Movies that made me the way I am - part 2

And let's continue with the long list of movies that influenced me in a way or another. For more information you can read if you like my previous post on this subject. :)

21. Con-Air (1997) - For the awesome John Malkovic who plays the unique Cyrus the Virus. The gripping action doubled by a brilliant chosen soundtrack will always freeze me on the couch, making me clap when the "bunny doesn't get it". :P Now singing... He's got the whole world...in His hand...:)

22. Leon: The Professional (1994) - a Luc Besson masterpiece in which I discovered a special kind of tenderness. Jean Reno, Natalie Portman and Gary Oldman form a golden trio very difficult to be ever equaled.

23. Heat (1995) - in other words: when 2 monsters meet history is made. Al Pacino and Robert de Niro in a breathtaking crime saga. There should have been invented an Oscar award just for the coffee shop scene.

24. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - when the special effects were the gestures and the eyes of the actors. When Milos Forman had the guts to dig deep in the fascinating world of the institutionalized crazy people. When Jack Nicholson was a God.

25. Annie Hall (1977) - One of the movies which forces me every time to thank God I have an awesome sense of humor. Otherwise I would have missed the perfect beauty of the wittiest movie that has ever been shot.

26. Rush Hour (1998) - The most comic on-screen duo cannot but win your heart. Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker together are the best anti-depressives.

27. L'avventura (1960) - Antonioni is not everybody's piece of cup. But once you get used to his style, a world of wonders unfolds. Alienation, shallowness and love blew my mind.

28. The Last Boy Scout (1991) - I fell in love with Bruce Willis after this line: "Nobody likes you. Everybody hates you. You're gonna lose. Smile, you fuck."

29. The Fisher King (1991) - Hope and misery in a mix that broke my heart. One of the most underrated movies of all times. My first encounter with the Holy Grail seen as unconditional love. An amazing Jeff Bridges and an astounding Robin Williams.

30. Moonstruck (1987) - This is how a romantic comedy should look like. Cher and Nicholas Cage? So unexpectedly good together. And yes "the moon brings the woman to the man..." :)

To be continued...

Movies that made me the way I am

This is going to be a very long post...so beware. I will not make a top of my favorite movies and I will not review them either. I will simply write down the titles of flicks that meant something to me, that touched me, that changed me, that influenced me or simply movies that must be seen by anybody. There is no particular order and I will list them exactly the way they come into my mind. The post will be periodically updated so be free to come back and check the new jeweleries. :)

1. The Great Dictator (1940) - the ultimate masterpiece of all times. If there is one movie that should survive Earth destruction then this is the one. Chaplin remains even after so many years the number 1 genius of this art.
2. Amadeus (1984) - Forman's best movie unlocked mind-blowing depths in me. Mozart as never seen before. This is when I started to fear mediocrity. I was 16.
3. Jesus of Nazareth (1977) - The only religious movie that really managed to make me totally believe even if for a fraction of a second that God is somewhere watching over me. It was then that I experienced epiphany.
4. Gone with the wind (1939) - The charm of old times has never been better depicted. I loved and hated Scarlett. My first encounter with love at its best.
5. Stalker (1979) - Thanks to Tarkovsky, I knew there was nothing wrong with me. The abnormal and haunting images from my daily dreams found their sisters in the decayed buildings and the mysterious, weird waters.
6. 8½ (Otto e mezzo)(1963) - the real world and the inner world combine themselves to give birth to a movie dedicated to the painful confusion that torments any artist's life. Fellini touched the insane strings of creativity process.
7. Le Charme Discret de la Bourgeoisie (1972) - 100 minutes that will tower you with its absurd humor and ominous dream sequences. 100 minutes that will reveal the horrible hypocrite that exists in each of us.
8. A Clockwork Orange (1971) - the perfect match between a writer and a director (Burgess and Kubrick). The double quantity of madness smashes every piece of your body and soul. It squeezes the humanity in you, but it also purifies you.
9. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) - It hits you with the power of a hammer. Fragility, pain and the mute wailing of "I've Always Depended On The Kindness Of Strangers."
10. The Matrix (1999) - "Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself." A new era started. An era where mind and spirit got an extra-dimension.
11. Star Wars (1977) - The beginning of an epic saga that mesmerizes the kid in us. The movie that showed the power of imagination.
12. Rain Man (1988) - It's ok to cry when watching it, even if you are a man. There is nothing wrong with this. Dustin Hoffman's performance (backed up by a surprisingly brilliant Tom Cruise) is the lesson we all must learn and remember forever.
13. The Hours (2002) - You thought you were depressed? You thought your life was small and pathetic? You thought you knew anguish? Well, take this and let's talk about it afterwards.
14. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003) - When humanity embraces the magic, this is the outcome. And I don't know about you, but sweet dear God I wish I was an elf.
15. Some Like it Hot (1958) - The perfect comedy that stands the test of time. Sparkling, alluring, sexy, intelligent, fuzzy, hilarious, it is indeed perfect, in spite of its most famous end line: "Nobody is perfect."
16. E.T. (1982) - Spellbound, hypnotized, in love. An extra-terrestrial being whom I adored more than anything. If there was a religious parable behind the movie, only Spielberg can tell. All I know is that E.T wanna go home...
17. Scent of a woman (1992) - When the outstanding performance of a "monster" meets the flavor of tango and the slashing randomness of life. Breathtaking.
18. Fight Club (1999) - The first rule of Fight Club? "Never talk about Fight Club!" Initially, I was so shocked that I hated it. But then, the movie grew on me and grew...and grew...Suffocating, brilliant, insane, disturbing. Puts on the table with lucidity all my fears and all my doubts.
19. Meet Joe Black (1998) - Because even death itself needs love. "Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived."
20. Don Juan DeMarco (1994) - The last movie in which a male was plausible when making love declarations. Sad, but true.

