16. Knowing (3.5/10)
I usually like natural calamity movies but of late they have been not good. Add this film to the list. Nicolas Cage plays MIT professor who gets hold of a paper from tim capsule from his son's school which actually has some chilling predictions of the natural calamities and disasters that happened and will happen. How will he save the world (if at all he can) goes on in the movie. But the world does come to an end but there is a hope because the son and a young girl are saved by aliens (or whoever they were). A very stupid movie which takes viewers intelligence for granted.
15. Quinceanera (Spanish/English) (7/10)
Sometimes its the simplicity of the film that bowls yu over. Thi sis one such film. Simple yet brilliant. As Magdalena's 15th birthday approaches, her working class family prepares for the all-important Quinceañera - a lavish coming-of-age celebration. But when her father discovers she's pregnant and refuses to believe the incredible truth - she's actually still a virgin - Magdalena moves in with her elderly Uncle and gay cousin Carlos. Her newfound family is soon put to the test, however, when an unexpected crisis threatens to tear them apart, and Magdalena learns what it truly means to come of age.
14. Tell No One (French) (8/10)
Tell No One tells the story of pediatrician Alexandre Beck who still grieves the murder of his beloved wife, Margot, eight years earlier. When two bodies are uncovered near where Margot's body was found, the police reopen the case and Alex becomes a suspect again. The mystery deepens when Alex receives an anonymous e-mail with a link to a video clip that seems to suggest Margot is somehow still alive and a message to Tell No One. One of the most suspenseful thrillers I have seen in recent times, this one has so many twist and turns that you will love it. Brilliant acting by one and all.
13. Confessions of a Shopaholic (6/10)
Isla Fisher plays the title role here. As clear by the title she is a shopaholic. Desperate to work for a fashion magazine , she lands up a job in a sister magazine where she has to writ articles of managing finances (clearly an oxymoron). But her column becomes a hot and she also falls for her handsome boss. The film deals with how she overcomes her craze for shopping and saves her love and friendship. Actually not a bad film (which I had thought of it initially)
12. Forever Fever (Singapore/English) [That's The Way I Like It] (5.5/10)
An interesting dance based film set in Singapore sometime in future when English is the official language. The lead character is a Bruce Le fan who is big fan of motorbikes but has no money to buy one. Initially bored, he comes to life when he watches cool dance moves in a dance flick. He joins dance classes with his friend hoping to enter dance competition and win big money for himself. He struggles through his friend, a girl whom he likes in the class, the bad guy and also his own family issues. Like all films, he hero is ultimately the winner and alls well that ends well. Good basic 80s dance moves (although film is from 98) but not boring at all
Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The numbers for this month are just ok
11. The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (6/10)
It was again nice to go in a movie knowing nothing abut it. Sometimes lack of knowledge does pay off. The Mysteries of Pittsburgh is about the young son of a notorious gangster who spends his last teenage summer roaming around with two friends. The interesting twist is that the guy then has to choose between those 2 friends, incidentally a guy and a girl. What he has to struggle and find out that if that is bromance, really close friendship or love. I just found out that the film was based on a book and now I am gonna have to read the book
10. Happy Endings (7/10)
Wow! Finally a good film. The humor in this film was the kind I saw in 'In Bruges'. I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Following a few parallel stories (of course they are related in some way to each other), we have Lisa Kudrow, an abortion clinic counselor with a massage therapist lover, Javier, who gave up her baby for adoption which she had 18 years ago with her gay stepbrother Charley. One day, Nicky Kunitz, a sleazy filmmaker, shows up and plans to blackmail her with information on her child's whereabouts so that he can film the reunion and use it to get into the AFI. Charley now runs his father's restaurant with his lover, Gil, and suspects that their lesbian friends lied about using Gil's sperm to create a child so that they wouldn't have to share him with them. Jude (Maggie Gyllenhaal) has been kicked out of her cousin's house and is now living with the latent Otis, who lives with his widower father. Otis is gay and Father gets obsessed with Jude. Initially in for money, Jude soon falls in love with Frank. Everyone ultimately has a happy ending.
