Reader's Digest of Movies: October 2012

65. Unsung HEROES

Unsung HERO - a person who makes a substantive yet unrecognized contribution.
a person whose bravery is unknown or unacknowledged.

Applause & Recognition can do wonders to a person's self-confidence & morale, it inspires US to work harder & we strive to get the BEST out of US.

But WHY do these Uunsung HEROES do what they do even though they never get the DUE Credit that they DESERVE ???

PLOT : " A dramatization of the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian secret operation led by Tony Mendez to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran. "

ARGO, is one of those edge of the seat thrillers which grips the viewer from the very beginning and never lets go. And it achieves all this with the best of drama that is superbly written & executed with a bang.

Ben Affleck is a well-known & talented actor but when HE directs a movie I am least skeptical, in fact my expectations are higher. This is HIS 3rd movie as a Director, HIS previous films being Gone Baby Gone & The Town. The former film is one of my favorites.

As I said before, ARGO is a neatly crafted thrill ride written by Chris Terrio. I believe that this is HIS debut as a writer and HE has delivered so much that HIS up coming works will carry loads of expectations.

The dialogs are so very funny, intelligent & sharp. So many things gets established during the exchange of dialogs, it establishes the characters, their ideals, fears & their motives.

Ben Affleck enacts the role of Tony Mendez, a CIA operative who specializes in getting people out of tight situations. HE pulled it off very well.

The ensemble cast in this film have all delivered exceptionally well, I might not be able to list out all of them here but John Goodman & Alan Arkin stood out in their roles of the Hollywood Make-up artist & Producer.

The plan of getting the hostages out is by pretending to be a fake movie crew & even though it sounds a crazy idea, they made it work.

Making a fake movie & the instances when they lead people into believe that its a real movie was so very funny.

Rodrigo Prieto of Amores Perros fame is the cinematographer, HE along with the ART & COSTUMES department have brought about the 80s lifestyle in a very detailed manner. I especially liked the tones HE used during the various moods of the film.

Editing is William Goldenberg, not only was the film gripping from the start but the last part of the film was so very intense & anxious.

As the film draws to a close, we also get to know that Tony Mendez was never acknowledged for HIS skills & bravery since this operation was carried out as a secret mission. But the US government finally recognized this brave act only many years later.

If this had not happened, Tony Mendez would have gone done as one of the many Unsung HEROES who never get the DUE credit they deserve.

A dialog in this movie sums up why Unsung HEROES never complain for this lack of appreciation, " If we wanted applause, we would have joined the circus. "

Director : Ben Affleck

Writer : Chris Terrio

Cast : Ben Affleck, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston

Rating : "PG" for some intense content & language.

P.S : " As the end credits begin, a picture of the actual passport of each 'fake film crew' member is displayed next to picture of the actor in the film, showing the similarities between the two faces. "

64. Choosing Sides

We live in a world where its easier to convince people with FALSE propaganda then explaining the complicated TRUTH.

In such state of affairs, TRUTH & JUSTICE are the first casualties, the second casualties are the PEOPLE who get persecuted for CHOOSING the WRONG SIDE i.e: the LOOSING SIDE.

PLOT : " The story of Mary Surratt, the only female conspirator charged in the Abraham Lincoln Assassination."

The Conspirator, the main crux of the movie may be the the trial of Mary Surratt but the Characters & Subplots showcases much more, it portrays a Nation & its People as the American Civil War was drawing to a close, the assassination of a President who brought an entire Nation together & the aftermath of the WAR.

I have seen Robert Redford's prowess as a superb actor but this was the first film I had watched with HIM helming the Director's hat and I am so impressed. The way the film presented itself was so simple, neat & engaging. Am looking forward to watch HIS other movies as a Director.

Robin Wright as Mary Surratt was amazing, HER body language, expressions & the subtle way in which SHE carried HERSELF as a MOM caring for HER SON & at the same time protesting HER innocence.

Defending HER in the courtroom is James McAvoy, an highly Talented & Versatile actor. He plays the role of Frederick Aiken, a war hero who reluctantly agrees to defend Surratt before a military tribunal.

The consequences HE faces in defending HER is very well brought out by Writers, the scenes where HE is tormented by HIS actions & HIS dilemmas are so very well brought out.

Justion Long, Evan Rachel Wood, Tom Wilkinson, Kevin Kline played out their parts well.

Art & Costumes Department have done a very credible job, the sets of 19th century America is so well done & well detailed.

Newton Thomas Sigel is the cinematographer, the sights & moods of the movie are so vividly captured, the lighting especially was very pleasing.

Editing was handled by Craig McKay, the various inter-cuts are well placed and handled, the flow of the film was very smooth & the dramas so moving.

The film handles the part of Right Vs Wrong so effectively, we get to see both sides of the argument. Everyone's Right in their own point of view but at the end it does not matter because only the Winners win & they re-write HISTORY.

And for the LOSERS ???

Well, they face the consequences for ending up on the LOOSING SIDE.

They will be branded with names, isolated from society & become targets for hatred.