To be continued...

LET US MOVE, FOLKS!

Sometimes, we need life to push us back a little bit in order to move forward. Otherwise we find ourselves stuck, trapped, limited within our boundaries. And then we indulge ourselves in the warm daily routine: wake up, the morning coffee, the traffic to our job, then calling some friends, going home, taking care of kids, the pets, watching some TV, Facebooking, Twittering, Orkuting or whatever and then the sweet bed.
It is true, for many people in the world this picture sounds like a perfect thing, especially if you are homeless, jobless and all the other „less”. But this is not the point, as one day, „bang!”, it hits you: you lose your job, you lose your house, you do not have money for school, you get ill, you are stolen, your spouse betrays you, you fall, you cannot feel anything...
That moment you ask God or life or the world or your friend: „Why me?” „Was I so bad?” „Did I made anything wrong?” „Is it faith?” Unfortunately we will never find the answer. But the beautiful part is that we can do something, we gather our strengths to find a solution, we suddenly discover that we have a big power: to think and to do something about it. The result might not be the one we dream of, but we accomplish something more important: WE MOVE.
We free ourselves in the searching process and we learn new things. It’s up to us if we become better persons, but the chance has been given. So, folks, let’s move, let’s do something new, it doesn’t matter what. Either is helping a neighbour, or taking a new course, or talking more to the children, or reading an author we do not like, or joining a volunteer organization, or learning a foreign language, let’s do something new.
We have one life, as far as we know, and it would be such a pitty to waste it without trying all the things it has to offer. Life is smart; don’t get angry with it when it pushes us back in order to move forward.

My Name is Khan – a journey

I cannot speak about My Name is Khan without shortly mentioning Berlin experience. I can live very well without visiting the city anymore, but I appreciate it manages to attract thousands of cinema lovers during The Berlinale. Some of them are weird, some of them are adventurers, some of them are normal, but all of them are ready to queue for hours just to buy the golden tickets.
I had my MNIK ticket reserved for 13th. But I wanted to go on 12th, as the most beloved trio – Karan, Kajol and Shahrukh - was going to attend the premiere. It would have been a win-win situation anyway. If my haunt for tickets on ebay had failed, I would have got the Red Carpet chance to see them close, get an autograph or even hug Shahrukh. But what I wished more was to be in the same hall watching the movie together.
And I don’t regret this, as I felt like one of just a few real supporters in the middle of a crap audience – most of them people who entered via invitations and who had no idea what they were coming to see. Three guys, who stayed near me and had some VIP badges on the chest left after 20 minutes. I am very sorry I could not see their names. But if they ever read this, they will know I am talking about them – Shame on you, impotent bastards. Fans paid impossible to utter amount of money to be inside and you dare get out? And shame on you Berlinale organizers for letting in such persons, instead of giving this chance to someone who really loves and respects the work of movie-makers and deserves the special moment of a premiere.
Now that I expressed my rage against the atmosphere inside, which should have been really hot (proof? the second watch on 13th was really amazing – the love exuded in the cinema hall was almost material, like a thick silky veil), maybe time has come to focus on the movie in itself.
Karan had guts to do such a movie. First of all, non-believers, detractors, haters, would say: “Oh, no, did we need another Forrest Gump or another Rain Man”? Well, even so, what is wrong to see more stories about similarly challenged people? Let me tell you something, the trailers are misleading. I got in the same trap. I thought I knew what the story would be about and what was the message, blah, blah… He,he,he…Karan managed to surprise me, right from the very first seconds of the movie. The way camera moves, following Rizwan Khan, the music, which is absolutely brilliantly used, marks the beginning of a journey that will enchant you, will make you clap, tear, suffer, laugh and smile.
I will not detail the narrative thread, as this is not important now, but I will mention the very-well written script (puzzle-like sometimes), the incredible cinematography, a neat and very much westernized editing and decent Americans actors (for a change - this is an aspect I use to hate in Bolly movies).
There are two big moments in the movie, when time seems to stop and the world freezes. One belongs to Kajol, one to Shahrukh. Both of them are catharsis creators. Brace yourselves for a mother in pain and for the church speech. Those who saw/will see the movie and remain(ed) untouched by these 2 moments lost something precious in their lives – sensibility and love.
The movie has the quality of a bildungsroman and it can be interpreted and analyzed at many levels. I would recommend you to forget about analysis and simply enjoy the story, the rhythm, the fun, the jokes, the magic and charm of a special jodi, the kids acting in the movie (very good), the breathtaking images, the drama, the tears (yes let them flow – they will purify your soul), the Hollywood style ending, the humanitarian message, the incredible eyes of Shahrukh (dead, but expressing million things in the same time – I really cannot remember/imagine other actor of such a performance), the wide, beautiful smiles of Kajol, Zarina Wahab as Rizwan’s mom (adorable), the serene presence of Sonya Jehan, a delicious Vinay Pathak in a short role…and I can continue like this for pages and pages...
The movie can come over you like an avalanche. The desire to know how the story goes on and what happens next can make u impatient and hence, for some people, MNIK will be too long. That is why a second watch is a must. As then you can taste all those little details that first time seemed of no importance to you.
Trying to be objective as much as I can, I must say that My Name is Khan is one of the most powerful movies I have seen lately and appropriate both for Western and Asian audience. A Shahrukh-Kajol-Karan fan doesn’t need any reviews, any opinions or any ratings and the experience will be mind-blowing for him/her.
In the end, if you read these lines, please, go and see the movie. You will rediscover love. And love. And more love.

