hsm2310 Reviews

Dangal (2016)

Dangal is very special. Ultimate mix of technical film making and popular cinema

[9/10 · 23 December 2016]

Dangal (9/10) is the kind of film for which the 70mm medium exists. It has universal appeal, is technically brilliant and more than anything else it is a film that skillfully balances popular sentiments and realism. It is going to reach tens of millions of people without having compromised the quality of storytelling.

An extraordinary story of some extraordinary people who not only conquered their fears but also a society which had the negativity to kill their dreams even before they were born.

If Chak De was a fine example of exemplary editing in a sports film and Pan Singh Tomar was an exceptional sports film with great depth and realism, Dangal would forever be remembered as one of the best Indian sports film for the sheer reach it will have. Wrestling is a fast paced technical sport. To make the whole thing look as authentic as it has looked in the film, it would have required some meticulous planning and extensive training and they have done it really well.

The fact that you feel the frustration that Mahavir Singh Phogat feels in the final scene and you along with the whole audience begins to clap after each of Geeta's winning bout as if there was a live game at display shows how supremely engaging the film is. One negative, though not significant enough to harm the film is that it has over dramatazied the narrative at the cost of slight misrepresentation of the facts.

Only if the majority of Indian film makers could realize that it is not impossible to make good cinema with popular appeal, we would start getting more than just a couple of Hindi films every year worth watching. Now is a good time to list Top Films from India in the Sports/Drama genre: 1)Paan SIngh Tomar 2)Dangal 3)Chak De India 4)Iqbal 5)Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander 6)Lagaan 7)Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Piku (2015)

Shoojit Sircar's film for your body and your soul. Amitabh's best in years. Masterfully done.

[10/10 · 9 May 2015]

Just like Bhashkor Banerjee doesn't like liars I wouldn't want to keep my readers in dark for long. I just loved the film. I loved each bit of this film from the core of my heart. It is the best (if there is any other) slice of life, road trip film to have come out of Bollywood in recent history. The film has all the ingredients to be a wonderful cinematic journey and it just doesn't fail. It has the star of the millennium leading from front. Many would also go to the extent of calling him the actor of the millennium as well and I would rather choose to agree than to disagree. It also has one of the best character actors that Bollywood has today. It also has someone by the name of Deepika Padukone who is no way close to the other two when it comes to acting but she is learning and she must get the credit for that. Not to miss out on the fact that she also manages to take your attention on the screen away from none other than Big B himself, courtesy her charm. She plays her part well enough to make the film a joyous journey. And over all this you have Shoojit Sircar, who has now started to show glimpses of brilliance through simplicity, a tag that has been associated with Basuda and Hrishida for long. He seems to have perfected the art of taking difficult subjects and turning them into supremely smooth slice of life films.

The film never gets distracted from its central subject which is Bhashkor Banerjee's stomach just like the Banerjee family never gets time to discuss anything else. The film is a joyride for the whole of 2 hours and 5 odd minutes. It makes you laugh out loud for phases lasting from few minutes to tens of minutes, only to slice new layers of sensitivity in the next few. Even though the span of the film is a few days, Sircar so skilfully is able to show us the deeper traits of all the characters that you begin to relate with each one of them. There are hardly any weaknesses in the film, but the strongest of strengths is the realness of the film. There are quite a few slice of life films that Bollywood has been able to create in last few years, none is as natural as this.

The film begins with a lot of fast edits, which are required when you have a real Bengali situation with real people trying to make multiple points unintentionally moving towards a chaotic confluence of non-ideas. The film could have easily made use of quite a few cinematography tricks to please you on the road trip, but why would it ever need to con the audience when it has such amazing character waiting to give you a free laugh and a cheerful tear. Instead, he uses Anupam Roy's brilliant voice and composition to blend with the screenplay. There are surely quite a few stereotypes that the film breaks and at the same time there are few it doesn't because some stereotypes just don't go.

At 70, Amitabh Bachchan is still at the top of his game. If you have ever been a big Bachchan Saab fan and have not got the best of him lately, this is going to be your dope. His comic timing will put all comedians of today put together to shame. The way he has played the part of an over anxious, ageing and well-meaning Bengali is only something that he could have done and no one else. Needless to say the reason why Irrfan Khan is who he is today is his natural dialogue delivery and he does it again. Every time he delivers a dialogue or even when he communicates in silence, it becomes a treat to watch.

As the story of the film moves ahead, the landscape shifts from the crowded Delhi roads to the 'cultured' streets of Calcutta. Each frame shot in the last 20 minutes of the film will rekindle your love for the city of joy and would want to make you go there again, not just for the aesthetics of the frame but because it speaks through the character of its wood and the structure of its soul. I would not want to spoil anything for you, but I can not not mention the scene where the 70 year old Bhashkor Banerjee rides a bicycle and wanders through Calcutta's core with the look of a child. You would want to watch these five minutes again and again.

Go watch Piku today, and don't just leave it at the theatres, bring it home through your heart…err….stomach.

Ugly (2013)

Dark, Intense and Disturbing : A tale of wretched human motives

[9/10 · 28 December 2014]

It is one of the best to have come out of the Kashyap factory in terms of script and characters. It is one taut, dark, intense and disturbing tale of wretched nature of the human motives and how the grand plan has it's own way of laughing at those.

Interestingly Ugly through each of it's elements will take you back to Kashyap's previous works and remind you why he is truly the king. The brilliant script writing will remind you of Black Friday, Kashyap's first masterpiece. The excellent visual treatment, even though it's not a feature throughout the film is something without which any of AK's films is incomplete. The trippy background score by Brian Oncomber is the stand out feature in the second half of the film when the film begins to approach the tipping point.

