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gkaris
Reviews
True Detective (2014)
Rusty and Cohle (Season 1)
The dynamic between the two detectives, Rusty and Marty, is captivating.
Rusty Cohle embodies realism and philosophical introspection, often lost in his own contemplative world. In contrast, Marty Hart is portrayed as empathetic yet conflicted.
Far from your typical cop show, the duo engages in nuanced discussions addressing various worldly issues with stylized eloquence.
Rusty's dark, profound, and thought-provoking nature, dominates the storyline, captivating the audience's attention and compelling them to delve deeply into his musings, and forgetting all about the plotline. His dialogue resonates on a profound level, prompting viewers to become engrossed in his insights.
Throughout the show, there is a continual exploration of Rusty's inner workings, inviting viewers to ponder what drives such a complex individual.
Undoubtedly, Season 1 sets a high standard, surpassing expectations and setting the bar exceptionally high for subsequent seasons.
The Beekeeper (2024)
Revenge
As always, Statham, carried the movie while portraying the heroic figure cast against some great odds which he manages to even. His style and discipline coupled with the movie's complete relatability inspired its essence.
Been a huge fanatic of Jason Statham from the days of 'Snatch'. Jeremy Irons is surely in the top-ten of any serious movie-lover worth his salt. The rest of the ensemble cast did their jobs.
An action figure living a quiet life forced out of retirement is quite a cliché storyline, but the Beekeeper was perfectly written and directed.
Highly recommend for the action movie lovers.
Irrational Man (2015)
Existentialism
Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone delivered. Their conversations fully inspired by texts from various philosophical sources carried the entire movie, mostly from Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, which the Russian writer wrote while doing time.
The theme of existentialism is explored by the bored-with-his-life philosophy teacher who decides to change things that lead to a whole cluster of things, intended and non.
A refresher treat of the various angles of philosophy are taken up by all the smart talk in the movie; some practical ones depict their lack of depth.
The chemistry among the cast was perfectly organized, save for a few misses.
Worth a rewatch.
Napoleon (2023)
Not my Hero.
Napoleon Bonaparte was undoubtedly a formidable conqueror and a skilled military leader, consistently securing triumphs for his people. Any competent military strategist is familiar with the exploits of this French commander.
He artfully and masterfully dismantled the alliance between Russia and Austria at Austerlitz, coming so close to capturing both armies with trivial losses to his own forces. All by simply studying the landscape of a foreign land and not going where the enemies wanted him.
His influence on nationalism and trade relations continued to reverberate for centuries after his passing, cementing his status as a legendary figure. Despite his achievements, Russia was a notable mistake.
While I did not have the opportunity to witness his actions firsthand in the late 1700s, history has meticulously documented his legacy. During his reign, his mere contemplation of action could bring Continental Europe to a standstill.
Unfortunately, his portrayal herein this film depicted him as incompetent, downplaying his victories as mere strokes of luck and flukes and portraying him as dependent on his conniving wife, Josephine (portrayed by Vanessa Kirby), for survival.
Even the greatest figures of history made mistakes, but their remarkable accomplishments ensure their enduring remembrance.
The life of this extraordinary man deserves a more accurate and compelling narrative.
Green Book (2018)
Road-tripping.
Classical music requires a lot of patience and classical artists are patient people.
This movie premised on actual events highlights an unexpected friendship between a mid-20th century black composer called Dr. Shirley and his last-minute-assigned driver and bodyguard Tony Lip.
Dr. Shirley (Mahershala Ali) is moderate and polished. Having made a career in the arts has gained him a lot of fame and prestige but has made him lose touch with his people who consider him an outcast.
Lip (Viggo Mortensen) is abrasive; a chip off the old block from downtown New York who is quite worldly, and whose street knowledge come in handy for the job.
Tables turned for the races in this one.
RocknRolla (2008)
Guy Ritchie's storytelling
I am yet to see a bad Guy Ritchie film. This British comedy-crime thriller is carried by loyalty and betrayal.
The underworld has always been portrayed as a survivor series of some "only the strong survive" sort of manner; the guardian angel of the streets has only gotten so far through mischievous and bad business practices.
This movie tries to attack that ideology and in its place, reflect on the makeup of the personas behind the scenes, not the actual scenes.
One Two (Gerard Butler) and Mumbles (Idris Elba) tell the story but the true mastermind of all the mishaps that occur throughout the movie is hidden behind a familiar face in the entire transaction. No honor among thieves, indeed.
Truly enjoyable movie.
Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022)
Time's stuff.
