Runner Runner (2013)

My Rating: 3.2 out of 10

Runner Runner is a 2013 American crime thriller film directed by Brad Furman. The film stars Justin Timberlake as Richie Furst, Ben Affleck as Ivan Block, Gemma Arterton as Rebecca Shafran and Anthony Mackie as Agent Shavers. It follows Richie, who tries to make his tuition fees online playing poker, but after losing all the money, goes to Costa Rica to confront the online king of poker, Ivan, whom he believes has swindled him. Eventually, he becomes a part of his operation, but uncovers criminal and devious plots in his business.

Runner Runner has an impressive cast but the tedious direction and bland acting ruins the whole movie. The story in the beginning is intriguing, but eventually emanates as a haphazard thriller with poorly congregated pieces. In the first twenty minutes only, you might feel like scramming from the movie and doing something useful with your time. Timberlake is just moving around in the scenes portraying minimal expressions possible and giving nothing new other than his smart-ass attitude gained from Sean Parker’s character in ‘The Social Network’. Gemma Arterton doesn’t have a substantial role and you’d expect a lot from Anthony Mackie after seeing him in ‘The Hurt Locker’.

The only reason why I started watching this movie was Ben Affleck, but it turns out that it was just a bad decision made by him. His character is weak, he portrayed it dimly and definitely does not hold up his reputation garnered from State of Play, The Town and Argo like intense and brawny performances. Although, very few moments can be noted where he does try to grip his character. The direction from Furman of ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ fame is gloomy and becomes slackened.

The movie is said to be inspired by the life of Nat Arem, a professional poker player and a former accountant who helped uncover cheating in online poker using statistical methods by analysing thousands of games. Concluding, I’d say that those were ninety-one minutes of my life that I would not get back. If you don’t have anything to do and want to desperately pass your time then go for this movie otherwise find something better to do.

Now, to watch the movie, you can get the print at Runner Runner.

If you have fun watching...do let me know your reviews !!

Philip Seymour Hoffman - A Tribute

“Sometimes, acting is a really private thing that you do for the world.”

-       P. S. Hoffman

On February 2, 2014, world lost a profound and prolific actor. Philip Seymour Hoffman was an American actor and director, who appeared in nearly 50 films during his career spanning more than two decades. He directed and acted in numerous stage productions throughout his career. He received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in ‘Capote (2005)’ and was nominated three times for Best Supporting Actor for ‘Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)’, ‘Doubt (2008)’ and ‘The Master (2012)’. He received three Tony Award nominations for his Broadway performances, two for Best Leading Actor in ‘True West (2000)’ and ‘Death of a Salesman (2012)’, and one for Best Featured Actor in ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night (2003)’. His only film as a director has been ‘Jack Goes Boating (2010)’ which was a romantic-comedy and starred him in the title role.

He was a highly versatile actor who brought profoundness and humanity to his roles. He scarcely ever appeared in leading roles in his movies and mostly did supporting work. Initially, he appeared in minor, but seminal roles and but gained recognition through his invigorating and gaping performances. However, short his role was, he would always leave an indelible print on the spectator’s mind. He had a riveting screen presence that would make you jump and espy. The characters that he portrayed were not customary. He would choose roles that were flawed and would accomplish them with utter flawlessness. Be it an egotistical student in Scent of a Woman (1992), a pornographic film hustler in Boogie Nights (1997), a smug assistant in The Big Lebowski (1998), a phone-sex rogue in Punch-Drunk Love (2002), an immoral priest in Cold Mountain (2003), a disgusting friend in Along Came Polly (2004), a psychotic dealer in Mission: Impossible III (2006), a committed manager in Moneyball (2011) and The Ides of March (2011) or a nascent cult leader in The Master (2012), he portrayed all of them and more resplendently. He was highly engaged in theatre work throughout his career. He would keep himself grounded as an actor by appearing on stage almost annually as a break from the big screen. His last film is yet to be released which is The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and 2 where he portrays a judge of the games Plutarch Heavensbee, is produced posthumously and some of his scenes have been generated using live-action computer animation. He has worked very closely with wunderkind director Paul Thomas Anderson starring in five of his six features and all of them are noteworthy, enticing and exquisite.

Among a few movies of Hoffman which I have seen, I would like to share some funny and memorable moments which are still embed in my mind as I am writing this tribute:

In the light hearted romance, Along Came Polly (2004), in the art gallery, Hoffman walks up to Ben Stiller and says to him, “I think I just sharted”. Stiller asks him, “What is sharted?” To which he replies, “I tried to fart and shit came out”. I laughed so hard that I think I did the same.

