Royal HEMS don’t fly, to get a HIM

There was a time when women use to raise a hem to get a him. Well not anymore (there is not much left to raise in most modern dresses, anyway). AND definitely not the dignified British Royals. But ever wonder, how their soft graceful chiffon dresses never truly fly up, a la Marilyn Monroe style, even in the windiest weather. Royal fashion tricks reveled below.

Marilyn Monroe, when her dress blew up, and ended her marriage

Back in windy Autumn of 1954, during the shoot of The Seven Year Itch (1955), actress Marilyn Monroe was filmed with her dress billowing (a very famous scene from this classic comedy, with the iconic Monroe, halter-neck, light shaded, ivory cocktail dress) at Lexington Avenue, in Manhattan, New York City (USA). This shoot lasted several hours, surrounded by around two thousand spectators, and photographers. The scene was re-shot later in a studio, and both, edited together, ended up in the movie. The jealous Joe DiMaggio, Marylin Monroe’s baseball player husband, was far from impressed. And their marriage ended. What did he expect?? He was married to a much loved actress, and that too a sultry sex-symbol of the 50’s decade. If her sex-siren image, hurt his male chauvinistic pride so much, why did he marry her in the first place?? This popular image has been recreated by many, post Monroe’s death, one of the most notable, that comes to mind is, Kelly LeBrock’s famous red satin dress, from The Woman in Red (1984).

Duke & Duchess of Cambridge: Prince William & Kate Middleton

Today I came across an unusual article, on Yahoo UK, about how the royals have managed to keep their dresses from flying high. So apparently when it comes to the younger royals, a la Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, they use static underwear to keep their dresses in place. Yup, undergarments that help keep your dress in place. But how did royals manage to do so, in the past?????

It seems the Queen of England, Queen of United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms, Queen Elizabeth II, wore dresses with lead curtain weights sewn into her hemlines. Of course, it depends on the fabric. If the Queen wore chiffon dresses, which she did, quite often, in summer months, a pea size lead, or a tiny lead chain, is sewn into the hems. It’s hard to say, whether the late Queen Mother (Elizabeth II’s mother), and her favourite grand-daughter-in-law, the late Princess Diana, did the same. But they sure were just as dignified, in their lifetime.

So below are some, not so Marilyn Monroe style, billowing moments, of the Royal Ladies.

Queen Elizabeth II, during a trip Down Under

Princess Diana battles through windy weather, in Italy

Prince Charles watches, as Camilla Parker Bowles pays tribute to the late Marilyn Monroe

The Queen in Trousers

Queen Elizabeth II in Trousers

Of course, the more sensible thing to wear, especially in windy weather, is a pair of trousers. It’s decent, it’s elegant, it’s fashionable, it’s comfortable, as well as practical. Of course, the queen is rarely seen in trousers, even though she wears them, a plenty.  That’s because the Queen wears trousers, casually, mostly during her private time, with family, at home, for leisure activities, sports and holidays. She is rarely seen in more formal trouser suits/pant suits, during formal functions or visits. In fact, when it comes to her formal engagements, she loves romantic vintage dresses, and loves bright colours with matching hats and coats. Nothing beats Princess Diana’s chic fashion sense, when it comes to the British royals, but the queen has her own signature style, and she is a fashionista in her own right. Apparently Kate Middleton follows suit (pun intended), and loves to wear fashionable dresses for formal engagements, than trouser suits; though casually she might be seen in all-American jeans.

Thus, the secrets to how the Royals remain fashionably dignified in bad weather, reveled.

Nuwan Sen n’ STYLE
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THE FOURTH ANNUAL BARRYMORE TRILOGY BLOGATHON: Little Barrymore & King ♕

Little Barrymore & Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror 

Born on the 22nd of February, 1975, to the famed Barrymore lineage, Drew Blythe Barrymore, started acting at the age of 11months, when she auditioned for a canine food commercial. Not yet a year old, she got the job on the spot, when she laughed instead of crying when her furry co-star nipped her. By the age of 5 she was acting in Hollywood Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror films (with a few exceptions), one after another, throughout the 80’s decade; from Altered States (1980), to E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), to Firestarter (1984), to Cat’s Eye (1985), to Babes in Toyland (1986). She’s among the most well known child artistes of the 1980’s. Her most notable Sci-fi flick, as a child star, was none other than E.T. (mentioned earlier); directed by the man responsible for bringing out the “Blockbuster” phenomena (a ridiculous craze for predominantly tasteless cinema, today), way back in 1975, with Jaws (1975); Steven Spielberg.

Among the fantasy genre of movies, she worked in, two films involved the penmanship of, the crowning glory of modern supernatural fiction, Stephen King.

Drew Barrymore, with author, Stephen King, at the world premier of Firestarter (1984)

Little Barrymore’s King Connection!!!!!♞

As mentioned, as a child star, Drew Barrymore, appeared in two movies written by Stephen King. The first was Firestarter, which was based on a novel by King; and the next was Cat’s Eye, an anthology of three stories as witnessed by a cat. The first two tales, in Cat’s Eye, are based on the short stories, Quitters, Inc. and The Ledge; the third tale was specifically written by King, for the movie (where both, the cat and little Drew Barrymore, have significant roles). Beware of certain spoilers, below.

Firestarter (1984)

In Firestarter, two college students take part in an experiment orchestrated by a secret government agency known as The Shop (the Department of Scientific Intelligence). Later they get married and have a child together (a daughter). A girl with supernatural abilities, of clairvoyance and pyrokinesis. This child, Charlene McGee, a.k.a. Charlie, is played by an adorable little Drew Barrymore.

The film starts off, with the father and daughter on the run (the mother has been murdered) from members of The Shop. This secret government agency wants to use the little girl’s pyrokinetic abilities to harness a weapon of mass destruction. We see what happened prior to them being on the run, through various flashbacks. Soon the father and daughter are captured, separated, and kept against their will, in The Shop.

David Keith, Drew Barrymore and Heather Locklear, in a scene from Firestarter (1984)

Director Mark L. Lester’s adaptation of this King novel, is a flop show, and the overall experience is pretty bad. Especially thanks to the non-stop vengeful calamities by the little ‘Firestarter’, to destroy The Shop, towards the end. And each time she says, ‘to you “Daddy”, I love you’, you wonder, has she forgotten her “Mommy”, who was murdered, too, not so long ago? Especially when she says it at the end, in front of The New York Times office, it feels silly. The only saving grace of the film is the interaction between George C. Scott (who plays a cold blooded, inhumane, sociopathic, member of The Shop, with no regard for human life whatsoever; John Rainbird) and Little Barrymore. It is interesting to see how Rainbird (in the guise of an orderly) psychologically manipulates Charlie, and earns her trust. Those scenes are so innocently beautiful; and Barrymore shines most, within those moments. The experiment scenes, with a cute angry little Drew Barrymore, are actually quite good as well.

Though Firestarter, is a pretty badly made movie, it has a sort of cult following today. The movie does boast some good acting talent (including Oscar winners), yet not in their best element here. Besides George C. Scott and Drew Barrymore, we see David Keith (playing Andy McGee, the father) and Martin Sheen (as the head of The Shop, Captain James Hollister); along with, in comparatively smaller roles, Art Carney, Louise Fletcher, Moses Gunn, Freddie Jones, John Sanderford, and a young Heather Locklear as Vicky (Barrymore’s mother) in her first Big Screen appearance (prior to Firestarter, Locklear had only worked in television). Though, far from good, this 80’s B-movie is worth a look, due to innocent little Drew Barrymore, and it’s cult status today.

