Ben Affleck’s ARGO

 

ARGO – Few days before the 2013 Academy Awards, I believe it’s only proper to review and pay tribute to one of last year’s best films. Under the direction of the Academy Award-winning screenwriter, Ben Affleck, Argo is a movie event everyone should watch. Every scene is exciting, every character is relevant and I have never witnessed a clean/flawless direction as such since Shindler’s List.

(Source: Moviefone) When militants seize control of the U.S. embassy in Tehran during the height of the Iranian Revolution, CIA agent Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) creates a fake Hollywood film production in order to rescue a group of American diplomats who have sought refuge at the home of the Canadian ambassador. As the six members of the embassy staff remain behind closed doors, armed militants conduct thorough searches of local homes, and kill anyone suspected of harboring the Americans. Realizing that it’s only a matter of time before the six are identified and taken hostage, Mendez offers a unique – yet potentially dangerous – solution: posing as a Canadian film producer, he will enter into Tehran under the precipice of scouting locations for an upcoming science fiction opus, gather up the refugees, pass them off as his crew at the airport, and fly out of Iran right under the militants’ noses. Shortly after touching down in Iran, however, Mendez contends with a few unexpected developments that threaten to erode the bond of trust he needs to establish with the refugees, and expose his deception. Meanwhile, even if they do manage to make it as far as the airport, government bureaucracy threatens to leave them hopelessly stranded in their most desperate hour. Alan Arkin, John Goodman, and Bryan Cranston co-star.

Apart from Affleck’s outstanding direction and acting as well, Alan Arkin is one of the film’s greatest asset hence his countless nominations as Best Supporting Actor. The screenplay was brilliant too – it is consistent, fluid and very honest, In movies like this, you need an honest storytelling, something that the audience can absorb there and then. The instantaneous connection between the story and the viewers needs to be established after the first 5 minutes and Argo certainly did that.

The rest of the technical elements were perfectly balanced and complemented really well. This is a clear attestation of how excellent Ben Affleck is as a director. Still shocked as to why the Oscars didn’t bother nominating him and chose to have David Russell instead – I mean Argo is far better than Silver Linings Playbook (with all due respect to Harvey Weinstein).

If you want to be amazed and be entertained by a serious type of film, Argo is the one. I would definitely watch it again and will forever be one of the best cinematic creations of all time,.

 

10/10

Jessica Chastain’s ZERO DARK THIRTY

ZERO DARK THIRTY – Tagged as the greatest manhunt for years, capturing Osama Bin Laden is more than a quest for the world’s most dangerous man – it is the humanity’s battle for peace, freedom and life. From the award-winning tandem of Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal (creators of The Hurt Locker) comes this dramatic feat detailing the hunt for Bin Laden. This ground-breaking motion picture stars Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain alongside a stellar and brilliant ensemble including Chris Pratt, Jason Clarke and Joel Edgerton.

(Source: Fandango) Oscar nominee Chastain portrays the role of Maya, the intelligence expert who dedicated a decade of her life to tracking down the world’s most wanted terrorist. In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the CIA began interrogating suspected Al Qaeda agents across the globe in a bid to locate the elusive bin Laden. Upon arriving at a CIA black site and witnessing the brutal interrogation tactics firsthand, driven operative Maya aids her unpredictable colleague Dan (Clarke) in gathering the intelligence that will help bring their target to justice. Over the course of the next decade, numerous false leads and dead ends make the search seem more futile than ever. Meanwhile, numerous suicide bombings across the Middle East and Europe hint that Al Qaeda won’t go down without a fight. Then, just when it seems as if the trail of clues has finally dried up, an old piece of evidence leads Maya to a suspect who may work directly for the man charged with planning the worst act of terrorism ever committed on American soil.

