Blindspots Continued...- January 2014

Welcome back to the Brand new Blind Spots Series for the year of 2014! After successfully finishing last year’s batch in December, I decided to kick this series off with Tim Burton’s Ed Wood(1994), something I’ve obviously been meaning to see for long time but it had to this series that finally made me get to it.

Tim Burton still remains to be probably my biggest pop cultural blind spot. This one marks sixth of his film I have seen and 3 of them are from his last four. Almost everyone, probably even those who love him, agree that lately his movies are only a sad reminder of how great he once was. Engrossed completely in their own world, they seem to have a very distinct look and feel to them but only seem to go down in quality and all I have seen are these films during his decline. Technically, I have seen Edward Scissorhands(1990) but it’s so long ago that practically all I remember are glimpses of two scenes. So that leaves us with Big Fish(2003) which I only got to earlier last year. So I had to start somewhere getting deeper into his filmography and I guessed Ed Wood would be as good a start as any. It turns out I was right.

For those who do not know, this film is about Edward D. Wood Jr., a legendary filmmaker in ‘50s, who has become a legend for all the wrong reasons. Apparently he was termed ‘Worst Director of all time’ in 80s but that only led to his resurgence many years later and his almost iconic, cult-like status which I am assuming this movie as well played some part in. But funny thing is, after watching this film, I can almost understand why. I am sure his films will be a great watch with a group where people can enjoy how bad they are. Film however, without hiding the fact that he was a terrible director, paints Wood in all his eccentric glory but in very personal way, in a very sympathetic light. Given the type of characters that surround him, it would have been very easy to make them caricatures of them rather than actual human beings. But Burton puts a lot of heart in all these characters to make them likable. They are flawed, extremely weird and even gothic but he finds a way to make them likable. I don’t know if Burton has any ties to Wood or if he had any inclination towards him but he handles this film with such genuine warmth, with such a personal touch that it is almost impossible to imagine anyone else in his shoes doing it any better.

Edward D. Wood Jr didn’t seem to care about the quality of his films as long as he gets to make them. It’s almost as if his only target audience was he himself. It’s obvious that any Tom, Dick and Harry would do a better job directing than this guy; even his support crew had better sense of directing than him. But what made him stand out was his passion, his unquenching desire for making movies however bad they may be and his optimism. I don’t think there will be many people saying “Well, My next one will be better” to a big studio executive when he tells you that your film was the worst movie he ever saw. Not that he never had his moments of doubts; on couple of occasions he does wonder what if he never can make it big?, what if this is the best he can do? But surprisingly none of it derailed him. Maybe ‘that’ is real passion.

Burton does a lot of things right in Ed Wood. First and probably the most important is making it such a personal film. Second, he shoots it in glorious black and white. What it does personally is it makes me instantly fall in love with its look. However more importantly, since it is suppose to take place in 50s and Ed Wood made his films in black and white, it takes it closer to their base material. I am not sure if color would have added anything to this film. Thirdly, his casting is just perfect! Today, Johnny Depp in Tim Burton film is a default choice but in ’94, it was just second collaboration and there was no Helena Bonham Carter yet. But everyone down to minor supporting roles in this film is so well casted and in return they repay their director with such amazing performances that that it is almost impossible to imagine anyone else in those roles.

Obviously, two main points of focus in acting department will have to be Johnny Depp in the titular role and Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi. It is a very typical role for Depp now but there is much more to his role than it is visible just on surface and he brings out those nuances beautifully. Credit for making Ed Wood such a personal story and likable character despite all his quirks and stupidities goes to Depp’s acting as much as it is to Burton’s direction. But the real star here is Martin Landau. Admittedly, I haven’t seen him in a whole lot of films but the two I remember him for are probably his biggest achievements and both are quite monumental – this one and Crimes and Misdemeanours(1989). Landau is so amazing as Bela Lugosi that anyone can be easily fooled to believe that it was actually Lugosi himself playing his own role. He is so convincing that it is almost creepy. I was always sort of disappointed by Samuel Jackson not winning an Oscar for his supporting role in Pulp Fiction(1994) but after seeing this, I can take comfort in a fact that he at least lost to another equally deserving performance. Any actor that can produce a look on his face such as look on Landau’s face in rehab while paparazzi are taking his pictures and utter desperation in his voice when he says “Let them” deserves every accolade he gets.

