Saturday, September 23, 2017

Movie Review: Newton..smart and intelligent



Ever since the trailers came out for Newton, it has intrigued. With smart humor and a seemingly scathing view of our current political scenario, it was one we believed could be the better watches of 2017. Well, if it needed any more bolstering, its now going to be our official entry to the Oscars. While I am not sure of that particular claim, I can confirm that much like its namesake, Newton is a one-of-a-kind which, if it doesn't come up with an astounding discovery and has nothing to do with falling apples, still applies a restrained but critical lens on the state of our country and makes a powerful impact on its audience.

Think of a more subdued version of Peepli LIVE - while vastly different in terms of their subject matter - the treatment given to the movie is quite similar. Things are implied, not stated. There is a lot of speaking through metaphors and analogies, none of which is truly explained. There is a significant amount of symbolism which you can easily miss if you don't dig deeper. You need to see the apple fall from the tree multiple times to truly get all the deeper stuff.

From the outset the movie is slow and measured. Its in no hurry to tell its story and yet, somehow it captures your interest. Some scenes linger and you linger as well, thinking if there's particular significance to these scenes. Some have it, others don't but you don't mind the pacing. There's a particularly telling shot conveying helplessness despite best intentions which could well feel like a fitting end to the movie itself.

A lot of the 'dialogue' actually happens in the background - a mother harping about her son not getting married, a policeman talking about how appearing as a maoist (while not being one) is a sure shot to making money, a flurry of shots of just faces - simple, wearied and clueless - these aren't the focus or spoken by the protagonist - yet are amongst the most revealing in what the director is trying to convey. Its protagonist is far from ideal or a role model - and yet he leaves his mark for at least trying.

Newton didn't really need the prowess of Rajkummar Rao. Now that it has him though, the storyline is uplifted by a wonderful restrained performance. Through the intermittently blinking eyes, the plain manner of speaking and the quiet determination of the not-so-stupid common man - Rao gets well into the skin of his character. He is wonderfully complemented by Pankaj Tripathi, though the characters are adversaries (if you can call them that). The supporting cast notably Raghuvir Yadav and in a short cameo Sanjay Mishra also provide fine touches.

Those who would expect a satire that's easily understood and provides a lot of laughs should best stay away. Newton is one of wry humor, that too only on the surface. Peel the layers and you'll find a movie of substance - that is bound to leave an impact.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Movie Review: Lucknow Central..no thrills behind these bars



There is plenty an inspiring movie when it comes to convicts planning and plotting in a jail cell. In fact, I had thought of far more interesting and apt titles like Lucknow Central..the not so great escape or Lucknow Central - far from redemption. However, it would've been blasphemous to name this rather ordinary offering in the presence of these greats so I kept it simple and boring (pretty much like the movie).

The issues with Lucknow Central are several - not enough mystery and intrigue, no connect with any of the characters, not even the protagonist, trying to do or show too many things and not a thrilling enough build up or climax. And then, there's the pacing that finishes whatever little hope remains.

While it starts off at a brisk pace, the set up feels too contrived - as if this is only a flimsy sequence to land up the protagonist in a jail cell and that's when the real story begins. Even so, the sequences feel disjointed and over-extended. In the hands of a more seasoned director, it may well have been presented with a lot more finesse. As it stands though, it all feels like it came together too easily. Unfortunately, this feeling continues pretty much till end-credits

One of the biggest challenges of the movie is the protagonist - Kishen himself. A small town guy with big dreams - he seems far too sure of himself irrespective of the situation he is in, making him closer to Michael Scofield than an Andy Dufresne. Its almost like he has a free hand to decide which direction he wants to take his life and hence the movie, while plot-wise he is supposed to be in a desperate situation. While Farhan performs Kishen earnestly, the character itself lacks depth.

The songs are somewhat of a saving grace with Meer e Karwan sounding particularly melodious. Rangdaari is the opening song, but by playing it in the background, every few minutes in the first half, it loses its charm. The other big support is the supporting cast who still seem to believe they have a good thing going, and give it their best. There is a particularly inspired bit with a superimposing of Kishen while the movie Agneepath plays in the background. While not perfectly executed, its a novel touch and you wish there was more such novelty on offer. Apart from that, the humor provided largely by the supporting cast is a welcome relief amidst the tedious and slow proceedings on-screen.

