Gurdeep Mehndi (GM) : Pappa Pappa mera 21st janam din aane wala hai. (my 21st birthday is coming up) Mere liye kya gift de rahe ho? (What will you gift me?)
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Monday, 7 January 2013
Rajdhani Express
There is nothing much that director Ashok Kohli can look forward to after his debut in Bollywood. Maybe he needs to destroy all evidence of being associated with a movie titled Rajdhani Express (RE) and the cast and crew associated with it. But the cast and crew will be less of a worry. They would have died of shame anyways after watching themselves.
Hence my hypothesis that the people associated with this disaster of a start for 2013 for Bollywood have not seen their own handiwork. There should be a rule in Bollywood or some contact with the censor board that prevents such jokes on cinema from being released at the beginning of a calendar year or any auspicious day. There should in fact be a censor board arm that prevents release of such disasters.
The movie begins with our ace tennis star who has done his image and future no good by being part of this venture. He starts with a guttural laughter that is intended to create fear. I assume that because he is shown with his hands and legs tied up to a chair. But what he doesn’t know that the audience is laughing at him at the end of the day. In the same guttural way that he attempted to laugh.
Turns out he is Keshav (Paes) works for a local small time Don in the capital city called Bhaijee (Kiran Kumar). Now Bhaijee’s daughter Reena (Sayali Bhagat) and our man have a love hate relationship. They grew up together. He was the domestic under age help. She was the rich man’s daughter. And from then on the divide has been obvious. So when Bhaijee finds out about the hanky panky under his nose, he ostracizes Keshav and sets him up to be caught in the Rajdhani Express carrying ammo.
If by now, you are not tearing your hair apart, then you definitely will, when u see Keshav’s Ist AC Co-Passengers. Banerjee (Priyanshu Chatterjee) who is a Bollywood screen writer. Munish (Sudanshu Pandey) who is a fashion designer. Sunita (Pooja Bose) who is a Bollywood Item girl.
Attempting to add spice to this lousy curry is Deputy Commissioner Yadav (Jimmy Shergill) who must be regretting the day he signed this deal. And there is Shilpa Shukla who plays a Sub Inspector with her right hand in her pocket at all times looking grumpy as ever – I am sure because Kohli asked her to put her hand in her pocket and she didn’t.
She also had reason enough because Kohli asked her to mouth what will be the dialogue of the year, "Loyalty se behter sincerity hai. Loyalty is for dogs. Sincerity is for human beings". Please Please Please tell me you have pulled all your hair out by now. If not, please get a medical mental check-up lined up ASAP.
RE is the kind of movie that will actually make you tear your hair apart in agony. It may even send you on a witch hunt for Kohli because the cast has otherwise given reasonable performances to date. The only difference this time is a Kohli (maybe bad times for the entire clan). There is an absence of everything that goes into a movie. So adding to the list that has 2 movies to date on my blog, we have a 0 on 10 to begin 2013 with.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-rXXW7fBtM
Hence my hypothesis that the people associated with this disaster of a start for 2013 for Bollywood have not seen their own handiwork. There should be a rule in Bollywood or some contact with the censor board that prevents such jokes on cinema from being released at the beginning of a calendar year or any auspicious day. There should in fact be a censor board arm that prevents release of such disasters.
The movie begins with our ace tennis star who has done his image and future no good by being part of this venture. He starts with a guttural laughter that is intended to create fear. I assume that because he is shown with his hands and legs tied up to a chair. But what he doesn’t know that the audience is laughing at him at the end of the day. In the same guttural way that he attempted to laugh.
Turns out he is Keshav (Paes) works for a local small time Don in the capital city called Bhaijee (Kiran Kumar). Now Bhaijee’s daughter Reena (Sayali Bhagat) and our man have a love hate relationship. They grew up together. He was the domestic under age help. She was the rich man’s daughter. And from then on the divide has been obvious. So when Bhaijee finds out about the hanky panky under his nose, he ostracizes Keshav and sets him up to be caught in the Rajdhani Express carrying ammo.
If by now, you are not tearing your hair apart, then you definitely will, when u see Keshav’s Ist AC Co-Passengers. Banerjee (Priyanshu Chatterjee) who is a Bollywood screen writer. Munish (Sudanshu Pandey) who is a fashion designer. Sunita (Pooja Bose) who is a Bollywood Item girl.
Attempting to add spice to this lousy curry is Deputy Commissioner Yadav (Jimmy Shergill) who must be regretting the day he signed this deal. And there is Shilpa Shukla who plays a Sub Inspector with her right hand in her pocket at all times looking grumpy as ever – I am sure because Kohli asked her to put her hand in her pocket and she didn’t.
She also had reason enough because Kohli asked her to mouth what will be the dialogue of the year, "Loyalty se behter sincerity hai. Loyalty is for dogs. Sincerity is for human beings". Please Please Please tell me you have pulled all your hair out by now. If not, please get a medical mental check-up lined up ASAP.