Ed Wood made bad films and he was extremely proud of it. I had not seen any of his films before but I understand that the way Burton filmed them in this movie is almost exactly same as they are in real films. And each and every one of them looks terrible but I was drawn to it like a train wreck. I simply could not believe someone would make movies like that. So I checked out Plan 9 from Outer Space(1959) just out of morbid curiosity and it’s an absolute sight to behold. I have seen a lot of bad films (and I am not sure how to term one film worst film made ever) but this one is so bad, it’s not just good, it’s legendary. I pulled out almost half my hair. I am not sure what I would’ve thought of Ed Wood if I had seen it before watching it. Now that I am watching it afterwards, I am almost more appreciative of Plan 9. I think that is indicative of Tim Burton being successful in achieving everything he would have wanted to by this film. I am glad I started this year’s series with such a personal film.

Profile of a Director: Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino has got to be one of the most unique, most notorious and most direct directors in the film industry. This is the crazy maniac who openly admits that every single one of his movies has been stolen from many, many movies and none of us seem to mind it either. Well, if anyone can do it as well as he does, no one should either. 20 years ago, when he released his first movie and shocked everyone with it, he created lot of hype around his name right from the very start. Fast forward to 20 years later and now we kind of expect these things from his movies. We expect them to have a lot of violence, amazing soundtracks and to be very stylistic. Even though every one of his movies has come with great performances and gripping stories, I think I speak for everyone when I say that none of these have as much pull, as much power of summoning the movie enthusiasts into the theater as much as the title card saying "Directed by Quentin Tarantino", one of the reasons when Tarantino recently made his desire to retire after the age of 60 public, it became such a hot topic. He has successfully created a brand for himself. With the release of his latest Django Unchained(2012) on Christmas Day and Netflix making Four Rooms(1995) available for streaming gave me a chance to do something I have been meaning to do for a long time - finish his filmography. Which shall bring us to this post, getting into Tarantino's complete filmography, starting from his first short My Best Friend's Birthday(1987) to Django, every movie he has directed.

My Best Friends Birthday(1987)(short) - Tarantino actually made a movie before this as well or at least started making it because apparently he never finished it. So, this is his first attempt at film-making. Originally, he wrote it as a 70-minute movie where a young man, played by Tarantino himself, is trying to make sure that his best friend has a good birthday but nothing goes right. However, apparently due to some accident only 36 minutes of it survived and that is what I saw. I hate to say this but it feels very amateurish in every department. Now I know that it is 1987, it is his first film and only half of it has survived but even by that standard, I wish I had some kind words to say. Alas! At least it kick-started what would become a legendary career. Grade: C

Reservoir Dogs(1992) - So this is where it all really started. Tarantino's first full length feature film. Every single thing you now expect from Tarantino movie started with this. His language, his soundtracks, his title cards, the way his characters walk, talk, behave, his way of killing off important characters with a moment's notice and his way of showing violence on screen or not - it all starts here. I am sure most of us know the story of how Harvey Keitel got involved into producing this faltering script. I often wonder how it would be on the sets with Director being the most inexperienced person on the set ordering everyone around but then I remember it's Quentin Tarantino. I am sure he would be the first one to joke about it in his trademark style. Oh and he never gets his hands dirty by actually showing the robbery which everyone is so pissed about. Grade - A