It is controversial and Kathryn Bigelow is known for that. It is brave and Kathryn Bigelow is known for that too. It is ambitious and Kathryn Bigelow is one as well. This genius movie is all about Bigelow and her undying desire to present the public the true drama behind these political/social/military crises we are facing. She is courageous and thank God for directors like her who are bold and brave enough to step into this grey but vital genre. One of the strongest points of the film is Chastain’s brilliant performance. It is, without a doubt, the best dramatic performance by an actress this season and she certainly proved herself as the toughest Oscar contender for 2013. We see Maya in this film and not Chastain – we saw the truth and she managed to give us the real thing. Effortless acting empowered by outstanding screenplay as well.

The latter part of the movie is definitely the most exciting and breathtaking moment but the whole film is spectacular in general. It transports us to their journey which is very enticing. The rest of the technical elements were spot on as usual.

It would have been the best movie of the Oscars this year if not for Argo’s growing popularity. Zero Dark Thirty is in-depth, meaningful, engaging and a powerhouse drama you shouldn’t miss!

9/10

Hugh Jackman’s LES MISERABLES

LES MISERABLES – If there is one musical film that the whole world is waiting for, it is, with no doubt, the Les Miserables. I’m sure a lot will agree with me if I say that this film is one of the biggest, the grandest, the most spectacular events to grace the silver screen in the last decade. I have always loved the story of LesMiserables. The journey of every character especially Jean Valjean is astonishingly brilliant. The book by Victor Hugo is a treasure that you will keep forever and with delight and utmost pride, I’m thrilled to say that this movie version is as equally stunning.

The movie (based on the novel) contained multiple conflicts and subplots. The major conflict threaded through the whole narrative is between Jean Valjean played by Hugh Jackman and Javert, which was brilliantly portrayed by Academy Award winner Russell Crowe. Valjean has served his time and earned release from prison, but it is release with a yellow passport-meaning everywhere he goes, everyone from employers to landlords will know that he has a tarnished past. This makes him suspect even when he is innocent of any wrong doing. Javert sees the law as an answer for everything, and no exception should be made regardless of how small the crime (ref: bestnotes.com).

The situation is complicated when Valjean takes upon himself the care of Cosette, as he feels responsible for the death of her mother, Fantine (Anne Hathaway). With Cosette, Valjean learns to love and the bitterness of the years of injustice melt away. He thinks of himself as a convict and makes no excuses; his only reason for hiding and avoiding Javert is to protect Cosette and his fatherly relationship with her.

A very beautiful, dynamic, rich story and of course it was made even better with the outstanding performances of the ensemble chosen to give life to these iconic characters. Let me start with Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron-Cohen and Helena Bonham-Carter, who, despite how small their characters were in this motion picture, they were able to give justice to the roles given to them and brought life to the characters they are representing (Cosette and the Thenardiers). Bonham-Carter, in particular, was fantastic and I couldn’t think of anybody else to play that part as brilliant as she did it.

Eddie Redmayne (Marius), Aaron Tveit (Enjolras) and Samantha Barks (Eponine) were the film’s ultimate revelations. Despite acting next to the Hollywood giants, these three actors were able to effortlessly deliver what was expected from their respective characters. Redmayne and Tveit’s scenes together were amazing and Barks rendition of ‘On My Own’ can’t be better than that, it was fluid, emotional and beautiful.

Last but not the least, the three main pillars of the film; Hugh Jackman (Valjean), Russell Crowe (Javert) and Anne Hathaway (Fantine). They are the magnificent three and they all had their glorious moments in the movie. Hathaway’s ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ scene is one of the most memorable, captivating and excellent parts – that scene alone is enough to give Hathaway an Oscars victory. Director, Tom Hooper, magnificently captured the magic in that particular moment making it truly iconic and special. Russell Crowe is perhaps the most underrated of all considering how great he was as Javert. I love his ‘One Day More’ bit and he certainly possessed and gracefully exhibited the power required by the character. Jackman, on the other hand, is a genius. I really wish he could snatch the Oscar statuette from Lincoln (Daniel Day Lewis) because what he did in this film was just unbelievable.

