34. Le silence de Lorna (French) [Lorna's Silence] (6.5/10)
Lorna marries a druggie , pays him to get Belgian citizenship in hope to open a snacks bar. This i arranged by a dealer Fabio. He nows wants to overdose the junkie, so that Lorna can now make money by marrying a Russian who also now wants a citizenship. What will Lorna do now specially now that she has started to have feelings for her now dead junkie husband. Interesting story but the end was a bit weird. It was all good thus far. But still I must say that the film was much better than some of Hollywood crap.
33. Ek Din Achanak (Hindi TV Film) (2/10)
This was a film made for TV where Rohit Roy and his real life wife play husband wife. The film is about money, greed and power where the husband hires a killer to get rid of hiswife for money but tables turn when she finds out he truth. It wasa very TV telefilm types. Acting was strictly ok. Manasi Joshi Ry seriously needs to loose weight.
32. How Do You Know (0.5/10)
After being cut from the USA softball team and feeling a bit past her prime, Lisa finds herself evaluating her life and in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy in crisis competes with her current, baseball. A bad bad bad film on all accounts. If I can leave a film midway in theatre, you can guess how awful it really was.
31. Tees Maar Khan (Hindi) (5.5/10)
Huge expectations usually crumble down. I went with very low expectations specially after all those reviews. So that way at least I enjoyed the film and wsn't disappointed. I hate to say but Katrina was the only saving grace of the film. Her bimbo act was superb and so was Sheila Ki Jawani song. Akshay really needs to do something different. He is getting so repetitive.
30. Coco Before Chanel (French) (5/10)
We all know of the famous Chanel brand. This movie shows us the life of Coco before she became the famous Chanel. It is a historical reconstruction (dunno how much of it is actually true) but nonetheless it made for a very interesting viewing. The film shows Coco Chanel's rise from obscure beginnings to the heights of the fashion world.
29. Mohandas (Hindi) (7/10)
ery engaging film. It is again sad that these mall films never get he audience they deserve. I must admit I had my apprehensions but so glad that I gave the film a chance. Never has a hindi film dealt with the subject of identity theft and what does an individual has to go through because of it. Please watch this one.
28. The Colors Of Paradise (Iranian) (6.5/10)
Directed by famous Majid Majidi, this film also explores and celebrates childhood. Blind boy Mohammad is loved by everyone including his sisters and granny but his single widowed father finds him a burden and wants to get rid of him to stay witha blind carpenter so that he can marry a woman. The story descends into scripted tragedy and a contrived, action-packed climax where it your interpretation of what happened to the boy.
27. Life Express (Hindi) (3.5/10)
A noble theme and handled well but the problem is these issues are so often dealt in small screen that no one cares about it as a film. The film shows a very busy couple who are so much into their careers that they dont have time or kids. They plan to go for surrogate mother so that they can have their cake and eat too. Of course the mom (Rituparna Sengupta) soon realizes that she actually wants to become a mother rather than otherwise. Divya Dutta as always is the only saving grace of this film.
26. Une Petite Zone De Turbulences (French) [A Spot of Bother] (5.5/10)
A comic French film that shows a french dysfunctional family. An aging old man thinks he is dying, cannot accept that his daughter loves a man who is probably not as intelligent as he should, cannot accept the fact that his son is gay and later finds out that his wife is cheating on him. All this happens in the due course of the film with a funny touch but humane angle at the same time. I am not sure what the director's intentions were behind the film but it was alright and easy to watch.
