''Little Miss Sunshine'' (2006 movie)- Review

Directed by: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
Released: 2006
Country: United States

Genres: Comedy-drama, Adventure

Cast: Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Alan Arkin, Steve Carell, Abigail Breslin, Paul Dano

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

''Little Miss Sunshine'' is about a dysfunctional family that has to drive 800 miles to reach a beauty pageant. The journey brings them across a lot of incidences: sad revelations, tragic incidences, yet the unity that is the basis of all families will bind them together.

The above description may make you think that '"Little Miss Sunshine'' is a very serious film. It absolutely isn't! ''Little Miss Sunshine'' is in fact a bright, gentle comedy-drama that may not make us laugh aloud all time, but it gives a smile. It is an emotional, a charmingly delightful, heartwarming, and funny film.

The aforementioned family consists of the father, Richard (Greg Kinnear), who is a serious man and often starts saying unpleasant things. The mother, Sheryl (Toni Colette). The son, Dwayne (Paul Dano), who has not spoken for nine months. And the charming and cute daughter, Olive (Abigail Breslin), who dreams of winning a beauty pageant one day. And then there is the Grandpa (Alan Arkin), who coaches Olive so that she can participate in the pageant. 

Sheryl's brother, Frank (Steve Carell), is discharged from the hospital, having been hospitalized for attempted suicide. We get to know about the family as Frank comes to know how things have changed during the time when he was absent.

Olive gets qualified for a beauty pageant, ''Little Miss Sunshine'', and for participating in it, the family has to drive from New Mexico to California. Richard thinks that winning in the main thing... and Olive can participate only if she is confident that she can win. Olive is confident... And then the family decides that they will be driving to California!

But this drive will change the life for the members of the family. For some, it will help them to reveal their emotions and warmth. For some, it will bring painful revelations. For some, it will bring tragedy. But this journey will help them learn a lot, will help them to forget the disdain they have for each other and bring back the warmth and unity in them.

There are several themes and messages in this film. The one that I found most touching is that no matter who leaves you, no matter who abandons you, disrespects you, family will always be there for you. It was really touching.

A real loser is someone who's so afraid of not winning he doesn't even try.- this is what Olive's grandfather tells her. It is one of the main messages of the film.

 The film was also very funny, very hilarious, with funny dialogues and funny, often unexpected incidences. I found the scene where the horn of the car breaks really very funny (and what the policeman found when he came to check the car!). Then there was Olive's performance in the contest. And Olive's response when she is asked where her grandpa is.  The film has a blend of emotional moments and really very funny moments. 

And now for the characters. The characters were deep and well-written. The performances were very remarkable. Abigail Breslin, as the little Olive, was really good.

''Little Miss Sunshine'' is a gentle, hilarious, delightful, touching film. Very good film with a splendid depth and message.

4.5 out of 5



 

''Gigi'' and ''The Wizard of Oz''- Movie Reviews

Gigi (1958 movie)

Directed: Vincent Minnelli
Released: 1958
Country: United States

Genre: Musical romantic comedy

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

Gigi is an amusing, cheerful, lighthearted musical comedy. I enjoyed every minute of it. It was so entertaining and funny! The plot centers around Gigi, a teenaged girl who lives with her mother and grandmother. Her mother is an opera singer, and we never see her (but we do hear her voice). It is Gigi's grandmother who takes care of her. Besides going to school, Gigi is further educated by her great aunt, Alicia, who gives her lessons on becoming a courtesan, lessons that are difficult and need a lot of patience.

Gaston Lachaille is a young, successful man who finds everything in life boring. He is very close to Gigi and her grandmother. One weekend, Gaston takes Gigi and her grandmother to the seaside, for holidays. Gigi and Gaston's relationship gradually becomes stronger, and realizing this, grandmother and Aunt Alicia start giving more emphasis in Gigi's training to become a lady, hoping that someday Gaston will ask her hand in marriage. However, there is Gaston's fame and notoriety, and Gigi's immaturity and working class background. Despite intensive training from Aunt Alicia, it is obviously not possible for Gigi to completely change her manners and attitude. Will these be a barrier to their relationship?

Gigi was really very funny and fully entertaining! It was so lighthearted and charming! The screenplay, situations, and dialogues were humorous and witty. While the songs were not that much memorable, they were really impressive as well! The performances were really very impressive. Leslie Caron (as Gigi), Louis Jourdan (as Gaston), Maurice Chevalier (as Honore Lachaille), Hermine Gingold (as Gigi's grandmother), and Isabel Jeans (as Aunt Alicia)- all of them gave such excellent performances. The characters were wonderful and funny. Overall, ''Gigi'' was an entertaining and funny musical comedy, witty and charming!

