He lived dangerously?

The Doors (1991)

Director: Oliver Stone

After the death of Val Kilmer, in my mind, Kurt Russell's doppelgänger, I thought it was only natural that I perused some of the movies he acted in. I am familiar with his famous roles in Batman and Top Gun, but his role as Jim Morrison, a member of the 'Club of 27', was new to me. So, I gave it a go.

My friend PS grew up under the influence of Jim Morrison of the Doors in the late '60s. He was so inspired by Morrison that he took up strumming the guitar and was mesmerised by his genius. He was too clever to be caught up in psychedelics and intoxicants like his hero and turned out quite alright. He is now a retired professor enjoying his twilight years and the fruits of his labour throughout his life.

They say the good die young. God takes the good away because He wishes to place them beside Him. They also claim there is an unceasing flow of harp music and revelry around the clock due to the Club of 27 and the many great performers who departed long before their prime over the years.

Jim Morrison of 'The Doors'

The fact is that all these people had it coming all along. No, they did sell their souls to the devil for that fleeting fame and fortune. Their lifestyles were anything but exemplary. Living in the fast lane, making hay while the sun shone, they knew of their limited shelf life. Within that window of opportunity, they had to leave their mark. Speeding from venue to venue to please demanding fans quite literally disrupted their biological clocks. In their desire to extract every last drop of creativity, they faced the Hobson's choice of resorting to psychedelics and other stimulants, the same substances that Hitler's Army employed in their blitzkrieg as they swept across Western Europe in record time.

The film recounts the story of Jim Morrison's brief life in the late 1960s and the 1970s during the tumultuous times of the Vietnam protests, the flower power counterculture movement, and the upheaval against the social order led by the Silent Generation (those born between 1928 and 1945). People were popping pills left, right, and centre to sleep, to stay awake, for recreation, and for inspiration. Social taboos were shattered. Brassieres, the defining symbol of femininity, were burned in bonfires. Contraceptive pills granted them sexual freedom, and rock and roll transformed them into philosophers.

Kurt Rusell and Val Kilmer

In essence, Morrison's life was convoluted, marked by a constant flow of alcohol, LSD, cigarettes, and cocaine. His judgment must have been hazy, as his mind was perpetually immersed in these thoughts and behaviour-altering chemicals. The creative juices kept flowing, no doubt, but his decadent lifestyle eventually caught up with him. He began arriving late for performances. His lewd behaviour at his concerts brought him to the attention of justice, and he was incarcerated. His father, whom he had repeatedly told the press was dead, appeared in defence of his son. His relationship with his longtime girlfriend, Pamela Courson, faced its ups and downs due to his unpredictable behaviour. Jim Morrison manifested the typical Jekyll and Hyde persona before and after losing sobriety with intoxicants.

Even though he must have contemplated starting anew in Paris with Courson after all the legal entanglements, Morrison likely succumbed to the weakness of the flesh. He had a liaison with heroin in Paris, which proved to be his coup de grâce.

 

When one dabbles with the forbidden, one must be ready to confront the consequences!

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The good can be perpetrators of evil too!

Vanavaas (Exile, Hindi; 2025)

Director: Anil Sharma

I was watching this Hindi movie with my wife. It was a melodramatic film in true Bollywood style, invoking filial piety or at least making children feel guilty for not caring for their elderly parents in their twilight years. Sending elderly parents to specialised institutions to cater to their specific needs was never in any Indian dictionary.

The aged father, a widower who still resides in the home of his deceased wife, is suffering from worsening dementia. Despite his physical incapacity, he is a proud man with his own ways of doing things and is caustic with his words. He had built a beautiful house and amassed other properties. He lives with his three adult children, their respective wives, and their children.

The father is still determined to be the head of the extended family and makes crucial family decisions. Probably due to their upbringing, the sons remain silent about the father's tantrums and idiosyncrasies. The wives constantly complain about the father's antics, but no one is willing to budge.

