The Gentleman

Arrival is a profoundly moving, brilliantly crafted masterclass in filmmaking. Denis Villeneuve is nothing short of a cinematic genius. (This review is spoiler free). Very few films linger in my mind the way Arrival did. For the most part, a movie is pretty much forgotten within a week of viewing. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t like it, but I watch so many movies that only a few have such an impact on me. But even after several viewings, Arrival offers a new interpretation upon each watching — a fresh point of view, or a renewed perception of events. There are several ways this film can be interpreted; some call it a meditative study on modern society, some call it a prophetic warning to mankind. Whatever you call this, it is marvellous. The cinematography, oh my goodness! Each frame is perfectly shot, and there is no moment in the movie that isn’t utterly gorgeous. The casting was perfect. Adams and Renner essentially carry this film with breathtaking ease — their on-screen chemistry is a huge contributor to the success of this movie. Not many actors accentuate each other’s prowess the way these two do. But make no mistake, this is Amy Adams’ film. The camera follows Adams’ character in an relentless manner — at times, it feels we are forced to follow her on this strenuous journey, to plunge into the depths of her mind. Her acting, however, is so wonderfully grounded and real that it adds a sense of familiarity — despite the bizarre events unfolding around her. The premise of this film was also refreshingly original. 12 extraterrestrial pods land in 12 random locations on Earth, and it is up to a brilliant linguist and a theoretical physicist (Adams and Renner) to ascertain who sent the pods, and what their intentions were. Alas, there’s not much more I can say without spoiling this film. But if you enjoy a slow, yet brilliantly rewarding film, this is the one for you.

Marriage Story is one of the defining films of 2019. It’s a brilliantly profound, horribly realistic masterpiece. (This review is spoiler free) To take something as trivial as marriage and weave such an intricately told story requires talent that’s almost unheard of. Noah Baumbach delivers a nuanced, wonderfully executed tale of lost love. Visually, this film is indecisive. There are scenes with the most breathtaking aesthetics, and there are scenes that are no more than ‘mediocre’. But Baumbach never fails to provide his cinematic expertise, using familiar locations, such as a living room or kitchen, and ripping away the familiarity with the conflict the couple is going through. One of my favourite parts of this film is the very beginning. We hear the characters give monologues about each other, describing their partners in a suspiciously positive light. Perhaps too positive. Then, in an unexpected twist, we see them in a counselling session, and it turns out that the supposedly perfect marriage no longer exists. And that’s what most of this film is — a twisted road of betrayal and loss. There’s no time for the audience to breathe. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen, there’s a new development and you’re forced to catch up again. There isn’t a scene in the film that felt over-the-top or unnecessary. And Marriage Story contains some of the best acting of the last decade — not only Johannson, but Driver delivers as well. Particularly the now infamous argument scene; at one point I forgot I was watching a film. I thought I was watching a genuine argument between two married people. That’s how good the acting was. Another good thing is how we’re not forced to pick sides. With most divorce films, there’s a good guy and a bad guy — the abused wife trying to escape her deranged husband, the desperate husband trying to escape his psychopathic wife; we are usually presented with a hero and a villain, and it’s clearly laid out who’s who. With Marriage Story, however, there is no clear hero or villain. The narrative switches perspective frequently, and I was rooting for Charlie when it was from his perspective, and I was rooting for Nicole when it was from hers. Both characters make me hate them at some point in the film, and both characters make me feel sorry for them, if not like them, at some point in the film. It’s a masterful, viscerally authentic portrayal of a crumbling marriage. Rarely have I ever been so moved by a film. Rating: 10/10 Recommendation: Definitely.

Quiz is a lightly dramatised, highly entertaining, immensely rewarding recollection of the Charles Ingram scandal from 2001. Micheal Sheen is incredibly believable as Chris Tarrant. Seriously, he got all the nuances right—the voice, the eccentricity, even the mannerisms and gestures. The rest of the cast was so-so, but the mediocre acting is recompensed by the immersive background, excellent pacing and masterful dialogue. Brilliant depiction of events. Micheal Sheen is amazing.