Without doubt, the hero of the film is it's characters. Rarely would you come across a film full of complex characters, where the motives of every action of those characters get automatically clear as the story progresses. You do not know what to appreciate more, the courage with which the director is bluntly showing the depraved complexion of human nature or the ease with which that has been knit in a story.The non linear nature of the storytelling in the first half brings the necessary variation which adds to the build up.

Rahul Bhat who is seen on screen after a long gap tells you why there is no dearth of excellent character actors in the country, it's just that there are not enough roles for them. Vineet Singh, aka Danish Khan from GOW, will make you cringe and laugh with the expletive chain reaction. Ronit Roy, in his second powerhouse appearance in a Kashyap production, is perfectly cast. And one performance which is straight out of life is of Girish Kulkarni, as the police inspector. There is as much sincerity in his laugh as is in his sombre face. The one liners are so on mark that you would forget that there is a reel rolling.

Surely, the film has some of it's elements similar to that of Fargo, the classic Hollywood dark comedy, but it never plays on your mind, so it wouldn't qualify as lifting. Kashyapwa has done it again. Can't believe what made them to hold the film for so long.

Dear AK, you are the dark shining light of Bollywood. Keep'em coming

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

Coen Brothers' ode to the heart of a true artist

[9/10 · 6 October 2014]

​​​Inside Llewyn Dewis is not a quintessential Coen Brothers' movie. It ain't dark. It doesn't have cold humor. It won't stay with you all your life. But, it is still one hell of a movie. Technically, it is as good as any period musical drama character study can get.

It is a story of the journey of an artist and a celebration of a musical form, the folk music. It is about the heartbreaks and 'no breaks' that an artist can get if he is not ready to compromise his standing on the manner and style of creation and display of the art form which gives him maximum pleasure and satisfaction. Inside Llewyn Davis literally takes us inside the heart of a true artist, how fragile it is and how that fragility, those sentiments translate into his works, in this case, his voice and his music.

It is a lovely movie and thank god there was Oscar Isaac, a Julliard graduate singer actor because it is hard to imagine anyone else doing justice to the role. Carey Mulligan in her short part in the movie, once again reminds you of how she made you fall in love with her in her previous movies.

​Anyone who has ever felt the need to create art and has felt a special connection between his feelings and the desired output, you are in for an amazing ride.

American Hustle (2013)

Originality, Style and Wit written all over it

[9/10 · 6 October 2014]

David Russell is on a roll. He is reinventing himself with every movie. Thanks to his splendid filmography till date, we know that he has his own and enviable style of humor. In Silver Linings Playbook he created a new genre called serious dromcom. In American Hustle he steps up and infuses humor in a rainbow of other emotions with typical Russelesque style, a style which is shockingly original and entertaining.

A lot of credit should go to the fact that he has used his tried and tested cast in ever versatile Bale, coming of age -Cooper and one of the most promising female actors of these times in Jennifer Lawrence ( Oh! She is so lovable). She is so bloody convincing at everything she does that its almost impossible to not travel with her whenever she is on screen. Jeremy Renner as usual gets into the skin of the character without fuss and Amy Adams can take your breath away while she is trying to play seductive games with Bale and Cooper.

​The USP of American Hustle does not lie in its story (it is like so many other con movies that we have seen in past), it lies in the depth and range of human emotions and behaviors that have been covered and presented with amazing ease, butter smooth camera work, epic one liners and utmost attention of detail. Respect Mr. Russel.

12 Years a Slave (2013)

McQueen's poetic justice to the menace of slavery

[9/10 · 6 October 2014]

Arguably the most remarkable movie ever made on the freedom of human soul along with Schindler's List, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and The Shawshank Redemption. If this piece of cinema can not make one respect and value one's freedom more, only actual loss of freedom will. It is hard to watch and harder to ignore.It is unflinching and provocative.

Steve McQueen has surpassed his previous works by miles when it comes to the scope of the theme, story telling, making the audience part of his vision, detailing, replicating costumes, tenor, sensibilities of a period dating more than 150 years back. At times, when he has juxtaposed silence, motion, sound and beauty of nature with the actions of characters/situations in the movie, he reminds you of Terence Malick, just that the message here is equally beautiful yet less ambiguous and more purposeful.McQueen has not for once held himself back and as a result created some absolutely unforgettable scenes and it is impossible for the viewer to not get absorbed by those.

​The casting couldn't have been better. McQueen sticks with Michael Fassbender for the powerhouse character of the movie, the ruthless slave owner. Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch and Brad Pitt are all cast almost perfectly. And with the superlative performance that Mr. Chiwetel Ejiofor has delivered, there is no doubt that we have 3 top contenders for the Oscars with Matthew McConaughey and Leonardo DiCaprio filling the other two spots. It would be completely unfair to not mention the young actor, Lupita Nyong'o for playing probably the most difficult role in the movie.

​The background score is minimalistic but even with limited scope only Hans Zimmer could have communicated the emotions of the scenes as powerfully as they have been depicted through the visual medium.This one is a must for everyone to have in their personal library because you will surely want to watch it again

Haider (2014)

Haider: Literature on screen. 'Bard'waj's best!

[9/10 · 2 October 2014]

So, hours after I have finished watching the best movie to have come out this year( by a margin), I am finally in a condition to write anything about it. I am going to stick my neck out and say, Haider is the best work of Vishal Bhardwaj till date.

There is no doubt, that for a story driven by passion, revenge, love and power, where emotional dispute forms the core of it, no land other than Kashmir, which has been living under the clouds of dispute ever since, would have been a better choice as the setting for the adaptation.