4 out of 5

The Wizard of Oz (1939 movie)

Directed by: Victor Fleming
Released: 1939
Country: United States

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Musical, Drama

Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Clara Blandick, Charley Grapewin

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review
 
Oh, how I love The Wizard of Oz! It had been a long, long time since I last watched the film! I read the book in March 2013, and since then, I have been eager to watch the film again.

The first few scenes and the last scene are filmed in sepia, but the time that Dorothy, the protagonist, spends in the land of Oz, are filmed in brilliant color. Dorothy is a girl who lives with her uncle and aunt in a farm. A vicious neighbor, Miss Gulch, threatens to take away her dog, Toto, from her, because the dog regularly disturbs her. Dorothy yearns to get away from the farm, to somewhere magical, wonderful...

Suddenly, a twister carries Dorothy and Toto, along with the house, to the land of Oz. There, she is warmly greeted by the Munchkins, who are grateful to her because her house had fallen on the Wicked Witch of the East, killing her. However, the Wicked Witch of the West, the dead Witch's sister, now wants to capture Dorothy, because she (Dorothy) has the red slippers previously owned by the dead witch... Dorothy wants to return home, to Kansas. She is told to follow a path made of yellow bricks, to the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. On her way, she comes across a Tin Man looking for a heart, a Scarecrow looking for a brain, and a Lion looking for courage. They decide to go to the wizard together.

However, the Wicked Witch of the West is looking for Dorothy...

I just LOVED The Wizard of Oz! It was so beautiful, so colorful, so lively! It was filled with charming songs. And oh the sceneries, the production design, the sets- they were just BEAUTIFUL!

Dorothy comes to draw parallels between the people whom she meets in Oz, and the people whom she knows in real life. For example, she imagines the Wicked Witch of the West as Miss Gulch, the vicious neighbor who wants take her dear little dog, Toto, away from her. And she finds similarities between her three companions and three friendly workers of the farm.

The farewell scene was really very emotional and touching... The performances were brilliant. Judy Garland, as Dorothy was amazing. Ray Bolger (as the Scarecrow), Bert Lahr (as the Lion), Jack Haley (as the Tin Man) and Frank Morgan (as the Wizard) were amazing! Margaret Hamilton was brilliant as the Wicked Witch of the West.

The Wizard of Oz is certainly a very delightful, wonderful film!!! It's so magical and charming. The most memorable things about this film are the set decoration, colorful backgrounds and cinematography, dialogues, and some of the songs.

5 out of 5

''The Lady Vanishes'' (1938 movie)- Review

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Released: 1938
Country: United States

Main cast: Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, Paul Lukas, Dame May Whitty, Cecil Parker, Linden Travers, Naunton Wayne, Basil Radford, Catherine Lacey, Josephine Wilson

Genres: Comedy thriller, Mystery, Drama

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

I did hear a lot how remarkable The Lady Vanishes is. But I didn't have any idea that it would be SO good. I did hear that it was one of the best, maybe the best British film directed by Hitchcock, but I thought it can be almost called a classic. True, it is not an excellent film like Vertigo or Psycho or North by Northwest, but certainly, it is an early sign of the master of suspense's brilliance and excellence, which he would later prove with the beautiful Vertigo, the scary and suspenseful Psycho, and the suspenseful Rear Window.

The Lady Vanishes starts in an inn. Because of an avalanche, the train cannot run, so the passengers who would be in the train are forced to spend the night at an inn. Among the characters who stay at the inn are our protagonist, Iris (Lockwood), an elderly governess, Miss Froy (Whitty) and a musicologist, Gilbert (Redgrave). This part is filled with fun, jokes and comedy. The first twenty minutes or so of the film tend to be extremely light, without giving us a hint of how suspenseful it will become. The first shock comes as Miss Froy is standing at her window, hearing delightfully to a musician who is playing nearby, and when she looks away, a hand strangles the man who was playing the instrument...

The next morning, as everybody is preparing to get into the train and Iris is talking to Miss Froy, somebody throws something, apparently targeted at Miss Froy, and the thing hits Iris instead. Miss Froy, who is an extremely kind lady, takes care of her. In the train, Iris and Miss Froy have tea together, and then they go to their compartment. Iris closes her eyes, falling asleep...