The idea of singing live and on the set is a risk. It was great and it worked at certain scenes especially the solo ones with Hathaway, Jackman and Barks. However, it wasn’t as good in certain instances especially the opening part. The production design is, without a shadow of a doubt, exceptional. The same goes with the musical scoring and art direction.

As somebody who is passionate about musical productions like Les Miserables, it makes me feel proud to watch this film. Not only that it spreads the magic of the musicals but also highlights the importance of music and sound in our lives. The power of music to convey true emotions and it’s impact on our day to day encounters.

The story is about second chances and forgiveness. It is about measuring someone’s worth not because of his past but because of the goodness in his heart, Giving life to the empowering story of Les Miserables through this movie is a very good way of imparting these real messages of life, love and survival to the people of today. I definitely recommend this film and would certainly watch it over and over again.

9.5/10

Suraj Sharma’s LIFE OF PI

 

LIFE OF PI – Ang Lee is the genius behind Brokeback Mountain, a cinematic milestone that bravely tackled the a very sensitive topic. Completely opposite from that film, Lee came back and conquered Hollywood once again with his epic tale of survival, Life of Pi. Based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, Life of Pi tells a magical story centering on Pi Patel, the son of a zoo keeper. Dwellers in Pondicherry, India, the family decides to move to Canada, hitching a ride on a huge freighter. After a shipwreck, Pi finds himself in the Pacific Ocean on a 26-foot lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a 450-pound Bengal tiger whom he referred to as Richard Parker, all fighting for their lives.

 

What an incredible situation to be in! I mean, seriously, it’s an adventure of a lifetime!

 

This film is like Tom Hanks’ Cast Away but has more production value in it. The visuals and cinematography are amazing and these are the areas that certainly made this masterpiece stood out amongst its contemporaries. The clever use of digital arts and computer graphics gave the rather long/extended/boring plot some magic and excitement. The tiger is amazing!!! It captured everyone’s attention and at some point, it felt like it was the main character of the film. Its inclusion in the movie was certainly the best idea as it managed to lift the whole picture from being a tedious narrative to watch. Suraj Sharma’s performance was incredible too – he definitely gave justice to the role though I still think Dev Patel would have been a wiser choice. Rafe Spall was good too – his reactions to the whole storytelling scenes were brilliant giving it a very realistic finish.

 

It is not the best of Ang Lee but still it is a movie he can absolutely be so proud of. The visuals alone are spectacular and it gave the film some life into it. The movie version is quite disappointing compared to the actual novel so I suggest stick to one medium if you’re planning to look at both in order to avoid comparisons/questions, etc. Having said that, it is still a strong contender for 2012’s Oscars Best Picture award.

 

The film’s greatest asset though is the values it imparts to the audience. It’s about fighting, surviving and winning in the end – winning in a sense that you were able to survive whatever battle you went on. It gives us hope and it opens our eyes to certain realities of life that are often unseen and unconquered.

 

7.5/10

Tom Hanks’ EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE

 

EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE – One of the 9 Oscar Best Picture nominees this year, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a poignant family drama tackling a strong father-son relationship and a fantastic journey of a boy suffering from Asperger syndrome. Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger’s syndrome or Asperger disorder, is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported.

 

It’s a well-written film – very very detailed and I love how every scene offers something different and how each moment is special and showcases the characters in it. It’s difficult to fault this film as it embraces reality, exposes honesty and promotes a lot of family values. The acting was superb – incredible performances particularly from the lead stars, Thomas Horne, Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. Tom Hanks was amazing as usual – very believable, the delivery of his dialogues is powerful and with conviction. Sandra was equally brilliant – those dramatic scenes – she nailed them perfectly! Thomas was indeed a revelation. He played his part effortlessly and with such on-screen charisma – truly remarkable! The entire ensemble was outstanding. Max Von Sydow was great in his character as Thomas’ mute grandfather – his eyes, his facial expressions – their scenes together are some of the bests in this picture. The gracious and glorious Viola Davis was incredible again. No matter how small the role is, this woman knows how to deliver and never fail to amuse us. The film’s unpredictable plot is its biggest asset alongside the magnificent acting. The musical scoring and editing were commendable too.

