Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)

Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)
Director: Ang Lee

It was a the second Ang Lee movie in succession; and it didn’t disappoint me one wee bit. Chinese/Taiwanese family living in Taipei and their brush with modernity has been so well captured. And the elaborate cooking rituals have been a delight. As you might have guessed, there is a lot of storytelling that happens through the food/cooking. There is a point where, one of the family member says, a lot of families talk, but for us it is through food (or something to that effect). Also, my memories are in my nose.

The story has an unexpected twist towards the climax, and it was a great movie to watch.

The Wedding Banquet (1993)

The Wedding Banquet (1993)
Director: Ang Lee

I have great respect for Ang Lee as a director and his works. I was spell bound with Sense and Sensibility and then the saga continued. His versatility is incredible. The Wedding Banquet, draws a lot of parallel to plots from Bollywood movies; however the subtle treatment of the subject is remarkable. It is also my first in depth insight to Chinese/Taiwanese culture and its blend with modernity.

There was a lot of humor in the movie, which I guess made it popular as mainstream.

Abu, Son of Adam (2011)

Director : Salim Ahamed
Cast : Salim Kumar, Zarina Wahab, Mukesh, Nedumudi Venu

Salim Ahamed’ s directorial debut.

I have seen Salim Kumar earlier in other Malayalam films but never, in a way that, I recognized him as a person with so much depth. Not that I really changed my opinion completely, as I feel, for a lot of actors playing a so called, strong character, requires them to look un conventional, and in most cases non glamorous. Salim Kumar was made to look un attractive, to an extent that you have come to believe the other part of what I thought the film tried to portray, the golden heart of a man, so ordinary. Ordinary for me not always should be un-attractive. Or is it? Well, since we have been talking about it, let me add that this trend is not just limited to Indian cinema, I can recollect quite a few Academy winning performances, which required an absolutely non-glamorized versions of actors as well. Sling Blade, Rainman some movies from the top of my head.

For those of you who have seen “Salaam Bombay”, if you remember Raghuvir Yadav, he played the part, to the core. I feel Salim Kumar lacked the conviction, he was appealed for audience’s empathy. He didn’t get it completely naturally, he begged the audience. Whereas as a character as righteous as him, doesn’t or wouldn’t care for anyone’s sympathy, he is beyond such feelings/need. Here I felt a strong appeal to the audience for a sense of acceptance. Why? What did he want, why did he want a re-assurance?

Since, I’ve been on this tangent, let me add to one more bit. Akbar travels? Where did that fit, why was the need to patronize it? It would have been so much better, had that been an fictitious one.

I liked “Ustad” (meaning Maestro/master), I liked the name. I liked the character and I like the way how the character was subtly dealt with. That was brilliant as per me.

I liked the cobbler, a really “no one”, no attempt to force at being “no one”. He played a “no one” so well.

But a subject dealt well, and moments so well captured, it was indeed intriguing and thought provoking.
It was great to watch this film at the 35th Portland International Film Festival at Cine Magic Theatre, 2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland. Nothing fancy at all about the theatre, but just pure cinema, nothing more.
*India’s nomination to Academy Award, 2011. Bagged a lot of National Film Awards.

I am, there, not gone yet..

The Beach (2000)

The Beach (2000)
Director: Danny Boyle
Cast: Leonardo Di Caprio, Tilda Swinton, Virginie Ledoyen

Tilda Swinton, I have seen her movies earlier, but not able to associate her with those movies now.

Travel. Explore. Lots do.

But when you travel and explore, with “what do I have to lose” attitude. Then it’s different. When three such guys get together, you reach/find ‘The Beach’. That’s just for starters.

It’s interesting to think how would you want to live your lives, if you could get to lay down the rules. Right from scratch. Only you need to keep the place, secret from everyone else. Scary a little, and idyllic and ideal to a larger extent. Welcome aboard, take a swim with the crew…

Blue Valentine (2010)

Blue Valentine (2010)
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Cast: Michelle Williams, Ryan Gosling

Blue Valentine. Ryan Gosling – Cool. Parenting, romancing, proposing, hitting on Michelle, he was absolutely cool…
Michelle – mysterious, can’t really get to know what’s going on in her head. In fact even till the end of it, not very clear idea of what went wrong…

Good script, good plot, you can pulse the tension, and forget all that there is in the media about its certification (it’s all hype). Ryan deserved better, any day. This is the second film (Kids are all right) where the cool dude was just spit out of the family. Felt bad both for Ryan and Mark Ruffalo. Are cool dudes out of luck these days. Well, these dudes def had a heart of gold as well.. No way were they a mess, a crack-pot. They had their addictions and weakness, who doesn’t….

Winter’s Bone (2010)

Depression, cold, pain, loss, meth, drug, poverty, illiterate, different sort of dialect of English, survival, gangs….

After certain point of time, all I wanted was to see was some sunlight, hear laughter and have a hearty meal!!