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: * * *

Vettaiyadu Vellaiyadu

Decided to watch a tamizh movie in a theatre after a long time - primarily because of the hype. The movie was quite sober compared to other Indian mainstream cinema, which ensured I stayed till the end. However, the doyen of Tamil movie is looking as heavy and bloated as his ageing contemporaries in Malayalam/ Hindi cinema.

Its a murder mystery; and well made. Over an hour of the movie is shot in New York - and for once, the white men in the movie, speak english as they normally would.

The best was certainly reserved for the climax. For better part of the movie the Hero DCP Raghavan has been trying in vain to nab the serial killers, despite the whole nation being on alert. And just when he is about to give up, he discovers the "breaking point" of the villans. He thunders on the phone, "I KNOW, YOU are HOMOSEXUALSSSS......". The villan collapes and breaks down.

Another 3.25 hours long movie.

Rating: * *

Barry Lyndon

My respect for Stanley Kubrick only grows. A period flick about an Irish chap called Redmond Barry and his travels across Europe to become a gentleman. His lying, cheating escapades reminds me of Flashman. What catches one's eye the most is the spectacular photography and the humour. Dark tragic humour, which I think Kubrick is a master at. Its a 3 hour movie though.

Rating: * * +

Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda

Watching this movie is akin to reading a book of short stories. It centers around the tales narrated by Manek Babu played by Rajit Kapoor (remember Byomekesh Bakshi). His stories have some fine characters played by even finer actors. Amrish Puri is excellent as a womanising sleaze ball. Nina Gupta shines as feisty gypsy. Manek tells his stories in an inter weaving Rashomonish fashion and the flow of the stories through space and time is reigned in well by Shyam Benegal.

Rating: * * +

Napoleon Dynamite

Had no clue what the movie was about when it was picked up. Thought it would be hilarious, it turned out to be orey funny. Really. Made in the mould of "Whats eating Gilbert Grape?' - story of a nobody going nowhere. Enjoyed it.

Rating: * * +

Boondock Saints

You have to see this film for Willem Dafoe's portrayal of an openly gay FBI officer on the trail of the twin angels. Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus are the avenging angels of Boston. They take on mafia, professional killers and other scumbags of similar nature but with God on their side. Violently entertaining...

Rating: * *

Face

Could not take more than half hour of the movie...

Rating: +

Shooting Dogs

Its based on a true story - a heart wrenching one set at the time of the '90s genocide in Rwanda - as the UN forces hopelessly watched.

But, please avoid the movie. Thanks.

Rating: *

Brick

A school based detective murder movie. Scream type. But nicely made with cool shots, cool acting, cool language and cool chick.

Nice movie to watch, if your eyes are only half-open.

Rating: * *

Millions

Two brothers find a pile of money in Pounds a few days before the conversion to Euro is going to take place. One of the boys who sees and talks to saints, wants to give the money away to the poor. The other wants to spend it all. A really lighthearted and hilarious flick. The take on the "bread and fish" tale by St Peter talking to the boy is brilliant. Though I have to take a star away for the cheesy ending.

PS: One of the scenes that I liked a lot was of the family moving to their new home. The boys are rushing to see their new place. The dad pauses before closing the door of his old home. You hear the sounds of the time he and his family had in there. He then shuts the door and leaves.

Rating: * * +

Inside Man

Theres a good guy and a bad guy. But they are both good. And as always in such cases, theres a bad bitch in between. Hiding. One keeps hoping that the good good guy and the good bad guy doesnt cross paths more than necessary. While the bad bitch gets sorted out appropriately. And one keeps wondering till the end.

A Spike Lee joint.

and this Clive Owen fellow is quality.

Rating: * * *

Layer Cake

Man sells some white powder. Man makes money. Man pays supplier not a day late. Everybody is happy and man decides to retires. Then man decides to do a favor and the shit hits the fan. What a movie!!! Crisp, neat and a one of the best gangster flicks I have seen in a long time.

Rating: * * * +

The Hidden Blade

This film has resounding echoes of the Twilight Samurai. But yet it holds it own. The film likes its predecessor is set in Japan just before the Meiji Restoration with the role of the Samurai changing drastically in Japanese society. The film centers around Katagiri Munezo, a lowly Samurai of the Unasaka clan. Rather than concentrating on the "sword is the soul" side of the Samurai, the film focuses on his inner turmoil and contemplations. The movie again highlights that Yôji Yamada too, like some of his Asian contemporaries has mastered the use of stillness to convey emotions.

Rating: * * *

Lage Raho Munnabhai

It is when you see movies like these that you realize that even an actress like Vidya Balan also needs to make some money. I can think of no other explanation for her to act in such a film. But she can soon stop doing this in December when I will propose sweet matrimony to this lovely Mallu goddess. It also has a peculiar side effect of making you hate MK Gandhi.

Rating: +

The Fashion Double-header weekend: The Devil Wears Prada and Tony Takitani

It was all very unconscious - the whole weekend that is - the fashion bit I mean.

