Tag / Movie Review

by whatsonsidsmind

The Father | Movie Review | A Masterclass in Set Design and Acting

Written by Siddhartha Krishnan | 4 Min Read

If the mind is a labyrinth of myriad thoughts and memories, then ‘The Father’ is an exquisite cinematic depiction of its mysterious workings. It imagines memories to be like pieces of a puzzle, that lack meaning by themselves. But when stitched together, they are like rooms of a house.

Florian Zellar’s ‘The Father‘ is as close to perfection that a film can strive to be. With a subject like dementia, it was easy to make another sob fest. Thankfully, however, the makers chose catharsis over melodrama. And so, we enter a fragmented mind, to experience up close the confusion and helplessness.

The film follows an octogenarian, who is constantly forgetting important life events. He is stubborn, egoistic, and yet a charmer. Anthony (played by Sir Anthony Hopkins) is not able to understand why his memory regularly fails him. Anne, his daughter, and principal caregiver (played by Olivia Colman) tries everything within her capacity to pacify him. But it is a losing battle, and sadly, acceptance is their only road to salvation.

To say that ‘The Father’ is heart-breaking is a no-brainer. But the overriding emotion one feels as an audience is confusion, since we are seeing things from the perspective of a dementia patient. But how did the director manage to achieve that?

The answer lies in the production design.

Perceptibly, there are three locations shown in the film. Anthony’s flat, Anne’s house, and the hospital. Set designer Peter Francis, in an interview explains, that to infuse confusion in the narrative they kept the architecture more or less the same across the imagined locations. But to distinguish between these locations, they made minor changes to the furnishings and furniture, which aren’t easily noticeable.

Also, doorways play an important role to show perspective—who is on the inside, and who is on the outside? Or to be more specific—what is real and what is unreal? The use of similar looking doors to move from one space to another, where the spaces themselves look oddly similar, gives the feeling that we are swimming through someone’s memories. Additionally, color tones of the walls, windows and furnishings, distinguish between different timelines, since Anthony frequently navigates between the past and present without his knowing.

‘The Father’ undoubtedly rides on the shoulders of its actors. In an interview with Stephen Colbert, director Florian Zeller said that he chose Anthony Hopkins for the role because we’ve known him to have essayed characters that are typically dominant or in control of their situation. For him to be shown as a dementia patient, the director believes was the perfect antithesis given Hopkin’s filmography. Well, an Oscar for best actor in a leading role proves that theory!

However, without a brilliant Olivia Colman, as Anne, the scenes wouldn’t have made the impact that it did. She brings in the required empathy and vulnerability to her role. She holds her own in all the scenes with the stalwart and elevates them. The two give a masterclass in acting.

To sum up, ‘The Father’ is a labor of love. It plays with very little and yet is magical. It is a rare piece of cinema that makes you cry, but with a profound realization. A must watch.

IMDb rating – 8.2/10

My Rating – 5/5

You can watch ‘The Father’ on Book my Show app for a rental of Rs 89.

 

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is a blogger and, on his website, www.whatsonsidsmind.com, you can find his travel diaries, food stories, book recommendations and movie reviews.

All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com

by whatsonsidsmind

2 Must Watch War Films on Netflix | Movie Review

Omaha Beach Scene from Saving Private Ryan . Pic credit – telegraph.co.uk

Written by Siddhartha Krishnan . 5 Min Read

The year was 1998. I was 15 years old. Inside a packed hall in Lighthouse Cinema (Kolkata), we were watching Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan. A few minutes into the film, the famous Omaha Beach Scene happened. The air turned cold and tense. It showed in my breath which was getting heavy. I clenched the arm rest, discomforted by the carnage that was unfolding on screen. The audience around me fared no better. They too were stunned.

Each bullet that pierced the heart of a soldier, and each bomb that shattered their bodies into pieces, made us nauseous. Something changed in me that day. Perhaps it was my idea of war, which until then, had been largely shaped by the Hindi films of that decade. Unknowingly, I was guilty of romanticizing war. But this was very different. I loved the film, but I began to hate war. It left me with several unanswered questions. Who really wins a war? Who are the people calling it?

Recently, I watched two war-based films that made me remember that experience from years ago. The following are my thoughts on these two poignant and beautifully crafted films.