In P.T. Anderson’s Punch Drunk Love (2002), there is an amazingly aggressive phone conversation between Adam Sandler and Hoffman which was outstanding. Also, in Anderson’s The Master (2012), there is a similar vigorous scene in the jail cell between Joaquin Phoenix and Hoffman.

The following are some notable quotes from his various interviews:

“Ultimately, my main goal is to do good work. If it doesn't pay well, so be it.” 

"I think deep down inside, people understand how flawed they are. I think the more benign you make somebody, the less truthful it is."

"It's hard. The job isn't difficult. Doing it well is difficult... just because you like to do something doesn't mean you have fun doing it; and I think that's true about acting"

Hoffman rarely talked about his personal life in interviews, stating in 2012 that he would "rather not because my family doesn't have any choice. If I talk about them in the press, I'm giving them no choice. So I choose not to."

David Fear of Rolling Stone remarkably said about Hoffman –

"No modern actor was better at making you feel sympathy for fucking idiots, failures, degenerates, sad sacks and hangdogs dealt a bum hand by life, even as — no, especially when — he played them with all of their worst qualities front and center. But Philip Seymour Hoffman had a range that seemed all-encompassing, and he could breathe life into any role he took on: a famous author, a globetrotting party-boy aristocrat, a German counterintelligence agent, a charismatic cult leader, a genius who planned games of death in dystopic futures. He added heft to low-budget art films, and nuance and unpredictability to blockbuster franchises. He was a transformative performer who worked from the inside out, blessed with an emotional transparency that could be overwhelming, invigorating, compelling, devastating."

Lastly, I would urge all of you to see the following epic video tribute by filmmaker Caleb Slain who says, “A post-script journey through Philip Seymour Hoffman's lifetime in cinema. 200 hours of work went into breaking down 47 of Hoffman's films. Compiling his legacy has been one of the most challenging experiences I've ever faced as an editor, and yet indescribably rewarding. I can assure you that after 22 years on screen and nearly fifty films, we now look at the work of an actor who never had a single dishonest moment on camera. I know because I've seen them all. Please take a breather and raise your glasses to one of our greatest."

P.S. Hoffman - A Tribute

P.S. Hoffman was one of the most widely admired actor and his passing is a syncope to the world of cinema for which there exist no panacea. His position can never be filled and satiated. His work will always remain classic and eternal, leaving indelible impressions throughout.

The Master (2012)

My Rating: 8 out of 10

The Master is an American 2012 psychological drama film written, directed and co-produced by Paul Thomas Anderson. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as Freddie Quell, Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lancaster Dodd, Amy Adams as Peggy Dodd, Ambyr Childers as Elizabeth Dodd and Jesse Plemons as Val Dodd. The story follows Freddie, who is a World War II veteran into the post-war world trying to adapt to the changes of life. He meets Lancaster, who is the leader of a religious movement called “The Cause” and he sees something in him and accepts him into his movement. Freddie begins travelling with him and his family, spreading their teachings and battling with his own problems.

This movie is an epitome of sensational acting by both leading actors – Phoenix and Hoffman. Joaquin Phoenix gives his character immense depth and portrays it with utmost passion. One can percept his preparation for the role through his physical stature, body language and amazing dialogue delivery. I have seen a lot of movies of Philip Seymour Hoffman and he never disappoints. Here as well, he finds the driving force of his character and delivers it exceptionally well. These two actors portray antithetical men who complete each other but at the same time are independent in their world. Amy Adams makes a place for herself beside these two actors and becomes the impetus for Seymour’s character. You might know Jesse Plemons from AMC’s Breaking Bad fame as blonde Todd, who becomes Walt’s replacement for Jesse Pinkman in the show.

The direction of the movie is an example of the sterling cinematic technique. If you have seen the previous movies of wunderkind P T Anderson like There Will Be Blood and Punch Drunk Love, then you will notice his unique style. He uses the close up shots of his actors, follows them around in their scenes and uses symbolic images. The water shot in the movie is one example of the image. Look out for a very aggressive scene between our two leading actors in the jail cell which is also a part of Anderson’s style. The cinematography provided by Mihai Mălaimare, Jr. uses light and colour well to capture the flow of the movie. The original score by Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead rock band is an observant art in the movie.

