Mini Reviews: 2012 Edition

Now that we are coming closer to the end of the year, I am on quite a binge lately of clearing up the movies released earlier that I missed in anticipation of end of the year lists. Some of them have been OK but surprisingly, there are many that actually turned out to be much better than I anticipated. Here is a batch of four movies that I would not have seen, and in some cases wouldn't even know about, if they did not come with strong recommendations from some of my fellow bloggers.

Compliance(2012): Most of the readers might know that I am a part of LAMB. If you head over to the LAMB site, there is a small table which highlights 2012 movies which have highest Lamb scores i.e. members like me, rate each movie out of 5 Lambs and average score is that movie's Lamb score. Even though there are only 9 people who have voted for it, Compliance has one of the highest Lamb scores of 2012. To tell you the truth, this review is going to be little difficult and once I tell you the story, you will understand why. The thing is movies like Compliance and even Funny Games(1997), which I saw just the day after because I was in the mood to punish myself, basically draw out a strong emotional response from you. They rattle your senses, they numb your brain and in case of something like Compliance; they question your very basic common sense, which apparently isn't that common. I always find it difficult to judge such movies objectively even after some time has elapsed since your viewing. To tell you the synopsis of what it is about, it basically takes place in one of the branches of a burger joint. Someone who identifies himself as Officer Daniels calls manager Sandra and tells her that he has someone in front of him, a woman, who has a complaint that one of the employees in her branch, Becky, stole something out of her purse and he is investigating further in the matter. He asks her if she is willing to comply. Sandra has had a bad start of the day as she finds out that she has lost bunch of her meat because of someone's negligence the day before. Since she is taking care of this without telling her regional manager, she is already on the defensive and with something like this on her plate, she has no choice but to agree. He asks Sandra to take Becky to the back storage room and what follows after that is basically he humiliates her sexually on multiple occasions, in front of multiple people.

Personally, I do not believe that someone would be so stupid to go as far as they show in the movie but this movie is based on true events and as I later found out, everything really did happen. To The Last Word. I am just not ready to believe that someone like Sandra, who is otherwise sane and good person would be so stupid to believe everything the guy on the phone tells her and does not do what she does in the end sooner. But that exactly is the whole point of the movie I guess. To the movie's credit, it is exceptionally well-made, almost all the acting performances are spot-on. It hits all the right notes. You are disgusted by how excited the caller seems when he is instructing Sandra's boyfriend, you are frustrated by Sandra's submissiveness and deeply disturbed by whatever Becky has to go through and in the end, it leaves the viewer feeling used, dirty. However, evoking such a strong response from the viewer is its biggest achievement. This movie is quite an experience, just not the pleasant one.

Rating(out of 5): 

English Vinglish(2012): Yes. A Hindi movie and after quite some time, something that is really, really worth it. I am telling you, this makes me so happy to say that I see this making my end of the year top 10 list. English Vinglish first got my attention when I saw its trailer. It was not only different but also clever. It also meant return of Sridevi to the big screen, who was one of the most popular actresses in late '80s - early '90s. I also found out that even though it is Gauri Shinde's first directorial effort, she is R. Balki's wife who has done movies like Paa(2009) and Chinee Kum(2007) and she has been helping him out. The more I got to know about it, more intrigued it got me and then after it's release, it opened up to almost unanimous praise. When I saw it, a couple of weeks ago, there were around 40 people in my hall. For a Hindi movie in US, having 40 people in its 4th week is a really big thing in my opinion. It actually even played at TIFF though I do not know anyone who went there and saw it.

