Movie Review: Ugly…50 shades of black!!

In my customary style of using a direct connection to the movie title, to write my review title I was originally considering to title this one as Ugly..doesn't paint a ‘pretty’ picture. Story and plot wise, it would certainly portray the reality. However, purely from a film making perspective, that would be far from the truth.

In the world of Anurag Kashyap, people are hopeless – they have already condemned themselves to hell and are living that hell each day. While most film makers try to uplift their audience even when they tell a story with grey characters by providing the protagonist with some hope, courage and opportunity to rise against the odds, Kashyap indulges in his fantasy nightmare that simply gets darker with every passing sequence till finally, you can’t see – its all black and the darkest shade of it at at that. He gleefully smothers out the last spark of hope that might have been ignited had anyone shown the slightest bit of respite, compassion or even consideration.

Despite not taking a step wrong in the actual movie making - complete with a long conversation between a police in-charge and one of the central characters that displays a grim reality with dark humor, barely present songs that progress, not hinder the narrative and the usual Anurag Kashyap touches with random psychedelic music intact, this particular narrative becomes so soul sucking by the end of it all, that it doesn’t leave a nice feeling. This is especially on display in one hellish scene – which could as easily have been implied than shown in its truly ‘ugly’ form

Performances wise, there is hardly a glittering star cast with Ronit Roy being the most recognizable actor of the lot, but true to the Anurag Kashyap brigade of the past, they all come to the party with solid performances. Vineet Singh and Girish Kulkarni do a brilliant job (I wish Girish’s character’s dialogues had subtitles since a lot of them were in Marathi). Rahul Bhat also does justice to his role though his performance is a little wooden in comparison. Tejaswini Kohlapuri and Surveen Chawla both look dull and worn out but then that’s what the script demanded.  Ronit Roy shows a restraint that he earlier showcased only in Udaan though struggles in scenes of high strung emotion.

While it baffled when it was first revealed – Ugly is a near-perfect title for this movie. The world doesn’t get uglier and murkier than the one that Kashyap showcases, with each character blacker than the other and a situation and progression that is not just unsettling but downright choking and unrelenting – If that’s not ugly enough, I shudder to think what is. Think before you watch this one, its certainly not for everyone

Movie Review: PK..the best you’ll see this year

2014 hasn’t been a generous year for those of us who crave genuinely good cinema. In this respect, calling PK the best this year may not seem as the great compliment it would otherwise be. The good news however, is that this movie would have been amongst the best any year. Its just that given the dismal offerings this year, it’s the best watch by far.

Its all good - Rajkumar Hirani re-affirms our belief in him as a master storyteller and writer. One of the few, if not the only one, who has managed to maintain his consistent high standards. Aamir Khan proves that Dhoom 3 was a mere aberration. His quality stamp is still as high as ever – it only needed the right canvas. If a certain other film that played quite heavily on a similar theme had not been made recently, the kudos for PK might well have doubled. However, if I were to compare, this one considers the debate from a far more positive and mature perspective

There is simply an innocence to the script – a child-like quality to its characters that is conveyed in as many words towards the latter half of the movie. But even if it wasn’t specifically told to us, the effect is felt just as much. Especially in the first half, Rajkumar Hirani does such a good job, that It makes one wish that even they could tell such stories – so much simplicity and innocence and yet delivered with such panache. While it doesn’t start with a great bang, post PK’s entry the movie grabs your attention with renewed vigor.

The second half doesn’t delight as much, though it is by no means any sort of a drag. Rajkumar Hirani again achieves the feat of taking you from laughing till your sides hurt to have tears welling up in the eyes as the movie progresses which itself says a lot. Some scenes teeter dangerously close to the edge of falling into the stereotypical or cheesy mould but are saved by a cut just at the right time – thank goodness for that.

As for the songs – while some are melodious most are unnecessary interruptions to the unfolding story.  So interesting are PK, his thoughts, his dialogues, his actions that they are the only things you want the movie to focus on and nothing else.

Aamir Khan and PK are the life-blood of this well written story. The master performer is at his vintage best doing complete justice to a character that would have not been easy to slip into the shoes of. There is so much that I can talk about his character and dialogues but anything I say will dampen your fun at least somewhat, so I’ll refrain. Anushka Sharma yet again has her familiar ‘independent, modern girl’ role and she’s probably most comfortable in it so she pulls it off convincingly

Christmas has arrived in style. While there’s nothing remotely resembling Christmas in PK, it does give every reason to celebrate. After all the hype and expectations, PK delivers and is the best reason to be in a cinema hall not just this week, but for all of 2014 – don’t miss it.

Movie Review: Penguins of Madagascar..cute n fun but best left in Madagascar

Ever since the release of the first Madagascar movie, they’ve been in the spotlight despite being the side characters. With genuine humor to boot and their own mini - cast of quirky characters, the penguins quickly became the biggest draw to any Madagascar movie. Now that they have their own movie it should so many times more fun, right? Well, not exactly..

You see, much like seasoning in a great dish, they are excellent accompaniments to a good act but give them an act of their own and you force them down a path of plot, direction and story telling which is not particularly their forte. The penguins are best enjoyed in mayhem - plotting, up to their necks in adventure, bringing their little spy games and rescue missions to life and succeeding despite having planned it all wrong. Their excellent play on words and quick yet witty dialogue is what brings in all the laughs. While this movie, certainly starts down this path, it is ultimately forced to bring emotion and a sense of normality to the proceedings which just isn’t the penguins’ style

Of the 92 minutes you see them on screen, a good 40 minutes is still penguin fun, though not as laugh out loud as you would have preferred. A scene involving a zebra crossing is a mini-gem and more of such stuff would’ve been great. However, the chase sequences and escape plans are all still very much in penguin territory. Unfortunately, post that, the fun dies down

One thing that could’ve added a new layer of fun to the script was a fresh, zany cast of new characters and while Cumberbatch and co. try their level best, their characters just don’t bring that extra zing. While I don’t fault the penguins per se, but I do think this movie could’ve done with a little more effort in the writing department. Keeping the fun going, despite telling a good story, would’ve taken a lot more creativity and effort that doesn’t seem to have been spent in this offering.

The Penguins of Madagascar thus, don’t get their dream debut . They are themselves still in form, but the lack of other great characters, not so great writing and an ordinary stereotypical storyline is what lets them down in the end. If I had to choose between watching this movie and a re-run of the airplane scene in Madagascar 2, I’d still choose their side act.

Movie Review: Mockingjay Part 1..sadly douses the flames

Catching Fire had set the stage perfectly. I remember when I reviewed the previous installment I had said it set the series ablaze and I couldn’t have put it better. The future was brimming with possibilities – so much intensity and focus, a clear direction, thrilling action, a climactic finale….Well, while we are still one movie away from the finale to comment on that, Mockingjay Part 1 in itself is sadly quite the dampener and douses most, if not all the flames that catching fire had set.

The primary reason that this movie fails is not because it isn’t particularly well made or its badly acted – it fails because, quite simply, it doesn’t deserve to be an entire movie by itself. By these counts, only the Harry Potter franchise really deserved a two part finale – there was so much Rowling had done with the last book that a single movie, albeit action packed, couldn’t have done justice. But that’s where it ends. No other franchise deserved it. All this hobbit 3 part movie nonsense is also possibly going to meet the same fate.

In all honesty, I haven’t read the book Mockingjay, but if this movie is any indication, its plain it doesn’t have all that much to showcase. It would be obvious to even the most casual viewer – each scene lingers on more than its due; if Katniss is moping about something, well she mopes longer, if the ground is being surveyed after damage, you see more of the rubble, if Katniss is to sing a song, the song will be longer – each time you know its just to fill time – it really doesn’t have any impact to make.

