The size of the
Young Adult Fiction Market in 2009 was estimated at about $3 billion!!! (yes –
with a “buh” – Alan Harper). A certain
Veronica Roth was terribly cued into this market at published her first book
“Divergent” somewhere in 2011. Even
before she graduated, the movie rights were sold.
Showing posts with label Kate Winslet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kate Winslet. Show all posts
Thursday, 10 April 2014
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
All The King's Men
Before you watch the movie, first watch this snippet of about 7 minutes. This is a speech that is given by Willie Stark (Sean Penn) when he first realizes that he is being played for, in the upcoming election. More importantly, he realizes somewhere in his head that he has what it takes to be Governor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw_uTjf6VPc&feature=related
Based on the 1946 novel by Robert Penn Warner of the same name, All The King’s Men tracks the life of Willie Stark who is married to a school teacher. An accident in his county where a school caves in due to poor construction moves him to take up the cause of ensuring standards. One thing leads to another and before you know it, he is running for governor.
But as mentioned earlier, he was only being played for the part to ensure that there is a vote split between the other chief competitors. The scheme fails thanks to some great campaigning by Stark and he wins the race. The rest of the story is Stark’s movement from being an up-country politics unfriendly person to one who climbs the learning curve of dirty politics at the speed of light. He moves into being a dark scheming character – continuing to fight for the deprived – but playing his cards like a pro.
The director, Steve Zaillian, is actually better known for his prowess in screenplay (Schindler’s List, Gangs of New York, Moneyball, The Millenium Trilogy) and has had several nominations in the category. But when it comes to direction, he had two, not so well known but decent movies to his credit before he made ATKM. Arguably, ATKM was his best effort to date. There are a lot of segments where you maybe a bit lost but the pieces fall together as the movie trudges along.
One can fault Zaillian for pace but as I have always said, there is a thin line between slow and intense and I thought Zaillian did a good job flirting with the line. What works for him are the right cuts that ensured that moves the unnecessary stuff out. And of course the screenplay that’s Zaillian’s forte anyways – rocks.
ATKM is otherwise an actor’s movie. Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Hopkins, Patricia Clarkson & James Gandolfini. All Zaillian had to do was not screw up. And these 7 names would have done the rest. That’s exactly what happened. You will not get bored for certain. But as warned earlier – slow. 7 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV_Yad1i36w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw_uTjf6VPc&feature=related
Based on the 1946 novel by Robert Penn Warner of the same name, All The King’s Men tracks the life of Willie Stark who is married to a school teacher. An accident in his county where a school caves in due to poor construction moves him to take up the cause of ensuring standards. One thing leads to another and before you know it, he is running for governor.
But as mentioned earlier, he was only being played for the part to ensure that there is a vote split between the other chief competitors. The scheme fails thanks to some great campaigning by Stark and he wins the race. The rest of the story is Stark’s movement from being an up-country politics unfriendly person to one who climbs the learning curve of dirty politics at the speed of light. He moves into being a dark scheming character – continuing to fight for the deprived – but playing his cards like a pro.
The director, Steve Zaillian, is actually better known for his prowess in screenplay (Schindler’s List, Gangs of New York, Moneyball, The Millenium Trilogy) and has had several nominations in the category. But when it comes to direction, he had two, not so well known but decent movies to his credit before he made ATKM. Arguably, ATKM was his best effort to date. There are a lot of segments where you maybe a bit lost but the pieces fall together as the movie trudges along.
One can fault Zaillian for pace but as I have always said, there is a thin line between slow and intense and I thought Zaillian did a good job flirting with the line. What works for him are the right cuts that ensured that moves the unnecessary stuff out. And of course the screenplay that’s Zaillian’s forte anyways – rocks.
ATKM is otherwise an actor’s movie. Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Hopkins, Patricia Clarkson & James Gandolfini. All Zaillian had to do was not screw up. And these 7 names would have done the rest. That’s exactly what happened. You will not get bored for certain. But as warned earlier – slow. 7 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV_Yad1i36w
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Carnage
Yasmina Reza is the writer of a French play titled Le Dieu du carnage. If the posters are to be believed this loosely translates to Gods of Carnage (do correct me if I am wrong). After the movie, I am eagerly looking forward to the opportunity of watching the play – even if it were to be done locally. The script itself has so much weight that even average acting can sail through with the least of worries.
