The Bone Collector
Phillip Noyce
Denzel Washington, ably supported by Angelina Jolie, excels in this sensitive portrayal of a quadriplegic detective battling for life but trying hard to solve a murder. Based on a novel by Jeffery Deaver, Washington Denzel plays the role of ace criminologist and forensic expert Lincoln Rhyme trying to catch a serial killer before his next strike. Rhyme is bed-ridden, but communicates with Amelia (Angelina Jolie) via phone as she examines the various crime scenes and collects evidence. Lincoln is completely oblivious to Amelia's extraordinary good looks — they operate on a purely professional level, and Lincoln's almost morbid fascination with her is based on her professionalism for crime solving.
Philadelphia
Jonathan Demme
The film is inspired by the story of Geoffrey Bowers, an attorney who in 1987 sued the law firm Baker & McKenzie for unfair dismissal in one of the first AIDS discrimination cases. Tom Hanks, in one of his most memorable roles, plays the role of a lawyer with HIV fighting for his rights. Denzel Washington plays the homo-phobic lawyer who changes and accepts situations as the film progresses. The film won Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Tom Hanks), and Best Song (Bruce Springsteen for ‘Streets of Philadelphia').
The Dark Knight
Christopher Nolan
Batman Begins changed the way the comic character was portrayed and The Dark Knight revolutionised Batman movies. The intensely serious and dark storyline told with amazing control of action and scripting is rare in a comic book turnover. Heath Ledger as the Joker is mean and funny at the same time and Christian Bale as the ever-serious and playboy personified is intensely riveting. The Dark Knight was nominated for eight Academy Awards breaking the previous record of seven held by “Dick Tracy” for the most nominations received by a film based on a comic book, comic strip, or graphic novel. The Dark Knight won two awards: Best Supporting Actor for Heath Ledger and Best Sound Editing.
Life Is Beautiful
Roberto Benigni
Life Is Beautiful is a 1997 Italian language film which tells the story of an Italian Jew, Guido Orefice who must employ his fertile imagination to help his family during their internment in a Nazi concentration camp. The movie is seen through the eyes of a young child trapped in the war. This is a different war film; faced with death and gloom how Guido becomes a hero in his son's eyes is the story in short. Benigni won the Academy Award for Best Actor and the film won both the Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic Score and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. A rare mix of whimsical situations and slapstick comedy thrown with serious and gloomy situations make this a must watch indeed.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Sergio Leone
This movie has Clint Eastwood written all over it and deservedly so. The mesmerising music and the silence interspersed with shoot-outs make up the essence of this film. The plot revolves around three gunslingers competing to find a fortune in buried Confederate gold amid the violent chaos of gunfights, hangings, American Civil War battles and prison camps. From his hat to his stubble; Eastwood looks very much the cowboy with the golden heart. The shootout in the climax with only the superb music playing in the background is nerve wracking. The film remains one of the most popular and well-known Westerns.
Those which almost made it
Forrest Gump: Robert Zemeckis
Sholay: Ramesh Sippy
Lagaan: Ashutosh Gowariker
Shawsank Redemption: Frank Darabont
A Few Good Men: Rob Reiner
(Dr. Sriram Nathan is a Chennai-based ENT and Head and Neck surgeon. He is also an avid movie watcher.)
