10 movies I am looking forward to in 2014

2014 is off and kicking now and even though I still have a lot of back log to clear, which I intend to spend most of January and February on, it is time to look forward to what 2014 might have in store for us in terms of cinema. I was planning on posting this earlier last week but I was under the weather almost whole last week. Now that I am back to the normal world once again and people are still in Golden Globe mode, lets get this ball quickly rolling.

Magic in the Moonlight: I am sure everyone is saying only one thing about this movie - looking at Woody Allen's recent track record, this is going to be a dud. I even agree with it but you can always hope, right? ore for the sake of Emma Stone than Allen really. Not that she needs a hit desperately but she is someone I think has a good sense of both comedy and drama. So she should work. 

Veronica Mars: Everyone remembers the legendary kickstarter project that, well, kick-started this production, right? I have seen every episode of this series and I liked snappy, intelligent,  wise-cracking detective of Kristen Bell. But I had my doubts about the whole thing from start, especially regarding how are they going to cope for all the years that passed. The trailer that just dropped took care of that. So, yeah, I look forward to meeting Veronica again.

The Grand Budapest Hotel: If there is any other director with more distinct style than Wes Anderson, I do not know about it. In truth, he is not even close to being one of favourite directors and he probably never will be and his style doesn't always work for me. But look how pretty! I wish I could offer you more substantial argument in it's defense but that's all I got. I want to see it because his films look pretty. I can do that, right?

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Because first one was so awesome. They have made a few changes but I think Matt Reeves doesn't look like a bad option to help this project and Gary Oldman is always a welcome addition. No James Franco though. We will just have to assume he didn't survive that plague I guess.

Into the Woods: Initially I wasn't stoked for it or anything but as I found out more and more, it got me interested. First it is to have Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt in it, secondly they'll be singing. Third was that crazy picture of Streep as witch. Last straw was when I went to the IMDb page and saw Anna Kendrick among the cast. Yup, her singing sold this movie to me. I know this could very well be disaster but I am willing to give it a chance for her .

Transcendence: I know it is directed by Wally Pfiser. I know it has amazing cast of Rebecca Hall, Morgan Freeman, Cilian Murphy, Paul Bettany and Kate Mara. I know the trailer looks good and definitely has me interested in what it brings to the table. But to tell you the truth, what I really want to see this film for is to see Johnny Depp playing a regular guy. I mean, I've almost forgotten that he is a normal human.

Gone Girl: Next four films on this list are there for one and only one reason - the Directors. Everything else is secondary. I have seen every film all these directors have directed so far and I have no intention of breaking that streak. I am not over the moon for it's casting but it has David Fincher who certainly knows what he is doing and an interesting storyline to look forward to. And it has New Batman!!(I probably shouldn't have mentioned that. Sorry!)

Noah: Reason here is Darren Arofonsky. Once again, it has an amazing ensemble capable of taking any story to another level. Arofonsky has the capability to handle the scale of this project and from the first looks of it, it certainly looks like something worth waiting for. And it has Jennifer Connelly in it. It feels like she fell off the grid after... Blood Diamond(2006)? So it's nice to see her getting back into the game.

Inherent Vice: Paul Thomas Anderson! I really won't need to know anything more but I have been doing some reading and this story looks really interesting. Obviously, knowing PTA, he will write his own screenplay which gets me even more excited to see how he puts it on paper. The whole setting of 1970s, California, Drugs, none of it is new to him but makes for prospects of interesting film I will be waiting eagerly for this year.

Interstellar: It's "Directed by Christopher Nolan" right? Whatever else would you need?

Of the 10 movies I chose last year, I have only seen two so far. One of which is in my top 5 while other one might end in bottom 5. 2 more have been shifted to 2014 and I could have chosen them again for this list but what's the point, right? 4 are generating major awards buzz and I intend to watch one of them tomorrow. I have no idea what happened to the rest 2. So did I choose wisely? Only time can tell.

What are you looking forward to in 2014 people?  

101 Things I’ve Learned from the Movies

Well, As usual I am little late but better late than never, I am following the footsteps of Alex, Ruth, Stevee, Tyler and Sati here to give you 101 things that movies taught me. If you look at what Mr. Steve Martin says on the right hand side, it made it impossible for me to shy away from this opportunity. 

