Movie of the Month : BREAKING THE WAVES

“L O V E “. Everyday we experience this breathtaking emotion with both inanimate objects and with other souls. It is when we finally find true love that nothing else in the world seems worthy or good. We work as hard as we can to continue this warmth that we feel in our hearts when true love exists, and sometimes that means going to a level we never thought imaginable. This is the central theme of the film, Breaking the Waves.

Synopsis:

In a Puritan Scottish village where religion is the number one priority and women are confined to being just housewives a religious woman named Bess McNeill who has conversations with God, finds the love of her life in a worker at the oil rig called Jan. The two soon marry and fall madly in love with each other but tragedy strikes as Jan gets badly injured in an accident at work that leaves him paralyzed from the neck down. But Bess really loves her man and is determined to stay with him forever but an unusual request from Jan complicates things as he ask her to do something that requires her to give the ultimate sacrifice. Bess is determined to make Jan happy and to prove to God that she loves him, but she soon loses control of her actions

Review;

Winner of the GRAND PRIX AWARD @ FESTIVAL DE CANNES, at first glance the movie seems like a heartbreaking romantic story of a woman that loves her husband even though he's crippled from the neck down but then slowly turns from that to a dark tragic story of a woman going to the extremes to make him happy.. However director Lars Von Trier turns a horrid tale into something intimate, real, tender and heartbreaking thanks to a bare-bones approach consisting of hand-held camera, lack of artificial lighting, grainy photography, and lingering close-ups ,story inter cut with brief music interludes set to an image of scenery. This breaks the film up in a style not used before.

The movie has a mesmerizing quality that reminds me of Carl Theodor Dreyer's "Ordet" at times. Both are set in remote communities and deal with religious concepts which, even for a semi-believer, remain difficult to comprehend. Both films have a supposedly mentally unstable central character, a young man who talks as Christ in "Ordet" while Bess, the young woman in "Breaking the Waves" talks to God who answers her in her own voice's deepest register. Bess falls in lave with Jan, an oil-rig worker and the early scenes chart their wedding. When Jan has to return to the oil-rig the distraught Bess prays to God for his return, a prayer that is answered ironically when he returns paralyzed from the neck down after an accident on the rig. How Bess lives with this situation is the subject of the second and third hours of the film. These have at times an almost unbearable intensity. It is one of those very rare films where I feel the use of a hand-held camera to be completely justified as it gives extraordinarily emotional events a frenetic immediacy.

Also the ending here is a real head scratcher, I won't go into detail as I don't want to ruin the film for any one else, but I've seen the film two times now and I'm still not sure what to make of it, lets just say you'll never forget that last shot and you'll be thinking about it for weeks. Either way, Breaking the Waves is still one-hundred times better than most of the Hollywood hogwash, full of beautiful images and performances, and is a good chance to see a real film by one of cinema's greatest directorial talents.

Lars von Trier is a most provocative film-maker: provocatively innovative and brilliant, but also provocatively offensive and silly. Frustratingly, it's hard to separate these two gifts: it seems to be in his nature to continually push the envelope, and dare his audience to judge whether he is doing so with a straight face. Although still far-out by the standards of mainstream cinema, 'Breaking the Waves' is perhaps his most conventional English-language film; and also his best, a movie of rare emotional power.

The most heartbreaking performance ever to grace cinema is that of Emily Watson as Bess McNeill. What a pity that Frances McDormand of Fargo was awarded the Academy Award in 1996 instead. Emily Watson is emotionally drained by the time her last scene airs and you get the sense that she played Bess as she went taking chances and relishing her material. She has such an expressive face and is such an all rounded character that any weaknesses in the plot simply don't matter any more. She carries the film entirely. Stellan Skarsgard, a most underrated actor in my opinion plays Bess's husband and is also superb, and the supporting cast includes the late Katrin Cartlidge as Watson's sister-in-law, and cult legend Udo Kier.

Conclusion:

To me, life is short and precious. I need it to mean something. I need to live life to its fullest by trying to put meaning into things that are important. Otherwise, despite my faith, life would seem empty. Life can't be a mere test ground that determines whether we are worthy of entering heaven or face hell. We are meant to experience the joy of loving, the warmth of being loved, the sorrow of losing a loved one, and what it must feel like to say goodbye to loved ones. I think that's what life is all about -- fully realizing each facet of love.

A true landmark in visual artistry and a film whose shrouded messages will haunt me till the end of my days. A film that can stir up every known emotion and it manages to create some new ones too. It changed my life.... Changed my way of thinking. Without a doubt the best movie I've seen my entire life!!!

