The Social Network

The Social Network

The Social Network is not about Facebook, but how it was created and all the mechanics behind it. A story that goes behind the popular website, delves into the lives of its founders. Director David Fincher has come up with a really good one here. The story revolves around Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), the creator of Facebook, his girlfriend played by Rooney Mara. Mark is a Harvard student who decides to turn a social networking forum for the students of Harvard on internet in the form of a website. Along with him are his programmer friends and best friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) who chips in the initial capital required for the launch. What the movie tries to explore is not the rosy story of how Zuckerberg came out a winner and how he created this massive social networking web. Rather, what is great here is that Fincher explores the journey of his protagonist through all of it. The personal pressures, the tensions, straining of relationships, losing friends and all of the tough times that come along with any success story but are always blinded by the glamour of it all.

Positive

Fincher unspools the tale of the making of Facebook at a break neck speed there are no pauses for effect or slo-mo dramatics, every scene is part of the story and not a set up. Have to say that the acting in The Social Network is superb all round particularly Jesse Eisenberg who really paints an eloquent picture of the ambitious yet ambiguous Zuckerberg that he is portraying. Andrew Garfield is emotive as the dependable but ultimately frozen out Saverin. And what of Justin Timberlake? Well, he’s definitely an actor now. He plays Sean Parker (co-founder of Napster) when we are introduced to him he is all Rock ‘n’ Roll but he slowly slides down to sleazy punk.

Negative

In the interest of fairness I need to throw out some of the bits I didn’t enjoy or “get”. Although I just watched a two hour film I still didn’t really understand much of Zuckerberg’s motivations, we are presented with a number of options in the film; the girl, petty jealousy, ambition, rebellion, misguided, youth, and greed. Which is fine, much like real life motivations are often a mixture of different things. And in the press conference that followed it was highlighted how private Mark Zuckerberg was in both business and personal dealings.

My Score- 7.5/10

P.S. This movie has a good chance of winning the movie award but I hope it doesn’t.

127 HOURS

Bicycling across desert wastelands! Scaling canyon walls! Free-falling into an underground lake! These are all actions that come easily to nature-lover and amateur adventurer Aron Ralston (James Franco). One April in 2003, though, a hike through Blue John Canyon, Utah, turns into a nightmare, when Aron falls into a ravine and finds his arm pinned to the canyon wall by a large rock. Hours turn to days as Aron frantically tries everything within his power to free himself, while trying to survive in a harsh environment without much food or water. Slowly slipping into delirium, Aron eventually begins to remember things and people in his life that he thought he had forgotten or that he had taken for granted and finds the strength within to do the impossible and make it through those 127 terrible hours. Based on a true story and the book, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, written according to the video diaries Ralston made during his ordeal.

On the first place I don’t understand that why this movie in the race for Oscar and “Eat Pray Love” isn’t. I guess Danny Boyle has got some connections in the Oscar jury. The movie didn’t attract me much, watching a single character for almost 99% of the movie is not my type. For me the only time I really enjoyed the movie were the last 6 minutes in which Aron gets rescued.

If 127 Hours can get nominated for Oscars then why isn’t Buried (starting Ryan Reynolds) in the list too. Buried is a much better movie than 127 Hours, both have almost similar story line. ‘Hype’ is what I can say about this movie. I can’t waste more time writing about this movie, total waste.

Negative – The movie is slow, the screenplay is dull, the movie is predictable and hence there is no spice or twists or turns.

My Score- 5/10

P.S. Please don’t waste your time watching this crappy movie! Psssst pssst, can someone ask Danny that why the hell has he included the clipping of Indian events at the beginning of the movie.

The Kids Are All Right

A lesbian couple, Nic and Jules (Annette Bening and Julianne Moore), live with their teenage children, Joni and Laser (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson), in a cozy craftsman bungalow in Los Angeles. As Joni prepares for college, her younger brother pesters her for a big favor-help him find their biological father. Against her better judgment, she makes a call to the sperm bank; the bank, in turn, calls Paul (Mark Ruffalo) and asks him if he's willing to meet his daughter. He agrees, and a complicated new chapter begins for the family.

Negative - I started this movie thinking that I could look past the fact that it was about a lesbian couple and enjoy the rest of the movie. From the trailers it looked entertaining enough, and from the praise it had gotten from critics, I thought it sounded like a smart and original story. I was disappointed in every way. The plot is shallow and boring; all the important points are shown in the trailer, there are no other twists or interesting details. Since it's supposed to be a comedy, I expected it to have a lot more humorous moments, but I only laughed once the entire movie. The acting was mediocre from most and completely poor from a few. Annette Bening and Julianne Moore, who were both nominated for Golden Globes, were good, but not what I would call excellent and certainly not deserving of any major awards. I didn't think they had much chemistry; their relationship just wasn't believable. As much as I disagree with it morally, I'm sure two others could have done a better job with their characters.

My score- 6/10

P.S. Can’t understand that why this movie got nominated in the Best Picture category. “People must have been high or Blind or deaf. Ah! Whatever”

Oscar Fever, Inception

Inception

“Inception,” written and directed by Christopher Nolan, is one of the most complicated sci-fi thrillers you will ever see. The basis is that professional thieves called “extractors” plague people’s dreams to steal information via a drug-induced sleep that is shared by two or more people while linked to a briefcase-sized dispenser. Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his team hire themselves out as the sleep thieves who risk pain and even permanent loss of consciousness while wandering through the surreal landscapes of other people’s dreams. Ultimately, Cobb wants to quit, but he is convinced to do one last job, the most dangerous yet, in exchange for having murder charges against him dropped, and being able to see his children once again. To do so, he has to execute an “inception”: fix an idea in someone’s head.

