INTERSTELLAR: 2014

Christopher Nolan knows how to get one’s attention and he certainly knows how to make one think. His film, Interstellar is deeply engaging on many levels. It absorbs you not just with its impressive story, heart-skipping visuals, but with thought-provoking theories as well.

Imagine racing through space against the worst adversary in the form of invincible time, to find a life supporting planet to save human species.  This is the backdrop of the film and the deed rests on a team of astronauts led by Cooper (Mathew Mc Conaughey). The film shifts through sequences of alternating worlds of space shuttle, darkness, unpredictable planets and mysterious human natures. Nolan ought to be commended for his sudden twists in the plot. It would be a lie, if I wrote here that I understood this film completely. Some science concepts may present a few challenges as loose ends floating in your brain, but this in no way can stop you from experiencing this film.

It may be a fiction, but realism is all pervading in this beautifully crafted story. Human nature stands out tall, and it tells a valuable lesson that what truly matters is the people that we love. The essence of this film is love not science. The strength of love is beyond time, distance and space. To love and care is human, and a human can never truly detach oneself from his or her true existence and ultimate purpose. It is also about the power of faith; faith in oneself and in people whom we love.

Matthew Mc Cannaughey weaves his magic again, and he is backed by Anne Hathaway( Dr. Amelia Brand) and Jessica Chastain (Murphy). Chrisopher Nolan, of course is the star for both his original story, which he co-wrote with Jonathan Nolan, and its stellar presentation. Interstellar is an enchanting exploration of outer space and human minds! It is undeniably a landmark film in the history of cinema.

Film: Interstellar

Year: 2014

Genre: Sci-fi

Director: Christopher Nolan

Produced by: Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan, Lynda Obst.

Editing:  Lee Smith

Cinematography: Hoyte Van Hoytema

Music Composer: Hans Zimmer

Written by: Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan.

Trailer

CAST: 

Matthew McConaughey as Joseph Cooper.

Anne Hathaway as Amelia Brand

David Gyasi as Romilly

Bill Irwin the as voice of TARS 

Josh Stewart as the voice of CASE

Matt Damon as Dr. Mann

Jessica Chastain as Murphy

Mackenzie Foy as young Murphy

Ellen Burstyn as elder Murphy

Michael Caine as Professor John Brand

Casey Affleck as Tom Cooper

Timothee Chalamet as Young Tom

John Lithgow as Donald

Leah Cairns as Lois Cooper

Tomatometer: 73%         IMDb ratings: 8.9/10

- Indu Mathi S

Silver Linings Playbook: 2012

If you have been in a scary situation in the company of extreme human nature, and somewhere in the middle of the imbroglio, laughed for a fraction of a second, because something tickled your funny bone, and then suddenly found yourself back in the grip of fear, then you will be able to pulsate with the tactful humour in this film. Silver Linings Playbook is based on a mental illness, but refreshingly it uses comedy that lightens the serious issue, and radiates an aura of optimism throughout its course.

The lead character Pat Solitano played by Bradley Cooper, suffers from a mental illness called bipolar - a disorder identified with symptoms that include hallucination and extreme behavior. Surprisingly, the film does not take the all too familiar ‘realistic’ approach, and end fashionably with some tragedy. Instead the story flows in a completely different set-up that includes interesting comedy convalesced with reality; slow bloom of love meshed with interludes of romantic dance sessions. To this interesting mix of love and comedy, the excitement of football is added that plays out like a commentary at the background. The end result is life-affirming both onscreen and off-screen.

The story is sourced from a novel, The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick, and tells the tale of a man named Pat (Bradley Cooper), who gets released from a mental hospital, and is steadfastly determined to get back with his wife Nikki, who has a restraining order on him. Whilst trying to get back with his wife, Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a recently widowed girl with a troubled mind and past. The two decide to help each other and start taking dance lessons to partake in a competition. Although pat thinks that he loves his estranged wife, he is drawn towards Tiffany. The film is all about Pat shedding his inhibitions and coming to terms with his real feelings.  The film is accentuated by the closeness of Pat’s loving family especially his parents, Solitano Sr. (Robert De Niro) and Dolores (Jacki Weaver).  The duo’s natural portrayal of loving, concerned and protective parents can have a nostalgic effect on many. The one thought that dominates throughout the film is that ‘we are all crazy at some point or the other’. The craziness of a normal person is concealed whereas the craziness of a person with mental illness is out in the open. What separates them is the diagnosis of the mental disease. This becomes more clear when we compare Pat’s or even Tiffany’s behavior with Pat’s father, and his friend Ronnie.

