Moneyball (2011)

Billy Beane is the general manager of the struggling Oakland Athletics baseball team. Their team gets mauled and he is looking for some inspiration to turn things around. He hires an economics graduate from Yale who is good at statistics. His methods shock the setup and they upset the so-called experts. Billy slowly turns things around and leads the team to 20 successive wins - an all time league record. . But, the last win of the season continues to elude him. In the end, he gets a record offer for 12.5 million USD from the Boston Red Sox but he rejects that and stays at Oakland.

Hits

• The characterization of the coach is inspiring. Always proactive, thinking about baseball, spending some time with his daughter, being forthright, bold and always ambitious. Brad Pitt, with lines of wisdom on his handsome face, pulls it off with ease. His bouncy body language and the charm are intact. 
• Jonah Hill is a guy who entertains with his mere fat presence. His serious dialogs don't matter 

Comments

• For an Indian, a movie about baseball doesn't exactly hit the bulls-eye. The terms used, the strategies, stats etc. are quite alien. 
• A bald Philip Seymour Hoffman is grim and serious throughout the movie with his makeover attracting more attention. 

VERDICT

One of the most unwavering sporting movies with Brad Pitt shouldering the burden gamely. 

The Ides of March (2011)

Stephen Meyers works for the democratic presidential candidate Governor Mike Morris. Stephen is a very smart man and is loyal to his colleague, friend and mentor Paul. Stephen is lured to work for the Republican candidate but, he stays put on Paul's side. He also has a thing going with Molly, an intern at his campaign office.

As time passes, he comes to know of the true colors of the people around him. The people whom he respected aren't as true as what he believed them to be. He is drawn into a big conspiracy theory and is thrown out of his job by Paul. 

Stephen then compromises on the very values he stood by all along. In the end, he is also sucked into political games and is forced to manipulate to get the top job all to himself

Hits

• Very serious political drama with an ensemble cast. Ryan Gosling leads the way with Philip Seymour Hoffman and George Clooney chipping in. 
• The movie is unwavering and never loses focus. 

VERDICT

A political drama all the way. Unwavering and focused effort by George Clooney. 

Classic: Scent of a Woman (1992)

The Plot

Charlie Simms takes up a weekend job to be Colonel Frank Slade’s aide for the Thanksgiving weekend. He takes time to warm up to the real nature of the Colonel. The Colonel also starts taking a liking for Simms gradually and takes him along to New York City for an adventurous couple of days that includes staying in a gorgeous hotel, some great food, never ending booze, beautiful ladies and a Ferrari car ride. The Colonel plans to blow himself out at the end of these couple of days because he has no support from his family and he feels lonely. But Simms talks him out of this and convinces him to fight on in life.

Simms also has a problem in his school as he is witness to a notorious act of vandalism by a group of rich brats. Just when his future is about to be brushed off by the disciplinary committee of the Baird school, Colonel Slade steps in as his guardian and delivers a knockout speech that salvages young Simms’ life. The Colonel starts feeling full of life and looks forward to spending time with his grand kids in the end as Simms looks on in glee. 

                                                                         

Hits

• Al Pacino’s Oscar winning show. Such a different portrayal of the blind man. No exaggerated expressions to prove that he is blind. But, his aggressive voice that mouths expressions like “Whoo ha”, “Ha” and dialogs like “I am just getting warmed up”, “I am feeling super, superior, superfluous” stay with us. The scene where he attempts to shoot himself, the scene where he describes the woman’s body, the climax committee scene, the way he dances a tango with a young girl Donna, the way he eats paper etc. etc. are moments that prove Al Pac’s powerhouse talent. 
• Chris O'Donnell as Charlie Simms, the young, decent Baird student who never loses his temper and is so calm and collected is the perfect foil to the aggressive and lively Al Pac. The intense emotional scene where he convinces Colonel Slade to live on and not kill himself and the way he abuses him as a “blind motherfucker” is one rare moment when he loses his composure. 
• Thomas Newman’s music is mild and soothing. Perfect for such a humane drama. 
• Philip Seymour Hoffman as one of the students George proves his childishness and restlessness in the final committee scene. 

VERDICT

A different sort of male bonding movie that moves at a leisurely pace. But, Al Pacino’s out of the world performance is worth a look-in, any number of times. 

The Big Lebowski (1998)

The Plot
Jeffrey Lebowski loves to call himself 'The Dude'. He doesn't have a job and his only work is to go bowling and have a good time with his 2 buddies Walter and Donny. Walter is a Nam war veteran and Donny has this knack of being rebuked for each question he asks.

Due to a confusion arising out of the same name, The Dude is mistaken to be a big shot of the same name and 2 people come to his home, rough him up and pee on his rug. The big Lebowski has a young wife Bunny who is into pornography and she takes money from many parties without bothering to return the money. There are people who are after her for the money.

The Dude gets mixed up with the Big Lebowski after Bunny goes missing suddenly. The Dude is asked to be the courier to deliver the money to the supposed kidnappers. He is offered some money for this job too. The Dude is now caught between the parties who are after the money from Bunny, the supposed kidnappers and also with the big Lebowski and his manager. The big Lebowski's daughter also uses the Dude like a sperm donor for her child

In the end, The Dude realizes that everything is just a sham and that the big Lebowski wants Bunny dead and Bunny has not been kidnapped at all. But unfortunately, in the ensuing fight in the climax, he loses his friend Donny to the bullet. Finally, The Dude gets back to his laid back life on the bowling alley along with his aggressive friend Walter.

                                                                   

Hits

• Jeff Bridges looks the part as The Dude. Always clad in casuals and with his coolers and long locks in place, he is a true rock star. And his voice covers all the emotions easily.
• John Goodman as the aggressive Walter is another guy with dude looks. The huge frame and the light coolers go so well with him. He impresses in the scenes when he spews aggression worked up in him from his Nam days. 
• Steve Buscemi plays the unfortunate Donny. A nice touching cameo from him. We feel bad for his death. 
• The ladies in the film are all ever willing to expose. A good time for the lads.
• Philip Seymour Hoffman as manager Brandt is another charismatic character and he has a way with his words

Misses

• Some confusion due to too many characters in the movie

VERDICT

Another complex and enjoyable entertainer from the Coen brothers. It's sort of a buddy movie in the end.