DEVIL'S DOUBLE (2011)

Sex... Power... Too much money... What do you get a 'Prince' that has everything?


GENRE
Biography/Drama


STORYLINE

A chilling vision of the House of Saddam Hussein comes to life through the eyes of the man who was forced to become the double of Hussein's sadistic son.

DIRECTOR
Lee Tamahori


CAST
Dominic Cooper
Raad Rawi
Ludivine Sagnier 


MY REVIEW
Things with Biographical films with a limited budget is that they are difficult.  Its really tough to get a lead playing some real- life guy with a limited budget.   The makers of The Devil's Double brought in Dominic Cooper to play the dual role of Uday Saddam Hussein/ Latif Yahia.   This is probably the best decision they took. 

                        Domic Cooper and Ludvine Sagnier As Uday Hussein And Sarrab





The movie is set in Baghdad.   Latif Yahia, an army lieutenant is called in by the Uday Hussein to play his 'fiday' or his body double or face death.   Living with Uday, Latif is exposed to the massive corruption, the gruesome violence and the Psychotic son of the Royal Family.  This movie deals with how Latif tries to free himself and his family  from the mercurial and sadistic Uday.


They are 3 things that are good about this film. Dominc Cooper, Dominic Cooper and Dominic Cooper.   He plays 2 completely opposite roles in the film.   From playing the Sadistic Uday who changes his mind every second to the innocent, patriotic and honest Latif Yahia, this guy has done a fantastic job.   I was hugely disapointed when he was snubbed by the the Academy.   He truly deserved a nomination in my view for playing one of the toughest roles one could get.

                                               Cooper's Role deseves a standing ovation

       

The story is simple and predictable. It is based on Latif Yahia's book so I don't blame the writers as they had to follow the book.  It is based on a real account so experimentation could not be done.  But yes, a little less violence would have been appreciated.   They are scenes filled with so much violence that sometimes you cant help but turn your heads away especially the torture scenes involving the Iraqi athletes.   Also the problem was its limited release.   This movie needed to be a blockbuster movie. It deserved that atleast.


As for other performances Raad Rawi as Munem has done a good job.   He plays a role that is almost like a slave to the family agreeing to everything the family says but unlike Uday he does have a heart which is seen later in the movie.  Ludivine Sagnier as  Sarrab, I think was only included to have some woman in the movie. She does not play an important role but still she supports Cooper quite well.

                                                             Ludivine Sagnier As Sarrab




Overall I wouldn't recommend this film was its storyline but due to Dominic Cooper's performance. He deserves a standing ovation for this role.


MY RATING 8/10

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DRIVE (2011)

There Are No Clean Getaways.

GENRE

Crime/Drama

STORYLINE

A mysterious Hollywood stuntman, mechanic and getaway driver lands himself in trouble when he helps out his neighbour.

DIRECTOR

Nicolas Winding Refn

CAST

Ryan Gosling

Carey Mulligan

Bryan Cranston

Albert Brooks

MY REVIEW

I always thought that Hollywood has stopped making these kinds of films.  It has been a long time since a good 'heist gone wrong film came about'.  A movie in which the background score so convincingly does more of the talking than the actors is so rare.   This movie is a mysterious action/thriller that keeps you glued on till the very end.

Ryan Gosling plays the unnamed Stunt Driver who moonlights as a gateway driver.   He even works as a mechanic in a garage owned by Shannon (Bryn Cranston).   He soon meets his neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan) and his son.   Irene's husband is in jail.   The Driver falls for Irene and starts spending a lot of time with her and her son.   When Standard (Oscar Isaac), Irene's husband is released, the driver comes to know of his problems.  Standard owes some guy a large amount of money who threatens to hurt his family if he doesn't pay up.  The Driver decides to help in a heist, but this heist goes all wrong putting those involved in a lot of trouble.

Carey Mulligan as Irene

What I liked about the film was its mysteriousness.   The movie begins with the viewers getting to know about the Driver's work. In all these sequences there is so much of secrecy that just increase your curiosity.  Also the thing with the background score.   We usually don't relize the importance of the background score in films.  But films like Drive and Shame show how to convey emotions and feeling just through images and music rather than relying on dialogues. 

