The Host (2013)

How many of you are fans of Stephenie Meyer? The same person who tortured us with the Twilight series and the movies that came in after that.  Even if you are a fan, you will find The Host to be one of the biggest drags that has ever graced cinema – one that will challenge every single muscle in your eyelids from not dropping off.

Firstly she has moved from Fantasia to science fiction – a genre that she should keep away from for the rest of her life.  Because there is nothing in SciFi that can be slow.  Right? But Meyer thinks differently and therefore she has challenged the status quo only to get egg on her face.

We have reached an age on earth where there are little or no worries There is no pollution.  The ozone layer has come back to the way it used to be.  There are little or no instances of terrorism.  It is a peaceful existence. But there is more to it.  We have been invaded by an alien force which has got us to this situation.

Hell.  I say get those aliens into this world soon.  It would seem that they take over human beings like parasites.  They use their bodies to survive after erasing their memories.  They have taken over mother earth and the last living human beings are struggling to stay alive and keeping away from the Seekers.

One of the last few humans is Melanie (Saoirse Ronan) who gets captured by The Seeker (Diane Kruger).  She gets her new soul which will be called Wanderer and eventually Wanda.  However, Melanie’s mind resists the change and slowly but surely converts Wanda into an empathizer and eventually a supporter of the human race.

By now, if you haven’t clawed your hair apart or scratched your face like you see in those zombie movies, then you should be given a medal (1 am first in line there).  If that doesn’t kill you, don’t worry, the complete lack of any sensible screenplay or dialogues will definitely manage it.

What is surprising is that an otherwise sensible director, Andrew Niccol (Gattaca, In Time) actually agreed to direct this piece of writing.  That it was produced by Stephenie Meyer herself comes as no surprise because no self-respecting producer would have probably agreed to it.  Ditto for Saoirse (Seersha) Ronan and Diane Kruger who are fine actresses and find themselves in this silly soup.

Do you remember that Tom & Jerry episode where Tom is feeling so sleepy that he has to use matchsticks to prop his eyebrows up? Take as many matchsticks as you can because you will need them.  The Host is better than most of the sleeping pills available in the market.  3 on 10 purely because of some decent performances and effects.

Watch the trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1617274649/?ref_=tt_ov_vi

The Roommate

Why is it that most movies made about psychological or mental disorders, invariably portray the person with the problem as a monster? I would have guessed it is common sensical that here is someone who has an illness which is meant to be looked at with empathy and needs to be helped - not in a "because s/he cannot help herself" way - but in a more "supportive / understanding / looked out for" kind of way. With a medium like the movies, one has an opportunity of really really going out there and making a difference to the perceptions that surround people who have to go through first hand experiences with the likes of schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Yet, time after time and movie after movie, all we see is that they are subject to more and even more ridicule. As people who one should be wary of. Like animals who are unpredictable and may strike anytime. Like Jason or Freddy. Like ur mum would say, "Don't talk to them - they are schizophrenic". Sometimes I wonder if we have ever reached the 21st century. It used to be this way centuries back and continues to be looked upon as a stigma. We have learnt to deal with AIDS and Leprosy. But when it comes to mental disorders, I would not be wrong if I were to say that the human race is still in the stone age - probably even earlier.


Shockingly, the censor board, whose basic responsibility is to look at far more deep rooted social worries like these, prefers to court controversy over the extent of "mammaries" on display or the next kissing scene that needs to be cut. Isn't it time that they changed their approach, just that little bit? If they had, movies such as The Roommate would have never seen the light of day. The last time I remember that a movie was in the right direction with respect to schizophrenia - Karthik Calling Karthik. And before the tongues begin to wag, it has nothing to do with my name (which coincidentally is without the H). Personally, I thought that he movie was a disaster. But it ended on a positive note with an attempt made to cure and not to crucify or kill. Thank God for small mercies. I can only hope that more movies would address the topic with the sensitivity that it deserves. But then again, our intrinsic capability to digest gore and look down upon people with problems never ceases to surprise me. How else wud one explain the success of a lousy movie like "Scream 4'??? Sigh!!! :S