Pulp Fiction(1994) - Saying that Pulp Fiction is one of my favourite movies would be such an understatement. Samuel Jackson reciting Ezekiel 25:17 and whatever happens before or after that in that apartment alone was enough to make it my favourite. It is much more than a movie that I really, really like. It is one of those movies that made me a movie buff that I am right now. Sure, I saw a lot of movies before Pulp and sure, there are quite a few that I loved as well but none of them made me want to go and seek out more movies like this one. If they make it anything like this, I seriously wanted a piece of that. At Once. I have been trying since. I am quite sure that this was the first Tarantino I saw, sometime around Fall of 2009. The fact that it had such a a huge impact on a novice like me almost 15 years after its release itself should speak volumes about how influential this movie is.  Grade: A+

Four Rooms(1995): (Segment "The Man From Hollywood") - I have my problems with this movie as a whole, especially with meaningless first segment and ridiculously over the top acting of Tim Roth and others. But if we start talking about just the Tarantino segment, all my issues disappear. Of the four stories in the movie, his is the best by a long margin. First of all it is a very straight forward and fun story, off course with a usual Tarantino zing to it. Even in the small 20 minute window, he leaves his footprints all over it. Once he enters the room, it doesn't leave for it's full length. It's like one long 20 minute sequence. It starts, quickly finds its footing, picks up the pace and soon ends with a blast, never missing a beat.  Grade: A-

Jackie Brown(1997) - This seems to be the start of Tarantino's decade worth of movies with female protagonist. Some also believe this to be his last normal movie or last good movie as after this he gets much more stylistic, violent if he wasn't already. Off course, I do not agree that he didn't make anything good after this but I understand the criticism and see where it comes from.  In my opinion, this is his most un-Tarantino-esque movie of his career. It seems like most of his signature items are dialed down a notch. But he has enough juice in his characters and in his script to carry them through. With the help of yet another flawless ensemble, this is a heist movie that keeps you guessing till the end. Admittedly, Jackie Brown suffers a little from being the follow-up of legendary Pulp Fiction but there were many years between my viewings. So, I never felt it was over shadowed. Grade: A

Kill Bill: Vol I(2003) - Taking a mini hiatus of 6 years to work on World War II screenplay which eventually became Inglourious Basterds(2009). However since that screenplay was taking a long time, he focused on another project in the mean time which will mark his most glorious, most bad-ass and even most dichotomous female protagonist in the form of Bride in this first part of a revenge story fueled by Tarantino's love for Samurai and Martial Arts movies. In his typical style, Tarantino throws us right into the action from the very first scene and never backs down from getting his hands dirty. With multiple action scenes that spill blood by barrels, this has to be his bloodiest movie. Being first part of two, another thing he does well is Tarantino gave it its own legs. He made sure that even though they both have strong connection with each other, they both also stand very well on their own.  Grade: A-

Kill Bill: Vol II(2004) - Apparently, it wasn't Tarantino's plan of making this movie in two parts from the start. Just being another one of his passion projects, he kept on adding stuff and never stopped until he felt it's done right. The final product was the more than four hour long revenge story which producers and distributors weren't sure about from the marketing point of view. And hence they did it in two parts instead of one. I have no idea what was the public reaction about this decision at the time of its release since I was nowhere in picture then but I don't think it would have been very enthusiastic. However, despite that second part seems to have much more favorable critical reaction than the first one and I can certainly see why. First one is much more of an action movie with a lot of action and much more blood whereas though second has its fair share of action and gut, being much more drama-centric has more gravitas.  Grade: A-

Death Proof(2007) - In the THR Directors Roundtable Tarantino himself said that Death Proof has got to be the worst movie he has made and if it stays like that, he'll be happy with it. I know, I'll be too but the question is do I agree with his assessment? To tell you the truth, I don't have any problem with this movie. I know that it is a little loose and maybe even disconnected story, but I think it is a fun movie with a long and electrifying chase involving Zoe Bell of all people in the end and with the risk of sounding sadistic, an amazing crash scene in the middle. I love the way it shows that crash from the perspective of everyone involved. But as much as I hate to admit it, if we are discounting Four Rooms as a whole and his first short, Tarantino is right. It is such a fun ride but is still his weakest. Grade: B+

