Best Kung Fu films ever made (10+1list)

Best Kung Fu films ever made.

written by Souranath Banerjee

Kung fu or wushu are chinese words that refers to the age old tradition of Chinese Martial Arts.

In ancient China, Kung fu was first introduced as a method of self-defence and hunting, and was also a part of the country’s military training. Essentially a hand to hand combat system (with different forms and styles of fighting) but then again, certain classic Chinese weapons are often used as well.

Since long time martial art has been introduced in films for entertainment and such action films were very popular in China and in a few other Asian countries.

bruce-lee-posterBut only in the early 70s, the craze for kung fu films hit the west, and the person responsible for giving kung fu a world-wide recognition was none other than Bruce Lee.

Then there was Jackie Chan and Jet Li who prolonged the tradition. 

Nowadays, even in Hollywood action films like The Matrix TrilogyKill Bill, and The Transporter stylized forms of kung fu are extensively used and well appreciated by the audience. 

Listed below are some of the best Kung fu films ever made that can be enjoyed even if you are not a hard core action film lover.

Let’s kick start the list.

10. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m3IB7N_PRk

kung-fu-hustle-posterDirected by Stephen Chow also known for films like Shaolin Soccer and The God of Cookery – this one is the most entertaining kung fu film.

According to Bill Murray this film is ‘the supreme achievement of the modern age in terms of comedy‘.

According to famous film critic Roger Ebert ‘Imagine a film in which Jackie Chan and Buster Keaton meet Quentin Tarantino and Bugs Bunny’.

9. Ip Man (2008)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhz4Jl6nf58

ip-man-posterA semi-biographical account of the most influential martial art master Grandmaster Yip Man.

The man who taught martial art to the world, he was also renowned as the teacher and inspiration of the legendary kung fu master Bruce Lee.

Directed by Wilson Yip, the film tries to be as real and authentic to the grandmaster’s life as possible. 

8. Come Drink with Me (1966)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1A6PnPZ6Gk

come-drink-with-me-posterDirected by King Hu, also known for films like A Touch of Zen and Dragon Inn started the modern trend of kung fu films.

This film is said to be the first Hong Kong martial art film which portrayed kung fu as pure entertainment and each ‘fight scene as art form’. 

This film has more historical value than than any other in this list.

7. Ong-bak (2003)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJvMhOkwH9I

ong-bak-posterTony Jaa, the face of the new martial art superstar gets his introduction through this film.

After an extensive four years training, Tony Jaa performed all his stunts by himself, no wires or CGI were used in the fight scenes.

Directed by Prachya Pinkaew, the film was a huge hit for it’s epic fight sequences and the extreme acrobatic stunts.    

6. The Raid: Redemption (2011)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f6f_kfp1Z8

The-Raid-Redemption-poster1Directed by Gareth Evans, this is one extreme action-packed film, the best in the recent times.

The Martial Art used in this movie is Pencak Silat, which is the indigenous fighting style of Indonesia.

Iko Uwais and his fighting skills are simply awesome. If you like this film then The Raid 2 is also a must watch.

5. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65GQtH6pzTY

The-36th-Chamber-of-Shaolin-posterChia-Hui Liu plays the guy who firstly gets beaten by the brutal Manchu clan; then he learns martial art and goes back to take his revenge.

Hence forth this learn-and-revenge plot has been done to death in numerous films.   

Directed by Chia-Liang Liu, this one is one of the kung fu classics.

4. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEaGsdiA0y0

crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon-posterYun-Fat ChowMichelle YeohZiyi ZhangChen Chang and Pei-Pei Cheng all together in this exclusive kung fu drama.

Directed by master director Ang Lee, the film was a huge success – the first foreign language film to earn over $100 million in the United States.

A story of passion, love, revenge and much more – an unique action film without any real violence!

3. Hero (2002)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srFhXDZhUZI

hero-posterDirected by Yimou Zhang, who is also famous for House of Flying Daggers and Curse of the Golden Flower.

The most expensive Chinese movie till date, epic fight sequences and visually the most beautiful film ever made!

Jet Li at his best along with Tony Chiu Wai LeungMaggie Cheung Ziyi Zhang and Daoming Chen

2. Drunken Master (1978)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQMNllz6aE0

Drunken-Master-PosterThe film that kick-started Jackie Chan‘s career and also portrayed his unique ability to combine kung fu with comedy.

