Movie of the Month :BELLA (2007)

"BELLA" is the perfect name for this beautiful, deeply moving story about a day in the life two New Yorkers. It's a romantic drama that manages to be tender, funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting without straying down the same clichéd path you've been a hundred times before.

SYNOPSIS

The movie centers around Nina (Tammy Blanchard), a young, unmarried waitress at a Mexican restaurant who finds herself pregnant and out of a job after coming in late to work several days because of morning sickness. Jose (Eduardo Verastegui) the restaurant's chef is taken by Nina's plight and becomes her sole confidant. Jose helps her walk through her decision on what to do with her pregnancy. In the process, he bears secrets from his own mysterious past, which reveal his tenderness and passion for her and the child she is carrying.

REVIEW:

The main ingredient in this award-winning film is "charm”. Everyone is pretty likable, there's a lot of emotion and the characters are very realistic The film beautifully shows the power of a good family. Jose has a caring and loving Mother, Father, older brother and younger brother. With these relationships, it is easier for Jose to try to do the "right" thing than it is for Nina, who comes from a dysfunctional and tragic family.

Each scene blends perfectly into the next , creating and weaving an intricate and detailed story without being self indulgent. The actors make choices that are simple yet powerful. Every character lets their humanity show in a way that causes the audience to fall in love with them throughout the course of the movie. Both the story and the characters are realistic and every scene of the movie is packed with truth. Audiences can see aspects of their own lives and situations in every scene of this masterfully composed story.

I thought that one area of the movie that really stood out was the concept of true manhood -- the idea of a man being one who is strong enough to know and stand firm for what is right, but who is willing to bend his own wishes and desires to serve those around him who need help. That is rare to find these days, especially where most men are portrayed as womanizing slacker hedonists.

Stylistically, newcomer director Alejandro Monteverde does a superb job pacing the story -- combining just the right amounts of character, humor, and mystery into a package that satisfies on multiple levels -- intellectually, visually, emotionally, symbolically, etc. The photography -- shot in and around the streets of Manhattan and Long Island -- is top notch and the editing, relying heavily on jump cuts, keeps the story moving along in multiple time frames to great effect .

Eduardo Verástegui and Manny Perez both turn out strong performances, but the women of Bella are the real standouts. Tammy Blanchard's emotionally honest portrayal of a young woman dealing with an unexpected crisis and Ali Landry's brief cameo as a distraught young mother are compelling and stay with you long after you've left the theater.

This is, without exaggeration, the most inspirational, moving film I have ever been fortunate enough to see. This is love- not self-gratifying sexual passion or a friendship built on lies and deception, but true, unselfish, indiscriminate love. Love not because of the benefits or conveniences one might reap, but simply because we are human, and should love each other simply because we are, giving every life the dignity it deserves.A very powerful piece of cinema. No wonder this rookie work shocked all the big name pictures to win the top prize at Toronto Film Festival.

Hollywood says a movie with a pure message won't sell. I think we can prove them wrong with "BELLA".

Title : Bella

Director : Alejandro Monteverde

Cast :Eduardo Verástegui , Manny Perez ,Tammy Blanchard

Rated PG for thematic elements and brief disturbing images.

Country:

USA | Mexico

Language:

English | Spanish

DVD FEATURES :Commentary with director Monteverde:

Behind The Scenes

Behind the Journey of Distribution

Trailers

TRAILER LINK: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ9AkTrbxgk

TORRENT FILE NAME : Bella.2006.DvDRip.XviD-JFKXVID

Movie of the Month :TRANSAMERICA (2005)

THERE WILL BE PEOPLE who on viewing this film will find themselves repulsed by its nature, maybe fascinated a little, or trying to nit-pick the situations that develop at the second half. But for once, finally, like its sister film Brokeback Mountain; this is a film which doesn't use the Transgendered person as the butt of a joke. At last a movie that humanizes the experience and makes it accessible to anyone who watches it regardless of gender preference.