RE is the kind of movie that will actually make you tear your hair apart in agony. It may even send you on a witch hunt for Kohli because the cast has otherwise given reasonable performances to date. The only difference this time is a Kohli (maybe bad times for the entire clan). There is an absence of everything that goes into a movie. So adding to the list that has 2 movies to date on my blog, we have a 0 on 10 to begin 2013 with.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-rXXW7fBtM
Saturday, 5 January 2013
The Impossible
I think I now know why I did not write this review late last night and saved it for early this morning instead. I can speak for both Prarthana and I when I say that we were quite overwhelmed from memories of over 8 years back flooding back into our heads. We were left quite muddled and somber.
I can clearly remember the morning of 26th December 2004. It was a lazy Sunday morning to begin with. I was @ my parent’s place for some reason. I woke up around 730 am if I am not mistaken and customarily switched on my television. My mum used to get quite irritated with that (she still does).
But for around an hour after that most of us barely spoke a word because of the shocking visuals all over international television. Every channel from the less astute Aaj Tak to the most composed BBC was airing visual after visual that shocked the living daylights out of us. All of this on the laid back morning after Christmas.
Maria (Naomi Watts) and Henry Belon (Ewan McGregor) were a Spanish couple who decided the spend the Christmas and New Years Eve of 2004 @ The Orchid Resort in Thailand – a gorgeous beach facing property. They were based out of Japan because of Henry’s assignment there.
Accompanying them were their three children – Lucas (Tom Holland), Thomas (Samuel Joslin) and Simon (Oaklee Pendergast), aged 12, 7 and 5 respectively. One big happy family as most would have guessed. With their normal problems and their normal issues. But happy nevertheless.
While their nationalities have been changed in the movie (to address a larger audience I would guess – they were Spanish), the story is true. The family was around the hotel swimming pool when the wall of water washed them away splitting them into two groups. Maria and Lucas managed to find themselves in the raging waters. Henry, Thomas and Simon come up closer to the hotel.
The story, like many others who were devasted in the Tsunami, is about how they managed to not only hang on to dear life but eventually find each other in the chaos and carnage that reigned supreme. All through the movie, I could only think to myself that they family must have been very close to the creator to have found each other. Most of the others were not so lucky.
If you do walk into the cinema hall then brace yourself for a not so pleasant blast from the past. One that has been shot extremely well and directed in a manner that is probably best possible by a 38 year old Spanish talent called Juan Antonio Bayona (The Orphanage). There is a lot of attention to detail. And obviously the effects are fantastic.
I was wondering why it took 8 years for someone to make a movie on probably the biggest natural disaster that most of us have ever seen. My guess – 90 out of 100 dropped out because they could not handle the devastation and the gut wrenching stories associated with it. Of the remaining, very few could have handled the balance between sensitivity and reality. 8 on 10 for the movie and Bayona.
Trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi118006809/
I can clearly remember the morning of 26th December 2004. It was a lazy Sunday morning to begin with. I was @ my parent’s place for some reason. I woke up around 730 am if I am not mistaken and customarily switched on my television. My mum used to get quite irritated with that (she still does).
But for around an hour after that most of us barely spoke a word because of the shocking visuals all over international television. Every channel from the less astute Aaj Tak to the most composed BBC was airing visual after visual that shocked the living daylights out of us. All of this on the laid back morning after Christmas.
Maria (Naomi Watts) and Henry Belon (Ewan McGregor) were a Spanish couple who decided the spend the Christmas and New Years Eve of 2004 @ The Orchid Resort in Thailand – a gorgeous beach facing property. They were based out of Japan because of Henry’s assignment there.
Accompanying them were their three children – Lucas (Tom Holland), Thomas (Samuel Joslin) and Simon (Oaklee Pendergast), aged 12, 7 and 5 respectively. One big happy family as most would have guessed. With their normal problems and their normal issues. But happy nevertheless.
While their nationalities have been changed in the movie (to address a larger audience I would guess – they were Spanish), the story is true. The family was around the hotel swimming pool when the wall of water washed them away splitting them into two groups. Maria and Lucas managed to find themselves in the raging waters. Henry, Thomas and Simon come up closer to the hotel.
The story, like many others who were devasted in the Tsunami, is about how they managed to not only hang on to dear life but eventually find each other in the chaos and carnage that reigned supreme. All through the movie, I could only think to myself that they family must have been very close to the creator to have found each other. Most of the others were not so lucky.
If you do walk into the cinema hall then brace yourself for a not so pleasant blast from the past. One that has been shot extremely well and directed in a manner that is probably best possible by a 38 year old Spanish talent called Juan Antonio Bayona (The Orphanage). There is a lot of attention to detail. And obviously the effects are fantastic.
