I think I have seen all the movies that were worth seeing from the director with the shortest name I that I have ever heard of. I am certain there would be someone which less than 3 letters to his/her name. Like Z or X or something like that somewhere in this world. But McG is a really cool I say. The only movie from his table that I have reviewed to date is one of the best Sports movies ever made to date called We are Marshall. The others include the Charlies Angels pair of movies which was also quite good I thought. So, although I kind of knew that This Means War (TMW) is more of a romantic comedy, I was also quite sure that with McG involved it would be a reasonable Romantic Action Comedy. And it turned out to be pretty much that all the way.
Lauren (Reese Witherspoon) works at a product testing laboratory of sorts which helps organizations understand what works with consumers. Not surprisingly, that is not going to be too much help for her – in terms of her love life that is. She has just been dumped by a quite stunning male specimen (not that Lauren is any less mind you) and she keeps bumping into him along with his new girl friend.
The emotional strain that comes from the bumping, coupled with her best buddy Trish (Chelsea Handler) drives her to date not one but two men together – FDR Foster (Chris Pine) and Tuck (Tom Hardy). But what she doesn’t know is that Tuck is not the Travel Agent he claims to be. Tuck is a totally different kind of agent. The kind who jumps out of airplanes. The same kind who also beats the shit out of bad guys who are trying to cause harm to the US of A. Yep. The dreaded 3 alphabets – C – I – A (guttural laughter follows). And whats worse? FDR is Tuck’s best friend and also an agent. Talk about having problems.
TMW has a screenplay that borders on being corny at times but is mostly quite funny. The situation that Lauren finds herself in – torn between 2 men who are both equally good to go – is one that a lot of women would really dream of. But they would not be prepared to go through the complications that come with it for certain. And after watching TMW you can be quite certain of not dating 2 men at the same time – just too complicated. I am sure those with experience will agree with me.
McG’s direction is as typical as he has always been. The action sequences are slickly done and will be loved by the guys. Ditto for the dialogues. The women will also love it thanks to the even balance between the girly stuff and the guy things. There are enough of girl to girl talk scenes thrown into the entire scheme of things. A very enjoyable movie to say the least. 6.5 on 10. Better than some of the RomComs we have seen of late. Watch it.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1190305305/
Thursday, 22 March 2012
London Paris New York
Do any of you guys remember Locket Lover? From Quick Gun Murugan? The one in the red dress that Quick Gun is in louv with? Well even if you don’t, it would seem that the same girl – Anu Menon – has decided to get into direction. And I guess her unfulfilled louv from Quick Gun is spilling all over this supposed Romantic Comeday that spans three cities and crosses one big ass ocean.
Firstly, I was quite stunned and I did tweet about this when I saw the trailers for the first time. The producers are Fox Star Studios??? Why would Fox Star be that bad in picking up a movie? Maybe I was too hasty in judging the book by its cover… ooops… a movie by its trailer. And therefore gave LPNY a decent sincere watch. I mean Fox Star cannot be that wrong no? Actually this time around they almost made it – in terms of being wrong that is.
Nikhil Chopra (Ali Zafar) is probably as good at what he does as a cricketer of the same name who really did not trouble the statisticians. His rich producer father has given up on him but a silly tantrum sees him en route to London to see the world and learn to make movies in the bargain. Maybe he could come back and make a movie or two with his rich producer father’s money eh?
However, when Nikhil does manage to deplane @ London he bumps into the extremely attractive but definitely not TamBram looking Lalitha Krishnan who is a self proclaimed feminist. She has missed her flight to New York where she is en route to study political science. No points for guessing that her flight is the next morning and the chivalrous Nikhil has to avoid his traditional Punjabi Mama’s (Mother’s brother) house and spend the rest of the day with someone he calls Lalithapedia. Guess what? Complete louv happens in the short time that they spend with each other. A promise of meeting on the 15th of December 2005 is made.
What follows is a movie that seems to be inspired in parts by the Ashton Kutcher – Amanda Peet starrer, A lot like love and in other parts by One Day (Anne Hathaway). The result is a hotch potch of romance and really uninspiring screenplay. Ali Zafar is good in parts. But then how much can you expect a man to deliver? Music, Singing, Acting, Lyrics all by Ali Zafar?!?!?! Is the rest of the cast and crew expected to do something at all? I guess not. In a movie that has only 2 actors (everyone else has 30 seconds of screen time), Aditi Rao Hydari is anything but good. Net net, a very average RomCom flick. Watch on TV – Cable TV. 4 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3356074265/
Firstly, I was quite stunned and I did tweet about this when I saw the trailers for the first time. The producers are Fox Star Studios??? Why would Fox Star be that bad in picking up a movie? Maybe I was too hasty in judging the book by its cover… ooops… a movie by its trailer. And therefore gave LPNY a decent sincere watch. I mean Fox Star cannot be that wrong no? Actually this time around they almost made it – in terms of being wrong that is.