Iris opens her eyes, and sees... that there is no Miss Froy in front of her. When she asks the other passengers of the compartment, they reply that there was no elderly lady traveling with her. And then she asks everybody who had apparently seen her with Miss Froy. And they also reply that there was no old lady with her, that she had taken her tea alone, the steward even showing the evidence that tea had been ordered for only one person. Where has Miss Froy disappeared? Has something terrible been happening to her? Is she in danger? Iris teams up with Gilbert, the young musicologist, to search for Miss Froy, and to save her from the danger that she is possibly facing.

The Lady Vanishes is really a suspenseful film. And there is a lot of comedy as well. The film is filled with humor and at the same time, with thrills. Humor is present in most Alfred Hitchcock films, but mostly they remain wry. The Lady Vanishes is meant to be a comedic thriller. It's meant to make the audience feel afraid and thrilled, and at the same time, laugh at the humor and the funny actions of Iris and Gilbert.

Margaret Lockwood gives a perfectly excellent performance as Iris, while Michael Redgrave is amazing as Gilbert. Dame May Whitty, as the kindly, warm, elderly lady Miss Froy, is perfect. 

The last scene was really heartwarming. The puzzle and mystery was excellent, and while I didn't think that the solution to the mystery was excellent, it was satisfactory and nice as well. Overall, I absolutely enjoyed this movie. Filled with suspense, thrills and humor, this is a must-watch for all Hitchcock fans.

4 out of 5
  

''Brief Encounter'' and ''Warm Bodies''- Movie reviews

Brief Encounter (1945 movie)- Review

Directed by: David Lean
Released: 1945
Country: United Kingdom

Cast: Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Cyril Raymond, Everley Gregg

Genre: Romantic drama

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review

Brief Encounter is a beautiful and touching film about, as the title refers to, a brief encounter. Celia Johnson gives a breathtaking performance, and the film is a deeply moving story of love, pain and guilt.

The first scene of the film takes place at a refreshment room of a train station. The protagonist of the film, Laura, is sitting with a man. A typical small town gossip lady, Dolly, arrives and starts trying to strike up a conversation with Laura. Laura introduces the man as Dr Alec Harvey. Alec leaves the refreshment room as his train has arrived, and some time later, Laura and Dolly also get into their train. It is evident that Laura is troubled and worried.

Upon reaching home, Laura and her husband, Fred, sit in their library. Laura looks at her husband, and then starts thinking about the pain she is in. Just a few weeks ago, her life had been perfect, free from any kind of troubles. But now... a lot has happen in the past few weeks. Laura starts to think of all the incidences that happened in the past weeks.

Every Thursday, Laura goes to shopping and for watching movies, to Milford. One such Thursday, while sitting at the refreshment room of the railway station, she had come across Dr Alec Harvey. Something had gotten into her eyes, and Alec helped her to clean that up. It didn't seem a very memorable incidence, but over the next Thursdays, she and Alec come across each other repeatedly. They go to movies, they take lunch together, they drive around together. As both admit that they are in love, they are both struck with grief because they know that all these cannot last long. They both are married, both have happy families, and Laura feels terrible guilt, knowing that she is cheating on her husband.

Brief Encounter is a painful and emotionally intense film. Celia Johnson is just amazing. Her narration throughout the film makes the film more intense; her description of her sufferings, her pains, her guilt- are all so very memorable. Trevor Howard as Dr Alec Harvey is just as amazing. There are some very memorable scenes, like the scenes where they go for driving. Brief Encounter is the story of a brief encounter, an affair that is destined to end one day because of the people involved in it. It is an excellently acted and directed motion picture.

5 out of 5



Warm Bodies (2013 movie)

Directed by: Jonathan Levine
Released: 2013
Country: United States

Genres: Horror comedy, Romance

Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, Dave Franco, Aneleigh Tipton, John Malkovich

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Review

Warm Bodies is the love story between a human and a paranormal creature. Oh, don't worry, it's not Twilight. Warm Bodies is set at a time when there are so many zombies... the number of the zombies have increased and humans have been forced to abandon the beautiful world where they once lived. They now have to live in special enclaves to remain safe from the zombies.

Our protagonist is a zombie, who doesn't remember his name. He just remembers that his name used to start with an 'R'. He lives a life without any fun or enjoyment, in an abandoned airport, with other zombies. He is the narrator throughout the film, though he can hardly speak.

One day, zombies attack some humans, and R saves one of the humans, Julie. R protects Julie, keeping her in the airplane which he uses as a home. Julie eventually starts to trust R and understands that it is not safe to try to run away now. However soon the other zombies get to know about Julie's presence. They try to attack her, but the sweet relation between R and Julie, brings a strange but wonderful result: the zombies begin getting back life once again.