Title: Breaking the waves (1996)

Director: Lars von Trier

Cast: Stellan Skarsgard , Emily Watson , Katrin Cartlidge

Rated R for strong sexuality

Country: Denmark

Language: English

DVD Features: photo gallery

Trailers

Trailer Link :www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_3Nio8P5gQ

Torrent file name : Breaking The Waves.torrent

Movie of the Month : RESCUE DAWN (2006)

IN A TIME when blockbuster means sequels and remakes galore delivering high powered special effects but not much human soul, we need a picture like this. A film with enough intelligence to let its audience digest the material without insulting us with biases or unnecessary special effects, a film that moves at a perfect pace, an almost naturalistic approach to film-making, and rooted, masterful performances from a capable group of actors.

Synopsis;

Based on the real life story of Dieter Dangler, a German-American fighter pilot shot down in Vietnam while on a secret mission and is captured by Viet Cong. He is then taken to a POW camp where he meets two Americans and three other captives, who have been imprisoned in the camp for over two years. Over the course of many months, Dieter and his fellow prisoners of war devise a plan of escape, while enduring torture and starvation. However, once they've successfully fled the confinements of the camp, they face even more sever conditions in the jungle.

Review:

Vietnam movies nowadays are a dime a dozen, and to be honest, most of them all seem the same. "Rescue Dawn" sticks out from the pack because its an accessible film about the hellish war loaded with the existentialist touches we've come to except from Werner Herzog. Herzog may be working for Hollywood now, but don't fret. His films are still full of the beautiful imagery and survivalist themes that prefigured many of his 70s and 80s masterpieces. "Rescue Dawn" is the same Herzog we know and love. Its filmed in a cold and distanced style, yet the story and setting manage to ultimately make it an emotionally powerful experience. Its free of the audience manipulation that often comes with these films. In my mind, its the best Vietnam War film since "Apocalypse Now". Just like "Apocalypse Now", whatever war its set in is irrelevant. This could've been set in World War II or the Gulf War and the story would have the same impact.

Like most POW and prison break movies, "Rescue Dawn" follows the same basic premise and structure as any other. There is the life pre-capture, which in this case introduces us to Dengler, a brash young U.S. Lieutenant with a passion for flying, getting ready for his first aerial mission; the capture and introduction of other cast members and the subsequent escape and rescue after 23 days in the jungle. What makes it different from other similar movies is that "Rescue Dawn" isn't the run-of-the-mill escape story, with a shallow story focusing only the main cast members and a cunning escape plan, but rather a work viewing the war as it affects both parties in a very realistic way, touching on war fatigue and famine on the Vietcong side. And it's beautiful, with both close-up and wide shots of the details in the surrounding nature that reminds you of director Herzog's relationship with naturalism

What makes this film unique is that it does not wallow in over-glorifying itself. It doesn't try to pump up the audience with patriotic blather or "gee whiz, what a guy" feel good stuff. It simply tells the story of this incredibly courageous and resourceful man, Dieter Dengler. This is a great example of how films should be made. Also Like any great POW movie, the film has many moments that aren't totally tension filled or with exposition relating to escape: there's humor, like with a prison guard who's a midget named Jumbo, or a dog with a few hind-leg walking skills, or the one prisoner who doesn't say a word but conveys "yes" without even nodding.

This is also a refreshingly truthful patriotic film - in which Dengler himself espouses some of the most profound reasons why many Americans still love America. Dengler illustrates that, even when engaged in an unjust conflict, America is its people and their spirit of liberty, not a government and not its military might. Dengler is a true American hero - not because he saves lives or fought expertly (after all, he hardly fought!) but because of his will to survive, to help those deserving of his help, and his desire to come home to the country he loved.

Director WernerHerzog manages to capture a sense of reality that would escape many other directors, he utilizes his skills to show how the harshness of their predicament is derived from the conditions and the surroundings in which they are imprisoned, not just by the captors or prison guards. Also he does a great job of depicting tiny bits of humanity and dignity shining through in the most inhumane conditions, and how the will to survive can triumph over death..Some of the finest scenes in the film are presented in long takes with no dialogue just the all encompassing sound of loneliness which is reinforced by the unforgiving weather conditions. The film has breathtaking cinematography of Laos and Vietnam from Peter Zeitlinger and a triumphant and evocative music score from Klaus Bedelt.