 

It’s a cinematic gem – a movie treasure that we will remember in years to come. Its very underrated – I love how the Academy recognized it as, in my opinion, it is one of the best dramatic films ever made. I’m sure the book version is better but this film is a gift – full of hope, full of life’s precious lessons that we need to bear in mind and live with. It makes me feel privileged to have seen such a powerful and meaningful masterpiece.

 

9/10

Asa Butterfield’s HUGO

 

HUGO – Perhaps next to Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist, Martin Scorsese’s Hugo is the  most awarded film of 2011. Whilst I’m a huge fan of the Jean Dujardin starrer, I can’t help but feel anxious and worried for The Artist when Hugo started reaping most of the technical awards in this year’s Oscars – I wanted The Artist to win but you cannot argue with Hugo’s cinematic excellence. Scorsese definitely gave us something different here. It’s like an epic that will live for years to come. It’s not your ordinary fantasy movie – believe me, it’s more than that!

 

Hugo is considered by critics as the best 3D visual event of the decade – it’s not just about the 3D effects and the visual appeal, Hugo boasts an incredible story and an emotional/inspiring journey for Asa Butterfield’s character, Hugo Cabret. The story ran a bit slow at first – I think the initial part of the film was dedicated to its special effects and the emphasis on its stunning art direction (including production design, costume, make-up) – which is simply the best I’ve seen so far. As soon as the plot developed, the flow was good, the editing was brilliant and the screenplay was spot on. I personally cannot relate too much with the story – not a huge fan of this kind of genre but for some, it is captivating enough. The brilliant performance of Asa as Hugo and the rest of the cast helped in giving this artistically executed masterpiece more life and more depth. Sacha Baron Cohen was, as always, exceptional – he is such a talented but underrated performer. As the irritating train inspector, Cohen delivered fantastically!

 

There’s really not a lot to say about Hugo. It’s on another level and at par from its contemporaries. The language and the message it conveyed is so universal hence the whole world adored its magic and drama. I really hope producers and directors 3D films or fantasy pictures will start spending more time digging and drilling down their storylines – it’s not all about the tricks and the glitz – at the end of the day, a film is remembered because of its depth and closeness to reality.

 

7.5/10

Viola Davis’ THE HELP

 

THE HELP – One of the biggest and most celebrated films of 2011, The Help tackled a very sensitive societal issue but has given it a very refreshing and clever approach. In terms of the actual genre, it sits between drama and comedy but either way, this film is full of heart. It is brave and powerful. And just like one of the lines used in this film, it is full of courage – courage to tell what is right. I like how this motion picture gave me a chance to see the real drama behind this ‘black vs white’ subject.

 

More than the amazing and poignant storyline that this film has to offer, The Help boasts a fantastic ensemble – all equally brilliant and fascinating in their respective roles. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer lead a spectacular line-up of award-winning performances. I can see now why Viola, despite her stunning portrayal of Aibileen, did not win the Oscars Best Actress as this is a film of various stories – not just hers. Whilst Davis’ performance is worth of every nomination she got, it wasn’t as strong as Meryl Streep’s solid acting in The Iron Lady. Still kudos to Davis for giving what could be classified as one of the bests last year. Viola may not have won the Academy Award for the lead actress category but her good friend Octavia Spencer definitely raised the roof and swept all the Best Supporting Actress awards – well deserved by the way. Spencer’s acting was so natural, it’ll hit you like a bullet – intense but relaxed. It’s strong and emotional – I actually thought that if she competed for Best Actress, she’d have greater chances. What I couldn’t understand is the fact that most award-giving bodies have ignored Emma Stone’s performance which, in my opinion, was one of the core points of this film. She was like the light of the movie and the force that held it together. Same with Jessica Chastain who was very good, you’d hate her (at least her character) so much. I believe that’s The Help’s strongest element – the acting. Whilst you cannot fault the screenplay and the production value, the acting was exemplary and brings the film to a lot more excellent level. If I am to choose one best scene it was the revelation as to what happened with Constantine. It was a very precious moment and I think that scene alone, easily, deserves the SAG Best Picture award they’ve won.