Now, as I said some of the fellow bloggers have already done this earlier. So, there might be few overlaps, rather there are few. Hope they don’t sue me for that. So, without further adieu, I give you 

1. I'm pond scum. Well, lower actually. I'm like the fungus that feeds on pond scum. - My Best Friend's Wedding

2. Oh, you think you're so special because you get to play Picture Pages up there? Well, my five year old daughter could do that and let me tell you, she's not the brightest bulb in the tanning bed. So why don't you go back to night school in Mantino and learn a real trade. - Juno

3. They had no honor in Life. They have none now in death. - Lord of the Rings - Return of the King

4. Show them no mercy...for you shall receive none. - Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers

5. The first role of the Fight Club is you do not talk about the Fight Club. Second rule is you DO NOT talk about the fight club. - Fight Club

6. I bought a suit. You seen it. Now it's covered in mud. This town doesn't have a one hour cleaner so I had to buy a new suit, except the only store you could buy a new suit in has got the flu. Got that? The whole store got the flu so I had to get this in a second hand store. So it's either wear the leather jacket which I know you hate, or this. So I wore this ridiculous thing for you. - My Cousin Vinny

7. You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. - The Dark Knight

8. Oh my GOD! Oh Shit! Phucket, Thailand !! - Juno

9. This city deserves a better class of criminal. And I'm gonna give it to them! - The Dark Knight

10. Well, maybe I overshot a little, because I was aiming at just enough to keep you from walking out. - As Good As It Gets

11. According to the testimony, the boy looks guilty... maybe he is. I sat there in court for six days listening while the evidence built up. Everybody sounded so positive, you know, I... I began to get a peculiar feeling about this trial. I mean nothing is that positive. There're a lot of questions I'd have liked to ask. I don't know, maybe they wouldn't have meant anything, but... I began to get the feeling that the defense counsel wasn't conducting a thorough enough cross-examination. -  12 Angry Men

12. Well, Dreams, they feel real when we're in them. Its only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange. - Inception

13. I'm a little f*cked up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to f*ckin' amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny? -  Goodfellas

14. And I'm the old butler, Fräulein. - The Sound of Music

15. The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it. - Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring

16. You probably heard we ain't in the prisoner-takin' business; we in the killin' Nazi business. And cousin, business is a-boomin'. - Inglourious Bastards

17. I wonder if you understand that all of us - Dolores, me, the children who survived, the children who didn't - that we're all citizens of a different town now. A place with its own special rules and its own special laws. A town of people living in the sweet hereafter. - The Sweet Hereafter

18. I'm gonna make him an offer he won't refuse. -  The Godfather

19. I like standing next to you Sean. It makes me look so tough. - The Social Network

20. What's the most you have lost in a coin toss? - No Country for Old Men

21. The Greatest Trick that devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn't exist. - The Usual Suspects

22. Gentleman, you can't fight in here! This is War Room. - Dr. Strangelove

23. You are not an asshole, Mark. You are just trying so hard to be. - The Social Network

24. So, Ladies and Gentleman, if I say I am an oil man, you will agree. - There Will be Blood

25. I can't listen to that much Wagner, you know! I start to get the urge to conquer Poland. - Manhattan Murder Mystery

26. Twenty-one Grams. The weight of stack of five nickels, the weight of a hummingbird, a chocolate bar. - 21 Grams

27. I can only hope, with all the world's warriors gathered against us, there might be one down there up to the task. - 300

28. The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee. - Pulp Fiction

29. We got a German here who wants to die for his country! Oblige Him! -  Inglourious Bastards

30. Viddy well, Little Brother. Viddy well. - A Clockwork Orange

31. The Earth is evil. We don't need to grieve for it. - Melancholia

32. You ARE Home. - Almost Famous

33. One night I am gonna come to you, inside of your house, wherever you are sleeping and I am gonna cut your throat. - There Will Be Blood

34. I call upon those persons present here to witness that I, Bernard Delaney, do take thee, Lydia Jane Hibbott, to be my awful wedded wife. - Four Weddings and Funeral