The movie’s story has been said to be partly based on L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Church of Scientology. There can be many interpretations of the movie and its characters according to the perception of the spectator. Overall, the marvellous acting and peculiar direction with the help of eerie score make for a thought provoking experience. The appropriateness and interpretation of the title of the movie is also a food for thought. The Master is a must watch for drama lovers and cinema critics and fans of Phoenix, Hoffman and Anderson.

To watch the movie, you can get the amazing print at The Master.

Have fun watching...do let me know your reviews !!

The Great Gatsby (2013)

My Rating: 7.6 out of 10

The Great Gatsby is a 2013 Australian-American 3D drama film. The movie is an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 classic novel of the same name. The film was co-written and directed by Baz Luhrmann and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Elizabeth Debicki, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke and Amitabh Bachchan. It follows the life and times of millionaire Jay Gatsby (DiCaprio) and his neighbour Nick (Maguire) who recounts his encounter with Gatsby at the height of the Roaring Twenties. The time in which the story is set is called the “Jazz Age” which is the term coined by Fitzgerald himself. If anyone knows about the life of Fitzgerald, then they would definitely find a lot of similarities between his life and the novel. He used his life as the inspiration for some of his material.

DiCaprio plays the role of Gatsby with utmost streak of style. The acuity with which he plays certain scenes in the movie is just remarkable like in one in which he says pointing to the sky – “My life has got to be like this. It’s got to keep going up.” Tobey Maguire gives a great support to the plot as the movie is narrated by his character. Carey Mulligan tries to actuate her character but I guess her role isn’t just that strong as it was in “An Education”. Joel Edgerton as Tom Buchanan does an excellent job of depicting the character’s gruffness, despite the one-dimensionality given to him. The screen time of Amitabh Bachchan isn’t much but still he makes a place for himself in the movie. The direction by Baz Luhrmann is as beautiful and subtle as his previous movies with the elegant style of showing stories larger than life. Cinematography by Simon Duggan and visual effects by Chris Godfrey give an exquisite and gorgeous blend of images to the movie. The screenplay by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce is very well written and does justice by the novel. The music by Craig Armstrong and the soundtrack by various artists punctuate the romance. A special mention to the song “Young and Beautiful” performed by Lana Del Ray is definitely needed here.

Even though having a budget of $105 million and Luhrmann’s direction the movie lacks the in-depth chemistry between the main characters. It emphasizes visual splendour at the prick of its source’s vibrant heart. The story being a classic may not go well with the sympathetic people but it points out some very delicate virtues of life.

Concluding, I would like to say that it’s a must watch for people who love Luhrmann’s style and have read “The Great Gatsby”. People who expect a thick plot might be disappointed but they should watch it for DiCaprio and Edgerton’s performance as well as the photography of the movie. 

Now, to watch the movie, I personally don't prefer the 3D because it inhibits the brightness. 2D is amazing, so you can get the gorgeous print at The Great Gatsby.

You can also buy the book at The Great Gatsby (Collins Classics)!! 

Have fun watching and reading...do let me know your reviews !!

Saw (Film Series of 7 instalments)

 My Rating: 6.8 out of 10

"Cherish your life". This is the motto behind the film series "Saw". Tobin Bell stars as the perfect villain "John Kramer aka Jigsaw" in this franchise. The series is created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell, they being the main story writers. The series was initially directed by James Wan and further sequels were followed by Darren Lynn Bousman, David Hackl and Kevin Greutert. Other actors include Shawnee Smith, Cary Elwes, Costas Mandylor, Danny Glover and Betsy Russell. It can be termed as a horror/ thriller.

The series mainly focuses on death nearing games. This series can be gross for some people, some people may remark it disgusting as flesh tears off from the body, people scream, muscles lacerate, blood spilling off and body parts being pulled out. But as these games progress, the story mainly focuses on the reason behind these games. The past of Jigsaw killer is related with the story as the sequels progress. The plot involves police department and FBI with all addicted people, criminals, cheaters and greedy people feeding off others.

The first part involves a cheating doctor and an ungrateful person who interferes with people's privacy. The twisted ending at the end of the first part paved the way for the other parts. The second part includes eight people trapped in a gas infecting chamber where they need to find the proper antidotes within time limit. The third part involves a man who is coping with the death of his son and it involves people who imparted him injustice in his son's death case. The fourth part involves a twist in the series and it is when police entirely comes in the story. It involves detectives and officers being played in the game. The fifth part brings about a lot with the past of Jigsaw and five people trapped in a game due to their greedy deeds which destroyed people's lives. The sixth part involves a health insurance executive being trapped in a game due to his company's unjust policy. The seventh part is the final instalment in the series and it involves a man who claimed to the world of falsely being trapped in the jigsaw's trap. Jigsaw finally traps him and makes him realize about some true commitments.