The action sequences, the gruesome violence receives an ovation from me because of the way they are shot.   Most of these scenes are so sudden and unexpected, that you are left shaken at what just happened.   And again without the dialogues the images convey the mood in the sequences.   One particular scene is the elevator scene involving The Driver, Irene and The assassin. This sequence was the best sequence for me.

The Elevator Sequence

As for performances, Ryan Gosling sets a new standard for himself in this film.   This film was a challenge for him.   Known mostly for his good looks, Ryan had to play a role that required him to display his emotions with his expressions and with no help from the dialogues. He is perfect for this role.   Carey Mulligan, well she is always a part of beautiful films or we can say she is the one who makes the films beautiful.   Wall Street, Shame and Drive are some of her better movies which I have seen (She even has The Great Gatsby releasing in December which is one of the biggest movies this year ). She portrays the role of the innocent and sweet Irene amazingly well.  Bryan Cranston as Shannon has a small role. Known for his TV Series Breaking Bad which has a theme similar to this movie, he feels at ease. Albert Hooks also does a good job as the main antagonist Bernie Rose.

Albert Hooks as Bernie Rose

I have become a fan of Ryan Gosling after this movie.  Because of his work I  never wanted this film to end.   Now, I am so looking forward to his next 'Gangster Squad'.   Watch this movie as it is so different from the movie you see these days.  I am sure you would be willing to watch it again once you see it the first time.

PS There is lot of violence in this movie involving a lot of blood. Not suited for children

MY RATING 9/10

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PIRATES OF CARIBBEAN:THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (2003)

Prepare to be blown out of the water.


GENRE
Action/Adventure/Fantasy


STORYLINE
Blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate "Captain" Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor's daughter, from Jack's former pirate allies, who are now undead.

DIRECTOR
Gore Verbinski

CAST
Johnny Depp
Geoffrey Rush
Orlando Bloom
Keira Knightley


MY REVIEW
Very rare do you see a character becoming more famous than the movie. As of today the Pirates franchise has 4 films to its name mostly known for the eccentric Pirate Jack Sparrow played by Johnny Depp. The Curse of the Black Pearl is the first movie of this series.This movie was an unexpected success for Disney earning critical acclaim besides a huge box office earning.

Jack Sparrow is the former captain of The Black Pearl, who is overthrown by the powerful Barbosa and the crew of the ship. In quest of riches, Barbosa and its crew are cursed, doomed for eternity,neither to live nor to die. To become mortal again they kidnap Elizabeth Swan, the daughter of the governor believing her to be the daughter of Bootstrap Turner. Will Turner, an orphan and a blacksmith plays Elizabeth's love interest who along with Sparrow now try to save Elizabeth and gain control of the Pearl.

This movie belongs to Johnny Depp. Playing the eccentric, mad yet clever pirate he does a perfect job. The way he walks, the way he talks, the way he dresses etc is so amazing. Credit also goes to the make-up department for making him look so wicked.Besides Depp, I think Geoffrey Rush also did a fantastic job playing the villain. Yes, Johnny Depp does overshadow him, but this guy is amazing. I quite loved his tone in the film. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley also do a good job although I feel that they are better in the sequel to this film.


This is not a typical Disney movie.Children might find it scary. It is more targeted towards over 15 years old audience. Adults may also love it.This movie is a complete entertainer. It is adventurous, scary, romantic and quite funny as well.The locations are great.The ships look dirty, scary all in all perfect for pirates.Including the story with the Royal navy is also a great choice.


Overall the film is a complete entertainer. Johnny Depp makes this film a must watch. I am sure you will get addicted to the series just by watching the first one.


PS: The background score by Hans Zimmer makes this film a treat to listen as well!!


MY RATING 8.5/10


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INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996)

On July 2nd, they arrive. On July 3rd, they strike. On July 4th, we fight back.


GENRE
Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi


STORYLINE
The aliens are coming and their goal is to invade and destroy. Fighting superior technology, Man's best weapon is the will to survive.


