Mandela : Long Walk To Freedom

There are great biopics (Lincoln, Gandhi).  There are really bad ones (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag).  And there are the ones that leave you hanging because the impression that you had about the person was just so much bigger that what the movie portrays her/him to be.  For e.g. there was Jobs from 2013 which was closer to bad.  And now we have Mandela – Long Walk To Freedom.

Jai Ho

What do you expect in a Salman Khan movie? If this question was asked of a focus group, one answer would always be a shirtless fight sequence and in the climax of Jai Ho, the audience was chanting, “Shirt Utaar! Shirt Utaar! Shirt Utaar!” and our hero gladly complies in a matter of a few seconds.  Totally awesome!!!

Carrie (2013)(Horror)

Kimberly Peirce’s much awaited remake of Stephen King’s debut novel from 1974 is facing a lot of criticism from all circles. While a bit of it is warranted, over the past few months it has turned into some sort of a witch hunt.  Yes there are flaws in the movie and it isn’t as scary as the 1976 Brian De Palma version.  But you have to give credit to Peirce for making the movie far more contemporary.

American Hustle

My admiration for David O Russell keeps growing with every movie that he directs.  My first experience was with Fighter where he took Christian Bale and Melissa Leo to Oscars.  Next up was Silver Linings Playbook with Jennifer Lawrence making her mark with the coveted statuette.  Now it seems to be the turn of Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence who have brilliant roles and have backed it with performances that deserve their nominations.

Karle Pyar Karle

Hot on the heels of Yaariyan, we have a movie that wants to strongly stake its claim for the most coveted title in Bollywood these days – The Worst Movie of the Year.  In addition to coming close to this title (yep – Yaariyan was horrible.  This one didn’t go that low) this one will stake the claim for Worst Actor / Worst new face in the form of one Shiv Darshan.

Jack Ryan : Shadow Recruit

It all started way back in 1990 when Alec Baldwin essayed the role of Commander Dr. John Patrick Ryan aka Jack (because Tom Clancy felt he was a Jack of almost everything) in Clancy’s Hunt for Red October.  People remember that one more for Captain Marko Ramius (Sean Connery) than for Ryan.  That anomaly was rectified when Hollywood’s most bankable star (read Harrison Ford) took over the role in the next 2 movies.   Ben Affleck wasn’t too bad as the young Ryan.

Miss Lovely (Hindi) (2012)

For those who will walk into Miss Lovely expecting some flesh on display are going to be severely let down.  Those who walk in expecting a power packed movie because Nawazudding Siddiqui has a lead role are also going to be disappointed.  Those who walk in expecting an art house movie bordering on “art for art’s sake” will probably go back home fully satiated.

The Legend of Hercules

Lauri Mauritz Harjola is better known as Renny Harlin.  Why do we know Renny Harlin? It is because he gave us movies like Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger and Long Kiss Goodnight.  Were any of them stunning award winning movies? Not at all.  But they were really solid entertainment and very good for their times.  I would not find it difficult to watch any of these movies once again.

Yaariyan

Famous Last Words – “The toughest job in the world is being a mother.  One of the most difficult things to do is directing a movie.  I did both together” – Divya Khosla Kumar, Director, Yaariyan (read “Probably the worst movie of 2014).

Dedh Ishqiya

Pick the same director - check

Pick the same lead cast - check

Add 2-3 brilliant actors as seasoning – check

Retain some of the "characters" from the first edition – check

Pick yet another rustic premise / story – check

Add flavour with the tongue of The Nawabs – check

Make sure that the music is acceptable if not brilliant – check

Get a great cinematographer to create some gorgeous shots  - check

Get a location that connects with both rural and urban India – check

Hire a set designer who can make that location look even more beautiful - check