The characters really stand out here... Christian Bale, in perhaps his most humane role yet, plays Dieter. He had shredded over 100 lbs for the role, embodies his German-born subject with ferocity and fervor.Bale as Dieter appears to eat live worms at one point; struggles with a wildly writhing six-foot snake and strips it with his teeth. His character, Dieter, has such a will to outlive the unbearable circumstances, and Bale exemplifies that will with chilling conviction. The real revelation from this film, however, is Steve Zahn., who often has been typecast as the comic relief sidekick, Aside from having lost forty pounds and being almost completely unrecognizable, he gives amazing performance as Deiter's friend Duane, thus showing his true potential and dedication as an actor. And the relationship between Zahn and Bale is pitch perfect. Also Jeremy Davies is incredible in his role as whacked-out P.O.W. named Eugene. He’s spooky without being unbelievable, and he is scarily thin.

'Rescue Dawn' makes for one of the most harrowing movie experiences that will inspire tears, smiles and, ultimately, an appreciation for what this man endured for the country he loved so much. Herzog has created a masterful film here which can be appreciated by all. You will feel all your emotions come out watching this film, with scenes of heart wrenching anguish and scenes of rapturous joy contrasting together perfectly.

Title : Rescue Dawn

Director: Werner Herzog

Cast: Christian Bale, Steve Zahn

Rated Pg-13 for some disturbing images

Country :USA

Language : English

DVD Features: Feature length audio commentary with director

Deleted scenes

The Making of rescue dawn

Trailer Link:www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoaftXlf.html

Torrent File Name :Rescue Dawn [DVDRip][Eng][2007][BugzBunny]

AN INTROSPECTION ON FAVOR

Recently i received a pretty good favor from an acquaintance . Even though we had barely seen each other or talked in recent years , once when i simply asked whether he could download some rare movies ,he said ,"okay ,will try" .Initially i was a bit skeptical whether he would do it as he was a busy workaholic with many computer related works from early day to late night. But after one month , i got a call from him, saying that he had got all those 50 movies which i had asked him.For some,this maybe a trivial thing.but for me this was a big thing & made me to write this small article exploring FAVOR dynamics.


Most of us aren't beneficiaries of good deeds or favors very often. When we get in trouble, we have to survive in on our own. "One can never pay in gratitude; one can pay "in kind" somewhere else in life" - Anne Lindbergh This quote may seem out of place to most people. Their lives have not been graced by good deeds or favors done for them by others and they have little time or interest in doing something for another person that does not benefit themselves.

In past generations people had to support and do favors for their friends and neighbors because they knew the time would come when they would need help from others when they couldn't make it on their own.Even Today ,for example in certain close knit communities like Amish , when a new barn (for grain storage ) has to go up for a family , the rural community has a "barn raising" ceremony where the whole people of the community come together to build the barn and the building usually went up in a day.

But in suburban areas today, neighbors feel successful if they manage to reach an agreement over a questionable move that could affect both without going to court. In cities many apartment neighbors don't even know each other. And they won't meet because, by convention, no one speak to others in an elevator.When someone does something nice for another, the good deed doer might not even receive a "Thank you." Some don't want favors done for them because they believe it creates an obligation for them to return the favor.When people help each other today we call it charity. However, the word charity either must be redefined or a new word must be found for a new kind of helping .

Even if we can't repay someone who has done us a favor ,we can however, pay it forward. We can do a good deed for someone else who needs one desperately. We can help those who want it. We can stop making it seem shameful to need help from others.We can even do favors for those who need it even if we haven't received any ourselves.

As an icing on the cake , a list of movies which celebrate Favor ;

1. Forrestgump
2. Okurbito (Departures)
3. La Promesse (The Promise)
4. Luo Ye Gui Gen (Getting Home )
5. Birdy
6.Central Station

Someone has just done you a favor of passing along some good news. Maybe it's not much to you. But you could pass along some good news about the future we all hope to see ,to someone.

Movie of the Month : INTO THE WILD (2007)

WHO AMONG US hasn't, at one time or another, dreamed of one day chucking the whole "corporate rat race/adult responsibility" thing and moving to an isolated cabin in the woods where we would be free to get in touch with our inner selves and become one with nature? Yet, even though many of us have fantasized about doing such a thing, few of us have had the intestinal fortitude or psychological toughness to actually go out and do it. Well, Christopher McCandless actually did go out and do it.‘Into the Wild' celebrates Christopher McCandless, for everything he stood for and everything he did.

Synopsis:

Based upon the true story about top student and athlete Christopher McCandless who after graduating from Emory University in 1992 gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity, abandoned his life of spoiled privilege and comfort from his wealthy and sheltered parents by making a cross country journey to discover freedom of life on the road that's full of adventures, meeting new people and most of all having new joys and being happy. All along the main goal of Chris is to reach and settle down in the Alaskan wilderness.

