Bee Season

The actors include Richard Gere as (Saul), Juliette Binoche as (Miriam), the mother and Flora Cross as (Eliza Naumann). They live in a nice neighborhood of Oakland, California. The movie depicts a wholesome looking family with father and son practicing music together and the mother preparing dinner and doing motherly chores, in a very nice home.

Daughter, Eliza has a special talent in spelling and enters the Spelling Bee competition and excels. Her father, is excited about her success and encourages her and tutors her as well. He believes that studying certain texts will elevate her to a spiritual level. He is a scholar and professor.

Something is amiss, and this becomes more apparent when the father spends so much of time on one child, and neglects his son. But this is not all, something is going on with Miriam and one is left wondering what it is. There is hardly any joy expressed by this family and an air of mystery prevails.

Despite the good ratings, I found that the movie needed editing amongst other things. The story dragged without coming to some point. The end of the movie regarding the State Spelling Bee competition had an interesting end. But there were too many loose ends which were left hanging. At the end of the movie I still needed some entertainment. I would not recommend this movie

Righteous Kill

The stars are Robert De Niro as(Turk) and Al Pacino as (Rooster), Carla Gugino as (Karen kleisner), John Leguizamo, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Brian Dennehy and other actors. Turk and Rooster are detectives and partners investigating a possible serial killer. The movie has violence and swear words and may not be suitable as a family movie.

The acting was excellent, one gets quite carried away and feels the concern, anger and disappointments that are expressed. As the movie proceeds it seems very clear who the killer is and why that person was driven to kill. It therefore came as quite a suprise to find a twist in the tale.

If you like movies with a lot of action then you will enjoy this movie. The story is described well, the acting is very good and it keeps you interested.

Virasat

Virasat means Dynasty. Shakti (Anil Kapoor) returns from England after completing his studies. His Indian girlfriend from England accompanies him home. Father and son have different visions of his future and the father is disappointed with his choice to leave the village and abandon his responsibilities and the dynasty.

However circumstances result in a a drastic change of plans for Shakti and his attitude to the village. The movie depicts clash of cultures, simple village life, beautiful scenery and the development of respect and love for his wife and her devotion and love for him.

I liked this and a few other parts of the movie a lot. The music is beautiful and the lead actors are excellent in their roles. However I think the movie ended on a sudden note. I wondered if it was meant for a sequel, but it is over 10 years since this movie was released so I guess there is no sequel. Although the movie won several awards, I am rating it as average. If you like beautiful music and scenery then see the movie but the ending spoiled it for me. It just did not make sense. If anyone who has seen it has another view please let me know.

Burn after Reading

A black comedy by the Coen Brothers, with a star studded cast including, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, John Malcovich and Tilda Swinton amongst other actors. There is an air of mystery created when a DVD is found in the ladies locker room of a gym. A trainer, Brad Pitt(Chad Feldheimer) presumes it is highly classified material and shares this information with his colleague Frances McDormand (Linda Lidsky).

John Malcovich gives a great performance as the frustrated, fired CIA employee who is highly irritated when he gets a call from Chad Feldheimer. This DVD leads to a chain of events and the movie takes on a black turn when John Malcovich (Osbourne Cox) believes that the bumbling, inept Chad is threatening him instead of just seeking a reward.

I enjoyed watching Brad Pitt as the gum chewing gym trainer. His performance is excellent. So is Frances McDormand as the woman who is determined to find a means to pay for her make over by a plastic surgeon. There are various extra - marital affairs and cover ups, annoyances, irritations and surprises along the way. I enjoyed the movie as the plot was so hilarious. Totally insignificant and harmless information gets so out of hand that it creates a whole web of mystery and fatalities. It is worth watching, but perhaps not with young kids as some of the language may not be suitable.

Aaja Nachle

The title means, Come Let Us Dance. Madhuri Dixit as (Dia), a divorced mother returns to her hometown in India after having lived abroad for 11 years. There is a scandal around why she left and it is with some apprehension of ostracism that she returns to visit her dying guru.

He dies before she arrives but he has requested her to restore Ajanta Theatre , the center for arts which used to be a vibrant place, back to its former glory. She is determined to fulfil her mentor's wishes. This venture is not without its challenges as others do not wish the center to be restored. She faces many setbacks, corrupt businessmen, challenging and inexperienced local talent, disappointment, frustrations and finally victory. She restores the Ajanta Theatre, a center for the Arts and plans to reconcile with her parents.

The characters are very likable and the movie is colorful with many dance sequences and beautiful songs woven around the attempt to restore the arts center. It is a feel good movie which I highly recommend. I saw it in Hindi with English sub-tiles although a lot of English is spoken as well.

Black

This Director of this movie was inspired by the Helen Keller story and decided to do something quite different from the usual themes of Indian movies. The principal actors are Amitabh Bachan (Debraj Sahai ) who takes role of tutor based on Annie Sullivan, the tutor of Helen Keller. Rani Mukerji plays (Michelle McNally) the adult Helen Keller role. Ayesha Kapoor plays the younger Helen Keller role.

In this movie, Michelle loses her eyesight and hearing a few months into infancy. The family do not know how to care for their child with special needs. They tend to be over protective and allow her to have her way. As a result Michele is undisciplined. The family is often stressed out and Michelle's actions sometimes endanger her younger sibling.

The family have considered placing her in an asylum but decide to use the services of a teacher of deaf and blind children, Debraj Sahai. However they disapprove of the methods he uses to discipline their daughter and want him fired. He persists and demands total control and no family interference so that he can work to teach Michelle the relationship between words and objects

With time and patience and lots of frustration he succeeds in reaching this goal. Both actors are excellent in their roles as the younger and older Michelle. This movie also addresses the physical and emotional limitations and frustrations of Michelle as an adult studying for her degree.

The issues of sibling rivalry, the budding emotional needs of Michelle and later her attempts to be a support and teacher to Debraj Sahai when he suffers from dementia is given attention. The movie is highly recommended as the acting is of a very high standard

The Miracle Worker

This movie is described as a vintage classic. The lead actors, Anne Bancroft (Annie Sullivan) and Patti Duke (Helen Keller), received the Oscar for best actress and best supporting actress respectively in 1962. The acting is superb. I was curious to see this as I had first seen Black and found that the director had been inspired by the Helen Keller story when he made that movie. Black is based on this story with some unique features as well.

