Wonder : Investing in People
As big of a fan as I was of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I was eagerly waiting to watch Wonder ever since the trailer released. So when Netflix notified me that Wonder was coming to Netflix on 1st October, I knew I had to get right to it. Coming back to The PerksContinue reading “Wonder : Investing in People”
Jab We Met (When We Met) – Love Yourself
Jab We Met is the Bollywood film that came out in 2007 and became an instant favourite for all Bollywood fans. The movie had all the right components to make itself a blockbuster – the right casting, good songs, feel-good element, good plot and strong character development. The script was written and directed by ImtiazContinue reading “Jab We Met (When We Met) – Love Yourself”
Blue Valentine : Time & Us
Around the middle of the story, we are introduced to this one question – How do you trust your feelings when they just disappear like that? This is the key question that addresses the plot and characters of the film. Dean, played by the ever astonishing and brilliant Ryan Gosling, is a child of divorce,Continue reading “Blue Valentine : Time & Us”
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows : Love & Sacrifice
We are into the last part of the Harry Potter series. All the movies prior have built up to this finale. The characters have been introduced and developed and it’s time to finally find out where their fates lie. We have Harry bid goodbye to his Muggle house, to his first room in the cupboardContinue reading “Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows : Love & Sacrifice”
Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince : Uncovering the Truth
Upon initial viewing, The Half Blood Prince was my favourite out of the franchise, with the possible exception of The Deathly Hallows Part II, which is up for competition only because of the Prince’s Tale montage. Of course I still love the film and even the yellow tinge that David Yates lent to the filmContinue reading “Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince : Uncovering the Truth”
Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix : Stronger Together
The longest book of the series was adapted into the shortest screenplay of all the films in the franchise. This was done by cleverly selecting the most relevant plot points from the books and making a perfectly paced film which turned out to be one of the best in the series. And yes, we shallContinue reading “Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix : Stronger Together”
Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire : Karma
The fourth instalment to the Harry Potter franchise may be most notable for the tri-wizard tournament and the Yule Ball, but has the most significance in the larger picture for being the part where Voldemort comes back to life. It is easy to get caught up in the easy and exciting world of the contestContinue reading “Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire : Karma”
Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban : Happiness Despite Fear
Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light. J.K. Rowling via albus dumbledore In an interview, Rowling had mentioned how Prisoner of Azkaban came from some of her darkest experiences and emotions. The dementors, creatures who suck out your soul, are her representation ofContinue reading “Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban : Happiness Despite Fear”
Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets : Deceptive Differences
The second instalment to the franchise is infamous for being one of the least liked films in the series. It was also the last one to be directed by Chris Columbus. Like every other Harry Potter story, JK Rowling did an amazing job preparing kids about the harsh realities of life whilst still emphasising onContinue reading “Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets : Deceptive Differences”
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone : Feeling of Home
Last day of July will forever remind me of Harry Potter, since that is the day he not only celebrates his birthday, but it was also the exact date when Hagrid told him the famous words – Yer a wizard, Harry. In the introduction of the film, Minerva McGonagall tells Albus Dumbeldore “This boy willContinue reading “Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone : Feeling of Home”
Love & Other Drugs : Projecting Your Insecurities
With Jake Gyllenhaal playing Jamie Randall and Anne Hathaway playing Maggi Murdock, talk about an attractive casting. In fact, for Jamie’s character, it is one feature that he is not only aware of, but also uses it to his advantage. He uses his charm and charisma to get his way, especially with the ladies evenContinue reading “Love & Other Drugs : Projecting Your Insecurities”
Hachi : A Dog’s Tale : Unfaltering Loyalty