Nikhil Chopra (Ali Zafar) is probably as good at what he does as a cricketer of the same name who really did not trouble the statisticians. His rich producer father has given up on him but a silly tantrum sees him en route to London to see the world and learn to make movies in the bargain. Maybe he could come back and make a movie or two with his rich producer father’s money eh?
However, when Nikhil does manage to deplane @ London he bumps into the extremely attractive but definitely not TamBram looking Lalitha Krishnan who is a self proclaimed feminist. She has missed her flight to New York where she is en route to study political science. No points for guessing that her flight is the next morning and the chivalrous Nikhil has to avoid his traditional Punjabi Mama’s (Mother’s brother) house and spend the rest of the day with someone he calls Lalithapedia. Guess what? Complete louv happens in the short time that they spend with each other. A promise of meeting on the 15th of December 2005 is made.
What follows is a movie that seems to be inspired in parts by the Ashton Kutcher – Amanda Peet starrer, A lot like love and in other parts by One Day (Anne Hathaway). The result is a hotch potch of romance and really uninspiring screenplay. Ali Zafar is good in parts. But then how much can you expect a man to deliver? Music, Singing, Acting, Lyrics all by Ali Zafar?!?!?! Is the rest of the cast and crew expected to do something at all? I guess not. In a movie that has only 2 actors (everyone else has 30 seconds of screen time), Aditi Rao Hydari is anything but good. Net net, a very average RomCom flick. Watch on TV – Cable TV. 4 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3356074265/
Monday, 12 March 2012
Paan Singh Tomar
One can be quite certain that if Irrfan Khan has picked up a movie to be part of, it will be a good enough for at least a one time watch. And the world is going all ra ra about Paan Singh Tomar. So much so that I seem to be the last person in the world to watch it. Surprising right? Not when u have had a jam packed weekend with commitments to conduct quizzes in front of a massive 25 teams (notice the sarcasm). Bad call. Will be more astute in my calls in the future. Quite certainly, it has cost me at least 100 odd hits to this blog.
Tigmanshu Dhulia is usually a dependable director. But despite the rave reviews, I was a bit cautious approaching PST because of my previous experience with Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster – a movie that I thought had so much more than what it eventually delivered. But somewhere deep down, as I went into the hall to watch PST, I was hoping that I would use the words “Scorcher of a movie” when I write this blog later in the day. I wasn’t totally wrong. I wasn’t totally right either.
Lets talk about the good things first. It was firstly heartening to watch a movie that was centred around an athlete for a change. Probably because it makes it easier? I am not sure. But then I am glad. Also, as mentioned towards the end, it is dedicated to the unsung heroes of Indian Sport. Paan Singh was one such hero. 7 times national champion in the steeplechase – the toughest race on track. Winner @ International events. Forced to take a gun in his hand due to circumstances – genuine ones. Not whining ones. So – a good story line. Well narrated. Some great camera angles too.
The icing on the cake would have been the great performances. Primarily Irrfan who single handedly carries the movie all the way. Ably supported from 2-3 corners. Mahie Gill surprisingly under stated and good execution this time as Indira – Paan’s wife. Brijendra Kala & Zakir Hussain also doing extremely well to keep the movie @ acceptable standards.
What ticked me off though is that where on one hand, Tigmanshu Dhulia pays so much attention to detail, on the other hand, there are horrible consistency errors. Like the pain taken to put up a Rs.10 note from 1980 was very commendable. That it was a cheap print out was way too obvious. The camera work during the ice cream run was quite brilliant. That Paan Singh reaches major saab’s house with a shirt that seems recently pressed is just juvenile!!!
But I guess these gaffes are noticed only by the pathetic, heartless, stone cold, amateur critics like this author. But it still gives me the right to be disappointed with what I though could have finally been Tigmanshu Dhulia’s moment of truth. Where he breaks into the league of an Anurag Kashyap or a Vishal Bharadwaj. Not to be. 7 on 10 of which half the points come from Irrfan. As good as Kahaani – actually, Kahaani is probably better albeit marginally.
Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enwaoPOO0Ik
Tigmanshu Dhulia is usually a dependable director. But despite the rave reviews, I was a bit cautious approaching PST because of my previous experience with Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster – a movie that I thought had so much more than what it eventually delivered. But somewhere deep down, as I went into the hall to watch PST, I was hoping that I would use the words “Scorcher of a movie” when I write this blog later in the day. I wasn’t totally wrong. I wasn’t totally right either.
Lets talk about the good things first. It was firstly heartening to watch a movie that was centred around an athlete for a change. Probably because it makes it easier? I am not sure. But then I am glad. Also, as mentioned towards the end, it is dedicated to the unsung heroes of Indian Sport. Paan Singh was one such hero. 7 times national champion in the steeplechase – the toughest race on track. Winner @ International events. Forced to take a gun in his hand due to circumstances – genuine ones. Not whining ones. So – a good story line. Well narrated. Some great camera angles too.
