.. who cares if it did not win even a single oscar

Although its a movie about a cop chasing a criminal, the two focal characters are beyond the judgment of good bad evil. No matter what they are doing, how or with whom, I am not experienced, qualified or arrogant enough to pass a judgment on their actions. They believe in their karma and they are following it. If people whose lives they are touching can accommodate them good otherwise these two will let them go. One is doing it slowly and the other is prepared to do it instantly and he did so when it was time. To them purpose of life is not to just be born, populate and then die not knowing or feeling what they wasted their lives for. So pure is their pursuit that other emotions can confuse people. eg Love. They will not stop for their loved ones but their love is pure. Its a life story of two monks, who kill people, love a woman , get angry too.

Conjuring up two of the strongest characters ever to be portrayed on silver screen is a feat in itself. Hats off to Michel Mann for accommodating them in one story. In my opinion if you ask De Niro or Pacino if they want to switch their roles, they would happily do it, such is the equilibrium. Music one of the best ever. Breathtaking scenes. Some unforgettable dialog. When the movie starts look at the name of cast carefully, you will hardly find an actor/ actress as talented as Portman getting his/her mention after a dozen. Non of them out of place, non of them without taking the movie forward. Its like an art having numerous dimensions everybody will look at it differently. Its drama. Its thriller. Its love story. Its Action. I have seen it hundreds of times and yet I find this movie an endless space of brilliance. The discovery continues.

~ it was long overdue.

An American Crime

I have just finished watching “An American Crime”. I was stoned for good few minutes after the credits started rolling. The night was never so silent for me recently. I was too shocked to even think something. Had it been a fiction the characters shown in the movie would have been more believable but it was a true story. Truth sometimes is really stranger than fiction. In this case it was shocking. Gut wrenching. Then the first thing I did was to search the case history on which the film is based on. I realize it only now that they have shown the evil but not in its true darkness. The makers mellowed it down. And still the movie is enough to shatter all notions of innocence and humanity.

In today’s world a picture has been so carefully put in front of us that women and children are the living examples of innocence. Have you seen innocence being described visually or being penned down in the shape of a man? If there are any they will be far and few. There is a beast within all of us. Years of thinking over and questioning the social design at least gave me a little head start in that regard. So, I never give anyone the benefit or disadvantage of doubt. Yet these 90 minutes were enough to have me think again. A must watch film for the riveting story it tells.

I was forced to write a blog, my second in space of just two days.

The Wrestler

I used to follow wrestling in my teens but slowly the interest faded because of the drama wrestlers of today are putting, or being told to put in the ring. They have made wrestling a soap opera. I remember once talking to friends and saying “Is ekta kapoor directing the shows or what? “ I still make fun of my brother who is a wrestling fanatic. I can’t even imagine myself watching even 5 minutes of those shows. And such a guy says Wrestler is a must watch.

What magnificent portrayal of the life. As for the direction and details the films opens up the world of professional wrestling for the viewers, but it never ridicule what they do. What make the movie worth watching are the emotions that the viewer has to wrestle through. The film depicts the life of an aging superstar with such mastery that your heart goes out for him.

I see no one doing justice to that role other than Mickey Rourke. Not even close. Certainly and by far his best performance. If they start making scripts like this for a star’s comeback many dead will be willing to come out of their graves. One of my favorites. Not just its better than Rocky its one of the best sports movies that I have seen and I have seen many ;)

P.S. No more making fun of my bro.