Drunken Fist Kung Fu is a particular style of fighting that is highlighted in this film.

Directed by Woo-Ping Yuen, this was a landmark film that paves the path for the infinite comic-action films to be made ever since. 

  1. Enter the Dragon (1973)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB-QGOChuQc

enter-the-dragon-poster1Bruce Lee, the legend of martial arts, the man who made kung fu movies a world wide sensation – this was his last film shot before he passed away at a young age of 32.

Directed by Robert Clouse, the film was a sensation and a landmark in action genre.

The ‘Hall of Mirrors’ sequence, the cave fight were Lee beats 50 people at a go, and then the unique steel hands of the antagonist Han were some of the highlights of the film. This one is one of it’s kind and a must watch for everybody.

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch).

+1. Burning of the Red Lotus Monastery (1928)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=012M83Me6us

burning-red-lotus-posterThe film that successfully introduced martial arts in cinema – it runs for 27 hours and thus it’s the longest film ever produced!

It was split up and released as 18 features between 1928 and 1931, of which Burning of the Red Lotus Monastery is one.

Directed by Shichuan Zhang, this Chinese film is considered as a classic and rightly so.

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.comwww.topchinesemovies.comen.wikipedia.org.

The Intern (2015)

The Intern review.

written by Souranath Banerjee

My Ratings: 4/5.

I would love to shelve the film in the ‘romcom’ genre but this one does much more than just being a comic-romantic . 

The Intern as the name initially suggests is the story of a 70 year old Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) who gets hired by a fashion-based e-commerce company called ‘About the Fit’ through a senior-intern hiring program.

And the founder/CEO of this company is the successful 32-year-old Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway), a young woman desperate to strike a balance in-between her married life and her business endeavors.

intern-posterNow, Ben and Jules – these two individuals (and don’t you forget highly qualified actors) gradually gets acquainted and learn to appreciate each other’s company. They trust and confide in each other and by the end of the film, their association becomes something much more than just a funny young-employer-aged-employee alliance.

Writer/director Nancy Meyers, well known for romantic comedies like The Holiday (2006), Something’s Gotta Give (2003) and It’s Complicated (2009), this time took a bit of risk and played with the involvement of two characters of contrast age group.

And with the perfect casting choices and a crisp storyline, the risk has been paid off pretty well. 

The subtle head movements and little gestures of Robert De Niro speaks volumes as he plays the perfect gentleman, the kind we don’t see anymore. And on the other hand Anne Hathaway so effortlessly portrays the struggles of a working woman/wife/mother and also an ambitious entrepreneur.

Although the jugalbandhi of two such remarkable actors (sharing the screen for the first time) is definitely the USP of the film but the secondary characters have also given tremendous performances and Rene RussoAnders HolmAdam DeVineZack PearlmanChristina Scherer and cute little JoJo Kushner – they all deserve to be mentioned.

Subtle comic dialogues, a few hilarious situations and most importantly characters maintaining their believability throughout the film – overall The Intern is refreshing and makes you smile.

If you are in a mood of some light-hearted comic drama, then you can’t go wrong with this one.

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.comhttp://goodmenproject.com.

 

Smita Patil – a powerhouse of talent

Smita Patil – a powerhouse of talent.

written by Souranath Banerjee

Numerous popular stage performances, more than 80 films in Hindi, Marathi and other regional languages, a torchbearer of the Indian parallel cinema, two National Awards as ‘best actress’, many Filmfare Awards and also the recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri – all-that in a career which spanned only over a decade as Smita Patil passed away at the young age of 31!

Smita-pic1In the early 70s Smita Patil used to be a television newscaster for Doordarshan when acclaimed filmmaker Shyam Benegal took notice of her and gave her the first role in his film Charandas Chor (1975).

Mr.Benegal who later worked with Smita in numerous other films recalled the first time he met her ‘She had a presence which I felt could be well utilised in cinema’. And indeed so.

Smita patil’s performance in Bhumika (for which she received her first National Award at the age of 21) impressed Jaya Bhaduri so much that she commented ‘makes you sit up and take notice. Her reflexes are uninhibited and she has a face with tremendous mobility’. 