The icing on the cake would have been the great performances. Primarily Irrfan who single handedly carries the movie all the way. Ably supported from 2-3 corners. Mahie Gill surprisingly under stated and good execution this time as Indira – Paan’s wife. Brijendra Kala & Zakir Hussain also doing extremely well to keep the movie @ acceptable standards.
What ticked me off though is that where on one hand, Tigmanshu Dhulia pays so much attention to detail, on the other hand, there are horrible consistency errors. Like the pain taken to put up a Rs.10 note from 1980 was very commendable. That it was a cheap print out was way too obvious. The camera work during the ice cream run was quite brilliant. That Paan Singh reaches major saab’s house with a shirt that seems recently pressed is just juvenile!!!
But I guess these gaffes are noticed only by the pathetic, heartless, stone cold, amateur critics like this author. But it still gives me the right to be disappointed with what I though could have finally been Tigmanshu Dhulia’s moment of truth. Where he breaks into the league of an Anurag Kashyap or a Vishal Bharadwaj. Not to be. 7 on 10 of which half the points come from Irrfan. As good as Kahaani – actually, Kahaani is probably better albeit marginally.
Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enwaoPOO0Ik
Sunday, 11 March 2012
Burn After Reading
A CIA employee with a level 3 clearance called Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) is married to an extremely painful doctor called Katie (Tilda Swinton). All Katie does 24 x 7 is question Osbourne’s existence and demean him by the minute. Also, she is having an affair with Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney) who is a US Marshall / Treasury Agent. Harry is in turn married to Sandy (Elizabeth Marvel) who is a hugely successful children’s book author. Sandy and Katie cannot see eye to eye although the families are supposed to be friends. They just hate each other – and this without knowing about the affair – wonder what would happen then.
When Osbourne gets pushed to a desk job, he gets quite peeved and decides to quit the CIA much to Katie’s chagrin. But he also starts working on his memoir. A book that will expose some of the not so pleasant secrets of the CIA – or so Osbourne believes. In between all of this, a CD with the memoir finds its way into the hands of Gym Trainer Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt) who starts believing that he can make a quick buck by blackmailing Osbourne. His partner in crime – Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) who wants to get some plastic surgery done which will set her back by quite a bit and is not covered by insurance.
Burn After Reading is a rip roaring hilarious comedy if you like the dark variety. It is not in your face slapstick or filled with smart one liners. It is just the entire story and situation that ensures that you cannot help but find it hilarious. Honestly, I could have avoided giving you guys a spoiler by narrating the broad outline but believe me, this was a difficult review to write. I couldn’t figure out where to start. Such is the layered nature of the movie – atypical of the Coen brothers.
The brothers seem to have kind of mastered the art of building up the tempo of a movie gradually, inch by inch, beat by beat through a 100 minutes. Very few who can do that. There are movie makers who can fluctuate between the fast and slow well and there are movie makers who can maintain a consistent pace and yet remain totally intense. And there are the brothers who have their own brand of movie making which is building the tempo from the extremely slow to the absolutely frenetic. Burn After Reading is no different and therefore thoroughly enjoyable.
That Brad Pitt is a phenomenal actor and not just eye candy is an aspect that hasn’t really been acknowledged by too many people. Unlike George Clooney. Both of them are superb here. But it is John Malkovich who takes the cake with his absolutely acidic brand of acting. And brilliant performances from Tilda Swinton & Frances McDormand is just the icing. You will like BAR only if u like Dark Comedy. Else avoid it. 7 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1155268889/
When Osbourne gets pushed to a desk job, he gets quite peeved and decides to quit the CIA much to Katie’s chagrin. But he also starts working on his memoir. A book that will expose some of the not so pleasant secrets of the CIA – or so Osbourne believes. In between all of this, a CD with the memoir finds its way into the hands of Gym Trainer Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt) who starts believing that he can make a quick buck by blackmailing Osbourne. His partner in crime – Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) who wants to get some plastic surgery done which will set her back by quite a bit and is not covered by insurance.
Burn After Reading is a rip roaring hilarious comedy if you like the dark variety. It is not in your face slapstick or filled with smart one liners. It is just the entire story and situation that ensures that you cannot help but find it hilarious. Honestly, I could have avoided giving you guys a spoiler by narrating the broad outline but believe me, this was a difficult review to write. I couldn’t figure out where to start. Such is the layered nature of the movie – atypical of the Coen brothers.
The brothers seem to have kind of mastered the art of building up the tempo of a movie gradually, inch by inch, beat by beat through a 100 minutes. Very few who can do that. There are movie makers who can fluctuate between the fast and slow well and there are movie makers who can maintain a consistent pace and yet remain totally intense. And there are the brothers who have their own brand of movie making which is building the tempo from the extremely slow to the absolutely frenetic. Burn After Reading is no different and therefore thoroughly enjoyable.