35. You're my father again now, are you? And what were you when you encouraged me to throw my life away? Silly schoolgirls are always getting seduced by glamorous older men, but what about you two? - An Education

36. Attica! Attica! Attica!! - Dog Day Afternoon

37. No. It's perfectly possible. It's just bloody difficult. - Inception

38. You can't Handle the Truth !! - A Few Good Men

39. If I say it is safe to surf this beach, Captain. then it is safe to surf this beach! - Apocalypse Now

40. Are you talking about Monkeys? - Before Sunrise

41. All work and no Play makes Jack a dull boy. - The Shining

42. Baby, you are gonna miss that plane. - Before Sunset

43. Just pretend you are a Janitor. Janitors are never terrified. - Notorious

44. Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course... it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige". - The Prestige

45. If I let you change me, will that do it? If I do what you tell me, will you love me? - Vertigo

46. You can't have roots and wings, Melanie. - Sweet Home Alabama

47. Did Somebody eat an Onion Bagel? - The Devil Wears Prada

48. Mike Waszowski - Monsters Inc.

49. We all need mirrors to remind ourselves who we are. I am no different. - Memento

50. You are no messiah. You are movie of the week, you are a fucking t-shirt at best. - Se7en

51. Keep your Friends Close, but your enemies Closer. - The Godfather Part II

52. This is exactly my point! People going around calling you a midget when you want to be called a dwarf. Of course, you are going to blow your head off. - In Bruges

53. And it is in the humble opinion of this narrator that this is not just "Something That Happened." This cannot be "One of Those Things... " This, please, cannot be that. And for what I would like to say, I can't. This Was Not Just A Matter Of Chance. Ohhhh. These strange things happen all the time. - Magnolia

54. Well, you have to know these things when you are a King, you know. - Monty Python and the Holy Grail

55. I think something important is happening around me. And it scares me. - Three Colors: Red

56. I am running this place! Me!! I will say what goes and what don't go.

57. Nice One, Dad. Good Speech. Well Done. But I think you will have to go now so that we can eat our breakfast. - Festen

58. I remember every detail. The Germans wore grey, you wore blue. - Casablanca

59. Men of your kind will soon become extinct. You'll become something worse than dead. You'll become a legend. - Alphaville

60. I remember my father telling me, "The eyes of God are on us always." The eyes of God. What a phrase to a young boy. What were God's eyes like? Unimaginably penetrating, intense eyes, I assumed. And I wonder if it was just a coincidence I made my specialty ophthalmology. - Crimes and Misdemeanors

61. All along the line, there is nothing but cold and death and loneliness. - Wild Strawberries

62. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it, "I"M MAD AS HELL AND I"M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE" - Network

63. You don't make up for your sins in Church, you do it on the Streets. - Mean Streets

64. No, Sir. This is the West, Sir. When legend becomes a fact, print the legend. - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

65. That's too much power for one man to have. - Malcolm X

66. It's a good story today. Tomorrow they will wrap a fish in it. - Ace in The Hole

67. Now, a staple of the superhero mythology is, there's the superhero and there's the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When that character wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic Superman stands alone. - Kill Bill Vol. II

68. I honor my child with this division so no parent has to go through what I have known. This child. That's all I care about and I'm gonna bring her home. - Gone Baby Gone

69. They are common stories these days. I even heard that the demon leaving here in Rashomon fled in fear of the ferocity of man. - Rashomon

70. Cassius was right. The fault dear Brutus is not in our stars but in ourselves. - Good Night and Good Luck

71. I changed my life today. What did you do? - The Verdict

72. When someone else is driving, I am scared. - The Wages of Fear

73. It's silly to be depressed by it. I mean, one thinks of it like being alive in a box. One keeps forgetting to take into account the fact that one is dead, which should make all the difference, shouldn't it? I mean, you'd never *know* you were in a box, would you? It would be just like you were asleep in a box. Not that I'd like to sleep in a box, mind you. Not without any air. You'd wake up dead for a start, and then where would you be? In a box. That's the bit I don't like, frankly. That's why I don't think of it. Because you'd be helpless, wouldn't you? Stuffed in a box like that. I mean, you'd be in there forever, even taking into account the fact that you're dead. It isn't a pleasant thought. Especially if you're dead, really. Ask yourself, if I asked you straight off, "I'm going to stuff you in this box. Now, would you rather be alive or dead?" naturally, you'd prefer to be alive. Life in a box is better than no life at all, I expect. You'd have a chance, at least. You could lie there thinking, "Well, at least I'm not dead. In a minute somebody is going to bang on the lid, and tell me to come out." - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