I was wondering why it took 8 years for someone to make a movie on probably the biggest natural disaster that most of us have ever seen. My guess – 90 out of 100 dropped out because they could not handle the devastation and the gut wrenching stories associated with it. Of the remaining, very few could have handled the balance between sensitivity and reality. 8 on 10 for the movie and Bayona.
Trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi118006809/
Friday, 4 January 2013
Table No. 21
Vivaan (Rajeev Khandelwal) and Siya Agasthi (Tena Desae) are an apparently happily married couple who win a trip to the magical islands that Vijay Singh (the ace golfer) calls his home. For those who are unaware of where Vijay Singh comes from it would be the Polynesian island country of Fiji.
On their last day, they are invited for their anniversary lunch to a hotel owned by Abdul Razzaq Khan (Paresh Rawal) who seems to be a man of means to put it mildly. Now Vivaan and Siya are in trouble back home because Vivaan doesn’t have a job. Khan has come to the table with just the solution that they want. Something that will solve all their problems.
At stake is a nominal sum of Rs. 21 crores. That’s Rs. 210 million for the non Indians or $4 million. What would you be willing to do to get that amount into your bank account? Lets rephrase that question. What would be willing to do that is considered legal and have that amount in your bank account in about 3 to 4 weeks?
My guess would be – A LOT. Well Vivaan and Siya have to play a game which is Mr. Khan’s version of Sach Ka Saamna (Moment of Truth) & Who Dares Wins put together. Ironically Rajeev Khandelwal is the host of Sach Ka Saamna in real life. But in reel life as the poster calls out (very cornily of course) – IF YOU LIE – YOU DIE!!! (guttural laughter follows. Similar to the one from MJs Thriller video).
Khandelwal’s choice of movies has typically been good to date. Aamir, Shaitan & Soundtrack to name a few. And if you would look @ Tena Desae’s career, she has had a few bit parts in some good movies and has done a decent job in them. Some of them have been Hollywood hits as well. And as for Paresh Rawal – all of us are aware of his prowess as an actor.
So Table No. 21 should have been a good, safe bet right? If I consider the storyline then yes. It is a safe bet. In fact an interesting story. But that would not say much because, standing in your way of what could have been a really good movie is one Aditya Datt. Aditya’s direction can be best described to that of a cat that has been cornered by a few dogs and it doesn’t know where to go or how to escape.
A topic / story like this needed to be handled with far more intensity and attention to detail. The make up is all over the place. There is unnecessary use of songs / music in the wrong places. At least 20 minutes could have been chopped off. Just a few ways that Aditya could have made this really worth it.
Amongst the new crop of directors, someone like Bejoy Nambiar would have probably got these missing elements in. But then Bejoy is due to release David in 4 weeks. Lets hope that makes up for the weak start to 2013. 5 on 10.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsC1MI9NvSs
On their last day, they are invited for their anniversary lunch to a hotel owned by Abdul Razzaq Khan (Paresh Rawal) who seems to be a man of means to put it mildly. Now Vivaan and Siya are in trouble back home because Vivaan doesn’t have a job. Khan has come to the table with just the solution that they want. Something that will solve all their problems.
At stake is a nominal sum of Rs. 21 crores. That’s Rs. 210 million for the non Indians or $4 million. What would you be willing to do to get that amount into your bank account? Lets rephrase that question. What would be willing to do that is considered legal and have that amount in your bank account in about 3 to 4 weeks?
My guess would be – A LOT. Well Vivaan and Siya have to play a game which is Mr. Khan’s version of Sach Ka Saamna (Moment of Truth) & Who Dares Wins put together. Ironically Rajeev Khandelwal is the host of Sach Ka Saamna in real life. But in reel life as the poster calls out (very cornily of course) – IF YOU LIE – YOU DIE!!! (guttural laughter follows. Similar to the one from MJs Thriller video).
Khandelwal’s choice of movies has typically been good to date. Aamir, Shaitan & Soundtrack to name a few. And if you would look @ Tena Desae’s career, she has had a few bit parts in some good movies and has done a decent job in them. Some of them have been Hollywood hits as well. And as for Paresh Rawal – all of us are aware of his prowess as an actor.
So Table No. 21 should have been a good, safe bet right? If I consider the storyline then yes. It is a safe bet. In fact an interesting story. But that would not say much because, standing in your way of what could have been a really good movie is one Aditya Datt. Aditya’s direction can be best described to that of a cat that has been cornered by a few dogs and it doesn’t know where to go or how to escape.
A topic / story like this needed to be handled with far more intensity and attention to detail. The make up is all over the place. There is unnecessary use of songs / music in the wrong places. At least 20 minutes could have been chopped off. Just a few ways that Aditya could have made this really worth it.
