The much anticipated flick from the Sanjay Leela Bhansali stable hits the screens this weekend. With Hrithik-Ash at the helm of affairs, does it make you forget the questionable Saawariya?
While not the best film, its got some beautiful visuals, heart-warming moments and astounding performances.
Ethan Mascarenhas(Hrithik) was a star magician till one day a freak accident confines him to his bed and thus he faces the difficulties of life as a quadriplegic. His caretaker Sofia D'Souza(Aishwariya) has dedicated her life in looking after Ethan and cares deeply for him. Tired with his obscure illness, Ethan files a plea for Euthanasia(mercy killing), as he wants to end his suffering. The film deals with the problems he faces, his approach to life and the eventual outcome of his prayer.
At just about 2 hrs, the film is crisp. Furthermore, it is a visually stunning film, almost like art on a canvas. The cinematography by Sudeep Chatterjee leaves you with a smile on your face.
The area where the film suffers is the rather mediocre screenplay and plot-line that borrows from other films (The Prestige). The music, by SLB himself, is simply ok, leave alone a couple of melodious tracks.
What this film shows us though is the powerhouse that is Hrithik Roshan. He delivers what can arguably be called as one of his finest performances ever. Emotional, witty or downright angry, he displays every emotion that one would imagine. Aishwariya too springs up her most real & believable performance in years. She looks stunning, in character and not plastic. Aditya Roy Kapoor is good, rest satisfactory.
SLB tries but fails on a few counts. The lack of a positive message being one and the extremely dark tone of the film the other. His attempt is genuine but the outcome is half-baked.
At the end of it, Guzaarish truly defines arthouse/alternative cinema and is a far cry from the commercial jungle. A genuine effort with some soul, certain scenes (like the one where water drops on his head, or when hes angry) are just brilliant. Other than that, its a lot of heavy emotion and some exemplary acting. Watch this if you want to sample some Hrithik genius.
Rating: 2.5/5
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
The Social Network - Review
After garnering rave reviews worldwide, The Social network hits screens this weekend. The true story of the worlds youngest billionaire, does this pack enough punch to be called a winner?
This is one brilliantly written, riveting experience that NO ONE should miss.
Mark Zuckerberg is your stereotypical geek. A Harvard grad who's great with the tech stuff, Mark starts a site facemash which draws everyone's attention. He gets called upon by individuals who want to start as social networking platform but he eventually builds his on. This true story is about the inception of facebook, the legal battle that ensued and the psyche of this prodigy.
The screenplay by veteran Aaron Sorkin is just fabulous. Moving back and forth, it keeps you at the edge of your seat and doesn't loose you for a second. The story is so taut that you don't realize when the 2 hours fly by.
Jesse Eisenberg as the protagonist Mark is stellar. Geeky, possessed and driven, he drinks the character and delivers. Justin Timberlake as the charming Sean Parker is superb as well.
Director David Fincher creates celluloid magic again. Se7en, Fight Club, Benjamin Button, Social Network. His treatment on taking a topic like facebook and making it into an edgy-dark experience is laudable.
So the verdict is out, The Social Network is one of the best films of the year. The biggest networking platform which tears apart the people who create it, this one is unmissable. Run to the theaters now !!!
Rating: 4.5/5
This is one brilliantly written, riveting experience that NO ONE should miss.
Mark Zuckerberg is your stereotypical geek. A Harvard grad who's great with the tech stuff, Mark starts a site facemash which draws everyone's attention. He gets called upon by individuals who want to start as social networking platform but he eventually builds his on. This true story is about the inception of facebook, the legal battle that ensued and the psyche of this prodigy.
The screenplay by veteran Aaron Sorkin is just fabulous. Moving back and forth, it keeps you at the edge of your seat and doesn't loose you for a second. The story is so taut that you don't realize when the 2 hours fly by.
Jesse Eisenberg as the protagonist Mark is stellar. Geeky, possessed and driven, he drinks the character and delivers. Justin Timberlake as the charming Sean Parker is superb as well.
Director David Fincher creates celluloid magic again. Se7en, Fight Club, Benjamin Button, Social Network. His treatment on taking a topic like facebook and making it into an edgy-dark experience is laudable.