The film is haunting and engrossing. It seamlessly adapts Hamlet and at the same time creates unforgettable characters of its own and makes us see a complex world through their eyes. I can't recall any other film which has completely been shot in the valley and surely none depicting it in all it's glory.

The film takes off with the event around which the actions of all the the players of the movie would revolve. One gets only the first hour to get to know the basic nature of the characters as platform for the mind blowing second half is being built. At the cusp of the interval when an ever assured Irrfan Khan makes an intriguing entry, you only get a hint of things to come.

The second half unleashes on you Shahid Kapur, who for the first time in his career shows glimpses of Pankaj Kapur. Those three minutes ( you would know which when you watch it ) where Shahid displays what all he is capable of, are those you would want to watch again and again. Kay Kay Menon is now a veteran and he doesn't disappoint.The only weak link to this extraordinary cast could have been Shraddha Kapoor, but she surprises everyone with a very composed yet captivating presence on screen. The heart of the film lies in the eyes of Tabu who makes the movie as deep as the depth of her eyes and as intensely beautiful as her voice. As we hear that Vishal Bhardwaj was not ready to make the film without Tabu, you will believe it once you have watched the film.

There is no way you can expect anything short of the best from the dialogues and music, when Gulzar Saab and VB themselves are at helm and they ensure that you do not fall off track even for a moment. A cinematographer can hardly mess it up when you are shooting in paradise. After a brushstroke in Rockstar and a miniature art-piece in Lootera, we get to seethe full painting of Kashmir in Haider. There are enough funny spots in this dark tale of complex emotions,thanks to the fact that Salman Khan had long hair during the period the movie is set.

The film has various undertones which were obviously part of the play as well. It would have required a director and screenwriter who is at the peak of his direction and writing skills to have made it happen. The dexterity with which Vishal Bhardwaj has been able to pull it off shows us why he is probably the best in the business in India. I feel, it requires at least another watching before one can completely absorb the enormity of the work that has been created.

Salute Vishal 'Bard'waj. Go get Haidered because rarely do you get a chance to read literature on screen.

Dhoom 3 (2013)

Worst is the Dhoom 3 Year of the Movie

[2/10 · 24 December 2013]

Didn't that mean anything ?

Oh Yeah, you are absolutely right!

Dhoom 3 is exactly that - MEANINGLESS

It has already taken 3 valuable hours of my life.

It doesn't deserve a review longer than this.

Aamir Khan - You have lost a lot of respect.

Not only because you signed for this movie. But also because your acting sucked royally.

YRF - This is no way to make money.

Abhishek Bachchan - Dude, just do something else. Uday Chopra is smarter. He has already quit acting.

Cinema is dying a slow death.

Skyfall (2012)

A 'Beautiful' Bond Job!

[9/10 · 10 November 2012]

You grab your seat, with a bucket of popcorn, anticipating a bond-wagon to roll you over and you see a start which is perfectly in line with that anticipation- a mad chase in a Non-British, Non-American country which provides cultural variety, crowded streets, colorful landscapes and everything one has traditionally associated with a location for a spy chase sequence. Even before you get a chance to settle in, you are asked to get ready for a trip as start credits begin to roll along with some brilliant visuals and trippy music.

I have always considered Bond movies as wholesome entertainment packages with which a lot of famous names have been associated over years. I could never see it fall in the category of serious cinema where I would want to spend a lot of time. But I was pleasantly surprised and was full of hope the day I got to know that Skyfall is being directed by none other than Sam Mendes who has created more than one masterpiece in his not so long career and is a master at slow plot building/twisting and also loves to create life like characters who are complicated,dark and layered.

Skyfall is a rare experience in itself .It is a blend of what Bond movies have stood for over five decades and what Mendes has perfected as an art. It is that rare bond movie where scenes are not exhilarating but are absorbing in nature. Here, director doesn't want the adrenaline to rush but wants your senses to go numb and flat before they surge back with a different kind of excitement. Skyfall is by far the most beautifully shot Bond movie ever. The climax sequence which is being shown to be happening at the time of dusk in some beautiful Scotland countryside location is one of the most hauntingly beautiful shooting sequences that you will ever come across. The manner in which blueness of sky and the glow of fire and bulbs complement each other is a sight to cherish. The portions shot in Shanghai and Macau are neither loaded with nor devoid of what you are used to see in a Bond flick but refreshingly suck you in the scenes through beautiful frames and lighting and most importantly a surrealistically relaxed treatment.

In times where Nolan has created the most revered anti-hero character, it is very natural that any director, how so ever acclaimed he might be would tend to get inspired by the character of Joker (The Dark Knight). It would be extremely unfair to say that Mendes and his writers drew inspiration from Joker's character while they created Silva's character for Bardem but there is no doubt that there is uncanny similarity in the development and treatment of both these characters. Javier Bardem plays a fantastically devilish ex-agent of MI6 who takes the path of cyber- terrorism to seek revenge from M, the head of intelligence wing of British secret service played by Judi Dench. She has played her part satisfactorily as required by the plot but the expectations are much higher when an actor of her caliber is cast in a production like this and that certainly is an area where Skyfall could have thrown few more punches.

Go and take a plunge in the world of Mendes's Bond. It could work for you just like it worked for me but I have a feeling that a lot of 007 aficionados would feel a little cheated.

Bicycle Thieves (1948)

Bicycle Thieves - Steals the Show, Immortally

[10/10 · 19 October 2012]

It is an immortal classic and now I know why. What a brilliant piece of film making at display! It is close to impossible to better this piece of work for many reasons, most importantly because it would take an event of the order of WW II to be able to do that. Of course, one can recreate it through a period drama but you can not recreate what isn't real(or neoreal) anymore with the same effect.