Over time, human beings have proven to never change exponentially. Intrinsically, they will do the same things, have the same opinions, views and approach things as their ancestors did. This movie attempts to get on that.
The old familiar tale of a Djinn (a Greek mythological creature) appearing and granting three wishes is well-known, and this tale has been invariably told for over 2 millenniums.
A quite simple work assigned to the Djinn (Idris Elba) gets complicated owing to the incomprehensible dynamics of people. His meeting with a sober and lonely scholar Alithea (Tilda Swinton) might change the trajectory of the Djinn's journey. The lengthy chat in the hotel room between the two enlightens the true element.
Due to its open-ended and malleability nature (compare with Aladdin's tales), this story has managed to gain gravitas for over 3000 years and even with its simplicity, it still can't be solved.
Child 44 (2015)
About dignity.
The story is about a journey of a Russian soldier (Red Army); Leo Demidov (Tom Hardy), a high-ranking officer in the Stalin-era post-WW2 Russia (c. 1950s).
We meet a grounded and principled Leo whose entire act can be compared to a kite in the wind. Serving under a fascist tyrannical regime does not affect his basic human ethics.
His wife, Raisa (Noomi Rapace) is a double agent whose cover is blown by their patriotic neighbor and carries the punishment of summary execution by a firing squad.
Saved by the honor and uprightness of her husband who forsakes everything and chooses to stand beside her, they are both sent to some sort of prison camp in South Russia. They meet General Mikhail (Gary Oldman), a true gentleman who helps them survive even at the expense of his family's welfare.
This is a story posed to illustrate that regardless of the circumstances, dignity and decency always prevail. The intolerable hardships that the couple goes through in the unforgiving Russian climate only serves to strengthen their resilience.
The audience gets to enjoy some revenge scenes by Leo to the people who sent him down his path.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
Homage to Nicolas Cage.
Whoever's idea of doing this movie must have been a huge fanatic of the maestro.
Nicolas Cage (Nick Cage) is undoubtedly one of the best actors of our generation, one whose journey we have witnessed from the late 80s and well into the 21st century. Across genres, he's succeeded in breaking glass ceilings and being intentional with it and inspired a whole new slate of new-age actors like Javi (Pedro Pascal) and many others.
Like everybody else, he has had his good and bad days, and his portrayal of himself in this movie was an ingenious idea by "breaking a fourth wall" while still observing the art of the play.
Good stuff.
The Burial (2023)
Truth
Always been dazed by the "based on a true story" genre since ain't no make-up in them; they've got that "this actually happened to someone" vibe going on.
We are all made up of stories, life journeys, crazy ones and for some, their paths appear convoluted with some epic fantastical stuff, like this one.
Willie Gary's (Jamie Foxx) larger than life persona, extravagant living and oh-so humble heart give a mismatched personality. His unexpected friendship and alliance with O'Keefe (Lee Jones) drive this narrative, raising the bar of the times crossing human-installed races bearing an effect that shall echo for generations.
Truth, justice and a bit of easy-does-it takes the day.
Highly recommend to watch.
The Martian (2015)
Back to basics.
Survivor accounts .
These kind of stories take a step further in showing the resoluteness, indefeasibility and capability of the human spirit. Rocket science flies right over my head, literally and hypothetically, but the perspective and goal is universal.
In order to save himself, Mark (Matt Damon) had to go back to basics; work with what he knew, from where he was and with what he had. Stuck in a foreign land the rules are different but victory was certain.
From my end, the movie's purpose was achieved when this was encapsulated. Working with basic and long term thinking when in a rut is the ultimate game-changer in most situations.
Impeccable movie by legendary director.
La sociedad de la nieve (2023)
Resilience of the Human Spirit.
Having a basic understanding of the tale of the lost plane in the Andes, this film delves into the mystery of what transpired, vividly depicting how those young men endured over two months amidst the harsh forces of nature.
The resilience of the human spirit shines through. The acclaim bestowed upon the survivors upon their return to civilization symbolizes their triumph. Reality surpasses fiction. The fact that this ordeal actually happened to real people, unprepared for the challenges posed by nature, resonates deeply.
The director's distinctive approach, employing a narrator who did not survive, adds a unique dimension to the storytelling, breaking the traditional narrative boundaries.
Palm Springs (2020)
Thought-provoking
Simple yet riddled with numerous quotes that makes you really think about life. Hypothetically, Nyles, Sarah and Roy represent all of us; stuck in a rut, victims of life's boring patterns, many takes of the same old scenes. They attempt literally everything to get out of the rabbit hole without any success.
