Archive
Le Violon Rouge (The Red Violin)
I have been thinking of writing about “The Red Violin” since i saw it. I saw this movie by chance. Yes, i am really happy to have stumbled upon it.This movie is about an epic journey of a perfect musical instrument, The Red Violin. Some might say the movie is a collection of small stories and I wouldn’t disagree. The movie shows us the journey of the beautiful red wooden piece for over three centuries around the world and several owners, eventually ending up in an auction .
The movie begins with the tension filled auction in contemporary Montreal, where “the red violin”, a famous Nicolo Bussotti violin, is being auctioned off. It is also attended by New York-based musical historian (Samuel L. Jackson). But instead of staying with the auction all the time, we flash back to the creation of the violin in 17th century Italy and then follow it as it makes its way through an 18thcentury Austrian monastery/orphanage, a violinist in 19thcentury Oxford and China during Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Each time it brings the person who owns it a lot of fame, but also bad luck and despair, often resulting in the death of the owner or someone the owner really loves.
It is not just an ordinary drama or thriller, the story is as original as it can get. The physical setting, the background score and the superb acting only authenticates the movie. So we might feel uncomfortable with the subtitles, but it only makes you feel the movie more and draw you into the story more.
Enough about it, I will not give away any of the plot in hopes that when reading this you will take my advise and see this film and judge it yourself. You will not be disappointed.
Happy watching 
Trivia: According to wikipedia: The film was inspired by one of Antonio Stradivari’s violins, the Red Mendelssohn (1721), which is currently played by Elizabeth Pitcairn, heiress to the PPG fortune, whose grandfather purchased it for her 16th birthday for $1.7 million at auction at Christie’s London. She is one of the few soloists who performs the Red Violin Chaconne composed for the film by John Corigliano.
Sunshine Cleaning
This movie is not all fun and comedy, its a story of real people in the real world.
Its a story about two sisters Rose (Amy Adams) and Norah (Emily Blunt). Rose , a former head cheerleader who’s now working as a maid, taking care of her trouble-making son, Oscar (Jason Spevack), and sleeping with her ex-boyfriend, Mac (Steve Zahn), who married someone else. Norah can’t hold down a steady job …except for babysitting Oscar and telling him horror stories. Rose comes across this lucrative opportunity of crime scene clean-up specialist, and somehow convinces her sister Norah to join her in her new blood and body fluid cleaning business, and the two of them quickly learn how lucrative it can be, and how little they know about its machinations. But Rose is doing it for her son so that she can afford to send him to an appropriate school, and Norah is doing it so that she can be close to her sister.
Movie Poster
It is the intermix of relationships and how each character deals or doesn’t deal with them that holds this film together and makes it a surprising success. Amy Adams does another great job acting as
a vulnerable yet determined woman trying to make good for her son. Emily Blunt is stunning as the confused and embittered sister who loves the smell of everything her mother left behind and
deals with her puzzled relationships.
The performances are top notch. Adams is terrific. She’s one of those actors that manage to express a million emotions on her face at one time. She is a natural. Blunt’s performance is understated, and vastly entertaining to watch.
While there are several films out there trying to take advantage of the current world’s state, making quirky comedy out of desperation, Sunshine Cleaning is one of the better ones, definitely worth a watch but just don’t expect to leave feeling like all’s well in the world.
OMKARA.
Omkara is an adaption of Shakespeare’s Othello. We all are aware of the story of Othello, but watching it on the big screen is a different experience altogether, and mind you when the director is Vishal Bharadwaj then the experience becomes all the more memorable. I still remember when i first watched this movie i was awestruck but the sheer magic he created on screen.
Omkara/Omi (Ajay Devgan) heads a band of outlaws in a semi-lawless rural area in Uttar Pradesh. Bhaisaab’s (Naseer’s) election win promotes Omi, leaving his “Youth Leader” seat empty. In a logical political move, Omi selects Kesu Firangi (Vivek Oberoi) as his successor ignoring his loyal right-hand-man Langda Tyagi (Saif Ali Khan). Green with envy, Langda slowly poisons Omkara’s mind against Kesu leading him down a path too dark for anyone’s good. Kareena, Konkona & Bipasha play Omi, Langda & Kesu’s love interests respectively.
