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Reviews
Defending Jacob (2020)
More than meets the eye
I was sceptical about Apple TV+ assuming it was just Apple throwing a lot of money from the loads of money they earn to gain subscribers by signing on popular names. Hence it's understandable that I did not give defending Jacob a go even though it was so easily available.
Defending Jacob is nail biting, there are too many characters you want to side with and also, many a times, suspect as being the antagonist. I think, even though we might be obsessed with who the actual killer is, this series is about something else- what is justice? What is the purpose of it?
The general theme of the series is the repurcussions of the justice process, the arrival on conclusion of suspects and what it does to each person involved. No matter how many times we reaffirm the saying "innocent until proven guilty" it has been seen time and again that you're only innocent as long as you're not a suspect even when the word suspect entails having no proof or limited proof.
Another subject I found intriguing was 'the purpose of justice'. Is it just to hang the guilty or to put him/her away for life? Hanging someone is symbolic, it's intent is to send a message to the society at large that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated; putting someone behind bars also is intended as a message to the society but also at the same time to reform the person guilty of a said crime. If so, what if someone, say Jacob, has committed a crime and has reformed without doing jail? What if you're certain of the reformation? These were questions 'Andy' was grappling with as he was being torn apart by the gasps of people on hearing about his father and his son becoming the prime suspect not to forget the objectionable behaviour his son has committed.
All in all, defending Jacob was a nail biting experience in that it made me think about all these questions. Watch it for this and the incredible performances, particularly Chris Evans shaking off his Captain America image.
Gatham (2020)
Disgusting
I watched this film after coming across a few very positive reviews and god! I'm never reading film reviews in newspapers, especially from 'the Hindu'.
It's a very predictable film. When I say predictable, I mean PREDICTABLE- so much so that it actually annoys you. The acting is stupefying, never seen a film that has worse acting.
It calls itself a thriller, haha that's funny. This film will now come to mind every time I come across the word 'thriller' -and I'm sure I'll shudder in terror. Ugh I'm scarred for life.
Recalling the film is a torture, I go through this anyway to prevent further agony for all you innocent people who have no clue how excruciating this junk is. Oh brothers and sisters, I hope you take my suggestion, if you don't, I pity you. :p
La Révolution (2020)
Wasted
All I could think about when I completed watching the show was that this show had great potential. Fictional dramatisation of the French Revolution using blood sucking dead but not unintelligent beings ruling over France-woah, the premise is great but the execution- meh! Over all, it's been a few hours since I've watched the show and it's already stale in my mind. I sincerely hope they do better in seasons 2, if there's going to be one.
Rise of Empires: Ottoman (2020)
Once upon a time in Anatolia
History is an unexplored concept in motion pictures. Don't get me wrong, there have been enough "history" movies, but they only have snippets of the whole story- more often than not, and quite sadly so, they are created based off of legends- the problem here first is that we are pushed in between a linear time frame, somewhere in between the story of an empire into war- this requires written context at the beginning and an end, only leaving the viewer in need of more- it sparks curiosity and extinguishes it just as quickly.
Secondly, making movies out of legends involves taking up artistic freedom- this sadly has resulted in intense drama on-screen through cheap dramatic sequences adopting techniques such as slow motion. This leads the audiences to not watch the film as history but as a popcorn entertainer.
Both of these problems are solved with the advent of Netflix. Creation of series whereby artists are given almost complete freedom with regards to control, which is invariably to muster out more currency, leaves us with masterpieces. This series is an example of just that, it has a premise that must've been explored early on; the opportunity was found and seized.
Constantinople, the holy grail of orthodox Christians with a strategically superior location is pitted against the young Mehmed who is in search of glory and a comfortable space in history- his inspiration is Alexander the Great; but to achieve this he has to bring down a wall, and not any wall, the greatest wall in the world. Mehmed knows there's no easy way to find a place in history and he's up for the challenge. If this premise does not tingle your curiosity, I don't know what will.
Everything about this series is breathtaking, talk about cinematography, screenplay, direction or even acting. Hopefully, this series will compel the creation of more motion pictures taking cue from pages of history, of which, I hope, Netflix remains the torchbearer.
Capharnaüm (2018)
Soul shaking.
"I'd want adults to listen to me. I want adults who can't raise kids not to have any. What will I remember? Violence, insults or beatings, hit with chains, pipes, or a belt? The kindest words I heard were get out son of a w***e! Bug off, piece of garbage! Life is a pile of s**t. Not worth more than my shoe. I live in hell here. I burn like rotting meat. Life is a b***h. I thought we'd become good people, loved
by all. But God doesn't want that for us..."
These lines are heartbreaking and a reality for millions. They not only sum up the movie but also the state of affairs in the world we live in. Pessimistic? Things are getting better? It is easier said from a privileged pedestal, say that to the millions who are still in dire poverty, say that to kids dying out of hunger, say that to Zain.
The effect of the film is self evident, it avoids being misery dumping- still managing to to cause real pain- treading a very thin line.
It is high time films are judged not just for their intrinsic artistic value but also social relevance. Films such as these are much needed in an ever more indifferent world.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
As stylistic as it gets
The visuals are pretty bad-ass, it shows hard work by the people behind the film. Not just that, the film has heart. The problem with having too many characters in a single film is a loss of character depth, but it was nicely done in this film, you start to feel for the characters, even for the robot taken straight out of anime. The only fault, and I really had to look for one, was not lending more time to the chemistry between Gwen and Miles; when I say that, I don't mean it wasn't done well, but that I'd have loved to see more of it, I found it cool. Unlike other romance between superheroes that feel forced and have 2nd rated importance, the relationship between Gwen and Miles shone. I'm definitely into the multiverse so much so that the Tom Holland's version (due for a second film) is just not appealing anymore- in light of the trailer for "far from home".
In the end "into the spider verse" is a thorough experience, kudos to Sony for taking the "leap of faith".
Zamani baray-e masti-e asbha (2000)
Sit back, Be moved.
Iranian Cinema is considered to be among the most creative in World cinema; I heard that since sex and politics are prone to censorship, filmmakers used kids as their leads; hence evading censorship and at the same time creating masterpieces. This film is surely one of of them. The essence of this film is survival. That being said this isn't a thriller as the likes of Sin Nombre go, it isn't even a mystery film; this is slow, harsh, raw survival. It is the story of a Kurdish family living in Iran, their back breaking poverty and hence the primitive ways they live in. The main protagonist is Ayoub who has to forego school to work for the family after his father's death. He has a handicapped brother who needs an operation and would not live past the year even if he is operated on. Ayoub works for both the family's survival and his brother Madi's operation. He tries to handle this through transportation of goods on mules from Iran to Iraq. Tires and other good are smuggled on hired mules from Iran to Iraq for better prices; They could be killed by the Border forces or even could step on a mine in this process, this is how Ayoub's father died. You now have a glimpse of the movie, let me not go any further. This film is a subtle expression of protest, demanding rights for people who live only to survive. Watch it for this, Watch it for Ayoub and Watch it for the sweet Ameneh-who readily agrees to marry in return for Madi's operation. Sit back, Bahman Ghobadi invites you to be moved.