SYNOPSIS

Bree, formerly known as Stanley, who is close to getting her lifelong dream of being a woman, except for a little problem: she has a son named Toby, a junkie and a gay prostitute, now 17 years old, who's in jail, and she must come to terms with him before taking this final step. She's none too happy: this means opening the door back to her old life as a man and she's not about to do this. The kid is a total hindrance. So she decides to keep it a secret, bail him out, drive him to Los Angeles, and be done with him.

REVIEW:

The plot line is certainly the tried and true formula of the transformational road trip, yet the irony of Bree's concurrent sexual transformation freshens a story that could easily have been cliché. Duncan Tucker, the director and writer of "Transamerica", takes a difficult subject and expanded on it. This is not exactly what any Hollywood films dare to present to a general audience since it deals with a frank approach to a subject that is not commonly seen treated so honestly and with so much integrity. Mr. Tucker shows a respectful restraint in the way he shows his story that is never shocking, or in one's face.

Bree is not as a stereotype or caricature, but as a profoundly unhappy woman uncomfortable in her own skin, in her own (estranged) family, and in her own life. She can't wait to become fully a woman, and comes across as almost tragic, as her journey with Toby places in her situations where she is unable to fully hide her secrets. Toby, for his part, couldn't care less if she were a transsexual. After all he's seen and done, he accepts Bree for who and what she is, irritated not at her transsexual status, but at her deception and hypocrisy.

Some of the big lessons to learn from this movie are that you can't judge people based on physical appearances or based on things you really aren't familiar with (such as trans-gendered people). We are all just human in the end, and we all have the same emotions, we all just want to be happy, to love someone, and to be loved. I was very happy and pleasantly surprised to see in this movie that Bree's changes are not related at all to sex. And the love she is looking for is from her family.

Felicity Huffman delivers a brave and fantastic performance of what she herself described as the role of a lifetime. She displays Bree with insecurity, pathos, fear, humour and growth which really makes one forget that they're actually looking at an actress act. Her use of non-verbal language is remarkable. While in the beginning the audience may feel that they're looking at an ugly freak, one can't help but love the character after the end credits have rolled. Though many have described Huffman's performance to be of Oscar caliber, the Oscars have rewarded many non-deserving performances. It is definitely one of the most challenging performances and one that will be remembered in the history of cinema. Kevin Zegers as Bree’s son Toby, jarringly and gruelingly portrays his physical and emotional abuse, incorruptible suffering, radiant purity, abandonment, torment, wreckage, galvanization, sexual demoralization, ravishment, brutalization, subversion, and desperate desire to be loved and understood.Elizabeth Pena, Graham Greene and Burt young stand out in small roles.

The soundtrack selections are excellent reflections of the environments the characters are in, from Latin in California, to hip hop in New York to a lovely range of Southern country and gospel, moving through Texas with a Lucinda Williams track, Native American in New Mexico, with a beautiful new Dolly Parton song over the credits.As far as production values, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the film did not look "low budget". The settings, cinematography, acting and directing was as professional as anything I've ever seen.

Independent movies have been losing some of their force during the years. They have not been making so much profit, partially because of so many blockbusters and successful franchises that are more and more often in the cinematic world. But out of all the independent films I've seen recently, "Transamerica" was the one that stayed in my mind. Whether it is a touching comedy or funny drama, it is an important film, with polemic issues and intense character development.

I was so happy to see a portrayal of a transsexual person that didn't portray them as crazy, or a psychopath or suicidal. Those who are transsexual have a great challenge in life as they not only have to endure the incongruity of the physical body with their real being, but the terrible social marginalization and I have the utmost admiration for anyone who survives such a great challenge. We must celebrate diversity in life, not try and suffocate it. This is the beginnings of peace.

Lets hope this is the beginning of future inclusions of positive roles for transsexual characters in the future. A very brave and real film that everyone should see.

