Movie Review: Chashme Baddoor…bad bad bad..stay dooor!!!

 

Yeah..I’ll admit it..my blog title for this one is a sad pun on the name of the movie but its entirely an intentional move. Its to give you some idea of the low standard cinema you are bound to receive if you still decide to go for this movie despite my repeated warnings (this being only the first of many)

I honestly don’t know what the hooplah is all about. All that talk of David Dhawan ‘being back’ when he serves us such trash frankly boggles the mind. Remember Rascals?? (I sincerely hope you don’t)..well, consider this one only a tad better..and that lone fragment of respect comes only because there are a few chuckles to be had in the second half of the movie

David Dhawan has never really been known for high quality cinema. However, in his ‘Govinda golden period’ he at least had the ability to make us laugh, genuinely laugh to be more specific, as an audience. Either I have matured too much as a viewer or standards have fallen too sharply but to me there is nothing even marginally comedic about his offerings these days. I bring this up only because I saw this in PVR Cinemas (supposedly the ‘classy’ audience) and the majority seemed to be in splits over scenes and writing that was so sad it could actually be described as cringe-worthy…so you figure it out

I don’t know how you found the original movie in the first place. To me it was strictly okay and in fact, pretty sad compared to gems like Chupke Chupke  and Golmaal (let me be very clear - the original one starring Amol Palekar). Considering that as the inspiration, the new-age Chashme Buddoor can at best be described as a fairly faithful remake that’s marginally watchable but definitely not hall-worthy

The only reason this drivel works to a moderate extent is because of the collective efforts of the 3 main leads who try their utmost (sometimes in fact too much) to make ordinary or rather low quality writing work magic. Well, the tricks fall flat and to spoil the party further, our female lead stumbles on most of her dialogues as well. Rishi Kapoor is wasted in a role that he could perform well with his eyes closed and while Anupam Kher does a good job, he is let down by everything else – the writing, his character, the works.

The emphasis in the entire movie is on over-doing things and coupled with pathetic writing, it makes for a bad combination. The lone thing this movie does well, is re-create the original with Chamko and filmy rescue intact. That and the handful of decent sequences in the second half make this movie somewhat bearable

I didn’t expect to do it so soon, but I actually found myself comparing this movie to Kya Super Kool Hain Hum in terms of which insulted the audience’s mental capacities more. In a line, 'Dum nahi hai boss' (a line you will be able to amply relate to if you do see this one despite all my warnings)

Movie Review: Django Unchained..is high class movie making..unrestrained

 

Django Unchained heralds the arrival of the ‘southerner’. You’ll get the full import of those words only once you watch the movie though and watch it you must. I haven’t been a great Tarantino fan. But Django Unchained tells me exactly why he deserves every bit of the adulation and respect that he gets if not more. If you don’t catch Django in the hall there is a rare piece of high quality cinema you are clearly missing

Despite his obsession with blood and gore still being clearly visible (some would call it his trademark and signature) with Django Unchained, Tarantino goes beyond and gives a lesson in superlative film-making. Beautiful cinematic shots, top notch writing, excellent use of background score and music, pacing of the scenes and then the directorial touches – the spray of red on white flowers, the sudden action when none was expected, the celebration of the hero and his arrival – Tarantino stamps his authority all over the movie with considerable aplomb. There is almost a sense of symphony that Tarantino manages amidst all the blood splatter and  gunfire, holding your attention  all throughout

As the icing on the cake, performances are absolutely top notch. Relatively speaking, Christoph Waltz and Jamie Foxx are in sparkling form making an unlikely but very promising partnership. Leonardo di Capricio comes in well into the second half but is menacing in his portrayal only to be outdone by a barely recognizable Sameul L Jackson. All in all, the stellar starcast delivers its value in solid gold so no complaints there either

If you have to complain (and only if you must) you could talk of the rather extended runtime seeing that it runs for what would be a rather painful 165 minutes. Especially since this includes a rather extended 20 minutes when all could have been wrapped up earlier but now as I reflect on it I realize that cutting out any scene would have robbed this gem of at least some of its sheen..I wouldn't change anything.

If you are not a fan of the rather dying form of movies known as westerners till date, this movie might well make you one. I can think of absolutely no reason not to recommend you watching this one, (unless you’ve got three little dimples in your skull in the area of stupidity, maybe :P) so go book your tickets today before Django rides off into the sunset

Movie Review: Jolly LLB…doesn’t make a very convincing case

Strictly average is how you would describe this highly anticipated flick with Arshad Warsi playing the lead role. There are a few glimpses of high quality cinema – some power packed dialogues, a twist in the tale or two, some impressive writing and a few genuine laughs. However, overall, when it comes down to the final verdict, you get the distinct impression that while the intent may have been honest and earnest, the execution and presentation definitely lacked finesse.