Review:

Christopher's journey, which is carried out with just the basic resources one needs to survive (no cell phone or other gadgets), is a modern odyssey of sorts, a quest for something that was lost forever and won't be found in the near future. In a world like ours, where technology rules all, a choice like Christopher's would be met with disbelief. That only heightens the intensity of the character's message, which is also what the director aims to tell us: we need to rediscover ourselves before it's too late. It doesn't matter whether we are young or old; the important thing is we give it a serious try.

It's genuinely touching how much of an impact Chris has on the lives of myriad people he meets along his away as he passes through. In particular, Catherine Keener plays an aging hippie whose love for her soul mate has begun to fade; the mere presence of the Christ-like Chris magically changes that, for the better. But the best thing about "Into the Wild" is Hal Holbrook, the venerable actor as a solitary old man who befriends Chris McCandless on his way to the Alaskan wilderness and offers to adopt him as his grandson, having lost his wife and only child in a head-on collision with a drunk. I've never seen a more heartfelt or touching performance in so long. If you don't shed a tear for him then you have no soul.

The debate over whether Chris was a highly evolved truth seeker or a vengeful and self destructive personality is not answered in the film. In spite of Chris' ultimate discovery about the true nature of happiness, into the Wild is not a message film but a voyage of discovery in which a headstrong young man gradually acquires the wisdom to reach out to others, even to his parents in a fevered dream. More than a story about a return to nature, or a white middle class youth's protest against his parent's values, it is a search for authenticity in a world that has forgotten what truth looks and feels like.

Emile Hirsch as Chris is outstanding in the lead role. We like him and find ourselves pulling for him. It is fascinating to travel with him as he truly gets naked to the world. Supporting cast is fine, though Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt are given little to do. Always nice to see Jena Malone on screen (here as Chris' sister). Catherine Keener and Brian Dierker are a nice touch as the hippie couple. Vince Vaughn has a brief role as a good natured farmer. Kristen Stewart plays a 16 yr old with a nice voice, and a crush on Chris. As I have earlier mentioned, the best supporting role goes to the great Hal Holbrook as the lonely guy who teaches and learns in his stint with Chris.

Director Sean Penn has well matured his skill as a screenplay writer and director (apart from acting) since his first venture The Indian Runner in 1991. He pours his heart and soul into making the movie a wonderful experience of film making. He scores top in weaving the story with flashbacks and not letting the interest drop for a single second till the very end. The cinematography by Eric Gautier is breathtaking. The musical soundtrack written by Eddie Veder is also fantastic.

Into the Wild isn't an "easy" film: it will leave you very affected, possibly devastated, but also as enriched as one can ever be after seeing a genuine masterwork. It will ignite real thoughts about life instead of the phony reflections so many "issue movies" try to induce. It will hit the gut, the heart and the mind in equal measure, and once the initial wave of emotional overflow has passed you will feel immensely rewarded. Into the Wild does this because it isn't merely a motion picture: it is art, life, freedom and nature, all together in a mesmerizing piece of visual poetry.

Title : Into the wild

Director: Sean Penn

Cast :Emile Hirsch,Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt ,Jena Malone ,Catherine Keener, VinceVaughn ,Kristen Stewart, Hal Holbrook

Rated R for nudity

Country :USA
Language:English

DVD Features: interviews with actors

making of “into the wild”

Trailer Link :www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LAuzT_x8Ek

Torrent file name :Into The Wild[2007]DvDrip[Eng]-aXXo

Festival Coverage : 66th VENICE Film Festival (2009)

The 66th annual Venice Film Festival held in Venice, Italy, was opened on September 2, 2009 and culminated on September 12, 2009 .International competition jury was led by Ang Lee and Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap .The winners for the 2009 66th Venice Film Festival are:

1.Golden Lion Award:

"Lebanon" by Samuel Maoz

Country :Israel


Synopsis : During the First Lebanon War. A lone tank and a paratroopers platoon are dispatched to search a hostile town - a simple mission that turns into a nightmare. The four members of a tank crew find themselves in a violent situation that they cannot contain. The conflict is seen through the binocular-aided eyes of those inside a tank, with their cramped quarters lending an anxious sense of claustrophobia to their viewpoint.Motivated by fear and the basic instinct of survival, they desperately try not to lose themselves in the chaos of war.


2. Silver Lion Award :

"Zanan Bedoone Mardan"(Women Without Men) by Shirin Neshat

Country :Iran
.
Synopsis : Against the tumultuous backdrop of Iran’s 1953 CIA-backed coup d’état, the destinies of four women converge in a beautiful orchard garden, where they find independence, solace and companionship. Shirin Neshat makes her directorial debut with this incisive reflection on the pivotal moment in history that directly led to the Islamic revolution and the Iran we know today.


