as the fourth part of the song kicks in, the band comes back on stage with fireworks, flashing lights and Brian May wearing a long white jacket as he plays the guitar solo followed by Freddie belting out his powerful vocals. This song is followed by the powerful and energetic Hammer to Fall before Freddie brings out a guitar to perform the last song of their set list, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. After leaving the stage for a few minutes, the band then returns for an encore which starts with a cover followed by the song Radio Ga Ga, a performance of We Will Rock You which has the audience full of energy and singing in unison with Freddie and a soul-riveting performance of We Are the Champions when Freddie goes backstage to return dressed in a crown and cape. The band then takes their leave as the instrumental of God Save The Queen can be heard with the crowd singing the anthem.

The concert shows the band in all their glory, especially vocalist Freddie Mercury. It has been hailed as one of the best concerts ever performed. Freddie Mercury brilliantly brings out his onstage persona to give the audience a great show which also allows him to engage the crowd. His pauses to speak to the crowd are riffled with mild humour as he treats his fans as friends by calling them his ‘beauties’ and speaks to them openly about matters of the band breaking up which were falsely reported in the newspaper.

The concert has some of the best performances by the band and is in fact one of the best live performances by any artiste. It is not only amazing from the perspective of the effort put in by the band but also from the full bodied participation by the fans in most of the songs and during the interludes. This concert is a phenomenon that can be a guarantee for goosebumps on more than one occasion.

Cosmopolis: A cross-city journey which takes a lifetime

A story should have a beginning, a middle and an end, but not necessarily in that order. These were the words once uttered by a legend of cinema, the French film critic turned filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard. What Godard was implying was that a plot can go around a theme and the story can be broken up to be used in an innovative style of storytelling without following a particular format.

Eric Packer is a high profile asset manager who is a 28 year old billionaire who can have whatever he wants. He lives aloof from the common man and when he decides to do something, he uses every resource required to get it done. This is the same reason that he decides to take a cross city trip to his favourite barber to get a haircut on the same day that the President of the United States is in the city and there is an assassination threat. Packer is adamant on getting the haircut at the same barber come hell or high water and sets out on the journey with his posse of white limousines which are equipped with his security personnel. Since he isn’t in his office, Packer conducts his business from his limousine which is set up as a travelling base of his operations. Along the way, he is visited by his business associates and many other people as he makes his journey across the city at a snail’s pace.

This 2012 film was written and directed by David Cronenberg. The inspiration for the script is derived from a novel of the same title as the film which was written by Don DeLillo. The film is very heavily dialogue based with little to no action being done by the main characters in the plot. Majority of the film takes place within the space of the protagonist’s limousine as the world carries on around him with traffic, riots and bloodshed.  The protagonist is oblivious to the world around him as he is successful in his own life, he gets what he wants and he doesn’t concern himself with the problems of the common man.

Going back to the words of Godard, a film should have a beginning, middle and end, but the order of which is not necessary. Quite a few films break away from normal plotlines to mix up the story for a desired effect. Unfortunately, Cosmopolis has no storyline. While the plot can be defined as ‘the story of a billionaire who takes a journey across town to get a haircut and meets people along the way’, the story falls apart since there is no real sense of progression and no cause-and-effect relationship which brings about the desired finale. Though it can be said that the story is a compilation of vignettes of meetings, there is still no relation between the individual occurrences to the final plot. The story of the film has no course and just hangs in the air with no explanations of why things happen and why the protagonist lands up in a questionable position at the end of the film. The dialogue orientation of the film and lack of action means that the pace of the film is exceptionally slow. The film practically makes no sense because the main focus of the film, the dialogue, happens without any real circumstance between characters which drift in and out of the plot at random intervals. The film breaks the cardinal rule of filmmaking – do not be boring. Although, arguably, it can be considered as the director portraying his views of the world through what he perceives as art, it is terribly self-indulgent and prophetical. It does not make arguments or highlight points of importance, it only shows the audience the world as seen through the eyes of the director. It is a film made for the sake of expressing the director’s opinions which must be accepted by the audience as the gospel truth while watching the film. The dialogue delivery of the actors and the minimal action that occurs is extremely boring. The lack of expression from any of the actors adds to the overall dragging feel that is emitted from the film.

