The Dreamers is a sort of film tribute by director Bernarndo Bertolucci. In this film he has paid tribute in various forms of references and appraisals to the films, directors, events and personalities he hails as being the best of all time. Not only has he restricted his dedications to the world of cinema, he has also found ways to praise the great musical geniuses of the past as well. Albeit he has his own coy methods of doing it, he has generated an interesting film which has also done his devotional bidding.
The film centers around the narration of Matthew, an American student studying in the university in Paris on the eve of the student riots in Paris in the year 1968. Matthew who is a cinephile and enjoys visiting the screenings at the Cinémathèque Française happens to cross paths with a pair of siblings who are also frequenters of the film screenings. The brother and sister, who are quite interested in Matthew, invite him to their house for dinner and introduce him to their parents. Mildly shocked and surprised by their openness and comfort levels, Matthew accepts the invitation for dinner and also the invitation to move into their house once their parents move away for a month. Matthew, a bright and curious young man, enjoys arguing back and forth with the brother and hides his affection for the sister as the story unfolds in the backdrop of the May 1968 riots of Paris.
While it seems that Bertolucci has taken the opportunity to enlist his favorites among accredited films, scenes and directors and pay his tribute to the greats of the past, it seems that there are very important undertones that he has touched upon in the course of the film. The struggle that the son has with his father based on who is the greater artist, the one that voices his opinion and fights or the one that witnesses calmly as the world goes by to reflect and ponder, the connotation of incest and whether it is a sin or a parallel way of thinking and acceptance, the political struggle between the administrators and the workers and how the elite class stay aloft from it are all important points Bertolucci highlights in the course of the film. Another nuance that Bertolucci mildly highlights is the true meaning of art. Is it more artistic to create and produce for the world and society to witness or is sitting within a studio apartment discussing and contemplating a greater art in itself?
All in all putting forward interesting points to ponder, Bertolucci's The Dreamers is akin to anyone who enjoys a wide array from politics and sociology to art and realism.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
A Single Man
What goes through the mind of a person committing suicide? Actually if the act was planned what goes through their mind from the time they decide to do it till the time that they perform the act of actually ending their life? Do they experience fear, anxiety, anger or any other emotion? Do they go about their normal day? A Single Man is the story of the day that protagonist George Falconer commits suicide.
Eight months prior to the present day, 30th November 1962, the closest person in George Falconer's life, his partner Jim, died of a car accident while visiting his family. To add to the grief of the loss, George was barely even informed of Jim's death let alone be allowed a last glimpse of the love of his life at the funeral. Today George is saturated with the grief that follows him day in and day out and has decided to end his life with his revolver. But before he draws his final breath, he goes about his final day by setting his perspectives right and also those of others around him, all the while he must remind himself to take his pills regularly which are a requirement after having suffered a heart attack months before. The story follows his interactions with his regular friends and others; Charley, his old friend who accompanied him from England to America; Alba, his maid who takes care of his house; Kenny, a student of his English class who is stalking him; Carlos, a Spanish gigolo who he runs into. The day unfolds for George with some routine activities and some unexpected events as he reminisces the past.
While the time period the film is set in were testing times for America in itself, the film unravels a few sentiments which haunted the Americans at the time due to the Cold War and the nuclear threat imposed via Cuba. It allowed for the expression of the political beliefs of the characters of the film and moreover of the director, Tom Ford. An intellectually strong period film which poses questions politically not only in terms of war but also in terms of sexuality with the discrimination faced by homosexuals at the time, A Single Man was terrifically inspired by the novel of the same title written by Christopher Isherwood in 1964.
While most of the film appears in desaturated colors which is presumably the effect the director wanted for this 1960's period film, the color of the film saturates every time the protagonist finds some hope in his life which also reminds us of the condition that he is going through both psychologically and emotionally. The colors represent that for the most part the protagonist is depressed and unhappy but for a few moments, even on the day he plans to be his final day, he does experience a little joy in his life.
