The Pursuit of HappYness (2006)

There are very few movies that make me think, that really create a spark of inspiration in my mind. "The pursuit of happYness" is surely one such movie. I got this movie from a friend, who in turn downloaded it from the net. The first time i heard about this one was only when i read the movie's name in his hard-disc. Before that i never heard the name or the story-line or the cast. The name of the movie sounded interesting to me, which was the only reason i decided to choose it among the 10 other movies i was having with me. But surely, it was a wise choice i made. The story revolves around a central character "Chris Gardner", played by Will Smith. The movie shows Chris as a salesman for a company which manufactures a "Bone densitometer". Chris is always seen moving around a with a big machine in his hand, going to various doctors and clinics, try selling his machine. As for Chris' family, he has a wife and a child. a wide, who is always dissatisfied with his work and a child whom he loves the most. The family works hard to earn a living and is shown struggling in the race of life. One day on his way to a clinic Chris stops to admire a beautiful car. He immediately asks the owner "Sir, what do u do to own such a masterpiece?". The man smiles and replies "I'm a stock broker". That day Chris decided that he too is going to enter the business. He enters the office and enquires about the formalities of applying for a job at that place. He is told that the company takes 20 people for a probation period of 3 months, without any salary, and then one among those twenty is confirmed for the job. Chris goes back to his wife to discuss the matter, who instead of being supportive criticizes his decision and eventually leaves him. So now, Chris is left with his son, a meager amount of money and after a two months, when he's not able to pay the rent, a public dormitory to spend the night at. The movie moves ahead showcasing the struggle of Chris against all the adversities and how he manages to complete the internship and eventually bag the job. The sequences and scenes depicted are very touching at times. The movies looses it's charm at times and goes on the slower side, but it is really enjoyable on the whole. The Director is successful in harnessing the emotions of his viewers and has gone on the old beaten path of a failure turned success. You can draw parallels between the movie and a similar Bollywood saga "Akele hum Akele Tum" but the two are quite different in many respects too. Unlike a typical bollywood ending, Chris' wife doesn't come back to him in the end, once he gets the job and becomes rich. I'd really recommend you to watch this movie if you are a Will Smith fan. You can see him in a completely different shade. A different aged look, a mature role and a very touching performance.

Imdb
My Rating : $$$$
Cast: Will Smith, Thandie Newton, Jaden Christopher Smith, Dan Castellaneta, Zuhair Haddad
Directed by: Gabriele Muccino
Produced by: David Alper, Teddy Zee, Mark Clayman


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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

Bloody ... Brutal ... Barbaric
I don't think any words are enough to express in entirety, the fear the movie induces in you. The director has taken absolute care to make sure that enough blood is spilled during the whole horror drama to make the viewer feel as if he himself is drenched in it. Violence and fear being the central idea, the movie to an extent, succeeds in its attempt to horrify it's audience. Many a times i was able to distinctly feel the chill running down my spine.

The background is set against the economic slowdown phase of the US when jobs were slashed and people were rendered unemployed. The movie starts with a butchery where a woman is slaughtering animals. Suddenly she starts moaning with pain and gives birth to a baby boy. The boy is freakingly weird in appearance and has a disfigured face. This boy is later picked up from the garbage bin by a poor lady. The movie progresses with the aeging of the boy shown as a short visual sequence. On the other hand a pair of couples is shown heading towards a Military base when they meet a sheriff on the highway. This man who is actually a murderer of the original sheriff, takes the three of them hostage in his house while the fourth girl is left behind.

The rest of the story revolves around how this girl enters the house only to see all her friends butchered one by one. One horrible seen which i distinctly remember is when she enters the slaughter house and finds her boyfriend nailed to a slab. She hides beneath that slab as she hears Leatherface (the main charachter) entering the basement. From the slit of the slab she can see the monster with a huge chainsaw in his hand. Then she watches her boyfriend's body cut into half and the skin of his face ripped off, only for Leatherface to have a new mask for his own face. She tries her best to save her friends but all in vain. Finally she decides to flee but in a utterly predictable "Bollywood" style, she finds Leatherface sitting at the back of the car. The movie ends with the villain drilling the chainsaw right through the car's seat and the chest of the girl.

Movie is well directed and achieves its aim to an extent - creating a feeling of fear and horror. Certainly not for the weak hearted. Watch the movie at night in a dark room to absorb it the way it is intended to be taken.

Imdb
My Rating : $$

Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Writer(s): David J. Schow, Sheldon Turner
Cast: Jordana Brewster, Andrew Bryniarski, R. Lee Ermey, Taylor Handley, Matthew Bomer, Diora Baird, Heather Kafka, Marietta Marich, Terrence Evans

Release Date: October 4 2006
Official Site: TexasChainsawMovie.com
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Genre: Horror, Thriller
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School For Scoundrels (2006)

If you are fed up with the lazy gear your life has got into, if you are tired of all the failures coming your way, if you like to smile but all you can do is frown, then this is a tailor made movie - specially for you. The movie revolves around a central character Roger (Jon Heder) who is so beaten by life that he doesn't find anything going his way. He sucks at his job, gets bullied by strangers, faints while talking to the girl he likes, gets dumped by a small boy whom he teaches swimming at the "Big Brother" teaching class and has lost all the confidence in himself. Then one day his friend at 'Big Brother" suggests him to contact some Dr P. This Dr P runs a small school for people like Roger, to make them stand on their feet and face life.

Our guy somehow manages to join the class and finds himself among 15 other people like him. People who have lost all confidence in life, in themselves and are pretty sure they are not worth anything. This class has a teacher, Dr P & his monstrous assistant "Lesher". Dr P teaches his students how live life on one's own terms. He gives all the golden rules to his students and constantly monitors their progress. After a phase of initial hesitation, Roger starts learning, but to Dr.P's amazement he advances too soon, too fast. Roger finally succeeds to date the girl he likes and find a new zest in life. But when everything seems to get on track, he is shocked to discover that his very own mentor, Dr.P is hitting at the girl he loves. Confused and amazed, he is told by his friends, that Dr P usually does this to people who threaten his authority, to people to become too smart for him or to put in the simplest of words, to people who have a potential to be another Dr.P. Such people are ruined and decimated by Dr P so that he can always be the unbeatable.

The movie progresses with Roger taking Dr. P in a head-on confrontation, questioning his authority and pledging to get his girl back. The movie has numerous twists and turns with both sides (Roger & Dr P) having the ball in their courts at different times. Finally our hero succeeds in winning his girl and exposing Dr P. The movie ends with Dr P meeting Roger in personal and awarding him the 'first ever Diploma' from the 'School for Scoundrels'. Dr P also requests Roger to some at the school some time and deliver a guest lecture. But our guy replies in superbly framed quote 'Those who can, do. Those who cant,teach'.

The movie gives lots of lessons to its viewers. It is superbly directed with lots of hidden messages. If someone has a sharp eye to comprehend what's hidden, he can really enjoy the drama. It sends a message to take life head-on, to be bold and assertive, to fight for one's rights and to live with a high held head. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and i bet that anyone who has a passion to live will enjoy it the same way.



Imdb
My Rating: $$$
Directed by:Todd Phillips
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Heder, Jacinda Barrett, Michael Clarke Duncan, Horatio Sanz
Genre : Comedy


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