Raavan? Runnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!

One of the few pieces that I loved. Here's a review of the much talked about movie Raavan starring Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachhan. Shobhaa De tells it all:



WHAT A DISASTER, SIRJI!


Such a pity, the much awaited ‘Dus Sarwalla’ turned out to be an unmitigated disaster! If only Mani Sir had made better use of his own ‘sar’, perhaps ‘Ravan’ would have fared better. A friend from Bangalore sent me a message that was pretty telling, when I mentioned I was watching the movie that evening. “Do take a torch and a good book with you, dear,” Prasad advised. I got the message but ignored him, telling myself (as countless Ratnam fans must have), nothing Mani attempts can be all that bad. In fact, Mani doesn’t fall into the ‘mediocre’ category—even at his most uninspired. That’s his genius. I hope this garbled and confused movie does not permanently tarnish the reputation of one of our most talented filmmakers. Simply put, it is a bloody bore. Too long, too tedious and too pointless. As for the performances , poor Abhishek dives down nose first in the very first scene—he doesn’t come up for air after that. Not his fault (I’m partial!). He is just such a loveable, good natured sort of chap, one just doesn’t associate brutality and violence with someone like him. And if his dark side is meant to hit audiences between the eyes, it seems childish to underline the point via black make up smeared all over his face and body, just in case we dummies don’t get the point. Between assorted face packs of haldi, ash (not his beauteous wife, but ‘raakh’), keechad and other muck, this Ravan (Beera) grins goofily through his evil deeds and seems incapable of hurting a makhhi. Meanwhile, it is Dev (Ram, played by Mr. Scowl), who does little more than glower into the camera, his expression disappointingly blank thanks to those strange brown cosmetic lenses (the sort starlets use for portfolio pics). No wonder his lovely wife (Ragini alias Sita ) makes cow eyes at Ravan and treats the besotted villain to glimpses of her creamy cleavage to torment and tempt the man further.

Forget all that Naxalitewaxalite, Aryan-Dravidian, Good Vs. Evil conflict or symbolism. Mani can’t seem to make up his mind about far more elementary issues — where the hell is the movie located and who are those strange looking tribals? Sometimes, the crowd scenes feature buxom village belles with streaked hair, super sexy backless cholis, perfect hair and make–up, like extras from a Bhojpuri film. At other times the same bunch is dressed in sack cloth, but with colour coordinated accessories. Aishwarya’s iridescent beauty is exploited in closeup after close- up, while her jungle make up goes from just mascara and the perfect lipglossed pout, to heavy duty eyeliner and blush on. But at least the make up is waterproof. Which is a good thing, since almost the entire film is shot under lashings of rain or a waterfall. As for the divine Ash’s performance – what can she do if her director has her gagged (literally!) through most of the film? Worse, any self respecting heroine would also have lapsed into stupefied silence had she been forced to wear what must rank as the worst costumes ever! Sabyasachi….really!!! First you do it to poor Vidya. And now Ash.

Moral of the story: One head is better than ten.

Do Bigha Zameen- review

DO BIGHA ZAMEEN (1953) has been directed by Bengali film director Bimal Roy and is set in the India of the early 1950’s. Starring Balraj Sahni, Nirupa Roy and Master Ratan, the film depicts the adversities of the people of rural India, post independence. The story centers around the struggle of Shambu (Sahni) to retain his land from the clutches of the Zamindar. A story of sacrifices and compromises, Shambu puts on stake everything he owned and leaves for Kolkata (then Calcutta) only to discover a whole new life filled with trials and tribulations. The film very accurately reveals the stark contrast between rural and urban India of the period, bringing out, with full honesty, the deterioration of the agrarian sector with the rise of capitalism.

There are superb images in the film that bring out the oppression and miseries of the characters with true meaning and give the real picture of their lives.

Keeping in mind the culture of Indian cinema of that time, there is sufficient melodrama, emotions and tragedy to satisfy the audience. However, with splendid performances from the star cast, it comes out as perfectly natural and effortless. They move the audience throughout the film and keep them enticed all along. With just the right amount of humor and at just the right places, they manage to make the audience laugh and cry along with them.