Amongst the new crop of directors, someone like Bejoy Nambiar would have probably got these missing elements in. But then Bejoy is due to release David in 4 weeks. Lets hope that makes up for the weak start to 2013. 5 on 10.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsC1MI9NvSs
Rise of the Guardians
Most of you would have seen The Da Vinci Code. I would like you to cut back to the final scene wherein Robert Langdon is asked of by Sophie whether she should announce to the world that Jesus was only a human being. Langdon replies, “Would you rather add to the belief of a millions or break it”? A simple statement that leaves a lot of us thinking – at least I was.
Rise of the Guardians is based on this very simple concept of belief. Aptly summarized by a simple line again – Do you stop believing in the moon when the sun comes out? Or another one – Do you stop believing in the sun on a cloudy day? These are the very sentiments that keep The Guardians alive. Who are the Guardians? The answer would include Santa Claus aka North (Alec Baldwin), The Tooth Fairy or just Tooth (Isla Fisher) and The Easter Bunny or just Bunny (Hugh Jackman).
But that doesn’t apply to Jack Frost or just Frost (Chris Pine) who doesn’t really know who he is other than the fact that he has been sent down to earth by the moon. He has no recollection of what happens before he becomes Jack Frost. But he is fun to be with and wants most of the kids to have fun as well. But he would be known as anything but a guardian.
So when their arch rival – Pitch Black or just Pitch (Jude Law) decides to take over earth, the Guardians are quite surprised that The Man on The Moon didn’t ask them to take care of the problem at hand. Instead he asks the Guardian to recruit a new one into the fold. No points for guessing that the latest member is Jack Frost.
Director Peter Ramsey is better known for his involvement in the Art Department of movies like Batman Forever, AI and Shark Tale. The Rise of The Guardians would be his first feature film. An animation movie would have been a risky choice to get into mainstream cinema but Ramsey comes on tops thanks to a heart touching story. The quality of work could definitely have done with some improvement but one would tend to ignore it in light of the sweet story.
The voices are outstanding. Although Alec Baldwin seems just a bit over the top in his Scandinavian or Russian accent for Father Christmas. Jude Law in probably his first negative role is outstanding. But the pick of the voices is Hugh Jackman as the Bunny from down under – very distinctively Jackman.
This is the kind of movie that you need to take your kids to over a weekend. Just to re-emphasize their belief in those wonderful creations of mankind. After all isn’t it what we believe in that makes us who we are. 7 on 10 and definitely in the top 5 animation releases in India this year. Have a wonderful time watching.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2628363545/
Rise of the Guardians is based on this very simple concept of belief. Aptly summarized by a simple line again – Do you stop believing in the moon when the sun comes out? Or another one – Do you stop believing in the sun on a cloudy day? These are the very sentiments that keep The Guardians alive. Who are the Guardians? The answer would include Santa Claus aka North (Alec Baldwin), The Tooth Fairy or just Tooth (Isla Fisher) and The Easter Bunny or just Bunny (Hugh Jackman).
But that doesn’t apply to Jack Frost or just Frost (Chris Pine) who doesn’t really know who he is other than the fact that he has been sent down to earth by the moon. He has no recollection of what happens before he becomes Jack Frost. But he is fun to be with and wants most of the kids to have fun as well. But he would be known as anything but a guardian.
So when their arch rival – Pitch Black or just Pitch (Jude Law) decides to take over earth, the Guardians are quite surprised that The Man on The Moon didn’t ask them to take care of the problem at hand. Instead he asks the Guardian to recruit a new one into the fold. No points for guessing that the latest member is Jack Frost.
Director Peter Ramsey is better known for his involvement in the Art Department of movies like Batman Forever, AI and Shark Tale. The Rise of The Guardians would be his first feature film. An animation movie would have been a risky choice to get into mainstream cinema but Ramsey comes on tops thanks to a heart touching story. The quality of work could definitely have done with some improvement but one would tend to ignore it in light of the sweet story.
The voices are outstanding. Although Alec Baldwin seems just a bit over the top in his Scandinavian or Russian accent for Father Christmas. Jude Law in probably his first negative role is outstanding. But the pick of the voices is Hugh Jackman as the Bunny from down under – very distinctively Jackman.
This is the kind of movie that you need to take your kids to over a weekend. Just to re-emphasize their belief in those wonderful creations of mankind. After all isn’t it what we believe in that makes us who we are. 7 on 10 and definitely in the top 5 animation releases in India this year. Have a wonderful time watching.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2628363545/
Chinese Zodiac (CZ12)
Jackie Chan is back!!! But what you would see is a marginally slow version of a person who has, over the years given us some of the best martial arts displays on screen ever. But I would challenge any of you to find me a 58 year old gentleman (in the truest sense of the word) who can come remotely close.
Somewhere in the 19th century, a French ship captained by the great great grandfather of a famous French socialite – Katherine (Laura Weissbecker) – makes its trip to the orient. The ship is called The Indestructible. When they reach their destination, they ensure that the Old Summer Palace of the then monarch is pillaged to the hilt.
