[Movie] True Grit

True Grit... Had picked up the Dvd few weeks back at my regular store and it had sat abandoned in my shelf till yesterday noon... 

The Summary on the DVD: A tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer. 


Main Stars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon- NOw these are names we know.. but the one that caught my attention and had me glued to the movie was Hailee Steinfeld. That little girl sure can act, and she has a voice and grit that stood out through the movie through Mattie Ross!


My Review: 
This little girl walks into town with her head held straight and conviction on her face. She is determined and ready for battle. The motive: She is looking to kill Tom Chaney, the man who killed her father....   She decides to take matter to her hands when the Sheriff just shrugs her off. Standing outside the loo where "the toughest U.S. Marshal "Rooster" Cogburn" sits, she works hard to convince him to take on her case and help her find Chaney.. A smart cookie, she also manages to make a trader part with his money for the ponies her dad had bought and for his saddle... 


Cogburn is an old, one eyed drunk, who does nothing but act as a Bounty hunter, killing scums, and making some money in the process.   He takes on Mattie, promises to help her , and sticks by her side till the mission is accomplished. 


The morning after, she wakes up to find Cogburn gone.. Racing on her horse, she finds that she is refused passage on the  ferry that took Cogburn and LaBoeuf across.. Determined, she crosses the river on her horse.. She  then learns that the two men have agreed to split the Texas reward for Chaney. Accusing him of fraud, Mattie threatens to have Cogburn arrested for breaking their agreement. Cogburn reluctantly agrees to let her come along, but does nothing to make it a comfortable one. 

More than anything, the movie is about how Mattie goes against Cogburn's wishes to stay put in town while he goes on the search, and her determination every step of the way. The trio find themselves battling through heat, unfriendly goons, and nature where their grit is put to test.  


Rate: 4/5 [absolutely amazing watch]
A true blue American Western flick.... 


Infact, this is an adaptation of the movie that was made in 1969 starring John Wayne. Am curious to see the earlier version, to see how different it was!

[Music] Jazz all the way!!

Louis Armstrong.... Ella Fitzgerald.. John Coltrane.... Duke Ellington are some of the famous Jazz musicians i had heard of...  here are a few more i shall be adding to this list.... 

 

On Friday, we went for a Jazz concert at Museum Theater, Egmore...  Though the show started few minutes late, it was well worth the wait... 

1. Chennai based Yodhaka 

They were into fusion jazz, using Sanskrit slokas as the base.. very nice, melodious and rhythmic.... Loved the voice of the lead singers- Subiksha and Pradeed[who also played the slide guitar..]

  

Towards the end of their performance, Pradeep belted out the famous Mudakaratha modakam[ ganesha slokha]- it was truly soulful...!!! 

2. All the way from Baltimore - Duende Quartet

The four wizards of LATIN JAZZ had us enthralled for over an hour, leaving the audience wanting for more.. the only hitch [ nothing to do with the performance] was the sudden chill within the auditorium.. The Air conditioner was either working full swing or something was up.. we were all nearly freezing in there... :)

Apparently they were the winners from a whole bunch of people who vyed for the post of being a jazz group... Not only did they get to play here in chennai, they are on a world tour ... Fronted by Latin Grammy winning pianist Harry Appelman, the quartet includes bassist Josh Schwartzman and percussionists Mark Merella and Sam Turner ........

Sam is the one who remains in our minds even after the show is over - not just because he was black/Jamaican but he had the audience clapping, tapping their feet, singing along[ words that sounded like chants] till the end of the show... I guess that is the difference between an artist and a showman.... how involved the audience gets with them!!! :)

On Saturday, after a mini meeting with the Caferati clan, i headed over to Citi center for a bit of Jazz and some retail fun ;)

3. The Ellington Suites [Netherlands] 
 

Eight member team, named after the famous Duke Willington's album performed for free at Citi center lobby.. [Thanks to Landmark ]. Saxaphone, Clarinet, Drums, Bass guitar and another instrument that i dont know the name for was what they used to create music....

What a weekend it was....

Movies I've been Binging on.. Part II

Ok... now here are the movies i saw this week... brot home the DVDs and freaked out on them...

Juno-
Sweet story about a girl who gets pregnant, and how she deals with it.. her family, the couple who wish to adopt the baby, and the boyfriend....


Blind Dating-
Romantic funny movie about a blind guy, his wacko bro, and the girls he tries to date and the one he finally finds who is meant to be his.... :)


United 93-
A horrifying true story about Sep 11th hit, but of the 4th plane that crashed elsewhere, with the passengers taking over the plane and not letting the terrorists succeed.. however, in the process they do sacrifice their lives.. a moving tale of lives....


Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring-
A wow movie set in the middle of nowhere, the relationship between a master and his student, and how the boy goes thru life over the seasons... brilliant movie.. must watch....

Viaje a Darjeeling-
A wierd movie.. couldnt make much sense of... about three brothers, and their journey to find their mom.... funny, serious, quirky... and well,offbeat...