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Boyhood (2014)
This ain't cinema, it is real life.
Right from the opening shot when we have Patricia Arquette casually walking towards her 6 year old son, completely oblivious of the camera or the pace associated with this medium, we realize that this is no ordinary cinema. In fact, it would be hard to call it cinema. As Kurosawa had once remarked about Ray's Pather Panchali, it is a "slice of life". A very big slice at that. Shot over a period of 12 years using the same cast, Linklater has dared to do what no one else ever has, and has created the ultimate epic on childhood and growing up.
One must appreciate the risk that was taken to produce this gem. Convincing the cast to stick around for so long, with every possibility that something could go wrong (death, maybe?), convincing the production houses, and many more. But Linklater as a director could easily see beyond all these. And he found the perfect cast who had the same thought process as him, and were privileged to be a part of this epic. Shot mainly during summers, and without any script, Linklater went about capturing (and stitching) life as it is. Unadulterated and non-glamorous.
The cast does a magnificent job, with Patricia Arquette stealing the show playing the single mom, very well deserved Oscar. Ethan Hawke is as good as ever. But Ellar Coltrane as Mason possibly deserves the most applauds as he was the untested 6 year old who had to string the movie together for the next 12 years, and does a fantastic job at that. Through him and the rest of the cast, we see the joys and sorrows of childhood and growing up, the pains of separation, moments of love, bullying and abuse, and scores of small incidents which shape our lives. It is the supreme coming of age film. It documents growing up in the early 2000's. It has a wonderful soundtrack, with "Hero" by Family of the Year and Coldplay's "Yellow" being the extremely memorable ones.
Anyone calling this movie boring and uneventful must be reminded that this is no Disney flick. There are no exaggerated moments. And no dramatic outbursts. In fact, that is the whole point of the movie, to keep it as real as possible. It can serve as a reminder as to how challenging and monotonous life can be, and expecting anything else is plain foolishness. Rather, it tells us that that's how life "should" be. If your life isn't the same and is filled with fun and glamor, you are the odd one out, and have missed out on some of the most important aspects of living. Life is supposed to be a struggle, there are no two ways to it.
The movie surely has its flaws, just like life does, and it all fits together. Which is why I have given it an 8/10. A 10/10 would have ruined the movie.
Masaan (2015)
Bollywood - your time is up. Welcome to real Indian cinema...
Gone are the days when people used to flock to cinemas on hearing about a "Salman Khan will remove his shirt" scene. Gone are the days where you have a 100 people pop out of nowhere and join the actors in an impromptu dance. Gone are the days when a shower of petals across the screen would imply that people are making out. Well, at least, they should be gone.
2015 is turning out to be a breathtaking year for Hindi Cinema. First we had "Margarita, with a Straw", which, simply put, broke all stereotypes. And now we have Masaan, which makes Margarita look small. We have had a few amazingly touching and intense films in regional Indian cinema, with the likes of Ray, Kasaravalli, et al, but this is a whole new territory in Hindi Cinema.
Masaan is devastatingly beautiful. Where do I even start? In the small North Indian town of Varanasi, the lives of a few ordinary people intertwine in two tales of love and loss. Right from the opening scene, we are thrown right into the tragic lives of these people, with an intensity hitherto unseen in Indian cinema, almost Scorsese like. It is so intense, that an air of discomfort fills the theater just 5 minutes from the opening. And that of unjust. Unjust, as we are forced to see the catastrophic consequences of corruption, greed, caste-ism, and people's attitudes towards sexuality. This is no pretty film. There are no scenes of comic relief. It gets into your head real quick, and you are all but mute spectators to their spiraling lives. You feel chained to your seats as you're unable to do anything for them. Now that's the power of good cinema.
The acting is almost perfect. Richa Chadda, as Devi, the bold woman caught up in sexual crime and corruption, is the star of the show. She pulls off the small town girl next door role with elegance and beauty, which only increases with her fearlessness as the film progresses. All the other actors, though not as good, are extremely believable in their respective casts. The direction is impeccable, with every small shot, be it romance or crime, captured with equal ferocity. But where the film truly stands out is in its cinematography. Avinash Arun Dhaware does in incredible job in capturing the holy city of Benaras in both its highs and lows. He sure is an expert in glorifying tragedy. The shots of the cremation at the ghats, the boat rides at night, and the train on the bridge are so hauntingly beautiful that they would remain etched on to my memory for quite some time.
Masaan is a film that exposes you to the kinds of lives people elsewhere live, and gives you an opportunity to evaluate yours. It makes you ponder over issues, though a tad exaggerated, that people in certain parts of our country surely still face. It might also teach you a thing or two on love, loss and moving on. Although I haven't seen a lot of Hindi cinema, this might just about be the best that I have.
Unfortunately, most people would still prefer a topless Salman Khan than a gem like this.