I guess this criticism is particularly harsh because I've seen the TV series Prison Break. If I hadn't, I'd probably be okay with not knowing back stories and a more fleshed out version of the supporting characters, expecting meticulous and deep planning at every step of the heist and even then facing a fair number of unforeseen challenges and situations. However, I am pretty certain that even if I hadn't, with its rather convenient plot developments and absolute lack of urgency despite the supposed heist Lucknow Central would still have fallen woefully short.

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Movie Review: Bareilly Ki Barfi...quite a tasty treat



Packed with delicious one-liners, smart writing and credible performances, not from just the main trio but the supporting cast as well, Bareilly ki Barfi is one of those particularly flavorful sweets that might come in a plainly wrapped package of no big stars or a known director, but one that hides a delicious treat inside.

I think with the movie offerings we've seen off late - whether its the Dulhania variety or may be the Hello Zindagi selection, we are particular starved of one that made us truly and genuinely laugh. Not slapstick, in your face stuff. Just simple, intelligent humor through the narrative, dialogues and the quirkiness of its characters. Last I can recollect that happening was the first half of Raanjhanaa or Vicky Donor.

The biggest disservice to this movie is actually its trailer which gives away most if not all of what you can expect from a storyline and plot build up perspective including a few of the good one-liners. You don't want to sample this treat ahead of ordering the full box - trust me on that.

There is also the fine garnish of the narration which while told in a rustic tone, has its own share of engaging lines and you look forward to more of that strewn across the movie runtime. The songs are there, but they aren't distracting or painfully long. Its more like they get you to pause and savor the flavours so far to get you primed for more.

 Its not all just sweet - there are some bittersweet moments that are well executed and the movie also makes an understated commentary on some social issues. There is a beautiful father daughter relationship, the inner turmoil of a builled young man, the blind selfishness of a jilted lover that barely come to the fore, but are yet mixed in there somewhere with the rest of the tasty ingredients.Not all of it tastes equally well though. There is the particularly bitten almond that is the climax of the movie that woefully falls short and completely ruins all the flavors that were melding together so well earlier so much so that you wonder if the barfi really was that tasty in the first place.

One of the main elements of this recipe are its actors - both the leads as well as supporting cast deserve a mention here. Ayushmann Khurana does justice to his character while Kriti Sanon is full of energy and effervescent true to her character of Bitti. Seema Pahwa and Pankaj Tripathi play the supporting act as Bitti's parents but bring out their individual characters really well. However, the biggest praise should undoubtedly be reserved for Rajkummar Rao. If this is a barfi, then he is the khoya that makes the movie delicious and gets you craving to sample more. His dual act, if we can call it that, is so perfect, you won't want to miss a single dialogue, mannerism or response from him.

Bareilly ki Barfi then is packed with all the ingredients that make it a tasty treat. While such a barfi would be typically be heavy on the stomach, this one gets lighter and more fun with every ingredient - go and sample it for yourself.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Movie Review: Dunkirk...a cinematic triumph that redefines a genre



I’ve never been a fan of war movies, in general. Somehow the genre never really appealed to me. Nolan’s Dunkirk though is a one of a kind experience. I don’t know if I should characterize it as a war movie per se or I should reflect whether the others were really war movies in the true sense. It’s a genre defining experience and is Nolan at his boastful best. Christopher Nolan, that is, not his brother…

After having watched all the Christopher Nolan movies after the epitome that was The Dark Knight, I have come to the conclusion that this is what Christopher Nolan does best – wide angle IMAX cameras, a vision for action in its most elemental form (not the Paul Greengrass shaky camera variety), simple notes that build to crescendo, large explosions and giant pieces with minimal CGI. Dunkirk gives this Nolan the best possible backdrop and canvas and he paints with aplomb.

Nolan moves the camera lens from the sidelines to the very heart – so much so that you live the experience as much as his characters. In a war movie – that’s a paradigm shift. You aren’t see a bombing happening somewhere on the horizon while you are safely in the trenches. Instead the explosion goes off near your very ear as you crouch helpless and vulnerable, in the middle of an unintended battlefield. And the onslaught is relentless – the explosions, the gunfire, the roar of a fighter aircraft’s engines and to top it off, the uncertainty of it all.

There are no heroes on this particular battlefield, just desperate and helpless men trying to survive. This is what the actual war would’ve looked and felt like and this is possibly our first, real look at it – and far from looking grand and victorious – it looks and feels hopeless and despairing. That is why when there is a glimmer of hope somewhere down the line, it feels like a shining beacon instead.

