Showing posts with label Willem Dafoe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Willem Dafoe. Show all posts

Thursday, July 17, 2008

A nice film to watch for admiring Jean Rochefort,Williem Dafoe,Emma de Caunes, Rowan "Mr.Bean" Atkinson and self made V.I.P pass.


Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007) directed by Steve Bendelack

Mr.Bean's Holiday is a unique family film which has all the necessary ingredients used in the making a successful comedy film.Apart from its numerous inoffensive commentaries of serious nature on tangible universal sentiments like love,trust,respect etc,there is plenty of scope in this film for freewheeling entertainment.The highlight of this film is that it entertains all viewers regardless of their knowledge or ignorance about Rowan Atkinson's comical genius.It might be said that watching this film might induce a feeling in some viewers' minds that Mr.Bean mocks France and French culture.This has been shown by depicting how Cannes International Film Festival derides itself by ignoring its own film fraternity in order to show over-the-top reverence for American filmmakers on French soil.This film's director Steve Bendelack offers us plenty to see including marvelous views of French countryside and TGV,French high speed train.If one has already been to France,these views would be a great source of nostalgia.If a viewer of this film has not been to France,it is hoped that it would serve as a precursor to an imminent voyage to France.An important lesson to be learned from this film involves today's globalized world where a language is not at all important as the entire world is slowly transforming itself into a huge efficient supermarket where people can go and purchase their stuff without uttering a single world of any human language.This is precisely something which enables many people including Mr.Bean to say gracias in Paris.The flip side of this case is that these people are having nice time at the expense of natives as they are being fully understood by them.Mr.Bean's Holiday is a hilarious melting pot of assorted characters from different countries such as America,Britain,Russia and France.Rowan Atkinson's performance assures us that there are neither surprises nor there is any pretence, any foul play.He does everything smoothly to ensure that everything comes out with ease like a rabbit taken out skillfully from a maverick wizard's black hat.The icing on this film's cake is the realization that only Mr.Bean is one of those lucky people who are able to enter the premises of Cannes International Film Festival by making use of a hand made V.I.P.pass.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Both Black and White can live together peacefully.


Mississippi Burning (1988) directed by Alan Parker
Last year,I was appalled to read in an issue of Film Comment magazine that "Mississippi Burning" had been judged as the worst American film based on real life events.This is not only shocking but highly unbelievable too.What dismays is the fact that how can anyone categorize such a brilliant film as one of the worst political films.I am of the opinion that this is a big error on the part of a respectable film magazine."Mississippi Burning" is a superb rendition of the events which took lives of civil rights workers.Apart from the actors'efforts,the real credit of its success must go to Alan Parker's taut,skillful direction.With this film he has proved that he is at his creative best when he makes films based on real life events.No doubt people do remember "Midnight Express" and also the fact that hardly a week passes without the television screening of this film.William Defoe is a kind soul in this film.It was after this film that he decided to play various kind of bad guy roles.Gene Hackman is good too and his anger,frustration and obstinacy are a joy to watch.Frances McDormand is nice as the helpless soul trying to wriggle out of an unhappy marriage.Message of the film :nothing can be achieved through violence.PS: Live and let others live happily.