Director : Billy Wilder
Cast : William Holden, Robert Strauss, Don Taylor, Peter Graves
In Hollywood and other film industries, there have been many movies on Prisoners of War (POW'S) of the Second World War. But the first account of their life and 'escapades documented by Billy Wilder in this movie (Atleast, the movie narrator says so). Stalag means prison in German and this movie deals with the POW's of Stalag 17. This particular prison has surprisingly all sergeants as inmates who are continuously trying to flee prison but in vain. After the death of two of their companions in a bid to escape, they suspect a spy amidst them. Their main suspect is a flamboyant Sgt. J.J. Sefton (Holden) who has a very good rapport with the Germans and exchanges many goodies for other favors. Many events occur consequently that strengthen their suspicion on Sefton. To prove his innocence, Sefton decides to find the real culprit. Is he successful in his conquest and who is the 'real' spy is the basis of the story. Wilder in his inimitable style has not kept this movie an all serious affair. This is actually a very light-hearted thriller drama which makes you laugh all along. I personally feel this movie inspired some of the scenes in the greatest POW movie ever 'The Great Escape'.
This movie has got a gang of characters. But some who stand apart with their performances are obviously William Holden as the complicated Sefton, Robert Strauss as the somewhat weird, silly but lovable Stanislas Kasava and Robinson Stone as the mute music lover Joey. It certainly has got it's moments, but I felt there was something missing somewhere.
Rating : 7/10
Director : Adam Elliot
Voices : Toni Collette, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Eric Bana, Barry Humphries
Mary and Max are two individuals which are poles apart from each other, live in separate continents and have an age difference of more than 30. But there is something which makes them care about and think about each other. It is the great relation of friendship. We hear that our best friends are those who accept us along with our faults and shortcomings. Mary and Max are the best examples of that. Mary is a 8 year old girl from Australia and Max is a 40 somewhat obese guy from New York. Both have some things common such as they have no friends, love a particular Cartoon and have the fetish for Chocolate. They interact with each other through letters which reveals to the viewer their life story .Sorry, if I missed to mention that this is an animated movie - Not ordinary but clay animation. It is somewhat difficult to emote through clay animation but this movie does not suffer from that. The movie is filled with dark, satirical humor but you never feel offended by it. Along with it, it has it's 'cry buckets' moments which really move you. I will certainly call it a very matured animation movie by a newbie director. It is now right up there in my list of favorite animations.
Rating : 8/10
Director : John Ford
Cast : John Wayne, James Stewart, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin, Edmond O'Brien
Yet another John Ford/John Wayne western (Their last best work combined). Add to that James Stewart and Vera Miles (Post Psycho) and a very determined Lee Marvin. The result is a very impressive adventure western with a touch of politics and American Legislation. As the title suggests, there is a guy by the name Liberty Valance who has been shot and since none of lead heroes respond to that name, Valance must be the villain and he truly is. Apart from that James Stewart plays a honest lawyer who thinks that all criminals should be treated as per the American Laws and violence is not the way to deal with them. John Wayne plays what he plays best - A tough guy from the west who is a genius with the gun and has a golden heart too. Lee Marvin is Liberty Valance - The Bad Guy, who is the most feared and dreadful mobster and who loots and kills innocent civilians, mocks the law and has a gang of just two people. Both Stewart and Wayne have their different takes on Liberty and how he should be punished for his deeds. But the movie just does not end at punishing Liberty, it moves a bit forward and ventures into politics going as far as the American Congress at Washington.
As far as the acting is concerned, it is a cakewalk for John Wayne to play the tough guy from the west, he does a fine job. James Stewart also plays the frail, non-violent yet determined law abider who becomes a Senator convincingly. Vera Miles plays the love interest of both the leads and has done a good job at that. Lee Marvin is exceptional in the few scenes he has got in the movie. He was truly one of the plus points of the movie. The hallmark of a great director is how he deals with the supporting cast along with the leads of the movie. John Ford is known to extract the best from his supporting cast and this movie shows that. Overall, 'Watch it Pilgrim'.
Rating : 7/10
Dear reader.
To all the people that have not watched My Name is Khan, A few word describe this movie IT WAS AMAZING! I say this because I am a huge Bollywood fanatic and I am very critical of bollywood at some points. Most of the movies I have seen from this industry have not wowed me at any stretch of the imagination and better yet have been predictable and some what I hate to say it cliche. This movie was one of the few movie's that really WOWED me. Karan Johar does a fantastic job of potraying the realization of their being partiality toward our fellow muslam brothers and sisters after the tragic event of 9 11. SRK does an impeccable job as his character "khan". He is shown as an autistic boy with a very large heart and a very unique charm about him. Now I do not want to say to much for you people that have not watched the movie but he is a very big hearted person. And the gorgeous Kajol is portrayed as a very strong liberal women who is shown as a hair dresser. And the way Karan Joher potray's the way they meet act and love one another is extremely pro found and well done. All in all an unbeliviable movie I would suggest if you like mystery suspence and love stories you defentally watch this movie.
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