Sunset Boulevard.... Film-Noir genre at its finest

We all know what to expect when we have a Billy Wilder picture up our sleeve. We expect laughs and heartfelt performances ready to transport us from troubles of our own life. From the director who gave us light hearted affairs of The Apartment. Irma La Douce, Fortune Cookie and not to forget one of the greatest romcoms of history Some Like It Hot. It is quite unexpected to expect something of the sort of Sunset Boulevard from the director who has mastered in the ways in making his audience laugh. Well when I was told by a friend that it is worth the watch and is a good cinematic experience, I couldn’t resist it.

With all the happy picture I finally turned my attention to Gloria Swanson and William Holden starrer Sunset Boulevard, and man I was blown away by the sheer magnitude of the performances and tragedy that unfolds in this epic motion picture. Before I go onto spill the beans of my critic inside let me give you a bit of scoop on what basically is the plot of this. Norma Desmond one of the prolific silent film actress has lost herself into the obscurity of new age of Hollywood, and ends up hiring a destitute writer Joe from an unusual encounter, who writes her screenplay for her comeback to screen.

Since the first day I ended up seeing Mr. Wilder’s pictures I have grown to become a big fan of his. Too rare are the people in Hollywood who end up grasping those mere emotions of human side which make motion picture being materialized into something more than a film a more heartfelt experience. This motion picture comes with its own package of rants and drama and keeps the audience gripped to the very seconds of the climax and the very end of human tragedy. As far as the screenplay of this film is concerned, one has to commend Charles Brackket and Billy Wilder for a screenplay which is daring and emotionally edgy. Not too often risks are taken in the genre of Film Noir and this is one example where not just the risk but a devout screenplay with vivid imagination pays off.  The dialogues and the emotions with the setting everything works out to near perfection. Human determination, human insecurity, complexes and to add more to it love, all of the things in one. This whole package seems to be a recipe of a disaster in the making, but what and audience gets to experience is a plethora of pure emotion.

Coming to direction, if you give me more time I will have pages to fill how Billy inspired me. Lets just say this is his epitome of inspiration for me. Acting is par excellence Gloria Swanson is tour de force. Lets not go on building an imaginary giant, lets just experience it. So lets see and let me know.  

OLD IS GOLD: SOME LIKE IT HOT

SOME LIKE IT HOT(1959):

STARRING: JACK LEMMON, TONY CURTIS AND MARILYN MONROE

DIRECTED BY: BILLY WILDER

WINNER OF ONE OSCAR (BEST COSTUME DESIGN)

IMBD.COM RANKING #80/250 AND POINTS 8.4/10

As I promised you guys that I will be bringing more of Jack Lemmon and Billy Wilder. So this is the first post for the people who have been looking forward to my post about that.

I present to you the very best of Romantic Comedies of all times Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe starrer “Some like it hot”. For many out there who belong to my generation I am pretty sure the majority would be unaware of the film but will be familiar with the verse. So guys this is the film that needs to be discussed. Believe me brothers and sisters I assure you; this is indeed one of the best rides you will have while watching a film. You will be laughing like hell at some points and would feel connected to the film every second.

What’s the plot??

Two struggling musicians Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis end up becoming  gang killing witnesses and as the sole witnesses are the target for the guilty gang. In desperate attempt to escape the impending doom they end up becoming part of all girls musical group in desperate need for musicians not as boys but dressed as girls. They head to Florida and all the sun and the beach has their troubles waiting for them. Marilyn Monroe is the girl in the band who is done dating the men with no money and no stability and Tony Curtis falls for her also into the criteria of the men she hates. Let’s not spill the beans for the ones who have not seen the movie yet, because after all they need their share of excitement too. And for those who have seen it, we all know what happened and we all know that we love it.

Screenplay is flawless; movies now a days which have men dressing up as women brings in the element of going over the top and bringing too much obscenity in the film. This film miraculously escapes all those temptations of cheap comedy but makes the audience like the film even more. This movie is like a sinusoidal wave: Why I call this? This movie has elements of love, laughter, romance and most of all a complete package so you don’t get the redundant cheap stunts to get the audience attention.

Direction captures the emotions of the actors remarkably and deals with every environment to the utmost. From the musical performances, train party and also the last escape are visual treat with their own perks inside them and all thanks to the mighty Billy Wilder for his well-rounded direction.

Performances of this picture are to be remembered not only by the audience of the time this picture was released but by generations to come. Jack Lemmon is a star who alone with his facial expressions makes you transition from emotion to emotion and his acting looks like an effortless wonder. Tony Curtis fighting with his new found womanhood and his new love is funny too. Marilyn Monroe; okay what you expect me to say about her. She is funny and she is just the woman you want to date and she is one worth it for the world to fall in love with her. She is just awe inspiring with her charisma.

