W - Wild

Wild was a movie that I had been looking forward to watching for quite sometime. There were so many good reviews going around and the story itself seemed interesting to me. So I finally sat down to watch it sometime last month. 

The film is based on Cheryl Strayed's memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Like all bibliophiles, I would have liked to read it first before watching. Unfortunately, I didn't have a copy with me. I plan on buying one soon though. Anyway, coming back to the story, Cheryl (played by Reese Witherspoon) is a twenty six year old who sets out to hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail alone in order to heal and find herself again. 

We all react to grief in different ways. When Cheryl, at twenty two years, loses her mother to cancer, she is devastated. As she says in the movie "She was the love of my life". In order to cope with the loss, she gets involved in drugs use, cheats on her husband with other men and eventually gets divorced. When there is a void in our life, we try to fill it with whatever things that we imagine will help us even in a small way. 

Finally, at twenty-six, after years of self destructive behavior, Strayed sets out alone on a hike seeking some sort of closure as a means of healing herself. The film alternates between the past and the present, showing us glimpses of her life as a child, teenager and young adult. The special relationship she shares with her mother is a central part of the story. 

We are also subject to some of the desperate measures that one is subject to while hiking alone on such a long journey. She breaks down, endures physical discomfort to a great level but holds on and comes out of it. Is this a light and entertaining movie? No. It will stay with you for a long time. Some of the images are quite graphic in nature. If you are up for it, do give it a watch. Wild is a movie that will make you introspect and think. 

This is a movie that shows us that we are not alone. It is possible to overcome grief. Even when it feels like you won't be able to make it to the next day. One step at a time and before you realize it, you shall be at the end of a reckless journey. Reese Witherspoon has done a very convincing job at portraying Strayed. If you are looking for a movie that makes you think, in ways more than one, give it a try. It may not be for everyone, but I sure liked it. In case you have watched it already, do let me know your thoughts below.

 

Linking this post to the A to Z Challenge. 

Movie review- Bangalore Days

(Images courtesy: Google)

Having heard all the raving reviews, the husband and I went to watch Bangalore Days yesterday with high expectations. And boy, am I glad that we took the decision to watch it on the same day that the movie released here in Dubai! It was a fun, bubbly movie that moves at a fast pace and leaves you wanting for more. 

Bangalore Days is a 2014 drama-comedy Malayalam movie, written and directed by Anjali Menon, which talks of the wonderful bond shared by three cousins- Kuttan (Nivin Pauly), Divya (Nazriya Nazim) and Arjun (Dulquer Salmaan). Since childhood, they have shared a special friendship and though they are taken their seperate ways as they grew older, Divya's marriage to Das (Fahadh Faasil) brings all three of them together once again. 

Kuttan is a software engineer working in Bangalore. He represents the face of many Indian students who are forced to take engineering though his passion lies elsewhere. He is portrayed as the homesick son who constantly craves for the fresh air and life found only at his home- Kerala and also likes to dabble in poetry. Divya is the typical young girl who immediately after completing her degree is forced into an arranged marriage due to the pressure from her parents. Though she has dreams of making it big in the future, she compromises and moves to Bangalore with her new husband. Arjun is a true gypsy, who moves around from place to place doing all the odd jobs, whose passion is bike riding and he too, moves to Bangalore to be near his cousins. 

Their crazy and huge family, filled with a lot of remarkable characters are also entertaining and will leave a smile or two on your face. Be it Divya's narrow minded parents or Kuttan's striving-for-greener-pastures Mom and his subdued Dad. 

The movie gives importance to the special relationship that these three cousins share, understanding each other as only cousins can. The city, Bangalore plays an important role as the movie's name indicates, as it is a childhood dream for the three to have a blast in this city of dreams. It also talks about the other characters that enter their lives, be it the workaholic husband Das, the beautiful air hostess Meenakshi or the lively RJ Sarah. Each one has done justice to their roles and the moves along at an interesting pace the entire two and a half hours. 

This is the perfect movie for a weekend that can be enjoyed with your friends and family while munching on popcorn. The only place which I felt could be avoided was the bit dramatic portion towards the end, which seemed a bit out of reality as compared to the rest of the movie (not giving it away here in case you decide to see it!). Also, personally, I felt that Nazriya's dramatics could have been toned down as it felt a bit out of place, compared to the rest of the cast. 

My favorite character from the movie is, undoubtedly, the RJ Sarah (Parvathy) who wins all hearts when you leave the theater. Arjun is drawn to the positive vibes that radiates through her morning radio show. However, he is shocked to see a woman in a wheel chair when he goes to visit his favorite radio jockey. The special friendship between them, which soon blossoms into love, leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling in your heart that makes you wish that their story has a happy ending, no matter what. 

Bottom line- a must watch! I would definitely give this one a four point five stars on five. Do watch it, I heard it releases with subtitles everywhere, so that even those who can't follow the language can watch it as well! Hats off to Anjali Menon and the entire crew for bringing out such a lovely movie with a lot of goodness in it. Give it a try, if you haven't already. You won't be disappointed, trust me. 

This post is written for Day 5 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Movie review- Her

(Image courtesy: Google)

There is something about love that makes one hope for second chances, a way to mend your past. Her is an American film, released in 2013, directed by Spike Jonze. Though I had this movie for quite sometime now, I had never gotten around to watching it despite the good reviews that I heard. Probably because the hero (Joaquin Phoenix) didn't appeal to me (the mustache, if you must know) and I have never been a fan of mustaches in my life. I kept postponing it and finally sat down to watch it last night. 

Anyways, coming back to the movie, it takes place sometime in the future, when we humans have drifted so apart, that there are even professional writers of letters for people who don't have the time or patience to write them. Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) is one such amazing writer who spends his days writing theses letters to other people, being a part of their lives involuntarily. Who weaves together some beautiful and touching letters, which is one of my favorite things about the movie.

He is, however, going through a rough patch in his life with his inevitable divorce looming at large. He had been married to his childhood sweetheart Catherine (Rooney Mara) before their differences grew them apart. And he has phone sex with strangers at night! Though he comes across as a bit weird initially, I warmed up to his character when it came to his gift of writing and striking a chord with his readers.

And that is when Samantha (Scarlett Johansson) enters his life. Oh no, she is not a woman. Technically, she is an operating system who speaks to him. She is just a voice with a lot emotions that she's struggling to understand and you guessed it, with no body. What starts off as an innocent friendship and a voice to talk to, a secretary cum friend to remind him of his appointments and so forth, soon develops into something a lot more complicated. 

Though the chemistry between Theodore and Samantha is great, the fact that she is just a voice creates tension during the course of their relationship. As much weird as it may sound, Samantha is not just a laptop, as put by Catherine, his ex-wife. When the programmers created her, they have instilled in her not just an artificial intelligence, but also the ability to feel in deep any emotions that she many have. 

Though the story revolves around the relationship between Theodore and Samantha, a few other characters add more charm to the movie. Charles (Matt Letscher) and Amy (Amy Adams) are a married couple who are friends of Theodore. They get divorced shortly afterwards and Amy befriends a female operating system that her husband leaves behind. Apparently, she is not shocked to learn that Theodore is dating Samantha. 

I don't want to say what happens next as it would take the fun out if you want to watch the movie. I'm sure you will love it, if you are a die hard romantic (like me), at heart. The fact that Samantha is in awe of the world that she is only getting used to and her liveliness and passion are what fascinates Theodore and draws them together. How long will they be able to carry on a relationship which could die as technology changes? Watch the movie to find out! I would give it a three point five stars on five for this one. 

The concept around which the movie is based is different and you won't be disappointed. Give it a watch!