Cat’s Eye (1985)

A stray cat is chased down some suburban street, by a mangy looking dog. It escapes through a delivery truck and ends up in New York City. At a shop window a mannequin of little girl comes to life (only for the tomcat’s eyes) and asks him help her. And so begins the cat’s quest, through a maze of eccentric characters, to locate the real-life little girl, whose image, he saw via a mannequin, and to save her from whatever is threatening her.

A Mannequin comes to life in the form of Little Drew Barrymore, in Cat’s Eye (1985)

Little Drew Barrymore is amazing in a triple role, and she was nominated for the Young Artist Award for ‘Best Starring Performance by a Young Actress in a Motion Picture‘, in 1986, at an event know as Fantasporto (i.e. an International Fantasy Film Award ceremony) held annually in Porto, Portugal. As mentioned, first we see her as an apparition, of a living person. The cat is picked up from front of the shop window, and thrown into an electric cage and tormented, in front of an addicted smoker. So this is the first segment, of the anthology of tall tales. The cat is tormented as a warning, for the smoker, to kick his habit. This takes place at Quitters, Inc., where smokers seek help to quit smoking. The king of this torturous method is a brainchild of, the Chief counselor of the clinic, Dr. Donatti’s (Alan King), ancestor, who died of lung cancer. The man being warned is smoker, Dick Morrison (James Woods); whose wife (Mary D’Arcy), and then his daughter with down syndrome (played by Drew Barrymore), will be subjected to the same horrors that the cat faced, if he doesn’t comply and stopped smoking. Drew Barrymore appears briefly in this segment, as Alicia Morrison, and we see the close loving bond between father and daughter. When Dick Morrison visits Alicia, who seems to be hosteled in a special needs school, we see Dr. Donatti following Dick, keeping an eye, and reminding him of the consequences of ever smoking another cigarette. As crazy as this satirical tale is, it’s really well made.

The cat soon manages to escape, while Dick’s wife is being tortured, and soon we see the cat leave New York, in the Staten Island Ferry, with a beautiful view of the New York skyline, which includes the now lost, then landmark, Twin Towers (World Trade Center). The skyline with the Twin Towers, was shown earlier as well, during credits. The cat ends up in the resort city, of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Here, at another shop window, he sees a bunch of televisions playing an advertisement with a little girl (again played by Drew Barrymore), as the cat curiously watches, the girl in the advertisement turns into an apparition like earlier, and again pleads the cat to save her. Here the next segment begins, led by Kenneth McMillan and Robert Hays. But Barrymore does not appear in this segment at all, so shall skip it completely. The gist, the cat gets caught by another weirdo, helps save another innocent life, and escapes. Then he jumps into a freight train and travels to Wilmington, North Carolina. And it is here, we finally meet the little girl in trouble, the little girl’s apparition the cat saw twice, Amanda. And the third segment begins.

This third segment, where both the cat, and Drew Barrymore, have a very significant role, is the one Stephen King wrote, specifically for the film. Barrymore is superb, and no doubt was one of the best child stars of the 80’s. But the third segment, is my least favourite of the three tales, especially thanks to the actress playing Amanda’s mother (Candy Clark). The woman can’t act for peanuts. At least not in this movie.

Amanda adopts the cat, against her mother’s wishes, and names him General. A troll secretly has taken residence in Amanda’s bedroom, and tries to steal her breath. A troll, her parents don’t believe exists, and the mother blames everything that goes wrong on the cat. When the troll kills Amanda’s pet parakeet, the mother blames the cat. Ultimately the cat manages to save Amanda from the troll, and when his disembodied parts are found in the box fan; the parent’s finally believe their daughter.

As I mentioned before, this last segment is my least favourite. Yet, it’s a really good children’s horror story. If only Candy Clark did a more believable job here, this movie could have been so much better. James Naughton plays Amanda’s more understanding father.

While watching this Dino De Laurentiis production, directed by Lewis Teague, it felt so familiar, I wondered if I’ve seen it before. I’ve most probably watched Cat’s Eye, long ago, maybe in my teens, back in the 90’s . Am not sure. The entire film was only averagely good, but the first two segments, themselves, were actually really good. Especially the first story, based on King’s short story, Quitters, Inc..

My Ratings!!!!!

• Firestarter (1984) My Rating: 4/10
• Cat’s Eye (1985) My Rating: 6/10

For this Blogathon, I actually wanted to watch and work on Rasputin and the Empress (1932), which all three Barrymore siblings (Lionel, Ethel and John) starred in (and the only film the trio appeared in together), but unfortunately I couldn’t find this classic gem, anywhere, online. So, I downloaded the two cinematic adaptations of Stephen King stories, that Drew Barrymore, acted in as a child, back in the 1980’s. Normally for Blogathons, I’ve written on movies I’ve already watched; but this was just the second time, I watched a couple of films, specifically for a Blogathon. The previous Blogaton, I took part in, i.e. THE KURT RUSSELL BLOGATHON: Conversations with a Serial Killer from May 2018, was the 1st time, I downloaded and watched a movie, especially to take part in a Blogathon. It’s definitely easier than writing from memory alone (unless I had an old video cassette or DVD of a movie, or had downloaded a film, that I could re-watch, I had to be completely dependent on my memory, in the past). Of course, there were few Blogathons, where I didn’t work on movies; in that case I had to be dependent on my own personal knowledge and research (books and online information, provided by reputed sources).

Drew Barrymore’s Great Aunt, Ethel Barrymore

This Blogpost is my contribution to The Fourth Annual Barrymore Trilogy Blogathon hosted by Crystal of In The Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood, in conjunction with Drew Barrymore’s Great Aunt, Ethel Barrymore’s, 139th Birth Anniversary, which falls today !!!!

Thank you Crystal, for getting me involved in this enjoyable Blogathon.

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Latest pair of LADIES JEANS, for 2018, unveiled !!!!!!

The latest trend in Jeans for Ladies, has been unveiled (with matching footwear), for 2018, and they look hideous. These detachable Jeans, also known as Crotchless Jeans, look like micro-mini skirts, with pant legs hanging on suspenders. This reminds me of vintage women’s underclothing, where suspenders held stockings onto their underwear. Would people actually wear these hideous denims???? What do you think???

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nu Sense on STYLE (Also see my Blogpost Spray-on Blue Jeans from March 2013) Blue Jeans

Mardi-Gras, Movies-Gay

Queer Movies, and the month of Mardi-Gras

10 years ago, on 3rd March 2007, I witnessed the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras (simply known as Mardi-Gras, down under). This was when I was a student, doing my MA in painting (2006-2007), at COFA (College of Fine Arts), UNSW (University of New South Wales). It was a spectacular event, with gaudily glittering floats, semi naked bodies, cute kids, and the Sydney Mayor. In full swing, in the Australian summer, it went on, from dusk till dark.

The Mardi-Gars festival, is actually a carnival before Lent, in the Christian calendar. BUT, in Sydney, it’s a Pride carnival. Mainly due to the fact, that during the Pride month (which happens to be the summer month of June); is in the heart of winter, down under; where seasons go in the exact opposite direction to the norm. Christmas down under, is in the height of the hot sweltering summer. Thus, the Pride March, down under, has been interwoven with the Mardi-Gras; and is known as the Sydney Mardi Gras!! This takes place, on the first Saturday, of March. And thus, this year, it was held on 5th March 2017!!

In 2008, it was on the 1st of March, 2008. By now, I’d completed my 2nd Masters, and I was temporarily working as an ‘International Student Advisor’, at the ISS (International Student Services), in UNSW. I did not attend it that year (in fact, March 2007, has been the only Mardi-Gras carnival I’ve seen, so far). But I did, go and see, one movie, at the Mardi Gras Film Festival, held in Sydney, in February 2008. The movie was, The Houseboy (2007); and it was pathetic. One of the worst films I’ve ever seen.
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Downloading

Towards the end of last month, I came across a fellow film buff, from Pakistan, on Twitter, with whom I ended up chatting (something I rarely do, that too on Twitter). Soon I befriended him, on FB (Facebook). And on his FB timeline, he had mentioned Mahershala Ali, an actor of Muslim faith, who won the Oscar, for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for Moonlight (2016), at the 89th Academy Awards, held on the 26th of February 2017; and how proud he felt of being a Muslim, himself, for the very first time. I simply asked him whether he’d seen Moonlight, and that I’d love to. He told me he had watched it twice; and said he’d send me the link to download the movie. And he did.

