Alfred Hitchcock designed his 1960 film Psycho as a personal, passion project devoid of any stars or a big budget simply to have some fun and indulge in his passion for pure cinema. But it ended up creating a pop cultural phenomenon It’s an area of film-making in which it’s more important for you to … Continue reading Psycho : Hitchcock’s Macabre masterpiece that became a pop cultural phenomenon
On Al Pacino's birthday, here is looking back at his grandest and most popular performance from the 1983 gangster epic, Scarface, written by Oliver Stone and directed by Brian De Palma. “ Al Pacino's performance in the 1983 gangster classic, Scarface, is an instance where the lead star\actor takes over a film completely with his … Continue reading Scarface: Al Pacino’s electrifying performance powers this brutal and uncompromising Gangster epic from Oliver Stone and Brian De Palma
The Guns of Navarone(1961), adapted from Alistair Mclean's eponymous novel, Directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn in lead roles, is an Oscar Nominated epic, adventure film, which was the first of the 'Men on a Mission' movies set in the backdrop of World War II. "You have … Continue reading The Guns of Navarone: Gregory Peck leads an all-star cast in the first of the WWII ‘Men on a Mission’ epics
Leave her to Heaven(1945) , A Film Noir shot in glorious Technicolor makes for a unique cinematic experience. ‘It’s like a film noir, in colour …. It’s the technicolor, how it’s matched to the strange perfection in Tierney’s face, her presence. The drama of the obsession of the color, reinforce each other and create something … Continue reading Leave Her To Heaven: Gene Tierney is breathtakingly gorgeous as the unrivaled femme fatale in this Technicolor Noir
Sydney Pollack's 1972 film Jeremiah Johnson is one of the most poetic and atmospheric westerns that is at once mythical and a myth-shattering visceral experience. Jeremiah Johnson has one of my most favorite movie openings of all time: Robert Redford, wearing an Army uniform, is seen stepping off a barge into a rustic settlement- what … Continue reading Jeremiah Johnson: Robert Redford is sublime as the Mountain Man who became a legend in his own time
Sydney Pollack's 1974 film, The Yakuza, is a strange mashup of Neo-Noir, Gangster-drama, Samurai film, Yakuza-eiga , martial arts film and cross cultural Romance. This mixture is not always successful, but still makes for fascinating viewing "When an American cracks up, he opens a window and shoots up a bunch of strangers, he shoots out … Continue reading The Yakuza: A great Robert Mitchum performance anchors this fascinating genre mashup from director Sydney Pollack
Sir David Lean's classic romantic-war epic, Doctor Zhivago(1965), is adapted from Boris Pasternak's novel by the great writer, Robert Bolt. The film boasting an all-star cast comprising of Omar Sharif, Rod Steiger, Alec Guinness, Julie Christie etc. explored love and loss in the background of the first World War and the Russian Revolution. I think … Continue reading Doctor Zhivago: Omar Sharif excels as the titular romantic pacifist in David Lean’s epic tale of Love, War and Russian Revolution
The Treasure of Sierra Madre(1948), starring Humphrey Bogart and Walter Huston, is Director John Huston's greatest film; a Noir-Western or a Neo-Western that explored themes of avarice, temperance and self-destruction, it is an extremely gritty and violent film for its time and won Oscars for the (father & son) Huston duo. Fred C. Dobbs, a name … Continue reading The Treasure of Sierra Madre: Humphrey Bogart at his greatest in John Huston’s gritty masterpiece
Alfred Hitchcock's Masterpiece Notorious(1946) is many things; Its a Spy thriller, its a Love story, Its a Melodrama, Its also a Menaced-Women Noir. But above all, its an exercise in pure cinema in the great Hitchcock tradition that showcases the hitherto unseen side of Star\actor Cary Grant. Alicia Huberman (beautiful, young, spoiled, playgirl, daughter of a … Continue reading Notorious: Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman scorches the screen in Hitchcock’s dark romantic thriller
Hondo(1953), starring John Wayne and Geraldine Page, shows some new dimensions of Duke as a star and actor, but still, the film remains a quintessential John Wayne Western. "Women always figure every man who comes along wants 'em." A typical John Wayne line delivered in the typical John Wayne style by John 'Duke' Wayne. The film … Continue reading Hondo: John Wayne stars in an exciting 3D Western that emphasizes romance, courtship and father/son bonds
