The biggest
selling point for Jupiter Ascending would have been the fact that The
Wachowskis (no longer the Wachowski Brothers) are back after a hiatus of nearly
3 years. The siblings have never given
us a disappointing movie to date.
Complicated yes. Disappointing
never.
Showing posts with label Mila Kunis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mila Kunis. Show all posts
Thursday, 5 February 2015
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Oz The Great And Powerful
Sam Raimi is no
mean name in the business of entertainment.
He has given us a superbly webbed trilogy (how corny is that???) over
the past decade – one that I am told, held the record for the best opening ever
for a really long time. With Oz The
Great And Powerful, Raimi gives us yet another reason to celebrate.
Thursday, 1 November 2012
Ted
Ted is one of the movies that has seen the light of the day, a bit late in India. A phenomenon that isn’t too common place. Especially with movies of this genre. Ted is nothing but a randomly made, slapstick, very predictable, romantic comedy with no class, that is labeled as entertainment by various segments of society that we live in. Something that has ceased to surprise me over the years.
John Bennet (Mark Wahlberg / Bretton Manley) is a loser. He has no friends whatsoever and is more often than not, bullied by the kids in his neighbourhood. Ergo he is also a loner. And like most kids, he hates to be a loner / loser. One Christmas, he prays for his Teddy Bear to come alive and be his friend. Well guess what – it is not for nothing that they say we should choose what we wish for very carefully.
Miraculously, Ted is alive the next day and goes onto become an overnight sensation that is lapped up by most Television channels. However, he never forgets that John is his best friend and ensures that they spend a lot of time together. Needless to say, John cannot imagine a life without Ted. What the wish however came with is a lifetime guarantee.
And now, 27 years later, John is a not so ambitious car salesman making about $30K per year and the best thing that has happened in his life after Ted is the gorgeous Lori Collins (Mila Kunis) – a successful executive in a large organization with a boss who doesn’t lose half an opportunity to hit on her. John and Lori have been in love for nearly 4 years now. People grow up out of Teddy Bears and isn’t it time to move away from Ted, now that John has pretty much decided to spend the rest of his life with Lori?
You may just about enjoy the first few minutes of cheap humour because it doesn’t quite feel too cheap honestly. With director Seth MacFarlane also giving the voice of Ted, there are some dialogues that will bring a smile to your face. But soon, most of the screenplay starts getting boring and half way into the movie you are suffering from an overdose of slapstick.
The performances are also nothing much you will really look upto. The story is quite good but lands up becoming kind of an overkill. You don’t leave the movie hall feeling happier than when you walked in and that to me is a clear indicator that you don’t need to waste your money on watching Ted on the big screen. Wait for the DVD or actually better still, watch it on TV if and when it airs. 5 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3048383257/
John Bennet (Mark Wahlberg / Bretton Manley) is a loser. He has no friends whatsoever and is more often than not, bullied by the kids in his neighbourhood. Ergo he is also a loner. And like most kids, he hates to be a loner / loser. One Christmas, he prays for his Teddy Bear to come alive and be his friend. Well guess what – it is not for nothing that they say we should choose what we wish for very carefully.
Miraculously, Ted is alive the next day and goes onto become an overnight sensation that is lapped up by most Television channels. However, he never forgets that John is his best friend and ensures that they spend a lot of time together. Needless to say, John cannot imagine a life without Ted. What the wish however came with is a lifetime guarantee.
And now, 27 years later, John is a not so ambitious car salesman making about $30K per year and the best thing that has happened in his life after Ted is the gorgeous Lori Collins (Mila Kunis) – a successful executive in a large organization with a boss who doesn’t lose half an opportunity to hit on her. John and Lori have been in love for nearly 4 years now. People grow up out of Teddy Bears and isn’t it time to move away from Ted, now that John has pretty much decided to spend the rest of his life with Lori?
You may just about enjoy the first few minutes of cheap humour because it doesn’t quite feel too cheap honestly. With director Seth MacFarlane also giving the voice of Ted, there are some dialogues that will bring a smile to your face. But soon, most of the screenplay starts getting boring and half way into the movie you are suffering from an overdose of slapstick.
The performances are also nothing much you will really look upto. The story is quite good but lands up becoming kind of an overkill. You don’t leave the movie hall feeling happier than when you walked in and that to me is a clear indicator that you don’t need to waste your money on watching Ted on the big screen. Wait for the DVD or actually better still, watch it on TV if and when it airs. 5 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3048383257/
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Friends with Benefits
The last Will Gluck movie that I reviewed was one called Easy A – with Emma Stone in the lead. It was a decent chick flick which I had rated as an ideal “in-flight” movie and given a 5.5. Gluck seems to be building a lovely niche for himself with little improvement on either the scale or the kind of movie that he is proficient at making. Don’t get me wrong here. Both Easy A and Friends with Benefits (FWB) are highly entertaining movies. But they are just entertainment. Casual fun. Not for the serious watcher of “cinema”. I have always liked this genre of cinema i.e. the RomCom and the Chick Flick. FWB gets added to the list. Gluck sure knows how to make them – easy viewing. What I don’t quite understand is the obsession with Emma Stone (enough to give a bit part as an ex-girl friend) and her name from Easy A being used as a tribute of sorts on one of the boards at the airport. Found that to be a bit over the top from Gluck.