Now, back to 10 years ago; Year 2007!! I was dead against piracy, and downloading movies on the web, et al. I remember how my Australian friends & flatmates, use to react; feeling embarrassed at doing such things themselves. But I have been living in Sri Lanka, for 7½ years now, and not being able to watch any good movies (as they practically are never shown in Cinema’s here); I’ve had to rent or buy films occasionally, that happen to pirated copies. See my posts on Life of Pi  (2012) and Mud (2012) from October 2013.

But, luck had me travelling to, places like:-
New Delhi, India, between 2010 & 2012 (where you don’t see pirated copies in street shops, unlike Sri Lanka, and have to (literally) go to an underground market, if you want cheap pirated copies); where I not only got to buy good original DVD’s (even though they were with Indian copyrights, thus they have to be approved by the Indian Censor board, and certain films, have a universal rating, with sex and nudity edited out; and though am against censorship, I prefer to buy original DVD’s, than badly pirated ones, found in good shops, in Colombo and it’s suburbs, in Sri Lanka), but also got to see some great films on the Big Screen, on the superb Cineplex’s of New Delhi (see my list on IMDB titled Oscar Winners … and then some 2012, from March 2012).
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Adelaide & Sydney (once again), Australia, in November 2014; where too, I watched a couple of the superb films, on the big screen, plus bought many a DVD’s (see my Blogpost Holidaying in Australia, comes to an end from November 2014).

Meanwhile, back in Sri Lanka, I’ve tried to download films, from certain sites; either I get an error message, or it’s not available in this country, or something or the other. So, only way, I’d watch films online, is if they were available on Youtube; and late last year, streamed a few on iflix. But, as I mentioned above, that this nice new (virtual) friendly acquaintance of mine, sent me a link. And on the night of 28th February 2017; I started to download, Moonlight. By the time, I finished downloading the film, it was next morning, i.e. 1st March 2017. Thus Moonlight, was my very first successful download. And within the next few days, I downloaded four more gay themed movies; in conjunction, with the month of (or rather the last week of), Sydney’s version, of the Mardi-Gras festivities.
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5 Queer Movie, within the first 5 Days, of March 2017

So here are my mini-critiques on the 5 films, I’ve downloaded so far (downloaded for the very first time). And unlike the pathetic film I saw at the  Mardi Gras Film Festival; except for one here (which too was Averagely good), all the rest of the films were pure excellence of Cinematic magic.
Thus, here is my own little ‘Queer Film Festival’!!!!!!
Beware of some spoilers below!!!!!
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1. MOONLIGHT (2016)

An Art-House Film, that bagged the ‘Best Picture’ Oscar, this year; a rarity, and a win after a fumble at the Academy Awards, that almost felt like Moonlight, had not won.

Moonlight is a touching portrayal of a young, afro-American, gay man, Chiron, brought up in a rough neighbourhood, in Miami, Florida, USA. With a drug addicted, emotionally unstable and abusive, mother; plus being bullied and beaten up in school; Chiron grows up to be a thuggish looking drug dealer, with a heart of gold. The finalé with the admission of virginity, by a very masculine, strong built man, pulls at your heart strings. This is a brilliant, coming of age, drama, about sexuality, true love, and what it’s like to be black in America, especially in a poverty stricken neighbourhood. Directed by Barry Jenkins, who won the ‘Best Director’ Oscar; Moonlight is a powerful piece of though provoking cinema. This is also Jenkins’ directorial, feature film, debut.

Ashton Sanders & Jharrel Jerome in a scene from Moonlight (2016)

The strong built, Trevante Rhodes, brings out such a sensitive performance; through a character, that outwardly generally feels frightening, with his gold chain, and gold teeth; and tough, overtly masculine, act; that touches deep, seeping into your veins, feeling the pain he’s going through. What a beautiful human being the character of Chiron is. The movie is told in three chapters, with three actors, playing one character, Chiron, in three stages of his life. Thus, the film has a main character (Chiron the protagonist of the film), but no lead actor, as such. The trio of actors perfectly essay the role of Chiron. In fact, the whole ensemble cast is terrific.

Mahershala Ali; who won the Oscar, for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ (making him the very first Muslim to win an Oscar, in the acting category); plays a kindly drug dealer, who becomes a mentor, a father figure, for little Chiron. Overall an excellent movie, that deserved the ‘Best Picture’ award, at the 89th Academy Awards, held last month. Moonlight, was the first film with an all-black cast, and the first LGBT film, to win an Oscar, for ‘Best Picture’ ever.

Watched Moonlight, late Wednesday night (1st of March, 2017)!!

My Rating:-
Excellent!!! 10/10!!
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2. CAROL (2015)

A Christmas Carol, a beautiful Christmas romance, and a wonderful, lesbian, love story.

Cate Blanchett is superb as ever, nothing surprising about that fact. Todd Haynes, is an equally great director, again nothing new about that. But, Rooney Mara, WOW!!! What a brilliant performance. I’ve seen excellent films, starring Mara, in small roles, like in The Social Network (2010) and Her (2013); but I hardly noticed her in these movies. So she definitely was the surprise packet in Carol, for which Rooney Mara, tied in, for the ‘Best Actress’ win, at the 68th Annual Cannes Film Festival, in May 2015 (see my posts The 68th Cannes Film Festival finalé and Winners & Disappointments – at Cannes 2015, from May 2015).

Carol, is based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith, titled The Price of Salt. Though am a fan of Highsmith thrillers, I haven’t read this particular novel. This story, is very different to Highsmith books (at least that’s what I gathered from the movie). While most Highsmith literature has to do with crime, interwoven with themes of sexuality; The Price of Salt seems to be, an out and out, love story, of two beautiful women; living in a male oriented, homophobic, world. Sadly, this is the world, a great American writer like, Patricia Highsmith, a lesbian herself, had to survive in, in the 1950’s.

Carol is a beautiful heart warming Christmas romance, set in America, in the foxy 50’s, starring two fantastic foxy actresses. Rooney Mara carries Audrey Hepburn’s charm and simplicity, with grace; and bold Blanchett, is outstanding as ever. Carol, has the potential of being, a future Hollywood classic. While Moonlight, is a brilliant, low-budget, American indie-film; Carol is the quintessential, modern day, Hollywood romance.

I had the luck of seeing Cate Blanchett, in real life, down under. Heavily pregnant, she came to UNSW, to see a digital television exhibit, at our University; in early 2008. I actually didn’t recognise her at once. For one thing I wasn’t aware she was pregnant. So, when I saw a heavily pregnant lady, come out of the exhibit, in a massive pair shades, with a little boy, and stare right at me; I didn’t really pay much heed to her (I was waiting to go inside, with a couple of friends; waiting for whoever was inside to come out). But I did feel she looked familiar. Then she removed her dark glasses (for our benefit 😀 ), and started speaking to a person in a wheelchair, quite near me. It was her voice I recognised, and it’s only then I looked at her. After she left, I asked the students working the exhibit, and they confirmed it was her!! If I already knew she was pregnant, I would’ve recognised her instantly.

Watched Carol late night, on the 2nd of March, 2017!!