Now, there are two groups between the zombies: human-like zombies and the skeleton-like zombies, called ''bonies''. The bonies attack the human-like zombies as they are starting to get back life. The human-like zombies realize that they need to team up with the humans to defeat the bonies and make the world peaceful once again. But the humans won't easily understand that they (the human-like zombies) are good. How will Julie and her friend Nora convince the humans that teaming up with the zombies is the only way to defeat the bonies and make the world peaceful once again? 

Warm Bodies is a sweet film and provides smart and effective entertainment. Nicholas Hoult is really sweet as the innocent, awkward zombie protagonist. Teresa Palmer is nice as well, as the female protagonist Julie. The concept itself is very nice.  A memorable scene is the one where Julie meets R in the balcony, a scene similar to a scene of ''Romeo & Juliet''. Among the funny scenes is the scene where Julie pretends to act like a corpse to make the zombies think that she is also a zombie.

While ''Warm Bodies'' may not be an excellent film, it provides real entertainment, and is overall, sweet and worth a watch.

3.5 out of 5 


 

''(500) Days of Summer'' (2009 movie)- Review

Directed by: Scott Neustadter
Released: 2009
Country: United States

Genres: Romantic comedy, Drama

Cast: Joseph Gordon Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Grace Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler, Clark Gregg

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

Romantic comedy is just not the best genre for me. Once, it had been one of my favorite genres. But after watching such a number of cliched teen rom-coms, the genre is no longer in my 'Favorite Genres' list. But however, now and then I come across such beautiful movies of the genre that, though not bringing back rom-com to it's previous position, leave me with a good feeling, with a smile, or perhaps, at rare occasions, a tear as well. (500) Days of Summer was indeed such a kind of film. It did not feel to me like it was great or something, but yet, it was a feel-good, cheerful, lively film.

Day 488. We see a young man (Joseph Gordon Levitt) and a young woman (Zoey Deschanel) sitting together a bench, looking and smiling at each other. Then follows flashbacks, flashbacks, and flashbacks. The film is not told in a chronological order and shifts among the days between Day 1 of Tom's meeting summer to Day 488 (We only see Day 500 in the last scene).

Tom (Levitt) waits for the perfect girl of his life. Summer (Deschanel), on the other hand, believes that there is no such thing as love. The two work at the same office. Tom's job is to make greeting cards, despite having studied architecture in college. The two meet and become friends, and eventually start a relation, though, as Summer suggests, they are just friends.

The film shifts between time periods. At one period, we see the blossoming relationship between Tom and Summer. At the other, we see Tom and Summer have broken up and Tom managing to deal with the stress and the sorrow that has followed. The two time periods and situations are mixed together, one showing Tom as a happy young man in love, and the other showing Tom as the broken man after the end of relationship.

The screenplay is very well written. The shifting between the days is done remarkably. I also liked the Expectation vs Reality scene. One of the most memorable scenes in the film was the dance  by Joseph Gordon Levitt, because of his happiness of finally finding a girl whom he thinks perfect and suitable for him, and whom he loves, and he dances with joy, and imagines all the pedestrians dancing with him as well (and there is also an animated bird in this dance scene!). It was a perfectly delightful and excellently-written scene.

Joseph Gordon Levitt is one of my favorite actors. He is charming and an excellent actor. In every scene in this film, he performs excellently. He brings the character to life! Zoey Deschenal is excellent as well. And Chloe Grace Moretz... she is one of my favorite young actresses. Mortez plays Tom's sister Rachel. Despite being so young, it is always Rachel who gives Tom advises and tips about relationships. Moretz also gave an excellent performance, though she plays a relatively small supporting role.

The romance is sweet, and the two lead actors bring their respective characters to life. It is written well, acted well, directed well, and indeed, a refreshing and sweet romantic comedy film.

4 out of 5

''When Harry Met Sally...'' (1989 movie)- Review

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Released: 1989

Country: United States

Main cast: Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby, Steven Ford

Genres: Romantic comedy, Drama

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

Harry Burns and Sally Albright first meet while sharing a drive to New York from Chicago. Harry is the boyfriend of Sally's friend Amanda. They don't get along very well. Harry comments that men and women can never be friends, because sex always gets on their way. Sally disagrees. Upon reaching New York, they part their ways, because according to Harry, they cannot be friends.

Five years later, Harry and Sally meet for the second time. Sally is in a relationship, and Harry will be getting married soon.