"Game Over" as the main dialogue ending each part, the movie finally brings everything forward and it gives the seven years series an amazing ending. The direction of the movie is satisfying with visual effects and cinematography taking the main place. The lacerating of the body is amazing shown with some overwhelming effects. The movie at some point becomes a little boring with games going on repetitively but the suspense at the end pulls the movie off.

All the seven parts are so intermingled with each other that if a person loses some focus, the movie may become a little complex. But more or less it provides a great watch for people who are not scared by body tearing and enjoy a great thrilling suspense. If the series had been pulled more it may had cause loss of interest in the people, but the franchise people understood that and ended it at the right moment. Overall, I suggest that viewers should watch this series and enjoy the experience.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

My Rating: 8 out of 10

The highly acclaimed American thriller, "The Silence of the Lambs" is based on a novel by Thomas Harris. The novel as well as the movie is about a psychiatrist and serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter and his confrontation with a FBI trainee/agent Clairence Starling. The movie is directed by Jonathan Demme. It stars Jodie Foster as Clairence Starling and Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The film also features Ted Levine as "Buffalo Bill" as a skin peeling killer of women, in whose investigation, Clairence demands help of Dr. Lecter.

The acting by Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster is outstanding. The psychotic mind of Lecter is well understood by Hopkins and Foster is amazing at depicting as a scared but courageous woman who wants to silence the lambs from her past. The horror and crime blend in the movie is remarkable and the screenplay is subtle. How well the direction is, is remarkably shown by the actors and camera angles in the movie.

Although the movie is very well made but the Oscar for best picture could have had better receiver. Maybe the other movies nominated that year were not better than it but the prestigious award should have had more competition. As it became one of the only three movies to win "Big Five" at Oscars, my expectations of the movie were a little high.

Concluding, I would only like to say that the movie is worth a watch for its amazing script, acting and direction.

You can watch the movie in amazing Blu ray at Silence of the Lambs.
Also, read the book as it got the Best Adapted Screenplay at The Silence Of The Lambs Book.
Do let me know your reviews in the comments space...

The Last Song (2010)

My Rating: 5 out of 10

Like other novels of Nicholas Sparks which have been turned into movies, "The Last Song" joins the very collection. The movie is a coming of age romantic drama and depicts the same emotions and story as of the other Nicolas Sparks' writings. The story deals with death, love and disease. The movie is set in Georgia at a house at the beach.

The movie is a directorial debut of Julie Anne Robinson. It stars teen pop star Miley Cyrus as Veronica "Ronnie" L. Miller, an angry, rebellious eighteen year old forced to spend a summer with her estranged father. Greg Kinnear as Steve Miller, Ronnie and Jonah's father and former Juilliard School professor and concert pianist who moved to Georgia after his divorce. Liam Hemsworth as Will Blakelee, a popular and skilled beach volleyball player, Will aspires to attend a top university and volunteers at the Georgia Aquarium. He is Ronnie's love interest. Kelly Preston as Kim, Ronnie and Jonah's mother who raised her children in New York City after her divorce. Bobby Coleman as Jonah Miller, Ronnie's younger brother sent along with his elder sister to Tybee Island.

The movie starts with Ronnie and his brother being sent to their father in Georgia to spend the summer. She used to play piano but after her father's divorce, she had not played since. It's been three years and she is still angry with her father. After arrival, Ronnie becomes miserable, defiant, and defensive towards all those around her. Including handsome, popular Will Blakelee whose introduction involved crashing into her during a volleyball match, and accidentally spilling Ronnie's strawberry shake on her. Later on, Ronnie discovers a Loggerhead Sea Turtle nest at the beach by her house and while protecting it, she meets Will again on his volunteer work for the aquarium. After a night of staying up to defend the turtles with Will, she discovers he is deeper than she believed, and begins to have feelings for him. As Ronnie falls in love with Will, she also manages to form a better and stronger bond with her father. As their relationship deepens, Will invites her to his sister's wedding. Meanwhile, she helps a girl Blaze with her problems which resembles the kind and delicate side of Ronnie behind all her estranged behaviour. Her father was given the name "arsonist" after as people and he believed that he accidently burned down the church.  Later that day, the turtle eggs hatch and her father collapses with a coughing seizure that evening. Ronnie immediately has Steve rushed to a hospital. Further, the story deals with her love for her father after his ill health and obstacles in her relationship with Will. Steve has been working on a piece of music for quite a while and due to his ill health it remained incomplete. The title of the movie comes from this last song.

