Well Done Abba!

Armaan Ali (Boman Irani) takes a month's leave from his chauffeuring and shows up for work three months later. His boss's exasperation sees no end but Armaan convinces him to hear out his story. Armaan Ali then takes on a ride that starts with him returning to his village to find a husband for his daughter. The yarn runs in to corrupt government officials and politicians when Armaan decides to dig a well using a government scheme. Throw in a little love story and you have a packed film in your hands. However, Shyam Benegal has used this light hearted comedy to poke some serious fun at the pitiful state of Indian government and its official. A decent watch but the film could have been made shorter.

Rating: * * +

In the Loop

A benign quote "War is unforeseeable" from a British minister, sets off a slew of events that sees the US and the UK careen towards a war against a middle eastern country. A political satire that jet sets between London and Washington DC leaves you wondering in spite of its absurdity if this is the way governments function.

Rating: * *

Delhi 6

Roshan (Abhishek Bachchan) comes to India accompanying his grandmother (Waheeda Rehman) who wants spend her last days in the Chandini Chowk district, where her life began. The magical Old Delhi area is show in its full pomp. Soon the very hot and bubbly Bittu (Sonam Kapoor) enters the scene and love is in the air. But what should have been a decent and immensely watchable commercial flick is turned in to garbage by the intrusion of the Kala Bandar. On its heels comes communal strife and the film starts to wander around without an anchor. Even the strong supporting cast led by Om Puri cannot save the day for this move that ends up in no mans land between a political drama and a love story.

Rating: * +

Che

The revolutionary life of Ernesto "Che" Guevara is brought to life on the screen by none other than Steven Soderbergh. A four hour epic that delves initially in to Che's role in the Cuban revolution and follows it up with his failed stint at inciting revolt in Bolivia. At the center of it all is Che with his steadfast vision of harmony for the common man. Soderbergh has done us all a favor by not glorifying the socialist icon but rather just showing him as he must have been. Kind and just in dealing with people and his troops albeit with a streak of ruthlessness that is required of a leader of his stature. The director's task has also been made a tad easier by the unnerving portrait of the character by Benicio Del Toro. Even scarier is the way Demián Bichir has brought Fidel Castro to the screen. A film that will give you a window of understanding as to why Che is revered in Cuba and the world over.

Rating: * * *

Lemon Tree

Salma Zidane leads a simple albeit poor existence tending a lemon grove on the Israeli-Palestine border.  When the Israeli defense minister moves in as her neighbor, she receives an Israeli government order stating that the lemon grove has to be wiped out due to security concerns. Most Palestinians would say this is par for the course when living on the border. But for Salma the grove is much more than just her livelihood. The memory of her father and husband are buried in the soil. So she decides to take the might of Israel to court. 

The decision opens up the film to many dimensions. The juxtaposition of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle. The bullying nature of Israel. The treatment of women in Palestine. The rocky marriage of the minister aptly named, Israel Navon and Mira, his wife. The silent relationship between Salma and Mira (Rona Lipaz-Michael). But the most interesting dimension is the quiet romance between Salma and her young lawyer, Said (Ali Suliman). And through all this Salma, played beautifully by Hiam Abbass, carriers herself with quiet dignity. All in all, director Eran Riklis has crafted a masterpiece.

Rating: * * * *

Missing

Beth (Sissy Spacek) and Charlie Horman's (John Shea) idyllic life in Chile (though the country is never mentioned in the film, it can easily be inferred) is shattered when a coup breaks out. As they struggle to deal with the violence erupting around them, Charlie mysteriously disappears. This invites the presence of his straight laced Christian scientist father, Ed (Jack Lemmon), from New York city. The father and daughter-in-law search in vain for their loved one while butting heads over politics and their divergent views on the US government. As the film progresses the subversive nature of the US involvement in Latin American countries is slowly revealed. A chilling reminder that nothing much has changed even today.

PS: The wikipedia entry for the film gives you good background on this true story.

Rating: * * +

Charlie Wilson's War

A regular, insipid hollywood take on how the Afghanistan issue was first brought to the attention of Washington DC in the early 80s; the genesis of the Pakistan - mujahideen connection resulting in the defeat of the Russians. Tom Hanks plays the congressman Charlie Wilson - completely predictable and efficient - but a tad difficult to accept him playing a playboy, cocaine sniffing maverick wheeler dealer of a politician. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays his bit of a disgruntled CIA operative rather well. Good movie to watch on a flight.

Rating: * *