A few starting scenes from Shyam Benegal’s Bhumika.

The most expressive eyes ever to have graced the celluloid; her dusky and sensuous looks and the capability to play any character (no matter how challenging) with extreme ease and perfection soon established Smita Patil as one of the most talented actress of Indian Cinema.

A scene from Mahesh Bhatt‘s precious film Arth (1982).

In the early years of her career she concentrated only on art cinema.

Along with Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri, Smita Patil formed the four essential pillars of the then popular parallel cinema.

A beautiful song sequence from the film Jait Re Jait (1977) along with Mohan Agashe

Smita Patil being an activist for women’s rights became particularly famous for her roles that portrayed women as capable and empowered.

Smita-pic2She was probably the first actress who gave the directors enough
courage to make films with female lead characters in mind, something refreshingly different from the conventional male-dominated cinema that existed in Bollywood.

In films like BhumikaUmbarthaBazaar and Mirch Masala Smita Patil’s performances were intensely appreciated both by the critics and the audience. 

A scene from Ketan Mehta‘s brilliant film Mirch Masala (1987) with Naseeruddin Shah as the notorious Subedar and Smita Patil as the daredevil Sonbai.

On the occasion of 100 years of the Indian cinema, in honor of Smita Patil a postage stamp bearing her face was released by the Indian government.

Probably the only actress who could do justice to critically acclaimed films like ChakraSadgati, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai, Ardh SatyaMandiAakroshChidambaram and on the other hand be equally comfortable with hardcore commercial films like Namak HalaalKasam Paida Karne Wale KiShakti and so on. 

In Smita Patil’s own words:

‘I remained committed to small cinema for about five years … I refused all commercial offers. Around 1977-78, the small cinema movement started picking up and they needed names. I was unceremoniously dropped from a couple of projects. This was a very subtle thing but it affected me a lot. I told myself that here I am and I have not bothered to make money. I have turned down big, commercial offers because of my commitment to small cinema and what have I got in return? If they want names I’ll make a name for myself. So I started and took whatever came my way.’

Picture curtsey: www.filmimpressions.com. 

Best Jew-Nazi dramas during the Holocaust (10+1list)

Best Jew-Nazi dramas during the Holocaust.

written by Souranath Banerjee

For anybody who is not familiar with the word ‘holocaust‘ (though i doubt that), it is a term used to define the genocide in which approximately six million Jews (including one million Jewish children) were killed by Adolf Hitler through his Nazi regime.   

There were another five million non-Jewish victims of Nazi mass murders as well.

And thus, in between1941 to 1945, while Germany was fighting the WorldWar II in the forefront, approximately eleven million people were executed in a preplanned and secretive manner throughout Nazi-Germany and the other German-occupied territories.

Numerous films and documentaries have been made to portray those unpredictable and desperate times.

Interestingly the films listed below neither emphasize on the WWII nor particularly based on the inhumane concentration camp stories; these films tell the tales of those who defied against the barbaric massacre of human lives, of those who challenged the deadly systematic annihilation and survived (or at least tried to).

Most of these films are based on true stories and are definitely the best Jew-Nazi dramas in the times of Holocaust.

Please have a look.

10. Black Book (2006)

Original title: Zwartboek. Language: Dutch.

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKEDKF8iDUw

black-book-posterDirected by Paul Verhoeven, this one was the official Netherlands entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category for the Oscars.

A Jewish singer who transforms herself from a war victim to a spy, she uses her charms and also puts her life at risk to pass German war secrets to the Dutch Resistance.

A visual treat and a plot that has so many twists to keep you guessing till the end.

9. Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005)

Original title: Sophie Scholl – Die letzten Tage. Language: German.

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x14U3R3-dFE

Sophie-Scholl-posterThe White Rose was the German World War II anti-Nazi resistance movement and young Sophie Scholl was one of the most prominent members of it. 

The film is a dramatized version of brave Sophie Scholl’s arrest, her interrogation, her trial till her sentence in 1943 Munich. 

Directed by Marc Rothemund, a chilling war drama, a must watch. 

8. In Darkness (2011)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHuPtd9oCSQ

in-darkness-poster

Leopold Socha, a man probably lesser known than Oskar Schindler but then again he saved numerous lives in the Nazi-occupied Polish city of Lvov during Holocaust.