It was again nice to go in a movie knowing nothing abut it. Sometimes lack of knowledge does pay off. The Mysteries of Pittsburgh is about the young son of a notorious gangster who spends his last teenage summer roaming around with two friends. The interesting twist is that the guy then has to choose between those 2 friends, incidentally a guy and a girl. What he has to struggle and find out that if that is bromance, really close friendship or love. I just found out that the film was based on a book and now I am gonna have to read the book
10. Happy Endings (7/10)
Wow! Finally a good film. The humor in this film was the kind I saw in 'In Bruges'. I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Following a few parallel stories (of course they are related in some way to each other), we have Lisa Kudrow, an abortion clinic counselor with a massage therapist lover, Javier, who gave up her baby for adoption which she had 18 years ago with her gay stepbrother Charley. One day, Nicky Kunitz, a sleazy filmmaker, shows up and plans to blackmail her with information on her child's whereabouts so that he can film the reunion and use it to get into the AFI. Charley now runs his father's restaurant with his lover, Gil, and suspects that their lesbian friends lied about using Gil's sperm to create a child so that they wouldn't have to share him with them. Jude (Maggie Gyllenhaal) has been kicked out of her cousin's house and is now living with the latent Otis, who lives with his widower father. Otis is gay and Father gets obsessed with Jude. Initially in for money, Jude soon falls in love with Frank. Everyone ultimately has a happy ending.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The film 'mela' continues
9. Ken Park (1/10)
A total waste of time. Its more like a soft porn rather than a feature film. The film focusses on several teenagers and their tormented home lives. Shawn seems to be the most conventional. Tate is brimming with psychotic rage; Claude is habitually harassed by his brutish father. Peaches looks after her devoutly religious father, but yearns for freedom. They're all rather tight, or so they claim. But they spend precious little time together. They have various troubles and at the end they meet and Shawn's brother commits suicide. There is no logic, no reasoning. AVOID
8. Jumbo (Hindi) (4.5/10)
Another animation film from Bollywood or so they claim. Apparently the film was originally made in Thailand and some producer just bought the rights and got it dubbed with Indian stars. Still the animation quality was good, it had a storyline and as a kid it would hold on to your attention. Same old story of good vs evil and a son taking revenge of his father's death albeit they all being elephants. Just for kids. Adults are bound to get bored.
7. Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (Hindi) (8/10)
I mean why would I even write anything about the film. I probably saw this film for the 35th time and this time to sow my American friend what a typical bollywood musical is filled with Indian traditions and customs. What better than this. I loved it yet on more time and he loved it too. One thing which is funny is how awful was the film industry's fashion sense in early 90s. Madhuri's and Renuka Shahane's smiles were and are to die for
6. 99 (Hindi) (4/10)
I had few expectations from the movie but was disappointed. The film was sometimes so slow that you could easily take a nap, continue watching and you wouldn't lose anything. 99 is about 2 crooks Kunal Khemu and Cyrus Broacha who steal a car which ends up being of a gangster. He then hires him to work for him because they cannot pay. On other hand we also have Boman Irani who is a compulsive gambler and bets on cricket and has taken lot of loan from the gangster. the 2 friends are sent to Delhi to collect money from Boman. They eventually become foes turned friends and make money out of betting in a bizarre twist and turn of events. Plot could have been much funnier. I like Kunal Khemu . He is such a natural performer. One thing I did not understand is why was Cyrus made to wear the fat body suit. It jut did not make any sense.
