"3.5 stars out of 4"

I regret the fact that I waited so long to write a review for this movie because many parts of it has escaped my mind. I saw it last Saturday and UGHHHH...damn this April school time! Anyway...so needless to say I had to get some work done before I could do any "extracurricular" activities! But I was lucky to have a piece of paper with me to scribble down notes, right after watching it.

First of all, gotta say, I liked it a lot. Wouldn't say loved it...but since I could relate to it a great deal. The theater was packed! Of course it was one of the small Amherst Cinema show rooms but still! I didn't expect it because first of all it had been out for quite some time at that time and also, not every one goes to see a foreign movie with subtitles. There were literally no seats left!

 For those of you who don't know the story line, here's a brief summary of it. This was based on a true story that happened in Chile back in 1988 (around the time I was born!). 15 years has passed since Pinochet's coup and overthrowing of Salvador Allende. The world says that they have had enough with this dictator's tyranny and they put pressure on him to resign. Pinochet budges in (just a little!) and announces that he will hold a referendum so the people of Chile can decide if they want him to stay or go by simply voting YES or NO. He also allows the TV industry to have a debate-like thing where the supporters of each group to share their opinions every day, each having 15 minutes air time, beginning 28 days before the big election.

The movie is awesome in the way it has been made. It is filmed in a way that would look like old footage...the kind of quality that you would find in the films back in the 80's and that's one of the reasons you get drawn and involved in it from the very beginning. The main character, played by Gael Garcia Bernal, whose character makes cheesy trailers for the TV and gets recruited by the NO team to be one of the people working on making of the 15-minute NO trailers. The movie has a very gentle humor to it and the dialogues are well-written. They face this obstacle where they think there is no point in working on this NO project on TV since the government will definitely win because those who are against Pinochet will probably not vote since they think their vote wouldn't count and the results are already chosen and the election will most likely be rigged. I don't remember the exact words so I'm not going to ruin it but if you watch it, look for the part they talk about old ladies and young girls voting which I found funny and at the same time true! It was also true in case of Iran's elections.

By the time they air the first episode of the NO campaign, which all of them put their heart into, the YES opposition group feels the threat for the first time. In the next episodes they do everything they can to mar the face of the NO group...they try to scare people off with communism and that the NO people have Marxist affiliations. It is almost the same way here which is ridiculous to me but very convenient for many politicians to control people's minds! Take Obama's care plan which many people oppose because of the fear of socialism! I mean come on! All over the world people have free health plans in democratic countries and nothing has happened to them...what are you afraid of?! Anyway...moving on...they even tried to change the appearance of Pinochet by making him more "civilian" to make people like him and say that he's changed (the same way they do in Iran by making Ahmadinejad wear suit instead of that ridiculous white jacket he used to wear!), they try to point out the progression of the country from the time that Pinochet took over, the development of the industry,...and I think I have talked about this before in the post I had about Evita that at that time, any country with any ruler would've had these changes...but the NO group teases these apart smartly and points them out in their 15 minutes.

But everything aside, what made me find this movie so powerful was that they were able to make the audience (me!) subconsciously so involved in the story and root for the NO group so much so that in the scene where they were reading the ballots, I found a smile sitting on my face. The whole purpose of this movie was to show how the media can play a role in the fate of a nation (if given the freedom they need).

If you're Iranian or have been following the Iranian news and politics this sounds familiar...a lot! Hence me relating to the movie. Back when there was the Iranian revolution 30-something years ago and after the Shah was overthrown, they held a referendum saying YES/NO to the Islamic Republic. Also, there was a debate between the presidential candidates back in 2009 on TV where the 4 of them will pair up and debate for 30 minutes, each getting 15 minutes, which was basically the same thing that except they would talk for themselves, not representatives or supporters. I pointed out the freedom of the media above because in Iran's case it didn't work. Probably because nowadays the governments have learned new ways of controlling the mass media and getting their own way!

I highly recommend this movie and think that many people would enjoy it, especially those who have experienced these feelings in the past elections in Iran, though not getting the results they wanted.

Sherlock

I had been resisting watching the (almost) new series of Sherlock for as long as I could. Because I was madly in love with the original series (or was it original? I don't know!), starring my beloved Jeremy Brett, and even the idea of the new Sherlock series which is based in today's London, not only repelled me but seemed ridiculous. So I got the two first seasons of the series from a friend back in Iran and brought it here with me and had stayed away from it until this week, and may I say what a mistake! What a loss, in my part! I was appalled! I can't find another word to show how much I was amazed and impressed...to the extent where I think if Sir Arthur Conan Doyl lived in the 21st century, would have written this book the way the writers of this series are writing it. What I mean is what they claim to be "based" on his works is actually brilliant. I have watched the original series over and over, so I know almost all the stories. For example, in his masterpiece, the hound of the Baskervilles, they have been able to come up with a new story which shows the power of the writers. When you come to think of the bigger image, what the writers in the so many versatile series that we see nowadays is unimaginable.

