Captain Fantastic (2016)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 0
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 1

Verdict – 3/5

 

Pros –

1) The whole concept of a family living outside the materialistic world with minimum exposure and immersing their time in physical training & reading is engaging. Cult already.
2) Sweet Child O’Mine
3) The subtle humor.

 
Cons –

 

1) Sometimes death of a family member brings the whole family closer. “Little Miss Sunshine” all over again.
2) Final act of the film is rushed and also predictable.

 
Quote –
Bo: I know nothing! I know nothing! I am a freak because of you! You made us freaks! And mom knew that! She understood! Unless it comes out of a fucking book, I don’t know anything about anything!

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 1
CULT – 1

 

VERDICT – 5/5

 

PROS –
1) Definitive musical!
2) Songs: “Singin’ in the Rain” , “Make ‘Em Laugh”.
3) The acrobatics and energy level of lead actors is spectacular.
4) The movie is timeless. Notable for revealing the secrets of the movie behind the scenes.

 

CONS –
n/a

 

QUOTE –
Cosmo Brown: 🎶🎶 Oh, you could study Shakespeare and be quite elite,
And you could charm the critics and have nothing to eat,
Just slip on a banana peel, the world’s at your feet
Make ’em laugh, make ’em laugh, make ’em laugh! 🎶🎶

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – n/a
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 1

Verdict – 3/4

 

Pros –

1) Tim Burton’s dark take on Dr. Seuss
2) Simple story like “Cat In The Hat”, but a haunting chapter for Children’s literature.
3) Celebration of 2 holidays

 

Cons –

1) Though unique but average animation quality
2) Mediocre music

 

Quote –

Jack Skellington: Eureka! This year, Christmas will be – OURS!

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)

STORY – 0
DIRECTOR – 0
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

Verdict – 1/5

 

Pros –

1) Generic 90s action film to be watched on a Sunday afternoon.

 
Cons –

1) Unwanted sequel.We already got James Bond / Jack Ryan / Jason Bourne / Ethan Hunt. Unless you can’t make something like John Wick, please don’t sweat.
2) Cliched character, predictable plot, tedious direction , routine action.

 

Quote –

 

Samantha: Strong guys don’t hurt you, the weak guys do that. Strong guys always have little sisters, or they want one.

Thirst (2009)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

 

Verdict – 3/5

 

 

Pros –

 

1) Love Story of a priest turned reluctant-accidental-vampire.
2) The story is the corner-stone of this movie. From beginning to end the story is the mainstay of this film.It started as a sci-fi medical drama, later it converted into a love-triangle with steamy love-making scenes.The pen-ultimate part is body-horror/slasher and the climax is all about redemption of two lovers to eternity.

 

 

Cons –

1) 30 minutes too long.

 
Quote –
“No one blames someone
for getting hurt in an accident!
No one gets criticized
for having cancer!
I went there to do good!
So what if I’m a vampire?”

Sherlock (Season 4)

STORY – 0
DIRECTOR – 0
ACTOR – 0
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

VERDICT– 0/5

 

PROS –
1) Mrs. Hudson driving Aston Martin.

 

CONS –
1) You can’t fool viewers by showing incoherent story-lines, the plot is full of potholes and claim it be a twisted psychological thriller of some sort.
2) This season reduced the iconic detective to a manipulated genius driven by other geniuses beyond his comprehension long before he hit puberty. There was also a hint given that he was brain-washed.

 

QUOTE –
High Rank Police Officer: Do you have any idea what speed you were going at?
Mrs. Hudson: No, of course not! I was on the phone.

Enemy (2013)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 0
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

Verdict – 2/5

 

Pros –

1) Another kafkaesque mindfuck starring Jake Gyllenhaal , the crown prince of psychological thriller.
2) The basic plot of doppelgängers chasing each other is intriguing.

 

Cons –

1) The climax is neither ambiguous nor meaningful for an average moviegoer.Comparing the movie to Memento or Inception is idiotic.
2) Mediocre supporting cast.

 

Quote –

 

Title Card: Chaos is order yet undeciphered.

Paths of Glory (1957)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

Verdict – 3/5

 

Pros –

1) One of the best First World War fim.
2) George Macready as General Mireau : The old school scarred officer
3) Battle charge sequence with Kirk Douglas : Vintage Kubrick
4) Final scene : French soldiers humming with the German girl.

 

Cons –

 

n/a

 
Quote –
Soldier 1: If it’s death that you’re really afraid of why should you care about what it is that kills you?
Soldier 2: Oh, you’re too smart for me, Professor. All I know is, nobody wants to die.

Hail, Caesar! (2016)

STORY – 0
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

Verdict – 2/5

 

Pros –

1) Alden Ehrenreich as Hobie Doyle : he’s a revelation
2) Jonah Hill as Joseph Silverman : Best character from the movie

 

Cons –

1) Generic Coen Bros film , missing the cutting edge. One step away from being next lebowski.Good to see Coen Bros returning to their roots after the disaster called “Inside Llewyn Davis”.
2) Small characters were better than lead characters.

 
Quote –
Hobie Doyle: It’s complicated.

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 1

 

Verdict – 4/5

 

Pros –

1) The ultimate hollywood story, a timeless classic from Billy Wilder.
2) Cameos from Cecil B. DeMille & Buster Keaton gives great authenticity to this movie.
3) Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond : An iconic character.
4) The Narration : A dead man telling his story.

 
Cons –
n/a

 

Quote –
“Norma Desmond: All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.”