3. Special Jury Prize

"Soul Kitchen" by Fatih Akin

Country :Germany

Synopsis : Zinos owns and caters a warehouse restaurant in the Hamburg where the working-class clientele like deep-fried burgers with their beer. Always running behind the eight-ball, Zinos even arrives late for the farewell dinner of his better-off Nadine who's leaving for a job in Shanghai.When Zinos' larcenous younger brother, Illias , is let out of jail on day release, he asks Zinos to give him a fake job so he can get out more often.With a tax inspector and health officer on his back, Nadine nagging himlong-distance to join her, and a real estate shark trying to force him to sell the place , Zinos is in deep trouble .



4. Coppa Volpi for Best Actor

Colin Firth for the film "A Single Man"

Dir: Tom FORD

Country :USA




Synopsis : A Single Man is based on 1964 novel by Christopher Isherwood.Set in Southern California during 1962, it depicts one day in the life of George, a middle-aged gay Englishman
who works as a college professor in Los Angeles and whose lover, Jim, has recently died.










5. Coppa Volpi for Best Actress:

Ksenia Rappoport for the film "La doppia ora" (The Double Hour )

Dir : Giuseppe Capotondi

Country :Italy

Synopsis : Sonia is a Slovenian woman who works as a chambermaid in a Turin hotel. There’s something going on behind her rather wary expression and hesitant manner, but we assume at first that it may just be shyness, and root for her when she meets Guido , an awkward, reticent but romantic former policeman, at a speed-dating session.But about 20
minutes in, the lovebirds find themselves held at gunpoint during a burglary, and shots are fired.
Remaining 75 minutes detail the bumpy road to Sonia's understanding of what really happened, with Capotondi and the screenwriters going through different genres -- horror, mystery, psychodrama -- and their required elements in rapid succession.


6. Osella Award for Best Screenplay

Todd Solondz for the film "Life during Wartime"

Country :USA

Synopsis : the film tells the story of a dysfunctional family, we follow 3 separate stories. The father, who was just released from prison after some paedophilia charges tries to find his son, to make sure he doesn't turn out like him. The son is in college, he has two siblings, a younger brother who is turning 13 and a younger sister who is a karaoke singer. The wife/mother is looking for a new lover in her life and finds this other man . Finally the sister of the mother ,who mixes romance and her work. The problem is that death follows her wherever she goes and it has kind of driven her crazy.

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Movie of the Month : OFFSIDE (2006)

“ This Internationally acclaimed award-winning film casually and sometimes caustically uncovers what binds us and blinds us to the differences between our ways of life in the West with modern day Iran. Fascinating funny and tragic it s a gem of comic action that explores the ambiguity between the sexes" - The Hollywood Reporter-

SYNOPSIS:

Several young Iranian women dress as boys and try to get into a World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Bahrain at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. When they're caught, they're penned in an area where the match remains within earshot, but out of sight.The women soccer enthusiasts cheer for Iran's victory but this does not deter the soldiers from detaining them while they wait for the girls to be transported to the Vice Squad and an uncertain future.

REVIEW:

Iranian cinema is rarely big on plot, preferring to concentrate on character and situation, something it often excels at. Offside is no exception, with the bulk of the film focussed on the argumentative relationship that develops between the girls and the young soldiers guarding them. This is smartly and sometimes delightfully handled, the soldiers' initial position of authority increasingly shaken with the arrival of a fiercely defiant and confrontational girl who challenges her captors on just about every point they make, and another who has cheerfully dressed up in a soldier's uniform and gained entry to the match, but whose over-confidence got her nicked when she sat in the seat reserved for the Chief of Police.

The humour arises largely from the absurdity of the situation the girls find themselves in. When the conversation inevitably moves to the reasons for excluding women from the ground, for example, the soldiers claim that it is because they should not be subjected to the swearing that takes place when men watch the game. In the most bizarrely funny scene, one of the girls is escorted to a male toilet wearing a life-sized poster of a football player's face as a mask in order to disguise her gender, then told to cover her eyes so she will not be corrupted by the graffiti on the toilet walls.

If the film's primary concern is the unequal status of women in their own society, then it is also very much about the unifying nature of the beautiful game. And you really don't have to be a football fan to appreciate this - the sheer passion expressed by both the characters and the film itself for the game is remarkably infectious, leading to a final ten minutes consisting largely of the celebratory joy of victory, and the thrilling sense of community and equality that results. Rarely, if ever, has an Iranian film with serious political concerns ended on a note of such euphoric optimism.