They obviously make away with all the gold that they can muster and artifacts that are rated worth millions of euros today. One such artifact are the twelve Bronze statues of the Chinese Zodiac. The French went off with just the heads of the statues which have now started surfacing in bits and pieces. Katherine herself is in possession of one statue but is unaware of its worth.
The MP corporation led by Lawrence (Oliver Platt) has through the years built its might in this business. They, however, do not deal with the originals as much as they do in fakes. The fakes itself are worth millions but much lesser millions as compared to the originals. But to make a fake you need the authentic piece and helping him source that is JC (Jackie Chan) aka The Asian Hawk.
Most Chan movies do not have a semblance of production values other than the aspect of the action sequences. The action is usually top notch and the primary contributor is Chan himself. Although, as compared to previous movies, you may not find the end titling gaffes as elaborate. But you will definitely enjoy most of the stunts that this absolute artist has come up with this time.
The opening sequence starts with some high speed luging down a hill somewhere in Europe. There is a treasure hunt on a desolate island and a fight with some pirates and sliding down the island on a humongous log. That pretty much peppers the space upto the final climax that has Chan free falling towards an active volcano. Totally brilliant stuff if you are a Chan fan. As a movie just about 6 on 10 I would guess.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_hXhposGag
Somewhere in the 19th century, a French ship captained by the great great grandfather of a famous French socialite – Katherine (Laura Weissbecker) – makes its trip to the orient. The ship is called The Indestructible. When they reach their destination, they ensure that the Old Summer Palace of the then monarch is pillaged to the hilt.
They obviously make away with all the gold that they can muster and artifacts that are rated worth millions of euros today. One such artifact are the twelve Bronze statues of the Chinese Zodiac. The French went off with just the heads of the statues which have now started surfacing in bits and pieces. Katherine herself is in possession of one statue but is unaware of its worth.
The MP corporation led by Lawrence (Oliver Platt) has through the years built its might in this business. They, however, do not deal with the originals as much as they do in fakes. The fakes itself are worth millions but much lesser millions as compared to the originals. But to make a fake you need the authentic piece and helping him source that is JC (Jackie Chan) aka The Asian Hawk.
Most Chan movies do not have a semblance of production values other than the aspect of the action sequences. The action is usually top notch and the primary contributor is Chan himself. Although, as compared to previous movies, you may not find the end titling gaffes as elaborate. But you will definitely enjoy most of the stunts that this absolute artist has come up with this time.
The opening sequence starts with some high speed luging down a hill somewhere in Europe. There is a treasure hunt on a desolate island and a fight with some pirates and sliding down the island on a humongous log. That pretty much peppers the space upto the final climax that has Chan free falling towards an active volcano. Totally brilliant stuff if you are a Chan fan. As a movie just about 6 on 10 I would guess.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_hXhposGag
Thursday, 3 January 2013
Rope
As per Brandon (John Dall), the universe can be divided into 2 kinds of people. Those who are the superior beings and obviously the other being the antonyms. And as per Brandon, the inferior beings do not have a right to exist and should be done away with as fast as possible.
In fact, Brandon takes this vicious thought one step further. He strongly believes that the superior kind should indulge in “ensuring” that the inferiors are done away with. In other simple words, ensure that the inferior beings are killed. And how will this be achieved? His proposal involves a certain quota of killings per superior being, various kinds of “killing days” etc.
Morbid? The only person who could have thought about this, a year after the Brits decided to leave India (I wouldn’t call it independence because I firmly believe that is the biggest farce that has been pulled off ever), would have been the great Alfred Hitchcock. How in the world do you handle a topic like this?
Rope deals with Brandon & his partner in crime – the paranoid Phillip (Farley Granger). They decide to commit the perfect murder. One that involves killing David Kentley (Dick Hogan) who comes in early for a party that Brandon has called for. The two strangle David with – a rope – and then stuff his body into a large wooden trunk. One they intend to dispose after the party.
Who are invited to the party? David’s fiancé Janet (Joan Chandler), his father Mr. Kentley (Sir Cedric Hardwicke), his aunt Mrs. Atwater (Constance Collier), Janet’s ex boyfriend Kenneth (Douglas Dick) and the group’s house master from school, the radical Rupert Cadell (James Stewart).
Hitchcock brews a heady mixture of a concept that can be described as offensive and you would be very kind to it. But the magician does so with such conviction and class that you are riveted to the screen – just because you want to find out what will happen next. Who will figure out that David has been murdered. How will they figure it out? Will they figure out at all?
There are zillions of questions that run through your head over the hour and twenty minutes. Honestly it feels like a one act play with some brilliant use of music and screenplay / dialogues that are mind blowing. 8 on 10 for this one. Hitchcock fever is hitting me harder than I imagined.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3ZZLKF0XR4
In fact, Brandon takes this vicious thought one step further. He strongly believes that the superior kind should indulge in “ensuring” that the inferiors are done away with. In other simple words, ensure that the inferior beings are killed. And how will this be achieved? His proposal involves a certain quota of killings per superior being, various kinds of “killing days” etc.
