Oscar Special: Hugo (2011)

Hugo Cabret is a young boy who lives at the train station in Paris. He knows to fix things thanks to his late father, who was a clock maker. Following his death, Hugo moves in with his uncle and the clock at the station is his abode. One automaton that can write, is his favorite possession and it is not in perfect working condition now.

He steals things and eatables at the station and a toy shop owner Georges is particularly incensed by young Hugo. Georges takes away the book that Hugo so dearly treasures, one that his father gave him. Isabelle is Georges' god daughter and she befriends Hugo. Isabelle loves adventures and she is always behind Hugo in his endeavors.

There is a big suspense behind the identity of Georges and Hugo figures this out through the automaton. This suspense is truly special and is of epic proportions. Georges rediscovers his purpose and he credits young Hugo for this.

Review

• The initial scenes and the characters at the station have been beautifully portrayed
• The art work, the cinematography are surreal and magical. Paris, seen through the clock is exceptional.  
• Asa Butterfield as Hugo is the new boy wonder. He is so realistic and endearing. Chloe Grace Moretz as Isabelle acts too cutesy. She is pleasing, though. Ben Kingsley has the best role in the movie. His ease at histrionics during his flashback, is surprising given his age. Helen McCrory is beautiful and graceful as Mama Jeanne, Georges' wife. Jude Law has a small, impressive cameo. Sacha Baron Cohen as the inspector who is constantly looking out to nab the young thieves at the station provides some funny moments. His romance with a flower seller at the station is a welcome distraction.
• The music by Howard Shore is dreamy and takes us to 'wonder' land. If not for 'The Artist', this was Oscar worthy music for sure.  
• That particular scene between the kids facing the Eiffel Tower, where Hugo compares the world to a big machine with each person having some reason in it, is dreamy.
• The significance given to film history in this movie closely on the heels of 'The Artist' is a nice coincidence. These scenes are nostalgic. 
• Finally, the automaton is the biggest draw in the movie. So serene and haunting. 

VERDICT

A fantastic genre bender by Martin Scorsese. An adventure movie but, not only for the kids. MUST WATCH 

Goodfellas (1990)

Whats it about:

This is the true life story of Henry Hill a high profile gangster who was born to be one. Henry joins Paul Cicero’s gang from a very young age and gets involved in small jobs. Then he gets introduced to Jimmy Conway, a legendary figure in the gangster circles and Tommy DeVito

      This trio is a solid gang and they smuggle at the airport. They lead high profile lives and live life king size. Jimmy is a cool dude. He is fond of stealing and flaunts his money and keeps everyone happy. Henry gets married to Karen and at the same time has many whores as his keeps. He is also a partner at a nice upmarket restaurant. Tommy never settles with one girl and in spite of his mom’s requests, refuses to marry one. Tommy is sort of a hot blooded person and he can never tolerate insults. This leads to murders too on some occasions. Jimmy, Paul and Henry are jailed once too. 

      The big boss Paul, asks Henry to slow down a bit after going to jail but, Henry gets involved in drugs and the narcotic business in a big way. Henry and co. pull off a big heist and in the aftermath start finishing off the extras that helped them pull off the heist. In the meanwhile Tommy is killed by the Italians on the day when he is to be 'made', for one of his earlier fits of rage on Billy Batts, a 'made' gangster. 

        Finally the police nab Henry and he has no option other than ratting on his partners after coming out on bail. So Henry is put on the state protection program and he is a ‘nobody’ now. His partners Paul and Jimmy are sent to jail on life sentences

                                                                    

Hits

• Scorsese's depiction of the life of gangsters is so stylish. The Wise Guys or the Goodfellas, is how he chooses to call them. The screenplay is so uber cool. Lots of research done indeed. Very true to life depiction of a real story
• The subjective viewpoints shown throughout the film in the form of narrations by Henry or Karen is again very engaging. 
• The dialogs are another major plus for the first person narration that runs along.
• Joe Pesci is a riot as the loud mouthed hot blooded gangster Tommy. Deserving Oscar. 
• Ray Liotta is fit for the lead gangster Henry's role with his mad laughs and wicked eyes. A role of a life time for him 
• Lorraine Bracco, the tall and stylish chic is ultra glamorous and elegant as Karen. 