Despite the seemingly comfortable 123 minutes it runs, Mockingjay Part 1 is painfully slow. There’s hardly anything that happens. I could write a two line summary of the movie and I may well have told you all that happens by it. With not much happening, neither does Jennifer Lawrence need to do too much with her character and unfortunately, in the few scenes that do demand something, she doesn’t pull it off as convincingly. Julianne Moore is a veteran actress and its sad to see her given such a wooden and one dimensional character. All the other side characters are also given even lesser airtime so I really don’t get what the point of this movie was.

Since I haven’t read the book, I don’t know whether the Hunger Games is really going to have the thrilling end we would’ve anticipated at the close of Catching Fire. But if Mockingjay Part 1 is to be any indication – I am not all that enthusiastic about its release, despite it being the finale of the series. That’s the kind of damage this ridiculous, money spinning focused strategy has done to what might well have been a good trilogy

Movie Review: Boyhood…feels the long years it films

Some of you might feel I have violated one of my own cardinal principles and given away the storyline..by the look of the review title. Well, be assured, I haven’t given away anything. In fact, here’s the real shocker – this movie has nothing to give away - no storyline or plot and therein, lies its greatest weakness

Boyhood is very well made – no doubt about it. A scathing commentary on the American culture and where we are all headed if we continue down this garden path is very thought provoking. However, when it takes 169 minutes for the director to say all he has to say, it can be exhausting and in the absence of a movie-like plot – you feel time slowing down even more. Furthermore, whatever message the director ends up giving isn’t really uplifting. The scenes are painfully realistic – cutting out the escapist, idealistic façade which make most movies a delight and exposing the grime and struggle of life. Instead you feel even more depressed and frustrated – not your ideal time at the movies.

I heard about the tremendous efforts that went into making this movie and the kind of painstaking diligence and discipline it took to make the transition feel as natural as possible in the movie. However, my concern is that while the effort is certainly laudable, as an audience, it doesn’t matter as much. I could’ve possibly felt the same effect with 3 similar looking child actors than I did with what was presented.

The movie shines at times when it treads the familiar road of the boy and girl having conversations that would be considered much ahead of their ages – the kind that made the Before (Sunrise, Sunset and Midnight) series the hit it was.

In terms of performances, the real recognizable actor is really Ethan Hawke. However, the rest of the ‘family’ also all do a solid job and there’s no complaint there – especially Patricia Arquette as the mother.

If you are okay with movies without a plot but rather a large slice of real life, you can jump right in to Boyhood, though its long runtime is bound to have even you looking impatiently at the watch every now and then. For the others, who need a definite storyline and some excitement – better to recollect your own childhood instead, Boyhood isn’t gonna interest you

Movie Review: Interstellar..a stellar, outwardly experience..best digested with a pinch of corn..

Possibly my longest review title till date but I had to do justice. Yes, it is nothing like I have ever seen and yes, Nolan does bring another mind bender..but this time perhaps it’s the visuals and the scale, the sheer ambition and guts to show what was shown rather than the intricacies of the plot or the mind games or even the writing, that deserve all the kudos

Confession time – I haven’t seen 2001 A Space Odyssey so alas! I cannot compare how this one turns out against what I hear was a visionary masterpiece ( I plan to correct that very soon though). However, for the visuals I did see, I can tell you that Nolan’s sheer ambition will win you over. Its not just another outworldly adventure. Its not about breaching the boundaries of gravity and the earth – it goes far beyond that. It doesn’t talk of separation, pain and angst over months – it goes far beyond that. It’ll even expect you to understand wormholes, blackholes and multiple dimensions and give you lessons on these concepts as you watch it. For Nolan, the entire universe becomes his sandbox and our good old earth is but a tiny piece in a gargantuan puzzle. For that vision and ambition, and that alone, I would recommend this movie be watched in an IMAX theater, no less

In terms of plot and storyline I am probably less ecstatic. While he attempts to weave an emotional tale, with all the weaving and interconnected threads he ultimately manages, the story from being one of hope, sacrifice, belief and courage adds an extra layer of corn (and I am not talking about the expansive corn fields destroyed in the movie) that just doesn’t sit right by the end of it all. Maybe I couldn't fathom the multiple ‘dimensions’ that Nolan is willing to explore, but for me that extra effort just seemed forced, a desperate attempt to take the story in the direction he wanted to.

What he does manage though, is a breath-taking visual journey that not only captures the imagination – it challenges it. Whatever you think you might see next, Nolan takes it to greater heights and offers a dazzling spectacle. So much so that actors and performances, credible though they are, pretty much get relegated to the background – the canvas and the storyteller themselves have so much to offer.

Matthew McConaughey gets it exactly right, his act while watching video messages being particularly convincing. Anne Hathaway gets a pretty simple character given her abilities and she pulls it off fairly well but all that is secondary. There are some new additions to the standard Nolan cast but its best you discover them as the movie progresses along

Interstellar also manages a wonderful communion of sound and visuals. Hans Zimmer has been oft accused (unfairly, in my opinion) of offering very similar soundtracks. Well, this one should easily silence his critics. Whether it’s the scenes in the cornfields or those of exploration - the background score is an integral part of this movie and would not be half the experience it is, without it.

For, in a nutshell, that’s exactly what Interstellar offers you - an experience. It’s a journey not only to the stars but beyond. Sure the storyline gets a more than a little warped and (unconvincingly) convoluted but for its sheer vision, ambition and stellar presentation, Nolan’s Interstellar should not be missed

Movie Review: Big Hero 6..Big bang opening but can’t sustain it

Ever since I saw the hilarious teasers and trailers this movie has, I’ve been waiting to see the original humor and fresh presentation that Big Hero 6 had to offer – and from the opening to the ‘forced’ interval – I couldn’t have asked for much more. Unfortunately I can’t say the same for the entire movie though to be fair, the climax and ending again make up for some lost ground

Much before you get started with Big Hero 6 though, you get treated to another animation short by Disney. This seems to be a regular feature now – last time it was the excellent renaissance of Mickey Mouse in a 3D avatar; this time it’s a cute little dog but every bit as welcome as ever. In sharp contrast to the quiet homely visuals of the short, Big Hero 6 starts with the ultra high tech stuff and if you are a tech fan like me, it’ll feel like candy-land.

Not only is the tech ultra cool, the humor quotient is right up there too  Smart writing and a great concept for a unique ‘robot’ will have you guffawing and laughing hard many a time. Some of it can even be termed as slap-stick but this brand of slapstick is more than welcome. The animation itself is probably a couple of notches higher with the background elements looking particularly realistic. Its only when you see the bright red or white vinyl of Baymax or any of the other characters that you realize that this is actually animation. Nice job. Approaching the half way stage, the plotline is predictable but not pedestrian and you look forward to scaling even greater heights in the second half.

While that wish comes true quite literally in the second half, the fun is not half as much as sequences become unnecessarily extended, the story progression becomes more and more stereotypical and you grimace that maybe by now they’ve run out of their bag of tricks. What starts off particularly fun and fresh, becomes ordinary and even dragged along. This is saved somewhat by a nice climax but you end up leaving the theater a tad disappointed

Animation movies are not just about fun anymore and plotlines and development are becoming more and more mature and unique – eg. movies like Frozen, Rise of the guardians etc. While Big Hero 6 takes a big step forward and seems more than equal to the challenge it soon relapses  into the tried and tested and despite its brave climax, ends up being an average watch. Still, for the big, fun filled first hour of the movie and the big leap forward in animation, I’d still recommend a watch

Movie Review: Gone Girl..may leave you uneasy but certainly not unhappy

 
The less that is revealed about this movie, the better so am afraid I’ll have to be even more cryptic than usual. First, a word on the trailer though – I think it is brilliantly crafted given the content of the movie. More such trailers please.