Naturalistically performed and documentary-like in approach, there is a compelling sense that we are watching events very much as they happen, but the narrative is so well structured and individual scenes so effectively executed that you just know this was planned to perfection. It's hard to tell just how much of the dialogue is scripted and how much of it is improvisation, but, in either case, the actors, with their marvelously expressive faces, do a magnificent job making each moment seem utterly real and convincing. Mohammad Kheir-abadi and Shayesteh Irani are notable standouts in a uniformly excellent cast. The structure of the film is also very loose and freeform, as writer/director Jafar Panahi and co-writer Shadmehr Rastin focus for a few brief moments on one or two of the characters, then move smoothly and effortlessly onto others. With this documentary-type approach, we come to feel as if we are witnessing an actual event unfolding in "real time." Very often, it's quite easy for us to forget we're actually watching a movie.

Winner of the Silver Bear Award at Berlin Film Festival "Offside" is obviously a cry for justice, but it is one that is made all the more effective by its refusal to make of its story a heavy-breathing tragedy. Instead, it realizes that nothing breaks down social barriers quite as efficiently as humor and an appeal to the audience's common humanity. And isn't that what true art is supposed to be all about?

Title :Offside

Director :Jafar Panahi

Rated PG for some mature elements

Country:Iran

Language ;Persian

Subtitles; English

DVD features: Interview with Director
photo gallery

Trailer Link: www.metacafe.com/watch/450701/offside_trailer

Torrent File Name; Offside 2006 LIMITED DVDRip XviD-MESS *** www.NewTorrents.info ***

Movie of the Month ; THE SAVAGES (2007)

AS WE MOVE ever further into the 21st Century, more and more Gen-Xers are finding themselves thrust into the role of primary caregiver to their ailing and aging parents. Such a situation is challenging enough even under the best of circumstances, but what if the person who needs taking care of was never a loving and nurturing parent to begin with, or the middle-aged child has more than enough problems on his own plate to deal with? This is the dilemma faced by Jon and Wendy Savage.

SYNOPSIS:

Jon and Wendy Savage are two siblings who have spent their adult years trying to recover from the abuse of their abusive father, Lenny Savage. Suddenly, a call comes in that Lenny’s old girlfriend has died, he cannot care for himself with his dementia and her family is dumping him on his children. Despite the fact Jon and Wendy have not spoken to Lenny for twenty years and he is even more loathsome than ever, the Savage siblings feel obliged to take care of him. Now together, brother and sister must come to terms with the new and painful responsibilities with their father now.

REVIEW:

If you look for honesty portrayed in film, you can't do much better than The Savages. Despite its grim subject matter, there is plenty of humor in this film, which mainly arises from the absurdity of situations that feel so genuinely familiar.

"The Savages" works on a dual level, exposing the grim realities of aging, while at the same time exploring the complexities of familial (i.e. parent-child and sibling) relationships. Jon and Wendy, both unmarried and childless, aren't exactly what one would call models of highly functional and successful adults in their own right. Jon is a theater professor and part-time author who lives in a shabby Buffalo apartment with a girl from Poland who is being deported because Jon, commitment-phobic that he is, can't bring himself to marry her. Wendy is an unsuccessful playwright who pays the bills with temp jobs and has been carrying on a dead-end affair with a married man for years. Both have an understandable urge to live their own lives, and they feel ill-equipped to cope with this new burden that has been suddenly placed upon them. But it is Wendy who provides the warm human center that lifts the movie above the dreary nature of its material. It is Wendy who struggles most with doing what is right by trying to make the last days of a man who abandoned her as comfortable as possible. In fact, we sense that Wendy does quite a bit of growing up in the course of her struggles.

The movie also portrays how Americans deal with aging and death. Jon gives a speech in which he holds forth on how the whole nursing home presentation of beauty and comfort is nothing more than an attempt to prey on the guilt of the families of the elderly. Inside they are all the same, he says, places of death. The sibs argue over the care of their father, at times with him present. You can see dad giving up all desire to persist. This film is entirely devoid of melodrama. There are huge potentials for melodrama: irresponsible parents abandoning young children, the usual sibling rivalry, midlife crisis, extramarital, uncertain relationship, career frustrations and agonies of aging and dying. Under Tamara Jenkins' levelheaded and sensible direction, these characters react to these situations in a normal way, get emotional occasionally but never scream until they choke. The ending of the film is very humane. It doesn't have any major twists or bangs, but it doesn't end on a nothing-note either. It teaches us that the lessons we learn from one experience can help us deal with the next, and it's the many small messages like this and the very life-like feel of the film's craft that make it one of the most special films I had the experience of seeing.