When Vishal is directing the movie he makes sure he takes the actors whom he can either mold or are just exceptional. Ajay Devgan is brilliant as usual, though on the flip side, his U.P. dialogue does come across as forced. Nonetheless, Devgan made a fine Omkara. Kareen showed that she can perform too. Well, with Vivek Oberoi, Vishal made him act this one time. Konkona Sen, she is a beautiful actor with genuine talent, she was a treat to watch, she commands her scenes and takes control of her fantastic dialogues, making the rest of the cast look like amateurs.
Saif Ali Khan.. at his best.
Saif Ali Khan was the soul of this movie. He did in this movie what Pankaj Kapoor did in Maqbool with Abba Ji, which is to re-invent how a character is portrayed, it can only be achieved by legends. Langda is a bit of Jack Sparrow and Bill the Butcher at the same time, which means quality. The best thing was, for the entire movie Saif killed himself to become Langda. Where Dil Chahta Hai gave Saif Ali Khan a new life in the industry, Omkara showed his versatility. Omkara proved that he could be more than just a comedy or second lead actor. He won Popular Award and Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role.
Another character who made a mark with this movie is Deepak Dobriyal who is simply perfect, providing the appropriate and realistic relief from the intense proceedings of the plot. His idiocy and pining for Dolly are laudable.
The opening scene of the movie was one of the best i have seen in recent times. Another scene that was really scary and haunts me till date is the scene with the eagle on the wedding day.
Have you seen the movie? Share your fav scene or dialogue.
The Kite Runner
The Kite Runner is one of the rare movies which does justice to the book. The best thing i did was reading the book before watching the movie, which is so masterfully written by Khalid Husseini.
The start of the movie shows Amir a young, just-published novelist who lives in California with his wife. One day he receives a phone call from an old family friend, Rahim Khan. He asks Amir to come see him and tells him “there is a way to be good again”.
I prefer not telling the whole story, so go watch it yourself, even if you have read the book it will be a great watch, you wont be disappointed.
Every major and minor characters acted well, i was especially floored by Ahmad Khan Mahmoodcada, who played young Hassan.
My favorite line of the movie is “For you, a thousand times over”
Happy watching 
The Royal Tanenbaums
The Royal Tanenbaums: A Must Watch!
The movie starts with Alec Baldwin narrating the film as if reading a novel. Royal Tanenbaum, played by Gene Hackman, wants to reenter the lives of his abandoned family. He does it by faking cancer. Each of the Tenenbaum kids was a precocious genius: Chas (Ben Stiller) made a killing as a child investor. Richie (Luke Wilson) was a junior tennis champ and three-time U.S. Nationals winner.
The adopted Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) was a playwright who won a 50,000-dollar Braverman Grant in the ninth grade and then they had Eli Cash (Owen Wilson) as their neighbor and childhood friend. Their past resentments are bitterly held against Royal when he suddenly reappears, claiming to have six weeks to live and a desire to reconnect with his family. Thrown together under one roof, Royal tries to make amends by driving them crazy. His urge to be a part of their life is somewhat inexplicable, and though they resist, they also open the doors just a bit. In one funny moment, Royal kidnaps Stiller’s two overprotected sons and takes them on an outing that includes running in traffic, shoplifting and swimming. He also offers to take them all to the cemetery to visit their grandmother’s grave, forgetting that Stiller’s wife is also buried there.
There are so many reasons why i like this movie, its not one of those regular comedy, its just DIFFERENT. There are endless hilarious scenes and all in the cast are absolutely radiant and deserve praise.I like the scenes where Gwyneth Paltrow locks herself in her bathroom and her conversation with her weird husband (played by Bill Murray). The dialogue delivery is just brilliant. If you listen to all the dialogues carefully you’ll die laughing. The concept of Dalmatian mice is just so hilarious, the spots on the mice were actually created using a Sharpie pen.
This film truly depicts the creativity of Wes Anderson, he has a unique way of looking at the world, even if its ridiculous. This was Wes Anderson’s third project with Owen Wilson after Bottle Rocket and Rushmore, as writers. Luke Wilson has appeared in all the three movies.
The Blue Umbrella: A Beautifully Simple but Impactful Little Fable
Blue Umbrella is a screen version of Ruskin Bond’s short story Blue Umbrella.