So the verdict is out, The Social Network is one of the best films of the year. The biggest networking platform which tears apart the people who create it, this one is unmissable. Run to the theaters now !!!
Rating: 4.5/5
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Golmaal 3 - Review
Its Diwali time which means Rohit Shetty and his motley crew are back for some mind-numbing nonsensical humour. After 3 consecutive hits, does the entertainment package deliver?
This is a laugh riot for the brainless.
Few points to note before buying your tickets:
1. Did you enjoy Golmaal, Golmaal 2 - Yes
2. Do you love garish colours and sets that look like a kids party - Yes
3. Do cheesy one-liners do the trick for you - Yes
4. Do you think a movie should have a story - No
If 3 points match, run to the halls now !!
So the Golmaal team returns with some casting changes. Ajay Devgn-Shreyas Talpade are brothers who are mothered by Ratna Pathak. Warsi-Khemu-Tushhar are brothers fathered by Mithun. There is an old romance angle between Ratna-Mithun. The two factions don't get along but once their folks decide to tie the knot, the families have to live with each other and all the mayhem that goes along with it.
Throw in a Don with memory loss(Johnny Lever), his madcap sidekicks and a spit-fire heroine in the form of Kareena Kapoor and you have your ingredients. This is a recipe served specially for the masses, and they will love it.
The film plays out in almost 2.5 hrs and is an endless showreel of gags and hilarious one-lines. There is an absolute disregard for any story or semblance whatsoever. The production designs are loud and colourful, akin to the directors previous work.
The showstealer of this film is Mithunda. He has the most hilarious lines and plays to the gallery in fine fashion. Kareena too is superb as the foul-mouthed Daboo. Devgn is strictly ok, Talpade hams, Lever is funny and Khemu has a great character with rhyming lines.
As a director, this wouldn't classify as Rohit Shetty's best work. Far from the knockout that was Golmaal, this is definitely better than the second installment. He tries to play in some emotions, but one thing is certain, this film works.
All in all, Golmaal-3 is the perfect Diwali film, one that will entertain the masses to the fullest. The theater halls are in raptures as cheesy lines like, "Jiske ghar sheeshay ke hote hai, woh basement mein kapde badalte hai" are belted out. Rohit Shetty knows what the janta likes though I wouldn't suggest this for those looking for a quality experience. The pick of this Diwali, watch it if its your drift.
This is a laugh riot for the brainless.
Few points to note before buying your tickets:
1. Did you enjoy Golmaal, Golmaal 2 - Yes
2. Do you love garish colours and sets that look like a kids party - Yes
3. Do cheesy one-liners do the trick for you - Yes
4. Do you think a movie should have a story - No
If 3 points match, run to the halls now !!
So the Golmaal team returns with some casting changes. Ajay Devgn-Shreyas Talpade are brothers who are mothered by Ratna Pathak. Warsi-Khemu-Tushhar are brothers fathered by Mithun. There is an old romance angle between Ratna-Mithun. The two factions don't get along but once their folks decide to tie the knot, the families have to live with each other and all the mayhem that goes along with it.
Throw in a Don with memory loss(Johnny Lever), his madcap sidekicks and a spit-fire heroine in the form of Kareena Kapoor and you have your ingredients. This is a recipe served specially for the masses, and they will love it.
The film plays out in almost 2.5 hrs and is an endless showreel of gags and hilarious one-lines. There is an absolute disregard for any story or semblance whatsoever. The production designs are loud and colourful, akin to the directors previous work.
The showstealer of this film is Mithunda. He has the most hilarious lines and plays to the gallery in fine fashion. Kareena too is superb as the foul-mouthed Daboo. Devgn is strictly ok, Talpade hams, Lever is funny and Khemu has a great character with rhyming lines.
As a director, this wouldn't classify as Rohit Shetty's best work. Far from the knockout that was Golmaal, this is definitely better than the second installment. He tries to play in some emotions, but one thing is certain, this film works.
