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Reviews
The Wrestler (2008)
Another Aronofsky Masterpiece!
Being an admirer of Darren Aronofsky's (Requiem for a Dream, Pi) films, I decided to give this a watch before all the Oscar hype and whatnot. I wasn't particularly familiar with Mickey Rourke so I did not expect much. Now, don't get this film wrong. Just because it's about a wrestler does not mean the plot revolves around the sport or whatnot. This film is about life itself. Think along the lines of Gran Torino.
Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised and significantly impressed by Mickey Rourke's portrayal of immensely popular yet burnt-out professional wrestler Randy 'The Ram' Robinson who is past his prime and coming to terms with it. After suffering a career-stopping heart attack, he decides to retire and end his wrestling days for good. Slowly, his life spirals downward exacerbated by the strained relationship with his estranged daughter - portrayed by Evan Rachel Wood - and only comforted by a similarly burnt-out past-prime stripper - played by Marisa Tomei - he regularly shares intimate conversations and moments with.
This film is very straight-forward and gives the viewer a perspective of Randy 'The Ram' Robinson's life. Although you may not think so, I am vehemently sure more than a few of us have been through (or currently going through) this stage of life he's experiencing where it feels like the whole world is against you.
Extremely gritty, brutal, intriguing, jarring and unequivocally familiar, The Wrestler takes us on a journey about life itself and how important bonds and relationships are and how a slight deterioration in either can lead to a very depressing phase for anyone. The most peculiar and unique feature of this film is that when you watch it, you really feel for Randy. It's not overly emotional or unnecessarily depressing but more of a subtle and poignant rendition. To say that this film made my eyes watery is a shrewd understatement but to say that it made me bawl is an exaggeration. This is one of the rare films which is in between those emotional reactions. It's heartwarming in some parts while shockingly vulgar in others. Vivid and gnarly, this film should appeal to any moviegoer and for those who methodically analyze and dissect films, this one should be a definite keeper.
Darren Aronofsky has succeeded in banding Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood into a wonderful concoction of talent and stellar performances. I am quite disappointed that the Oscars jumped on the hype of Slumdog Millionaire instead of considering this film which I believe should have won Best Picture hands down.
Nonetheless, I'm very sure you will enjoy this film and highly recommend it.
Two thumbs up!
Felon (2008)
A Surprisingly Underrated Film.
I was really bored one night and randomly picked a few titles to rent since I just wanted to watch a no-brainer flick for once. Seeing that I've never heard of this film but that Val Kilmer was in it, I gave it a chance.
I was pleasantly surprised that it was an intense and very intriguing film. Granted, this isn't a Shawshank Redemption or a hardcore prison film like Blood In Blood Out but still, it drew me in ever so steadily. I agree that some of the acting was a little overdone but Val Kilmer, Stephen Dorff and Sam Shepard really shone in their parts. The only weak one in the cast was definitely Harold Primeau who looked thoroughly uncomfortable in his role as the caricature of a villainous, inhumane prison guard.
You can tell that the director went to great lengths to preserve the accuracy of this film with respect to prison life in general. Having watched prison documentaries on Discovery and NatGeo, I can say that this film does not glorify nor undermine the no-holds-barred lifestyle of survival present in the corrections system.
Val Kilmer does extremely well with his role as a convicted 'lifer' felon who has spent a significant part of his life behind bars. Stephen Dorff - who is thrust suddenly into this fish-out-of-water role after being convicted - is surprisingly convincing.
Ric Roman Waugh - in the DVD commentary - ensures that the prisoners in this film are real-life gang members or ex-convicts who were also technical advisors. They even vouched for the authenticity and realism of this film in representing prison life.
If you're willing to give this really underrated film a chance, go rent it. It's not a masterpiece by all means but still, a very good watch. I give it a crisp 8 for the courage of the director aiming for accuracy over needless 'Hollywood climaxes'. The plot and storyline isn't amazing but does the job well enough to keep you engaged for the full length of this film.
All in all, an interesting watch.
Outsourced (2006)
A Pleasant Surprise
I came across this film by chance as I was channel surfing during a lazy day at home. I sat down to watch it thinking it was simply an average, not-terrible-but-not-fantastic movie. After the first half an hour, I was pleasantly surprised at the fact that the film was actually NOT 'just another movie'.
This film demonstrates how a dedicated director, stellar acting by talented individuals and beautifully written screenplay can transform a movie into an extremely enjoyable viewing experience.