While he uses a grand cast of characters – his staple dependables like Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy as well as adding the masterful Mark Rylance to the mix, its all for nought pretty much. This isn’t a hero  movie and doesn’t require great acting chops. This is just a director showing, no strutting, while he showcases what he can do. This is the Joker armed with guns, gasoline and gunpowder, wreaking havoc with our minds.

And he doesn’t make it easy. What could’ve been a simple sequential narrative is split across 3 mind exhausting timelines that come closer to each other as the movie progresses. When the movie abruptly breaks for intermission, you aren’t sure what the ‘story’ is or if there is any at all.

It is in his final flourish that Christopher Nolan shows any focus on emotions and a narrative. Done with his circus act of planes, boats and bombs, the camera finally moves to his characters, the situation they are in, their apprehensions, their little triumphs and the event in its entirety that was termed a colossal military disaster. There are moments here and there, strewn about – that indicate what the movie could’ve been had there been more focus on its narrative as well – this is where Jonathan Nolan’s contribution is missed the most, I suppose.

However, Dunkirk, as it stands is amongst the best that Christopher Nolan has made and it is cinematic triumph at that. Its not everybody’s cup of tea, mind you, there’s no tinted glasses here – there’s death and despair at every corner and that can be depressing. However, it is a masterpiece that re-defines this particular genre and gives all the other directors of such movies, plenty to think about.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Movie Review: Jagga Jasoos..an entirely different case




When I first heard of Jagga Jasoos – I thought this would be Anurag Basu’s answer to Detective Byomkesh Bakshy. Then the trailer came and I was utterly baffled. It looked more inspired from Jim Carrey’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective than the famous sleuth. Thankfully, as it turns out, it is neither – but what it is – well its an entirely new genre – new to Bollywood at least.

Beyond doubt, this is Bollywood’s first true musical. I haven’t done a lot of research before saying this but of all the movies I have seen, this is the one that resembles a musical the most. One that doesn’t use songs as a crutch or a necessity. The music and songs are in the fabric of the movie itself. Okay so maybe it goes a tad too far with songs like ‘Sab khana kha ke..’ (a catchy number but ill-placed in terms of plot progression). Even so, there is a lot to be appreciated on the whole approach to the movie making itself.

This is the movie directed by the man who gave us Barfi. That deliciously thoughtful entertainer that left a distinctly sweet taste in the mouth (I really don’t care for all the talk of it having copied scenes, it was an original script!). While the movie has his signature touch – a poignant theme, good use of sounds and music intermingling well and clear plot progression – its not as refined a product as Barfi was.

Saswata Chatterjee – we first got glimpses of his potential with the thrilling Kahaani. While much of the credit could have gone to his character rather than his acting in that movie, with Jagga Jasoos he more than makes a mark. His fatherly character perfectly conveys every emotion within a heartbeat and when crumples into tears at a sense of personal loss – you’d shed a tear too with him.
Ranbir is in full flow as well but his character itself is not as strong. That said, he catapults into a different league in the more emotional bits. Katrina Kaif looks pretty but her role is pretty minimal despite a fair amount of airtime.

One challenge the movie faces is in conveying what it wants to be – a vehicle to spread a social message, an amateur detective’s foray into an unknown and dangerous world, a musical with the usual song and dance routine – so it ends up being a bit of everything. That’s a bit sad because when it tries to be just one thing, the movie really shines.

Jagga runs along at a fair clip and despite being told in ‘chapters’ – continues to capture your attention throughout. Some of the progression is fairly outlandish but it happens in such a flow that you let it pass. Jagga then is a musical adventure – there’s no case here and no mystery to solve. If that doesn’t spoil things for you, you really should go for this crazy ride.

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Movie Review: Spiderman – Homecoming…welcome return but a new species



Marvel extended universe now has one of the coolest animation intros you’ll see across the board. The way it creates the build-up you really gear up for something spectacular. Avengers was and continues to be their finest ever and they leverage that to the full extent.

They also pulled out all the stops for Spiderman Homecoming – multiple teasers, so much branding and even a custom IMAX countdown specifically for the web-slinger. While the idea of this new countdown works the execution isn’t all that good and the original still shines through despite being much older. That holds true for our friendly neighborhood Spiderman as well.