74. Back, and to the left...back, and to the left...back and to the left. - JFK

75. A minute ago, it was the safest job in the world. Now, it is turning into a bad day in Bosnia. - Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

76. You know, I don't think I have got in me to shoot my flatmate, my mum and my girlfriend all in the same night. - Shaun of the Dead

77. What's the matter? I sure meant no harm, Mr. Cunningham. - To Kill a Mockingbird

78. Rome! By all means, Rome! I will cherish my visit here in memory for as long as I live. - The Roman Holiday

79. Well, boys, we got three engines out, we got more holes in us than a horse trader's mule, the radio is gone and we're leaking fuel and if we was flying any lower why we'd need sleigh bells on this thing... but we got one little budge on them Rooskies. At this height why they might harpoon us but they dang sure ain't gonna spot us on no radar screen! - Dr. Strangelove

80. I am saying that when the President does it, that means it is NOT illegal. - Frost/Nixon

81. Fate, it seems, is not without the sense of Irony. - The Matrix

82. Well, Clarice - have the lambs stopped screaming ? - The Silence of the Lambs

83. But why did she have to die? - Finding Neverland

84. I'm a schoolteacher. I teach English composition... in this little town called Adley, Pennsylvania. The last eleven years, I've been at Thomas Alva Edison High School. I was a coach of the baseball team in the springtime. Back home, I tell people what I do for a living and they think well, now that figures. But over here, it's a big, a big mystery. So, I guess I've changed some. Sometimes I wonder if I've changed so much my wife is even going to recognize me, whenever it is that I get back to her. And how I'll ever be able to tell her about days like today. Ah, Ryan. I don't know anything about Ryan. I don't care. The man means nothing to me. It's just a name. But if... You know if going to Rumelle and finding him so that he can go home. If that earns me the right to get back to my wife, then that's my mission. - Saving Private Ryan

85. I like how you can compliment and insult somebody at the same time, in equal measure. - Blue Valentine

86. If it's bad, I will hate it. If it's good, I will be envious and hate it even more. - Midnight In Paris

87. But some things are not forgivable. Deliberate cruelty is not forgivable! It is the one unforgivable thing, in my opinion, and the one thing of which I have never, never been guilty. - A Streetcar Named Desire

88. You made me swallow my gum! That's going to be in my digestive tract for seven years! - Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

89. Well I'm telling you with 100 percent certainty that it is not the time. It's not about time, it's not the right time, it's not even quarter to the right time. - Walk the Line

90. Oh, you mean organezized. Like those little signs they have in offices that says, "Thimk"? - Taxi Driver

91. In Italy, you get chickens, but no eggs. In Africa there were always eggs, but... never chickens. Who separated them? - The English Patient

92. Remember, remember the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot... - V For Vendetta

93. After we watch "The Bucket List," remember to cross "watch 'The Bucket List'" off our bucket list. - Easy A

94. It's brown water! I'm paying seven-hundred dollars a month, I got rats with bongos and a, and a frog and I got brown water here. - Manhattan

95. No. No! NO! Stop it! Stop it, please! I beg you! This is sin! This is sin! This is sin! It's a sin, it's a sin, it's a sin! - A Clockwork Orange

96. I always wanted to say this. Say Hello to my little Friend! - Kick-Ass

97. Oh, that's not swearing. They came out of the sinful category an age ago. - Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day

98. Don't worry Shakespeare. You will get your ending. - Moulin Rogue

99. Can you believe it? We're in the middle of drought and water commissioner drowns! Only in L.A. - Chinatown

100. I will never get used to anything. Anybody that does, they might as well be dead. - Breakfast at Tiffany's

101. I'd like to spell it out for you...only I can't spell !! - The Apartment
 

 Hope you enjoy this!

