On Golden Pond - The perfect one

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Well, well well ... This is probably it.
When I go see a movie, I want to see through it ... learn stuff from it ... feel emotional about it ... get amazed by it and finally last but not the least ... "feel good" and "like" the movie. Usually all these are not met ... some of them make me think a lot ... but doesn't really charm me emotionally or personally. Some of them turn me on emotionally ... but have little to think about.
On Golden Pond is probably the perfect mix of all ... its thought provocating, emotional, loving, beutiful and charming. It almost puts a spell on the viewer. I like to be charmed by such a simple movie.
I am not a real "fan" of Jane Fonda ... but becoming more respectful of her with time. My respects to her for producing such a movie ...
Its about relationship between a very old couple (Henry Fonda and Cathy Hepburn) and their relationship with their daughter (Jane Fonda) and her step-son and gap in mind and generations.
But the movie goes way beyond that little story. It deals with absolute and eternal rules of relationship and age and beuty and spirit of modern women that got us here and finally death and life. It really doesn't have a great story ... but the daily happenings and usual life events and subtle touches and treatments of the director displays the intricate details of life. Simplicity coupled with great artistic capabilities of Henry Fonda, Cathy Hepburn and Jane Fonda and direction of Mark Rydell makes it complete. The lake itself creates a simple but very subtle environment that plays perfectly with the movie.
The interview with Jane Fonda after the movie is very intriguing and interesting. In my opinion it was one of best interviews I ever seen.
Everybody should watch it.
By the way ... it has terrific photography too ... but the wide panorama of life and the ambience of the charecters never let the shots going beyond its needs ... Its a very important balance that every director have to maintain ...

After watching this one of my friend (and his wife) commented "we can't wait to get old" ...

Eight and Half

Quick Facts:Director: Federico Fellini

Casting: Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, Rossella Falk ...
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I watched this movie long back and frankly speaking didn't understand single thing except few shots that were embedded into my mind. This time it was an entirely different experience.
Its a film about a film director who is trying to make a movie and really doesn't know how or what or why ... His internal tension gets aggrevated by the enormous pressure from the people involved around the movie as well as his own family and folks. Its about the confusion and helplessness of the film director (Mastroianni) and the interplay of expectations and his stereotype reactions to that.
It brings out quite stereotype reaction from each type of people associated and almost makes a mokery of all of those including the "intellectual" theory towards film making. But, at the very end, the decision of NOT making the movie is the real break away and that's the point where the stereotypes are burnt down. The director goes back to his own self and rediscovers his feelings and life which is so much inter-related with so many people and in some way it rotates and circles around.
Although it seems like he accepts the defeat towards his helplessness ... I see it as his triumph that finally gets his to his real feelings which ensures truth and nothing but the truth.
Few shots need to be mentioned ... The first dream sequence where he tries to get out of a traffic jam locked into a small car and can't come out of it. But after so much strugglethat's portrayed through the whole movie finally he sets himself free ... and flys over the whole city.
Probably each of us can identify to some extent with this film director guy with our daily hypocracy as well as struggle to hide or understand the truth. Its the pain of being "intelligent" or price of thought that we all pay ...
Its a landmark movie ... it grows on you as it moves on. It should be watched multiple times ... and can be read differently.
Its more like a modern poetry that portrays the internal complexity of human behavior in the backdrop of social and influencial power play. Its canvas is quite wide ... encompassing s wide array of contexts. It doesn't bear the responsibility of "explaining" everything (and rightly so) ... but just presents its commentary. Its an unique experience to watch Eight and Half.
Now I understand why it is known as one of the greatest movies of all time ...