William Wyler's spectacular epic, Ben-Hur(1959), is famed for its grand sets and great action sequences, like the famous chariot race and sea battle. In actuality, it is a classy, intimate human drama that puts its emphasis on great themes and ideas above all else. I like portraying heroes of antiquity whose values were grander and … Continue reading Ben-Hur: Charlton Heston’s career-defining performance powers William Wyler’s magnificent epic
Director Walter Hill's 1978 film, The Driver, starring Ryan O'Neal and Bruce Dern, is the ultimate exercise in pure, minimalist cinema that just keeps getting better with age. "Boy you got it down real tight. So tight that there's no room for anything else." This is what 'The Detective' played By Bruce Dern tells Ryan … Continue reading The Driver: Director Walter Hill’s minimalist Neo-noir thriller is an exhilarating exercise in pure genre cinema
Richard Donner's 1994 Comedy Western Maverick starring Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and James Garner is my favorite kind of movie;A character driven, lighthearted, lightweight piece of unpretentious entertainment with charming stars and great production values, which just isn't made anymore In the high concept obsessed world of Hollywood, Maverick must have been one of the … Continue reading Maverick: This glossy, light-hearted, highly entertaining 90s Western brings together Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and James Garner
Carol Reed's 1949 classic Film Noir The Third Man, based on Graham Greene's screenplay, completes 70 years. its famous for its unique atmosphere, zither music, and Oscar winning camerawork. Above all it provided Orson Welles with his most iconic role. You know what the fellow said – in Italy, for 30 years under the Borgias, … Continue reading The Third Man : Mr. Welles, Mr. Lime and Mr. Wu
A tribute to Howard Hawks' classic film To Have and Have Not that is celebrating it's 75th anniversary. The film marked the debut of Lauren Bacall and set the stage for her romance and marriage to Humphrey Bogart. You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together - … Continue reading To Have and Have Not : 75 years since they hooked up, The chemistry between Bogart & Bacall still sizzles the screen.
Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel Devdas has been adapted multiple times for the screen . The first one was with K.L.Sehgal in the lead. The most popular one is with Dilip Kumar playing the eponymous hero , which is considered one of the greatest screen performances. There was a Telugu version with A. Nageshwara Rao in the … Continue reading Muqaddar Ka Sikandar: Exploring Bachchan’s ‘Devdas’ through its gorgeous songs.
John Huston's directorial debut, The Maltese Falcon(1941), is a trendsetting private eye\Noir classic that turned Humphrey Bogart, who played the role of P.I. Sam Spade, into an Icon. It's a cold December night(or rather early morning) in San Francisco. The windows in Private detective Sam Spade's bedroom is open and we see cool breeze rustling … Continue reading The Maltese Falcon: John Huston’s seminal detective film noir turned Humphrey Bogart into an icon of cool
Otto Preminger's 1944 film Laura, starring Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney and Clifton Webb, is one of the most stylish, moody, and witty film Noirs ever made. Consider this scene from the film Laura, which comes about half way through the picture: Detective McPherson ,played by Dana Andrews, walks into the apartment of his beloved Laura. He … Continue reading Laura: Gene Tierney’s breathtaking beauty and David Raksin’s spellbinding music sets the mood for this dreamy, romantic Noir classic
Alfred Hitchcock's Cary Grant film North By Northwest(1959) completes 60 years and its still fresh and exciting as ever It might be a Scottish name, taken from a story about two men on a train. One man says, 'What's that package up there in the baggage rack?' And the other answers, 'Oh, that's a MacGuffin'. … Continue reading North By Northwest : Cary ‘Hitch’es one Bloody ‘Grant’ Ride
John Ford's classic western, Stagecoach(1939), proved to be seminal on many counts , most of all for the birth of a movie icon named John Wayne. ‘When in doubt, make a western’John Ford (1894 – 1973) John Ford is considered the greatest American director ever. He is also the greatest director of Westerns. His "Stagecoach" … Continue reading Stagecoach: John Ford’s Western classic turned John Wayne into an American icon
MANK'S MOVIE MUSINGS 