1. North Country (2005)
Cast: Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, Sissy Spacek, Sean BeanDirected by: Niki Caro
My Rating: *** / ****
Another one of those 'inspired' by the true-event film (not to be confused with based on real-event), North Country portrayed the life of Josey Aimes, a female mine-worker who (again, in this film) the first female worker to ever sue the company where she worked regarding of the harsh-treatment she and her female co-worker received from her male co-workers.
When i read about the premise prior to the film, i had briefly placed myself on a neutral position. And i was very much believe that those won't change even after i've seen the film. Because, naturally the mine was a place where you do dirty stuffs, required more muscle, and within harsh environment where most would be attributed it to the male world. So, i think it's sufficient to say that the idea of a female mine-worker recieving harsh-treatment from her male co-worker was - in my opinion - appropriate on such environment. Further, if i was told to point a finger, I would blame the girl for her job-choice. As if there wasn't any job (with less harsh environment, that is) left out there.
Alas, Niki Caro, being a woman herself, spends a big portion of the movie to deal intimately with Josey's life. More than enough for us to fall in love to her, to sympathize with her conditions, and ultimately to stands in line behind her when she stood for her right. And that's why this film works. However, at the cost of jumbled narrative at the end. For it seems that the movie-makers had just realised that the running-time for this film had exceeded two hours mark and they hurriedly put the conclusions to fit in. But, i'd say again, that the film works. Much thanks to superb performance by Charlize Theron, she was so beautiful, by the way, and Frances McDormand whose previous performance in Fargo made her effort to put an accent at her speech in this film like a walk in the park.
2. Rear Window (1954)
Cast: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma RitterDirected by: Alfred Hitchcock
My Rating: **** / ****
My first Hitchcock's flick. Long story short, if a film made in all its humbleness, simple in execution, but, could provide thrilling entertainment, then that film was either really good, or has been made by superb film director, mastering in thriller. Well, "Rear Window" is both. The entire film was shot in and from one location only. Which is in our main cast's apartement looking through the apartement's Rear Window to the neighboring apartments where the event which was the main interest of this film took place. And, if that wasn't enough, all of the sound in this film is diegetic, which means that all the music, speech, and other sounds all come from within the world of the film.
L.B Jeffries was a photographer. He had been forced to stay at the apartment with one footin in a cast that temporarily put him out of any outdoor activities. So what does he do then? he eye-ing his neighbors through the window of his apartment. Sounds simple? it is. But believe me, it drags you. It sucked you in to Jeff's POV, up to a point where you share his curiousity, believes to his illusion, well, want to believe would be more appropriate, and subsequently turns his experience into ours. As the film progresses, several other characters interact with Jeff. They were either agreed with Jeff, or contradict him, or reminded him (and us) that eavesdropping (or the sort) was naturally moral-wise bad. And therefore, he (Jeff, as with us as well) was a bad person.
But who needs morality when you've got your curiosity? As they say, curiousity kills the cat. And this kitten here should be ashamed that he (guided with Jeff's binocular) chose to ignore the lady whose about to killed herself with a lethal dose of some sleeping-pills over the truth. Over his curious-ness. Alas, this kitten knew the fact, knew that he should be ashamed by doing that, way after the movie hits the gutter.
3. Psycho (1960)
Cast: Anthony Perkins, Janeth Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin BalsamDirector: Alfred Hitchcock
My Rating: *** / ****
I've got a little-problem with the title that even though i've wrote it several times already, i still can't manage to get to write it correctly in the first try. I've always wrote it Phsyco, Physco, or some other before i opened an internet window to see how does "Psycho" spelled correctly. Ah well.
Many considered this flick as Hitchcock's magnum opus. While i cant say whether i agree or not, considering that i've only seen two of many Hitchcock's filmography, i could savely say that i agree that this film was more than enough to give you thrills throughout its film-length. And if someone say that this film was the best thriller film ever made, i wouldn't dare to argue him about it.
When the film was released for the first time, Alfred Hitchcock warn the audiences that they should not share the mystery, the twist on its end to another who hadn't seen the film. Understandable. I mean, most of the people i've met would agree that if you knew Bruce Willis' character was dead for the entire film of "The Sixth Sense" before watching the movie itself, you wouldn't had that much fun comparing to those who hadn't known the truth behind the film. In fact, you wouldn't had fun at all.
On the other hand, i was one of those rare-type-movie-guy who doesn't care shit about spoilers. And so, yeah, before i had the chance to see this film, i've read the script, and know very well the truth behind the mystery. But that doesn't keep the surprise-factor alien from my universe. Not just once, i've shocked twice. I was pretty much sure, that you who have seen the films would agree that this film was shocking indeed, at least (especially) on the two points i fore-mentioned.
Other than that, the films was surrounded by not-too-shabby cast. But the ultimate cast was the one who played Norman Bates. That guy's grin on the end of the film, creeps me out. And while he looks like an O.K man, a kind-hearted man, you would agree that his seclusion and detachment from the outside world were very visible that if you really met him in the real world, you would distanced yourself as well.