aashishhere Reviews

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

One of the most harrowing movies I have seen

[9/10 · 11 December 2022]

The movie is very well made. You know from the start that something sinister is going to happen. Yet the relationship between mother and son and the toll it takes on the mother and the relationship of mother and father, especially the first one is acutely captured.

The use of colors, timing is very well done too. Red color appears consistently and filled me with dread about what was going to happen every single time it was on screen.

Of course this doesn't apply to every kid, but it caught how harrowing it can be to have a kid that you just cannot get along with. Not sure what made him to be so.

The Balcony Movie (2021)

What a brilliant concept

[8/10 · 3 December 2022]

I admire the creator for thinking of this, for persevering through the creation period, and for asking questions which revealed so much about people in many cases in a very brief conversation. I wish I could do that in real life-- walk around, and really get to know people.

The characters often open up about themselves in profound ways. Some in ways like they were indeed waiting for someone to ask them about their life. I guess that is how it is in real life.

Also I thought love and loss was such a universal theme. So many conversations centered around relationships, regret about not doing enough, or regret about not having someone to care for in their life.

Hail, Driver! (2020)

Engaging movie

[8/10 · 23 November 2021]

It was the first Malaysian movie I had watched. I found the movie very engaging. I was feeling alone when I watched this and was able to resonate with the two characters. The movie revolves around the two and has a simple plot, but it never felt like a drag. Would recommend.

Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2015)

Good introduction to the concept

[7/10 · 6 July 2018]

I liked the message of the documentary. It argues that we don't need all the extra stuff that we are constantly collecting. This is obstructing us from things that really matter. You don't make space for that since consuming seems more fulfilling myopically and seems more urgent. There were examples of multititude of people speaking about apparels, home space, career related things which we just get hooked on to without rethinking if that is for us. The documentary didn't get very deep in the challenges of implementing it, or even the nuances and how several people have adopted it in their daily lives. There were traces of meditation helping, connecting with people, implementing this within a family or just your spouse. But it felt a little superficial. But overall I recommend it. The next time you are purchasing something, if this movie triggers a deliberation, then it has left a mark. It seems to have done for me.

The Hunt (2012)

A hard story. Very well told.

[9/10 · 8 July 2017]

The movie is dark, though very well made. The characters are built very well. Specially that of Lucas. He is shown to be caught in an unfortunate situation and we go through in the movie through his struggle and the prejudice of society placed against him. It is hard in the movie to take sides, every character seems to be doing the right thing. And that is the beauty of the movie. But it is definitely a very touchy and hard topic. I don't know what I would have done in such a situation. It is hard to keep emotions away and act rationally.

Batman Begins (2005)

Action packed. Must Watch

[9/10 · 24 June 2017]

The movie is story of how Batman comes about to be a Batman rather than a billionaire's son. It follows his quest to understand and fight crime, being trained at the league of shadows but then returning back to Gotham and saving it from his very own teachers. The movie is action packed. There isn't much chance to breath. Music by Hanz Zimmer is great and suiting the action. Some of the dialogues are memorable. Some of the other characters in the movie are less well developed like that of Rachel Dawes (played by Katie Holmes). She is often just protected by Batman. Overall a must watch.

Masaan (2015)

Masaan means Crematorium but this is about waking up from dead

[18 June 2017]

The movie is mainly about two characters — Devi and Deepak. Devi is caught having sex with a friend in a hotel room by police who see it as nothing more than a scandal. The guy commits a suicide. She lives with her father and their life is turned upside down with a police officer asking a 3lakh bribe from his father to not put the video on YouTube. She quits her job as they blame her for death of the guy, and struggles to find new jobs. Her dad keen on her working for any sufficient pay so as to pay the bribe. Dad is ashamed of what the daughter has done. Devi is sad about how her right is being treated as her crime. What happened was not her fault. It was the guy who had committed suicide. And both of them consented to have sex. So why blame her? She goes on strongly about it, determined to move to Allahabad once she is done helping her father pay the bribe. She is still in love in with the guy, Piyush. She wants to talk to her family to tell them what had happened, as it is important for any parents to know what were the last conditions of their son still alive. It doesn't go well when she visits them in Allahabad. Her Dad is has struggles of his own. There is Jhonta, a little guy who he bets money on in the competition of which of the kids gets most money out of the river in few dives. He loses him and finds him. Deepak is from a lower caste family whose job is to burn dead bodies and help with rest at a ghat in Ganga. He falls in love with Shaalu Gupta. They both love each other. Until she dies in a road accident. They had talked of running away from home and getting married if their families don't accept it. His life is shattered from her death. She liked Shayri's. Tu Kisi Rail Si Gujarti Hai. Main Kisi Pool Sa Thartharata Hun. He dwells on them for a while. After having thrown her ring in the river and then violent but futile attempt to recover it, he decides to move on. He works hard and lands a job in Allahabad. Devi moves to Allhadbad too for her university course. After visiting Piyush's parents, which doesn't go very well, she decides to move own. Drowns the last gift from Piyush in Ganga and when Sobbing, Deepak approaches to console her. And that is how two stories connect. I can't actually place what the movie was about. It does portray the struggles of young India who wants to shatter the bounds placed by society on whether it is OK to have pre marital sex or if it is OK for a low cast and high cast boy and girl to be together. They try. They are happy momentarily. And then find their lives shattered. One due to society, but other just random chance. Both of them get over it and start a new life, leaving the old shackles behind.