The late Anne Bancroft plays the tutor, Annie Sullivan who helped Helen Keller learn to communicate and understand concepts and its relation to things. Being blind and deaf as a result of an illness in infancy, she has never experienced the beauty of her surroundings or heard or seen her family and is unable to communicate. Helen wanders around the home. With no discipline she poses a danger to her baby sister's safety. The family are so sympathetic to her plight that they are unable to discipline her and they are at their wits ends about how to cope with Helen. They have even considered placing her in an asylum.

When Annie Sullivan was hired to teach Helen, the family were shocked by her methods and objected strongly to her style. Annie was able to recognize that Helen was not retarded mentally and was in fact a very bright child. She also learned that Helen had become accustomed to have her own way and was stubborn about accepting any changes. In fact she was a spoiled child. With determination Annie was able to get the parents to cooperate with her for short periods of time, enabling her to teach Helen basics like taking care of herself and how to eat at a table. The movie portrays these challenges very vividly. Patty Duke in her role as Helen Keller does an excellent portrayal as a blind child who is very difficult to control.

With much patience and stoic perserverance Annie Sullivan was able to penetrate Helen's ability to connect words to objects. This was the break through in Helen's abilty to learn and be successful. She graduated from Radcliffe with Honors in 1904. This movie is based on the, The Story of My Life written by Helen Keller. Based on a real story this movie is very inspiring and educational

U Me Aur Hum

A movie with an interesting story that I really starting warming up to about half way through and then liked it a lot. However the first half is too slow and the humor is not the greatest. Editing would have helped the movie which was over 2 hours long.

It is a romance movie and the true meaning of commitment. Without giving away the story, the first half deals with the couple, Peeya (Kajol) and Ajay(Ajay Devgan), their meeting and attraction, falling in love, marriage and their commitment to always be together.

The second half deals with a test to this commitment when one of them becomes a victim to a debilitating disease. This half covers many of the issues concerning Alzheimers Disease, its effects on family life, the dangers it presents, frustrations and the test of relationships. A heartwarming movie that I would recommend

Straight from the Heart

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is the Indian title of this movie. The stars are Aishwairya Rai, Ajay Devgan and Salman Khan. It is a love story with Aishwairya, (Nandini) in the title role. The costumes are beautiful and the music and lyrics are also very enjoyable. This is what swayed me to give this a 3 star and not 2½ stars.

Nandini is the much loved daughter of parents steeped in tradition and culture. Her father is a teacher of Indian classical music. One of his students is an Indian man from Italy. Nandini resents this foreigner as she has to give up her room for him. This relation has an interesting turn that affects Nandini's life.

Her marriage has been arranged with Vanraj(Aja Devgan) and her father will not consider any other options. The latest developments have forced Sameer (Salman Khan) to return to Italy. Vanraj, her husband is very loving and patient with Nandini but she is very distant with him. When he finally learns of her love for another man he is at first very angry, but then puts his love for her above her feelings for him.

This part of the movie is very interesting and heartwarming. There is an interesting turn of events that you should watch for yourself. There are a few scenes that are over the top but it is still worth viewing.

Dark Knight

We went to see this movie because Batman was a much loved superhero of my sons when they were younger. My youngest son often went to pre-school dressed as Batman. I used to be proud of the costume he wore as I made it myself and it was unique and differed from everyone else's.

The actors are Christian Bale as Batman, Heath Ledger as the Joker, Aaron Eckhart as the district attorney Harvey Dent, and Maggie Gyllenhaal as assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes, the old friend and love interest of Batman.

The story was very predictable with Batman coming to the rescue of harrassed citizens and fighting the villian, the Joker. The role of the Joker played by Heath Ledger was outstanding. His portrayal of a disturbed person out to ruin the city, with no sense of remorse was played very realistically. I was sad that Heath Ledger had died and was not able to know what an impact his acting has had on the movie. I believe he should win the Oscar for Best Actor, sadly, posthumously.

I found Batman's attempt to hide his identity by talking in a muffled style very riduculous and giggled about that. If you like a lot of action you will enjoy this fantasy movie

Outsourced

The main characters are Josh Hamilton and Ayesha Dharkar (Asha). I watched this movie on TV and was suprised and delighted with this really well presented movie. It addressed outsourcing in a sensitive manner, how it affects the actual people involved, as well as the major companies who do this to save costs.

I thought the actors did an excellent job in expressing frustrations, learning about cultural differences and adapting to the particular social norm. It also explained certain customs and traditions, religious beliefs and celebrations in a casual manner. It flowed very well with the characters lack of knowledge about the country and yet it is valuable information in educating viewers.

There is a very pleasant humorous side and the movie really got our attention. It was interesting to view Asha and Todd's relationship which began with respect and curiosity and a slow attraction to each other. Highly recommended as it entertains, educates as well as addresses the sensitive yet relevant topic of outsourcing.

Ganja Queen

While scrolling through a list of movies to view, the word Ganja or Marijuana caught our attention. We decided to watch this documentary as the brief description was intriguing. It tells the experience of a 27 year old Australian woman who went on vacation to Bali, Indonesia in 2004 with several other family members. Custom officials in Bali found Marijuana in her boogey board bag and arrested her on drug possession charges. As her plight became known to the locals, they referred to her as "ganja queen."

The young lady, Schapelle Corby, claims to be innocent and is unaware of how the marijuana came to be in her bag. The documentary covers the events after the arrest, leading up to the trial 7 months later. The case received a great deal of media attention especially in Australia where the prime minister also appealed to the Indonesian government to consider the evidence or lack thereof. In Bali the sentence for anyone caught with drugs is death by a firing squad.

The families frustration, the assistance of a fellow Australian, Ron Bakir, some damaging comments about the court officials, the media attention and Schapelle's fear, horror, disappointment and sadness is well documented. It is really worth watching especially if someone out there can find a way to free Schappele.

She was sentenced to 20 years in prison and 2 appeals after that have not changed the status quo. My impression is that she is innocent and I feel very sad that this vibrant young woman has to sit for 2 decades in an awful prison.

In my opinion, there was so much hearsay and lack of concrete evidence that it was not possible to convict her beyond a shadow of a doubt. On that basis I believe that she should have been released. I was very disappointed to learn of the outcome of the trial. For a fuller account of Schappele's experience and the handling of her case check, Schappele Corby

Brideshead Revisited

I looked forward to the movie as I had seen a previous version on video several years ago. I had forgotten all the actors except for Jeremy Irons who had made a lasting impression on me. I enjoyed the movie version as well but as the story unfolded I found that I could hardly remember the details of the previous version, except for the grandeur of the movie, the wonderful house, Brideshead, and Sebastians role.

