Movie Review (English)

12 Years a Slave

A lot was expected but I was disappointed. And I realize there is a reason. Atrocities shown in the movie based on colour are heart rending. But in my country, such atrocities have been continuing for centuries. Here it is not based on colour, but the caste you are born in. The so-called upper caste has always tried to squash the spirit of the so-called lower caste and thinks of this as a God given right. Maybe that is the reason I did not connect so much emotionally with this movie because I have heard of atrocities much worse than shown in this movie. What really moved me though were the various phases that Solomon, the protagonist, goes through. From a free, well established man, he is sold as a slave and given away to the highest bidder. He goes through various white households, meets and understands those working as slaves, undergoes punishments, gets rewards and looks out for his survival. His change in personality is remarkable. His release from slavery is quite sudden but a relief. That it received the Oscar was a great moment, but it was a tough call.

Movie Review (English)

Dallas Buyers Club

It was a joy to see one of my favourite actors reach the top of his acting quotient. Matthew McConaughey has always dazzled as a romantic hero, full of chutzpah. But for him to attempt this movie was so out of character, I was floored. Thank you Matthew for having shown there is no ceiling to acting. He plays the real life Ron Woodroof, an HIV afflicted electrician and a gambler at a rodeo. He achieved a body that looked like it hadn't been fed for quite some time. His bones and skin body played a big part in letting him get into character. Jared Leto who played the role of a transexual, Rayon, with aplomb, is at once shunned by Ron and then goes on to become a big part of his life. Jennifer Garner comes up as the humane doctor who doesn’t necessarily prescribe to the FDA’s findings. Given 30 days to live, our man lives for 7 years using alternative medicine to boost his immune system, instead of using FDA approved drugs that randomly kill the cells of the body. During this time he works at providing these medicines to those in a similar condition and forms a Buyers Club that charges money and supplies these illegal medicines. In the process, he keeps dodging the law which tries to prevents him from selling, never mind that they work.

Yes, the Oscar was definitely deserved.

Hindi Movie Review

Queen

Bollywood still has hopes of redemption if such movies are shot. Queen was like a breath of fresh air. The main reason being the well thought out script. Honeymooning alone in Paris and Amsterdam, befriending a smart, thoughtful waitress (Lisa Haydon), sharing a room with three men from different countries – that’s certainly not what a typical middle class Delhi girl does. But in the movie it all falls into place. So where’s the hero??? Would you believe it? There’s no hero to carry the lady into the sunset!! The egotistic Delhi boy (Rajkummar Rao) is beautifully put in place while our heroine waltzes into the sunrise. Kudos to Kangana Ranaut for her make up less face and natural dramatic talent and cheers to the director Vikas Bahl and producers Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane. Queen certainly deserves her crown!!!

Movie Review (English)

The Wolf of Wall Street

Another power packed performance by Leonardo. Scorsese never lets me down. This is the thrilling real life story of the rise and fall and rise again of Jordon Belfort, a New York stockbroker. But why so much of debauchery?! Drugs and Sex seemed a better title for the movie. The movie moves with the premise that every one and everything has a price. It’s a scary world that opens up the immense possibilities with money and the vast black hole somewhere down the road waiting to engulf you. And then you no longer remain yourself. You are a distorted shadow of yourself who thinks you have got it all, that you are the King of the World till this world comes crashing down taking everything away. But for those who have sold their souls to money, drugs and sex, there is finally no coming back on the path originally taken. The black hole is a companion for them.I am now a little scared to see Leo’s films. They are getting too dark.  Have also learnt – NEVER EVER INVEST. Thanks!