While much could be said about the storyline and its few twists and turns, especially in the end, it must be remembered that it is an adaptation from a novel. All the while it is an interesting and stimulating film. Also adding to the quality of the film is a great performance by Colin Firth who portrays the protagonist. It must be said that the BAFTA he won for it was definitely well deserved granted the brilliant effort he put in on his part.
For the first film in the directorial role by Tom Ford, this is definitely a job well done and a terrific watch for anyone who enjoys a well executed film with heavy bearings on human and social factors.
Eight months prior to the present day, 30th November 1962, the closest person in George Falconer's life, his partner Jim, died of a car accident while visiting his family. To add to the grief of the loss, George was barely even informed of Jim's death let alone be allowed a last glimpse of the love of his life at the funeral. Today George is saturated with the grief that follows him day in and day out and has decided to end his life with his revolver. But before he draws his final breath, he goes about his final day by setting his perspectives right and also those of others around him, all the while he must remind himself to take his pills regularly which are a requirement after having suffered a heart attack months before. The story follows his interactions with his regular friends and others; Charley, his old friend who accompanied him from England to America; Alba, his maid who takes care of his house; Kenny, a student of his English class who is stalking him; Carlos, a Spanish gigolo who he runs into. The day unfolds for George with some routine activities and some unexpected events as he reminisces the past.
While the time period the film is set in were testing times for America in itself, the film unravels a few sentiments which haunted the Americans at the time due to the Cold War and the nuclear threat imposed via Cuba. It allowed for the expression of the political beliefs of the characters of the film and moreover of the director, Tom Ford. An intellectually strong period film which poses questions politically not only in terms of war but also in terms of sexuality with the discrimination faced by homosexuals at the time, A Single Man was terrifically inspired by the novel of the same title written by Christopher Isherwood in 1964.
While most of the film appears in desaturated colors which is presumably the effect the director wanted for this 1960's period film, the color of the film saturates every time the protagonist finds some hope in his life which also reminds us of the condition that he is going through both psychologically and emotionally. The colors represent that for the most part the protagonist is depressed and unhappy but for a few moments, even on the day he plans to be his final day, he does experience a little joy in his life.
While much could be said about the storyline and its few twists and turns, especially in the end, it must be remembered that it is an adaptation from a novel. All the while it is an interesting and stimulating film. Also adding to the quality of the film is a great performance by Colin Firth who portrays the protagonist. It must be said that the BAFTA he won for it was definitely well deserved granted the brilliant effort he put in on his part.
For the first film in the directorial role by Tom Ford, this is definitely a job well done and a terrific watch for anyone who enjoys a well executed film with heavy bearings on human and social factors.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Wolfman
What is a myth? An exciting tale of something or someone that may or may not have existed in the past. It is an account of something that happened or someone that existed but it does not provide any proof for its tale, it only tells a story. One of the interesting myths known to man is the legend of the werewolf. The Wolfman explores is a film which explores this myth of werewolves.
When his brother is killed by unnatural and unidentifiable beings, Lawrence Talbot, a successful stage actor, returns to his hometown to try and find the person or animal responsible for his brother's death. Reunited with his father and his brother's fiancée , who despised him since his mothers death by sending him to a mental asylum, Lawrence settles back into their family manor in the countryside and begins investigating his brother's cause of death by visiting the gypsies where his brother frequented. His visit there ends in tragedy as he is bitten by a werewolf and thus begins his transformation. During this time a detective from Scotland yard hears of the ongoings in this small town of Black Moor and investigates the Talbot Manor. On the first night of his transformation Lawrence wrecks havoc in the small town and is shifted back into the mental asylum he was admitted to in his childhood. He must now escape and find the original werewolf responsible for this mess while staying clear of any trouble himself.
The Wolfman is a remake of the 1941 film of the same title. Set in the year 1891, it has the feel of the Victorian era which compliments the essence of horror. The low key lighting and dark tones of the film also help produce the feeling of fear which the film is meant to contain. While the burn effect in the film may have been overused, it still helped to keep the colors dull and leave the film with the dark tones it required.