The movie depicts the social,economical and cultural panorama of Italy(focus on the lower/middle class) which is still suffering from the after effects of the war and is trying hard to limp its way out of it. Vittorio De Sica shows it all without ever focusing on it but through a very simple story in the forefront. There is no fuss around the story, there are no sub plots, there aren't any superfluous scenes either. The plot is as simple as it gets. It's the reality of characters and the treatment given to the film that creates a winning combination. The skill of director is such that withing ten minutes into the movie, one starts to relate with the protagonist and empathise with his situation. This certainly doesn't happen because of the problems and challenges the protagonist faces. Its the liveliness and realism that each frame of the movie possesses that completely absorbs the viewer into it.

The impact of the movie is accentuated because at the center of the plot lies a father-son duo. Its a relationship which is mostly understated be it the reel life or the real, which of course opens up the possibility of multiple layers. Once there is so much screen time available for this relationship to be portrayed, magic is always on cards, all it takes is a magician who can play the tricks right from his heart and for once not keep anything away from his audiences. This is exactly what Vittorio has been able to do here. If, like me you have also seen Life is Beautiful(1997) before Bicycle Thieves ,you will constantly be reminded of Bengini's masterpiece and which will in a way amplify the goodness of the experience. The fact that the kid here was also (Just like Lamberto was not a pro prior to this role of his) directly picked from the streets gives an immensely raw and mature feel to the kid's character and that reflects directly in the quality of each scene.His expressions, mannerisms,and specially the reflexes are too real to have been directed by anyone.

The brilliance of the movie also lies in the fact that it is being filmed in the same city of Rome which has those typically beautiful Europeon streets, lanes, walls, bridges and markets. These characteristics would have otherwise perfectly catered and serviced to the tastes of people who have special liking for these but yet the plot and its presentation is so strong and gripping that one hardly gets a chance to wander away from the core of it.

Bicycle Thieves, which is nothing less than splendid till its final chapter begins to unfold, transcends into the realm of immortality within a matter of minutes with what transpires. In those few minutes, you would look at yourself inside out (there are chances you might end up feeling naked), you would see those 'moments of truth' from your past flashing past your eyes at frantic pace and you are bound to experience a range of emotions at once. This was one of the very few occasions in my film watching career where I have found myself inside the frame as the movie begins to throw the end credits

English Vinglish (2012)

English Vinglish - Beautiful Sheautiful

[9/10 · 6 October 2012]

English Vinglish is a beautiful journey that a middle class Indian housewife takes, to regain something she lost or probably never really got, ironically enough, in a foreign land with a foreign language as a tool.

The movie has a simple plan, and audience gets to know about it right at the beginning. There ain't any surprises or twists therein to wow you, its purely the execution of a simple yet universally appealing plot that makes English Vinglish one of the most beautifully made movie of the year.

This is a sort of cinema which has traditionally been oiled with loads of melodrama and any director would have wanted to do that considering the fact that people who are going to relate the most with the central character are most prone to be pleasantly affected by the overdose of melodrama ( Yes, I am being a little 'judgemental' here!). Credit must go to Gauri Shinde for shunning the temptation and going ahead with a recipe where she was able to create delight out of right mix of ingredients rather than putting a coating of sugar on the 'laddoos'.

Make no mistake, the feel good factor of the movie isn't there just because all the pieces have been put together in the correct order but also because there are layers attached to the story and the characters. These layers help English Vinglish surpass the expectations that an ordinary viewer would have had with it before stepping into the cinema theatre. These layers have been treated with utmost care and are interwoven in the script with great skill. Even though the plot of the movie doesn't encapsulate many genres, the scenes are successful in generating a range of emotions. Thanks to the central plot, humor becomes a part of majority of the scenes and it is never forced upon you.The entertainment quotient of EV is way more than one would have expected.

There are a few sequences which could have easily gone in the zone of 'Oh, thats ridiculous!' but yet they were right there in the 'that will do all right' category and this was only possible because of masterful Sridevi who hasn't lost even an inch of her charm and she still stands way ahead of any of the contemporary actresses when it comes to the art of acting. Her presence is so overpowering that one hardly notices or gets annoyed by certain instances of manufactured dialogues and stereotypical display of characters. The journey, the transformation and its impact on the movie and the audience wouldn't have had half the quality had there not been Sridevi at the helm. Every other actor (and guest actor) plays their part well enough to create the right garnish for this savory meal.

Without taking any credit away from Gauri Shinde, everything from costumes, to music and locations to screenplay had impressions of R Balki's(producer) previous works and he would have been of great help in the making of EV as well.

The affect that English Vinglish will have on a particular individual will depend on the relationship that he/she has with the one/two women that hold the most important place(s) in their lives. The degree of impact will vary, though one thing is for sure, it will only lie on the right side of the axis.

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Some Like It Hot (1959)

Some Like It Hot - The Classical Comedy

[8/10 · 2 October 2012]

There is always a thing about Classics, even before you absorb the first frame; you are burdened with huge expectations. But, Some Like It Hot is one of those jet planes where you got to tight your seat belt and forget everything else to enjoy the joyride or you would fall off your seat.