The movie is based on the novel, Brideshead Revisited, The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder, by the English writer Evelyn Waugh. The role of the matriarch, Lady Marchmain, a devout Catholic and a dominant mother, is played by Emma Thompson. Other actors include Mathew Goode as Charles Ryder, Hayley Atwell as Julia Flyte and Ben Whishaw as the troubled, Sebastian Flyte.

As I do not like to give away the story line, I will just describe the outline very briefly. It is set largely in pre-World War 2 England, with a brief reference to the war when Charles Ryder as an army officer returns to Brideshead in a different capacity. The movie centers around a wealthy aristocratic family, the Fyte's and Charles Ryder, a friend of their son, Sebastian. It illustrates very vividly, the impact parents have on their children's lives when they feed them with strong beliefs and scare them of dire consequences if they do not oblige. Later in life, when they question these ideologies, there are complexities in every aspect of their lives, especially when it is bound with loyalty, guilt and faith. The actors do a marvelous job. The movie is highly recommended.

Race

I am struggling to find the correct words to describe this mish-mash of a movie, with the plots changing several times. I was told that this was a movie of suspense. It was probably meant to be, but with so many plots and the characters coming back from the dead, good guys becoming bad and vice versa, it was anything but a suspense. Unfortunately for me I watched a DVD version and the English translations were extremely poor, with glaring spelling errors apart from the poor grammar. One expression that was used to describe breaking a promise, that we now use as a joke is. " you have broke your swear."

The cast includes Saif Ali Khan as Ranvir Singh and Akshaye Khanna as Rajeev Singh. They are siblings who always compete. Is is friendly, brotherly competition or something else? The movie revolves around this issue. Other stars include Bipasha Basu as Sonia Katrina Kaif as Sophia. A large part of the movie was set in South Africa. I was hoping to get some good views of the beautiful country but I did not see much of that. Not recommended

Mama Mia

A joyful, exuberant, vibrant movie. Meryl Streep, plays the role of single mother Donna Sheridan, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgård play the three potential fathers to Donna's daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried). The movie is based on the popular musical of the same name, and the music of the pop group ABBA. Many of the ABBA hits of the 70's, including the title, Mama Mia is sung by the cast. The story is set on a Greek Island. Sophie is getting married and is curious about the identity of her father. She has secretly learned about 3 men who could possibly be her dad. The movie centers around this theme. It is an entertaining movie, with a a beautiful ending even if Pierce Brosnan cannot sing. A highly recommended movie.

Mongol

An interesting, absorbing and educational movie which is semi-historical. Beautiful scenery and a glimpse into the history of Mongolian life as it used to be is well depicted. The movie was filmed in Kazaksthan, Mongolia and Russia and directed by Sergei Bodrov, with Tadanobu Asano, Honglei Sun and Khulan Chuluun as the principal characters. It is in Mongolian with English subtitles.

We get a glimpse into the life of Temujin who is later known as the legendary, Genghis Khan. It begins with Temüjin as a 9 year old boy recounting events in his that lead him to become a great leader. There are many scenes of battles, between warring tribes, family life, faith, tradition and customs, Temujin's love and tenderness to his wife and children, his struggles with betrayal and his vision of having a just society are well depicted. This movie, the first in a trilogy is Very highly recommended.

Jab We Met

The main characters are Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor. They are strangers who happen to bump into each other. Kareena plays a very charismatic, outgoing, jolly person in contrast to Shahid who is depressed and prefers silence. Circumstances lead them to spend the next few days together. In this time Shahid, despite his irritation with her is able to see her charm and simple philosophy in life. He gains insight into peoples motivations and begins to change the way he handles his daily life.

The movie is well balanced with humor, a good story line, pretty scenery, good music and believable actors. Recommended

Jodhaa Akbar

The movie is about 3 hours long, in Hindi, with English sub-titles. It is set in the 16th century Mughal era and stars Hrithik Roshan as the Muslim Mughal Emperor, Akbar and Aishwarya Rai Bachan as Jodhaa, his Hindu wife. It is a marriage of convenience but develops into love. I think it is best to see the movie in a theater, rather than on DVD as there are many scenes, such as the battles, the village and the magnificent palaces that come across that much nicer on a large screen.

Although the movie centers around the love of Akbar and Jodhaa, there is a glimpse of village life in that period & the grandeur and splendor of life for the royal family. Akbar is introduced to battles at a young age and he is expected to continue the tradition of ruling by conquering, defeating, murdering and enslaving the prisoners. As a boy prince he has no option but to accept this style. As a young man he defies this system and as he believes that there is another way to rule. He dislikes violence and prefers the way of peace, much to the surprise and chagrin of his advisors.

Hrithik Roshan does a magnificent job of playing Akbar as an intelligent, brave, sensitive, caring, fair, just man, who reluctantly engaged in violence when he saw no other option. It is a good depiction of the Mughal Empire and this unique Emperor who was tolerant of all religions and was respectful of Jodhaa's Hindu style of worship. The story of Akbar is factual, but as related in the movie, not all of it is historically correct. There are questions as to whether Akbar really had a wife called Jodhaa.

Nevertheless, It was enjoyable to watch the love and respect that grows between Jodhaa and Akbar. The costumes are magnificent, the sword fighting & traditions of that time were very interesting. The emperor had many who envied him as well, so the plotting between people vying for power were also woven into the story. These plots impacted the relationship between Jodhaa & Akbar and showcased the Emperor's ruling style.

Ladies, you will enjoy the costumes and jewelry used in the movie. The embroidery was rich with zari work and included, saris, tunics, bridal lenghas in bright colors such as yellow, greens and reds. The materials used represented the actual look of the garments worn during the Akbar reign. The elaborate jewelry designed by Tanishq, (a leading jewelry brand), used 400 hundred kilograms of gold, emerald, pearls, ruby, tourmaline & jade stones, to recreate the jewelry of the Mughal age. Of course, Aishwairya's beauty and style complemented the remarkable clothing and jewelry.

This highly recommended movie was a joy to watch. The lyrics and music, composed by A. R. Rahman were wonderful. The movie is directed and produced by Ashutosh Gowariker, the director of the Academy Award-nominated Lagaan (2001).

Michael Clayton

The story deals with corporate America and corruption. Michael Clayton (George Clooney) works for a top firm of lawyers with corporate clients. The movie also features, Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton amongst other stars. Tilda Swinton received the Oscar for best supporting actress for her performance as Karen Crowder, the attorney for U-North.