While it can be argued that the film was made boring by way of intention on the director’s part since it is a reflection of Cronenberg’s views of the world, it would only be adding fuel to the flame that Cosmopolis is just a self-indulgent film which doesn’t care about its audience. It is one of the extremely rare instances when a film is just downright terrible and doesn’t deserve to be watched.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: It’s all about the blonde temptress – Marilyn Monroe

Looking back to the pop culture references of the past 50 or so years, it would be easy to say that the most universally accepted and iconic of all sex symbols has to be Marilyn Monroe. She was always portrayed as the dumb blonde with the beautiful figure who was easy to please and was wanted by every man that had the pleasure of having her in their sights. This exact persona was used by Howard Hawks in his 1953 classic musical film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Lorelai Lee and Dorothy Shaw are best friends and co-stars of their very own cabaret show. Lorelai is a beautiful blonde who loves men based on their wealth while Dorothy is a brunette who falls for every good looking man she meets. Lorelai is set to marry Gus Esmond, the heir to a large fortune which sparks Lorelai’s interest. However, Gus’ father is against the marriage and sets a private detective to follow Lorelai and collect incriminating evidence as she and Dorothy take a cross-Atlantic cruise to France where she hopes to ultimately tie the knot with Gus. As Lorelai vies for other options of rich men, Dorothy slowly drifts into the arms of a handsome and charming young man who turns out to be the private detective. Lorelai lands in a fix as a married man on the ship falls for her charm leading to unfortunate circumstances.

The film is considered a classic musical film which was remade from a classic Broadway musical. The star cast of Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell carry the film with their femme fatale identities shining through their onscreen characters. The film truly accentuates the sex symbol that is Marilyn Monroe, from every detail of her lips and talking to her shaking hips during dance routines. It was a big break for her since it was one of her first starring roles in a big musical production.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a light-hearted musical which spins together elements of drama and few comedic dialogues. All-in-all, it is a fun movie to watch for its standout songs and style which reeks of a classic 1950s Hollywood film.

Breakfast at Tiffany's: Falling in love with a beautiful and confused socialite – Audrey Hepburn

Most people do not find themselves in a face-to-face circumstance with a mentally unstable person. To come across a neurotic person is more common and produces unexpected situations, but this too is rare. So falling in love with a neurotic person must of course be quite a rare instance, and such is the story of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, a 1961 film which was directed by Blake Edwards and stars Audrey Hepburn as the protagonist in one of her most successful roles.

Paul Varjak is a writer who has stumbled upon a block for the past five years. His last published work was a book of nine short stories and he hasn’t had any luck with his writing ever since. But all that is going to change as he moves into a building with Holly Golightly for a neighbour. Holly is a young socialite who spends most of her days sleeping and nights out at parties with her high society friends. As the two form a bond of friendship, Paul soon realises that Holly puts on a completely different persona as a socialite, that of a confident young lady, and is completely different when it is just the two of them as she is a vulnerable, sensitive woman. Every interaction between Paul and Holly ends differently and Paul comes to terms with the fact that Holly is a confused and neurotic person he is falling in love with.

The film perfectly portrays the feminine beauty of Audrey Hepburn. From her style and manner of speaking to her dressing sense and confidence, the films hits the hammer on the nail when it comes to bringing her best foot forward. She has also put in a stellar performance as a neurotic, undecided individual while showing off her beauty which is absolutely mesmerising. The supporting role by George Peppard shows a patient man who enjoys being a voyeur most of the time while only playing a part in proceedings when they concern him. There is, however, a terrible portrayal of a Japanese character speaking broken English and stumbling like a fool all at the expense of igniting a flame and adding fuel to a fire of a stereotype for the sake of comedy.