The music has been given by Salil Chaudhary and its soulful and heart-wrenching tunes add to the depth of the film.

Pearl Harbor- review

PEARL HARBOR (2001) is an American war film directed by Michael Bay and written by Randall Wallace. It is a dramatic re-imagining of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Naval Base. It has a large ensemble cast including Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Alec Baldwin, Kate Beckinsale, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Tom Sizemore, Jaime King and Jennifer Garner.

The movie centers on the love triangle of Rafe (Affleck) and Danny (Hartnett), both Army Air Corps pilots, and Evelyn (Beckinsale), a Navy nurse with war in the background.

With a few historical inaccuracies that can be over looked, the movie consists of truly outstanding performances by the actors, nail-biting action and absolutely splendid dialogues. The thrill and drama adds to the storyline and makes it a must watch for all those who love action and romance.

The Color Purple- review

THE COLOR PURPLE (1985) has been directed by Steven Spielberg and is an American period drama film. It is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name by Alice Walker. The film tells the story of a young African American girl named Celie who is constantly subjected to abuse and told she is ugly. It’s a journey of a woman from being silent, timid and invisible to a stage of self-actualization that transforms her into a happy, successful, independent woman. Starring Whoopi Goldberg as Celie, the role is played to perfection.

Besides the protagonist, there is also Oprah Winfrey, who plays the role of Sophia, a large, fiercely independent woman who befriends Celie and refuses to submit to whites, men, or anyone else who tries to dominate her. In one instance, she says, “All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my brothers. A girl child ain't safe in a family of men, but I ain't never thought I'd have to fight in my own house!”

It’s a film of female friendships as a means for women to summon the courage to tell stories, of racism and sexism, of slavery and oppression. The way the story unfolds is exceptional and over-whelming. The acting is plain and simple yet incredibly moving.

The Patriot- review

THE PATRIOT (2000) is an epic war film directed by Roland Emmerich and written by Robert Rodat. It’s the story of an American swept into the American Revolutionary War when his family is threatened. Starring Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin, Heath Ledger as Gabriel Martin, his oldest child and Jason Isaacs as Colonel William Tavington, the movie is a story of love, sacrifice, patriotism, determination and commitment.
Set in 18th century South Carolina, it’s a combination of battles, drama, angst, sorrow, tenderness, rage all rolled into one. While it is a fictional story, the backdrop is purely historical.
The acting can be considered praise worthy most of the times. The script too, on a certain level is above average as it is the first of its kind. However, the execution is merely satisfactory. While at times the performance seems over the top and exaggerated, at times it becomes dull and monotonous. A lot more could be done by legends like Mel Gibson.

Wake Up Sid-review

WAKE UP SID! (2009) has been directed by debutant Ayan Mukherjee and is a triumph on various levels. Starring the young Ranbir Kapoor as Sid Mehra and the beautiful Konkona Sen Sharma as Aisha, the movie is a breath of fresh air. Even though the story is predictable, it is the execution that makes it different from any other love story made so far. The story of an arrogant, good-for-nothing college boy as he sets out to discover himself and his potential in the city of Mumbai, Ranbir is perfect for the role. It’s his best performance so far and his effort is truly commendable. Konkona plays the role of an aspiring writer new in the city, working for the magazine “Mumbai Beat”. The friendship and later, relationship, that both share is subtly expressed and well constructed. There is no exaggeration as far as the acting is concerned, no melodrama or over acting. It is simple and just the kind for the audience to associate with. Another plus point is the music; with the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy team as the composers and Javed Akhtar as the lyrist. It is urban, refreshing and completely catchy.

No other film, in recent times, has such a great combination of everything that makes it one hell of a film for all ages.