And therefore, if you have a foursome of Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C. Reilly & Christoph Waltz, then the only words that could come close to describing the end result would be “Sheer Brilliance”. Add to that the talent of the likes of a Roman Polanski and you have around 90 minutes of unadulterated pure Dark Comedy. One that will leave you with a feeling of sheer respect for not just the cast but for Reza who has thought about a concept that is as real as life can get.
Carnage is a brilliant example of how a movie or a play can be made with just 4 characters spanning a period of less than an hour and a half in real time. The Longstreets – Penelope (Jodie Foster) & Michael (John C Reilly) are very troubled by the beating that their 11 year old son Ethan (Eliot Berger) has received from Zachary (Elvis Polanski). Zachary is the 11 year old son of the Cowans – Lucy (Kate Winslet) and Alan (Christoph Waltz). Zachary beats Ethan with a ice hockey stick after a minor altercation at the local park leaving Ethan with 2 lost teeth and a gross looking face – something that most parents will not take kindly to. After a lot of convincing, Ethan finally “snitches” on Zach. And so the Longstreets decide to call the Cowans over for a “healthy” discussion. What happens in the discussion is the story of Carnage
I was disappointed when I left Australia because Carnage was slotted for release 4 days after my departure. So imagine my glee when I saw the paper last morning calling it out. I just had to see it. Watch the trailer before you go to see the movie if you can. Its on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2855116313/. The trailer does enough to give you a complete essence of the movie as well as generate enough intrigue to want to watch it. Superb example of what a trailer should actually be. But with a topic like Carnage I guess the job of the guy was also very easy.
There are so many categories where I would have considered Carnage for this years Academy Awards. Tough call in the lead actress category but I thought both Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet were a tad better than Rooney Mara (Dragon Tattoo). And identical thoughts for Christoph Waltz against Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor). And most definitely better than Ides of March in terms of Adapted Screenplay. And I am going to stick my neck out here to have added this to make the list of best movies into 10 and not 9. One of the best in my list this year folks. 8 on 10. Don’t miss it. In fact watch it on screen and then buy the DVD when it releases. Collectible.
And therefore, if you have a foursome of Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C. Reilly & Christoph Waltz, then the only words that could come close to describing the end result would be “Sheer Brilliance”. Add to that the talent of the likes of a Roman Polanski and you have around 90 minutes of unadulterated pure Dark Comedy. One that will leave you with a feeling of sheer respect for not just the cast but for Reza who has thought about a concept that is as real as life can get.
Carnage is a brilliant example of how a movie or a play can be made with just 4 characters spanning a period of less than an hour and a half in real time. The Longstreets – Penelope (Jodie Foster) & Michael (John C Reilly) are very troubled by the beating that their 11 year old son Ethan (Eliot Berger) has received from Zachary (Elvis Polanski). Zachary is the 11 year old son of the Cowans – Lucy (Kate Winslet) and Alan (Christoph Waltz). Zachary beats Ethan with a ice hockey stick after a minor altercation at the local park leaving Ethan with 2 lost teeth and a gross looking face – something that most parents will not take kindly to. After a lot of convincing, Ethan finally “snitches” on Zach. And so the Longstreets decide to call the Cowans over for a “healthy” discussion. What happens in the discussion is the story of Carnage
I was disappointed when I left Australia because Carnage was slotted for release 4 days after my departure. So imagine my glee when I saw the paper last morning calling it out. I just had to see it. Watch the trailer before you go to see the movie if you can. Its on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2855116313/. The trailer does enough to give you a complete essence of the movie as well as generate enough intrigue to want to watch it. Superb example of what a trailer should actually be. But with a topic like Carnage I guess the job of the guy was also very easy.
There are so many categories where I would have considered Carnage for this years Academy Awards. Tough call in the lead actress category but I thought both Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet were a tad better than Rooney Mara (Dragon Tattoo). And identical thoughts for Christoph Waltz against Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor). And most definitely better than Ides of March in terms of Adapted Screenplay. And I am going to stick my neck out here to have added this to make the list of best movies into 10 and not 9. One of the best in my list this year folks. 8 on 10. Don’t miss it. In fact watch it on screen and then buy the DVD when it releases. Collectible.