So, basically it is a story of a housewife, Shashi from a well-to-do family. She likes to cook and hence as a past time, has started a small catering business of her own. However, her problem is she can't speak English well which even in her household is perceived as a social standard and hence often made fun of by her own kids and her husband. One day her sister who leaves in America, calls her to tell that one of her daughters is getting married and she will really appreciate it if Shashi can come a little early to help her with the marriage. She hesitates initially but agrees for her sister's sake. Rest of the movie is her attempt to learn English, she even joins an English speaking class and elevate herself in everyone's eyes to gain a respect that she deserves as a mother, as a wife and more importantly, as an equally important member of the Family. Though I never had language problem like Shashi, I can totally understand what it means to be in her shoes since even I and quite a few people I know have had some encounters like her but they were more awkward, less humiliating. Beauty of it is it has almost everything Indian film has to offer - comedy, drama, romance, music, culture and language and it is all done so subtly and maturely. This is Sridevi's show in every sense and she owns it like a pro. My only problem was her daughter. If I said something like she says to her mother, I really would not know what hit me but that's very minor rant. My favorite thing about the whole movie was when in the end, Shashi speaks in English(Come On, that's not a Spoiler), she speaks in proper English but she isn't fluent. She stumbles, she searches for words and she is still scared if she is saying the right thing. It might be a small thing but it makes it look so genuine, so real.

Rating(out of 5): 

The Deep Blue Sea(2012): This one has been doing rounds in the discussions mainly because of the Rachel Weisz's performance and let me tell you straight away that there is some value to it since it sure is one hell of a performance. In a remake of 1955 movie of the same name, Rachel Weisz plays a middle aged woman, Hester, who falls for a younger man - an Air Force pilot and walks out on a much older husband - a British Judge, who would probably be able to give her a much better life, at least in a materialistic sense. However, reason why she first gets into an affair and then walks out of her marriage is because they lack one thing that she probably needs the most in a relationship - Love. Even though her husband denies her a legal divorce and openly takes a stance of making it every bit difficult for her, she still moves in with Freddie, her lover. With Freddie, there is passion, there is intensity but probably not in equal measures from both the sides. It seemed like reason why Hester chooses Freddie over her husband is not just love and is much more...primitive as she herself seems to hint a couple of times. However their very different personalities, their expectations, behaviour doesn't make it exactly a walk in the park; something she probably expected while leaving her husband. It opens with Hester trying to kill herself. However with timely intervention by her landlady and some of her neighbors, she is saved. From this point, movie keeps on jumping back and forth basically to bring us up to speed with whatever has brought us to the current event. First 15 minutes or so which also include a parts of flashback as well, use incessant violin in the background which makes it even more sad than they are. However after some time, these violins just go silent and surprisingly this period of calm made me want them to come back. Throughout the movie, its background score captures the feel of movie so perfectly that it made me think of In The Mood For Love(2000).

The Deep Blue Sea is Rachel Weisz's show and as I stated above, she is truly amazing in it. Little too morbid maybe, but it is to be expected from a movie about a woman yearning for love from both the men in her life and one that starts with suicide attempt. She really gets into the role from the very first scene and it maybe is painful to see her at times but she never gets out of that role. Others kinda fade in comparison, though none disappoints. In addition to that score, it is beautifully shot(like the scene in metro station), well edited(back and forth of first 15-20 minutes) and that ending. As heartbreaking as it is, I thought that is where it was leading from the start and I am happy that director had the courage to take it there eventually.

Rating(out of 5):

Sound of My Voice(2012): "Yet another cult movie" was my expression when it was released originally. But with the recent DVD release, I heard quite a lot about it which prompted me to give it a look. So, Peter and Lorna - a couple who actually do not believe in a cult at all, join one to expose them. They have some kind of sting operation in mind, out of which they can make a documentary and show people that how bogus these cults are and what their real motives are. This cult they join is headed by Maggie, who believes that she is from the future and an apocalypse is waiting for them there. She says that she has come back so that she can train those who are worthy and promises salvation to them. Peter thinks that she is complete phone and really dangerous and needs to be stopped and Lorna tags along to help him. At first, I did not find Maggie convincing, especially since she was so young but she convinced me over the time. Off course, I have never been a part of a cult but their proceedings felt quite genuine to me in a sense that that's how I think a cult would operate. Even Maggie became much more acceptable to me with a kind of grip, influence she shows on herself and on most of her followers. This control, influence that Maggie has makes it even more difficult for Peter and Lorna to do what they aim to do. Even more so as after certain incidences, Peter starts getting attracted and even intrigued by her; maybe even starts believing in her even though he puts up a brave face in front of Lorna. Things take interesting turn as when Maggie asks Peter to do something for her to prove his loyalty to the cult and at the same time, Lorna meets someone who tells her few things about Maggie's past.