I feel casting in a movie is one of the most under discussed elements of movie making amongst general public but it plays a very significant role in the success of a movie and SLIH is the prime example of it. Apart from Jack Lemmon, none of the protagonists were known for their superior acting skills and they would not have made the cut for a Billy Wilder piece. But, in retrospect, who other than Tony Curtis who had a boyish look and at the same time possessed sharp features could have played a saxophone playing woman charmer who could cross dress to be a part of a woman band. You can only get a flawless performance from a bad actor only if he/she is playing himself/herself and that is the exact reason why Marilyn Monroe wows you in every scene of Some Like It Hot. She is playing a dumb, vivacious and vulnerable damsel who can sing, doesn't mind sleeping with a charming guy whenever she gets a chance and then dips herself in a whiskey bottle when left all alone with herself. Jack Lemmon with a broad muscular jawline was surely the one who had a better chance of getting caught as someone not in the right clothes, but that is very small price to pay, as an actor of his caliber was indispensable to the cause of SLIH. He has an amazing sense of timing when it comes to humor; he is almost chaplinesque when it comes to expressions and the confidence with which he delivers his lines puts him right at the top of stack.

I am not sure when was the concept of black humor introduced in the world of cinema, but, SLIH has to be one of the better examples from the old times where black humor is integrated in the comedy. The black humor is there only to make its presence felt and nothing more. Other than that SLIH is a fun filled journey of Gerald (Lemmon) and Joseph (Curtis), two musicians on the run from dangerous Chicago gangsters who are after their lives. They find their safe house in an all-woman band that is off to Florida for a string of performances. This is where they meet the gorgeous Sugar (Marilyn) and try their luck on flattering her. It is all about how Joseph manages to get ahead in the race and Gerald like a true friend tags along without any explaining or pleading by Joseph. This is what makes SLIH sweet. The necessary salt is added to the movie by little moments like women having a party on train, Sugar hiding whiskey in her stocking, Fielding (Joe Brown) hitting on Dalphe (Gerald disguised as a woman) and further complications that set in because of these. What makes this classical comedy special is the fact that it makes you laugh at so many occasions without being slapstick or cheap or using the chaos technique. And when it doesn't make you laugh, it makes you smile. Most importantly, the movie stays with you.

The manner in which the movie begins, it suddenly makes you wonder - that's too much of real car chasing and shooting for a black and white movie of 40's and then you realize it's done in 1959 and the movie was intentionally produced in black and white. The first scene itself is a cracker and will create a cocktail of emotions, with words like liquor, crime, party, death, music all floating around at the same time. There are plenty of scenes where the camera pans out from one object to another capturing multiple things with different moods and complexion in the same scene and that is a technique which I guess wasn't used quite frequently back then. Make-up job of Curtis and Lemmon is too good for those times and it would have been so important for that to have been correctly done as that is absolutely central to the whole plot. Marilyn's costumes are way modern and she carries them effortlessly.

Some Like It Hot is without any doubt a classic but, probably in no other movie would have the last line played such an important role as in this. The finishing frames where Joe Brown utters the unexpected leave you pleasantly surprised and I am sure it would have had far better impact on the audience 50 years back.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - A Thrilling Drama

[9/10 · 30 September 2012]

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, unlike what the title suggests, is as dark, depressing, profound, layered and pervasive as any drama film can ever be, aptly shot within a limited perimeter with a handful of characters. It raises as many questions about life and people in general as it answers about the mysteries of the plot which is the foremost reason why this movie will never lose its relevance even though few of its ingredients are past their expiry dates.

The movie doesn't take too much time to draw the viewer in, thanks to a fabulously shot long opening scene which has at display the acting prowess of Newman and Taylor along with a continuous piano instrumental in the background which makes the conversation all the more interesting and intriguing. The tonality of Taylor's dialogue delivery and the pauses she takes are so typical of those times and are yet so charming that they can make you fall in love with her. She is arguably the most charming diva of the 20th century, yet it is never difficult to imagine her portraying a character which is most of the times transmitting negative vibes. She has a special gift, with a little change in her glance and a minor change in her eye liner, she can create a different version of herself. In fact, as the movie reaches its culmination one begins to realize that the part of Maggie is so carefully constructed that the option to not like her has been completely left to the audience ,of course at their own risk!

Brick, an alcoholic ex-footballer is played by Newman, who pulls it off without any crutches. He is playing a man who is a fighter, yet hell bent on losing the battle, is an optimist at heart but decides to traverse the path of indifference. I do not know whether it is Brooks' style or Newman's improvisation, there are scenes where Brick would enquire further to a statement made by Maggie by asking 'Is it Maggie?'. The tone of this query borders between sarcasm and apathy and that just takes the scene to another level altogether.

Being an adaptation to a stage play,COAHTR has done fair justice to it by being a compilation of long sequences(not long shots, that would have been epic!) which are shot within a house. Also, it is quite evident that while adapting the play into a feature film, Brooks had chosen not to include certain direct references taking into consideration sensitivities of 50's audience and censor which actually has worked in favour of the movie by making it even more interpretive in nature at certain critical junctures. There are two philosophical questions pertaining to morality and death which are at stake in the movie. The manner in which focus shifts from one to another is much like how a stage play would be divided in two halves.

Unlike conventional cinema where a character develops as the story progresses, here the circumstances and their portrayal is such that the major characters indulge in the discussions pertaining to their past making you feel as if some one is literally peeling off the character's skin and you suddenly get to see a new layer with a different formulation.

There has to be a special mention for Burl Ives, who I had never heard of before watching COAHTR and I certainly can not forget him after this. If he received an Oscar for a different movie in the same year he was nominated for his role in COAHTR, I will have to watch his winning performance very soon. Burl Ives is by far the best actor in the movie, as he literally explodes into a power house actor as the story unfolds. His mannerisms, voice modulation and depiction of moments where Big Daddy's stature/arrogance is challenged combine for a supreme acting display.