DIRECTOR
Roland Emmerich


CAST
Will Smith
Jeff Goldblum
Bill Pullman
Mary McDonell






MY REVIEW
Hollywood is has always been obsessed with Alien films. The 'Alien' franchise was one of the first movies that dealt with the encounters with species from another world. They were shown as hostile, dangerous and scary. Movies like 'E.T' showed aliens as  friendly creatures and showed the truth about human nature. 'Independence day' shows aliens as a destructive force that come to earth with an aim to wipe out life from the planet.

The plot is simple. A gigantic Alien spaceship is headed towards earth with an aim to destroy it . To protect Earth the US president calls for a counterattack on the Alien ship.Will Smith plays Captain Steven Hiller, a courageous young man who is soon to wed his girlfriend Jasmine. He is the leader of the Squadron of F/A 18 Hornets on a mission to destroy the Alien Ship. They are unsuccessful because of some sort of field guarding the mother ship. David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), a satellite technician who by the way was the only man to predict the alien's true motive finds a way to tackle the field by a virus. Now it is up-to Captain Hiller and David to somehow deliver the virus to the mother ship so that they can deactivate the field and save the planet.


The highs for the movie include the action, the brilliant special effects and the wonderful performances. The story is written well. The only problem is that it seems that only the United States seems to be effected by the invasion and only they are the ones trying to save the planet! I liked the fact that besides the Alien story, there was also a story concerning Hiller's girlfriend and the First Lady of United States.Including Area 51 in this movie was a great choice.


The action sequences get a big thumbs-up from me. The scene involving the Alien capture by Hiller is the amazing. Besides the Alien has been designed beautifully to look brainy and scary. 

As for the performances Will Smith is the star of the movie. This guy is good at whatever he does. Besides good acting, he is also quite funny. Playing the courageous young captain willing to do anything to serve his planet (or nation), he has done a fabulous job. Jeff Goldblum is also as convincing as possible playing the nerdy, 'planet saving freak'  David. The President played by Bill Pullman also does a fantastic job motivating his country. His speech before the mission is one of the highlights of the film.The other actors and actresses have also played a good supporting role.


As a whole, this movie is entertaining. This movie may have many plot loop-holes and other mistakes but it still makes you feel good.You do end up rooting for the humans to win the fight by the end. A good movie to watch for the entire family.


MY RATING 8/10


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TERMINATOR 2- JUDGEMENT DAY (1991)

This time there are 2.


GENRE
Action/Sci-Fi/Thriller


STORYLINE
The cyborg who once tried to kill Sarah Connor must now protect her teenage son, John Connor, from an even more powerful and advanced Terminator.


DIRECTOR
James Cameron


CAST 
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Edward Furlong
Linda Hamilton
Robert Patrick


MY REVIEW
It doesn't seem like this movie is more than 20 years old. This movie was so ahead of its time. Machines/ Terminators rising, coming from the future and fighting each other is an integral part of this film. The very idea of machines rising against humans is amazing. Time Travel, Self healing machines, Robots resembling humans look as real as possible despite the limited technology available then.


Unlike the first movie, Arnold plays the hero in this one. And this time he comes back to protect John, the son of Sarah Conner who by the way is now in a mental hospital after attempting to bomb a computer factory. John is 11 years old and faces threat from T-1000 which has the unique ability to transform himself to resemble anyone. The movie deals with how the T-800 tries to protect John from the advanced T-1000.

This film is written and directed by James Cameron. The name alone is enough to draw you to this film. Aliens, Titanic, Avatar are some of the films made by this guy. The reason why he is so successful is because of his want of perfection. He take years to make film just because he wants them to be perfect. That is why his films are always a box-office success. Even in this movie he has come up with a great story. Although there have been 4 terminator films till now, this one was by far the best.


This movie was a high-point for all the actors involved. Arnold Schwarzenegger became popular all over the world as THE TERMINATOR. You could not think of terminator without the T-800 played by him. ' I will be back' and 'Hasta la vista baby' were some of the famous lines still used because of this film. He is really convincing in this film.Even though the makers brought in Christian Bale in the 4th film, they could not create the same charm Arnold could create.

