The Good Shepherd | The Critique

First thing a viewer should know about this directorial venture of Robert De Niro is that it is not a conventional spy movie. It’s a biopic of a fictional character build around real men and real incidents. It might not give you the thrills, it is closest you can go to life of a real spy. With Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Robert De Niro, William Hurt, Alec Baldwin and Joe Pesci - The Good Shepherd presents an impressive ensemble of actors.

 

Movie is about life of a spy - Edward - and how he progresses in his career. In a pre-World War - II era, Edward is asked to spy on his professor. His knack for spying is noted and he is given a bigger assignment. On personal front, he struggles through a muddle relationships and marries a girl under special circumstances. After initial jerks, he establishes himself. However, his professional life has a haunting shadow on his personal life. How does he survives and rise through the ranks is the impressive story of Edward Wilson played by Matt Damon.

 

Story is interesting however due to lack of drama often fail to keep audience interested. It is one of those movie which could have been great. Actors have done a good job, especially Damon, but the script failed them. Too much is added and in the end the biblical reference used fails to make any impact. A great opportunity thus wasted too some extent. In short, you might like it as a one-time watch but it will hardly have any mark on your memory. Watch it if you want to know how CIA and other spy agency works. Avoid if you want to see a Jason Bourne.

 

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Goodfellas | The Critique

Rarely a simple and straightforward movie wakes up all the grey matter in your head like this one. The narrative style of Goodfellas make it something beyond a cult classic, its a perfect case study. Martin Scorsese's movie based on book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi is well-made film that tasted success on BO as well.

Henry Hill is a born gangster. Elite crime is what he wants from life. He gets that. Under patronage of Paulie and Jimmy, he starts a promising career. He becomes pretty successful in his trade because he believes and follows the rules. However, fate looks at them with a vicious grin when they are trapped by  FBI. The darker side comes in open. Ray Liotta as Henry gives a fine performance. Joe Pesci in a brief role is brilliant and won the Academy for it. But show stealer was Robert De Niro as Jimmy. He gives a very refined and controlled performance.

The movie will be remembered for short and compact scenes moving between past and present give an interesting feel to the story presentation. Work by Scorsese is really commendable. Dialogues are powerful. Action is believable. Camerawork is good. BG score is good. Performances are great. Boy, he had 100 pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and he got all of them right.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Limitless Review | The Critique

Rating: 3/5

Long known fact that an average human uses less than 10% of his brain has always fascinated me. What if we could use all our brain? Limitless is one way in which such a state of mind can lead to.

                                       

You take a pill and it puts all of you brain online!! Promising premise. This is the first of many positives of the film. Also I am surprised how much of the film is conversational in tone. Atleast 25% of the movie is in Voice over of the protagonist.

As the film is from point of view of protagonist, it also has to show physical manifestation of the condition, like what protagonist sees telescopic views etc. Or multiple version of self working together. Movie just nails it in this department. It is technically awesome.

Thankfully, movie never sets Eddie to be super human, but only gives him some powers like  ablility to access all memories and ability to learn new things while just seeing/listening to them, like martial arts and foreign languages.

But all is not hunky dory with pill, other people know about it, and use it too. It has ‘after effects’…

Of the cast Bradley Cooper as Eddie Morra is perfect, in all versions of character.Also in the cast is Robert de Niro, who hasn’t got much to do here but is fine nonetheless.

It is a good watch, go catch it!

By Ali Naqvi

Angry Characters | Part 3 | Under Lens

Now, lets discuss two brilliantly portrayed characters by Robert De Niro who were inherently anger and gained new heights for fame for those qualities. Interestingly, both were directed by the same legendary director - Martin Scorsese. Yes, I am talking about the leads in Raging Bull and Taxidriver.

The character Jake LaMotta is a real character. He is a middleweight boxer whose rage takes a toll on his family life as well. The depiction of the character might have been a bit controversial, it is considered to be greatest performances in Hollywood ever. The movie is considered to be the greatest sports movie and one of the greatest overall. The rage of the character is due to is lack of faith on his wife and brother.

In the second movie- Taxidriver, the character Travis Bickel is a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from insomnia. To spend his nights and earn his bread, he drives taxi. He is unsuccessful in life in many ways and that echoes in his mind every time. He lies to his family that he is doing a government job, hiding the reality and that pricks him more. Though largely fictional, the character is very realistic in mannerism.

De Niro played both the roles with a great grace and the conviction in the characters is evident from his eyes when is portraying them on-screen.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh