I am always inspired by good films. Films that entertain, leave an impact and make you think. I love engaging in discussions after watching a good movie and then listening to people who know what they are discussing in depth. Though that is not common, neither is it rare. So, on those occasions, I am not stunned or amazed; I simply enjoy movies. But recently, I was blown away by some of the films I watched at MAMI this year. Each film had a certain style. I was blown away by the concepts, writing, music but most of all, the acting… the performances were just spectacular. As someone who was quite active in theatre 3-4 years ago, it always excites me to see an extraordinary performance. How do these actors do what they do? What preparation did they do before taking on that part? Some of these films were based on true stories. What are the challenges of portraying real people in real stories? People overuse the phrase “ahead of its time”, but I really feel some of these movies and performances are truly decades ahead of their time. So, if you are attending the 21st Jio MAMI film festival this week and looking forward to some good films and performances, then I would highly recommend you catch these four films which I watched and loved.
Note: All 4 films are excellent. I am not going to spend a lot of time talking about the plot for all of them. My reviews for some films will focus more on the performances of the actors and certain scenes that blew me away.
The Irishman
Director: Martin Scorsese
Where do I even begin with this one? Honestly, it is not easy to sit through a 3.5 hour long film at an old school theatre like Regal Cinema, where the seats are not particularly comfortable and they are not even elevated in the best way possible. So, amidst a bit of neck-craning and a house full of Scorsese fans hooting at the entry of the big stars, I saw one of the best made films of the year. The Irishman is big fat reunion of Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. It is Martin Scorsese’s return to the glory days of gangster movies and like everyone knows, it depicts the journey of a hitman. But hey, to me the film is not just Frank Sheeran looking back on his career, it’s Scorsese too. Robert De Niro, age 76, plays Frank Sheeran, from the age of about 35 to about the age of 85 thanks to de-aging technology. In Bollywood, we have seen our 50 year old stars portraying themselves as 20 year olds. We crib about it because most of the time, they do not look or act like 20 year olds. But in De Niro’s case, you just somehow accept the illusion. Is it got to do with better CGI? Maybe. Is it got to do with Scorsese? Maybe. As an actor, De Niro has the knack of slipping into the character effortlessly. And he can so easily switch from a heartless hitman to a more chilled-out Frank. There are some scenes where he uses gestures more than his voice and it’s compelling. The way he says things with pauses and lets his eyes do the talking is extraordinary. Without giving too much away, watch out for the final scenes, with Frank in his later years. Loved those scenes! As Jimmy Hoffa, Al Pacino channels his fiery persona, swearing and ranting and screaming. I loved the intensity he brought to his character and it comes so naturally to him. It is poetry, pure magic to watch Pacino. He is so honest and played his role straight from his heart. Joe Pesci, on the other hand, plays Russell, a powerful man, never raising his voice, barely using any profanity. It’s a thrillingly performance and he has impeccable comic timing. These 3 actors make the craft of acting look so easy. If not for anything else, you should watch this film solely for their terrific performances!
Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
“In Argentina, tango and football are compulsory”. Can you imagine a Holy Father saying that? Can you imagine two devout men sharing pizza and Fanta, talking about Beatles and ABBA? Director Fernando Meirelles builds most of the movie around two-handler scenes between Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce. The entire film is all about conversations between these two popes. So quite naturally, the success of the film really depends on the performances of the two lead actors. Both Hopkins and Pryce portray the holy men – Pope Benedict XVI and Bishop Jorge Bergoglio respectively as just ordinary men, capable of weaknesses. They tease each other and argue about football, their conversations get heated but they acknowledge their differences. In one scene, they even tango! Watching Hopkins and Pryce play off each other is a blast. Hopkins is fierce yet fragile. At 82, he simply hypnotises you. Every word he utters is like music to the ears. And his presence, is undeniably powerful. I think I last saw Jonathan Pryce as another religious figure in Game of Thrones. He played High Sparrow. Pryce is equally as charismatic as Hopkins. He is the coolest pope ever! You never get tired of watching him on screen. He is hilarious, endearing and just so inspiring to watch. Both the actors illustrate what the craft of acting is really about. It is not about the glamour or the looks or the frills. It is about honesty, being true to the roles you take up. They never slip out of their characters. Two Popes is funny, warm, sensitive and thought-provoking. It is a very personal journey. Anyone who loves films that encourage intelligent conversations, should catch this one.
Bacurau
Directors: Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles
Bacurau blew my mind simply because of its concept. It mashes up many themes and influences but is chiefly a metaphor for American cultural dominance. We are a few years into the future, in a world where executions of convicted criminals are broadcast live on TV. The mysterious people of Bacurau are under threat. But they are fearless, content and know how to put up a fight. The only thing they need is water. An ongoing dispute with regional authorities concerning the dam has cut their water supply. Look up Bacurau on google maps and you won’t find it. But there’s a possibility of a ‘Bacurau situation’. There is a museum of Bacurau history, a building that is more important than the church, and ends up playing a fateful role in the town’s destiny. There are no central characters as such through line in the story because it is the tale of an entire community. I love eclectic music choices. Bacurau is a story of invasion where the invaders are not really taken seriously. Lots to ponder upon after watching this one!
Bombay Rose
Director: Gitanjali Rao
There are not too many good Indian-origin animated films. So, when I saw Bombay Rose as one of the choices to pick from at MAMI this year, I got super curious. It’s a clichéd plot of star-crossed lovers but execution wise, Bombay Rose is a visual treat. Roses connect the many stories together. It’s a good attempt at paying a tribute to Mumbai, its streets, people, beaches, Bollywood etc. There are some cartoonish villains in the film which are a little distracting. But overall, I liked the folkish feel. I particularly loved the daydream portions which felt like fantasy tales involving princes and princesses of regal dynasties. I also loved that the film went back to old Mumbai in black and white, giving us a glimpse of the long-gone era. And then immediately juxtaposing it with the huge metropolis it is today. Good use of music in the film. I loved one particular Goan track – it was peppy and really captured the Bombay spirit. Hopefully we’ll get to see more animated films coming out of India in time to come!
Xoxo
Ritwika