He risked his own life hiding Jewish refugees from the Nazis in the sewers for almost 14 months! 

Directed by Polish female director Agnieszka Holland, a heart touching story of humanity and valor. 

7. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnrRy6kSFF0

inglorious-bastards-posterFiction at it’s best; two separate plans to assassinate the Nazi leaders unfortunately coincide and how!

Quentin Tarantino‘s take on the gruesome times of history – a drama told in his unique style, quirky and essentially violent.

Brad PittChristoph WaltzMichael FassbenderDiane KrugerEli Roth among others. One of the most popular one in the list.

6. Defiance (2008)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-9eUXSzZNk

defiance-posterIn the Belarussian forests the Jewish brothers escapes from the Nazis and built their own village to protect themselves and also 1000 other Jews. 

Directed by Edward Zwick, this is the epic story of defiance as some Jews decided to fought back against their oppressors.  

Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber great performances indeed. 

5. The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7zDyJcF3ko

diary-of-anne-frank-posterIn Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, a young Jewish girl named Anne Frank is forced to hide in an attic with her family and a few friends. 

The film is based on the real accounts of events documented by Anne herself in her diary.

Directed by George Stevens, this one is a brilliant tale of the war seen through the innocent eyes of a young  girl hoping to be free some day.

4. The Pawnbroker (1964)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNLBKdV83co

pawnbroker-posterA Jewish pawnbroker who once survived through the savage concentration camps is too damaged and scarred to trust or love others. 

An unforgettable performance by Rod Steiger, a brilliant actor of his times.

Directed by Sidney Lumet, the film is a gem and deserves much more recognition and popularity than it ever earned.  Please do watch.  

3. Amen. (2002)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McEkNCpTOKs

amen-posterKurt Gerstein, a German sanitation engineer who developed the lethal gas Zyklon-B, didn’t realize that the same gas will be used by the SS to kill millions of Jews in the camps.

He in order to stop the genocide tries to inform the Pope Pius XII and ask for the Vatican’s help.

Directed by Costa-Gavras, a film full of passion and drama.

2. The Pianist (2002)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_jE7-6Uv7E

pianist-poster1Talented Adrien Brody as the pianist who desperately struggles to escape from the clutches of the Nazis and from being sent to the ghettos and executed.  

Directed by my favorite director Roman Polanski, a film so powerful and emotional and yet very realistic. 

The best Holocaust movie ever made – yes, my vote surely goes for this one.

  1. Schindler’s List (1993)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdRGC-w9syA

schindlers-list-posterMaster director Steven Spielberg tells the tale of Oskar Schindler, a German business man who is responsible for saving many Jewish lives (more than 1000) from being gassed during the Holocaust.

Liam Neeson as Schindler has given his career best performance.

Probably the most popular film representing this particular historical period.

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch).

+1. Downfall (2004)

Original title: Der Untergang, Language: German.

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD1Riwv5wqw

downfall-poster1

This particular film explores the final days of the Reich and of it’s leaders such as Himmler, Goring, Goebbels and Hitler himself.

April 1945, chances of Germany winning the war looks grim but still the paranoid dictator wants to fight till the end. 

Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, one of the most microscopic view on last days of Hitler. 

Similar Interest: Best Concentration Camp films during the Holocaust (10+1list).

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.comwww.imdb.com

Everest (2015)

Everest review.

written by Souranath Banerjee

My Ratings: 4/5.

The film Everest is much more than just another disaster film. It’s about nature, it’s about human empathy, it’s about experiencing the impossible.  

everest-poster2Many people (including me) prefer mountains than the oceans. But only a handful have the courage and the potential to trek 29,029 ft above sea level and conquer the highest peak of the world – Mount Everest!

And this film Everest is about such a group of enthusiastic mountaineers who dared to touch the summit; for them it was a dream come true.

But they must remember the one uncomfortable truth before starting their ambitious climb – ‘The last word belongs to the mountain!’

Everest is based on several books including Jon Krakauer’s ‘Into Thin Air’ and Lou Kasischke’s ‘After the Wind’; these are memoirs inspired from the true story of the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster. Even many survival’s interviews were taken as reference for this film.

everest-posterA film that breathtakingly captures not only the grandeur of nature but also it’s unpredictable monstrosity.