So, when the family made a pilgrimage to Varanasi, the six adults decided to lose their father in the crowd. Without his dementia medications, they thought he would not be able to communicate with passers-by and would not return, eventually withering away in oblivion.

For the record, Varanasi offers avenues for end-of-life care. Facilities are available for individuals diagnosed with terminal illnesses to spend their remaining days in the town, where they can be cremated and have their ashes immersed in the Ganga River afterwards. After all, the Kashi-Visvanath temple is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva. Varanasi is supposed to be Siva's summer residence. The idea of spending one's final days in His presence makes perfect sense.

In true poetic fashion, sympathetic vagabonds from Varanasi eventually bring the father back to his family home. The children had already sold their family home and were liquidating another property.

My wife, still believing that goodness is very much alive and thriving on Earth, refuses to accept that any child would have the gumption to essentially 'kill off a parent'. In a group of six children, none would agree to stoop so low as to bite the hand that brought them into the world. She insists that the plot is one-dimensional and has deviated significantly from reality. In her mind, no way any human worth his salt would do anything like this.

Scrolling through actual crime cases over the years, I understand that the human mind has no boundaries. It is capable of performing the most profound things and, at the same time, being manipulated or brainwashed into believing the impossible. It is a common occurrence to see how one dominant character can wrap the weaker around his finger to work like an automaton. Case files from the Nuremberg trials, which document the banality of evil, are testimonies to this. In more sedate times, the Stanford Prison Experiment showed that good people can be transformed into perpetrators of evil.

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Act your age!

Under Suspicion (2000)

Director: Stephen Hopkins

https://www.primevideo.com/-/tr/detail/Under-Suspicion/
0FJXXG5CM6WBS4GW9UT054Z0GW

This is another character-driven film featuring two Hollywood heavyweights, Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman. The setting is straightforward. A prominent tax attorney is fully prepared to deliver an important speech at a fundraising event. He is called in for what was meant to be a brief questioning by the local police chief. However, the interview becomes increasingly convoluted. The tax attorney's personal life is laid bare and scrutinised. It becomes so intense that it drains both parties, and the questioning turns into an interrogation. The situation escalates to such a degree that the tax attorney is charged with the murder of two young prostitutes. 

His wife is called in for a separate interview, which further reveals intimate bedroom secrets and close family confidences. The tension escalates dramatically. The tax attorney ultimately confesses to murdering both young girls. Just then, a police officer barges in to announce that the real culprit was caught 'in the act'!

The thought that crossed my mind concerns self-realisation. There is a time and place for everything. Life opens a window of opportunity, but unfortunately, it remains open for only a short duration. We must seize it within that time frame, after which the same window may be closed to someone else. We are not welcome there. In fact, we are told it is utterly wrong.

The protagonist in this film had a healthy attraction to girls during his adolescent years. Perhaps due to his ambition to improve his economic situation or establish his career, romantic relationships were set aside. He dedicated all his efforts to advancing in his career and social standing. Life moved on around him. 

He suddenly cannot return to the dating scene years later and pick up where he left off, pursuing the same adolescent girl he had once been interested in. This is entirely wrong. The protagonist discovered this the hard way. As time passed, along with empowerment and education, things changed. 

One will be in big trouble if they don't act their age. Realise your age and realise that some kind of decorum is expected of you.

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The Man with so many Dark Secrets!

A Convenient Death (2020)
The Mysterious Demise of Jeffrey Epstein
Authors: Alana Goodman & Daniel Halper

The turn of the 21st century witnessed the rise of conspiracy theories, including Pizzagate, #MeToo, following the exposé of Harvey Weinstein, and QAnon. One prominent news story that captured public consciousness was that of Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein began life as the modest son of a refuse collector in Coney Island. Although poorly qualified and lacking a university degree, he fabricated his resume to secure a teaching position at a school. He was an intelligent man, but when his deception was revealed, he transitioned to the money market. Despite lacking formal qualifications, he succeeded in persuading his clients to invest significantly through him.

