Movie Reviews

Silver Linings Playbook – Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence… What a combination and how they set the screen on fire!! No wonder this movie is such a huge hit. 

Cooper (Pat) is a person with a bipolar disorder.  Returning home one day, he finds his wife, Nikki, in a compromising situation with another man. He goes berserk. He is committed to a mental institution.  His mother believes he is ready to handle real life and gets him out. But the next few days prove tough for the parents and the son. The father, De Niro, himself suffers from obsessive behavior. Pat badly wants to get back with Nikki, that is until he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), who herself seems unhinged to him. 

Well, that was the story but how the characters bring in the authenticity is the key. Jennifer will surely go places. 

Argo – A movie that refuses to let you sit calmly in your seat. Gripping drama, tight editing and fabulous acting makes it the movie it is and one that you cannot afford to miss! Based on a true story of the escape of six Americans from the American Embassy in Iran in 1980, it is an unlikely coming together of Hollywood and the CIA. Argo is the name of a movie that is not being made, it has a fake script and a fake crew and there are fake documents. All this and the group has to escape out of Iran with the fake assistant producer’s (Ben Affleck) help though all the militia searching for the six escapees. What more would a potboiler want? Ben Affleck and Alan Arkin are amazing!!

Movies - Review

Lincoln (English)

Daniel Day Lewis has moved on to become my favourite actor. I really have no way of knowing about Abraham Lincoln’s true mannerisms, but Daniel Day Lewis seemed to bring this charismatic character alive. Focusing on one of the biggest amendments ever made by the American Constitution, the movie successfully brings out the struggles that the man with the power to change history has to undergo. Not only does he have to fight his own battles, he has to outwit his opponents by hook or by crook.

Hitchcock (English)

I have been a fan of Hitchcock’s movies – I mean the whodunit ones. As a youngster, I never really liked Psycho. This movie revolves around the making of Psycho and as this pathbreaking movie gets made, it highlights the married life of the Master of Suspense. Anthony Hopkins was amazing as Hitch (as Alfred Hitchcock was popularly known). As usual, Hopkins remains among the top of the list of my favourite actors.

Inkaar (Hindi)

A little strange. A sexual harassment case is filed by the lady (Chitrangada Singh) on her boss (Arjun Rampal). On both sides though, there is love for each other. There is an enquiry into the matter. Girl decides to sleep with one of the owners to teach the man a lesson (but finally doesn't). Man quits and leaves for his home town with his ailing father. The girl also, it seems, leaves.

Table No. 21 (Hindi)

A tale of Revenge?? No, certainly not. A tale of teaching a lesson? More like it. A twisted theme to deal with the evil of ragging. A father sets out to sort a couple who have been unnecessarily cruel to his son, scarring him for life. The way to this is through a game called Table no. 21 and the tasks assigned to the couple is what brings about the denouement. Paresh Rawal  as usual takes over all the screen space.

Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola (Hindi)
Mandola’s daughter Bijli is in love with Matru (and vice versa, of course!!)

Just like the title of the movie, the movie too is a little quirky. I loved Vishal Bharadwaj’s game plan of explaining the exploitation of villagers by the rich and bringing in the Mao Tse Tung element. It’s a simple story with layers and great actors doing a perfect job. Shabana’s role was an interesting one as an out-and-out mean politician. Imran and and Anushka are getting better with each movie. What can I say about Pankaj Kapoor? He has been a favourite since Karamchand!!  

Oxford Educate by OUP on YouTube

Played a small part in the Oxford Educate Video (by OUP) to make learning fun and interesting, both for students and teachers. I essayed the role of the teacher you see right at the beginning of the video. :)

Theatre Fest - Bharat Rang Mahotsav

Jan 18 - Saw the play Macbeth in Bengali. Performed by the theatre group, Swapna Sandhani, the play was directed by Kaushik Sen and Macbeth was played by him too. It was a two and a half hour play and I was hooked. The translation has been excellent as was the acting and the stage design. Choreography of the witches (weird creatures) was expertly done. Lady Macbeth played by Rashmi Sen was also well presented. If Bengal theatre keeps up this good work, a renaissance of sorts is not far in West Bengal.

Theatre Fest - Bharat Rang Mahotsav

Jan 9 - Got to see the play Meghnad Badh Kabya. And I was impressed to say the least. Director Manish Mitra had taken on a huge task and has delivered. The play is in Bengali and Sanskrit, so for people who do not understand Bengali it can be a little daunting. But the actors and the choreography got the audience involved. Meghnad, Ravan's son who is killed in battle, performed like the valiant warrior he was. The use of various dance forms ( Kathakali, Chow and Kathak) added to the grandeur. The sense of empathy with Ravan, Mandodari and Urmila's pain and Meghnad's need to defend Lanka was palpable among the audience. I have always wanted to peek into Michael Madhusudhan Dutt's great work, but felt intimidated. Seeing it enacted made me realise what I had missed.
Just as a rejoinder, I would have been happier if the last scene had left out the ritual of sati.

Delhi Diary 12 - The Rape Capital

Delhi continues to guard its coveted award of Rape Capital. It has left all the others far far behind.
So what could be the reason for such astounding consistency? Are the Delhi men born this way or does Delhi do something to them?
Why do people avoid committing crimes?
Because they are afraid of the repercussions.
In Delhi, they are not afraid. They know they will not be harmed. A few months in jail is no big deal of them anyway.
So why are the so called lawmakers not looking at this dastardly act a little more severely?
Because they feel it is not a crime that deserves all that seriousness?
Women are told to take care of their clothes, watch where they are going, when they are going and with whom they are spending time.
But what about those who prey upon them? For a little fun?
Don't they have anything to learn at all? Or do we club all of them as perverts and depraved?

Movies from Hollywood

Saw some of the latest releases from Hollywood.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: Our home grown directors should learn from this movie. It is not necessary that strapping young men and nubile lasses can give you a box office hit or a good movie. This one was certainly about the path less travelled. Elderly couples seek some diversion, peace and companionship in Rajasthan in a dilapidated hotel. Were they able to find it? You simply must see this one to find out!

Hope Springs: Meryl Streep (my favourite) and Tommy Lee Jones together!! What more would the movie lover require? Does a marriage stay a marriage in the true sense of the term after thirty or forty years? Can we improve it? Watch this...

Life of Pi: I was amazed when I heard that a film was being made on this book. I thought it really could not be broken down into shots and scenes, and what about the plot? Well, Ang Lee proved that it could be done and has done it superbly. The ocean, the tiger and the boy create magic and it is difficult to stay out of its web. A must watch.