Movie#92 Helen

A gem of a movie. It stars Ashley Judd and Goran Visnjic.
The nutshell of the movie is given in a quote shown at the start, which is, “Two and a half years ago, hell came to pay me a surprise visit”– Andrew Solomon.
A working woman succumbs to the illness/ disorder she once had and recovered. She was keeping that secret from her current husband as it destroyed her previous relationship. The story is her suffering and exposing the menacing nature of the illness to the viewers. And Ashley Judd has done it with flying colours. This illness, poorly understood, but almost completely treatable, but need the acceptance of the society for recovery, is now the second most chronic illness reported. Society is to blame for the high rate of mortality through suicide because of the stigma attached to it, which prevent acceptance of treatment. Given that this illness is identical to diabetes and hypertension in terms of treatment duration and life style changes, people readily accept the latter two as 'normal' part of life and not the disorder in question.
Also so wonderfully shown is the helplessness of medical sector to provide adequate care because of the interference of law. It is true that the law was made to prevent abuse and uphold the right of an individual, but too much intrusion, claimed as 'the right', and providing that right to make decisions, back to individuals who already have had lost the ability to make correct judgment because of the illness, is absurd. In the end, the family and the patient suffers while the lawyers claim money and moral high ground. In my opinion, the law is in need of a major tweaking. This is clearly evident in the manner of questions put forth by the patient's lawyer, desperate to exhibit her skill than what is good for the patient, even when patient history suggested risk. Moreover, towards the end, we see that the suffering patient finally accepting that she need treatment. Will the law accept its mistake then?
And few other interesting things to note in the movie are, Helen's (AJ) friendship with another sufferer of such illness, with another type of presentation. She clearly tells her husband that he would not know what she was feeling and she would not blame him for it. Only such sufferers can understand each other. Then it shows the characteristic of dedicated love between a man and a woman. Her husband wait for her recovery, patiently, while fighting against his desire to move on in life. And finally, the movie shows us the dangerous outcome of this illness through an expected act.
I recommend this movie to all who cares to watch true portrayal of a sufferer called Helen. My personal rating is 5 out of 5…

Movie#91 Why did I Get Married Too

A movie that shattered my presumptions. When I took this all black cast (disclaimer: I'm not a racist, I just need a descriptive word), I thought this one would be the same as last one, and everything of this genre. Since I didn't have any choice in any other category or language, I decided to give it a try. Most of the time I avoid such movies because of the stereotypical storyline just like bollywood movies.
The gist of the story is about four couples and their relationships. They are Terry and Dianne, Marc and Angela, Gavin and Patricia and Troy and Sheila, all screen names ofcourse. Since there are too many actors, I decided not to name their real names here. If anyone is interested or is planning to watch this movie, may go to any other review site and get the actors' names. Before I go any further, I shall announce another disclaimer: I'm not a chauvinist. In this paranoid world, before any word is uttered and misunderstood and the probably sued for it, disclaimers help. Terry and Dianne seem a happy couple but there is trouble brewing which Dianne hides and Terry senses. Marc and Angela are a fighting couple because Angela always suspects Marc's fidelity because of his previous history. Gavin and Pat are another couple, in more trouble than the rest because they had endured a tragedy from which Pat never recovered, but found solace in her book publishing, instead of confiding to her partner, Gavin. Troy and Sheila are relatively new couple. Sheila had a troubled marriage and remarried to Troy, and Troy is currently unemployed, and that is causing mental tension. They meet at their vacation retreat from where the story takes off.
With the protection of the disclaimer given above, I shall say that my personal opinion is in three of the above four relationships, ladies are at fault, while in one, where the guy shows too much pride, lady suffers. If this is the situation of marriage at present context/ world, God save us!
My personal rating is 3 out of 5…

