'Paris' tells us to be Happy

 

                    Everyone, remember Melanie Laurent? I am sure you do. You may not know that you know her but you know her. Remember Shosanna of Inglourious Bastards (2009)? That's Her(go to the bottom if you still don't). I saw Paris(2008) few days ago. Basically, it was for Melanie Laurent but also because Richard Horcula mentioned it a couple of times on 'Riku Writes', one of the blogs I follow. In the last scene when our protagonist Pierre, is going to Hospital for his Heart Transplant he does not know will help him or not, he says 'That is Paris. No one is ever happy. We grumble and we love that. They don't know how lucky they are. Walking, breathing, running. They don't know how lucky they are to be carefree in Paris.' How True!!

                    Paris(2008) is an ensemble movie which tells us the story of different characters living in Paris, the city of Dreams for many. They are living that dream many others can die for but still somehow they don't even seem to live their own life. There is Pierre, cabaret dancer who has heart defect and is waiting for transplant which still may not save his life. We watch whole film through his perspective. Then there is Elise, Pierre's sister played by Juliette Binoche who is looking after him and is having her own mid-life crisis, Roland is a historian who is giving up teaching for making a Documentary on Paris for money and is stalking one of his old students anonymously. Laetitia, that is Melanie Laurent as beautiful as they come, is the student Roland is stalking and she ends up sleeping with him even though she has a boyfriend and there is Jean, a fruit and vegetable vendor who is still hung up on his previous girlfriend.

                    All these characters are interwoven subtly. Elise's daughter is friends with Jean's daughter. Jean has his shop in market close to Pierre's house and Laetitia lives right across Pierre, who observes her from his window, his favorite past-time now that his condition has restricted him a lot.He also observes other people around him like Khadija, who works in Bakery he goes to quite often and one more worker who collects garbage from his apartment. Jean is hung over Daniela, his ex and business partner but doesn't realize it until she gets killed in Road Accident. He watches her everyday flirting with his friends and tries to be indifferent but after she dies feels his responsibility to fulfill her last wish. Roland is a jaded professor embarrassed to be infatuated by his own student and saddened by usual joys of his brothers life because he is lonely and tells him that he is normal as if it is something wrong.

                    Like any other ensemble film, Paris(2008) has a lot of characters. It gives us a lot to ruminate about Life and Love. Everyone has its own story which actually makes it a really complex film but hey! Life is Complex. You need to simplify it. Everyone has worries and you will always have worries. But we need to go beyond it to appreciate the beauty of life. Actually this was one of the reasons I liked this movie. It goes a little above 2 hours and still feels short because all the characters are strong and real like you and me. It thankfully does not follow the cliched 'All is well that ends well' pattern. Rather This film doesn't attempt to answer all the questions it raises, it rather tells you that not all the questions have answers(This reminds me of 2nd July night I spent in New York when me and some friends were trying convince one other friend the exact same thing). As Pierre says in the end you just need to know that you are really lucky to be living. My only regret is Melanie Laurent doesn't talk much, though she looks stunning which is more than I can ask for and she gives what is needed from her character - strong presence with a captivating Face.

Rating(out of 5):

Profile of a Director

Martin Scorsese: The Phenomenon

                     

                    If Steven Spielberg, with his box office success and Academy Awards, is the popular representative of their generation, Scorsese is clearly the generation’s critical darling - Says Marc Raymond. Acknowledged my many as the greatest American Filmmaker of his generation, It is almost impossible to find someone who watches movies that does not know Martin Scorsese. Even a late bloomer like me (First time I heard his name was when The Aviator(2004) released) has been in his awe since, much like Jack Nicholson (I saw him first in The Departed(2006)). As Raymond says since he has always been revered by filmmakers and critics, even despite his limited success at box office, Scorsese has been considered as Powerhouse. Off course, besides filmmaking, his other work like his effort for Film Preservation(I even saw La Strada(1954) Recently, restored by special contribution from Martin Scorsese) and editing of film books has been Instrumental to put him where he is right now. There is so much to write about him that I am not quite sure how am I going to manage this but I am going to ask you to be patient while reading this.

After making few movies earlier, first notable movie Scorsese made was Mean Streets(1973). I saw it very recently because of much praise from Richard Hourula, one of the blogs that I follow religiously. Like Riku, many others consider this as the best film he ever made. Though not personal favorite, I definitely understand the legendary status this movie has attained. Lot of things that are Scorsese trademark now; unflinchingly graphic and realistic violence, great use of background Music and Rebert De Niro; you will see that they all started here. Then there was Taxi Driver(1976).  This is more like Stanley Kubrick type of movie but more confusing is for some reason, this movie was a box office success. I hated Travis Bickle when I saw this movie first. I still do but I still have seen it many times. Maybe He wanted us to hate Travis and he gets full marks for it because it is not easy to make you hate protagonist. It further enhanced its iconoclastic reputation when John Hinkley Jr., credited Travis Bickley's attempt to save a 12-year old prostitute in the end as his inspiration for his attack on then president Ronald Reagan.