As for my dear Mr Holmes, not only I was not let down, but have come to love the new Holmes portrayed by the young Benedict Cumberbatch and I have justified it in few different ways. One is that he almost portrays this character almost the same way that Jeremy Brett had done. The other is that he is charismatic. But the one that I think is the best explanation is the character itself. Because I have even liked the Robert Downey Jr version of it. Of course, Jeremy Brett was incomparable but either there is no way someone can act bad while playing this character or we have been lucky that the industry has chosen the perfect fits for it all along.

Dr Watson is also amiable in his role. BUT...oh this big BUT! It has been on my nerves since the last episode of the first season...Moriarty! The new Moriarty is played by someone whose name I don't even want or care to look up! He tries "too hard" to be a villain. I mean, the original Moriarty, you would get scared even by looking at him! But the new one, with his nerdy look, not only has managed to ruin the majesty of this character but as I said, he just tries too hard. He tries too hard to show that his voice is soft or tries to say the lines the way that I think is supposed to scare the s*** out of us but it only makes us say "Oh, come on! Boring!". He acts too much. Oh, that's what I have been looking for...yes...acts too much! His acting is not credible. This is the biggest flaw of the series and honestly, I wouldn't mind if they changed the actor who plays him, even though it is its third season!

I also miss the old Lestrade (am I spelling it right?!). The old one tried to compete with Holmes and that made him the funny part of the series but the new one always takes Holmes's side and is basically idle.

Anyway, just wanted to tell you that if you are looking for a new series to take on watching, this should be on your list. Unless you haven't seen Breaking Bad which is unforgivable! Get out of my blog! Just kidding...don't...'cause I have a limited audience! :D I don't wanna lose you...I love you! Just kidding! Anywho! As I was saying, start watching Breaking Bad to catch up because the last season would be airing on August 11 and you don't wanna miss it!

(I am feeling ashamed to confess that I had been watching Desperate Housewives Not because I were enjoying them but because I was looking for a procrastination to avoid watching Sherlock! It wasn't that bad in the first few seasons but in the last few...the repetition and the cliches had made it unbearable. If you are asking why I kept watching it was because I have this annoying habit of watching everything and finishing everything to the very end...unless if I have 2 presentations due in a day and a meeting on the same day, that I would choose to come here the night before and right these nonsense! So, yes...that's what I'm doing right now...procrastination!)

"Wife" of Pi!

Although you probably have already seen this ('cause I saw it about a month ago in a friend's FB page), since I found it really funny I am sharing it anyway!

Scorsese - Amherst Cinema

If you are currently living in the Amherst area or moving here over the summer, don't miss out on the Scorsese-fest that the "adorable" Amherst theater has prepared for us!

Starting in mid-July through August, this theater will be showing a good number of Scorsese's masterpieces for only a day (for each) with two showtimes:

July 7: Mean Streets
July 14: Taxi Driver

July 21: Raging Bull

July 28: Goodfellas

August 4: The King of Comedy

August 11: The Last Temptation of Christ

August 18: The Departed

August 25: The Last Waltz - Documentary

Here's the link to the upcoming events at the Amherst Cinema:

Amherst Cinema - Coming Soon

Life of Pi

"3 out of 4 stars"

After watching this movie, I was just wondering what all the fuss had been about! I mean the movie is great and all but those who were arguing on it deserving to have won the best picture of the year at the Oscars (including Ali Moallem who I have discussed about before in the post about the Oscars 2013) must have had some really huge issues artistic-wise! Of course, I have come to learn that people have very vast differences in their tastes.

What I mean is that I know somebody might dislike what I like, but what I consider to be a pro is the same thing that someone else might consider to be the con! I had never paid attention to this teeny detail before until a few days ago when we went to the show where this Iranian-American stand-up comedian named Maz Jobrani (who is basically considered to be a celebrity at least among Iranians and who is a genius by the way in what he does!). After the show, when I was talking to an Iranian friend about it, she said she likes Max Amini, this other Iranian-American stand-up comedian, because "Maz speaks too fast but Max doesn't"! It was amazing to me hearing this because to me what I saw as a positive thing was the negative part in her eyes! Again, I know there must be differences in taste and it is vital in a way to the survival of humanity and social progress (!), but I thought in this case everyone would have the same view on pros and only have different taste in the jokes that sets them apart. You know what I mean?!

I first learned this after making a crappy handcraft at the charity event we held each year before the Iranian new year back in Iran, and I didn't want to put it on display 'cause I thought nobody would even bother looking at it but not only it was sold but we also got an additional order to make the exact same thing! Everyone have their own fan base or what we like to call it in Iran "هر کسی مخاطب خاص خودش رو داره!"...and that's what really matters in life, doesn't it?!

You must be going crazy now, aren't you?! Me and my digressing, huh?! Came here to read about Life of Pi and got some kind of preaching on life instead! But don't be too hasty, we're getting there!

