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.
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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.