Movie#90 Legendary

It stars John Cena, Patricia Clarkson, Devon Graye and Danny Glover.
A sweet and inspirational story of two brothers. The story is that of a boy, who had a wrestling lineage, from his champion elder brother and late champion father, wanted to wrestle against the wish of his mother. This love for sports had taken both the persons away from the family emotionally, and the mother did not want to lose her remaining child. This son also wanted to get in touch with his brother which was also against the wish of mother. How the situation clears up and how a long standing issue between the family members, relating to the death of father and subsequent alienation of the elder son from mother, resolve with reconciliation, and the developing of the boy into a fighter against odds, is the story.
Cena, as usual, has a role with less emotional showing which suit him well. It seems like he is the new Jet Li/ Jackie Chan/ Bruce Lee of hollywood. I meant it in the characteristic of the roles with less emotion and dialogue only, and not with martial arts. The hero boy, plays his role well, first as a brave boy who isn't afraid to stand against bullies, then as dedicated and loving son who can't be swayed by emotional blackmail, as a younger brother to a lost soul and finally as fighter with a never say attitude. The love interest of Devon Graye (real name) is a sweet girl with a comical side.
A soft and sweet movie. Don't miss. My personal rating is 3.5 out of 5…

Movie#89 Paiyaa (Tamil- India)

Another fantasy from India. Since it is well known about majority of the tamil movies, that they do not have a hint of reality in them, I took it. It stars Karthi and Tamanna.
Now, leaving out the 'nil reality' part, the movie as a whole is a good package, I should say. The story is simple. A guy falls in love with a girl at first sight, fate has brought them together in an unavoidable situation. Both of them have their own secret reason, for being in that situation. And in the end, as usual, happy ending. Hey, there is nothing unpredictable to think otherwise, for anyone can guess the ending in such movies. The film has got  a pretty heroine, catchy songs and beautiful locales. It flows with all sorts of emotions, such as, carefree, romance, love, anger, fear, dejection, tension, sadness, satisfaction, you name it, it has it. A complete package!
Now, I shall mention the things you may overlook because if you search for logicality, you will feel extra emotion, not meant by the director, called irritation. The guy in the movie took the part of his carefree attitude a bit too far, in my opinion. His friends are too loyal and loving to bear him like that, with money and support. I understand that fate and coincidences play their part in everyone's life, but in this, coincidental meetings and spotting, are too high. Matters such as money is free flowing for such a broke character. Laws of physics such as time and distance are treated with disdain. And it shows that India has no law. Neck and spine breaking deaths and no arrests!
By overlooking all the above mentioned faults, I really enjoyed the movie. I shall give it a 3 out of 5. It also teaches every budding director around on how to make a fantasy.

Movie#88 Yugapurushan (Malayalam- India)

Life of Sree Narayana guru in reels. Was this movie meant to glorify his pious and dedicated life or was it to show how much his teachings and objectives had since been changed by the so called members (followers) for power and money?
When I started watching this, I had to turn off and contemplate whether I should return it and take a new one. The movie started so pompously showcasing him as a miracle man. We all know what miracles are, especially in the current context of the world. I'm not a communist or aethist but I don't believe that saints who had been approved these days, were miracle makers at all. They are just human beings who cared for their fellow humans with kindness and love, proving that God lives in us than above us. If their teachings or deeds get noticed or followed as it is, that would be blow of death to the religious leaders of current society. Then there would be no bombings, no killings, no political clout, no money for them etc. Hence what do they do?, they make them saints or martyrs, and call their acts of love towards patients with conversion/ dissociation as 'miracles'. So that they can benefit from the 'real' leaders. Well, I guess I'm deviating from the real topic, I shall correct my course. This movie stars a lot of actors and actresses. I guess they all did it as charity work because I'm sure the director would not have had enough money to pay them all, unless the movie was sponsored by Sree Narayana guru Trust. Some of them are, Thalaivasal Vijay, Mammootty, Navya Nair, Jagathy, Kalabhavan Mani (alas! a sensible role), Sai Kumar, Siddique, Babu Anthony, Devan etc. All these actors portray various famous personalities of history. There are also actors portraying Ravindranath Tagore, Chattambi swami, Mahatma Gandhi etc.
Some of guru's teachings or acts were really interesting and should be noticed by all. He wanted to abolish untouchability in the society and noticed that the untouchables were indeed dirty and smell horrible. He asks them to bathe and be clean as a first step to attain freedom. There are instances in which he did not provide 'miracle' food to the needy, instead he showed them entrepreneurship, that is, making a career out of coir sale, and thus take away the hunger. Another deed is that he noticed that how much ever he tried to abolish idol worship, people need a 'god' to pray to and so turned to some other idol, so he places a mirror in the centre and asks them to pray looking at it (You Are The God).
The end is pretty disappointing. He realizes that all the work he did, came to nothing when his Trust reverted back to caste system. It still remains today in Kerala. I'm happy that guru died before he saw what had happened and is happening. They made an idol of him and pray to it, they command political clout and it is now a business. Sad!
My personal rating is 3 out of 5…

