Monday 23 May 2011

Capitalism A Love Story

2009 by Michael Moore

Yet another wonderful documentary from Mr. Moore.

This time he takes on Capitalism - the system that is the heart of America, by its own horns. He starts off from the deregulation prompted by the reign of Ronald Regan to that of Obama, how it has all benefitted only the rich. It has funny moments, sad moments, shocking moments and even moments of hope.

I really wonder how Americans, especially the ones who normally simply swallow all their media propaganda, found this docu. The most unexpected info for me was the comments by some priests against Capitalism. That was a surprise. I was shocked about the companies insurance scheme for the employees, benefiting themselves and the judge who sentenced every child to a private shelter home and to be frank almost everything actually.

And how peaceful life is Mr. Moore having, in America? I really would like to know that.

Whatever, this man is brilliant and he deserves an universal award. 

Yudham Sei

We see a lot of movies on serial killers and police investigations, from India and abroad. But in India, we have had only very few movies on serial killers. One reason could be that, we have never had that many serial killers here in reality. Anyways, most of the time, the Indian versions end up disappointing in some ways, at least to the end.There are few exceptions of course. Yudham Sei starts as an investigation on serial killings, but it really surprised me. This is one movie, which ought to be seen by International audience and truly deserves international recognition. I, for one, always have felt that the best of Indian movies are never promoted outside India.

A CB - CID officer, J Krishnamoorthy - J.K, is worried about his own sister who is missing for 3 months. Male body parts are left in card board cartons in different parts of Chennai city, in public places, and  J.K has to lead this investigation. A doctor's family had committed suicide some time earlier. Their daughter was raped and had hanged herselves first. J.K arrives into the truth slowly and at the end is even suspended from duty for letting one of the culprits to escape.

I really do not want to say much on the story. Serial killings are almost unreal for us. So for that aspect, it is quite a fantasy plot. However, this is coupled with abuse of women, which is terribly common now in India, and what results is a kind of surrealistic plot, if I can use that word. Purists might not like me using that term here, but I think the overall concept is something like that. But what makes this movie special is that a movie starting out on the look out for serial killer ends up like a thriller of a revenge drama. This is the first time I have ended up watching a movie on serial killing, with appreciation for the so called serial killers. Its not just appreciation, towards the climax, I bet, anybody with respect for womanhood would rather want the killers to finish their job. That is an incredible plus, I would say.

Yudham Sei has a brilliant script with certain shots, which shows killers doing what they do, placed cleverly between the investigative process of J.K and his team. And never, for the first time I would say in Indian movies, does J.K and his team does the routine cinematic investigation. There is only one time where J.K explains something about what he has found so far, to a superior, in the whole movie. And that happens quite earlier. We understand everything about the story directly from what is happening on the screen, not by occassional speeches by the police officer. It is a very cleverly put down script.

And there is actually only two action scenes in this movie, which too is quite surprising. The first in which J.K, wonderfully played by Cheran, takes on a few goons in a railway over bridge, is may be the best realistic action scene in Indian movies, one that could stay put with the Aadukalam fights, simple but clever.

And Myshkin has realised his script very well. Until the motive unfolds, he manages to keep a sense of the fear for unknown and there after he still manages to keep the thrills intact. Of course, Myshkin is no Hitchkock, and there are few blips, but I am more than glad to ignore them. When have I thought about a young director who have consistently kept his graph scaling up. He made a good entertainer in his first and an off the beat entertainer in his second, which was definitely 2/3 steps ahead and with this thriller he has placed himself even higher. He could have really not used that song actually, but it is almost like a Myshkin hall mark now, a beautiful lady in an yellow sari dancing with some men. And his use of famous directors for many characters, including the one of J.K, is a very clever idea. They are quite good and refreshing too. Especially using Cheran for the role of J.K was a master stroke. A simple guy as an investigator. That happens only once in a blue moon in Indian cinema. I am going to expect much more from this director.

Cinematography by Sathya, has been brilliant, except for a few scenes where the camera was too much present with its movements. And his low light scenes, there were lots and lots of them, were brilliant. After Aadukalam, yet another brilliant attempt behind the camera.

I sincerely want to salute the whole team behind this movie. The best after Aadukalam. And a special mention to that wonderful actor Lakshmi, who dared to shave off her head for this once in a life kind of character.