The Judge

The simplest of stories, with the right casting and writing can turn themselves into extremely intense and “must watch” movies.  The Judge is just one example of such a movie.  Director David Dobkin didn’t have much to work with, in terms of a story that had shades of “Devil’s Advocate” without the Devil of course.  It is a simple family drama. But at the end of it, you feel ever so slightly overwhelmed.

Iron Man 3

You remember what I always say about sequels and their directors.  I keep insisting that sequels should be directed by the same director.  So in this case it should have been Jon Favreau.  But believe me when I say this.  Moving to Shane Black for Iron Man 3 was probably the best thing that has ever happened to this franchise.

The Avengers

Bleddy Hell!!! If there was ever a super hero movie which was every man’s dream come alive then it has to be this one right? Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) all packed into one adrenaline pumping, edge of the seat riot in an attempt to save the world from Thor’s psycho brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston). And yes, before I forget, the glam quotient is covered by undoubtedly the hottest woman in Hollywood today – Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).

The much awaited Avengers was actually a sequel of sorts into which we got a sneak peek at the end of both Iron Man 2 and Thor if I am not mistaken. The Avengers programme run by the secret organization S. H. I. E. L. D. had been disbanded many years back by the Council. But Director Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) chose to keep the programme dormant over time with our six super heroes.

He didn’t kill the programme completely. All for the day when there would be something undesirable that would take us by surprise. He was also working on a secret programme to build a machine using THE CUBE (a source of unlimited energy) that would be capable of taking on any alien invasion whatsoever. Therefore, when Loki decides that he needs to pay earth a visit so that he can trade it for getting back onto the throne, Director Fury has no other choice but to activate The Avengers.

Non Stop Action is the hall mark of The Avengers. As they say in advertising parlance – You wanted it. You got it!!! Whether you are watching The Black Widow take on the Russians in a supreme display of acrobatics and fist fighting OR you are watching The Avengers, together taking on the aliens which come in towards the end. Either ways, you are in for a visual treat that you will remember for a really long time. One can argue that it is only special effects all the way but then the effects are completely mind blowing!!! It could so easily have been ruined with a lack of attention to the minor details.

I walked into The Avengers expecting a damp squib. While it may not have the class of great Oscar block busters or not find its way into the imdb top 250, it sure checks all the boxes that good action movies do. Do not go expective performances – one cannot when you have the likes of Evans and Hemsworth playing pivotal roles. The rest of the cast is however quite good. Expect some super one liners from Iron Man such as when Captain America tells him, “Stark – we need a plan of attack” and he responds, “I have a plan – Attack”!!! Non stop entertainer as I mentioned backed with a good story. 7.5 on 10. Watch it!!!

Oh and yes, once again – released one week prior to US release in India (so the press releases said)!!! WOW!!! We are getting there folks.

Trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3899040025/

Sherlock Holmes – A Game of Shadows

We started last year (CY 2010) with the first Guy Ritchie version of Sherlock Holmes hitting the screens. I hadn’t started reviewing movies then but I can tell you it was a stunning version of Holmes. I have, am and will always be a huge Guy Ritchie fan. But most of us are used to seeing him in the Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels versions which he has achieved so much expertise over the years that there is no one that can build a sense of suspense and mystery along with acidic humour that has over the years become a trademark of Guy Ritchie. To me, it was a thought that would never have materialized in my wildest dreams. Guy Ritchie directing a Holmes movie??? But when you step back and take a look at the humour in Arthur Conan Doyle’s masterpieces, you figure out that this is probably up Guy Ritchie’s alley than anyone elses (no pun intended). Not only did he deliver the goods the first time around, he has set himself up for a genre of cinema which can be actually called “Holmes”
A Game of Shadows takes a look at one of the greatest rivalries that has ever existed in the fictional world. But Doyle’s build up and description of the rivalry is so superb that, someone who is not familiar with it could be easily taken for a ride. Some schools of thought do say that the rivalry was inspired from real life characters but it has remained an urban legend. We are talking about Sherlock Holmes v/s Prof. James Moriarty. A rivalry that closed with a “fist fight” of sorts at the scenic Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland. Moriarty is believed by most, and rightfully I must say, to be Sherlock’s alter ego. Quite certainly, there could be no one else who is as gifted with respect to the powers of deduction. And Ritchie has bought Moriarty to life brilliantly to say the least. Not to take away anything from Jared Harris who has done the role absolute justice to say the least.

This part also gets to life the character of Mycroft (Stephen Fry) of whom Mary Watson (Kelly Reilly) so dryly says, “There’s 2 of you is it”? And Stephen Fry is brilliant right from his first appearance during the movie with the simple nuances of Mycroft such as not shaking hands and then walking around naked in his house despite being a diplomat of significant repute.

The purist Sherlock fans may not like the Guy Ritchie version and believe that Jeremy Brett is the quintessential Holmes. I take nothing away from Brett who is in the record books for having played Holmes the most times. But give credit to Robert Downey Jr. who gets in his own charm with a nonchalance that is admirable to say the least. I loved the first part for sure and A Game of Shadows came upto the same level if not better. They could have gone easy on the slow motion sequences – some of which were definitely over the top. But the overall package is a mouth watering treat for a Friday evening. 7.5 on 10. Don’t miss it!!!!