Misses

• Robert De Niro definitely deserves a bigger role than just playing second fiddle. Such a legend can't be wasted like this.

VERDICT

One of those cult gangster films. Fucking stylish and trendy in its presentation. Take a bow, Sir Martin Scorsese ... 

Gangs of New York (2002)

What’s it about

It focuses on the gang wars between the Natives and the Irish ‘Dead Rabbits’ in erstwhile New York’s “Five Points” joint of the 19^th century. Bill the Butcher, the leader of the native gang kills Priest Vallon, the leader of the Irish Dead Rabbits in full public view. Bill is dead against the Irish immigrants and is a hard core patriot.

           Vallon’s son, Amsterdam returns to the Five Points joint with revenge on his mind. He slowly gains the confidence of Bill and becomes a part of his gang. Amsterdam's friend Johnny who knows the truth behind Amsterdam's New York visit, grows jealous of his proximity to Jenny, another Irish immigrant and rats on Amsterdam to Bill.

          Bill then nabs Amsterdam and surprisingly, doesn't kill him the first time around. Amsterdam is terribly injured. He recuperates and then unites all the Irish in New York and revives the ‘Dead Rabbits’ gang.

           In the meanwhile the poor American mob is against the government’s call for draft into the army for the war. There is a big riot that takes place in the end where many of the mobs are killed by the Union Army soldiers (New York Draft Riots). Many niggers are also killed by the local Americans who are against Lincoln’s anti slavery policy. Amsterdam also challenges Bill one final time at Paradise Square and eliminates him.

          The final shot shows how New York as a city grows, leaving behind its bloody past filled with gang wars and protest marches.

                                                                          

Hits

• Leonardo’s dashing looks with long locks. His screen presence is as usual arresting
• The period feel is very authentic
• The BGM score by Howard Shore is good. The end credits track “We are the hands that built America” is soul stirring.
• Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill the Butcher is terrific. In fact his is the performance of the film.

Misses

• Very slow moving. Tests the patience many a time. Was checking the timeline very often
• Lack of exposure to New York’s history may be one of the reasons for the non-involvement in the film during the many political scenes.

VERDICT

A dampener from the Martin Scorsese - Leo combo. Not exactly a must watch. Can watch it once at the most. 

Classic - The Aviator (2004)

Whats it about:
It's a bio-pic about Howard Hughes, the aviation mogul cum ambitious film maker. Howard is a dreamer, cleanliness freak, partially deaf, sort of a playboy and is uncomfortable with crowds. He makes a film called 'Hell's Angels' spread across 3 yrs. He manufactures great aircrafts for the US AF, through Howard Aircrafts funded by Howard Tools and co. He has his loyal team lead by Noah and Odie. He has flings with many ladies but isn't committed to a single woman. A real go getter.
        The boss of Pan Am, Juan Trippe is close with Senator Brewster. They are jealous of Howard Aircrafts' acquisition of TWA. They don't want TWA to expand across Europe and the Atlantic. They basically want Pan Am to be the monopoly in flying international aircrafts from the US. They file a law suit against Howard saying that he had parted with 56 million $ of the US money during war times, in the name of making planes. Unfortunately those planes never did fly.
        Howard also meets with a great personal disaster during one of his test flights. He is ambushed physically. But, he still keeps the fire burning and asks his team to continue building Hercules, the biggest ever plane in the world.
        Howard faces the law suit boldly, comes out clean with some very valid arguments against Senator Brewster and convinces the law that this suit was just a setup to stop his progress. In the end, Howard flies his Hercules successfully, and is even more determined to rule the future by investing in jets.
        An inspiring GEM indeed.

                                                                          
Hits

• LEONARDO DICAPRIO. As usual. What a screen presence. What a talent. I am an unabashed fanatic. Proud to be in the same era as him. This is one of his best shows. As the slightly psychic and driven young man, he is A class. Many scenes give goose bumps, particularly the scenes where he slightly looses his composure and is overcome by his inner thoughts.
• Nice jazzy classic BGM by Howard Shore,reminiscent of the old times. 
• Great effort by Martin Scorsese and co., to show a great legend's true life on-screen. 
• All the ladies have a decent part and they play it well. 