Title : TRANSAMERICA

Director : Duncan Tucker

Cast : Felicity Huffman , Kevin Zegers ,Burt Young, Elizabeth Pena

Rated R for sexual content, nudity, language and drug use

Country :USA

Language:English

DVD Features :Commentary track with director Duncan Tucker
a conversation with Felicity Huffman
Blooper reel

Trailer Link : www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a7HXgYou-8

Torrent File Name:Transamerica[2005]DvDrip[Eng]-FXG

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Venice Film Festival (2008) Winners

1.Golden Lion Award

"The Wrestler", directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood.Randy "Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is a professional wrestler from the 1980s who is forced to retire after a heart attack threatens to kill him the next time he wrestles. He takes a job at a deli, attempts to form a relationship with an aging stripper (Marisa Tomei) and does his best to reconcile with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). However, he is drawn to the prospect of a rematch with his old wrestling nemesis even though the fight may cost him his life


2.Silver Lion Award



" Paper Soldier" from Russia directed by Aleksei German Jr.
Plot :Daniel Pokrovsky, a medical officer,in Kazakastan currently works for the first Soviet cosmonauts' troop. There Daniel, already married, finds himself in an incredibly complicated and yet tender relationship with a young girl, called Vera. Later Daniel goes back to Moscow where is in charge of the health of the future cosmonauts. He can't agree with the fact that these young men could have to sacrifice their lives for the country. His wife Nina feels the same: she doesn't accept him participating in a project that could put human lives at risk, therefore she keeps asking Daniel to leave his job. Daniel decides to leave his wife. Then one of the cadets dies and the medical officer ends up breaking down. This doesn't stop him from leaving for Kazakhstan in order to prepare the launch of the first man into space. Nina follows him to Kazakhstan, where she learns about his involvement with Vera.

3.Special Jury Prize

no award given this year


4. Volpi Cup for Best Actor

Won by Silvio Orlando in "Giovanna's Father" directed by Pupi Avati.
Plot:Set in BolognaHigh school art teacher Michele (Silvio Orlando) loves his socially and mentally inept daughter Giovanna (Alba Rohrwacher) so much that he will even stoop to blackmailing school lothario Dalmastri into dating her or else fail the entire year. His beautiful wife Delia (Francesca Neri) fears the false hopes he gives the girl, rightfully so when they lead her to commit murder.The narrative centers on a protective and doting father who chooses to stay by his daughter’s side even after she is institutionalized for killing a schoolmate.

5.Volpi Cup for Best Actress

Won by Dominique Blanc in L’Autre directed by Patrick-Mario Bernard.
Plot:Anne-Marie leaves Alex. Unlike him, who would like to lead a real married life, she wants to protect her freedom. They split up without any problems and continue to see one another. However, when Anne-Marie finds out that Alex has a new woman, she is madly jealous. She plunges into a troubling world that is full of signals and threats .

Brief Overview :Venice Film Festival

The Venice Film Festival started in 1932 is the oldest film festival in the world which takes place every year on the island of the Lido, Venice. The festival's principal awards are:

1.Golden Lion Award

The Golden Lion is the festival's principal award for best film.

2. Silver Lion Award

Silver Lion is presented as a "runner-up" prize to the Golden Lion

3. Special Jury Prize

A Special Jury Prize is awarded to one film only in some years.

4. Volpi Cups

The Volpi Cups are awarded to best actor and best actress.

Movie of the Month :THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (2007)

THERE ARE MANY WAYS that you can be trapped. You could be trapped in a job you hate. You could be trapped in an unloving relationship. Or you could be literally trapped – you could be held hostage or you could be imprisoned. But perhaps more terrifying than all of these is to be trapped in your own body. To have your mental faculties left intact but to be unable to move or communicate properly……

SYNOPSIS

The story is about Jean-Dominique Bauby (played by Mathieu Amalric), a wealthy and wild living Frenchman who was editor of Elle magazine and had a life worth living. In one quick moment, it all came crashing down when he suffered a massive stroke and his entire body became paralyzed except for his left eye. Despite his condition, he authored a book by blinking his left eye-lid when a correct alphabet was uttered by a speech therapist (played by Marie-Josée Croze ). Slowly, painfully and miraculously, he writes a memoir about his life. Jean died 3 days after the book was published.