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1860541977/

Good Night And Good Luck

I could not have asked for a better movie for my 100th review!!! Here is one that missed out in all 6 categories that it was nominated in. In Art Direction and Cinematography, it lost out to Memoirs of a Geisha. In Direction to Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain. Original Screenplay and Best Movie to Paul Haggis’ Crash. Latly, David Strathairn was pitted against Terence Howard (Hustle and Flow), Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain), Joaquim Phoenix (Walk the Line) and the eventual winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote). In all of the above, one really cannot find fault with the jury. Its like being caught between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea – in a positive manner though. So I guess, they took the easy way out and gave George Clooney the award for the Best Supporting Actor for Syrianna as a way to make up for the losses that he had for Good Night and Good Luck (GNAGL).

Edward R Murrow (David Strathairn) is an extremely focused journalist. He not only believes in but also practices the simple fundamental concept of journalism – Report the Truth. And in the process, he spares no effort in getting the truth out and fighting for the cause of reporting it. He has an agreement with William Paley (Frank Langella), they be all and the do all @ Columbia Broadcasting Services (CBS) that corporate will not interfere with editorial – come what may. He has managed to get his way to date but then his team stumbles upon an opportunity to really take the system on.

Junior Senator Joseph McCarthy (himself through footage) has taken it upon himself to wipe the country clean of communism. And to do that, he would go to great lengths to ensure that people with even the remotest inclination or association with communist meetings or labour unions would be grilled to the core and even sentenced if required. Anyone who so much as dares to speak against McCarthy’s views would be prosecuted. And therefore no one does. Not if Murrow has his way. Murrow and his team led by producer Fred Friendly (George Clooney) take up the seemingly suicidal task of showing McCarthy his place in the real world.

My first memories of David Strathairn was in the 1992 movie Sneakers in the role of the blind Irwin ‘Whistler’ Emery. And the second time I remember seeing an extremely sincere performance from Strathairn was in a movie that I reviewed earlier called We Are Marshall in the endearing role of President Dedmond. But then there are roles which people are remembered by. Roles which prompt people to say – “hey isn’t that “XYZ” from “ABC”. What a brilliant performance right”!!! Edward Murrow’s role does just that one for Strathairn. It is going to remembered for a really long time to come for most people. Strathairn is ably supported by the ever cool George Clooney who has also come on tops in his second directorial venture. Needless to say, it will not be his last. Superb performances by the rest of the cast i.e. the ageless Patricia Clarkson, the amazing Frank Langella and the ever sure Robert Downey Jr. make GNAGL a delectable treat for the avid movie goer or otherwise. That it has been shot in Black & White only adds to the charisma of the entire movie. 8.5 on 10 easily. Must Must Must watch if you haven’t.

Due Date

Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) is a successful executive expecting his first child. He is in Atlanta and needs to get home i.e. Los Angeles by Friday because his wife, Sarah (Michelle Monaghan) is having a C Section. He wakes up to take his flight on Tuesday morning after a slightly disturbing dream. He is about to get out of the car when a random car cuts in from the right and crashes into the car door. Thankfully no one is hurt. But out walks a visibly stoned / drunk Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) who as nonchalantly as possible asks Peter if he is fine and then moves on to board his flight.

Peter is visibly shaken but is more preoccupied with the thought of his first born and proceeds to board the flight. As he is moving through security, he realizes that one of the packages has been exchanged with Ethan. The worse news is that he is now carrying a marijuana pipe. Nevertheless, he manages to wriggle himself out of the sticky situation. But his troubles have just about begun. As luck would have it, Ethan is on the same flight and has been bumped upto first class and is now seated behind Peter much to Peter’s chagrin.

Some random conversation about terrorists ensues and it prompts a US Marshall to pull out a firearm on Peter and shoot him. Thankfully with a rubber bullet. Both Peter and Ethan are off loaded. Things seem to be going only downhill. As luck would have it, all of this wasn’t enough. Both of them are put onto a “No Fly” list. So they have no choice but to drive down to LA. In the melee, Peter couldn’t pick up his bags and wallet from the aircraft and finds himself without any money or id. Out of a lack of choice, he accepts Ethan’s offer to take him along.

Todd Philips’ 6th full length feature film to date. Considering that he made the likes of a Starsky and Hutch, the not so slick (but not so slapstick either) humour should have been expected I guess. But then, the same guy also gave us one of the best comedies made to date – The Hangover. But then Todd – one is only as good as his last movie. So the Hangover from The Hangover seems to have sailed you through Due Date as well. There were enough and more in the audience who were extremely thrilled with the movie and went out feeling satisfied – if that makes you feel better. But from my side, this was way below par. Especially after you have set the bar so high with The Hangover.

Robert Downey Jr. is as usual ice cold with his performance. Very smartly executed role from his end. And Zach “Tounge Twister” Galifianakis is superb with his performance as the aspirational Hollywood actor with a fondness for Two and a Half Men & is carrying his Dad’s ashes in a coffee tin because he thinks it is still vacuum sealed. No one else actually has a role in the movie. Jamie Foxx is wasted in his 3.5 mins of screen time. So is Juliette Lewis. Due Date is definitely entertaining but nowhere close to The Hangover. So don’t go expecting the quality of humour or execution that you saw there. Overall a 6 on 10. Definitely the best movie over the weekend.