Edward Furlong as John Conner played his best role till now. The 11 year old future leader plays his part beautifully. It is sad this guy did not have much success after this film apart from "American History X.'  Robert Patrick as the main antagonist of this film is really good. For playing a robot/cyborg you need to have an expressionless face. He has achieved that really well in this film. Linda Hamilton also displays her beautiful acting in this film. Despite 7 years since the first movie, she looks at ease in this film.


This movie is action packed, has amazing visual effects and has some amazing performances. Add to it the direction of James Cameron. This movie has all the ingredients of being a milestone film.A must watch for all.


MY RATING  9/10


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AMERICAN REUNION (2012)

Save the best piece for last.


GENRE
Comedy


STORYLINE
Jim, Michelle, Stifler, and their friends reunite in East Great Falls, Michigan for their high school reunion.


DIRECTOR
Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg


CAST
Jason Biggs
Alyson Hannigan
Seann William Scott
Chris Klein
Thomas Ian Nicholas
Tara Reid
etc


MY REVIEW
The original  cast is finally back after 9 long year for the 4th installment of American Pie( I wouldn't call the movie in between to be real movies) .  When I first heard of this film, I wasn't sure whether this film could live up-to it predecessors. Did it?   Well somewhat yes and somewhat no. Watching this movie I never felt that there have been 9 years since the last movie. Nothing has changed apart from the appearance of the actors obviously.This could be taken in both positive as well as negative way.


This movie as the title suggests is about the high school reunion of the characters after 13 long years. They decide to come together in Michigan to celebrate throughout the weekend. This movie is about bringing back the old memories and creating some new ones.

Like most of the American Pie movies, this movie does not have a definite plot. The story is predictable but it is the stories between the various characters that looks quite interesting. The high of the film is the return of the Stiffmeister. Seann William Scott as Stifler has most of the funny lines and is the center of most of the funny scenes. Jim plays his usual self, the innocent guy who gets into trouble every time. His father is as embarrassing and funny as always.Oz is back in this one and has one of the better roles in the film.The other characters also make you feel the same way they did earlier.


Although there are some funny scenes, I must admit it is not good as the 1st one.This movie mostly works for the sense of deja-vu or the feeling of nostalgia provided you have seen the first 3 movies. I don't think people who haven't seen the earlier films would enjoy this one.


Recommended for the fans of the American Pie series. For the rest of you I recommend you see the 1st one only


MY RATING 7/10


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DUMA (2005)

Some friendships are wilder than others.


GENRE
Action/Drama/Family


STORYLINE
An orphaned cheetah becomes the best friend and pet of a young boy living in South Africa.

DIRECTOR

Carroll Ballard

CAST

Alex Michaelatos
Campbell Scott
Eamonn Walker
Hope Davis


MY REVIEW
There are many movies that deal with friendship but this one is rare.   Its not about 2 human friends but is about a boy and his pet Cheetah who he must take to the 'wild' so that he is 'fully alive'.   Duma is one of the most refreshing, different and innovative films that I have seen.   It is basically about the bond the 2 friends share and their journey from Johannesburg to the wild.


Set in South Africa, one day Xan and his father Peter discover an orphaned Cheetah.   Fearing that the cub might not be able to survive, they take him in.   As he grows older, Peter realizes that this type of life is not meant for Duma ( Swahili name for Cheetah).   Although initially reluctant Xan agrees.   But the plan gets postponed when Peter gets mysteriously ill and ultimately dies.   Duma moves along with Xan and his mother to the city only for Duma to create havoc in Xan's school.   Fearing captivity, Xan escapes with Duma to fulfill his father's wish meeting Ripkuna who is on a journey of his own.