My Rating:-
Excellent!!! 10/10!!
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3. HOLDING THE MAN (2015)

Above: Actors Ryan Corr & Craig Stott; as Timothy Conigrave & John Caleo, respectively; in the film, Holding the Man (2015)
Below: The real-life Timothy Conigrave & John Caleo

What better day to watch an Australian Gay-themed film, than on the night of, Sydney’s Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. Of course being on this side of the Ocean, there is no way I can attend the parade, down under, in all it’s splendour. But instead, I watched an Australian Queer Film, based on a memoir; which was the basis of a stage play, with the same title, by Tommy Murphy (who is also accredited with the screenplay for this movie), that came out in 2006; whilst I was in living in Sydney. The play was a big hit in Sydney; and in 2007, I remember seeing an interview with Tommy Murphy, on a local television channel in Sydney. Unfortunately I never got to see the play.

As I mentioned, Holding the Man, is based on the true story, of Timothy Conigrave’s (stage artiste, writer & activist), 15 year love affair with John Caleo (who died of AIDS); which Conigrave penned down, in a book called, Holding the Man. Conigrave completed this book shortly before dying of an AIDS-related illness, himself, in October 1994, at the age of 34 (a month before his 35th Birthday).

Holding the Man, is a tragic story, chronicling the life of two gay men, in Melbourne, Australia, who fall in love as teenagers, in the 1970’s; and survive all odds, when the land of Oz, was still very homophobic. It’s a pity, Timothy Conigrave and John Caleo, weren’t able to see, how much the world has changed today, and how much more open, Australia is to gay culture today. In fact, Sydney is the next gay capital of the world, after San Francisco, in USA. BUT, no matter how open and free, homosexuality is down under, today; sadly many a Australians do take Gay people for a joke. Homosexuality is no laughing matter. People can still be pretty cruel, and inhumane, even in Australia, towards the LGBTIQ community.

Watched Holding the Man, late night, on the 4th of March, 2017. The movie finished past midnight!! A sad beautiful tale, filmed beautifully by director, Neil Armfield. This is among the rare greatest Australian films, I’ve seen.

My Rating:-
Excellent!!! 10/10!!
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4. REFLECTIONS OF A GOLDEN EYE (1967)

Brando & Taylor, on the sets of Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967)

Based on the novel, Reflections in a Golden Eye, by Carson McCullers; this beautifully made movie, with a uniquely stunning photographic technique, was directed by John Huston, starring Elizabeth Taylor, in the lead, with Marlon Brando, Brian Keith, Julie Harris and Robert Forster. This was Forster’s debut role, where he played a sexual desire, of Brando’s character.

The main plot of the movie, revolves around the wife of a Major, stationed in a US Army post in the American South in the late 1940’s. The said wife is played by Elizabeth Taylor. A young new Private (Forster), has a perverted obsession, who voyeurs around the violet eyed beauty (Taylor), watching her naked body reflect through the golden brown lens of his eye. It’s a beautifully filmed, movie about a peeping Tom; unaware, of the Major (Brando), the husband, of his sexual desire, himself has a repressed homosexual desire for the Private. Seeing the Private’s naked golden body, many a times in the brown woods, only adds to the Major’s already uncomfortable want for a young man, he cannot have.

Despite a great story line, and the beautiful photographic technique, the film isn’t without it’s flaws. The most visible one being, that of Taylor’s character. Though the film is set in the late 40’s, Elizabeth Taylor’s look, just doesn’t feel the post-war period. With the latest hairdo’s and fashionable dress sense, straight out of the 60’s; Taylor is magnificently more modern, than the setting of the movie. Another flaw is, the movie starts to bore in the middle, especially after the death of a mentally unstable character, played by Julie Harris. Added to which, Huston could have focused more on the Major’s repressed sexuality; i.e. the character played by Marlon Brando.

A scene from the film, Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967); featuring Robert Forster, in the original release of the picture, with the golden hue, that did not impress audiences.

Initially the movie was released, with a golden hue enveloping the movie, as a reference to a drawing of a golden peacock, in the movie; a golden peacock in whose eye, the world is a mere reflection. But audiences did not seem to get this symbolic aspect, thus the original copy was withdrawn from cinema’s, and a normal coloured version re-released. I saw the ordinary colour version, but I’d love to check out Huston’s original aesthetic creation; with the warm sepia tint, over the colour film.

None the less, it’s a very admirable effort by John Huston. I watched Reflections in a Golden Eye on Sunday afternoon, 5th March 2017!!!!

My Rating:-
Average Fare!! 6/10!
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5. SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY (1971)

Last but not the least, most probably my favourite of the lot. What a clever, unusual film. The 60’s & 70’s were definitely the period that Hollywood ruled; bringing out bold unique plots.

Starring Peter Finch, Glenda Jackson and Murray Head; and brilliantly directed by John Schlesinger; Sunday Bloody Sunday, is a very mature, open minded, intelligent story. Murray Head plays a bisexual; who has two partners. One, played by Finch, and the other by Jackson. And each is aware of the other’s existence; and have a mature understanding, and acceptance, of the other, though neither of the, young bisexual scientific artist’s, partners have met each other. What’s more interesting, is how decent these people are, and in what a civilised manner, they handle sharing the same partner. They go on living a very normal life, with their lover, who finds time to spend with both, his male lover, as well as his female lover.

This is a very modern outlook, we don’t really see in this century. Of course, there are plenty of films on threesomes, extreme sexual deviations; but most of the time it’s showcased in a sleazy manner. That’s the beauty of this film, despite having a homosexual man and heterosexual woman, sharing one lover, there is nothing sordid about it. It’s so sophisticatedly handled, and is made to feel, so normal, and that too in a movie, that came out in the 70’s decade; it’s a wonderful feat.

One of the most intellectually adult movies, I’ve ever come across. Peter Finch, is spot on, as the elderly gay man, who is not seen suffering because of his sexuality, and who happens to a well to do Jewish doctor. Glenda Jackson plays a divorcee, who suffers from a childhood trauma, during the war. And each of them lives a relatively happy life, sharing one man, without suffocating the lover. And the lover, being bisexual, enjoys openly romancing both. And yet, it’s only the two of them he romances, and he doesn’t hide the fact he’s also seeing the other. So technically he is faithful to both his lovers.

A lot does happen in the movie, but it’s more character based, where these three people live a very civilized life, in a very normal manner, with acceptance and understanding. Isn’t this the kind of normal acceptance, of people who are different, and understanding them, that could make the world a better place. In a way, a very futuristic attitude. It’s a society that doesn’t have to fight for Gay Right’s, or Women’s Lib, et al; why?? ‘cause gay men and women are seen, living a relatively liberal lifestyle, with no judgement. Their friends accept them, friends’ children play with them, they are asked to take care of the kids, they trust each other; isn’t this the kind of normality, that ought to really exist, in today’s world, but sadly does not. Schlesinger, though set the movie in the 70’s itself, has forecasted a very progressive future, which should have made it’s way, by now.

This British film, is a masterpiece of cinematic intellect. A must watch. The Best film, in this list, I watched Sunday Bloody Sunday, late Sunday night (5th March 2017); the movie ended past midnight. Totally worth it!!

My Rating:-
Excellent!!! 10/10!!
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So that’s all folks, the 5 films I watched, within the first 5 days, of this month. Four of which, were pure excellence!!!

