The ART of ASSUMING

It’s amazing how the human mind works, nonstop, chugging on with the infinite information we see, read, hear and experience. Somehow a lot of this leads to a crazy thing called Assumptions.

Quite often we tend to ignore facts and we get only hearsay. Some of us make all the judgments based on assumptions which are a product of half baked information. I’m always surprised by people who assume everything without ever raising a single question.

Say we have very few information and our mind starts to work on it resulting in an array of assumptions and theories which may not have anything to do with reality, now how stupid will it be to act on such assumptions?

This quality of Assuming can be a boon for writers. It also works well in the Reel world were imagination is key to everything, but it would be highly immature in the Real world.

I have learnt a simple solution from my experiences to counter the Assumption overkill.

WHEN IN DOUBT, (open your freakin mouth and) ASK  :-)

Cheers

Pradeep

Chan Wook Park – Film Maker

This is the first time I’m writing exclusively about a Film Maker and his works. I wanted to begin with THE Director who had the maximum impact, who became one of my favorite with just a single movie - Chan Wook Park, the acclaimed South Korean film maker.

His forte is controversial and dark subjects presented with extreme violence. I am one among the millions who have been shocked, thrilled and psyched by his works. Of course not everyone will like the graphic content of his movies. His works are not for the timid or for the people who only watch feel good fantasy movies. If one can look beyond the violence and understand the concepts and situations the director weaves for his characters, then the genius of Chan Wook Park will hit you like an Express Train.

His take on the style and subjects he chooses:

"Basically, I'm throwing out the question 'When is such violence justified?' To get that question to touch the audience physically and directly - that's what my goal is. In the experience of watching my film, I don't want the viewer to stop at the mental or the intellectual. I want them to feel my work physically. And because that is one of my goals, the title 'exploitative' will probably follow me around for a while." – Source IMDB.

Park has directed twelve films till date, out of which he his well-known for his Trilogy - Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance. The most striking thing about his movies is that all his characters look very real. The performances are on par or even better at times when compared to Hollywood or European Cinema. Indian audiences will go mad if they get to see the kind of subjects he handles. We might think Hollywood is extremely forward and liberal but wait till you see his works. Cinematography is also one of his strengths. The daring subjects coupled with beautiful and unique visual design will stun the viewer into a trance.

I've seen three of his works and here are my(re)views. I'll update this write-up as I watch more of his films.

J.S.A. Joint Security Area [2000]  

The story deals with the volatile North and South  Korean politics. A shooting incident at a border post leaves two North Korean soldiers dead with three survivors. A neutral enquiry is conducted by Swiss Investigators to find the truth. Both sides come out with different versions of what really happened. The investigators slowly decipher the mystery as the actual incidents are shown in flashbacks.

The movie starts with a bang but overall the screenplay is at a  slow pace. The acting makes all the difference.

The movie raises a lot of important issues which haunts both the countries. One insightful theme is the separation or lack of peace between the two countries which actually benefits other Nations who are obsessed in controlling the world. The same is true in our sub continent; if peace prevails all of us get to gain. So the question is, with war and trouble in our region “who stands to gain the most?”

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance [2002] : Rated R

It's one of the most depressing films I have seen but one cannot argue with the motives for the bloody events happening in the movie.

Ryu, a deaf and dumb factory worker takes care of his sister who is unwell. She needs a Kidney transplant, Ryu’s blood type doesn’t match so he is unable to donate his own kidney. He desperately tries to save his sister through illegal means which leads him into further despair. The story takes some mind blowing twists and turns with some brutal portrayal of emotions.

All the events flow like water in a river. The use of silence in many sequences is intriguing. Be warned that this movie is extremely violent with some gruesome scenes.

P.S. I screened this film for my peers while I was at film school, by the end of the movie there were quite some people who walked out and one even rushed out as she felt sick due to one particular scene in which there was nothing visually graphic on screen.

Old Boy [2003] : Rated R

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS FILM DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER. THE BEST WAY TO EXPERIENCE THIS FILM IS TO SEE IT WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS FILM. GO WATCH IT NOW.

This is The Movie which made me a fan of Chan Wook Park.

Oh Dae-su is locked up in a room. After fifteen years of imprisonment he is set free by his captors. Oh Dae-su vows to find his captor and the reasons for his detention.