There is really a lot that I really liked about Sound of My Voice, including the ending which kinda leaves it open but that's what I like about it the most. However, there are couple of things that really stop me from giving it higher rating it deserves and they are both very basic flaws in script in my opinion. First of all, I didn't realize what makes Maggie so dangerous ? They stay in there basement with their weird rituals. She is not trying to destroy anything, she isn't even preaching her followers to do it for her. So what's so wrong about her? And secondly, why is Peter so dead-set on exposing her. Maybe she is a phony and people do deserve to know but what's Peter's inspiration behind doing it? There is something about his mother but it didn't convince me. For a movie based on these two things, there probably should have been some explanation for either of the two things.

Rating(out of 5): 

Profile of a Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

There are two things that bring us to this post. First of all, Wes Anderson's profile that I did last month. That was the first profile where I saw every movie in his filmography and wrote about it. After that, I was thinking about which director to cover next, which brings us to the second thing. That would be release of P.T. Anderson's The Master(2012) which reminded me that I still had not seen Boogie Nights(1997) by then. I had all the time in the world to see it before but I guess, I needed to set this target for myself - watching all the movies PTA did to do another profile, Wes Anderson style. Over the next month, I got hold of all the PTA movies that I had not seen(that would be 3 including Boogie Nights) which brings us to this post right here, right now. I really don't think that there are many people in the industry who have as much knowledge of the craft as much as Paul Thomas Anderson and that's even more remarkable if you take his age into account. Born and brought up on '70s cinema; which in my opinion was probably the best decade for American Cinema; he not only seeped everything he possibly can from the likes of Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola and most notably for him, Robert Altman but more remarkably even developed his own distinctive style. There must be something in the water in '70s since, for better or for worse, almost every director from that school has his own distinctive style. Think Quentin Tarantino or Wes Anderson. Let us get right into the filmography of Paul Thomas Anderson.

The Dirk Diggler Story(1988)(short): This is where it all started. First short that PTA made set up the base for what he will make a full-length feature out of 10 years later and call it, Boogie Nights(1997). If you are a fan of movie(and who isn't), you can have a look at it here. As the name suggests and if you have seen the movie, you would know that this is the story of Life and Works of Dirk Diggler trying to make his mark on the porn industry. To tell you the truth, by no means it is anywhere close to Boogie Nights. Most actors working in it are really bad and look and act like actual porn stars(for all I know, they might actually be). But there is a good possibility that if we did not have this, there may not be any Boogie Nights and for that; it needs to be seen. Grade: B+

Cigarettes and Coffee(1993)(short): Another short that is worth your time that PTA did before getting into feature films. For a 24-minute short, it is remarkable to see how many storylines PTA handles in it and it is really exciting to see him slowly merge these seemingly different arcs into each other. A story that revolves around $20 bill and multiple characters that come in possession of the note, we soon realize that even though none of the characters know each other despite being in the same diner, only thing that they have in common with each other is that note. Featuring much better known actors like Phillip Baker Hall who also worked with him in couple of his next movies and Miguel Ferrer, this probably is the first example of great storytelling that PTA has become known for. Grade: A