Then He made the film which he didn’t want to, Raging Bull(1980), because he didn’t know anything about Boxing. Now, it is Best film of the Decade by American Film, one of the 360 great films by British Film Institute and 2^nd in voting as Great Film of All Time by Sight and Sound. Too much for something he didn’t want to do. He made many notable films like The Color of Money(1986), After Hours(1985), The King of Comedy(1982) and controversial The Last Temptation of Christ(1988) before going on to my favorite film, Goodfellas(1990). This film is in its own class. Like Mean Streets even Goodfellas exhibits typical Scorsese elements and it has Joe Pesci. To me, he is the most important link to set it apart from many other similar movies. He followed it by couple of well-respected remakes The Age of Innocence(1993) and Cape Fear(1991). 

I consider the movies he made after the turn of millennium as Modern Day Scorsese Movies as all these films have different, fresh feel of Technology. The Gangs of New York(2002), the movie he wanted to make for almost 30 years before actually making it, also marks his first association with Leonardo Di Caprio. He has appeared in almost every movie Scorsese made since then. The Aviator(2004), as I have stated previously is the starting point of all this for me. The Departed(2006), remake of an original Honk Kong Film Infernal Affairs(2002) with an added twist of his own in the end is a modern day miracle. I have rarely seen such a powerful cast of male actors complementing each other with such perfection. It finally gave him an Oscar for Best Director that eluded him till then. And I won’t even talk about Shutter Island(2010) except saying that I just loved it – especially the ending, just read this.

Scorsese is much known for his Italian mobster films like Goodfellas(1990), Mean Streets(1973) and Casino(1995). All these films have their special place in Scorsese’e career and even in Industry. But what is most important is even outside the most prolific genre he worked in, his work is simply phenomenal. Following quote about Scorsese sums it up quite nicely. ‘From the violent realism of MEAN STREETS, TAXI DRIVER, and RAGING BULL to the poignant romance of ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANY MORE, the black comedy of AFTER HOURS, and the burning controversy of THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, Martin Scorsese’s uniquely versatile vision has made him one of the cinema’s most acclaimed directors.’

Scorsese has been equally instrumental off the screen as he has been on. A tireless supporter of film preservation, Scorsese has worked to bridge the gap between cinema's history and future like no other director. Along with other directors, he founded a non-profit organization, The Film Foundation, to work on the restoration of lost and endangered films. By making couple of documentaries on national cinemas and appearing on many others as talking head authority, Scorsese has left his mark within Film Culture. Using his experience of various movements, primarily classic Hollywood, the French New Wave, and the New York underground movement of the early '60s, to an extraordinarily personal and singular vision, he has positioned himself at the fore front, always pushing the envelope of the film experience with an intensity and courage unmatched by any of his contemporaries. Perhaps it was only fitting that he received his Oscar from Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Cuppola and George Lucas, close friends and people with whom he started New Hollywood Movement during 70’s.

Previous Profiles:
Woody Allen

Almost Famous Fanny and Alexander's Vertigo on Sunset Blvd i.e. Movies I saw Recently

Summer is heating up outside and is kind of forcing me to stay in. There have been days in last few weeks when it was in higher 90s. It even touched 100 once. It took me almost an hour to settle down in full AC after getting inside my house. It was Ridiculous. Rather on the flip side, I am getting a chance to clear up my backlog for long time. Though I do watch quite many movies, I saw these movies because of my desire to clear up the backlog during this confinement.

Here They Go.....

Fanny and Alexander(1982): Ingmar Bergman's last feature film and third movie I have seen recently. I am making a conscious effort to see some of Bergman's films. I saw it after Wild Strawberries(1957) and Smiles of Summer Night(1955). However, the last two were forced more by Netflix than by Summer - they were available only for one more week. Though I am not really excited about Smiles, Fanny and Alexander definitely was worth watching. Ingmar Bergman, Probably the most accomplished and influential director of all time and known for handling themes like death, betrayal, illness, insanity, all these themes are very much at display in this movie. It is a story of two children Fanny and Alexander of Ekdahl family whose father dies of a stroke and then mother gets married again rather early to local bishop. Bishop asks their mother and children to move into the house by leaving everything in their previous life behind which in very little time makes them virtual prisoners in their eccentric new house. This causes friction between children and their father, especially with Alexander. Film ends mostly on happy terms though it shows that they will never get rid of their past completely.

