Movie: THE INSIDER
Director: MICHAEL MANN
Genre: Adaptation, Drama, Thriller
Cast: Al Pacino, Russel Crowe, Christopher Plummer, Diane Venora
Duration: 2h 37m (app)

After having read all the theory about whistle-blowing 'The Insider' provides a visual projection of the complications on this theme. Based on a true story with some dramatised instances which the director himself acknowledges 'The Insider' follows the character of 'Jeffrey Wigand' played by Russel Crowe as the whistle-blower. Al Pacino plays the Journalist who helps air the footage of Wigand's interview amidst heavy resistances.

The movie is a wonderful experience and notably a different genre among thrillers. Michael Mann's camera is mostly hand-held and the editing part is slick to suit the mood of the movie. The color tone used with ample support from the wonderful acting crew enlighten the ambience the movie needs.

The various complexities that arise, wrought with pressures of financial, emotional, political and ethical issues are balanced to provide a neat entertainer.

PROS
Direction, Camera, Editing, Acting

CONS
This doesn’t matter.

COMMENTS
A cool movie that focusses on the realistic thriller category and the output is -- pure Michael Mann.

TAGLINE
This Insider makes you experience the Insides!

GRADING
Cast and Crew: A-
OVERALL: above B+

RATING: 8.2/10.0

Movie: ROSENSTRASSE (German)
Director: MARGARETHE VON TROTTA
Genre: Drama, World War II, Third Reich Camp
Cast: Katja Riemann, Maria Schrader
Duration: 2h 13m (app)

'Rosenstrasse' by Margarethe von Trotta falls into a different genre of the WWII movies revolving around the Nazi Regime. Its about the endurable fight put up by the wives in front of a Nazi Collection Camp for their husbands, in the place called Rosenstrasse. Probably one of the few movies that have their base in WW without violence.

The film conveys the torn feelings of a woman who had been affected in her childhood in the Nazi Regime. The hardships are naturally picturised, relating the girl-mother and the wife-husband emotions. Though the film lacks in its pace it still does create an impact on the viewer.

The direction is on par with no extra credits but a little more briskness to the screenplay could have added more fragrance to the flavor. The director moves it at a very slow pace that we sometimes get pushed away from the sequences....however it is a nice movie made from the women-oriented angle in the Third Reich.

PROS
Watchable, Emotional

CONS
Unnecessary Slow screenplay, Could have been made better

COMMENTS
Does create an impact

TAGLINE
Look at a different phase of the Nazi hardships.

GRADING
OVERALL: B

RATING: 7.1 / 10.0

Movie: TRAFFIC
Director: STEVEN SODERBERGH
Genre: Adaptation, Drama/Thriller, Gangster
Cast:Benicio Del Toro, Micheal Douglas, Don Cheadle, Catherine-Zeta Jones, Dennis Quaid
Duration: 2h 25m (app)

After watching a film like 'Oceans Eleven' i never expected to see a movie as 'traffic' from Director Steven Soderbergh. An ensemble of a huge cast(never expected Salma Hayek for just a couple of scenes) this movie does not dissapoint. A stylishly carved movie, it consists of a few stories that interlace at certain points.

The prominence of Drugs is well known in America, with even the school children being prone to its usage. This movie is about Drugs, but the best part is it does not have a'Superman' who vanquishes the Russians to make America free from drug populance. Its Raw mood is the asset and the truth is its highlight.

The Movie deals with the effect of drugs on children, drug pedalling, laws trying to eradicate it, corrupt politicians favouring its market and the usual human drama in the acceptance of the inevitable for survival-all moving in parallel lines that run into one another.

The Direction is apt with the raw mood favouring the movie. The Cast though huge, everyone plays their part well. The music is eerie and it suits the movie to the best. The color variations in the cinematography is great suiting each story and the finality when the 'Micheal Douglas' story-line changes into contemporary color is excellent.

A great film if you love 'realistic' movies like GoodFellas and City of God.

PROS
Direction, Cinematography, BGM

CONS
Certain Subtle Hollywood inevitabilities

COMMENTS
A Realistic Movie Stylishly Etched.

TAGLINE
Drug Market – An inescapable acceptance

GRADING
Direction: A-
OVERALL: above B+

RATING: 8.5 / 10.0

Movie: CHOCOLAT
Director: LASSE HALLSTROM
Genre: Adaptation, Drama, Comedy
Cast: Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Alfred Molina, Johnny Depp,
Duration: 1h 58m (app)

Lasse Halstrom delivers a soothingly cheerful film that entertains as a comedy, emotional movie with some wondeful acting. The speciality of Lasse Hallstrom's movies is that he infuses emotions into his script in such a manner that it becomes enjoyable despite his simple stories.

The beauty of this movie is that it is so heart-warming that we are ready to forgive its overdosed cliche's. The movie does falter here and there but still the enjoyable sequences overshadow its triteness.

Juliette Binoche stands out as the protagonist, who opens a chocolat factory in a certain french town that changes the stringent discipline of the town.Johnny Depp...Yeah! but "where is he?" is the question that lingers constantly for he appears only after an hour, that too for a short time.

Its a warm, cozy movie that makes us emote and enjoy for the time being spent with it.

PROS
Heart-Warming, No mawkishness.

CONS
Dont be critical, else this chocolat will be bitter.

COMMENTS
A pretty usual story treated with adept emotionality that makes it enjoyable to watch.

TAGLINE
Might not be the sweetest, but you can't deny its flavor!

GRADING
OVERALL: above B

RATING: 7.6 / 10.0

Movie: GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK
Director: GEORGE CLOONEY
Genre: Drama
Cast:David Strathairn, George Clooney, Robert Downey.Jr
Duration: 1h 25m (app)

George Clooney as a director proves his niche for Television by visualising the real-time feud that had happened between 'Edward R. Murrow', a CBS News Reporter and 'Joseph McCarthy', a U.S senetor. The controversies that had raged in the U.S during the 1950's is beautifully shot with great camera work and a wonderful lead artist.

I do not know the intricacies of the controversy but this celluloid feature proves to be a good movie even without a background in the 1950's U.S News history. The Cinematography by Robert Elswit necessitates a definite mention here. If there are so many variations in textures within the two colors 'Black & White', we gotta learn it from him. His Camera provides the apt mood for the movie but not without an excellent performance by David Strathairn as Edward R.Murrow. His stern facials and seriousness in approach are awesome.

George Clooney's directorial feature is a definite 'Two Thumbs Up'.

PROS
David Strathairn, Cinematography

CONS
George Clooney was great in his 'Direction', but could have sacrificed his acting part for another.

COMMENTS
I don’t know if they really took on the Government with the truth, but George Clooney surely did take me with a great movie.

TAGLINE
Definitely Good Night, and Good Luck!

GRADING
David Strathairn: A-
Camera: B+
OVERALL: above B+

RATING: 8.3 / 10.0