Hotel Chevalier (2007)

Jack: How did you find me?
Jack's ex: Wasn't actually that hard. 
......
Jack's ex: What the fuck is going on? How long have you had this hotel room?
Jack: I don't know
......

Jack's ex: How long are you gonna stay?
Jack: How long are you gonna stay?
Jack's ex: I'm leaving tomorrow morning. Don't you think it's time for you to go home? Are you running away from me?
Jack: I thought I already did.
......
Jack's ex: Have you slept with anyone?
Jack: No. Have you?
Jack's ex: No
Jack: That was a long pause....I guess it doesn't really matter
Jack's ex: No it doesn't. Whatever happens in the end, I don't wanna lose you as my friend
Jack: I promise I'll never be your friend, no matter what...ever
......

A perfect 13-minute prologue to Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited, easily my favorite among all Anderson's movies. I've pretty much posted the script of the movie here. These simple yet extremely powerful lines don't leave much to write about, except a longing to relive that experience of The Darjeeling Limited again.

Rating: 7.5/10

The Lives of Others (2006)

Jerska: I can't understand this country anymore. There are no human rights, no freedom of speech. This whole system drives me mad. But on the other hand, it's the same system that inspires us to write, to write about how people live in this country, real lives. And that's real masterpiece coming from our conscience.
........
Dreyman: Albert, I think I'm in trouble. It's the minister in charge of the arts, Minister Hempf. He threatened to ban my plays. Would it be terrible? I don't know what a ban is like.
Jerska (smiling) : Really? It's great.

The movie is set in the 1980s when the Stasi is in full power in East Germany. Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch) is a poet-playwright who's about to become Minister Hempf's new victim. Captain Wiesler (Ulrich Muhe) is appointed to spy on his activities and political affiliations and report anything that he finds suspicious. Wiesler would come across as your typical by-the-rule-book, obedient officer who'd quietly take orders and has nothing of a rebel in him.

Dreyman lives with his actress girlfriend, Christa Maria (Martina Gedeck), who is Minister Hempf's object of desire. She is blackmailed into visiting him every Thursday to stay out of trouble in her acting career and also in exchange for Dreyman's freedom. Specially after Jerska (Volkmar Kleinert) kills himself, she believes it's a small sacrifice she has to make for their freedom.

Dreyman, although initially has been more of a model citizen compared to other artists, slowly changes his views after knowing the kind of leaders his country has. He writes an anonymous article in a major newspaper, Der Spiegel, which enrages a few important government officials. One of them is convinced it's written by Dreyman because of the article's "poetic nature". However, Captain Wiesler seems to have reported nothing suspicious against Dreyman even though he sits in  a cabin listening to all his conversations. We are never really told why exactly an officer like Wiesler seems to cover up for Dreyman. Is it that he starts believing in Dreyman's beliefs after reading a collection of his poems? Is it that he questions the unethical nature of his work on spying on a man who poses no real threat? Or is it that he has secretly fallen for his beautiful girlfriend and wishes them well?

We'll never find that out as he goes on about his job while leaving out details that'd help in implicating Dreyman. Even as his promotion is suspended and he finds himself out of favors with his superiors, he finds his happiness in the collection that Dreyman dedicates to him. Yes, good men do exist.

The detailed way in which writer-director, Florian Donnersmarck lays out the plot, makes it difficult to believe it's his first feature film. Ulrich Muhe delivers a brilliant performance as Captain Wiesler. Even though he doesn't speak much in the movie, you'll find yourself rooting for his character. And to top everything, the last musical score in the movie is amazing.

Rating - 8.5/10

On the Road (2012)

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!” - Jack Kerouac

I must admit this was the quote that made me want to read the book that has so famously divided people into two kinds - the ones who absolutely love the book and the ones who think Kerouac's writing was just hyped up following his death. I did watch the documentary on the life of Jack Kerouac, but never managed to get hold of the book. And somewhere deep within, knowing his life story, I don't want to be harsh. So lets see.

