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Reviews
Joker (2019)
Woah! What a pleasant SURPRISE!
The director Todd Phillips himself admits that the story sort of picks elements from various comic book versions of the Joker, but doesn't stick to any one of it entirely. The world of the movie is a DC version of the Scorsese world of: Taxi Driver, King of Comedy and Raging Bull - and Sidney Lumet's: Network, Dog Day Afternoon and Prince of The City. That's one of the reason the film feels so chilling - it's not the Nolan-like plotting, heroic antagonism brought in by the one-liners delivered by Heath Ledger, or the mythical vibe brought in by the superhero Batman. The film centres around the grim, gory, hyperreal world-building and character-disintegration that's so on your face! Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix pull it off masterfully in this nerve-racking cinematic experience called Joker.
There is a lot of buzz about the social and moral implications of the film, and to be honest, if you pay your movie tickets for a film titled Joker, I am pretty sure to safely assume you are not in there for moral or sociological implications of it for either you or for anyone else! So stop right there! Because the movie ain't gonna be sweet! Now that we are done with that - Send in the Clowns!
Don't miss this movie if your are a Joker fan! It's a must watch!
Official Secrets (2019)
It's Keira Knightley......
To begin with - since it is based on a true story, credit to the movie should be directed only towards presenting facts, events, and building up the central character: Whistleblower - Katharine Gun.
Apart from a sound performance from Keira Knightley and a well felt presence of ex-Voldemort: Ralph Fiennes, I don't know what else this film really does apart from re-informing us about George Bush's huge 'duck-up' and the British involvement in it: I mean, the film shows tons of previously documented public footage that shows the bureaucratic hustling that happens at the background, then we have not so well developed tense moments (which I can't talk about without spoiling the film a bit) - basically the tension is 'also there', many suspense and shock worthy scenes are presented casually. It neither cinematically portrays politics, nor does it elevate the protagonist.
This film could have either been a documentary which would have done justice to its intention, or it should have taken enough creative liberty to portray the psychological impact that comes along with standing up against the Official Secrets Act. Since the whole movie is shown through the POV of one single character - the lens is pretty narrow to fit 'behind the scenes' political drama. Having seen Snowden, I am left to say that it had lotta scope open for exploration.
Barring all that - It's worth a watch, but the expectation that the trailer leaves us with is in some sense - a mirage.
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019)
Awesome Fairy Tale!
This movie reminds us what Tarantinoesque really means. The story is essentially about Rick Dalton, his stunt double Cliff Booth, and Hollywood. The length of the movie is appropriate to teleport us in the 60s as the director envisioned it. Performances were really solid and entertaining to say the least. The presence of Margot Robbie's character was angelic, and given the era the film talks about - it's impossible to not mention the hottest director of that time: Roman Polanski, his wife Charon Tate, and the whole hippie culture vibe!
There is really nothing to analyse in this movie because it's intention is to serve the audience a cinematic experience in this most straightforward way possible. But, the way Tarantino plays us with Charles Mansion is worthy of an applause, if anything has to be put under a microscope: it has to be that thrilling aspect of a historically dreadful event.
Watch out for the flame thrower scene!
I am really excited to find out - what his tenth and final movie would be....!
Section 375 (2019)
Good, But....
After watching the Netflix series: Unbelievable, I was expected a full on psychological drama. Here's what I got....
The moment when ink is sprayed on Akshay Khanna - it is very plausible for an 'Indian movie' to resolve the plot by favouring his verdict. But to make the whole case sensitive they have to somehow take it all back to a neutral state. There are many moments in the film where we can see either the writer, casting crew, or the director shaping our thoughts, and to be honest - I didn't enjoy that aspect. The ideal case ought to be where the film makers are so absent that their personalities have sort of rinsed into the whole movie. So in that regards I found the film a bit naive. For a sensitive movie watcher - it is basically a 200/- crash-course on how to set up tension and later resolve. The subject deserves more than that!
The performances of the two lead characters were sound enough to engage one to watch it till the end. The argumentation that was presented in the court room was pretty straightforward and one dimensional, so whatsoever vulnerability was thus exposed stands as being not so appealing.
In conclusion, this movie is just a plain comment which reads - "Police are lazy, Women sometimes misuse Section 375, and justice is an abstract concept."
If you choose not to watch it - You won't miss a great deal. But it was fun anyway!