It is an out and out drama but, in so many ways it pans out as a thriller. It will always make questions pop and float in your head and would draw you ever closer to catch the Cat. If you are a fan of drama, its salivation time, if you like thrillers, there is enough to keep you glued and if you just like good cinema, it certainly is good by being 'not-straight' to say the least.

www.imnotafilmcritic.blogspot.in

Heroine (2012)

Sublime Kareena in a Sub Standard Heroine

[6/10 · 22 September 2012]

I hate to measure movies in terms of halves or segments because a segment or a half cannot change the overall quality of a movie, but Heroine is a movie about extremes and Bhandarkar has probably made the mistake of living it too literally. There are particular segments of the movie which are smooth, real, boast of A-grade acting from the supporting actors, have dialogues worthy of being in a feature film, non-stereotypical but unfortunately these segments put together do not even form 33% of the movie. The remaining (majority) of the movie clearly reflects that Bhandarkar is in an eternal hangover mode as a result of his earlier works. Not to forget that the effect is amplified by fake acting by proved bad actors, unreal sets, unnecessary scenes which devalue the movie rather than doing any good to it.

One can only muster courage to go through the remaining parts of the movie, thanks to a performance by Kareena that comes only once in an actor's career. The biggest reason why the portrayal of an emotionally vulnerable and confused actor would have been a huge challenge for her is because she seems as someone who is completely opposite to that description in real life. The manner in which she has managed to express the insecurities and complexities of the character, there is no doubt that she has come out with flying colors. And that makes her the biggest winner in a movie which lost the race in the buildup itself. In fact, if you follow her eyes, expressions and antics throughout the movie rather than paying attention to the dialogues you will be able to empathize with the story of 'Heroine' and have a far superior experience. Others who deserve the credit of making the good segments of the movie exciting as well as entertaining are the actors like Ranvir Shorey, Divya Dutt and Shahana Goswami who have time and again proved their mettle as high caliber character actors.

There are certain scenes in the movie which make you wonder why couldn't Bhandarkar keep up the same tempo and finesse throughout the movie. Two such scenes have Helen in them who is playing a yesteryear superstar, explaining Kareena how the film industry has changed over years in one and affecting Kareena in a more spiritual manner in the other one. Thankfully, technically the movie did not have any major deficiencies and the best song of the movie is there as a background score to one of the better scenes. The bottom line is that this is a movie which unsuccessfully tries to break out of the zone of average and at the same time cannot be ignored because of a powerful performance which can blow you away.

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Casablanca (1942)

Don't just watch it, Be a part of the Epic!

[10/10 · 20 September 2012]

I have always watched and enjoyed movies produced all over the world but I feel its high time I put my thoughts on paper for the sake of records at least . Also, these will have the potential to create some nostalgic value later.

Coincidentally, I watched Casablanca for the first time (emotionally) few days back. The movie which is largely known as one of the greatest love stories of all time is not one, its much more than a mere love story.

It is a work of a man who at the time of making this piece seemed to have acquired such levels of skills in his art form that it is next to impossible to be able to find a flaw in this work even for the finest of the observers.

How do I even start here? I should very well start with the image which has not left me ever since I have finished watching the movie. There is no doubt that Ingrid Bergman is one of the most naturally beautiful actresses Hollywood has seen in the last century, but in my opinion she is also one of the very few actors who could speak through their eyes exactly what was there in the heart of the character she was playing. This is a skill/gift which is found in a rare breed of actors. The scene where she looks at Rick (Humphrey Bogart) after all those years of separation is a perfect example of the role eyes ought to play to emote ones feelings without utterance of a single alphabet. Its hard to believe how she did not receive an Oscar nomination for this movie as she ended up receiving seven of them in a long glittering career. The prospect of watching all of those is a temptation that can not be defined.

I haven't seen all of Bergman's fine performances but in the few that I have seen, one can easily conclude that she has the ability to give multiple layers to her character which is the case in Casablanca as well. The flair with which she has been able to shift between various moods of innocence, mystery and sheer passion is remarkable. Of course, credit must also go to Curtiz who orchestrated this mood dance.

The character of Rick is like an iceberg which has been put in fire to melt and vanish and just before it starts to lose its identity it takes inspiration from itself and extinguishes the fire with the water it had lost. There could not have been a better choice for this role than Humphrey Bogart, every square inch of whose countenance reflects the state of mind he is in. Moreover, he is a true style icon in this movie and fits the part to the hilt which pops up the following question: was the role of Rick written for him or he was the best fit for the role!

As is seems, the image of protagonists is at the top of my mind their role in the greatness of the movie is certainly not limited to being the faces of the movie. Having said that, below the surface its the work of a master who has engineered multiple components into a giant which overpowers most others in its proximity. This fine piece of work makes its entry straight into the list of Cinema Extraordinaire because of its universal appeal, unique treatment, essentially real yet whimsical script, gripping screenplay and stupendous display of ever changing human behavior.

The range of emotions and situations this film has on offer at every stage of the movie makes it a sumptuous and delicious meal for audiences of varying taste. The movie reaches its climax in 95 minutes and it feels like that perfectly timed dessert which is an extremely rare delight.

The manner in which any two characters have been linked in this movie is the most unique to say the least. There are many two way relationships which have been portrayed with considerable depth on screen in such a small time that you start wondering by the time movie reaches its final moments that how was it even possible to experience so much in such a short time.

Every character leaves an indelible mark even though all it did in the movie was hit a few guitar strings or pick pocket at a restaurant. Every scene in the movie is a study in itself.

This is a must watch for anyone who has ever thought of himself as a movie fan. Casablanca without doubt makes its way in my all time top 5 list!

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Ferrari Ki Sawaari (2012)

A Ride Little Bumpy

[7/10 · 16 September 2012]

Ferrari ki Sawari (FKS) is one of those movies which ends on a note so high, both emotionally and morally that you don't really have a choice but to summarize it as a 'good watch'.

