Paradise Faith (2012) - Drama

The second part of Austrian director Ulrich Seidl’s Paradise Trilogy, first one was about Love in which a middle aged lady from the same family travelled to Kenya to find love. This one talks about the second lady who is trying to promote Catholicism throughout the Austria. Its heartening to see her going door to door to propagate her religion that too while she was on vacation from her X Ray Assistants job. The kind of people she meets, some do open the doors for her and listen to her, and some abruptly turn her away, yet she keeps doing what she loves doing. Her dedication to Jesus is simply amazing – it was too good to see so many photographs, crosses and even a framed picture of “Pope” on her kitchen wall. She too had a dark past for which she keeps punishing herself and the way she says “Thank you Jesus” after is totally mind blowing stuff. The way she takes her own life like a challenge is something outstanding – even while her estranged husband who is paraplegic below waist returns – she accepts him back and how it turns out is another shocker. I am not an atheist even then it’s too hard for me to go to a temple and join my hands in prayer in front of a statue – although I never stop my family from doing what they want to do but I never promote my religion either. The one thing that I totally loved about this movie is – it never goes judgmental but all we see is the lady’s dedication to her god and religion. It indeed is a little bit crazy, even violent and bizarre too – some scenes are over done but I guess that’s how Ulrich Seidl likes his movies and it successfully shakes the audience inside out. He indeed made me feel for the characters, it’s simply amazing to see – to what extent a person can go. I will rate it a damn good 4/5 with a must watch recommendation to all as I myself look forward to the concluding part “Paradise Hope” this weekend.

Blue Caprice (2013) - Drama in real life

Another movie inspired by the real life events as it happened in 2002 in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC. I had no idea what the movie was all about and it was such a haunting experience watching it as a movie that I just can’t imagine how it would be in real life. In today’s time it is so common to read about random shootings especially in USA – almost every other week some psycho will pick up a gun and start shooting innocent people just like that – unfreaking believable. Two men decide to take a revenge on the world just like that – start killing people randomly – whoever wherever – it was heartening to see why they do it and how it was all done. Movie’s background score is equally haunting and one thing that will always be engraved in my mind about this particular movie is the sound of that sniper gun – oh my god – terrific was the way it’s all shot. What goes through the mind of a killer when the start killing people in cold blood – I have no words to explain. How they bloody capture the innocent teenagers and brainwash them to do all that is totally mind-blowing. For a moment I thought otherway round that he is going to help the poor kid by taking care of him and will put him to good work or something – what they end up doing is something you’ve got to watch the movie for. The planning, preparation, training and final execution that too with no expression as if they weren’t doing anything abnormal. I will definitely give it a good 3.5/5 rating – although it isn’t an easy watch but is definitely a must watch.

Mr. Morgan's Last Love (2013) - Drama / Comedy

Two names which attracted me to this movie were Michael Caine and Hans Zimmer (Music). And I must say what a wonderful movie this one turns out to be, this one reminded me big time of last year’s French movie "Amour" which received an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Same background, same city, even the house where it is shot almost looks identical to the one in Amour, in one particular scene one can see Eiffel Tower in the background. This one starts where that one ended – Mr. Morgan’s (Superb Michael Caine as the retired professor) wife dies and he refuses to let go of her body, how he survives after her death, moves on with the help of a new friend, almost falls in love again, gets connected to his family is the rest of the movie. His life changes when he meets Pauline (Clémence Poésy) who is a dance instructor in a local dance school, they hit it off so well and it’s just amazing to see their chemistry. All hell breaks loose when one fine day he tries to commit suicide, taken to a hospital and they inform his family (Son and daughter settled in USA), what happens next is a totally amazing drama every family goes through at one point or the other. A totally different love story cum drama and is a must watch for drama lovers. Michael Caine is in such a superb form in this one – he is anyways a legend and it’s a delight to watch him in a full fledge role in this one – I am definitely giving it a damn good 4/5 with a must watch recommendation for all.

Horror Story (2013) - Horror

I am a little easy to please when it comes to this particular genre of film making as I am a born coward – at times it’s very hard for me to turn the lights off after watching a horror movie. Hence I saw this at home that too in broad day light (Alone) while my wife worked in kitchen – she kept coming into the room just to check what was all those horrible noises our television was making and she kept smiling on the stuff I was watching and getting scared. Still, I must say that the movie indeed scared me partially and was able to give me solid goose bumps. Although it’s a done to death story – a million times narrated already – a group of youngsters going to a haunted place just to prove a point to each other. The so called ghost has only one thing in mind to kill everyone one way or the other, whoever comes to that haunted place. Cell phones don’t work; no one can go out as well as come in. What works in the favor of the movie is its background score, unknown cast, no song / dance and crisp length (only 90 minutes). I will definitely give it a good 3/5, and I am sure it must be fun watching this one big screen. I am not yet able to gather guts to watch any of the horror movies on big screen – let’s see if that changes in the near future.

Diana (2013) - Biography

I guess it will not be an exaggeration to call Diana as one of the most Mysteriously Beautiful Princess in the history of the world and the one who was one of the most adored figures from the recent past. One female that we all born in the 70s and 80s grew up talking / admiring her at one point or the other – unfortunately she died in a (Controversial) car accident as I graduated. The moment this movie was declared – I was totally hooked to the poster as Naomi Watts looked so much like the actual princess (from a distance) – even in the movie if you see her from a distance she looks exactly same and that’s where the comparison ends. I am sure the real Princess of Wales was way too slimmer and better looking than her. This movie covers only a couple of last years of her life / affair with the Pakistani Surgeon Hasnat Khan (Naveen Andrews). Although I know that the critics world over had panned the movie long back still I just couldn’t resist it and I am glad that I did see it finally. And I had no idea that it will become one of those movies which indeed put a wide smile on my face throughout. It’s a controversial subject yet whatever little it covers of her life is too good for us audience and I totally loved it. If this is what is covered in the movie – I am sure the book on which it is based on would be a damn good read as well. It is freaking amazing to see Princess Diana fall in love with a Pakistani of all, the way she goes around with him, cleans his house, washes his utensils, vacuums his house, drives her own butlers car etc– is totally too good. I never imagined that the movie will be this good after reading about how people criticized it big time world over. Unfortunately I am going to give it a damn good 4/5 – call me biased but that’s how it’s going to be – also will recommend it high time to drama lovers, I am definitely keeping a copy for future viewings as well. Not to be missed especially by those born in the 70s.