Film ReviewLike its title suggests, ‘Aruvi’ is a devastating cascade of emotional highs and lows.Rakesh Mehar aruvi_poster.jpgIf we should talk about films with small budgets but big hearts in Kollywood, few hit the nail on the head like Aruvi, starring debutante actor Aditi Balan. But don’t let the mention of big hearts fool you into thinking that this is an overstuffed sentimental drama. At times Aruvi is downright savage in its observational criticism. After all, how many other Tamil movies can you think of that will talk about middle class life as one big consumption machine designed to further enrich the richest classes of society? From the start, the film directed by Arun Prabhu is miles ahead of most of its compatriots. In an industry where women still function mostly as appendages to aging heroes, Aruvi lavishes all its attention on its female protagonist, a young woman named Aruvi who’s determined not to let society dictate how she lives her life. Losing control of her life for no fault of her own, Aruvi becomes a captor herself through a suddenly escalating set of circumstances. (It’s impossible to reveal any more of the story here without giving away many significant spoilers). Aruvi’s story unfolds much like living memory, going back and forth through her current traumas to the warm embrace of her innocent childhood and back through the sudden tragedies that led to the fall. Through all this, the girl and young woman is frail but powerful, light-hearted but with a deep melancholy that grows through the film. But, like Aruvi herself, the film is unsentimental and clear-headed almost till the very end. So, it doesn’t shy away from showing Aruvi’s rough edges, such as when she puts down a fellow student who begs her for a sanitary napkin so she can avoid the traumatic embarrassment of staining her school clothes. Despite this clear-headedness, the film is not overly harsh, and retains a warm and loving tone throughout. What’s most exciting about the film is how crisp and economical it is. Particularly in the first half, the film lets each picture tell a thousand words, its characters speaking only when absolutely necessary. Most excitingly, it uses creative montages to speed through the lulls between its high moments, and effectively avoids traps where the script could have easily stumbled. Especially the first montage, of Aruvi’s sun-kissed beautiful childhood, accompanied by the wonderful acapella rendition of “Kukkotti Kunaatti”, tugs at the heartstrings so perfectly. When the film does speak, it’s with devastating effect. For instance, in the early parts of the film, Aruvi’s budding friendship with a trans woman (Anjali Varathan) refuses to make any sort of fuss about the latter’s gender identity. The only exception is a line where she says, “These men will even ignore Aishwarya Rai on the street, but they will never leave us alone. Are we that beautiful?” There’s also the great takedown the film does of Tamil talk shows like Solvadhellam Unmai and the moral high-ground that their anchors routinely take. But if the script and direction are wonderful, it is Aditi who fills the film with soul. An amazing revelation, she shows none of the hesitation and reluctance of a debutante. But she never overplays her hand either, not even in the film’s most sentimental moments. The rest of the cast, including Anjali and Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, are no lightweights in their performance, but it is Aditi who holds the film together. Aruvi is not a perfect film. Some parts of the script do feel a tad contrived. And the film too lightly lets off three men who are accused of sexual assault or sexual exploitation. But these are minor quibbles in a film that otherwise works wonderfully. Enanble Notification: NoTNM Marquee: No...
- 12/15/2017
- by Rakesh
- The News Minute
Sony has marked the calendars for October 5th, 2018 to release the Venom spin-off movie.
According to this Tweet from Exhibitor Relations, a source for following the movie industry, Sony is planning to release the Venom movie in October next year. The movie is being touted as a "spin-off" but not much more is known about the project.
This could mean Sony rolls with classic Venom and makes a villain based movie, or perhaps they run with "new Venom." The new Venom in the comic book world is much like Spider-man, but he instead has to keep the symbiote under control. Losing control makes him become much like the villain we all know.
While Flash Thomspon is cast in Homecoming, the storyline doesn't seem to fit in with the timeline. The movie will take Peter Parker back to high school, where "New Venom" was set afterwards when Thompson became handicapped in the army.
According to this Tweet from Exhibitor Relations, a source for following the movie industry, Sony is planning to release the Venom movie in October next year. The movie is being touted as a "spin-off" but not much more is known about the project.
This could mean Sony rolls with classic Venom and makes a villain based movie, or perhaps they run with "new Venom." The new Venom in the comic book world is much like Spider-man, but he instead has to keep the symbiote under control. Losing control makes him become much like the villain we all know.
While Flash Thomspon is cast in Homecoming, the storyline doesn't seem to fit in with the timeline. The movie will take Peter Parker back to high school, where "New Venom" was set afterwards when Thompson became handicapped in the army.
