Heat Analysis

Heat (1995)

Written and Directed by: Michael Mann
Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

It is a simple hero versus villain film, a cop versus a thief, good versus evil and it is done so well. Both the characters are fleshed out and performed very well. Robert De Niro is so different in this film, he is much more sophisticated and subdued. He doesn't stutter, or mumble and it's interesting to see him this way. Much different from how he was in Goodfellas which came the same year. Al Pacino is terrific too. The setting of the film is the nightscape of the city - the bokeh effect of the traffic lights is such well used in the film as a visual element. And both the men meet at the midpoint, both the stars, it's such a cinematic high, and after the build up, they don't fight or even yell at each other, they just sit and talk about how they feel about things. That scene gives the audience a cinematic high, and it also explores character in an engaging way. I like how the film had people wearing black suits most of the times. I remember a lot of scenes where both characters were wearing black. It adds to the texture of the film. 

The action is so good. It feels like a blast, and yet it doesn't feel too over the top. Despite of all the action, the film is about these two people as well. We see Al Pacino struggling in his marriage, his daughter attempting suicide, and we see how Robert De Niro's partner takes a chance with him and leaves everything, and goes to him - but because of his nature and the kind of job he does, she has to go through a heartbreak. Although we don't know if she ever fell in love, or if she was just swooned by his charm. Well, it's tough not to fall for something like that but she'd perhaps learn a lesson. 

Cold Case Analysis

Cold Case (2021)

Directed by: Tanu Balak
Written by: Sreenath V. Nath
Starring: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Aditi Balan
Streaming on Amazon Prime.

The logline of the film read something like a mix of an investigative thriller, and a supernatural element and suddenly the film that ringed in me was 'The Wailing'. Though the ending of that film didn't work as much for me, it had a terrific tonality throughout. The reason this film disappointed me is because even the tone of the film didn't work for me. It uses the same old tropes of showing horror. Someone moving in the back. Someone making sounds. Some random magic tricks. I hate them even if they're done well. I, in fact, don't enjoy watching supernatural horror unless if the film works even without the horror element of it. Here, there are bits and pieces of the thriller piece working. Some interesting portions of investigation. But the core idea of the movie fell apart for me. I think a dead person seeking for revenge by becoming a ghost, as a story is done to death and we've to find different ways of exploring horror. A flashback in the ending which explains the mystery, the character who is a spirit master, lights turning off, dramatic music - all such elements. 

What worked for me in the film is that, in spite the film had all these cliches, I didn't feel like I should stop watching it. It had the expectations stay. Simply because the film is grounded well, and is shot decently. Like the scene where she sees a starfish in the icebox, the scene where the girl is stuck in the fridge - these are interesting scenes. I think if we maintain this standard of filmmaking, and if the story works, then it'll be a wonderful movie.

Luca Analysis

Luca (2021)

Directed by: Enrico Casarosa
A PIXAR film. 
Streaming on Disney+Hotstar.

It's a sweet film about friendship, and acceptance. Even though the film is about these things, it's amazing how PIXAR manages to create a world which is always rich of love from the family and that's what makes it endearing. The premise in itself carries the theme of the film in a subtle way, discrimination, the feeling of being different from others because of something you can't control. A few sea monsters, assume human form as they come out of water, for us to empathize with them. It's also meta in a way because even for us to understand them, they have to become something that we can see and relate to, or else we'd not empathize with them, just like the people in the film.

The plans Luca and Alberto make, to buy a Vespa - I think that's the core of a friendship. To make plans for something you look forward to in life, and being on the pursuit of it. The pursuit for something is always more beautiful than what it actually is. The conversations they have about what they'd do after buying a Vespa. Luca wanting to go to school with the girl he meets, works in both ways, it works for what it is, and it also works for a guy falling in love with a girl and the conflict it would create between two close friends. Luca letting go of Alberto as a sea monster, is such a heartbreaking scene, and the final scene when Luca redeems himself is such a Rajamouli-esque scene. I had goosebumps while watching something after quite a while.

Rosemary's Baby Analysis

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Adapted for the Screen and Directed by: Roman Polanski
Starring: Mia Farrow, John Cassevetes
Streaming on Netflix.

Well, I'm generally not into supernatural/paranormal horror. For the simple reason that the level of stakes is so high and there is no grounding to it. After a point, you know what a horror film would have. A couple of jump scares. Some gore. Some action. There's no real mystery to it if you've seen a lot of films. The best type of horror, or even mystery is where you don't know what to expect. Take Burning (2018) - in this film, the mystery slowly creeps into our heads like a parasite without even us noticing. Similarly, what this film does beautifully while setting up is that it starts like a film about a couple. It slowly unravels the horror. It is peeled layer by layer. The film doesn't even has horror in the direct sense of the word. It plays on paranoia, like a psychological thriller. It's also fluid in genre. I think that's the reason even films like Get Out, and Midsommar would work better than an Inisidious-78. 