That Brad Pitt is a phenomenal actor and not just eye candy is an aspect that hasn’t really been acknowledged by too many people. Unlike George Clooney. Both of them are superb here. But it is John Malkovich who takes the cake with his absolutely acidic brand of acting. And brilliant performances from Tilda Swinton & Frances McDormand is just the icing. You will like BAR only if u like Dark Comedy. Else avoid it. 7 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1155268889/
Radio Days
I love Woody Allen. Period. The absolute nonchalance of his narration is just totally brilliant to say the least. I wonder why all his movies weren’t nominated for Best original screenplay and won it? I was one of the happiest when Midnight in Paris won the Best Screenplay this year at the Oscars which was quickly followed by Angelina saying, “the academy is pleased to accept the award on behalf of Mr. Allen”. And the story behind that is a different long one. Surely quite a few of my readers are aware of it. And I will save that for a different day.
I think its time that someone put together a collection of all movies written and directed by Woody Allen – 42 of them including Nero Fiddled (yet to be released) and excluding the TV Shorts. I will be first in line to pick my copy. Can easily be priced at around 20K and there would be enough and more people willing to lap it up. And how!!! Collection or not, Add Radio Days to your list of must watch Woody Allen movies. It is truly brilliant to see a man come up with such brilliant ideas from just everyday life.
Radio Days starts in the late 1930s/ early 1940s where Woody begins the narration as a boy in a dysfunctional family – His obsessions with the Masked Avenger and how he is willing to probably do anything to get the Masked Avenger Ring. From there on he goes on to describe in excruciating and hilarious detail, all his experiences over the next few years with the radio and things and people around him – primarily his family.
Beginning with his parents who fight over almost everything significant or otherwise. His Aunt Bea (Diane Wiest) who is still single and struggling to find a person that she can like and fall in love with. That includes the process of dating someone almost every day. Each one is funnier that the previous one. Then there is the story of the Cigarette Sales Girl, Sally White (Mia Farrow) who is used by a studio boss and then dumped like a hot potato only to come back after voice coaching to become one of the biggest stars of all time on the radio.
The sheer brilliance of Woody as always ensures that each character is fleshed out to the hilt. Each one is there with a purpose. There is not a single character who doesn’t need to be there. There is not an instance which doesn’t seem funny or out of place. Whether it is grandfather helping the grandmother get into her corset or whether it is the martian invasion that helps Aunt Bea dump one of her potential suitors. Each moment is magical. One of the best Woody Allen movies that I have seen. Bumped into it when I was unwell at home one of these days on TV. 8 on 10 easily. Watch it
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4287863833/
I think its time that someone put together a collection of all movies written and directed by Woody Allen – 42 of them including Nero Fiddled (yet to be released) and excluding the TV Shorts. I will be first in line to pick my copy. Can easily be priced at around 20K and there would be enough and more people willing to lap it up. And how!!! Collection or not, Add Radio Days to your list of must watch Woody Allen movies. It is truly brilliant to see a man come up with such brilliant ideas from just everyday life.
Radio Days starts in the late 1930s/ early 1940s where Woody begins the narration as a boy in a dysfunctional family – His obsessions with the Masked Avenger and how he is willing to probably do anything to get the Masked Avenger Ring. From there on he goes on to describe in excruciating and hilarious detail, all his experiences over the next few years with the radio and things and people around him – primarily his family.
Beginning with his parents who fight over almost everything significant or otherwise. His Aunt Bea (Diane Wiest) who is still single and struggling to find a person that she can like and fall in love with. That includes the process of dating someone almost every day. Each one is funnier that the previous one. Then there is the story of the Cigarette Sales Girl, Sally White (Mia Farrow) who is used by a studio boss and then dumped like a hot potato only to come back after voice coaching to become one of the biggest stars of all time on the radio.
The sheer brilliance of Woody as always ensures that each character is fleshed out to the hilt. Each one is there with a purpose. There is not a single character who doesn’t need to be there. There is not an instance which doesn’t seem funny or out of place. Whether it is grandfather helping the grandmother get into her corset or whether it is the martian invasion that helps Aunt Bea dump one of her potential suitors. Each moment is magical. One of the best Woody Allen movies that I have seen. Bumped into it when I was unwell at home one of these days on TV. 8 on 10 easily. Watch it
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4287863833/
Never Back Down
Now I have never been one to get thoroughly excited at the prospect of watching men or women get together to kill each other with their bare hands. So you will understand the reason behind my poor rating of Never Back Down. But it has never ceased to surprise me that the rest of the world seems to think otherwise. Why as I am writing this review, we have the Super Fight League or something of that sort starting in Mumbai right? So there are very few of the likes of me.
