Movie of the Week – Gandhi

This week’s movie: Gandhi (1982).

The drama follows the life of Mohandas Gandhi, a lawyer who became the leader of the Indian revolts against British rule. His philosophy of non-violent protest made him a hero amongst his people.

Director Richard Attenborough (who many know as John Hammond in Jurassic Park) is known for his epics: A Bridge Too Far (my favorite of his work), Cry Freedom, Chaplin (which I also highly recommend), Shadowlands, and Gandhi, which is the most acclaimed and generally the most beloved of his career. He worked with composer Ravi Shankar, cinematographers Ronnie Taylor and Billy Williams, and production designer Stuart Craig (who also designed the Harry Potter films) on the film.

Ben Kingsley gives the performance of his career in the film and won an Oscar for his work. It is a remarkable transformation. The supporting cast is also very good featuring: Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, John Gielgud, Trevor Howard, John Mills, Martin Sheen, Amrish Puri, Roshan Seth, Richard Griffiths, Om Puri, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Bernard Hill.

Gandhi won eight Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director. It is one of the great cinematic biographies and epics. It is a must-see for those interested in Gandhi, as the film tracks much of his life. It is also a must for fans of Kingsley.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Streaming

Movie of the Week - Brief Encounter

This week’s movie is Brief Encounter (1945).

The film is about a woman who meets a stranger in a railway station on a visit to the city. She finds herself attracted to the man and is tempted to cheat on her husband. The romance drama is directed by David Lean, who is one of the all-time greats (for example, the BAFTA Best Director award is named after him – he is best known for his films Lawrence of Arabia and The Bridge on the River Kwai). He garnered his first Oscar nod for the film. Cinematographer Robert Krasker shot the film (he also photographed the classic The Third Man). Stars Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard have very good chemistry and the film works incredibly well thanks to their performances, and of course Lean’s direction. What makes the film great is that it is a very simple film, yet it has such a lasting impact on the viewer. Its tragic love story is moving and interesting in that it questions the true nature and sanctity of fidelity vs. love. It is a must see for fans of romances and those looking to see all the classic canonized films, as this is certainly one of them. Check out the trailer.

Brief Encounter is available on Blu-ray and DVD on Amazon.com, Netflix Instant Queue or on youtube.com.