You may feel in the beginning that this movie seems a little slow and the actors aren’t really doing justice to the characters especially in the context they are in. All I will say is, just don’t jump to conclusions. The storyline isn’t your usual predictable stuff so wait for it to play out.

I will tell you this though. The story of Gone Girl is deliciously dark, complex and diabolical so don’t worry about it not being worth your time. If you are looking for a nice happy love story, this is certainly not it. The movie brings more twists than you could’ve expected and gets you more and more hooked on. Its not ‘nice’ stuff though so you might well feel a little uneasy, even queasy as the movie progresses. As you unravel the tale, follow the ‘clues’ and maybe even solve the mystery, you realize it hardly ends there.

Dependable David Fincher has done an excellent job in setting up the movie, making you as the viewer feel exactly as confused, uneasy, bewildered and even borderline terrified as the storyline wants you to be. The background score also plays perfectly in sync and while there is no waltz or symphony the sounds play exactly as per the visuals which range from the calm to the bizarre.

While both leads seem a little ‘off sorts’ in the beginning and Rosamund Pike’s narration particularly sounding muffled and hard to understand, both come into their own as the movie progresses and their true characters emerge. Rosamund Pike looks the ice queen she is supposed to in the beginning but is a real revelation towards the latter half. Similarly, while it may not seem so at first, Ben Affleck also gives us his dependable high quality performance by the end of it all. In fact, it might be because of her particular character, but I think Rosamund Pike actually steals the show in this one.

By the way, there is nothing family oriented in this movie and the adult rating is for real this time round so beware if you are thinking of taking the kids along.

The release of Gone Girl was delayed in India and I made it a point to not know anything about the movie before watching it, despite of the delay. I hope that’s the case for you also, because if you know what to expect in this film, more than half the fun is lost. In any case, if you don’t mind feeling queasy or the dark nature of the plot, go watch Gone Girl before it disappears from the theaters.

Movie Review: The Judge..can’t decide what kind of case it wants to be

A few years ago, there was a beautiful albeit slow paced movie of a man caught in circumstance – The Descendants. Other than the unfitting ending it had, majority of the movie managed emotions and their portrayal quite well. For the first 35 minutes or so The Judge follows a similar path. The crucial difference is that while The Descendants had a very natural progression to the storyline, The Judge literally flies off in 15 different directions – leaving you completely bewildered at what the movie wants to showcase in the first place

The beginning of The Judge is promising and up to a point the movie was crackling – brimming with possibilities – rarely have I seen such strong emotions and under-currents so well portrayed in a family drama movie. Till suddenly, they just fizzled out completely – vanishing into thin air. What seemed a story around unresolved and understated conflicts in relationships, suddenly became a father son relationship, no sorry a murder trial, or wait a story about growing old with some kind of a love story thrown in as well – till its simply all over the place and you can only wonder what thread they’ll pick up next

As in the case with The Descendants, the writing is good and there is many a quip and smart remark that will make you chuckle and sometimes laugh out loud. But throughout the watch, the focus of the movie is not clear. You begin to think its about the murder trial and you settle in to go through the evidence and witness the testimonies when the director suddenly seems to zip past all that as if its not really the crux of the matter. The case itself isn’t that great and the arguments presented could easily be trumped by any of the episodes of Boston Legal. As the movie reaches its unsatisfying climactic moments, you are disconnected and disappointed and couldn’t care less what the final verdict is – just that the jury can make up its mind soon and you can get out of the theater

Robert Downey Jr. in a multi-faceted role looks the part though he is too suave to seem vulnerable. Robert Duvall plays his part well too, though I thought the relationship of these two characters which should really be the soul of this movie, is not well etched out. That said, largely due to the talents of the two actors - moments of the duo bickering, challenging each other and exhibiting that rare moment of emotional outburst, form some of the best moments in the movie.

The Judge promises an interesting case with a lot that is said and left unsaid in its earlier moments – but the follow through falls much short and the multiple threads don’t help matters. The mounting evidence in the wayward nature of the narrative convinces you that nobody really thought this through while making it and that The Judge deserved better representation and a more focused plot presentation.

Movie Review: Haider..well made but long drawn

 Length or movie runtime is a crucial element. Keep it too short and you can’t get the audience to connect with your characters and the story development. Stretch it too long however, and you lose the audience’s interest despite having a good story to tell. That is principally the issue when you settle in to watch a movie like Haider, which would otherwise have been a very well made movie

Two hours and forty two minutes – enough to put a doubt in anyone’s mind. However, with the panache of Vishal Bhardwaj and a high quality cast of characters, one still soldiered on to witness this adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet to the beautiful valleys and snow capped façade of Kashmir.

The first half of the movie is slow but the build up is nice. Some of the directorial sparks like when Shahid’s character returns and his response of utter denial are great to watch. Coupled with that, the writing has some real gems for dialogues and the grim scenery is so well captured that you get involved, if not deeply so. The undertones and background score remind you of Kamineyy and especially the snazzy touch at the time of intermission has you all excited for bigger things to unravel in the second half.

Unfortunately, little of that ever ends up happening. Once the movie is over you actually wonder whether this was itself the ‘chutzpah’ of a kind that the movie so famously brandishes and the joke’s really on you. Don’t get me wrong, this movie is miles ahead of Matru ki bijlee and definitely picks up where Maqbool left off. Despite being an adaptation, Bhardwaj throws in quite a few instances that make you wonder if there are any twists to the adaptation itself. Nice touch, but at the end of it all it’s the length of the movie that does it in. Not helping matters, there are some disjointed sequences and what flowed earlier in one smooth harmonic motion, now seems to have lost the plot and is wandering aimlessly looking for some direction.

The starcast makes a valiant effort – Tabu playing the highly complicated character she always does in these movies with all her skill and Shahid maintaining great screen presence if a tad unconvincing in the longer dialogues and emotional affairs and the trustworthy KK Menon notching up another feather in his illustrious cap. Shraddha Kapoor’s presence is limited as unfortunately is the case with with Irrfan Khan who seems to have a dynamic character but perhaps made for another movie – given all the screen-time its been given.

Perhaps, some of the fault for how it all plays out lies in the original tale, with Shakespeare tragedies all having weak heroes. Whatever the case, such as it is, despite the performances, great writing and mostly good direction - the tale fails to engage beyond a point and you are left just counting the minutes till its really all over.

Movie Review: Finding Fanny..a weird and unfulfilling search

I don’t mind movies having quirky characters. In fact, it adds quite the zing into otherwise mundane and predictable plotlines, also making the characters themselves more human and believable. While Finding Fanny sets out with that agenda, no one (and I am pretty sure that includes the director himself), seems to have any idea what direction the movie was actually intended to take

There is a good chance this movie could’ve been perceived as staying in the same spot or running around in circles had the plotline not involved a road trip with a definitive start and an end destination. That alone lends some semblance of structure to an otherwise haphazard plotline. The first half itself yields very little other than a microscopic look at the idyllic life of Goa and some seemingly desperate attempts to make you laugh. The second half isn’t much better and goes from bad to worse towards the climax.  There’s some intelligent writing but such instances are few and far-between.