Movie#87 Hounddog

There are certain movies which harve magnetic attraction to keep viewers glued till it is over. When it is over, the viewer have no idea why he watched it in the first place. It could be the pure rawness that the movie portrayed which could be easily related to. The storyline could be very simple at times but that relatedness factor keep viewers interested till the end. Maybe this is the factor that made soap serials successful. I'm not saying that this movie was a soap, but it has a charisma on its own. The southern america accent, the filthy life style of the plantation era, the eating habits, the religious ideologies etc make our fascination soar.
It stars Dakota Fanning, Piper Laurie and David Morse. I loved Dakota's Runaways, so when I found another work of her's, I took it. It is one of her earlier works than Runaways. The storyline is simple. She portrays a country girl, living a carefree life, with a irresponsible father, a strict grand mother and 'loves her but confused' aunt. She spends her days with her friend by running around the plantation area, swimming in the pond, mimicking Elvis, whom she is crazy about and catching fireflies. The fascination for Elvis and her desire to meet him, lands her in a horrifying situation. She feels violated and cheated. But with the help of a plantation african-american friend, she pulls her life back through music. She decide to start new with her aunt. The end is interesting. She already knew what danger is there even with a dead rattle snake, but she has to let go of the only thing that was preventing her from leaving that place. So, she commits an act of omission to break the bond. Watch it to feel the emotion.
My personal rating is 2.5 out of 5…

Movie#86 Aisha (Hindi)

A movie with no substance at all. I could easily satisfy myself by saying that it was worth watching, for the last 15 minutes or so. But, then again, it is worthless if rest of the movie time were just flimsy and superficial. It stars Sonam Kapoor (mainly) and Abhey Deol. One of the producers is Anil Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor's father. It clears the dilemma why a producer should spend a fortune on a movie focussed on extravagance and 'substance less' storyline. I shall say with hush tones that mr Anil Kapoor might be seeking out a way to legalise his black money, earned from oscar winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire. What better way than promote his daughter while legalising the money. Two birds with one stone!
Now for the gist–  the movie is about the life and maturing of a self centered extravagant, carefree, childish and selfish (Sonam's fans would say as innocent and sweet) girl. She is into matchmaking while disregarding social norms. She is eventually put in place by the people she thought she loved but played with. In that realisation, she understands that she had fallen in love and then as usual 'happy ending'. I have nothing personal towards the actress. It could be her good acting skill that potrayed her so badly and made me want to slap her. The director, I guess, has seen a lot of hollywood romantic movies, for he has made an ending identical to most such movies, but out of context with Indian setting. In the story, there is the 'destined to marry' relationship between Dhruv and Aarti (character names), which is very hard to digest for me. It is so laughable. I wonder whether the director had even researched about how love and lust works, and which one could end in marriage. I think he was called up from sleep by mr Anil Kapoor and straight away started to shoot the movie.
Watch it for the songs and love for fashion only. There is nothing worthy to remember this movie otherwise. As the latest financial crisis taught us, there has to be spenders to help savers save. I'm happy that there are girls like this in India. Indias' future is in safe hands. I pity those fathers and mothers though. My personal rating is 2.5 out of 5…