The import of the movie is realized when Nyles takes a trip to see Roy and they finally make peace, and this in turn incepts the rest of their lives.
The movie also shows how random people that we stumble upon in our lives can substantially change our lives, whether in a positive or in a negative way.
The impromptu decision to just check out of the day doesn't solve anything in any of the characters' lives, but actually dealing with their situation.
Really awesome movie.
Leave the World Behind (2023)
Sub-developed Script.
The script appeared sub-developed. Essentially, the movie begins when the Scotts knock at the door of their own house that they'd leased out to the Sandfords. Due to the virtual booking of the house, they hadn't met before.
Amanda is completely untrusting of them whereas her husband for the sake of keeping the peace welcomes them. The change in the attitude in the house between the two families undergoes a drastic change without any tangible trajectory.
We shift from that to an ongoing pandemic where G. H. Scott (Mahershala Ali) appears knowledgeable about its moving parts. His monologue at the end of the movie attempted to shed some light but that too got lost in oblivion.
The World to Come (2020)
Emotive
The whole piece really took the audience back to the 19th century, and this is evidenced even by the nitty gritty details. The two leading actresses delivered a timeless element of art.
The letters written to each other (between Abigail and Tallie) towards the end gave some final touch to the emotive intent of the movie.
It was an emotional movie and still bore some thought-provoking element in the sense of inspiring the audience to think how they would have done life if they existed back then. The views were glorious. Attention to detail and precision were top-notch.
Worth a re-watch from time to time.
The Glass Room (2019)
The House
Will begin by admitting i haven't read the book. Actually learnt it's an adaptation from the opening credits.
This is a story about a house, a big beautiful house constructed by a deep new-age architect Von Abt, a mastermind. The owners, a work-consumed and distracted Viktor and luminous Liesel.
We witness the change in the geo-political atmosphere from the eyes of the house. The couple's departure from the exceptional house was an inflection point in the movie. Hana remains behind and she continues with the story.
The movie was a near-hit save that it failed to achieve its true potential and true-impact. The story had the capacity to carry the weight for the historical impact of true marvels in architecture. The affair between the ladies failed to punctuate the script as it should have.
A film still worth of re-watching.
Life Itself (2018)
Authentic
The different perspectives gives the viewer a supreme understanding of each character's position, almost bordering on indulgence.
The arresting emotion running in the back of the movie is as coupled with each character doing their part in terms of telling their unique stories; that all gets intertwined and at the same time telling a love story seals the deal onto this work of genius.
The person responsible for this amazing masterpiece also being the writer of "This is us" answers a lot of questions as regarding its authenticity and attentive-to-details for its genre.
A rating of 7 is deserving of this masterwork.
The Counselor (2013)
The devil is in the details
This compelling story about the moral ambiguity of the lead character, only named Counselor (Michael Fassbender) narrates how a simple decision can create and provoke a whole cluster of consequences even to loved ones.
The first half of the film is braced with lots of foreshadowing for the Counselor; from the philosophical conversation with the world-savvy Diamond Dealer to the subtle warnings from Reiner (Javier Bardem) and Westray (Brad Pitt). Malkina (Cameron Diaz) playing chess while the rest are playing checkers was also presaged by her lover, Reiner.
Those behind the scenes really took the time to incorporate philosophy; especially the phone call with the Cartel leader and the conversation with the Diamond Dealer were pure gems.
Most of the conversations by the leading characters are thought-provoking as was clearly the objective, but the script got lost somewhere along the way. The only report to be filed home is that of 'greed' and 'know who you are dealing with'.
Ridley Scott is an amazing director, and the cast ensemble took the cake.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Tarantino's story-telling.
This make-believe story about the dynamics of World War 2 centers around several characters who share same sentiments towards the ruling Nazi regime.
Academy-Award winning actor Christopher Waltz, the Jew Hunter (specifically chosen by Quentin for this role) is the key character in this story. He harbors deep hatred towards the race. He is completely detail in his workings; and personally oversees that the regime has complete control.
The rest of the actors unknowingly share a common goal. The deaths of Hicox and Stiglitz leave a semi-lasting effect on the audience as they took up some mantle power.
Quentin Tarantino as usual, with his personalized story-telling skills and choice of actors leaves us begging for more.
A rating of 8 and Waltz's Oscar is well-deserved.
House of Gucci (2021)
Big-company basics
This story about Gucci, a European cloth-making conglomerate caught the audience with a surprise; as most if not all family organizations tend to be private about their come-up.