Demență

Când începea să viseze, sunetele hipnotizante o făceau să deschidă prima ușă. Străbătea încăperile uriașe, sufocate de draperii sângerii din brocart greu, una după alta, într-o goană disperată. Același miros înțepător de mosc și tămâie. Într-un târziu, ajungea la destinație. Abia peste 20 de ani, bărbatul care cânta la pian își va întoarce fața și îi va spune să se arunce în abisul ce se căsca urât între ei. S-a supus fără crâcnire, însă viața trecuse deja pe lângă ea. N-a mai visat niciodată...

Particip la Concursul de Proza Arhiscurta organizat de Trilema.

India - karma or obsession

This post is dedicated first of all to my friends from Twitter who stubbornly use to ask me what is my connection with their country. On the other hand I think time has come to actually answer myself if this is a karmic thing, or simply an obsession built up in time due to various elements.
Well, I guess everything started in childhood. I had the privilege to be literally brought up in the cinema hall, as my parents worked their entire life in a cinema. As I have confessed to many so far, my oldest memory is from a movie - a cut head rolling down a hill and the beheaded body covered by a purple cape. Well, in former Eastern European countries, movies coming from India represented a steady and most beloved presence (and who claims otherwise is a pathetic liar). So, my first contact with the Hindustani land occurred in the magic shelter of the cinema hall. Movies like Aradhana (Vandana in Romanian), Haathi mere Saathi (My friends, the Elephants), Awaara (The Vagabond), Shree 420 (Article 420), Ek Phool Do Mali (A flower and two gardeners), Yaadon Ki Baaraat (The chain of memories), Raj Kapoor, Mr. Amitabh, Kabir Bedi (in Sandokan Series) simply helped the Romanians to evade from their gloomy world and dream of a land that seemed to be like a fairy tale.
In time, when books became another source of getting knowledge for me, I discovered Eliade and his wonderful love story - Maitreyi or La Nuit Bengali.The book describes the relationship between the author and the young Indian Maitreyi Devi (a protegée of Tagore), who became a famous writer herself. For many years, Maitreyi Devi was not aware that the story had been published. After reading it, she wrote her own version of the relationship in 1974 - Na Hanyate (It Does Not Die - in English).In fulfillment of a promise Eliade made to Maitreyi that his novel would not be published in English during their lifetimes an English translation, of Mayitreyi, Bengal Nights did not appear until 1993.
Well these two books had a great impact on me on a superior level and made me discover more about India and in the process I went through all the already known clichéd stages (yoga, gurus, high spirituality, Mother Teresa, Gandhiji etc. - must admit crazy times were these and kind of weird). But my quest was not on the right track and for many years India simply lingered somewhere in a corner of my mind until some time around 2000, when all of a sudden India started to be in the news.
At that time my personal profile registered a huge change - from the book addicted philologist and an "elite intellectual" I had turned into a new to be economist and my mind had become more opened to the mechanisms that hide behind different societies. Little by little, my image about India absorbed different aspects, like history, social rules, governmental rules, development trends, you name it.
Caught in the hectic world of professional career, gasping desperately for time, once again I grabbed what was at hand to ease up my information hunger. Bollywood (oh, boy, and I have seen quite a huge number of glossy and unrealistic Bolly flicks) and Internet (youtube made history from this point of view). Year after year I watched in awe and with increased interest the changes India went through.
Well, last year something bizarre happened (unfortunately it cannot be shared) and all of a sudden things (big or small) related to India were coming my way on a regular basis (like receiving a sari from someone who most probably wanted to get rid of it and had no clue about my interest in India). Things that can be explained only if karmic or obsessive.
Once I wrote my first tweet the craziness exploded. The easiness I connect with people from India (though we come from complete different cultures, with complete different values) goes beyond the normal, kind social media rules. Twitter also had a great deal with my decision to relocate and leave my country, just because somehow I believe on a long shot my destiny and fulfillment is in India.
My closest friends from home are quite appalled by the idea and they hope it is just another whim of mine. I fear and hope it is not.

