nirjhar Reviews

Malachi's Cove (1973)

beautiful movie

[8/10 · 14 July 2006]

I saw this movie a couple of years ago.

It was beautifully shot.

I think it was somewhere in england.

It is a bittersweet movie about a girl who is ostracized by her village.

I just love the place where the movie was shot.

The actress who played the girl was great.

The following is taken from a website

**************** What a sweet story this was! And what a likable creature Mally, " ... wild- looking, almost unearthly creature, with wild-flowing, black, uncombed hair ...". It almost seems like she sprang fully formed from the earth, totally unaware of any vestiges of civilization, but yet with a native gentility. " ****************

I can't have put it better myself. :)

My Summer of Love (2004)

Great Little Coming of Age (sort of) movie

[10/10 · 18 August 2005]

I had heard great things about this movie.

After watching this movie, I was not disappointed.

This movie is about two girls Mona (played by Natalie Press) and Tamsin (played by Emily Blunt) This movie is brilliantly shot. It captured the teenage lazy summer atmosphere perfectly. This movie made me want to visit Yorkshire. :) This movie is at its bets when the two girls are interacting with each other.

The ending of the movie is so NOT expected.

The climax was ironical as Tamsin first met Mona while riding a white horse! Some Knight in shining Armour! I did not fully understand what Mona was thinking as she had that faint smile on her lips in the last scene of the movie! Was she heart broken, bitter, angry? Or did she finally start to accept that the world was not full of people who were black and white but were rather gray (in between)? I hope it was the latter.

I want to see more of Miss Natalie Press.

I expect great things from Miss Press. I hope she does not become a one film wonder.

The most enduring image from this movie was the scene of the two girls riding the motor cycle.

Too bad the journey did not end with a happily ever after.

*sigh* nj

Black (2005)

An Honest Opinion of Black

[9/10 · 8 February 2005]

Hi all,

Just watched Black.

The best memory of the movie? That would have to be the interactions between Ayesha Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan in the first half of the movie.

The First half of the movie is nearly flawless. The reason I see nearly is because of one jarring note in that first half. That was the introduction scene of Amitabh when the principal of the school tells him to go and teach Michelle. I think Amitabh went a little over the top in that introductory scene of his.

But, after that scene he was brilliant. :)

I had gone in to see the movie expecting mind-blowing performances from Amitabh and Rani. I was not expecting this gem of a performance from this child actress - Ayesha Kapoor! She was simply amazing.

There is a lot of English dialogue in the movie. I don't think it hampers the movie.

The problems start after the interval. The movie slows down considerably. It does start to drag a bit.

The biggest problem is that kiss. I didn't understand why Debhraj went away? That was an uncomfortable moment.

Having said that, I just loved Amitabh's performance. His helplessness as he realized that he was unable to remember things, the look when he realized that he had left Michelle stranded in the street.

The helplessness that he conveys through his eyes was just awesome. When the Principal calls him to give him the braille books for Michelle, notice the look in his eyes as he sits. The apprehension in his eyes. He really makes you believe that Debhraj is slowly but surely descending into a downward spiral and that age is catching up with him.

Maybe I am not describing this scene as it should be described as, But, that scene was brilliant.

I think I loved Amitabh's performance the most when He was underplaying his character. Amitabh is best when he is acting with his eyes. The way he expresses himself through his eyes is just awesome.

I think it was a wise move on Sanjay Bhansali's part that he decided to keep the length of the movie to two hours. The reason I say this is because the movie can be depressing and serious at times. I don't think audiences would have been able to sit through a three hour movie on this kind of subject.

Also, I did not understand this whole Anglo-Indian setting. It felt like the story was occurring in England instead of India. This whole 'Mr. Sahai, Mr. A, Mr. B' was just too British. All the characters were speaking such flawless English with a non-Indian accent. When Rani said the word 'Maestro' when describing her teacher, that was a little too much too take. I am not sure Indians use words like 'Maestro'. It felt a little fake.

I wished that the movie would have been handled in a better way in the second half. That whole bit about Debhraj leaving Michelle after that kiss was a little weird. I did not understand the logic behind that.

But, I loved that last sequence where Debhraj does a little dance when he sees Michelle in the dark robes.

The movie comes a full circle. The student becomes the teacher. It ends on a positive note.

