Invictus

Film appreciation is a term that seems to be very easy to understand.If you put it bluntly, it would be appreciating films. when i Google it i got a few different theories that seemed a little sensible and wierd too. We are here to talk, understand and promote good cinema. Lets get started by discussing a film which i very recently saw clint eastwood's Invictus.

Invictus is a film about president Nelson Mandela, during his tenure as the president of south africa after serving 30 years in Jail inspires the southafrican rugby team to win the rugby world cup. The president played by Morgan Freeman and Matt damon plays the rugby team captain. He was convicted for crime by his own fellow southafricans, the whites for thirty years.

Imagine the morale of the person serving 30 years of jail, where he lived inside a single cell(seen in the film), comes out gets elected as a president employs personal security officers, the white southafricans and inspiring the rugby team that is mostly comprised of white people. Matt damon sensibly plays the supporting role with conviction and pulls it off with aplomb.

In most of the good movies that you see we will remember some of the key sequences for some time. Invictus had a key sequence before the day of the final of the world cup when matt damon tells to his girl friend about the president's desire to lift his country after all the problems south africa has faced. That shot was there for about 30 seconds, but it was emotionally touching. The director Clint eastwood and screenplay writer Anthony Peckham has rather intelligently established another key sequence before in the film where Matt damon visits the Jail and Sir nelson mandela's small cell. Creating that sequence perfectly establishes the required emotional connect for the previous scene that we discussed.

During the finale cinematographer Tom Stern and director clint eastwood has used ultra slow motion cameras to film the world cup final.Interestingly most of the films where the 'finale' is a sports game has used slow motion sequences. Martin scorsese's 'raging Bull' , Guy ritchie's 'Snatch', Venkat Prabhu's 'chennai 28' , '300'.

The president has understood way before that inspiring a team to win world cup would make sure, the win would be a tool that will bring together whites and blacks. The idea has been brilliantly executed by the director by showing a young Black guy celebrating the victory with a group of white men. People cheering and chanting together while watching the match in the Bars or office television sets. When you see a film alone and if u stand up and clap during the start of the end credits
you know you have more than liked the film. I had the same feeling after watching the movie. Morgan freeman is the best person to play the president and also the executive producer of the film. He has lived the role and its the role of a lifetime. The
promotional poster of the film had Matt damon in the front and Morgan freeman looming large over him the background. This poster essentially says the perspective of americans about nelson mandela. For the film to sell, Matt damon ,the current heartthrob after the hugely successful 'bourne franchise', 'the departed' and the lesser known gem 'the informant' is the trump card.

Clint eastwood, 80, still makes movies and makes them as one of the best movies of the year. I dont think a filmmaker at this age would make movies for money, it must be hugely personal satisfaction. All these years he has amazed us by his movies across different genres. This one is also very special like the 'mystic river' , 'changeling' , and 'the unforgiven'.

I am Rajiv Muralidharan, you can view my blog at rajiv-muralidharan@blogspot.com. You can discuss about the film at my blog or even send your comments to rajivvikaas@gmail.com

notes of silence - A short film!

Notes of silence , the debut short from Mrinalini D.S is about a speech and a hearing impaired girl trying to learn guitar. The film touches chord in the way that it portrays disability in a more genuine and unsympathetic way. Always there are ways to do whatever you desire hope you have the passion to do it. The girl, with limitations somehow unassumingly convinces his brother/friend to make her learn guitar. The guy short tempered, 'pain in the Ass' kind of a person gets convinced to teach her in some way. This screenplay is interesting for two major reasons, one would be the wind chimes sequence. There used to be a shot in the middle of the film, where the girl touches the chimes and she was not able to hear the sound. (The sound design is blank). The last shot of the film would be an interpreatation of her hearing the sound. How beautifully those two shots convey the story. This is a metaphorical film. Second would be the simple narrative structure, its very uncommon now a days to have simple narratives. The finale doesnt have the usual excitement which we usually see, the cliches. This film offers a finale of 3-4 shots that just shows the resolution is achieved in a more beautiful way.

Technically this film is nothing short of wonderful. Special mention for sound design, cinematography and music. I somehow felt that this film wouldnt be connected with our Indian audience. There is one full montage sequence which could have worked better with a slight trimming in the final cut. Mrinalini you have given a good film , now you cant do trash here after! You have to give something better!' Life would be Beautiful , if there are Many sophie's - (The girl) in the film , even with their physical issues try to dream big and achieve what they dreamed' .

