Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Kondey returns




1.Movie 1: Taxi Driver

I haven't watch many Martin Scorsese movies before,in fact the only one I saw was"The Aviator",which I felt was well researched but not quite a classic.Leonardo De Caprio came nowhere close to the actual Howard Hughes,whom I got to see in History channel.Since then my curiosity in Scorsese receded gradually. But then yesterday I saw "Taxi Driver"(1976) starring Robert Deniro and Jodie Foster,and since then my respect for Scorsese has increased considerably.The movie plot is basically about a Vietnam-veteran turned taxi driver in Manhattan,New York,Travis(Robert Deniro),who undergoes a series of experiences(chronicled in his diary) ,which turn him into a would be assassinator.The beauty of the movie was in its narration and screenplay.The way in which all the thoughts-facial expressions were shown was simply mind boggling(especially the rear-view mirror shot of Deniro).

From the first frame to last frame ,the movie was gripping enough.I think the ending is debatable,I guess it depends on how the viewer comprehends it,and I think it was sarcastic joke on the American media by the story writer .Performance wise,Its Deniro at his best,what awesome voice,especially the dialogues -"Loneliness has followed me my whole life, everywhere. In bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There's no escape. I'm God's lonely man." and "You're only as healthy as you feel." are memorable.The lady who played Betsy ,the spokesperson for a Presidential candidate was good.She looked attractive and adventurous,and the way her eyes expressed her ego was pretty good.A young Jodie Foster as Iris ,comes only the latter part of the movie,as a teenage prostitute.Much to Travis' shock she enjoys her profession and Travis takes upon himself to set her on the right path.The climax,however,takes a violent turn(can be described as extremely gory by certain audience).The reason for Travis turning violent is kinda still unclear to me,maybe its go to do with his loneliness or sheer desire to add some adventure in his life or the realization that he had achieved zilch in his short life,I am yet to to understand.Overall,I would definitely recommend this movie to those who can with stand lotsa bloodshed,swearing (i have added a few to my dictionary) and dark side of the society.Its definitely not for faint hearted,who enjoy romantic comedies and all that.

Spolier: following Taxi Driver,I also saw "the Departed",though I liked that movie too, I was disappointed to see similar scenes as to that of Taxi Driver.There seems to be a trend in characterization in most Scorsese movies-Roman Catholicism(being the religion followed by the any of the leading characters),Women almost having negative(weak) role and killing a character suddenly.This trend is sometimes predictable .The beauty however is in the ending He gives.







Movie 2 : Clockwork Orange

This movie was something I wanted to see since long time.I had no clue on what the movie was all about,but just had curiosity in it.It did pop sometimes in Dumb Charades/Pot Pourri competitions during the fests (didnt it?) during my undergrad years.But it was only today that I finally got to see it.Boy! was I in for a surprise.The movie had all the ingredients of a cult movie.Like Taxi Driver,the lead character is fascinated with evil.I am not qualified enough to critic the movie.Man! the sets were so out of the world type,especially the room of th lead Character Alex and that of one of his victims .They were truly ahead of the movie's time.I thoroughly enjoyed the background music in this movie.Though it was mostly western classical, with psychedelic stuff in between,they brilliantly gelled with the scenes on screen.

The story is about a 14 year-old Alex who loves committing crimes(read beating up the helpless and raping the vulnerable) and is addicted to Beethoven's music.Alex is the leader of a gang of thugs ,who prowl on the city's streets during night and commit these crimes.His image back home is however that of poor old weakling who is used to giving excuses to avoid school. It is during one of those nefarious pursuits,that he mistakenly kills a woman ,much to his shock his gang members ditch him and he is caught by the police.Alex is sentenced to 14 years in prison,much to the dismay of his Parents.The movie then shows how Alex is forced by the government to reform,so that he can be set free sooner than sentenced period.One of the techniques involves the utilization of Ludovico technique,in which the patient undergoes violent and macabrely treatment.The result of the treatment leaves Alex unresponsive to violence and sex.Though the government goes boisterous over its achievements,Poor Alex's life becomes pitiable.The events which follow after his release from the prison leave him aimless and homeless.I am sorry but I can not reveal the ending, though its something worth watching again and again.

No wonder that Stanley Kubrick has got such a cult following.The weird sets,the still camera visuals ,and the way he focuses in and out of a small object and the object's pertinence to the whole scene is so mesmerizing .However,his stress in depicting hardcore reality scenes,especially the ones involving rape and beating can make many go - "Shiva Shivaa' and do the 3 bandars of Gandhiji [;P].SO anyone watching beware of nudity and mental torture,can leave some nauseated(nope it didnt leave me bcoz I am a complan boy :p) .

So,overall its been an eventful week :P