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The China Hustle (2017)
Poorly made and laugh worthy
The makers at the end claimed Alibaba, a Chinese company, was fraud. After a few years, we now know it isn't. Will the makers be issuing a clarification on that?
There was no scientific data presented to analyze any of the companies. The lead guy says he analyzed a fertilizer company by placing a camera outside their offices. And just because there weren't many trucks seen there, the company was fraudulent. Also, he said the cameras recorded only for 344 days showing no trucks. So, were there trucks on the rest of the days that you left out? These Americans in the documentary had a clear agenda - which was the short the new Chinese companies, then throw fake propaganda at them, then profit when the stock plummets.
The documentary starts off by telling us the perspective of a few Americans who apparently unearthed a few frauds. Towards the end, the xenophobia caught up to them to the level that one guy called the entire Chinese society as flawed, whereas the American society is so great. Oh thanks, who knew? And what a coincidence that you are American.
Another question of concern here is that they claim the Chinese companies list their accurate financial statements with the Chinese regulators and that an American bank brings these Chinese companies to America (presumably as stocks or ADRs). They claim that their values are inflated in America and not in China. So who is the fraud here? Aren't the Americans? Then why did one guy exclaim towards the end that the Chinese society is flawed?
It was so funny to watch this. The most bizarre and horrendous documentary ever made. One guy is sitting outside his house talking to some old people trying to make some jokes (wise-cracks) which fall flat, then driving through Flint, Michigan, trying to show him off as the hero just because this he is the only one in the documentary who's from Flint. Complete joke!
Thanks for the laugh though. Take my one star.The worst, most non-scientific, and funniest finance documentary in the history.
Mercury (2018)
The worst movie ever made in the history of cinema.
Quite easily the worst screenplay and direction of any movie made in the HISTORY of cinema. The awfulness of the story and screenplay are equally matched by the acting performances. I don't understand how movies like "The Room" are considered the worst, when crap like this exists in the world. Please spread the word and let's make this officially the worst movie ever made.
The director has no clue about the subject. I am sure even middle school children can think better than this. The film is so reductive, and claims that there are ghosts that can enter someone's body and can kill people. What a horrendous film. I just threw up before writing this review.
Karthik Subburaj should officially be named the worst director of Indian and Tamil cinema.
Apoorva Raagangal (1975)
Definitely in the top 5 Indian films of all time.
IMDb does a top Indian films list and is full of overrated Hindi movie crap. I was surprised to not see any of K. Balachander's films there. That is a shame.
K. Balachander has inspired several film-makers and actors including Kamal Haasan, Aamir Khan, Mani Ratnam, Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan and the list goes on. One of his finest films in Apoorva Raagangal.
This film should be in one of the finest WORLD movies list. Outstanding cinematography and story telling technique by the master K. Balachander. The subject is incredible. There is a wrong citation stating that this film was inspired by a Hollywood film. That is totally incorrect. The Hollywood film is totally different from this, and Apoorva Raagangal is a defining film of the 70's.
If you are from South India reading this, I'd recommend a high rating and even throwing this film in the list of top 5 Indian films of all time.
Thanks Regards
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Midnight in Paris - brilliance in movie making
Well, Woody Allen finally found a Bogart in him . :)
It's been a while since I posted something for having not found a worthy work of art and also because of my belief that worthiness is subjective and immeasurable. Midnight is Paris is not just a movie, it is a dream. As a movie, it exceeds expectations and as a dream, it (contrastingly) looks real. In 1979, Woody Allen wrote "The Kugelmass episodes" in the New Yorker, wherein the protagonist escapes into the past, whilst striving to attain sanity in the present. Although similar in thought, Midnight in Paris is much more than just a fantasy. It is brilliance in movie making. At this point in time, one can most assuredly say that Woody Allen has matched the likes of Fellini and shifted the epicenter of perfectionism towards the West. I shall not attempt to tell the story, but articulate myself on the subject given the fact that no one is ever going to read this.
The movie is about the protagonist's journey into his fantasy, thus paving the way for realizing a sane, fulfilling life in his present.
Owen Wilson is a complete surprise. One can see a young, vibrant Woody Allen in him. Even his style of delivery has been matched to that of Allen. The character is absolutely fantastic. Having to express notions like cognitive dissonance, disbelief, paranoia and a need to escape the realms of the present, Owen Wilson delivers. He is believable and aptly cast. Marion Cotillard, as always, is perfect as Adriana, Picasso's lover, who has married the likes of Braque and Modigliani, and may (or may not) fall in love with Owen Wilson's character, Gil.
As his character grows and escapes into the delusions of fantasy, suspension of disbelief kicks in. This is probably one of the greatest examples of how 'suspension of disbelief' can effectively be used to convey ideas that are simple (contrast to complex notions like Science fiction), in scenarios that are amusing and far-fletched. The only concern about the movie is Kathy Bates playing the role of Gertrude Stein. That, to me was the moment I suspended believing in disbelief. Probably because of her huge body of work, but it is arguable that she was miscast.
