GREEN ZONE - AN ANTI-AMERICAN THRILLER

For the Bourne series aficionados GREEN ZONE will be orgasmic. From the same team of Matt Damon and Director Paul Greengrass , who has teamed up with cinematographer Barry Ackroyd (Hurt Locker), who seems to have elevated jerky camera movements to an art form.

The plot is based on the book “Imperial Life in the Emerald City” by Rajiv Chandrasekhar, who has earlier been a journalist in Middle East. Of course the screen play has meta-morphed the book into a political thriller.  

Plot without spoiler – Its 2003. US army has just invaded Iraq, after accusing Saddam of possessing bio-chemical WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction). Saddam and his coterie are on the run.

Roy Miller (Matt Damon) is a US army WMD inspector searching in bombed out Iraq for the ominous bio-chemical caches. He is repeatedly frustrated and starts questioning the inputs from army-intelligence, on WMD locations. But his brass and the Pentagon rep in Iraq, Clark Poundstone debunk him.

Roy Miller finds a sympathetic comrade-in-arms in the local CIA station head Martin Brown - a craggy mid-eastern CIA field man of a decade, who is openly skeptical of the Pentagon policy of trying to run Iraq with a puppet local administration. He feels they are totally oblivious to Iraq’s ground reality and ethnic divides.   

In this scenario, with the unexpected assistance of Freddy, a local Iraqi, Roy Miller stumbles upon the hideout of Saddam’s senior most Bathist General Rawi. Rawi escapes but Roy Miller captures his key man along with a black book of all the safe-houses where the Bathist elite are hiding. The Pentagon rep  Clark Poundstone uses his hit squad of US army special forces to grab the captured key man and the black book from Roy Miller.

Eric by now has realized that the WMD theory itself is suspect and was planted elaborately by the Bush administration through the media, to convince the American public and justify war against Iraq.

The rest is a cat-and-mouse game between the Pentagon crony vs. CIA and Roy Miller who is now openly rebellious, intent on unearthing the source of WMD theory.

Net take- In the acting department everyone scores in spite of clichéd characterization. Khalid Abdalla as Freddy, the helpful Iraqi local stands out. Matt Damon of course has the sort of simple sincerity which is convincing.

With high production values, brought out by landmark cinematography and pulsating editing (Christopher Rouse), Green Zone gives the viewer the eerie sense of being in the middle of all the action. That’s where this movie differs, when the viewer is no longer just a mere spectator.

It’s a fast paced political thriller, in the guise of an ‘US army in Iraq’ action movie. In fact some have strongly dubbed it as an ‘Anti-American’ movie; which has warmed the hearts of anti-establishment legends like Michael Moore.

Green Zone takes the conspiracy theory of the Bourne series more blatantly and makes a more comprehensive statement against the ‘political agenda at any cost’.

12 ANGRY MEN - A smart movie grips the viewer while it is on. But a powerful movie occupies one even after it is over

A smart movie grips the viewer while it is on. But a powerful movie occupies one even after it is over. '12 Angry Men" is the latter category.

This 1957 classic is the brain child of actor Henry Fonda and writer Reginald Rose, who co-produced it and gave the break to Director Sidney Lumet - who went on to carve his own niche as a prolific Director of Psychodramas (Murder on the Orient Express, Dog Day Afternoon)

 '12 Angry Men" was nominated for Best actor, Best Director and Best Adapted screenplay. No wonder, since it was a simple premise innovatively presented. The 100 minute drama takes place in real time, within a claustrophobic room wherein 12 men just keep talking. A recipe for monotony if there was ever one!

The story without spoiler -
The drama starts with the Judge instructing a 12 men jury to arrive at a unanimous decision on the murder of an old slum dweller; his teenaged delinquent son being the accused.

The 12 jurors of different backgrounds, cultures and values are stuck for hours on a hot summer afternoon, after one of them raises a lonely voice of dissent against the 'guilty' verdict of his eleven colleagues.

What starts as a reluctant technical analysis of the murder sequence snow balls into a confrontation of personal values and prejudices.

The latter 60 minutes is a study of group behaviour and consensus building. On a higher plane '12 Angry Men' is also seen as a commentary on the jury system of dishing out justice.

