Movie Recommendations: #84

The Truman Show(1998)

Director: Peter Weir

Starring: Jim Carrey, Ed Harris,Laura Linney.

 

The Truman Show is a science-fiction comedy-drama film starring Jim Carrey in one of his career-defining roles as Truman Burbank, a young man unaware that his life is the subject of a popular reality show, and that he is living in an artificial reality where every aspect of his life is being filmed by hidden cameras.Truman’s life is controlled by the show’s executive producer Christof(Ed Harris), who subjects him to numerous adversities and emotional trauma.

After becoming suspicious of his surroundings, Truman embarks on a quest of self-discovery.Jim Carrey’s marvellous performance in the titular role shows his versatility and brilliance.The film discusses the concepts of freedom, existentialism and morality, and at the same time offers a satirical take on reality television.It was nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Director, Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Ed Harris.

Movie Recommendations: #83

Fight Club(1999)

Director: David Fincher

Starring: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter.

Fight Club is a psychological thriller drama film which explores the philosophies of materialism, morality,consumerism and liberty through the eyes of an unnamed narrator(Edward Norton).

The narrator, dissatisfied with his dead-end corporate job, forms a “fight club” with his friend Tyler Durden(Brad Pitt), a gathering where men fight as a means of recreation. Both the narrator and Tyler are polar opposites of each other, with the narrator being a depressed and nihilistic person , and Tyler being a really cool(there’s no other word for it) guy.David Fincher draws out terrific performances from the lead actors.

Dark, engrossing and brilliantly written and directed, Fight Club is a fantastic film which offers a disturbing and thought-provoking take on the life of an ordinary individual.

 

Movie Recommendations: #80

Dallas Buyers Club(2013)

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto,Jennifer Garner.

Dallas Buyers Club is a biographical drama film based on the inspiring story of Ron Woodruf, an AIDS patient during the 1980’s, who despite FDA restrictions, smuggled illegal pharmaceutical drugs into Texas for his treatment and also distributed them to fellow AIDS patients,forming the Dallas Buyers Club.

The film brings to light the social stigma and hostilty faced by AIDS patients during the 70s and 80s. Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto underwent massive physical transformations for their roles, both losing 40 pounds. Matthew McConaughey delivered a career-best performance as the cold, alcoholic and drug-addict protagonist Ron Woodruf who fights against the profit-oriented pharmaceutical companies, while Jared Leto was equally marvellous as the sweet transsexual Rayon.

Dallas Buyers Club is a thought-provoking and compassionate film that will tug on your heartstrings through excellent direction and memorable performances. Both McConaughey and Leto won the Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively.

 

Movie Recommendations: #77

Taxi Driver(1976)

Director: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Robert de Niro, Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel.

 

Taxi Driver is a psychological thriller and drama film which explores the themes of vigilantism,obsession, loneliness and depression through the psychotic exploits of Travis Bickle, a former US Marine who works as a taxi driver in New York.

Robert de Niro, in one of his greatest performances, slips into the skin of the sociopath,insomniac and depressed Travis, who after being disgusted with the rampant crime in New York, takes it upon himself to “clean up the city” .

Violent, disturbing and brilliantly directed, Taxi Driver ranks among the greatest films of all time. It won the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for four Academy Awards,including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress for Jodie Foster and Best Original Score.

 

 

 

 

Movie Recommendations: #74

Dev.D(2009)

Director: Anurag Kashyap

Starring: Abhay Deol, Kalki Koechlin, Mahie Gill.

Dev.D is as close as Bollywood gets to perfection. Anurag Kashyap’s contemporary rendition of the classic novel Devdas is undoubtedly a masterpiece.

The film follows Dev(Abhay Deol), a rich, spoilt brat whose life goes into a downward spiral after his ego makes him lose his childhood sweetheart Paro(Mahie Gill). Their stories are intertwined with that of Leni(Kalki Koechlin), a high school student, who after her involvement in a sex scandal,is disowned by her family and starts working as a prostitute.

Dev.D refuses to bow down to the formula employed by most of Bollywood filmmakers. Instead of actors singing and dancing along with a thousand extras, heroes fighting a hundred goons at once,over-the-top drama, and general nonsense, Dev.D is built on strong performances, a nearly flawless screenplay,stunning cinematography, a fantastic soundtrack and realistic, brilliant acting. It cemented Anurag Kashyap’s status as one of the greatest auteurs in Bollywood, and was a giant leap forward in the thinking process behind a Bollywood film.