Now in sharp contrast, I love movies that have to do with boxing or wrestling or Jackie chan kung fu. Its just the inane fighting and beating up people that gets to me. Unless you are talking about The Fight Club where there is a darker story behind it. And it is made by a classy director called David Fincher. I can say with complete confidence that Jeff Wadlow comes nowhere remotely close. And before you start getting ideas, neither do Sean Farris or Cam Gigandet come anywhere close to Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. Never Back Down in short is a badly made movie about mixed martial arts.
Jake Tyler (Sean Faris) has an anger management problem. For someone who is not even 20 years old he is quite a handful. Been to jail some 6 times for outbursts that could have been controlled. Hates his father for having left his mother alone with him and a tennis prodigy younger brother. And obviously he isn’t too pleased with the city hopping that his mother forces them to do. Nevertheless, all this hopping gets him to Orlando where he bumps into Ryan McCarthy (Cam Gigandet). Jake’s brawling video has gone viral and Ryan is keen that they get together for some really hardcore fighting. That’s because Ryan and co have a small fight club of their own. Jake wants to have nothing with it but cannot avoid thanks to his short fuse. He eventually starts mastering his anger when he meets coach Jean Roqua (Djimon Hounsou) a MMA professional who teaches him to control his instincts and focus energies on quality fighting.
The only semblance of acting comes from the committed Hounsou. The rest of the cast is pedestrian at best. I have already spoken about the direction so there is nothing much to add there. Background score – average. Story – barely there. Editing – barely there again. Narration – yawn. Add to this some boring love story thrown in with women in different stages of undress and you start to believe quite soon that the only thing that can keep you engaged in this movie are probably the half naked women and nothing else.
Imagine my surprise when I realized that Never Back Down already has a sequel? Also written by Chris Hauty who hasn’t left much of an impression on me at least. 4 on 10. Much more if you like inane fighting.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi697893145/
Now in sharp contrast, I love movies that have to do with boxing or wrestling or Jackie chan kung fu. Its just the inane fighting and beating up people that gets to me. Unless you are talking about The Fight Club where there is a darker story behind it. And it is made by a classy director called David Fincher. I can say with complete confidence that Jeff Wadlow comes nowhere remotely close. And before you start getting ideas, neither do Sean Farris or Cam Gigandet come anywhere close to Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. Never Back Down in short is a badly made movie about mixed martial arts.
Jake Tyler (Sean Faris) has an anger management problem. For someone who is not even 20 years old he is quite a handful. Been to jail some 6 times for outbursts that could have been controlled. Hates his father for having left his mother alone with him and a tennis prodigy younger brother. And obviously he isn’t too pleased with the city hopping that his mother forces them to do. Nevertheless, all this hopping gets him to Orlando where he bumps into Ryan McCarthy (Cam Gigandet). Jake’s brawling video has gone viral and Ryan is keen that they get together for some really hardcore fighting. That’s because Ryan and co have a small fight club of their own. Jake wants to have nothing with it but cannot avoid thanks to his short fuse. He eventually starts mastering his anger when he meets coach Jean Roqua (Djimon Hounsou) a MMA professional who teaches him to control his instincts and focus energies on quality fighting.
The only semblance of acting comes from the committed Hounsou. The rest of the cast is pedestrian at best. I have already spoken about the direction so there is nothing much to add there. Background score – average. Story – barely there. Editing – barely there again. Narration – yawn. Add to this some boring love story thrown in with women in different stages of undress and you start to believe quite soon that the only thing that can keep you engaged in this movie are probably the half naked women and nothing else.
Imagine my surprise when I realized that Never Back Down already has a sequel? Also written by Chris Hauty who hasn’t left much of an impression on me at least. 4 on 10. Much more if you like inane fighting.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi697893145/
Stick It
The Vickerman Gymnastics Academy is run by a hard driving coach who goes by the name of – no points for guessing – Vickerman with a Burt before it (Jeff Bridges). He is responsible for putting together some of the best gymnasts that America has ever seen. He isn’t the most loved person around in the gymnastics world because of his outspoken behavior and because he pushes the game to the limit – his students, the officials, everyone around him actually. But that’s what makes him a successful coach I guess and he isn’t about to change the way he is.
Cut to – Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) – Amercian gymnastic team @ the World Championships. Leaves her team in the last round for reasons best known to her. A rebel without a cause. Her sole purpose in life seems to be to buck the system. Her team mates are obviously shattered because suddenly a potential gold medal turns into no medal – yikes. Most peeved is Tricia Skilken (Tarah Paige) who was most looking forward to it. A few years later, as she continues to break the rules – and coincidentally break the law as well a few times – she finds herself in a situation that pushes her back to gymnastics And again – no points for guessing where she lands up.
