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akilbunglowala
I have watched many of the 'classics' since then (although I have missed out on quite a few too) and am now keen to discover more offbeat directors'/auteurs' works.
I am subscribed to 'cinema scope,' an excellent Canadian quarterly film publication that is helping me 'expand the frame on International cinema.'
I ran a film club for 4 years screening an eclectic mix of modern and classic chef-d’œuvres.
Ratings
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Reviews
The Crime of the Century: Part Two (2021)
Fine investigative documentary film making
While Part I dealt with the Sackler family's Perdue pharma and the Oxycontin epidemic, Part II sheds light on Jonh Kapoor's Insys and the Fentanyl epidemic.
Alex Gibney is known for his tight investigative docu handling skills and this 2-part mini series is no exception. I'm surprised there are no reviews for Part II yet.
A reviewer has left a very heartfelt review on Part I that I would encourage people to read. I'm not going to give anything away and would encourage anyone with even a passing interest in human welfare to watch the mini-series. I'm all the way in India with no exposure to these drugs and I still feel the pain of the familes that lost their loved ones to the opioid crisis.
The Emerald Forest (1985)
Shades of Herzog?
Maybe it's just me but a film such as this one always draws comparisons with Herzog's Amazonian magnum opuses. That said, Boorman's film is highly original and informative in its own right. Another film in this genre, animated though, is Ferngully: a forgotten childhood gem from the 90s. Even though the message is very obvious; mankind's greed and general disregard for other species has wrecked havoc on this planet; we need to hear it over and over again so that we don't lose the plot. I'm glad Boorman choose to undertake such an ambitious project somewhere in the middle of his career. It shows him to be a well-rounded director who can adapt as well as create. This one proudly stays on my shelf.
No Shark (2022)
Thanks Cody Clarke for this gem
I consider myself to be a film buff and when I compare myself to my peers, I can see that my cinematic taste is much more eclectic. While most people are happy to watch the latest Doctor Strange, I'd rather give 4 hours of my life to see an offbeat Japanese auteur film like Love Exposure. Which brings me to how I found this gem, No Shark. I was browsing the nifty 'browse movies by genre' section of IMDb when I came across this title in the horror/comedy section. I was immediately drawn in by the synopsis and began searching for it online. I had almost given up hope when I found that the entire film is available to stream for free on YouTube (thanks Cody). This movie is like a breath of fresh air and it worked on every level for me. I will be watching it again for sure, possibly with friends so that we can talk about it later. *****
Un monde sans femmes (2011)
released a day before my birthday!
I came across this film through MUBI. What a find! Beautiful, soul stirring 56 minutes of slice-of-life film making. Be sure to catch it while you can!
Tramps (2016)
Tight American rom-com done right
Clocking in at 82 mins, this all too familiar story of boy meets girl (or the other way around) and ensuing attraction works on account of its two leads and the the crisp unfolding of those 82 mins. The editing and pacing, which leaves little to be desired, is tight. The film plot is believable and not contrived. The humour is subtle and works in that regard. In short it's hard to find faults with this tight American rom-com from 2016.
Juje (2017)
Juze hits hard...in all the right places
Having seen this film thrice...well 2 and a half times...I thought I'd leave a comment on imdb especially since there are no user comments yet (surprise surprise.)
The half is because I ended up chatting with the director and his lovely crew during what was my 3rd screening.
I am happy to hear this film is doing well as it has encouraged (and enabled) the director to venture forth on his next film. I personally thought highly of the film and would definitely recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in good cinema.
Notes on Blindness (2016)
From darkness to light
I usually don't go in to a film totally blind (no pun intended), so I knew it was about a theologian who slowly goes blind and decides to keep recordings of his blindness. Interesting enough. Somehow I delayed watching it until now. I am here to tell you it is a truly rewarding experience. Don't let the title put you off. Slowly and surely you'll be immersed in John Hull's baritone voice with his succinct observations on life. And you will applaud his caring family who are always by his side. Rain drops have taken on a whole new meaning for me now.
The Unreserved (2017)
Unbridled fun
I got to watch this at home thanks to a screener from the director himself. What a great ride! This film is India in all her contradictions and emotions. I have travelled by (reserved) trains in India and have never met such colourful characters. I am now considering travelling UNRESERVED!