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TheWanderingBohemian
Reviews
The 33 (2015)
'The 33' is beyond rescue
In August 2010, a story from Chile captured the imagination of the world. Thirty three miners were trapped inside a century-old gold and copper mine deep below the Atacama Desert. They survived in these claustrophobic and life-threatening conditions for over two months. More than two months after being buried 200 stories below ground, they were rescued and reunited with their families. The 33 was filmed on location in the Atacama Desert and within two real Colombian mines. This is a compelling story of triumph of the will, resilience, teamwork, and the psychological effects of being stuck underground without food or the assurance of making it out alive.This is as much a story about survival and hanging on to a fine thread of hope as it is about the families above the ground, who never give up and relentlessly pressurize the government. Then there are the teams of engineers and rescuers working day and night to bore down the height of two Empire State buildings without any idea if anyone is still alive. The mission is championed by Minister of Mines. The performances are uneven, while some actors are simply miscast. Though the lighting, camera-work and music are noteworthy, you hardly feel the stifling hopelessness that is bound to have affected the mental state of at least a few of the men.
Masaan (2015)
A smorgasbord of love, redemption, destruction, hope and transformation set in the backdrops of Varanasi's crematoriums
Neeraj Ghaywan's debut movie Masaan evokes a whole gamut of emotions ranging from fear, redemption, hope, love to transformation. The movie's themes of entropy, destruction and resurrection are signalled by the title, which means crematorium, and the location. Masaan looks for love, meaning, redemption and transformation which it victoriously portrays through its lead characters, characters which swirl in their own eddies but forging ahead with determination.
Set in the backdrops of rustic yet idyllic Ganga ghats of Varanasi, the movie showcases two parallel stories.Two journeys are twinned, one beginning in despair and the other in hope. One is of Devi, whose sexual rendezvous with a recently acquired boyfriend goes horribly wrong, putting Devi and her father at the mercy of a corrupt police officer. The other is of the star-crossed romance between Shalu and Deepak, she from an upper caste and he a member of the Dalit Dom community that cremates bodies at the Varanasi ghats. The scenes between Deepak and Shaalu offer innocence and charm and offset the sadness that overtakes Devi and Pathak, neither of whom is equipped to deal with their changed circumstances.
Ghaywan's periodic drama also digs and lucidly put forwards the brutal truths of Indian society- sexual repression, the caste divide, financial hardship, limited mobility – through individual philosophical journeys. We are stifled by our growth and age-cultural traditions that have led to relative morality. The whole patriarchal system allows us to take the moral high ground – how a small city girl cannot have sex before marriage, for instance. Though brutal but these traditional truths encapsulate the inherent Indian-ness and allows the viewers to be more attached the displayed theme. Ghaywan's narrative is fluid and rich with confidence and sensitivity and the Indian-ness in his writing and shooting does allow its protagonists savor the characterization. Masaan perfectly captures the journey of two tragedy-struck souls from decay to renewal. It all comes to the beautiful concluding scene, which suggests that sometimes, redemption can begin at a point that is not too far away.
In the Heart of the Sea (2015)
Holy Cow!! That is a Huge Whale.
Inspired by Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, In the Heart of the Sea, will make you go, "Holy Cow!!, that's a huge Whale". The movie begins in 1820, but I think its concerns are contemporary – the damage to whaling habitats caused by hunting expeditions, humankind's dependence on oil, and nature's revenge at human intervention. The real battle is between the men and a vengeful whale whose obsessive assaults on the ship provide the film with its most spectacular and powerful moments. The special effects team kicks into gear once the Essex enters the water. The battle between the whale and the humans has the unfortunate effect of creating empathy for the mammal, which appears rightfully outraged at the repeated attacks on members of its clan. After the damage has been done, the story floats just like the castaways, counting days to the inevitable return home. The old-fashioned man-versus-nature yarn is the best thing about In the Heart of the Sea. The cast performs efficiently, but they are dwarfed in every way possible by Moby Dick's inspiration. The movie has its several highs and some lows but looking at the grand picture it makes a pretty decent watch.
In a nutshell, 'In the Heart of the Sea' will have you rooting for the whale and the mammal wins the contest in Ron Howard's drama.
The Revenant (2015)
Another Inarritu's masterpiece!!
Harrowing, gripping, brutal, bold, harsh and a visceral depiction of one man's willpower. Murphy's Law kept slipping from one crap to the next, to the next and the protagonist survived somehow every time, I'm not sure about if one should call that luck or the exact opposite? The Revenant is a beautifully shot film, much of it will remind you of the works of writer/director Terrence Malick. Inarritu's masterpiece, a tour de force, if I've ever seen one. From the amazing opening shot, this movie immediately hooks you. The movie is a brutal depiction of man against the wild. a survivalist story that can sometimes be difficult to watch, as some of the scenes can be quite gruesome. the performances of Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy are spectacular. Effectively it transports us to another time and place, while always maintaining its worth as a piece of visual art. You don't just watch "The Revenant," you experience it. The camera movements, the tracking shots and that glorious bear attack are all beautifully done and shown in the most harrowing way possible. For a film to open with an over 10 minute long take of a battle nonetheless, it is truly captivating and awe inspiring to see filmmakers push themselves to their limits both physically and creatively.
PS- It provides an immensely absorbing experience to those who have an affinity for the wilderness. It'll be highly ludicrous of Academy if Leo doesn't get his first Oscar for this.