Inglourious Basterds(2009) - At around the same time that I saw Pulp Fiction and went on some serious kick looking for his movies, Inglourious Basterds was in theaters. Imagine 1-2 punch of these two that knocked me out and I was sold. As I said earlier, this was the point where I was very much in infancy of being a movie-buff. I was still learning to appreciate what makes good movie a good movie. This movie added many things to that list. Have you ever seen anything like that long, continuous opening scene? I still cannot believe how lengthy many of his scenes are but even more importantly how brilliantly they build the tension in the scene, case in point French Tavern sequence. Now it does get a lot of criticism about being over-indulgent, especially over it's 'masterpiece' ending. But tell me, Do I give a Damn ? Grade: A+

Django Unchained(2012) - Tarantino's latest. This year's Oscar nominee for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay among others. Let me get the biggest concern out of the way first. For the first time in his career, his movie looked a little indulgent to me. Don't get me wrong, I still don't give a damn and I still love this movie but I believe I saw some chinks in the armor for the first time. What I loved the most about it is the way he blends multiple genres so inadvertently. Since I haven't mentioned it before anywhere, I have to mention the soundtracks of his movie which are one of his signature by now. Every single one of his movies has had an amazing soundtrack and this one isn't any exception but perfect way they reflect the 'western-ness' of this movie is exceptional.  Grade: A

Previous Profiles:
Paul Thomas Anderson
Wes Anderson
Billy Wilder
Christopher Nolan

Sidney Lumet
Martin Scorsese

Woody Allen

If You Say So...

 Some of my favorite dialogues from various films

My Best Friend’s Wedding(1997)

Julianne: I'm pond scum. Well, lower actually. I'm like the fungus that feeds on pond scum.

Michael: Lower. The pus that infects the mucus that cruds up the fungus that feeds on the pond scum. On the other hand, thank you for loving me that much, that way. It's pretty flattering.

Julianne: Except it makes me fungus. 

   

Juno(2007)

Bren: 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.

Pulp Fiction(1994)

Jules: 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.

My Cousin Vinny(1992)

Vinny Gambini: 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.

The Dark Knight(2008)

Harvey Dent: You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

The Joker: This city deserves a better class of criminal. And I'm gonna give it to them!

As Good As It Gets(1997)

Carol: I don't quite get how that's a compliment for me.

Melvin: You make me want to be a better man.

Carol: ...That's maybe the best compliment of my life.

Melvin: Well, maybe I overshot a little, because I was aiming at just enough to keep you from walking out.

Inception(2010) 
Cobb: Dreams fell real when we're in them. Its only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange

Goodfellas (1990)

Tommy DeVito: 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?

The Sound of Music(1965)

Maria(to Butler):  I'm from the convent. I'm the new governess, captain.

Butler: And I'm the old butler, fräulein.

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring(2001)

Galadriel: 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.

Inglourious Basterds(2009)

Lt. Aldo Raine: You probably heard we ain't in the prisoner-takin' business; we in the killin' Nazi business. And cousin, business is a-boomin'.

The Godfather(1972)

Don Corleone: I'm gonna make him an offer he won't refuse.

No Country for Old Men(2007) 

Anton Chigurh: What's the most you have lost in a coin toss? 

A Life In Movies Part II: 1986 to 2000

Here Goes the second part of Life In Movies for the Remainder of my Life.

2000: Memeto. Christopher Nolan made very good impact in his very first movie. Most notable is the way of storytelling – starting at the end and then coming towards start. You know how this is going to end in very first scene but it doesn't k kill suspence for you, it builds on it. Other movies that deserve to be mentioned: Chocolat, Traffic.

1999: The Matrix. It took me long time to understand this movie and then like it. However, over the years I have learnt to appreciate it, especially after watching next two parts(For the record, Second one was OK but I hate last one). Greatness of this movie lies in that amazing concept of artificial reality created by your own mind. Other movies that deserve to be mentioned: The Green Mile and The Sixth Sense.

