shivdas99 Reviews

Rams (2015)

Not your conventional film...

[19 February 2016]

Rams rests on a rather uncomplicated plot involving two brothers whose relationship can best be described as antipathetic, yet is beautifully revived over their shared endearment of their sheep. Whilst the storyline is unimaginative, the distinctive appeal of this Icelandic film-making gem, lies in what I'd term 'the hidden plot'. Rams is not about the characters, it's about their relationship with themselves, their environment and each other. It is not about the script, it is about the sentiment and meaning which embeds the words. And it is not about the desolate and barren Icelandic landscape, harsh, grim and evocative, but instead about how that setting interacts with the people, the sheep and their lives. Rams is a film of acute symbolism. The sheep are the only sings of aspiration and hope, economically and somewhat socially- speaking, in this paradoxically alluring and heart-renting part of the remote Icelandic North West. The talented cast deserves a mention. Behind your Johnny Depp's, Brad Pitt's and Vin Diesel's, lies a class of unknown, yet more authentic actors and actresses. I get the feeling I am watching a documentary on their lives on the Discovery Channel. Refreshingly alluring, Rams is a film which will make you think and question.

The Room (2003)

Engrossing, for the wrong reasons

[1/10 · 19 February 2016]

Perplexed, unresolved plot holes, coupled with exceedingly desolate acting, to the tedious tune of a mundane, out of place score, The Room is quite possibly the worst film ever made. However it could also be the most prodigious fabrication ever to grace celluloid. Is Tommy Wisseau, the star, producer, director and egocentric narcissist behind this creation, an idiot savant trolling us all, or merely a halfwit dunce who can't distinguish the difference between creating a film, and the malodorous odour that vacates his anus? Technically-speaking, this 'film' is brimming with ignominious blemishes, from nonsensical editing to a complete absence of any sort of character development. The generic plot involving a woman cheating on her partner with another man is just yet another stain on this technically-dreadful piece of film making. Yet what draws the countless numbers of cult followers, the numerous screenings worldwide and extravagant publicity surrounding The Room? Is it the captivating and perplexing appeal of the outlandish and elusive Tommy Wisseau, whose origins lay unknown to this very day? Are the fans simply entertained by how implicitly bad the film is? The reason The Room may quite possibly be the worst best film ever created, is because every single aspect of the film, subtle or not, is characterised by the poorest of film-making standards, from the movements of the characters to the situation and setting of the scenes. Mr Wisseau could not have deliberately created a film this mind numbingly awful, as that would have been near impossible. Go see this, you won't regret it.

Vodka Lemon (2003)

A touching insight...

[7/10 · 19 August 2008]

First of all the cinematography in this movie is breathtaking. Not much needs to be done from the Director's perspective, as the sheer magnitude and grandeur of the snow mountains, glaciers and general landscape is overwhelming. But sitting amidst this breathtaking display of nature is a small, remote village left isolated and semi=ruined by Soviet forces, worsened by the recent emigration of the youth. What is left is a crippling, sad scenario. The movie generally is a cute glimpse into the lives of the mysterious. Yet it is a very simple movie, a rather basic, unwinding plot with a rather bland soundtrack to accompany it. But it's penetrating, contemplative and moving at parts.

The Idiots (1998)

Bizarre...in a good way!

[8/10 · 15 August 2008]

The Idiots is not just an ordinairy film, in fact in many sense it is not even a film in the conventional sense of the word. It is more an appropritately disjointed, multilayered insight into the lives of different personalities connected through this original, often dark and sinister cult. In fact so extraordiniary it is, it may prove to be distracting, complex and even disturbing at parts. I saw this movie with a friend, and i was expecting a complicated, emotionally dynamic and bizarre art-house film, and that's what it was... However i kept on thinking about it after viewing. In a way we all kind of relate to one person in the film, mostly in a less extreme way, and mostly when we are young, innocent and free of any kind of responsbility. Von Trier grabs this certain theme we can all relate to a different levels, and makes it into an unsubtle, often disturbing display through the network of rather different characters and their interplay. You can't take your eyes off the screen because it is so incredibly strange and thought provoking. It offers hardly any clues, and goes straight into the colourful lives of these individuals, and their sub culture. I final mention the last scene. This is a powerful scene in many respects. It is hard to watch, and a great ending to what is an utterly bizarre, but i feel educational film.