Epstein claims to have made millions for his clients, but some insist that he keeps the liaisons going through well-crafted blackmail.  

He is said to have made tonnes through his shady business of pimping minor girls and arranging them for some 'special' clients. His close clientele may include Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey, Bill Gates, Woody Allen, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson, Alec Baldwin, MBS, Ehud Barak and maybe Trump.

Many of those mentioned in his later exposé deny ever knowing Epstein, but video evidence is plentiful. The mastermind behind Epstein's recruitment was Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of Britain's disgraced media baron Robert Maxwell. She is reported to have a network for procuring underage girls to get the ring started.

It is said that Epstein was audacious in his actions. He flaunted his private jets, including a Boeing 727 whimsically named 'Lolita Express', about the 1962 film 'Lolita', to win over VIPS, and even acquired his own island for his alleged illicit activities. His net worth remains questionable. Some even doubt whether he is truly worth what he claims to possess. Conversely, much like he does for his clients, he may have concealed his wealth in offshore accounts, beyond the scrutiny of prying eyes. Epstein was known to be a philanthropist, donating to numerous institutions of higher learning and funding research. His most prominent client was Leslie Wexner, the owner of 'Victoria's Secret', who availed himself of more than just his financial management services.

In 2005, one of the girls recruited as an escort reported to the police. This soon opened a can of worms that would not disappear. Epstein's house of cards collapsed. Ghislaine was also implicated. One by one, Epstein's acquaintances claimed not to know him. After receiving a jail sentence for soliciting a prostitute and an underage one, he was released in 2009. In 2019, he was rearrested on federal sex trafficking charges. A month after his arrest, having rewritten his will and preparing for his trials with his team of lawyers, he was found dead in his cell. The cause of death was determined to be suicide by hanging. Even though Epstein was on suicide watch, the CCTV was not functioning. No staff had observed his activities for an extended period. The post-mortem findings were contradictory, such as the ability of a tall man to hang himself without sufficient leg space. The pattern of neck injury was also questioned by detractors.

For a man carrying so many dirty secrets which could tarnish the image of many, there is every reason for him to be dead and not wash their dirty linen in public.

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The Mysterious Demise of Jeffrey Epstein

By 

By 

That is how the ride goes…

Tokyo Vice (Miniseries)

2 Seasons, 18 Episodes

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/tokyo_vice

I don't know why, but watching this miniseries reminded me of President Xi Jinping's recent visit to Southeast Asian countries. Everyone had much to say about Xi in private regarding the CCP's megalomaniac and imposing projects. Still, when the big Don landed in their backyard, leaders from these minion nations decided to hide their tails behind their hind legs and play dead. No one can blame them. This is the effect a powerful nation has on smaller ones. It happened in ancient times and continues to happen now. Might is right.

When the majestic fleet of the Ming Dynasty emperor came to the Malaccan shores in the 1400s, the Sultan had no choice but to send his emissaries to China with gifts. When the Siamese King showed displeasure, another entourage would go there with gifts and beautiful princesses to solidify international relations.

Intertwined with physical might are the potent forces of wealth and political office, with a recent addition being the capacity to influence public opinion. The power of propaganda cannot be overstated. In this modern world, where news travels faster than both light and sound combined, those who control the news literally control the revolutions of the planet!

This miniseries is based on Jake Adelstein's book of the same name, subtitled "An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan." Jake worked as an apprentice journalist at Yomiuri Shimbun, one of Japan's premier newspapers. He studied Japanese Literature at Sophia University in Tokyo, a Jesuit-sponsored institution. He was the newspaper's first non-Japanese reporter.

The book narrates his observations as an American looking at the working culture, working environment and his experiences reporting on criminal cases around Tokyo. He shadowed a police officer and was exposed to the down low of the running of the yakuza activities and the precarious understanding that they and the police foster. The yakuza are a necessary evil in Japanese society. Peace is maintained when different gangs have a sense to respect each other's boundaries and not to step on each other's toes.

