Mr Turner 2014

Director: Mike Leigh; As Turner: Timothy Spall. The film has the qualities of a painting. In some cases, the cinematography resembling the moist and chilly seascapes of Turner. This visually exhilarating biopic is an interesting account of a very human human being blessed by nature with an exceptional talent, without the quirks and eccentricities one associates with it. Timothy Spall's portrayal is dynamic and charismatic. The character of the artist and the men and women in his life are well fleshed. It brings to life the  Dickens like era, the onset of industrialization, in which it is set. A film to relish and savor.

My Country My Country 2006

Laura Poitras. A documentary portraying life in Iraq during months preceding elections under American occupation of Iraq. This is a fine film which is educative about ground realities of that country.

The Oath 2010

Director: Laura Poitras. This is a gripping documentary, about the minds of the people behind the hoods. The middle-east houses much fear, hatred and passion. Religion is the powerful brew which hooks and welds large numbers of people on a sub-continent. Ofcourse, it is mixed with oil, power and geo-politics--a holy mess, indeed. It tapers into a drab story narrated by an eloquent taxi driver. Needs to be seen.

The Theory of Everything 2014

This is a romantic biopic about Stephen Hawking. It succeeds in present the iconic scientist as a human being courageously confronting a crippling disease. Even more than the very human portraiture, it is nice to see British society at its civilized best. The locale is the green verdure of a hallowed academic institution, with manicured time weathered stone architecture and lush greenery.

Citizenfour

Director: Laura Poitras. This is a documentary about Edward Snowden, the whistle-blower who exposed the widespread surveillance of the online activity of millions of citizens. The film raises the question of the limits of the power the state does or should exercise over citizens. If one has the fear that everything one does or says is being observed, it obviously puts limits on discussion, which is a limitation on freedom and democracy. Extremely terse and gripping as a spy thriller, this is a necessary watch for the sake of things one needs to be aware of, if not paranoid about.