REVIEW :

From the first moments of the movie, we are placed inside Bauby's head as he awakens from a three-week coma. All the blurs from inactivity, strong light and moist tears prohibit our own clear view of the proceedings. For first 30 minutes the audiences only see what Jean sees. . The fantastic capture of real eye angle camera Movements from the vision of Jean is incredibly real. Although the filming technique of using the camera to show what Bauby hears sees, and feels is so well played that it might make some viewers claustrophobic. I know I felt a little uncomfortable. And it is this technique that helps carry the movie to greater heights than it would have if filmed from someone else's perspective. You see the world as he views it while desiring to be free of the paralyzing feeling of a sinking DIVING BELL. At other times, with his imagination, you find yourself fluttering as free as a BUTTERFLY..

It is Bauby’s sense of humor that keeps the film as light as it can be under the circumstances and his eloquence that keeps us riveted. When we finally do see him with his immobile body and his drooping lower lip, it is still a shock but we smile when he says that "I look like I came out of a vat of formaldehyde." Much of the film vividly explores the editor's imagination and the camera takes us on some wild rides that include images of Nijinsky, Empress Eugénie, Marlon Brando, and Jean-Do in his imagination skiing and surfing. Some of the most emotional moments occur when he greets his young children at the beach for the first time after his stroke, and flashbacks to his youth - driving with his girlfriend, shaving his father, supervising a fashion shoot, and taking his son on a trip in a new sports car.Bauby's wife Céline (Emmanuelle Seigner), whom he left for exotic girlfriend Ines (Agathe de La Fontaine), visits him in the hospital and comforts him while Ines cannot bring herself to see him, saying that she wants to remember him the way he was.

Another powerful scene is the one when Jean-Dom's father (played by Max Von Sydow) calls. There are no trite expressions of affection. There’s just a very genuine feeling of sadness that a grown man is unable to help his son. And it's kind of a relationship that has been flipped on its head. In an earlier scene we seen Jean-Dom shave his father – his dad is an invalid and can't leave his house. So now his father has to be the strong one again and is left reeling. Another reason why the film works so well is because the film doesn't try and soften the character for us. Jean-Dom looks at the breasts of his attractive female therapists, his fantasies involve such wonderful delights as eating large banquets and making love to beautiful women, and despite everything he still ends up loving someone who is unworthy of him. He's forced to change the way that he communicates, but the man inside pretty much remains the same.

Ronald Harwood's wonderful script employs Bauby as the narrator. He is humorous, poetic and entertaining and makes this potentially difficult film easy to watch. This is driven home by the cinematography of Janusz Kaminski, which is utterly inventive. Rarely has the subjective camera been so well handled: camera out of focus to express the blurring caused by tears; the fades out to black corresponding to the blinking of the Eyelid; the occasional leaning of the camera, transports the viewer into the situation of the film with ease.

All this is of course under the direction of Julian Schnabel who does a wonderful job here. His artistic sensitivities serve the film very well and, combined with Harwood's work on the script; he helps make this film the closest thing to poetry on screen that I've ever seen. It is beautiful to watch and to listen to. His editing is ingenious, truly evoking the sense of Bauby's inner eye whilst ensuring that we can move away and see the perspective of other characters.

Mathieu Almaric as Bauby is outstanding, and he bears a large responsibility for the film's success. Whether in the flashbacks and fantasies, or staring into the camera with his drooling face, frozen and yet so eloquent, or as the voice-over, as another aspect of the Jean-Do, mischievous, sardonic, despairing, lyrical, at no time in this film can Almaric's credibility be questioned . The women involved really shine also, full of emotion and compassion for this man that may or may not give it back. His speech therapist Henriette is superbly played by Marie-Josée Croze and the mother of his children Céline by Emmanuelle Seigner The real surprise, though, is the powerful small role of Bauby's father played by Max von Sydow. Pushing 80 years old, Sydow shows he still has the goods to carry a scene.

Though not paralyzed from head to toe like French fashion magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, many of us are in the "locked-in" syndrome – locked into our resentments and our fears, a rigidity that sours us on life and deep us estranged from family and friends. Julian Schnabel's masterful The Diving Bell and the Butterfly allow us to better appreciate the simple pleasures in life.A film not to be missed by anybody, this is a truly remarkable picture.

