The Painted Veil (2006)

Now that is called a movie. Wonderful chemistry! So apparent in today’s scenario and yet been depicted in a subtle manner.

Strange how Naomi Watts wanted a guy who would sweep her off her feet, ends up with Edward Norton who loves her beyond limit and marries her (although she doesn’t love him and does that in order to escape her mundane family life). Pretty soon he discovers his wife cheating on him falling for Liev Schreiber behind his back. She gets involved with Liev Schreiber although when the topic for a divorce is raised she gets baffled by an agreement of Edward after Liev flatly rejects her. However she follows Edward to a camp in China (as his agreement demanded) where the disease of Cholera was widespread like an epidemic. Edward being a doctor tries to help the people while she realizes how stupid she had been to betray a guy like Edward. She realizes her mistake and jumps in to assist him in every possible way.

The movie is wonderfully directed which apparently involved a great storyline. The flick is a worth watch as it toys with human emotions and elucidates both sides of the coin in a subtle manner. You have to sympathize with Norton and Watts sometimes although you would want everything to end happily.

The credit entirely goes to Edward Norton and Naomi Watts because of their joint venture and the magic that they created together. Although the director John Curran did some great directing here the writer W. Somerset Maugham’s novel shouldn’t be forgotten which deserves more kudos than anything else. Cinematography was brilliant. The story was well portrayed with an apt screenplay.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Jason Segel is trying to forget his girlfriend who breaks up with him at the very beginning of the flick and forgetting her is what he actually endeavours in the entire movie. Although it isn’t as easy as it seems. Every time he tries to get away from her he deliberately ends up getting close to her.

The movie is a comedy and of course a romantic one with a great star cast (most of them are my favourites). Who doesn’t love Russell Brand and wait he shows up as Aldous Snow the psychotic singer who is the current boyfriend of Kristen Bell. Mila Kunis is a receptionist at Hawaii where Jason Segel goes to mend his broken heart and ends up finding his girlfriend with Aldous Snow, (although I’m pretty sure that was an intentional attempt too). Mila Kunis aids him at the time of need which grabs the attention of Jason who finds her attractive and caring. She dates him (so he says) and starts liking her although he isn’t able to move on as Sarah shows up every now and then. This however causes some tension between Mila and Jason which leaves a miffed Mila eventually. Now it is the job of Jason to move on, stop thinking about his ex and make matters straight with Mila Kunis who is in deeply in love with him.

The movie has some great characters like Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd etc. who added flavour to the comedy.

I personally like Jason Segel for his acting and he happens to be one of my favourite actors for the character Marshall Eriksen the one he plays in ‘How I met your mother’. I have seen him act in a couple of movies and I must say I am pretty impressed with his comedy. He came up with such a wonderful story (yep he wrote it) and that in itself is a bravado.

Forgetting Sarah Marshal wouldn’t disappoint you at all. It is a real good movie and you wouldn’t stop laughing as the entire movie rolls on with fun written in every clip.

Cold mountain (2003)

Kudos to Jude Law and Nicole Kidman ( and how can I not mention the mouthy and boisterous Renée Zellweger). They were bloody brilliant in the movie. Albeit the story moulded itself in a predictable fashion, it was exceptionally well directed by Anthony Minghella. Love was what bound them together (Jude and Nicole), although the moments were brief and the talks were tacit, Nicole kept on waiting patiently for Law while he eagerly wanted to return for her. A great love story, I'd say,
hardly possible in today's scenario. While we always want things to end up happily, the movie ends up with a sad note. While I watched the flick I had a premonition that something bad was going to happen eventually.

Natalie Portman's role was brief although very well portrayed as a widow. Giovanni Ribisi and Philip Seymour Hoffman performed their part very well. Renée Zellweger surely deserved an Oscar for her performance. She was brilliant and fluent with her accent. Nicole Kidman was amazing in the flick. While the whole world crumbled upon
her and the wicked self proclaimed sheriff Ray Winstone kept on coming at her house asking her to give up but she wouldn't. She kept on patiently waiting for Law to come back as he had promised her. The war had separated them and that war demanded every man from the Cold Mountain to show up while the crude Ray Winstone didn't allow anyone who absconded from the war to live as he hunted them down wherever he
found a runner.

Jude Law had to return for her. She had to wait for him. That is the basis of the entire story. It was a well written story by Charles Frazier with a brilliant screenplay by Anthony himself. A wonderful love story with marvellous dialogues and great acting by the actors in the flick. I would rate this movie a 7 on 10. Albeit the story went on in a predictable fashion it was brilliantly directed and well produced eventually. It managed to wet the cheeks of the viewers and that is
what acting and directing is all about.