Locked in people’s hearts for good.

You blew the world as Raja, telling your wife you would not touch her until she accepted you.
With Raju, you came to Mumbai and showed us that love was stronger than the glamorous lifestyle.
Then with Ajay/Vicky schizophrenic personality you managed to woo the audience. The dead look in your eyes in the last shot revealed a land of wonders.
As Rahul Mehra, people became aware of the tormented love and could not help, but share the pain of not being loved back.
You came along with sparkling Sunil whose defeated posture in the rain and teary eyes announced the soon to be the knight of hearts.
As Raj Malhotra you made history and the world has never been the same since that year. You became a brand and a solid as rock print in our souls.
Ram Jaane reminded us of an angel with dirty face and the craziness of sacrifice.
Arjun Saagar marked the point where your charisma and sadness merged for the first time into an expression difficult to watch at times.
Other 2 Rahuls were yet to come in 2 love stories which almost annoyed the viewers with their unbearable sweetness and sorrow. Each and every tear you shed was thousand times multiplied and formed an ocean of admiration all over the world.
Then Amarkant puzzled everybody. One of those strange roles that leave you wrapped up in anguish.
With Baadshah, Ajay and Max, entertainment got a new side, but fans breathed easily when Raj Aryan came back with his eternal love for a dead woman.
Asoka confirmed an underlying statement – I am here to stay. For good. And I do not care whether you like it or not.
Rahul Raichand appealed to Western audience more than ever. Period. The gesture of blessing your bride, while rain was desperately pouring, could freeze anyone’s heart in a never-ending beat.
Soon after that, Devdas popped up in our lives. The depths of his eyes mirroring the hell of our own mistakes and loneliness were hard to bare. Grieving got a new meaning.
Without any mercy, you gave us Aman Mathur so we can be hunted and distressed even more.
Major Ram Prasad Sharma helped us cool down a bit, so we could cope some time later with that first split second of terror and misery in Veer Pratap’s eyes.
And what a feast Mohan Bhargava offered us. Decency, calmness, honesty, genuine talent, but also a new ironic statement: „Hey guys, you thought I couldn’t do it? Well, check that!”
Between Kishenlal, the boring „accountant” and the selfish Ghost, one cannot choose easily. So we were satisfied with the famous line: "I am the yearning that resides in a woman´s heart... that´s who I am."
Dev Saran shook again the Western hearts and troubled the Indian ones. Dev disturbed many people. Dev annoyed many people. Dev was hated by many people. Because Dev had the courage to show the truth. Dev had the courage to destroy so he could live. Dev had the guts to open up widely the „dark” side of our souls and desires. And Dev proved us how pathetic and coward we are and this was why I loved Dev so much. Unfortunately, Dev does not exist in the real world.
In a twist of fate, Vijay/Don „cleaned-up” the mess made by Dev and we watched in awe the wonderful new played double role. The mean, sarcastic, sharp, cunning and charming Don simply brought smiles on our face. Once again the audience was ready to understand and forgive the villain even if there was absolutely no reason for that.
2007 was a weird year. Kabir Khan and Om Prakash/Kapoor played with our feelings. On one hand here it is the astonishing coach - severe, correct, wounded, sad and tough – who stands uncorrupted in his heartbreaking solitude; while on the other hand, we have Om – the childish, gully, puerile, sissy, but so sexy hero. Split personality? Freaking talent? Blessed by Gods? I can only assume or guess and cannot give an answer.
Surinder Sahni/Raj does not any more introductions. The man has a heavenly gift and made justice for himself and for a feeling so much disregarded, but so much secretly desired by everyone: Love.
Sahir Khan let us catch glimpses of the real thing. He tries to tell us leave him alone. I am sorry but we are not able to do that. When your name is Khan, you are doomed to be forever locked in people’s hearts. It is a heavy burden, I know, but instead of swimming in rivers of tears, it is better to float on oceans of love.
Happy Birthday Shahrukh.