Rymosite*film

The Shawshank Redemption
Seven
Jerry Maguire
Dead Man Walking
Almost Famous
The Truman Show
Fight Club
Vanilla Sky
American Beauty
Sixth Sense
Dumb&Dumber
Requiem For a Dream (new)
Lost in Translation (new)
Monster (new)
21 Grams

The Shawshank Redemption

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman.
Directed by: Franc Darabont

A classic piece of film making, that grows on you. Excellence in every aspect. Never seen any film to do more justice to a book than this one (based on the Stephen King novel "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption"). Morgan Freeman's narration capabilities were put to test and he comes out in flying colors. A simple film with a powerful message. My fav dialogue in the movie is by Morgan Freeman "Sometimes it makes me sad, though, Andy being gone. I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged, that's all. Their feathers are just too bright....and when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice...but still, the place you live is that much more drab and empty that they're gone."

Seven

Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman & Gwyneth Paltrow.
Directed by: David Fincher

A dark film about a serial killer and the homicide team handling his case. Morgan Freeman plays a veteran cop up for retirement and Pitt plays the rookie who is to take his place. The climax will leave you with a knot in your stomach. Films like these make you wonder whether filmmakers are from another dimension all together.

Jerry Maguire

Starring: Tom Cruise, Renee Zelweger
Directed by: Cameron Crowe

If you've not seen this movie you dont deserve to live. Its been on HBO, Star Movies and even AXN. This movie proves that you just cant keep a good movie down. Cameron Crowes first movie that i totaly enjoyed. Its amazing how Crowe examines human relationships against the backdrop of a dog eat dog sports agent world. Have to confess the "you complete me" scene always manages to leave me starry-eyed. All of Crowes films have excellent soundtracks and i think Bruce Springfields Secret Garden does it for Jerry Maguire.

Dead Man Walking

Starring: Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon.
Directed by: Tim Robbins

This movie has the best piece of acting by Sean Penn i've seen so far (for that matter Susan Sarandon's too). Its about a convicted rapist murderer facing the death penalty. Dead Man Walking proves that Tim Robbins is as good a director as he is an actor. This movie features music by the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Almost Famous

Starring: Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson.
Directed by:Cameron Crowe

Have to confess that Jerry Maguire got me hooked to Cameron Crowe movies. But Almost Famous made me more a student to his style than a fan. This movie won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay (written by Crowe himself). A movie that captures the essence of the rock'n roll generation in all its glory. In this film too, you notice how Crowe examines human relationships. This movie is based on Crowes real life experience as a journalist for a rock magazine.

The Truman Show

Starring: Jim Carrey, Ed Harris
Directed by: Peter Weir

Jim Carrey is more than a just a rubber faced funny man, and this movie goes to prove just that. The best piece of acting by Jim Carrey and no one could've done a better job. The "Is that all you got" storm scene is a show stealer, I guess Carrey proved more to himself than the audience in this film. Screw the Academy for not giving him the Oscar for his role in this movie.

Fight Club

Starring: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton
Directed by: David Fincher

David Fincher's dark style shines through in this movie. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton do more than just act in this movie, they bash each others brains out (thats always fun to watch). Meatloaf acts in this movie too. The ending is something you have to see to beleive, I really cant put it down in words.

Vanilla Sky

Starring: Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz
Directed by: Cameron Crowe.

A friend once told me that if i saw Vanilla Sky, I would either love it or hate it. I loved it. This film was a remake, i havent seen the original but im sure that Cameron has done a better job than the original. Crowe makes best use of the Cruise & Cruz chemistry in this movie. Cameron Diaz in one of the best roles of her career, she even does a song for the soundtrack. The soundtrack for this movie is one of the best for a Crowe film, introduced me to icelandic band Sigur Ros and renewed my faith in Radiohead.

American Beauty

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annete Bening.
Directed by: Sam Mendes

If you have not seen this movie, after you see it you will know why it won five oscars. The most amazing fact is that this film is director Sam Mendes's debut feature film. Each character in this film is a sperate entity, and the way the come together to form one classic film is the magic Sma Mendes has managed to work.

Sixth Sense

Starring: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment
Directed by: Manoj Night Shyamalan

Saw this movie for the first time when i was in college and it still never ceases to amaze me. Night is the best example of new gen asian directors who draw inspiration from their roots and present it to you on a hollywood platter. The way he plays a cameo role in each of films is kinda Subhas Ghai'ish. There are three main reasons i loved this movie. The first is Bruce Willis, who plays the role of a child psychiatrist with marital problems - i've liked Willis right from the Die Hard days so this movie comes as a total change from his " im gonna blow ur head-off" kinda roles. Incase you didnt notice he's one of the best bald actors around. The second reason is Haley Joel Osment, this kid is gonna be a legend some day. The third reason is Night's capability to pull the floor from under my feet in the climax.

Dumb & Dumber

Starring: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels
Directed by: Peter Farrely

My all time favourite comedy, nothing makes me laugh harder than this one. This is the best work of the Farelly Brothers. Could watch this movie any number of times and still has me rolling. Still remember the first time i saw it with friends when i was back in school, its still funny as hell. Havent seen the sequel but it sure could not have matched craziness of the original.

Requiem For a Dream

Starring: Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans
Directed by: Darren Arnofsky

Some may find this film extremely depressing and to a certain extent disturbing. But Arnofsky has captured the world of drug abuse in all its glory (if I may call it that) that I have ever seen in any other film. This movie sucks you in right from the first sequence. It revolves around four main characters (see cast). And a year in their lives. How each one gets pulled into various levels of drug abuse and how it effects each of their lives. Ellen Burstyn definitely deserved the Oscar for this one, the transformation her character goes through in the movie is amazing. Budding film makers have to see this movie, it has a lot to be learnt from.

Lost in Translation

Starring: Bill Murray and Scarlet Johannsen
Directed by: Sofia Coppola

A quiet film, about two people in a foreign land. Best piece of acting I have seen by Murray since Groundhog Day. Scarlet Johannsen makes you fall in love with her right from the first scene (see the movie you’ll know what im talking about). The movie leaves you with mixed feelings of melancholy. Excellent music in the movie and actually get to hear Murray sing in one of the scenes. Overall this movie sets the benchmark as a classic low budget movie.

Monster

Starring: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci.
Directed by: Patty Jenkins

There are two reasons why I liked this movie, the first reason is Charlize Theron, and the second reason is er...well....Charlize Theron. Based on the true life story of Aileen Wuornos a convicted prostitute and murderer, this movie is about love more than anything else. Christina Ricci does well but is overshadowed by Theron. Not a movie for homophobics.

21 Grams

Starring: Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and Naomi Watts
Directed by: Alejandro González Iñárritu

If you can put up with the interwoven narrative of this film then you will find this movie amazing. It stars Sean Penn (who never ceases to amaze me with his acting skills), as a married man who has a heart transplant. Benicio Del Torro plays a born again ex-con who trying hard to lead a good life. Naomi Watts is excellent as the common housewife. All of these characters have one common connection, which is tragedy for one and chance for the other.