Hard Eight(1996) aka Sydney: So, this is probably where it all really started. PTA's first full-length feature. It may not be a good idea to start with this but it is probably the weakest of his whole filmography. But then again, it isn't saying much considering I am a PTA Fan-boy through and through which should be clear once you see the ratings below. Basically it is a story of Sydney who is a professional gambler. One day, he meets John sitting outside some cafe somewhere in the vicinity of Reno. He buys him a coffee, lends him 50 bucks and also teaches him how to make the most of them. John - who has no money, no one and nowhere to go - follows Sydney from them on and becomes a small-time and moderately successful gambler. He even finds love in Clementine, part-time waitress, part-time hooker. But something Clementine does threatens to destroy their world. It is completely de-stylized, neither slows down at any point nor speeds up - completely monotonous in pacing and I do not mean any of this necessarily as a complaint. However, some of his characteristics are pretty evident from the very first film - excellent performances all round, simple but tight and interesting story and his photography. If you have seen it, the conversation between John and Sydney might remind you of the conversation in Cigarettes and Coffee but comparison stops there.  Grade: B+

Boogie Nights(1997): This is as good as it gets and no, I am not talking about 1997, Helen Hunt - Jack Nicholson movie. This is as fine a movie you will get to see. I saw this movie very recently and promptly kicked myself for not having seen it early. It is a story of young man, who somehow gets drawn into the world of porn films after one of the directors finds him and thinks that he has a great potential in him. After some initial hesitancy, he follows him and that road takes him to the top very quickly but his ego takes him to the rock bottom equally fast and brings him right where he started it. As I already said above that PTA's first short was the test ride for this ultimate roller coaster of a ride that still makes everyone wonder, how did he do something as amazing as this at such a tender age?, including myself. For a movie about the porn industry, Boogie Nights maintains it's balance wonderfully well that it does not become a porn movie itself but at the same time never looses it's grip on the subject. Maintaining that balance would be a very delicate affair and it's very easy to fall off either way but PTA thrives on it. Another thing that I have to mention here about it is performances. First of all, there are so many wonderful performances in it that I will be here all day. So, I am not even going to bother listing them. Just Everyone, every single one that appears on screen, even for a second. But more importantly, they are all playing actors, bad actors and everyone does a great job of portraying bad actors. I do not know much about it but I presume making a great job of playing bad actor should be pretty damn hard. Grade: A+

Magnolia(1999): Back in the day when I first saw this movie, this movie was my prime example of 'Something that I never thought I would Like and ended up Loving'. I remember watching a little bit of Magnolia and turning it off, not because it was boring but because it felt too heavy to me then. For next six months or so, I kept its same impression and always opted for something else over it. The fact that it is almost 3 hours in length wasn't helping much either. One 'fine' day, I finally bit the bullet, sat in front of the TV and saw it but more importantly, instantly Loved It !! It is really difficult to summarize Magnolia because it is Cigarettes and Coffee's multiple inter-wining story lines concept at its grandest - PTA at his personal best. For the first watch, something which is easily one of the ultimate "WTF!!" moments in cinematic history (Do I even need to tell you what I am talking about ?)was probably the biggest highlight even though it took me some time to know the biblical reference and hence the actual meaning of that scene. Once again in typical Robert Altman style, there is a whole cast full of people with wonderful performances but the first time around Tom Cruize and Melora Walters took the cake for me. When I say that it has a cast full of wonderful performances, I really mean it because I have done its re-runs looking at just a couple of performances every time - Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Juliana Moore once, then William H. Macy and John C. Reilly and so on. I still haven't run out of them after multiple watches. Grade: A

