Summer Holiday
Peter Yates
This fabulous 1963 musical is about four London bus mechanics who strike up a double-decker bus and hope to make it to Athens in one week so that they can get to be in charge of a whole fleet of buses. What happens enroute is what this movie’s all about. Filled with memorable dialogues, fantastic choreography and hit songs like ‘Let Us Take You For A Ride’ and ‘Really Waltzing’, the pace never slackens and remains enjoyable till the very end. Fifty years have passed yet this timeless classic, which can be watched over and over again, continues to entertain cinema lovers.
Inglourious Basterds
Quentin Tarantino
A masterpiece by Quentin Tarantino with special mention of Christopher Waltz as the sadistic Nazi officer Hans Landa, the film is a treat for movie buffs. This well-crafted entertainer strikes all the right chords with its filmy dialogues, thrilling music and cinematic expanse. The film is a fictional account of a young Jew in disguise whose plan to kill some Nazi personnel coincides with that of a troop of guerrilla fighters.
The Artist
Michel Hazanavicius
No one would have thought that a black-and-white silent film could have been so successful in the 21st Century. But Michel Hazanavicius’ film proved exactly that. The movie is about silent Hollywood film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) whose fame is threatened by the arrival of the talkies and a young aspiring actress Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo). This wonderful movie won seven Oscars in 2011 including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for the talented Dujardin.
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
David Fincher
This film focuses on the life of miracle child Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) who ages backwards. The director splendidly portrays some of the most important events of the 20th Century like the U.S. Pearl Harbor bombing. The relationship between Benjamin and Daisy (Cate Blanchett) is also beautifully woven into the script. The art direction and visual effects in the film are mind blowing, and so are the performances.
The Help
Tate Taylor
Set in the 1950s, this movie is about Skeeter (Emma Stone) who returns from college and learns about the racial discrimination against black maids in her hometown. Eager to tell their story, she teams up with two maids (Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer) and together they fight against all odds to get her book published. This heart-warming tale is made even better with humorous and witty dialogues, outstanding performances by the cast and a strong message ‘change begins with a whisper’.
Those that almost made it
The Great Escape: John Sturges
Gandhi: Richard Attenborough
Argo: Ben Affleck
A Separation: Asghar Farhadi
Wings of Desire: Wim Wenders
Les Miserables: Tom Hooper
Allan Brahma is a facilitating officer based in New Delhi.