The thing that works for this movie is its attention to detail.   Lots of movies are made on friends but due to the fast pace of movie, you are never able to feel this bond.   This movie moves slowly and makes you feel the love the 2 friends share.  Also what works is the change Xan and Duma bring about in Ripkuna.   The way they are able to change his mindset about money and importance of family is amazing.   The locations have been chosen perfectly for this film.  They even dealt with the life back in the city.   With Xan and Duma missing, they show Xan's mother's numerous unsuccessful attempts in trying to find a child.  The woman has just lost her husband and now her child is missing.  The emotions that she goes through have not been ignored in this film.


As for the performances, the child Alexander Michaeletos is brilliant.   It is natural for a child to look scared around a ferocious animal but this guy looks as normal as one can.   It is as if the cheetah is his real life buddy.


The support from other actors like Eamonn Walker particularly the scene with the insect attacks show his worth. Xan's mother played by Hope Davis and Father by Campbell Scott have done quite good.


Watch this light hearted film for the true meaning of friendship. It is an honest and beautiful film.


MY RATING-8.5/10


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THE A-TEAM (2010)

There Is No Plan B.

GENRE
Action/Adventure/Thriller


STORYLINE
A group of Iraq War veterans looks to clear their name with the U.S. military, who suspect the four men of committing a crime for which they were framed.


DIRECTOR
Joe Carnahan


CAST
Liam Neeson
Bradley Cooper
Sharlto Copley
Quinton Jackson
Jessica Biel


MY REVIEW

The movie is about 4 U.S Army Rangers namely Hannibal, Fac, B.A and Murdock collectively know as the A-Team.   After their adventures in Mexico, they are employed by the army and sent to Iraq.   In Iraq after a secret mission goes wrong, they are imprisoned for a crime they did not commit.   Now they need to clear their name and catch the bad guys who framed them.

The story is simple yet an entertainer.   It is not one of those serious action films that are all about bam-boom, fight etc .  The reason why this film is so good is that it combines action and comedy without making things look foolish.   B.A being scared of flying, Murdock acting as a doctor or the numerous funny dialogues by Face make this film humorous.  The action sequences are innovative yet amazing.   Some scenes are epic particularly the scene where they are actually able to fly a tank and the scene involving the escape of Murdock.

As for the performances, it seems no one could have played Hannibal better than the veteran Liam Neeson.   This guy never gets old. He is made for these type of roles.   As the leader of the A-Team he has done a fabulous job, the best among the cast.  Bradley Cooper as Face and Quinton Jackson as B.A have also supported well.   Murdock is another star of the film.   The ease with which he plays the psychotic and versatile yet smart Murdock is amazing.   His character seems to be the best written character.  Jessica Biel is the sole lady in the cast.   She plays the DCIS captain.   Its not a typical girly role yet she has not disappointed playing the strong and fearless character.


Watch this movie purely for the entertainment this film is gonna guarantee you.   A combination of action and comedy is hard to find.   A must watch for all who love non-serious, action films.


MY RATING 7.5/10


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THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)

A Fire Will Rise.


GENRE
Action/Adventure/Crime


STORYLINE
Eight years on, a new terrorist leader, Bane, overwhelms Gotham's finest, and the Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy.


DIRECTOR
Christopher Nolan

CAST
Christian Bale
Tom Hardy
Anne Hathaway
Joseph Gordon Levitt
Gary Oldman
Michael Caine
Morgan Freeman
Marion Cotillard


MY REVIEW
Gone are the days when you used to expect the villain to have a strong physique, some deadly followers and an evil laugh.   Gone are the days when you would expect him/her to be wearing white/black clothes. The Joker in The Dark Knight set a new standard for villains.   It was one of those landmark films known more for its psychotic villain rather than the Hero.  The Dark Knight lit up the box office, became a instant success with the critics and the audience and created a legacy.   No wonder The Dark Knight Rises was the most anticipated movie of this year.


It is very difficult to repeat success of the magnitude, the dark knight achieved. Films like Matrix Reloaded and Speed II failed to achieve their predecessor's success.   The pressure on the makers to impress the audiences was huge. They had to come up with right story, right villain, right stars etc.   Was the movie successful? Surely, Yes.   The story is really well written with new characters fitting in the script perfectly. Going with Bane as the villain may have been the perfect choice.   The previous villains challenged Batman more on an intellectual level.  It was time The Batman was challenged by a man who is physically more stronger and more quicker than him.   Bringing Cat-woman rather than the side-kick Robin might have been tough decision.   One usually associates Robin with Batman, and not having Robin playing a major role in the franchise is a bold move.   But I must say that introducing cat-woman was a wise decision.   She is known to be mysterious and the audience is kept guessing on whose side she actually is.