Mia Farrow is terrific in the film, I loved her performance. She was 23, when she did this. The level of hope for a good future, a good life, the innocence, the naivety she brings in the beginning of the film - it all turns into nerve wracking anxiety as the film progresses. The dream sequence was very interesting. The film has a good usage of craft - production design, hair and make up, editing, everything. I realized for some reason, films in the 70s had more confidence as they were staging scenes. Now we have a lot of cuts, or unnecessary camera movements within even a simple action. We use a track-in when a character is drinking water. I'm like... why? I think we have to revisit some of these films to just brush up our ideas of staging and blocking.

Sherni Analysis

Sherni (2021)

Directed by: Amit V. Masurkar
Starring: Vidya Balan
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video. 

The best part about the film is the tone, the subdued thriller, and the way it dips into the documentary territory once in a while where it feels like all these people are real, and all their stories are real. It keeps going in there for a bit, and it keeps coming back to the Bollywood thriller film tone. It's a unique tone. The way the setting is used, is also so good. It's quite rare to see such good usage of setting. Whether it's the way they use the location, the way they capture most of it in wide shots, and especially the way he uses the local people in the background, and sometimes in the foreground too. The husband's character being shown only on video calls, was an interesting way to show us and make us feel exactly how her personal life would be like. 

What didn't work for me as much in the film is that from a dramatic point of view, I couldn't feel the emotional stakes the film was presenting. Had I already been aware of the environmental issues, perhaps I could've felt it but with this film, I feel like I got to know some things but I didn't feel like I felt anything. And this is not something I had an issue with Newton - there I felt it. It's right there. They explore interpersonal conflict well between Neeraj Kabi and Vidya Balan - it's a small thing but it works. I wish the film explored more of the setting, and the thematic elements through such interpersonal conflicts. Because at the end of the day, the people and the characters is all that matters. Having said that, I like this film just for the unique tone it had and I felt like I was watching something different. 

Sarpatta Parambarai Analysis

Sarpatta Parambarai (2021)

Co-written and Directed by: Pa. Ranjith

Starring: Arya, Cinematography: Murali G. 

Music: Santhosh Narayanan

Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video.

It's an emotionally intense sports drama. It covers all the arcs we generally see in sports films. It starts off with an underdog, rags to riches kind of story where Kaliban, who is not even in consideration at the beginning, slowly comes into the limelight and steals the show. And then it gets into a space of how success can let you off track a bit, and it goes into him becoming an Arjun Reddy. An alcoholic obsessed person who starts losing things one by one. This track was beautiful in this film. This part, the downfall was the best part of the film. Later, he again redeems himself. Picks himself up and wins the match.

There are some interesting moments in the film which show us a change in character. They're not really arcs so to say. But the mother asking him to go redeem himself through boxing. The son of his guru, he who initially attacked Kaliban and tried to backstab him, him coming to save Kaliban now, the guru in the ending fight coming to encourage him. Such change in character, but in a way that it makes sense, makes and stays true to character makes for really good moments. 

The production design, and the way it's set in the boxing world in the 70s is so immersive. Because most of it is shot in wides, just like Malik. The editing is also dynamic, especially in the first 30 minutes where they're introducing the setting and the world. One thing in the boxing matches I felt was, the punches were so hard and yet it took so many punches for a knockout in the movie. Whereas in reality, one such punch would land a knockout. I get it, it would've been to create more drama I guess.

Kudi Yedamaithe Analysis

Kudi Yedamaithe (2021)

Adapted and Directed by: Pawan Kumar

Created and Written by: Ram Vignesh

Streaming on Aha.

It's a time loop based show, where two characters find themselves waking up on the same day with the memory of the earlier days. They slowly open different stories that happen within that day as the show progresses. It's well written and executed. With this premise (or genre rather), the show can be anything. They chose to put this in the setting of a thriller. Kidnapping children. Murders. Investigation. It dips into other territories too for a bit, but it mostly stays on the plot heavy thriller space where there is high tension throughout. Durga is played well by Amala Paul, there is a bit of character exploration too, and it's done in a way where there's some mystery there too. The track of her husband being dead is played out in an interesting way, and it's used as a nice cliffhanger to the show.

One issue I found with the narrative was that, after a point, it just felt like a game, especially when Durga gets to know that she failed saving the kid. So they get to a state where they are okay with losing because they know that they have another chance. The time loop and the entire premise felt a bit futile and purposeless at that moment. I just wish there was a deeper meaning explored for the tool of time loop. Having said that, the show keeps us intrigued and it's binge-able because of the consistency in character and tone, which I think is the most important quality for a show.

Vaazhl Analysis

Vaazhl (2021)

Written and Directed by: Arun Prabhu Purushottam

Produced by: Sivakarthikeyan

Streaming on: Sony LIV

This film has a very similar logline to the first script I ever wrote. I watched some portions of the film in Goa Film Bazaar last year, and I was blown right away. Not because of the content, but because of the style. It's extremely stylish. The way it's shot and edited, the usage of music. And even the way the characters are treated. Women are treated so respectfully as characters, but when we see them from the lens of a guy, it isn't politically correct. It stays true to character. The film has one of the best understanding of Indian men, it explores the erratic nature of men beautifully. It just so happens that for some reason Indian films don't explore much of the real thoughts men go through in mainstream cinema. Even something as simple as jerking off is considered a big deal on screen. Vaazhl too doesn't go there, but it plays a super funny, quirky music whenever he's turned on, or is getting a little uncomfortable.

