Tag Archives: Eddie Redmayne

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them review

written by Souranath Banerjee

Not exactly related to the Harry Potter franchise, but definitely loaded with some magical VFX!

My Ratings: 3.7/5

The first of the promised 5 series wizard-drama opens up with a massive box office collection, 8.8 million just on the opening night!

All you Harry Potter fans, please wave your wands in the air and rejoice as you get to celebrate yet another magical journey penned down by none other than J.K. Rowling herself – her screenwriting fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-poster1debut!

A tale straight from 1926, the time when the Wizard world collided with the Muggle world because of a young man named Newt Scamander, who appeared in NewYork with a suitcase full of rare magical creatures, and then these so called ‘fantastic beasts’ managed to run loose in the city!

A genuine crisis for the Wizard world because the muggles (the non wizard people), whoever saw or got effected by these unique and often dangerous magical animals had to be obliviated (made to forget everything). And on top of that there was some untamed dark danger that kept lurking around, creating havoc in the city that had to be investigated too!

An adventure full of gripping moments, comedy and yes – loads of sparkling magic!

Directed by David Yates, who also directed the last four Harry-Potter-films. But this movie is definitely unique because though it fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-poster4has connections to the popular Harry Potter series and yet the film manages to stand alone as a distinctive individual story.

Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne becomes the central character Newt and as usual excels in his performance doing what he does best, playing the slightly eccentric genius. (Though it’s high time he should try something different, specially with his mannerisms and his overall body language).

Then there was Dan Fogler who made sure that the audience gets a good dose of comedy throughout the film, he is simply brilliant! Alison SudolKatherine WaterstonEzra Miller and Colin Farrell all did their part with enough conviction. 

A bit lengthy and certain scenes have been unnecessarily prolonged. And also too much dependent on VFX,fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-poster5 practically it seems visual effects is the true protagonist of the film. Though superlative quality of work by all the studios – Cinesite, Double Negative, Framestore, Image Engine, MPC, Milk VFX and Rodeo FX.

(Click the link for more VFX stories on this film)

Overall a decently entertaining film, but a must-watch if you are a member of the Potter fan-club!

P. S. – don’t you dare to blink or else you will miss the cameo by Johnny Depp!

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.com.

The Danish Girl (2015)

The Danish Girl review

written by Souranath Banerjee

Only such powerful acting could hold the film together with enough distinction.   

My Ratings: 3.8/5.

Tom Hooper, who earlier directed films like The King’s Speech (2010) and Les Misérables (2012) has recently come up with his latest – a biopic named The Danish Girl.

danish-girl-poster3Loosely based on the lives of Danish couple Einar and Gerda Wegener, but essentially the film is inspired by the real story of Einar Wegener’s transformation into Lili Elbe, undergoing a sex reassignment surgery to physically transform from a man to a woman (one of the first in the history of sex-change operations).

The experiences of such a radical and innovative journey as a transgender pioneer is well documented in Lili Elbe’s autobiography “Man into Woman” which was published in 1933, an inspiration to the transgender movement till date.

The Danish Girl starts of by introducing us to the Wegener couple, both young artists with a pretty regular love life but soon things take a turn when Einar develops a fascination for the delicate ladies danish-girl-poster1garments and cosmetics and fancies himself as a girl, playfully dressing himself up as Lili (a fictitious character).

And soon enough, to an utter surprise to his wife Gerda, Einar has a sudden urge to change his sexual orientation and reveals that he actually wants to be Lili in her real life; he claims that he seems to be a women trapped in a man’s body!

So many years back then, such a concept was indeed a novelty and was of course resisted and condemned by many but Einar Wegener/Lili Elbe was one lucky person to finally had her wish fulfilled. But then again she had to pay a heavy price for her sexual freedom.

danish-girl-poster4Honestly for me, if it wasn’t because of the brilliance of the actors like Eddie Redmayne (Oscar winner for The Theory of Everything)Alicia Vikander (popular for her part in Ex Machina) and Matthias Schoenaerts (famous for his role in Rust and Bone), the film would not have been half as interesting as it is now; and so the casting director Nina Gold also needs a special mention here.

And thanks to cinematographer Danny Cohen for the overall look and feel of the film.

The Danish Girl is an important tale that needs to be told but somehow 2 hours of screen time made it a bit too lengthy compared to its content material.

Though surely worth a watch.

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.com

Best of Hollywood 2014

Best of Hollywood 2014 

written by Souranath Banerjee.

Best of Hollywood 2014 – is not at all an easy list to make. 2014 being an awesome year for film-lovers and thanks to Hollywood for giving us such a balanced dose of entertainment; Thrillers, Hollywood-2014SciFis, Comedies, Love stories War Dramas, Horror flicks and lots of Biographies.

But then again, it’s the time to remember the best performances of this year (no foreign language films included in this list), the awesome directorial ventures, those brilliant visuals and mesmerizing background scores – the films that touched your heart, amazed you and made you fall in love with Cinema (all over again).

But first a few honorable mentions (films that almost made the list) – WildInherent ViceThe Hundred-Foot JourneyPrideAmerican SniperCalvaryStill AliceCamp X-RayPredestinationKill the MessengerCake and Mr. Turner

And now the countdown begins.

10. Selma

film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6t7vVTxaic

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It was 1965 and Martin Luther King leaded the epic march from Selma to Montgomery (Alabama), a nonviolent protest demanding for the right-to-vote for all black men and women in the country.

(Click for the film review)

Such a powerful film evidently backed by some outstanding performances. A must watch.