Punch-Drunk Love(2002): Apparently, PTA is big fan on Adam Sandler and his type of comedy. So, he did a movie for him, in his style that will suit Adam Sandler as well. So he did this story of Barry Egan who has seven sisters and the way they treat him or almost abuse him, has had some psychological impacts like it has kept him away from everyone or unpredictable in a way he will react to any situation. However, he finally finds a girl that he likes and who even finds him interesting. But one call he made one day to a phone-sex line threatens to ruin all that. Ohh and I forgot to mention that there is a harmonium and lots of pudding in it as well. Some of the highlights of it were Adam Sandler which surprised me as well but he was really good in it, Emily Watson - Brilliant and it is weird but somehow I noticed her cloths a lot and most importantly, Tracking shots and lots of them. It was a fun movie and I liked it a lot and I do not mean it as a criticism against Punch-Drunk Love but it's such an odd-man-out in PTA's filmography. I actually wanted to check if they got the right Anderson since it is much more Wes Anderson than P.T. Anderson. You see, Barry Egan and his seven sisters, whole plot with Phillip Seymour Hoffman will fit perfectly well in Wes Andersonian world and even more importantly, music used in this. I have never seen anyone else use anything like that. Only real difference was any of the characters or everything around them is that they aren't that stylised maybe and hence feel like they belong to this world. To me, most of Wes Anderson films look like they belong in a completely different world. Grade: B+

So now, I can talk about Couch(2003) but Adam Sandler himself doesn't talk in it and now-a-days we have trailers longer than this or Blossoms and Blood(2003) which is just a collection of alternate takes or deleted material from Punch-Drunk Love which when put together, surprisingly makes a lot more sense than it should. And then there is also Mattress Man Commercial, commercial for a shop Phillip Seymour Hoffman's character runs in Punch-Drunk Love, which is actually quite funny. I like the way he falls off but I'll rather get to the next one.

There Will Be Blood(2007): I think this will be the shortest paragraph I have written for any movie. This is as close to perfection as any movie can ever get. In Every. Single. Aspect. This is my second favorite movie of all time and Daniel Day-Lewis' portrayal of Daniel Plainview is 'THE Best Individual Performance I have Ever seen' and the bowling alley scene is probably THE Scene as well. So, this is where I run out to the street and start screaming "PTA Is God !! PTA Is God !!". Grade: A++(if there is any other Grade higher than that, I would give that too)

The Master(2012): After There Will Be Blood and all the gushing over it, it was imperative that wherever PTA goes, I will be there. Naturally, as soon as I knew that there is going to be a PTA movie in 2012, it went right into my most anticipated movies of the year along with Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises(2012), another director I obsessively geek over. Strange comparison eh? Wait till I tell you how much similar I think both their career paths are? They might be going in very different directions but I feel like they are following a very similar paths. I can even go as far as to say that PTA is Martin Scorsese to Nolan's Spielberg. Too far? OK. I will stop. So, The Master. Another movie with great cast. I am almost certain that all the three leads will have an academy nominations. Screenplay, Director and Movie nominations seem likely as well. If you ask me, watch the first 'processing' scene. Enough. Great work with Camera, stunning cinematography, haunting score. But as I said in my review previously, decisive factor here is the story. As you must have already seen; if you can connect with story in some way, people will call it a great cinematic achievement. If you don't, you might think of it as boat load of crap and even though I belong to the first group myself, I completely understand those in the other. Funny thing is until The Master, I never realized that PTA's movies can be as divisive. Now that I think back, I realize that every movie he did can be and to an extent, has been. Grade: A-