Its been eons now that the Sam Raimi version of Peter Parker and his web slinger breathed life into our favorite superhero and in my view truly embodied the spirit of Spiderman (Especially Spiderman 2). Since then sadly we’ve had Spiderman 3, and the two reboots which simply didn’t cut muster and give us enough of the sperhero we wanted to see more of. Now making yet another comeback, Spiderman Homecoming gives us Spidey in a whole new avatar. While many will call this one the coolest Spiderman movie yet, I feel it trades off being cool to being more heartfelt and genuine as the Sam Raimi movies.

Captain America – Civil War. That’s what gave Spidey his exalted status in the extended Marvel universe. What started off as a delightful cameo in a superhero ensemble movie is now its own feature – with Spiderman Homecoming. Thankfully, there isn’t yet another origin story here. Spiderman became spiderman after a bug bit him and that’s that. Let’s get to the good stuff.

And there is plenty of it. The action though it comes in fits and starts, is blindingly fast but due to slick camerawork and high quality effects one can follow most of the proceedings. The movie walks a tightrope between a teenager’s growing up problems and a superhero who’s trying to come off age. While it comes off as goofy and fun for the most part, the movie really comes into its own when it changes tone for a bit.  That too is short-lived though and after all the good work, the climactic battle on a jet in the night is a bad advertisement for all the terrific action prior to it.

Much like the other MCU offerings, there are generous doses of humor every now and then, but one does get the feeling that this version of Spidey is trying too hard – too hard to make you laugh, too hard to build connect and concern for its chief protagonist and too hard on many other fronts. It just removes some of the sheen from the offering.

I think my biggest grouse (and this is more a personal view than a movie flaw) is the direction it takes Spidey in – making him a protégé for Ironman rather than a standalone superhero. Had we not seen Raimi’s version of Spiderman, we might’ve bought it, but after having seen that – I can’t see spidey as a kid in an iron-man’esque suit. That just spoils it for me.

One of the main reasons why the new Spidey works though is Tom Holland. Perfectly slipping under the skin of this very different Spidey, Holland brings a sense of childlike innocence to the character – as both Parker as well as Spidey. Even with the Sam Raimi/ Tobey Macguire movies – once he wore the suit, Spidey knew what he had to do. In Holland’s case though, he is still clueless on what is expected off him – and in its own whacky way – that works. Another aspect that brings some much needed gravitas to this Homecoming is Michael Keaton. With perfect screen presence, Keaton steals the show in a handful of scenes and despite a weak character for a villain, he more than makes his presence felt.


Overall then, Spiderman makes a welcome return – even if it does bring home a very different creature than what I expected. Oh, and there’s no end credits scene – just mid-credits. But you might still want to stick around – just to see the smart prank Marvel pulls off with the crowd.

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Movie Review: Wonder Woman...Amazonian for the most part



DC was badly in need of resurrection. Apart from the hugely successful Nolan directed Batman franchise, there's really nothing that DC's been able to pull off which has lingered in the memory in recent times (well, at least not for the right reasons). With Wonder Woman, the good news is that at least the first steps in that direction seem to have been taken. This in spite of the fact, that Wonder Woman has a laughably bad climax after doing all the good work for the most part.

Right from its beginning, the movie has a definite sense of flow to it. Scenes meld into each other beautifully and even though the lore is a bit long drawn, it is wonderfully rendered in its animation. Few movies have captured the anguish and sheer despair of war as Wonder Woman surprisingly manages to. For a superhero movie it does feel incredibly real. The action is well presented with liberal and yet justifiable use of slow-mo effects.From the dark and brooding presentation of its previous movies, DC does up the ante on the humor, though its nowhere as smooth as that of the MCU. Still at least its a start in that direction

Jenkins, the director, clearly gives Wonder Woman her day in the sun. Her powers are on full display as is her athletic prowess. Gadot plays it really well as well - the tough exterior with the soft heart. Her accent goes well with the foreign background of her character, though she does struggle a bit with the emotional pieces. When I first saw Gadot, many moons ago, as a sidekick love interest in a Fast & Furious movie, I didn't put much stock on her. With Wonder Woman though, she stamps her authority as the first female superhero. Chris Pine is wonderfully natural, more so than perhaps his now trademark, Star Trek avatar.

And then..there's the climax... after making a wonderfully realistic and true to life origin story, what possessed Jenkins to go in completely the opposite direction, perhaps only she can say. The impact though, is that it all but undoes the good work done by her in the movie up to that point. Its not as bad as the same mother name stopping the supposed clash of the titans in Dawn of justice. I know that's not saying much and unfortunately that's all that can be said for it.

