Shyam Popat's review - once a week or your reputation back

[generally amusing]

SPOILAR ALART: SPOILARS WIL B COMIN

This week - The Shawshank Redemption

They send you here for life, and that's exactly what they take. The part that counts, anyway.

Cast
Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne
Morgan Freeman as Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding
Bob Gunton as Warden Norton
William Sadler as Heywood
Clancy Brown as Capt. Hadley

-------------------------------

It's interesting to see the psychological shifts in a person's mind when he goes from big-shot banker to prison *****, as is the seemingly dark fate for our protagonist Andy Dufresne. The movie is made from the point of view of Red, played by Morgan Freeman, and so one takes into account what the narrator sees - "must admit I didn't think much of Andy first time I laid eyes on him" - and what one sees oneself, on the screen.

The character of Andy Dufresne is a mysterious one; he is hard, cold, collected - "His first night in the joint ... he never made a sound." And yet from his beginnings as the sex toy of our great friends, the prison rapists - "You have to be human first, they don't qualify" - to prison accountant, on to the brilliant mastermind we see at the end, we see that Andy Dufresne's character, played brilliantly by Tim Robbins, is nothing but an illusion to an intelligent, savvy mind that tricks everybody, even his best friend Red, into thinking he has submitted to prison life - after all, by his escape, it had been 20-odd years.

The movie teaches a lot of life lessons that have been brushed aside in recent years to the back of our minds where we keep those things we know are true and decent but choose to look over. Compassion, perseverence, and determination are traits Andy Dufresne calls his own, examples being not only the larger picture of spending 20 years chipping away at a stone wall behind an array of sexually appealing posters, but the examples that can slip away - Tommy Williams, the high school drop-out who passes his exams while Andy is in solitary, for instance. Andy Dufresne embodies the virtues that we all like to see in a person, but very people actually try to pursue due to temptations that are closer in view.

And now we come to Red. Morgan Freeman, the man with the Midas touch, brings gold to every character he ever plays - probably one of the reasons he plays God in 2 movies. A voice to die for makes the concept of the narrator an even more enticing one, and acting talent makes his journey on the back of Andy Dufresne even more thrilling. Red is often sidelined to allow for Andy's character to grow, but we are constantly reminded, at the end more than ever, that he is the guy we are following, and Andy is, as is inherent with people like him, merely a passing object that affects us and leaves us. Red had the luck of 20 solid years with Andy.

Finally, prison life is analysed in this movie. The examples range from the cliched rapists to the crooked, bad-guy Warden to the psychological effects of prison life - "These walls are funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That's institutionalized." The lessons taught on general prison life - "Prison life consists of routine, and then more routine" - sometimes cause other aspects of the film to drop in imagination, the cliches being a good example.

The Shawshank Redemption, amidst its few faults, is a film not only filled to the brim with acting talent, but one that, although confined to a prison block, can have the audience struck to their seats wanting more. The aim of a film is to increase tension throughout the film until the crescendo at the end, and this conventionality is superbly fulfilled in this movie.

Shyam Popat gives this movie 9.5/10

[generally amusing]

This week - Scarface (1983 remake)

The only thing in this world that gives orders... is balls.

Cast
Al Pacino as Tony Montana
Steven Bauer as Manny Ribera
Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira Hancock
Mary Mastrantonio as Gina Montana
Robert Loggia as Frank Lopez

-------------------------------

This movie has received critical acclaim, and grossed around $70m worldwide. You need only look to modern life to see how popular it was - the words "say hello to my little friend" are thrown around enough these days. But quotes don't make themselves famous, they have to come out of the mouth of a great actor, and that's exactly what happened. Al Pacino, totally reversing his role as the stoic 'Michael' in the Godfather trilogy, soared into the role of trigger happy, ambitious Antonio Montana, "political refugee from Cuba".

The acting is what lifts this movie off the ground, and as previously stated, I mean specifically the acting of Al Pacino. His ability to pour himself into his character, Tony, is unbelievable - and again, contrast Tony's immensely short temper with Michael's calm demeanour and you will see how Al Pacino is such a diverse and complex actor.

Ambition is the main theme in this movie, and wherever possible, it is condemned - to a point. Tony's bloody rise to the top, in such a short period of time, is constantly shown to be due to his unending desire for wealth and power - "First you get the money, then you get the power, then you get the woman". Tony's need for prowess comes from a new freedom in America, namely capitalism. Capitalism - "You know what capitalism is? Getting ****ed!" - is the only way Tony gets from grease monkey in a small, South American diner to head of one of the biggest drug cartels in Florida.