So at the beginning, I thought I would watch a regular movie. Which elicited a regular response: hmm, zzzzzzz, hahaha, zzzzzz, what happened, zzzzzz, hehe, zzzzzz, what, zzz, why,,, zzz, ok ok.

But I remember Meryl Streep.

Rating: * (zzzz)

Then came this:

Its very strange how I stumbled upon it. On Friday I had learnt that this was the movie, or the first that I was aware of that was adapted from an original Murakami short story.

So I figured this is certainly a movie that one had to watch out for. I asked for it at the neighbourhood DVD store on Saturday. The fucker laughed at me. "Is that the name of the movie or the actor?" Chuth.

This morning I opened the newspaper and behold, it was showing at the Picturehouse. Couldnt believe my eyes and the surrealism of it. I broke the little Sunday afternoon nap to get to this place.

Was very conscious that it was a Murakami blessed movie and of how it would turn out on the big screen. I wasnt worried about the story itself, and I would leave it to you to figure out that.

Well, it was a very pleasant movie and I was happy with the way it was made. With a lot of narration / sound over, which I expected. The scenes slipped across the screen, from one to the other. Lot of close range shots of apparently nothing. Nice wide screen shots of the colossus that is the city. Shots of green foillage thrown in once in a while. The jazz music in the background was inevitable and so was the sparseness in everyday life of Tony Takitani. And there is fashion (once again) and the sickness it can breed.

"A story of love lost and found .... and lost again"

And loneliness.

Rating: * * *

Dependencia Sexual

The film tries to highlight sexual issues like femininity, masculinity, rape and virginity through five loosely connected vignettes. The screen is split into two and each part usually shows the same scene from different camera angles. The view looked interesting for a while after which it got annoying. The movie makes a brave attempt at hitting hard on those issue but does not translate into anything coherent.

Rating: * +

Clean

Whats most noteworthy is the fact that the Director was the husband of Maggie Cheung when the movie began, and by the time the movie finished, he was ex-husband. It could be the plausible explanation for the fact that something appears to be missing in the movie. A story of a junkie coming clean and spread across Vancouver, Paris & London.

Rating: * +

The Other Side of the Street

I first saw Fernanda Montenegro in "Central Station". There she does some amazing acting as a school teacher who helps a young boy search for his father. Her role in this movie does not live up to that one. Here she plays a 60 year old lonely woman who moonlights as a police informant. One night she spies her neighbor killing his wife. The movie follows her investigation of her neighbor and the romance that unfolds. And by God I could not watch those scenes of the two of them making out :-)

Rating: * * +

PS: For some reason the phrase "The Other Side of my Life" is stuck in my head now. I wonder what if it means anything...

Chungking Express

Couldnt resist putting this one up. its got everything about the movie in it.

Courtesy: a certain Jung-Hoon Seo

Rating: * * * +

In Cold Blood

Watching this movie makes Capote look like a pointless piece of exercise: albeit the take being different and all. Spine chilling deal vs pussy cat shit.

Rating: * * *

Courtroom Trilogy: Anatomy of a Murder, 12 Angry Men and Find Me Guilty

I have had this fascination for courtroom dramas for a while now - and it doesnt seem to wane. All the compulsive watching prompts me to second guess every time I see a new one - which doesnt bother me.

The most recent one being 'Anatomy of a Murder', starring James Stewart. The movie is based on a very successful novel and is quite an elaborate court room trial. James Stewart, as ever, provides an ore the soulful performance. Tight and strangely enough, its quite witty in parts. Theres good bit of 'tooty frooty' jazz of Duke Ellington thrown into the film as well, with the man making a bit appearance as well. It marks the debut of one George Scott as Mr. Dancer (the cruel prosecutor) - impressive. This Scott fellow went on to perform in the TV series of '12 Angry Men' years later.

Rating: * * +

Which brings us to '12 Angry Men' - another classic. This movie begins with the jurors adjourning to come a decision - Henry Fonda as the rebel juror. But the truth is, I have come across various parts of the movie (evidence related stuff) in hoardes of hindi, malayalam and tamil movies. The whole movie was one Deja-vu trip, which did indicate that it is a bible of sorts when it comes to this genre.
Rating: * *

The '12 Angry Men' was directed by Sidney Lumet in 1957. And nearly 50 years later, Vin Diesel appeared in his latest venture, 'Find Me Guilty'. A true story apparently - but not that exciting or gripping. Was impressed by Vin Diesel though - a la Sly Stallone in 'Oscar' - muscle men who can make you laugh.

Rating: * *

Up and Down

Two men smuggle a group of Indians across the Czech border. One of the refugees accidentally leaves her baby behind in the truck. This sets off a chain of tragic comic events that takes us into two different strata of Czech society. At one end is the soccer hooligan who's wife is craving for a baby. At the other end is the professor who has been diagonised with a tumor and his dysfunctional family. Both the stories intersect in a very tangential but yet natural manner and then go their separate ways.