25. Urf Professor (Hindi) (6/10)
THis film was made by now Late Pankaj Advani much before he made Sankat City. This was banned for its very very strong sexual language which I for once have never heard in a hindi movie. But this film was still interesting in terms how many layers of the film interacted with each other and how segments flow. The film basically deals with a professor who is a hit man and what all happens with him and people surrounding him. Also features Sharman Joshi and Antara Mali in extended roles. You can now see why Sankat City was such a wonderful film.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
December is still going great. Lets see what it ends up with
24. Hisss (Hindi) (0/10)
So yes this is THE WORST movie ever made. I read all the reviews and felt how bad can it be. But OMG!! this beats everything. Period!. So called special effects are so tacky that any B/C Grade movie can beat it. Film makers, have mercy on us
23. Wasta The Relation (Hindi) (3.5/10)
A late 80s artsy movie where the village is terrified of a local goon and no one reports him. Except when his cousin gets married to introducing Kiran Juneja and she takes charge. Imagine an 80s movie and you can imagine pretty much what the acting, story and everything would have been like. I dunno why I watched it now.
22. Identity (7/10)
9 people get together in a motel and slowly one by one people start getting killed. Half way into the movie you think that this is one of those regular who-dun-it kinda movies but wait when they throw in a surprise for multiple personality disorder and the movie takes completely different turn. End is equally surprising. Definitely worth a watch. John Cussack was the only known name for me
21. Ankahee (Hindi) (3.5/10)
Dr. Shriram Lagoo is an astrologer who wants his son Amol Palekar to marry Deepti Naval. But he loves another woman by the name of Sushma and is determined to marry her. And then his father tells him that he is fated to have two wives in this lifetime - the first will die within eleven months of the marriage - and that's when he will re-marry. Modern-day educated Nandu must now decide to believe his father and let go of Sushma, or defy his astrological beliefs and marry her.
20. Defending Your Life (4/10)
A witty peak at afterlife where before moving on, you have to go on a trial to prove if you have overcome your fears. If you have, you move on to either heaven or hell and if not, then you are sent back to earth for your next birth. The idea on paper would have been bad but the film was entertaining. A light family bond time movie starring Meryl Streep.
19. Red Rose (Hindi) (3/10)
Gosh!! Rajesh Khanna was so bad in this film. It had all the cliches of 80s thriller film. I was vaguely familiar with the story but I can imagine that in ealy 80s it might have been quite a sensation specially seeing the then super star in a negative avtaar. Poonam Dhillon was ok from 80s point of view but so OTT if you watch the film today.
18. Benny And Babloo (Hindi) (1.5/10)
Rajpal Yadav and KK Menon in title roles. Just a bad film. Although I think the thought and intentions behind the movie were honest but the film lost in trying to be comedy vs preaching a point.
17. Life Goes On (Indian English) (7/10)
Brilliant!! An english film from Uk starring Sharmila Tagore, Girish Karnad and Soha Ali Khan, the film shows how the family of 3 daughetsr and the father copes up after the mother unexpectedly dies. The film goes back and forth in flashback showing how many thing were being handled by the mother and how she was this tiny thread that was keeping the family together and everyone would go to her for their problems. You should watch it. Its a little slow but I got totally into it.
16. Break Ke Baad (Hindi) (5.5/10)
I wonder why this movie got such bad reviews. It wasn't actually bad at all. I enjoyed it. It showed a new perspective of modern day couples who once in a while like to take a break to ind an identity for themselves. I dont see anything wrong in that but of course since this is a bollywood film, they show that in doing this, how you might be losing out on the love of your dear ones. Still enjoyable. Imran Khan needs to branch out and do more varied roles. I still dont like Deepika Padukone but she definitely can act.
15. Wet Hot American Summer (1/10)
Set in a Summer Camp in the 1980's, it focuses on the camp counsellors and their charges trying to organise a last day of fun and frolics before the kids go home. But with the counsellors barely older than the kids, and their minds on each other rather than the welfare of their campers, things soon start to go very wrong. This was such a bad bad bad movie. Completely avoidable.
14. Red Alert (Hindi) (5/10)
A 2010 take on what Naxalite movement in India was, although done with thought, taste and issue based that makes people think. Other films in past have been too artsy to leave an impression. Sunil Shetty cant act but in this film, he was a little better. Sameera Reddy was strictly ok. Seema Biswas always does a good job. Watch it if you dont have anything better.