Lion (2016)

Great story, make it even better that its based on a true one.

[18 June 2017]

The movie (based on true story) is about a kid of about 6 years who gets lost from his family while out with his brother for work. The way he gets lost is by being stuck of a train that he could only get off after 2 days. He doesn't know much about his hometown, location etc., so he cannot find his way back. He is in Calcutta, a kid on street. Then gets adopted by an Australian family and brought up well by them. About 20 years later, while sharing his story with friends, one of them suggests him to use Google earth to try and locate his hometown. He doesn't think much of the idea then, but memories of his mother calling for him and his brother looking after him haunts him every single day. He starts narrowing down on the possible locations he could be from. This consumes him, he quits his job, breaks up with his girlfriend, and is straining on his relationship with his Australian family. He eventually finds the place that resembles his hometown, visits his mum and his sister, and finds that his brother is no more.

The movie is superbly acted. Dev Patel is authentic, as someone troubled with a difficult past. Nicole Kidman, Roonie Mara are good too. I was able to Dev's character, Saroo. Feel his emotions when his mother calls for him in his dreams, when he couldn't anymore continue as normal but all consumed with his quest, his happiness when he manages to find his mother and sister. I cried. Quite a bit. Perhaps being an Indian provided an extra connection to the small things, but I don't think most people would have a hard time anyway.

In the end, this movie is about confronting your past, seeking out those left behind. Many of us can connect to this and therefore this movie is a great watch.

Room (I) (2015)

Moving

[9/10 · 21 May 2017]

This movie moves you. It is a story of Jack and his mother Joe living their lives in a room for more than 5 years. This room is the world for jack. Outside is space. Yet they manage to be happy at times, sad at times, normal at times and angry at times.

I was glad the movie did not end with their release from the room. It showed their life in the real world. The amazement of jack at all the simple things we take for granted, yet for him they did not exist just some time ago. The regret, anger and sense of loss of Joe. How Jack was still attached to the room which was now a crime seen, but for him, his childhood venue. (which again we take for granted, but for him now was almost inaccessible).

I connected with the characters in the movie which are very well played.

In the end, the movie to me is about a story of how much there is around us, the value of which we realize only when its taken away.

Everest (2015)

Thrilling but not enough depth

[8/10 · 21 May 2017]

The movie is a sad story of the disaster than took place on an Everest expedition of a adventure guide group of about 20 people. The movie does a good job of highlighting the thrill, the motivation of those who dare to venture and the dangers associated therein.

The dialogues are few. The one I would have liked more on was the motivation part. Would have liked to get into the minds of these people, being an amateur enthusiast myself.

It is hard to make out from movie if it tries to make any point. Perhaps it does not. It just present the drama of the disaster without any life lessons one might be looking for.

I found the movie lacking a bit in terms of depth. Was hard for me to feel the sorrow at the happening of disaster, and I am emotional one.

I, Daniel Blake (2016)

Very realistic, will leave you thinking.

[9/10 · 6 May 2017]

This is a story of Dan and Katie, each of them caught in financially tough situations. Each struggling to maintain their self respect, which is the very thing that's being asked for to let them survive. The movie was engaging throughout. Story is beautifully told. Clever script to bring out the story from subtle situations. Also very relevant in current political climate where unemployment is leading to proposing of extreme steps by some faction of leaders. Helps understand the difficulties and struggles of the other side, for those of us who are lucky to be doing well.