In conclusion, I don't think this movie will be a commercial success. But, it is a sincere and heartfelt effort from the whole cast and crew of Black. It has some incredibly touching moments.

Amitabh and Ayesha Kapoor's performances will be remembered for years... This is easily Amitabh's best performance since Aakhri Raasta.

I think I am going to see this movie one more time. I want to watch that first half of the movie once again. :)

Allie Keys: The world is made up of the big things that happen and the small ones. And the part that's so unfair is that we call them big and small, because when something happens to you, when you lose something or someone that you really care about, that's all there is. The world may be blowing up around you, but you don't care about that. You don't care about that at all.

Before Sunset (2004)

Best Movie of 2004

[10/10 · 4 February 2005]

The best way to describe this movie is by the following comments of a film critic

quote: -------- "Sunset" plays out in real time -- in 81 minutes of unfolding getting-to-know-you-(again) conversation -- and its tug of suspense comes not only from that waiting plane but from the need to grab at chance and from the larger looming deadline of age.

It's a movie about how people woo each other with words, looks and glances. And though some will complain that "Before Sunset" is all talk, it struck me as real, highly diverting talk--beautifully staged, acted and visualized.

Delpy and Hawke co-wrote the script with Linklater, and they keep Jesse and Celine iridescent and fresh, one of the most delightful and moving of all romantic movie couples. A lot of that charm comes from the speed of their patter, the way they keep the words spinning between them like two great tennis players on an endless, brilliant rally. And since they both show so well how the characters have grown, they can believably break into anger or anguish at their current frustrations and the memory of desire.

All three of the film's primary collaborators take advantage of their own opportunities with this one, layering Jesse and Celine's 80-minute conversation with a freshness, a surprising urgency, and two characters full of desire, faults, and - still - hope.

--------

The movie has a brilliant script and dialogues.

I just love the conversations between the two lead actors (Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke) in the movie. The chemistry between them is electric.

The best moment of the movie is undoubtedly the climax of the movie where Julie Delpy sings a song. She sings an improvised little nonsense song about lost love that keeps skidding into pain.

quote: -------- Celine: (Celine's song) Let me sing you a waltz / Out of nowhere, out of my thoughts / Let me sing you a waltz / About this one night stand / You were, for me, that night / Everything I always dreamt of in life / But now you're gone / You are far gone / All the way to your island of rain / It was for you just a one night thing / But you were much more to me, just so you know / I don't care what they say / I know what you meant for me that day / I just want another try, I just want another night / Even if it doesn't seem quite right / You meant for me much more than anyone I've met before / One single night with you, little Jesse, is worth a thousand with anybody / I have no bitterness, my sweet / I'll never forget this one night thing / Even tomorrow in other arms, my heart will stay yours until I die / Let me sing you a waltz / Out of nowhere, out of my blues / Let me sing you a waltz / About this lovely one night stand

--------

I thought 'Lost in Translation' was the best Romantic movie I had seen in the recent past.

"Before Sunset" is a few notches better.... :)

So, What's your favorite movie of 2004? :)

~Nirjhar

My Girl (1991)

Sweet Little Movie

[9/10 · 4 February 2005]

I had watched this movie because of MaCauly Kulkin.

But, Anna Chlumsky, who played the 'Veda' Character, ended up stealing this show. :)

Beautiful movie with superb performances from the kids.

It's a coming of age movie. If you like Hallmark kind of movies, you may like this movie...

It is not too sacharine sweet.

The title song 'My Girl' is wonderful. I loved the scenes between the two kids.

There is a scene where show pushes Macauly Culkin and tells him not to come back for the next 5-7 days. that was a great scene. :)

Another scene was this whole sequence as to hwo she copes after the death of Macauly Culkin.

There was a sequel made which was not all that great.

Bride & Prejudice (2004)

What is Alexis Bledel doing in this movie?

[24 October 2004]

Why did Alexis Bledel agree to do a two minute part in this movie?

I guess she may have been friends with the producer and decided to do them a favour?

Or is she a fan of Pride and Prejudice and wanted to do a role in a movie 'based' on that novel? If that was the case, Bride is a pretty shoddy tribute to the original novel.

Jane Austen would be turning in her grave.

A very bad movie.

No chemistry between the lead actors.

The guy in the glasses was the most fun.

apart from that, crap.