13. The Town (6.5/10)
Ben Affleck is a part of local bank robbers. When him and his partners think that a local girl saw more thanshe should have at a robbery, he befriends her and slowly fall in love with her. Unfortunately things dont go as planned because he cannot leave the business even if he wants to do. There is lot more on stake. Excellent movie. Surprising was the fact that Ben Affleck directed it as well. Totally the kind of movie I prefer.
12. Golmaal 3 (Hindi) (6/10)
For some reason, I wasn't too excited for this movie specially since Golmaal Returns was soooo bad but I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The gags were funny and there was a story to tell. Best one liners according to me were given to Kunal Khemu. Ajay and Kareena were ok. By now we all know that Rohit Shetty's films have to have all bright coloured sets and lots of car explosions and there were aplenty here as well
11. Action Replayy (Hindi) (4.5/10)
Vipul Shah and Akshay's combo has given us some really good films in past plus promos were exciting, so I had high expectations but the movie was a complete downer. Time travel needs to take care of explaining all loop holes but I dont think proper thought was given to it. Ash is no ways looked from 70s (although Neha Dhupia totally did). Songs were all forced. Only saving grace was wonderful acting job by debutant Aditya Roy Kapoor.
So yes this is THE WORST movie ever made. I read all the reviews and felt how bad can it be. But OMG!! this beats everything. Period!. So called special effects are so tacky that any B/C Grade movie can beat it. Film makers, have mercy on us
23. Wasta The Relation (Hindi) (3.5/10)
A late 80s artsy movie where the village is terrified of a local goon and no one reports him. Except when his cousin gets married to introducing Kiran Juneja and she takes charge. Imagine an 80s movie and you can imagine pretty much what the acting, story and everything would have been like. I dunno why I watched it now.
22. Identity (7/10)
9 people get together in a motel and slowly one by one people start getting killed. Half way into the movie you think that this is one of those regular who-dun-it kinda movies but wait when they throw in a surprise for multiple personality disorder and the movie takes completely different turn. End is equally surprising. Definitely worth a watch. John Cussack was the only known name for me
21. Ankahee (Hindi) (3.5/10)
Dr. Shriram Lagoo is an astrologer who wants his son Amol Palekar to marry Deepti Naval. But he loves another woman by the name of Sushma and is determined to marry her. And then his father tells him that he is fated to have two wives in this lifetime - the first will die within eleven months of the marriage - and that's when he will re-marry. Modern-day educated Nandu must now decide to believe his father and let go of Sushma, or defy his astrological beliefs and marry her.
20. Defending Your Life (4/10)
A witty peak at afterlife where before moving on, you have to go on a trial to prove if you have overcome your fears. If you have, you move on to either heaven or hell and if not, then you are sent back to earth for your next birth. The idea on paper would have been bad but the film was entertaining. A light family bond time movie starring Meryl Streep.
19. Red Rose (Hindi) (3/10)
Gosh!! Rajesh Khanna was so bad in this film. It had all the cliches of 80s thriller film. I was vaguely familiar with the story but I can imagine that in ealy 80s it might have been quite a sensation specially seeing the then super star in a negative avtaar. Poonam Dhillon was ok from 80s point of view but so OTT if you watch the film today.
18. Benny And Babloo (Hindi) (1.5/10)
Rajpal Yadav and KK Menon in title roles. Just a bad film. Although I think the thought and intentions behind the movie were honest but the film lost in trying to be comedy vs preaching a point.
17. Life Goes On (Indian English) (7/10)
Brilliant!! An english film from Uk starring Sharmila Tagore, Girish Karnad and Soha Ali Khan, the film shows how the family of 3 daughetsr and the father copes up after the mother unexpectedly dies. The film goes back and forth in flashback showing how many thing were being handled by the mother and how she was this tiny thread that was keeping the family together and everyone would go to her for their problems. You should watch it. Its a little slow but I got totally into it.