And yes, FWB is quite like No Strings Attached. Man meets woman. Man and woman like each other – a lot. But they want to be friends only. No relationships etc. Man and Woman have both been in relationships before. Both have been unsuccessful at the relationship scene. Both come from family backgrounds which are a bit troubled. Man’s mother left the family over a decade ago. Woman doesn’t know who her father is and has been bought up by a reckless, single mom who cannot remember who the father was either. Both Man and Woman are quite afraid of what a relationship would mean to them and whether it would last at all. But since they like each other enough, the decide to be the crutch the other person needs. Just pure “Friends With Benefits”. But then they hadn’t heard about the age old adage popularized by a certain brand ambassador of Rotomac over 20 years back which said – Ek jawaan ladka aur ek jawaan ladki kabhi dost nahin ho sakte (A young man and a young woman can never be “just friends”). And so the complications start creeping in as always and there are lows in the relationship that take it to a breaking point before a gyan session from the single mother to her daughter and the now single father to his son and the eventual happy ending will keep everyone happy.
What works for FWB is the slick humour thrown in all through the movie. Clean and not slapstick which is quite surprising for a movie from across the Atlantic. Like
Jamie (Kunis) : Why don’t they ever make a movie after the big kiss?
Dylan (Timberlake) : They do. Its called Porn.
Loads of rib tickling one liners make this a movie that is imminently watchable. It is fast paced and has 2 lead actors who I am fast developing a huge liking for. I have always leched at Mila Kunis from her That 70s days and she has only grown into being even more delectable. And yes did I mention that she can act – extremely well? Justin Timberlake is as natural an actor like I have ever seen. He continues with the confidence he showed in Social Network and executes the role of Dylan with aplomb. I liked FWB and would give it a 5.5 on 10 as a movie. But as I said before. It is very very entertaining. Go ahead. You will not regret it.
The trailer can be viewed on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2190056729/
And yes, FWB is quite like No Strings Attached. Man meets woman. Man and woman like each other – a lot. But they want to be friends only. No relationships etc. Man and Woman have both been in relationships before. Both have been unsuccessful at the relationship scene. Both come from family backgrounds which are a bit troubled. Man’s mother left the family over a decade ago. Woman doesn’t know who her father is and has been bought up by a reckless, single mom who cannot remember who the father was either. Both Man and Woman are quite afraid of what a relationship would mean to them and whether it would last at all. But since they like each other enough, the decide to be the crutch the other person needs. Just pure “Friends With Benefits”. But then they hadn’t heard about the age old adage popularized by a certain brand ambassador of Rotomac over 20 years back which said – Ek jawaan ladka aur ek jawaan ladki kabhi dost nahin ho sakte (A young man and a young woman can never be “just friends”). And so the complications start creeping in as always and there are lows in the relationship that take it to a breaking point before a gyan session from the single mother to her daughter and the now single father to his son and the eventual happy ending will keep everyone happy.
What works for FWB is the slick humour thrown in all through the movie. Clean and not slapstick which is quite surprising for a movie from across the Atlantic. Like
Jamie (Kunis) : Why don’t they ever make a movie after the big kiss?
Dylan (Timberlake) : They do. Its called Porn.
Loads of rib tickling one liners make this a movie that is imminently watchable. It is fast paced and has 2 lead actors who I am fast developing a huge liking for. I have always leched at Mila Kunis from her That 70s days and she has only grown into being even more delectable. And yes did I mention that she can act – extremely well? Justin Timberlake is as natural an actor like I have ever seen. He continues with the confidence he showed in Social Network and executes the role of Dylan with aplomb. I liked FWB and would give it a 5.5 on 10 as a movie. But as I said before. It is very very entertaining. Go ahead. You will not regret it.
The trailer can be viewed on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2190056729/
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Black Swan
Fame hits you square in the face. And before you know it you are a popular household name. I am not talking about Natalie Portman – who you would know by now as the winner of this year’s Oscar for the Best Performance in a Lead Role (Female) for her performance in this movie. I AM however talking about a gentleman who has suddenly gained popularity in Hollywood. His 3rd ballet – The Nutcracker was recently made into a 3D version. And his first one – the haunting Swan Lake – forms an intrinsic part of Black Swan. When are we going to see the movie version of Sleeping Beauty? I am putting my bets on Baz Luhrmann to be the best person to get it onto screen. That would definitely make Tchaikovsky a force to reckon with not just in Hollywood but also in the general music taste of people across the world.