Michael Clayton is not a partner, he describes his role as a "caretaker." He is the guy who is called in to cover up for the transgressions of the companies top clients. The movie depicts that Michael Clayton is very good at this job , but he is getting dissatisfied with what he does. He is also unhappy and unsettled in his personal life and is facing major financial problems due to a bad investment.

He is called to sort out his good friend, Aurthur Edens ( Tom Wilkinson) who appears to have lost his mind. Arthur is the attorney working on the U-North case and discovers that the class-action suit against his client has merit and he believes that U/North should be held accountable. The law firm instructs Michael to get Eden, who is bi-polar back on his medications as this may be the reason for his conduct.

Tilda Swinton takes drastic steps to hush the true facts from being exposed for fear of losing the lawsuit for the company. The cover up is where the movie has all the elements of drama, suspense, intrigue, frustration and tension. The characters play their roles very well. I enjoyed this movie but was also disturbed by the fact that there must be such corruption in real life too.

Taare Zameen Par

The English translation of Taare Zameen Par is, Stars on Earth. This is a Bollywood movie in Hindi, directed and produced by Aamir Khan about the struggles of a child suffering from dyslexia. The cast includes Darsheel Safary as the dyslexic child and Aamir Khan plays the role of the teacher who helps this child “ find his star.”

The standard of acting especially from Darsheel Safary is excellent. This little child gives a very realistic performance of a child struggling to cope with learning both at home and at school. The movie depicts the pain and suffering that results from a lack of understanding of Dyslexia, both on the part of the family and the child himself. Aamir Khan in the role of a perceptive, sensitive teacher is able to help this child reach his potential.

It is a very uplifting movie as it provides hope and education about dyslexia. It also highlights the sad situation when a condition is not diagnosed and the harm that arises when people in authority are ignorant and do not seek answers before labeling a child as badly behaved. Aamir Khan as the understanding teacher also gives an excellent performance. The film has music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi. A highly recommeneded movie

Lust,Caution

The movie is based on a story by Chinese author, Eileen Chang. It is an intrigue drama set in WW2 China during the Japanese occupation. The movie is in the Mandarin language with English sub-titles. The stars include Tang Wei (Wong Chia Chi) a member of a patriotic Hong Kong theater group turned resistance cell. They hatch a plan to assassinate Mr. Yee (Tony Leung), head of the Chinese secret police and informer for the Japanese. Joan Chen plays a minor role as his beautiful, loyal, gossipy wife.

Wong Chia Chi is attractive and she is used to seduce Mr.Yee and spy for the resistance cell. Inevitably, Mr. Yee is indeed attracted to Wong Chia Chi. It is not easy for her to gain any information as he is always on his guard. The first sex scene is violent and the others are explicit and erotic, giving this movie an NC-17 rating.

I found the movie dragged on at times and lacked depth. Although (Tang Wei) Wong Chia Chi is supposed to portray a love-hate relationship with Mr. Lee, this did not come across with any credibility. The emotion of dislike was very clear, except for the last scene where she displays conflicting emotions and in that moment her loyalty to her friends in the cell ends. In my opinion Wong Chia Lee was unable to convincingly portray this conflicted relationship which was at the heart of the story. I would not recommend this movie if you have a choice of other movies.

Rendition

Rendition is based on the CIA policy of "rendering" a suspect to another location, often overseas so that the truth can be extricated from the suspect by means that may not be used by the USA. Directed by South African, Gavin Hood the movie addresses the subject of torture with a very believable story.

The methods used by officials, with disregard for real facts, and the effect on the individual and his family are an eye opener. The helplessness of individuals to find answers is depicted very well by Reese Witherspoon in her role as the victims wife, Isabella Ibrahimi.

Meryl Streep also gives a wonderful performance as a cold CIA executive. Other notable performances are from Omar Metwally who plays Anwar El-Ibrahimi, the Egyptian-born terrorism suspect.

Jake Gyllenhaal is Douglas Freeman, a CIA analyst at a secret detention facility outside the United States who questions the methods used. Performances by Moa Khouas as Khalid and Zineb Oukach as Fatima Fawal bring home again that suicide bombers too, are people who can love, have strong emotional bonds and great loyalty to influences that unfortunately are usually negative. A very highly recommended movie

American History X

This movie was released in 1998. I never paid attention to it as it seemed to be a movie with lots of violence. I did not see it until 2004 when one of my son's told me that I had to see it as it was a story that had relevance and the acting was phenomenal. After I watched it, I agreed that this is an amazing movie that depicts the horror of prejudice and ethnocentrism so very well. It does contain violent scenes but it is a history of the violence that existed and is still rooted in society.

Ed Norton was nominated for an Oscar for best actor for his performance as Derek Vinyard, a neo Nazi. I was so impressed with his acting that I believe he deserved to have won that award. I am a big fan of Ed Norton and I find his acting superb. You will get an excellent review of this movie by using this link. American History X Therefore I have not reviewed the movie personally, just my impression of it. I would urge everyone to see American History X.

The Painted Veil

The Painted Veil stars well know actors, Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, and Liev Schreiber. It is based based on the novel of the same name by W. Somerset Maugham. Ed Norton as Dr. Walter Fane, a shy and socially awkward person is very convincing. Naomi Watts as Kitty Garstin is a pretty, immature young woman from a wealthy London family, under pressure from her parents to find a husband.

The movie has beautiful and interesting scenes of China where a large part of the movie was shot. The story revolves around the compatibility of this couple. It gives the viewer the opportunity to examine the qualities that really constitute love, respect & caring. What appears to be exciting and dashing may be very shallow and impermanent. The actors give a good performance and it is a heartwarming story.

Vanaja

Vanaja, the movie, is the brainchild & directorial debut of Rajnesh Dompalpalli. It began as a part of his first semester project at Columbia University. He completed it as his thesis for a Master of Fine Arts in Film. What is remarkable about the movie is that apart from one character, all the actors had no previous acting experience. They were just regular, simple local folk with low paid jobs. The lead actress Mamatha Bhukya, learned music as well as dance within a year of being selected to play the role. Her performance in the movie is charming, entertaining and of a high standard.

The basic story line is about Vanaja's interest in dance and the path of her life in this pursuit. With the help of her father she takes advantage of the need to supplement the family income by getting a job as a domestic servant in the home of her landlady who used to be a professional dancer in her youth. Vanaja hopes that the landlady will teach her to dance despite her low caste status.