With decent performances by the actors and a good twist in the plot line, this film contains few elements which make it worth watching. A remake of what is considered to be the original film on the subject of werewolves, this film is a decent attempt at an entertaining period based film, with a mix of a good storyline, good actors and good performances.
When his brother is killed by unnatural and unidentifiable beings, Lawrence Talbot, a successful stage actor, returns to his hometown to try and find the person or animal responsible for his brother's death. Reunited with his father and his brother's fiancée , who despised him since his mothers death by sending him to a mental asylum, Lawrence settles back into their family manor in the countryside and begins investigating his brother's cause of death by visiting the gypsies where his brother frequented. His visit there ends in tragedy as he is bitten by a werewolf and thus begins his transformation. During this time a detective from Scotland yard hears of the ongoings in this small town of Black Moor and investigates the Talbot Manor. On the first night of his transformation Lawrence wrecks havoc in the small town and is shifted back into the mental asylum he was admitted to in his childhood. He must now escape and find the original werewolf responsible for this mess while staying clear of any trouble himself.
The Wolfman is a remake of the 1941 film of the same title. Set in the year 1891, it has the feel of the Victorian era which compliments the essence of horror. The low key lighting and dark tones of the film also help produce the feeling of fear which the film is meant to contain. While the burn effect in the film may have been overused, it still helped to keep the colors dull and leave the film with the dark tones it required.
With decent performances by the actors and a good twist in the plot line, this film contains few elements which make it worth watching. A remake of what is considered to be the original film on the subject of werewolves, this film is a decent attempt at an entertaining period based film, with a mix of a good storyline, good actors and good performances.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
How I Met Your Mother: Review
Never before has hitting on girls, weird names or one catch phrase ever become so popular over such a short period of time. In the September of 2005 How I met your mother more commonly known as HIMYM was first screened at American homes, little would it be known that the popularity it would gain would lead to its comparison to a slightly famous show you may heard of called FRIENDS.
For all those that have wither been living under a rock or never owned a television set HIMYM is a show centered on Ted Mosby. He basically traces back through his twenties and shares the different encounters with his children that ultimately led to the day he met their mother. The other people that are along for this ride are his best friend Marshall his wife Lilly, Ted’s ex girlfriend Robin and what many see as the greatest character to television in over a decade Barney Stinson. Often referred to as the driving force behind the Barney is a self acclaimed playboy that seems to have his life goals boiled down to two things. The establishment of the fact that he is ‘awesome’ and the conquering and mounting of all girls, women and cougars he lays his eyes on. His comedic timing is impeccable and has come up with multiple laws like ‘The Lemon Law’ and the famous ‘Bro Code’. So impactful is the aura of this character that people have been heard to write to Neil Patrick Harris telling them how much in love they are with him and how they wouldn’t think twice before climbing in bed with him , which is ironic because in real life unlike his reel life character Neil Patrick Harris is gay. The show has completed 5 successful seasons and began shooting for the 6th at the beginning of this year.
The show has received multiple Emmy nominations with Neil Patrick Harris being nominated for best supporting actor for three consecutive years, he is yet to win. Research however shows that the reception to the show is higher in countries other than American; its popularity in Canada somehow surprises me (anyone who has watched the show will know why it comes as such a surprise).Yet again an Indian finds its way on to a popular sitcom; I would have mentioned it earlier had he not been cast as a driver. Over its 5 seasons the show has seen guest appearances by stars like Rachel Bilson , Kim Kardashian, Wayne Brady and of course Britney Spears who was nominated for her role on the show. For all it’s worth the show has received considerable criticism with many calling the script poor and while others point fingers at the poor establishment of its female characters. One of the biggest criticisms is that the show is being carried by Neil Patrick Harris and once he decides to drop this so called ‘load’ the show will fall in to an ultimate derailment.