As for the acting, even a glittering starcast can’t rescue Finding Fanny and make the search more enjoyable. Naseeruddin Shah’s weak willed character is clearly a misfit for his strong personality and though one never doubts his versatility as an actor, he would probably have been better served with another role. Deepika Padukone is exquisite with her expression but the same cannot be said for her dialogue delivery which continues to be pretty much a monotone whether in narration or otherwise. Dimple Kapadia does justice to her character though hers too is weakly developed while Arjun Kapur is passable for the most part, save for his inexplicable and undecipherable outburst. In terms of acting, the real star of the show is actually Pankaj Kapur as the sleazy artist, who despite the glittering cast and by contrast, his own weak character, delivers flawlessly

As you would have noticed, almost all the characters in this particular story are weak and poorly developed. While in-a-jiffy backstory telling is a good technique, one hopes to be told more of the history, the incidents that shaped the character of today – especially since there are passing mentions of something having happened strewn throughout the 93 odd minutes the movie runs. However, there is no such revelation and one is left to imagine it for his/herself

Despite the short runtime the movie feels slow and you can’t wait for the end credits to roll, especially in the second half when things become more bizarre by the minute…let’s just leave it at that. While the opening credits are encouraging with the movie’s claim of some parts in the movie being true and those being the weirder parts, one would have hoped for more soul and meaning to the journey. Unfortunately, the journey ends with a message that rings even more strange and hollow since none of that is actually felt or experienced during it.

At the end of it all, its best to just conclude, that Finding Fanny was a pointless expedition, that became more and more hopeless as the journey continued and it would’ve been better if one had chosen to abandon her instead

Movie Review: The Hundred Foot Journey..good for the first sixty steps

I may be too late in writing this since most of you would have already gone and seen the movie. The reason I didn’t watch this one all this while, is because I hate it when a movie trailer gives away practically everything there is that a movie has, to offer in terms of plot and story and that’s exactly what I suspected to have happened with The Hundred Foot Journey as well. Having finally seen it after a lot of positive reviews from others though, I write about this one with fairly mixed feelings

For the most part I was quite satisfied with what was on offer and had the journey ended about 25 mins earlier than it did, I would have come out quite happy having witnessed the simple story told with a lot of heart and a beautiful soul. However, since they didn’t end it there and then dragged along with no sense of direction or purpose, with closing shots at 5 separate occasions, which misled you to believe that the movie was finally ending, while it actually wasn’t, the prime feelings on exiting the theatre were disappointment and frustration instead

Sometimes the best ‘effect’ you can create in a movie, is to treat it as simply and minimally as possible and let the story and its soul do all the talking. This is the method that seems to have been applied rather well in The Hundred Foot Journey (for the most part). The movie builds up nicely, character sketches are well etched and there is a distinct flow to the proceedings. There are some delightful departures from a cliched storyline as well, which further add to the merriment.

However, one glaring issue with this otherwise short and sweet journey is that with its ‘goody goody’ nature the overall narrative comes across as too weak. There is a sprinkle here and a dash there which could have rustled up quite the spice the movie so boldy professes but failing to be adventurous,  the dish it itself offers is ultimately quite bland. Add to that, the completely unnecessary drag of an ending, with a spillover of content that could span a good sequel in itself and a good story becomes more and more average by the minute

On the bright side though, Helen Mirren and Om Puri, the masterchefs in this particular recipe put their best foot forward and bring quite the spark to the dull canvas. Complimenting each other near perfectly, their characters’ bluster and indignant exchanges as well as the essaying of more poignant moments create some of the high points of this journey. It helps also, that they have among the best written dialogues as well. The young chef, sorry cook, and his cute love interest play their parts ably as well but do not manage much of an impact

Had the story ended much earlier than it did, the 100 foot journey would have been a soulful experience with albeit a weak storyline. Considering its current form though, I’d exercise caution before embarking on this  particular expedition

Movie Review: Guardians of the Galaxy..better stay on guard

 
Once again, I am dumbfounded. Having just witnessed a two hour two minute assault of this new attempt at yet another franchise that Marvel has concocted, I can’t for the life of me understand why it deserves such rave reviews across the board. In my view, every bit of caution is to be exercised and you must not let your guard down, whatever praise anyone might heap on Guardians of the Galaxy

A scene is funny when the attempt to make you laugh isn’t obvious and an exaggerated effort at that. This simple truth is blatantly missing in this new age space adventure. There are four main characters of which only two -  Rocket and Groot will genuinely make you laugh. Others will make you cringe, shake your head in disbelief or even bang your head in desperation just waiting for it all to end.

I am a total superhero fanboy and I loved ‘The Avengers’ to bits so its not as if I don’t understand this genre. The visuals of Guardians.. are really good though why they have to be in this mockery of the third dimension beats me. However, that said, the action is well scripted and very diverse. The plotline is wafer thin and predictable to the point of frustration. Its all been done before and done better.

As for the performances, with a set of little known actors taking centrestage, it is Bradley Cooper who shines above all others – though to be fair, his character of Rocket has the best lines as well. Chris Pratt delivers an earnest performance but his Star Lord character required a lot more depth which makes it more of a black hole than a supernova in its current form

There are great touches every now and then. Some of the writing is smart and even have you in guffaws at times. But for the most part, it seems a desperate, almost tired effort at making you fall in love with a new set of characters and their quirks. The last time that truly happened for me, in such a space/ galaxy setting was not the silver screen but rather a TV series called Firefly – if you haven’t seen it, I suggest you give it a shot.

The sequel to the Avengers is still more than a year away and while we await the glorious return of the real band of superheroes, I guess we can expect Marvel to keep throwing tidbits our way. I only wish that Marvel instead would put their creative ideas and strength all into one good new offering – one that is worthy of its creation. However, one can only hope. For now, Marvel is more busy just hammering out sub-standard stuff and Guardians of the Galaxy just gets added to that list, in my books

Movie Review: The Grand Budapest Hotel..grand for perhaps a precious few

Some movies are perhaps made for too specific an audience. They are not for all and sundry and the majority perhaps wouldn’t know what is grand about them. I suspect The Grand Budapest Hotel might be one of those and I count myself in the majority for this one. That’s probably the only explanation as to why what seemed to me a perfectly ordinary movie, with a positively stellar starcast that have performed itsy bitsy roles given their abilities, is receiving such rave reviews from critics and review aggregators alike

The Grand Budapest Hotel exudes old worldliness from the opening credits itself. The entire movie is presented in a unique 4:3 format – a novel expression of the visual capabilities of the times the movie is set in. The canvas is filled nicely – almost as if the set pieces had been borrowed from older movies to make sure they don’t jar. Add to it the rather sophisticated voice over narration with high quality humor and you settle in for what would visually be an ornately designed and presented PG Wodehouse novel. Alas, what you get is far from it – especially from a ‘laughs’ perspective

Despite Ralph Fiennes leading the honors, completely in his element as the protagonist quirky concierge of the grand old establishment, the remaining characters are just dull, underdeveloped and lifeless – and far too many at that. Eminent names like Adrien Brody, Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law and am missing some 10 others even as I mention these, are completely wasted in one dimensional ordinary characters. This is not as bad since most of the attention stays firmly focused on Fiennes and he delivers all the way. However, the plot development is banal, the jokes at times too asinine – some even reminding me of movies as bad as Housefull so you can get some idea. Add to that, despite clocking just 99 minutes, don’t be surprised if you find yourself nodding off every now and then given the pacing of the movie

There are some genuinely smart lines and a poignant underlayer if one wants to reflect and dig deeper. However, the entire tone and presentation of the movie was as if it just wanted me to have a good time so I don’t think it succeeds on that note either

Perhaps I am also being too harsh here. Maybe this is a movie of an era gone by – a generation I may never completely understand or appreciate. If you are an old worldly romantic, I’d say you still give it a shot and see if this movie indeed did justice. All others looking for something exciting, more in touch with today’s reality and pace – I won’t recommend a booking at The Grand Budapest Hotel. Of course, with Kick being the other option, its not a lot of choice either. Perhaps, you’d just be best waiting till next week

Movie Review: Humpty Sharma ki Dulhaniya..DDLJ deserved better

 
First things first, this movie is not a tribute to DDLJ. Those who are calling it that, the film cast and crew included, need to look up the dictionary meaning of a tribute. This is pretty much a parody. Simply put, the script writer, director et al, looked at DDLJ and thought – where all can we make a change – no matter how nonsensical, illogical or downright silly it all gets. (Think Amazing Spiderman from Sam Raimi’s original creation). And thus, that script and some bad songs with hilariously bad lyrics later Humpty Sharma came to the theaters