Life changing events force her to make a difficult choice as she pursues her dreams. It is depicted against the background of peasants struggling to eke out a living, recurring debt, the prevalence of caste distinction and a reverence for those in power. It is set in a rural village in India where jobs are scarce, illiteracy prevails and livelihoods such as fishing are risky, the catch and subsequent income, unpredictable.

The landlady portrayed by Urmila Dammannagari (who used to work at a bottling plant) gives a realistic performance as a haughty, successful business woman who is in charge of the local folk. For a full description of all the cast and crew click on the link. Vanaja

The movie is heartwarming, realistic, inspiring & interesting with beautiful dance and music. Highly recommended

Provoked

Provoked is based on the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia (Aishwarya Rai) who is sentenced to life imprisonment for setting fire to her abusive husband and unintentionally killing him. Ms. Rai gives an excellent performance as an abused woman who is at the mercy of the moods of her philandering, abusive, alcoholic husband.

Flashbacks detail the relationship of the couple prior to the event that led to her husband, Deepak Ahluwalia's (Naveen Andrews) death. The experience of being bullied in prison and her pain at being separated from her children and extreme sadness is well depicted. In spite of these terrible experiences she says that she feels safe in prison. The friendship that develops between Kiranjit and her cell mate Veronica Scott (Miranda Richardson) is very heartwarming and sincere. It was via Veronica's influence and the local group of South Asian social workers in London, England, running an under funded agency, The Southall Black Sisters that brought this case for retrial.

Veronica's brother, Edward Foster (Robbie Coltrane), a highly respected Queen's Counsel, takes on Kiranjit's appeal. This case "Regina v Ahluwalia" redefined the word PROVOCATION in the case of battered woman. Her conviction was changed from murder to manslaughter but she did not spend any more jail time as the judge took into account the time she had already served. A highly recommended movie

Dhoka

I saw Dhoka - Deceit or Betrayal(in Hindi) at home on DVD. It was so different from the usual Bollywood movies. The theme was serious and a subject that is all in the news today -terrorism. It was a refreshing change to see actors that I had not seen previously.

A terrorist attack unravels the life of police officer, Zaid Ahmed Khan (Muzammil Ibrahim) and his wife, Sarah (Tulip Joshi). Zaid is a loyal police officer who is accused of being a part of a terrorist plot. His young, loving, simple wife Sarah dies in the attack. His life is turned upside down when he faces the effects of Jihad in his own life.

He portrays emotions of disbelief, anger, injustice, sorrow, guilt and denial very well. In flashback scenes you see the warm, loving relationship of Zaid and Sarah, with no evidence of any turmoil. As Zaid sets out to prove Sarah's innocence he learns of the trauma and pain that Sarah and her family endured many years ago at the hands of ruthless men. His anguish at not knowing this part of Sarah's life leads him to feel guilty that he did not sense that Sarah may have needed his support all through their relationship. He believes that he too let her down as his support & love may have influenced Sarah differently. To make up for this lack of sensitivity on his part, he takes on the challenge of preventing another another member of Sarah's family becoming a suicide bomber & a pawn of radical Islamics plotting the next terrorist attack.

The movie depicts the brutal nature of man, racial tension, & radical terrorism, with suspense and drama. I enjoyed the lyrics in this movie as well.
A highly recommended movie.

Notes on a Scandal

Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett) and Barbara Covett ( Judi Dench) are teachers at a London Comprehensive School. Sheba is a new teacher and Barbara has been there for about 20 years. Both women give wonderful performances so that you can identify with their characters and feel the pain or disappointment or apprehension. Barbara is the central character who is single, lonely and does not have a relationship with anyone at school. Yet she is desperate for companionship. Circumstances lead her to come to Sheba's aid at school. Sheba responds with friendship and invites Barbara to her home. For a while the two women enjoy a good friendship. There are hints about Barbara's friendship with with another female teacher who subsequently rejected her

The movie focuses on Barbara's possessiveness, emotional blackmail & manipulations to retain Sheba as a friend when she learns about her illicit relationship that can jeopardize everything in her life that she holds dear. The relationship is one that has often been featured in real life. The results of such an illicit relationship and its toll on the family is well depicted. Judi Dench gives an excellent performance as well. It is a movie worth seeing.

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna - Never say Goodbye (Hindi)

This movie has a star studded cast. It centers around the relationships of 2 couples. They are Rishi (Abhishek Bachan) and his wife Maya (Rani Mukerji) and Dev (Shahrukh Khan) and his wife Rhea, (Preity Zinta). Amitabh Bachan takes the role of “Sexy Sam, ” Rishi's father, a widow who is a bit of a playboy with many girlfriends.

The movie delves into issues such as incompatibility, infertility, loyalty, family ties, infidelity and jealousy. It also addresses feelings of inadequacy, when Dev, a soccer player, unable to continue his career because of an injury, is envious and embarrassed by his wife's successful career in journalism.

The movie also embraces changes in society's attitudes. It is the first Indian movie that I have seen where infidelity is addressed, by a couple actually going off to a hotel room to sleep together. When Sam becomes aware of Maya's feelings for another man, he suggests to her to leave her husband, (who is Sam's son) as she should not stay in an unhappy marriage. There are some scenes of drama which eventually lead to a happy ending. I liked the movie especially for exploring forbidden subjects although the story line dragged.

I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry

This was so much fun, the acting was good, fast paced, lots of puns and great humor. The characters ares good, hard working guys who are loyal and care a lot for each other in a heterosexual way. Circumstances force the character of Kevin James (Larry) to take some drastic steps to ensure that he does not lose his civil benefits.

Adam Sandler is cast in the role of his good friend, (Chuck) who has a difficult time adjusting to his new lifestyle and keeping up a pretense. Although the story is depicted as a comedy, it addresses serious issues such as prejudice, the hurt of derogatory language and the value of friendship and honesty. Jessica Biel as an attorney is very sweet and her character is the love interest of Chuck. A highly recommended movie.

Daddy's Little Girls

The movie depicts the struggles of a single father, custody issues and the power a parent can wield for one's own selfish ends with no consideration of the childrens' needs. The main characters come from 2 different social levels, with Gabrielle Union as Julia, a haughty corporate attorney and Idris Elba as Monty who lives in the “hood ” with three young daughters. Julia represents him in his custody battle against his ex-wife who is abusive and dates a drug dealer. Monty and Julia fall in love, along a path that has some twists and turns. If you are in the mood for a feel good movie with happy ending, you should see this.

