Pleasantville

A few days ago, I was in a bad mood. I was occupied with several issues in my head and was feeling under the weather. Just happened to come across this move on WB channel.

Pleasantville, with the Spiderman Tobey Macguire, Reese Witherspoon and various other actors, for the sheer lack of adjectives, is a very interesting movie. It points at ‘breaking away’ from the mundane and free yourselves to surpass the age old rigid concepts of life.

As immature-ish as it sounds, the movie begins with David (Tobey) and Jeniffer (Reese) being transported in a TV. A 1950 sitcom pulls them in and they end up in a Black and White world which runs, well, almost perfectly. The duo start to break away from the strict rules of Pleasantville, causing initial disharmony which transforms into a revolution amongst the citizens of Pleasantville. Self-realisations with reignited desires to adopt the changing environment, makes the people at Pleasantville bold and rebellious.

The point of the movie is simple, and is simply put as well. All characters living in a grey world realise that it is not the world that can change them – the basic instinct to adapt to newer situations is inherent.

I really liked the movie, though I am not sure if I can vouch for it as one of my favourites.

If you get your hands on it, do watch it on a dull Saturday evening.

Twilight

I am pretty certain many girls liked this one – you know, the whole ‘almost perfect’ guy charm thing that gives you jitters when you are, what, 16?

Twilight, a ‘love story’ of a different sort, has actors who are bad at their jobs and a plot that is scarcely interesting. The ‘perfect’ guy with great powers, amazing sense of speed and a body which is dripping with oomph, has one flaw. Uhm, he is a vampire.

If you are expecting a classic kind of stuff here, run backwards. Though if you are bored to death and have nothing else to do, maybe you should start a collection of ‘World’s Worst Movies Ever’, with this first on list.

I saw it around two weeks ago, and I still can’t figure out the intention of the movie. Nah, a strict big NO.

The Color Purple

 

I had no clue about this movie till a friend introduced me to it. I was a little apprehensive before, but the first shot of the movie put my worries at rest. The Color Purple – a Steven Spielberg movie is yet another piece of cinema that you shouldn’t miss.

The plot revolves around two sisters – Celie and Nettie. Celie, played by Whoopi Goldberg, is a simple, unattractive woman forced into marrying Mister who ill treats her all her life. The one person who loves her is her sister Nettie, who her husband initially wished to marry. For various reasons, the sisters are separated. Nettie was the attractive, confident, educated little sister who taught Celie how to read and write. While parting, Nettie promises Celie that she will write to her, unless death does them apart.

Celie awaits her letters, but in vain. Life is dull and aimless and Mister’s behaviour towards Celie does not improve. The worst happens when he brings home, a woman he loves and adores and literally worships! Shug Avery – an enchanting dark woman, played by Margaret Avery, is gorgeous and has a spell on everybody.

At first you would think that Celie is going to have a tough time with ‘another’ woman in her own house, but the movie takes a turn and the plot becomes extremely interesting. Even though Celie is the central character in the movie, the importance of her role comes into play only after Shug comes home.

It is a beautiful movie with funny, sad, depressing and heart wrenching moments. Goldberg has done a tremendous job and should really have won the Oscar for this role. Oprah Winfrey who acts as Sofia in the movie demands a standing ovation for her performance.

An Afro-American setup,  perfectshots, simple yet strong dialogues, stunning performances… as a woman, you empathise with the characters in the plot and can understand the plight of women across the world. Though it is subtle yet hard-hitting, the movie leaves you with a happy tear in your eye.

Must watch!