Praise need be also given to Pacino's surrounding cast members. Bauer, as Manny, is the little voice of reason - and as he is Tony's right hand man, we see Tony's faults for not listening to advice that is constantly given to him. Pfeiffer plays the sexy, drugged-up wife of the current drug honcho, Frank Lopez, and is another reason why Tony gets all of his power. Pfeiffer, who plays Elvira, is a woman who feeds off power - and when Tony becomes infatuated with her, he tries with all his might to gain the power that might make her go for him. This is to be his undoing - and the movie shows that too much ambition and lust for women is not the way to go.

The film does drag on quite a bit, but never do you feel that you've lost any time watching something meaningless. The plot is always being furthered, and tension rises over time until that iconic final scene of Tony's death. The camera work is almost flawless - and I specifically will refer to one of the earlier scenes, with the Colombians and the chainsaw. One almost thinks they can see Tony's partner being cut up, and the use of spurting blood adds to this effect. A work of genius, in my opinion.

Very few people can fault this movie. It is, at one time or another, funny - "Me, dance? Hey, I think I wanna have a heart attack" - dramatic or violent. All three are pulled off almost perfectly, most of the time, with Al Pacino's help. It is a controversially violent, graphic and explicit movie, but one that is hard to dislike. Watching it, one always has in the back of their mind, that this is a classic.

Shyam Popat gives this movie 9.5/10

Next time, I'll pick a less good movie, just because I don't want to seem too nice a reviewer.

[Juno]

Do you live in Anaheim?

[generally amusing]

Is that anywhere near Leicester?

[Juno]

Leicester blows.

[Agent Provocateur]

Is that anywhere near Leicester?

[generally amusing]

It was Xmas, you can forgive me for not doing one. Next review will be beginning of January, earlier if you're lucky. I'll be reviewing 'I Am Legend'.

[Tankbuster]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
I watched "I am Legend", so let me warn you: even though the prologue is really good, every kind of tension or movie aesthetics is beautifully wiped out with those stupid CG-zombies.

[generally amusing]

This week - I Am Legend

What the hell are you doing out here, Fred!? Fred, if you're real, you better tell me right now!

Cast
Will Smith as Robert Neville
Alice Braga as Anna
Charlie Tahan as Ethan

-------------------------------

Book adaptations rarely go well. They can veer so far away from the original story that they are barely even a shadow, a veneer of what the book originally wanted to be. 'I Am Legend' is the shining example of this happening. I may be affected by bias due to reading the book before watching the movie - as one always should, in my opinion - and idealising the book so much so as to be disappointed whatever the movie came out to be. But such is life.

Will Smith plays our main character Robert Neville (note, in the book he's straw haired and white, but who cares, its Will Smith!), the psychologically impaired and frustrated survivor of a mutant virus that has "killed 5.4 billion people", and the other "588 million turned into dark seekers" proceeding to kill those with immunity, totalling "1%" of the world's population. All in all, "every single person that you or I has ever known is dead". A premise for a good story, I'm sure you'll agree.

The movie, along with the book, was a mix of horror and science fiction. We will begin with the horror aspect of the movie. The horror scenes, specifically towards the beginning in the dark, were so tense that you could hear a pin drop and my bodybuilder friend himself said, "****, Shyam, lets go watch Enchanted or something". Good horror leaves things to the imagination, and during that scene, only once did you see the "darkseekers" - in a scary, huddled mass. This, however, is a diamond in the rough. Horror quickly loses out to sci-fi, and to a lesser extent, action.

The science fiction aspect of the movie was also pulled off well, quite flawlessly almost. The scene in Times Square - yes, I too noticed Batman vs. Superman - was extremely well made, and yet it seems like this movie just had money thrown at it with the hope that it would mould itself into something magical. This money, I guess, ran out when it was time to hire the CGI guys. Almost 10 years on, you'd hope computer graphics had advanced past the whole 'Imhotep' jaw unhinging as a wow-factor.

Action. Will Smith's name alone brings along action, but one wonders whether it was necessary. The tense scenes at the start had gone, the last time I sat at the edge of my seat was when Neville was strung up by some sort of trap. And then it came. Resident Evil-style dogs, huge explosions, masses of zombies performing capoeira out of the blue. It was a shock that the movie was starting to veer towards the dustbin, but not as much a shock as the ending.