Original French Title : Scaphandre Et Le Pappilon ,Le

Director: Julian Schnabel

Cast : Mathieu Amalric,Max Von Sydow ,Marie-Josée Croze , Emmanuelle Seigner


Rated PG-13 for nudity, sexual content and some language

Country:

France | USA

Language:

French

DVD FEATURES :Commentary track by Director Julian Schnabel

making of featurette

photo gallery

Trailer : www.youtube.com/watch?v=G69Zh7YIg8c

Torrent File Name :The Diving Bell and the Butterfly[2007]DvDrip[French]-FXG

Festival De Cannes (2008) Winners

1. Palme d'Or :


The Class (French Title :Entre les murs) directed by Laurent Cantet, based on the novel of the same name by François Bégaudeau.The novel is a semi-autobiographical account of Bégaudeau's experiences as a literature teacher in an inner city middle school in Paris.

2.Grand Prix Award

Gomorrah (Italian Title: Gomorra) directed by Matteo Garrone .The film deals with daily violence in the streets of Naples and Camorra. The protagonists are three young men living in a flat in Rome who call themselves "interno 10".

3. Jury Prize

ll Divo directed by Paolo Sorrentino. It is a Biopic based on the figure of former Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti., who has been elected to Parliament seven times since is was established in 1946. The narration spans the period since the seventh election of Andreotti as Italian PM in 1992, until the trial in which he was accused of collusion with Mafia.

4.Best Director Award

Three Monkeys (Turkish title: Üç Maymun ) directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. A family dislocated when small failings blow up into extravagant lies battles against the odds to stay together by covering up the truth... In order to avoid hardship and responsibilities that would otherwise be impossible to endure, the family chooses to ignore the truth, not to see, hear or talk about it.




5.Best Screenplay Award



The Silence of Lorna (French title: Le silence de Lorna) by the Belgian director brothers Luc Dardenne and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. Plot: In order to become the owner of a snack bar with her boyfriend, Lorna, a young Albanian woman living in Belgium, becomes an accomplice to a diabolical plan devised by mobster Fabio. Fabio has orchestrated a sham marriage between her and Claudy. The marriage allows her to obtain Belgian citizenship and then marry a Russian Mafioso willing to pay a lot of money to acquire the same quickly. However, for this second marriage to be possible, Fabio has planned to kill Claudy. Will Lorna keep silent?


6. Best Actor Award ;



Won by Benicio Del Toro for the film 'CHE'.
A film about Marxist revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara directed by Steven Soderbergh . The first part focuses on the Cuban revolution, from the moment Fidel Castro, Guevara and other revolutionaries landed on the Caribbean island, until they toppled the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista two years later. The second part focuses on the years following the Cuban revolution. It begins with Che's trip to the United Nations headquarters in New York City in 1964, until his death in the Bolivian mountains in 1967.


7.Best Actress Award :


Won by Sandra Corveloni for the Brazilian film 'Linha de Passe' directed by Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas.The film tells the story of four poverty-stricken brothers who live in a favela neighborhood in São Paulo. As their father dies, they have to fight for their dreams. One of the brothers seeks the opportunity of a better life with his soccer skills

Brief Overview : FESTIVAL DE CANNES

The Cannes Film Festival ( Festival de Cannes), founded in 1946, is one of the world's oldest, most influential and prestigious film festivals alongside Venice, Berlin. The private festival is held annually in the resort town of Cannes, in the south of France.

Awards Category :

1.

The Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded to competing films at the Cannes Film Festival.

2.

The Grand Prix is an award of the Cannes Film Festival bestowed by the jury of the festival on one of the competing feature films. It is the second-most prestigious prize of the festival after the Palme d'Or.

3.

The Jury Prize (Prix du Jury) is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of movies at the festival. It is considered less prestigious than the other main prizes, the Palme d'Or and the Grand Prix.

4.

The Best Director Award

5.

The Best Screenplay Award (Prix du scénario).

6.

The Best Actor Award

7.