I know the reviews have marked this one as not to miss and put it up there with the likes of Batman Begins. I'd say that's a stretch. Given DC's track record though, Wonder Woman is a breath of fresh air and with a befitting climax it would've been amongst the better superheroes movies even across the Marvel universe. Despite its bad start with Dawn of Justice, the Justice League sets up well with its introduction of Wonder Woman. Let's hope DC can maintain the standard.

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Movie Review: Naam Shabana…doesn’t succeed in making a name for itself



Last year we saw one of the most fabled franchises of all time have a spinoff of its own – away from the main storyline and in its own style and presentation. We are of course, talking about Star Wars and Rogue One. Why are we talking about it in the first place? Its because Naam Shabana is a similar attempt with it being a spin off from the movie Baby. Yes, you heard me right – movie, not franchise. But such as it is, we have Naam Shabana and to make matters worse, it doesn’t even do the few things that Baby got at least somewhat right. As you would’ve probably guessed, by now, am no fan of Baby either.

Naam Shabana starts off slow and becomes slower. For a thriller, that’s certainly not a great start. After having seen MS Dhoni, I am pretty sure this one too has the mark of Neeraj Pandey in a lot of places. For, it is only Neeraj Pandey who believes, that every frame, every shot that he takes is vintage stuff – whether its MS Dhoni’s ride back home or its Shabana’s daily routine – that adds nothing to the plot whatsoever. What could’ve been shown as an initial set up ends up taking all of the first half with no thrills at all.

The second half pretty much picks up where Baby left off – and I am not referring to the shameless copy of Argo that it did. I meant more in its styling – heavy background score and slow motion action even in places where you don’t need the dramatic effect. The team coming together is a bit of a pleasant surprise but the fun is missing. This wasn’t a very ‘fun’ team to begin with and the comic relief is very sporadic.To make matters worse the movie is predictable to a fault and there is nothing that will surprise or jolt you. How is this a thriller again?….

If the movie works somewhat its primarily due to Taapsee Pannu’s sincere efforts and the glimpses that you get of Akshay Kumar, the veteran, at work. No one does action better than this guy and the action in the movie is hard hitting and realistic. That aspect though is a bit of a misfit in a script that coolly ignores holes that will have you scoffing at the proceedings pretty regularly. Manoj Bajpayee is wasted in a role that has him do nothing more than speak on the phone at all times.


Baby was a brave movie, despite its faults. It needed a sequel or two before one thought of making origin stories and spinoff franchises. Even if this was a spinoff that talked of how the entire team came together, it may have still packed a punch. However, as it stands, Naam Shabana at close to 2 and a half hours of runtime, becomes a painstakingly long watch, with hardly any thrills to be had. Unless you are a huge fan of Baby (for reasons unbeknownst to me), I wouldn’t recommend an outing for this one.

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Movie Review: Badrinath ki Dulhania…loses its direction at the altar



Story and direction are crucial elements of a film – lead them astray and you end up with a bewildered, irritated and sometimes enraged audience. That’s the best way to describe what happens with this second outing of Dulhania after the underwhelming spoof on DDLJ that was Humpty Sharma.

Till about the the interval stage – the movie is quite a breeze. Some parts even shine, particularly the hilarious exchange between the main duo on a bus. Scenes like that remind you of the hilarity that a movie like Raanjhanaa offered in its first half – though the laughs were more consistent in that one. However, a key difference is that while Raanjhanaa chose a very brave direction to its plotline and maintained its grip on the audience, Badrinath goes completely awry.

The plot direction just doesn’t make any sense, especially when you consider there are two heart patients in the mix and the character who does the act is shown to be level headed and mature. While there a slew of issues that the movie attempts to tackle, or at least portray, it doesn’t really go beyond the stereotype and the rhetoric. Frankfinn Institute possibly gets its worst advertisement as a training academy as does the job of an air hostess but I get ahead of myself.

If there’s any reason that keeps you still interested, it’s the main pair that give it their best – particularly Varun Dhawan who even overshadows Alia in a couple of scenes. He overdoes it a tad too much with the comedy but his anguish is quite visible in the sadder moments. In the circumstances, the climax is particularly well done after all the dragging and waiting for the inevitable that is the second half of this movie.

The songs are few and due to the already slow narrative, still a challenge to sit through. The writing is good in parts – some exchanges will make you guffaw while others make you cringe – nothing to write home about.