5. How To Lose Friends And Alienate People (4/10)
A small time British journalist Sideny is hired by an upscale film magazine in New York after he catches attention by some ridiculous events in an event. He thinks he will make it big but all his plans fall flat. Sidney possibly the most annoying person you will meet first puts off his colleague (whom he ultimately falls in love) and gets involved in one mad incident after other> How he keeps alienating people which at one point almost makes him lose his job and how ultimately he compromises his principles to make it big in journalism is what the film about. I personally did not think too much abut the movie. It was made just for the heck of it. I agree it was funny in bits and parts but overall it did nothing for me
A total waste of time. Its more like a soft porn rather than a feature film. The film focusses on several teenagers and their tormented home lives. Shawn seems to be the most conventional. Tate is brimming with psychotic rage; Claude is habitually harassed by his brutish father. Peaches looks after her devoutly religious father, but yearns for freedom. They're all rather tight, or so they claim. But they spend precious little time together. They have various troubles and at the end they meet and Shawn's brother commits suicide. There is no logic, no reasoning. AVOID
8. Jumbo (Hindi) (4.5/10)
Another animation film from Bollywood or so they claim. Apparently the film was originally made in Thailand and some producer just bought the rights and got it dubbed with Indian stars. Still the animation quality was good, it had a storyline and as a kid it would hold on to your attention. Same old story of good vs evil and a son taking revenge of his father's death albeit they all being elephants. Just for kids. Adults are bound to get bored.
7. Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (Hindi) (8/10)
I mean why would I even write anything about the film. I probably saw this film for the 35th time and this time to sow my American friend what a typical bollywood musical is filled with Indian traditions and customs. What better than this. I loved it yet on more time and he loved it too. One thing which is funny is how awful was the film industry's fashion sense in early 90s. Madhuri's and Renuka Shahane's smiles were and are to die for
6. 99 (Hindi) (4/10)
I had few expectations from the movie but was disappointed. The film was sometimes so slow that you could easily take a nap, continue watching and you wouldn't lose anything. 99 is about 2 crooks Kunal Khemu and Cyrus Broacha who steal a car which ends up being of a gangster. He then hires him to work for him because they cannot pay. On other hand we also have Boman Irani who is a compulsive gambler and bets on cricket and has taken lot of loan from the gangster. the 2 friends are sent to Delhi to collect money from Boman. They eventually become foes turned friends and make money out of betting in a bizarre twist and turn of events. Plot could have been much funnier. I like Kunal Khemu . He is such a natural performer. One thing I did not understand is why was Cyrus made to wear the fat body suit. It jut did not make any sense.
5. How To Lose Friends And Alienate People (4/10)
A small time British journalist Sideny is hired by an upscale film magazine in New York after he catches attention by some ridiculous events in an event. He thinks he will make it big but all his plans fall flat. Sidney possibly the most annoying person you will meet first puts off his colleague (whom he ultimately falls in love) and gets involved in one mad incident after other> How he keeps alienating people which at one point almost makes him lose his job and how ultimately he compromises his principles to make it big in journalism is what the film about. I personally did not think too much abut the movie. It was made just for the heck of it. I agree it was funny in bits and parts but overall it did nothing for me
Sunday, June 07, 2009
June starts
4. Straight (Hindi) (6.5/10)
Vinay Pathak owns a restaurant in London. he tries but cant get married because somehow the girls are not into him. He has hired Kamlesh as a cook and Gul Panag as cashier in his restaurant. The three of them become good friends. Kamlesh is a very happy go lucky kind of guy and one day he just randomly kisses Vinay. Now he starts thinking that maybe he is gay. He doesn't know what to do and there is no way to confirm him. There are a few hilarious moments when he goes on a date with couple of girls but all in vain, thereby increasing his confusion. Ultimately he realizes the truth, falls in love with Gul and things are all great. There are so many light moments in the film that I loved. I thought it was a very good film, very sweet, nothing over the top. The acing of all 3 principal characters was very good. Guy playing Kamlesh was very natural. Another good film from director Parvati Balaopalan after Rules pyar ka superhit formula.