The yakuza have intricate connections in all layers of society, including the police, politicians, and the media. What is reported in the press for general consumption is generally agreed upon by all factions above. Those in power justify suppressing the truth by citing national security and the need to maintain public order.

A similar scenario also occurs in Malaysia. Many of my schoolmates, who have since retired from active journalism, have much to say about the murmurs surrounding major breaking news that erupts frequently. Fearing the repercussions of breaching the disclosure clauses in their employment contracts, they would remain silent during conversations. Having interacted with them since childhood, I could see that their words were on the tip of their tongues, eager to burst out, but did not.

Jake's report about a well-known yakuza boss allegedly making a deal with the FBI in exchange for a liver transplant in the USA landed him in a great deal of trouble. Intertwined in the plot is another gaijin (a foreigner in Japanese), the American daughter of an evangelist who flees home to start a new life as a hostess, a modern version of a geisha. In this context, a hostess is someone who serves drinks, engages in conversation, and sits at tables in a bar or high-end restaurant. It is strictly non-contact entertainment. They make money through patrons' tips and from the owners of the establishment based on the number of drinks clients purchase.

I am grateful to SA for recommending this engaging miniseries to me. It helped me understand the subtle balance between vice, criminal activities, police work, and conducting business in the modern world. Much like a peacekeeping conduit, politicians play the role of middlemen, striking a balance between allowing gangsters to operate and keeping the police guessing their next move. They aim for a win-win situation where the bad guys (the yakuza, in this instance) exert their control over the public, politicians continue to disguise themselves while profiting, and the general public believes that their lives are improving. In reality, people are being taken advantage of while everyone else gets richer at the expense of the general public.

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Dirty linen?

Ankur (The Seedling, Hindi, Deccani; 1974)

Director: Shyam Benegal

https://www.amazon.com/Ankur-Seedling-
Hindi-English-subtitles/dp/B008V22NKE

The recent passing of actor Manoj Kumar reminded everyone of the patriotic Bollywood films (once known as Hindi or Hindustani cinema) that endeavoured to stir nationalist fervour among the audience. His films from 1965 to 1974, which include Shaheed (1965, about Bhagat Singh), Upkar (1967, set against the backdrop of the Indo-Pak war of '65), Purab Aur Paschim (1970, celebrating Indian values over the West), and Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974, emphasising the needs of the common man—bread, clothing, and shelter)—prompted his audience to reflect on their country rather than be numbed by the intoxication of love or the struggles of others in romance. Interestingly, the idea for Upkar came to Manoj Kumar after he was honoured by India's beloved PM, Lal Bahadur Shastri, who inspired him with the notion of a farmer transforming into a war hero through Shastri's party slogan, Jai Jawan Jai Kisan (Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer). In Upkar, a farmer becomes a soldier to defend his nation amid greedy and ungrateful brothers and relatives.

The question arises as to whether the storyteller exposes dirty linen in public when he writes stories about vilifying practices in his country, particularly as his films are viewed by diaspora audiences worldwide. Paradoxically, is he enlightening the general public, in the hope that they will strive for improvement?

While Manoj Kumar @ Bharat Kumar's films appeared in mainstream cinema, which typically boasts a larger budget, more opulence, music, and colour, as well as star power to attract the audience, there existed a parallel cinema platform that was less ostentatious but focused more on everyday issues. Shyam Benegal was one of the creators of such films. 

'Ankur' is Shyam Benegal's debut film. It introduced Shabana Azmi and Anant Nag to the cinematic world and proved to be quite a sensation. Naturally, the world often takes notice when India, Indians, or the Indian way of life is portrayed unfavourably.

It tells an intricate story seamlessly, using minimal dialogue and more symbolism. Sometimes, words can convey only so much; many of the tales are shared through gazes and silence.

The story centres on two characters, Surya and Lakshmi. Surya believes he is a modern man with contemporary ideas, having obtained a BA. However, his ambitions of pursuing higher education are thwarted by his father, who sends him to tend to a family-owned piece of land. The father has a mistress in the village, and Surya's stepson is attempting to claim that land. Thus, Surya's task is to protect the land and ensure that the produce is not looted away. Despite thinking the modern man he is, Surya has to oblige his family's demand to marry a very young bride before being sent off, but alone.