Nishabd

The opening scene is very solemn and intense as Amitabh Bachan eloquently expresses sorrow and regret as he reflects on recent incidents that have destroyed his family. This opening promises to be a movie of substance and that is why I was disappointed with the movie overall.

The story revolves around a young 18 year old girl falling in love with an older man. His attraction to her and then love destroys his relationship with his daughter and wife. Out of loyalty to his family he ends this relationship which has not really amounted to much except some flirtation especially on the part of the 18 year old Jiah Khan. She does play her role very well as an opinionated, selfish, coquettish, immature, sexy young woman. The love between the two appears very shallow as Jiah's character shows no depth and the only thing in common seems to be a mutual physical attraction between the two.

Amitabh Bachan's oration is excellent but the problem is Jiah just comes accross as a selfish, immature young girl and such depth of feeling is incongruous with what is depicted in the movie.

Hairspray

I enjoyed this movie a lot as it is very bright and cheery, with vibrant music and a good message as well. It is based on the Broadway musical, Hairspray which was itself based on a movie. It features many well known actors including John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pheiffer and Christopher Walken, one of my favorite stars. It also debuts Nicky Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, the "plump teenager," who wants to perform on a television show. One can identify with the hopes and excitement of her character as her portrayal is very realistic. I am not sure why John Travolta had to perform the role he did and why not a woman.

The movie is set in Baltimore in 1962. It was interesting to see the fashion, lifestyle and cars of that time. In addition they addressed the subject of prejudice based on skin color and size. The lead character is a larger size and she has to "fight" the scheming Velma von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer) to showcase her talent. It is worth watching as it is very entertaining.

Swami

The movie is based on the devotion to each other by central characters, Swami, Radha and their son Anand. It begins with them living a simple life in a village but move to Mumbai so that their son has a better chance of getting into a good school. Radha is aware of Swami's lifelong interest in a rocking chair, and in wanting to do something special for him she uses all their savings to purchase a rocking chair for Swami, rather than pay for medical expenses for a serious condition she has. Her last wish as she dies is that her son should go to America.

Father and son continue to be devoted to each other and Anand finally gets the chance to go to America. The movie depicts that sorrow and loss go hand in hand with success and it is not always possible to get everything we want. I found Radha and Swami's devotion to each other a little overdone and artificial and that is why I give it 2 stars. I enjoyed the music a lot.

Ratatouille

This movie is such a delight and so cleverly made. The voices are beautifully matched with the animated characters. Peter O'Toole's voice has the right consistency of sarcasm, aloofness and disdain that blended so well with the haughty critic, Anton Ego.

Having always been horrified with the thought of a mouse in the house, let alone one cooking, took some getting used to, but the character was so appealing and likeable that it was okay. It is amazing that this came accross so well as the idea of a mouse cooking is gross to most of us.

Alongside the humorous side of a mouse being a master chef, the movie is about relationships, values, fairness sharing and truth. It is ofcourse blended well into the story line. It is very well worth viewing.

Vivah

This movie had some very good moments and a good theme, but I am reluctantly giving it 2 stars because it needs some serious editing. The movie was much too long. Although the main characters were charming and delightful, most of the movie centered around just this, with a plot developing towards the last 30 minutes of the movie.

It does a good job in portraying arranged marriages and that a female can be loved by her family as well as that of her in-laws. They touched on the stress of families having to pay a dowry and the fate of some women who end up as victims of serious abuse as their main value in the in-laws home is the dowry they bring with them.

The music was very beautiful and all the characters good relationships with each other, except for one, while pleasant to watch on screen is not very realistic. If you depend on subtitles you may be disappointed. The DVD that I watched had the subtitles with very small font in white. One had to strain to read it and sometimes it was not possible to see the writing if the background was a light color.

Sicko

As a fan of Micheal Moore's previous movies I looked forward to watching Sicko. Once again he has produced a thought provoking movie that addresses the quality of life via the health care system in America. He brings to the fore real families who have experienced death of loved one's and bankruptcy because their insurance companies denied them coverage. Alongside some real life sad stories, he intermingles humor in some situations.

For all the wealth, technology and talent of the US, the World Health Organization ranks it as one of the lowest in providing health care for its citizens. About 50 million Americans do not have insurance, 9 million of them children. Many who do, have other roadblocks such as pre-existing conditions.

Blue Cross, Humana and Aetna are some of the American health insurance companies that Michael Moore exposes. Their customer service employees talk about the tough situations they face when they know that sick people who need care are denied coverage. It is made clear that the aim of these insurance companies is to profit at the expense of providing the necessary medical care. When a former Humana medical reviewer Dr. Linda Peeno, denied care to a man who then died, she was rewarded by the health insurance company and elevated to a very responsible position with a 6 figure income. She had saved the company half a million dollars. To her credit, she was unhappy and unwilling to continue in such a job and voiced her need for the health care system to change.

It was informative to note Hillary Clinton's stance on health care. As the First Lady she, worked on a plan for universal coverage with great enthusiasm. Over the years she accepted the rejection of this plan and now disappointingly she appears to have let her ideals fall by the wayside in accepting money for her campaigns by these same insurance companies.

Michael Moore visits England, Canada and France to interview doctors, hospital patients as well as citizens to look at the health care system there and how we could apply such a system in the US. His portrayal of surprise at what is available in those countries had the desired effect of awe on the audience on how fortunate the citizens in those countries are. They also have generous time off of work for mothers with new babies and very low child care fees in very good creches. In France there is a government worker assigned to new mothers 2 time a week for 4 hours who come to help mothers with chores including putting on laundry and cooking a meal. After surgery another patient requesed 3 months off to recuperate before starting his job. During this time he received his full salary paid partially by his employer and susidized by the state.

I believe the system in those countries truly value the quality of life. Michael Moore also touches on the short work week in France, the compulsory 5 week vacation annually and in some private companies upto 8 weeks. In my blog on Vacations I also mention the quality of life is valued when employees get adequate time off of work. Instead of losing productivity, there may be a gain, as employees come back rested, ready to give off their best to a company that respects and values them and their families. I concluded that my colleagues did not question the status quo and found the idea of longer vacations incomprehensible.

Michael Moore suggests a similar conclusion about health care, why have we allowed this to happen. We have accepted the situation. “ This is not only a broken system, this is a sick system,” says Moore. It is a sad state of affairs when homeless, helpless patients from the hospitals are dropped off on the street close to shelters because they have no insurance.