If you aren't aware of the Fitzgeralds, Alice B. Toklas, Ernest Hemmingway, Gertrude Stein, Dali, Cole Porter, the movie is still amusing and inspiring in a way. Some of the dialogues are absolutely brilliant. It is irresistible to quote some lines from the movie.
Ernest Hemingway: All men fear death. It's a natural fear that consumes us all. We fear death because we feel that we haven't loved well enough or loved at all, which ultimately are one and the same. However, when you make love with a truly great woman, one that deserves the utmost respect in this world and one that makes you feel truly powerful, that fear of death completely disappears. Because when you are sharing your body and heart with a great woman the world fades away. You two are the only ones in the entire universe. You conquer what most lesser men have never conquered before, you have conquered a great woman's heart, the most vulnerable thing she can offer to another. Death no longer lingers in the mind. Fear no longer clouds your heart. Only passion for living, and for loving, become your sole reality. This is no easy task for it takes insurmountable courage. But remember this, for that moment when you are making love with a woman of true greatness you will feel immortal. (Courtesy of IMDb) Ernest Hemingway: No subject is terrible if the story is true, if the prose is clean and honest, and if it affirms courage and grace under pressure.(Courtesy of IMDb) And the most brilliant of them all, reserved for Gertrude Stein from Allen, We all fear death and question our place in the Universe. The artist's job is not to succumb to despair but to provide an antidote for the emptiness of existence. (I typed it) Woody Allen is probably the best American writer in the past decade. He has elevated, once again, the benchmark of perfection. The writing is simple, unlike his other works which makes it more compelling to watch. The subtle humor that comes along with every single character, the typical Allen mannerisms and above it all, Paris, makes it a movie-goer's dream- a great one at that.
Rating : 9.5 on 10 .
This review has not been corrected for grammatical errors or popular opinion.
Visit http://upenreviews.blogspot.com/2011/08/midnight-in-paris-review.html for more.
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
SHORT and USEFUL and the BEST review
Paul Thomas Anderson's masterpiece. Adam Sandler's brilliance. That's Punch-Drunk Love.
This is a dark comedy with a romantic plot - a pure genius and a true Hollywood movie. Why? Because ... The director takes a "real" character and plays him around with a completely unreal "movie" character.
Adam Sandler is definitely the last of "that generation" of real actors and this is a powerful and captivating performance .
THe lead character is so real that I felt like the writer had followed me around for years before writing the script. I want to see more movies like this.
Oh, the review wouldn't be complete without talking about the astounding background score , especially at moments when the pair meet each other . It has a surreal old Hollywood style about it.
It annoys me to see that the movie's genre does NOT include "dark comedy" in it . Stupid critics and film viewers.
Goa (2010)
Goa
Honestly, we expected more. The story of three youngsters who want to become something very different than what they are.Their goal in life is to meet a foreign girl , fall in love and get out of India. Where else to meet a foreign girl, than Goa- India's most famous tourist destination? Perhaps inspired from all the teen comedies of the west (and a bit of Dostana) but written for the tamil audience, the movie is fun to watch. What it lacks in story and screenplay, it makes up with the fun quotient. The movie is well directed, but the screenplay is awful. There is good character development for the three leads, but the other characters lack the depth. The Jessica Alba (yeah, that's her name!) role played by Melanie(?) is over the top. She looks great but falls in love with the uneducated 'priest' Saami (Premji Amaren). Wow. Piya and Sneha have undeveloped characters and there's no straight plot progression, whatsoever. Sneha is awful. Someone needs to teach her some acting.
The best thing in the acting department is Premji . He provides some hilarious moments throughout the movie. Be it, the head shaking , dance for 'kangal irandal' or his fight scene spoof of 'baba(tamil actor rajinikanth)' and 'vettaikaran (tamil actor vijay)' , he is funny. The others just play their roles. Jai's broken English (although not new for Tamil cinema) provides a lot of funny moments too. Vaibhav just fits the role and is miscast. Aravind(?) looks great (six pack syndrome) and so does Piya and they do a decent job in acting. The film also has cameo appearances from tamil actors Prasanna, Silambarasan and Nayanthara, who provide some funny moments.
Yuvan Shankar Raja's score is awesome. A couple of hits already from the movie and he does a great job throughout, be it the tamil folk genre or the Techno club mix , he is great.
What could have been a delightful entertainer is marred by a terrible screenplay. Maybe it's time Venkat Prabhu took some time to write a good screenplay. But , this is one movie you enjoy with a group of friends.
My Rating: 2.5 on 5. Worth a Watch.
Up in the Air (2009)
jason reitman=awesome
UP IN THE AIR Jason Reitman , the director of Juno and Thank You for Smoking is back, with a bang. Up in the Air is definitely one of the best movies of the year. In a line, the movie talks about the protagonists' emotional transformation in our 'disconnected' society.