Nuwan Sen’s Film Sense

My French Film Festival (Dot).Com – SHORTS

Last month, on the culture segment, ENCORE, on FRANCE24; I saw Lisa Nesselson, speaking about an online French Film Festival (FFF)!! It wasn’t until, the night of, the 20th of January, 2017; that I finally got to check it out. All the short films, in the festival, were free; and apparently, in some countries, including our neighbouring country, India, ALL Films were Free!! So, I got to watch some of the short films, on 20th, last month (as I stated earlier); but I didn’t get to the watch some more until, the 11th & 13th of February 2017!! I wish I could have done a post about this earlier; as the Festival finished on the 13th of February, 2017. Pity, I hardly got to watch all the short movies, let alone, BLOG about it, sooner (I did not watch a single, full feature length, movie). BUT, I DID Tweet about the festival, initially, the very next day (after I first saw it), on the 21st of January, 2017, so that at least my followers on Twitter would be aware of it, just in case they already didn’t know about it. Even though, it’s too late to catch any of the films, from the festival site, do check out the website, “www.myfrenchfilmfestival.com”!!

So here is a look, at my quick take(s) on French Shorts, from the virtual Festival!!
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Vincent Cassel in a scene from Violence en Réunion (2015)

Short Films, I watched on 20th January 2017
SET OF SEVEN7

A Done Deal (2015/16) a.k.a. Une Formalité

A hilarious short film about a hit man, who is asked to take out a man to coffee, and shoot him later in an alley. But instead, the intended victim, ends up being a real pain in the arse; driving the hit man into near insanity. The most enjoyably piece of farce française, in the Festival.

This Canadian film, stars, actors, Steve Laplante and Richard Fréchette, as the hit man and his mark, respectively. Une Formalité was co-directed by Pierre-Marc Drouin and Simon Lamarre-Ledoux.

Funny, yet violent!! Excellent movie!!!!!
My Rating:- On FFF: 5/5  On IMDB: 10/10

Overpass (2015) a.k.a. Viaduc

A teenager risks his life, in the middle of the night, to do a  graffiti, on a flyover (a.k.a. overpass). The next morning, there is talk of picking up his brother from the airport. The scene at the airport, is sad, once we understand, what they meant, by picking up the brother. BUT, it is when we realise what the young teenager was writing, on the flyover; that it really pulls at your heartstrings. A poignant Canadian film, directed by Patrice Laliberté.

Young newcomer, Téo Vachon Sincennes, gives a heartrending performance!!

Touching! Another Excellent Short!!!!!
My Rating:- On FFF: 5/5  On IMDB: 10/10

Group Violence (2015) a.k.a. Violence en Réunion

Headed by a celebrated French actor, like Vincent Cassel, how can this movie go wrong. Vincent Cassel, plays an ex-street fighter, who is trying not to go back to his old violent ways. But it’s not as easy, as it seems.

Really good take on the western fear of Islam; and how a group of thugs; headed by Cassel’s character, use that, by covering up in a burka, and walking in the streets in the hours of darkness, to intimidate the cops on night patrol. An excellent short film, mostly due to Cassel conveying so much through expression, and less dialogues. Pure Perfection!!!!!
My Rating:- On FFF: 5/5  On IMDB: 10/10

4XD (1964) a.k.a. 4 Fois D

The Classic short film in the competition, is a nostalgic trip to beautiful French femmes of the 60’s decade. Near excellent documentary short, thanks to director Philippe Labro’s, directorial debut, naturalistically filming, Mireille Darc, Marie Dubois, Françoise Dorléac, and my favourite French actress, Catherine Deneuve (see my post 3.3.3.3 from July 2015, as well).

Year 2017, also marks the 50th Death Anniversary of Françoise Dorléac, the elder sister of Catherine Deneuve. Dorléac’s untimely death, at the age of 25, was due to car accident; when the car flipped and burnt. Françoise Dorléac had tried to open the door, was unable to do so, thus was incinerated. The police could only identify her remains, through the fragments of a cheque book, a diary and her driver’s licence. A tragic loss, to world of cinema.

Beautifully filmed in Black & White, 4 Fois D, is really worth checking out, if you are fan of these classic French stars!! An Ode to Beautiful Women!! Close to Excellence!!!!!
My Rating:- On FFF: 4½/5  On IMDB: 9/10

Téo Vachon Sincennes in Viaduc (2015)

1992 (2016)

The year is 1992! A lonely, gay, 17 year old, only has a video camera for a friend. He films everything around him, all the time. Soon he develops a crush on a 23 year old. After a night of sexual pleasure, he films the sleeping, naked body of , his 23 year old, on night stand. What would happen when the teenager’s father see’s the tape!!

Director, Anthony Doncque, has brought out a very touching, coming of age drama; of what it was like to be a gay teenager, in the early 90’s!! It’s interesting to see how the father handles it, when he discovers his son is gay. Young Louis Duneton, and Matthieu Dessertine; play the teenager, and his older sexual desire, respectively. Alain Beigel, plays the father of the 17 year old lone youngster.

Really Good Queer Short!!!!
My Rating:- On FFF: 4/5  On IMDB: 8/10

The Plumber (2016) a.k.a. Le Plombier

Méryl Fortunat-Rossi’s, Belgian movie, Le Plombier, is a hilarious film, full of sex sound. Behind the scenes of the porn industry, a Flemish man, who generally dubs, for animated characters, in cartoons; goes into lend his voice, for a blue movie. The results are idiotically comical. Though there is no actual skin show, the movie is very adults only, thanks to the various sounds, explored by the dubbing crew of characters.

Erotically Funny!! Quite Enjoyable!!!!
My Rating:- On FFF: 3½/5  On IMDB: 7/10

The Geneva Convention (2016) a.k.a. La Convention de Genève

Two group of teenagers are getting ready for a fight, over somebody owing someone money. One young man, tries to act as a mediator; and thus unfortunately gets roped into it. But when the person, the money is owed to, walks in, with no violence in his mind, the movie takes a comical turn.

Pretty Good Coming of Age, movie!!!!
My Rating:- On FFF: 3½/5  On IMDB: 7/10

#LateLastNight saw #se7ven #shortfilms,#online on,#OnlineFilmFestival,@ https://t.co/LOaND1wcgC!Films ranging from Excellent to Pretty Good!

— Nuwan Sen (@Nuwansenfilmsen) January 21, 2017

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Short Film, I watched on 11th February 2017
LONE1 RANGER

Flesh & Volcanoes (2014/15) a.k.a. La Chair et Les Volcans

An ailing adolescent girl, lives with her father, in Auvergne; a beautiful region in France, popular for it’s dormant volcanoes, and natural hot springs. The young lonely girl deals with daily constraints of living in this little village, with a lot of patience. But there is a limit to her patience; and her inner volcano could easily burst out, any day now, and make her do something completely irrational.

Pretty good, specially thanks to surreal hallucinogenic qualities interwoven into the film. Though I wasn’t a fan of the abrupt runaway, at the end. Still Quite Good!!!!
My Rating:- On FFF: 3½/5  On IMDB: 7/10

Last Night,watched #onemore #ShortFilm,#FleshandVolcanoes(2015)online on,#OnlineFilmFestival,https://t.co/LOaND1wcgC!#QuiteGood!7/10!#Nuwan! pic.twitter.com/cmffDCNGn6

— Nuwan Sen (@Nuwansenfilmsen) February 12, 2017

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Short Films, I watched on 13th February 2017
FIVE5 FILMS

In Deep Waters (2014) a.k.a. Dans les Eaux Profondes

A beautiful creation in animation, blending 3D & 2D artwork. Yet, quite an unnerving experience. Is it possible, to spend nine months, in your mother’s womb, with the corpse of your dead twin, and never know about it. Does the feeling of loneliness, fear of being alone, have something to do with?

This is a beautifully shocking tale, of three lonely people, who are unaware; the reason they don’t feel whole; is ’cause of  the fact, that they were meant to be a twin; but their sibling died in the womb, in the initial stages of pregnancy. Scary, Excellent!!!!!
My Rating:- On FFF:  5/5  On IMDB:   10/10

A Town Called Panic: Back to School (2016) a.k.a. La Rentrée des Classes

A beautifully animated children’s movie. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Love the stop motion animation, process, used in this.

