I confess (1953)

Languge: English

Actors: Montgomery Clift, Anne Baxter, Carl Malden

Director: Sir Alfred Hitchcock

The legend has it that it took 8 years for Sir Hitchcock to come up with the script for this film. This one is a drama involving a Christian priest. A man confesses to the priest about a murder he committed. The priest does his pastoral duties well, only to land as the suspect in the police net. He is later tried for the murder with the actual criminal testifying against him. In spite of all this the priest is acquitted for lack of evidence and then comes the mandatory Hitchcockian twist that gives an edge of the seat end to the movie.

Montgomery Clift comes across as a very serious priest, stiff, expressionless at times. I wonder if this is what they call ‘method’ acting. Makes me think, may be a James Steward would have been more enterprising.

And now for the customary Hitchcock appearence... This happens in the start, right after the credit titles. Sir Hitchcock is seen walking across the stairs.

The music director of this movie is Dimitri Tiomkin, one of the 3 music directors who did multiple films with Sir Hitchcock. Tiomkin composed for 4 of his movies.

Whatever said… This is a good movie, typical of Hitchcock.

Election 2 (2006)

Language: Cantonese / Mandarin

Country: Hong Kong

Actors: Louis Koo, Simon Yam & Nick Cheung

Director: Johnnie To

This is a sequel to the 2005 movie Election by the same director. A crime movie, it focuses on the election for the chairmanship of the Hong Kong triads. The plot is similar to Godfather III, where the protagonist wants to retire from the crime world and legitimize his businesses. But unfortunately he is drawn into it.

Another addition to the famous band of Hong Kong movies that focus on the triads. And another good on in the “Gangster thriller” genre. As always, beautifully done by Johnnie To and skillfully executed by the cast.

Good one, a gangster movie I would want to be part of my Hong Kong movies library.

Incendies (2010)

Language: French / Arabic

Country: Canada

Actors: Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette, Rémy Girard

Director: Denis Villeneuve

A story based on the play Scorched by Wajdi Mouawad. It was on the shortlist for an Oscar as the Best Foreign Language movie in the 83rd edition in January 2011.

A complex storyline about fractured relationships and how the death of a woman tries to fix those fractures. The first half an hour was ordinary (for me) and then the movie gathers momentum to become one of the best movies of recent times.

One should credit the playwright, Wajdi Mouawad for giving us such a wonderful story and Of course the director, Denis Villeneuve for extracting the maximum out of the story. Unfortunate this brilliant movie had to lose out to another brilliant movie, Hævnen / In a better world from Denmark.

The one drawback I can think of is the jerk I felt getting into and coming back from flashbacks. I thought the transition gave me a bit of a shock every time it happened, may be the director intended it to be this way. This little thing can’t take the sheen out of this superb movie.

Lovely movie, loved Grégoire Hetzel’s music.

Very highly recommended.

Dodesukaden (1970)

Actors: Yoshitaka Zushi, Kin Sugai, Toshiyuki Tonomura

Director Akira Kurosawa

This is Kurosawa’s first colour film. It is also a sort of comeback film for him after a 5 year break from films. The other interesting thing about his film is that there were 3 other Japanese directors (Kinoshita, Masaki Kobayashi & Kon Ichikawa) who coproduced this movie, to ensure it was made.

Despite this being a financial failiure, it was nominated in the Best Foreign Film category of the 44th Academy Awards. The visuals are amazingly pleasing and so are the “train” drawings that adorn the walls of the house of the protagonist.

Very moving film, at some point you feel like the characters are speaking to you. Especially the tramp father & son duo who live in an old abandoned car. He builds huge bungalows in his dreams, and he narrates the experience to his little son with passion.

It is a heavy story but very nicely made. The colours you see are pleasing and some great acting…

Lovely movie, a great watch

Source Code (2011)

Language: English

Actors: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga & Jeffrey Wright

Director: Duncan Jones

Written by: Ben Ripley

A nicely made Sci-fi suspense thriller. For a difference, the human emotions overshadow the Sci-fi-ness of the movie. And that makes this movie different. Jake Gyllenhaal does well, now we know two movies where he has ACTED – Brokeback Mountain & Source Code. And it is a well scripted and directed flick.

Good Watch, one of those movies I wouldn’t mind spending my money on.