What makes '12 Angry Men' different -
On technical level its clear character delineation with their idiosyncrasies rounded off and a taut script which never lets you relax.

For me it was a textbook of cinematography, considering it was a Black & white movie when color has already become entrenched. One can’t help recalling Citizen Kane while viewing this movie.

The net take is '12 Angry Men' is a must see for anybody who appreciates the cinematic grammar enhancing an emotional drama. Its cinema at its best. And not one dull 'arty' moment, let me assure you.

CA$H - When $ 600K literally falls into a poor couple's life they find out ‘Money costs too much’.

PLOT - Simple premise but stretched intelligently.

$ 600K from a heist literally falls onto Sam Phelan, an unemployed man in Chicago. His wife Leslie and him foreclose their house mortgage and splurge $70K on luxuries. While they are planning their life of unforeseen luxury, their dream is disturbed by the visit of a very violent and calculative man - Pyke Kubic .

Pyke is the twin brother of the criminal who threw away the money while being chased by the police. And he is intent on recovering every cent, within five days.

The Phelans is terrorized by Pyke to become criminals to repay. Driven by desperation and fear, the young couple digs deep into themselves and finds out that they are capable of unimaginable evil and deceit; which ultimately surprises even the seasoned criminal Pyke.

TREATMENT - Director Steve Anderson elevates a simple action thriller to a morality play. He treats the viewer to a montage of Greed laced with Naivety, Fear fueled by Desperation.

Sean Bean as Pyke Kubic is a study in stylish violence which lurks just below the suave exterior.
Chris Hemsworth and Victoria Profeta as the Phelans do a classic study of ‘average next door folks' adapting fast as 'ruthless survivors'.

CA$H - A roller coaster thriller concluding that ‘Money costs too much’

Ode to Akira Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI

Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (1954) thrust Japanese cinema to the outside world; and he went on to be conferred with the Academy Honorary Award '89

THE STORY - A poor village in the mountains of medieval Japan is repeatedly pillaged by a gang of bandits. In desperation they seek to hire Samurais to protect their harvest, the paltry payment they can afford being - food three times a day.

Takashi Shimura,who dazzled in Ikuru, impresses as the worldly wise seasoned samurai Kambei; who rustles up a motley bunch of Ronins - unemployed Samurais or mercenaries.

Charismatic Toshiro Mifune is the outside pretender Shishinin, who is grudgingly included in the samurai team. (In fact the original Japanese name of the movie is Shichinin no Samurai)

The story is of the samurai and villagers evolving as a team in spite of their deep mutual antipathy, how old Kambei plans and executes the defense of the village, the sacrifices thrust upon average men in crisis.

The end is sheer poetry - after the triumph of blood and bravery, Kurosawa signs off with pointing out ‘the disconnect of violence’ in a community content with itself.

Why SEVEN SAMURAI is considered a forerunner
The plot element of ‘ building a team with varied personalities to achieve a specific goal ‘ spawned many movies like Magnificent 7, Dirty Dozen, Guns of Navrone, Ocean's Eleven and our own Sholay.

Many other popular story devices like’ Introducing the hero with an incident unrelated to the main story’ and ‘Romance between village girl and outsider’ were seen first in Seven Samurai.

In fact, many management institutions screen Seven Samurai as a study of effective leadership – team building, delegation of duty and goal orientation

Kurosawa Influence
From Satayajit Ray to Spike Lee - The list of directors who have conceded to the inspiration of this Japanese icon is pretty long. In tamil, Mani Ratnam paid a tribute to Akira Kurosawa in the Thalabathi song sequence " Sundari, kanaal oru seidhi" and Kamal with his Virumandi.

Kurosawa is like a restaurant, you like to frequent.  Roshomon, High & Low, Stray Dog, Ikuru.. hmm.. These are my favorite dishes

A Serious Man. 2 Oscar nominations - for screen play & best picture! Seriously?!

This movie is a classic example how the audience will automatically assume value in a work of art, just because it came from successful creators - The Coen brothers, who gave some notable films like Fargo and No country for old men, which won 4 Oscars.
Their forte is exploring fate and circumstances in a man’s life.

This movie is a dark comedy; about a small town Jewish teacher who goes through a series of problems he is unable to comprehend - job, marriage breaking down, out of control children, financial problems, automobile accident and the list goes on.

