Lucky Number Slevin

Seeing this movie is akin to watching a jigsaw puzzle being solved. A very cool and edgy flick with the director trying very hard to be Quentin Tarantino. Reminded me again of the reason I like Mr. Freeman. His voice. Though thats just me. Bruce Willis plays the cool headed world famous assassin with aplomb.

When the movie ended I thought that it indeed was a tight flick but after thinking about it for a while I realized that it reminded me of Being Cyrus and I give higher points to that film for shock value.

Rating: * *

Classmates

The low quality of the mallu movies in the last 5 years makes this film stand out. A reunion of classmates that turns into a murder mystery. Prithviraaj plays the lead and Balachandra Menon does a fine job of being the professor / detective. If only the screenplay had been better...

Rating: * +

Los dos lados de la cama

In English it translates to 'Two Sides of the Bed'. As one can imagine, its about 2 couples and how fate gets the combinations to be rearranged dramatically. Whilst its funny, there was a tired sense of deja-vu.

Rating: * *

Open Water

This one can put you off diving. Low-budget flick, reasonably made. Not worth recommending a watch though.

Rating: * +

The Prestige

Lot of hype surrounding the movie - understandable, considering it was Chris Nolan & about magicians. The beginining and the build-up of the story was good - Michael Caine explaining the basic tenets of magic tricks, the manic obsession of the main characters for their craft, and their sheer ruthlessness came across very well.

But the last bit wasn't half as tight as it should have been. I understand that the book, from which the movie was adapted, was different - esp the latter part of the story. Probably explains the sudden dilution of events in the movie. Usual tricks are present: the movie transports the viewer to&fro across time - which sadly is not a novelty anymore. Good performances though from everyone.

A good movie, but certainly not in the same class as Memento.

Rating: * * +

Tickets

Its one of those joined up movies. Three separate stories directed separately by 3 different directors - like Eros. Boasts of a set of 3 master directors - Ermanno Olmi (no clue), Abbas Kiarostami ('The Taste of Cherry') and Ken Loach (of whom I had heard of) - directing 3 separate stories connected by a train.

Well-made. Given that the train compartment (and a few characters ) was the only common thread; its interesting to observe of how the same situation can be presented by different people.

The Ermanno Olmi segment had this deliberate touch to it - an intense look back at lost opportunities. The best section, or rather the one I liked, was Abbas Kiarostamis undoubtedly. Fluid, easy, clear and no mystery. The final segment: Ken Loach's story of 3 Celtic Football Club fans and their experience - a lot more passionate and emotional than the other 2.

Put together, its not mind-boggling. But then thats not the point.

Rating : * * *

The Sentinel

Years (just 3) of monogamy has got Michael Douglas itching again. So smartly he first attempts to boost his bank balance first before he tries anything - as the claws of the nuptial agreement can strangle him any time. And then he gets a role where he can bonkax (even for 2 secs) the First Lady - that too Kim Basinger. Smartly done.

Rating: *

Days of Being Wild

This is the second time I am watching the movie and it yet again left me with the feeling of floating in space. Wong Kar Wai is sublime. This was his first movie with Chris Doyle and you can see the beginnings of ITMFL. The movie follows various characters trying to find meaning, purpose and direction to life who are left feeling disconsolate and lost in a world of missed opportunities. The pace is gentle but has a certain panache to it.

Maggie Cheung is ethereal and vulnerable. I think this is the film she looks the most beautiful in. It is interesting to note that she plays a character with the same name in ITMFL and Tony Leung shows up at the end looking very much like our friend Mr Chow.

Rating: * * *

TAKESHIS'

This one is 500% Kitano. And nothing to add!

So says the tag line, and on reflection thats exactly what it is. TK does a double act - one of himself, and the other of a wannabe extra. Filled with repetitions (of scenes, dialogues, actors), lots of casual violence, bizzare sequence of sex, music, colour and more killings. Complete fantasy flight for a person from the outer world into the world of a movie star.

I think this was an outcome of his unwinding - from all the subtleties and complexities and sensitivities of his earlier movies.

Rating: Much as it was cool, think it just about gets to a * *

The Great New Wonderful

One of the first few movies made around 9/11. It has 5 sets of characters and their respective stories run parallel to each other. Except for one, there is no real connection or explicit reference to the event of Sep01 - so one wonders why?

The stories are individually thought provoking and performances quite tight. However, at the end of it all, the sum of parts is infinitely lower than the individual bits.

Our own Naseeruddin Shah and Sharat Sexena are involved as a couple of security guards, contemplating their naval. A decent performance nevertheless.

Rating: * *

Dolls

They say that intense lovers start to resemble each other in spirit after a while. But what do you do to make up for what your love has lost? Takeshi Kitano in his first stab at a love story inspired by a Bunraku play, has portrayed not one but three pairs of lovers. The difference in this movie is the extreme nature of the love.

Kitano is very much like our very own Kamal Hassan. He can do comedy (Kikujiro), action (Zatoichi) and sombre thought provoking (Hanabi) with the same aplomb.
Here again he proves his mettle as a director.


Rating: * *

Don't Move

"The one who loves you is always there. Even before meeting you..."

Dr Timoteo (Sergio Castellito) is in a hospital waiting for his daughter to come out of surgery. During this time of uncertainty and suffering, he recounts his affair in his younger day with the poor and destitute Italia (Penelope Cruz). The movie is well crafted by Castellito who directed and wrote the screenplay. This is his third film that I am seeing and my respect for him has grown with each one. And I don't know why Cruz did not win an Oscar for her role...

Rating: * * *

Omkara

From the point of acting in Dil Chahta Hai, Saif Ali Kahn has discovered the sacred art of acting. He again along with Ajay Devgan has done some good work in this film. The only weak link in the movie is Vivek Oberoi who seems to be able to portray only two mudras. He either looks happy like an idiot or looks very confused.

The movie is really well made. But since it is yet another take on Othello, it went stale on me after a while.

Rating: * * +

Taste of Cherry

A serious piece of film-making this one is. If one is the kind that cant take 5 minutes of meaningless silence and dry monologues, kindly walk away.

The faces are haunting, the scenery as well and most importantly, the story. Contemplating death is a personal issue. But here, the protagonist seeks compassion in his steadfast confusion and thats how the movie unwinds.

The director probably was contemplating death himself, considering what he was trying to make and where he was trying to make it.

There are some good reviews on the net: 1, 2 and an interview with Abbas Kiarostami

Rating: * * *