1998: Saving Private Ryan. I think this is the best war movie made ever, afilm of great Vision and scope. It also has some of the most memorable moments. Opening war scene at Omaha Beach - I usually find myself stopping at this point to catch my breath and then Tom Hanks speech after he lets POV go - Golden moments. It is quite an experience that you live with while watching a film. Notable Mentions: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, American History X and Life Is Beautiful.

1997: One of my Favorite years. There are so many movies made this year that I love. As Good As It Gets, Good Will Hunting, My Best Friends Wedding - List goes on and on. However, best movie of the year to me was The Sweet Hereafter. It is an extremely honest and painful Canadian movie which I have talked about earlier here. Special Mention: Children of Heaven.

1996: Jerry Maguire, for the lack of better option. For some reason, I do not appreciate many of supposed great movies made this year - The English Patient, Fargo. They are not bad movies rather they are good just not good enough to make in my favorite movies. maybe, I am missing some good ones...

1995: The Usual Suspects. Nothing is as it seems in the multilayer-ed, velvety movie. In the end, when Kevin Spacey breaks his limp and starts walking normally was one of worst moments of my cinematic experience. I just could not believe it. IF there are points for an ending, Usual Suspects will get 100/100 for unusual, unsuspecting ending. Notable Mention: Se7en

1994: Pulp Fiction. Outrageously violent and time-twisting but extremely influential film And we have many equally influential films in the same year e.g. The Shawshank Redemption and Forrest Gump or should I just say a typical Tarantino Film? But believe me, even Tarantino will find it very difficult to better this. And Samuel Jackson reciting Ezekiel 25:17. HEAVEN!! 

1993: Schindler's List: This movie is a rare combination of being an uplifting as well as disturbing. One of the best works of Spielberg's career as well as any holocaust movies made. Spielberg handles this controversial, sophisticated story with real sensibility. Others worth mentioning: Philadelphia, Groundhog Day, The Big Lebowski.

1992: A Few Good Men. There are very few examples of monologues better than Jack Nicholson's testament at the very end of the movie which leaves you flabbergasted. Jack Nicholson has a very small part to play, but even during that time he leaves you in awe. Others worth mentioning: My Cousin Vinny, Scent of a Woman.

1991: The Silence of the Lambs. One of the only 3 films to win all the big Oscars, Best Film, Actor, Actress, Director and Screenplay and I wouldn't doubt it especially Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. Other Notable mentions: JFK, Terminator 2: Judgement Day. 

Now, this is going to be a real test. For some reasons, there aren't many personal favorite movies during 80's. Give me 70's and I am much more comfortable. I am still going to try my best.

1990: Goodfellas. One of the legendary films Scorsese made during his equally legendary career. Its legendary status was elevated by Academy's snub over Dances with Wolves (REALLY??) However Goodfellas is a kind of film which will appear on almost any Best of XXXX List I will make. Runner-Up: Pretty Woman.

1989: Just one of the years I hate 80's for. It isn't a case that there are not any good movies, it had Crimes and Misdemeanors, Steel Magnolias, Glory and When Harry Met Sally. They just aren't good enough. Ok. Crimes and Misdemeanors for the lack of better option.

1988: Grave of the Fireflies. One more tearjerker. But it is an extremely touching story, specially the character of Satsuko. As adorable as little girl from Monsters. Inc(2001). This film leaves its impression on you long after you have seen it. Other Notable Mentions: Cinema Paradiso, and Rain Man. 

1987: The Last Emperor even though it is little too lengthy. and Just like 1989, there are few good movies as well like Wall Street, The Princess Bride and Moonstruck.

and Finally 1986: Platoon.  This is closest a war movie can be Anti-War. Oliver Stone directorial debut venture is brutal but realistic account of a soldier's experience in Vietnam War. Stone himself served in Vietnam and film is pretty much based on his experiences itself. Runner Up: Hannah and Her Sisters, Aliens.

So How does it Look?