Last Men in Aleppo (2017)

Genre – War Documentary

Director Feras Fayyad

Last Men in Aleppo – Poster. Pic Credit – Grasshopper Films

Nowadays, documentary filmmakers have become very innovative with their storytelling. With the latest technology at their disposal, there are a million ways to tell a story. However, letting the camera do the job without intervention, is still perhaps the most truthful and effective. Director Feras Fayyad, does that with Last Men in Aleppo. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

‘World Documentary Grand Jury Prize’ winner at the Sundance Film Festival (2017), this film is not for the faint-hearted. But it is essential viewing. It documents the everyday life of a volunteer group, called the White Helmets, who were engaged in search and rescue operations during the Syrian Civil War. These are ordinary citizens who have the choice to flee hell, but have chosen to stay on and save lives. They pull out dead bodies, from mountains of rubble, of little children and their mothers, hoping to find one alive. A torso, a hand, a finger, is all they find sometimes, yet, they muster courage to tell stories of hope to each other; that there will be a better tomorrow.

Shot in guerrilla style, this is documentary filmmaking in its rawest and truest form. It shows the cost of war and who really benefits from it. The camera is like a fly on the wall masterfully capturing the anguish and horror, as well as the rare moments of joy that these courageous men manage to find sometimes.

The film asks several questions of us, the fortunate, who do not have to deal with a crisis of this magnitude. Our understanding of happiness is one of them.

Pic credit – indiewire.com

The Bombardment/The Shadow in My Eye (2021)

Genre – Historical War Drama

Director – Ole Bornedal

Netflix Poster of The Bombardment. Pic credit – Netflix

Based on Operation Carthage carried out by the UK’s Royal Air Force towards the end of World War II, Danish film The Bombardment also called The Shadow in My Eye is a hard-hitting story told primarily through the eyes of children. The Air Force’s plan was to bomb the Gestapo stronghold in Copenhagen, Denmark, which was under Nazi occupation. While they do manage to hit their target, they mistakenly bomb a school (Institut Jeanne d’Arc) as well, killing innocent children and civilians. But the film is not just about that unfortunate incident. It captures several moments in the lives of its characters leading to the fateful event; to tell a poignant story about the cost of war.

The film, unusually, does not have a protagonist. It has five lead characters out of which three are children. Their performance is another strong point of the film. However, I found the character of the nun played by a brilliant Fanny Bornedal, the  most captivating. Her character is the most complex, and through her, director Ole Bornedal was able to convey the apathy and absurdity that war brings with it. This is a film that needs to be watched for being brutally honest to its subject matter. Again, not an easy watch, but an essential one.

A scene from The Bombardment. Pic credit – Movie Nation

In 2018, I saw a video of a child being rescued from a bomb explosion site in Syria. Both his parents were killed in the incident. Sitting inside an ambulance, he was covered in dust from head to toe. Except for his eyes, everything else was greyed out. The blankness in those eyes was horrifying. Perhaps he was having a meal with his parents, when in an instant his world crashed! His eyes haunted me for days until I decided to put pen to paper.

It was the genesis of my short story Fireworks, which eventually found a way into my debut book Two and a Half Rainbows two years later. It was the story of a toddler and his nanny, and a moment in their life. The child narrates verbatim the stories that his mother has told him about the daily fireworks seen from their apartment window.

This was my way of expressing the angst within me.

They say, war is inevitable. And children, women and foot soldiers must bear the brunt of it. They always have. From the age of the tribal warlords to the age of technocrats. But the question is—if we can tell fabulous stories to each other, that unites us to build spacecrafts, capable of exploring other planets; can’t we tell each other a brilliant story that unites us to end war?

What is that story? I wonder.

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and, on his website, www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues, book and movie reviews.

All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com

by whatsonsidsmind

Bulbbul Movie Review: A gripping end of innocence story in the garb of a horror flick

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By Siddhartha Krishnan . 3 Min Read

Anvita Dutt’s directorial debut “Bulbbul” produced by Clean Slate Films, borrows heavily from Bengali literature, Hindu mythology and folklore, as far as the aesthetics are concerned. Hence, the opulent mansions of 19th century Bengali aristocrats, their suave period costumes and typical names, seem all too familiar. But this film is no “Chokher Bali” or “Charulata”! Masquerading as a horror flick, this is a gripping, end of innocence story, about big mansions and their horrific secrets. It is a film with a strong social message on the deep-rooted nature of patriarchy but slips into the dark fantasy or dark fairy-tale sub-genre through some clever writing. What we get in return, is an original and highly entertaining film which will keep you engaged till the very end despite its apparent flaws.