Moore's visit to Guantanoma Bay and Cuba is interesting and very thought provoking. All of us need to do our part in getting health care for all. This is an excellent, must see movie.

Dor

Dor, meaning thread in Hindi, has English subtitles. In the movie thread refers to relationships. The movie is set in North India, with beautiful scenery. It centers on two woman, Zeenat (Gul Panag) and Meera (Ayesha Takia). The movie is directed by Nagesh Kukunoor.

It begins with the parallel lives of these women and the loving relationships with their husbands. When circumstances change both women have to deal with loss and relationships. This loss is the thread that impacts both their lives. The movie explores friendship, faith, fear, joy, hope, anticipation, disappointment, sorrow and respect. It also addresses social issues such as widowhood and the quality of life for women in general.

It is very sensitively enacted with the women portraying a range of emotions that is very relevant to their characters story. Zeenat is the sensible, strong woman with high principles and a very positive attitude, who suggests that we have control over our lifestyles and we should question and stand upto unfairness. Meera is the lovely young woman who learns to accept her fate and her new role and a life of loneliness and subjugation.

Shreyas Talpade brings comic relief in a senstive manner, learning to care for and appreciate the struggles that women face. The music is beautiful and is very poetic. The movie is spell binding as the actors do a good job in conveying urgency and the possible harm that will result if Zeenat's mission is not successful. The womens friendship/ disappointment and reunion is very well and realistically portrayed. A very enjoyable experience

Namaste London

This Hindi movie with subtitles in several languages is set in London, England and revolves around the lives of two Indian families who have settled in London and have reared their children there. The children, Jasmeet "Jazz" Malhotra (Katrina Kaif) and Imran (Upen Patel) are now young adults who have adopted the English lifestyle and look upon their parents request to maintain their tradition and marry people from their own culture, with disdain.

Some very pertinent issues relating to adjustments to a new culture and the difficulties of transition from a small village in India to the big city of London is addressed. Family tensions, marital arguments, loyalty, love and discipline issues are featured. Attempting to fit in with the larger white society, questioning one's own customs and traditions when it is looked down upon by others and being true to oneself in the face of pressure to conform are also given attention. At times some scenes are a bit over the top, but it is a good movie that is well enacted by all. Arjun Singh (Akshay Kumar) does a good job playing a simpleton and who is really a very intelligent, caring and patient young man. Most immigrants can relate to this movie, but issues such as loyalty, stereotyping, respect, prejudice and social class which is prevalent in most societies, is relevant to all.

Umar

The title translates to age in English. This Indian movie is set in London, England and deals with issues such as the elderly, prejudice, rejection, respect, and the lack of it from family, and what makes a family. Three elderly Indian men Iqbal Khan (Kader Khan), Chanderkant Mehta (Prem Chopra) and Rajpal Singh (Satish Kaushik) from different faiths have become friends in London as they share the common pain of being devalued and rejected by their family in their old age.

They befriend a young Indian immigrant, Shashank (Jimmy Shergill) who has grown up in an orphanage in India and has never had a family. They are amazed at his kindness and respect for them which is absent from their own kin. The relationship they develop with Shashank brings them satisfaction, and leads them into new experiences as they rally to save this young man from a series of misadventures.

The love that develops between Shashank and Sapna (Shenaz Treasurywala) is pleasant to view and the music is very moving. Most of the songs address the pain of rejection and despondency. However the movie does have it's light moments and is very endearing.

Oceans 13

The movie has many high profile actors including, George Clooney, Bernie Mac, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle amongst others. The Oceans team are bent on getting even with the bad guy played by Al Pacino who has treated their friend very unfairly. They devise all sorts of plots to bring the bad guy to his knees. There is humor and action which is not over the top. The characters are very likable and give a very good performance.

Disturbia

If you like movies that make you sit at the edge of your seat and wonder what's going to happen next, you will enjoy this move. It is a thriller starring Shia LaBeouf, Aaron Yoo and Sarah Roemer in the title roles. The opening scene has magnificent views where father and son are fishing on a scenic river. The atmosphere is jovial and calm and quite a contrast to the gripping events that follow. Shia's character's response to a life changing event leads to him watching his neighbors with binoculars out of sheer boredom. This leads to a chain of events that bring on tense and dramatic situations. Further details may spoil your enjoyment of this very entertaining movie.

The Lives of Others

This is an extract from Wikipedia the free encyclopedia “The Lives of Others (original title in German: Das Leben der Anderen) is an Academy Award-winning German film, marking the feature film debut of writer and director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. For it, Donnersmarck won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film had earlier won seven Deutscher Filmpreis awards including best film, best director, best screenplay, best actor and best supporting actor, after having set a new record with 11 nominations. It was also nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 64th Golden Globe Awards. This award went to Clint Eastwood instead of Donnersmarck. The thriller/drama is about the cultural scene of East Berlin, monitored by secret agents of the Stasi, the GDR's secret police. It stars Ulrich Muhe as Stasi agent Gerd Wiesler, Ulrich Tukur as his chief officer Anton Grubitz, Sebastian Koch as the playwright Georg Dreyman, and Martina Gedeck as a prominent actress and his lover, Christa-Maria Sieland.”

The standard of acting is superb. One could "feel" the atmosphere of that time, the oppression, hopelessness, fear and the bravery of so many working for change and taking risks that meant severe punishment and death. The performance of Ulrich Muhe as the Stasi agent monitoring Dreyman, was outstanding. He portrayed such depth of feeling, first for loyalty to his party and then disillusionment about the purpose of the investigation, leading him to empathize with the subject being monitored. Leading a lonely life with with very little joy, he learns to appreciate the lifestyle of Dreyman and his friends and subtlely helps them achieve their purpose by recording events that he knows will appeal to the Stasi.

Although the movie conveys an aura of oppresiveness, it is an excellent depiction of that time in German history. Ulrich Muhe's secret empathy and support of Dreyman at the risk of jeopardizing his own career is very heartwarming.

Blood Diamond

Blood Diamond stars Leornado Di Caprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou in this Academy Award-nominated 2006 film directed and produced by Edward Zwick. The title refers to blood diamonds, which are diamonds mined in war zones and sold to finance arms for political ends. It depicts the terrible and stringent conditions under which simple folk are forced to pan for diamonds. The brutality of the regime in Sierra Leone is disturbing but well depicted to show the horror of war. Simple huts are burned and villagers scramble for safety in an attempt to avoid capture by the rebels who take delight in brandishing their weapons and asserting their power. Families are separated, men and women captured, bodies mutilated, arms chopped off at random with great glee by the perpertrators who appear to lack any concern for their terified captives. Young boys are captured and forced into the rebels camp. As child soldiers they are brainwashed to follow the orders of their commanders.