9. Gone Girl

film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esGn-xKFZdU

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Gone Girl is fast paced film that demands your full attention, a superbly crafted thriller that plunges into the depths of a psychologically twisted marital relationship.

(Click for the film review)

Brilliant performance by Ben Affleck but the real stunner is Rosamund Pike; she proves to be the perfect cast possible for the ‘gone girl’ character.

Hollywood-2014A dangerously realistic, gritty tale based on the concept of our unconscious satisfaction in watching other people’s loss and tragedy. Thanks to the news channels.

(Click for the film review)

Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) – is he a scavenger or a survivor, a psychopath or a potential businessman, a cold-hearted predator or an insane professional?

7. The Grand Budapest Hotel

film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fg5iWmQjwk

Hollywood-2014

The Grand Budapest Hotel is the most stylish comedy I have seen in years.

(Click for the film review)

Wes Anderson’s obsession for perfect production design, bold color schemes, faultless framing and as always the cheeky humor brings out an unique creation. Simply wonderful to watch, probably his best work till date.

6. Interstellar

film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSWdZVtXT7E

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A Sci-Fi starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathway and Jessica Chastain, Interstellar is a film about space and black holes, about dimensions and relativity; and then again it’s also about love and betrayal.

(Click for the film review)

By the acclaimed director Christopher Nolan and undoubtedly one of his best films ever.

5. The Theory of Everything

film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Salz7uGp72c

Hollywood-2014

The Theory of Everything tells the emotional story of Stephen Hawking and his then wife Jane Wilde.

(Click for the film review)

Eddie Redmayne this year won the Oscar (in the Best Actor category) playing Stephen Hawking’s character with extraordinary authenticity and brilliance. A must watch.

4. Foxcatcher

film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8361stZ8n0w

Hollywood-2014

Foxcatcher is a film that tells the tale of two troubled souls, a multimillionaire and a wrestler, both disturbed and consumed by their own ambition and distorted personal lives.

(Click for the film review)

The film doesn’t fit the mainstream, melodramatic sport-movie pattern but after watching i am sure you will be thankful it didn’t.

3. Whiplash

film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d_jQycdQGo

whiplash-poster

The intense story of Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), a 19-year-old aspiring jazz drummer and Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), his brutal school music instructor.

(Click for the film review)

Whiplash is a gritty and uncompromising take on ambition and success – it stretches the boundaries of all previous student-mentor relationship based dramas.

2. Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJfLoE6hanc

Hollywood-2014

Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and this year’s Oscar winner.

(Click for the film review)

Michael KeatonEdward NortonNaomi WattsZach GalifianakisEmma Stone and all others are magical in front of the camera.

The whole film is edited to look like one continuous shot, a tremendous effort and brilliantly executed.

1. Boyhood

film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys-mbHXyWX4

Hollywood 2014

A film so real and shot through such an unreal time-span that it gives you the feel of being a part of the journey with this boy Mason (Ellar Coltrane), who was 7 years old when Richard Linklater started filming and 18 when he finally felt it’s time to wrap up.

(Click for the film review)

Boyhood is something very special, a daring experiment and totally worth it.

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

+1. The Imitation Game

film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5CjKEFb-sM

Hollywood 2014

Based on the life of an unsung war-hero, a genius mathematician and a troubled soul who never got the recognition he deserved – Alan Turing.

(Click for the film review)

Brilliant performances by Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley The imitation game is one of the best biographies made last year – a perfect combination of history and good cinema.

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

The Theory of Everything (2014)

My Ratings: 4/5.

Biographies are always tricky since the director has to walk on a tight rope to maintain a balance between the genuineness of the character (on whom the film is based on) and the obvious cinematic liberty required to make the film entertaining.

And James Marsh (who earlier has some experience with tightrope walkers – remember Man on Wire?) has done a superb job with his latest film The Theory of Everything, which is a biography based on the personal life of world renowned physicist Stephen Hawkings.

theory-of-everything-poster4The Theory of Everything tells the emotional story of Stephen Hawking and his then wife Jane Wilde; a courageous love story that bloomed and strengthened in spite of the fact that Stephen was diagnosed with ‘motor neuron disease’ very early in his college life which eventually (as predicted) made him completely paralysed.

Apparently based on a book written by Jane Hawkings titled ‘Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen’ the film captures the different stages of their love life with incredible honesty. 

During the screening of the film Stephen Hawkings had tears in his eyes as he watched Eddie Redmayne play his character with extraordinary authenticity and brilliance.

Mr.Hawkings also mentioned to director James Marsh in an e-mail that certain parts of the film are so realistic that he thought he was watching himself. Now that’s something!

Stephen-HawkingStephen Hawking was so impressed that he allowed the filmmakers to use his original voice; he also lent his Medal of Freedom medallion and his signed thesis to use as genuine props in the film.

Outstanding performance by Felicity Jones as Jane Hawkings, a lady with tremendous courage, who dared to stand by her lover/husband in remarkably tough situations. 

Though based on the life of a world famous scientist The Theory of Everything deals very less with science and more with Stephen’s personal sentiments.

It’s not a film celebrating Stephen Hawkings as the best physicist of our recent times but it’s about honoring him as a spirited individual who knows how to appreciate life against extraordinary odds. And that is one of the main reasons of the film’s success.

A few emotional scenes are so touchy that i bet you will have a tough time taming your tear bags.

Theory-of-Everything-Poster3Beautifully shot by Benoît Delhomme and awesome music by Jóhann Jóhannsson; the film is surely one of the best biography’s of this year. 

Already nominated in four categories for the Golden Globes and also predicted to be nominated for the Oscars – this is a film that shouldn’t be missed.

A few words of Stephen Hawkings about life and hope:

There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is hope.