Stick It takes a look at the fascinating sport of gymnastics, and how some silly archaic rules have taken away the beauty of the sport and pushed it down to controlling what is termed as “deductions”. So you don’t score a perfect 10 because you are brilliant but more so because u did nothing wrong, By wrong, one would mean not showing your bra strap inadvertently. Or not picking a song that is without lyrics for your floor exercise routine. It comes down to Haley to pick up the courage and as the title says – Stick it – to the face of these officials who take away the joy from a difficult and beautiful sport.
I am not sure if there are any other movies made that cover the topic of gymnastics or gymnasts and that is such a pity. On that count, full points to Jessica Bendinger to have picked a topic that has not been dealt with before. Add to it the fact that she has, as a first time director, probably cast everyone who has been or is a gymnast. If not, then she has done a fabulous job editing or morphing it or doing whatever it is that is done to make the stunts and performances look just brilliant.
Although it isn’t much of a movie for the acting performances, I would still recommend it to audiences. I think its playing on Sony Pix or Zee MGM or something like that. Worth spending a couple of hours on. 6 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDExqBXKw4k
Cut to – Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) – Amercian gymnastic team @ the World Championships. Leaves her team in the last round for reasons best known to her. A rebel without a cause. Her sole purpose in life seems to be to buck the system. Her team mates are obviously shattered because suddenly a potential gold medal turns into no medal – yikes. Most peeved is Tricia Skilken (Tarah Paige) who was most looking forward to it. A few years later, as she continues to break the rules – and coincidentally break the law as well a few times – she finds herself in a situation that pushes her back to gymnastics And again – no points for guessing where she lands up.
Stick It takes a look at the fascinating sport of gymnastics, and how some silly archaic rules have taken away the beauty of the sport and pushed it down to controlling what is termed as “deductions”. So you don’t score a perfect 10 because you are brilliant but more so because u did nothing wrong, By wrong, one would mean not showing your bra strap inadvertently. Or not picking a song that is without lyrics for your floor exercise routine. It comes down to Haley to pick up the courage and as the title says – Stick it – to the face of these officials who take away the joy from a difficult and beautiful sport.
I am not sure if there are any other movies made that cover the topic of gymnastics or gymnasts and that is such a pity. On that count, full points to Jessica Bendinger to have picked a topic that has not been dealt with before. Add to it the fact that she has, as a first time director, probably cast everyone who has been or is a gymnast. If not, then she has done a fabulous job editing or morphing it or doing whatever it is that is done to make the stunts and performances look just brilliant.
Although it isn’t much of a movie for the acting performances, I would still recommend it to audiences. I think its playing on Sony Pix or Zee MGM or something like that. Worth spending a couple of hours on. 6 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDExqBXKw4k
The Ghost and The Darkness
One of the biggest conundrums I have had in recent times. Should I classify The Ghost And The Darkness as an Action movie or a thriller or a horror movie. In the end, I went with Thriller and Horror both. You would not have much or a debate with the rating once you have seen it. I have probably seen it over 10 times to date and each one of those has been an experience that was as scary as the other. Without any exception.
I first saw the story of the worst place on earth - yes that's what Samuel (John Kani) calls Tsavo - way back in 1997 if I remember correctly. The impact that it left on me has been identical ever since for some eerie reason. The fascination that Col. James Patterson (Val Kilmer) has with Africa is a huge driver in his decision to leave a pregnant wife Helena Patterson (Emily Mortimer)
The commitment is that he will build the bridge across the river Tsavo within 6 months. He wants to be back before his first born comes into the world. His wife is supportive of his decision. But the acidic Robert Beaumont (Tom Wilkinson) doesn't really care much about his family or anyone else. Just the bridge. Patterson doesn't really know that there are aspects about Africa that are far more scary than some cheap heartless people like Beaumont. His worst nightmares are about to come true with The Ghost And The Darkness.
Stephen Hopkins is very good to say the least. The use of music during the hunts for the 2 man eaters gives me goose bumps even thinking about it. One can imagine the fear you will feel while watching it. The editing and cinematography is perfect to create and even more intense fear of the unknown. Look closely into the grasslands and u will see silhouettes of the feared beasts walking through. Some sequences such as the one where Patterson's wife comes to see him with his first born only to be mauled @ the railway station are horrific and scary. And the use of enhanced sound for the petrified baboon is just stunning.
4 of the finest actors that I have known in my lifetime come together for one of my favourite movies of all time. Val Kilmer, Tom Wilkinson, Om Puri and the evergreen Michael Douglas. I have taken it upon myself to get everyone that I know to see it. I loved it. I am sure most of you will. 8 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCb6-Nz0Nkg
I first saw the story of the worst place on earth - yes that's what Samuel (John Kani) calls Tsavo - way back in 1997 if I remember correctly. The impact that it left on me has been identical ever since for some eerie reason. The fascination that Col. James Patterson (Val Kilmer) has with Africa is a huge driver in his decision to leave a pregnant wife Helena Patterson (Emily Mortimer)
The commitment is that he will build the bridge across the river Tsavo within 6 months. He wants to be back before his first born comes into the world. His wife is supportive of his decision. But the acidic Robert Beaumont (Tom Wilkinson) doesn't really care much about his family or anyone else. Just the bridge. Patterson doesn't really know that there are aspects about Africa that are far more scary than some cheap heartless people like Beaumont. His worst nightmares are about to come true with The Ghost And The Darkness.