The fact that it clocks a lesser 2 hours 15 minutes is a welcome relief, considering this is Bollywood and the agony could easily have been prolonged to 3 hours instead. One should be grateful. Another aspect to be grateful for is that the 2 leads make a valiant effort to lift a lifeless script and their sidekicks (or rather Varun’s sidekicks) have been blessed with some smart one-liners that make for a few fun moments. For everything else – especially the songs, you can curse Humpty Sharma ki Dulhania

This is the fourth film with Alia playing her fiesty avatar and while she fits the bill, she could certainly do with some variety in her characters. Speaking of characters, this movie hardly invests in them and while Raj and his Senorita Simran made efforts to find a place in your heart where you willed till the last moment that their story had a happy ending, you couldn’t care less whether Humpty and his lady love end up together or not. As for the other performances, much has been said of the performance of Ashutosh Rana, playing the Amrish Puri babuji counterpart. Personally, I just found his performance unnecessarily intense.

There are sparks here and there, where the story could’ve taken a fresh approach which made some sense. However, the proceedings thereon extinguish any such hope. Moreover, while some of the gags and one-liners may bring some laughs, you can’t help but shake the uneasy feeling that its all been done too many times before

While its not a tribute to the masterpiece of its time that DDLJ was, Humpty Sharma certainly makes you want to consider a re-viewing of that eternal love story (for the umpteenth time). In its own paradoxical way, that qualifies to be the best reason you would consider watching this revised Dulhaniya. If you have any other expectations – best to stay at home and watch Raj and Simran instead.

Movie Review: Bobby Jasoos..some thrills but an ordinary case

It doesn’t have the spine chilling suspense and thrill of Kahaani. Nor towards the opposite end of the spectrum is it a typical case of a bumbling detective like the inimitable Pink Panther. No, Bobby Jasoos is a unique variety of its own – much like the local Hyderabadi brand it so faithfully adopts. But does it work?..Well..yes and no.

In parts, Bobby Jasoos gives you some clues of what could have been – genuinely hilarious moments, top notch disguises and a mystery that intrigues and interests you. However, as an overall package the movie succeeds in being just about an average watch.

Right from the opening credits, Vidya Balan tries too hard to convince you she can play the small town, loud mouthed Hyderabadi detective really well. One gets reminded more of her act in Ghanchakkar (the loud – mouthed Punjabi wife) than the Dirty Picture during this time. However, as the movie progresses, the bluster is thankfully replaced by thoughtful reflection and calm dialogue which is so much more up her alley. Ali Fazal though in a much smaller role, makes his presence felt, especially in the comedic scenes

When you are solving mysteries and hot on the heels on a case, you don’t go into the song and dance routine but since this is Bollywood, that is exactly what happens (since it can’t happen in the story, it happens as imagination)  Its not all on the songs – the pacing of the movie itself is equally to blame and despite just a two hour runtime and just 3 songs, you feel a distinct lack of pace. For a debutante director Samar Shaikh does a good job – though there is much that could have been better and you can’t help feeling that if the reins were with someone else, this might well  have been a different product.

The great revelation (of course I won’t reveal all) is a matter of perception – some might consider it a master stroke, I viewed it as an anti-climax and one that dug all kinds of holes into the plot – let’s just leave it at that

The real mystery for me is why some people are calling Bobby Jasoos Vidya’s finest work till date. I wouldn’t call it that – this is clearly one of her lesser accomplishments. For that you should watch Kahaani or Dirty Picture. If you really want to watch this detective at work – my advice to you would be to go with low expectations. Go in search of some fun moments with less focus on the case itself and you might just come back pleasantly surprised

Movie Review: How to train your dragon 2..not the masterclass it ought to be

When I first saw the trailer of this sequel way back in July last year, I could clearly see that this movie would be a masterclass in animation quality and proof that ‘great’ could still become even better. After having seen it, I can confirm it as well. Perhaps the fact that I saw this gorgeous looking adventure in IMAX had something to do with it, but the animation quality of the sequel is superlative and makes for an adrenalin pumping, sky soaring adventure

While animation is usually top notch in most such movies, there are two other departments where animation movies hit the mark more often than not – a coherent and consistent plot with good pacing and great doses of humor every now and then. While every bit the master class in animation quality, surprisingly this new adventure with Toothless and his dragon rider lacks firepower in both these areas.

To be fair, the story is ambitious and the content covers enough material to be spread across more than one sequel. It starts off with a bang and you almost feel as if you are flying atop Toothless yourself in a couple of scenes. However it soon slows down to a practical halt and while it makes the mood poignant and emotional, the timing of it seems all wrong and dulls the initial thrill

Unfortunately, this fits and starts approach continues through the length of the movie and while it is brilliant in parts, it makes you weary in others. Part of the blame for that weariness also goes to the distinct lack of humor that this grandiose scaled adventure offers. When they are repeating jokes, you know they don’t have much to offer. Still by the time you’ll emerge from the hall – you won’t feel as if you didn’t have fun. Just don’t expect to be moved and thrilled like say, the Kung Fu Panda sequel would’ve made you feel.

Instead, prepare to take in the gorgeous sights and sounds. The cloudy skies, rippled waters, giant icicles, even the enormous beard of Stoic, all look enhanced in their quality and presentation. The voice acting is good and boasts known names like Gerard Butler and Cate Blanchett, though no character really stands out. However, Toothless looks adorable as ever (never thought I’d call a dragon ‘adorable’..) and towards the climax, shows just why he is the heart and soul of the movie

The way it started, this sequel promised  a high quality lesson in how to take a story forward. While it flounders during its course, it is still every bit a pretty, fun, adventure. If you loved Toothless the first time around, you certainly aren’t going to feel disappointed with his second showing – just don’t go expecting an all-round masterclass

Movie Review: Filmistaan…is a film everyone should see!!

Quite recently, 4 noted names in the Bollywood industry came together for what they called a tribute to Indian Cinema with Bombay Talkies. They didn’t even come close. If you want to see the real tribute to Bollywood and its impact, intentional or otherwise, you should see this shiny bright gem by debutante director Nitin Kakkar

A remarkably fresh story line and plot development with very intelligent writing will have you in guffaws one moment and poignantly reflecting in the next. Filmistaan proves that you don’t need big names, a big banner, medley of songs, item numbers or anything of the sort to treat your audience. All you need is a good story and a good manner in which it is told. The rest takes care of itself

While it could have continued in its comfort zone of a Bollywood tribute, which it is pretty much through the first half, Filmistaan chooses to explore deeper themes and melds the craze for Bollywood, cricket and even our understanding of our cross border neighbors and how much/ how little we have in common all into a less than 2 hour package. Not only that the film even manages its own argo-esque adventure in the middle of it all. Not giving away anything further..