Twilight- review

Twilight (2008) is a romantic thriller directed by Catherine Hardwicke. It’s a story of a vampire falling in love with a human. The story has been adapted from the novel under the same name written by Stephanie Meyer. The plot is intriguing and keeps the audience charmed with the unwinding of the story. The pace, however, is slow and tests the patience of the viewers. The selection of the cast is apt; with Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan and Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen, playing their respective roles as the innocent human who falls in love with a vampire. Yet, the acting seems forced and exaggerated. It makes the viewers think of the fact that it seems impossible no one before Bella ever discovered the secret of the Cullen family. Inspite of its many faults, the movie is a breath of fresh air and will be liked by the audience of all ages.

Blue-review

Blue (2009), Bollywood’s supposedly most expensive film (Rs 100 crore), has been directed by Anthony D’souza, starring the daring Akshay Kumar, the lean Zayed Khan and the not-so-lean Sanjay Dutt, with special appearances by Lara Dutta, Katrina Kaif and of course, Kylie Minogue. The movie can definitely boast of the incredible deep sea shots in the Bahamas by cinematographer Pete Zuccarini, but that is where the praise ends. With only the duration of 1 hour 58 minutes, the movie has nothing substantial to offer. There is hardly any action barring Sanjay Dutt’s half-hearted attempt of shooting at the villains, Zayed’s few bike stunts resembling scenes from Dhoom, and Akshay’s pseudo scuffle with the sharks. All the ranting about the dangerous under-water stunts proved to be nothing but a waste of money and time. The audience sits impatiently waiting for something to happen but nothing worthwhile happens except in the last 15 minutes of the movie. The semblance of a story is shattered with only few seconds dedicated to the plot. Though it has been running houseful at the box office, it only has the Diwali holidays to thank.

I Know Who Killed Me- review

I Know Who Killed Me (2007) is an unusual thriller of identity crisis following a tragic experience. Directed by Chris Siverston and written by Jeff Hammond, the story opens with the kidnapping of Aubrey Fleming (Lindsay Lohan) a student of a high school in New Salem, after the brutal killing of a fellow student by a serial killer. A couple of weeks later when she is found mutilated in the similar way as her schoolmate, the FBI turn up at the hospital only to discover that the girl on the bed claims to be the stripper Dakota Moss and not Aubrey Fleming. The movie tries to depict the reactions of a traumatized teenager but ends up in completely confusing its audience about the identity of the lead actress. Is she Aubrey Fleming: Daniel Fleming’s daughter? Is she Dakota Moss: one of the characters in Aubrey’s fantastic story? Or is she Aubrey’s long lost twin, whose existence is known only by their father? The story has many loose ends and though it manages to grip the audience’s attention, the end is disappointing. The acting of Lindsay Lohan and Neal McDonough, who plays her father, are the only plus points in the movie.

The Roman Holiday-review

The Roman Holiday (1953) has been directed by William Wyler and written by Dalton Trumbo. It is a remarkable love story of Princess Ann, played by Audrey Hepburn, and Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck), an American newspaper reporter. The plot revolves around the princess’s surreal experiences as a common person and the joy she feels out of simple things that were otherwise deprived to her for being Royalty. The acting of both Hepburn and Peck is stunning. Both the roles have been performed to perfection, and though it feels like a regular Bollywood love story, it differs from the very quality of the execution of the script. The acting is subtle, classy and smooth. There is neither an overflow of emotions nor any unnecessary drama.

The Illusionist- review

The Illusionist (2006) has been directed by Neil Burger and is also written by him and Steven Millhauser. Based on the short story by Millhauser under the name “ Eisenheim the Illusionist”, the movie is splendid and one that doesn’t lose its charm even after watching it several times; a movie that’s true to its name and keeps you hooked till the very end. The actors Edward Norton( Eisenheim), Jessica Biel (Sophie), Paul Giamatti (Inspector Uhl) and Rufus Sewell (Crown Prince Leopold) , among others, have done an incredible job of drawing the audience into an intricate web of their own making that doesn’t seem to let go till the last scene. Even though the tag-line of the movie- nothing is what it seems- is warning enough, nothing can prepare the audience for what is to come next. And even as the credits roll past on the screen, what Eisenheim said during the movie stays on your mind-“everything you have seen here has been an illusion.” Though a movie of fantasy and enchantment, it holds true to life. Edward Norton, in his hypnotizing voice, tells you “From the moment we enter this life we are in the flow of it we measure it and we mock it, but we cannot defy it. We cannot even speed it up or slow it down. Or can we? Have we not each experienced the sensation that a beautiful moment seemed to pas to quickly, and wished that we could make it linger? Or felt time slow on a dull day, and wished that we could speed things up a bit?” Set in early 1900’s Vienna, the movie is a treat to viewers of all ages.

