Cross connections

Moonstruck (1987)

Again, a movie seen on pure whim, and turned out to be pretty good. Its a classic Italian family comedy set in New York about relationships (mostly illicit) and how love finally prevails. Cher and Nicholas Cage play the lead.

A 37 year old Italian widow (first husband got run over by a bus) is proposed by a man to which she says yes. But the man has to fly back to Sicily to comfort his dying mother. He tells Cher to give his brother a call and call him for the wedding. She meets his brother, finds out about their bad blood and eventually falls for his raw passion. On the other hand, Cher's dad is cheating on his wife with another middle aged female. They meet Cher and her fiance's brother at the opera. Talk about being short of words. Same night Cher's mother who goes to a restaurant for a lonely dinner finds company in a middle aged professor who likes to lure his female students. Cher's grandfather (who walks his five dogs at night, who does that?) sees them walking home. The morning that ensues after this full moon night, brings Cher's fiance back from Sicily with the news that his mother miraclously survived and now, he can't marry her. So, Nicholas Cage (the brother) asks Cher to marry him in front of the entire cast.

Musical, romantic and ironical. The movie is a treat to watch when you're in love or just out of it. So, you can watch it anytime!

Rate - 2.5/5

Not so funny!

Knocked Up (2007)

I saw this film on a whim. I didnt know any actor, any body related to the movie or anything. But the title was pretty self explainatory. I wasn't even paying much attention the first half hour. Partly because the story wasn't progressive and partly because of the multitasking (telephone, internet and nagging parents) But then the story picked up, and it wasn't that bad.

This is not an in-your-face comedy. It is witty at times, and the spontaneity, weirdness and originality of the conversations is very impressive. Ben Stone's character carries the movie on his back with his comic timing. The chic from Grey's Anatomy (the one who always keeps crying) is the girl who gets knocked up and eventually falls in love with the internet geek (whose job is to post nude videos from famous movies on a non-profitable website!) Mike, from Friends, (who marries Pheobe) also plays a funny part. His conversation with Ben about "the five chairs" is the cornerstone of the film.

I think this movie is funny for people who don't like obvious comedy.

Rate - 2/5

Cinematic poetry of sex and violence!

Oldboy (2003)

This is the only korean and one of the very few South east Asian movies I've seen. But all had the ultimate cinematography and storylines (Hero, Crounching tiger hidden dragon) I was simply blown away. I had seen the hindi remake of this movie (Zinda) but this is just out of the world!

The weird story is extremely well written. Why a man is subjected to 15 years of confinement by a lunatic and the ending - "Maybe you're asking the wrong question! The question is why did I let you free after 15 years?"

The movie is not all that violent, neither does it have all that much of sex. But it is potrayed in such a stylized and slick manner, that I literally had my balls in my mouth during some sequences. I wouldn't want to spoil the ending for you. Go watch it!

This is a must watch for people who love good cinema!

Rate - 4/5