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Movie Magic

I had a great weekend as I got to watch three movies and much to my luck all of them were good in their own right. Fluid Friday night was gulped down watching “Lost in Translation”, Saturday night was killed watching “Troy” and the weekend was ended well watching inimitable Satyajit Ray’s “Shataranj ke Khiladi” on Sunday night.

“Lost in Translation”. A good film by Sofia Copola (Yup, She is the same girl who played Michael Corleone’s daughter Mary in Godfather Part III). I am sure she has inherited some of her father’s genes. This film explores a relationship that blossoms in a week between two bored individuals who happen to be in much happening capital of Japan. One is a middle aged Actor who has come to endorse a whisky brand and other a young lady married to busy fashion photographer. Brilliant performance by lead actor Bill Murray, who portrays the role of middle aged Hollywood star.

“Troy”. The latest Hollywood block buster, with spectacular visuals and effects is a must watch. Director Wolfgang Petersen, takes us back to 3200BC and tells how troy was captured by Greeks. The film is loosely based on Homer’s Iliad. Brad Pitt is graceful as ever and Eric Bana as prince Hector of Troy has done a good job too. The battle ships heading Troy, the Trojan horse, the Greek army invading Troy etc. are very well executed.

“Shatranj ki Khiladi” The only Hindi film ever made by Indian film maestro Satyajit Ray is a treat to watch. Ray’s narrative style is quite interesting. He uses animation and Mr. Bachhan’s voiceover to unfold a satire featuring two chess players with a backdrop of annexure of state of Oudh by English. Full marks to art direction and costumes departments, they are absolutely brilliant. Sanjeev Kumar and Saeed Jaffery as two escapist Zamindaars addicted to the game of chess have done a wonderful job.

This week great Hollywood actor Marlon Brando expired. I haven’t seen many of Brando’s works, but his portrayal of Don Vito Corleone in the movie Godfather is unforgettable. His gestures, style, expressions and dialog delivery in that movie have been source of inspiration to many actors (From Robert De Niro to our own Kamala Hasan)

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