Its a movie set up in a world where everything would ultimately fall in place and has people who fall on the extreme ends of the human axis. Even in such an improbable world, director has been able to successfully fit in a juicy(carrying potential)enough script without making it much of an embarrassing affair. It would have been an elegant and far better piece of cinema had it been without its extended sub plots and some out of place characters. That would have automatically made it a shorter and crispier ride on the Ferrari. But then it would not have been a Vidhu Vinod Chopra Production.

It goes without saying that the presence of Boman Irani was an absolute necessity for FKS to have its core in the right place. I wish he gets to do more of such roles where one can sit back and admire the talent this guy has and wonder where he was hiding before he broke into the scene. Of course it is Sharman Joshi who has come of age and has been satisfactorily able to carry the movie on his shoulders till the very end. It is a movie where you would leave the cinema hall thinking of it as a paisa vasool picture but at the same time you would know that you have somehow been tricked!! Go watch the movie for little flashes of brilliance and to have a feel good trip from the theatre exit to your car.

Shanghai (2012)

A Level Up : For Bollywood and Banerjee!

[8/10 · 16 September 2012]

Shanghai is a level up for Dibaker Banerjee as well as Indian Cinema for so many reasons:

1. I don't remember if there has ever been a director after Kundan Shah(Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron) who has braved a quality satire on Indian socio-political system.

2. Shanghai shows nothing more than what you already know but still keeps you engrossed because the intensity never dies down.

3. It is full of instances where ironical moments have been juxtaposed in the time line and that definitely is one of the core strengths of the movie.

4. Another facet of Abhay Deol is unveiled in Shanghai.He perfectly portrays the characters without overdoing the accent which even a seasoned actor could have ended up with.

5. Emran Hashmi never lacked talent but Banerjee's Shanghai provides him of the right opportunity and Hasmi makes full of it by delivering a career defining performance.

6. Kalki is her usual best displaying plethora of emotions with aplomb ease.

7. The research done to show how the government machinery works is worthy of praise considering how most other movie makers don't even care to research.

8. Above all these what makes this movie a grand success is the stupendous casting of all the secondary characters.

Kudos!

Barfi! (2012)

Barfi: Splendid Blend of Ingredients, Superlative Taste!

[9/10 · 15 September 2012]

Barfi is that gem which has the capacity of making blood in your heart rush just like children rush through the school gates at the ring of bell. All you have to do is to open yourself and let it do the magic.

It offers everything that is there to take from a pure cinematic experience: real characters, genuine relationships, a simple yet poignant story and a soulful score. It offers much more th an this if you can indulge yourself into it a little more. It has acting that connects you straight with the characters and makes you feel for/with them; each frame is a lyrical composition not only by the presence of colors but through their absence as well, the screenplay is such that it either allows the emotions to be overwhelming or would take you out of the scene (completely depends on the viewer).

I can only wish to visit the Darjeeling of 70's as portrayed in the movie and I am sure Basu would not have had any problems filming the Kolkata part of the movie as it is the only city which has majority of its elements from that period still intact (No pun intended). Basu has always been good at using earthly elements in his scenes and he reinforces that here too. The manner in which rain, texture of clouds, stones, bright sun have been used to complement various moods in scenes is just exemplary.

What makes this movie a winner is the unending list of scenes which will make you laugh, cry and sometimes do both at the same time. Dialogue through expression and enactment has been integrated so beautifully in the movie that you sometimes forget that you are watching a movie where two of the protagonists are incapable of communicating conventionally. It's a movie which celebrates one of the most prized feelings of each human being: the joy of being loved, through a story of people who could have easily decided not to embrace it. Priyanka is at her uninhibited best and Ileana plays her bit to the tee. Needless to say that no other present day actor could have done justice to the role of Barf!

Visit http://imnotafilmcritic.blogspot.in/ for more filmy experiences!

Raajneeti (2010)

Shabby adaptation of a Mega Epic, disappointing on many fronts.

[5/10 · 4 June 2010]

Touted as Prakash Jha's take on Indian Politics with inspirations from Mahabharata as well as The Godfather,the movie turns out to be a disappointment.

Technically speaking acting is the only area where the movie is above par. The screenplay has nothing innovative about it. Considering the fact that the movie is an adaptation of Mahabharata, the least that could have been done was to give it a better screenplay.(At least Bharadwaj-like if not Kashyap )The dialogues are pretty ordinary with heavy inconsistency in tone, dialect as well as purity level.The story could have even been written by a high-schooler who knows about Mahabharata. There is nothing great about the art-direction or the camera-work. You will enter in the interval thinking that the platform has been created and the movie is set to conquer heights but instead it falls on its head. Though there are few moments worth admiration. But thats it. The movie is too long, too melodramatic for today's taste, redundant and silly( Were they using rubber instead? )at times.

I generally believe in giving every movie a chance but you can easily avoid this one. But no one is gonna do that and that is where hype and marketing gimmicks will again win over real cinema.

I am gonna give it a 5/10. Points for an above-par acting performance by the ensemble cast( That also means that there were below-par ones too). Prakash Jha fails miserably(Probably he is been watching too many Manmohan Desai movies recently).Hope he gets back where he belongs!

Dev.D (2009)

A Piece Of Art.

[10/10 · 7 February 2009]

There are very few movies that make you wait for their day of release just like a torn lover waits for its lost love for that one last glance and Dev.D was certainly one of them. I just knew I had to watch it the moment I saw breathtaking visuals(The snorricam shots inspired from classics like Requiem for a Dream, Trainspotting) in the trailer itself. The fact that the movie was directed by Mr. Maverick (of new age Indian cinema) got me even more excited. So now when I have seen the movie I am ecstatic because I got more than what I expected.

