'THE SIMPSONS MOVIE' - Movie Review

MOVIE : THE SIMPSONS MOVIE

RELEASE DATE : 3 August 2007

DIRECTOR : David Silverman

GENRE : Animation / Comedy

CAST : Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kanver, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley.

PLOT OUTLINE : After Homer accidentally pollutes the town's water supply, Springfield is encased in a gigantic dome by the EPA and the Simpsons family are declared fugitives

BOTTOM LINE : Painfully Rib-Tickling !!

REVIEW :

I just got back from Springfield, Vermont where the premiere took place, and I had the great luck of seeing this one for free. From beginning to end it was non-stop laughs. There was some lewdness which could never be done on TV to offer an added treat to adults (many of which have been watching for 15+ years). The epic visual fashion the movie is presented in (along with some minor CGI) really makes it stand out from its television counterpart. Some people maybe be upset that their favorite characters didn't appear, or didn't have enough screen time, but to please everyone would be impossible.

What more to say, the movie is a return to the glory days of the show, those ever yellow times when Homer jumped the gorge, when alien ants threatened the earth and the mono rail came to town. If any of that made sense to you then this is the film to go for this weekend. It is a laugh a minute, unlike most comedy films which seem to think funny is a dirty word. I have to say it is NOT really a kids film (although a child sitting near me was crying with laughter) as some of the lines are very naughty and near the bone. I am keen to see it again to catch all the gags I missed. And thank God Ricky Gervais was not allowed anywhere near it (his TV episode stunk!). So if you're up to you knees in flood water or suffering from some other global disaster right now and fancy a good time your local multiplex is the place to go. Lets face it we all need a laugh right now.

Every joke makes you laugh. There are excellent quotes and great moments. Dan Castellanata does a very good job again. Homer is as funny as in the show. The Simpsons Movie might be the funniest animation movie ever made. You can laugh the whole film through. For Simpsons Fans, it will be the best of all feelings to watch this movie.

The Simpsons has hundreds of characters each with their own fan base, and to incorporate every character thoroughly would make the movie far too long and incoherent. My only (minor) qualm was with the absence of Sideshow Bob.The film hit the mark and delivered the goods. A must-see for any fan of The Simpsons, or anyone looking for a good laugh.

Sincerely,

Always with candor,

Praveen Chandar.

Coming Up Soon:

- 'CIDADE DE DEUS' Trivia and Appreciation of Film -

- 'The Departed' Vs 'The Infernal Affairs' -

A RETROSPECTIVE LOOK AT ROBERT DE NIRO'S CAREER

A RETROSPECTIVE LOOK AT THE CAREER OF ROBERT DE NIRO :

Robert De Niro, who is considered of as one of the greatest actors of his time, was born in New York City in 1943 to two artists. He was trained at the Stella Adler Conservatory and the American Workshop. He first gained fame for his role in Bang the Drum Slowly (1973), but he gained his reputation as a volatile actor in Mean Streets (1973), which was his first film with director Martin Scorsese. In 1974 De Niro received an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role in The Godfather: Part II (1974) and received Academy Award nomations for best actor in Taxi Driver (1976), The Deer Hunter (1978), and Cape Fear (1991). He won the best actor award in 1980 for Raging Bull (1980). De Niro currently heads his own production company, Tribeca Film Center, and made his directorial debut in 1993 with A Bronx Tale (1993).

The actor made his first film appearance as an extra in Marcel Carné's Trois Chambres a Manhattan (1965). The following year, he successfully auditioned for a small speaking part in The Wedding Party (1966). During filming, De Niro was befriended by one of the co-directors, Brian De Palma, who provided the young actor with his first leading part as a draft dodger in Greetings (1966). Unfortunately, the film was a flop, failing to find much of an audience. The same was true of De Niro's third film, Sam's Song (1969) (which was re-cut and re-released as The Swap a decade later to exploit De Niro's popularity). It was actress Shelley Winters, aquatinted with De Niro since they studied with Adler, who provided him with his first break by casting him as her drug-addicted, dim-witted son in the low-budget film Bloody Mama (1970). Though something less than a towering cinematic achievement, the film began open doors for De Niro in Hollywood. He continued appearing in low-rent roles until he was cast opposite Michael Moriarty in the moving Bang the Drum Slowly in 1973; his portrayal of a simple-minded professional baseball player suffering from Hodgkins disease earned him "Best Supporting Actor" kudos from the New York Film Critics. That same year the actor enjoyed another critical triumph with his role as the volatile, deeply troubled Johnny Boy opposite Harvey Keitel in Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets, and the film marked the beginning of De Niro's long and celebrated association with the director.