The show itself in many ways resembles FRIENDS. The fact that they spend every other moment at Ted’s apartment or the bar below doesn’t help the argument that they are actuality diverse. On a whole the show is a good package of gags, set ups and even a musical number. Somewhere down the line you manage to feel a connect with the characters, whether it’s Ted who dreams of finding a woman to settle down with or Barney who looks for anything but that type of woman. FRIENDS will always be an epic so in comparison it may not match up but then again nothing ever might. In my personal opinion HIMYM has the ability to form an emotional connect that will keep you tuning in. Here’s hoping Neil Patrick Harris never drops his ‘load’
For all those that have wither been living under a rock or never owned a television set HIMYM is a show centered on Ted Mosby. He basically traces back through his twenties and shares the different encounters with his children that ultimately led to the day he met their mother. The other people that are along for this ride are his best friend Marshall his wife Lilly, Ted’s ex girlfriend Robin and what many see as the greatest character to television in over a decade Barney Stinson. Often referred to as the driving force behind the Barney is a self acclaimed playboy that seems to have his life goals boiled down to two things. The establishment of the fact that he is ‘awesome’ and the conquering and mounting of all girls, women and cougars he lays his eyes on. His comedic timing is impeccable and has come up with multiple laws like ‘The Lemon Law’ and the famous ‘Bro Code’. So impactful is the aura of this character that people have been heard to write to Neil Patrick Harris telling them how much in love they are with him and how they wouldn’t think twice before climbing in bed with him , which is ironic because in real life unlike his reel life character Neil Patrick Harris is gay. The show has completed 5 successful seasons and began shooting for the 6th at the beginning of this year.
The show has received multiple Emmy nominations with Neil Patrick Harris being nominated for best supporting actor for three consecutive years, he is yet to win. Research however shows that the reception to the show is higher in countries other than American; its popularity in Canada somehow surprises me (anyone who has watched the show will know why it comes as such a surprise).Yet again an Indian finds its way on to a popular sitcom; I would have mentioned it earlier had he not been cast as a driver. Over its 5 seasons the show has seen guest appearances by stars like Rachel Bilson , Kim Kardashian, Wayne Brady and of course Britney Spears who was nominated for her role on the show. For all it’s worth the show has received considerable criticism with many calling the script poor and while others point fingers at the poor establishment of its female characters. One of the biggest criticisms is that the show is being carried by Neil Patrick Harris and once he decides to drop this so called ‘load’ the show will fall in to an ultimate derailment.
The show itself in many ways resembles FRIENDS. The fact that they spend every other moment at Ted’s apartment or the bar below doesn’t help the argument that they are actuality diverse. On a whole the show is a good package of gags, set ups and even a musical number. Somewhere down the line you manage to feel a connect with the characters, whether it’s Ted who dreams of finding a woman to settle down with or Barney who looks for anything but that type of woman. FRIENDS will always be an epic so in comparison it may not match up but then again nothing ever might. In my personal opinion HIMYM has the ability to form an emotional connect that will keep you tuning in. Here’s hoping Neil Patrick Harris never drops his ‘load’
Sunday, August 29, 2010
9 Songs
Where do we draw the line between nudity for the sake of art and nudity for the sake of sexual pleasure? The line, if there is one, is a very fine line and it must be said it is closer to impossible to put it down for certain. It can be said that this would be a sensitive topic to deal with but nevertheless Michael Winterbottom has ventured into it. With the film 9 Songs he has tried to define the line between art and pornography.
The film is a narration by Matt, an English glaciologist, about his relationship with Lisa, his American college student girlfriend. After meeting at a rock concert in London the two hit it off and have a torrid sexual relationship over the next few months. They continue to attend different concerts during their live-in relationship until the time that Lisa has to return to her home in the US. The film is mostly scene montages which alternate between 9 different songs at the concerts, sexual intercourses between the couple and other events during their relationship.