3. Romancing The Stone (3.5/10)
I was recommended this film because apparently it involves treasure hunt and I love those films. Treasure hunt it was but that was probably 5% of the film. The other was about romance and love and deceit and just some random things. I guess, a typical 80s film. It was fun to watch Michael Douglas though. There were so many dumb moments in the film when I was like, does the director think we are stupid, but again then thats the fun when you watch an 80s film. It was allright but I probably would still skip it.
2. Blindness (1/10)
Now his one has to be one of the worst movies I have seen and believe me I dont say that very often. A man suddenly one day turns blind and the disease apparently is communicable. Slowly a bunch of people turn blind including the doctor. But for some reason Doctor's wife is fine. When all blind people are detained in a government cell away from the world, the wife sneaks in too. They are treated worse than prisoners. Blind people form various groups in there and there are fights, murders, rape etc. N explanation as to when the wife can see everything, why doesn't she do anything about it. It was so weird and unfortunately the movie went on and on. God knows why all the blind societies were doing all those protests when the movie released. I guess everyone needs a little attention.
1. He Is Just Not That Into You (5/10)
Having watched the reviews for so long, I wanted to see this film expecting a lot of comic moments but sadly the comic lines were very limited to just the ones that they showed in the previews. As the name suggests, the movie walks us through life of few girls, one desperately in search of love, one been with boyfriend for 7 years but not ready for marriage, one married and loking to save it and the other one just looking out for it. The film shows some cliches on what men mean when they say certain things on a date. Film ends on a good note that everyone needs love. It was ok but I had huge expectations.
Vinay Pathak owns a restaurant in London. he tries but cant get married because somehow the girls are not into him. He has hired Kamlesh as a cook and Gul Panag as cashier in his restaurant. The three of them become good friends. Kamlesh is a very happy go lucky kind of guy and one day he just randomly kisses Vinay. Now he starts thinking that maybe he is gay. He doesn't know what to do and there is no way to confirm him. There are a few hilarious moments when he goes on a date with couple of girls but all in vain, thereby increasing his confusion. Ultimately he realizes the truth, falls in love with Gul and things are all great. There are so many light moments in the film that I loved. I thought it was a very good film, very sweet, nothing over the top. The acing of all 3 principal characters was very good. Guy playing Kamlesh was very natural. Another good film from director Parvati Balaopalan after Rules pyar ka superhit formula.
3. Romancing The Stone (3.5/10)
I was recommended this film because apparently it involves treasure hunt and I love those films. Treasure hunt it was but that was probably 5% of the film. The other was about romance and love and deceit and just some random things. I guess, a typical 80s film. It was fun to watch Michael Douglas though. There were so many dumb moments in the film when I was like, does the director think we are stupid, but again then thats the fun when you watch an 80s film. It was allright but I probably would still skip it.
2. Blindness (1/10)
Now his one has to be one of the worst movies I have seen and believe me I dont say that very often. A man suddenly one day turns blind and the disease apparently is communicable. Slowly a bunch of people turn blind including the doctor. But for some reason Doctor's wife is fine. When all blind people are detained in a government cell away from the world, the wife sneaks in too. They are treated worse than prisoners. Blind people form various groups in there and there are fights, murders, rape etc. N explanation as to when the wife can see everything, why doesn't she do anything about it. It was so weird and unfortunately the movie went on and on. God knows why all the blind societies were doing all those protests when the movie released. I guess everyone needs a little attention.
1. He Is Just Not That Into You (5/10)
Having watched the reviews for so long, I wanted to see this film expecting a lot of comic moments but sadly the comic lines were very limited to just the ones that they showed in the previews. As the name suggests, the movie walks us through life of few girls, one desperately in search of love, one been with boyfriend for 7 years but not ready for marriage, one married and loking to save it and the other one just looking out for it. The film shows some cliches on what men mean when they say certain things on a date. Film ends on a good note that everyone needs love. It was ok but I had huge expectations.
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