As for the plot, this movie is set 8 years after the death of Harvey Dent.  The Batman has retired and in hiding after taking the blame for killing Harvey.  Gotham is almost crime free until The Bane emerges.   Commissioner Gordon wants The Batman back although Alfred is against Bruce Wayne wearing the Cape-suit again.  With the mysterious Cat-woman also coming in, Batman faces his most powerful enemy ever. Its up to him to save his beloved Gotham despite the people branding him as a murderer.

Don't watch this film expecting a Joker like performance.  The Joker was something different.   He was a man not after money, not after heading the mafia or looking to run the city, he was a man who wanted to see the city burn.  He wanted to show the people that even the best of the best can be brought under darkness. He challenged Batman more on an intellectual level rather than on physical level.   The Bane is what the Joker was not.  He is strong, agile and sick.   He wears a gas mask which acts as a analgesic.   He has a menacing voice that is calm, confident yet scary.   He is just perfect for the final movie of the franchise.


As for the performances, this movie belonged more to the Batman than to Bane.   Christian Bale although two films old has new fields to explore in this film. Besides being the best batman, he plays the character of Bruce Wayne also well.   From portraying the guy who has locked himself for 8 years in the Wayne Mansion to portraying the broken yet determined man in Bane's prison, he looks just perfect.   As for Tom Hardy he is the star of the film.   Expectation on playing the new Batman villain were high, some did doubt him but he has managed to silence all his critics.   He is simply unrecognizable as the Bane.  The menacing voice, the strong physique and body language look stunning.   Joseph Gordon Levitt as John Blake looks like a young version of Commissioner Gordon. He is intelligent and is determined to save his city no matter what.   He is not as important as Bale, Hardy or Hathaway yet he manages to catch your attention with his brilliant acting.   Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle aka Cat-woman keeps you guessing whose side she is on.  Sometimes you root for her  while other times you just hate her.  The ease with which Anne Hathaway is able to make you feel these emotions deserves applause. Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate has a small yet important role.  Gary Oldman,  Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman play their usual roles in the franchise.  They have a smaller role as compared to the previous films yet these legends don't disappoint.  It was good to see Cillian Murphy and Liam Neeson having cameos in this film although Heath Ledger was missed.

This is not the usual mind boggling or thinking Christopher Nolan film.  It is a powerful film that keeps you glued till the end credits. A definite watch and probably the best this year.  All this said I suggest you see the previous two films of this franchise for better understanding and enjoyment.


PS: The film ends like usual Christopher Nolan movies.  It teases you and makes you think about a possible sequel.   Although I loved Tom Hardy as Bane, I missed the Joker.   Heath Ledger was one of my favorite actors and I feel his role in The Dark Knight was something special.


MY RATING  9/10


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10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU (1999)

Romeo, Oh Romeo, Get Out Of My Face.


GENRE
Comedy/Romance


STORYLINE
A film inspired by the classic Shakespeare play "The Taming of the Shrew.", set in a modern day high school.


DIRECTOR
Gil Junger


CAST
Heath Ledger
Julia Stiles
Joseph-Gordon Levitt
Larisa Oleynik


MY REVIEW
Based on Shakespeare play The Taming of the shrew (which honestly I have never read), 10 things I hate about you is a movie about life in High School.  It is basically a teen comedy about a guy falling for another girl and how he is finally manages to get her by bringing together an 'ignorant and not so social sister' and ' a not so open and friendly' type of guy.


Cameron (Levitt) is new to school.   Its Michael's job to show him around school.   It goes on nicely till he sees Bianca(Larisa) and instantly falls for her.   But the problem is that Bianca isn't allowed to date unless her 'shrew' sister dates too.   Now Cameron finds Patrick (Heath), a not so social guy who has been the centre of many rumors dealing with his violent nature.  Cameron pays him to go out with Kat (Julia).   Things change when they ultimately fall for each other and Kat comes to know of the truth.


