The Class (Entre les Murs)

The Class (Entre les Murs)

It is based on a based on a semi-autobiographical novel by François Bégaudeau, directed by Cantet. Interestingly not only is the screenplay screenplay written by François, but also he plays the lead role...

While I was picking up tickets for the movie, the person at the counter told me; 'French Movie, with subtitles'...I nodded and said I know. Strangely I noticed a man standing near the counter, watching me carefully, and he came up and asked..what is the movie about? I replied it was nominated for the Best Foreign Langauge category..he insisted, what is it about...I didn't know, I rarely read reviews before watching the movie so as to not to walk into the theater with pre-concieved notions...I decided to put it something like this to the stranger 'Its about a suburb, in France'...

The movie does justice to what it attempts to potray. Even without any personal history being disclosed about the characters, by the end of the movie, you form an opinion about all. Just like teachers who walk into a class full of new students, form opinion by the end of the term. You hardly get to see what goes on outside the class; baring some other intersting conversations and proceedings at the school. Various shots reminded me of To Sir with Love, especially when François overlooks courtyard from the window..

There are so many nuances in the langauge, so many issues which get discussed, so many impressions you can make out of the students that you cannot afford to stray away from the movie...Its obvious François is not the best teacher who can tackle all questions and all situations tactfully, but he is not conventional. The questions are tricky, the situations are difficult, and he is no hero to wade them through effortlessly. I like that part of the movie really...

I was wanting to hear from so many other students in the class, but they hardly revealed themselves...Sans music, sans glamor, "The Class' stands apart as a great movie, to be remembered for years to come. A well deserved win at the Cannes...

I saw the man at the counter inside the theater watching the movie, not sure whether my response prompted him to pick the tickets and equally unsure if he liked the movie...But then, I enjoyed every moment of it..

Frozen River

FROZEN RIVER

I had never heard of Leo or Courtney Hunt before the movie got recognition at the Academy this year...I even read that the movie was shot in 24 days!!

The movie is not so much about illegal human trafficking, as much as it is about human lives..Its difficult to get through bad times; all of us have our ways of coping with it...But such times are also tests of character and strength. The movie show cases it well..

There are some moments in the film which makes you think, I like such attempts by directors...

Rachel Getting Married

Rachel Getting Married

My friend Soumik recommended me the movie, he usually downloads the movies and we exchange stuff over every weekend. He is an internet junkie; a very simple soul and great human being. You need to know him to know him...

Anne Hathway, well I discovered her as an actress in 'Devil wears Prada'...She has matured as an actress and she steals the show in 'Rachel getting married'...The movie reminded me of 'Girl Interrupted' in more than one way. I liked the movie a lot...the whole of it happens while Rachel is getting married. No complex storyline, no suspense, no mushy romance...yet so many things happen at so many levels...Of the trivial things which I liked about the movie is how they drape the 'sari'...I like the clumsy way they drape it..

If I were to say something, I would say please avoid watching 'Margot at the wedding'; its tremendous waste of talent...That's another movie which for most part happens at a wedding, such a brilliant cast and crew, but what a waste of a movie...Would love to hear from someone who liked 'Margot at the Wedding'; would like to hear what did I miss out on...

The Visitor

The Visitor, was an unexpected but an inspiring movie I watched recently...From the roll over I knew somewhere, that I am going to like the movie a lot...The characters, the format and the narration all very amiable. I fell in love with the plot; the characaters all of them were so lovable.

My flat mate is getting married and moving out; I just hope some one like 'The Visitor' walks into my life and its no more what its like now...

Planned to write a review for 'The Visitor', feeling so sleepy...After 14 hours at work the excitement to write the review diminished. Its on the way, the review, that's for sure

Revolutionary Road

Revolutionary Road

The movie title, is it give away, may be not. I was not quite sure of what to expect, but had figured out that it was about a couple who had real trying times.
The movies leaves you with a broken heart, and a thinking mind. There are so many things I could relate myself, the feeling of being, just another brick in the wall. As I am not quite fond of the costumes and hair styles from the 50's, it was hindering from enjoying the movie to the fullest.
Some how I felt, I too would have been as helpless as Leo, not knowing what Kate was thinking all this while...
A great drama, would definitely pick the book...

Movie Reviews

The Wrestler

When I used to think of Mickey Rourke, I used end up thinking about his roles as a debonair in
9 1/2 weeks, Wild Orchid...But then 'The Wrestler' was different.
If you ask me 'The Wrestler' is predictable, may be with a lot of cliche's and quite ordinary. However, rising above all that, the movie is beautiful. I fell in love instantly with the characters played by Rourke and Marisa. There is not much background given, no elaborate shots, no elaborate climax, but the movie has a charm. I was quite smitten by it.
Its the story in a way about a comeback, for the the wrestler and Mickey too (in real life).


The Reader

I liked the movie a lot. Kate Winslet steals the show in and out. I do not know how to put it, what to say on what I liked so much about the movie. Its been a long time I watched the movie which was kind of complete for me, a tight script, unpredictable, books, a good narrative, brilliant performances and like so many classics, the strong yearning by the protagonists to be together....
Ralph, reminded me so much from his role from 'Constant Gardener'...
Talking about the Reader, I feel that 'the movies based on Concentration Camps' receive a world wide acclaim with the critics. Its so true that so much happened during those times, that still so much that can be said about it. On a more lighter note, if you are aspiring to make it to the Academy Awards, be sure stick to the ordeals of Concentration for a sure shot nomination..


Gran Torino

Thanks to one of my friends from Facebook who recommended the movie; I discovored it was indeed a great one. And then came the Golden Globe nomination for the movie. . Its just story that happens in any one's backyard, yet its so powerful, so subtle. Clint Eastwood gives a brilliant performance, and the script helps you stay on with it from start to finish. Its quite unpredicatble, its also about integrity and I am quite a fan of that virtue myself.