Sal Paradise (Sam Riley) is the narrator of this road trip that he and a group of friends set off on in search of meaning and spirituality. He goes around with his diary making observations on everyone around him, but it's mostly Dean that he is fascinated with. At times, we see them reading to each other  from Swann's Way by Marcel Proust.While the first half of the movie mostly helps us to get to know the characters, the second half is mostly the road trip, the people they meet on the way and how their futures are shaped. 

Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund) is one hell of a charmer with a deep voice who can be the center of attention in any group. However, it's not all show and he does have a deeper side to him. We see that when he's entertaining Sal with one of his anecdotes while visiting him, and suddenly breaks into a silence, breathes deeply and says "It's good to have family, isn't?" At times his personality could be bordering on psychosis as he keeps abandoning all those who love him while being so unaware of the mess his life is.

Marylou (Kristen Stewart) is unforgettable. Sexually adventurous and so full of life. She understands Dean very well and loves him but says she can't have him since he is so mad. Among the other characters in the movie is Carlo Marx (Tom Sturridge). He has a funny way of talking and in one of the scenes he mentions about contemplating suicide and then suddenly realizing, "Oh shit, I haven't even written a suicide note. I'm going over searching my mind for the right words and then I couldn't jump anymore. In that moment I wanted to experience the wisdom of life, mad with ecstasy and vengeance and truth."  Viggo Mortensen (Old Bull Lee) and Kirsten Dunst (Camille) have nice little cameos too.

Garrett Hedlund delivers a strong performance as Dean. So does Sam Riley in his moments of despair for not being able to earn his father's respect. Walter Salles (of The Motorcycle Diaries fame) has done a good job of adapting the book (that so many claim is "unfilmable") with some lesser known actors. Though I wouldn't know how good an adaptation it is. At the end of it, I don't have any strong feelings. I'm certainly not bored as some others would say. I'm glad I watched the movie first and now I can go on to read the book. I'm afraid the other way round is always disappointing.

Rating - 7/10

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Sam: What kind of bird are you?
Sparrow: I'm a sparrow, she's a dove...
Sam: (pointing to Suzy): No, I said...What kind of bird are YOU?
Suzy: I'm a raven.

How do you make a movie  with no real plot and with two twelve-year-olds as serious lovers and turn it into some escapist fantasy that's a delight to watch? Ask Wes Anderson.

The story starts with Khaki Scout Sam (Jared Gilman), an orphan, and Suzy (Kara Hayward), the black sheep, missing. Later the adults related to them, i.e. Scout Master Ward (Edward Norton), Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis), and Suzy's parents (played by Bill Murray and Frances McDormand) realize that the two might have colluded to run away together. As a search is set off for the two young lovers, we see the usual elements of a Wes Anderson movie, namely, dysfunctional families, people not in terms with reality, emotionally troubled people, etc at play.

Some of the dialogues are sharp, clever and funny, while at times they might sound dramatic. And some, between the two young lovers(remember- 12-year-olds), might make you wonder, "How did he get away with it?" But may be, that's the point. However, I wouldn't rate it above The Darjeeling Limited or Fantastic Mr. Fox.The ending was bit of a drag, but overall a must-watch for all Wes Anderson fans.

Rating: 7/10

Pieces of April (2003)

Mom/Joy: Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad we’re going. This way, instead of April showing up with some new piercing, or some ugly new tattoo, and…God forbid…staying overnight, this way, we get to show up, experience the disaster that is her life, smile through it, and before you know we’re on our way home

It's Thanksgiving Day and April (Katie Holmes) decides to invite her dysfunctional family over to dinner and reconnect with them even though she remembers a lot from her childhood that isn't so pleasant. Like the time when she was a kid and was holding on to a piece of crockery, only to be warned by her mother (Patricia Clarkson), "Be careful, they are worth more than you are". Though now she is willing to make amends when she learns of her mother's cancer. 