16. Break Ke Baad (Hindi) (5.5/10)
I wonder why this movie got such bad reviews. It wasn't actually bad at all. I enjoyed it. It showed a new perspective of modern day couples who once in a while like to take a break to ind an identity for themselves. I dont see anything wrong in that but of course since this is a bollywood film, they show that in doing this, how you might be losing out on the love of your dear ones. Still enjoyable. Imran Khan needs to branch out and do more varied roles. I still dont like Deepika Padukone but she definitely can act.
15. Wet Hot American Summer (1/10)
Set in a Summer Camp in the 1980's, it focuses on the camp counsellors and their charges trying to organise a last day of fun and frolics before the kids go home. But with the counsellors barely older than the kids, and their minds on each other rather than the welfare of their campers, things soon start to go very wrong. This was such a bad bad bad movie. Completely avoidable.
14. Red Alert (Hindi) (5/10)
A 2010 take on what Naxalite movement in India was, although done with thought, taste and issue based that makes people think. Other films in past have been too artsy to leave an impression. Sunil Shetty cant act but in this film, he was a little better. Sameera Reddy was strictly ok. Seema Biswas always does a good job. Watch it if you dont have anything better.
13. The Town (6.5/10)
Ben Affleck is a part of local bank robbers. When him and his partners think that a local girl saw more thanshe should have at a robbery, he befriends her and slowly fall in love with her. Unfortunately things dont go as planned because he cannot leave the business even if he wants to do. There is lot more on stake. Excellent movie. Surprising was the fact that Ben Affleck directed it as well. Totally the kind of movie I prefer.
12. Golmaal 3 (Hindi) (6/10)
For some reason, I wasn't too excited for this movie specially since Golmaal Returns was soooo bad but I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The gags were funny and there was a story to tell. Best one liners according to me were given to Kunal Khemu. Ajay and Kareena were ok. By now we all know that Rohit Shetty's films have to have all bright coloured sets and lots of car explosions and there were aplenty here as well
11. Action Replayy (Hindi) (4.5/10)
Vipul Shah and Akshay's combo has given us some really good films in past plus promos were exciting, so I had high expectations but the movie was a complete downer. Time travel needs to take care of explaining all loop holes but I dont think proper thought was given to it. Ash is no ways looked from 70s (although Neha Dhupia totally did). Songs were all forced. Only saving grace was wonderful acting job by debutant Aditya Roy Kapoor.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
December so far...
10. Black Swan (4/10)
Natalie Portman lives with her obsessive mother and is a ballerina. She is selected as the leas for musical Swan Lake. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Natalie fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily, a new girl is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Natalie begins to get more in touch with her dark side, something that threatens to destroy her. The storyline gets a little confusing. You are not sure what is going on, Is Natalie schizophrenic or something else. Her acting was brilliant but overall I was left a little confused.
9. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (5.5/10)
Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world. As I expected, the movie was enjoyable experience but it lacked the thrills and actions of first 2 parts specially the first one. I watch these movies for visual thrills which I still got to an extent.
8. Kajraare (Hindi) (2.5/10)
I am so glad that this film was released only in 2 theaters and 1 show each. I would have felt really bad for people to spend all this money on the ticket and see such a bad film. I had high regards for Pooja Bhatt, who I thought would never give in to commercial cinema and continue to make offbeat films but Pooja, you disappoint me. Bhushan Kumar said the right thing, " Himesh is good MD but terrible actor". This film just proves it. It has nothing to watch out for. The story seems straight lifted from a early 90's movie and even the direction seemed that way. Even the lead actress Mona Laizza is pretty bad. And I was reminded again why Amrita Singh is called 'mard' singh. Stay away.
7. Ramaa The Saviour (Hindi) (0.5/10)
A good concept gone horribly wrong because of a terrible script. A bunch of kids get transported into a video game while playing it. Its all confusion and mish-mash after that without any explanations of the game or characters provided. Why Tanushree Dutta or Sahil Khan are the way they are, whey are they fighting and everything else. No wonder kids films are first not made and if made, they are shoddy as hell.