OK now - enough of the sermon. Coming to the movie under consideration, it revolves around a certain Rebecca (Leighton Meester) who comes into ULA - The University of Los Angeles I am assuming. She is surprisingly without a friend - not too many tweenagers who are friendless on facebook these days right? She is sharing her room with Sarah Matthews (Minka Kelly) who was also trying to get thru to Brown University with her boyfriend Jason but both couldn't make it. So they decided to take up ULA. At the last minute though Jason made it to Brown and being a prick, quickly dumps Sara and moves on. That doesn't stop him from calling her repeatedly to apologise and get her back though!!! Sara, is very clearly over him and doesn't take time to move on and hook up with new meat - Stephen (Cam Gigandet). She also makes friends with Tracy Morgan (Alyson Michalka) a flirtatious hot girl who is in the same frat as Sara and with Tracy's roommate Kim. They trio of girls seem to be getting along very well, much to the disgust of Rebecca who wants to keep Sara all to herself and continuously does things to ensure Sara spends more time with her than anyone else. Including threatening Tracy in the shower ala Psycho. She also gets a prof expelled for misbehaving with Sara and kills an innocent kitten which could have caused Sara to move out of her room. Rebecca is The Roommate.

For a long period, the movie seems to be drifting along without much happening. Christian E Christiansen, the director, was probably attempting to build up the tempo slowly but surely and then explode it onto your face. He kind of comes a cropper unfortunately. The attempt falls woefully short of creating any excitement. There are bits and pieces of scenes which are a bit shocking like when Rebecca decides to pierce her ears with the ear rings that Sara asks her to wear because she doesn't want to disappoint her. The Psycho type scene in the shower also borders on creating some fear but again goes bust like a "fuski bomb". The script is just too uninspiring to merit any mention. Yet another one like "I know what u did...." or "Urban Legend" only much less thrilling and boring to boot. The saving grace - some decent music in the background and some really good looking specimens of humanity as the cast. Otherwise imminently forgettable. Definitely missable even on DVD. OK here's the big insult - Dum Maro Dum is better. 3 on 10 from my side.

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2783643929/

Lincoln Lawyer

The term smooth operator is personified by Defense Attorney Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey). He is suave, smart and thinks on his feet. He knows the tricks of the trade like very few others. And did I mention that he is a superb negotiator – knows fully well that most cases are actually decided, won or lost outside the courtroom and not inside. He can well make it to the big league but for reasons best known to him, he has played ball only at the lower levels to date. He is divorced but on extremely good terms with his ex-wife Maggie McPherson (Marisa Tomei). They have a daughter who the two love very dearly. And he has his contacts – thanks to most criminals who he helps get out of jail. He trusts very few people – occupational hazard. But one of those he trusts is his right hand man Frank Levin (William H Macy). The latest addition to his life is Earl (Laurence Mason), who drives him around in his Lincoln – aah now I know why the movie is called Lincoln Lawyer.


Mickey’s talent (for lack of any other word) finally lands him into a big league case when his contact, bail agent Val Valenzuela (John Leguizamo) puts him through to a wealthy real estate agent Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe). Louis has been charged with assault and attempted murder of a prostitute who picks him up at a bar. Louis claims that she is only trying to fleece him off his money and that he is falsely accused. Louis’ mother is also willing spare no expense in getting her son out of the case. Sensing that it’s a great opportunity to rake in the moolah, Mickey takes up the case. Louis’ is convincing enough and is not even willing to arrive at an out of court settlement. He wants the case to go to trial and prove a point of some sort. Bail is set @ $1 million and Mickey begins building his case.

Lincoln Lawyer is young director Brad Furman’s second movie to date. And with the exception of a couple of cuts which he could have done with, it is a well made movie. He builds up the tension throughout the movie very well – leading upto a good solid climax. We definitely have a solid prospect here. Ryan Phillippe is eerie in his portrayal of Louis Roulet. I only fear that he will soon be typecast into the “ice cold person role” that he keeps getting himself into. There is very little else that he does. Maybe it’s a personal fetish that we aren’t aware of. Minus the drawl, Matthew McConaughey continues be the correct choice for roles that demand sheer good looks with just enough acting capabilities to make it through. I could not quite understand the reason for having a superb talent like Marisa Tomei and barely getting anything out of her but for a few minutes of screen time. Could have done with a meatier role. That was probably the only flaw other than a couple of cuts as mentioned earlier. Definitely a dekko. 6.5 on 10 from my side.

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1627364121/