While it doesn’t boast any big names, Sharib Hashmi and Innamul Haq provide a solid natural act and their camaraderie creates some of the best moments in the film. Add to the fact that Sharib has also written the dialogues for this movie and further praise can be heaped on him. As for the direction - much of it can pass unnoticed – the song playing in the background when a particular scene is being shown, the dialogue said in a particular situation that only hits deep if you reflect and connect, the choice of movies, dialogues – everything has a reason (reminded me of the intelligent film-making of Peepli Live). Sure it gets a little awry and disjointed towards its more-serious second half – but at a shade less than two hours you’ll hardly realize it

Too many movies these days are self indulgent – reveling in their own supposed glory. Filmistaan has been made with a lot of heart - for its audience and to celebrate cinema itself. You owe it to yourself to pay your respects to cine-maa (as the trailer calls it) – I could scarcely put it better myself. Go watch Filmistaan and see Bollywood masala being given not the expectedly cheap but rather a high quality tadka – Nitin Kakkar seems to be one to watch out for

Movie Review: Citylights..dazzles in the darkness

Citylights is not meant to be a ‘light’ movie. It makes its intentions clear right from the opening sequence and stays true to them pretty much through the course of the entire 126 minutes it runs. It comes across as dark, hard hitting and sometimes deeply disturbing as well. But despite the darkness, it casts a brilliant ray of hope for those looking for a good movie watching experience

Most of the praise that Citylights deserves actually should go to the original mind behind it – Sean Ellis. For the uninitiated, this movie is an adaptation of Metro Manila which was directed by Sean Ellis. I haven’t seen the original yet but plan on correcting that quite soon. Getting back to Citylights, while it has a tendency of slowing down, especially during the first half and tends towards an over-reliance on songs to deliver the mood – the story development is gripping enough to keep you interested till the very end

A simple slice of hard life of the not so fortunate takes on an unexpected turn and becomes a gripping thriller. Much of this is achieved by a high quality and effortless portrayal by Rajkummar Rao yet again showcasing his versatility, this time as a poor Rajasthani (with impeccable accent). Ably supported in a praiseworthy debut by his real life better half, Anwita Paul (screen name: Patralekha, who looks like a young Divya Dutta) – the couple make the movie and the characters connect much more deeply. You feel for them, cringe at their helplessness and desperation, celebrate their little successes and get dismayed at their defeat

Am not sure why the movie has been called Citylights though, while the reference is obvious, post the opening sequences – very little has been done to make the city at the center of it all. Rather you get invested in the life of the protagonist and what he undergoes, which could really have happened in any city. There was much potential to exploit the city itself which is squandered – seeing as it is set in the city of dreams for the haves which turns to the city of nightmare for the less privileged, on a daily basis

Still, the plot development and high quality performances means that the Citylights make this a road well worth a drive by

Movie Review: X Men: Days of Future Past..past average but not First Class..

When I first heard that the second installment of this prequel franchise was not being directed by Matthew Vaughn who, for me, delivered a truly first class movie, with the first installment, I was rather despondent. While the X-Men franchise was quite decent, First Class was in a different league and I was worried that the return of Bryan Singer to the helm would again lower the standard to greater focus on action and less on underlying tension and plot development. My fears weren't unfounded though I wasn’t completely disappointed after watching what Singer has managed to put together.

From the opening credits itself (we are back to the DNA strands and psychedelic colours, this time in 3D) it was clear that this movie was picking up more from X Men: Last Stand in terms of treatment, rather than First Class. The jaw droppingly brilliant action scene that followed that further added credence to that notion. Post that, though, there was a refreshing change – time seemed to slow down and it almost felt as if Vaughn was back in charge. Upto around the halfway point the movie holds your attention without trying too hard and at a dangerously poised sequence, complete with underlying tension and unexpected developments, the excitement is quite palpable

Unfortunately, that moment doesn’t hold its own for very long and the next half of the movie, goes back to formulaic action and set pieces with some unnecessary dialogues thrown in. What’s worse is that some of that action is completely unnecessary and you wonder why it needed to be depicted that way in the first place. All the action though, is accompanied by high quality effects and more than the occasional round of humor every now and then

What this movie desperately lacks is a coherent plotline that remains the consistent focus through the length of the movie. While First Class deeply explored the rich bond between Charles and Eric (something even the entire X Men franchise before it only implied, but never really portrayed), Future Past is more about making the story work without much focus on the characters or anything else for that matter

This is really a pity because Future Past’s glittering star cast has too many gems – some of which (like Halle Berry and Ellen Page) are pretty much wasted given the talent they have. Fassbender continues to have tremendous screen presence and Hugh Jackman is in vintage form with his now pet portrayal (the only thing we really missed in First Class, I guess). James McAvoy also portrays the vulnerability and uncertainty of his character (a far cry from how we saw him in First Class) rather well as does Jennifer Lawrence portray Mistique.

Future Past tries to check many boxes – but at the end of the day, doesn’t manage the tight packaging and presentation of First Class. After the unexpectedly solid start that First Class gave this franchise, I was hoping for more from the second installment - still, Future Past is a better than average watch and hopefully with something better in store, the future still shines bright on this franchise (just bring back Vaughn)

Movie Review: Godzilla..just don’t go..

 
Pop quiz: Did you like Pacific Rim? If you did, then ignore the title and ignore probably the rest of this review as well. You might still wanna go since, quite obviously, mindless monster madness is right up your alley. For the rest of you though, Godzilla fails on too many different fronts.Plot, build-up, acting, climax – other than special effects – none of it is there

For many of us, self included, we saw Godzilla during childhood and wanted to revisit the spectacle with high quality effects of today. Sadly, while the effects are there, you’d be better off with the older memories. In fact, I can’t even get my head wrapped around why they had to make this movie. Making a new-age Godzilla movie made some sense. The version they have made, makes no sense at all!! Try this one for starters, the movie Godzilla features the actual Godzilla for barely 20 minutes in the entire movie runtime of over 2 hours!! Or..the best scene in Godzilla doesn’t feature Godzilla at all but rather some birds!! You can probably understand my angst by now

The 1998 version of Godzilla has been the butt of many a critic joke. However, I still have fond memories of that movie. Roland Emmerich is quite the veteran for disaster movies and I still feel that movie had a near perfect build up for showcasing a creature wreaking havoc in a city towards the climax. In comparison to that, the premise as well as build up of the new age Godzilla is almost laughably ridiculous. They’ve managed to morph the terrifying giant lizard to a heroic avatar coming to aid in time of need. Only my own principles refrain me from sharing more, in my bid to convince you of the futulity of watching this drivel

One saving grace the movie could’ve have was the awesome screen presence of Bryan Cranston. In fact, the opening scene is quite powerful and the Breaking Bad veteran is on top of his game. Sadly though, this relief too is well, fleeting. The rest of the pack doesn’t even begin to measure up  and the absence of plot means it all squarely rests on the action and effects – the only aspect that this re-make delivers in

Giant wars are experienced with jaw dropping proportions and the CGI isn’t obvious. The enormity of Godzilla really comes through in what is perhaps the best representation of the monster thus far. Wide angle shots are plentiful and wholesome – whether it’s the shot of Mount Fiji in the backdrop, an entire city losing power or buildings collapsing in California – the scale is faithfully rendered each time.

If that alone can justify a 2 hour assault on the senses that defies all manner of meaningful cinema then you can possibly still watch this monstrosity. Me..I wish somebody had given me such a clear warning before watching – I wouldn’t have ventured out for a sighting in the first place

Movie Review: The Amazing Spiderman 2..a swing and a miss..again

His name might be Marc Webb but the director of the second installment of the aforementioned unnecessary reboot to the franchise (check out my review of the first one to get more on that) doesn’t seem to have a great understanding of Spidey as such. Its not the ‘Adventures of Spiderman’ Mr. Webb..it needs  to be woven around an emotional core, a central identity or rather dual identity of Peter Parker and what it stands for - an overarching plotline. As you may have guessed, the sequel, like the original, offers none of that

Instead, you get the by now familiar Marvel treatment. A cheesy start and even more frustrating follow through to almost the interval stage of the movie, save for one ‘electric’ showdown sequence that pretty much saves the first half of the movie. If there’s one thing the Marvel franchise seems to have mastered – its how to depict action in a superhero flick. Jaw dropping visual effects not being enough, the action now gets slowed down enough for you to follow how Spidey pulled off what he did. Neat trick and fits perfectly into the Spidey scheme of things. Wish Sam Raimi had thought of that

Unfortunately, that’s the only part that seems to have been thought through in 148 minutes of very little web slinging action. As for the 3D, I didn’t find much of it other than those few and far between glorious moments when the camera fixes its onto Spidey and you get his dazzling and breath taking view of the New York skyline and skyscrapers. But that’s it. Even the much watchable Emma Stone doesn’t seem to lift the film enough though the chemistry between Parker and Gwen is also quite ‘electric’

Andrew Garfield in any case is too cool to look the part of geeky Peter Parker but to give him credit he tries his best despite that. The villain, I was told is stronger this time around. Sure he is, but the finale or a sorry excuse for it that you get to watch seems to belie that expectation as well. The movie is in ‘build-up’ mode for so long that you hope that either the climax is really worth it or maybe they save that for a separate movie. Unfortunately, neither of the two happens.The story tries to make some bold moves which seem completely out of place and leave you wondering why that had to happen (perhaps someone wanted out of the franchise??)