8/10

The Dark Knight (2008)

rightly rated, nothing more, nothing less

[10/10 · 14 August 2008]

I give this movie a solid 8, which by no means matched the undeserved hype it has inevitably received. This is a solid summer epic, which proves to be a clever and exciting sequel to the successful Batman Begins. Nolan provides a dark, sinister and human insight into Batman, concluding that the Batman needs Joker and the Joker needs batman as they are actually rather similar- insecure, complex 'freaks' as the Joker says. Almost everyone had high expectations before watching this, eager to see the late Ledger's widely praised performance on screen. The movie starts of tense, fast and straight to the point, introducing all the characters in their different contexts accordingly. Zimmer's epic score lifts the movie to great proportions, you can't take your eyes off the screen. The plot is by no means original, but does does give great justice to each character and the interplay between them. Then comes the acting.. Bale provides the necessary humanistic subtelties and mannersisms in Bruce Wayne's character. He has great screen presence. AS Batman his voice is slightly off putting sometimes, but that is a minor flaw. Gyllenhaal is a necessary step up from Holmes, providing a sophisticated and elegant fit to Rachel's character. Eckhart is the right man for the job of Harvey Dent/2 Face. He is a good looking man thus making the 2 face character even more disturbing to view. The juxtoposition of his face to the monster's is incredible. He is a good actor too, but in this movie he really shines, managing to play the confident, suarve and profressional Dent with great ease. Oldman appears consistently throughout the film. I do feel he has acted better in other films, for example Leon. But to be fair in this film he doesn't need to immerse himself incredibly in the character. And then there's Ledger. I didn't see Ledger in the movie, i saw the Joker on screen. And for that there's nothing more i can see. If i see somebody completely different i know then he has trascended completely beyond the barriers of acting. Just sit back and enjoy what is the true Joker. Sorry Jack. All in all a fantastic movie which is rewatchable. Not only is it entertaining but dark, sinister, thrilling and sometimes emotional

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Go for the experience, not the movie.

[7/10 · 23 January 2008]

What makes this movie such a thrilling experience is the fact you never see the witch or mystical force in the forest playing tricks on these 3 students. You only see the tricks being played, and not consistently...but every now and then so it doesn't become repetitive but rather well timed and when you least expect or want it. The viewing through the camera gives it an unnerving realistic edge making you feel as if you are in the forest too or watching a real footage recorded by real people being tested, almost, by a real evil. All these factors collectively make the movie engaging, but not necessarily good. It is not the mark of a great movie at all, with the factors explain before acting almost comes at ease with almost able to play the part...the viewers aren't engaged with the actors necessarily but the whole array of noises, images and the general vibe the forest creates and vibe resulting from the relationship between the actors and the forest and 'witch'. This means sometimes the viewer will imagine noises which aren't even portrayed in the cinema. It is not really a movie in the sense of character and plot development, but rather an experiment to play on the audience. Perhaps that is why it is only just above an hour and nothing much really happens. The ending, itself, is also deliberately vague, giving open interpretation to the audience. Go for the experience, not the movie.

1408 (2007)

In the same league as Jacobs ladder, the Machinist and Memento

[9/10 · 16 September 2007]

Firstly there are two main characters in this movie and the movie totally relies on these two main characters - 1408 the room and John Cusack. It is all about the interplay between these 2 central characters mentally and physically. So thank god Cusack acted to the hefty acting ability the nature of this movie demands.

Secondly what is the definition of a horror movie these days? Good looking teenagers being chased by a stranger from an isolated part of the remote country? Lots of blood and the occasional jump and scream? Yes. Because in a generation of hostels and saws no one gets scared or disturbed in the true sense of the word. Everyone is just disgusted or shocked because of the gravity of the torture and the deaths. There is no pharmacologically effect brought, only a display a guts. 1408 is a hopefully the start of a fresh wave of horrors.

Lastly i hope this movie makes you think. It is not just a horror but almost in the same league of the machinist, memento, spider and Jacobs ladder. The movie is dealing with a man whose lost his daughter, has a tricky relationship with his wife and has human qualities like arrogance and selfishness. We are dealing with a human here.

Watch this.