Five more years later, they meet again. Both are single now... Sally's relation with Joe ended, and Harry and Helen are divorced. Harry and Sally become best friends, with both of them sharing everything with each other, talking on phone late into the night, going here and there, taking meals together. But will they always be able to remain friends, or will it turn into a romantic relation one day?

Their story is told with sudden interruptions, where elderly couples reveal how they had met, how they had fallen in love, how they had got married, and how their love has lasted over the decades.

Nora Ephron's screenplay was extraordinary. The dialogues are witty, the situations are humorous. Near the end, the situations does get a bit serious, but however, the humorous part remains active all the time! Harry and Sally are both remarkable characters. Both are funny and sweet. 

So many hilarious scenes, it would be difficult to mention all of them! One of the funniest scenes was Sally faking an orgasm (and the epic dialogue that follows: ''I'll have what she's having!''). When Jo is going to get married and Sally calls Harry, and she's crying, and taking a tissue paper one after another, that scene was also extremely funny. There are many touching and emotional scenes as well, for example, the ending, and many scenes throughout the film. And then there are the colorful sceneries, backgrounds, and the pleasant background music.

When Harry Met Sally is a lovely and refreshing film. Romantic comedy as a genre is extremely tired, and this is one of the examples of great films in this genre. Rob Reiner's direction is excellent. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal also give excellent performance. And there is Nora Ephron's screenplay. These make it an excellent film.

4.5 out of 5

''City Lights'' (1931 movie)- Review

Directed by: Charlie Chaplin
Released: 1931
Country: United States

Genres: Romantic comedy, Drama

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review

A story can be full of fun throughout. Again, a story can be a mixture of laughs and emotions, a balanced mixture of both of them. City Lights is an example of such a film. Charlie Chaplin brings to screen a sweet love story, with the addition of situations that keep us laughing throughout.

The protagonist of this film is Chaplin's most memorable character, the Tramp. One day, he meets a blind girl who sells flowers. Slowly, he becomes close to the blind girl. For some reasons, the blind girl thinks that the tramp is a wealthy man. The girl lives in poverty with her grandmother. To give the girl some financial support, the tramp finds a job. But very soon he is fired for being late on his job. 

But the girl is now in a situation of extreme difficulty--- she needs to pay the rent of the house she lives in. The Tramp starts doing all he can to help the girl, which he succeeds in doing, but for which he needs to sacrifice a lot.

The film has an important subplot. One day, the tramp convinces a drunk wealthy man not to commit suicide. After this incident, the man starts thinking the tramp as a friend, even inviting him to stay with him at his house. However, as soon as the man becomes sober, he does not seem even to recognize the tramp. From that time, whenever the man is drunk, he suddenly recognizes the tramp as a friend. This recurring friendship will ultimately bring the tramp both the solution to his problem, as well as misery.

Almost every scenes of this film is filled with humor that made me laugh out loud! The very first scene shows the unveiling of a statue, but when the statue is unveiled, the tramp is sitting on the statue! Again, the scene where the tramp saves the wealthy man, the scene where the blind girl mistakenly pours water on him (intending to water her flowers), and so many other scenes!

The sweet romance and the Tramp's will to help her, despite himself being a, umm, tramp, is extremely touching. Later in the film, the misery the Tramp has to go through is very emotionally intense. Chaplin crafts the entire film so well, with such talent, with his great direction, screenplay and acting. The antics of the Tramp are extremely funny, and Chaplin, with his great skill, brings that to screen brilliantly. Virginia Cherrill as the blind girl gives an excellent performance as well. The ending is very touching and beautiful.

Overall, this is a masterpiece. City Lights extremely funny sweet, touching, wonderful romantic comedy that I'd recommend to everybody!

5 out of 5!

''ParaNorman'' and ''The 39 Steps''

ParaNorman (2012 movie)

Directed by: Sam Fell, Chris Butler
Released: 2012
Country: United States

Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jodelle Micah Ferland, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Elaine Stritch

Genres: Comedy horror, Adventure, Fantasy, Family

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Review

Norman is a boy with an unusual quality: he can communicate with dead people, including his late grandmother. His parents don't appreciate this quality. He is bullied at school, being called a ''freak''.  He learns in school about a person who was accused of being a witch, three centuries ago. The ''witch'' gave a terrible curse to the seven people who had accused her, causing them to become living deads (zombies).

One day, Norman comes across his elderly and strange uncle Prerderghast, who tells him that since he can communicate with dead people, only he can save the town from the zombies by keeping the curse under control. Norman is puzzled, but after the sudden death of Prenderghast, his (Prenderghast's) ghost visits him, giving him instruction about how to keep the curse under control.