The way Surya is treated in the village is typical of caste and class segregation. Lakshmi is the maid assigned to maintain the bungalow where Surya is staying. Lakshmi is the wife of a lowly, mute village potter. His pottery business has seen better times now that the villagers are comfortable with aluminium pots and pans.

The 'modern' Surya allows Lakshmi to prepare his meals despite her low caste, yet his other behaviour does not seem particularly civilised. When Lakshmi's husband goes missing after being humiliated by the villagers, Surya begins an affair with her, which results in her becoming pregnant. One day, Surya's wife arrives, and Surya behaves as though nothing has occurred.

 

Essentially, nothing has changed. Surya has a mistress and an illegitimate child, much like his father. An immersive watch. 4.5/5.

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Whose decision is it, anyway?

The Conclave (2024)
Director: Edward Berger

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/p/conclave/8d6kgwz2d5gg

The selection of a new Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, has always fascinated everyone, both Christians and non-Christians. It is not merely that they wait with bated breath to learn who the next de facto leader of the largest religion will be, but rather the actual process of selecting the next Pope, which has been shrouded in considerable mystery and secrecy. This enigma has been a source of numerous conspiracy theories and the theme of many best-selling novels over the years. 

Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons offer readers a ringside view of the setup and day-to-day operations within the papal residence and workplace, the Vatican Palace, and the Holy See. This renders it even more intriguing that Vatican City remains in contention as the wealthiest nation by area, alongside Jersey (a British Crown Dependency), Monaco, and Luxembourg, depending on how one calculates the figures.  

Most people are familiar with the Conclave, the smoke signal that signifies the election of a new Pope. It is a painstaking process involving a specially selected group of Cardinals confined in a sealed room for days of voting and debate. The candidate who ultimately prevails must achieve a clear majority of more than two-thirds of the votes. 

This film, based on Robert Harris's novel of the same name, portrays a fictional scenario in which a Pope dies, leaving the Secretary of the College of Cardinals to convene the papal Conclave while dealing with numerous secrets that the former Pope had kept close to his heart. 

From the outset, we quickly realise that there is factionalism within the Roman Catholic Church. The Cardinals tend to act collectively and vote based on their shared language and skin colour—Spanish speakers, Anglophiles, Africans, and so forth. 

Some voters express their desire to be elected in private, yet they timidly deny having any such ambitions; the Secretary, the protagonist, is one such individual.

Little secrets emerge one by one regarding the previous Pope's private meetings, which were not recorded. They all remain hearsay, with one clergyman emphatically denying them and another swearing to their truth. Amidst all this, a clergyman appears in the voting hall as the Archbishop of Kabul, a position few knew the Vatican had a representative for. The former Pope appointed him in secret (in pectore) the year before. 

The voting begins. Four serious candidates have been identified: a Nigerian, a US citizen, a Canadian, and an Italian cardinal. Each holds differing views on how the Church should navigate the upcoming times. Some are radical, while others may be more conservative or, at the opposite end of the spectrum, more liberal.

One by one, scandals unfold. The Nigerian Cardinal is revealed to have a love child and is removed from the contest. Even after days of voting, a clear winner cannot be determined. In the midst of all this, the Vatican is struck by a bomb, part of a wave of bombings by Muslim fundamentalists. An emotional outburst from the Cardinals concerning the rise of Islamic terrorism worldwide was not well received by the other clergymen. Unexpectedly, the Archbishop of Kabul emerged victorious, and white smoke was seen billowing from the chimney. 

At that moment, another dark secret emerges, this time concerning the medical history of the newly appointed Pontiff! It's an enjoyable film. I did not anticipate that the tale of elderly men in drab, plain attire, speaking in a cultured manner without any risqué scenes, could capture viewers' attention. 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.