The actor's next big break came the subsequent year when Francis Ford Coppola cast him as the young Don Corleone (originally played by Marlon Brando) in the acclaimed The Godfather Part II. For his subtle, multi-layered portrayal (his flawless accent came from hours of studying and practicing a Sicilian dialect), De Niro received his first Oscar for "Best Supporting Actor." In 1976, he courted further acclaim in Scorsese's Taxi Driver as tortured loner Travis Bickle, a role he prepared for by spending days in New York cabs observing the drivers. The film, and De Niro's portrayal of Bickle, became one of the most celebrated of the actor's career, and established him as one of the decade's rawest and most compelling new talents. He followed up Taxi Driver with New York, New York (1977), another Scorsese collaboration that saw De Niro play struggling musician Jimmy Doyle opposite Liza Minnelli; although the director's uneven attempt at a noirish Hollywood musical was greeted with a lukewarm reception, De Niro's work as Doyle helped to broaden his range beyond the confines of crime-oriented films.

De Niro encountered greater acclaim in 1978 for his riveting performance as a steelworker whose life is irrevocably changed by his experiences in Vietnam in Michael Cimino's The Deer Hunter. He then won another Oscar in 1980 for his performance as self-destructive boxer Jake LaMotta in Scorsese's powerful Raging Bull. This film is the one most frequently cited when people try to explain the lengths De Niro goes to to get into character; in this case, the actor gained 50 pounds to portray LaMotta in his seedy old age.

Following this tremendous success, De Niro continued to do some of the best work of his career in collaboration with Scorsese. He received particular acclaim for his work in the director's Goodfellas (1990) and Casino (1995), both of which are widely held to contain De Niro's strongest work of the 1990s. However, the actor did turn down his friend for what could have been a career-altering role: in the late '80s, Scorsese approached De Niro with the opportunity to star in the lead role in The Last Temptation of Christ. Ever a Method disciple, De Niro reportedly declined the offer, saying that he couldn't possibly do adequate research for the part. Ironically, the actor did accept Alan Parker's offer to play Lucifer (also known as Louis Cyphre) in the director's violent noir mystery Angel Heart (1987). To prepare for the three scenes he was to appear in, De Niro grew long hair and a beard and read the biographies of some of history's more evil men. Later, Parker talked about his experience working with the actor, saying "When De Niro walks on the set, you can feel his presence, but he never behaves like a movie star, just an actor. And when he acts, his sheer concentration permeates the whole set." Parker additionally stated that working with De Niro could be was a little exhausting, as the actor was constantly coming up with questions, suggestions, and new ideas.

Fearing he had become typecast in mob roles, De Niro from the mid-1980s began expanding into occasional comedic roles, and has had much success there as well with such films as Brazil (1985), in which he had a small role; the hit action-comedy Midnight Run (1988), Showtime (film) (2002) opposite Eddie Murphy; and the film-and-sequel pairs Analyze This (1999) and Analyze That (2002), and Meet the Parents (2000) and Meet the Fockers (2004). Other films include Falling in Love (1984), The Mission (1986), The Untouchables (1987) "Angel Heart (1987)" Heat (1995), Wag the Dog (1997) and Ronin (1998). In 1997, he reteamed with Harvey Keitel and Ray Liotta, along with Sylvester Stallone, in the crime drama Cop Land. De Niro proved he was able to play a supporting role taking a back seat to Stallone, Keitel and Liotta.