Stephen Hopkins is very good to say the least. The use of music during the hunts for the 2 man eaters gives me goose bumps even thinking about it. One can imagine the fear you will feel while watching it. The editing and cinematography is perfect to create and even more intense fear of the unknown. Look closely into the grasslands and u will see silhouettes of the feared beasts walking through. Some sequences such as the one where Patterson's wife comes to see him with his first born only to be mauled @ the railway station are horrific and scary. And the use of enhanced sound for the petrified baboon is just stunning.
4 of the finest actors that I have known in my lifetime come together for one of my favourite movies of all time. Val Kilmer, Tom Wilkinson, Om Puri and the evergreen Michael Douglas. I have taken it upon myself to get everyone that I know to see it. I loved it. I am sure most of you will. 8 on 10.
Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCb6-Nz0Nkg
Friday, 9 March 2012
Kahaani
Trust Vidya Balan to make the right choice of a potential story line. Every time she exceeds herself in terms of the quality of the character that she plays on screen. A trend that probably started with Paa. Since then she has played a village wife with truck loads of spunk, the sister of a girl who is part of national folklore searching for justice and immortalised arguably the only hero amongst heroines in Indian cinema last year. Each performance has earned her a truck load of accolades. So it didn’t come as much of a surprise when she was chosen to play the role of a pregnant woman who has been abandoned by her husband.
Not much was expected from Sujoy Ghosh after atrocious boo boos like Home Delivery and Aladin. But then there was Jhankaar Beats also as a debut. So I guess somewhere the makers would have seen a spark that was left over and not doused after the Box Offices did everything but physically throw him out. Well Ghosh Dada doesn’t disappoint which is the good news for those who pick Kahaani for the weekend. He creates a story that makes us seasoned movie goers say that it was kind of predictable. But the regular average every day Joe or Jane would say – It kept us guessing.
What I did not like about the movie is the complete lack of credibility that Ghosh has given to the audience. Sujoy Sir – we don’t need to be told every single thing that has happened. Leave it to us to guess or interpret the movie in a way that we would like to. Also, avoid the use of long shots and people travelling on trams smiling to themselves just for the heck of it. Put it there if there is a reason. Else save on film and time. Will make the film tighter and more enjoyable.
Try and focus the spare time that you so get on more attention to detail. Such as ensuring that the female lead doesn’t look like she is 10 months pregnant with triplets. Or explaining to us how a low level cop from the Baangal can speak such good Hindi without any accent whatsoever? Or taking a step back to wonder why you need a body identification when you have a photograph.
I cannot think of anyone else who would have the courage or gumption or guts to play a role that demands so much intensity. Vidya Balan was the perfect choice. But her execution of the role was much below the bar that she has set for herself in the recent past. Or was that probably due to the superb acting from almost the entire cast. Not one of them seems to have been perturbed with the presence of a huge star.
Vishal Shekhar’s music is just about at par. Editing could have done much better. The Big B adds another Kolkata movie to his narration repertoire. He also adds a Bengali song to his CV. All going in to get probably the best movie this year to date (I haven’t seen Paan Singh Tomar yet mind you). 7 on 10. Watch it.
Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FMvJ1i_ixI
Not much was expected from Sujoy Ghosh after atrocious boo boos like Home Delivery and Aladin. But then there was Jhankaar Beats also as a debut. So I guess somewhere the makers would have seen a spark that was left over and not doused after the Box Offices did everything but physically throw him out. Well Ghosh Dada doesn’t disappoint which is the good news for those who pick Kahaani for the weekend. He creates a story that makes us seasoned movie goers say that it was kind of predictable. But the regular average every day Joe or Jane would say – It kept us guessing.
What I did not like about the movie is the complete lack of credibility that Ghosh has given to the audience. Sujoy Sir – we don’t need to be told every single thing that has happened. Leave it to us to guess or interpret the movie in a way that we would like to. Also, avoid the use of long shots and people travelling on trams smiling to themselves just for the heck of it. Put it there if there is a reason. Else save on film and time. Will make the film tighter and more enjoyable.
Try and focus the spare time that you so get on more attention to detail. Such as ensuring that the female lead doesn’t look like she is 10 months pregnant with triplets. Or explaining to us how a low level cop from the Baangal can speak such good Hindi without any accent whatsoever? Or taking a step back to wonder why you need a body identification when you have a photograph.