Love in the time of Cholera (2007)

Language: English

Actors: Javier Bardem, Benjamin Bratt, Giovanna Mezzogiorno & Fernanda Montenegro

Director: Mike Newell

Cinematography: Affonso Beato

Based on a book by Nobel winner Gabriel García Márquez, At the end of the movie we get all the usual questions we have when a screenplay is adapted from a famed book.

1. Has the director done justice to the amazing book ?

2. Has he overtly tampered the original to get to his screenplay ?

3. Is it good when people make movies out of great books ?

4. What would have been Gabriel García Márquez’s reaction when he saw this movie first ?

5. Will this movie make the people who have not read the book run to the bookstore to get their copy ?

And we know the answers well. Never before have we been satisfied in unanimity with any movie that has been adapted from a book. If that were an overstatement, then I would sweeten it by adding “Most of the times”, if that would satisfy you !!

The same is the case of this movie. Unfortunately I still can’t say 100% that the movie didn’t do justice to the great book. Because I’m only halfway into the book. But till where ever my bookmark has gone, I’m only semi-satisfied.

As any movie, this one has its plus points. In my opinion almost all the actors are fantastic in their roles. Javier Bardem & Fernanda Montenegro (who plays Tránsito Ariza) are just fantastic, not to take away the credit from the other actors. The visuals are pleasing, one should definitely credit Affonso Beato who has manned the camera in this movie. The music is fantastic, it is pretty unfortunate that we know Shakira only for a “Waka Waka”. This movie is one example that there is a musician called Shakira who’s beyond just one anthem.

Overall I personally liked the film although I would have expected that I would love it.

Now, let us continue with our debate on the merits of making a film out of a great book.

PS: Legend has it that Gabriel García Márquez said "Bravo" at the end of the screening of the (unreleased) movie

13 Assassins (2010)

Language: Japanese

Actors: Koji Yakusho

Director: Takashi Miike

Produced by Toho company, which incidentally produced some of Kurasowa’s best. This is a samurai film based on a true event. This is a remake of a 1963 B&W Japanese movie of the same name. The film climaxes with a gala bloodbath, a war that lasts at least 45 minutes. Given the fact that the movie runs only 2 hours, I personally feel 45 minutes is a bit too much of a bloodbath.

But if you take all fights, harakiri’s and killings the film would run for about 30-45 minutes. One should appreciate the courage of the makers who have given us a 2 hour movie at the back of a story that only lasts half an hour. Nevertheless it doesn’t bore you.

Koji Endo’s background score is also commendable.

Good watch if you are okay with some “blood and gore”

Thank you Naveen !!

Under Capricorn (1949)

Language: English

Actors: Michael Wilding, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten

Director: Sir Alfred Hitchcock

It is based on a novel of the same name by Helen Simpson. This is a very un-Hitchcock movie, a love triangle. Unlike the other Hitchcock movies that draw you by the edge of the seat, this one allows you to munch your popcorn seated steadily. If I were to rate this among his movies, this would be right on top… If I were to count from the bottom.

Trivia: The signature cameo of Sir Hitchcock occurs right in the beginning of the movie. As the new governor addresses the people in the town square, he is seen standing along the crowd.

He appears again in about 12 minutes into the film. This time he is seen talking to 2 men on the steps of the Governor house.

Watch it if you are a Hitchcock fan and wouldn’t want to miss any film of his !!

Before Night Falls (2000)

English / Spanish by Julian Schnabel.

It is Javier Bardem all the way... Fantastic acting.

If you wanted to know what "living a role" is, watch this !! It has a distinct documentary feel to it (after all the movie is based on the autobiography of the same name of Reinaldo Arenas)

El Penalti más largo del mundo (2005)

Spanish by Roberto Santiago.

Comedy on football about a win & get promoted game.

Superb comedy even if you didn't know the language (Did Sonia Gandhi wait to know the language till she made a comedy of the Indians ??)...

Movie to remind that there are Wodehouse, Devan, Cho, Mouli or Crazy Mohan all over the world

Malena (2000)

Italian by Giuseppe Tornatore.

A beautiful film, in every respect...

Be it the cinematography or the mesmerising Monica Bellucci. I'm sure we have seen many movies touching this subject, of a young boy loving a older woman.

But this one surprises you !!

Hævnen / In a better world (2010)

Danish / Swedish / English from Denmark, Susanne Bier.

Cinematography - Morten Søborg.

Oscar winner 2011.

Amazingly pleasing visuals, superb storyline, haunting background score(particularly haunting when the Big Man gets beaten up in the Sudanese refugee camp) and a moving last 15 minutes makes you tick all the boxes for what a movie should be.

