Me, Myself and I

As I have just started writing, I thought it would be good idea to talk about myself and give a little introduction.

I recently took the The Five Factor Values Test

Here are the results. I thought they correctly reflect my characteristics, ideas and values.

Loyalty:
You value loyalty a fair amount.
You're loyal to your friends... to a point.
But if they cross you, you will reconsider your loyalties.
Staying true to others is important to you, but you also stay true to yourself.
Honesty:
You value honesty a fair amount.
You're honest when you can be, but you aren't a stickler for it.
If a little white lie will make a situation more comfortable, you'll go for it.
In the end, you mostly care about "situational integrity."
Generosity:
You value generosity a fair amount.
You are all about giving, as long as there's some give and take.
Supportive and kind, you don't mind helping out a friend in need.
But you know when you've given too much. You have no problem saying "no"!
Humility:
You value humility highly.
You have the self-confidence to be happy with who you are.
And you don't need to seek praise to make yourself feel better.
You're very modest, and you're keep the drama factor low.
Tolerance:
You value tolerance a fair amount.
You are open to new cultures, beliefs, and ideas.
You have very few prejudices that you're aware of.
And while you are tolerant, you do stand true to what you believe.

So..thats me

The Best Films of 2007

Out of all the films that I watched last year, the following are my favourite ones.

Warning: Might contain spoilers

10) Michael Clayton

Screenplay: Tony Gilroy

Direction: Tony Gilroy

Cast: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton

Its not the most novel story..but for a first time watch....it grips you totally with the tight screenplay and editing and competent performances. How much I love a film usually is reflected by how much of it stays with me after...and while I was coming out of the theatre...the scene that remained with me was Clooney -Tilda scene where he busts her and then goes "You're so fucked. Here let me get a picture while I'm at it."

Tony Gilroy is a very talented screenwriter and with Michael Clayton he makes an impressive directorial debut!!

9) The Bourne Ultimatum

Screenplay: Tony Gilroy, Scott Z. Burns, George Nolfi

Direction: Paul Greengrass

Cast: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn

One review sums it up the best...mindless entertainer but brilliantly made!! I think with Bourne Ultimatum, the Bourne series just reached the next level and will be remembered as one of the most favourite trilogies!

Hats off to the makers!

8) Atonement

Screenplay: Christopher Hampton

Direction: Joe Wright

Cast: James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan

Beautiful cinematography, competent performances and a beautiful soundtrack to go with it, Atonement would have been much higher on my list had it not been for the Oscar feel to it. It treads on the same path as films like The English Patient, Cold Mountaint, Saving Private Ryan etc. There are moments in the film that very openly begs for an Oscar and that according to me takes away a lot from a film!

James McAvoy is a fantastic actor and when I watched The Last King of Scotland, I realized how good he was but I knew that because of Whitaker's towering performance, he would go unnoticed but a film like Atonement is really able to showcase his talent!

But the performance of the film was given by Saorse Ronan! She outshined everyone else in the film. Keira Knightley looks beautiful but has little to do!

7) Charlie Wilson's War

Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin

Direction: Mike Nichols

Cast: Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julia Roberts

A very unusual take on the Cold War and US foreign policy and International politics however this is where the film scores...It is totally different from political films yet its a political film. Hanks and Hoffman and their dialogues and one liners are the plus points of this film..however if I have to pick a short coming, its probably the fact that the the premise of the film is a very very complex issue and it only provides an over simplistic view of it.

6) Into The Wild

Screenplay: Sean Penn

Direction: Sean Penn

Cast: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, Hal Holbrook

A well made character study that provides a first hand account of Chris McCandless' journey on a lonely path. Beautiful cinematography and a very good performance from Emile Hirsch. Beautiful soundtrack aswell..

5) No Country For Old Men

Screenplay: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Direction: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin

The real heroes of this film are Ethan and Joel Coen.. A chilling thriller which is also at the same time a deeper film about life, violence, morals and fate.

Performances are first rate. Cinematography by Roger Deakins is superb! A great blend of style and substance.

Llwelyn Moss waiting in the motel room with the gun in his hands..waiting while Chigurh turns of the lights outside is one of the most intense and powerful scenes in cinematic history!!

4)The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Screenplay: Andrew Dominik

Direction: Andrew Dominik

Cast: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck

One of the most beautifully shot and directed films that I have seen in recent times. The storytelling is unique and brilliant. The soundtrack gives the film the feel that it required and the rest is a total Casey Affleck show all the way. I would have liked this film to win the Best Cinematography Oscar. It definitely deserved more nominations atleast but I guess it didnt have Atonement's Oscar begging moments to satisfy the jury!!

There is no real attempt to take sides, or to make certain points about the characters, rather the film presents two characters and asks more questions than it answers. A film thats a western in look but is as different from one as it gets and this is where the uniqueness of the film lies. This film will be remember as an underrated masterpiece in the future.

3) Zodiac

Screenplay: James Vanderbilt

Direction: David Fincher

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr.

An absolutely brilliant thriller but what makes it better than any other serial killer film is its realism and thats because its a true story. David Fincher showed in Seven that he is extremely talented when it comes to this genre but with Zodiac he proves he is a master at it. A film that was criminally ignored at the Oscars however will be remembered as a masterpiece in years to come

2) Gone Baby Gone

Screenplay: Ben Affleck, Aaron Stockard

Direction: Ben Affleck

Cast: Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Casey Affleck

Ben Affleck has arrived as a director. This film must have been an absolute shocker for most people as hardly anyone expected Ben Affleck to pull it off but he does just that. Beautiful background music, unpredictable twists and great performances. Just when you thought you had this film measured, it takes a completely different turn and shocks you. Casey Affleck gave 2 brilliant performances in two completely different roles...truly proved his mettle as an actor.

I loved the ending though it might have disappointed many but it was a necessary to make a very important point..that morality at times is subjective.

1) Before The Devil Knows You're Dead

Screenplay: Kelly Masterson

Direction: Sidney Lumet

Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney

From the maker of classics like 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, you dont expect anything less than the best film of the year.

Brilliantly written and executed, Sidney Lumet proves what an absolute maestro he is with this engrossing thriller. Along with two brilliant actors, Sidney Lumet takes the viewer on a journey, where you encounter various situations that life brings you and how humans act in such situations. Its deep character study.

I cant believe it didnt get a nomination for best screenplay when you have overrated crap like Juno winning Oscars for this category!

Sidney Lumet has made some below average films in his life but his last two films remind us of his class. A must watch if you havent seen it already