George Clooney, in one word is spectacular. He plays the role of Ryan Bingham, who fires people for a living. He is also a motivational speaker, who talks people out of relationships, who doesn't buy the whole idea of relationships and marriages. He travels 322 days a year and his life is basically, "Up in the air". Vera Flaminga is his soul-mate , who happens to meet him , given the two being frequent flyers. She does a brilliant job. The movie is about, what happens to their lives. Might sound simple, but trust me, it is so unpredictable. After he meets his soul-mate he wonders if it's time to give up what he believes. Right when everything is perfect and he is ready to make the connection, he discovers that it is not to be. In the end, he is overcome with disappointment, which leaves the viewer startled.
Also noteworthy is Anna Kendrick's role as Natalie Keener.The screenplay is so brilliant, it just takes your breath away. Importantly, it is funny and takes an ambiguous view of Ryan Bingham's feelings and emotions. I was told the movie is based on a novel by Walter Kirn. The movie scores in all the departments. With flawless screenplay, acting, direction, cinematography, the movie is definitely up and running for the Oscars. One of George Clooney's and Jason Reitman's finest.
My Rating:4.5 on 5 . A definite watch.
A Serious Man (2009)
serious man
A SERIOUS MAN Writers: Ethan and Joel Coen Nominated for Oscar. A definite contender.
This is probably the toughest movie to write a review for and that's precisely why I am doing it. Another dark comedy from the Coen brothers ( following the impressive list of Big Lebowski, Fargo, Burn After Reading etc) and it definitely needs patience and a lot of thinking.
The movie is set in the 1970's(or the end 60's) in the Minneapolis suburbs mainly focusing on the Jewish community. Larry is a Physics professor seeking the true understanding of the life in this universe. He is faced with a myriad of problems professionally and personally. His tenure is up for a review at school, his son's Bar Mitzvah is about to be held that weekend , his wife decides to leave him and he is not sure what all this means to him in his life. He teaches the Schrödinger's uncertainty principle at class and is not sure if it's uncertainty everywhere.
I shall explain the Schrodinger's cat paradox here.
Schrödinger published this in 1935. The paradigm consisted of a cat in a box with a "diabolical apparatus" which kills the cat if a random subatomic particle decays. Modern physics, made the absurd prediction that until you opened the lid to check, the cat was in some sort of a probability space of being alive/dead, and it only became actually dead (or alive) when you opened the lid to check. Observation changed reality. The cat is in a mysterious state, beyond our comprehension or belief until we look. Do we have faith? Schrödinger insisted that the mystery was simply inescapable. This is the foundation for a rich allegory, indeed. (Einstein did not completely agree with this theory) At last, Larry, after meeting with the Rabbis decides it's time to "open the box" He accepts the bribe from a Korean student ( an immoral act) to change his grades. The next moment, he discovers from his doctor that he has a probably terminally ill disease. Also, his son's school is hit by a tornado.
Watch it once or twice. I bet you would never completely understand this movie.
more of my reviews at http://upenreviews.blogspot.com/ read
Smokin' Aces (2006)
People who r bad mouthing this movie are MORONS!!
I watched it and was spell bound. There's so much of detail and clarity, I refuse to believe what I saw. The screenplay was fantastic. joe Carnahan, haven't heard bout him before, but this is one classy movie. Iam not a fan of blood and gore, but this movie's got an intellectual twist. Highly recommended.I mean TOTALLY TOTALLY RECOMMENDED WATCH. Ryan Reynolds proves once more his caliber in acting. He displays seriousness and the emotions of a cop quite beautifully. WELL, this movie is a combination of wit, action, comedy, suspense, thrill. It has got everything , and all this in one hour and forty eight minutes. that's clever screen writing.
Virumandi (2004)
Watch this everybody
I have watched all great Hollywood films, n this film is as good as , if not , scores of times better than a lot of em.
Awesome direction and fine performances from Kamal, Pasupathy, Nasser, Abirami, Napoleon, great Music, this film captures the essence of South Tamil Nadu's "jallikattu" culture.
The story moves, as narrated by two convicted prisoners, one being Virumandi(Kamal) who is about to be hanged and the other being Pasupathy. After hearing both the versions , a journalist comes to know the truth and the ensuing climax inside the jail, is a treat to watch.
A movie of this calibre in Tamil cinema, is rare and kudos to Kamal.
Run Fatboy Run (2007)
A good symbolism runs throughout the movie.
A good symbolism runs throughout the movie. Marathon metaphorically represents "the run of your life". WE can see a lot of David Schwimmer's acting and mannerism in Simon Pegg esp. in the initial scenes. It's pretty much the story of a man who runs.. away from everything in life A must watch if you are a David or Simon fan. David Schwimmer could have played the role of Simon's friend. This is a "feel good" movie. We are expecting a lot more from David Schwimmer in the future. The feel good factor is present in friends too and the sequence of Simon running away from his pregnant "about to be" wife is enjoyable. The movie isn't all about "logic" and stuff. It is illogical but still who cares?