Humpty Sharma borrowed heavily from DDLJ and hence had a coherent plotline. While Badrinath attempts to tell a good new story and also address a serious topic it completely loses the plot at the interval stage and doesn’t manage to recover from it at all.


As to the review title? Well that’s a bit of a paradox – you’ll have to see the movie to fully get it and I wouldn’t recommend an outing for this one.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Movie Review: Logan..sinks its claws into Wolverine



Its rare that I am particularly proud of the review title that I manage to come up with – this is one of those instances. Why? Because while the title literally indicates that Logan is those one in ten movies that actually gets to the soul of Wolverine, his character and his place amongst the X-men, there is also a figurative connotation. Logan is not about showing Wolverine in his superhero avatar that we are all too familiar with. No, this Logan is more about the human who hides the claws, his flaws and how he contemplates life with his gift (his curse) and all that has happened to him because of it.

At the outset, I am not going to rave about the movie and compare it to the iconic Dark Knight and other such stuff. Logan is the swan song that Wolverine deserved, beyond doubt. But let’s not get carried away here. Over its 2 hours runtime there are a fair number of occasions that the narrative slows to a near halt.

From its outset, Logan gives the impression of a movie where the director knows what he is doing. He is in no hurry to impress you. The scenes build slowly and palpably. Some stuff gets explained, most of it is not. However, its with its action that the movie and grasp of the soul of its protagonist that the movie truly shines. While there aren’t explosive set pieces – in fact, most of it is about close quarters combat, the quality of action is really good, especially the way it is directed.

One thing this movie misses, unlike its other ilk in the Marvel universe – is generous doses of humor. While there is a bit of wry humor here and there – the laughs are pretty few and far between here. This one focuses on being gritty and dark instead. In  terms of the acting, I am sure Hugh Jackman himself would feel that he is half wolverine at this point. To do a ‘Logan’ at this point, would’ve been a challenge, but if it was – it doesn’t show. Hugh Jackman is in great form as is our older and much depleted Charles Xavier that Patrick Stewart faithfully reprises.


While Logan does a lot for Wolverine, there was scope to explain and do a lot more. While by no means a bad watch, it misses greatness by just that bit. How much you’ll enjoy Logan is driven largely by how well you understand him – his anguish at what has happened to his world and in part, also if you’ve been dismayed at how banal some of the earlier attempts were to show him in the right light. If you feel Logan’s pain, this one will sink its claws quite deeply into you. If you are new to the franchise itself however, this being Logan’s last bow, it may not quite resonate with you as much.

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Movie Review: Jolly LLB2….jolly good sequel



I have to say, I was skeptical about this sequel. While the original was a surprisingly good package for a low budget movie, I felt it had its flaws and this one would simply be a money spinner like most sequels tend to be. However, I was wrong and Jolly LLB2 is worth all the praise and goodwill it is receiving. While not a winner all the way, it’s a gripping and engaging watch for the most part with some sharp commentary on very relevant issues.

From its opening, the movie asserts that this Jolly is going to be very different from the original and he is not to be taken lightly. In fact, despite similar characters, the movie relies very little on the connect to its origin story despite the occasional nod to it. This works well and those who have not seen the original won’t be missing anything.

What the sequel misses though, as compared to the original is tight packaging. Jolly LLB had a simple case, that got more and more complex, more and more desperate for our protagonist and even towards the end just emphasized on the hopelessness of the due process which allowed criminals to get away. While making things difficult for the protagonist is still the focus, the other elements don’t come together really well.

Instead, part II relies on some really smart arguments and exchanges, strong performances and a gripping presentation – to keep you interested besides the gaps. The stakes are clearly much higher this time around and its no longer about a lawyer fumbling and stumbling his way through to a solution. Shots are fired, people get hurt and there’s hardly any room for error. I’ll stop here..

While Arshad Warsi was somewhat the weak link, despite his earnest performance in Jolly LLB, there are no such issues with Akshay Kumar playing the lead role here. While not a scene stealer, he very much holds his own despite a weakly written character for the protagonist. Sorabh Shukla is in great form again and slips into his, now familiar, character with ease. Annu Kapoor as the antagonist, is a shade better than Boman Irani but tends to get a little over the top.


