1. Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola (Hindi) (3/10)
What was VB thinking man? I always held him in high regards but I am so disappointed. Both in music and the story and direction. This was like SLB's Saawariya. Total indulgence from the director. Agreed you dont have to always make commercial potboiler but make something that people can comprehend and enjoy too. This was a major disappointment.
2. Bhumika (Hindi) (5/10)
I constantly kept thinking of Madhur Bhandarkar's Heroine while watching this film. It shows life of an actress in olden days and what did she as an individual go through. Smita Patil as always was fantastic in the film. I am pleasantly surprised to know that this film had won best film filmfare award. I really hope Shyam Benegal comes up with another film soon
3. Newlyweds (8/10)
I was very very impressed with the film. Mostly because of such raw natural acting. PLus it being shot in New York. It shocked me to know that the entire film was made on a budget of USD9000. I highly recommend this film for indie film lovers with great acting.
4. The Forgiveness Of Blood (Albanian) (6/10)
An old school, slow but very very real movie. Great performances.This powerful film immerses us in an ancient culture that continues to exist in modern times. An Albanian family is torn apart by a murder, resulting in a blood feud that finds Nik becoming the prime target and his sister, Rudina, forced to leave school in order to take over the family business.
5. Son Of The Bride (Argentina/Spanish) (5.5/10)
A heart felt story of a man in his 40;s who is so much into his work that he doesn't have enough time for any of his loved ones. A sudden heart attack makes him re think his life and learn rom the love that his father shares with his mother who suffers from Alzheimer.
6. Special 26 (Hindi) (8/10)
This film was fantastic. I had read all positive reviews and was hoping that high expectations wont kill my fun, but surprisingly it didn't. The film was quirky, funny and you just wanted it to go on. Anupam Kher does a good job in a significant role after a while. Every actor fits the part well. I am little dis-satisfied by the ending but then these days we always leave room for sequel and I guess it is what happened here as well.
7. Da zero a dieci (Italy) [From Zero To Ten aka Italian Lovers] (5.5/10)
IT is story of 4 friends who plan to take a trip to a nearby beach exactly 20 years after they did a similar trip in their teens. They had met 4 girls on the trip and they invite them again. They have things they need to finish which they could not 20 years ago. Over the course of 4 days we see the dynamics between friends, what their hopes and fears are and what is in store for each of them wrt past, present and future.
8. Kumare (Documentary) (4/10)
This one definitely had a very novel concept and idea. Vikram Gandhi transforms himself as a spiritual guru hoping to prove the absurdity of blind faith. Instead, he finds himself forging profound connections with people from all walks of life -- and wondering if and when to reveal his true self. The idea was novel and intelligent but the film could easily have been of smaller length and much crisper.
9. Balak Palak (Marathi) (7/10)
I am so glad that this film was made. At the same time I wish more and more people get to watch it. Sex education is something which we just dont talk about in India. This films shows with humour and emotions how important it is for parents to be friends with their kids. A sensitive and important subject has been so maturely handled by the producers and the director of this film, it is commendable. I definitely urge everyone to watch this film.
10. Klovn: The Movie (Denmark) (4/10)
This film could have been so much better, but it unfortunately felt like a TV show (which I believe it originally was). The film follows Frank, whose girlfriend thinks he doesn't have the potential to be a good father. To prove her wrong, he sort of kidnaps her sister's brother to go with him to a canoe trip with his best friend Casper. Casper's motive is just to get laid on this trip. The trio goes through a lot, which ends in a un filled dinner and the proof that Frank can in fact be a good father. The film is a comedy but could be so much more affective and hilarious.
11. Mahabharat Aur Barbareek (Hindi) (3/10)
It was like watching an extended episode of mahabharat on TV. I bet the title role of barbareek has been played by some relative of producer/director. All actors playing bheem, arjun, yudhishthri, draupadi, krishna... were loooking so old and haggard and they are all original cast members from mahabharat tv series. Age has really caught up with these guys
but just for nostalgia sake, it was very nice to see all prominent members once again together. THe movie itself was a drag.
12. Thanks Maa (Hindi) (6.5/10)
A very interesting subject , sensitively handled and a well deserved national award for the child actor. Handling the subject of abandon new born babies by their families and babies being found in trash and garbage is very common in India. The film's language is very real full with abuses that street kids in mumbai use but the film itself is very realistic. I was shocked see that this was Irfan Kamal's debut film as a director, the actor who made a failed acting debut in 'Chahoonga Main Tujhe', way back in 90s.
13. Race 2 (Hindi) (5/10)
This film got some bad reviews but I thought it was total popcorn masala entertainer. It had gloss, drama, twists, turns etc. Although after a while twists were predictable because they all followed the pattern of i know what u know and you think i know what you know. Still, the fact that I did not feel like fast forwarding any part and manage to actually sit through the whole film was good.. Even Anil Kapoor was not annoying for a change that he usually tends to get in these kinds of roles. Climax was a let down but overall still watchable.
14. The Attacks of 26/11 (Hindi) (3.5/10)
Ram Gopal Varma has lost his magical touch. He got good reviews for this film but I was very disappointed. Agreed it is a very sensitive subject but still as a film, it needs to hold your attention. SOme of the scenes seem so dragged and slow. All the scenes with Nana are so slow and the whole gyan at the end is a little too much. And to top that to most important section of hijacking the Taj hotel was not shown at all. Overall a huge disappointment.
15. Cloud Atlas (4/10)
I read some great reviews on this film but totally failed to grasp much on what was going on with so many parallel stories. I am gonna spend some time reading online more about the film to appreciate it better. Till then, I will have to rank the film low. :(
16. Killing Them Softly (2/10)
This was such a bad movie. It had a very simple plot but execution was so so simple, it felt like watching a NCIS episode on TV. I cant believe how this film has received good ratings and reviews by critics. But hey what do I know
17. Barbara (German) (5/10)
In 1980s East Germany, Barbara is a Berlin doctor banished to a country medical clinic for applying for an exit visa. Deeply unhappy with her reassignment and fearful of her co-workers as possible Stasi informants, Barbara stays aloof, especially from the good natured clinic head, Andre. Instead, Barbara snatches moments with her lover as she secretly prepares to defect one day. The pace of the movie is really slow and sometimes it does test your patience but overall it was a decent watch.
18. 3 (Uruguay) (4/10)
The film shows life of 3 people and n what crossroads they are, needing companionship in their life. A dentist, his ex wife and his 16 yr old daughter. Again, this was a very very slow film. It's just unfortunate that his storytelling is lethargic and inconsistent, and the aesthetic and score of the film give the impression of a mid-'80s soap opera. I didn't really get the point behind the film.
