Monday, July 18, 2011

Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara

I have seen the film this morning and all the efforts put in are worth the movie. As expected, this is a good movie about grown up men and their emotional problems, which is naturally expected from the team that gave us Dil Chahta Hai and Rock On.

A group of three friends (Hrithik, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar) embark on a road trip in Spain as a part of a bachelor party for Abhay Deol, who is getting married to Kalki, and confused. Hritik and Farhan have their own personal issues too.

The movie is a joy ride with subtle comedy. Farhan Akhtar's comic timing is impeccable. The comedy that was written just out of a ladies hand bag is too good.

The wafer thin story line is beautifully put on screen with a superb screenplay. The performances are nothing less than your expectations with Hritik in the ensemble. Deepti Naval and Naseeruddin Shah add up to the list of artists.

The movie portrays very heavy topics like marriage, love and Work. Yet, due to the sublime comedy you are never bored. I guess that is a mark of excellent script.

Here is one line I want to pick up from this movie. Kalki says this line to Abhay Deol, her fiancé. "You enjoy your bachelor trip. Aakhir shaadi ke baad you wouldn't feel like going around with your friends any more." And you should see the expressions on the faces of the three guys...

And yes, La Tomatina festival, Spainish beaches, Katrina Kaif and Hritik's body were a treat to watch.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Into the Wild

One of my friend suggested this film almost a couple of years back and I was as usual, procrastinating this ever since. Yesterday, I started watching this with nothing else to do. I knew that the movie is all about human relations and the individual's part in this society. I knew that the subject was heavy. But believe me, I was swept off my feet by the end of the film. Emile Hirsch portrayed the role of Chris McCandless with such finesse that you actually feel every emotion that his character is going through.

Into the Wild is a young man's rebellion against the society. He believes that the relationships between parents, siblings and friends are filled with Hypocrisy and selfishness and people maintain them only because society expects that from them. And his solution to the problem is to leave this society and live in the wilderness of Alaska.

The film is basically a road trip movie, essaying the travels of Chris McCandless across America and his settlement in Alaska. He encounters many people who form relationships with him for which he shows no commitments. Actually, the director, Sean Penn did an excellent job without judging any single character of the film based on their beliefs and ideologies. It is left to the audience to decide who is right and who is wrong. This is definetely going to be the best movie experience you had in ages.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Mayabazar

Mayabazar is an all time classic in Black & White and 35mm format. Colorization is fair enough but, conversion to cinema scope is bad. The whole picture is not visible and at times, the frame has to be moved up or down to keep the focus on the actors.

The pure creative brilliance of that good old movie is completely lost in this remix version. If you ever observed hard enough, the frame in which Ghatothkacha lands on a hill to start Ariel fight with Abhimanyu, there is a small stone that falls of depicting the weight of Ghatothkacha. This is achieved through whatever technology that is existing that time and shows the perfection given to the minute detail. Unfortunately, that whole effect is lost after cinema scope.

Overall, I need to buy a DVD of the old movie, before the market is flooded with the color thing.

Vedam

Vedam is good for Telugu industry definitely. The casting was good and a big experiment that gave some positive results.

The first half of the movie doesn't have any story and tends to bore you. The script tried very hard to establish all the characters in the first half and doesn't concentrate on the story. But, the second half is power packed and gets the best of writing supported by performances. Nagayya as Ramulu is awesome. Arjun is his usual energetic. Anushka is sexy and innocent at the same time. Manoj is good for his role. Manoj Bajpai has done justice to his role.

Overall, this movie has a potential to change the industry norms and standards if taken in right sense and elevate the movie making art. Full credit has to be given to Krish, the director.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Caligula

Man is a social animal.

Whoever said this must be a real genius in understanding the psychology of the human brain. We live in a society which is bound by a set of rules called Law. Try to imagine what the world would be like if there is no law to govern! Man will become animal. His thirst for blood grows. Absolute power to an individual will bring out the animalistic cruelty and sexual perversion.

Caligula is a film that deals with such absolute power and its by-products, that are bestowed on the infamous Roman Ceaser. Malcolm McDowell did a wonderful job in enacting the maniacal role. All the other actors are merely supporting his performance. Peter O'Toole was great in his role. He was very expressive as a dying tyrant who doesn't trust his heir to the throne. His character is also very pervasive and Toole splendidly performed a s one. Helen Mirren has nothing much to do than standing as an eye candy wife of Caligula.

The movie is filled with nudity and gore. Yet, you will not remember the movie as a softcore or you wouldn't be aroused by the content. Director Tinto Brass made sure that the tone was maintained throughout. Watch Caligula for the pure passion of a bunch of men to tell a shocking story.

In my opinion, this is one of the finest movies I have ever seen. Try this movie, if you are OK with the nudity and gore.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Wake up Sid

There are many movies in the past which told us the "Coming of Age" story. Malena is the best in this genre and Lakshya is on par from the Indian block. Every story is essentially the same, only the way it is told is different.

Wake up Sid is an old wine in a new bottle. A spoilt rich brat and his discovering himself and love in the due course is the story. But, the acting has given its an edge. The viewer will feel for Sid and hate him at the same time. We wish for his success as much as he wishes for that. Ranbir is aptly cast for the role.

Konkana Sen Sharma was miscast for the role. But her acting was world class.

And lastly, Bombay needs a special mention here. This movie is like big advertisement for the life of an average Mumbaikar. If you live or ever lived in Bombay, you will be astonished by the authenticity of the detail.

Rating: 4/5

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Angels & Demons

Angels & Demons has partially lived up to the expectations and hype that it has created among the movie going community in last one year’s time. It started on a high note and maintained the pace well enough to keep the viewer on the edge of the seat, till the last 20 minutes. Director Ron Howard missed it in the last 20 minutes and you have that odd after-taste once the movie is finished.

The movie started with the death of the Pope and is followed by the theft of a canister containing Anti-matter. From there, a Harvard symbologist, Robert Langdon takes over. The story is well written by Dan Brown, which never lost the attention of the reader in its novel form. Akiva Goldsman did a fine job in adapting the story as a screenplay. There was enough of wit thrown in extremely fast paced story making sure that you will not get bored.

The good point that is to be noted is Ron Howard has learnt from his past mistakes of adapting the Dan Brown novels. Davinci Code was a slow paced movie and it really never kept the viewer riveted to the plot. Also, in trying to stick to the novel, it made fun of itself at points. But, Angels & Demons has lot of deviations from the original novel which resulted in a better movie. Actually, Davinci Code was a failure as a movie. You will enjoy the movie only if you have already read the book. But, A&D can be enjoyed by people who haven’t read the book also.

Go watch the movie, if you like fast paced thrillers with a plot twist at the end.