Plastic Bag

Ramin Bahrani, one of the best independent filmmakers of america has written and directed a short film called plastic bag. Ramin bahrani known for his simple themes has earned critical acclaim from film critic roger ebert as the 'one of the best independent film makers of the decade'


You can have a look at the teaser as well as the full film in the below website

NORUZ FILMS - which has produced a list of independent mainly Rahin Bahrani's award winning films like goodbye solo, chop shop, Man pushes cart and plastic bag.


Website :- http://www.noruzfilms.com/media.html

All about martin scorsese

Guys , Found a few links about Martin scorsese , The below link video discussed about his films

Take a look!

http://www.serieswebtv.com/films/s/vidadifh-martin-scorcese/18665

Have anyone seen Martin scorsese's short film The big shave, Please find the link below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83i8G6o0quc&has_verified=1&ytsession=pwL9UUcfINDg2iQW0ocbMIp0lbWmTqEzgayl2GgXYZLJJpSiksBE6DfjgNZqZNNG7XGWuuw9vhwP8Rb_2B7mv3wZmeYuXMhFkfc2w3dv1llhu5mTOPqs5wpZv1932aoGC_93z5cKgog8m_hOG8E-OLwC33A_uS0ntDVm1PKdtdxj5jo_BOOdZ6EZ6kfIpnkuZzznfwuAL2GKjxGr0UIqVGvTXDbLkmwDqDH3HEIVprpyCKS2Tlfl90VqDbc-aW-_pGeLjiX6XE9wvr_vnhMyStPAMb5vfzTrThrWWe_RlW-LDbA1--xSmcprhF6bMLVa

The girl in the yellow boots - a film by anurag kashyap

Anurag Kashyap, the highly critically acclaimed director of Black friday, Gulaal, No Smoking, Paanch and Dev-D is back with the girl in the yellow boots. The film is premiered at Venice film fest and later in Toronto film fest.

Official Plot synopsis

That Girl in Yellow Boots is a thriller tracing Ruth’s (Kalki Koechlin) search for her father – a man she hardly knew but cannot forget. Desperation drives her to work without a permit, at a massage parlour. Torn between several schisms, Mumbai becomes the alien but yet strangely familiar backdrop for Ruth’s quest. She struggles to find her independence and space even as she is sucked deeper into the labyrinthine politics of the city’s underbelly. A city that feeds on her misery, a love that eludes her and above all, a devastating truth that she must encounter. And everyone wants a piece of her.

The film is written by anurag kashyap and Kalki kochelin the french beauty who has worked in Dev-D as well as in yet to be released Zindagi milega do baara with Zoya akthar. Cinematography by Rajeev Ravi, anurag's constant. The music of the film is done by naren chadra.

The movie stars Kalki Koechlin (as Ruth) alongwith Naseeruddin Shah, Prashant Prakash, Gulshan Devaiya, Shivkumar Subramaniam, Divya Jagdale, Kumud Mishra and Kartik Krishnan amongst others.

Please find the trailer of the film below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxvwR1Uq1GQ&feature=player_embedded

Please share your comments

Doodle bug- the short and all about inception.

Everybody knew Christopher Nolan's first feature is The Following. Following shot with a shoe string budget and non professional actors was edited, photographed, produced and directed by Chris Nolan. Even before Following, Chris Nolan made a short called Doodle bug.

Please see the film below and write your comments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WhKt_CkXD0&feature=player_embedded

Chris Nolan's latest offering inception has opened with tremendous critical acclaim. Kindly see below an interesting piece of information about the film. Chris Nolan has actually ripped off/ inspired a few scenes and thought process about the film from a comic book series. Check the article

http://videogum.com/208132/caught-inception-ripped-off-scrooge-mcduck/remakes-and-spinoffs/

The comic book is also available for download from the above link.

Another interesting thing about inception. Through a friend of mine, i came across a Japanese animation film called Paprika. Please check the plot points of the film in IMDB .

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0851578/

Send your feedback comments!

INCEPTION premiere

Find the link for the inception premiere below.

Inception premiere - A live footage has been taken from the premiere of inception and released in the internet. We have live feeds from all the actors including dicaprio , ellen page, marion cottilard as well as musician hans zimmer and of course nolan the GOD of making cinema!

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8272851