Misses

• Even after meeting with such a nasty accident, Howard isn't shown to be suffering that much. Just a little difficulty while walking is shown, while the doctors actually explain some real complications post the accident. 

VERDICT

Another killer punch from the Martin Scorsese - Leo combo. DON'T MISS IT ...

Classic Revisited - The Departed (2006)

Whats it about:
Frank Costello is a big hotshot gangster and sergeant Sullivan is his informant in the SIU (Special Investigations Unit) ... Trooper William Costigan is assigned to work undercover by officers Queenan and Dignam. Costigan joins Costello's gang. The whole operation is all wound up in secrecy.
     Soon doubts start cropping up. Costigan informs his superiors in the undercover unit that there is a rat in the SIU while Sullivan also informs Costello that there is a police rat in Costello's gang. It all ends in a bloody classy fashion. Check it out ...                                                                  

Hits

• Leo's dashing screen presence. His intense, frustrated portrayal is pure class. 
• Matt Damon is sort of overshadowed by Leo's dashing style. But still a great portrayal as the corrupt complicated cop.
• Jack Nicholson, as always, is majestic as the RocknRolla gangster with a taste for adult jokes.
• Mark Wahlberg is a riot as the foul mouthing no nonsense cop. Such fluency of dialog delivery, particularly in Leo's interview scene :). The actor who plays Queenan is earnest. 
• Vera Farmiga as the psychiatrist is dignified and an understanding partner to both Sullivan and Costigan. That love making scene between her and Leo on a rainy night oozes with heat and passion
• The making style is awesome. Scorsese Sir, take a bow.
• The title BGM track is kick ass. It comes later too at an appropriate time
• All the scenes on top 344 Washington are terrific. Gripping and violent cinema 
• The scenes where Matt and Leo try to expose each other are extremely thrilling.

VERDICT

One of the most stylish cop dramas with the best star cast in recent years. 

Classic Revisited - Shutter Island (2010)

Whats it about:
Andrew Laeddis, a former US Marshall is admitted into the mental health facility at Shutter Island, for having killed his suicidal wife who had murdered their 3 children. Andrew is highly delusional and he is continued to be haunted by images of his wife Dolores and little girl Rachel.
    To help him come out of this rut, Dr.Cawley and Dr.Sheehan stage a path breaking role play where Laeddis becomes Edward Daniels and Dr.Sheehan becomes Chuck, Daniels' partner. Daniels visions himself as the hero in this play where he needs to find out a missing patient Rachel Solando and also expose the murky activities happening in the island like psychotropic drugs and lobotomy.
   Laeddis is so taken into his role as Daniels that he regresses and loses track of reality. Then, Laeddis is brought back to reality after a breath taking scene in the lighthouse and is finally released.

                                                                                
Hits

• The facility at Shutter Island looks breathtaking. Ward A, B, C, the lighthouse ... Really Surreal
• The cinematography and locations are beyond words. Some dangerous top angle shots. 
• The CGI/VFX/visuals during Daniels' delusions are outstanding. 
• The lighthouse scene where we as an audience come to know for the first time that Daniels is actually Laeddis the dangerous prisoner is shocking in its revealing nature. 
• The scene where Dolores drowns the 3 kids and Andrew comes home and finds it out, should rank among the saddest scenes in cinema history
• The conversation between Daniels and George Noyce at Ward C when Noyce gives out some hints that Laeddis and Daniels are the same, is another terrific scene. The match sticks giving out light in an otherwise totally dark setting is again beyond words. 
• Ben Kingsley and Mark Ruffalo as the doctors are dignified. Michelle Williams as Dolores haunts with her slow speech and striking eyes. Jackie Earle Haley in a small cameo as George Noyce makes a shocking impact
• Last but not the least, LEONARDO DICAPRIO as Laeddis/Edwards gives one of his best ever shows. His acting in the lighthouse scene, the scene with Noyce, and the scene where he cries out "NO" on seeing his 3 dead kids are proof enough of this handsome star's insane talent ... 

VERDICT

Deserves much more attention. One of the best psycho movies ever made. Bow down to the master, Scorsese ...