 

We need more films like The Help – not only that it is brave and bold in terms of telling the real story behind the issues we didn’t believe to be that bad but also a fantastic venue to showcase amazing talents like the actors and actresses in this film. Very few masterpieces stands out nowadays because of pure genius acting and this is what Hollywood cinema should be all about. No thrills, no frills, no exaggerations, no effects – amazing!

 

8.5/10

Kate Winslet’s TITANIC

 

TITANIC – There’s no doubt and I’m sure a lot will agree with me if I say Titanic is the biggest, the grandest and the best movie of all time. Yesterday, I had a chance to watch the film again in the big screen, this time in 3D. If I am going to be  honest, the 3D side of it was slightly disappointing – it was far from the other films released in that format, however, Titanic wasn’t originally created for a 3D feature so there’s really no point of comparing it with the likes of Avatar, Hugo, and the other blockbuster 3D films. But mind you, despite the movie’s failed attempt in reproducing the film in a 3D format, almost everyone who went out of the cinema, including myself and my family, are still very happy and, once more, captivated by the magic of this masterpiece.

 

Titanic’s story is timeless, epic and the perfect motion picture material – it has drama, action, comedy, romance, a touch of suspense – everything you can ask for from a standard Oscar Best Picture film. The love story of Jack and Rose is perhaps the most celebrated love story in Hollywood cinema. Everyone can relate to it – the characters of Jack and Rose mirror the reality then and now. It is a modern fairy tale that breathes emotion, passion, sincerity and trust. That’s the biggest asset of Titanic – the main storyline is so powerful that no matter how many times you watch it, you’ll feel the same magic, it’ll have the same impact. Another secret weapon of this movie is the musical scoring and sound – the themesong, as we all know, is one of the bests in the history, but the simple music that’s been inserted in key scenes makes it more grandiose and spectacular. You cannot fault the other technical aspects of Titanic – the editing is magnificent, cinematography is very contemporary and yet sticks to the 1912 setting, production value, visual effects and art direction were all splendid. Truly, a majestic piece of work. As for the performances, I still don’t understand why the Academy has not given Leonardo Di Caprio a Best Actor nomination considering that this is probably one of his best portrayals ever. He suits the role perfectly and he delivered the lines effortlessly. His eyes were very expressive – full of emotions – one great talent. Kate Winslet was equally stunning in her performance as Rose. Her very beautiful face complements well with her natural acting and incredible emotion. Not her best performance of all time but definitely one of the most notable and remarkable – not to mention it kicked off her career too. The supporting cast was brilliant as expected – special mention to Katy Bates’ flawless performance.

 

Perfection is probably the best word that can be associated with this film. It shouts excellence and brilliance in contemporary cinema. When I’ve watched it again yesterday, the same scenes hit and touched my heart (the band playing during the commotion, the mother and her children ‘waiting’ to die inside their cabin, the second time Rose had a chance to get on a boat, Jack’s death scene, the finale). These film also boast a number of iconic cinematic moments that will live in years to come; Jack’s I’m the king of the world scene, Jack & Rose’ flying scene, the love scene inside the vintage car and Rose’ rescue moment. Whether you like it or not, Titanic will forever be a legend, an unbeatable masterpiece that’ll (kind of) represent what a film should be. James Cameron is a genius! Will I watch it again, HELL YEAH!!!