Apart from the redundant crap of present day rom-coms you will love this. Free from cheap stunts and made with a genuine heart this is indeed a lesson for the filmmakers of No Strings Attached and Friends With Benefits to please think of something more than you know what I am talking about.

MY RATING 9/10

Whats on televion????

This is the article for all the lovers of Pakistani Television and are always on the lookout for the best of the shows on air. Over here I will be dishing out my information about the best on the television that I know of. So if I am unable to point something out that you like please mention it out and I will be discussing that out too...


HUM TV:


Mera Naseeb

Mera Naseeb is the story of two step sisters living under the shadows of complete orthodox beliefs and are then married into different families who have their own troubles and misery waiting for them. From the plot you might end up guessing that this is one typical show that needs to be missed, but let me assure you that when u will see this you will love it. Not only this show is heavy with great writing and dialogues but has en-stored some real good performances from Rubian Ashraf, Samina Peerzada, Sakina Samo, Bushra Ansari and Shugufta Ejaz. The veterans are unbeatable in this game but the debuts of Saira and Sanam (who is in her second play) is something that is creating good vibes. Saira is fresh and she is good but the real show stealer is Sanam who is undoubtedly a promising face she was notorious in Daam and she is steadfast in Mera Naseeb. So on Fridays check it out.

Mohbbat Ruth Jayai tau:

 To me this has got a star cast Mahnoor, Adnan, Humayoun and Suneeta. It started off looking like one show which will be like the same telling story of the feudalism and how it is tyrannical. It did turn out to be the same but the performances of the cast are amazing and depressing at the same time. I wont be able to shed much light because I have not religiously followed this one, I do plan to do so but as much I have seen this is the show which will be remembered for a long time. Check out for the performances and don’t miss the episodes.

GEO TV:

TAKKAY KI AYEGI BARAAT: 

From the likes of prequels here comes the show that Pakistani homes are following very religiously. Notoriety of Saima Chudhry and the great wedding with all the songs make this play worth out time. You must have seen the craze Azer ki Ayegi Baraat and also Dolly ki AAyegi baraat created, it is no less in this one. This show comes back to the screens with Sukaina and Takka(wonderfully played by Ali Safina) getting ready to tie knot; but this will not be easy. With the set of demands from the in laws what will Takka decides; will decide the fate of the marriage. One star for sure is born amid this party filled show and that is Ali Safina, he if continues the same acting will for sure be remembered for a long time, not that people are easily letting go off Takka. So if you’re looking for witty comedy and Punjab taking over Karachi let’s give the veteran Bushra Ansari another look because she is there to make you laugh it off with “Chaury saab na kita keroo…!!!”

BOL: Saying it across Pakistan....

After waiting another life time Shoaib Mansoor comes to the people with is second directorial adventure; depicting the life with its very own complexities. Set in the the heart of the Walled City: Lahore SHOMAN ventures out to tell the tale of house abundant with daughters and struggling in trying the connect the loose ends but the things take a turn for the worse. There was a bit bright side to what SHOMAN gave to us in KKL but this movie is dark and sinister not only because it echos something far too realistic to ignore but because of the fact it is shot very much close to reality and shows Lahore in a never imagined way.
The trailers go on the screens and proclaim its boldness which indeed what BOL should be reckoned with. It touches subjects which people of Pakistan know exist but have ignored it long enough so it was time they needed to be confronted with the truth.
Coming to the story, yes SHOMAN is a human and yes he has some loop holes, he is the only filmmaker who sums up the courage to make a film and the the brigade of self proclaimed critics of Pakistani tabloids come on the scene with their pretentious reviews calling this film mediocre. Firstly BOL was long it was three hourse long which needed a bit more of editing and that's the only flaw i find that in the story because what ever was happening in the movie kept me so much involved and kept me emotionally on edge that I ended up forgetting how the time flew by. When you see the story you end up forgiving SHOMAN for the distance in his films because it shows that someone works on the story.
Performances, one of the most integral part of the film because this movie is driven by the performance and performances only. With its eclectic mix of actors it makes the film interesting. Manzer Sehbai is no less than any of the maestros he shines without a doubt. Zeb Rehman what a comeback to screen she is silent but she delivers plethora of emotions and women really connect. Mahira and Atif, the eye candies but subtle they fit in their roles well and i didnt mind anything about them, they were indeed a breath of fresh air in all that darkness. Iman Ali as Meena is elegant, funny and a veteran to SHOMAN holding up the bar even higher. Amr Kashmiri I did not know his talent he is smart and he is intelligent, to take on a role as he did in BOL as Saifi one considers allot because it takes guts. 
Humaima Malik owns this film, she brings down all the glamour to zero and comes out as a talent to reckon with. Zainab could have been played by anyone but the way it was played by Humaima shows that she is not someone to be taken easily she has a wonderful prospect infront on her and i hope there is much work for her so that her talent is recognized and appreciated. 
From those subtle funny moments to heavily emotional moments BOL is indeed a ride that should not be missed, even for people who dont end up liking it will walk off from the theaters getting something out of this film. Yes BOL is bold and it is a film so we should take it as one rather than issue to fight upon. 
With its shortcommings BOL happens to be a winner creating records all over Pakistan it is time that it sets across the border which is expected around Eid.
My rating 8/10

Transformers dark of the moon, redemption time for Bay!!!!