The beauty of the film is the acting. Philip Seymour Hoffman, perhaps the best actor working in today's movies, plays Jon with such naturalness that the character and the actor become one. Mr. Hoffman displays every nuance this character requires. He is perfect as this man whose own life is not exactly what he probably set out to be.Laura Linney's Wendy is one of the best roles she has been asked to interpret in the movies. She is nothing short of magnificent in her creation of this woman who lives in the fantasy world of the theater that hasn't been too kind to her. The third great performance is the Lenny of Philip Bosco. He is a man whose mind has betrayed him. The rest of the cast does well under Tamara Jenkins’ direction.
.

The Savages is an incredibly rewarding, bittersweet experience where the comedy rings painfully true and the melancholy that blankets you upon watching will truly give you something to look forward to with a profound sadness. . Please see it; you'll be glad you did.

Title : The Savages

Director :Tamara Jenkins

Cast :Philip Seymour Hoffman,Laura Linney


Rated R for Sexuality and Mature Themes


Country :USA

Language : English

DVD Features : interview with the cast and crew
photo gallery
extended scenes

Trailer Link :www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu9G9OxHMhI

Torrent File Name :The.Savages.2007.LiMiTED.DVDRip.XviD-SAPHiRE

Movie of the Month : THE WEATHERMAN (2005)

"I REMEMBER once imagining what my life would be like, what I'd be like. I pictured having all these qualities, strong positive qualities that people could pick up on from across the room. But as time passed, few ever became any qualities that I actually had. And all the possibilities I faced and the sorts of people I could be, all of them got reduced every year to fewer and fewer. Until finally they got reduced to one, to whom I am. And that's who I am, the WEATHER MAN.”

SYNOPSIS:

In Chicago, Dave Spritz (Nicolas Cage) is the weatherman of the local TV news loved and loathed by the audiences. He is successful in his career in spite of not having degree in meteorology. However, his personal life is a complete mess: he is a frustrated writer divorced from his wife Noreen but he still likes her and wishes to have her back; his sixteen year-old son Mike is in rehabilitation for using pot; his clumsy and fat daughter Shelly is constantly humiliated at school by her mates. His sick father, the famous Pulitzer Prize winner novelist, doesn't think much of his son's source of income. Dave decides to leave his passive self behind act on life to finally make something more of himself that his family will be proud of. While trying to resolve his problems and frustrations, Dave grows-up and reaches the necessary maturity to manage the complexities of life.

REVIEW:

"The Weather Man" is not for all tastes and audiences, but those with an appreciation for subtle black humor may find themselves drawn to its themes. It provides a subdued portrait of a man who seems unable to take control of the elements of his life and, thus, finds his world splintering apart in many different directions. Part of the problem comes from the feeling of inadequacy instilled in him by his father, an inadequacy that prevents Dave from assuming the responsibilities that an adult must in order to fulfill his role as a productive member of society. For Dave is the first to admit that his job is a mere security and that he's made a genuine mess of his marriage and family life through his lack of focus and tendency towards fear and inaction. The subplots of his career, his father's illness, Camel Toe, and the counselor are all well done stories in themselves and only strengthen the main story.

In real life, progress in one's personal life is generally made in baby steps. Usually, people don't undergo a drastic transformation over the course of several months. David attempts to improve his standing in life, at times failing entirely, at times succeeding in small doses. The results of these attempts range from very funny to downright saddening, and this helps lend the film an air of realism. This is a complicated character study about a man coming to grips with the fact that he's failed to meet any of the goals he set for himself in life, despite attaining a social standing that many people are envious of. There aren't any easy answers or life altering epiphanies; self-improvement is a long, gradual task that will probably never be completely fulfilled, and "The Weather Man" reflects this reality.

The film explores aging, loneliness, longing, emotional crises, and self doubt. There's some rather funny humor on display, and this is mixed with an overall pessimistic mindset. It's almost like a mixture of Wes Anderson's subtlety with Coen Brothers humor in a purely unhopeful way. From mainstream cinema; especially American mainstream cinema, you don't expect to see films with such a depressing viewpoint on life.There are a lot of disappointments, regrets and unhappiness in the characters but the film is not depressing or hopeless thanks to the finesse and artistry of Cage's performance and to his very unique low key dry humor with which he provides the insights in his character's inner world. Verbinski's film states that, like the weather, life cannot be predicted - and no matter what hopes and dreams you have, they're likely to be smashed by the time it comes to realizing them.

Gore Verbinski's film is a rich portrait of a tormented man whose life has come to a complete stop. Steve Conrad's screen play examines Dave's life at the worst moment of his life. The director and the writer have created a most unusual film. Nicholas Cage inhabits the strange role of David finding a way to make this loser with a short temper someone about whom we care. It is a tough assignment but Cage meets it on every level. Michael Caine provides some of the more eloquent moments in the film: his words of wisdom and view of life are the only grounded elements of the story. Likewise Hope Davis is fine as are the roles of the children as sensitively played by de la Peña and Hoult. One thing that stays with the viewer after the film is over is the great musical score by Hans Zimmer. Also, the winter look of Chicago with all its black and gray tones is enhanced by excellent camera work.