Being a dog-lover, I must admit that on my first viewing of this film, I cried my eyes out. Not even in a silent crying way, but rather in a whole-body-shaking-bawling-with-tears-while-yelping kind of a way. Only a handful of movies have ever evoked such an extreme response from me. This Richard Gere film is anContinue reading “Hachi : A Dog’s Tale : Unfaltering Loyalty”
Ford v Ferrari : Enemy Within
Based on the true incidents concerning the famous rivalry between the Italian brand Ferrari and the American Ford, is largely an ego battle that transpires a great underdog story. However, from this movie, we learn the events that transpire in the shadows; the camaraderie that ensues between Carrol Shelby and Ken Miles, the father-son story,Continue reading “Ford v Ferrari : Enemy Within”
Before Midnight : A Question of Compatibility
The third instalment of the Before series is the most different out of the trilogy. For the first time, we see Celine and Jesse interacting with each other after actually having been together for a long time. It is not a story of them meeting one another or reconnecting after years, but of actually seeingContinue reading “Before Midnight : A Question of Compatibility”
Before Sunset : Retrospect
Following up to the highly unique and fantastic Before Sunrise that came out 9 years earlier, Before Sunset continues to follows the story of Jesse and Celine as they meet all this time later. The movie, just like its prequel, is shot in real-time format and is almost exclusively just the two strolling around whileContinue reading “Before Sunset : Retrospect”
The Half of It : Don’t Settle
It is very clear to see the movie inspirations that got us The Half of It. I am indeed talking about To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Lady Bird, Call Me By Your Name and Forrest Gump. No, I do not think the combined result is greater than the sum of the individual parts,Continue reading “The Half of It : Don’t Settle”
Begin Again : Challenge Yourself
This musical came out in 2013 and all everyone knew about it was the song “Lost Stars”. Seven years down the line and I am still a little pissed that they gave the best song in the movie to Dave even though the film is about Gretta and Dan. But that’s just a bitter pillContinue reading “Begin Again : Challenge Yourself”
Marriage Story : Conscious Uncoupling
Marriage Story is a love story about divorce. It is a movie which shows us that no single person is completely faultless. The film picks no sides. Not really, anyways. It just shows us circumstances that can result into things becoming ugly. It shows us how the system is ugly. A notable quote from theContinue reading “Marriage Story : Conscious Uncoupling”
Good Will Hunting : Challenging Yourself
The film that catapulted Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to fame, Good Will Hunting was not only starred in by the young duo, but also written by them when they were just in their twenties. Affleck, just twenty five at the time, was the youngest recipient of the Academy Award for the Best Original Screenplay.Continue reading “Good Will Hunting : Challenging Yourself”
Dead Poets Society : Carpe Diem
Neil, Charlie, Knox and Steve, among others, are the boys attending Welton Academy, the boarding school with a legacy of having more than three-fourths of their students attending Ivy League Colleges post graduation. The school has four pillars – Tradition, Honour, Discipline and Excellence, which it holds in the highest regard and considers its pride.Continue reading “Dead Poets Society : Carpe Diem”
Whiplash : Collaborate, Not Compete
This was the first major picture to come out from writer-director genius Damien Chazelle, back in 2014. The movie follows Andrew Neiman, the first year student at Sheffer Conservatory School and his journey striving towards excellence. The movie is a roller-coaster of emotions, with us alternating between rooting for Andrew, pitying him and at timesContinue reading “Whiplash : Collaborate, Not Compete”
Little Women : Celebrating Differences
The second movie to come from writer-director Greta Gerwig, continuing her collaboration with Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet, may not be the most original plot, seeing as how it was adapted from Louisa May Alcott’s book of the same name, but it is a refreshing take in comparison to the previous movies that came outContinue reading “Little Women : Celebrating Differences”
Silver Linings Playbook : Accepting your Quirks
This 2012 film, more than anything else, can be called a highly nuanced movie, with great screenplay and even better performances by Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro, but most notably Bradley Cooper, who I think completely takes over the film. The main idea of Silver Linings Playbook is to show how everyone has crazy insideContinue reading “Silver Linings Playbook : Accepting your Quirks”
