Movie Junction

For the law, there are no multiple interpretations of what a fugitive means. But why anyone becomes a fugitive depends greatly on the individual’s surrounding circumstances. Tim Robbins’s character Andy Dufresne in “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994) and Russell Crowe’s character John Brennan in “The Next Three Days” (2010) are both fugitives--the former escapes from a prison--while the latter masterminds an escape plan. Irrespective of their operational boundaries--inside or outside a prison--these characters are fugitives in the eyes of the law. However, their actions are initiated by a common reasoning: they were given a raw deal by the law that drove them to the brink. Structurally, both the films are driven by astute planning and deeply focused male protagonists. Director Paul Haggis’s “The Next Three Days” is not about an unfair verdict or about proving innocence, but about one man’s obsession.  John’s wife, Lara Brennan (Elizabeth Banks), is wrongly accused in a murder case...

The badass, pill-popping Nurse Jackie is back in the second season of “Nurse Jackie.” In <a href = http://www.dvdtown.com/review/nurse-jackie-tv-series/blu-ray/7857 > the first season </href>, we are introduced to Jackie’s addiction, her infidelity, and her complicated world. Through various episodes, we learn Jackie’s double-faced approach to the life. She hides her marriage and continues to have a relationship with a hospital pharmacist, Eddie (Paul Schulze). On the home front, we see her as a caring mother but also as a disconnected, absent wife of Kevin (Dominic Fumusa).The first season raised a number of questions, ranging from Jackie’s addiction to her unexplained fidelity. But, are these questions addressed in the second season? Let’s find out. The second season follows the first season’s template with no modifications. The second season begins with Jackie ending her relationship with Eddie. This time around, she is more focused in reconnecting with her two daughte...

Director Anurag Basu’s “Kites” was released in India on May 21, 2010 , followed by a remix version, “Kites: The Remix,” for the U.S. on May 28, 2010 . The U.S. version was presented by director Brett Ratner (“Rush Hour,” “X-Men: The Last Stand”) with a shorter running time of ninety-three minutes. Image Entertainment’s Blu-ray release of “Kites” includes both versions of the film. Through the efforts of a big Bollywood studio, Big Reliance India, “Kites” was the first Bollywood movie to appear in the American box-office top ten. Apart from appearing in the top ten, the film--produced for a budget of $13,000,000--tanked at the box office.  Indian moviegoers reacted negatively to the abundance of multiple languages in the film, whereas the film failed to excite the Western audiences. “Kites” opens up with a brief narration that signifies a metaphor associated with the kites. The kite’s life depends on its pilot and the pilot’s maneuvering skills. It’s a delicate balance to maint...

In the annals of animated films, Disney pioneered animation art early on that is still unmatched. Nonetheless, even now the “Disney” word is eponymous with family animation. I consider the 40’s and 50’s as the golden age of animation; it was a period in which Disney churned out about nine animation films, starting with “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” (1937), “Pinocchio” (1940), “Fantasia” (1940), “Dumbo” (1941), “Bambi” (1942), and others, ending with “Sleeping Beauty” (1959). But something happened after this period, and the amount of energy and creativity seen during Disney’s heyday subsequently vanished. Probably, it was a strategic shift by studios to bring animation movies to homes through TV. The era of the late 70’s and 80’s was dominated by Japanese animation, popularly known as anime. “The Last Unicorn” (1982) arrived when anime was hugely popular, and Hollywood ’s heart and money was not wholly invested in the animation genre. Not that “The Last Unicorn” broke any box-o...

It is interesting to look at “Memento” ten years after its release. Back in 2001, who would have thought director Christopher Nolan would go on to become one of today’s biggest Hollywood directors. Lionsgate’s ten-year anniversary release of “Memento” comes after the huge success of “Inception” in the summer of 2010.  Coincidentally, it was for the first time in 2001 that Nolan pitched his idea for creating “Inception,” the same year “Memento” generated insurmountable critical acclaim. “Inception” was put on hold temporarily, and Nolan went on to direct some of the biggest hits of all time, like “Batman Begins” (2005), “The Prestige” (2006), “The Dark Knight” (2008), and, of course, “Inception.” Ever since entering the world of films, Nolan has always toyed with the concept of a nonlinear narration that deals with the subconscious state of mind. In fact, the nonlinearity in “Memento” was motivated by his first film, “Following” (1998). “Memento” operates as a two-part structure...

“To understand me, you have to watch my films.” -- Sir Charles Chaplin Thirty-three years after his death, Charlie Chaplin remains a timeless iconic figure in the world of entertainment. As a filmmaker, actor, and producer, Chaplin was a pioneer in bringing a unique comedy style that was unmatched by any other comic actor. He possessed a canny ability to entertain the masses successfully and consistently with a tinge of sentimentality that was evident in films like “The Kid” (1921) and “City Lights” (1931). He was later associated in the premier comedy group heralded by Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton. The three comedians were truly the comedy geniuses of the silent era, although each had his own signature style that distinguished them. Some hailed Chaplin as the greatest comedian the world has ever seen. As a prolific filmmaker in the silent era, Chaplin churned out as many as sixty-seven films, with only five major films after the advent of the talkies. Being the biggest proponent...

When I consider the list of the greatest actors alive today, Sean Penn ranks among top five actors in my list. Winner of two Academy awards in the Best Actor category (a rare occurrence) and a three-time nominee in the same category, Penn has become one of the most influential yet underrated actors of his generation. He shot to a top-rated actor with his performance in Tim Robbin’s “Dead Man Walking” (1995), later following it up with another notable performance in Woody Allen’s “Sweet and Lowdown” (1999) for which he received an Oscar nomination. There is no doubt that his earlier movies set the stage for challenging roles later in his acting career. After starting his film career in Amy Heckerling’s coming-of-age comedy “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (1982), Penn then starred as the leading actor in a brutal prison drama, “Bad Boys” (1983). It was an unusual career choice to sign up for a non-mainstream, violent film. But looking back, his performance in “Bad Boys” reminded me of hi...