The Weather Man" is a serious film by a director that has distinguished himself in lighter fare. The movie might be a bit too murky for the average moviegoers, but its creative ingenuity does make it a precise weather report for many hardcore movie buffs.

Title :The Weatherman

Director: Gore Verbinski

Cast :Nicholas Cage ,Michael Caine ,Hope Davis

Rated R for Sexuality

Country :USA

Language :English

DVD Features:
behind the scenes
photo gallery

Trailer Link :www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3_KgbI0PKY

Torrent File Name :The Weatherman[2005]DvDrip[Eng] avi

Monthly Special : FESTIVAL DE CANNES

The 62nd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 13 to May 24, 2009.The winners of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival are :








1. Palme d'Or Award


The White Ribbon (" Das weiße Band") directed by Michael Haneke

Country :Austria





Synopsis .....Strange events happen at a rural school in the north of Germany during the year 1913, which seem to be ritual punishment.Shot in stunning black and white, the film chronicles a series of mysterious events in a school leading up to the outbreak of WWI and how does the school have an influence on fascism...


2. Grand Prix Award

A Prophet (" Un prophète ") directed by Jacques Audiard

Country : France






Synopsis.....A young Arab man is sent to a French prison where he becomes a mafia kingpin...








3. Prix du Jury (Jury Prize )

a) 'Fish Tank' directed by Andrea Arnold

Country :UK






Synopsis.....Everything changes for a 15yr old girl when her mum brings home a new boyfriend...









b) Thirst ("Bakjwi") directed by Park Chan-wook

Country :South Korea



Synopsis .....A devoted priest from a small town volunteers for a medical experiment which fails and turns him into a vampire.At first he feels a newfound vigor and is energized by his insistent bodily desires, but soon he is aghast to find himself drawn back to the taste of human blood against his will. Desperately trying to avoid committing a murder, he resorts to stealing blood transfusion packs from the hospital.To make matters worse,he also starts an affair with a wife of his childhood friend who is repressed and tired of her mundane life. The one-time priest falls deeper in despair and depravity. When the priest pleads with her to run away with him she turns him down, suggesting that they kill her husband instead.As things turns for worse, he struggles to maintain whats left of his humanity.....


4. Best Director Award

Brillante Mendoza for the film - Butchered ("Kinatay ")

Country : Phillipines

Synopsis .. A young man tries to make some money so he can marry his girlfriend. He takes a job for $2,000 and then soon realizes that this job involves killing a woman....

5. Best Screenplay Award

" Spring Fever " directed by Lou Ye

Country : China



Synopsis... As Nature gradually awakens and an intoxicating spring breeze full of life blows, as they drive together to the coast, love and sexual passion grow in the hearts of 2 men and a beautiful young woman. All three fall prey to an exhilarating sickness of the senses, a dangerous malady that misleads the heart…





6. Camera d'OR Award (Gold Camera Award for Best first feature film)


"Samson and Delilah " directed by Warwick Thornton

Country : Australia




Synopsis ....tells the story of two aboriginal 14 year olds who steal a car and escape their lives, going to Alice Springs, thereby telling a "survival love story" .






7. Best Actor Award

Christoph Waltz for the film "Inglorious Basterds "

Country : USA



Synopsis : According to The Hollywood Reporter, "two story lines converge: One (based on a true story) follows a group of Jewish-American soldiers whose mission is to take down a group of Nazis, and the other follows a young Jewish woman who seeks to avenge the death of her parents by this Nazi group"




8. Best Actress Award

Charlotte Gainsbourg for the film "Antichrist"

Country : Denmark





Synopsis...about a couple who, after the death of their child, retreat to a cabin in the woods where they encounter strange and terrifying occurrences.





THE CANNE CONTROVERSY


The film " Antichrist "has come under attack for its explicit sexuality, including the opening scene showing a toddler falling to its death while his parent's have sex on the bed nearby.The film has also invited controversy for its graphic sexual violence which includes self mutilations.At least four people fainted during the preview due to the film's explicit violence.The ecumenical jury at the Cannes festival gave it a special "anti-award" and declared the film to be "the most misogynist movie from the self-proclaimed biggest director(Lars Von Trier ) in the world".Two versions are availible for buyers at the Cannes film market, nicknamed the "catholic" and "protestant" versions, where the former had some of the most explicit scenes removed while the latter was uncut.