The Wait is ON.....

Ever since I have seen a teaser promo for director Christopher Nolan's 'Inception', I most certainly feel trapped. Trapped, because I feel claustrophobic. How much love can a director have for Cinema? How can one go to such depths and come up with a brilliant idea. Very few. Nolan is one of them.

After watching the teaser, I felt so limited, because I am a wannabe. And my imagination can't even touch the points from where Nolan's ideas stem. I envy him, in a good way. For me he is an ideal. I want to find a way into his brain. I want to see what goes on there, how fast his senses are? O my God, am I talking nonsense here? Maybe, but see the teaser once and try hard to wait until the film releases. I am with you, fanboys. And we are one hell of a crowd!

As it has been described, it is 'a contemporary Sci-Fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind...'.

Nolan is only 7 films old and 4 of his movies are in IMDB-top 250. Way to go, brother!

INCEPTION- a Warner Bros release;starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Berenger, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Joseph Gordon Levitt and Michael Caine; written & directed by Christopher Nolan; produced by Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas; music Hans Zimmer. Relesaes Summer 2010.

9/11....

Maybe for you and me, the trauma experienced during the fateful day of 11th September, 2001 may have subsided a little, just a little....but for many who lost someone precious (or simply who did not) the event repeats itself day over again and again. That's why when you decide to make a movie with 9/11 as the backdrop, you better be careful because it is a damn sensitive issue. Kabir Khan's New York, no doubt, feels the pain and to an extent presents it on screen too. But, it falls short way beyond expectations. The message, it delivers perfectly, but for a story that is woven around the 9/11 event, it is too much of a shoddy one to begin with.

Neil Mukesh comes to America to pursue his dreams as a student. He befriends John and Katrina and even falls for her. Everything is fine until the World Trade Center is attacked and evryone is left stuuned. Neil returns back. Years later he is picked up by FBI cop Irrfan Khan and is questioned about the behavior of his friend John, who the FBI believes to be a hotshot terrorist planning something big. Now, Neil has to infiltrate (if that's the right word) John and Katrina's (who are married, oh, by the way) family (they have a son too) and prove that John is either innocent or simply he is not. But a big surprise awaits him at the end of the tunnel....

Cinematic liberties are taken with the same amount of ease that was found in the 70s. Loopholes so large that even another film could be made in it, glare at you. How would you explain the bizarre culmination or else how would you explain why the FBI can't nab a terrorist (whom they claim to have much evidence on) evn though they can nab plenty of innocents with no evidence at all? Also, the convenience with which the terrorist crosses the FBI headquarters and plants bombs around is not only amateurish but also very very foolish. Also, the one in which Neil shoots one person and John is shocked. Before the bullet left the chamber,I knew that the victim fellow was a cop. Sigh! What brilliance!! I think the director thought of the climax first and then he wove a story around it. The wrong direction, oh boy!

Performance wise, there is nothing much to write home about. John overacts, to put it politely. Katrina is miscast. She can neither bring the maturity nor can she bring any difference to her mannerisms w.r.t. time that has passed between 9/11 and the seven or so following years. Neil Nitin Mukesh acts confidently. Trust me, he is really good. Irrfan Khan, once again proves why he can rise up to a convenient screenplay and add to it a flair of his own trademark acting to elevate the level of the movie. He is, simply put, superb!

Let me tell you something interesting. When we find out where the 'terrorist' is going to plant the bomb, the audience I was with, broke into ear-splitting applause. I wondered whether we are condemning terrorism or supporting it. Also, when three of our protagonists show up at the same place, I cringed only to find my neighbors murmuring, 'Oh my God! See, something bad is about to happen...'. I mean, how can this be any more convincing than rain on May 01st?

I can go on talking about things like these all and the list will end a long time after dinner. But where credit is due, let me give 'em....

-The cinematography is nothing short of brilliant. The blurred portions add a certain amount of subtlety to the narrative.

-The torture scenes are revolutionary. They cross the normal Hindi Film standards. The use of loud rock music bears an uncanny resemblance to Stanley Kubrick's A Cloclwork Orange. Nothing bad with that.

