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Reviews
Kamaraj (2004)
one of the best movies out of India
This is one of the best movies I have seen to come out of India. The film has distanced itself from the formulaic elements in Indian film- making of songs and dances and of parallel comedic/romantic tracks to increase the commercial value of the film. What captivates you instead is simply the life of Kamaraj also known as 'Black Gandhi' that is portrayed very simply. The film that stands out by the amount of attention paid to detail in portraying the life of this activist freedom fighter in pre-Independence India and his role in nation building post-Independence. I was particularly impressed with the understated and realistic performances put in by the entire cast that gives the movie a documentary like feel. The film does use real footage from his funeral procession at the end. The narration is fast clipped and the tension developed relies simply on the turn of events in the politics of the time. While anyone is bound to enjoy this film, this will hold special appeal for anyone interested in the politics of India and especially Tamilnadu during this period (1903-75) including the 'emergency declared by Indira' and also for anyone with an appreciation for the different dialects of Tamil.
Hiroshima mon amour (1959)
Over-rated
I think this movie has been much over-rated. What the movie attempts is laudable: an exploration of the anguish the heart suffers in losing a lover.. and somehow trying to connect it to the anguish of the survivors of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima... in a general mishmash way that life is. The movie however is not very aesthetically done. Right from the word go, you have the characters mouth out dramatic, poetic lines that seems completely out of place, unnatural. And Resnais tries to weave in imagery of Hiroshima's devastation in a rather corny way (like in the very beginning when the two lovers are tied together in one mass of flesh).
May be it just that I fail to appreciate the nuances of movies from this period, but I would warn you not to go to this with high expectations, as I did.
Cutthroat Island (1995)
fun movie
This movie makes for good entertainment. Though it follows a 'popular' story-line, the awesome sets, the pirate action and the locales make this movie a neat entertainer! Further, Gina Davis is a pleasure to watch.