Maybe I am too biased. If you hadn’t given us the Sam Raimi version of things maybe I would’ve been okay with what’s been handed to us in this franchise. But unfortunately, I’ve seen the real Spiderman 2 and this one doesn’t even try to come close.  The franchise continues to swing but misses each time – the Spidey action and awesome effects is all I can recommend for the sequel as well. Oh..and don't stick around for the end credits..there's nothing there..just some action sequence from X-Men: Days of Future Past at mid-credits

Movie Review: Revolver Rani..shoots far off the mark

Okay so I have no idea what the director was going for with this. I guess this is what happens when you make decisions in haste. So concerned was I after all the brickbats I received from my loyal followers for not having seen 2 States (the reason, in my defence, was that I had read the book and not liked it all that much and the movie would be pretty much the same) that I was worried about making the same mistake twice in a row. So…I booked tickets for Revolver Rani. As it turns out, that was the real mistake

Revolver Rani is best enjoyed when it doesn’t try to take itself too seriously. Don’t go for plot, logic, any sense of direction to the storyline and you might be able to watch it for Kangana’s powerful performance showcasing her versatility in a role that is a far cry from Queen and the fair bit of comedy that is introduced into otherwise senseless proceedings. Other than that, the Revolver’s chambers are empty – all six of them

A classy opening credits gives way to Ram Gopal Varma (not of the Sarkar vintage but the Aag variety) like sequences that suddenly erupt in ways more comical than exciting. Kangana’s Max Payne like shooting in multiple sequences doesn’t help matters and one isn’t sure what the director is looking to portray with her character. Add to that her shrieking and howling like her pre-Queen days and the circle is complete. There are precisely two smart sequences in an otherwise banal plot – one in the first half and one in the second – both of which end up being comical and fun. If only more of the movie was like that

As it stands though the movie doesn’t end up showing a true picture of Kangana’s character till the very end – the fearless hero, the tragic hero, the trapped hero, the action hero – all get inter-mingled and you leave the theater with no clarity on what was intended to be portrayed, if anything at all. Guns, shooting, killing, drinking, smoking all get glorified in this pointless tale

The plethora of songs only prolong the misery though the background score is apt and suits the context.I found myself recalling Matru Ki Bijlee..and idly wondering which of these movies was worse, though I thought Matru still wins that Razzie award

If you are a real Kangana fan you might still want to give it a shot despite all my misgivings. My advice though is to take shelter and hide till the Rani has fired all her rounds and left the scene

Movie Review: Captain America The Winter Soldier…is a pretty cold affair

At long last I gave Captain America a chance. I didn’t watch The First Avenger and I couldn’t appreciate him in The Avengers. Why did I watch his second outing then? Because some people said that this was the best Marvel movie since The Avengers. While that may be true, since Marvel hasn’t dished out anything great since The Avengers and the bar is set pretty low, this one doesn’t even come close to The Avengers and can be labeled as the ‘average’ category. If you are hoping for anything like that – you are bound to come out disappointed.

Captain America just doesn’t have much going for him as a superhero. In fact, he reminds me of that studious kid in class, who does everything by the book and tries too hard to get people to take him seriously. As a result, they don’t. Instead they look up to the Ironman types..the one that exudes natural charm and doesn’t even have to make an effort. Conspicuous by his absence, watching such a movie shows exactly why Robert Downey Jr’s screen presence matters as much as it does. Chris Evans tries for sure, but he just can’t pull it off

To make matters worse, the plotline is trying desperately to sound intelligent. It tries its best to weave a web of deceit, lies, treachery and double standards but unfortunately the only one who doesn’t seem to see through it all, is Captain America. As the audience, you’ve seen these tricks one too many times and could catch those twists in your sleep (barring perhaps one or two, but we’ll leave that trail cold for now) There’s plenty of action but none that would stir you and catch your attention. People can choose to live or die as the movie progresses and you couldn’t care less, for all the connect you’ve established with any of the surprisingly very familiar characters (courtesy The Avengers)

As you come towards the closing credits you might catch yourself wondering – is Captain America truly at home in the modern day superhero category at all. His uniform doesn’t enable anything – he doesn’t have a dual identity, its got no special powers other than that shield which can probably save him from even a nuclear explosion the way its exploited in the movie so does he really belong?

Marvel needs to slow things down. Dishing out such fare, one after the other without giving it due thought, will slowly lessen the excitement, the adrenalin rush and the sheer craze for the superhero genre the way its headed. The Winter Soldier just gets added to that list of ordinary fare, though, in all fairness, it might rank a little higher within that category.

Watch it if, for your own reasons, you are a Captain America fan. The movie clearly didn’t manage to make me one

Movie Review: Queen..deserves her elevated status

 
Given quite the royal reception on its opening on Women’s Day, Queen deserves most of the glory showered upon it. I say most, because its not perfect, but to be fair some scenes are so exceedingly well done, that it makes up for the gaps.

A great part of the movie is that it is very relatable and for the initial part, what you watch is pretty much the actions, reactions, emotions, discussions of a typical middle class Punjabi family. Then while the settings and surroundings change, the transition is still very smooth and seems natural. Sure it strikes a few jarring notes here and there (which you really wish it hadn’t) but quickly gets back on track. The flash back and forward during the first half also works well and is contextual to the proceedings without seeming out of place.

There are two problems with Queen. One, it tries to say a little too much or maybe nothing at all but stretches certain sequences unnecessarily nonetheless. The other is that it can’t make up its mind whether its protagonist is a simple girl breaking free or just plain dumb. Some scenes would show her as learning – a trial by fire – while others would have you label her as too dumb to save her own life, and that lowers her credibility

Other than that, Queen deserves a pedestal of her own as the movie breaks new barriers and presents a fresh face to a tried, tested and even stale plotline. A familiar sequence/ context would come up and you would grimace at the obvious conclusion it would have – only, it doesn’t. The ending credits are particularly neatly done so stick around even after the movie is over

Queen puts centre focus on Kangana Ranaut and she delivers a near flawless performance in her heavily mainstream role. A far cry from her ‘Gangster’ days (when frankly I found her dialogue delivery intolerable) this is a much more in-control, graceful and highly capable of emoting Kangana Ranaut in Queen. Her expression and delivery is near perfect in every scene and her transition seems natural and smooth as well. You won’t like Raj Kummar’s character one bit and I guess that’s testament to his wonderfully restrained performance as well

If you haven’t gone for a visit yet, you might want to book your tickets to pay tribute to both Queen as well as Kangana for a job well done

Movie Review: Highway..derails post interval

 
Highway starts off giving visuals to a nice idea. The initial development is taut, tense and realistic. An interesting revelation leads to an intriguing interval. Post interval there is even a bit of Breaking Bad’esque magic. And then, silence…we are quite clearly lost after that

Highway could’ve been made so differently – a little more focus on the rear view window to give a solid context to the road ahead and the journey itself would’ve come into its own. It would’ve removed the need for the path to be so meandering and the pace to unnecessarily slow down. The message would’ve been subtle yet screaming in silence, the agony obvious to the viewer..but I digress..that’s not what has happened

The reality is that the second half will take you on a picturesque journey, never mind the story. If you’ve been postponing that vacation to our very own Paradise on Earth, you’ll likely pursue it with renewed vigor after watching Highway. The sprawling landscapes and snow capped peaks make for many a pretty sight. Then the dreams would end and the story would culminate to its by now, inevitable conclusion.