Jolly LLB starts off simple and straight-forward which suits its setting and characters. However, the transition of the characters, as they get confronted by new challenges and situations is rather abrupt and disjointed. What’s worse is that there are seemingly gaping plot holes and over-simplifications that are only too obvious in the first watch itself. Either there is a shocking lack of depth in the research or an attempt to be overtly sensational and melodramatic or maybe they could simply not think of any other way to move the plot forward. Whatever the reasons, the ploy fails miserably and you only end up shaking your head in disbelief in certain sequences

The 3 completely unnecessary songs don’t help matters either and act as further delays to an already uni-dimensional plot. The interval does leave you with a ray of hope with something unexpected and you come back eager for more of the same in the second half. However, what gets served thereon is pretty ordinary.  Watching this movie you can’t help but think that in all probability the director had a few good ideas and got so excited with them that he hurriedly put together a movie. With the right time and effort, Jolly LLB had every reason to be Jolly good. With time spent on etching out each character, getting the audience to love/hate them, it would have led to a winning argument. Alas, for reasons unknown, what we have ultimately is average fare that makes an unconvincing argument

As for the performances, you get an absolute saviour in the performance of Saurabh Shukla. The veteran actor is in his element as the blustery judge who looks more lazy than he really is and his dialogues and performance simply shine. He is probably the best reason to watch this movie. As Jolly, Arshad Warsi, puts in an earnest performance. However, since the character itself needs fine-tuning it doesn’t make as much of an impact. One’s heart does go out to the poor guy – a phenomenal sidekick actor, he just doesn’t manage to make the same impression as a lead. Boman Irani doesn’t look as convincing at first but his performance becomes better as the plot gathers momentum, resulting in a decent, but not vintage performance. Amrita Rao as the love interest, looks simple and pretty as always, but her dialogue delivery lacks conviction

 

Jolly LLB then, doesn’t make for a very convincing case for me and I wouldn’t argue in its favor other than for Saurabh Shukla’s show stealing performance and a handful of power pack dialogues. Still the final verdict is yours to make

Movie Review: Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster Returns..pretty impressively

Its not often, in fact, its quite rare that we have had a worthy sequel offering in Bollywood. With Race 2, Don 2, Dabbang 2, Jannat 2 coming to mind, the sequel is pretty much meant to be the money spinner, without much thought to plot development and a half decent script. However, Tigmanshu Dhulia clearly emerges as the exception to that rather depressing norm, with another fairly impressive second helping of this deceitful and intriguing set of characters

First things first, do you need to have seen the first movie to follow what happens in the sequel? Well, not really but I would definitely recommend that you do, since its a pretty decent watch. Moreover, it develops the main characters, and while the Gangster may have changed, the Saheb and Biwi are very much intact so you’ll follow proceedings a lot better if you do

Coming to the sequel itself, well the start is very impressive. Other than the background score being unnecessarily loud in certain sequences, the Saheb, Biwi and Gangster are introduced very well. The plot development is tight and gripping. There is a manner of subtlety in which scenes of hard-hitting politics are shown and one is reminded of epics like Godfather, Sarkar in certain scenes of directorial brilliance. If only the entire movie had proceeded along those lines..

As it stands though, there are too many sub-plots/ incidents that while being well depicted, do nothing much for the main storyline and end up slowing a narrative which is itself meant to be filled with treachery, intrigue and politics. Further, add the unnecessary song and dance that again does nothing for the plot and you have yourself a rather long 2 hours 25 minutes to endure in the hall.

Humor is used quite well and there is many a punch in the intelligent one liners and scenes that will have you guffawing every now and then. However, after a while, while you still laugh, it begins to feel over-done and you want to get back to the main plot

The main issue here, in my view, is that in Tigmanshu Dhulia, you have a pretty accomplished and intelligent but rather indulgent director which means he tries to put all his ideas in one movie, stretching it unnecessarily. With a taut script and delivery, Returns…would have struck a stunning blow but the extra runtime and scenes tend to dull the impact. I have a bit of bone to pick with the climax/ending as well, but wouldn’t want to ruin it for you guys, so will refrain.

In terms of performances, Jimmy Shergill clearly stands out as the proud, haughty but sharp Saheb while Irrfan is a close second (surprisingly). Mahie Gill is erratic as ever and while some scenes are delivered with perfection, others will make you grimace, wondering if this is the same actor performing. Soha Ali Khan, looks pretty and expressive in some scenes but is too stony faced and wooden in her performance. A special mention to Rajeev Gupta who plays his minor role as a bumbling politician to the T and brings many a laugh

To sum it up then, Returns..makes a solid re-appearance that is definitely worth the effort. While it could’ve been shorter and snappier, there’s not too much to complain about and you should certainly enjoy your time in the hall

Movie Review: Kai Po Che…blown away!!

 

There’s no better way to say it – just book your tickets right away. It is rare that one gets treated to a movie of such quality and Kai Po Che is a winner all the way through. Across the comfortable 120 minutes you get to watch this piece of high quality cinema you are bound to experience a range of emotions, not all of them cheerful (and maybe even that lump in the throat sensation), yet when you emerge from the hall satisfaction is writ large all over your face – that’s the kind of impact this movie makes

Based on a rather mediocre novel by Chetan Bhagat, Kai Po Che lifts the story to new heights and the kite soars much farther than your expectations. A great deal of credit for this must go to the director – Abhishek Kapoor. Stunningly crafted, the pace of the movie never slackens and some scenes have that stamp of directorial class about them.