I’m not going to explain more about the plot as it will lead to spoilers. The story is extremely controversial and it might be too explicit even for western audiences. Acting is top notch especially of Min-sik Choi who plays the lead character Oh Dae Su. He has given an exceptional performance which is both physically and emotionally demanding. This movie gave Park his much deserved international acclaim. It also won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes film festival.

There were reports that Steven Spielberg was to remake this movie with Will Smith in the lead. Later Will Smith was trying to procure the rights to the original Japanese Manga Comic on which Old Boy was based. Somehow the project didn't come to life. Now after so many years Spike Lee is directing the Hollywood remake. It's unreasonable to expect spike lee to come up with a better version, but  I  do respect his talents. Let's just wait and watch. Also there was an unofficial remake in Hindi - Zinda by Sanjay Gupta.
(update) And the hope dies as I just watched a really crappy remake. The original cut was supposed to be 140 mins but the studio edited the movie heavily and the final released version was 104 mins. Even if it was the longer version, the movie wouldn't have worked, as it was a really bad remake by Spike Lee.

Old Boy was Park’s first movie that I saw. A friend told me that this was a cult classic and about a year later I got the movie. I feel like I wasted a year by not watching this one. At that time I was working for an MNC and everyday when I got back from work I used to watch a lot of movies. As usual I started this movie and leisurely lay down on my bed to see what the fuss is all about. Half an hour into the movie I was sitting upright and staring at the monitor without blinking an eyelid. As the movie came to an end, I sat there staring blankly at the wall. Such a Shocking story; I haven’t seen anything like this before. This was creativity at its best in cinema. As a person who is obsessed with anything creative, I asked myself “What the F…k am I doing here in this Crappy job?”

Within a couple of months I quit my job and a year later, after constant efforts, today I am taking my first step towards learning the Art of Film Making. Chan Wook Park made me jump right off the cliff into the Amazing World of Cinema. I can’t predict what the future holds for me but I’m extremely happy that I’m making an Effort.

Happy Independence Day.
Cheers

Pradeep

Some interesting links:
http://youniversemovie.blogspot.com/2008/11/oldboy-octopus-eating-scene.html

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Update: OCT, 2012

Lady Vengeance [2005] : Rated R

The story is about Geum-ja Lee, who is released from prison after 13 years. She was convicted for kidnapping and murdering a young boy. She plots her revenge against the real perpetrator of the crime with the help of her Ex inmates.

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is another Masterpiece. This was the third film in the Vengeance Trilogy. I watched this movie again after a very long time. Each time I watch it, it mesmerizes me. It  throws a zillion thoughts in my mind about the characters, the situations, the violence, the pain and all the little detailing that has gone into making this wonderful classic.

Park's films are known for its technical brilliance and Lady Vengeance is another treat to watch. The shot design and transitions are mind blowing. The music as always with his films, is spot on. Never intrusive but always engaging. The cast consists most of the actors from the other two Vengeance movies. The lead character is played by Yeong ae Lee. She looks Angelic, her performance is quite powerful, but restrained.  There isn't much violent scenes which one would expect in a revenge drama but the second half will be a little difficult to watch with some shocking scenes.  

Lady Vengeance is indeed a Violent film, not for your Eyes but for your Senses.

Cheers
Pradeep

Scent of a Woman – Directed by Martin Brest

The movie Ends

And I wanted to stand up and

**clap clap* Bravo*clap*Bravo *clap clap**

Or should I say  

!!!!!!!!!!!WHOOOOOOO – AHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Charlie Simms [Chris O'Donnell] is a student of Baird School. He attends the exclusive school on a scholarship. Charlie agrees to take care of a blind retired Army Colonel, Frank Slade [Al Pacino] over Thanksgiving Holiday. 

Just before Thanksgiving, Charlie and his rich friend George Willis [Philip Seymour Hoffman] witness a prank played on the headmaster by George’s friends. Charlie is threatened by the headmaster to reveal the names of the pranksters at the disciplinary hearing. The headmaster also offers to recommend him for an Ivy League college for the names. He asks Charlie to think over it during the holidays.

As the Colonel’s family leaves for the trip Charlie arrives to take care of him. Colonel Frank has his own agenda and takes Charlie on a trip to New York. The rest of the story is all about Frank’s execution of his plans with the hesitant Charlie by his side.

This movie was a remake of a 1974 Italian Film - Profumo di donna.

