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Under Suspicion (2000)
Film That Lays Bare Extreme Psychological Trauma of a A Marriage Gone Terribly sour
Everyone will shree that Under Suspicion is a great thriller with Freeman ,Hackman and Monica Bellucci coming off brilliantly,the two men not so much the woman. In the background is a certain acquaintance of Hackman the eminent tax lawyer who has all success and a beautiful wife anyone can be jealous of,and Freeman's two divorces,he is now living away alone. It is the ending we shall talk because many call it a red herring. I think this superbly directed film with great dialogues has some brilliant editing,especially when it shows scenes as Hackman initially narrates,and then shows another possibility as Freeman indicates happened on the basis of what he calls evidence Hackman is sexually down and out thrown off by his beautiful wife 60 feet away from her on duspicion that Hackman is a pefofile,that he raped her 13 yr old niece . Hackman is being investigated,about his whereabouts,habits and how he reported a rape incident. Freeman investigates and finds Hackman in the area,that he is browsing young naked girls on the internet. Hackman's marriage is so bloody off the rock that he drinks and his behaviour is unpredictable to duchvannrxtentbthat his wife Monica is sure that he is having sex with her jece,thecwaybthe girl.looked at her etc. Freeman presents his case ,his interpretation of crime in such a way that Hackman finally gets brain-washed believing that he must have done those acts without himself realising,as now seems the case probable. He starts blabbering confession,actually constructing the scene as suggested by Freeman,some details are obviously lies because Freeman cannot corroborate it .. His brain completely off the ticket,Hackman confesses lies but a real lillerbis found. Actually Hackman kay have purposely visited redlightbareas,touched girls,ficked them in the back... But he is not actually a killer,physically,only in his mind. Dramatic twist,leaving audience to wonder what the hell... It is a story of highly frustrated man married tona beauty but unable to enjoy,imagining if he had married a low class teen girl,he could have had sex as he wanted. Afterall,Chantal is Monica was only 28 when the two met,slept everywhere thogh he was a friend of her dead father,looking for luxurious life...but she suspects that her husband raped her own niece,marriage goes down hill till touches emptiness... He is released but now these two are fully burnt...sigh...lovely film. God knows why it did not appeal to audiences when first released in UK. It is a must see. Gene Hackman,Freeman are superb and Monica... so sexy you feel want to have an affair with her even in theatre seat...so sexy,sexy,sexy...If so,now imagine how Hackman must have felt not bring able to have sex with her in his own house...He can see her but not sleep with her. Mental trauma could be the result .Yup.
Caravaggio (1986)
Csrvaggio film relevance
While own review is posted as a filmmaker and a viewer with objectivity, I read other review which goes back to history and attempts to compare this film. I am of the opinion that the concerns of sexuality or crimes associated in history texts maybe there but while adjudging a film ,they should be left alone and only the film.in question should be the focus. In this film there is a painter, he uses models to create his works and in a strange mix of situation,he uses Lena and in course of time she declared she is pregnant while still the painting is yet to be finished. Lena husband is vengeful and he kills Lena. The authorities put himmin jail but is released thinking that that he maybe needed to save the painting but Carvaggionis angry on hearingva confession that Lena was murdered to.please him,he instantly cuts the throat of the husband and after decking upmthe dead body finishes the painting and she is later laid to rest. A plausible story,free from LGBTQ accusations - in the film we only see tangential and suggestive indications and no more . So why go back to the historic text? That is irrelevant, what is relevant is the life of the character before you. That Carvaggionwas a hardened criminal,often disregarding rules etc,make no sense here. I believe to suggest that these 🎨 ngs though shown to be commissioned by the poor cannot be associated to be a biblical and religious intent. This film is a master piece,great recreation,focussing on the main event that is dramatic and dwelks on the details of the happenings. That is all. Do read my review. Thanks.
Pokot (2017)
It keeps shifting goal-posts at whim.That is its key fault. Character is not credible for another,setting too sketchy ,film technically beautiful
I watched this film on January 16,2018, during the Pune International film Festival mainly because the director 's name was associated with two of the most talented film directors,Zanussi and Andrei Wajda. She was assistant to Zanussi and Wajda was her mentor. I expected a lot from this film but was disappointed. I am surprised that Polish Film Committee sent this as an entry to the Oscars and not surprised at all it did not make it.
I think the character does not shape well,nor her concerns. She may have left the city and come to live with the nature but that does not necessarily mean she is in love with the animals and the environment. She comes across as a bit off-the-track erratic old lonely grumpy woman when she argues with the police that they should arrest the hunters. She looks absurd,not like one arguing a case for the animals and the environment. Degradation is hardly attempted,it is a lush green rich landscape visibly. Where is the destruction ? Where is the crime ? A man taken for dead stirs,he is alive,he died later with a bone stuck in his mouth !
The astrology aspect is totally off track and one does not see how it is relevant and useful.I cannot buy any argument extended about past,present reading and with some effort 'when'.
Also,her neighbour talking about his parents and his German mother committing suicide, this tale comes out of the blue for absolutely no reason.
Director keeps shifting goal-posts and as a story we keep searching for the central.focus.
On the positive side, it is shot beautifully, technically very very impressive. The director showing landscapes clearly shows her attempt to draw our attention to the beautiful landscape. But she fails to connect the subject and the setting. The community too is shown in bits and pieces. Surely the editor had to cut out a lot than what he could keep in. The character shaping and it's motive and each dialogue must be carefully planned. The subjects keep shifting focus,that is its main failing. I wish I had a chance to look at the screenplay before it was greenlight ed for shootiñg. It needs improvement,madam. Obviously you must be a good director and you wish to follow your gurus but story-telling is an area which needs more attention. Best wishes-RJ,Pune,Media faculty,Int'l Workshops,India