The movie's setting and its scenario is one of the beautiful things. The soundtrack tries to bring out the emotions of the characters. The songs "When I Look At You" and "I Hope You Find It" are some of them. Despite these things the movie does lose its grip. The direction and screenplay is out of motion. One scene focuses into another in spite of any real plot connection. Miley Cyrus's acting is lose and it seems that she does not have any range. She is not able to portray the character up to the mark and it becomes tiresome at some points. Even though looking at the movie in an isolate manner, it does have a beautiful story which could have been made with more deeper acting and emotions. Unlike other movies of Nicholas Sparks' novels such as "The Notebook" and a "A Walk To Remember", it has a similarity but offers a slightly new picture. As Sparks this time acts as an estranged and angry 18 year old girl. Overall, the movie was quite a watch and I would suggest it for those people who have time to kill and enjoy a light romance.

The book from Nicholas Sparks is available at The Last Song !!

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

 My Rating: 6.6 out of 10

The Da Vinci Code is a 2006 American mystery psychological horror film produced by John Calley and Brian Grazer and directed by Ron Howard. The screenplay is written by Akiva Goldsman and it is adapted from Dan Brown's best-selling novel of the same name. The film stars Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, a professor of religious iconography and symbology from Harvard University who is the prime suspect in the grisly and unusual murder of Louvre curator Jacques Saunière. He escapes with the assistance of a police cryptologist, Sophie Neveu played by Audrey Tautou and they are embroiled in a quest for the legendary Holy Grail. The movie also stars Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Jürgen Prochnow, Jean Reno, and Paul Bettany in prominent roles.

The direction of the movie is satisfying and cinematography by Salvatore Totino is remarkable. The camera's dollying effect with an effective screenplay gives movie a good flow. The acting by Tom Hanks is as always splendid and Ian McKellen and Audrey Tautou also give a great performance. The score by Hans Zimmer is engaging. The movie as it says is based on Dan Brown's novel of the same name but it is not entirely grounded on it. There have been many differences in the plot. I initially read the novel and then watched the movie. This does effect the movie watching. It becomes like a gift as well as a curse for movie buffs because you know the suspense of the movie which ruins the excitement but you can understand the dialogues and plot better which was a great deal in this movie because of the content and history of religions and symbols. You also know which parts have been left out in the movie. So, it gives the impressions of both sides of the coin. As comparing to other movies based on novels, it does far better justice to the novel. It includes main elements and the suspense leaving out certain less important though interesting pieces. The movie is less efficacious as mystery psychological horror and for a person who hasn't read the novel; it creates difficulties to keep up with the story as it keeps on dumping a whole load of information. Hanks could have been given more platforms to show greater emotions of his character.

Concluding, I would like to say that the story is intriguing for a person who is willing to concentrate throughout the movie. It definitely brings up a totally new entertaining concept which is so relevant to our surrounding world. It is definitely a onetime watch.

Scoop (2006)

My Rating: 7.1 out of 10

Scoop is an American-British romantic comedy and a murder mystery written and directed by Woody Allen. It stars Scarlett Johansson as a young journalism student and Hugh Jackman as a rich aristocrat. Ian McShane acts as the late investigative reporter who from his afterlife contacts ScarJo saying that Hugh might be the infamous Tarot Card killer. Allen himself acts in this movie as a magician who comes in contact with ScarJo and helps her out. The title refers to as one last scoop of glory for Ian and first big scoop of ScarJo.

As like any other Allen's movies, it has a very subtle humour in dialogues which gives the movie a unique charm. The direction and screenplay give away an impressionable quality. The acting of ScarJo has a distinct hint of a journalism student which adds to the character. Jackman although was not given much platform but he justifies the character well. Woody Allen is funny and weird in his own way with an amazing sense of humour. The story is although a little fantasy but it definitely belongs to the Allen world. The movie has its own moments of laugh and a little mystery to it.

Concluding, I would like to say that it does not overwhelm you but definitely surprises you. The movie is light and has a queer sense to it. I loved the way Allen gives the reason to his character's end in the movie. It is a fun watch for all those who can handle Allen's humor and the way he presents a movie.