The focus of the film is on a group of professional trekkers teamed up under the supervision of their expedition leader Rob Hall (Jason Clarke) with the sole intention of climbing to the top – Mt.Everest.

The film follows their journey and perfectly captures the dramatic moments (both the joy and the tragedy) and narrates a heart felt humane story of compassion, benevolence and courage.

everest-poster3Director Baltasar Kormákur (known for his earlier films like Contraband and 2 Guns), have managed to gather a very impressive star cast for his latest film.

We have Josh BrolinJake GyllenhaalJohn HawkesEmily WatsonSam WorthingtonNaoko MoriRobin Wright and Keira Knightley just to name a few. 

And each of them have perfectly played their characters and contributed to this thrilling adventurous drama. 

Salvatore Totino have done wonders with the camera and make you experience the majestic Himalayas like never before.

everest-poster4A film that respects nature and also the desire of men/women to conquer it.

The only sad part about Everest is that the film is promoted as a ‘disaster-film’ from the start and that somehow makes you anticipate a tragic ending.

But i still recommend this film to those who are fond of nature and adventure; a good watch for the majority 99.99 % of people who will never get a chance to actually climb Mt.Everest – for us this is the closest experience possible to be on the top of the world.

And for the remaining .01% who are planning to take the big hike, you too watch Everest because at the end of the day the film is all about your passion for trekking the impossibles!

poster curtsey: www.impawards.com and www.broadsheet.

Black Mass (2015)

Black Mass review.

written by Souranath Banerjee

My Ratings: 4/5.

Comparison with Scorsese’s epic gangster film Goodfellas is inevitable. I think the director is just asking for it.

Black Mass is a true story based on the most notorious American gangster James ‘Whitey’ Bulger.

black-mass-poster2For 12 years he had been on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) top-ten Most Wanted Fugitives list with a $2 million reward for information about his whereabouts – an amount larger than any other fugitive on the FBI list except for Osama bin Laden!

And Johnny Depp IS the mean and merciless James Bulger. 

I totally agree when the Johnny-Depp-fans claim that this is his best performance; even Depp himself chooses this one to be his favorite film among all his previous works. 

Well, he has not only drastically changed his looks but also his body language, his laugh, his cold and menacing stare are very effective – ‘strictly criminal’ indeed.

black-mass-posterDirector Scott Cooper, known for his earlier films Crazy Heart (2009) and Out of the Furnace (2013), have done a great job in slowly unfolding the drama with a proper balance of thrill and violence.

Joel Edgerton expertly plays the role of the blemished FBI officer who made an infamous deal with Bulger that allowed the ruthless gangster to freely indulge in crime and in exchange he should provide confidential informations about his competitors in South Boston (especially the Italian mafia).

A deal that gave Bulger the license to commit unlimited drug deals and murders. He was ultimately prosecuted for 19 murders based on grand jury testimony though it is said that the actual number of murders he committed were much higher that that.

Then there are a series of most talented supporting actors like black-mass-poster3Benedict CumberbatchDakota JohnsonKevin BaconJulianne NicholsonPeter Sarsgaard whose presence uplifted the overall experience of the film to a different level.

Cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi needs a mention for his measured camera movements which makes most of the extreme violence in the film not too gory yet effectively disturbing.

A psychopath of highest degree, the blue eyed leader of the Irish-American Winter Hill Gang and interestingly enough a perfect family man too. 

Black Mass, the story of James Bulger is surely worth a watch.

poster curtsey: www.impawards.com

The Tribe (2014)

The Tribe review.

written by Souranath Banerjee

My Ratings: 3.9/5.

Undoubtedly the most raw and brutal film i have seen recently.

Original title ‘Plemya’, the film tells the story of a bunch of students from a particular hostel in Ukraine, the so called ‘tribe’ who are young, aggressive and also hearing and speech impaired. 

plemya-poster4A violent group who often punish and dominate each other and doesn’t hesitate to savagely beat up other people (on road or in trains) with the sole intention to rob them. With their teacher’s aid they even pimp each other for money!

