Moneyball: Is it any good?

We saw Moneyball this past weekend, though I am dying to see the Contagion but looks like I have watch it alone :(.

Is Moneyball any good?
Depends on if you like sports and feelgood films. Since it is based on a true story, therefore a lot of it might have happened, but who knows. However the character, Peter Brand ( Jonah Hill) is based on a real person, who doesn't look like Jonah in the film at all, however if they have filmed it now when Jonah has lost his weight, then I can see resemblance.

Everyone pretty much know what happens in the story. Watching this film in Bay Area is another experience, especially when Oakland A's fans are sitting next to you and giving you the running commentary and rooting for A's when they are in field.

Storyline is pretty straight forwards, looks like a buddy film crosses path with a classic underdog story with not a Hollywood ending, which is great, or may be I give credit to the real event aspect to it . I couldn't help noticing Aaron Sorkin ( Writer, Social Network ) is one of the screenwriter, therefore such a strong star cast.
Which also explain the estimated 47mil USD(courtesy: IMDB).

Ironically, Lion King was also playing and was the show stealer,  but hey, its F#%*ing Lion King, no body messes with the King.

This is first Bennett Miller's film I ever saw, being filmmaker my self I would say I kind of liked his style. Did not like the flashback aspect of the film, I mean I really did not care about how Billy bean become the General Manager of Oakland A's, without his flashback the movie would have been great. People are there to watch the story of Oakland A's  where Billy Beane is just a Catalyst. Its also Aaron Sorkin way of writing.

The Cinematography , they wanted to include more of the green tint to the movie to give the Oakland A's feel to it. Like other sports movie most of the film takes place in stadium offices and all hence that also helped to create the look.

Now, lets talk about performances, it is pretty right on, I can see Brad Pitt, and Jonah Hill getting nominated for Oscars.
All in all, good film, I will give 4 out of 5 stars.

Cheers
Mragendra Singh

Drive

I wanted to see Contagion but we decided to go and see Drive, starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston and Albert Brooks.

While walking into the theater I had no clue what was this movie all about I only knew Ryan Gosling and Bryan Cranston is in it. Lately we started watching Breaking Bad hence my inclination to watch Bryan Cranston doing something else then cooking crystal meth. All in all my expectation was set to 0, I will not say negative because it first of all sound pretentious and secondly, every movie needs a fair chance.

So, back to Drive, The opening of the movie was unpredictable (spoiler alert!) when we go to these kind of movie where you know from the reek of it that this movie is filled with action and explosion however, this movie started with a twist, they set you up for a car chase but then show it from altogether different perceptive, He is not Popeye Doyle who is driving rashly on street, but he has finesse in his driving that what we experience as he is being chased by the cops.

Ryan's character had no name in the film, he was either referred as Kid or Driver. His character is eccentric in some ways, not very expressive types. He observes and thinks. And every once in a while smiles. Story is pretty Ok.Bryan Cranston character(i.e. Shannon) kind of do most of the talking on his behalf. We know from the get go (Spolier Alert!!!) that Shanon will die. Unlike most action film this film have element of surprise, and very graphic scene I kept catching myself say S$%# and F*&# a lot .

The total estimated budget for the film is 13 million dollars. Looks like shot on location mostly. Which is cool, and very inspiring for filmmakers.

I will like to talk more elaborately about the Cinematography first. Especially for the moving car shots, I think the choice of shooting most of in the night paid off, I do not know if the DP was thinking the same, but they always shot him making decisions while he is driving at night mostly, the different light from the business falling on his face not only establishes that he is driving in a business area but it also kind of show his internal turmoil. Moreover, I think director was smart to use the light as the medium to express the character inner thoughts.

Long pauses tend to be boring while we are watching a film, it generally feels like the editor is newbie , However , in this film there are a lot of long pauses and with out any sound track which kind of leaves the audience hanging in anticipation. Again for filmmakers this movie is great example of how to break cliche.

All in all its an entertaining film, Oscar worthy, can't say yet. I will give 3 stars out of 5
cheers
Mragendra

The Help, is not a chick flick.