Previous Profiles:
Wes Anderson
Billy Wilder
Christopher Nolan

Sidney Lumet
Martin Scorsese

Woody Allen

Top 5: Actors directing themselves

With the Oscar season picking up since last month, we are getting ready for many movies that are sure to play some role in the award season. We have seen some of the big players release already. With the release of Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master(2012) last month, which is almost sure to get nominated in all the three acting categories as well as it seems to have a good chance for Best Picture, Director as well as Screenplay. Another movie that we have already seen and is sure to play big role is Ben Affleck's Argo(2012). Based on real event in 1980 where CIA and Canadian Intelligence worked together to extract six Americans working in American Embassy in Tehran, Iran as things get crazy after the Iranian Revolution in 1979. It is almost guaranteed a nomination for Best Picture and Best Director and it also looks good to get through Screenplay nomination as well as Alan Arkin getting into Supporting category. When I saw it couple of weeks ago, it immediately jumped very high in my this year's list as well. Probably even the Best. It asserted the fact that Ben Affleck is turning out to be a fine director. I loved his first movie, Gone Baby Gone(2007) and is one of my favorites, Amy Ryan is the force to be reckoned with in it. Even The Town(2009), his sophomore effort, albeit not as good as first one it was still decent. However with the success of Argo, it should be safe to assume that he has made his transition from in front of camera to behind it and looking at his acting career, it's probably for better. However, this got me thinking about actors directing themselves on screen. I kept on thinking about the pros and cons of it and the fact there probably aren't too many to judge from wasn't helping either. I still don't know if it's for better or for worse but I knew one thing for sure. I have an idea for another post.

So, this is a list of 5 actors that have directed themselves and in my opinion are the best examples of it. I have tried to think of as many as I can and have come to finalize this list. If I have missed someone noteworthy, please remind me in the comments. What I have also done is to try and bring it to one performance rather than their whole careers which would make it easy for me and made sure they play significant part in the movie, playing at least supporting role in it(so none of the Hitchcock appearances qualify).

Honourable Mentions: 

Jackie Chan in Project A(1983) - Some of you probably know that I have an immense respect for this man for his dedication and effort that he usually puts into his movies considering the fact that he does all his stunts by himself and then he also directs stuff.

Aamir Khan in Taare Jameen Par(2008) - Aamir Khan is kind of a rarity in Indian Industry since he is one of the very very few acting superstars. It does not lack either superstars or actors but being both seems to be off the table. He certainly isn't as good director as any one on the list and has done only one feature but being an Indian myself, I never loose an opportunity to gloat.

Getting into the final five, in alphabetical order -

Woody Allen in Manhattan(1979) - I don't think anyone making such list will not have Allen on it. He is just that good. To tell you the truth, I have him in very high regards as a director but not so much as an actor. To me all his characters look just the same and more often than not very good in getting under my skin. Take Crimes and Misdemeanour(1989) for example. For the record, I like this film and will probably rank it in 10 Best movies he did in his career but if there is one problem in it, that's Allen's character and his storyline. I swear you can edit whole of his story out and show it to someone, he wouldn't even notice something is missing. But in Manhattan, which not so incidentally is also my favorite Allen movie, everything works so wonderfully starting from that unforgettable opening monologue. It's not just that the story of multiple love triangles which otherwise easily might have failed works here because of the interwoven characters but it actually fascinates me here. 42 year old middle aged man who was married to a lesbian previously, now dating a 17 year old high-school-er and falling for his best friend's mistress - definitely something I will have problem with but I LOVE it when he goes running back to Tracy in the end. Oh and I haven't even mentioned probably the most fascinating thing - crisp, clear and Black and White Cinematography. That thing alone is enough to make you fall in love with New York City.

Charlie Chaplin in City Lights(1931) - Another contender that has to make this list, no exception. I have been watching Chaplin run around and do his thing even before I was old enough to know who he was. Only real problem for me here was narrowing it down to one single performance since there are SO MANY. There is Modern Times(1936) with some of the most memorable gigs, then there is The Great Dictator(1940) and that last speech. There is also The Gold Rush(1925) and The Kid(1921) and The Circus(1928) and plenty more that I don't even know. Only reason that always tips the scale a little towards City Lights whenever I think about Chaplin is that amazing last scene. If ever there was so earnest, so sublime scene anywhere else, I do not have any knowledge of it. There is a reason why this movie took the top spot in inaugural Sight and Sound poll, right? What's more is it expertly balances some of the most humurous gigs that Chaplin was most famous for - boxing match in City Lights is just as hilarious as Lunch feeding machine in Modern Times or Chaplin eating his own shoe in The Gold Rush(1925) or any other routine he did in any of his other movies that made you laugh out loud - with some of the most heartfelt, emotional scenes. It is this mixture with just the right proportions that probably has kept this wonderful movie just as fresh even 80 years after its release. It's an absolute bliss !!
 

