TROUBLE IN PARADISE

DIRECTOR ERNST LUBITSCH

One of the finest romantic comedies of 1932, this superbly written directed and acted film, portrays the life of two theifs, [partners in crime] played by Miriam Hopkins and Herbert Marshall. They spot a wealthy woman, kay francis, and want to rob her of her assets. The problem begins when Herbert actually starts falling for Kay and Miriam his actual girlfeind discovers it and decides to unleash the secret.

The film stands out in lot of ways:

The scene introducing Miriam and Herbert is amazingly short and written where the two are playing little prank on each other, as boy friend girl friend wntil the audience realise that they both are theifs and know every little move of each other and are one above each other.

the scene, [one long shot] of how one of the suitors of kay, edward everrt, describes how he has been cheated by one of the woman, who happens to be Miriam

the romantic scenes between kay and herbert are very well executed, long shots used so as not to break the chemistry between the two of them

THE ENTIRE FILM WAS SHOT IN THE SPAN OF 30 DAYS, which is some acheivement, considering the way romantic comedies are made now a days, with huge budgets and no real flavour. Its a master piece, and a school for all the romantic comedy makers. This one is definitely for the keeps.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL

DIRECTOR MADHUR BHANDARKAR
PRODUCER- PERCEPT PICTURE COMPANY
CAST- FISH MARKET [KUNAL KHEMU, KONKONA, RANVEER, ET ETC]

With a director of the calibre like Madhur Bhandarkar, who has given films like page three and Chandani Bar, [his stock is high, ] watching his film is an obvious choice. So , despite hearing lots of mixed and ultra mixed reviews I did go to contribute my bit, and my friends bit to the Indian film Industry and to the man who has made it the hard way. I some how thought he can't go wrong!!

The executive producer of the film is 'Madhur Bhandarkat motion pictures' And then the question what stuck me, invariably was, is it that the directors craft starts affecting the moment they pay more attention to the business side of the films. Well, it had happenned to biggies like Subhash Ghai, the one man show, but then that was a stupid thought because Yash Chopra, Vidhu vinod chopra etc have been able to give fine balance of both. Enough of the balance gyan, so coming back to my review, I would say I don't know what the story was, it was an amalgamation of 'nukkad' with documentary.

The story was neither moving at the traffic signal nor in their personal lives. We have seen enough of Mumbai life style in lot of films, so what was the story with the undeveloped and unwoven characters. Silsila, the kid who wants to become fair, the kid who wants to get through his parents, the girl from gujrat who wants to sell her garments, the character of Afzal Bhai, the character of bigger bai played by Sudhir Mishra [ I would want to see him more as a director though] etc. There was not one character, not one moment where you feel anything for any characters. When the signal is being broken obviously you don't feel anything, because there is no build up to feel about it.

Was the director trying to tell not to give alms to the beggars, or he wanted us to feel for their plight despite their strong manipulation tactics?

Please watch the film and do share, if you can, about what you felt about the film.

ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

DIRECTOR- MICHEL GONDRY
WRITER-CHARLIE KAUFMAN
CAST, JIM CARREY. KATE WINSLET, KIRSTEN DUNST


EXHILARATING, ENTERTAINING, BIZARRE, COMPLEX, BEAUTIFUL, OUT OF THE BOX, CHALLENGING, STRIKING,FASCINATING, PERPLEXING, BLISTERINGLY FUNNY, THOUGHT PROVOKING,BRILLIANTLY ORIGINAL, INGENIOUSLY FUNNY.

THE MOVIE CANNOT BE DESCRIBED IN BETTER WORDS THAN THIS.

Joel Barrish and Clementine, are in a troubled relationship. Clementine is impulsive, brash, loud, friendly, unfriendly, sweet, sour, lovable, doesn't want to commit or be trapped. Joel Barrish is a complete opposite, quiet, thoughtful, non impulsive, subdued, faithful, lovable and adorable. A complete contrast to what Jim carrey generally plays, loud and at times irritating character. You would simple love his under play. He in one word is- out of the world- well thats three words

So the story begins from Joel Barrish looking for a relationship, he is planning to go back to his ex girl friend Naomi, "at least naomi was 'nice', nice is good," he says and as he is boarding the train for his office he meets this over friendly girl Clementine whose colour of the hair changes with her outfit colour. That bit depicts her character rather brilliantly.And they get to talk and become friends, NOT REALISING THAT THEY WHERE ONCE IN A DEEP RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER.

The reason,Clementine, goes and gets her memory erased, of their relationship, at an erasing clinic called Lacuna Inc. When Joel comes to know about this impulsive act of his girlfriend he too follows suit. But every time he sees a beautiful moment of him with his girl friend being erased, his heart aches and he doesn't want to let her go. But since he is already in the process of 'erasement' [if thats a word, oops!!] he cannot stop it. But with a brilliant imagination of the director and the writer Charlie Kauffmann its been brilliantly depicted, [looking for another word for brilliant!!]

Joel tells his girlfriend in the memory that 'they are going to take you away.' So she tells him to hide her in that part of the memory where they wouldn't be able to find her. So he hides her in his childhood and other vivid places. Its the cat and mouse chase as they are the mouse running away from the erasers.

Finally the big TWIST, when they discover the tape about they erasing the memory of each other, they are shocked- MORAL OF THE STORY YOU CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE SAME PERSON OVER AND OVER AGAIN IF ITS TRUE LOVE. Its a brilliant thought, brilliantly executed by the director Michel Gondry.Its love story re- invented guys, so go get a copy now.

And butter on toast- It won the best original screenplay at the oscars 2004.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Jules Verne [1828-1905]

JTCE, is one of the finest work of the science fiction writer, Jules Verne written in the year 1864.

The story told in first person by the character Axel, who happens to live with his scientist and explorer uncle, Prof Lidenbrok. Professor Lidenbrok is a slightly eccentric , impatient, passionate and determined peson when it comes to him and especially his work. So when he finds a 'mysterious cryptogram' he wants to decipher it.

Jules as the author, has excellently and hilariously sketched the character of the professor through his newphew Axel's pov.

That cryptogram when deciphered, turns out to have said about a journey to the center of the Earth undertaken by the scientist and explorer, Saknussemn. Now the prof, decides that this is the opportunity for him and nothing in this world can possibly dissuade him from undertaking this journey to the center of the earth.And he and Axel[ who is literally forced into it] embark on the most lethal journey.

The story is excellently narrated. There is not one moment of dullness or fatigue and the writer mermorably takes you through the journey [blending facts with fiction] encountering the origin of the Earth, the plants and other species, the sea the island they discover enroute.But towards the journey if there were somemore twists and turns the journey could have been more fulfilling. But nevertheless the style is really good and so is the narrative. But a story told much ahead of its times with its vivid imageries is definetly worth the appaluse.

A MUST READ FOR ALL THE BOOK LOVERS.