Morbid? The only person who could have thought about this, a year after the Brits decided to leave India (I wouldn’t call it independence because I firmly believe that is the biggest farce that has been pulled off ever), would have been the great Alfred Hitchcock. How in the world do you handle a topic like this?
Rope deals with Brandon & his partner in crime – the paranoid Phillip (Farley Granger). They decide to commit the perfect murder. One that involves killing David Kentley (Dick Hogan) who comes in early for a party that Brandon has called for. The two strangle David with – a rope – and then stuff his body into a large wooden trunk. One they intend to dispose after the party.
Who are invited to the party? David’s fiancé Janet (Joan Chandler), his father Mr. Kentley (Sir Cedric Hardwicke), his aunt Mrs. Atwater (Constance Collier), Janet’s ex boyfriend Kenneth (Douglas Dick) and the group’s house master from school, the radical Rupert Cadell (James Stewart).
Hitchcock brews a heady mixture of a concept that can be described as offensive and you would be very kind to it. But the magician does so with such conviction and class that you are riveted to the screen – just because you want to find out what will happen next. Who will figure out that David has been murdered. How will they figure it out? Will they figure out at all?
There are zillions of questions that run through your head over the hour and twenty minutes. Honestly it feels like a one act play with some brilliant use of music and screenplay / dialogues that are mind blowing. 8 on 10 for this one. Hitchcock fever is hitting me harder than I imagined.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3ZZLKF0XR4
Lalbaug Parel
Not too many movies have been made on a topic that should have actually been very near and dear to a certain segment of Mumbaikars. In fact, you could count the number of movies on one hand. Rather surprising considering that the subject is something that many a person from this city owes their current existence to.
One that would not have seen the light of the day had a certain Dr. Datta Samant succeeded in getting what he wanted for the textile mill workers around 30 years back. A time when most mills in the city started shutting shop in favour of getting into the real estate business.
One such mill forms the backdrop of Lalbaug Parel. Khaitan Mills is owned by the namesake and run by his son-in-law, Mahendra (Sameer Dharmadhikari) who can put most slime balls to shame. While the logic behind the closure could not be questioned, methods and the treatment meted out to most of the mill workers was far from being in line with Human Rights to say the least.
One such family is the Dhuri family where the father (Shashank Shende) is your atypical mill worker who works in the day and has a peg or 2 in the night. A bulk of the work at home, in fact all of it, is done by the wife (Seema Biswas). 4 grown up children @ home – Anand (Ankush Choudhary), Mohan (Vineet Kumar), Naru (Karan Patel) and Manju (Veena Jamkar) are also struggling.
The story tracks the lives of each of the characters as the mill workers go on strike. Manju’s relationship with the local shop owner’s son; Anand’s struggle to write a play in the loud circumstances of the Laxmi Chawl; Naru’s rise from being a local thug to a contract killer for the underworld; Mohan’s relationship with Mrs. Sawardekar (Kashmera Shah).
In the attempt to show truth behind Mumbai’s most unfair story, Mahesh Manjrekar has given us a very depressing story. In addition, I firmly believe he has gone over the top in many sequences. There are also unnecessary aspects to the movie like Kashmera Shah’s wardrobe which seems most out of place.
The use of Bollywood actors over probably more talented Maharashtrian actors is also a gap that I saw. Add to this the excess number of characters. Nearly 15 of them. Just too many to do justice to each one. Very few directors could have
While the story is sensitive and touches upon a topic that I would like to see more of, I personally felt it was a tad overdone. With the right cuts and fine tuning on the unnecessary aspect, we could have had a winner on our hands. Instead we have a movie that is watchable. Good. Not great. 7 on 10.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TrJU9SJ6hM
One that would not have seen the light of the day had a certain Dr. Datta Samant succeeded in getting what he wanted for the textile mill workers around 30 years back. A time when most mills in the city started shutting shop in favour of getting into the real estate business.
One such mill forms the backdrop of Lalbaug Parel. Khaitan Mills is owned by the namesake and run by his son-in-law, Mahendra (Sameer Dharmadhikari) who can put most slime balls to shame. While the logic behind the closure could not be questioned, methods and the treatment meted out to most of the mill workers was far from being in line with Human Rights to say the least.
One such family is the Dhuri family where the father (Shashank Shende) is your atypical mill worker who works in the day and has a peg or 2 in the night. A bulk of the work at home, in fact all of it, is done by the wife (Seema Biswas). 4 grown up children @ home – Anand (Ankush Choudhary), Mohan (Vineet Kumar), Naru (Karan Patel) and Manju (Veena Jamkar) are also struggling.