Black Swan is the story of Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) who is in her late twenties and continues to stay with her protective mother Erica (Barbara Hershey), a failed ballet dancer who quit her passion for the art when she conceived Nina. However, her love for Nina and ballet lead her to monitor Nina’s every move. Almost like a guardian angel. Nina has been struggling over the years and is a perfectionist at the art. Nina’s only dream has been to get the lead role in The Swan Queen which is the flagship performance of the troupe. The current star of the show is Beth Macintyre (Winona Ryder) who has played the Swan Queen to date and is extremely popular. But all good things come to an end and its time to select the new lead. Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) – pronounced Toma – the owner of the theatre believes that Nina has perfection but doesn’t really have soul in her ballet – as in its not free spirited like the latest addition to the troupe – Lily (Mila Kunis). But Nina is not about to give up so easily and only throws herself even harder into practice. Thomas however lets her know before the final list is put up that he has chosen to go with one of the other dancers – Veronica (Ksenia Solo).
Darren Aronofsky is known for his previous works as the trailer proudly proclaims – A Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler (Mickey Rourke’s last attempt at an Oscar). But this one would probably be his best to date. Aronofsky converts a harmless sort of a fairy tale with equally harmless music into one that is not only dark but also eerie in parts and the music of Tchaikovsky suddenly starts sounding like it is from a horror flick. He also leaves a lot to the audience’s imagination and keeps the pace up throughout the movie. The cinematography coupled with the right cuts at the right places make Black Swan a complete treat to watch. An amazing talent we have here in the form of Aronofsky.
Coming to the acting part, I thought both Vincent Cassel deserved at least a nomination for this part. And Mila Kunis!!!! What happened to her??? She was that brainless bimbette last seen in That Seventies Show. Seems like Miss Kunis has come a long long way. I would not know both Cassel and Kunis performed better than the winners of the Oscar this year in the supporting role category but I am hoping to be able to reach a decision in a few hours from now. Natalie Portman’s execution of The Swan Queen deservedly got her the Oscar. Whether the talent was always there to be seen but not utilized to date is something only time will tell.
To me, the highlight of the movie was the metamorphosis of the White Swan into the Black Swan which is built up slowly but surely and explodes on screen towards the end. An exceptional movie to say the least. Wonder why people are not too excited about it. I completely loved it. As good as The King’s Speech if not better. The mystery surrounding the Oscars continues. 8.5 on 10 for The Black Swan. DON’T MISS IT!!!!
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3985807385/
Black Swan is the story of Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) who is in her late twenties and continues to stay with her protective mother Erica (Barbara Hershey), a failed ballet dancer who quit her passion for the art when she conceived Nina. However, her love for Nina and ballet lead her to monitor Nina’s every move. Almost like a guardian angel. Nina has been struggling over the years and is a perfectionist at the art. Nina’s only dream has been to get the lead role in The Swan Queen which is the flagship performance of the troupe. The current star of the show is Beth Macintyre (Winona Ryder) who has played the Swan Queen to date and is extremely popular. But all good things come to an end and its time to select the new lead. Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) – pronounced Toma – the owner of the theatre believes that Nina has perfection but doesn’t really have soul in her ballet – as in its not free spirited like the latest addition to the troupe – Lily (Mila Kunis). But Nina is not about to give up so easily and only throws herself even harder into practice. Thomas however lets her know before the final list is put up that he has chosen to go with one of the other dancers – Veronica (Ksenia Solo).
Darren Aronofsky is known for his previous works as the trailer proudly proclaims – A Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler (Mickey Rourke’s last attempt at an Oscar). But this one would probably be his best to date. Aronofsky converts a harmless sort of a fairy tale with equally harmless music into one that is not only dark but also eerie in parts and the music of Tchaikovsky suddenly starts sounding like it is from a horror flick. He also leaves a lot to the audience’s imagination and keeps the pace up throughout the movie. The cinematography coupled with the right cuts at the right places make Black Swan a complete treat to watch. An amazing talent we have here in the form of Aronofsky.
Coming to the acting part, I thought both Vincent Cassel deserved at least a nomination for this part. And Mila Kunis!!!! What happened to her??? She was that brainless bimbette last seen in That Seventies Show. Seems like Miss Kunis has come a long long way. I would not know both Cassel and Kunis performed better than the winners of the Oscar this year in the supporting role category but I am hoping to be able to reach a decision in a few hours from now. Natalie Portman’s execution of The Swan Queen deservedly got her the Oscar. Whether the talent was always there to be seen but not utilized to date is something only time will tell.
To me, the highlight of the movie was the metamorphosis of the White Swan into the Black Swan which is built up slowly but surely and explodes on screen towards the end. An exceptional movie to say the least. Wonder why people are not too excited about it. I completely loved it. As good as The King’s Speech if not better. The mystery surrounding the Oscars continues. 8.5 on 10 for The Black Swan. DON’T MISS IT!!!!
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3985807385/
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