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When I had to write a post in a hurry with a nailgun pointed at my temple, I decided to do away with analysis, or insights and resorted to the tried and tested solution of the intellectually bankrupt. The List post.

We all know that the beginning sets the tone for the film, letting the audience know what to expect etc., and some even use it as a bookmark and mirror it in the last scene of the film to make some kinda statement. For my list, I shall use shots (single camera setup), scenes (single location/time with multiple shots), and sequences (scenes united by causality of action or theme) interchangeably freewilly without justification so that I may shoehorn some favorite moments in film that happen somewhere in the first 10 minutes of a movie.

But before that, a public service wank.

I am often amused when people compare their spontaneous experience …

First the BIG names attached to this project. Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio, William Monahan. Based on the book “Body of Lies” by David Ignatius, the plot’s about a former journalist injured in the Iraq war is hired by the CIA to track down an Al Qaeda leader in Jordan. The movie is scheduled to release on October 10th.

Last few weeks we have had a lot of posts & discussion on screenplays. Dabba dissected the screenplay of AAMIR.

Then he bitched about the Conspiracy against Screenwriters.

I thought keeping with the tradition of writing on the subject of writing I would share with you one of my favorite radio shows LA.
Its called MARTINI SHOT. Hosted by Writer/Producer Rob Long. His bio on KCRW says

“Veteran TV writer and producer Rob Long shares his behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood life on “Martini Shot.” A contributing editor for the National Review and Newsweek International, he was a co-executive producer of “Cheers” while still in his 20s and is the co-creator of a string of (cancelled) sitcoms: “George & Leo,” “Men, Women & Dogs,” etc. Rob is also the author of “Conversations With My Agent,” the cult classic about real life in Hollywood, as well as its recently published sequel, …

iView Author: Elvis D’Silva (Mumbai, India)
Email: withheld

Title: The Dark Knight - Review : Embracing Darkness

Very rarely do I go into a movie theatre expecting an experience. Instead I think, ‘the promos lied’, ‘my expectations are too high’ or ‘the director/writer promises a great deal but rarely delivers.’ Yeah, ‘benefit of the doubt’ is not my strong suit. To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t too impressed with what I saw of The Dark Knight in the promos and teasers. Loved the Joker make-up, was pleased with the casting of Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent, was intrigued by the new vehicle but I wasn’t quite sure where they were going with it all.

And then the news of Heath Ledger’s death arrived. This is an actor whose performances I thoroughly enjoyed in movies like 10 Things I Hate About You and A Knight’s Tale. …

iView Author:Rusted Rick
(Kolkata, India)
EMAIL: ritchick.mozumdar [at] gmail [dot] com

Title: HANCOCK: Super Yawn

When the chips are down, things not going all right and trips to the theatre are neither SUPER or HAPPENING in anyway you can always count on the alien fighting, robot smashing rapper to turn things around. And WILL SMITH almost does just that, or at least he gives his best shot at doing so. Over the years WILL SMITH has an impeccable record at the box office, come-on nine straight block busters!! Every movie gaining more than a 100 million at the box office, that’s some record. And if someone calls him the greatest star in Hollywood today well you have got to say that he earned it.

And then comes 2008, the year of the super heroes. Frankly I cannot take it any more, iron man, hulk, and now …

There are movies you walk out of, never to return back. And there are movies you just keep popping out, and flying in to catch a few scenes before ejecting right out.

And then, there are movies which hold you tight from the start to end. And keep bringing you back to it, and there you are… each re-watch of the movie brings to light new meanings, hidden in the corner subtlety, a new wow in the 46th minute you missed the first time.

In short, you’ve been enslaved by the movie. And in order of hypnotic impact - it begins with the story, visuals, performances, dialogue, music - all blanketed in the directors intelligent handling of his writer’s screenplay.

Inside Man is one such movie that keeps pounding me again and again.

Now to begin with it’s made by Spike Lee, who’s filmography as a director consisted of films that are quite political …

iView Author:
ABHIJEET SINGH (India)

Email: 11.abhijeet[at] Gmail [dot] com

Film Discussions

Films and discussion go hand in hand but is the discussion of some level that is the big question.

Yes, There is a lot of discussion on films these days and why not its a large & a popular medium there should be a lot of discussion but at the same time a healthy one, discussions have been limited to criticism and even the writing on films have been targeted to individuals rather then a film on the whole. Press conference, Interview, Review or a General discussion on film mainly in the Electronic media moves away from the topic in a flash what comes into play is the personal life questions,

I have many a times observed a film critic for a leading news channel talk about things like the Hand bags …

One of my favorite movie stars, the great Charlton Heston has died, at 83.

His birth name was John Charles Carter, and he was from Evanston, Illinois.

I won’t dwell on his illness, other than say it’s a dirty trick when our powers are taken, and one of the quick and strong is laid low. Which happens to us all.

And I won’t discuss his politics, except to say any Hollywood movie star, of whatever political bent, who stands up for personal liberty, in this dark age, gets my vote.

I interviewed Charlton Heston for tv, at a 1997 Palm Springs Tennis Tournament. I’ve met lots of movie stars, but he was in a class by himself, perhaps the starry-est.

I learned something extremely valuable from him. I asked him some silly question, one he just didn’t want to answer, and you know what he did? He just smiled. That’s all …