Even though the movie deals with serious issues like crime, immigration, racism and the growing divide between the rich and poor, the cunning screenplay uses dark humor to bring the point across to the viewer in the most hilarious manner.

Rating: * * * +

Chandini Bar (Hindi)

Tabu gives a very strong performance as young woman who is forced to become a bar dancer in Mumbai. You would think that this being a Hindi movie about bar dancers would have dance sequences every ten minutes. But NO. It portrays the dancers in a very deglamorised fashion.

I put this on my list of movies like "Akaasha Dooth", "Deshadanam" and "Million dollar baby". Movies that reflects life and reality a little too closely and drive you to despair.

Rating: * *

What Time Is It There?

A very introspective and beautiful film set across the cities of Taipei and Paris. A girl buys a watch from a street watch seller in Taipei and flies to Paris. He walks around Taipei resetting watches to Paris time. She floats all alone in the city of Paris. Weaved into this storyline is the watch seller's mother who is awaiting for the return of her dead husbands spirit. The common thread is each character's inarticulacy, loneliness and despair.

Rating: * * +

Midnight Cowboy

This ones figured in my list for a while - its been considered a cult movie of its times. A good watch indeed - panoramic insight into the NYC underbelly of 1969.

The movie apparently was and is the only the X rated flick ever to win an Oscar for best picture. Besides it being a story of a wannabe hussler who is confused over his sexual identity, its also another one of those guy bonding story - a theme often used in movies, before and after this one. Ironically, the movie that this one knocked off to win the Oscars was the other famous brudder movie - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

It starred couple of relative novices at that point - Jon Voight as the Midnight Cowboy and Dustin Hoffman as the crippled peddler of anything. Have never seen a performance of this sort from Dustin Hoffman - which I now realise set the pattern for his contemporaries for time to come. Which includes, Mr. Al Pacino. Watch the movie, and you'll know what I am talking about.

Rating: * * *

Noi Albinoi

Its not often that two different stories from two different men from two different parts of the world talk about the same thing. In their own unique way.

Whilst one of them wrote the following,

It's not a question of better or worse. The point is, not to resist the flow. You go up when you're supposed to go up and down when you're supposed to go down. When you're supposed to go up, find the highest tower and climb to the top. When you're supposed to go down, find the deepest well and go down to the bottom. When there's no flow, stay still. If you resist the flow, everything dries up. If everything dries up, the world is darkness.

the other made a very real story of a boy who is a loser, but yet not one.

Rating: * * *

Bigger than the Sky

I too like the hero of this movie joined a theater group to meet meet people and generally do away with my free time. He got to play a lead role and more importantly got laid. I ended up using my free time being bored out of my mind.
BTW, the movie was decent and fun to watch.

Rating: * *

Sleuth

Arey, what a movie man.. Deadly Deadly.

Watched it again a couple of days back - and my view on Michael Caine's second half performance has only been reinforced. Amongst the most spectacular performances of all time. Ya, thats right - of all time.

Laurence Olivier also did his bit.

My first glimpse of this story was the play version put out by the Loyola Theatre Society at the Museum theatre. Think Zen was in it.. Was he? Not sure. But I remember Samir Rao ore overacting in it.

Anyways, the movie is a classic. Definitely on my all-time, ever expanding, list of Top 10 movies.

Rating: * * *

Being Cyrus

The movie is definitely worth a watch - with another brief, but, stellar performance by Boman Irani. Deadly bugger this fellow is - clearly one of the best we have around these days. It seems he is increasingly becoming a favourite for most mainstream movie makers - which is good, as it will ensure some level of quality amidst the usual trash. Some other performances of note by Mr. Irani - 'Lets Talk', bit role in 'Darna Mana Hai'.

Overall, an impressive directorial debut from a pot smoking, South Bombay, rich Parsi boy. Got a good, easy-going feel about the movie and much of the credit for the movie and the way its turned out must also go to Saif Ali Khan. Who in my mind is clearly emerging as an actor, who performs on his terms and is focussed on creating an unqiue identity for himself. Probably, in some wierd way, losing some of the baggage in his personal life has been cathartic.

Rating: * * +

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

Cheesy dialogues, corny love story and a script which was DoA. Good effects and feel though. A pity that it turned out the way it did.

Rating: *

Nabbeun namja

Ki-Duk Kim, the maker of "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring", directs this strange and sadistic tale. Like many South Korean films I have seen, this too was tightly made and well acted. The main protagonist / villain does not say much through out the movie. But then again he does not have to. His face and actions says it all.

Rating: * *
Note: This film also made this blog of mine ring true again :-)

Fallen Angels

One of Wong Kar-Wai's earlier and more nosier films. It features Takeshi Kaneshiro as a man who lost his speech because he ate a can of pineapples past its expiry date. :-)

Rating: * *

Tale of Two Sisters

I rarely watch horror films. But I have a small list of horror flicks that I like. This one goes right to the top 5 of that list.

Rating: * * *

Boys

Thought it would be an orey funny movie, but it was - FUCKALL. Go watch it.

Rating: *