Double Review: The Help, Book and Movie

A Week ago, while working at my job at my university library, I saw someone return Katheryn Stockett’s ‘The Help’. I was intrigued by it since the release of movie earlier this year. But I had no idea that it was available in my library. So, I took this opportunity with both hands. And in last week I read the book and immediately followed it by the movie to pitch them against each other. In general, most of the movies adapted from the books, I usually end up loving the book and hating the movie – Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Godfather(1972) and To Kill a Mockingbird(1962) being the only exceptions so far. So usually I would not have done it. But since movie was praised by many people, I decided to take this chance. Since there have been plethora of reviews out there already and most of them do a wonderful job of it, I will not tell you much about it. I will rather concentrate my energy on comparing the two versions.

I am sure that by now everyone knows that The Help(2011) is about a young, 20 something white woman from Jackson, Mississippi in 1960 who writes a book with help of few black maids about how it is to be working for white woman.  Now, first of all, let me say that this movie adaptation of book stays almost true to the book, which is nice to see. There are parts which have been changed in the movie. However, in most cases, they do not affect the final outcome too much. And film still floats. However, still, book remains the better version of the two. And again the reason behind it is the deviations from the original script. Film is written and co-directed by Tate Taylor, childhood Friend of author Katheryn Stockett. Both of them being the product of the very system, it shows that they know what they are talking about. In the end of the book, author says that 'In The Help(2011) there is one line that I truly prize: Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realise, We are just two people. Not much that separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought'. And they both emphasize it quite clearly.

Book works much more on personal level. It introduces all those characters to us, takes us into their lives. We live with them through their good days and bad. Making all these characters Gray, rather than plain Black and White, it almost makes us believe that they as human as you and me. In movie, we love and hate them as well. But you do not love AND hate anyone in movie. After book, I did love and Hate Celia Foote and even Hilly. There are few things explained in the book (e,g Hilly - even though she is a devil of a woman, she does stand behind skeeter, fixing her with Stuart and incident with Celia protecting Minny from an attacker) that even though do not affect the overall flow of the story, give the concerned characters much more depth helping humanize them.

One more thing that movie does is it changes the chronology of some of the events. But, to be honest, I did not have a problem with it. I rather liked the idea of starting with Aibileen dictating to Skeeter. It also gets rid of some parts. Skeeter's story with Stuart has lot of twists and turns in book. But again, even though it does give a much more emotional depth to the skeeter's character, I was OK with ditching the whole thing. However, the problem is with the parts which are included in the movie but they are changed e.g Constantine's story or rather Rachel's (Lulabelle in the book) story is much more convincing, dramatic even. Also, Skeeter finds out really late that her mother has Cancer in the book. Part where she figures that out, patches up with Stuart and breaks up again and finds out the truth about Constantine is really heart-breaking. Also, skeeter's mother never figures out that Anonymous is her daughter. Also, all the other maids do not know about Minny's involvement in the project until Yule May episode, which gives her the credit to bring others in.

Now, for the movie. Even though it does change a little here and there, overall it stays true to the emotion till the end. This and plethora of wonderful performances in the movie make it worth watching. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer as Aibileen and Minny respectively are wonderful. I surely can understand the Oscar Buzz around Viola Davis and hope she does get it. Emma Stone is also wonderful though I would have loved to see her character develop a little more. However, for me Jessica Chastain and Bryce Dallas Howard take the cake. Hilly is mean, despicable, controlling and embodied to the perfection by Bryce Dallas Howard. Jessica Chastain, Star of the Year, is revelation as frivolous housewife, excluded by all the 'Society Ladies' because she is White Trash. I wouldn't be surprised if either of them lands with the nomination as well. And the ending is little idealistic where in book, it keeps it much more realistic. My only problem with the book remains to be that it looks like scraps of the top of everything. Like Book does, it does not reach to the heart of the situation, and that is what keeps it from being Great.

Rating(out of 5):

           The Help(Book)                                                                                                   The Help(Movie)