6. A Murder of Quality (UK) (2.5/10)
Intelligence agent George Smiley investigates a murder within an elite British school. Storyline takes aim at the British class system. Amidst the suspects is a young boy who is either a victim or a suspect. Murder mysteries are interesting but this one just did not do for me. Acting of everyone seemed pretty lame or maybe it is just a British thing :)
5. Crook (Hindi) (2/10)
Vishesh Films are having a bad run off late. The recent attacks on Indian students in Australia could have created for a good premise but this film could not use the potential. Why does a love story have to be embellished in a serious film? Emran was good. New actress Neha Sharma was pretty good. The sudden turning of Arjan Bajwa into negative was totally uncalled for. Mohit Suri disappoints. The songs were good though
4. Rakht Charitra (Hindi) (7/10)
Wonderful and a very tight script an acting. Ram Gopal Varma is back. Vivek Oberoi has acted so well and also the main villain. The main hero of the film is the background score. It takes the film to another level. There s constant twists and turns in the story. There is a not a single minute in the film that an bore you. Watch this for sure. There is excessive violence (nothing like seen in Hindi films before) but it gives that realistic touch to the film that it needs.
3. I am Love (Italian) (3.5/10)
This film tells the story of the wealthy Recchi family. The family patriarch surprises everyone by splitting power between his son Tancredi and grandson Edo. However, Edo dreams of opening a restaurant with his friend Antonio, a talented chef. At the heart of Tancredi's family is his wife, Emma (Tilda Swinton), a Russian immigrant who has adopted the culture of Milan. An adoring and attentive mother, Emma's existence is shocked to the core when she falls deeply in love with Antonio and pursues a passionate love affair that will change his family forever. Sounds interesting but the film was way too long and the scenes just seemed stretched at various points. The good thing was that there was no forced drama in any moment of the film
2. The Girl Who Played With Fire (Swedish) (5.5/10)
Follow up to the Dragon Tattoo movie, this film fells short of the hug expectations that the first movie had set both on terms of story and execution. Lisbeth Salander is now a wanted woman. A researcher and a Millennium journalist about to expose the truth about the sex trade in Sweden are brutally murdered, and Salander's prints are on the weapon. Mikael, Salander's friend and Millennium's plublisher is alone in his belief of Salander's innocence. Digging deeper Bloomkvist unearths evidence implicating highly placed members of Swedish Society-as well as shocking details about Salander's past. I hope the third one is better in series. But still it is a decent watch.
1. Walk On Water (Israel/English/German) (4/10)
Eyal is a top assassin in the Israeli secret service. He has killed terrorists before and is now sent to eliminate an aging former Nazi war criminal. During his mission, Eyal meets his target’s granddaughter and grandson, who inadvertently help him uncover his own troubled history and face his demons, while they discover the ugly truth their family has hidden from them for decades. The film has an interesting plot. Eyal's role is played very well and his character is the only one that makes the film believable. The grandson and granddaughter although very important to the film seem not natural in the sense, these kind of stern characters in my opinion really do not exist.
Natalie Portman lives with her obsessive mother and is a ballerina. She is selected as the leas for musical Swan Lake. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Natalie fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily, a new girl is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Natalie begins to get more in touch with her dark side, something that threatens to destroy her. The storyline gets a little confusing. You are not sure what is going on, Is Natalie schizophrenic or something else. Her acting was brilliant but overall I was left a little confused.
9. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (5.5/10)
Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world. As I expected, the movie was enjoyable experience but it lacked the thrills and actions of first 2 parts specially the first one. I watch these movies for visual thrills which I still got to an extent.