Rodolfo (Jeremy Irons) is the point-guard in a checks-and-balance closely deputized by Aldo (Al Pacino) who is more hands-on with the dailies. They each have sons, Maurizio (Adam Driver) and Paolo (Jared Leto) respectively. Completely different personalities. Maurizio marries a conniving and calculating Patrizia (Lady Gaga) who stirs up and tests the family ties as correctly foreseen by Rodolfo. After the death of his father, Patrizia has Maurizio severe his family ties by tricking his cousin to sell their company shares after having him send his father to jail for tax evasion.
This film follows a unique yet somewhat common story about how strong family businesses can be simply brought down by human vices such as greed and pride.
The cast delivered. Had no idea of Ridley Scott's directorship and in retrospect explains its unique storytelling and amazing angles.
50/50 (2011)
Sad-inducing Film
This film based on actual events is about Adam's reassessment of his life. The series of events follow the journey of 27 year old Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) after being diagnosed with Cancer. Adam is cautious, guarded and meticulous in all his dealings. With his safe-means way through life, he has a hard time coming-to-terms with his diagnostic.
He has an optimistic best friend, Kyle (Seth Rogen) and a calm and composed therapist Katherine (Anna Kendrick). With the help of Kyle, Katherine and his Mother (Anjelica Huston), he manages to navigate through this novel uncertain chapter of his life.
He makes two new friends during his hospital trips (Philip Baker Hall & Matt Frewer), breaks up with his cheating and manipulative ex (Bryce Dallas Howard) and refocuses on the important things in his life, such as reconnecting with his Mother.
The film has a melancholic and somber tone coupled with Adam's humble demeanor carries the audience. Worth watching.
Hostiles (2017)
Character Transformation
Christian Bale once again delivered a compelling performance, portraying the tranquil side of a battle-hardened warrior. The decision to pair him with Rosamund Pike was a brilliant choice, and their collaboration elevated the film significantly.
This serene movie provides insights into how Native Tribes interacted with newcomers. The initial element of the narrative unfolds when the initially furious Captain Blocker (portrayed by Christian Bale) reluctantly agrees to escort a Cheyenne Chief (Wes Studi) back to his homeland after seven years of imprisonment. Both Captain Blocker and the Chief have earned reputations as formidable adversaries.
Throughout their journey, we witness a profound transformation in Christian Bale's character. He gradually finds inner peace, encounters Rosalie (played by Rosamund Pike), who has suffered immense loss, witnesses the loss of those close to him, and undergoes a significant shift in perspective. The climactic scene towards the end of the movie, where he defends the burial site of the Cheyenne Chief (Wes Studi) and, in a way, the Cheyenne people against his own kin, marks the completion of his transformative journey.
An outstanding film, indeed.
Knight of Cups (2015)
Cinematic Artistry
The entire element captured by this moving art has been rooted deep in poetic revelation. Christian Bale, the lead bears the temperament of a loaded person, has spent a great deal chasing fun and now spends his days in a remorseful state.
As much as the purpose of the beautiful women was to display this, they showed Bale's other side as their images stuck in his head. People he related to "in his previous life" also substantiate this sub-element and ultimately corroborate to his current state.
I enjoyed watching "Tree of Life" and together with "Knight of Cups", they require some in-depth analysis to tap into the message being diverged by the talented director. It can be a tough watch to people indifferent to the various products of the integration between art and moving pictures.
The whispers, stillness and impeccable cinematography of the scenes bear a drawing effect to the viewer to invest more in the film. The actors have to communicate without communicating; and that speaks to the vastness of art that can be exemplified by movies.
It is a daring movie in some mild "break the fourth wall" type.
Impressive piece of art.
Amsterdam (2022)
Feel-Good Movie
The movie's trajectory as guided by the trio of the characters of Bale, Margot and Washington makes the viewer forget about the exact time they were living through, i.e. War and persecution of Jews. Even with the predicament they find themselves in, they still focus on living a happy life and being there for each other.
The actual story the movie is based on, actually happened and the story could only be told from the eyes of 'the foot soldiers'.
Christian Bale's acting was original and cleared the rest of the actors. Margot Robbie was luminous as usual and David Washington's rise to find his footing is sure.
Awesome movie.
The Pale Blue Eye (2022)
Landor's place
We meet Leroy Fry's mother long into the film, and anyone observant will note that Landor never went to visit the victim's mother. He didn't even recognize her. Investigators commonly and intentionally visit the victim's family as a way to gain additional detail that may aid their work, understand the victim is some capacity as well as console with the family. But, Landor never visited the victim's mother because he was not remorseful and he was not really investigating the death that he committed. This coupled with where he says the Academy is to blame for those boys' death reveals his true position.