As I was saying, I was enjoying the hell out of the first half of the movie...witty and upbeat...you wish they never got to the second part! Slowly the rhythm lost its pace to a point where you didn't even know why you had been sitting there and watching a boy and a tiger go back and forth for an hour! If it hadn't been for the visual effects (I hereby thank the crew on behalf of Ang Lee as it seemed that he'd forgotten to thank them in his speech! Great job guys!) the movie would've been nothing! If you take out the breath-taking scenery, especially the reflection of the sky in the water, you would be left with a boy and a tiger and I bet many people would have been tempted to leave the theater right about then! It even could've easily been a movie based on Calvin and Hobbes! Maybe it was based on a figment of Calvin's imagination! Who knows! Just a theory! Throwing it out there!

No disrespect but my expectations had gone rather high after hearing all about the rave reviews I had seen. AGAIN, not that it wasn't a great movie, but sometimes you see a review on a movie and your expectations are met, like "3:10 to Yuma". Then there are those that exceed what you couldn't even expect, like in the case of "Amour". And sometimes you are just let down a bit, as in this case.

But one thing that made my hair stand up during the movie was the music. Oh, the music! In the first few minutes of the opening scenes of the movie, you would be pinned down to your seat just listening to it and watch gazelles sprint with a chyme and feel the magic of the animal world! I turned to my friend and asked him if he remembered the winner of the Oscar for best original score but he didn't know. The next morning I received an email from him saying "no wonder why you liked the music so much, it had actually won the best score!". He also suggested me taking over the Academy so I pronounce myself an honorary member of the Academy and in honor of Asghar Farhadi will change the name of the award to Osghar! (I know it's an old joke but couldn't resist!)

What my friend pointed out after we left the theater was that there was almost nothing that we hadn't seen in the trailer. The only part that they hadn't included in the trailer was the first half of the movie, and you know that they keep the best part out so you could discover it yourself while watching the whole movie. So, you can see how this also proves that the first half was the best part!!!

Oh, and you probably know the storyline by now so no need in me going into it. A boy and a Bangal tiger get trapped in a life boat adrift the Pacific ocean after their ship sinks and is basically about their survival battle!

(By the way, the whole time I was writing this review, with each sentence that I was typing, Roger Ebert was on my mind. I already miss him! What a shame he's no longer among us. There are some people in this world that you wish they had lived on forever. Maybe in another life!)

Being a grown-up SUCKS!

I am taking this course in school where we are required to implement a nutrition intervention on different groups in the community. Ours is on a class of 4th graders. Today we went there and we were asked to first introduce ourselves. When it was my turn, I told them that I was from Iran and they all had a blank look on their faces saying "Where the hell is Iran?!". None of them knew. I was expecting at least some of them recognizing where Iran was but I also felt good because this proved that these kids were not exposed to politics and news the way we had been as kids. (Their teacher also explained to me that they are still learning about the US and hadn't got to other countries yet.)

After a few minutes, somebody tapped on my shoulder. It was this little girl who had come up to me to tell me she knows where Iran is!

I said: "You do?!" She nodded and said "do you wanna know how I know where it is?"
I said "sure, how?!"
- Because my family is from Israel!
- I said "oh, so you've heard of Iran because the two countries aren't getting along?" (I actually used the word "conflict" first and then realized I was talking to a kid and changed it to "not getting along" and she still was looking at me in a weird way, like she wasn't understanding what I was saying!)
- "No, because they are close!" matter of factly.

And then it hit me what being a "grown-up" has done to me. Well of course the two countries are close distance-wise! I felt both stupid and sad and even teared up a bit. We have been robbed of our childhood innocence. Our minds can twist a simple concept as proximity into "conflict"! Being close should be the only thing coming to mind when hearing "Iran and Israel" but it's amazing what the world of politics can do to you. And I felt bad because I was the one introducing the ugliness of the world to that kid! Poor thing! Poor me actually, when you come to think of it!

(By the way, if she had been, say from Jordan or Armenia, I would have thought "because they are close too" but no she had to be from Israel! Lucky me! :D )

Roger Ebert is no longer among us

I am really sad to announce that my hero, Roger Ebert, has passed away today after recently announcing that his cancer had been back. This is really unfortunate. I really wish I had met him. He wasn't just a critic. He was an artist. No one could ever word their vision the way he did. He will be missed immensely. May he rest in peace.

Roger Ebert dead at 70

I will never forget the moment I got the news. I was sitting in the class and we were working on a group project when I picked up my phone to check something and suddenly the Huffington Post breaking news popped up saying what I couldn't believe! My eyes teared up.

For a few weeks I had been thinking to myself of sending him the link to my blog but I thought it was too soon and I had to get something going. I also imagined what would've happened if he found my blog if he searched his own name and came across my blog or even through another way! I was daydreaming about how he would help me with my writing. I was picturing years ahead when I had come to fame and we were sitting together and watching a movie or discussing one. It would have been a dream come true! Damn this cancer! I'm not saying it for the sake of my own stupid dream but how it keeps ruining people's lives!

Now I will take the thought of what he would have thought about my reviews to grave. I still hope we could meet some day!