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.

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.