For a while, I felt that the film had too much of conflicts. The emotional baggage of the woman felt a little off tone for the kind of film I was expecting. It goes into the black comedy territory. But as we get used to the unpredictability of the film, the film just goes high on coke. The second half was all over the place, but I liked it. It's a strong visual experience, and I'm guessing the hangover of Vaazhl is going to be there for a day at least.

Sathi Leelavathi Analysis

Sathi Leelavathi (1995)

Co-written, Edited, Shot and Directed by: Balu Mahendra

Starring: Ramesh Arvind, Kalpana, Kamal Hassan, Heera

Streaming on YouTube.

It's a simple, focused, straightforward film. The premise revolves around a man who has extra marital affair and learns his lesson. The film has a clear worldview that it presents, unlike Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona which is a lot more complex. Although this film too doesn't shy away from exploring anything within this territory - it blatantly talks about why these things happen. About a lot of women not ageing well after motherhood. The beautiful thing the film does is, it makes him learn a lesson with love. His wife is his family, his home and he steps away from it for a while to explore something different, but realizes that it's not him. The new stuff is not him. The way kids are being treated, or his family is being treated. It just doesn't feel like home.

I think about why people cheat, especially married people - as much as desire and lust, there's also an element of wanting a sense of excitement and unpredictability in life. I sometimes think if you have an otherwise exciting or an adrenaline filled life, you would embrace the beautiful rut and predictability in your personal life. The film here and there steps into the adult comedy space, but it doesn't go there too much to a point where it'd get annoying. The ending where Kovai Sarala doubts Kamal Hassan was a terrific joke, but the action sequence post that felt like a post credit scene. 

Persepolis Analysis

Persepolis (2007)

Written and Directed by: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
Based on an autobiographical graphic novel of the same name.
Premiered at 2007 Cannes Film Festival.

It's a coming-of-age story of a young girl set in the backdrop of Iranian Revolution. Let's forget the political and social commentary for a moment, and let's see how beautiful a premise this is for a story. I love it, when there is a mix of moods - here, one is a sweet, nice, coming-of-age story, but the setting is very intense, it has war, revolution, etc. going on. This makes for a bittersweet tone, exactly like real life. Real life is mostly never cheery, or sad. It's mostly bittersweet. Sweet on the outside, bitter in the inside. The film not only manages to take political stances, like vouching for liberation, and more but it also shows us how life is like otherwise. Although she comes from a progressive family, we can still see what kind of a milieu this is. Because for us, all these things might seem so normal - but when we know that in some parts of the world, even today in 2021, even small things are such a big deal. That is the reality that the film makes us feel and experience. 

The grandmother is a nice mentor figure to the girl. It's of course, interesting when there is a conflict between the grandmother and Marji - like when Marji tells her that she lied to the cops that someone misbehaved with her and that she had no choice; but the sheer profoundness of her advice, makes it interesting otherwise too. The way the film progresses, there is a lot of life happening - she witnesses people die, she moves to a country, she moves back to her home and such films which show a lot of life happening - I immediately get the vibe of an epic. Forrest Gump. Boyhood. For me, nothing is more dramatic than us seeing life happening to characters, which is why perhaps coming-of-age is my favorite genre in film to watch and write too.

Three Colors: Red Analysis

Three Colors: Red (1994)

Co-written, Directed and Produced by: Krzysztof Kieslowski

Starring: Irene Jacob

Nominated for 3 Oscars, and for Palme d'Or at Cannes.

When you watch any scene in this film, you sense the confidence of the filmmaker. Particularly with the blocking, and the camera movements. Every minute move of the actor and the camera is choreographed, and yet it looks seamless and it looks like everything is magically falling into place. The film is about solitude, heartbreak and it has an anti-romantic worldview to it, which is ironic because red is usually a color used to express romance. It also goes into the territories of the butterfly effect, and how chance plays a huge role in life. Sometimes, I tend to overthink but my life would've been drastically different hadn't I dropped a text to a stranger on a particular day. Hadn't I opened my phone and stumbled upon an ad for event, which changed my life. I'm sure there'd be a lot of such things that would've changed our lives for good or bad, which we ignore and pass by. The film talks about this aspect of life, even through the ending. 

The opening imagery of the film is pretty abstract, but as we see the film we understand what it was. The telephone lines. The interconnected nature of life. And of course, we see red in almost every frame of the film. Either in Valentine's lipstick, or in at least one property in the frame, and sometimes even the color of the car passing by a road in the background. Things like these is what tell us how everything that we see in the film is crafted to tell story. Sometimes it's on our faces and sometimes it's subtle.