ACCOLADES :

ACADEMY AWARD :

Robert De Niro in Raging Bull. Won: Best Supporting Actor, The Godfather, Part II (1974)

Nominated: Best Actor, Taxi Driver (1976) Nominated: Best Actor, The Deer Hunter (1978) Won: Best Actor, Raging Bull (1980) Nominated: Best Actor, Awakenings (1990) Nominated: Best Actor, Cape Fear (1991)

BAFTA AWARD :

Nominated: Best Newcomer, The Godfather, Part II (1976) Nominated: Best Actor, Taxi Driver (1977) Nominated: Best Actor, The Deer Hunter (1980) Nominated: Best Actor, Raging Bull (1982) Nominated: Best Actor, The King of Comedy (1984) Nominated: Best Actor, Goodfellas (1991)

Golden Globe Award:

Nominated: Best Actor - Motion Picure Drama, Taxi Driver (1977) Nominated: Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical/Comedy, New York, New York (1978) Nominated: Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama, The Deer Hunter (1979) Won: Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama, Raging Bull (1981) Nominated: Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical/Comedy, Midnight Run (1989) Nominated: Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama, Cape Fear (1992) Nominated: Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical/Comedy, Analyze This (2000) Nominated: Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical/Comedy, Meet the Parents (2001)

In addition to his entertainment industry commitments, De Niro created and co-owns the Tribeca Grill, which is located on the first two floors of his lower-Manhattan film center (which in turn is located in an historic coffee distribution building) and is decorated with his father's artwork.

SOME OF DE NIRO'S BEST WORKS :

Raging Bull

The Godfather Part II

The Deer Hunter

Newyork Newyork

Taxi Driver

The King Of Comedy

Once Upon A Time In America

Analyse This

Good Fellas

Casino

Cop Land

Meet The Parents

Cape Fear

The Untouchables

Heat

Angel Heart

Frankenstien

We hope to expect more from this legendary actor in the future.

Sincerely,

his ardent fan,

Praveen Chandar.

Coming up Soon :

- 'The Simpsons Movie' Review -

- 'Cidade De Deus' : Trivia and Appreciation of the film -

'THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM' - movie review -

MOVIE : The Bourne Ultimatum

RELEASE DATE : August 2007

DIRECTOR : Paul Greengrass

GENRE : Action/Adventure/Thriller

CAST : Matt Damon, Julia Styies, David Stathern, Scott Glenn, Edgar Ramirez.

TAGLINE : This Summer Jason Bourne Comes Home .

PLOT OUTLINE : Bourne dodges new, superior assassins as he searches for his unknown past while a government agent tries to track him down.

REVIEW :

First and foremost, speaking as no fan of the genre, "The Bourne Ultimatum" is a breathtaking, virtuoso, superb action movie.Secondly, it is a silly malarky of cartoonish super-hero stuff.Thirdly, the film carries a complex, important point, about crime-fighters turning into criminals themselves. No reference is made to Abu Ghraib or the Executive Branch's outrageous domestic assaults on constitutional rights, none is necessary.So, the latest in the "Bourne" series, in the hands of Paul Greengrass (of the 2004 "Bourne Supremacy" and last year's "United 93"), is a significant achievement, perhaps held back but not actually diminished by the unavoidable excesses of the genre."Breathtaking" above is meant both as a complimentary adjective and a description of the physical sensation: for more than an hour from the first frame, the viewer seemingly holds his breath, pushed back against the chair by the force of relentless, globe-trotting, utterly suspenseful action. There is no letup, no variation in the rhythm and pull of the film, and yet it never becomes monotonous and tiresome the way some kindred music videos do after just a couple of minutes.Oliver Wood's in-your-face cinematography is making the best of Tony Gilroy's screenplay from Robert Ludlum's 1990 novel (which doesn't stack up well against the "Bourne Identity," written a decade earlier).Matt Damon is once again the inevitable, irreplaceable Bourne, the deadliest of fantasy CIA agents, this time taking on the entire agency in search of his identity, his past, and the mysterious agency program that has turned him into a killing machine. Nothing like his quietly heroic Edward R. Murrow, the always-marvelous David Strathairn is the nasty top agency official, pitched against Bourne in trying to hide some illegal "take-no-prisoners" policies and brutal procedures.Joan Allen plays what appears to be the Good Cop against Strathairn's Bad One. And, there is Julia Stiles as the agent once again coming to Bourne's aid; a combination of Greengrass' direction and Stiles acting results in a surprising impact by a mostly silent character, her lack of communication and blank expression more intriguing than miles of dialogue.So good is "The Bourne Ultimatum" that it gets away with the old one-man-against-the-world bit, this time stretched to ridiculous excesses, as Bourne defies constraints of geography, time, gravity... and physics in general. (Can you fly backwards with a car from the top of a building? Why not - it looks great.) All this "real-world" magic - leaping from country to country in seconds, to arrive at some unknown location exactly as, when, and how needed - outdoes special-effect and superhero cartoon improbabilities. And yet, only a clueless pedant would allow "facts" interfere with the entertainment-based ecstasy of the Bourne fantasy.