Many see this movie as an existential exploration of pessimism and nihilism (wow... I always wanted to use those words and appear wise!) ... Unfortunately I just saw an absurd chain of events and a confused ordinary Joe.

OK... There are some amusing moments like the aimless story of the dentist finding Hebrew engravings on a patient's teeth and the old wise rabbi quoting some rock song lyrics. Like the hero Larry, my reaction was "What the hell... why are you telling me this!"

I was reminded of some vague abstract statement coming from a Zen monk and we start thinking "Hmm… that should mean something... If I don’t say I comprehend it, people around me are going to assume I am shallow and stupid"

Well, you can assume I am shallow and stupid... I just felt I had wasted 2 hours, as if I watched a TV mega serial. At least they don’t have pretensions of being philosophical.

6 Oscar nominations - UP IN THE AIR - Smart study in urban angst

The net feeling one is left with, at the end of this fast paced movie, is EMPTINESS.

Why most American movies have this underlying urban angst is an interesting question. I don’t notice this obsession with meaninglessness in movies from other countries.

George Clooney is in his elements as an urbane, suave charmer; juxtaposed with two very absorbing females, who evolve in a surprising manner. As they say, the essence of good storytelling is characters evolving in a believable and probable manner, but still managing to surprise you.

Thoughtful dialogues peppered with smart one-liners. Director Jason Reitman has sustained the successful pace and treatment of his earlier JUNO.

Like any good work of art UP IN THE AIR throws up lots of interesting questions, but doesn’t come to any conclusions.  

Watch it. The movie brings up lots of thoughtful smiles, especially for George Clooney buffs.

Japanese "DEPARTURES" - Oscars for Best Foreign language film

Saw 3 movies in 3 days..

Mel Gibson in “Edge of Darkness” – a smart ‘cop revenge for his daughter’ story, with a background of the highly influential but shady American arms industry

The stylized Chinese “Divergence” –  A cop, a lawyer and a mob sniper triangle with a woman in the middle.

Both these movies were smart, big budget and left a feeling of “Hmm.. that was 2hrs worth”

The 3^rd was “Departures “- a simple Japanese movie about a failed musician trying to adjust to his new career, that of preparing the dead for their coffin.

Was bowled over by the lyrical simplicity of Departures. Later learnt it was the 2008 Oscar winner for Best Foreign language film… hmm..no wonder.

HOW “DEPARTURES” SURPRISES ONE?

With a morbid theme one would expect a serious dark movie, where the character is either talking philosophically or is brooding like a sage. Actually throughout the movie I caught myself smiling often. 

Director Yōjirō Takita does a balancing act of giving simple rounded characters trying to lead a normal life with an underlying poignancy that surface with just a hint. No rubbing it in like,” See I got a great knot, now I will milk it to the maximum.”

THE SCRIPT

Daigo (Masahiro Motoki) is an aspiring cellist in a Tokyo orchestra which suddenly is dissolved. He moves, with his young wife, to a small town– the place where his single mother grew him up; since Daigo’s dad had deserted the family when Daigo was six years old.

To make ends meet, reluctantly, takes the job of an “encoffinator” – the Japanese ceremonial tradition of cleaning and preparing the dead. He conceals his job from his wife since it’s not a respectable profession.

Then on the story moves at different levels, all dovetailed smoothly.

WHERE ‘DEPARTURES’ DEPARTS FROM THE ORDINARY – DIFFERENT LEVELS

PERSONAL
Daigo’s personal struggle adjusting to his job - is DEAD dirty?
His loving wife’s rejection of his career choice

MORAL
Daigo’s anger at his dad, who rejected his mother in favour of another woman; forgoing his responsibility as a Husband and as a Father.

PHILOSOPHICAL
The relationship between the LIVING and the DEAD.
Here mention should be made of the tongue-in-cheek performance of Daigo’s boss -   Tsutomu Yamazaki , the veteran from the movies of Akio Kurosawa.

And MUSICAL
Joe Hisaishi – A great name in Japanese film music explores without any pretensions.

CONCLUSION -
Many say they cry when they see this movie.. But I smiled often. 
I don’t know why... But it’s equally cathartic.