All in all, Golmaal-3 is the perfect Diwali film, one that will entertain the masses to the fullest. The theater halls are in raptures as cheesy lines like, "Jiske ghar sheeshay ke hote hai, woh basement mein kapde badalte hai" are belted out. Rohit Shetty knows what the janta likes though I wouldn't suggest this for those looking for a quality experience. The pick of this Diwali, watch it if its your drift.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Action Replayy - Review
Diwali is here and it brings along with it the first of the big releases of the season, Action Replayy. Akshay Kumar, who's had some disastrous releases in the last 2 years dons a retro avatar in this comic caper which takes us back to the Eastman color days.
Is it any good though?
This Back to the Future meets Hitch can well be reserved for a television watch.
Kishen Chopra(Akshay Kumar) is henpecked. His wife Mala(Aishwariya) bosses over him, much to the ire of their son Bunty(Aditya Roy Kapoor) and hence he devises a master plan of going back in time to play out a better future.
Back in time, the bucktoothed, bellbottomed Kishen is scared and bullied over by all pushing Bunty to take on the responsibility of transforming him into the cool, suave man who women would swoon over.
Throw in a ton of songs, random references to the future, geeky humour & some more songs and you give birth to Action Replayy.
Let us put one thing straight, the main plot of AR is a straight lift of Back to the Future and is followed by a Hitch style turnaorund. The movie tries hard to transport you to the 70's but is half-baked. The clothes, colours and dance steps are perfect but songs are amiss.
The major flaw of the film is the script itself, or the lack of originality in it. Another issue is the excessive screentime of Adity Roy Kapoor, which reaches a point of irritation.
On the plus side, the film has some hilarious sequences that literally have you in splits. Akshay Kumar is stupendous. After long, he leaves you spellbounded with his geeky style and one really wishes he had an even meatier role(Yes, its almost the same as the new kid). Aishwariya Rai.B looks stunning to say the least and plays the glam-role perfectly. Aditya Roy Kapoor is decent, but its disappointing to see him have such a humongous role. Rannvijay is patchy but has a well scripted role.
Director Vipul Shah fails again after London Dreams. Far from his earlier work like Aankhen and Waqt, this one is a mediocre effort. Also, for a film where music is so important, the score by Pritam is a disaster.
In short, Action Replayy is a timepass movie which is your perfect cable tv watch on a Sunday afternoon. As the 16 other people in the theater would agree, it is not worth spending your Diwali weekend on. Watch Golmaal instead as this 70's show is a damp squib.
Rating: 2/5
Is it any good though?
This Back to the Future meets Hitch can well be reserved for a television watch.
Kishen Chopra(Akshay Kumar) is henpecked. His wife Mala(Aishwariya) bosses over him, much to the ire of their son Bunty(Aditya Roy Kapoor) and hence he devises a master plan of going back in time to play out a better future.
Back in time, the bucktoothed, bellbottomed Kishen is scared and bullied over by all pushing Bunty to take on the responsibility of transforming him into the cool, suave man who women would swoon over.
Throw in a ton of songs, random references to the future, geeky humour & some more songs and you give birth to Action Replayy.
Let us put one thing straight, the main plot of AR is a straight lift of Back to the Future and is followed by a Hitch style turnaorund. The movie tries hard to transport you to the 70's but is half-baked. The clothes, colours and dance steps are perfect but songs are amiss.
The major flaw of the film is the script itself, or the lack of originality in it. Another issue is the excessive screentime of Adity Roy Kapoor, which reaches a point of irritation.
On the plus side, the film has some hilarious sequences that literally have you in splits. Akshay Kumar is stupendous. After long, he leaves you spellbounded with his geeky style and one really wishes he had an even meatier role(Yes, its almost the same as the new kid). Aishwariya Rai.B looks stunning to say the least and plays the glam-role perfectly. Aditya Roy Kapoor is decent, but its disappointing to see him have such a humongous role. Rannvijay is patchy but has a well scripted role.
Director Vipul Shah fails again after London Dreams. Far from his earlier work like Aankhen and Waqt, this one is a mediocre effort. Also, for a film where music is so important, the score by Pritam is a disaster.
In short, Action Replayy is a timepass movie which is your perfect cable tv watch on a Sunday afternoon. As the 16 other people in the theater would agree, it is not worth spending your Diwali weekend on. Watch Golmaal instead as this 70's show is a damp squib.
Rating: 2/5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