George Clooney in Ides of March(2011) - He is the youngest in the list and I hope there isn't any second guessing about his acting prowess but if you look at his directorial record, probably even the least experienced. But then again, look at his track award and tell me if he doesn't deserve his place on this list. I haven't seen the Leatherheads(2008) yet but based on just the other three, I am pretty assured that he will turn out just fine. Look at the line-up he has assembled for his next. With his strong political inclinations which are pretty evident even in his real life as well, he also has equally strong sense of morality full-on display in many of his projects. As for the performance in question, let me tell you first that I consider Good Night, and Good Luck(2005) to be a better film based on David Strathairn's singular, central performance alone (I even have a proof here) but George Clooney has a considerably minor role in it. Ides of March(2011) probably isn't as solid as the former but it has one of the best ensemble cast of Ryan Goslin, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei and even more importantly, particularly strong performances from every single one of them. Since I am pointing out single performance for each director with more focus on acting(Title of the post is 'Actors directing themselves' and not the other way around), Ides takes precedence over Good Night, and Good Luck.

Clint Eastwood in Million Dollar Baby(2004) - Will you be surprised if I say that my introduction to Clint Eastwood wasn't with his classic days with Sergio Leone and his cowboy stuff? It actually started with his much more modern work, more precisely his directorial work like Letters From Iwo Jima(2006), Unforgiven(1992) and most importantly, above mentioned Million Dollar Baby(2004). I now have seen a lot more movies he did either as a director as well as an actor but still except for the Dollar trilogy and Dirty Harry(1971), I still haven't seen much in his filmography before Unforgiven, more specifically Mystic River(2003). However even with this limited view, he was the first person I thought of while thinking about this post and once again, only real problem was to narrow it down to the single performance to highlight here. It finally came down to either Unforgiven or Million Dollar Baby, two movies he promised will be last where he will direct themselves and ended up breaking his own promise both the times. But as much as I like slow burn of Unforgiven and it's feat as modern western, Million Dollar Baby should have to take the cake, once again if nothing else for the last 20 minuets or so. I do not understand much about boxing but even then, this movie goes into so many technicalities of it that I have to agree there has to be some authenticity to it. It can well be a coincidence that both these movies have Morgan Freeman in them. But I think Not.

Buster Keaton in The General(1926) - Ever since I was a little kid, I have been watching Chaplin and his movies and have always loved him. You can say that I have been brought up on them in every sense of the word. Up until a year ago, I didn't even know who Buster Keaton was. Imagine my surprise when all of a sudden, I see people comparing this unknown personality with someone as great as Chaplin. Some even went ahead to say he was even better than Chaplin. I was infuriated. I thought have they even seen Chaplin's work? Well, the real fact was I had not seen any of Buster's work. Even right now when I am writing this I have only seen 2 of his movies, one of which i.e. Sherlock Jr.(1924) I didn't even care about and two more, Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928) and Our Hospitality(1923), sitting pretty in my Netflix queue. But just from the first Buster Keaton that I saw was enough to convince me that this man has a real talent. The General convinced me that people who compare him with Chaplin, who say Buster was even better than Chaplin have a strong case; even though personally I still hold Chaplin in higher regard. The best part of The General is it has a story from start to end, it has a direction and it has superb flow. Even though there are a bunch of gigs in it, some of them 'laugh out loud' funny, they come while story progresses. So the story wasn't written to make room for the them, his antics were designed to suit the story. Add to the fact that Buster Keaton did them all by himself and with real locomotive.

P.S.: A Little over week ago, Leith Aitken at Ramble Film put his own spin on the same list. Go, Look.