In the story, Djimon's character Solomon Vandy is a loving father and a simple fisherman with high hopes for his son to get an education and live a better life than his. During one of the attacks by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) Solomon is separated from his family and is enslaved to work in the diamond fields.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Danny Archer a white mercenary from Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) who trades arms for diamonds with an RUF commander. Jennifer Connelly plays Maddy Bowen , an American journalist covering the war and investigating the illegal diamond trade. The lives of these 3 intersect as the story exposes the illicit diamond trafficing in exchange for arms to finance the rebels. The power of brainwashing child soldiers is well depicited when Dia, Solomon's son, does not acknowledge him and is ready to kill him. I thought Leornado Di Caprio's accent as a Zimbabwean/South African was excellent. He used phrases and words, native to that region, so comfortably as if he spoke that way everyday. There are beautiful scenes of the African regions as well as glimpses of Cape Town, South Africa.

As the film is based on the true situation of dealing with "conflict or blood diamonds", the ending is comforting when Solomon addresses the conference on blood diamonds in Kimberley, South Africa, describing his experiences. This refers to a real meeting that took place in Kimberley, South Africa in 2000 and led to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which seeks to certify the origin of diamonds in order to curb the trade in conflict diamonds. You should not miss this movie. Although the violence is disturbing, if young children are informed of what to expect and why, it can be an educational experience of what goes on in the world and why we should question the source of the sparkling jewelery that we all like to possess.

Lagaan

This Hindi movie with English subtiles was nominated for Best Foreign Language Movie in 2002. The movie is set in a small farming village in Champaner, India in 1893 during a second season of drought. Lagaan is translated as land tax that Indian farmers paid the British who had occupied and controlled the land. As the farmers had paid a reduced amount the year before, the tax is now doubled.

The farmers are outraged and it is apparant that they will not be able to pay any Lagaan as they struggle to survive. They protest and a British captain offers them a proposition. He challenges the Indian villagers to a game of cricket. If they win they will not have to pay taxes for 3 years. If they lose the taxes will be tripled. The villages spokesperson is Bhuvan (Amrit Khan) who accepts the offer. The captain is a haughty man who offers this challenge as he is aware that the villages have never played cricket before and expects and looks forward to them losing the game. His delight will be the consequences and suffering that will follow when the villages have to pay even higher taxes.

However the captains sister is sympathetic and is attracted to Bhuvan. She secretly assists and advises him on how to meet this challenge. In putting this plan into action, Bhuvan and the villages overcome racial prejudice, class conciousness and the challenges of infighting and squabbles amongst the villagers. Exotic Indian dance and romance is also a part of this very likeable human drama.

It also focuses on the oppressive British rule in India, the caste system, and Hindu-Moslem relations. The movie is almost 4 hours long.

The Namesake

The movie is based on the book by Jhumpa Lahiri and is directed by Mira Nair. It is about family and relationships, loss and adjustments. It centers around an Indian couple who have left the extended family behind in India and begin life together in New York. The move is a new experience for the wife and it is quite a culture shock for her. Her husband who had lived in the US for several years prior to the marriage is patient and loving and helps her adjust. It deals with having to cope with grief upon the death of close family in another land. It also addresses the issue of children born to immigrants who are caught between 2 cultures and the impact of these dynamics on the traditional lifestyle of the parents. It is a story that most immigrants can relate to.

Letters from Iwo Jima

This movie won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language movie in 2006. It also received a host of awards and nominations from other venerable sources including th Golden Globes Award. The movie is mostly in Japanese with English subtitles. It is directed by Clint Eastwood via an interpreter and centers around the World War 11 battle of Iwo Jima as viewed from the Japanese perspective. Ken Watanabe has the lead role of the general, a man of honor and distinction. This general is portrayed as a very caring man who treated his soldiers with respect and dignity and disapproved of bullying and harsh methods to achieve discipline.

It tells the story of the personal lives and hopes and dreams and disappointments of the soldiers. It also depicts the struggle of the 45 day battle before surrendering to America. The movie was based on factual information of events that occured as well as records of letters written by General Tadamichi Kuribayashi(Ken Watanabe). The General was an artist as well and drew pictures of events when writing to his family.

The movie is informative and educational and delicately brings home to us that these soldiers were ordinary people with hopes, dreams and fears and who became soldiers for various reasons. Once again war is portrayed as bringing pain and sorrow and too much of loss and sadness.

The Last King of Scotland

Forrest Whittaker won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance as the dictator, Idi Amin. Amin was a pompous man and amongst other titles, he had given himself the title of King of Scotland. The movie is based on the book with the same title by Giles Foden. Although fact is interweaved with fiction, Idi Amin's reign from 1971 to 1979 as a brutal dictator is well illustrated. It describes Amin's rise to power as a well liked person, someone for the people and then the transition to corruption, and ruthless brutality. Amin expelled the Asians from Uganda in 1972 and was responsible for the murder thousands of people. There is also reference to the plane hijacking in 1976.

The relationship between Amin and the Scotsman, Nicholas Garrigan is a fictional one but is based loosely on Bob Asteles a British soldier who was favoured by Amin. He bore the brunt of this relationship as he was also know to have been tortured and spent several years in prison after the fall of Amin. The performance by Forrest Whitaker is excellent and one is able to get a good sense of the dictators terrible regime.

The Pursuit of Happyness

Will Smith and his son Jaden star in this movie based on the real life of story of a single father struggling to take care of his son and doing a demanding internship as a stockbroker at Dean Witter. The performance of both actors are really good especially Jaden who at that young age gives a very realistic impression of what it must be to be homeless and hungry. The movie is set in San Francisco. The true story which is one man's perseverance to succeed against such odds is very uplifting and motivating.

Queen

Helen Mirren's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth 11 won her the Oscar for Best Actress. It was interesting to see how closely she resembled Queen Elizabeth 11, adorned with hats, gloves, shoes and of course the staid hairstyle. The storyline is about the Monarchy's response to the public following the death of Princes Diana in 1997. It explores the conflict of the royal families personal feelings about Diana and the need to respond appropriately to the public who are in deep sorrow at the loss of their beloved Princess. Very good

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