Sure winner, highly recommended

Hors La Loi / Outside The Law (2010)

Arabic / French from Algeria, Rachid Bouchareb.

It's about the struggle for Algerian independence... This would beat any Western / Gangster movie hands down.

Amazing !! I stil wonder why this movie lost out in the Oscar race 2011. Much recommended

The 400 Blows (1959)

French by François Truffaut.

A French New Wave movie chronicling a Parisian adolescent teen Antoine. You see a couple of chapters from your adolescent life here, beautifully made movie !!

Biutiful (2010)

Spanish by Alejandro González Iñárritu.

A completely non Iñárritu from Iñárritu which is more powerful than most of Iñárritu' !!

Avan Ivan (2011)

Tamil by Bala. I couldn't go past 40 minutes...

Think the law of averages has caught on to Bala. Makes you question "Yevan Ivan ?"

Babel (2006)

English, Alejandro González Iñárritu. Music won the Oscars 2007. Nice movie, great music...

The Japanese part could have been shorter & sweeter, that for me is a bit of a babble

North by Northwest (1959)

English by Sir Alfred Hitchcock.

Lovely thriller...

Watchout for Bernard Herrmann's music, the opening credit sequence (first movie to use Kinetic Typography or moving text) & also a charming young man called Cary Grant (Men can focus on Eva Marie Saint).

If you want to see Sir Hitchcock, he appears immediately after the opening credits... The fat man who misses the bus !!

Mediterraneo (1991)

Italian by Gabriele Salvatores. Won Oscars 1991.

Sometimes there aren't anything great about them, it is their lucky star !!

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)

Korean by Park Chan-wook.

You might have seen violence in films, in this one the director goes a step ahead.

He gives you some film (very little...) between violence

Cars (2006)

English by John Lasseter and Joe Ranft. Should have watched it about 50-60 times till date, thanks to Anirudhha.

What a great movie it is !!

The post race scenes towards the end moves me to tears everytime I watch

Cinema Paradiso (1988)

Italian by Giuseppe Tornatore. Oscar winner 1989. This movie does something to you, makes you feel the characters as though you are playing a part in the whole drama.

Morricone's music takes you to a facinating new world, especially towards the end of the movie.

One of the best movies I've watched till date !!

Very highly recommended

Talaye Sorkh - Crimson Gold (2003)

Persian by Jafar Panahi. Nice movie... But was it a bit dragging ? Could it have been tighter ??

Paul (2011)

English by Greg Mottola. In Sajan's words, "ET meets roadtrip".

Something bordering waste of time and did I really watch it !!

Cars 2 (2011)

English by John Lasseter. Animated James Bond on 4 wheels meets race cars of different shades on 3 different circuits.

It is like taking Swami & Friends out of Malgudi and putting them in Manhattan !!

Although the circuits are a visual treat, this one is not a shade on the previous installment

Day for Night (1973)

French by François Truffaut. Oscar winner 1974. Considered as one of Truffaut's greatest films, highly recommended

Ayneh, The Mirror (1997)

Persian, Jafar Panahi. Starts like a movie and progresses into a superb docu-drama chronicling a girl finding her way back home from school.

Very highly recommended

21 Grams (2000)

English by Alejandro González Iñárritu. Second in the death trilogy of Iñárritu... Another pulp fiction, amazing !!

Amores perros (2000)

Spanish from Mexico, Alejandro González Iñárritu. First of the death trilogy of Iñárritu...

Mexican Pulp Fiction

Il Divo (2008)

Italian by Paolo Sorrentino. Superb cinematography & great background score as any of his movies would offer.

This one is a biographical drama based on the life of the former Italian PM Giulio Andreotti.

I would have enjoyed the movie better had I known more about Italian politics, more than just Sonia Gandhi and the Bunga Bunga parties of Silvio Berlusconi

L'amico di famiglia (2006)

Italian by Paolo Sorrentino. Visual treat... Must watch for photographers, photography lovers and those who aspire to be one of the two

Le conseguenze dell'amore (2004)

Italian by Paolo Sorrentino. Super cinematography + good music + neat narrative = An amazing movie

Thank you Vinoo for the reco !!