My gripe with the movie comes from the ending. What a **** ending. If you have read the book, you'll agree with me. 'That is his legend'!? No, that is not his legend, you ****ing optimistic slag, that certainly is not his legend. So that I do not ruin the book for anyone, I shan't say what his legend is. But its not that, I can tell you. When I saw Anna and Ethan go into the trapdoor, and Neville blow himself up, I was happy. I'm glad you died, you prat.

And my second low point - plot holes. I'm surprised Will Smith didn't fall through them, they were so big. How did the doll get there? Did its head move? Is Neville crazy? Why can zombies jump 40ft? Nothing is answered, and I can't say I agree with someone who calls this a ploy to sell DVDs to watch the Director's Cut. This is a mistake, and it can be shown by the fact that production finished one month, one month before release.

And yet, the acting brings the movie back up. Will Smith proves to be one of the best young actors in Hollywood today, and he almost carries the movie on his shoulders. He's great at being sad, angry, violent, crazy - almost every emotion is possible, and pulled off successfully. And we must also praise the dog, Sam. Compare Sam's movements to other movie dogs and you'll see a much more natural, lifelike approach. I'm not a dog trainer, so I can't tell how it's done, but it is done well.

Overall, the movie is... shall we say, decent. I went away shocked and appalled at the end, but for those who haven't read the book, its an alright film. Great horror sequences, average computer graphics, great casting and acting, the shots of abandoned New York (lions, I mean, wtf?) all brings together quite a decent movie. Looking back and deep analysis show the movie for what it is, though - quite ****.

Shyam Popat gives this movie 6/10

[Tankbuster]

Good review!
There were also times that I was going like: "Why the **** did I went to this movie"
Although I think you're still quite 'tolerant' in your analysis. I would have given less... but that's just me.

[The Sundance Kid]

Disco Mel thrusts in the direction of the review.







*thrusts*

[generally amusing]

You watching the Simpsons on Sky One, too?

[The Sundance Kid]

Surprisingly not, though the coincidence would be beyond comprehension if that exact line (or thereabouts) were on now. No, I don't get the posh channels here in Hell's Outhouse, just freeview....

[generally amusing]

Yeah, Disco Stu came on just as you said that. Anyway, next movie I shall review is "Night at the Museum", cause its exam time and I can't go out - Sky Movies shall prevail.

[The Sundance Kid]

Ooh, ooh, review BASEketball after that! I demand you spread the good word of the one true god!

I've never seen NATM, I will read with...vigour...?

Ahhh, exams. I've got history and english language thursday and friday. But this isnt review related. I digress.

[generally amusing]

As usual.

[The Sundance Kid]

*Glares and tests the piano wire*

[generally amusing]

This week - Night at the Museum

Lawrence! Why are you slapping that monkey?

Cast
Ben Stiller - Larry Daley
Carla Gugino - Rebecca
Dick Van Dyke - Cecil
Ricky Gervais - Dr. McPhee
Robin Williams - Teddy Roosevelt
Steve Coogan - Octavius
Owen Wilson - Jedediah
Paul Rudd - Don

-------------------------------

I have to say, for a family movie, this film has one dynamite cast. Just look at them and you know you're in for a good show. Ricky Gervais' grasp of rhetoric, Ben Stiller's zany character and Robin Williams' voices are one combination that will truly shock, not to mention our miniaturised versions of cowboy Owen Wilson and Roman general Steve Coogan.

The plot is really nothing like you expected. Yeah, there's stuff in a museum that kinda comes to life... n stuff... but that's about as far as you can guess before watching the movie and its a surprise - not a great surprise but a surprise nonetheless - when the movie tries to get a bit big for its boots. All the time, however, you have to remember its a family movie and one of light-hearted humour and that fuzzy feeling inside.

Of course, as a family movie there is the family narrative strand - Stiller and his kid have the general I'm-ashamed-of-my-deadbeat-dad going on that's been milked more than a Fresian, but still manages to make you feel good in that corny way things seem to work.

A short review, I know, and I'm sure I'll have literally several PMs complaining they didn't get enough of the Shyam juice for this week, but as I've said, it is module season and I've got to go back to studying. I specifically chose a movie quite devoid of plot, albeit a strange one, so that there wasn't much to discuss. If you've seen the movie, feel free to comment.

Shyam Popat gives this movie 8/10

[The Fish]

didn't get enough of the Shyam juice for this week

Ewwwww...

[The Sundance Kid]

I demand you fail your modules so we can get our weekly dosage! Inject the Shyam juice into me! HOOK IT TO MY VEINS!