The story tracks the lives of each of the characters as the mill workers go on strike. Manju’s relationship with the local shop owner’s son; Anand’s struggle to write a play in the loud circumstances of the Laxmi Chawl; Naru’s rise from being a local thug to a contract killer for the underworld; Mohan’s relationship with Mrs. Sawardekar (Kashmera Shah).
In the attempt to show truth behind Mumbai’s most unfair story, Mahesh Manjrekar has given us a very depressing story. In addition, I firmly believe he has gone over the top in many sequences. There are also unnecessary aspects to the movie like Kashmera Shah’s wardrobe which seems most out of place.
The use of Bollywood actors over probably more talented Maharashtrian actors is also a gap that I saw. Add to this the excess number of characters. Nearly 15 of them. Just too many to do justice to each one. Very few directors could have
While the story is sensitive and touches upon a topic that I would like to see more of, I personally felt it was a tad overdone. With the right cuts and fine tuning on the unnecessary aspect, we could have had a winner on our hands. Instead we have a movie that is watchable. Good. Not great. 7 on 10.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TrJU9SJ6hM
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Vertigo
I do not know much about the lives of The Master (read Satyajit Ray) & Alfred Hitchcock. However, if I were to hazard a guess, I would stick my neck out and say they were very close friends. If not, they were at least huge fans of each other. What else would explain the stunning similarity between their styles of movie making.
No other movie would epitomize this theory more than Vertigo. Hitchcock’s capability to build suspense out of just images and music is taken to a level that very few can imagine even today. From the first few minutes – and don’t miss the titling that will give you a sense of Vertigo on the big screen – Hitchcock makes it amply clear that less than 25% of the movie has dialogues in it. But worry not because the music will hold you glued to the screen like there is no tomorrow.
When Pierre Boileau & Thomas Narcejac wrote their novel D'Entre Les Morts, they would not have expected in the least bit to be immortalized by Hitchcock. I am sure they would be pleased beyond expectations with the response to the movie.
John “Scottie” Ferguson (James Stewart) has been forced to move out of police work because of acrophobia – the fear of heights – more often than not described incorrectly as Vertigo. A pity, he learnt about it at the expense of a cop who dies trying to save Scottie.
As Scottie is trying to come to terms with his new life – or lack of it – a blast from the past comes in to kind of save him from unemployment. Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore) who had all but disappeared around the war returns to manage his wife’s ailing shipping business. Gavin and Scottie were together in school.
Gavin wants Scottie to trail his wife Madeline (Kim Novak) who has of late been behaving quite strangely. She loses attention in fits and starts and moves into a different world altogether. It is like she has been possessed with a ghost of sorts. And then there are times when she takes long drives and comes back with no recollection of them. Gavin is unable to understand why. He trusts her but wants to understand more.
Hitchcock takes the aspect of the unknown and twists and turns it around in a manner that only he can. If I were to hazard a guess as to how he manages to achieve this, it could be because there are just 2 leads and 2 supporting actors worth mentioning in the movie. It just makes it so much easier to manage. So even if Ellen Corby – the manager of the McKittrick hotel has to be on screen, she has about a minute or 2 of screen time.
James Stewart’s performance did not earn him an Academy nomination but he brings the element of suspicion, awe and disbelief to life extremely well. Kim Novak pretty much nails the fact that actresses of over 50 years back were a mix of great looks and talent. Some of our current crop to pick a cue or 2 from them.
Firmly entrenched in the Top 50 movies of all time from imdb and @ #9 on American Film Institute’s top 100 movies of all time, Vertigo is one movie that you just cannot miss. Definitely a 9 on 10.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5jvQwwHQNY
No other movie would epitomize this theory more than Vertigo. Hitchcock’s capability to build suspense out of just images and music is taken to a level that very few can imagine even today. From the first few minutes – and don’t miss the titling that will give you a sense of Vertigo on the big screen – Hitchcock makes it amply clear that less than 25% of the movie has dialogues in it. But worry not because the music will hold you glued to the screen like there is no tomorrow.
When Pierre Boileau & Thomas Narcejac wrote their novel D'Entre Les Morts, they would not have expected in the least bit to be immortalized by Hitchcock. I am sure they would be pleased beyond expectations with the response to the movie.
John “Scottie” Ferguson (James Stewart) has been forced to move out of police work because of acrophobia – the fear of heights – more often than not described incorrectly as Vertigo. A pity, he learnt about it at the expense of a cop who dies trying to save Scottie.
As Scottie is trying to come to terms with his new life – or lack of it – a blast from the past comes in to kind of save him from unemployment. Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore) who had all but disappeared around the war returns to manage his wife’s ailing shipping business. Gavin and Scottie were together in school.
Gavin wants Scottie to trail his wife Madeline (Kim Novak) who has of late been behaving quite strangely. She loses attention in fits and starts and moves into a different world altogether. It is like she has been possessed with a ghost of sorts. And then there are times when she takes long drives and comes back with no recollection of them. Gavin is unable to understand why. He trusts her but wants to understand more.