Chocolat-review

CHOCOLAT (2000) is a romance film directed by Lasse Hallstrom and is based on the novel by the same name written by Joanne Harris. Starring Juliette Binoche as Vianne Rocher, a young single mother, the story revolves around her and her six-year-old daughter as they try to adjust their lives in a small and conservative town of rural France. Having opened a chocolate shop during Lent, they’re initially met with skepticism and resistance. But they gradually make room for themselves in the hearts of the people. The film also stars Johnny Depp but is a minor role. The plot is simple yet executed in an effective manner. Nothing exclusive or extraordinary about the movie, but still manages to hold the attention of the audience with its smooth course of action and dialogue, and most definitely its mouth watering chocolates. The film’s tagline-one taste is all it takes- is true to its word.

Shakespeare in Love-review

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (1998) is a romantic comedy directed by John Madden and written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard. With the central theme of the love story of the young playwright William Shakespeare, played by Joseph Fiennes, and Viola de Lesseps, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, it has the underlying theme of the struggles of the playwright in the country of England 400 years ago. It deals with various issues like forbidden romances between the classes, prohibition of women actresses and the likes. The over-dramatic acting, language and gestures make for an interesting movie, and the sets, costumes, make-up add to the richness. Worthy of seven Oscars, it is truly light, entertaining and hilarious, with intense wit and humour around the greatest playwright there ever was. Even though the film is largely fictional, a lot of the characters and plot techniques are based on some of Shakespeare’s plays.

Erin Brockovich-review

ERIN BROCKOVICH (2000) is directed by Steven Soderbergh, starring Julia Roberts who won the Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors' Guild Award and BAFTA for Best Actress. Written by Susannah Grant, it is based on a true story of Erin Brockovich’s first fight against the American West Coast energy giant Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). An unemployed and single mother, outspoken and outright, with trashy clothes and earthy manners, Erin struggles to be taken seriously both, at work and in life. Also starring Albert Finney as Ed Masry, Erin’s lawyer, he hires her as his legal assistant and together they bring down a California power company accused of polluting a city's water supply. A highly interesting story line, backed with exceptionally strong and moving acting by the cast makes the movie an absolute must-watch. It’s a story from which we can all learn something; a story that inspires us to believe in the system and fight against corporate injustice on our own personal level; it’s the kind of thing which shows that each and every person can make a big difference.

Coraline-review

CORALINE (2009) is a stop-motion film directed by Henry Selick. It is based on the fantasy/horror novel by British author Neil Gaiman. The story revolves around the protagonist Coraline Jones played by Dakota Fanning, who is a brave, clever, curious and self-proclaimed 11-year-old explorer. She is aggravated by crazy grownups (as they all seem to be), not being taken seriously for her young age and outgoing demeanor, and people constantly mistaking her name for Caroline. The tagline of the movie-“be careful what you wish for” is certainly apt as the movie is about Coraline wishing her life was perfect, and about the wish coming true. Only to discover a parallel world where everybody has buttons instead of eyes, apparently caring parents who invite Coraline to stay in their world forever. As Coraline discovers that the alternate reality where she is trapped is only a trick to lure her, she relies on her resourcefulness, determination and bravery to get back home and save many others like her. With a star cast consisting of the voices of Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Keith David and John Hodgman, the movie has won various awards including Best Feature Film at the BAFTA Children’s Award, Best Animated Female ([the character of] Coraline) at the EDA [Alliance of Women Film Journalists] Award and Best Production Design in a Feature Production at the Annie Awards