Movies I watched recently

Born into Brothel - moving and inspiring. Taught me that you change lives if you beleive and with any art or trade and above all, you don't have to be loaded financially. Your belief would make it possible to live in circumstances foreign to you and you will see lives tranform. Children of sex workers with dismal propects, found new opportunites in life through the process of attending photography class and the self confidence gained as they discovered their talents. Thoroughly deserved the Oscars it received ( 2004).

Departed

Enjoyed it thoroughly – Scorcese is a very good director indeed. Why? Because for once I felt that Nicholson did not overact. Yeah, I know a lot of people say Jack Nicholson is a great actor but I always felt that he would be a great actor only if he toned it down a tad – just a tad. He was always a bit “too Much”. His characters are always larger than life and often eclipsed other players but in the Departed I felt he was just right – for the role and the acting was spot on.
The movie was intense and held my attention – kept me in suspense and the ending did not disappoint. It was also good to see Leonardo not looking pretty – the rough and dirty look was a good change.

Mark Walhberg looked doughy compare to his other movies I have seen so I wondered if it is age or has he put on a little too much weight? Anyway, that has nothing to do with this role - the rough tough talking sidekick to captain Martin Sheen. I thought he did a good job as the lieutenant.
Matt Damon – always liked him – his repartee with the leading lady was fun and he came across very well as a flirtatious young man. His darker side was very cold and a complete180 degree flip from his social side. He was the cool criminal and Leonardo was the nearly over the edge vulnerable, conscientious, pill-popping undercover trying not to crack under the pressure. He had the same expression – forehead creased in a frown while the rest of the face stayed immobile and that strong intent gaze. He looked stressed out through most of the movie but it gels because thrown into the den of the crazy criminal s anyone would be stressed. It was believable.

Borat
Saw it on opening night - first time I paid full price for a movie - so was it worth my $10? It made me laugh but at the end , all I could think of was how did they shoot the naked fight scenes?? I don't think you are supposed to think about such movies - go watch and if you laughed I guess it was worth the $10. It is a comedy - so all I care is the laugh factor. Why put social and cultural implications on it? There are gazillion comedians in the world so Cohen has to do it differently to stand out. Of course, being Jewish he could take liberties with his materials but G-d forbid, if he were non Jewish, he would be labelled anti-semitic by all.

Water
Watched it tonight and I know I will get up with puffy eyes tomorrow.The girl is real pretty.
I love Deepa Mehta’s films –I have seen all three – Earth was the first, then Water and later Fire. Not exactly the same chronology as the release but they are not related so don't matter.I liked the story except that it was just a story to me – cannot relate to the child bride nonsense as I don’t know anybody who had that kind of experience. Ambu, Bapcha’s grandmother got married at 13, so I know these things happened in India but certainly not now.– at least I hope so. Which is why I am gratefult that I am from thh North Eastern part of India where we don’t have these customs – ever. Not even great great grandmothers married that young but widows are supposed to marry the husband's brother ( by custom). Well, this hardly happens as most people don't want to marry thir brother-in-law or sister-in-law.However, when I was a teenager, I remember my neighbor's son died and left a young (in early twenties)wife. The family held counsel and the older son, who was single, took his younger brother's widow as his wife thereby ensuring that her life continues in the family she married into. It did have some "eeww" factor but the principal is neat especially when is is not forced. Like I said, it is rare.

Fanaa

I liked Amir Khan in Earth and Lagaan so I went to the local Indian Grocery store and asked for a newHindi Movie. I got Fanaa - liked it so I have decided that Amir Khan knows how to pick good scripts and I will look out for his future films.

Cars
Hubby is a car freak so he rented this Pixar cartoon film - Cars -from Blockbuster. I was terribly annoyed and shrieked,"Cartoons? I am too old to watch Cartoons - where is 'The Devil Wears Prada'?".
He is used to me so he did not mind my shrewish behavior anymore - just cooly replied " The DVD is not out yet - let's try this cartoon."
So, I watched this cartoon and got fully absorbed in the story and the characters. I might have even cried a few drops of empathy tears which earned me this response" You are crying !! There isn't even a story!"
I was happy for Luigi anf Guido - happy tears you know.

I humbly learnt that Cartoons are just as good as people movies.