 

10/10

Jean Dujardin’s THE ARTIST

 

THE ARTIST – When I first heard about the The Artist, I wasn’t too interested about it. Ever since, I was never a fan of the silent movies era as I personally find films under this genre a complete waste of time. I am a very loud person and sitting down watching a film ran and driven by musical scoring isn’t my thing. I’ll either get uber-stressed at the end or simply fall asleep. That’s why I am flabbergasted to find myself up and awake (and liking every single bit of it) up to the very last screen shot of this masterpiece from Michel Hazanavicius. The Artist is a classic and powerful gem that’ll certainly shape the trend we’re seeing in modern cinema.

 

For silent films, musical scoring, sound editing and sound engineering are vital. These elements must be 110% better than a standard film as these will help the viewers to connect and digest the message of the film. These serve as the bridge between the movie and the audience. And I felt The Artist succeed on this part and effortlessly communicated the message of the film despite the absence of dialogues. The storyline can also make or break a silent film. It’s got to be a dynamic plot and the subject needs to be very interesting to make it work. It must also jive well with music and therefore The Artist’s central storyline is picture-perfect as it tackles the glitz and the glamour of show business. One last factor that is imperative in the success of a silent film is the actors in it. They have to step up their performances and ensure that they connect with the viewers even without uttering a single word. Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo were correspondingly spectacular, exquisite, stunning and magnificent in this film. Dujardin in particular was extraordinary and deserves every recognition he is getting at the moment. His eyes were very expressive which can naturally speak a thousand words. He has the charisma and magnetism required from a silent movie actor. Bejo has also managed to exude and emanate a strong screen presence and was also outstanding. I wouldn’t classify her performance as a Best Actress material but a Supporting nod should be fine.

 

Can it win this year’s Academy Awards Best Picture? DEFINITELY! Without a shadow of a doubt. Its strongest contender would have to be The Descendants but apart from that, no other film has reached the same level of excellence as The Artist. It is on a league of its own and truly world-class.

 

9/10

Sandra Bullock’s THE BLIND SIDE

 

THE BLIND SIDE – Meryl Streep’s performance in the movie ‘Julie/Julia’ is one of the biggest dramedy moments of the Hollywood cinema. It was brilliant, affecting, flawless, compelling and powerful. I cannot think of any other performance of that genre (even from Ms Streep herself) that can top it. Apparently, Sandra Bullock’s acting in ‘The Blind Side’ is way better. I must admit, I wasn’t a happy bunny when the Academy chose Sandra over Meryl for the 2009 Oscars Awards. I felt that the great Steep was robbed.

 

Because of this anger/annoyance/curiosity, I decided to watch ‘The Blind Side’ 2 years later (hahaha yes, 2 years!). At first, my impression of the film was somewhat analogous to ‘The Green Mile’. More than the story, I was after Sandra’s acting. But after seeing it, I thought it was one of the best films released that year (2009) and of the decade as a whole.

 

The story is very inspirational. It is feel-good movie that will indubitably touch your heart. The screenplay is so great and you will absolutely love all the characters in it. In terms of its technical aspecy, it was average. I think the strongest asset of this film is the story itself. As for the performances, every single actor present gave their very bests and it made the whole ensemble stupendously good. Sandra Bullock is splendid. I still think Meryl was better but I cannot deny the fact that Sandra was ‘uh-mazing’ in portraying her role. She gave an effortless performance. She proved that you don’t need to shed a lot of tears and scream until your nerves explode to win an award. Her natural, simplified and sophisticated approach to the character made her depiction astonishing.

 

Would I recommend this film? Definitely. It’s a movie not to miss. I recommend it to anyone. This is a film that fits every demographics and if you do not feel anything (special and inspiring) about the story, you have no right to call yourself human for goodness sake. It is a soft reminder that in a world filled with crimes, aggression and misunderstandings, there are few people living who are always ready to give a helping hand. There are few people left who are willing to open their hearts and reach out to those in need. This is a film filled with hope, positivity and realization on how God truly loves us and how he takes care of us through other people.

 

8.5/10