In a school, an astronaut named, Monsieur Youri (an obvious allegory on Soviet Russian cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin; the first human to venture into space and orbit the earth, in 1961. See my Blogpost The American Civil War & Yuri Gagarin from April 2013) arrives; and tasks the students to measure the distance between the Earth and the Moon. The prize; a trip to the moon, with Monsieur Youri, in his rocket. It’s hilarious how, a Cowboy, a Red Indian, and a group of farm animals, try to find the distance, from the Earth to the Moon.

Comically Excellent!!!!!
My Rating:- On FFF:  5/5  On IMDB:  10/10

Veil of Silence (2016) a.k.a. Un Grand Silence

Set in 1968, in a sanatorium for pregnant teenagers, expecting unwanted children, a well-to-do young pregnant girl is sent, by her parents; to avoid scandal. Being the only well-to-do girl, she finds it hard to fit in with the other, more rebellious, and somewhat jealous, peers. She faces a dilemma, when she doesn’t want to give up her baby, and go back to her wealthy family; and start anew.

A very tragic film, about the hypocritical world; which doesn’t necessarily denounce teenage sex, but does so, to the unfortunate result, of pre-marital sex. It’s absurd, how an unplanned pregnancy is looked down on; and mainly it’s just the woman carrying the child who bears the burden, of being a societal outcast. Of course, this is set in the late 1960’s, in a more rural country side.

Starring Nina Mazodier, in the lead, Un Grand Silence is the directorial debut of Julie Gourdain. The movie also stars, Sonia Amori, Clarisse Normand and Louise Legendre.

The last film, I watched, of the festival, and it went on till close to half past midnight; thus finished on 14th February 2017 (St. Valentines Day), on this side of the ocean. Very Good!!!!
My Rating:- On FFF:  4/5  On IMDB:   8/10

Juliet’s Band (2016) a.k.a. La Bande à Juliette

A French film bordering on sexual harassment, tells of a group of art students, who travel to one of their batch mate, Juliette’s, holiday home in Normandy. Here she introduces the others to her childhood friend. Soon her childhood friend, tells Juliette, about one of art students constantly hitting on her, and treating her in a discriminating manner. But, Juliette doesn’t believe her own close friend. A sad film, where we ourselves wonder whether Juliette’s friend is just crying wolf (as she’s suppose to have done in the past), or telling the truth.

Beautifully filmed, in a lovely house, yet a very slow moving, movie. But still, enjoyable enough. La Bande à Juliette, happens to be the directorial debut, of newcomer, Aurélien Peyre. The movie, from France, stars a beautiful young cast, including Pauline Acquart, Adrien Schmück, Phénix Brossard, Aurélien Vacher, Fanny Lamblin, Faustine Levin and Lucas Audineau.

Average Fare!!!
My Rating:- On FFF:  3/5  On IMDB:   6/10

On #13thNight(#February)saw #5more #ShortFilms,@ #OnlineFilmFestival,@ https://t.co/LOaND1wcgC!Films ranging from Excellent to #AverageFare! pic.twitter.com/ayVRQivlKu

— Nuwan Sen (@Nuwansenfilmsen) February 16, 2017

The Last Frenchman (2015) a.k.a. The Last of the Frenchmen, and Le Dernier des Céfrans

What is it to be French? A pretty good story on Muslim youngsters, with Middle Eastern/African roots, born in France. Technically they are French, born and brought up in France; but when one young Muslim boy goes to enlist in the French army; he’s questioned, as to where his loyalties stand. Added to which, it’s difficult for him to tell his fellow ‘Muslim’ French friends, that he is enlisting.

The movie starts off with the French Muslim youngsters; going to the mosque, then hanging out, making fun, of one of the gang, for dressing up in outdated clothing; from Back to the Future (1985), et al. Then one of them, goes off to enlist. We see an identity crisis, these kids are neither here nor there. They are born French; but their roots aren’t. Thus, they are not accepted in either societies, without scepticism.

There is a scene, where the lead young man, waiting to enlist, is standing at a bus stand, named Frantz Fanon. This could be symbolic, as the; Martinique born, Afro-Caribbean psychiatrist, philosopher & revolutionary; the late, Frantz Fanon, spoke in detail, on the subject of identity crisis in the fields of post-colonial studies. Back in 2002-2003; when I was studying for my MA in International Cinema; I used his very first published book, Black Skin, White Masks, as a reference for various assignments, specifically on Post-colonial Cinema. Black Skin, White Masks, is a deep psychoanalysis, on effects of colonial subjugation upon Black people.

Despite a really good concept, and interesting metaphors, it feels like a waste. Quite a dull movie!! Only short film, in the online festival, that I did not care for, much; although I liked the idea, of the message the movie was trying to convey. Pretty Bad Film though!!
My Rating:- On FFF:  2/5  On IMDB:   4/10

@Nuwansenfilmsen!Actually there was #1film from #OnlineFilmFestival,that was pretty bad!#TheLastFrenchman(2015)aka.#LeDernierdesCéfrans!4/10

— Nuwan Sen (@Nuwansenfilmsen) February 17, 2017

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That’s all Folks!!
There were two short films, I couldn’t watch; i.e. Mother(s) (2015) a.k.a. Maman(s), and Of Shadows and Wings (2015) a.k.a. D’Ombres et d’Ailes; as, when I finished watching Un Grand Silence; it was already, past midnight (as I have stated above). Thus, unfortunately, I couldn’t see the last two available films, mentioned here. Plus, there were a couple of films, that were not allowed, in this country!!

One of the Classic Feature films, on the festival site, was, Agnès Varda’s Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962) a.k.a. Cléo de 5 à 7. Though I did not watch it online; I saw this excellent movie, some years ago. It’s French New Wave, classic. A Must Watch!! I gave it a 10/10, rating back then (also see my Blog-post Being mesmerised by ‘The Umbrellas of Cherbourg’ from August 2013). Sad, I couldn’t watch, any of the full length films, in the festival.

None the less, from the short films I watched, quite a few of them, were really worth it. Do check them out, if you get a chance, to do so!!

Nuwan Sen’s Film Sense
#‎NuwanSensFilmSense

Beware McFly fans, today is the 21st of October 2015

It’s here!!! October 21st, Year 2015!!!!!
Beware fans of Back to the Future Part II (1989), you might bump into Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), for today is the day he arrives from 30 years ago, 1985, in the above stated movie. Then again, who’d not want to bump into a young Michael J. Fox. A pity though, some of the cool gadgets, portrayed in the movie, don’t really exist today; like Hover Boards, Flying Cars and that Pizza maker.

There is no Jaws 19 (Thank God for that!!)

No Hover Boards (A Pity!!)

No Cool Pizza maker ( 😦 )

From Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future franchise, I loved the first one (from 1985) – 10/10 (Guilty Pleasure); thought the squeal, most of which is set today, was just OK – 5/10; and the third instalment from 1990, set in wild wild west, was actually pretty good – 7/10. Thus, my least favourite from the franchise, is the one where McFly flies into this exact date. Yet I can’t believe, it’s already actually the futuristic day portrayed in the movie. Time sure flies (Pun intended) !!!!

Nuwan Sen’s Film Sense

3 Nu Posts on Nu Site

Do check out the 3 posts, I have done so far, on my new website, nu Sense on Film.

• Craving for Craven’s non-Horror

(From Today: 6th of September, 2015)

• Noughties Bollywood’s taste for the 70’s

(From Last Month: 30th of August, 2015)

• Nuwan Sen’s TOP-10

(From Last Month: 22nd of August 2015)

Your comments are welcome, either on the nu site, or here.