Hitchcock takes the aspect of the unknown and twists and turns it around in a manner that only he can. If I were to hazard a guess as to how he manages to achieve this, it could be because there are just 2 leads and 2 supporting actors worth mentioning in the movie. It just makes it so much easier to manage. So even if Ellen Corby – the manager of the McKittrick hotel has to be on screen, she has about a minute or 2 of screen time.
James Stewart’s performance did not earn him an Academy nomination but he brings the element of suspicion, awe and disbelief to life extremely well. Kim Novak pretty much nails the fact that actresses of over 50 years back were a mix of great looks and talent. Some of our current crop to pick a cue or 2 from them.
Firmly entrenched in the Top 50 movies of all time from imdb and @ #9 on American Film Institute’s top 100 movies of all time, Vertigo is one movie that you just cannot miss. Definitely a 9 on 10.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5jvQwwHQNY
Jekhane Bhooter Bhoy
One of the reasons that regional cinema will never do well in India would be the absolute apathy of movie houses towards the sensibilities of the audience. Even a movie house is in the league of a PVR Cinemas shamelessly promotes a Bengali movie only to a Bengali audience. What else would explain the lack of subtitles? It is impossible to get the finer nuances of any language through subtitles but at least a larger audience can understand the movie far better. Common sense, as I am told, is indeed uncommon.
For those who weren’t aware of who Sandip Ray is (like this writer), I am told by reliable sources that he is the great man’s son. And as you watch Jekhane Bhooter Bhoy, you cannot but help draw parallels between the style of cinema of Ray Sr. and Ray Jr. There is the characteristic use of long periods of silence and scenes where little or nothing is said but the music speaks volumes. There are just a couple of ways in which the master continues to be immortalized.
The literal translation of the movie title would be “Where Ghosts are feared”. However, turns out, it is part of an idiom – Jekhane Bhooter Bhoy, Shekhane Sandhya Hoy. What it would mean – Whenever you have the maximum chance of encountering a ghost is when it actually gets dark. The nuances of the language. I was about to call out the former but thought I should check with my aforementioned reliable source for clarification
JBB is a compilation of 3 short stories. The first one - Bhut Bhabishyat (The past and the future) – is the story of a cocky ghost hunter who wants to have one more experience with a ghost. The second one, and the scariest of all 3 is written by the great man himself and is titled Brown Saheber Bari (Brown Saheb’s house). The story of a Brown Saheb who kept a diary in 1886 and lived in Kalimpong.
The last one and the longest of the three stories is Anath Babur Bhoy (Anath Babu’s fear). A very nicely written story of a very old ghost who makes his appearance in front of a struggling writer (Saswata Chatterjee – remember Bob Biswas?) with an intent of returning back to his currently struggling family what is rightfully theirs.
While all 3 are ghost stories in the truest sense of the word, they aren’t your typical horror movie fare. There is a spine chilling nature to 2 of them. But the last one is more funny than fearsome. Very simple and very well directed indeed by Ray Jr. Make this a part of your first weekend of 2013 for sure. 7 on 10.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7DNbwuS8VU
For those who weren’t aware of who Sandip Ray is (like this writer), I am told by reliable sources that he is the great man’s son. And as you watch Jekhane Bhooter Bhoy, you cannot but help draw parallels between the style of cinema of Ray Sr. and Ray Jr. There is the characteristic use of long periods of silence and scenes where little or nothing is said but the music speaks volumes. There are just a couple of ways in which the master continues to be immortalized.
The literal translation of the movie title would be “Where Ghosts are feared”. However, turns out, it is part of an idiom – Jekhane Bhooter Bhoy, Shekhane Sandhya Hoy. What it would mean – Whenever you have the maximum chance of encountering a ghost is when it actually gets dark. The nuances of the language. I was about to call out the former but thought I should check with my aforementioned reliable source for clarification
JBB is a compilation of 3 short stories. The first one - Bhut Bhabishyat (The past and the future) – is the story of a cocky ghost hunter who wants to have one more experience with a ghost. The second one, and the scariest of all 3 is written by the great man himself and is titled Brown Saheber Bari (Brown Saheb’s house). The story of a Brown Saheb who kept a diary in 1886 and lived in Kalimpong.
The last one and the longest of the three stories is Anath Babur Bhoy (Anath Babu’s fear). A very nicely written story of a very old ghost who makes his appearance in front of a struggling writer (Saswata Chatterjee – remember Bob Biswas?) with an intent of returning back to his currently struggling family what is rightfully theirs.
While all 3 are ghost stories in the truest sense of the word, they aren’t your typical horror movie fare. There is a spine chilling nature to 2 of them. But the last one is more funny than fearsome. Very simple and very well directed indeed by Ray Jr. Make this a part of your first weekend of 2013 for sure. 7 on 10.
Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7DNbwuS8VU
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