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Bron/Broen (2011)
Enjoyed every season
There are few television series of the thriller genre which maintains an absolutely marvellous pitch across every season .. Bron Broen is one of them.
Gripping storyline, immaculate acting from most of the lead characters and a fast speed as events start to unravel makes this one of my top favourites. Every season is a delight to watch.
Other than True Detective Season 1, I haven't watched any Tele series which can be compared to Bron Broen.
Forbrydelsen Seasons 2 and 3 are a close second.
Saga Noren is a character that one will remember for a long time, honest and funny but you will also feel sad for her at times.
Great partners in both of the two sidekicks .
Sharp edits and a haunting musical score adds to the greatness.
Must watch for lovers of thrillers !
Z (1969)
Z: Chronology of Events and its implications for Greece
"Z" is a real-time proof of one man's fight against corruption; as well as a movie director's commitment and dedication in making this movie. It is considered as one of the best political dramas ever made. I had to share this sincewe need to be aware of what really happened during those trying times.
Lambrakis a beloved Greek olympic athlete (1952) became a doctor and began speaking out against his Greek government. During May,1963, Lambrakis,who was by then a left-wing member of Parliament (Greece) was attacked and struck on the head by right-wing extremists after giving an anti-war speech in Thessaloniki. Earlier Lambrakis had called for Greece to disarm and withdraw from NATO which was dominated by US and British inerests.
He died of brain injuries from the attack on May 27, 1963. Following Lambrakis's assassination, a military junta of right-wing generals seized control of the Greek government in 1967.They were backed by the US Govt since the junta was anti-communism. The letter "Z", meaning "He is alive" in ancient Greek... became a common piece of protest graffiti in Greek cities, in memory of Lambrakis and his democratic ideals... but was later banned by this military govt.
The book was written in 1965 but the author was then exiled by the junta govt once they came to power. The movie was made by Costa Gavras in 1969 while the military govt was in power. The movie was banned in Greece for 5 years, the actors were in house arrest, music director recorded the music while in house arrest, lead actors were banned visas and different nominations were cancelled.
In the film, the Examining Magistrate is Christos Sartzetakis. Once the military govt came into power, he was discharged of his duties, twice arrested, and imprisoned for almost a year, tortured, until he was released on 19 November 1971 because of mounting international pressure.
The Greek army led junta govt fell in 1974, after Cyprus was invaded by Turkey and democracy returned to Greece. Justice prevailed and Christos Sartzetakis' status was restored. He rose later to be the chief justice of the Greek supreme court, and in 1985, with no political affiliations, became the 4th president of the Republic of Greece.
1n 1969 The American Film and Motion Pictures Academy gave a standing ovation to this movie by Costa Gavras. During then, US itself was going through the Nixon years. The Academy nominated "Z" for 10 Oscars and for the first time ever a foreign language movie was nominated as the best picture. This ultimately forced the US Govt of Richard Nixon to allow screening of the movie in US.
Shanghai (2012)
Shanghai and Z: Remaking of a classic after 40 years !!!
I watched "Shanghai" yesterday and it is a decent Indianized adaptation of "Z" by Costa Gavraswhich had far reaching consequences in the real world. You can read the real life implications in my other review of the classic itself.
Good acting from Deol and Emraan Haashmi carried the movie all over. There were some dramatics hrown in for Indianing the story but that goes with our taste and spirit. Same for a couple of songs and an Item number, to make it commercially viable.
Mr Banerjee adapting from the Costa Gavras movie after 40 long years probably proves once again that a classic is "timeless". It is good that he did pay homage to the original during the name casting which some very well known directors sometimes miss so sorely ; example SLB when he made "Black" from "The Miracle"..
Unthinkable (2010)
Disgusting piece of torture
This movie is pure torture.literally and figuratively. Throughout the movie the suspect is tortured in ever increasing process and viewers are left to hear the justifications and the cross reasoning that seems to go on and on without actually coming to any conclusion. Samuel Jackson plays an undercover Black Ops with no name other than an Alphabet "H". Neither is his character built on anything except a cockney account of his wife's background ( ?? don't know how that suffices ??) and events in her life. Carrie Anne Moss, is a loner with no family...thats all to her character. Why was she brought into the torture regime ?? I don't know, but maybe because she got hold of a dossier on Samuel "H" Jackson. Others characters are purely are made of cardboard, showing rage and pulling guns to show emotion. The terrorist screams a lot and probably the only one who acts his part well.
Does the momentum pick up? It doesn't, except for the degrees of torture. Samuel L Jackson keeps on torturing, and rest of the crew goes on bickering as to whether to allow him carry on or not. Ultimately we don't learn any negotiating skills except to add more pain and then ultimately fall back to the age old theory of using someone's family to make the last push. Is this Black Ops? Or is this a lame pointer to Guantanemo? Was this movie made to be a thriller or a question for us to doodle upon? Im not sure. Isn't there no psychology aspect during negotiation to base on? No other less primitive ways.. no chemicals even? I guess Samuel Jackson has been a much better negotiator in "The Negotiator". And whats Superman doing here? Handing files and standing next to doorways with a gun?? And what does Carrie Ane think off while picking up the children towards the end of the movie?? take them home and make a family ?? Avoid it , and by all means if you are planning to view with family.
Horribly made, and ends up equally pathetically.