Transformers latest installment provides little redemption to Micheal Bay but falls
prey to mediocre screenplay and story. Becoming a more glorified version of the previous installment.

Okay friends its time that i discuss the third Transformers movie now. I got to see it with my little cousin today who saw with great enthusiasm. While going into the cinema I was not sure that my money will be well spent after all the experience with Revenge of the Fallen was not so great.
Third installment from Micheal Bay is his redemption time, why I say so; is because he catered to loads of problems and flaws he made while making the previous installment. I won't be talking much about it, but from the reviews all over the world you end up questioning how on earth it ended up getting so much money. 
This film comes across with its own flaws but the action packed sequences with effects at their peak with good direction you get to forget some of the flaws. But when talking about the story line it seems to be very predictable, you know whats happening next and how will it unfold. Plus even in this 2.5 hours movie you get to realize that some things and some explanations on how on earth this is happening seems to be rushed. Well I am not a mean critic because I do tend to see some of the efforts even if the film is falling. But here i cannot under any circumstances call the screenplay of this film good because it barely touched my levels of satisfactions. 
Performance wise Shia LeBeouf (if i am spelling that correctly) performs just the same high school or freshmen at collage kid which makes you forget that he is in fact now a graduate hopelessly looking for the job. Rosie Huntington plays the eye candy pretty well makes you forget Megan Fox easily. Patrick Dempsey comes out as a villain helping the evil bots, nonetheless he was forgettable by the end, Consolation comes from Jhon Turturoo, Malkovich and Ken Jeong who in their own small ways made the film funny also not to forget Turturoo's non english speaking manager come bodygaurd. some moments were good but as whole the film fails to give out that heart and soul. 
Visually it was a treat, editing was great plus the score was good too.. so technically this film has all the right elements for a good film but micheal bay needs to seek much better screen writers for the next time if he plans for the fourth installment. With the pottermania coming to its peak people will forget about it because you will love it in the cinema because of its action but because of lack of heart and soul you will forget it as soon as you come out of cinema .. 
i would grade it 5.5/10

what to expect on blog Movies R Us???

Well it is time to take the first step and give you a glimpse that what I will be bringing to you guys.


DISCUSSING THE HISTORY:
When thinking about discussing some movies from the past there could be no one more funnier and my favorite than Billy Wilder. His films are a complete package of laughter and great time spent.
So for those who like comedies that will stick with you for a long time then I guess you should wait because I will be discussing and dishing out the best of the best comedies from past ... few to name ..

One of the most memorable films of all time THE APARTMENT, starring Jack Lemmon and Shirleen Maclaine .
by Billy Wilder

1. Some like it hot (starring marilyn monroe, jack lemmon, and tony curtis)
2. The Apartment (starring shirleen maclaine, jack lemmon)
3. Irma La Douce (starring shirleen maclaine, jack lemmon)
4. The Lost Weekend (it is not a comedy but it comes out from the camp of Billy Wilder plus plus it also bagged an Oscar for best motion picture... so i am pretty sure the readers would wanna know about it)

from the list given above you might have guessed something else common other than Billy Wilder, well yes guilty is charged that Jack Lemon is in the top three films. How can I talk about Billy Wilder and Comedy without Jack Lemon he is after all one of the greatest actors of the past times, though he is not among us anymore but he leaves behind a great collection of evergreen work and also enduring legacy of film craft excellence. 

WHAT TO EXPECT:

i know i know it sounds a bit over the top but i will also be shedding some light one what i think will be and can be potential Oscar winners in the year 2012 and this portion of my blog is not to be missed guys because i will be listing some movies that are worth the watch... take care 

My Love for films

I believe there are two reason I am send on earth; food and film. As far as the food is concern if it is bad it needs to be trashed in the bin but what happens when the movie is bad, we you need to tell out to people how bad it is so that they don't go on wasting their money on something which is a complete waste, and even if they do I want to see the looks on their faces when i say "I told you so!!". So people if your thinking this is just like all the pathetic blogs telling you what to watch and what not, may be your right. but my friends there is allot what is different too... i will be digging out some great movies from the past and telling you why you should see them and what makes them so unique that they are still so great.... 

so lets gear on and see what makes my blog different from the others ... so some good reviews coming along soon... take care ... 

plus if u like some movie and wanna discuss it with people my blog welcomes you people....