Faratyev’s Fantasies [1982] – ★★★★ Soviet director Ilya Averbakh (1934-1986) was first a doctor, having finished a medical degree, and only then a director, and perhaps that is why many of his films are characterised by certain exactness, almost medical precision, and clarity of vision. They also lean towards Chekhovian pathos (incidentally, Chekhov was also a doctor…
Tag: Film
5 Films About Screenwriters
There is nothing like Hollywood turning the camera on itself. The depiction of screenwriters or scriptwriters on film (usually, Hollywood prefers just writers, and, often, alcoholic writers) is not a big theme, but it is still illuminating. From satire to thriller, below are five films that spotlight the profession of writing for film that emerged…
John Williams: Hook
To celebrate the 93th birthday of the legendary film composer John Williams, I would like to share his film score for Hook (1991) directed by Steven Spielberg, and starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman in the lead roles. I believe this score is quite underrated and underappreciated in comparison to his better known work. Born on…
5 Intriguing Films Set in Samurai-Era Japan
Nothing quite stirs the imagination when it comes to Japanese history and culture like the time and life of samurai (Japanese “aristocratic” warriors – 侍) in Japan (12th century to early 17th century). Their code, techniques and lifestyle continue to fascinate us, but, though there have been many film lists made that explore stories about…
“Where the Sidewalk Ends” Review: A Bad Cop in a Tight Spot
…its thrillingly clever beginning, palpably gritty nature, and the galvanising acting still make it a memorable viewing experience.
“Indignation” Review
Indignation [2016] – ★★★★ Indignation is a directional debut of screen-writer and producer James Schamus, known for adapting the script of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and being producer of Brokeback Mountain (2005). Adapting a book by Philip Roth, in Indignation, Schamus presents the life of Marcus Messner (Logan Lerman), a bright lad who, while…
“The Handmaiden” Review
The Handmaiden [2016] – ★★★★★ 🖌️ Fiercely intelligent, unapologetically erotic and endlessly stylish, The Handmaiden is a perfect film that toys with the audience’s expectations and formed beliefs. The Handmaiden is an award-winning erotic psychological drama directed by Park Chan-wook (Oldboy (2003), Stoker (2013)), and based on/inspired by the novel Fingersmith (2002) by Sarah Waters. The film…
Film vs. Book: Shyamalan’s “The Village” & Haddix’s “Running Out of Time”
“The Village” is a 2004 film directed by M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense” (1999) and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt and Bryce Dallas Howard. “Running Out of Time” is a popular 1996 book by Margaret Peterson Haddix for young adults about a girl (Jessie) in a 19th century village who is sent on a mission to town to look for medicine to cure a diphtheria epidemic in her village. Even though the plots of both “The Village” and “Running Out of Time” look different, there are considerable similarities between the two. The ways in which the book and the film are similar speak volumes when one considers the most important things of both: “Running Out of Time”’s narrative and “The Village”’s final plot twist.
“Déjà-vu” Review
Déjà-vu [2006] – ★★★★ “What if you had to tell someone the most important thing in the world, but you knew they’d never believe you?” (Doug Carlin) In 2006, Tony Scott directed a time-travel thriller Déjà-vu, starring Denzel Washington and Val Kilmer, presenting a story of A.T.F. agent Doug Carlin who starts to investigate the bombing…
Spotlight on Film 