bladematrix Reviews

Rakht (2004)

So What! If I can see the future?

[17 September 2004]

God only knows why a director such as Mahesh Manjrekar would make such a movie. It starts of slightly original and ends up being a direct "rip off" of "The Gift", which stars Keanu Reeves and Cate Blanchett, lifted scene-for-scene.

Mahesh is usually a great director doing original material, and this movie makes you wonder why he has gone down this route. Bollywood needs to steer clear of doing direct rip-off movies, such as Hum Kaun Hai (2004) which is "The Others" with Nicole Kidman. If they do copy the idea, they should significantly change it.

If you have seen "The Gift", a great movie by Sam Raimi, steer clear of this one, but if you haven't, you may like it. If you do watch it, it'll be for Bipasha Basu (wow) who is always a pleasure to watch, for her beauty and her acting. There's and a good performance from Sunil Shetty (not playing the tough guy for once).

Sadly, 3/10

Door to Door (2002 TV Movie)

A remarkable film about a remarkable man. Bill Porter

[27 February 2003]

Door to Door tells the true and moving story of Bill Porter, a man who becomes a door to door salesman in the 1960's. A difficult and testing enough task for an able bodied person but Mr Porter was afflicted with Cerebral Palsy, affecting his walk, speech and the use of his right hand. Excellently played by William H. Macy who is convincing to the point where you can believe that he actually has this disability. Bill lives with his mother played with grace by Helen Mirren who is another outstanding actress.

Giving no more of the story away I shall simply say, "watch it!". It is a film with great character that you can watch repeatedly.

I don't know if this movie had picked up any awards of any kind but in short, it needs to. I just don't find many films moving these days (an good example being the overrated Far From Heaven starring Julienne Moore) as they aren't well written enough to get you all emotional. The whole cast is well suited to the different characters that Bill Porter meets and are all likeable in their own way.

This film is a well crafted piece and tugs at your heart strings from the beginning. I must say that I haven't seen such a moving film in a while, and having said that, this movie does it with subtlety. Being a TV movie you wouldn't expect it to be so exceptional but it is. In a time when big budget movies prove to be shallow this film comes shining through.

It's also good to know that this film isn't about a person that has passed away. Thankfully, he's still living.

William H. Macy is an amazing actor who should be commended on his range of acting skills. It's also refreshing to see that his skills don't stop there; he co-wrote this too. Even though most people wouldn't know him by name, he is, in my opinion, one of the finest actors of this age.

On an ending note:

See this film, it's a remarkable story about a remarkable man.Bill Porter.

See William H. Macy in "Focus" with Laura Dern if you can, another great movie.