The Burns set out on a long trip to New York with her Dad (Oliver Platt) being the most or perhaps the only one excited about it. On their way they try to find all kinds of excuses to not make the trip and keep bickering amongst themselves. Meanwhile, April and her supportive Afro-American boyfriend, Bobby (Derek Luke), are preparing a turkey dinner for April's "big day". As Bobby sets out on some mysterious mission, April realizes their oven is not working and things start to look like a mess. She tries her best to get things back under control, while her Mom is busy cracking a few jokes about April and complaining how she can't even think of a single good memory of April. 

As the Burns finally arrive and April seems to get her shit together, her Dad decides to turn back after seeing where she lives. As they make their way to a nearby restaurant where they won't have to pretend to like April's horrible cooking, April's Mom, in a moment of epiphany, realizes her love for her eldest daughter. 

Peter Hedges makes a great directional debut with this emotional, tragic yet funny drama on a tried-and-tested theme of dysfunctional families. The dialogues are at times really funny and the movie does well to expose a few stereotypes that are associated with certain people in America. The movie also has a great background score and it ends with a lovely and fitting song from indie-band, Magnetic Fields, "I've always loved you in my own way....."

Rating : 7.5/10

The Man from Earth (2007)

Sandy: I love you, you know...
John: I know
Sandy: Since my first week at the office....And?
John: I care very much about you, but now you know what you'll be getting into
Sandy: Do you really think you're a cave-man?
John: Do you?
Sandy: (Silence).....Could you love me? I know you don't believe in that anymore
John: I've gotten over it too many times....Fond of you, certainly attracted to you
Sandy: That's it?.....I can work with that...
John: If what I'm saying is true, then one day you and all your children will age, and not me. And I'll leave. The simple fact is I can't give you forever
Sandy: How long is forever?

John Oldman is a teacher who's moving on to his next destination and his colleagues come over to his place to bid farewell. As they all start to drink and party, John reveals something that he had never done before - that he may be a Cro-Magnon man who's lived since 14,000 years. And every ten years he keeps moving before people start to suspect that he doesn't age. This claim doesn't go down very well amongst his colleagues as they all start to question the validity of what he has just revealed. The whole movie is set in his room where all his colleagues, experts in their respective fields, start to quiz him. The more they know, the more they try to resist that his story might be true.

Anything more I reveal about the plot would be a spoiler. So go watch it for yourself. It was just pure luck that I chanced upon this movie and I believe everyone should watch it!

Rating: 8/10

Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)

Julio and Tenoch: The Manifesto:
1) There's no greater honor than being a Charolastra
2) Do whatever you feel like
3) Pop beats poetry
4) Get high at least once a day
5) You shall not screw a fellow charolastra's girlfriend
6) Team America's supporters are queers
7) Forget morals and rules
8) Never marry a virgin
9) Club America's supporters are....
Luisia: You have already said that
Tenoch: It's worth repeating. They are queers. Crappy team
10) Truth is cool but is unattainable
11) The arsehole who breaks any of the above rules loses his title of Charolastra

A quiz in a magazine Luisia (Maribel Verdu) picked up while at the doctor's describes her as a woman who is afraid to accept her freedom. She doesn't agree and looks for an escape from her troubled married life. She calls up her husband's young cousin Tenoch (Diego Luna) and his friend Julio (Gael Garcia Bernal) to see if their invitation to a fictitious beach, The Heaven's Mouth, still stands. And thus, they embark on a spontaneous road trip which would teach them so much about friendship and freedom.

On the way, both Julio and Tenoch end up in bed with Luisia and this leads to a burning jealousy that threatens to come in the way of their friendship. Frustrated by this, Luisia starts to leave and remarks, "Play with babies and you end up washing their nappies". Finally she agrees to come back on the condition that the  "kids" will have to play by her rules and she makes the new Manifesto. And while continuing their trip, they do come across the illusive Heaven's Mouth.

Alfonso Cuaron does a good job portraying the three different characters while they keep telling stories to each other. Maribel Verdu does a fine act while playing the once-restrained-now-free-spirited woman.  The narrator keeps telling us about what the future holds for each character that we come across. They all have one thing in common. Things in the future will never be the same again. Wouldn't want to spoil the ending for you, but it's something that will surely haunt you for some time.

Rating : 7.5/10