On the looks of it, the story is quite complicated but it has been written and projected in such a fine way that you look at ease with the story throughout the movie.  It is basically a teen comedy but I am sure even the mature adults would love this film.   The movie is funny, has a good story along with some memorable performances.  The characters have been really well written and chosen.   The 'shrew's' (kat's) approach and body language in the film is perfect.  The character of Patrick, initially appears to match his rumors but one sees his bright and true nature once he opens up later in this film.   Even the not so important characters like Michael or Joey have really good parts to play in this movie.


As for the performances, there is reason why Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles and Joseph Gordon Levitt career took a huge leap after this film.   They have done a wonderful job.   Everyone has given their everything in this film.   This might well be Julia Stiles best ever role.   She is so convincing as the 'shrew' in this film who takes pity at the idiocy of teenage life.  Heath Ledger has also done quite well for himself.  From being the scary guy in the beginning to lovable man in the end he is just perfect for this role.   One can never forget his scene on the football ground singing to Kat to accept his love.   Gordon Levitt is quite small in this film but still he is same as he is today.   Playing a sweet and kind type of guy is his thing. Larisa Oleynik as Bianca, a materialistic girl who gets what she wants has also supported the main lead well. 


Overall, this teen comedy exceeds your expectations. It is not like any other teen comedy which just aim at making you laugh. It has a good relatable story and has been wonderfully executed.


MY RATING 8/10


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American History X (1998)

See reality in your eyes when hate makes you blind.


GENRE
Crime/Drama


STORYLINE
A former neo-nazi skinhead tries to prevent his younger brother from going down the same wrong path that he did.


DIRECTOR
Tony Kaye


CAST
Edward Norton
Edward Furlong




MY REVIEW
How many times would you find a movie with an excellent story and which is well supported by its cast.  This film fits easily into such a category.  I saw this film for its high IMDB rating and believe me this film does not disappoint.  Such types of movie are rare and come once or twice in a decade.


The story is about a Neo-Nazi skinhead, Derek Vineyard (Edward Norton) who is the leader of a violent gang responsible for racial crimes throughout the city.   His life changes when he is imprisoned for 3 years for brutally killing 2 Black men who were trying to steal his truck.   The movie deals with how after coming out of prison he decides to bring his life back on track and help his younger brother Daniel Vineyard (Edward Furlong) who seems to be following his footsteps into the world of hate-crime.


American History X is one of those movies that never made big at the Box office despite the huge critical acclaim.   The thing that works for this film is its unique storytelling.   The movie has many black white sequences separating the colored ones.  These scenes depict the past which includes Derek's racial crimes, his brutal killings and his hard time in jail.  The colored sequences depict the present i.e Derek's release and he helping his brother to leave the world of hate-crimes.Reading this, 'Memento' would come in mind of many people but unlike Memento in this movie it is as if the sequences i.e colored and black- white seem to represent emotions. The Black and white sequences are used to represent a period of gloom, anger, violence and hatefulness while the colored sequences represent hope, peace and realization.Most of the Black and White sequences are told through the narration of Daniel which is a nice and well thought-out step by the makers.


Although this film is not a family film, every member of the family will learn from this movie and appreciate it.   It is a powerful and an inspiring film.   Yes, there is lot of violence and use of abuses is also very common but I feel this has been only done to make the movie as real and relatable as possible.


As for the performances , I feel this is Edward Norton's best performance so far.  He is so convincing as the Neo- Nazi Skinhead that sometimes you get scared of this guy.   The Black and white sequences are the best.  This guy truly deserves a standing ovation for such a powerful role.   Edward Furlong like in Terminator 2 has played a really well supporting role. At times the two leads really look like real brothers.  The narration by Furlong is also great.


Don't go by this movie's small box office earnings. This movie is a must watch for all because of its powerful and moralistic nature.


MY RATING 9/10


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