The Best Actress Award

Reminiscing Sir RAYMOND

Sir RAYMOND was a frequent visitor at the dvd shop where i used to go. at first , i was reluctant in conversing with this old man aged about 65 with big spects .. he used to talk and brag a lot with the shop staff over a cup of tea and fried banana roast which used to be offered to him as a sign of goodwill the moment he stepped in the shop. An ardent fan of Hollywood cinema he had a good collection of DVDs.

i am an introvert personality. so i converse less with strangers. i was urged to fore go my reluctance in conversing with Raymond mostly because i was amazed by his deep knowledge in films,actors . so with a whiff of semi reluctance i asked him the first question " Sir , is the film "red dragon " as good as the "silence of the lambs "."I asked this because i was not quiet satisfied with the second installment of the lecter franchise , "Hannibal". the moment i asked this with great enthusiasm he started talking like a vending machine about the movie, its actors Edward Norton, Ralph fiennes ,their performances and he rated this film as the best of the lecter series. The guy was a big fan of Edward Norton ,a name i hadn't heard off as i was an amateur in the knowledge of cinema at that time..One of his punchlines was " If Edward Noton is there in a film, you can blindly take that film without reading the other details like director ,story ,rating ......" . I ended up owning most of the Edward norton movies , (25th hour , primal fear, American history x , red dragon ,fight club).And i am waiting foR dvd release of "The Incredible Hulk" .

One thing led to the other and we became good friends . we used to fix the day when we would meet at the dvd shop and spent about 6-7 hours bragging and talking about movies ,his life experices.......He despised indian cinema ,indian music .He was like an american soul trapped in the indian body.He had a vast collection of english albums fom 70's to 90's and he was pretty talkative on pop ,country,blues rock music.This guy was a bachelor at this age living alone.His first wife and son cheated him and extorted his money and flat in Bombay. He left his second wife since she was reluctant to leave Goa and he wanted to stay in cochin. He was a victim of
deadly stroke which had paralysed him .But he came out from his vegetable state because of high will power.Also he quit his job in firm he had worked for 20 years because of a back stabbing from the management which he couldn't tolerate. Despite the numerous set backs in his life like a clown he used to be smily an filled with hope and joy when he came to the dvd shop.He only had a very few friends.

As i had certain other assignments , i couldn't go to the dvd shop for a month. Yesterday , when i came after Onam, i heard the news that Raymond had died of a severe cardiac arrest. i couldn't believe it. although we had only met 3 times, i felt we were age old friends.At our last meeting he was starting to write on a book on his life . I was planning to introduce him to the world of Foreign Cinema and persuade him to drop his selfishness, rejoin with his wife and put an end to this solitary life . That's the mystery of life. . But those few moments I had cherished with him will be forever embedded in my thoughts .

GOOD BYE Sir RAYMOND.......

Movie of the Month : HARSH TIMES (2005)

IN THE OPENING MOMENTS ………

Using night vision really well, we find ourselves in Trashcanistan (Afghanistan) and join one soldier named Jim as he moves in close to a group of armed men. Base-heavy music kicks in just as he does, efficiently killing about 10 of them without flinching. It is slick, deadly and very cool and the audience feels the excitement and rush. When we step to the back of Jim's car in Mexico the effect is jarring and it did make me think how anyone can leave that type of life and return to everyday, 9-5 society. And this is really what the film is sort of about as we see Jim losing track of what is permissible in normal life.

The plot in this film is somewhat like an aircraft that spends a puzzlingly long time taxiing along the runway before it finally gets airborne. Even then, it is not until the final part that the joystick is forcefully pulled back, and with a great whoosh we are up for some very showy loop-the-loops and victory rolls. HARSH TIMES is both sophisticated and ambitious, with intriguing character development.