How can Norman control such a terrible curse, all by himself? There follows twists, perils, revelations, and humor.

ParaNorman was a fun watch. I liked the overwhelming humor, the comedic horror elements, the twist, and the truth. The voice actors do a great job. The visuals are also great. The scene I loved most was the final confrontation between the ''witch'' and Norman. It was superbly designed, and the scene following this, the scene at the forest, was also beautiful. Overall, it was a light and refreshing film.

3.5 out of 5

The 39 Steps (1935 movie)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Released: 1935
Country: United Kingdom

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

Main cast: Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, Lucie Mannheim, Godfrey Tearle, Peggy Ashcroft, John Laurie, Helen Haye, Wylie Watson

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

Before he moved to Hollywood in 1939, Alfred Hitchcock, one of my favorite directors of all time, made many films in Britain, almost none of which are particularly remembered as his great movies. However, two of his British films, The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes, are often considered among his great films. The 39 Steps is often considered to be one of the first movies where Hitchcock showed his common elements: the excellent suspense mixed with humor, the man struggling to prove his innocence, and one of the very memorable features of his films, the blonde heroine. This is the film where Hitchcock introduced a blonde heroine who is found in many of Hitchcock films.

In the midst of the chaos that suddenly start in a music hall,  a man named Richard Hannay meets a strange and mysterious woman who looks very afraid and requ

ests Hannay to take her to his home. Hannay, though puzzled at the woman's attitude, does so. There, the woman introduces herself  as Annabella Smith demands absolute security and solitude, and tells Hannay that she is working to unravel spies who are going to smuggle a secret very valuable to the country. But because of her work, the spies are wanting to kill her. Hannay doesn't know whether to believe her or not, but nevertheless shelters her. Late at night, when he is sound asleep, Annabella rushes to him, apparently having been stabbed by the spies, and soon dies. Hannay, confused what to do, decides to go to Scotland, where Annabella was supposed to meet somebody important. Meanwhile, word gets around that it was Hannay who killed Annabella. Now Hannay can prove his innocence in only a single way: he has to expose the spies who are planning to smuggle the secret out of the country.

Alfred Hitchcock's excellently directed film really fascinated me. I hadn't watched a Hitchcock movie for a while (the last I'd watched was Notorious, back in April), so it was great to return to his movies! I liked the depth of the situation and the characters. Madeleine Carrol, who played the first ever blonde heroine in Hitchcock films, gives a very remarkable performance. Overall, it is an enjoyable, suspenseful film and one of the earliest marks of the greatness that Hitchcock would be showing in future with such great films as Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds, Strangers on a Train, and Shadow of a Doubt.

4 out of 5

''Paths of Glory'', ''The Children's Hour'' and ''50/50''

Paths of Glory (1957 movie)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Released: 1957
 Country: United States

Genres: War drama 

Main cast: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, Wayne Morris, Joe Turkel 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Short review: Paths of Glory takes place during the World War I. General Mireau takes the responsibility of taking the Anthill, a strong German position. Mireau gives the responsibility of the task to Colonel Dax's (the great Kirk Douglas) regiment. The attack, however, becomes unsuccessful. Mireau is furious, and decides to court martial 3 soldiers from each company. However, Colonel Dax tries to protest, saying that the soldiers must have had their reasons for not advancing towards the Anthill. Mireau doesn't pay attention. Despite Dax's attempts to protect them, the three soldiers are sentenced to death. Awaiting their death, the three soldiers lament that they had their reasons, the attack was unsuccessful because of the facts that so many soldiers were dying, there was gunfire and violence all around... So why have they been so unfairly sentenced to death?

I loved this film. It was sentimental and sad. The subject matter was very emotional. Surely, one of Kubrick's best films.

4.5 out of 5

The Children's Hour (1961 movie)

Directed by: William Wyler
Released: 1961
 Country: United States

Genres:Drama

Cast: Shirley MacLaine, Audrey Hepburn, James Garner, Miriam Hopkins, Fay Bainter, Karen Balkin, Veronica Cartwright

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Short review: The Children's Hour is nothing short of a masterpiece. It's a very emotionally intense, sad and touching film. The plot centers around two young women who run a girls' school, Karen Wright (Audrey Hepburn) and Martha Dobey (Shirley

MacLaine). Among their students is Mary (Karen Balkin), whose misbehavior often causes the two teachers to punish her. Mary wants to get rid of this school. She thinks that the teachers hate her. Eventually, Mary runs away to her grandmother one day, and tells her that Miss Wright and Miss Dobey are lesbians, and describes to her such things which make her grandmother believe the lie. Mary's grandmother, Mrs Tilford (Fay Bainter) spreads the lie, causing the parents to take away their children from the school. The lives of Miss Wright and Miss Dobey turn upside down. This lie destroys their life. People point at them and laugh. They become miserable. Karen's fiance is forced leave her...