- 3/16/2017
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Dustin Spino)
- Cinelinx
Parent-child relationships are delicate even under the most ideal circumstances, but they can be extra trying or difficult when there’s an imbalance due to events beyond anyone’s control. Such is the case for the new film “A Light Beneath Their Feet,” about a mother-daughter relationship amidst a sea of change and turmoil. The film stars Taryn Manning as Gloria, a young mother struggling with bipolar disorder, and Madison Davenport as Beth, her daughter and the one source of stability in her life. Beth is about to leave for college soon and Gloria struggles with her imminent departure. As the two go through ups and downs, Beth weighs her options between staying local for her mother or pursuing her dream across the country while Gloria tries to learn to let go. Watch an exclusive clip from “A Light Beneath Their Feet” below.
Read More: ‘Orange Is the New Black...
Read More: ‘Orange Is the New Black...
- 7/28/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
“Couples Retreat” star Kali Hawk will join Taryn Manning (“Orange Is the New Black”) in the coming-of-age dramedy “A Light Beneath Their Feet,” TheWrap has learned. Valerie Weiss (“Losing Control”) is directing from a script by Moira McMahon Leeper, who previously wrote for “Private Practice” and MTV's “Teen Wolf.” The film co-stars Madison Davenport (“Noah”), Maddie Hasson (ABC Family's “Twisted”) and Kurt Fuller (“Midnight in Paris”). Also read: Fox's ‘New Girl’ Cast Shares TV Upfront Survival Tips: ‘Don't Sleep With Strange Women – or Strange Dudes’ “A Light Beneath Their Feet” is a character-driven story that follows a high school...
- 5/19/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Maddie Hasson, who stars on ABC Family's “Twisted,” has signed on to join Madison Davenport, Taryn Manning and Kurt Fuller in the coming-of-age dramedy “A Light Beneath Their Feet,” TheWrap has learned. Valerie Weiss (“Losing Control”) is directing from a script by Moira McMahon Leeper, who previously wrote for “Private Practice” and MTV's “Teen Wolf.” Also read: ABC Family Sets ‘Ravenswood’ Return, Moves ‘Twisted’ to February In the vein of John Hughes’ teen movies, the character-driven story follows a high school senior (Davenport, “Noah”) who must choose between the college of her dreams and taking care of her bipolar mother (Manning,...
- 4/5/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Madison Davenport, who will appear in Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming biblical epic Noah and Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn, has been cast opposite Taryn Manning in A Light Beneath Their Feet. The coming-of-age dramedy follows a high school senior (Davenport) who must choose between escaping to the college of her dreams and staying close to home to take care of her bipolar mother (Manning). Photos: 18 Breakthrough Stars of 2013: Lorde, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tatiana Maslany and More Directed by Valerie Weiss (Losing Control) from a script by Moira McMahon Leeper, the film will begin shooting later in March.
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- 3/7/2014
- by Rebecca Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"True Blood" is adding two more hunks to the fold for next season.
Up-and-coming actor Theo Alexander and "Ugly Betty" heartthrob Grant Bowler have landed recurring roles on Alan Ball's vampire drama.
Alexander will play Talbot, an "intensely beautiful" vampire, the boyfriend of Russell Edgington (Denis O'Hare), the vampire king of Mississippi.
Talbot has an acerbic sense of humor and loves to cook despite vampires' inherent lack of cooking talents.
Bowler will play Coot, a werewolf, the menacing ringleader of a biker gang.
Greece-born Alexander, repped by Global Artists amd McKeon/Myones, has several guest shots on his resume -- appearances on "Chuck," "CSI: NY" and "Pushing Daisies" -- and recently booked the feature "Losing Control."
New Zealander Bowler, repped by Don Buchwald, has recurred on ABC's "Ugly Betty" as the scheming Wilhelmina (Vanessa Williams) squeeze and current fugitive Connor Owens.
Alexander and Bowler join "Prison Break" alum Marshall Allman,...
Up-and-coming actor Theo Alexander and "Ugly Betty" heartthrob Grant Bowler have landed recurring roles on Alan Ball's vampire drama.
Alexander will play Talbot, an "intensely beautiful" vampire, the boyfriend of Russell Edgington (Denis O'Hare), the vampire king of Mississippi.
Talbot has an acerbic sense of humor and loves to cook despite vampires' inherent lack of cooking talents.
Bowler will play Coot, a werewolf, the menacing ringleader of a biker gang.
Greece-born Alexander, repped by Global Artists amd McKeon/Myones, has several guest shots on his resume -- appearances on "Chuck," "CSI: NY" and "Pushing Daisies" -- and recently booked the feature "Losing Control."
New Zealander Bowler, repped by Don Buchwald, has recurred on ABC's "Ugly Betty" as the scheming Wilhelmina (Vanessa Williams) squeeze and current fugitive Connor Owens.
Alexander and Bowler join "Prison Break" alum Marshall Allman,...
- 12/2/2009
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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