One Week (2008) - Drama

Another beautiful Canadian Film I came across some time ago – saw it today and what a movie it turns out to be. It kept reminding me of a couple of my close friends who are true road junkies. What would you do if you got only a year to live? Now, that’s one subject we have seen so many movies being made on in last couple of years – this one is I guess one of the best on the subject. So this guy picks up a 1973 Norton Commando Motorcycle and sets up on a ride of a life time from Toronto (East Coast) to Vancouver Island (West Coast) that too he does it only in a week, around 4300 KM as per Google maps.  What all he goes through and his experiences is the movie all about. Need I say more? So you can get a DVD and watch it? I don’t think so; it’s a superb movie with excellent background score, cinematography and a perfectly said damn good message. It is one of the most beautiful movies I saw in last couple of years, wherever you pause the movie – you can take a snap and it will work like perfect wallpaper for your PC. If you are one of those guys who are “Born to Ride” types – you are going to love it and it will be a permanent part of your favorite movies as it definitely goes to my every growing collection with a note “Must watch every year”. Do not miss this at any cost.

Hitchcock (2012) - Biography

One of the most awaited movie of 2012 for me was “Hitchcock” based on a very important but a brief chapter from the life of one of the best and my favorite Director “Alfred Hitchcock”. It shows us the most turbulent time of his life and relationship with his wife while making one of the most acclaimed movies “Psycho”. The master of Suspense / Thrill and Horror – no one can beat him when it comes to Suspense and Horror for sure. I can never forget those days during my early college days when we discussed horror movies and my dad always challenged us to see “Psycho” on big screen someday. I saw it in mid 90’s in a film festival in Delhi and it was one hell of an experience as the hall was jam packed initially and within the first 45 minutes at least a good 2/3^rd had already stormed out. It was an amazing movie – I must have seen it like a dozen times since then and I love to mention it again that it still gives me chills whenever I see it again even to this day. This movie is a treat for all Hitchcock fans rather a double treat as no one else could have played the character any better than the way Anthony Hopkins does it. I actually couldn’t recognize him for a moment at the very start of the movie, initially I thought Anthony is overpowering the character but right in the first 20 minutes I was convinced what I saw on screen was actually Alfred Hitchcock and not Anthony Hopkins. The way he talks, walks, drinks, eats, makes faces, reacts, almost everything is simply superb and outstanding. I had to actually Google to see how similar he looks to the master. Amazing job.

Helen Mirren

The Movie: Starts in 1959 after the average success of “North by Northwest” – another fantastic film by Alfred Hitchcock, a reporter questions him if he is going to retire or still make movies. How he reacts and what follows is an amazing journey of how he picks up another subject and turns it into an all time classic hits. What happens to the book he plans to adapt as a movie and the final script given to the team? Check it out, you will love the treatment. What all happens in his life like the production house backs out, he had to mortgage his own house, fight with his wife for the same, he himself wasn’t sure of his success for the same. The movie gives quite an insight on the life and times of Hitchcock; I am shocked and amazed that how come no one has reacted to all those facts and figures mentioned in the movie. While casting and making the movie they have said and quoted so many things and commented so much about so many actors, I wonder how they would react if they were / are still alive. One of the best part of the movie is when they shoot that first legendary murder sequence – will not spoil it for you here – you should see it to believe it. Another high of the movie is the very end – totally loved the sequence when Alfred waits outside the theater for audience’s reaction to the final cut and how they respond. I bet – this scene will make you breathless and it will make you stand up and clap for the master. I so much wished to see this on big screen – dunno when they are going to have this in our part of the world. This is one amazing movie and a must watch for all the Alfred Hitchcock fans, you are surely going to love him more after seeing this one. 

The less said about the cast the better because they have picked up the best of the best for the same – Anthony Hopkins is too good as Alfred Hitchcock, a damn good and perfect choice, everything about him is so perfect, I wonder how Academy skipped to Nominate him – that’s a crime that they have done. No wonder – even the original Hitchcock never got an Oscar anyways. Helen Mirren is apt as his wife and plays her part damn well too, she is one of my favorite females and it’s too good to see her couple of times a year in the movies still. Scarlet Johansson and Jessica Biel as two ladies in the movie “Psycho” were good. I liked the lady who plays Alfred’s assistant in office, the chief of Paramount and quite a few more actors – they do leave a good mark on your memory for sure. All in all it’s a damn good movie and one that should not be missed at any cost by Hitchcock fans specially.

A Royal Affair (2012) - Drama

Danish entry to Best Foreign Film Category at the Academy this year is “A Royal Affair”, about a crackpot King and his newly married Queen’s affair with the royal doctor. A story set in the 18^th century again had me in splits with those outrageous costumes and royal body language. I liked the Doctors character more than the crazy King and the female playing queen is simply beautiful and what expressive eyes and such a tragic end. It’s a typical royalty drama and feels like “been there seen that” stuff. Can certainly be seen as another Nomination but nothing outstanding about this one – I will be shocked if they lift the trophy this year. If you haven’t seen this – don’t worry – you aren’t missing anything.

War Witch (2012) - Drama

Canadian entry and Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film “War Witch” – a heart touching and soul shaking story told in the most riveting manner. Both the leads – the girl narrating her life story and her companion are totally awesome. 100 minutes of sheer pain and it made me feel that we are actually living a life of luxury in comparison to what so many countries of the world are going through right now. I will not be shocked or surprised if this one takes the award as it truly deserves it – depicting the every day life of so many who have no tomorrow. How they live, struggle, fight, survive yet at times have something to cheer about. Unbelievably good movie but beware of gory moments as my wife had to stop eating in between as the story unfolds and heads towards the most unfortunate but somehow predictable ending. War Witch is the story of a 12 year old girl kidnapped by rebels and who was made to kill her own parents. They make her a War Witch as she is the only one who survives the war with government soldiers and rest of them all killed. How and what happens next is the movie. It’s a must watch for all those who like movies made out of real life – not to be missed at any cost. I hope it gets its due at the Academy and gets a wider audience in future.

Anna Karenina (2012) - Drama

The last of the lot of Nominated @ Academy category – this one turns out to be a surprisingly good one for me, as I’ve always been a Keira Knightely and Jude Law fan. Nominated in four categories – I am sure it’s definitely taking the one at least for those fantastic costumes. I always find them a little outrageous as its amazing how all those years these guys lived wearing those irritating uniforms, Yikes! Bubbly Keira is too good in Anna’s role and amazing is the way how she enacts those fantastic expressions, Jude Law although in a very limited screen presence yet is terrific, I did not like that Vronsky guy one bit. One great thing about the movie was the way they have shot this – half of it was shot as if it was a drama on stage with background and scenes changing right in front of the audience – that was too good, I found it pretty nice concept. Having read the story in my early college days – I exactly knew where it is going and how its all going to end still the movie holds too good and I was totally engrossed in it. Even with little more then two hours – it’s a breeze and I didn’t realize how fast it comes to the end. If you like period dramas with fantastic story told in a totally awesome way – do not miss this.