Hello Cinema (1994)

Persian by Mohsen Makhmalbaf. Celebrating 100 years of cinema !! More like a documentary

Running on Karma (2003)

Cantonese by Johnny To & Wai Ka-Fai. Karma, Krime, Killing & Koncord - That's the movie in a nutshell

This movie has a good potential to be remade into Hindi / Tamil or it has been already ? Only the 2 item songs and 4 other songs (one a dream sequence in a phoren location) need to be added and of course make those monks jokers and say that's the comedy track

Aaranya Kaandam (2011)

Tamil by Thiagarajan Kumararaja. Before this all Noir's were from Kerala. Some were foreign, not only gelf but from other parts of the world like Hollywood, Hong Kong, South Korea & Japan !! Super stuff

Ajami (2009)

Arabic / Hebrew by Scandar Copti & Yaron Shani. A pulp fiction, superbly done... Has a documentary feel so it seems more realistic than a normal movie #SuperWatch #Movie

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956)

Japanese by Hiroshi Inagaki. Final Samurai installment. Great photography, good movie. A third part of a trilogy that doesn't bore you (compared to other trilogies) although the last 25 minutes drag a bit

Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955)

Japanese by Hiroshi Inagaki. The second of the Samurai Trilogy. More drama, less swordsmanship... The sword fight in the climax can be compared to the drum dance in Chandralekha, spectacular !!

Samurai I - Musashi Miyamoto (1954)

Japanese by Hiroshi Inagaki. Oscar winner 1955, first of the Samurai Trilogy. Toshiro Mifune sizzles as usual

Kandahar (2001)

Persian / Pushto, Mohsen Makhmalbaf. Good movie, great music

100 days with Mr Arrogant (2004)

Korean by Shin Dong-yeop. Romcom, watched it because a part of the Tamil film Modhi Vilayadu is lifted from here... Saran, the director is earlier remembered for lifting Serendipity

The Stoning of Soraya M (2008)

Persian by Cyrus Nowrasteh. A story very well told, makes you cry

Thank you Vinoo !!

Through a Glass Darkly (1961)

Swedish, Ingmar Bergman. Oscar winner 1962. Intensely superb, Must watch Great lighting & photography !!

Fulltime Killer (2001)

Cantonese by Johnny To & Wai Ka-Fai. An action drama typical of Hong Kong movies...

Oldboy (2003)

Korean by Park Chan-wook won Grand Prix at Cannes 2004. Brace yourself for a well made blood & gore movie

Rango (2011)

English by Gore Verbinski. Animated Western... But I'm reminded more of Yojimbo watching this !! Thanks Sajan !!

Taken (2009)

English by Pierre Morel. Produced by Luc Besson... Thriller thriving on sentiments, sex trade & some violence

The Last Tycoon (1976)

English by Elia Kazan

Think Jack Nichcolson was born old !!... Thanks Vinoo & Sajan !

Fanny och Alexander (1982)

Swedish Oscar winner by Ingmar Bergman. #Long, very long but intersting

8 1/2 (1963)

Italian Oscar winner by Fredrico Fellini.

Nina Rota's work has strains what to come in 1972

Amarcord (1973)

Italian by Federico Fellini, Oscar winner

La diagonale du fou (1984)

French from Switzerland. Watch it if you wanted to know what winning an Oscar within 64squares is

Still Walking (2008)

A slow and steady family drama, but you know slow and steady wins the race

What's next Sajan ?

Karakter (1997)

Dutch Oscar winner (1998)

Tropa de Elite (2007)

Portuguese from Brazi. Recommended for those who like a well rounded action movie

Kikujiro (1999)

This inspired Nandalala touted as one of the best #Tamil films in the recent past

El secreto de sus ojos (2009)

Spanish movie from Argentina won best movie oscars 2010 Thanks Naveen !!

Lemming (2005)

Amazing movie...

Thank you Vinoo, what next ??

The Counterfeiters (2007)

German Oscar winner

The Twilight Samurai (2002)

Amazing movie !!

Departures (2007)

The living eat the dead to survive, unless they are plants… That's from Departures, a Japanese movie that won Oscars 2008

Urumi (2011)

Urumi, super movie... But a bit too long. Could have been shorter and crisper

Sanshiro Sugata (1943)

Kurosawa's Sanshiro Sugata WOW !!

Scandal (1950)

Scandal at home got over... Kurosawa's 1950 Scandal, nothing new :-)

Why 24 frames per second ?

I have been watching some interesting movies, thanks to my good friends. And I have been tweeting and updating my fb about it. Quite a few people have asked me for a list of the movies I have tweeted about.

I thought this blog would help document things better.

To start with, I shall post all the twitter updates from @rajab here and then we move on with new ones.