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[/amazon_link]- In a World (UK, 2013)
Carol Solomon is a vocal coach who’s constantly being told by her father that she is not good enough for her chosen field, that she should leave the big jobs to the big boys. He himself is a successful voice-over artist but makes no attempt to help her, or even just be supportive. Then when Carol finds new opportunities, she is pleasantly surprised.
I liked this film, because I liked Lake Bell’s character here. This movie is a Sundance winner, but besides that it is moving and likable and earnest. It is also written and directed by Bell, so kudos to her. This may not be the slickest, smartest film you’ve ever seen, but it is a good one.
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[/amazon_link]- Swades (India, 2004)
I’ve seen this film so many times, and I love it each time. Swades is about a young NASA engineer, who comes to India on what he thinks will be a short trip, because he has to take care of this one thing. As it happens, that one thing burgeons into so many others.
Swades stars Bollywood megastar Shahrukh Khan, and this has to be his finest performances ever. The film itself is honest and moving, and asks many questions without hiding behind jingoistic patriotism. Plus it has a fantastic soundtrack and background score by Oscar winner A.R. Rehman.
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[/amazon_link]- The Last Days (“Los Ultimos Dias”, Spain, 2013)
This is a post-apocalyptic film, where we look at life after the event. The event in this case is a massive, unexplained agoraphobia, causing all of humanity to hide inside buildings afraid to venture out in the open. Our software programmer protagonist Marc must fight to find his missing fiancee amid all the chaos.
This was a superb, atmospheric film. It was tense, suspenseful, studded with those moments where there are lots of dark places; you know that there are things hiding in those dark places. And the hero has like, one match. Which goes out.
This isn’t horror though, nor is it (very) bloody or gory.
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[/amazon_link]- Unfinished Sky (Australia, 2008)
Australian Outback farmer John Woldring comes across a woman who speaks little English. She seems rather worse for wear and is obviously fleeing from something. John is a loner, and naturally gruff and taciturn. The fact that they don’t speak a common language is making it harder to understand what she needs to say.
This film is part romance, part thriller. I’d just randomly added it to my watch-list because the story sounded intriguing. Suffice it to say that it exceeded all my expectations – a great watch.
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[/amazon_link]- The Contender (USA, 2000)
Vice-Presidential candidate Laine Hanson is not the most liked person in Washington. She’s offended people by being the most suitable person for the job, when they already had the ideal candidate in mind. So the nay-sayers go on a modern day witch-hunt, looking for something in her past which will dethrone her from the President’s good graces, and force him to reconsider her candidature. What they find is something so lurid, it leaves the country reeling.
Joan Allen shines in this film; she is the very epitome of grace and dignity. A remarkable film about women and sexism in politics.