-The brown bread sequence with John. Innovative watch.

-The swimming pool scene with Neil. The music rushing through his ears as he rises up the surface and the silence that engulfs him once he takes a plunge. Brilliant. Bloody excellent.

The world has changed a lot post 9/11. We have become a little more united but the repercussions of that day can still be felt in every corner of the world. Hope has been rekindled but we cannot turn our faces away from the fear that we carry within us. What if thw wrongs done by the system turn an innocent man lethal? This is the message passed to us by this movie. Maybe it would have helped if the makers would have believed in pushing the envelopes a bit more.

If you want to watch a movie that makes references to 9/11 alongwith a fictitious story woven around it, I recommend you watch this movie's director Kabir Khan's previous debut film Kabul Express. It was a gem of a movie that got away unnoticed.

However for New York, my score


1/5

The Wheelers' Story....

If you are expecting another Titanic from Leo and Kate, just forget about it. You don't need to watch this film. Because this film is everything that Titanic was not. If you loved Leo and Kate as a couple in that previous blockbuster, you are going to hate them in this one. This is a movie all about bickering, abusing and fighting. But I say all that in a pretty good sense.

Revolutionary Road, simply put, is one the most poignant dramas to have made it to the big screen.

Frank Wheeler meets April Wheeler at a gathering and is smitten by her charm. The lady, in turn, reciprocates and finds him attractive. Within a few days, they are married and then starts their mundane life. Years pass on, the Wheelers have two kids. But, something is not right. The Wheelers feel that they are unique, they transcend all boundaries and realms of the'normal' human couple. They feel as if they are a new spark altogether. Lady Wheeler proposes that they all take off to Paris and start a new life with their kids and all. Frank refuses and then reluctantly agrees because he likes the new idea that they are going to escape their boring routine life. He is excited by the fact that they are going to explore the never seen path that they should have taken a long time ago. But then April gets pregnant and Frank gets a promotion. Differences crop up and the marriage starts to deteroriate....

A film whose story begins where all love stories end, Revolutionary Road tells the pathos and problems of a suburban couple. A different take on marriage where all things are not mushy and chocolate-flavored. This film is based on the much celebrated novel of the same name by Richard Yates. Said to be unfilmable at a time, this movie showed me that it was everything but unfilmable. Director Sam Mendes (husband of Kate Winslet) who made the excellent dark comedy American Beauty is one of the most influential directors, I have to say. Treating a subject ever so delicately, Mendes takes us through all the twists and turns of the Wheelers' lives. thus giving us real flesh and blood characters, not stereotypes, not caricatures.

Leonardo Di Caprio hits the right note as Frank Wheeler. His grief, his dilemma, his wicked nature are almost tangible. I like the way Leo speaks. I have to say his voice is as much attractive as his face. What a shame that the Academy forgot to honor this gem of a talent.

My thumbs up is for Kate Winslet as April Wheeler. Her grief would not have made it to the screen, had the role been given to any other actress. The subtle nuances are at the right place and the catharsis that her character goes through holds the film together. A tailor made role, I would say.

Same goes for Roger Deakins' cinematography. It gives the film a distinctive look of 1955 New York. Thomas Newman's score is subtle and one as is expected.

We have seen many love stories. But, Revolutionar Road, is that rare kind of a film that shows the gradual descent of a perfectly married couple into darkness, into abyss. The end of the movie is heart-breaking and anything but what you'd expect and let me assure you one thing. This movie is not an easy watch. It was a pretty difficult movie to make and even more difficult to make it the way it is. Perfect. As Roger Ebert says "Its not how the action affects us, it is about the way that the action affects us".

A brilliant drama. Unmissable. Strongly recommended. Two big thumbs way up!!

My score
(5/5)

Jung Chhedni Hai Humein....