Lady Bird : Love is Paying Attention
Lady Bird is a coming of age movie with its own fair share of clichés. From having the titular Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson experience an identity crisis and struggles of fitting in, to going through her first heart break and family issues, particularly feeling out of place and misunderstood, the clichés keep on coming. But,Continue reading “Lady Bird : Love is Paying Attention”
Jojo Rabbit : Brutality of War
Nazi Germany and a satirical form of story telling should in no way be able to fit together and work. However, surprisingly, in Jojo Rabbit, they do. And the result is phenomenal. This academy award nominated film is funny, witty, emotional and educational. It is a movie which shows how ugly war whilst barely showingContinue reading “Jojo Rabbit : Brutality of War”
The Devil Wears Prada : Adaptability vs. Individuality
I love this movie and it sits right there with “The Intern” in terms of repeated viewings, but I’ll never really understand if we’re all supposed to collectively think of Miranda Priestly as the “Devil” in the film. A character with certain questionable traits, sure, but to go so far as to call her theContinue reading “The Devil Wears Prada : Adaptability vs. Individuality”
Before Sunrise : The Art of Communication
Who knew that a movie made about just two characters with their story over the span of less than 24 hours could be so interesting! What’s more, the entire film is just the conversations between the two characters. There is no action, or drama or surprise element to this movie. Except maybe the surprise ofContinue reading “Before Sunrise : The Art of Communication”
Inside Out : Power of Metaphors
As someone who does not watch too many animated movies, I did not know what to expect from Inside Out. However, what I definitely did not anticipate, was that the word “genius” would come to mind. Another thing which I never would have imagined, would be how beautifully they explore and explain the depth andContinue reading “Inside Out : Power of Metaphors”
The Intern : Influencing Outcomes
Every once in a while, a movie comes that feels like a breath of fresh air, which makes everyone fall in love with it. This 2015 film is the kind that you would love just as much 20 years down the line. It has got an ageless freshness to it and that’s what makes itContinue reading “The Intern : Influencing Outcomes”
Steve Jobs (Film, 2015) : Confronting Conflicts
When a movie is based on one of the most revered and eccentric personalities of all time, expectations run high. And this only intensifies when you hire Aaron Sorkin as the screenwriter and make the hero of the movie also the antagonist of the movie, at least for the first act. Steve Jobs is veryContinue reading “Steve Jobs (Film, 2015) : Confronting Conflicts”
(500) Days of Summer : The Burden of Expectations
Even though this movie came out almost 11 years back, I watched it for the first time a couple of days ago after I finally got curious given the number of Instagram posts I came across regarding the film. My apprehension going into the movie was that Zoey Deschanel was going to be a letContinue reading “(500) Days of Summer : The Burden of Expectations”
Casablanca : A Story About Bravery
Since we have covered La La Land, it was just a matter of time for Casablanca to come up. Seventy-Eight years since its release in 1942, the movie has been able to maintain its impact on Hollywood and on the world of cinema. Considered to be the top most quoted film of all time, CasablancaContinue reading “Casablanca : A Story About Bravery”
Perks of Being a Wallflower : Importance of Self Preservation
Perks of Being a Wallflower is a very Forrest Gump meets Dead Poets Society kind of essence. It is the kind of a movie that forces you to gain a fresh perspective on things and empathise with people even though you may not share their opinions or agree with their actions. It does what everyContinue reading “Perks of Being a Wallflower : Importance of Self Preservation”
Call Me By Your Name : Confront your Emotions
This movie makes you feel so connected with the characters and the storyline, that it almost feels like you were living in it with the characters. One of those rare occasions when the movie outshines the book. The 2+ hour-long film makes us feel young, in love, uncomfortable, wise, heartbroken and peaceful through its run-time.Continue reading “Call Me By Your Name : Confront your Emotions”
La La Land : Consistency is Key
Honoured with being one of the only three movies in the history of Hollywood to have received 14 Oscar nominations, it was seemingly impossible to escape the buzz surrounding “La La Land” back when it released in 2016. So for everyone who is curious about what actually makes this movie great, welcome to my blog.Continue reading “La La Land : Consistency is Key”