I cannot think of anyone else who would have the courage or gumption or guts to play a role that demands so much intensity. Vidya Balan was the perfect choice. But her execution of the role was much below the bar that she has set for herself in the recent past. Or was that probably due to the superb acting from almost the entire cast. Not one of them seems to have been perturbed with the presence of a huge star.
Vishal Shekhar’s music is just about at par. Editing could have done much better. The Big B adds another Kolkata movie to his narration repertoire. He also adds a Bengali song to his CV. All going in to get probably the best movie this year to date (I haven’t seen Paan Singh Tomar yet mind you). 7 on 10. Watch it.
Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FMvJ1i_ixI
John Carter
We are actually looking at a character that was created 100 years back!!! Would you believe it??? By one of the leading authors / creators of our time. By an person who gave us one of the most memorable characters to ever be born – Tarzan. Yes. John Carter is also a child of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ imagination. He was created in 1912 and the Disney picked up a fine time to hit the screens. 100 years!!! And that too with a character that carries the name of the maker. How cool is that.
But one cannot help but wonder as to why did anyone take 100 years to come up with John Carter the Movie? From the looks of the trailer, it seems like a movie that would not be remotely short on entertainment value. The stunts seem to be miraculous to say the least. The characters are very Star Warish for lack of any other word – ergo the possibility of a fan following is huge to say the least (don’t even think that I am for once indicating that Star Wars in replaceable in any manner). Then why would it take 100 years for any production house to pick the story of John Carter and explode it onto the silver screen? Lucky for Disney that no one else did it to date.
Andrew Stanton had the backing of Finding Nemo and Wall E – 2 Animation movies that would get into the top 10 list for Animation – Any Given Sunday. And therefore, the expectations from his side were not ill placed at all. To say that he has disappointed would be unfair. But he hasn’t come upto the levels that one would have expected.
A lot of work has been done with the special effects to spruce up the movie but the screenplay and the narration get a tad complicated for the average audience as the movie moves at a brisk pace. One could not fault the audience if they were to get too confused between Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and Tal Hajus (Thomas Haden Church) and Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins) and Tardos Mors (Ciarán Hinds) and Matai Shang (Mark Strong). Kinda difficult to keep up unless you have read the books and are familiar with the story. Very Star Warish as mentioned earlier. And capable of gaining cult status like Star Wars also.
What Stanton does well though is to keep the story alive through the 130+ minutes. Gives us great quality of action sequences. Gets the near plebian star cast (except Hinds and Strong) to act a bit. And he is supported with the voices of the reliable Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church. He has also left enough of a window to go into a sequel/s. And most importantly finishes off with a nice little twist. Watch out for it. Well done Mr.Stanton & more importantly Mr. Burroughs.
John Carter is a movie that can be seen by people from all walks of life and all ages. There is nothing offensive in the least. Trust Disney to make clean family movies. Definitely on your must watch list for the weekend. 7 on 10. Big screen entertainer.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2340397337/
But one cannot help but wonder as to why did anyone take 100 years to come up with John Carter the Movie? From the looks of the trailer, it seems like a movie that would not be remotely short on entertainment value. The stunts seem to be miraculous to say the least. The characters are very Star Warish for lack of any other word – ergo the possibility of a fan following is huge to say the least (don’t even think that I am for once indicating that Star Wars in replaceable in any manner). Then why would it take 100 years for any production house to pick the story of John Carter and explode it onto the silver screen? Lucky for Disney that no one else did it to date.
Andrew Stanton had the backing of Finding Nemo and Wall E – 2 Animation movies that would get into the top 10 list for Animation – Any Given Sunday. And therefore, the expectations from his side were not ill placed at all. To say that he has disappointed would be unfair. But he hasn’t come upto the levels that one would have expected.
A lot of work has been done with the special effects to spruce up the movie but the screenplay and the narration get a tad complicated for the average audience as the movie moves at a brisk pace. One could not fault the audience if they were to get too confused between Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and Tal Hajus (Thomas Haden Church) and Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins) and Tardos Mors (Ciarán Hinds) and Matai Shang (Mark Strong). Kinda difficult to keep up unless you have read the books and are familiar with the story. Very Star Warish as mentioned earlier. And capable of gaining cult status like Star Wars also.
What Stanton does well though is to keep the story alive through the 130+ minutes. Gives us great quality of action sequences. Gets the near plebian star cast (except Hinds and Strong) to act a bit. And he is supported with the voices of the reliable Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church. He has also left enough of a window to go into a sequel/s. And most importantly finishes off with a nice little twist. Watch out for it. Well done Mr.Stanton & more importantly Mr. Burroughs.
John Carter is a movie that can be seen by people from all walks of life and all ages. There is nothing offensive in the least. Trust Disney to make clean family movies. Definitely on your must watch list for the weekend. 7 on 10. Big screen entertainer.
Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2340397337/
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