The film’s execution has quite a few striking positive points. In the scene where Holly is informed of the death of her brother, she lays havoc to her bedroom and an overhead shot shows the mess in the bedroom which is a perfect symbol for the mess in Holly’s life. The low angle, almost-360 degree pan shot which captures Holly and Paul discussing her future in Brazil is well filmed. There is also meaning in the lack of naming of Holly’s cat which can be seen as Holly’s lack of having a proper identity for herself and thus failing to provide one for her pet. Holly’s adopted family name of Golightly can be seen as a tongue-in-cheek representative of her lifestyle as well.

The film shows Audrey Hepburn in a great light. Her performance of the song Moon River in this film is also quite special. The film’s biggest negative point is its racial stereotyping of a Japanese character which was played by a non-ethnic person. However, the film is like an old grandmother; although it is wrong, it is easily forgiven with the understanding of it being done in a different zeitgeist without any malice, and you can love them in spite of it.

Sherlock Series 2

Quite often, we are faced with a dilemma of sorts when it comes to sequels. When we enjoy a certain show or film, it forms a benchmark in our heads for its sequel and many-a-times it does not live up to its own standards according to our expectations. This causes the problem of not wanting to watch the sequel or series in fear that it will cause disdain for the film or television show. But thankfully, the second series of the British television show Sherlock has no such problem.

Series two of Sherlock starts where it left off in the end of the first series. The cliffhanger is closed and Sherlock is faced with a new case in the first episode which is titled A Scandal In Belgravia. In this episode, Sherlock is forced to deal with a dominatrix called Irene Adler to retrieve vital data in her possession which can leave top officials in Britain with a red face. The second episode is called The Hounds of Baskerville where Sherlock must uncover the mystery of Baskerville which is reported to be haunted by huge hounds that have killed the residents of the town in the past. The third and final episode of the series is titled The Reichenbech Fall where Sherlock must battle with his arch nemesis, James Moriaty, as Moriaty proceeds to wipe out all traces of Sherlock’s credibility and leave him with no other option but to kill himself in order to save the lives of his family and friends.

Series two of the instalment does not necessarily outdo the first series. It lives up to the expectations which were set in series one and establishes the characters firmly within the context of the 21^st century adaptation. It plays on the ideas established in the first series and takes them forward, for example, Sherlock continues to place his faith in his homeless friends and trusts their network in the London underground to bring him information he finds necessary. There is also a greater exploration of Sherlock’s character and an emphasis on him being human. It does not show Sherlock as being an absolute mystery but shows a side of him which is mortal and fallible. The series shows that Sherlock needs his friends and confidants around him. It also shows that he can be wrong and make mistakes, that he is not a person without flaws and that his flaws can prove almost fatal. On more than one instance in the series, his mistake or his inability to arrive to the right conclusion on time proves to be a problem to himself and other people around him.

The series places less of an emphasis on Sherlock’s observation and deduction abilities. While they do play a major role in his crime solving as he goes about being a consultant detective, the first series had a lot more of Sherlock showing off to the audience using his quick and delicate observation powers. The series also has a tongue-in-cheek view of the relationship between Sherlock and Dr. Watson. While it is apparent that they are merely roommates and work together, Dr. Watson shows a sense of concern for Sherlock and his wellbeing while Sherlock admittedly enjoys Watson’s company; during this time, numerous reports keep popping up questioning their intentions of living and working together.

Series two of Sherlock is probably one of the most awaited television series of the year, especially after a viewing of the first series. Written by the same duo of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, this series is very interesting and entertaining all the same. It is quite original with its 21^st century relevance of an age old character that is Sherlock Holmes.

Skyfall: For the twenty-third time, it’s Bond, James Bond

Everyone gets excited at the mention of the words, ‘Bond, James Bond’. The character created by Ian Fleming is well known around the globe and everyone loves him. The knowledge of sitting down to watch a Bond film is like an unmentioned promise of a thriller, spy-based action flick with tantalising special effects, death defying stunts, exquisite high tech gadgets and on screen romances with beautiful women.

