The Killing

First of all, I couldnt belive this was a movie that was made 50 years back. Such a good screenplay of a good orginized crime thriller, such an innovative non-linear narration accompanied by some good cinematography and excellent background score. This movie is one of those kind of movies which can be enjoyed even after 50 years from now. This movie has Stanley Kubrick's trademark length shot, this time around a racetrack. I have never seen such a good continuous shot of a moving object even in recent films. All the characters in the film played their parts perfectly although very simple. On a whole, this a great masterpiece from Stanley Kubrick.
Rating : 9/10.

The Shining

This movie made me to recognize the talents of Stanley Kubrick. He has proved in this film that a horror film can be made without scary faces or dark tones. Movie starts with a lenghthy shot of a car travelling along the rocky mountains in Denver. This first shot itself absorbes the viewer completely into the movie by giving him an idea of the place where the plot is going to be. I have seen Christopher Nolan doing a similar shot in his movie Insomnia.The performances of the child Danny Lloyd needs special mention since he played the role of Danny as well as his imaginary friend Tony. Wonderful performace from Jack Nicholson who played the role of a mad man. Shelley Duvall acted well as a helpless mother struggling between his mad husband and a strange son. There are lot of lengthy camera sequences starting with the intro shot, then inside the hotel and finally within the maze of hedge. All of them are shot extremely well and i particularly like the sequence where the camera follows Danny as he cycles through the various rooms in the hotel. Overall a very good gripping scary thriller.
Rating : 7/10.

A Clockwork Orange

This is the most violent movie i have ever seen. This also happens to be the first Stanley Kubrick's movie that i am seeing. Right from start and till the end, the movie has many explicit sex scenes which try to portray the mindset of the lead character Alex. The Background scores are excellent in this film which include the famous Ninth Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven which plays a significant role in this film. I think the Ludovico treatment described in this movie has to given to the directors and actors of mass-masala- commercial tamil films in order to stop them from delivering crappy films with the same story again and again.
Rating : 7/10.

Road to Perdition

Road to Perdition is a well-made dark thriller from Sam Mendes. The movie depicts the story of a young boy who tries to find the true job of his father but ends up losing his whole family for knowing that truth. Tom Hanks plays the role of a mobster who is chased down by his own gang. Dark theme is well portrayed in this film by extraordinary cinematography. All the murders taking place in this movie are shot very naturally. I particularly like the scene when Tom Hanks shoots down Daniel Craig.
Rating : 8/10.

The Savages

The Savages is a good movie about a brother and his sister in their midlife crisis supporting their ailing father. Tamara Jenkins tries to depict human emotions through the various situations that the siblings. go through. Philip Seymour Hoffman played his role perfectly.
Rating : 6/10.

A Beautiful Mind

A Beautiful Mind is a real story of a great Mathematics genius and the battle between his brain and his heart. I came to know that this is in fact a true story only after seeing the movie. Excellent performances from Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly. Russel Crowe lives in this movie as John Nash right from the day he enters Princeton University as a research student to the end of the movie when he receives the Nobel prize. This movie is certainly his masterpiece. Jennifer Connelly shows good support to John Nash as his student-turned-wife.
Rating : 8/10.

Abre los ojos

Abre los ojos is another good science fiction thriller from Alejandro Amenábar. I always like those movies where the suspense is kept till the end and we can get the good grasp of the film only after it completes. They will urge us to see it one more time. Abre los ojos fits into that genre. Eventhough the film is shot in very low-budget, it clearly expresses the concept that it is trying to. I will watch the film again. I will also see the Hollywood version of this (Vanilla Sky) and decide which one scores better.
Rating : 7/10.

To Kill a Mockingbird

This is the first Black & White English film that i am watching and enjoyed it too. Gregory Peck won Oscar for this movie and he certainly deserves it. Great performance by him. Having seen the depiction of childhood by Tamil, Japanese and Iranian films, It was good to see the Hollywood version of it. All 3 children in this film performed very well. It was amazing to know these kind of masterpieces produced in the early 60's can still be seen any number of times without being bored.
Rating : 8/10.

Into the Wild

Into the Wild is a good movie about the true story of a young guy who chooses to venture into the wild all alone after his graduation and the lessons that he learn in his journey. Directed by Sean Penn, this movie has some excellent performances from Hal Holbrook(which earned him an Oscar Nomination) and Emile Hirsch.

Rating : 7/10.

Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko is a good science fiction film. I enjoyed the complexity involved in the film and the explanation of various new concepts relating to Time Travel. I am planning to watch it one more time in order to completely understand and appreciate it. Next to 12 Monkeys, this is the best film about Time Travel.

Rating : 8/10.