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Dr-Jung
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Dhrupad (1983)
They don't make'em like this anymore...
A documentary story told through images, poetry and the Dhrupad; a vocal genre in Hindustani classical music, said to be the oldest still in use in that musical tradition. Its name is derived from the words "dhruva" (fixed) and "pada" (words). The term may denote both the verse form of the poetry and the style in which it is sung. Its great to see documentary filmed in this style, letting the subject tell the story, in this case the subject is the lyrical mystic music.
Exquisitely filmed technically flawless sound and image matched by a dazzling array of authentic performance.
A film gem.
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Genocide and Hollywood cameos
A great film which brings to attention the events in Rwanda during the outbreak of civil war. However, this could have been a film about any number of recent conflicts around the world, where ethnic, tribal or religious differences have led to similar bloodbaths where the law of violence and hatred take over the streets and towns leading to the indiscriminate murder and mutilation of men, women and children on a harrowing scale.
The film gives just a glimpser of what it was like but in fact does not show the true horror and spare us most of the reality. We see a tiny slice of the horror but the actual figures of 1 million deaths leaves the audience feeling that we were spared - due to budget constraints I imagine - as this is a fairly low budget effort. I'm not sure how much the inclusion of Juaqin Pheonix and Nick Nolte add to the movie in terms of acting performance (as they both look like they played all of their respective scenes in a single day without learning their lines or penetrating their characters) but I suppose they get the movie much needed notice from the press and distributors.
Well worth the watch!
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
life Aquatic... little too static
This movie is a movie that looks and feels like it was thought up and pitched in a matter of 10 minutes. As a result, you have some beautiful ideas and moments - but largely no real emotional connection and narrative. Imagine you had to think of a comedy story , using all of your favourite actors and come up with the entire script in 10 Minos... that is what Life Aquatic feel s like.
Its worth watching for Willem Defoes portrayal of the emotional German and Bill Murray delivers a few fine one liners that stick in your mind for weeks.
But overall, its not a great movie and will not be remembered as such. There's not enough depth, or motivation to any of the characters or narrative - but i think that is the point here. Its German whimsy - and sometimes that might come off - but not this time.
Dinner Rush (2000)
Food for thought
The first thing that came into my mind when i saw Danny Aiello on the DVD cover of this great movie was "I wonder if this is a clever cinema link to Leon (Luc Besson)". In Leon Danny Aiello unforgettably plays the restaurant owner Tony who acts as crooked mentor and employer to Leon the hitman. It's very good casting because i think many fans of Leon will make this connection and see Dinner Rush out of the same curiosity to know what Tony's story was... and in a strange way the film can serve as an offshoot. It's a satisfactory meal for the mind as the film is set almost entirley in the restaurant and played by a fine cast helped by a good script. It's a good little low budget peice with snappy dialogue that leaves you guessing what will happen next...
If you liked Leon - you'll like this for different reasons but watch it all the same.
Equilibrium (2002)
Dont believe the hype
I saw this on DVD last night and was appalled at just about every aspect of this movie .. Basically the whole premis of the film is about as substantial as an ant turd... it's set in the future after world war 3 and claims that mankind realises that it cannot survive a 4th so comes up with the brilliant idea of surpressing all emotions through drugs and attempts the destruction of historuical works of art... this 'visionary' concept is policed by 'clerics' (remarkably like the Matrix in all aspect of dress, make-up and dialogue) and an army of leather clad 'soldiers' wearing black motorbike helmets... I mean COME ON!!!! This is a pathetic hash of The Matrix, 1984 and a cheesey sci-fi novel, that must of taken all of 5 minutes to think up. In fact the whole thing looks like someone has given a 10 year old about 6 million dollars to make a sci-fi movie.