Skyfall is the twenty-third instalment in the James Bond movie series. It begins with the opening chase where Bond and his female accomplice, Eve, are trying to retrieve a data card which has information of NATO officials who are working undercover in various terrorist organisations across the world. If the information falls in the wrong hands, it can lead to deaths of multiple officers and a waste of months of work conducted by espionage organisations. Eventually it does fall into the wrong hands, someone who is also infiltrating MI6’s security and able to breach their online systems. Bond must chase down this new foe, who is suspected to be someone from within the organisation, before he leaks the information on the NATO officers and before he destroys MI6 and all the people working for it.

The movie tears through the polished exterior of James Bond to reveal the man behind the spy as he takes on his latest foe, Raoul Silva, a former operative of MI6 who was burned by M and goes rogue on his own organisation. The film goes ‘old school’ bringing back Bond’s old Aston Martin from previous films as well as digging into the person that is Bond. The final showdown takes place in his ancestral home in Scotland which is in the marshes of the place known as Skyfall, where the title from the film is derived. The film reveals Bond’s lack of sentiment for his life prior to being recruited by MI6 when he was an orphan living in a castle on a large estate. The film also delves into his affection for M as not only his boss but also the closest person he has had as a parental figure.

The performance put in by Javier Bardem as the antagonist is both good and bad. He plays the role of a psychotic villain well but lacks when it comes to portraying the passion and anger of the character. On the other hand, Daniel Craig as James Bond is always a debatable topic since his portrayal of the quintessential English gentleman spy isn’t always convincing. The most consistent is Judi Dench in her portrayal of M as the head of the organisation who is at the mercy of the skills of her best trained operative for her defence.

The main problem with Skyfall is: it is not a Bond film. Sure, it does have the protagonist of James Bond and other elements which are required to make a Bond film; the MI6 agency, M, the vodka martinis which are shaken not stirred, the self introduction of “Bond, James Bond” and the subordinate characters like Q. But it lacks some of the key components like the numerous gadgets and the persistent presence of a Bond girl. There are women in the film who are shown as Bond’s love interests, but their presence is a mere in-and-out sequence, just like Bond’s romances with them. There is no continuous female lead apart from M. The film also lacks for a good script. The script is simple and transparent with Bond realising his enemy, chasing him down and having a confrontation in the end. Apart from a literal stab in the back, there isn’t much going for the script with a poor showdown at the end and just 2-3 action sequences in total.

It is a different take on what is normally looked at as being James Bond. Skyfall is about the man behind the suits with multiple insinuations of James Bond becoming old and being past his prime. It also celebrates the 50 years of James Bond in films with the return of his old car and the visit to his ancestral home in Scotland. It also looks at how the character has developed and the world around him has changed with mentions of technology taking over from international espionage and the change of characters which this film has witnessed and which future James Bond films will witness.

Skyfall is not a typical James Bond film. More or less, it is just another action flick. But the excitement of watching James Bond take the screen once again is not easily lived down.

Sherlock Series 1

Sherlock Holmes is without a doubt one of the most recognisable fictional characters of all time in the literary world. The character is one of the most well-defined and intrinsic characters to have ever graced the written pages of books and has now found its way onto the television screen through the scripts of the well known Steven Moffat, with the assistance of Mark Gatiss. Of course, recreating an iconic character such as Sherlock Holmes is no walk in the park and Moffat has done it justice in his own right with his modern adaptation of this great classic.

Each season is made up of three episodes, each with a runtime of approximately 88 to 90 minutes. The first episode, titled A Study In Pink, is the tale of multiple deaths, all of which appear to be suicides. Sherlock is under the impression that the suicides are in fact a series of murders and sets off on his hunt for a serial killer. The second episode is titled The Blind Banker and begins with a break in at a corporate office. A case of vandalism and later murder arouses Sherlock’s interest as he takes on the case to try and decipher codes that will solve the mystery. The third episode is titled The Great Game and is a revelation of Sherlock’s archenemy as he is left clues by a psychopathic bomber who has rigged up helpless people with explosives and uses them as a mouthpiece to send Sherlock chasing after and solving puzzles to ultimately lead to a final showdown and cliffhanger.

Sherlock is introduced to Dr. John Watson in the beginning of the first episode when he is in need of a roommate and Watson is looking for a home to move into. The script then revolves around the cases that Sherlock takes on as ‘the only consulting detective in the world’ as he helps Scotland Yard in and around their abode at 221 B Baker’s Street.

