This past year I was introduced to Mollywood (Malayalam cinema) and was quite delighted to watch several excellent little films (Angamaly Diaries and Take Off were both excellent offerings). I also discovered that there are 2 kinds of Mollywood films: There are the really terrific little arthouse indies, and there are the mainstream action/drama/comedies that feature one, Mohanlal, who's celebrity I will never ever understand. Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum is a Malayalam indie gem that falls in the 1st category. This is a dark comedy about a newly married young lower-middle class couple who, on their way to their new home after getting married, find that the bride's new wedding necklace is stolen by the man seated behind them on the bus, who chooses to swallow the necklace to hide his crime. That's literally what this whole movie is about. Did he steal it? Will they get it back? Watch and find out! 5/5 |
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Moonlight is exquisite. This astonishing film is the second feature from Barry Jenkins (Medicine 4 Melancholy, 2008). Told in 3 chapters Moonlight follows Chiron, a young gay man, from his schooldays in inner-city Miami, through high school, and into adulthood. Moonlight is based on the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell McCraney. This is the most beautiful, and important film of the year. I have never seen anything like this before. From the casting to the sound editing, Moonlight is stellar. Moonlight has won a lot of awards and I predict Oscars this coming February. Moolight is a MUST SEE! DO IT! 5/5 Crescendo!: The Power of Music is an American documentary focused on a worldwide music education program, El Sistema, as it expands to the United States. The film focuses on three youth orchestras; one in Harlem New York and two in West Philadelphia. This is an excellent documentary about the power of music in the lives of inner city youth. 5/5 Sonita is a very powerful documentary about a teenage girl living illegally as an Afghan refugee in Iran who is facing being sold into marriage. Instead, she breaks the law (women cannot sing) and she becomes a Hip Hop artist. Sonita's bravery is astonishing. I'm a big fan of Iranian cinema and this is no different. I'm a fan. This is an excellent documentary. Show your sons and daughters. 5/5 The Lady in the Van is quite remarkable. This film is adapted from the play by British playwright Alan Bennett. It's weird and delightful, surprising and curious, and fascinating, and it's mostly true. Oh, and it's meta in all the right places. This is the story of an odd-couple relationship between Bennett and an eccentric homeless elderly woman, Margaret Shepard, who lives for 15 years squatting in a van parked in Bennett's driveway. Maggie Smith is incredible, of course. Smith previously portrayed Margaret in the stage play in 1999 and the radio play in 2009. Alex Jennings is terrific pulling double duty as two Bennetts. 5/5 Wake Up! Chiraq is a fantastic new Spike Lee joint. This star-studded satirical musical comedy is a modern retelling of Lysistrata by Aristophanes set in South Chicago. It's been a while since I've seen a Spike Lee joint. I'm a fan. Chiraq stars Jennifer Hudson, Nick Cannon, Wesley Snipes, Angela Bassett, John Cusack and, rounding it out, Samuel L Jackson. Here, Lysistrata convinces an army of women to vow chastity until there is world peace. It's extremely relevant and timely taking on gun violence, poverty, racism, sexism, and crime in the US. I loved this film! It's bold and new. I thought Samuel L Jackson was great as the narrator/Greek chorus and I thoroughly enjoyed the bold rhyme scheme. 4/5 |
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