Shutter Island

This isn't Martin Scorsese's best but I'll tell you what, It's one of the finest films any one else other than Scorsese could have made. Leonardo Di Caprio stars as Marshal Edward "Teddy" Daniels, who is looking for a runaway patient, Rachel Solando from the Ashecliff Hospital for the criminally disturbed, on Shutter Island. His partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) is working with him for the first time.

Dr. Cawley, played by Ben Kingsley is the Head of the institution. As Teddy investigates the case, he figures that there is more than just the disappearance of Rachel Solando. He, himself is constantly tormented by ghosts of the past (His dead wife & people he killed during World War II). Exploring the eerie facility and questioning Its even more eerie residents, Teddy realizes that eccentricity of the institution is getting onto him.

The first half of the movie has no explanations. Bizarre events, uptight doctors and watchful staff leaves you thinking that in the land of the insane, the sane have no reason or right to be there.

The second half, especially towards the end, is when the pieces start falling into place and even though the conclusion seems predictable, you still have to figure out the reasons why!

You have to bow down to Scorsese for creating the film into a perfect psychological thriller. It isn't easy when one takes a written fiction and moulds the characters visually without making just another lame imitation; And even though, Di Caprio has wowed the audience with better performances in his other films, you have to agree that Teddy Daniels wouldn't have been complete without him.

The film is based on the novel, Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Eddie, Soap, Bacon and Tom are long-time friends. They get themselves into trouble when Eddie not only loses all the money they put together in a game of cards against Harry "The Hatchet" Lonsdale but also earns the four a debt of half a million. The absolute wicked and loyally aided Harry, gives them a week's time to return the money.

The four, overhearing their neighbours through the thin walls of their apartment, figure that the notorious neighbours are planning a robbery. Finding the solution come to them without any effort, they decide, after their neighbours have looted the money from a certain weed-growers, they are going to rob their neighbours, get the money and pay off the debt.

Now what makes this movie interesting is Guy Ritchie's excellent intricate plots. You can close your eyes and trust this man to create a heist film that not only accelerates the anxiety of the unpredictable bearings but also leave you wanting for more.

If I write anything more about the film, I will be giving away the story to you and who likes Spoilers anyway??? All I am going to tell you is that It involves the following things:

1. Four Long-time friends in trouble
2. Harry "The Hatchet" Lonsdale(his bodyguards and trusted allies The Baptist, Big Chris & Little Chris
3. The Notorious Neighbour, Dog & his gang
4. Rory & his crooked crew
5. A bunch of marijuana growers
6. A couple of abject cons
7. A pair of antique shotguns

And If that's not enough for you.....yeah one last thing,

Lots & Lots of Money...............

The Secret In Their Eyes

This Argentine film follows a non-linear chronology and depicts the story of a Federal Justice Agent, Benjamin Esposito (Ricardo Darin) who is horrified at the rape and murder of a twenty-three year old woman called Lilliana Colotto & decides to do whatever It takes to bring justice.

Cut to the present day, Esposito is a retired man, writing a novel based on the Colotto homicide. He finds It difficult to start the novel and goes to meet his Department Chief, Irene Menendez-Hastings, the same woman that he had begun to love amidst the malignant mystery of the murder.

The film uses the flashback technique frequently & cleverly & with such aging details that It is so evident to tell the constant shift in the time-line.

The case is almost solved as Esposito, with the help of his alcoholic assistant, Pablo Sandoval catches the accused, Isidoro Gomez. The victim's husband, Ricardo Morales, who has also taken personal measures to reach the accused, seem justified and at rest.

However, less than a year later, Gomez is set free by the Government Agency, headed by Esposito's rival, Romano. This not only angers Esposito but also puts him in jeopardy as It becomes palpable after the brutal murder of Sandoval, that Romano will do anything to spite Esposito.

The film has a beautiful and unspoken love story, surrounded by the twists and turns of the treacherous case, that leaves their fate undecided and unsure.

The pace at which the film moves has been timed acutely that there is not a single speck of boredom, only anxiety as to get closer to where the truth lies and what becomes of them all.

It is a bare-faced fact that with great films, come great actors. This movie only proves that fact accurate. The actors provide concrete weight to their roles, enhancing the film in the right direction, without exaggerating or dissipating the characters they play.

Watch the film for It's intensity and the brilliant illustration of the time transition without changing the focus of the matter.

The Secret In Their Eyes, was the winner at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film Category. Directed by Juan Jose Campanella, the movie is based on Eduardo Sacheri's novel, La Pregunta de sus Ojos.

Lars and the Real Girl

Ryan Gosling stars as Lars Lindstrom in Craig Gillespie's drama, Lars and the Real Girl. The movie is set in a small town with a close knit society and focuses on Lars, a socially awkward and aloof twenty-seven year old, who lives in a garage, next to the house that his father left in the will for his brother and him.

The shy and withdrawn Lars suddenly changes when he says he has a visitor. The visitor turns out to be a life-sized doll who is "anatomically correct" that Lars ordered online. At first, his brother, Gus (played by Paul Schneider) and sister-in-law, Karin (Emily Mortimer) are shocked and aghast. Gus blames himself for leaving home early and leaving his younger brother with his heart-broken, companion-less father. He thinks, that is the reason why Lars has always been reclusive.