I can’t imagine anyone else in Colonel Frank’s role, it was like tailor made for Al Pacino. The introduction scene of Al Pacino gives all the insight to the crazy character of Frank Slade. The final sequence has one of the greatest speeches in movie history and Al Pacino won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Chris O Donnell did adequately with his supporting role as the conscience driven Charlie. Another great actor who always stands out in an ensemble is Philip Seymour Hoffman. He makes an unforgettable impression with all his performances. One should watch out for his roles in movies like Boogie Nights, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Red Dragon and Along Came Polly. I’ll surely catch all of his movies soon.

The movie had some of the best dialogues ever. Bo Goldman was nominated for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

Martin Brest was nominated for Best Director and the movie was also nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. I have only seen two other works of Martin Brest, Beverly Hills Cop and Meet Joe Black. His last work Gigli was panned by critics and it bombed at the box office.

" SCENT OF A WOMAN – No No, its all about The Man – AL PACINO " 

Some of Lt. Col. Frank Slade Dialogues:

When in doubt... fuck

The day we stop lookin', Charlie, is the day we die.

Don't shrug, imbecile. I'm blind. Save your body language for the bimbi.

Women! What can you say? Who made 'em? God must have been a fuckin' genius. The hair... They say the hair is everything, you know. Have you ever buried your nose in a mountain of curls... just wanted to go to sleep forever? Or lips... and when they touched, yours were like... that first swallow of wine... after you just crossed the desert................................

Well, gentlemen, when the shit hits the fan, some guys run and some guys stay.

Out of order, I show you out of order. You don't know what out of order is, Mr. Trask. I'd show you, but I'm too old, I'm too tired, I'm too fuckin' blind. If I were the man I was five years ago, I'd take a FLAMETHROWER to this place! Out of order? Who the hell do you think you're talkin' to? I've been around, you know? There was a time I could see. And I have seen. Boys like these, younger than these, their arms torn out, their legs ripped off. But there isn't nothin' like the sight of an amputated spirit. There is no prosthetic for that. You think you're merely sending this splendid foot soldier back home to Oregon  with his tail between his legs, but I say you are... executin' his soul! And why? Because he's not a Bairdman. Bairdmen. You hurt this boy, you're gonna be Baird bums, the lot of ya. And Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are out there, FUCK YOU TOO!

[Lt. Col. Frank Slade is speaking in defense of Charlie Simms at meeting at the Baird School] Now I have come to the cross-roads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew, but I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard. Now here's Charlie. He's come to the cross-roads. He has chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey.

Cheers

Pradeep

Gene Kelly - God of Dancing: Anchors Aweigh [1945]

Anchors Aweigh is a Musical Rom Com directed by George Sidney. Gene Kelly plays the lead with the great Frank Sinatra as his sidekick. They later acted together for another classic "On the Town" in 1949.

The story is about two sailors who get a four day leave in Los Angeles. Joseph Brady [Gene Kelly] is the Dude, the proverbial ladies man. He is on his way to meet his muse Lola in Hollywood. Clarence Doolittle [Sinatra] a fellow sailor is a shy, introvert guy. As he doesn’t have any plans he follows Joseph. Both of them end up in Susan Abbott’s [Kathryn Grayson] home. Susan is an aspiring singer, Clarence falls for her and Joseph promises to help him out to woo her. From here the story evolves to a love triangle which is enacted so beautifully by the three actors. It’s such a pleasure to watch the tension, doubt and emotions the characters go through and none of it seems contrived.

As a musical it has some great songs and choreography. The most unique part of this movie was the dream sequence where Gene Kelly dances with Jerry the mouse. You just have to watch it to gasp in awe at the performance.

The movie won the Oscar for Best Music -Scoring of a Musical Picture. Gene Kelly was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role and it was also nominated in the following categories - Best Cinematography, Best Music -Original Song and Best Picture. 

Our film makers can learn a thing or two from such classics; I’m not talking about ripping it altogether. Simple things, like the way the story cuts to a dream sequence or how the scenes naturally progress to the song and dance routine.

Gene Kelly is truly an inspiring personality. He is an amazing dancer and choreographer, that’s obvious but he is also a Singer, Director and most of all a superb Actor. I’ve just seen three movies of Gene Kelly and already "Singin in the Rain" is my all time favorite musical. 

Gene Kelly - the God of Dancing :)

Cheers

Pradeep