8. Kajraare (Hindi) (2.5/10)
I am so glad that this film was released only in 2 theaters and 1 show each. I would have felt really bad for people to spend all this money on the ticket and see such a bad film. I had high regards for Pooja Bhatt, who I thought would never give in to commercial cinema and continue to make offbeat films but Pooja, you disappoint me. Bhushan Kumar said the right thing, " Himesh is good MD but terrible actor". This film just proves it. It has nothing to watch out for. The story seems straight lifted from a early 90's movie and even the direction seemed that way. Even the lead actress Mona Laizza is pretty bad. And I was reminded again why Amrita Singh is called 'mard' singh. Stay away.
7. Ramaa The Saviour (Hindi) (0.5/10)
A good concept gone horribly wrong because of a terrible script. A bunch of kids get transported into a video game while playing it. Its all confusion and mish-mash after that without any explanations of the game or characters provided. Why Tanushree Dutta or Sahil Khan are the way they are, whey are they fighting and everything else. No wonder kids films are first not made and if made, they are shoddy as hell.
6. A Murder of Quality (UK) (2.5/10)
Intelligence agent George Smiley investigates a murder within an elite British school. Storyline takes aim at the British class system. Amidst the suspects is a young boy who is either a victim or a suspect. Murder mysteries are interesting but this one just did not do for me. Acting of everyone seemed pretty lame or maybe it is just a British thing :)
5. Crook (Hindi) (2/10)
Vishesh Films are having a bad run off late. The recent attacks on Indian students in Australia could have created for a good premise but this film could not use the potential. Why does a love story have to be embellished in a serious film? Emran was good. New actress Neha Sharma was pretty good. The sudden turning of Arjan Bajwa into negative was totally uncalled for. Mohit Suri disappoints. The songs were good though
4. Rakht Charitra (Hindi) (7/10)
Wonderful and a very tight script an acting. Ram Gopal Varma is back. Vivek Oberoi has acted so well and also the main villain. The main hero of the film is the background score. It takes the film to another level. There s constant twists and turns in the story. There is a not a single minute in the film that an bore you. Watch this for sure. There is excessive violence (nothing like seen in Hindi films before) but it gives that realistic touch to the film that it needs.
3. I am Love (Italian) (3.5/10)
This film tells the story of the wealthy Recchi family. The family patriarch surprises everyone by splitting power between his son Tancredi and grandson Edo. However, Edo dreams of opening a restaurant with his friend Antonio, a talented chef. At the heart of Tancredi's family is his wife, Emma (Tilda Swinton), a Russian immigrant who has adopted the culture of Milan. An adoring and attentive mother, Emma's existence is shocked to the core when she falls deeply in love with Antonio and pursues a passionate love affair that will change his family forever. Sounds interesting but the film was way too long and the scenes just seemed stretched at various points. The good thing was that there was no forced drama in any moment of the film
2. The Girl Who Played With Fire (Swedish) (5.5/10)
Follow up to the Dragon Tattoo movie, this film fells short of the hug expectations that the first movie had set both on terms of story and execution. Lisbeth Salander is now a wanted woman. A researcher and a Millennium journalist about to expose the truth about the sex trade in Sweden are brutally murdered, and Salander's prints are on the weapon. Mikael, Salander's friend and Millennium's plublisher is alone in his belief of Salander's innocence. Digging deeper Bloomkvist unearths evidence implicating highly placed members of Swedish Society-as well as shocking details about Salander's past. I hope the third one is better in series. But still it is a decent watch.
1. Walk On Water (Israel/English/German) (4/10)
Eyal is a top assassin in the Israeli secret service. He has killed terrorists before and is now sent to eliminate an aging former Nazi war criminal. During his mission, Eyal meets his target’s granddaughter and grandson, who inadvertently help him uncover his own troubled history and face his demons, while they discover the ugly truth their family has hidden from them for decades. The film has an interesting plot. Eyal's role is played very well and his character is the only one that makes the film believable. The grandson and granddaughter although very important to the film seem not natural in the sense, these kind of stern characters in my opinion really do not exist.
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