SYNOPSIS

After returning home from the Afghan War, Army Ranger Jim Davis (Christian Bale) is having a hard time adjusting to civilian life. Jim is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and having flashbacks and nightmares of the killing he did during the war. Jim wants to be a policeman, and he applies for a job with the L.A.P.D. While waiting for the job to come through, Jim hangs out with his best friend, Mike Alonzo (Freddy Rodriguez). Jim and Mike begin to cruise the mean streets of South Central, Los Angeles, and they fall back into their old life of crime. Jim is expecting to join the LAPD to marry his Mexican girlfriend Marta (Tammy Trull) while Mike is being pressured by his mate Sylvia (Eva Longoria) to find a job. The two lead actors end up struggling through job rejections, life, gangs, drugs and drinks, and also the struggle to move on from their carefree lifestyle when they were young.

REVIEW:

David Ayer’s direction is visually very assured and he uses the close confines of the car well while also giving the streets a rough feel. Ayer has created a dark, moody portrayal of South Central Los Angeles, very similar to that of Training Day. The cinematography gives L.A. that "afternoon dirty orange sky" gritty feel. The shots of the city Skyline inserted into the film here and there really set the scene and the tone of the film. The flashes and filters employed when Bale goes off the deep end really wake you up and put you on.

What I found interesting was the way Ayer introduced the beautiful barren Mexican landscape amongst the roughness of LA life. This was to show the personal crossroads Bale's character experiences. And the extremely well shot shootout at the end uses some stylish slow motion effects and keeps you guessing as to where the bullets are going to end up. The character development in this film is rich and deep. Seeing the progression from "Dark Blue" to "Training Day" and now "Harsh Times" is proof of Ayer's progression as a writer. . Ayer does work well in establishing the relationship between Jim and Mike. He has written convincing men; losers no doubt but it is interesting to see the posing and peer-pressure playing its part in every scene they share

Christian Bale is an actor who is never orthodox. His string of films have in general been breaking moulds and testing his own ability, and more often than not you leave the cinema thinking that you had seen something special. His ability to go from crazed lunatic to apologetic, tear-filled and beaten man is amazing to watch. The scene between Rodriguez and Bale in the car near the end of the film was a brilliant showcase of Bale's varying level of sanity. Bale’s performance is not only one of the best of the year, but the character of Jim Davis is one of the most impressively written and acted performances in motion picture history. His disturbing yet touching performance in the last 30 minutes of the film are without a doubt one of my favorite performances of an actor. I feel that Christian Bale's performance is as mesmerizing as De Niro's Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver or Edward Norton's character in American History X.

Sharing much screen time with Bale is a relatively unknown Freddy Rodriquez. Who shines in much the same way Ethan Hawke did in Training Day—playing the straight man whose life is finally on the up and up before his love for a friend drags him back down .Rodriquez shows his ability in mixing comedic moments up with emotional intensity and apathy. He balances his loyalty to Jim well with his character's own weak spine. His friendship with Bale is so unpredictable that as an audience, you find yourself laughing with them at one moment and the next on the verge of tears.

Bale and Rodriguez were initially hard to swallow with their very heavy dialect and accents but once in their world you get past this and realize what brilliant work they are doing. With the film very much about them, the support casts don’t have much to do but still have a good presence. Simmons is always a welcome presence and after being just a sexy wiggle at the start, Eva Longoria does good work with her small role.

This film feels real, and the director really makes you feel like you are actually in the film, in the situation with the characters. You feel part of their lives and start feeling for them. It's frustrating that Harsh Times did not get the box office recognition it deserved. However, through word of mouth and DVD release, I am certain that this will become a sleeper classic, in the style of Shaw shank Redemption.

I recommend Harsh Times very highly; it is emotional, violent, realistic, hilarious, thought-provoking, inspired, entertaining, gripping, original and shocking

“We have monsters among us in this world and while they can be utilized as a necessity for the survival of our culture, hopefully when their jobs are done they can be helped to assimilate back into society without their ambivalence being able to hurt the ones they love. “

Director: David Ayer

Cast: Christian Bale ,Freddy Rodriguez , Eva Longoria Parker , J.K. Simmons

[Rated R for strong violence, language and drug use].

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

DVD EXTRAS : Commentary by David Ayer

Deleted Scenes

trailers

ONLINE TRAILER LINK :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbS7M4-Y87Y

TORRENT FILE NAME :

Harsh Times [2005]DvDrip[Eng]-aXXo


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