I can promise you one thing. You can never know Anurag Kashyap as a whole. He is either in complete tandem with your taste or he simply isn't. Luckily, for me post Mani Ratnam, Kashyap is the most exciting thing that has taken over the Hindi Film Industry. 'Gulaal' is one of his most personal projects. It was stuck for some 9 years. And I think his patience has paid off. This movie was written keeping in mind one of Sahir Ludhianvi's songs from 'Pyaasa' named, 'Yeh Duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai.....'

A story set in the beautiful landscape of Rajasthan, 'Gulaal' tells multiple stories along the way. A prince hellbent on claiming a separate state named 'Rajputana' for the Rajputs, a love story between an innocent student and a highly ambitious girl, the story of a single minded Rajput 'Ransa', a madman and his protege, two illegitemate siblings planning their own political moves and these stories collide and the results thereafter are nothing short of catastrophic. I will not tell you anything more about this movie. Of course, you know it deals with politics but wait until you watch the movie.

Kashyap generously adds dollops of subtlety in the narrative, thereby making this movie not only entertaining but intellectual as well. And what a palette of beautiful characters AK comes up with. Kay Kay Menon essaying the role of Dukey Bana is ferocious, an actor whom the camera and the microphone are neck deep in love with. Raja Singh Chaudhary is perfectly cast as young Law student Dileep. He also co-wrote the story and that's too much of a responsibility. Yet it works. Deepak Dobriyal, Ayesha Mohan, Aditya Srivastav, Jesse Randhawa all play their parts convincingly. But my vote is up for both Abhimanyu Singh as Rananjay Singh "Ransa" and Piyush Mishra as Bana Senior. Both of them scorch the screen with their intense performances and you long so much for them when they are not there on screen.

The music of the movie (also by Piyush Mishra) is something that you are unlikely to forget for a long long time. The songs are revolutionary to put it in short. Each and every song makes sense. Remember, the movie is not an easy watch. Ther are loads of violence and expletives. But how can a Kashyap movie do without them? These things enhance in shaping up the movie further or rather should I say, they give this movie the required 'edge'.

My only problem is the unexplored track of Randhawa's story. But that is Anurag's vision. Who am I to interfere with it? Kashyap does a swell job as he gives the movie a distinctive feel and a tone that is hard to find these days. 'The Kafka Effekt', perhaps.

A madman amongst sane people makes all the sense that is there.

Do yourself a favour, watch 'Gulaal'.

My score.......

5/5.

Whatever the President does....?

If you haven't caught up with Ron Howard's latest offering- Frost/Nixon, you are simply missing out one of the finest works of 2008. A modern masterpiece, in the true sense of the word. This movie is at an elevated level. where a complex story is broken down into simpler fractions and spread out as a simpler tale for the viewers. This viewer can comprehend whatever is happening. Now, this might have backfired. Case in point, Howard's previous offering, The Da Vinci Code. An utterly complex tale which he tried to simplify on celluloid and it backfired badly. But, with Frost/Nixon, Howard hits the right note, making the movie a lot simpler than anyone has expected and yet adding all the little nuances that help in making this movie what it is today. It is a simple approach and for once, we are not complaining....

The Watergate issue is out in the open. Soon, President Richard Nixon's resignation from the post follows. Things are all heated up. Nobody in the political circle wants to speak about it. But, all hell breaks loose when the new President Gerald Ford declares that Nixon will not face any trial for the ghastly act. The Amereican public goes mad and starts screaming for justice.

Meanwhile, a popular talkshow host David Frost wants Nixon on his show- a total of 4 episodes, so that he can interview him regarding everything. But, odds are against him. Eventually, he gets the former President's nod of approval and then starts one of the most talked about interviews of all time.

Now, much of the fun comes from watching the lead actors Frank Langella nd Martin Sheen who take to their roles instinctively and instantaneously. Of course, now that would be an understatement. Because, Sheen and Langella have already starred in the same respective roles in the stage version of this movie. And what to say about the accolades they walked away with!! There is not a single moment in this movie which does not thrust its importance on you. This movie is hot, bubbling acid. Its screenplay by Peter Morgan, writer of the stage version, is terrific, to say the least. For all the aspiring writers, this screenplay is a treat and a textbook to be served. My favorite scene in the movie, the chat which Richard Nixon has with David Frost over the telephone and the climax scene when they talk about the above mentioned conversation. I will not drop any hints but watch the scene and you'll know what subtlety means.

