REBECCA(1940): Horror
Dir.: Alfred Hitchcock
Stars: Lawrence Olivier, Joan Fontaine.
USP: Based on the book by "Alexander Daphne", this Oscar winning Best Picture movie is one of the most celebrated in its genre—Haunted House/Manor. A newly married lively, city-girl is haunted by her husband's ex-wife (Rebecca) who died few years ago in the same manor. Everybody loved Rebecca and loathed the protagonist including all the servants, well-wishers and the city people. Watch it for the Hitchcock, the thrilling elements, the climax and a great performance by the actress who played Rebecca. Mind it, its Black n White!!!
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA(1962): War Drama
Dir.: David Lean
Stars: Omar Sharif, Gene Hackman
USP: The fact that it is one of the first movies to show an anti-hero as a Hero must be sufficient enough for you to watch this epic drama. An English man who joins the War against the Arabs ends up fighting the War against his own people, his own nation—England. He turns into a phenomenon and celebrated as the "Lawrence of Arabia".
DOCTOR ZHIVAGO(1965): Russian Drama
Dir.: David Lean
Stars: Omar Sharif.
USP: First of all, watch this for Omar Sharif, who I don't know how he missed an Academy Award for this stunning performance in this movie. And even if you are not a big fan of the Egyptian actor, don't worry; there are still dishes which will satisfy your hunger. Take, for instance, the Russian people, their culture and the war-time background are enough to captivate a person's interest. And not to forget the nickname used by "Anurag Mohapatra" was this one only.
TAXI DRIVER(1976): Crime Drama
Dir.: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster.
USP: A taxi driver trying to assassinate the president of the United States. Plus, we have De Niro in an awesome Mohawk Hairstyle. The nail-biting thriller, the gloomy city of New York, the life of a taxi driver, DeNiro's performance and this being the 1st hit of Scorsese's career are few of the reasons why u should watch the movie.
RAGING BULL(1980): Crime Drama
Dir.: Martin Scorsese
Actors: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci
USP: Back to the Scorsese's territory. This one, being one his finest movies, considered at par with Taxi Driver, and later to be matched only by Goodfellas and The Departed. Raging Bull tells the story of a boxer (Jake La Motta) who after years of boxing and defeating some of the biggest names in the boxing world ends up as an entertainer. Watch it for the heartfelt storyline, Scorsese's direction, Joe Pesci and the Oscar-deserving acting of Robert De Niro.
A PASSAGE TO INDIA(1984): Indian Adventure
Dir.: David Lean
Stars: Victor Banerjee, Gene Hackman
USP: An Englishman makes a movie about India. Not a new concept now (thanx to Slumdog), but it was in those days. The movie set in the British-Raj period, is based on the fear and fright under which Indians were living in those days. The English Protagonist who secretly loves this down-to-earth Indian (Banerjee) accuses him of Rape and this is when everything turns upside down. Watch this one for the outside interpretation of the British Colonial Raj in India, exotic Indian locations and one of a kind David Lean direction.
BACK TO THE FUTURE(1985): Time Travel Fantasy
Dir.: Robert Zemeckis
Stars: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd
USP: Being one of the 1st time travel fantasy, this movie is regarded as the finest one in its genre. A high-school kid (Fox) is time-travelled into past in a car designed by a mad scientist (Llyod) and falls in love with his own mother. Holy shit!
Also Watch: Back to the Future 2 (1989); Back to the Future 3 (1990).
FULL METAL JACKET(1987): War Drama
Dir.: Stanley Kubrick
USP: One of Stanley Kubrick's greatest (Others being A Clockwork Orange, 2001 Space Odyssey, etc). Anyways, this movie, which is basically a "Psycho movie", has its own charm. Depicting the lives of Marine Corps, this film is widely acclaimed for a hitherto (R. Lee Ermey) who served as the trainer for the newly recruited marine corps for the initial 1 hour of the movie. Watch it for that only and you will never regret.
GOOD MORNING VIETNAM(1987): Comedy, Humorous, War Drama
Dir.: Barry Levinson
Stars: Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker
USP: Robin Williams's sole Best Actor Oscar Nominated movie, Good Morning Vietnam is a tale of Vietnam War through the eyes of a Comedian who is stationed there for humoring the Soldiers there. In the meantime, our Hero falls in love with a 'Nam girl and bonds well with the locals by teaching them English in a school. Soon, he develops feelings for the local culture and speaks in against of War which fumes a many Majors and Generals. Watch this film for Robin Williams, the greatest Comedian ever born.