The protagonist is Biniya (Shreya Sharma), a precocious girl who lives in a picturesque mountain village. The town is a stopping point for tourists on their way through the mountains. One day, Biniya meets a group of tourists and trades her lucky necklace for a beautiful, blue Japanese-style umbrella. The blue umbrella stands out among the alpine greenery, and Biniya and her umbrella become the town’s main attraction. Tourists pose for photos with her when they stop at the local snack shop, run by an old man named Nandu (Pankaj Kapoor). Nandu covets Biniya’s blue umbrella, as do several other adults in town. He tries to trick and bribe her into giving him the umbrella, but she isn’t interested. When the umbrella is stolen one night, Nandu is Bindiya’s prime suspect.
At her request, the cops raid Nandu’s shop, but the umbrella’s not there. Humiliated, Nandu vows to buy his own umbrella. A short while later, Nandu receives a delivery: an umbrella exactly like Biniya’s, only red. He becomes the de facto mayor of the village, though heart-broken Biniya still harbors suspicions about him.
But what’s really incredible about the film is the sheer spirit of humanity that pervades and shines through the entire film. It is indeed ironical that the film that has been named the ‘best children’s film’ at the Indian National awards is actually not a kiddies’ flick at all. But The Blue Umbrella can make you feel like being a child all over again- rather like Nand Kishore in the film, who despite all his vices still retains the child in him.
I won’t say anymore about this one. If you are reading this I will urge you to watch this. It’s a real cool piece of cinema, a great pleasure for the eyes and the mind. I am regretting for not watching the movie in theater.
And yes, an umbrella plays one of the main characters. 
Happy Watching
Golden Globe Award Winner: The Painted Veil
I am so glad to have been able to watch this movie. This is the third screen adaption of the W. Somerset book: “The Painted Veil” and this is one of the most beautiful adaption. Its cinematography topped with haunting acting by both the lead actors is truly amazing. I have come to admire Edward Norton not only for his intense acting but also for his choice of films.
You cannot watch this movie without getting engrossed into the character’s life. Yes, it is a slow paced movie, but for me the slow pace really enhances the beauty of the movie.
The story is interesting and believable. Naomi Watts clearly depicts a beautiful, spoiled and restless society girl who hastily marries a conservative micro biologist Dr. Walter Fane(Edward Norton), who is simple, dull, introvert and practically lives for his study of infectious diseases. From the start, the marriage was destined to fail. Kitty starts to look for affection in the arms of another man( played by Watt’s real life then boyfriend and now husband, Liev Schreiber) . Walter finds out that his wife is having an affair and suggests a remedy and the remedy he propose raises eyebrows. He will either give her a divorce and effectively make her a social pariah, or she will have to follow him into a sort of purgatory—he’s decided to take a post in the north of the China, where there’s been a cholera outbreak and she must accompany him. She is left with no choice. Here starts a new journey which changes their lives forever.
The scene where Dr. Fane confronts Kitty is superbly done. That is one of my favorite scenes in the movie. If you have seen this movie tell me your favorite scene.
And if you havent, watch it!
Happy watching!!
P.S.: Confession: I’m a bit of a sucker for love stories that start after the wedding:)
Funny Girl! Barbra Streisand’s extraordinary, scintillating Oscar-winning debut film.
I’m a big movie buff, so I was excited when the “Just Add Popcorn” team invited me to be a guest poster. I spent a lot of time wondering which movie I should spotlight. Should I exploreAll About Eve, the 50s classic that makes Mean Girl look like child’s play? Should I talk about Die Hard, my not-so-guilty pleasure favorite featuring a muscled Bruce Willis with hair?
Funny Girl is loosely based on the life of Fanny Brice, a comedienne and singer who emerged from a chorus girl’s obscurity to headline the legendary Ziegfeld Follies in the 1920s. In the film, we meet young Fanny when she’s struggling to find a work in the theater. She is not conventionally beautiful–her friends and family lament her plainness in song –but she gets a break on a small saloon stage. Fanny steals the show, and she also meets Nick Arnstein, a smooth-talking gentleman who catches Fanny’s attention and, ultimately, her heart.
The film follows Fanny’s rise to the glittering theaters of New York City, and no expense was spared to recreate the extravagance of Ziegfeld’s shows. Glittering sets form the backdrop as Fanny becomes a star, and beautiful songs pave the way as Fanny and Nick fall in love. Drama emerges when Nick feels eclipsed by Fanny’s blossoming fame, and this ultimately leads to some difficult revelations for our heroine. I won’t give away too much, but the finale is both heartwrenching and heartwarming.Cooley Horner