And it’s interesting to watch when a new student (Grigoriy Fesenko) joins this hostile boarding school; and how he is being pushed around, mistreated and bullied until one day he decides to retaliate.

The casual approach to extreme violence, the dangers of pure lust and the complete lack of compassion among any characters makes it undoubtedly the most raw and brutal film i have seen recently.

plemya-poster2And on top of that, due to the absence of any dialogues or music the impact of the mayhem is doubly effective.

All the actors performing in this movie (Yana NovikovaRosa BabiyAlexander DsiadevichYaroslav Biletskiy and others) are all actually deaf and the film makes no use of any vocal language nor even subtitles. The only language used is the sign language!

But the uniqueness of the film is that firstly there is never an attempt to make the audience sympathize with the deaf and dumb characters of the tribe; and secondly the audience in spite of not being comforted with any dialogues/subtitles/music never gets out of sync from the general storyline.

plemya-poster3Directed by Miroslav Slaboshpitsky, an incredibly brave concept to make a film about.

As the director himself doesn’t understand sign language, he had interpreters on set to communicate with the actors and also to make sure that the performers were reading the script right.

The tribe is made up of total 34 shots (only).

Great cinematography by Valentyn Vasyanovych, there are a few many lengthy hand-held shots that follow the main character as he walks or climbs the stairs. These shots effectively brings the audience closer to the young man’s emotions or mostly his frustrations.

Uncomfortably real and disturbing, you like it or not this film demands your attention.

poster curtsey: www.impawards.com

Quentin Tarantino – the brilliant use of music in his films

Quentin Tarantino – the brilliant use of music in his films

written by Souranath Banerjee

Quentin Tarantino – the brilliant use of music in his films: One of the most popular American director of our times, Quentin Tarantino is a name that needs no introduction.

His films are a confluence of wacky dialogues, stylish yet graphic violence (often in slow motion), non-linear storytelling and unforgettable music!

tarantino-posterHardly any director in the world has Tarantino’s gift of choosing the perfect soundtrack that would sync and enhance the visuals of a particular scene to another level of  awesomeness.

‘I’m a big collector of vinyl – I have a record room in my house – and I’ve always had a huge soundtrack album collection. So what I do, as I’m writing a movie, is go through all those songs, trying to find good songs for fights, or good pieces of music to layer into the film.’
 

For instance, in his first film Reservoir Dogs (1992) there is this famous torture sequence popularly known as ‘the ear scene’ where Michael Madsen playing a psychopath groves to the happy tune of ‘Stuck in the Middle With You’ by Stealers Wheel while torturing the tied up police officer Kirk Baltz.

Well, let’s just say … Tarantino has an ear for good music.

And then, in Pulp Fiction (1994), before John Travolta takes a ride high on drugs, the whole heroine-trip sequence shot beautifully in extreme close-ups is perfectly synced with the soundtrack ‘Bullwinkle Part II’ by The Centurians.    

‘To me, movies and music go hand in hand. When I’m writing a script, one of the first things I do is find the music I’m going to play for the opening sequence.’

The perfect example, in his film Jackie Brown (1997) the title sequence where the camera follows Pam Grier traveling through the airport while Bobby Womack’s jazzy tune ‘Across 110th Street’ plays in the background – the effect is simply awesome. 

Tarantino often uses music to play with his audience’s psychology.

In Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) the famous whistling tune ‘Twisted Nerve’ originally composed by legendary Bernard Herrmann, prepares the audience with the anticipation of danger as a deadly killer, codename California Mountain Snake (played by Daryl Hannah) is the one who whistles it before a hit.

And finally, a girl (Mélanie Laurent) prepares for revenge; a deadly plan to blast a theater full of Nazis and the epic soundtrack ‘Cat People (Putting Out Fire)‘ by David Bowie is brilliantly played in the background in Inglourious Basterds (2009). 

By the way, the latest Tarantino Movie The Hateful Eight is awesome but then I really missed that one special soundtrack that redefines his movie, the signature of the acclaimed director. Do you agree?

Photo curtsey: www.telegraph.co.ukwww.miramax.com.

Best Conspiracy Thrillers ever made (10+1list)

Best Conspiracy Thrillers ever made

written by Souranath Banerjee

Best Conspiracy Thrillers ever made – Conspiracy theories have always been a part of our lives whether you intend to believe them Conspiracy-Thrillersor not. And even if you believe one, the real question is can you prove it?