This is a very sad and touching movie. How a lie can change people's lives, is clearly portrayed in this film. The screenplay and dialogues are brilliant. I won't comment on the acting of MacLaine, Hepburn and Garner, because perfection can easily be expected from great stars like them; it is the acting of the two child actors, Karen Balkin and Veronica Cartwright, that impresses me. Balkin, as the little antagonist Mary, gives a splendid performance. Cartwright, who had played a supporting role in Hitchcock's ''The Birds'' and whose sister, Angela, starred in ''The Sound of Music'', gives a terrific performance as Rosalie. Mary strengthens the lie by blackmailing Rosalie. Rosalie had stolen a bracelet from one of their classmates, and Mary blackmails that if Rosalie won't support her in her lie, she (Mary) will reveal what Rosalie has done.

This is a great film, with a great subject matter and great direction from William Wyler, and great performances from both the lead and supporting cast.

4.5 out of 5

50/50 (2011 movie)

Directed by: Jonathan Levine
Released: 2011
Country: United States
 
Main cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anna Kendrick, Seth Rogen, Bryce Dallas Howard, Angelica Huston

Genres: Comedy-drama

Rating: 4 out of 5

Short review: Here's a lovely, bittersweet comedy-drama. It's about Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a 27-year-old man, who discovers that he has a rare cancer, and that he has only 50/50 chance of survival. And there is a mother who worries too much, a father with Alzheimer's disease, a best friend whose behavior is not quite pleasant, a girlfriend who is cheating on him, and a very caring young therapist. The film lightheartedly explores the difficulties, thoughts, tensions, and fears that a cancer patient has to go through. Though dealing with a very realistic topic, the film presents it in a light manner. The film gives us a portrait of what cancer patients go through, their tensions, fears, longing; the tensions and fears that are always present, the fears about whether they are going to survive or not. 

The acting is top-notch. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as Adam, is excellent. Anna Kendrick, whom you may know from the Twilight saga, is excellent as the therapist. The beautiful Bryce Dallas Howard is excellent as always (she plays the role of Rachel, the girlfriend who is cheating on Adam). Rachel, a young painter, after knowing that her boyfriend has cancer, does all she can. She doesn't leave him, rather takes care of him. But later when Adam comes to know that she is cheating on him, he breaks up and burns the painting that she made for him. It's sort of shocking, because though Rachel was cheating on him, she indeed cared for him, and though it's natural that Adam was furious, his response also wasn't totally fair, because, despite what she did, Rachel had tried her best to take care of Adam.

The film not only gives us laughs, but also smiles, tears, and tensions. The film talks about a very grim subject matter mostly lightheartedly and humorously, and presents to us a very realistic topic that rarely becomes disturbing; the film helps us to look in depth of the suffering of cancer patients, and along with it's light manner, the film also has an inner depth that is grim and thought-provoking.

4 out of 5
 

''The Graduate'' (1967 movie)- Review

Directed by: Mike Nichols
Released: 1967
Country: United States

Genres: Comedy-Drama, Coming-of-age, Romance

Main cast: Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katherine Ross, Murray Hamilton, William Daniels, Elizabeth Wilson

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

Mike Nichols's The Graduate, based on the novel by Charles Webb, is just delightful! It is a light film and leaves a big smile in the face. The Graduate is funny, deals with a bizarre and hilarious story, well-written and acted, and supported by some amazing songs (all of which I just adored!).

The Graduate is about the recent college graduate Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman). After he graduates, his father arranges a big party in his house. But Benjamin is not much delighted after hearing the innumerable congratulations; he is worried about what to do with his life. Enter Mrs Robinson, the wife of Benjamin's father's law partner. Mrs Robinson, played by Anne Bancroft, requests Benjamin to drive her home. Benjamin reluctantly does. But after reaching her house, Mrs Robinson asks him to come in, and starts behaving in such a way that makes it seem that she is wanting to seduce him. The hesitant Benjamin reluctantly agrees to her vampish invitations, and the two start an affair.

Katherine Ross and Dustin Hoffman in ''The Graduate''

But then enters Mrs Robinson's daughter, Elaine (Katherine Ross). His parents urge him to take Elaine to a date, and despite Mrs Robinson's continuous protests, Benjamin does so. And eventually he finds himself falling in love with Elaine. They fall in true love, but then there is Benjamin's affair with Elaine's mother that becomes a dark shadow over Elaine and Benjamin's relationship.

