Inglourious Basterds

The time is World War II with the Nazi juggernaut running rampant across France. Dropped in to this zone is a group of specially chosen madmen whose charter is to put fear in to Nazis. The fact that title is misspelt is in itself a hint that Mr. Tarantino has something to do with its making. The fear inducing methodology in his indomitable style confirms it. In spite of a Kill Bill like structure, the film is no way one of his all time greats but yet an enjoyable trip.

Rating: * * +

The Vanished Empire

The film is set in 70s during the peak of communism in Russia. The budding adults in the movie however are in to all things hip i.e. from the west. They dabble in the black market harking behind Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and western fashion. The whole society seems very progressive on the whole in contrast to the dreary world Russia was painted to be. With this backdrop, the film follows the travails of a group of young adults as they come of age. Petty rivalry, skirt chasing and staying cool seems to be their focus like most people their age all over the world. If the aim of the movie was to show that kids in Russia were just like their western counterparts, then it sure hit the bull's-eye. Other than that it’s just another drab coming of age film.

Rating: *+

No Smoking

K (John Abraham) is a chain smoking business tycoon with a  penchant to be an asshole. However it is not the asshole bit that bothers his wife (Ayesha Takia) but his nicotine habit. So when she lays down the gauntlet for him to quit, he finds himself in the abode of Baba Bangali (Paresh Rawal). The Baba apparently has a foolproof method to make one quit and never go back. The plot so far seems engaging but Anurag Kashyap decides to get bit too clever for his own good and the film literally meanders down a hell hole!

Rating: * +

Four lions

 

Prompted by a colleague, I invited a few others to check out this film I knew very little about. An hour and a half later I walked out having watched a bloody funny film, a bloody good film. Cutting edge in its focus on staying away from the well trodden narrative (when it comes to suicide bombers and terrorists) and some excellent performances. Predictably, the others with me were not amused. Four lions is a dark look at a bunch of idiots in bumblefuck UK who happen to be aspiring suicide bombers. Initially I thought it was a spoof, like the Hotshots series or something. But instead it gradually develops and takes things to its logical, politically incorrect end. With some fantastic urdu swearing thrown in, this is one of the better films of 2011. 

Rating: * * *

Midnight in Paris

Circumstances and a dastardly Spaniard conspired against me, to make me do something that I swore to avoid… watch a bloody Woody Allen film. But with good faith and an open mind I tried my hand at it again.

Gil (Owen Wilson), a floundering author is wandering around Paris with his overbearing fiancé, Inez (Rachel McAdams). Her super rich parents are equally snooty and little needs to be said about her snobby friends. The situation leaves Gil to wander the streets and he stumbles in to mysterious avenues from the past. While the setup seems fine on paper, it translates on to the screen in typical Woody Allen fashion. Noisy dialogs that leaves the viewer with a buzzing in their ears and the lack of stillness that gives a feeling that Allen is rushing around with no end in sight. Never again will I put my self through this torture!

Rating: *