The writing, like the original, is good with some particularly witty one-liners. The songs are few and don’t disrupt the pacing. Overall, Subhash Kapoor puts together a jolly good show this second time and this is definitely a case worth re-visiting.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Movie Review: Rangoon..not a very memorable visit



Vishal Bhardwaj – there is now many a movie I have gone for, just because that’s the name of the director behind it. Ever since Kamineyy I have kept this director on a mantle, hoping for the same magic to repeat. Despite monstrosities like Matru ki bijli..I persevered. I wonder now though, if I may have placed too much faith and if its time for a reality check.

I don’t think there’s still any doubt on his directorial skills. There are plenty on display even with his latest offering of Rangoon. Rangoon is visually alluring and has moments of perfect harmony of expert cinematography and production design combined with directorial flair. The challenge though is that the sum of its parts doesn’t add up to a beautiful symphony. The main culprit, as is oft the case – is the storytelling.

While set in the backdrop of World War II, the story doesn’t really need a canvas like that. What could’ve been a story of real wartime struggles, or love in the time of war – instead just becomes a story of love which happens to be in the backdrop of war. There are plenty of quirks – as is often the case with Vishal Bhardwaj movies, the English general with his penchant for Hindi, the inside jokes on Churchill and Hitler – a lot of which seem banal and take away from the movie rather than add to it.

If you are able to sit through the extra long run time of close to two and a half hours, it is largely due to the strong performances from its three leads. Whatever faults the movie has, casting is not one of them. Saif Ali Khan doesn’t have a deeply complex character, but his wonderfully understated performance will have you wondering if there are deeper emotions that never come to the fore. Kangna Ranaut is brilliant, with her tough act of Julia – she slips under the skin of her character with effortless ease and delivers with panache. Shahid Kapoor is by no means the weak link, but given his acting repertoire his character rarely challenges him. Still he has great screen presence in his ample airtime on screen.

With a stronger storyline and good writing this movie could’ve done wonders. Instead, it gets relegated to being a wonder perhaps in the director’s vision, that doesn’t translate as much on screen. The romances are unconvincing, the change in characters' motivations and emotions, even more so. The umpteen songs don’t help matters – not one of them is memorable and only serve to slow down the already slow pacing of the movie making you glance at the watch plenty of times.


Rangoon had a good canvas and backdrop. With ample time spent on its setting, one hoped that the story would meld smoothly into it and provide an original and refreshing experience. Instead, despite a few well presented moments, the overall package is predictable and not memorable – making Rangoon not the most favored destination this week.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Movie Review: Lego Batman..builds and blocks at the same time



While the world seemed to love the original lego movie – I thought it was just about okay. Being an ardent fan of the Dark Knight though, I was much interested in this sequel to the lego saga. The start was near brilliant – it had all the makings of a spoof made by a fanboy in a rather unique paradox. However, after the first 20 minutes or so, some of the fun died down.

How much you will enjoy Lego Batman is driven largely by how much of a Batman fan you are and how much you have seen of Batman earlier (I am not talking just about the Nolan movies…right up to na na na na na…Batman…if you know what I mean). If so, there are little moments that will have you in splits and are the best pieces of this Batman lego model.

Outside of that, the animation is extremely good and the story telling – good in parts. The best and worst aspect of Batman Lego movie is that – well it’s a lego movie. Best – because that means it can get away with practically anything and it really exploits this fact – some of the gags, characters and call outs are the most outlandish and bizarre that you will get to see and worst because despite having a deep seated central premise that has the potential to hit at the very psyche of who Batman is, it relapses into the familiar children friendly tone and storyline that becomes predictable and boring.

Will Arnett’s voice acting is perfect as Batman. This might be a mere coincidence but there are a few parallels to be drawn between the obstinate, self obsessed, ‘I am okay you are not okay’ characters of Batman and the new US President (especially the spoof versions of conversations between him and Obama on the Conan show).The other characters and there a quite a few of these, are also enacted as well.

The writing which needs to be the real star of the show is in uneven form – there are some crackling one liners and others really bring things down. Just when it gets really fun, it either over-does things or resorts to some pedestrian writing. The 3D stuff is there but isn’t particularly eye popping – and I saw this in IMAX. I wouldn’t recommend you do that.


At the end of it all, this lego version of the Dark Knight certainly rises but only sporadically. It isn’t the out n out rip roaring hit that critics are making it out to be – but it is a fair bit of fun especially for its good parts. If you are a Batman fan and familiar with the lore, I'd definitely say its still worth a watch. Not so much for the others. If more of the movie would have been like its beginning though, this would have been one hell of a ride for everybody
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