RAIN MAN(1988): Drama
Dir.: Barry Levinson
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise
USP: A younger brother (Cruise) takes care of his older, crazy brother (Hoffman) who has a thing for Mathematics and Food. Isn't it interesting? Well, if it isn't, then watch it and prove yourself wrong. :P
BIG (1988): Comedy, Humorous
Dir.: Penny Marshall
Stars: Tom Hanks
USP: Tom Hanks' one of the 1st hit, this movie is for all those people who wanted to grow old when they were kids. Well, for the kid in the movie, that became true and guess what, he turns into Tom Hanks when he miraculously grows up after waking up from sleep one night. Lucky Bastard! Anyways, his mental growth didn't take place (as expected) but again this lucky-fucking-bastard ends up as a Manager in Toy Making merchandise. Yeah, a big man with a mind as a kid has no other job prospective. In between, a hot-looking girl falls in love with him and He gets bore of this responsible life. So….
GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES(1988): Animated War Drama
Dir.: Isao Takahata
USP: Well, this one is a bit dark. It tells the story of a brother and sister who having lost their parents in the war tries to find happiness in little things. The best part being the sister, who is basically a child, doesn't know anything but trusts her brother with all her life. It's a tale of happiness and sorrow at the same time.
BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY(1989): Vietnam War Drama
Dir.: Ridley Scott
Stars: Tom Cruise
USP: An educated US college student group decided to join the Vietnam War and fight against the growing communism. They are leaded by a charismatic, smart fellow-Tom Cruise. Little did he knew that when he would return from the 'Nam, he will have no legs and a dysfunctional penis. Fuck! It is then he decided to boycott the war and turn into an Anti-War Hero.
P.S. Tom Cruise earned his 1st of 3 Oscar Nomination for this movie which won Ridley Scott (the director of Gladiator), his 1st Oscar.
DEAD POET'S SOCIETY(1989): Inspirational Drama
Dir.: Peter Weir
Stars: Robin Williams.
USP: Seldom you watch a movie that makes you believe that "Yes, You Can". DPS is one such movie. The story is about a high-school teacher who wants to bring about a change in his students' lives by inspiring them to take up creativity rather than the usual cramming. In many ways, this movie inspired Mohabattein. In any case, do watch this one, because it is minus the songs, dance sequence in the Indian remake and has a more focused story on the subject.
GOODFELLAS(1990): Crime Drama
Dir.: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta
USP: I am back with one more Scorsese's great. Goodfellas is the movie that you have been waiting to see your entire life. It combines the best of Scorsese, De Niro, Pesci and a hitherto named Ray Liotta, all in one of the greatest gangster films ever made. Watch it if you ever had a pint of Gangster in you and if you don't, well, you better be a good police Cop!
GHOST (1990): Horror, Adventure
Stars: Patrick Swayzne, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg
USP: A romantic tale of a deceased man (Swayzne) who tries to convey a message to his love (Moore). All he need is a mediator who although alive, understands ghastly language and save the girl who was on the way of making a big mistake. Watch this for the mistake, the lover-boy Swayzne (RIP) and a sexy Demi Moore who looks as always stunning in every scene.
TOTAL RECALL(1990): Comedy, SCI-FI, Films set on Mars
Dir.: Paul Verhoeven
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone
USP: A good Sci-Fi movie is rare to find. Often they contradict their own material and present a crooked version of the actual story. But Total Recall is much different from a just Sci-Fi movie. Based on Mars, with Arnold in the lead and a story based on Cloning, etc are enough to make a Cinephile heart skip a beat.
THE FISHER KING(1991): Tragicomedy, Drama
Dir.: Terry Gilliam
Stars: Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges
USP: My personal fav. This movie has got all the guts to demean a lunatic person with such wit and cleverness, which at the end of the movie you will began to feel sympathetic for the normal humans rather than the loony earthian.
RESERVOIR DOGS(1992): Crime Drama, Humour
Dir.: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen.
USP: What actually drive you to watch a particular movie? If I say it is the best Indie films ever made? If I say it is Quentin Tarantino's movie? If I say it is a Crime drama with all the elements of Stealing, Drugs, Guns, Betrayal and Murder? I guess what makes a great movie great is the combination of the 3 aforementioned. And Reservoir Dogs is the one with perfect combination of Wit and Stupidity, this movie is a must watch for every rookie filmgoer.
BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA (1992): Horror, Vampire
Dir.: Francis Ford Copolla
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Anthony Hopkins, Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder
USP: The first of thousands Vampire based novels; Dracula (1890s) by Bram Stoker's screen adaptation is as much enchanting as the book itself. The hunt for the Count Dracula by a group of 6 people who has captured the protagonist's (Reeves) wife who herself has fallen in love with the Count. A classic tale of no one is bad and everybody's good, even if he kills people for his own pleasure. Watch this one for the blood sucking, mother fucking vamp, brilliantly portrayed by Gary Oldman and a similar blood-sucker hunting, crazy vamp-fighting Van Helsing, again brilliantly impersonated by Anthony Hopkins. Rest is as they say, it's a Copolla Movie.
PHILADELPHIA(1993): Gay AIDS Drama
Dir.: Jonathan Demme
Stars: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington
USP: Well, for starters, Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, both in one movie. Tom Hanks won his 2nd Oscar for playing the role of a Gay person having AIDS for this film. Denzel Washington played a lawyer who has to fight for the AIDS patient putting all his career and image in jeopardy.
TRUE LIES(1994): Spy Comedy
Dir.: James Cameron
Stars: Arnold, Jamie Lee-Curtis.
USP: An undercover spy story with Arnold as the lead. What more could you want? Wait there is more. A wife, who loves undercover spies, and falls in love with a prevaricator Spy, Now, when our actual Hero (Arnold) knows about this, he, tries to win her back by some really cool spy methods. Watch this if you are a big fan of spy movies and wants to see some cool action on-screen.
FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL(1994): Comedy, Romance
Dir.: Mike Newell
Stars: Hugh Grant, Andie Macdowell.
USP: Hugh Grant, Hugh Grant, Hugh Grant. Well, for the ignorant minds, Hugh Grant is the British equivalent of Tom Cruise or say Shah Rukh Khan. A beautiful, handsome man, in his late 40s, with a thing for dialogue delivery. Believe me; he speaks dialogue as if he is having sex with the words. Moreover, FWAAF is a light-hearted comedy film about friends who attends 4 weddings and a funeral. I guess, that's interesting, isn't it?
LEON: THE PROFESSIONAL(1994): Crime Drama, Romance
Dir.: Luc Besson
Stars: Natalie Portman, Jean Reno, Gary Oldman
USP: A Silent Assasin's love story with a teenager. That's it. It's the movie basic plotline. Anyways, do watch the movie for the great storyline, some great scenes of Natalie Portman as a child artiste and a tear jerking ending.
CLERKS (1994): Comedy
Dir.: Kevin Smith
USP: Clerks, the first of many "Askew Universe" based Kevin Smith movies. Well, to start with, this is not the usual comedy crap of Adam Sandler or Jim Carrey. This is Kevin Smith, we are talking about. A really smart, witty take on a Video Store owner in New Jersey, usually accompanied by the ever lovable "Jay and Silent Bob" . I am pretty sure you will adore the man "Kevin Smith" after you watch this movie.
APOLLO 13(1995): Space Adventure, Drama
Dir.: Ron Howard
Stars: Tom Hanks.
USP: The true story about the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission. Watch this one for the shear effort put on by the entire cast and crew of the team. And not for one moment, you will think that you are actually watching a movie. And the jealousy inside Jim Lovell for Neil Armstrong is also worth mentioning. In the end "Houston did have a problem". Haha…
12 MONKEYS(1995): Time Travel, Mystery
Dir.: Terry Gilliam
Stars: Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis
USP: Brad Pitt as a crazy person in his 1st Oscar Nominated role. A classic role and a Classic movie. Plus there are 12 monkeys to keep you busy all the time through which Bruce Willis time travels…A must watch. Period.
DEAD MAN WALKING (1995): Hardcore Drama
Dir.: Tim Burton
Stars: Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon.
USP: Sean Penn's acting. It's insane to even think of someone other than Penn essaying the role in the movie. Hats Off!
P.S. Don't get carried off by the title of the movie.
BEFORE SUNRISE(1995): Romantic
Dir.: Richard Linklater
Stars: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
USP: The most intelligent romantic movie ever made. The story: Well, it's a one night romance between 2 smart tourists—American guy and a French girl in the beautiful city of Venice. Just watch the movie for the endless chats that the two have about love, life, death and after-death.
Ciao Friends. Will be back with another issue. Till then, keep watching movies.