Nuwan Sen’s Film Sense

Liebster, Dragon Loyalty & Beautiful Blog Awards

A Trio of Nominations
I’ve been nominated, by three different Bloggers, for a trio of Blog Awards.
Liebster Award by Vinnieh of Vinnieh on 20th May 2015
(A superb film blogger, and one of the earliest bloggers to locate my blog)
Dragon’s Loyalty Award by Reut Ziri of Sweet Archive on  29th May 2015
(A music and cinema blogger, whose blog I stumbled upon quite recently)
Beautiful Blog Award by Jonathan & Aaron Ferrara of Husband & Husband on 4th June 2015
(A couple of published authors, who also happen to be a lovely young married couple as well)

So thank you Vinnieh, Reut, Jonathan & Aaron for considering me worthy of the recognition you’ve awarded me, or rather, and especially, my Blog. And am truly sorry for the delay.

This is my 2nd Liebster Award (different logo though) and Dragon Loyalty Award (see my previous Blog Awards), and my very 1st Beautiful Blog Award.

So here’s the usual drill (as many of you, my fellow bloggers, would already know)

*Thank the people who nominated me, and add the pictures of the awards above. (DONE)

*Answer the eight questions prepared by Vinnieh, for me, for the Liebster Award

Vinnieh’s Q1. What made you decide to start writing a blog?
Nuwan Sen’s A1. I needed a platform, to place my film critiques, without anyone ruining my articles. So that I can publish them, in their original state, as written by me.

VQ2. A night out with friends or a movie night in?
NSA2. A night out with friends, watching a movie on the Big Screen; and then discussing and analysing it at length. But haven’t done that for ages.

VQ3. Buffy or Charmed?
NSA3. Neither

VQ4. What is favourite item of clothing?
NSA4. Straight/tight fit, Blue Jeans, that have never gone out of style since the 1800’s (for casual wear), with a loose simple T-shirt, or tucked in fitting shirt. Formal wear: I love the Indian Kurta, combined with the western formal trouser, with dress socks & sleek shoes.

VQ5. Who is your favourite actress if you had to choose just one?
NSA5. Audrey Hepburn, Of Course!!!!!

VQ6. How do you follow news around the world?
NSA6. On the net, television news, and foreign newspapers and magazines, when available.

VQ7. What is the most disturbing film you have ever seen?
NSA7. Rosemary’s Baby (1968) I think. It’s an excellent psychological horror movie, by veteran film director, Roman Polanski. I highly recommend it.

VQ8. Are you get up and go person or someone who needs to be motivated?
NSA8. Get up and go person (in the rest of the world) & someone who needs to be motivated (in lazy lethargic lanka).
(DONE)

*List 7 Random thing about myself for the Dragon Loyalty and Beautiful Blog, Awards

About Me
1. The best thing that happened to my life is Gingerella (a.k.a. Gingy). She’s my little pet (literally), a puppy I adopted on the 7th of December, 2014, exactly half a year ago, today (See & follow her Facebook Page, Gingerella Sen, if you are a dog/animal lover).

Last Night: Gingerella (a.k.a. Gingy) enjoying some of my Audrey Hepburn films, from my collection.
In my Room – On my Bed

2. I have never been on a date, till date. Been out with friends, both male and female, on a one on one basis (lunch/dinner/movie/other outings), but never on a date.

3. I believe in Equal Rights. Am a Gentleman to a Lady, and a bitch to bitch. Well actually I tend to have a lot of patience, but there is always a limit to everything and anything.

4. I practice my own version of the cliché, “Forgive & Forget ”. I prefer to forgive, and forget they ever existed.

5. I wish no one any harm. About people that make me unhappy, I wish them all the best, but hope that they just stay the fuck away from my life.

6. I love the city and country of my birth (New Delhi, India); but dislike the country of my unfortunate roots (Sri Lanka), that has given me nothing but misery (and where I happen to live now, unfortunately).

7. Paris is the most beautiful concrete jungle, I have ever lived in, till date.

8. I have lived in six countries, in three continents. I consider myself international, a citizen of the world, going beyond borders. I belong to any country, that accepts me as one of their own.
(DONE)

*Nominate 10 Bloggers for all three awards pictured above.

1. Ruth of Silver Screenings
2. Jim Turnbull of The Good, the Bad and the Average
3. Robert of Righteous Cinema
4. Kristina of Speakeasy
5. Paul S of Pfeiffer Pfilms and Meg Movies
6. Jackson of Movie Man Jackson
7. Akhiz of Akhiz Munawar
8. Roger of A Guy without Boxers
9. Coolsville of Coolsville
10. The Critic Man of Thy Criticman
(DONE)

*List 10 questions for my nominees

Nuwan Sen’s Q1. What’s your favourite novel?
NSQ2. What’s your favourite movie?
NSQ3. What’s your favourite movie, based on a novel, you have read?
NSQ4. What’s your favourite movie, based on a novel, you have not read?
NSQ5. British Hitchcock or Hollywood Hitchcock?
NSQ6. Non-American born Hollywood stars or American born Hollywood stars?
NSQ7. Which famous personality, did you idolise as a child, and whom do you idolise now, as an adult?
NSQ8. Which film starring Audrey Hepburn is your favourite? And which film role of hers, do you admire the most?
NSQ9. Who is your all time favourite film director?
NSQ10. What’s you favourite Oscar moment?
(DONE)

A Big Thank You, once again, for Vinnieh, Reut, Jonathan & Aaron, for honouring my Blog, No Nonsense with Nuwan Sen, with these award nominations.

Kind Regards
Nuwan Sen
(Nuwan Sen’s Film Sense)

Hot Woman turns 40

Angelina Jolie completes her 40th year of life.

Turning 40: Jolie in Jeans

Yup, it’s hard to believe, but Jolie has finally hit 40.

One of my favourite stars, and humanitarian. Going Audrey Hepburn’s way, she’s given part of her life to help the poor and needy internationally. She’s also became a UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) Goodwill Ambassador. Her work is aimed at human rights, especially Women & Children. Angelina Jolie has received many accolades, for both, her work in film, as well as her philanthropic causes.

She went a step further, and adopted three children, from various countries, around the globe, on her own. And she has three more children, with current husband, Brad Pitt. Plus, couple of years ago, Angelina Jolie, had a preventive mastectomy, to reduce the risk of Breast Cancer, and to spread awareness. She is one of the most bold, and respectable, women today. Not to forget her great sex appeal. Smart, intellectual, sophisticated and a great looker. A perfect combination!!!!!

Some of my favourite Angelina Jolie roles (in films I love/like/are average fare) happen to be in; Gia (1998), Girl, Interrupted (1999), The Bone Collector (1999), Original Sin (2001), Beyond Borders (2003), Alexander (2004), Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) Changeling (2008), and The Tourist (2010). There are only two movies of hers I disliked; Wanted (2008) and Salt (2010). I never really expected to love them, but I had hoped they won’t be this bad either. None the less, she was good, just that those two movies were crap. I never bothered to watch her ‘Lara Croft’ films from the early noughties, and I no desire to ever do so.

I love majority of the movies she’s been in, and she’s proved herself as a fantastic actress. Now she’s into film direction. Unfortunately, am yet to watch her directorial work, and I have no doubt, she’d be superb in that field as well.

Last I heard, the Oscar winning actress, is rumoured to be working on a project, based on a new bio-pic, on the life of Cleopatra. Interesting coincidence, see my post Question Time # 003: Cleopatra on Celluloid from September 2013.

Love Jolie!!!!!