Sherlock Holmes is represented as a modern image of his classic being. He is an eccentric character, which is a trademark from other characters crafted by Steven Moffat. He is never at ease with living a mundane life which drives him to find new and interesting puzzles for him to solve. He is constantly on the lookout for excitement to keep his mind occupied and ignores any cases he believes he would be able to solve easily. He is a modern adaptation who uses the assistance of cell phones and the internet to crack down his cases and has a network of underground informants which includes graffiti artists and homeless people to keep him updated. Dr. John Watson on the other hand is a rudimentary character which goes along with everything Sherlock says and hangs on his every word.

Sherlock is portrayed as a character who is very confident and self assured with everything he does. He has a keen sense of observation and deduction which helps him solve cases and arrive at conclusions at a faster rate than most other people. However, he is portrayed as a character that is fallible and does not necessarily know about everything. His dependence on technology and informers is a nice modern touch to a classic character. He is brought to life by actor Benedict Cumberbatch whose only flaw may be during dialogue delivery when Sherlock cracks a case and rants about his findings. At times like this, it becomes difficult to follow what Sherlock is saying, but then again, that is a classic Sherlock Holmes trait; minus the gloating that comes with this modern adaptation.

A great viewing experience that brings a classic character to life in the modern world with relevance, the television series is no let down. In fact, as mystery television shows go, it may be one of the best available. It must go down as a classic.

The Hunt (Jagten): The hunt never ends

The hunt never ends. It can be explained in multiple ways but amounts to the same thing, the hunt never ends. It changes, it progresses, it regresses, but it never ends. So to speak, it’s like saying once a smoker, always a smoker. Once you are seen in a particular light, it becomes very hard to shake off that perception. A bad reputation catches on faster than a good one and is also very difficult to change.

Lukas is a divorced (or separated) father of a single son who works as a handyman in a kindergarten after losing his job as a teacher in a high school that shut down. He is only allowed to meet his son a few days a week and is trying to convince his ex-wife to allow his son to visit more often and stay a few days longer or possibly live-in with him. Lukas continues to perform the odd jobs at the kindergarten and stay connected with his group of friends whose favourite pastimes are hunting deer and drinking alcohol. His best friend’s daughter also studies at the kindergarten where he works who develops an infatuation for Lukas around the same time he starts a relationship with one of the staff at the kindergarten. Times get tough for Lukas as a small lie takes precedence over trust and friendship eventually creating havoc in their small town and, in particular, wrecking Lukas’ life in the process as he is just about to receive a second chance to reconcile with his son.

One of the most brilliantly crafted movies in recent times, The Hunt (Jagten) directed by Danish director Thomas Vinterberg has elements of a small town story which affects lives in a big way. It may not be a film that everyone can relate to owing to the gravity of the situation that is created in the story, but it does have a plot which can be reasoned with and understood. The film doesn’t overdramatise scenes in spite of their thought provoking content, it merely places emphasis by taking the audience through the motions of the thoughts and the emotions that the characters will be witnessing. It tells the story from the point of view of a helpless man caught in a scandal with nowhere to go and almost no aid by his side. It also highlights how simple misplaced facts or half truths can have a drastic affect on any one person’s life.

Vinterberg has a way of picking out one-to-one peoples relationships and show them in retrospect with the big picture. He takes the audience up close and personal with the characters that play an important role in the outcome of the plot and allows them to understand each characters perspective. His style provides the perfect balance from human emotions to light background scoring and interesting, mostly handheld, shots that provide an insight into how the characters are feeling. The role of the protagonist is played to perfection by the actor Mads Mikkelsen. Mikkelsen seems to be a perfect fit for the role since he mirrors the same persona as Lukas which is a sense of being responsible and hapless at the same time.

Vinterberg highlights the plight of a helpless man more than anything in this film. He also places a light on friendship and family, showing that one must be sacrificed in order for the other to grow. The plot also shows how people can be gullible and that one thoughtless action can result in the destruction of another person’s world as they know it. In the end, Vinterberg shows that perceptions, especially bad ones, are hard to shake off, and this forms one of the key messages at the end of the film.