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Right from the very onset, the first thing that strikes you about “Bulbbul”, is how visually spectacular it is. The cinematography by Siddharth Diwan (DOP of “Trapped” and “Bhavesh Joshi”) is commendable; each frame is well thought out and has a lyrical quality to it. The use of the colour red in many of the frames (which has irked some critics) adds to the fantasy element of the storytelling. It also evokes and intensifies the desired emotion in the audience, as does the haunting background score by Amit Trivedi. The attention to detail exhibited by production designer Meenal Agarwal in creating the world of “Bulbbul” in terms of its locations, costumes and décor is also praiseworthy. Nothing seems out of place and the audience gets an immersive cinematic experience because of it.

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“Bulbbul” also boasts a stellar cast comprising of actors like Rahul Bose, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Paoli Dam, Avinash Tiwary and Thripti Dimri. All the actors have done full justice to their roles, however, Thripti Dimri in the lead role of “Bulbbul” and Paoli Dam as “Binodini” stand out. The unusual dynamics of their relationship due to their age difference, in the backdrop of misogyny and abuse within the four walls of their mansion, give us some of the best scenes of the movie.

Anvita Dutt, who is an established writer and lyricist in the industry has come up with a unique concept and story for this film, although, the underlying theme which is patriarchy and domestic abuse is familiar to all of us. But for her to have taken a much-explored theme and to have embedded it seamlessly into a world of mysticism and folklore is admirable.

But in the writing lies the flaws of the film as well. The ending specifically feels a bit abrupt and sadly predictable. And, in the end you could feel that the film should have been thirty minutes longer through the incorporation of a few missing and much needed layers which could have elevated the film considerably. But, that said, the film at no stage will bore you because the visual storytelling is so riveting.

The social commentary of “Bulbbul”, on how deeply entrenched patriarchy is in our society and how it has not changed through the centuries also makes it an essential watch. The dark and twisted nature of the plot therefore is justified because to survive the evils of patriarchy, women, time and again have been forced to don the avatar of the “Goddess” and the “Witch”.

For its originality, performances, stunning visuals and bold storytelling, I am going to give Anvita Dutt’s “Bulbbul” a 3.5/5 rating. You can watch the film on Netflix and check the trailer out by clicking the link below.

Trailer “Bulbbul”

Pic credits: Clean Slate Films, Netflix, HindustanTimes and NDTV

 

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of “Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories“. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and on his website www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and film reviews.

by whatsonsidsmind

Joker (2019) Movie Review : A dark character study, impeccably written and masterfully portrayed

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Pic credit: Imax.com / Copyright: Warner Bros. Pictures

You must be wondering, why am I reviewing a movie, which released a month back and has a million reviews, already in the market?

Well, there are 2 reasons for it –

  1. I only managed to see the “Joker” in the theater last weekend and,
  2. I will not be able to get any sleep, until I manage to share my experience of watching it.

It was that good and compelling!

Before I start, let me tell you, that I am not a movie critic, nor do I have any significant experience of reviewing movies. But I am an admirer of good cinema and whenever I get to see some good work, I feel compelled to talk about it.

Disclaimer: I will try my best to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, because my intention is to reach out to those who have not yet seen the film and are contemplating watching it this week. But that said there might be some spoilers ahead.

The Story and Characterization:

In the Dark Knight (2008), Michael Caine’s character Alfred, recalls an anecdote from his life, which he narrates to Bruce Wayne (Batman). He does so, because Bruce (Christian Bale) is unable to comprehend, why the Joker behaves the way he does? Alfred tells Bruce, that he may have failed to understand the Joker and substantiates his point, by recalling a certain incident from his past and says, “Some men aren’t looking for anything logical like money. They cannot be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn”.

worldburn-top

Pic credit: knowyourmeme.com / Copyright: Warner Bros. Pictures

In one of the ending scenes of Joker (2019) post the climax (spoiler alert) – Arthur Fleck (Joker) is arrested and is in a police van. The policeman, driving the van, points out the anarchy that is unfolding on the streets and blames him for it. Arthur (Joaquin Phoenix) responds by saying, “It’s beautiful. Isn’t it?”, while subtly paying tribute to Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker (watch the movie to get this point).

But this is where, the similarities between the two movies end. What I am trying to get at, is that, the Joker is not your typical DC movie. It’s anything but that. This is a dark character study, into the mind of one of the most iconic villains in Hollywood history, told through a riveting and intelligently written origin story. In many ways, it is a slow burn, but ironically it keeps you at the edge of your seat, cringing at one moment and despairing in another. You are left to marvel, at the sheer brilliance, with which the arc of this character, has been portrayed on screen.