Wishing her all the best.
Nuwan Sen
Nuwan Sen’s Film Sense
(Turning40 in June2015 Exclusive)

Tweets:-

Congratulations #AngelinaJolie.She was awarded theHonourary #Dameship by the #QueenofEngland for AJs contribution2workAgainst SexualViolence

— Nuwan Sen (@Nuwansenfilmsen) October 11, 2014

#Turning40!Wishing #AngelinaJolie all the best,on her #40thBirthday.One of D #hotteststars in D #filmindustry today!! pic.twitter.com/c7ni1qpqgp

— Nuwan Sen (@Nuwansenfilmsen) June 4, 2015

Nuwan Sen’s Film Sense

P.K. Are you DRUNK ?????

PK, an innocent humanoid Alien walks around the streets of New Delhi, looking for his ‘Remote’, i.e. his way back to his home planet.
Since E.T. (1982) famously descended on to the screens, over 30 years ago, there have been so many Big Screen Aliens visiting the cinematic world, without much success. Finally now, Director Rajkumar Hirani’s, Bollywood Blockbuster, PK (2014), took over the celluloid world, with one of the most likable fictional Aliens to have visited Planet Cinema, since E.T.

Like the birth of a new born baby, a spaceship, drops off a humanoid alien; without a stitch on his body, except for a flashing beacon (‘Remote’), strung around his neck; into the remote deserts of Rajasthan, India. The alien’s nude trek through the desert; towards a villager with a cassette player/tape recorder, walking along a train track; resembled that of the naked ‘Terminator’ (Arnold Schwarzenegger), from the pretty good, yet cheesy, 80’s, B-movie, cult-classic, The Terminator (1984). The villager steals the alien’s ‘Remote’, and the poor horrified alien manages to grab onto the cassette player, as the villager jumps onto a moving, open hooded, cargo train. Thus begins the alien’s quest to locate his lost ‘Remote’, his only way to contact the spaceship, his only way home. This expedition, ultimately, brings him to the Indian capital city, of New Delhi. This large confusing city, of various faiths, and contrasting mentalities, of the old and the new, makes the curious alien question everything, from religious views, blind devotion, to various brainwashed traditional concepts.

The maestro of the acting world, Aamir Khan, is amazing as ever, as the naïve alien (accidentally named P.K.); that’s more human, than most human beings; with his child like innocence, and curiosity, trying his best, to understand the people of Planet Earth, especially in India, and more specifically, the city of New Delhi.

PK, is a brilliant concept, that questions, fake sense of patriotism, false religious pride and egoistic ethnic personalities, that exist, even in this day and age, not only in India, but around the globe. The movie, through this nameless alien, whom everyone assumes is a man who walks around ‘Pee Kay’ (‘Drunk’ in Hindi), thus named P.K., questions religious beliefs derived out of fear. P.K. makes the ignorant, rack their brains; to help them realise their folly, of blindly following fraudulent religious leaders; and fakes fear for their livelihoods. PK is a cinematic experience, that’s a must, for all film enthusiasts of the world. An intellectual, thought provoking, satirical comedy, that crushes narrow minded sentiments, that still exist in the modern world, even among the well literate, to a certain extent.
The movie, as most Bollywood films generally do, has a romantic angle too. Yet luckily, PK, does not waste time on the love story between Sarfraz (Sushant Singh Rajput) and Jaggu (Anushka Sharma). Though initially, this India/Pakistan (Hindu/Muslim) love story does not seem that significant to the plot, there is ultimately a relevant reasoning for that romantic input, to help expose a fraudulent Maharishi (Saurabh Shukla). But, Aamir Khan, being the lead character, too, is shown falling in love. Here, I did wonder, was it really necessary for Khan’s alien to fall in love with Jaggu as well? Is it a necessity for the lead actor of a Hindi film to fall in love too? Even if it were unrequited love. Yet, that was just a minor unessential addition to an almost perfect movie, which neither helps nor ruins, the main plot.

Besides this minor, non required, heartbreak, of an alien, the segment set in the state of Rajasthan, though very essential, drags a bit, especially with a song featuring Sanjay Dutt. Was that a necessity? Didn’t it elongate the movie a tad? But yet again, that enjoyable enough, though not required, song and dance sequence, wasn’t that much of a waste of time and space, to ruin this pleasant ride along with a good hearted innocent creature from outer-space. Some interesting sequences set in Rajasthan include, the ‘Dancing Cars’ and P.K. downloading the Bhojpuri language via a prostitute. Of course the satirical comedy set Delhi, is, die out laughing, hilarious. Especially the sequences concerning various differential religions and customs, that tend to further confuse the poor alien, who comes from a planet, where everyone is considered equal.

PK is beautifully shot, in some spectacular locations, including the cobbled streets, of the breathtaking Flemish city, of Bruges (in Belgium), barren landscapes of India’s largest state, Rajasthan, and impressively showcases some iconic historical monumental backdrops of Old and New Delhi (in India). PK also consists of some melodious songs; that one can’t easily get out of their system; specifically the romantic yesteryear style of ‘Chaar Kadam’ (Four Steps), and the comical number featuring Aamir Khan and Anushka Sharma, ‘Love is a waste of Time’.

Besides, the great characterisation of P.K. by, Aamir Khan, the rest of the cast is just as superb. Anushka Sharma is amazing as Jagat Janani (a.k.a. Jaggu), a TV journalist who works for a prestigious television channel, in New Delhi, and who too questions blind religious faiths and foolish archaic superstitious beliefs, including of her own family’s. Jaggu desperately tries to expose the fraudulent Maharishi, and ropes in P.K. to help her do so. She is the only being in our planet, besides us, the audience, who is aware that P.K. is actually an extraterrestrial from outer space. Plus that vintage chic short crop hairdo Sharma sports is spot on. She feels like a cool chick from 80’s, especially in a scene she’s seen, wearing a loose white T-shirt, and no pants 🙂 . She looks good, and acts just as well. Boman Irani, another superb actor, does a great job, as Cherry Bajwa, the head of the television news network. Veteran, Parikshat Sahni, is a perfect fit as the god fearing, blindly devoted, disciple of the Maharishi, and Jaggu’s father. Saurabh Shukla is a natural as Tapasvi Maharaj, the deceptive Maharishi, conning fearful ignorant minds. Sanjay Dutt and Sushant Singh Rajput, are pretty interesting in their respective cameo appearances. But Ranbir Kapoor (of the famous Kapoor dynasty of Bollywood), puts on his usual, unimaginative, hackneyed, goggle eyed, dumb expression, seen in quite a few of his movies, in his blink of an eye, appearance. Besides these, other minor characters are also quite good in their respective roles.

A couple of Hindu organisations, wanted the film banned, as it apparently hurt Hindu sentiments. But their protests didn’t play, and PK was a big hit India.

Bollywood makes thousands of movies per year, and the whole of India (including other regional cinema), makes the largest number of films in the world. But majority of films that come out are crap. But when India get it right, they sure get it right. India has brought out some very good movies, including some of the greatest films ever, with an international standard, that happen to be amongst the best loved films in the world. Not just movies that are here today, and gone tomorrow. Not just Bollywood films, but films from the rest of the Indian film fraternities as well, especially when it comes to Bengali Art cinema, as well as Indian English language movies. India has brought out some excellent movies, that tend to age well, even though percentage wise, it might be a miniscule percentage of films, considering the output of Indian films, per year.

PK being an exceptional story, I don’t know if it ought to be necessarily nominated for ‘Best Film’, but it definitely should at least be nominated, if not gain a win, for ‘Best Script’, ‘Best Original Story’, ‘Best Director’ and no doubt secure a nomination for ‘Best Actor’, at all the prestigious Indian Award functions.

It’s extremely rare for a good movie, to make it’s way into the cinemas here. So am, so glad, PK ventured it’s way, across the Palk Straight (ocean strip), down here, and I got to watch it on the Big Screen, day before yesterday, on the 27th of January, 2015.

PK (2014) is an almost excellent, commercially successful, movie, with a brilliant social message. 9/10!!!!

Nuwan Sen’s Film Sense