Fandry

My year started with a bang thanks to a wonderful piece of Marathi Cinema.  It then went onto a couple of good pieces of work and then kind of petered out.  Despite that, I did believe that the buzz that went around about Marathi Cinema having come of age was kind of true.  Fandry only helped me seal that notion.  Marathi cinema has DEFINITELY & FIRMLY come of age.

Shahid

Firstly, the movie is called SHAAHID (like Afridi – for lack of any other comparison) not SHAHEED (as in martyr).  Just to ensure that there is no confusion on the pronunciation.  Shahid is based on the life and times of one Shahid Azmi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Azmi) – a human rights lawyer who defended several people wrongfully accused of terrorism or related activities.

Escape Plan

Now tell me the truth.  How many of you have been desperately waiting for Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger sharing a significant amount of screen time together.  Not just an excuse with a corny dialogue thrown in (read Expendables) but one where these two cult figures have major lead roles.  So much that the Tamil remake is being called “Kedi Rambo Killaadi Arnold” – I couldn’t stop laughing!!!

BOSS

Anthony D’Souza kaun hai (Who is Anthony D'Souza?)? Remember a Bollywood movie with Kylie Minogue (all the others in the cast were imminently forgettable) called Blue? The one in which she croons – I wanna Chiggy Wiggy With You.  Shri D’Souza was the director.  If he keeps up this way, the question will change to “Anthony D’Souza kaun thha” (Who was Anthony D'Souza?)?

Captain Phillips

If Tom Hanks joins Daniel Day Lewis as the only other man to have won 3 Academy Awards as a Best Actor then it would be primarily because of his performance in the last 5 minutes as Captain Phillips.  How would you play a scene where you have little or no bodily damage but are in shock / panic?  This is exactly the kind of material that is going to be used at cinema schools where acting is a course.

Baat Ban Gayi

Sayed Asif Jah (the writer), Shuja Ali (the director) & Akshay Singh (one actor) have come together to make an attempt at a story that leaves you gasping for breath.  The less tolerant ones would make their way out of the hall to catch some fresh air frequently.  The even less tolerant ones would walk out in the first few minutes.  Such is the absence of anything that resembles decent cinema in Baat Ban Gayi.

War Chhod Na Yaar

How many times have we wondered about the true story of the supposed skirmishes at the border to the west. I'm sure most of us have thought about the political motivation behind the news reports that we keep hearing. Quite certainly, we have also thought of the involvement of entities other than our favourite neighbour in the larger scheme of things.  War Chhod Na Yaar is a satire on all of these and a little bit more.

Gravity

How many screenplays do you know of that are written by a father and son team? If anyone out there knows the answer, do let me know.  My research shows that Alfonso and Jonás Cuarón have achieved a first of its kind.  Whats more, they could not have a better job.  Although the rest of the world seems to be panning the script, I thought, it was well written and effective (but then I am just a lowly amateur).

About Time

Richard Curtis is the writer and director of 2 other movies including one of the best RomComs of all time – LOVE ACTUALLY. Richard Curtis has also written FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL, NOTTING HILL AND THE MR. BEAN SERIES.  Quite a stark difference between 2 genres of cinema / series right? But About Time is right where Richard Curtis is great at.  RomComs.

Fire in The Blood

How much do you know about the Pharmaceutical business? Other than the fact that it is by far THE most profitable business in the world? It has a whole lot of Medical Representatives who go door to door in not the most attractive job in the world.  Other than some big names like Glaxo or Pfizer or Cipla.  Not much I am guessing.

Diana

The British press has panned Diana with some of the choicest of words.  But then again, one can expect this kind of panning from the Brits because they are usually never satisfied with a product especially if it is a Biopic about someone British.  And if directed by someone German then all hell apparently breaks loose as we have seen here.

Runner, Runner

And the eternal debate that I have had in my world continues – What is better? Ben Affleck the actor or Ben Affleck the director.  I must say that as of now, the latter is firmly entrenched as preferred option.  But with Runner, Runner, in what is probably his first negative role, he takes a small step towards scoring a few points with the former.

Although Ivan Block (Affleck) has much lesser screen time than he could have been given, Affleck does leave an impression that this negative thing may be just right up his alley.  There are moments that Affleck overshadows Timberlake albeit few of them. So there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Richie Furst (Timberlake) is an affiliate (business partner) for an offshore online gambling company. His role is to recruit as many people as he can into the habit.  Why is he doing it? Because he has worked a few years before Wall Street tanked and left him flat broke.  Because of his previous income statements, he cannot get a scholarship to Princeton despite having the brains for it.

Now there is a small glitch in this entire operation.  You cannot be promoting gambling on campus right? Also, when Furst loses all his money to an apparent software glitch, he takes the ballsy way out.  He travels to Costa Rica to confront Block and tell him about the glitch.  Block is impressed and offers him a multi-million dollar job.  Princeton obviously goes out of the window.

The good part about Runner, Runner is that it is an extremely fast paced movie.  And yet, it isn’t the most frenetic movie that you would have seen.  Brad Furman (Lincoln Lawyer) sets a good solid pace right upfront and continues with the same pace all through.  It felt really good when you look at your watch and find out that you are already an hour and 15 mins into the movie when you thought it was about 35-40 minutes.

But on most other counts, the story and narration is just about average.  Timberlake is good and I believe that he is a far better actor than a singer.  A good actor at that.  Gemma Arterton on the other hand can make no further progress than being good looking furniture and even there the freckles show.  There isn’t much of a supporting cast to speak about.

Overall, Runner, Runner, is a fun movie to watch but do you need to spend hard earned movie for the big screen.  I would guess not.  Watchable but wait for it to come onto Tata Sky or rent out a DVD or download or do whatever it is that you guys do.  6 on 10.

Watch the trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2239211801/?ref_=tt_ov_vi

Besharam

Lets start with a mathematics class to begin with.  Besharam released a few hours back in 3600 screens across India (PVR Mulund has 6 out of which 5 are playing between 6 to 7 shows of Besharam).  Average ticket prices across India Rs.200 per show.  Average seating capacity in a theatre is 250.  So how much can Besharam generate in 1 housefull show in each of the 3600 screens – Rs. 18 crores ($3 million) is the answer you are looking for.