Four Golden Globe Nominated Films
I watched quite a few of the Golden Globe nominated movies recently. Here’s my take on a few of them.
Slumdog Millionaire
This is based on Vikas Swarup’s book titled “Q& A”, which has now been reprinted as “Slumdog Millionaire”. I can only say I was dumbstruck by how truly TERRIBLE the book is. While the concept of a slum boy winning a quiz show is good and the fact that he knew the answer to each question because of his life experiences is even better, the writer has no sense of style and has introduced crazy twists and turns, cramming each page with the most dismal accounts of poverty and abuse. It leaves you feeling disturbed, depressed and sick.
The fact that the screenplay has left out SEVERAL elements of the book just shows that the screenplay writer probably knew that if the movie had to sell, it had to be less depressing, and more of a celebration of life.
The background score throughout the movie is upbeat and cheerful, but Jai Ho is certainly not Rahman’s best. I’m still proud of him and rooting for him. Hope he wins a couple of Oscars!
Happy-Go-Lucky
This British film stars Sally Hawkins as the “happy-go-lucky” 30-year old primary school teacher, Poppy, who lives one day at a time, smiles at every one she meets and talks to tramps, her driving instructor and the bookstore guy with equal zest, trying to spread sunshine all around.
While the story seems pleasant enough, Poppy starts getting on one’s nerves with her nervous giggle and her ditzy ways and one is left wondering if to be truly called “happy-go-lucky”, it is enough to giggle every 20 seconds!
She certainly lucked out though ‘coz she walked away with the Golden Globe for best actress, comedy. The film may not have had anything resembling a plot or a storyline, but the judges seemed to have been bowled over by Sally!
Burn after Reading
This was by far the best film I have seen in a while. Osbourne Cox, a Balkan expert, is fired from the CIA. He begins a memoir that falls into the hands of two gym instructors who think they can blackmail him into giving them serious money. Their little plan goes hilariously wrong involving extra-marital affairs, a couple of unplanned shoot-outs and the unceremonious end. Brad Pitt in a truly goofy role as the gym trainer , comes across more like a 14-year old with Attention Deficit Disorder. But you have to love him, anyway!
Revolutionary Road
Starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, this is the story of a married couple, who find it hard to remember what it was that brought them together in the first place. They are disillusioned and bitter, but the wife tries to revive an old dream, a dream of going to Paris. For a while, they relive the early days of their marriage, but soon reality rears its ugly head. This movie is based on a book by Richard Yates, which I haven’t read, yet. On the whole, I would say it’s a a good movie. I thought Leo acted brilliantly, although the Golden Globe went to Kate.
I watched quite a few of the Golden Globe nominated movies recently. Here’s my take on a few of them.
Slumdog Millionaire
This is based on Vikas Swarup’s book titled “Q& A”, which has now been reprinted as “Slumdog Millionaire”. I can only say I was dumbstruck by how truly TERRIBLE the book is. While the concept of a slum boy winning a quiz show is good and the fact that he knew the answer to each question because of his life experiences is even better, the writer has no sense of style and has introduced crazy twists and turns, cramming each page with the most dismal accounts of poverty and abuse. It leaves you feeling disturbed, depressed and sick.
The fact that the screenplay has left out SEVERAL elements of the book just shows that the screenplay writer probably knew that if the movie had to sell, it had to be less depressing, and more of a celebration of life.
The background score throughout the movie is upbeat and cheerful, but Jai Ho is certainly not Rahman’s best. I’m still proud of him and rooting for him. Hope he wins a couple of Oscars!
Happy-Go-Lucky
This British film stars Sally Hawkins as the “happy-go-lucky” 30-year old primary school teacher, Poppy, who lives one day at a time, smiles at every one she meets and talks to tramps, her driving instructor and the bookstore guy with equal zest, trying to spread sunshine all around.
While the story seems pleasant enough, Poppy starts getting on one’s nerves with her nervous giggle and her ditzy ways and one is left wondering if to be truly called “happy-go-lucky”, it is enough to giggle every 20 seconds!
She certainly lucked out though ‘coz she walked away with the Golden Globe for best actress, comedy. The film may not have had anything resembling a plot or a storyline, but the judges seemed to have been bowled over by Sally!
Burn after Reading
This was by far the best film I have seen in a while. Osbourne Cox, a Balkan expert, is fired from the CIA. He begins a memoir that falls into the hands of two gym instructors who think they can blackmail him into giving them serious money. Their little plan goes hilariously wrong involving extra-marital affairs, a couple of unplanned shoot-outs and the unceremonious end. Brad Pitt in a truly goofy role as the gym trainer , comes across more like a 14-year old with Attention Deficit Disorder. But you have to love him, anyway!
Revolutionary Road
Starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, this is the story of a married couple, who find it hard to remember what it was that brought them together in the first place. They are disillusioned and bitter, but the wife tries to revive an old dream, a dream of going to Paris. For a while, they relive the early days of their marriage, but soon reality rears its ugly head. This movie is based on a book by Richard Yates, which I haven’t read, yet. On the whole, I would say it’s a a good movie. I thought Leo acted brilliantly, although the Golden Globe went to Kate.
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