If you have a pulse and love action movies, than Bourne Ultimatum is for you. Hell, it's probably the best action film to come out this year. Of course, you'd be a fool to see it without watching the others first. It kind of drags a touch near the end, but I almost feel tempted to overlook that. This is the first "3" movie this summer to at least match, if not exceed, the original and that is saying something.

COMING UP SOON :

- A RETROSPECTIVE LOOK AT THE CAREER OF ROBERT DE NIRO -

- 'THE SIMPSONS MOVIE' REVIEW -

Shoot 'Em 'Up - movie review -

Movie : SHOOT 'EM 'UP

Release Date : August 2007

Director : Michael Davis

Genre : Action / Adventure.

Cast : Clive Owen, Monica Belluci, Paul Giamatti.

Plot Outline: A man named Mr. Smith (Owen) delivers a woman's baby during a shootout, andis then called upon to protect the newborn from the army of gunmen.

Bottom Line : Garth Ennis Comics Fans Will LOVE This Movie.

Review :

In this deliriously over-the-top masterpiece of outrageously clever mayhem, star Clive Owen is an unstoppable good-guy gunman who is given to asking the question "you know what I hate?" immediately before letting all hell break loose.You Although the posters for "Shoot 'Em Up" resemble Frank Miller comic-book drawings come to life, the actual movie has more in common with the work of another comic-book great: Garth Ennis, writer of such jaw-droppingly hyper-violent heroes as Marvel's the Punisher. (Although the awful 2004 "Punisher" movie included some supporting characters and plot points that originated with Ennis, it lacked anything resembling his very dark yet fiercely entertaining style. The guy definitely has a way of making vigilantes and their dangerous toys fascinating.)
Owen plays Mr. Smith -- and that's probably not his real name -- a guy who is simply waiting for a bus when he gets drawn into one of the wildest, most crazy-violent action opening scenes of all time. By the time the bullets stop flying, Smith is on the run with a complete stranger's targeted-for-death baby and one hell of a lot of questions.Smith enlists a kinky "got milk" hooker (Monica Bellucci) to wet-nurse the infant. Despite some tough talk, she turns out to be more placidly sensual and maternal than kick-ass tomboy, which makes for a nice change in this kind of movie.Meanwhile, a sadistically evil genius appropriately named Hertz (Paul Giamatti) dogs their trail with a never-ending army of hired killers and, yes, a couple of dogs. Giamatti scores as this badass with brains, who is shocked and hilariously furious about how Smith & Company keep managing to survive. "Do we suck this bad," he says at one point, "or is this guy really that good?"Writer/director Michael Davis has loaded the film with one unforgettably imaginative image after another: spent shell casings bouncing off a pregnant woman's stomach, a gun dropping in an unflushed toilet, a hand with bullets between the fingers shoved into a fireplace as an improvised weapon.
There are showdowns, standoffs, car chases, airborne gun battles and even a shootout in a firearms factory.Best of all, the screenplay manages to both glorify in and yet subvert some of the things you'll be expecting. For example, it's a mega-body-count, blizzard-of-bullets barrage that's actually a plea for gun control at heart. Seriously. Also, although it has scenes referencing bits from movies as diverse as "Lost Highway," "The Transporter" and even "Raising Arizona" (how's that for range?), it still feels fresh and original.And there's one perfectly done little scene that's so poignant you may actually find yourself tearing up. Don't worry, though -- a hail of gunfire follows very shortly thereafter. Heck, a hail of gunfire follows shortly after EVERYTHING in this movie, usually including other hails of gunfire!I can't wait to see what relative newcomer Michael Davis does for his next movie, but it will be hard for him to top this one. "Shoot 'Em Up" is a flat-out joy to watch. When it was over, the first thing I said was, "I want to see this movie again RIGHT NOW!" It's that good!


COMING UP NEXT :
- Review of 'the bourne ultimatum' -
- A Retrospective look at the career of Robert De Niro -
and much more...,


Sincerely,
and always with candor,
Praveen Chandar.