This film was hilarious and humorous! I loved it! The screenplay, adapted by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry from the novel of the same name by Charles Webb, is simply great! The dialogues are amazing; the comedic situations are built up well. Anne Bancroft, who perhaps gives the best performance in this film, is great as the vampish, alcoholic middle-aged woman. Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin gives a wonderful performance. And Katherine Ross--- she's just amazing as Elaine, the Robinsons' daughter who falls in love with Ben. I liked her acting. Especially in the scenes where Elaine and Benjamin go on their first date, Ross was great, and when she broke into tears because Benjamin was behaving rudely with her, she made the scene extremely sad as well.

This was a fast-paced film, humorous and delightful, lovely and comedic, and I would highly recommend it!

4.5 out of 5

''Being Julia'' (2004 movie)- Review

Directed by: István Szabó
Released: 2004
Country: Canada, United States

Genres: Comedy-Drama

Main cast: Annette Bening, Jeremy Irons, Shaun Evans, Lucy Punch, Juliet Stevenson, Miriam Margolyes, Tom Sturridge, Rosemary Harris, Rita Tushingham, Michael Gambon

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

The titular character of Being Julia, played by the elegant Annette Bening, is as excellently written as it is performed by Bening, and it is a combination of both the crafting of the character and the performance of Bening that makes the character so memorable and the film so magnificent. The protagonist, Julia, is the heart of  István Szabó's Being Julia; this unique character is extremely memorable and can be described with a variety of adjectives: sweet, amiable, talented, famous, lovely, and, of course, foxy.

Julia is sweet. Among the above adjectives, all suit her properly, except perhaps ''foxy''. The character is sly, but that is, in fact, sweetly sly. She is a celebrity, a famous theater personality, on whom many young men have crushes. A young man seems to be obsessed with her. And she falls in love with the young man. And then, she finds out that the man is not what he seems. Instead, he is a cunning person who is just using her. And then, she uses her intelligence and wit to take a magnificent revenge.

Julia Lambert (Annette Bening) is a successful stage actress, famous and respected all around. In her early 40s, she and her husband Michael (Jeremy Irons), are not quite in love. She meets Tom (Shaun Evans), a man who seems to be a great fan of hers. And then she becomes obsessed with Tom. She loves him deeply, though he is much, much younger than her.  And then she comes to know that he does not, in fact, care for her as deeply. And in course of time, she understands that he, in fact, loves the ambitious actress Avice Crichton (Lucy Punch), and is just using the power of Julia to make Avice have a successful career on stage.

Initially heartbroken, Julia, however, then plans up a magnificent revenge upon those people for whom she feels she was wronged, who brought tears to her eyes. Avice Crichton, meanwhile, will be acting with her on a play. And on the night when the performance of the play will be held, a great surprise awaits for all.

Being Julia provides smart and effective entertainment. As I mentioned previously, the titular character is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive aspects of the film. Annette Bening gives us an excellent performance; a truly great performance, that, along with the sublimity of the screenplay, gives an excellent heart to the novel. While the character can be sad, cheerful, melodramatic, lovely, loverly, it can also, as the story goes on to tell us, be clever and sly to achieve what she deserves.

The situation is also built up quite well. The graceful cinematography cannot be forgotten easily. The beautiful cinematography can be easily understood by examining some of the scenes of the film. For instance, the scene where Julia and her friend Lord Charles (Bruce Greenwood) walk on the bridge. The proximity of the camera to the two characters' face, and also, the style of the cinematography in this scene, is utterly beautiful.

Other things, for example, the ghostly presence of the dead Jimmie Langton (Michael Gambon), who always advises Julia what to do, gets disappointed when she does something silly, and appreciates when she is successful, is quite memorable. 

Of course, the supporting cast is also quite great. Jeremy Irons as Michael, Julia's husband, gives an effective performance. Shaun Evans (as Tom) and Lucy Punch (as Avice) also give memorable performance. More remarkably Lucy Punch, of course. Without her superb performance, the film would have lost much of it's entertaining part (especially in the scene of the opening of the play, both Bening and Punch gave tremendously effective and hilarious performances). As Julia's son, Tom Sturridge is quite good. Others, such as Juliet Stevenson, are good as well!

And lastly- such a magnificent, such a wonderful film! It is cheerful, witty, sometimes melodramatic, and finally, a very good movie. It brought a big smile to my face!

4 out of 5!