The film features its own unique style. With a runtime of just 71 minutes, it is unlike other films since it does not have a continuous storyline but a progressive story with jumps directly to the important events. Not only does the relationship between the couple develop, the story also progresses in the form of the nature of the 9 songs, the type of sex scenes, the framework and camera angles, the amount of nudity shown, the progression of explicit content in the film etc.
The film starts with art, in the form of the love blossoming between the couple and the thematic style of execution, and somewhere along the way moves into the dimension of pornography with hardcore sexual encounters, explicit content, nudity and finally ending with a sex scene in itself. It blurs out any definite line between art and pornography or at least that is what it aims to do.
(I believe this was an incredibly tough film to review and may not have done it justice. Nevertheless I tried my best. Only after watching it can one decide upon this film, and all the same it is a good film to watch)
The film is a narration by Matt, an English glaciologist, about his relationship with Lisa, his American college student girlfriend. After meeting at a rock concert in London the two hit it off and have a torrid sexual relationship over the next few months. They continue to attend different concerts during their live-in relationship until the time that Lisa has to return to her home in the US. The film is mostly scene montages which alternate between 9 different songs at the concerts, sexual intercourses between the couple and other events during their relationship.
The film features its own unique style. With a runtime of just 71 minutes, it is unlike other films since it does not have a continuous storyline but a progressive story with jumps directly to the important events. Not only does the relationship between the couple develop, the story also progresses in the form of the nature of the 9 songs, the type of sex scenes, the framework and camera angles, the amount of nudity shown, the progression of explicit content in the film etc.
The film starts with art, in the form of the love blossoming between the couple and the thematic style of execution, and somewhere along the way moves into the dimension of pornography with hardcore sexual encounters, explicit content, nudity and finally ending with a sex scene in itself. It blurs out any definite line between art and pornography or at least that is what it aims to do.
(I believe this was an incredibly tough film to review and may not have done it justice. Nevertheless I tried my best. Only after watching it can one decide upon this film, and all the same it is a good film to watch)
Friday, August 6, 2010
Small Notice
If people do find the need to distinguish between the both of us. I ( Sean D'mello) am writing under the name ' Sean Will Write' and Sean Sequeira under Sean.
Thank You
Thank You
Attention Guaranteed.
The kings of comedy will always arise from the west. Their comedic sense and wit left us all in splits even those half a globe away. It made the Canadians forget that they were the butt of most jokes and I think I saw a Chinese guy laughing at himself trying not to squint. This was a pre concept notion we all had, the belief that great comedy arose only from the west. Well no one is happier than me to see those shackles broken and somehow we didn’t have to turn further than a certain Bengali to see that happen. Arnab Ray makes Indians a lot more that call centers and spicy food and gets the whole world to laugh with us.
His blog http://greatbong.net/book/ made way for more of us to come out and blatantly abuse/mock and laugh whole heartedly at our country. Now I must admit that most of what I just said I wasn’t well aware of until I picked up his book ’May I Hebb Your Attention Pliss’. I should be ashamed however to admit that the only reason I did so was because of the cover. The book is about a series of topics politics, moral policing, call centers and toilet flushes (yes toilet flushes). This book in the author’s own words will give you no worldly wisdom or greater knowledge. But if you’re some one that doesn’t mind humor filled with satire and sarcasm then this book should be on your shelf. Arnab ray isn’t a rambling idiot who goes around pointing figures, his jokes are well planned and something that comes across fairly well is how well read this man truly is.
If you were born after the 1990s or were too small to comprehend what happened around that time you may find yourself slightly lost. This is mainly because a lot of the references are to culture or incidents of that time. What amazes me the most is that he never holds back even when it comes to poking the ribs of his own culture and his wedding in particular.
What is easily the most standout aspect of this book is that so much of what he writes you can associate with your own life. He makes you want to turn to the person right next to you shake them up and insist the pick up a copy. So get ready for pyramid uncles, guides to making a fortune and whole lot more.
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