Rating(out of 5):

Almost Famous(2000): Uncontrollable urge to see this movie originated from one of the blogs which listed this as the best movie of year 2000. I had it on me for quite some time now, but for some reason keep on procrastinating it. It might also interest you that I have Magnolia(1999) and Moulin Rogue(2001) over a year and I still haven’t seen them as well. Anyways, so I finally saw Almost Famous this week. Personally, I will not rate this as best movie of the year. There were better choices like Memento(2000) and Chocolat(2000) for me but this is definitely a good movie. Decent story of young man following an up and coming rock band as a journalist for Rolling Stone, noting down their struggle to keep up with the recent stardom, decent acting except Kate Hudson – who is remarkable in role of Penny Lane, as a band-aid as they are called in movie and deservedly got an Oscar Nomination for it, good music throughout – I believe music buffs especially Rock Music lovers will love this movie much more because of this and also because of the honest portrayal of Rock-Band Life. All in all, I may not watch this again and again but I definitely was satisfied that I finally saw this well-crafted, warm-hearted and a very personal movie.

Rating(out of 5):

Sunset Blvd.(1950): Billy Wilder is a kind of director that I always thought I would like ever since I saw his first film Sabrina(1954). Off course, the reason I saw Sabrina was Audrey Hepburn and didn't even know that it's Billy Wilder's movie. However, since then I always thought I will love his movies and after watching some 6-7 movies, I can say that he hasn't disappointed me yet. And reason I wanted to watch Sunset Blvd was along with Some Like It Hot(1959), it is considered by many as his Best Film though personally I like The Apartment(1960) more than this and I haven't yet seen Some Like It Hot(1959). It can be because The Apartment(1960) is rather happy movie and also I didn't know Shirley MacClaine can look so lovely - I never had doubt about her acting prowess. Anyways, I had a lot of expectations from Sunset Blvd before watching it and it definitely stood up to them. Basically, this classic dark comedy is a story of a failing writer unable to pay his debts and fading silent movie actress. She was the greatest actress of her time and even though she hates dialogues, she is writing a script to plot her comeback which she thinks will make her as successful. It completely relies on the basic elements of film to achieve its greatness - Great Story, well written screenplay, amazing acting and superb direction. What more can you ask for? Basic acting encore of movie deserves a lot of credit for this movie. It has got Gloria Swanson as eccentric, almost crazy Norma Desmond, William Holden as her boy-toy oe Giddis, legendary filmmaker Erich von Stroheim as an interesting character of her protective chauffer and beatific Nancy Olson as Betty Schaefer is just the cherry on top. It is kinda creepy that Joe Giddis is seen dead in very first scene of movie and still he narrates the whole movie to us maybe from heaven but it definitely got me hooked almost immediately. Probably the best Hollywood movie made about Hollywood itself.

Rating(out of 5):

Vertigo(1958): I realised quite late that I haven't seen a single Hitchcock movie, probably that was after the "Introduction to Hitchcock" post on Riku Writes. Just like Bergman, I am making similar progress on Hitchcock as well. Out of what I have seen and I have seen around 5 movies, Vertigo is right at the top with Notorious(1946). However, I give more credit to Hitchcock for this than Notorious(1946). Though Hitchcock and his camera play very important role in Notorious, , He had Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant to do wonders for him. Don't get me wrong, James Stewart and Kim Novak are equally beautiful couple but they aren't Bergman and Grant, most definitely not the Bergman and Grant from Notorious - it almost hurts to see them together in one frame in Notorious. Vertigo is a story of a Police Detective who is retired because of fear of heights, because of his Vertigo. After he is retired, one of his college friend asks him to watch his wife for him. While keeping watch on her, he starts falling for her. It was just an above-average film for me till last one minute and then--BOOM--it became AMAZING!! That is basically why I feel that Hitchcock deserves more credit for this than Notorious - because of ending. You are almost settling down in your seat, feeling rather relax anticipating the end, and one knock on the door, changes the story before you even realise it and credits start rolling, leaving you flabbergasted.

Rating(out of 5): 

And yes, I saw Harry Potter and Deathly Hollows Part 2 and as any Harry Potter fan who has read those books with real passion must have been, was disappointed by it. David Yates needs to understand that why something happens is much more important than it just happening. That is what made Harry Potter such an iconic franchise.