Let me warn you that the “Joker” is a difficult watch. It is entertaining, but this is a different kind of entertainment. It is dark and it will take you to a dark space, whether you like it or not! It also compels you to have conversations with your dark side. I felt this on multiple occasions, while watching the movie.

dailymail.co.uk

Pic credit: dailymail.co.uk / Copyright: Warner Bros. Pictures

It’s the tale of a man, desperately trying to make ends meet, but fails miserably each time. He is constantly shunned, abused, unappreciated and discriminated, which leads to his gradual disintegration, thereby transforming him to an unrecognizable self. During this transition the film becomes dark and violent and some of the scenes can be disturbing to watch.

Some critiques have said that, the writers might have unconsciously justified the violence, given the nature of the screenplay. But this argument did not resonate with me. In my opinion, the movie only depicts the violence and does not advocate it. The process of disintegration of Arthur’s original character is so organic, that you cannot help but sympathize with him, while not fully agreeing with his violent methods, to relieve himself from the misery.

Also, the movie does not end, showing Arthur happy. It shows him relieved, but that relief is momentary. He is slipping into an abyss, sometimes even without his approval. You as the audience know that he needs help, but you also know that there is nobody who can help him. It’s this apathy and hopelessness which makes the character relatable.

laugh

Pic credit: variety.com / Copyright: Warner Bros. Pictures

But I do partially agree, that different people could perceive, what is unfolding on screen, differently. For instance, after the scene (without giving away too much), where Arthur gruesomely murders his ex-boss, and then cracks a joke, discomforting his colleague (an innocent onlooker) even further : some in the audience were laughing, some were shocked, and some were secretly sobbing. Need I say, anything more to clarify my point. Your actions and reactions, just like the Joker’s, is dependent on what you are feeding within you. The director is just telling you a story – it’s up to you, what you take away from it.

Technical aspects:

Technically, the movie is brilliant. Especially, the cinematography by Lawrence Sher was noteworthy for me. The colours are mostly dark and dull, perfectly in sync with the mood of the film. The use of fog (outdoors) and smoke (indoors) was also interesting to create the gloom.

joker-movie-trailer-breakdown-analysis-stairs-2

Pic credit: denofgeek.com / Copyright: Warner Bros. Pictures

The production design by Mark Friedberg complements the cinematography brilliantly by showing Gotham city, filthy, saturated and in constant turmoil.

The writing by Todd Phillips and Scott Silver is near perfect, because it manages to show the complete journey of Arthur’s character and yet keeps you engaged till the very end, without falling into the trappings of a regular commercial movie.

The only criticism could be, that some scenes in the movie were inspired from Scorsese’s Taxi Driver (1976) and King of Comedy (1983). Since, I have watched both these cult classics, I cannot deny the fact that there are some references, but these are clearly a tribute by the director to the genius of Scorsese, as he himself has pointed out in some of the interviews, prior to the release of the film. Moreover, art will always have its inspirations.

For me, this movie was highly dependent on two things – the vision of the director and the execution by the actor because it is carried single-handedly by its protagonist from start to finish. When, I was watching the movie, I couldn’t help but imagine the kind of conversations, the actor and director would have had between takes. I am sure there were a lot of improvisations, which would have eventually led, to making the scenes so mesmerizing.

The Acting:

As said earlier, this movie rests purely on the shoulders of Joaquin Phoenix. What do I say about his performance?

If ever there was a masterclass in acting. This is it!

I mean, this was as close to perfection that an actor could get to. Every tissue, bone, sinew and muscle on this man’s body, was complementing the expression on his face, the pain in his eyes and thought in his mind.

The transition from being depressed, defeated and lost to being cruel, vengeful and insane has been portrayed so beautifully, that never did anything feel rushed or overdone. It was just right.

laugh 2

Pic credit: nbc15.com / Copyright: Warner Bros. Pictures

To quote an example to illustrate this point – it was fascinating to watch, how Phoenix gradually created the Joker’s infamous laugh over the course of the movie. Although, the backstory to the laugh is a medical condition, it begins as a cough, which turns to a smirk, then into a chuckle and finally into the signature evil laugh in the end.

Joaquin, you hit the ball out of the park with this one! This performance will be remembered for years to come.

However, any comparison to Ledger’s performance is not justified, because both movies belong to completely different genres. What is common though, is that both actors managed to own this character and offer something new to it.

Verdict:

I would like to end by saying, that the Joker is undoubtedly a masterpiece. If you are still in a dilemma, whether to watch it or not – don’t be foolish and don’t miss the chance to watch it at a theater near you. I will give 4.5/5 for Todd Phillip’s – Joker. It is an engrossing dark character study, impeccably written and masterfully portrayed by its lead actor.

 

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