But as we all know, most of these theories are nothing but fabricated and far-fetched rumors but then, what if someone collects enough evidence and try to convince you that some of them may actually be true!

Well, fiction or not that’s you to decide – here is some of the Best Conspiracy Thrillers ever made from all across the world.

Remember, if you believe it, then it’s true!

10. Kill the Messenger (2014)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW4XO-52ubE

Conspiracy-ThrillersCIA accused of numerous illegal activities – one of them being that in the 1980’s they did drug trafficking to arm the Contra rebels in Nicaragua so that they can continue the war!

Gary Webb a reporter (played by Jeremy Renner) who found out this CIA secret was threatened and found his life up-side down.  Directed by Michael Cuesta, this one is based on a true story! 

9. Michael Clayton (2007)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kJRYBhG43Q

Conspiracy-ThrillersA multi-billion dollar action suit goes wrong as the lawyer couldn’t fight with his conscience any more but then the law firm needs to fix the situation asap. 

Directed by debutant Tony Gilroy, starring George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson; one of the most chilling conspiracy thrillers with brilliant performances and terrific visuals. The ugly game of money and power played at it’s best.

8. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJztRnDxdM8

Conspiracy-ThrillersA Vietnam war veteran (Tim Robbins) is disturbed by regular visions and nightmares – but what if his dreams were not entirely hallucinations?

Director Adrian Lyne‘s disturbing psychological horror film is based on MKUltra conspiracy where it is said that in the 1950’s, CIA conducted secret research on how the use of drugs (such as LSD) could enhance a soldier’s physical and  mental capacity!

 7. The Constant Gardener (2005)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4iTjavIkbk

Conspiracy-ThrillersDetermined to find out the reason for his wife’s murder shot in Northern Kenya, a man unknowingly gets entangled into a conspiracy – ugly and dangerous beyond his imagination!

Directed by Fernando Meirelles, with Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz the film deals with the exploitation of poor African people as medical tests are done on them by the rich and powerful medical companies of the world.

6. All the President’s Men (1976)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLt6djxhNe8

Conspiracy-Thrillers

Clues that lead to dead ends and names that connects to nobody!

Watergate scandal that ultimately lead to American President Nixon’s resignation – two brave young reporters (Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford) unravel the conspiracy that costed their jobs and almost their lives.  

Directed by Alan J. Pakula, probably the most popular Conspiracy Thriller in this list.

5. The Insider (1999)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rkvxi5hdbA

Conspiracy-ThrillersThe CEOs of Big Tobacco have lied under the oath and they are getting away with it.

Until one man risks everything when he decides to step up and tell the truth to a reporter – but will such damaging news of conspiracy and corruption be shared with the public?

Directed by Michael Mann, starring Russell Crowe and Al Pacino a thriller at its best.

4. The Conversation (1974)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_LJ5ICMbP4

Conspiracy-ThrillersDirected by Francis Ford Coppola, the film is an extremely tensed and voyeuristic take on the violation of people’s privacy.   

surveillance expert (brilliantly played by Gene Hackman) spying on a couple suspects that they are going to be murdered – a conspiracy too complicated and heavy for his conscience. A slow yet dangerous thriller that will keep you hooked till the very end.

3. Z (1969)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHB28qfsV2w

Conspiracy-ThrillersA film made by my favorite director Costa-Gavras – a terrific thriller based on a political conspiracy.

When an investigator tires to uncover the mystery behind the murder of a prominent leftist, he finds himself up against the ruthless government officials who will go to any means to stop him.

The first foreign language film to be nominated for Best Picture in the Oscars!

A must watch Conspiracy Thriller by the same director is Missing (1982).

2. The Lives of Others (2006)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FppW5ml4vdw

Conspiracy-ThrillersA conspiracy film set on 1984 East Berlin – the secret police at work conducting strict observation on whoever they suspect.

A professional surveillance-man (Ulrich Mühe) spying on a writer and his lover finds himself too attached to their lives which becomes a morel conflict for him.

Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, this thriller will simply take your breath away.