Frank Langella essaying Nixon is like a ferocious, wounded tiger. He sinks his teeth into the character with amazing ease and you silently applaud it. Clearly, a tailor-made role or rather should I say, a noteworthy role for an equally worthy actor.

Martin Sheen- Words fall short as he inherits the role, the look completely. The comic flair he adds to his character serve as the icing on the cake.

But, my nod goes to Kevin Bacon who plays post-presidential chief of staff Jack Brennan. He may not have many dialogues but his silences speak volumes, lliteraaly. We, as a viewer, don't have to be spoonfed about Brennan's undying loyalty for the former President. Watch out for him. Hans Zimmer's score is also one of the movie's major asset.

All this brings us to Ron Howard, the director. He give the movie a heightened source of drama and brings an intensity that is a rarity these days. We almost forget, that there is Howrad behind the camera. Only when the credits roll, that you are taken by surprise. It happened with me. I knew very well that Ron Howard was the director. Yet, this movie is so un-Ron Howardish. Clearly, Frost/Nixon is his best work after A Beautiful Mind. Its a rare film that you'll find hard to dislike even if you are not an avid follower of historical issues.

My Score.....

5/5.

All about 'Rab....'

Hello friends,

Came back from a screening of Rab ne bana di Jodi yesterday. After listening to all the bad reviews and stuff, I went in to see this movie with zero expectations, none at all. Zip. Nil. Have to admit, I was in for a pleasant surprise and how! Believe me, from the beginning till the end, the smile never left my face, almost. I waited for something to wipe that smile off my face. The film is redundant with flaws, it's not a good film, actually light years away from it. Yet, something inherently noble about this movie made me smile.

The film starts off with a cliche....old man dying....asking his student to marry his daughter.....daughter and student oblige.....old man dies. And the couple marry. The hitch, which we an audience are aware of, is the age difference between them both is a little bit of too much- 20 years to be precise. The girls mentions straightaway, that she will never be able to love the man. Hero sulks and is saddened but does not show it. Instead he moves on. When heroine tells hero she wants to take part in a dancing competition, hero agrees. Hero and his friend plan together and change hero into a dashing(somewhat rowdy) stud. Actually, you see, the hero is not much of a good looker- Spectacles, oiled hair. Hero, then in his changed avatar tries to woo heroine, takes part in gol-gappa eating contest. After that, he switches back to his normal, geeky avatar and drives back home to eat biriyani made by his beloved wife. Heroine does not recognize him. One day stylish avatar proposes heroine. Heroine is confused and refuses, accepts, refuses, accepts etc etc. Now, the protagonists are torn apart with respect to making decisions. Hero is two-faced now, unable to decide what to do. Heroine is unable to decide whom to choose and so on......

You see, my problem with the movie is not restricted to one, there are many. How can you not recognize your husband when all he does is removes his spectacles, spikes up his hair and shave off the mustache? Why does the hero split his personality into two and try wooing his wife and proposing her? Why can't he simply change himself, change his looks, try to become a little smart and try wooing his wife, then? Why can't he do that being her husband?

But, having said that, I was floored the way this movie presented itself. The real charm of this movie lies in watching two of its protagonists embrace their characters. You know something, animated movies' characters are the most important. You like the movie only when the characters are as affable as Nemo, Wall-E, Remy, E.T. or Shrek. The same happens here. Shahrukh Khan as Surinder sahni is one of the most beautifully carved characters to reach the screen. The character is so well-written that it seems as if the people at Pixar have written this character. SRK transcends all boundaries and makes it a real, flesh and blood character. He not only embraces it, he dissolves in it to become Suri. Believe me, you will fall in love with Suri. Trust me.