Oscars’ favourite Jennifer Lawrence in her Academy winning performance is strikingly beautiful, arrogantly stylish, and exceedingly talented. Her out of this world performance is a strong tear-jerker. Bradley Cooper surprises all in this sensitive yet clever portrayal. The waltz and the swaying music at the closing quarter, transports one to a dreamy land of absolute bliss; the feeling reaches new heights at the closing scene. Importance of love in life, and its strength to cure even serious illness is subtly conveyed. Silver Linings Playbook is a romance with positivity for sparkling silver lining, and thanks to David O. Russel for bringing this beautifully optimistic story of excelsior to screen.

Film: Silver Linings Playbook

Year: 2012

Genre: Romantic-comedy

Director: David O. Russel

Produced by: Donna Gigliotti, Bruce Cohen, Jonathan Gordon

Editing:  Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers

Cinematography: Masanobu Takayanagi

Music Composer: Danny Elfman

Screenplay: David O. Russel

Based on: The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

Film trailer

CAST: 

Bradley Cooper as Patrick Solatano Jr.

Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany Maxwell

Robert De Niro as Patrizio Solatano Sr.

Jacki Weaver as Dolores Solatano

 Anupam Kher as Dr. Cliff Patel

Chris Tucker as Danny McDaniels

Julia Stiles as Veronica

Brea Bee as Nikki Solatano

Shea Whigham as Jake Solatano

John Ortiz as Ronnie

Paul Herman as Randy

Dash Mihok as Officer Keogh

Tomatometer: 92%         IMDb ratings: 7.9/10

-Indu Mathi S

The Fugitive: 1993

This action thriller film may be pegged as a blockbuster movie, but with its story of substance and stellar execution, The Fugitive is a sharp entertainment oozing with unassuming style. It is no wonder that it was nominated by the Academy.Starring some of the biggest names in Hollywood such as Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, and directed by Andrew Davis, the film takes a detour from the typical crime formula, and takes one through a gripping pace of intelligent adventure.

                   

The plot is centered on Dr. Richard Kimble, a respected surgeon in Chicago, played mesmerisingly by Harrison Ford, who gets unjustly convicted as the murderer of his wife.  The fate, however, intervenes in the form of a bus-collision, and Kimble escapes police custody. He is stamped as a fugitive, and is fiercely chased by the U.S Marshals headed by Deputy Samuel Gerard, played wonderfully by Tommy Lee Jones. Most part of the film revolves around the skillful elusion of Richard Kimble from the U.S Marshals in a pursuit to prove his innocence. Harrison Ford as Dr. Richard Kimble epitomizes undying optimism as he pursues investigation, even after losing the two crucial parts of his life; His wife and medical career. He slowly realises that the true purpose of the killing is tied to his own medical research on a drug called provasic that is created by a pharmaceutical giant, Devlin Mac Gregor.  The film sheds light on the unscrupulous practices of pharmaceutical companies in a bid to sell their drugs, which is very relevant even to this day. What makes the subject of this film credible is the perfect treatment of the medical details, which is neither sketchy nor elaborate.

