Hancock

If ever there was an award ceremony for the world’s worst super hero movie then Hancock would be there somewhere in the top 5. For the life of me, I have not a clue as to why Hancock was never nominated for the Razzies in the year of release. In fact it was defended quite strongly by the razzies that the movie was actually not all that bad. I beg to differ with the Razzies on this count and retain my point of view. There is hardly a point of view that Peter Berg even attempts to make through the movie. I definitely give credit to Peter Berg for his versatility of acting and directing which very few people can claim to do. But just putting your name in the director’s slot does not a director make right? One has to pay careful attention to aspects that go beyond stating, “Lights, Camera, Action”. There are several elements of movie making that you would be best placed to identify and us amateur film critics would not be so sure about. But I would guess that the list would include, acting, editing, screenplay, dialogues, cinematography, script amongst the more important aspects and would then go on to the lesser ones. Dear Mr. Berg – with all due respect, I would guess you have missed out on almost every single aspect of film making and focused on just putting together 90 minutes of crap based on some really big names in the business of acting.

Well you weren’t all that ill placed Mr. Berg. Quite certainly there would have been enough and more in the world who loved the concept of a normal looking human being who is a super hero. So what if he is drunk out of its wits more often that not? And so what if he causes more damage to general property that most of the bad guys would have anyways caused? It is all supposed to be for the greater good right? Wrong as the people of the city say over a period of time. It is not possible to sustain this random destruction of property in the name of saving human lives and stopping crime. And therefore, Hancock (Will Smith) very quickly finds himself in jail doing some time. But not before he is backed up by a Public Relations expert called Ray (Jason Bateman) whose life is saved by Hancock (what is the probability of being stuck in front of a train at a manned level crossing and the train doesn’t stop but continues to run into you. Obviously there is no one who has flagged the train to a stop earlier). Together Ray and Hancock try to repair Hancock’s ruined image in the market.

The only saving grace about Hancock seems to be the ethereal presence of Charlize Theron. Sadly, it has nothing much to do with her acting prowess and only to do with her looks. But I am not complaining. I could look at her for the rest of my life. So 90 minutes seemed more like 90 seconds. Consistency errors are the hall mark of Hancock and as mentioned earlier, there are no aspects that are basic to movie making which are actually followed in the movie. It may be random fun but it is not a good movie by any stretch of imagination. 3 on 10 is my verdict.

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2497904921/

Couples Retreat

There are RomComs that make you go oooh and aaah the entire time in mushiness (I can’t believe there is a word like that in MS Word). And there are RomComs that are nothing but an attempt at soft pornography under the garb of a RomCom or slapstick American comedy. Couples Retreat falls under the second category and that too quite easily. It is actually a no brainer about 15 minutes into the movie. And whats worse is that on Indian television most of the soft porn is edited. So you don’t even have that to look forward to. There would be more soft porn on the trailer that you find on imdb or on you tube than what you would see in the 2 hour slot that the Television channel provides for. So you are now caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. If you are really tempted to watch Couples Retreat then I suggest that you spend some time downloading the uncut version from wherever it is that people download movies. That too if you are that desperate. (if you have time to download stuff, you may as well download porn right why waste your time on soft porn).

Appealing to the Indian audiences however, would be a matter of supposed pride in the fact that this would be A R Rahman’s 2nd movie in Hollywood. Rahman could not have picked up something that was worse. He had Slumdog before this which was quite good as a matter of fact and 127 hours after which was average at best. But he should consider himself reasonably lucky that he got an opportunity after Couples Retreat because the music was an uninspiringly put together combination of songs and music that would be associated with the Caribbean and nothing more. There was hardly anything original about the entire project. And therefore, it is more embarrassing than a matter of pride when the credits say “Original Music By” and not just “Music By”. Regretably it has to do with one of my favourite composers of all time and in fact probably the most popular composer of our time.

Couples Retreat tries to cover the story of 4 couples who are apparently at various stages in a relationship. One is apparently doing reasonably well. The next is in a relationship that can best be described as promiscuous – they are both unaware of the word fidelity. The third spends time making power point presentations about how their married life has lost its spark – rather than do something about it. And the last guy is divorced and general humping around with a girl that is old (or should I say young) enough to be his daughter. All of this along with the direction (or should I say the lack of it) of Peter Billingsley in his first (and probably last) movie provides us with a cheap concoction of what is termed as classic American comedy. A true waste of time. 3 on 10 for some parts that are reasonable.

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2681274905/

State of Play

Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is a successful politician & congressman. His current assignment is part of the committee that is hearing the case of Point Corp, an organization involved in dealings with the US Miliatry. However, this morning is not going to be too great. Just before he walks in for the hearing, he is informed about the death of Sonia Baker (Maria Thayer) one of his assistants on the case and also someone he has been having an affair with all this time. Shocked at this news and unable to handle the situation, he excuses himself from the hearing citing the untimely death. Obviously, a senior congressman like him should be setting an example and not creating doubts and the press is quick to start asking questions. It is just a matter of time before the tongues start wagging all over the place and questions are asked about the romantic involvement between Congressman Collins and his aide. However, Senator Fergus (Jeff Daniels), a senior congressman and Collins’ senior tries to get the situation under control and reiterates his support to Collins.


Cal McAffrey (Russel Crowe) is an investigative / crime journalist with the Washington Globe, a newspaper that is struggling to stay afloat and has a new bunch of owners. It really needs a story to spice things up and get circulation numbers high. Something that really doesn’t go too well with too many journalists including his boss Cameron Lynne (Helen Mirren) but she doesn’t have much of a choice in the matter. Knowing that Cal and Collins were room mates in college, she urges him to look into the issue, first through a novice internet reporter of the Globe itself, Della Frye (Rachel MacAdams) and then herself. Cal doesn’t take the bait at first but changes his mind when Collins lands up at his doorstep late @ night and explains to him that he smells a fish. He starts moving the investigation in the right direction by taking help from Della.

State of Play is an absorbing drama from the maker of Last King of Scotland, Kevin MacDonald. The direction is extremely slick and actually straightforward. There is not too much action or effects and therefore much higher emphasis on the acting part. He is helped immensely by Russel Crowe and Helen Mirren. And much to my surprise, Ben Affleck also manages to put in a good performance. Nothing too great from the rest of the cast as such. But a good movie nevertheless. It released last year it would seem but somehow don’t remember having heard about it in this part of the world. A pity I say. Would have received a strong response on the big screen for sure. 6.5 on 10 for this one. Playing on HBO these days