Two Line Reviews - #394

Movie: Jerry Maguire (1996)

Plot: A sports agent gets busted for a 'mission' statement he drafts that doesn't go well with the company he works for! When a big-shot deal fails him, all he has to rely on is a single athlete who stays loyal; He finds love in the midst and due to the tumults of professional failure, his personal life takes a hit- Before the athlete sets things right!

What Works?

• This is not a sports film at all! This is a film about a person who is as persuasive as he is egoistic and morally good. Good writing indeed by Cameron Crowe!
• Tom Cruise actually revels in his Maguire avatar and comes up with the right emotions at the right times!
• Renée Zellweger as Dorothy, with her confused and cute looks stays in your mind; So does the kid!
• The relation between Maguire and his athlete Rod Tidwell is special and that is something which makes the film work!

A tale of a special relationship!

Two Line Reviews - #273

Movie: Rain Man (1988)

 

Plot: When an old man dies, his long-absconded son returns to get hold of his share from his dead father's property but the father's Will reveals the presence of an autistic brother who doesn't understand what 'money' means. The journey intended to get the share from his brother eventually paves the way for an unshakeable brother bonding!

 

Highlights:

• The 3 prime characters in the film are etched quite well & that is a big plus. The shift in the audacious businessman's character from a pure monetary beast to an emotional brother is shown to happen gradually making it work.
• Dustin Hoffmann wins the viewer's heart with his body-language, tone & the uniformity he brings into it in all the scenes.
• Tom Cruise, as the short-tempered bizman, & his lover have beautiful roles and have done well.
• The rain-man flashback angle paves the way for the genuineness of the emotional connect.

An Admirable show of brother bonding!

Two line Reviews - #79

Movie: Magnolia (1999)



Claps:

• A thought provoking film that forces the issues of guilt,fear,infidelity & haplessness of the characters in it.
• Whirlwind of a screenplay that shows events in a day of the 10 or so people involved in parallel.
• The convincing performance of Tom Cruise among others. His is an unconventional role and he pulls it off wonderfully-Couldn't miss the semblance of  his face & expressions to Rafael Nadal.
• The Anecdote of the conversion of a suicide to homicide in the first scene (a precursor to the way the film would go on) - I have read that as a forward before. Never knew it was from this film!

Blips:

• When finally everything seem to fall in place,ironically, frogs fall from the sky - Quite too surreal even to stress biblically that 'Things Can Happen'

Overall Score: 9.2/10