There are many elements that make this film tick along with the fast ticking pace. The prime factor is of course the intriguing game played by the two protagonists on the two opposite sides of the law. There is, however, no antagonism; in fact on a psychological level they seem to be on the same side, and this rings true towards the end. The chemistry between Dr. Kimble and Deputy Gerard is incredible, and adds a certain quality that electrifies the screen with positive vibes. Quite rightly, Tommy Lee Jones won an Oscar as the best supporting actor for his role in this film, and it is a puzzler that Harrison Ford was not even nominated.  The background score composed by James Newton Howard manages to snatch a role. The catchy music and the innovative sound effects transcend the film to a level of brilliance. The director, Andrew Davis has quite cleverly used the powerful action sequences that are anything but noisy. Remarkably, the bus-train collision can skip a heart beat, and the fact that the collision was real, and was taken in a single shot with no special effects, puts the whole realism into perspective. The Fugitive is a pure entertainer laced with subtle humour, and Andrew Davis delivers it with style and substance!

Film: The Fugitive

Year: 1993

Genre: Thriller

Director: Andrew Davis

Producer: Anne Kopelson, Arnold Kopelson

Editing:  Dennis Virkler

                David Finfer

                Dean Goodhill

                Don Brochu

                Richard Nord

                Dov Hoenig

Cinematography: Michael Chapman

Music Composer: James Newton Howard

Story: David Twohy

Screenplay: Jeb Stuart

Based on: The Fugitive series created by Roy Huggins

                                                                                  
                                                                      Trailer

CAST: 

Harrison Ford as Dr. Richard Kimble

Tommy Lee Jones as Deputy U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard

Sela Ward as Helen Kimble

Joe Pantoliano as Deputy U.S. Marshal Cosmo Renfro

Andreas Katsulas as Fredrick Sykes

Jeroen Krabbé as Dr. Charles Nichols

Daniel Roebuck as Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert Biggs

Tom Wood as Deputy U.S. Marshal Noah Newman

L. Scott Caldwell as Deputy U.S. Marshal Erin Poole

Julianne Moore as Dr. Anne Eastman

Ron Dean as Detective Kelly

Joseph Kosala as Detective Rosetti

Jane Lynch as Dr. Kathy Wahlund

Tomatometer: 96%         IMDb ratings: 7.8/10

                                                                                                                          -Indu Mathi S

                                                 

Whiteout – A blustery thriller

 

Book:   Whiteout

Author: Ken Follet

Publisher: Macmillan

Year: 2004

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Most works of Ken Follet are page-turner, but in Whiteout the action picks up only in the second-half. Once you are in, you may be forced to take it all the way till the end. There is no shortage of characters in this book, and it is surprising to find them all neatly tied up to present an interesting read. Whiteout is a concoction of interesting characters, mystery, love, betrayal and secrets.

Stanley Oxenford, the director of Oxenford Medical, a pharmaceutical research company is a successful man, and on the verge of a major discovery: an antiviral drug.  The antiviral, if tested positive can save millions of lives. His world, however, comes crashing when vials of Madoba – 2 virus is stolen surpassing the high security at Oxenford. Madoba-2 is a deadly virus with absolutely zero survival rate, and it lands into the hands of a group of ignorant thugs prone to violent behavior. The fatal virus that is handled by highly trained scientists in space suits with maximum protection is suddenly dumped into a perfume spray to be delivered to a client, whose sole desire is to use it for bio-terrorism. Antonia Gallo, the director of security at Oxenford is determined to stop the criminals from getting way, as the stakes for her are too high ,and it includes not just losing her job, but her love in the form of her boss, Stanley Oxenford.

From the surface, this book may seem only as a medical thriller. There are, however, a lot of references to human nature. It is this different human nature portrayed by the various characters that drives the plot forward, and determines the course. Another recurrent theme in Ken Follet’s books, justice, is replayed in Whiteout. Justice is delivered in the most unexpected manner, and some are ripe with blood -curdling violence. The message that ‘he who sins shall pay’ is conveyed in a subtle manner. The snow storm that whips through the entire book is a perfect weather element that matches the sudden mayhem in the lives of the different characters. Mr. Ken Follet paints a vivid imagination with his tactful artistry to the extent that a person, who has never experienced snow, can feel it chill the bones. Whiteout is definitely not one among the best books of Ken Follet. The beginning though conceivable, isn’t exactly brilliant, but the second-half makes up for it with its startling twists. Whiteout is a good entertainment and ideal as a winter read. 

-Indu Mathi S