However, with Dagmar's (Patricia Clarkson) help, who is their family doctor as well as a psychologist, things begin to get normal around Lars and his not-so-real girl, Bianca. Dagmar explains that Lars is only having delusions because he has always been lonely and advices that the other join along and play their parts.

Lars, who is the actual voice and will of Bianca, begins to lead an almost normal life in the society, when he starts living for himself and Bianca.

The film is very deep and intense and It shows the psyche of self-secluded person who brings in something so imaginary, making them believe the delusions and fantasy because It's not hurting anybody and in doing so, Life actually feels better.Therefore, the name and the impact of the "Real Girl" even though she is only a doll.

Ryan Gosling is so rooted in his character that nowhere in the movie, do you find him 'acting'. The Girl is Real and so is Lars.

The film released on October 12th, 2007 and Ryan Gosling was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor(Male) at the Screen Actors Guild Award.

Eat Drink Man Woman~ Yǐn Shí Nán Nǚ

Trust Ang Lee to take something close home, put it together and make a family drama that relates beyond borders and he will not disappoint you. Eat Drink Man Woman, (In Chinese Yǐn Shí Nán Nǚ) is the story of a father, who is a renowned chef and his three daughters.

Sihung Lung ('Sir Te' of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) plays a widowed chef, Chef Chu who is almost retired and losing his taste buds. Kuei-Mei Yang plays his eldest daughter, Jia-Jen Chu, who is a Chemistry teacher in a High School. Chien-Lien Wu plays, Jia-Chien Chu, his middle daughter, who is an independent woman working for a private airline company. Yu-Wen Wong plays Jia-Ning Chu, the youngest daughter, who is a student and has a part-time job at a fast food joint.

The family is almost dysfunctional and for various reasons, particularly the early death of their mother, they find it difficult to communicate with one another. Every Sunday the father prepares exquisite, lavish meal for the family, thus creating their tradition of a weekly Gourmet Gathering using food as a means of communication and revealing secrets about themselves.

The first five minutes of the film compels you to gaze at the screen, without being distracted as you watch Chef Chu prepare Chinese Cuisine so deliciously that your mouth begins to water.

As the name of the movie suggests, Eat (Food) Drink (Drinks) Man Woman (the relationship between a man and a woman), the story revolves around those topics. Only a man like Ang Lee can create something reasonably dramatic based on the basic human needs and clichéd family values without being so preachy and going overboard with it.

It is the beautifully crafted script and the ingenious direction that makes this movie stand out. The actors justify the characters they play with such convincing performances that even minor characters like the little girl, Shan-Shan and the chain-smoker, Mrs Liang makes it hard for you to forget them

The movie was released on August 3rd, 1994 and was nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards 1995.

Grave of the Fireflies

Things You Ought to know about this film:

1) The Film was an adaptation of a novel by Akiyuki Nosaka and is semi-autobiographical. It was an apology to his sister, who died towards the end of World War II.

2) It was released On 16th April, 1988

3) Roger Egbert, the renowned film critic, calls this film, "One of the most powerful anti-war movies ever made."

The film begins on a very morbid tone with the lines, "September 21 1945, That was the night I died."

The story revolves around two siblings, Seita,(14) the elder brother and Setsuko,(4) his younger sister, who are caught in the web of war in Japan, during World War II.It is narrated by Seita.

Animated with such profound details, the film not only moves you to tears at several scenes but It makes itself come alive. The aspects of the movie are Poverty, Depression, Abandonment....all motifs of the human predicament during and after a diabolic calamity called War.

The movie not only has a brilliant script but the characters, even though animated, are flawless. The portrayal of pain is so poignant that anybody who does not cry while watching this is a Stone....literally!(And also you don't need your heart so go and donate it to somebody who needs it)
 It tells a bitter tale of the two siblings, who are orphaned and have no where to go. The distant aunt who takes them in for a while, makes it obvious that they are nothing but a burden to her so the duo leave her house and begin to live on their own, helpless, poor and vulnerable.

Seita, being the elder brother makes sure that even in the worst of situations, he takes care of his younger sister. It is evident in the scene at the beginning, when they are running during the air raid and Setsuko loses one of her slippers and sadly complains, Seita promises to buy her a new pair, a better one!

The reason this movie works, is not because It is a tear-jerker (admit it all you soft-hearted people...you cry at the any and every sad movie!) but because It carries a socially significant message. It is an anti-war movie. It displays the despondent drama of the dejected; And unlike most other war films, It does not take sides. What I mean is, It doesn't show who is right or wrong. It doesn't show who started the war or who ended it. It doesn't glorify the soldiers and the martyrs who laid down their lives in serving their nation; But It shows the Innocent caught in between, making it evident that truly, there is never a victory in war.

The Fireflies in the movie are a symbol for Setsuko, who like the firefly, glows with life and just like a firefly, she has a short life-span.

This movie kills you....It kills you because you are sitting there, watching the movie and feeling equally helpless like the characters in it. You want to reach out and help them but all you can do is sit and stare. When you watch It, you become a part of it.

There are a list of movies which are excellently made and magnificently moulded. This is one of them; And If you still ask me for a reason to watch this film, I'll give you one:

After the end credits have rolled, you will sit there and images of Setsuko and Seita will play on in your head because the movie stays with you; And more importantly, It lives in you.

Watch this film & you life will never be the same again