This movie is all about your sense of perception of art. If you find charm in innovative screenplay, extraordinary photography, symbolic scenes and realistic acting you got to love this cinematic masterpiece and if you have a thing for colors, its an icing on the cake! But if you want to see an entertainer which is going to generate temporary emotions, unfortunately, its not for you. All those who find the story unrealistic must understand it is not the portrayal of what happens in love but the most beautiful depiction of what is going through one's mind when one gets/doesn't get love. So, either you will crave for the movie to go on till forever or wait for it to end.

Of course, the story line is based on the original Devdas but this contemporary version has its own twists and turns and you better not expect the expected. Abhay Deol is absolutely fantastic.There is not a single scene where one can doubt the authenticity of the character he is playing. Both the new actresses are equally good. Mahie Gill deserves all the applause for doing many a tough scenes with calming ease and expression that can light a fire. Kalki's eyes never lose the innocence in the truest sense thanks to the beautiful portrayal even though her character transcends into one of the highest zones of maturity.

I just fell in love with the movie and wanted to see more of the unpredictable series of events through extraordinary musical narration.The only thing which I missed in Dev.D was a bit of soul but that is exactly how it was meant to be.

Ghajini (2008)

Below Average

[5/10 · 16 January 2009]

Not going to write much about this movie because there is not much to write about this over-hyped,highly flawed and dumb movie.For all those who call it a good entertaining movie, there are hundreds of better entertaining movies with lesser flaws. I had seen Memento three years back and I instantaneously fell in love with that movie.Since the concept of this movie was "inspired" from Memento, comparisons were bound to be made and I can safely conclude that Ghajini stands nowhere near Memento.In fact, was this movie a romantic flick with Amir and Asin I might have liked it.Their chemistry was one of the very few positives that I could find in Ghajini.Of course, Rahman was magical but you cant expect him to write the scenes too! I like Amir as an actor and have seen him perform much better.So even his acting could not lift my spirits.I would not want to see Mr. Perfectionist in a movie where you cant admire him because you cant stop laughing at the weaknesses of the movie.Asin did well in her first Hindi movie.And last but not the least Pradeep Rawat(Ghajini) who was known for his smaller roles till now could be the next popular lead villain in Bollywood.

Watch it only if you don't want to be someone who missed a movie that grossed over 200 crores!!

Dil Dosti Etc (2007)

Good.......could have been Better

[7/10 · 29 September 2007]

This movie is good, could have been better given a binding and well paced script.This movie basically tries to show the different shades of a present day Indian youth.The movie grows in a Delhi college.It starts with ragging and moves around the election politics prevalant in colleges.Most of the time movie is close to reality.

I didn't know that Imam shah is Naseeruddin shah's son but few minutes into the movie any one could tell why this lad who barely seems to have crossed his teens has portrayed such a complex character with so much comfort.

The new girls are really cute and have played their part boldly.These are the faces of changing India, it depends on you how you take it!!! Smrirti Mishra and Shreyas Talpade have again proved their mettle as ACTORS.Shreyas did a really gud job as it is not at all an easy task for a maharashtrian to play a part of a bihari student politician.You have to be a bihari to say 'maar denge' as 'maare dengeeey'

During the movie you will certainly try to find the message director wants to convey here and you get the answer right in the end which makes you feel happy about the ending as many movies leave the onus on you.

The three equations as Imam puts summarize it all Sanjay( Shreyas who fell in love) is dead, I( Imam Shah who makes love with 3 girls in 1 day) survived & I am still looking for love.

So apart from all the funda that you can derive from this movie the bottom line is don't fall in love!!!

Chak De! India (2007)

Bollywood's First of its kind.......Perfection Personified

[8/10 · 11 August 2007]

Aha..Finally Bollywood has a full fledged sports movie.This one is certainly worth a watch for every movie lover.This is a very well made movie with nothing unnecessary being added.

Being an SRK fan I love to see him in all sorts of roles but these are the ones which bring the real actor out of him, Swades being another example.

Role of a coach is perfectly portrayed by SRK.He is the most energetic actor around and he has put it all into it.The story of this movie moves very subtly and augments the excitement every next second.

For a country like India with its national game as hockey this movie was long due.Finally, when it has arrived,it hasn't disappointed.It has also indirectly displayed the crippled Indian sports system which needs much improvement.Lets hope concerned people learn something from it.This movie can really do wonders for the next generation of aspiring hockey players.

CDI is entertaining,insightful,inspiring and yet very simple which is its greatness.This movie succeeds in bringing out tears and giggles and also lets the adrenaline flow in full pace.

The cinematography and editing are equally good.They succeeded in capturing each moment with its complete emotion.

The director has treated the subject extremely well and has brought 100% from all the new actors.The character selection was spot on too. SRK and all others rocked!!!! All in all 10/10. Nothing less for this one!

Partner (2007)

Worst ever movie.......its a Crapbag

[1/10 · 28 July 2007]

I watched this movie only coz it was expected to be yet another entertainer by David Dhawan.

Bad Bad comeback by David Dhawan.he has made lots of funny movies in past which made no sense but none of them was a crap bag!! What a waste of talent and beauty it was?Donno why actors agree on doin movie like this.

There was not a whit of practicality in this movie.The movie is below par and not at all justifies the standard and potential Bollywood has.

The only thing worth watching in this movie was katrina but we don't need to watch a movie like this to see her! Being a remake of Hollywood flick Hitch its clear that bollywood directors cant even make a proper remake. I consider this to be the worst ever movie I hv seen. Awful 1/10