Cries and Whispers

I have been going through a mental turmoil since a few days back – some personal, some professional. While the personal category does not vary much in between us; the professional side might. Lying on a mat in a neat, owen-like room on an open terrace, I watched a few movies. Thanks to Lenovo. Well, the problem has nothing to do with the hot sun and humid air. But with what I saw. After having seen films like Pithamagan, The Silence Of The Lambs etc I actually thought I can endure any form of violence on screen. I, along with a few others, had also developed the knack of discussing blood on screen, quite objectively. Though I personally might not want them shown on screen; these bloody scenes did not actually terrorise me, or even move me.

I had been to the libraries of one of the film academies in Chennai and a friend gave me a few films that fell in his “Classics” category. The Green Mile. (1999/Eng) I am not someone who is up-to-date with Hollywood films. No wonder I had not seen this movie released almost a decade back. Excellent movie! The way Hollywood blends reality with fantasy is just amazing. The film is superbly realistic to the point of giving space for fantasy; the film is also a fantastic dream that permits practicality. The script maintains the "What next?" feeling till the last moment, and never lets you to take off your eyes. Casting of the film also needs a special mention, especially the person chosen as John Coffey. He clearly sends a chill down the spine; he is also pitiable. You feel like crying with him.

The film makes you hopeful; it makes you sick. It makes you cry; it makes you hate. It makes you see life. I wish I had seen this movie on the full screen, when it was shown in my college years back.

I checked out the Oscars 2000 list. I was eager to know The Green Mile’s standing. Any guess? If you have not seen the film you may do that before making the guess. Yes! You are wrong! Films like American Beauty, Boys Don’t Cry, The Matrix, The Cider House Rules etc ensured that nobody from the The Green Mile team was called on stage! Incidentally, The Sixth Sense too met the same fate that year.

Well, where is the turmoil I was speaking about? I also watched Cries and Whispers. (1973/Swe)

Sadanand Menon

This gentleman is not a freedom fighter or someone like that, so don't feel bad if this name does not ring a bell. There are some people who are actually good at their job - be it dancing, driving, toilet cleaning, teaching etc. There is the next bunch that strives to be good at whatever they do. The third, funny group has people without any skill whatsoever. However this noisiest bunch craves for attention, identity. So how does this group go about making news? Just check this out.

Addendum:With reference to Muthuvel's comment - I would not have had any problems had that so-called film review been published under the title I hate Kamal. But when it is given as a movie review - it makes a mockery of the readers as well. I really don't know how this "movie review" passed the editor's desk!
And something interesting is happening here. Earlier I was irritated.Now am thoroughly baffled by the way the media's minds work!

First day, first row

I had the double privilege of watching the much-hyped Dasavatharam on the very first day of its release, from the very first row. The film opens like an epic and progressively falls flat till the end. However, hatsoff to Kamal and Co for executing such a complex script. Watch the film just to know there are still people in Indian cinema, who at least dream of global standards. Great efforts!

By the way looking at the blog archives I realise it has been more than two months since I did something here. And that's the primary reason for this post. Thank you!