Anoushka Sharma playing Taani does a balanced job- a rare feat for a newcomer. She is beautiful and acts well. She is really luminous. Vinay Pathak- this man I don't have to talk about. He is lovable as Bobby- Suri's friend. He always is.

Cinematography by Ravi K. Chandran is as usual, a visual treat. Music is in sync with the movie. But when it's a movie with dancing as its backdrop, you surely do expect a little more from the Yashraj Camp.

Aditya Chopra, who broke all records of Hindi Cinema when he made his entry with DDLJ, does not take the trodden path and there's no real problem with his direction. If and only if, he did the whole movie with Suri minus the idiotic Raj, this movie would have worked big time for me. Also, it would have made for an innovative and refreshing watch, because the movie would have been so much more complex. In this case, the movie just tries to be complex, when in reality, we know how is it going to turn out in the end. The characters are flawed but only on the surface, when this movie demands flawed character to the core. Straight characters are out of fashion now. I would have loved to see characters, especially Taani- a little more human, like you, like me.

But, theses things aside, RNBDJ works quite good as an entertainer. The Pièce de résistance being the charming SRK essaying Suri. Your heart goes out to him. Be prepared to fall in love with him. And as for 'Rab....', watch the movie!


3/5.

How to ruin a Masterpiece

Do you know how to ruin a perfectly made movie?

I mean to say, that the film has been released, has garnered critical acclaim and raked in the moolah as well. Everyone has loved it. Now, how to ruin it? Do you get the picture? No?

Make fans eagerly wait for the DVD release of the movie. Promise them to give the wholesome entertainment all over again. Release the DVD and wait to get the brickbats when the viewer gets pissed off wondering what a piece of trash that DVD is!

The same has happened with me.

December 08th, 2008. I was eagerly waiting for 'The Dark Knight' DVD to release. The day came. I am from Orissa. But, since I'd been to Chennai to stay with my elder brother, I had to get the DVD from LANDMARK. I ran and did so. Now,imagine the horror I would have faced when I played the DVD.

No, it was not some other film, as you might be guessing. It was far worse than that. But, first things first.

I had been waiting for 'The Dark Knight' with bated breath right after 'Batman Begins'. It came, it showed and it conquered. I could not believe the way Christopher Nolan had executed the movie. He had taken the movie in the darkest corners possible and had come out with a movie that worked not only as a superhero movie but as an authentic crime saga as well. Sure, Nolan took his cue/inspiration from Michael Mann's 'Heat', but that only elevated the experience of watching TDK. I watched an atrociously dubbed Hindi version of the movie in the theater 3 times. Can you believe that? And I clapped at least 6-7 time heartily during the movie. To put it in short, it was the best movie I saw in whole of 2008. What to sat about the Late Heath Ledger, that hasn't been already said? He is flawless....

Then, the DVD came. It was a 2-disc special edition and I resisted the urge to shout in joy when I purchased the DVD. I came home, I played the DVD. The first Disc contains, the movie. That's it. The second disc contains....

-Gotham uncovered-stunts, music and all that.
-The IMAX sequences (6)-exactly as they had been intended.
-Photo Gallery
-Gotham News (6 episodes)
-Trailers and TV Spots

I reeled in horror as I found out that there was no tribute that had been paid to Ledger, no detailing of the story, the themes of escalation, nothing. Only, they shouted 'IMAX! IMAX! IMAX!'. And, the stunts. Well, they are not a problem. But, where's the story guys? What really made Chris and Jonathan Nolan push the envelope? How did they come with such a gritty saga? Where's the detailing?

I have reasons to believe that a new DVD will be launched again. No two opinions about that one. But, how can I get what I wanted? There's no footage of Heath Ledger performing, nothing. There's no commentary by Christopher Nolan. May be, I would have shut up if there had been at least a film commentary. But, I have been deprived of that too.

But, it's consoling that at last, I have the movie with me, for which I have waited so long. But, I guess, I wanted more.

That's an average rating from me.

Believe me, I have rated the DVD, not the movie. The movie deserves a 5 out of 5.