There are very few movies in this day and age which are neither a franchise nor a remake. Summer is officially over and sadly there are only a handful movies, I can think of falls into the category of original films. Fortunately The Help is one of it.

However, before I go further, I want state a fact, as the movies which are based on real events addressing socio-political views cannot be considered as "Chick Flicks." Don't get me wrong I do not mind any kind of movie. Also being a filmmaker myself one thing I don't really care about while watching a film is its genre. But just want to throw it out there that "The Help" is not a Chick Flick.

The Help is based on a novel by Kathryn Stockett. The story takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in 1960s, with racism on its prime. Its the story about how Skeeter ( Emma Stone), with the help of two Maids, Aibileen (Viola Davis) and Minny (Octavia Spencer ) successfully publishes a book, "The Help". Which is mainly written from the view point of the maids who are working in white families.

As far as the story is concerned , it is very well structured , in an engaging way. This is a very genuine film. The actors are great, especially Hilly (Bryce Dallas Howard).

The camera work was great, But I think they could have made the same impactful film without those aerial shots, but again for the cinematic point of view it just does the justice to the story. Score was one of the things which stood out to me, it was so well done as if felt like it belonged there. Good sound coverage. All in all a movie which deserve to be seen in theater. I am so thankful that it is not 3D.

Hollywood is just going for 3D overkill now. I mean the one thing which filmmaker should be paying attention most should be the story of the film rather then all the mumbo jumbo they put in. This movie is actually a very effective way of telling that yeah a good film just need a good story.

On my scale of 5 I will definitely give 4 out of 5.


Cheers
Mragendra

Human Centipede

I never imagined I would be writing a review for this movie. *SPOILER ALERT*(if you don't already know) - This is the story about a demented scientist who wants to create human centipede.

It was really a torture to watch the whole film but I managed to finish it, just because I kind of dared myself.

Despite the horrid visuals the film is shot pretty good. Whole filming is done digitally, in one major location, which is a big house. I will talk about the production design in a second but one logic escapes my mind, how they end up spending 1.5 Million Euros(courtsey IMDB) on a film like this?

I mean as far as production design is concerned, it was great, well suited for the film's mood. The paintings on the wall, the hidden operation room in the cellar, was very clever, but 1.5 Mil not convinced.

Practical effects and makeup was also dead on, but doesn't justify the cost.

Acting was pretty decent, by all the actors. The pain and suffering was so real that it was making me hard to watch it, hence I call this experience a travesty.

As per box office mojo it made on 181,467 USD.

I think this movie just fits perfectly in the horror genre, However, I think the filmmaker took this movie to the next level. Which ofcourse a filmmaker should do, I will commend him for that, in the case of Human Centipede it just did not work out. I mean when people hear how Dr Heiter( the demented scientist) creates the human centipede, it gross them out and they choose not to watch it.

Now lets talk about story, till the time he was working on the Human centipede it was kind of interesting but once the human centipede is created, story just halts , nothing happens, looks like the writer thought how we end it? how about sending some cops and then Dr Heiter should screwup.BINGO! In my opinion it was the easy way out.

Do I regret watching it, I would say no because it made me realize how much gore and atrocities I can handle on TV. But I plan not to see the sequel.

Cheers
Mragendra

The Question...

It's time to "pop" the big questions and Paul[Nathan Doughty] (being a bit of a worry-wart) is concerned that he might just screw up the most important moment of his (and his girlfriend Michelle's[Heather Shaw] life). Just as he gets ready to go, he realizes that he has misplaced the ring, or did he?

This is a 2 minute short film we made for a movie making contest called "Monthly Movie Madness" conducted by Emerging Artist Productions.

Please feel free to leave comments and concerns.

To view full cast and crew please click here: http://thequestionfilm.webs.com/

We also like to give special thanks to San Pedro Wine and Bistro, San Jose.

Honey, I'm Coming Home

Every evening he calls home, to tell his wife, he is heading home.

Mission Inaudible!

This is the video we have created for a contest check it out ...it is hilarious!!!