While one initially gets the feeling that character development was weak, such thoughts are quickly dismissed as the director loosens the string and allows the kite the freedom to chart its own journey. The plot simply flows as does your concern for the main characters, their friendship and well-being. Subtle scenes and the absence of any music/ sound deliver a far more shattering impact than most movies which rely on tumultuous background score to make their point. Certain scenes/ plot developments are tweaked just that bit, which catapult them to a new level than the ordinary predictable stuff. Abhishek Kapoor announced himself with Rock On and with this even more refined offering he will definitely be one to watch out for

To add to the kudos, despite mostly being in debut roles, the star cast put in a commendable performance. Sushant Singh Rajput showed great screen presence for a debutante and the others, Raj Kumar Yadav and Amit Sadh also played their role very well. Amrita Puri as the love interest wasn’t as impressive but to be fair, her character didn’t give him much room to perform. There isn’t too much of the song and dance routine as well and the little there is moves in-step with the plot

Simply put, Kai Po Che is beautifully crafted and watching a movie like this can never count as a ‘mistake in your life’ so go book your tickets right away

Movie Review: Zero Dark Thirty..is dull and dreary for the most part

Zero Dark Thirty is a pretty average watch – and I can say even this only after a largely redeeming second half that somewhat lifts the movie after its dull and rather extended opening sequences in the first half.
The Greatest Manhunt in history (the tagline with which this movie is advertised) keeps you completely detached and disconnected to its proceedings for the most part, especially in the first half. At no point does one feel part of the chase, feel the frustration of failure, feel the delight in small victories…none of that. Zero Dark Thirty is just too busy keeping a serious face throughout its runtime and as audience, you just don’t feel the connect

Instead you have to sit through painfully long and extended interrogation sessions, replays of actual events that shook the world even post 9/11 and the scramble and hunt also comes through only in parts. Half the time you are actually wondering what new lead is being followed and why the hell is it taking so long for them to get on with the show. Clearly, connecting with and engaging the audience is not on agenda for this movie.

To give credit, there are some scenes that are done well and would have some shock value – so when you’ve almost given up and the eyelids are beginning to droop, the movie will jolt you back into full attention. That and the much better connected second half and well presented (though not really thrilling) climax somewhat redeem the movie, but only just

Despite its poor writing and unnecessarily extended scenes, the movie could have been saved by an A-level starcast who could’ve breathed some life into this high potential but ultimately lifeless script. However, there is little respite there as well, with Jessica Chastain playing the lead character and while she does a decent job, she is still unable to lift the movie overall. Nobody else in the star-cast really stood out to even be of mention

Thus, as I begin the weekend on a rather dull note the verdict is this - with an agonizing runtime of 157 minutes and its dull and lifeless script, Zero Dark Thirty is really not worth a visit to the hall. Hopefully, someone will think of making a better version of this chronicle.

Movie Review: Special 26..is a pretty special watch

 

If you are one of those rare but extremely lucky ones who has not even seen the trailers of this much hyped offering by Neeraj Pandey, you are in for quite a treat – just book your tickets immediately (you could even choose to stop reading this review right here). However, if you are one of the many who have seen the trailer and know the whole ‘real is fake’ drama the movie revolves around – then the first hour of this two and a half hour heist offering will probably look very familiar. But don’t fret, there’s plenty of fun to be had and you are still bound to come out with a big smile on your face

A Wednesday, Neeraj Pandey’s first, was stellar – a tightly packaged, well paced thriller with quite a thrill as you neared the climax. There were no unnecessary songs or scenes and the entire focus was on plot narration and letting the script itself be the winner. Special 26, though, is not as flawless – in fact, it falls prey to the stereotypical Bollywood act and has an unnecessary love angle with 3 songs for company. Moreover, the pacing tends to slow down unnecessarily on multiple occasions. Thankfully, though, by the end of it all Pandey more than redeems himself and you distinctly get the feeling that he’s quite managed to pull it off again, despite those hiccups

Heist movies aren’t the best genre that Bollywood has, to offer. Most of the recent ones tend to have the plot clearly lifted from successful Hollywood movies - the Oceans series, Italian Job, Usual Suspects etc come to mind. With Special 26 though, Pandey comes up with a high class act with its own original script and thrills to be had. In fact, this is one of these rare movies where even if you’ve managed to guess it the entire way through, you'll still revel in the discovery and enjoy the movie just as much. While its tempting – I won’t reveal more…

For a movie set in the 1980s there is incredible attention to detail – right from the cars, attire to even the initial casting being reminiscent of those days. Camerawork is snazzy and effective with high quality wide angle shots and equally effective close up scenes. Background score is liberally used and adds to the pacing and tension in certain scenes

Performances are top notch as well with the veteran Anupam Kher leading from the front, despite Akshay Kumar playing the main character. His versatility is clearly on display and he plays his character with great aplomb. Manoj Bajpai puts in his usual dependable performance as does Jimmy Shergill while Kajal Agarwal has too little role to be of notice

So the verdict is this – while it may not be as picture perfect as his debut, as far as heist movies go, Neeraj Pandey delivers a pretty ‘special’ offering – don’t miss it