This movie evoked a lot laughs from me and left me glued to the television. It's not a big-budget film but I can honestly say that this film easily tramples other similar movies. This proves that you don't need deep pockets and mass promotions to create a classic.
For those film junkies like me out there, I HIGHLY recommend watching this. It fuses dramatic comedy with hints of romance and generally a feel-good experience. I salute John Jeffcoat for such a very beautiful film. Josh Hamilton, Ayesha Darker and all the other cast members from India blew me away with their exemplary performance. You will see no famous faces here but let me warn you, this is definitely a film that will leave you with warmth and all-around fuzziness with its unique flavor.
Excellent pacing, inspiring storyline and a catchy soundtrack mold this film into one of those you'll be sharing with your friends while having a good laugh here and there.
Two thumbs up! Well done, guys! THIS is the sort of film Hollywood should pay more attention too. Films such as this deserve more exposure and the spotlight should be concentrated on the talented actors/actresses involved.
Deja Vu (2006)
Dramatically Heartwarming.
Director Tony Scott has managed to accomplish an excellent film by casting Denzel Washington as the lead actor in this film and the mind-numbingly gorgeous Paula Patton as the prominent female character intertwined in a mysterious terrorist plot set loose by a right-wing extremist (James Caviezel). Val Kilmer's performance is above par as well and the elements of this movie go well with its stellar cast.
Tony Scott is best remembered for his films like Domino and Man On Fire (which also starred Denzel Washington). Having achieved success in those films, he pulls us into the plot of this film with considerable twists and unexpected occurrences.
The premise of this film is simple - a ferry laden with civilians and Navy personnel explodes just after casting off from the docks of New Orleans. Denzel Washington plays ATF agent Doug Carlin, a no-nonsense, determined enforcer who is stunned to learn that the explosion was a result of a bomb meticulously planned and planted.
Val Kilmer is an FBI agent who enlists the help of a more experienced Doug Carlin to review and investigate the bombing and slowly reveals to Carlin that they possess the technology to virtually go back in time and conduct surveillance prior to the bombing. Caviezel plays the right-wing extremist and is clearly suited for the cold-blooded, heartless role.
Eventually, Carlin discovers that he can save the life of Claire Kuchever (Paula Patton) who is simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. It may get confusing at times but if you've watched 'back in time' movies like Back To The Future and such, you should be able to grasp the logic and practicality of this film.
Without giving it away, the film manages to remain interestingly compelling and I consider it a rare heartwarming movie which is well-rounded in all aspects without being over- dramatic.
An obvious masterpiece on Tony Scott's part and the talented cast bolster this movie's appeal. A must-see if you're the type who enjoys psychological thrillers like Memento etc. A definite two thumbs up!
Iron Man (2008)
Decent Comic Book Action Sunk By Flimsy Plot.
First and foremost, I am an ardent fan of Marvel Comics and even though my favourite superhero happens to be Spidey, I decided to catch this flick as comic book film adaptations have always been a must-see for me.
As expected, this film draws its blood from the Iron Man comics from Marvel and Favreau directs this one beautifully. Downey's performance as the poor little rich boy Tony Stark is average to say the least and his chemistry with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) is awkward. However, this does not totally derail the film from its track of satisfying the Iron Man fans in the aisles.
The premise and basically the whole plot of the film is stupefyingly simple which in a positive way, does not distract the viewers from the actual action sequences but does pull down the quality of cinematography for this film.
Tony Stark builds a suit and fights bad guys climaxing with a furious battle against the main villain. Works for comic books but in this case, you'll probably figure out who's the arch nemesis from the very beginning which really kills the plot head-on. Not that there's anything wrong with it since Spider-man, X-Men and other comic book film adaptations worked around it fine but somehow, Iron Man doesn't quite pull it off.
Perhaps it's the stereotypical fact of Stark being an American and having to fight USA's number one enemy (read: Middle-Eastern Caucasian-hating terrorists). Or maybe it's how the arch nemesis goes overboard at displaying how he's the baddest of all badasses. Or it's just the fact that there's only a SINGLE part where Iron-Man actually fights bad guys before the final sequences with the main villain. I for one would have preferred Stark take on more bad guys instead of just having a major part of the movie focused on the drama of Stark's personal and corporate life.
The ending is particularly unsurprising so don't expect any shocking revelations. A cliff- hanger it may be but still, anyone watching could've spotted it a mile away.
In short, Iron Man is an average quality comic book film adaptation which is worth a watch but I doubt you'll be resisting the urge to watch it again and again like Spider-man or X- Men since there's really nothing much that hasn't been done by earlier films.