  1. JFK (1991)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w16bYZ-4nmE

Conspiracy-ThrillersThe sudden arrest made in relation to the assassination of Kennedy doesn’t seem too concrete and logical. And thus the New Orleans DA investigates into what seemed to be America’s most controversial conspiracy of all time. 

Directed by Oliver Stone, and starring Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Jack Lemmon this particualar film is an exceptional example of how cinema can be used to tell the truth.

and now, (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch).

+1. The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMba3fckhuQ

Conspiracy-ThrillersBased on the brilliant novel by Dan Brown, the film though not that epic but still a very effective conspiracy thriller to consider.

Directed by Ron Howard, a story that revolves around a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years.

The paintings of Da Vinci used as clues, starring Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Jean Reno – a mystery worth your time!

Another cool film by the same director based on the same writer’s novel is Angels & Demons (2009).

A few other conspiracy films that can be taken into consideration are Three Days of the Condor (1975), Network (1976), Chinatown (1974), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Marathon Man (1976)Enemy of the State (1998), The Parallax View (1974), The China Syndrome (1979), Wag the Dog (1997), The Manchurian Candidate (1962), The Ghost Writer (2010), Silkwood (1983) and Conspiracy Theory (1997), Syriana (2005).

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Poster courtesy: www.impawards.com.

Andrei Tarkovsky – the sculptor of time

Andrei Tarkovsky – the sculptor of time. 

written by Souranath Banerjee

‘My discovery of Tarkovsky’s first film was like a miracle. Suddenly, I found myself standing at the door of a room the keys of which had, until then, never been given to me. It was a room I had always wanted to enter and where he was moving freely and fully at ease. 

I felt encouraged and stimulated: someone was expressing what I had always wanted to say without knowing how. Tarkovsky is for me the greatest, the one who invented a new language, true to the nature of film, as it captures life as a reflection, life as a dream.’ 

– Ingmar Bergman on Tarkovsky.

The famous Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky himself believed that ‘Art is born and takes hold wherever there is a timeless and insatiable longing for the spiritual, for the ideal: that longing which draws people to art.’

A sequence from his epic film Ivan’s Childhood (1962), where Tarkovsky made sure he created cinema that is both ‘spiritual’ and ‘timeless‘. 

Steven Soderbergh, who remade Solaris (2002) with George Clooney in the lead confessed ‘I’m a big fan of Tarkovsky. I think he’s an actual poet, which is very rare in the cinema, and the fact that he had such an impact with only seven features I think is a testament to his genius.’

Son of the famous Russian poet Arseny Alexandrovich Tarkovsky, the films Tarkovsky made were essentially poetic and mystic in nature. They are distinguished by metaphysical themes, extensive use of long takes and very few cuts, and they also (most often) deviates from all the general film-narrative structures. 

The famous levitation scene from Solaris (1972), Tarkovsky’s experiment with the Sci Fi genre.

Lars von Trier while explaining why he dedicated his film Antichrist (2009) to Tarkovsky mentioned ‘Have you ever seen a film called Mirror? I was hypnotised! I’ve seen it 20 times. It’s the closest I’ve got to a religion – to me he is God.’

Tarkovsky1But then again, majority of the audience and many critics across the world find his style of cinema too intricate and often impenetrable; they find his expansive long takes too languid and even boring. His cinema demands a little bit of patience.

Tarkovsky, who never believed in commercialization of cinema claimed that ‘If the regular length of a shot is increased, one becomes bored, but if you keep on making it longer, it piques your interest, and if you make it even longer a new quality emerges, a special intensity of attention.’

A sequence from The Mirror (1975), the shamanistic visuals that blur the lines of dreams and reality. 

After Tarkovsky’s death on 29 December 1986 Akira Kurosawa spoke of his ‘unusual sensitivity [as] both overwhelming and astounding. It almost reaches a pathological intensity. Probably there is no equal among film directors alive now.’

Tarkovsky wrote the famous book on film theory known as Sculpting in Time, where he spoke about his inspirations and also the power of cinema as a medium that can alter our experience of time.

His unique cinematography and remarkable ability to freeze time still exhilarate and inspire filmmakers and will continue to do so forever.

My favorite scene from Stalker (1979), visuals so magical and enigmatic that it gives almost a supernatural feeling.

Photo Courtesy: http://andrei-tarkovsky.com