After Rockstar, Imtiaz Ali seems to have done it again. A promising start is let down by a sense of abandon towards the original script in the second half. Much like Rockstar started as a journey of a musician and his coming of age and then digressed to a forced love story, Highway too starts off with a unique idea and then digresses to something else entirely. Given this context the climax is still quite decent but the message is shouted out rather than felt

I am not sure why A R Rahman has given the music for this movie. In my view, the script didn’t require music in the first place and any songs would slow proceedings and take away from the realism of the visual drama. Still as it stands, there are songs and none too great to stay with you after the movie (but then Rahman’s songs have their latent effect so who knows)

What is commendable though is Alia Bhatt’s ability to pull off a rather tough role, in only her second movie. Kudos to her to even consider such a role so early in her career and even more to have performed so well in it. The innocent yet independent teenager she plays may come naturally, but the varying shades her character takes through the course of the movie would take some doing. Randeep Hooda is good but he is on all too familiar grounds with his angry brooding avatar. He could take a leaf from Alia’s book and try something more challenging

Highway then, lets itself down. After a promising start to an intriguing adventure, the course of the journey disappoints and there isn’t much to cherish once you reach the final destination

Movie Review: 'Her'..offers you only what you can take from it

'Her' isn’t an ordinary tale. In fact, am not even sure if I can call it a tale. There’s no beginning, climax and end, nothing that I can call a plot – just a very unique context (which may be not be too far a stretch of imagination, the way the world is going) and a lot of emotional depth in a lot of conversations. In fact, 123 minutes later when you emerge from the hall, you are still not quite sure what you’ve just seen  - its all too layered and complex – 'Her' is that kind of movie

If you don’t wish to explore it, trouble the ol’ grey cells or maybe in this case, more importantly, pause and reflect, you might as well not watch 'Her'. You’ll likely get bored with all the random conversation, moping about and sheer pacing of the movie. However, if you are one of those who likes to go deeper, unravel the layers and reach out to what lies at the core – 'Her' may well be a goldmine. I am not even sure that the director himself has an explanation for every scene he’s shown and what it implies

Like a good idea (and one of the movie characters), 'Her' just grows independently, evolving to have a personality of its own and its depth is more about how you interpret it, than how the director intended it. Me, I am still struggling with the ending of the movie – not quite sure what that depicted. The movie explores many important themes and emotions – love, relationship, the need for connection and simply human nature without stamping its own message with either of them. Its only what you take away from it that matters. There is some subtle irony as well but again it takes some doing to catch it

Given the lack of characters, a lot of responsibility falls on Joaquin Phoenix who does a very credible job with an extremely complex character.  Amy Adams in a much simpler role also does a good job, as does Scarlett Johansson in her very unique character. Sorry..can’t say more

'Her' then is a layered and complex movie. One viewing may not be enough to take away all it has to offer. Go for it only if you are willing to explore what lies beneath

Movie Review: 12 Years a Slave..is cold, hard and relentless

12 Years a slave is a very well made movie. No one can doubt that. However, despite how good it is, I wouldn’t say you should go and book your tickets right away. Here’s why

The thing about a true story is that it is scarcely the romanticized stuff we want it to be. The highs and lows cannot be pre-decided, hardly ever are things ‘planned’ to go a certain and even so, most of those times also the plan tends to get derailed. Thus, if one has suffered much hardship, the hopelessness of the situation has been all too obvious, despite any amount of courage and there has been much despair and grief, then that’s how their story will be. One can’t fault the makers for it. And that’s the issue with 12 Years a Slave

Exquisitely executed, in painful (and I mean the word literally here, as well) detail Steve McQueen does not shy away from showing the horrors that a man suffered in the despicable act of slavery. The basest of human emotions and utter sadism is exposed bare (again, quite literally) in scene after scene in unrelenting fashion. That such savagery existed amongst humans, itself, is a shame for humanity altogether and the movie makes no efforts to hide any of it.

As a result then, 12 Years a Slave can scarcely be described as ‘entertaining’. If anything, it gets more and more gruesome and depressing as it progresses and while you feel for the protagonist and his circumstances, the whole situation itself is over-whelmingly off-putting. After a point, the whip lashes, kicks, bared backs and blood marks become too much to withstand and you will the movie to move on to the better part, content-wise.

Apart from the subject matter itself, the treatment of the movie is perfected to a fault. Dialogues spoken plainly would sting you long after they’ve been said. A lingering scene will have you thinking deeply about it rather than pass it off as a mere occurrence. The character of Chiwetel Ejiofor suffers too much but is pulled of extremely well by him. That said, I don’t think his character was as complex as the others in the race for the Oscars. Brad Pitt’s role is too small to speak of. Michael Fassbender is fantastic as the evil slave owner and Benedict Cumberbatch is more than equal to his relatively smaller role as Mr. Ford

12 Years a Slave is right up there in terms of quality movie making. However, given the extremely depressing nature and hopelessness of the situation the protagonist finds himself in over and over again, for majority of the movie, it makes for a rather grim watch. Bear that in mind if you decide to go for this one

Movie Review: American Hustle..You may not fall for it..

American Hustle..the title may mislead some of us who are familiar with the hit television show ‘Hustle’ which is about a group of conmen who take gleeful pleasure in first conning the ‘mark’ and then letting the audience wonder how they did it, before the big reveal giving great detail of how it was actually pulled off. Never mind how contrived and co-incidental it all gets, you still go along for the ride since its so thrilling and fun. With American Hustle, you get none of the above and if that’s the expectation with which you went in..you are bound to come out bitterly disappointed

American Hustle should be seen for its performances, tight storyline and plot development upto a point and crackling dialogue and screenplay. Particularly noteworthy are scenes which will have the characters serious and the audience in guffaws Some of the lines are a brilliant character study and may not even sink in, in the first watch.

The plot development is tight and interesting to about the half way stage. After that, things suddenly turn awry, almost becoming dysfunctional to the main storyline and you wonder what went wrong. The climax is interesting though it might be unconvincing. For the most part, direction is smart and sharp. However, there are some movies whose makers consider themselves far too intelligent, their script far too superior to be explained to even an interested audience. The result – you don’t end up falling for it and come out feeling somewhat cheated and bewildered. American Hustle just might make you feel that way.

Now to the best part – the performances. I was pretty much convinced that the ‘wolf’ had it ‘in the bag’ for the Oscars this time around. After watching American Hustle, am not so sure. Bale’s performance is so natural, he may as well be his character – he’s definitely giving Leonardo a run for his money at the Oscars. Bradley Cooper also gets a meaty character, including an entirely new look but he doesn’t convince as much, especially in scenes of high emotion. Amy Adams does a credible job of a complex character whereas the only thing unconvincing about Jennifer Lawrence’s character is her blonde wig. Jeremy Renner does justice to his relatively smaller role as well

Given its dialogues and natural performances, better treatment of its story would really have gone miles as an overall package. However, the smug version of it that you get to watch finally doesn’t really make you fall for it – hook, line or sinker. If you are willing to trade that off for great performances – with 10 Oscar nominations – you might want to check out what American Hustle offers. However, if you think that’ll make you feel conned out of good money, you might want to give it a second thought