Movie Review – Forrest Gump: by Srinavya

This movie is based on the book by the same name written by Winston Groom. The movie is about a man named Forrest Gump and spans across several decades of his life who witnesses many historical events in the 20^th century of United States like pop-culture, civil rights movement, Vietnam War, Watergate scandal and many more. The leading man character was played by “Tom Hanks”, whose characteristics were of a slow-witted but kind-hearted and sympathetic man with an IQ of 75. The movie is a mixture of both comedy and drama which jells well so perfectly that neither of those feels as extremities, at the same time balances each other. The lead actor who is known for getting into the skin of the roles that he plays doesn’t disappoint this time either. He not just adapts the character but also gives a new dimension and meaning to the character which makes us look at life in a different way. His character has a blissful ignorance and warmly embraced nature which was never shown before. Tom Hanks plays the character so well that even after decades the future generation will remember fondly. The background score and writing go together so perfectly that neither makes it feel out of place. The supporting characters Jenny Curran, Lieutenant Dan Taylor Bubba Blue and Mrs Gump played by Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson and sally field respectively has given a breath-taking performance. The screenplay was written so well that the movie flows more fluid like than water.

There are some memorable moments in the film like when Jenny comes to the rescue of Forrest and asks him to run when a man calls Forrest stupid and his mother tells him that ‘stupid is as stupid does’ and the heartwarming moments between Forrest and his lieutenant.

It is a very sweet and heart-warming film after watching which will leave a smile on your face and heart filled with emotions. All in all, the movie is a sweet box of chocolates.

Movie Review: Begin Again: by Suneeva R. Patadi

With Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley in the lead, “Begin Again” makes for easy-breezy entertainment.

Dan (Ruffalo) is a cash-strapped, always drunk, music director who is desperate to find a musical discovery that will restore his status in the industry and give him a reason to pull his life back together.

His savior ends up being Gretta (Keira Knightley), a British singer-songwriter introduced at an open-mike night after her rock star American boyfriend cheats on her while leaving her to fend for herself in the city of New York. Being an intuitive artiste, she spontaneously inspires the song and performs hours later.

“Begin Again” is aptly named since it, indeed, recounts the same day over again in its opening sequences before Gretta and Dan meet after her performance. First, it is told from Dan’s point of view as his haphazard behavior negatively affects all he encounters, especially his neglected teenage daughter. Then we witness Gretta’s version, as she learns that her boyfriend has cheated on her for the past five years. How? By listening to the lyrics of his new song.

From there, Dan and Gretta decide to make a demo album all on their own, along with some funding, courtesy of Ceelo Green, who owes a debt to Dan for his career. The movie is all about integrity and simplicity. A must watch for those who like the offbeat genre.

Movie Review: IT : by Shashwat Pathak

IT is based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel of the same name. It is a horror flick based in the period of the original novel. The story revolves around a group of kids and an ancient creature terrorizing the town. As the story progresses, the group of kids realize that they are all in fact running from the same creature and must band together to stop it. More than a horror story, IT is about adulthood, facing your fears and growing up. Make no mistake, all the horror elements are here and are well executed but they often take a back seat to the growth that these individual characters experience.

IT starts relatively slow and takes some time to pick up pace. All the events happening in the beginning appear to be random and can confuse the viewer but they do form a coherent story by the end. My only gripe with the movie is the initial pacing as it felt a little disorienting. The movie does not shy away from showing adult content on the screen. Blood, sexism, racism, oppression, paranoia and other difficult-to-handle topics are covered relatively well in the movie.  It is refreshing to see a horror movie which retains the elements of a clichéd horror movie while innovating with character development and multiple layers of storytelling.

Bill Skarsgard performs exceptionally well as IT. Every scene with him is entertaining and terrifying at the same time. The rest of the cast is also memorable for their roles and their characters leave a lasting effect on the viewer. The IT is a must watch for any horror fan and easily worth your time.

Movie Review: Coco: by Shashwat Pathak

Have you ever wondered where your family’s traditions come from? That’s where the plot of Pixar’s Coco begins. Set in Mexico, Coco gives the viewers a unique look at traditions, customs and family relations. More than that, this movie showcases how a family overcomes its own flaws. Miguel, our protagonist, is a musically talented kid living in a family that has given up on all kinds of music due to the actions of his great great grandfather. The story revolves around the journey made by Miguel and Hector in the land of the dead. It is often times an emotional roller-coaster and even has a few twists and turns. The camaraderie between Miguel and Hector is presented in a way which makes it seem very natural and very comic at the same time. The characters had depth and layers. Unlike most movies aimed towards kids, Coco doesn’t seem to have any problem painting the main characters in grey instead of the traditional black and white. It was more mature than I had expected while still being appropriate for kids.

The animation and musical numbers steal the show. The landscapes are breath-taking and there is a grandiose feeling to the whole movie. Coco’s depiction of the afterlife is as beautiful as it is fantastic (special shout out to the song “Loco”).

This is a movie for the entire family and like always, Pixar has once again hit the ball out of the park.

Movie Review : Get Out : by Suparnika Das

Get Out is a twisted and entertaining horror-satire on the subject of race. This masterpiece is a perfect blend of anxiety and tension, executed in a beautiful way. The horror in the movie is handled in layers by Jordan Peele, who had previously worked in comedies.

The film starts with a scene where a black person gets kidnapped in the dead of the night by a masked person.

The scene switches to portray the loving relationship between Chris, a 26 year old black man, played by Daniel Kaluuya and his white girlfriend Rose, played by Allison Williams. Rose makes plans to take Chris to her ancestral home to meet her wealthy and liberal parents Dean and Missy Armitage, played by Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener, a surgeon and psychotherapist, respectively. Though initially reluctant, Chris is left with no choice but to give in to Rose’s proposal. On their arrival to Rose’s home, Chris is uncomfortable with the fact that though Rose’s parents were impeccably progressive, but had black housekeeping staffs named Georgina and Walter, who seemed to behave oddly on his arrival. On the dinner table, the discomforting comments on black community by Dean, Missy and Rose’s brother Jeremy makes Chris uncomfortable.

It so happens that the couple’s visit coincides with a huge family gathering in their estate. Things grows more and more uncomfortable and unsettling when the only black guest attacks Chris, screaming on his face ‘Get Out’, on being secretly clicked by Chris’s mobile camera. Chris calls up his best friend Rod Williams, played by LilRel Howery, only to raise his suspicions.  Chris decides to return with Rose to the city, unknown of the fact about what awaits for him in the seemingly perfect house. The adrenaline rush speeds up when Chris gets to know about the darkest truth about the Armitage family.

The film portrays horror and satire in layers accompanied by the uncanny music scores, songs and Toby Oliver’s brilliant cinematography. The story-line as concocted by Jordan Peele has echoes of the real world, which was frightening.

In a nutshell, Get Out is a must watch for people who are inclined towards horror, mystery and satires.