Nolan’s script is extraordinarily smart, and the rules of the dream world are consistent and logical. Every 10 minutes spent in the first level represents one week at the second level, six months at the third level, and an undefined time in limbo. Thus, a ten hour flight could potentially represent 35 years of aging in the third level, and more, if one were in limbo that whole time. Christopher Nolan proves once again that he is the most intelligent filmmaker working in Hollywood, crafting art out of genre vehicles like “The Dark Knight” and now “Inception.”

Positive - This movie is a wild ride! Definitely the best film I've seen in a long time. It keeps you guessing and guessing. The creativity and thought they put into this, it astounds me… How smart the writers have to be to put this together… it's hard to keep up! I love it, love it, love it. It makes you think about everything. I would even go a bit far and say that it’s the best Sci-fi movie of the decade. I can’t even imagine a movie as wonderful as Inception would be ever made again, that would be some work.

My score:- 10/10

P.S. If I were the jury I would pick Inception the best movie Hollywood has ever produced.

Oscar Fever , The Fighter

THE FIGHTER

What’s the movie about …

Two brothers struggle with personal challenges and the complexity of their own relationship as they pursue a shared dream of greatness in the boxing ring. Up-and-coming fighter Micky Ward is torn between his loyalty to his older brother and manager, Dicky, and his desire to move beyond the chaotic family life that threatens to derail his plans.

Boxing movies do an excellent job of showing the best and worst of humanity. Whether in the actual physical violence of the sport or in the internal struggle of the characters, boxing films have the ability to magnify every aspect of the human condition. They aren’t all winners, as evidenced by such clunkers as “Price of Glory” and “Against the Ropes”, however, some boxing movies transcend the normalcy and cliché of sports movies to become something more: a redemptive character study. The movie “Rocky” is the classic underdog story that has been mimicked by countless sports movies since. Scorcese’s “Raging Bull” is considered by many to be a masterpiece, and is unflinching in its portrayal of the downfall of a onetime prize fighter. Based on a true story, “The Fighter” tells the story of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward and his troubled brother Dicky Ecklund, and their unlikely run to boxing greatness. While it’s more realistic than “Rocky” and more formulaic than “Raging Bull”, it’s also an excellent addition to the canon of boxing classics.

“The Fighter” sounds like just another sports movie filled with clichés, slow motion, and phony melodrama, and it very well could have been. Instead, director David O. Russell focuses on the people, instead of the sport, weaving a mesmerizing story that is gripping and realistic. By the time of the championship fight, it doesn’t matter that the viewer knows what is going to happen, because the journey has been so memorable. Russell was filmed mostly on location in Lowell, using the actual homes and hangouts of Micky and Dicky. The result is a movie that feels incredibly authentic.

While Russell makes the “The Fighter” worth seeing, the acting makes it one of the best movies of the year. As Micky Ward, Mark Wahlberg delivers an impressive and layered performance.

Positive - This is a good biopic with key actors nailing their roles completely. I must admit that I was wringing my hands at the end watching the championship fight. This film is definitely worth seeing. True stories as well done as this one are satisfying, and the end is truly one of forgiveness and reconciliation among family members.

P.S. Christian Bale definitely deserving Oscar for his role as an supporting actor.

My Score :- 7/10

Oscar Fever

If I were to go back in time and change one thing I would have edited Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Must be wondering how? Well I would have included movies in the psychology needs.

Many among us suffer from the obsession for the great work which makes us to appreciate the creativity of the creative ones. Well the fever of movies gets optimum when the Oscar time comes (for me it’s on 365 days a year).

For the next few days I would like to give out my views and my reviews on the Oscar Nomination list. I would analyze each of the nominee my way and let’s see how far can I get with this and most important of all it’s the support of you all that I need to get best out of me. Let’s hope the best nominee wins.

BLACK SWAN

When Nina, a talented young ballerina, is awarded the prized dual role of the White Swan/Black Swan in a production of "Swan Lake," her already fragile mental state begins to deteriorate. Fearing that another dancer's natural affinity for the darker Black Swan character will win her the part, Nina begins a disturbing descent into her own dark side. This is what Black Swan is all about

The best part of the movie is Natalie Portman without her it wouldn’t have been the one among best they way she performs at the final performance was breath taking. Everyone would admit that the movie has a remarkable ending.

Aronofsky has saddled his film with a lot of psychological, you could also say psycho, baggage. Nina’s dilemmas are harder to figure out than a Rubik’s cube, because you’re never quite sure if something is really happening or if that something is only an illusion that goes on inside Nina’s unbalanced head. Nina has a life that exists between two points: the rehearsal room balance bar and her pink and white bedroom that is full of stuffed animals. Who wouldn’t be neurotic going back and forth between those two extremes, on the New York City subway, no less. She imagines a lot of things, and it gets harder and harder to distinguish between the real and the imagined.

Positive -this is the best picture that I have seen all year. It really is that good. Natalie Portman is a wonder to behold as Nina Sairs. You can't take your eyes off of her. Darren Aronofsky has created a masterpiece with this dark fairy tale of lost innocence. My only quibble with the film has to be the completely unnecessary, gratuitous lesbian scene in the middle of the film. I'm the biggest liberal that there is, and even I was taken aback by this scene. I've seen the film twice now, and I still can't place the significance of that one scene. Other than that, the film is perfect. It's still an extremely sexual film, however, and those who are easily offended should stay home. Only serious film buffs need apply. Highly, highly recommended.

My score: - 7.5/10