Granted, if you're a truly fervent Iron Man fan, it's a definite must-see but if you have no interest in comic book superheroes and the like, I suggest you give this one a rain check unless you have a passion for CGI action sequences and get a hard-on watching things blow up.
Iron Man succeeds at being a satisfying film but seems hurried and leaky. Do look out for Stan Lee's cameo as a, without spoiling it, playboy. That's a cute scene by itself since Stan Lee cameos in all Marvel Comics films. Get a ticket, munch on popcorn and stretch yourself when it's done because it's just another film based on a comic book superhero, nothing more.
Insomnia (2002)
Another Nolan Masterpiece.
Following the success of his sleeper hit Memento, Christopher Nolan has once again managed to achieve similar results with this remake of the 1997 Norwegian film of the same name.
The film is set in Nightmute, Alaska which is in perpetual daylight due to its (misrepresented) location above the Arctic Circle.
Al Pacino stars as Will Dormer, a burnt-out, detached yet dedicated and highly-decorated detective from the LAPD's Robbery/Homicide Division enlisted to assist the local police force of Nightmute, Alaska after the naked body of a young local girl is found brutally battered to death.
Hilary Swank exudes in her role of a fresh rookie detective who virtually hero worships Dormer and is anxiously excited at the opportunity of working alongside him. Swank carries off her role excellently as she struggles to impress Dormer while attempting to decipher his unorthodox methods.
Unsurprisingly, Pacino completely steals the show as he effortlessly portrays the deterioration of Dormer's mental and physical stability due to insomnia as a result of being unaccustomed to the perpetual daylight. Further exacerbating the matter is Dormer being methodically scrutinized by Internal Affairs for the suspicious discrepancies of his past cases.
Robin Williams breaks away from his usual comedic roles and thrusts the viewer into a rarely seen 'darker' side of himself with his portrayal as a shrewd, analytical yet deeply disturbed character who constantly mocks and plagues Dormer's investigations.
The seamless and beautifully woven plot of Insomnia will undeniably leave you unable to tear yourself away from the screen as the film progresses. The film manages to slowly unravel its uniquely articulate neo-noir nature interspersed with Dormer's tainted past steadily catching up with him and Nolan wraps his signature cinematic style around the thought-provoking storyline.
The moment you press Play, be prepared to be unforgivingly sucked into this film and grapple with the stellar quality of acting shown by Pacino, Williams and Swank. The surreal setting of Nightmute's perpetual daylight temporarily alleviates the darkness of the film but progressively shrouds the characters as the investigation intensifies and more unanswered questions turn up. Nolan peppers the film with incredible minute details which serve to entangle you even further.
If you're already a fan of Nolan's work like me, I have no doubt you will thoroughly enjoy this film but in the event that you're not, this will undoubtedly hermetically seal your respect for him and the one-of-a-kind 'feel' of his movies.
I consider this one of Nolan's finest works and I give it a solid two thumbs up and would highly recommend the average movie junkie to experience the mystifyingly addictive nature of Nolan's films by watching this brilliant masterpiece.
Back in the Hood: Gang War 2 (2004)
Investigating and documenting the dramatic increase of gang-related violence in an otherwise sleepy town.
Having watched the original documentary (Gang War: Bangin' in Little Rock), I somewhat anticipated the same quality and straightforward reporting in this 'sequel'. I wasn't disappointed but I was not too impressed either.
Marc Levin returns to Little Rock, Arkansas to once again experience the culture of street gangs which have grown and expanded their dominance at an alarming rate in the last ten years when the first documentary was released. He delivers quite admirably and stops at almost nothing to expose how street gangs have created a dangerous impact on the community.
Unlike the original film, this one does not outline the nature and origins of street gangs but is told in a retrospective and more mature light by former gang members or remorseful gang leaders. It also deals with the tremendous loss of life and how too many of the youths these days live a fragile life enveloped in fear and terror.
Levin also shows us the social and cultural damage gangs have brought upon this town by interviewing families who've suffered a loss due to gang-related incidents. It is truly saddening to see mothers break down into tears while relating their child's death yet remain thoroughly resolute in coping with it.
By no means is this a grade-A blockbuster documentary as it is meant to promote awareness or serve as a wake-up call to control gang-related crimes without utilizing any fancy cinematics or visual invigorations. The endless onslaught of facts a viewer can acquire makes this documentary an extremely informative one so I would recommend this to any knowledge junkie out there.
A fine piece of work, I must say.