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Contagion
Back to back movies after a really long time and I had no clue about what was in store for me when I walked in to watch Contagion. My super hectic schedules ensured that I had not seen even the hint of a poster and had no idea about the “Power-Packed” cast that was waiting for me. Starting with Beth Emhoff (Gwenyth Paltrow) who is somewhere in Hong Kong apparently having a super duper time in the casinos. But little does she know that she is going to live for only the next 48 hours. She comes back to her home in Minnesota and her husband Mitch Emhoff (Matt Damon) – only to collapse in a heap like an epileptic would but for no apparent reason. The only thing worrisome was the high fever she had by the time she got back home from Hong Kong. She is rushed to the hospital but survives only for a few minutes more before the docs give up. They request for an autopsy so that they can find what actually happened.
Meanwhile, several such cases are being reported across the globe for the same kind of illness. A Japanese businessman on his way home. A girl in London. A waiter from a casino in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Someone in San Francisco. And the chain reaction has just about started. In what seems to be an Outbreak (Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo) kind of movie, Steven Soderbergh uses the power of his star cast to weave a story line that is littered with exceptionally heavy medical terms. Most of which go flying past you like a jet plane would. But the star cast does manage to hold the movie together for what its worth. Ignore the unpronounceable and you can watch Contagion purely on the merit of performances. Matt Damon has the biggest role other than Laurence Fishburne and both get out the intensity of their characters beautifully. Damon is in the role of a father whose only objective is to save his daughter after the loss of his wife and son to the “Contagion”. Fishburne plays the role of a committed doctor at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and is torn between a commitment to his role and that towards his wife to be. And then there is probably the most beautiful woman in Hollywood today – the ethereal and immensely talented Marion Cotillard in the role of a French doctor who is kidnapped and develops a case of Stockholm Syndrome. Jude Law as the over obsesses blogger is also very good. And Kate Winslet – what can I say – effortless is the word that always comes to mind. Superb all round performances in short.
Cannot say the same thing about Soderbergh though. For a director as superb as Soderbergh, he is unable to hold the movie together. The trademark cinematography, music and cuts are conspicuously missing for no apparent reason. The story seems to meander around endlessly around some random population figures across unrelated cities. Soderbergh is unable to build the suspense factor too well – another talent that he has always had but seems to have suddenly taken a leave of absence. Also, the fact that there are too many stories within a story doesn’t help. Worth a dekko for certain but don’t expect too much. 6 on 10 is what I would give.
The trailer can be viewed on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3924270105/
Meanwhile, several such cases are being reported across the globe for the same kind of illness. A Japanese businessman on his way home. A girl in London. A waiter from a casino in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Someone in San Francisco. And the chain reaction has just about started. In what seems to be an Outbreak (Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo) kind of movie, Steven Soderbergh uses the power of his star cast to weave a story line that is littered with exceptionally heavy medical terms. Most of which go flying past you like a jet plane would. But the star cast does manage to hold the movie together for what its worth. Ignore the unpronounceable and you can watch Contagion purely on the merit of performances. Matt Damon has the biggest role other than Laurence Fishburne and both get out the intensity of their characters beautifully. Damon is in the role of a father whose only objective is to save his daughter after the loss of his wife and son to the “Contagion”. Fishburne plays the role of a committed doctor at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and is torn between a commitment to his role and that towards his wife to be. And then there is probably the most beautiful woman in Hollywood today – the ethereal and immensely talented Marion Cotillard in the role of a French doctor who is kidnapped and develops a case of Stockholm Syndrome. Jude Law as the over obsesses blogger is also very good. And Kate Winslet – what can I say – effortless is the word that always comes to mind. Superb all round performances in short.
Cannot say the same thing about Soderbergh though. For a director as superb as Soderbergh, he is unable to hold the movie together. The trademark cinematography, music and cuts are conspicuously missing for no apparent reason. The story seems to meander around endlessly around some random population figures across unrelated cities. Soderbergh is unable to build the suspense factor too well – another talent that he has always had but seems to have suddenly taken a leave of absence. Also, the fact that there are too many stories within a story doesn’t help. Worth a dekko for certain but don’t expect too much. 6 on 10 is what I would give.
The trailer can be viewed on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3924270105/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)