This film may be one of the contemporary greats; a brilliant film which has come along after a very long time. It is an example that it is not necessary to have a large budget to produce an excellent film. It may not strike a chord with everyone since it is a little difficult to relate to and it may not challenge for the greatest of honours, but it does have an appeal of its own by bringing the audience into the action and providing an excellent film experience on the whole.

The Magic of Belle Isle: A family drama about imagination

Coming across inspiration isn’t easy. It is quite difficult to get inspired and come up with a piece of work which is sublime while we are troubled with everyday affairs that bring us down. It becomes difficult to carry on and quite often people try to move away from what they normally do to think out of the box and get creative ideas to supplement their work.

Monte Wildhorn is an accomplished writer who has lost his way with his gradually fading passion for writing. Years after his wife’s death, he still struggles to get on with life and copes by drowning his sorrows in alcohol with every chance he gets. It has resulted in him becoming sloppy in everyday life with a dwindled passion for his work. He moves into a small town called Belle Isle to gather himself and spark his imagination with a hope that he will be able to fuel his new writing project. Once settled, he is warmly greeted by his closest neighbours, a single mother and her three daughters. While Monte’s asocial tendencies make him uninviting to everyone in general, he finds a soft spot in the heart of the middle daughter, Finnegan, and decides to take her on as an apprentice to teach the art of imagination. He slowly finds his way back into writing and the hearts of the family as he warms up to life once again.

This film, directed by Rob Reiner and starring Morgan Freeman, is a family oriented story. It has its elements of comedy with intelligent dialogues from the protagonist and is a fair family drama overall. Morgan Freeman as the handicapped Monte Wildhorn is a good fit but produces no magic. As the story progresses, it delves more into a relationship between an old man and a young girl and fits into a cliché of how trying to help someone eventually leads to helping yourself; in this case the young girl helps the old man find his way in life. The slowly building love angle of the mother and the old man is quite appalling, especially considering her separation from her husband which has caused tension in her family which she is finding difficult to deal with. Overall, it’s a sloppy affair but just another Hollywood family script.

There may or may not have been potential for this film, but it doesn’t really show. It is a good option for a Sunday lunch with family, but no more than that.

Laura: A murder mystery for the ages

One of the great styles in cinema which is enjoyable and meaningful is the film noir. Even if a person is not a fan of crime, thriller and mystery, it is very easy to appreciate film noir because of its style and execution. A classic in film noir is the 1944 film Laura which was directed by Otto Preminger.

When a young and attractive socialite is found dead, Detective Lieutenant Mark McPherson steps up to solve the case. He meets her close friend, Waldo Lydecker, who is a famous writer/ journalist. In interviewing Lydecker he finds out about her on-the-rocks engagement to Shelby Carpenter, a man who she nurtured both professionally and personally. McPherson is also introduced to Ann Treadwell, a friend of Laura who is secretly in love with Carpenter. From the descriptions he receives, McPherson decides that Laura was an attractive and much loved woman. Slowly and steadily, over the weekend that McPherson investigates the murder, he falls in love with Laura and makes it his mission to figure out who the killer is, to the extent that he spends hours in her home where she was killed. Just as McPherson seems to unlock a few clues, an unexpected occurrence causes him to rethink his findings in the case and spins him around on his heels.

Laura is considered a classic of film noir. It employs quite a few elements which are considered to be indispensible to film noir, including a narration by a character, use of thematic background score which helps create a tension in the scene, use of toned lighting and shadows, characters smoking cigarettes and the general theme of being a film about crime; in this particular case, the crime is murder. It manages to create an air of hopelessness and suffocation which seem to be the conditions of the characters in the film, and it manages to superimpose these same emotions on its audience. It maintains its suspense through the plot and the mystery of the killer is only revealed in the finale of the film.

Laura is considered a classic and rightly so. Its relevance in this day and age may leave it at just above average, but it has a class of its own which cannot be ignored and underrated under any circumstances.