 

 

 

Movie Recommendations:#68

 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo(2011)

Director: David Fincher.

Starring: Daniel Craig,Rooney Mara,Christopher Plummer,Stellan Skarsgard.

Based on Steig Larsson’s bestselling eponymous novel, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a thriller film that will keep you hooked till the very end.

After losing a libel case against businessman Hans-Erik Wennerstrom , disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist(Daniel Craig) is hired by business magnate Henrik Vanger to investigate the disappearance of his grandniece, 40 years ago, in exchange for information that could incriminate Wennerstrom.Eccentric and troubled Lisbeth Salander(Rooney Mara), a brilliant programmer and investigator, is subject to horrific sexual violence at the hands of her guardian. Blomkvist later asks Salander to help with the investigation, and both uncover the trail of a serial killer.

The dark setting, gripping story and background score make it one of the best ever films in the thriller genre. The cast delivered brilliant performances, Rooney Mara in particular as the idealistic, strong-willed and intelligent hacker Lisbeth Salander.

Movie Recommendations: #66

Valkyrie(2008)

Director: Bryan Singer

Starring: Tom Cruise,Kenneth Branagh,Bill Nighy,Carice van Houten.

Valkyrie is a historical film which dramatizes the  20th July plot in 1944 by German army officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler and subsequently replace the Nazi regime.

Tom Cruise stars as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a Nazi officer who loses his right hand and left eye after being severely wounded during an RAF air raid. After becoming disillusioned with the Nazi party, he joins the German Resistance, and along with his co-conspirators, hatches a plot to assassinate the Nazi High Command and take control of Germany.

Valkyrie is a dark film with a compelling storyline, and brings out the patriotism which drove a group of brave men into the face of danger.

Movie Recommendations: #59

Phone Booth(2002)

Director:Joel Schumacher

Starring: Colin Farrell,Kiefer Sutherland,Forest Whitaker,Katie Holmes,Radha Mitchell.

 

Phone Booth is a psychological thriller film about a man pinned down in a telephone booth by a sniper.

The film follows Stu Shepard(Colin Farrell), a brash New York publicist who is having an affair with a woman outside of his marriage. After entering a public phone booth to contact his mistress, he is contacted by an anonymous caller who claims to have trained a sniper rifle on him, and threatens to kill him if he doesn’t follow his instructions.

Colin Farrell delivers a dynamic and gripping performance as the central character of the film, and Kiefer Sutherland perfectly pulls off the sniper act with a cold, menacing and assertive voiceover.

 

Movie Recommendations: #44

Luck By Chance(2009)

Director: Zoya Akhtar

Starring: Farhan Akhtar,Konkona Sen Sharma,Rishi Kapoor,Juhi Chawla,Hrithik Roshan,Isha Sharvani,Dimple Kapadia.

 

Luck By Chance is a comedy-drama film which follows the themes of fate,ambition and power, and at the same time takes satirical digs at the inner workings of Bollywood.The story,banking on a compelling script,  follows the journey of a young actor Vikram Jaisingh(Farhan Akhtar) trying to make it to the big-time in the film industry.

Featuring cameos from several Bollywood celebrities, the film brings to light the struggle faced by the thousands of hopefuls who arrive in Mumbai for the sole purpose of attaining stardom.Complex characters brought to life through powerful performances by the ensemble cast epitomise the lure of success, and the cost of achieving it.The movie also features a wonderful soundtrack composed by industry veterans Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.

 

Movie Recommendations : #28

A Few Good Men(1992)

Director:Rob Reiner

Starring: Tom Cruise,Demi Moore,Jack Nicholson.

 

A Few Good Men is a courtroom drama film which revolves around two United States Marines accused of killing a fellow Marine, and the subsequent trial where they are defended by the young and upcoming lawyer and Navy Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee(Tom Cruise) and his associates.

What seems an open-and-shut case at first turns into a point of contention between the government and the defendants after the accused plead not guilty,and their lives are placed in the hands of the inexperienced but resourceful and intelligent Kaffee.Tom Cruise delivers a powerful performance as Daniel Kaffee, and Jack Nicholson delivers yet another great performance as Colonel Nathan Jessup, for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.The film was also nominated for Best Picture,Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing at the Academy Awards.