Day 22 : Source Code

Disclaimer : This is not a movie review; this is a movie"MY view'. If you take my word and spend a lot to watch this movie and do not like it, I am not to be blamed.

Following many FB status messages praising the movie Source Code, we went to watch it today evening. Well, yes, the movie is praise worthy and I give it a thumbs up.

I suggest a must watch for those who like to see a movie, which keeps you thinking about the logic and makes you want to sort out the ending confusion. I am not saying that the movie is illogical or chaotic in anyway. It does take around the first 15-20 minutes to get a sense of what is happening around there. Once that happens, it has a smooth flow and consistent intensity. 

Source Code is not all computers here. It is somewhat like Inception, only better. Concept wise perhaps people may have liked Inception better than this, however I am rooting for this one because it did not take much time for me to understand the movie. For Inception, I couldn't make the head or tail of it till almost the very end.

My rating would be a 4/5. 

No One Killed Jessica - Movie Myview

 I was eager to watch this one as soon as I saw the promos which seemed promising. I must say I was not let down. Usually I have low expectations from movies that are inspired by real life stories. This one turned out different though.

No One Killed Jessica, as you all might be aware, is a representation of the Jessica Lall murder case. So there is not much that I can further elaborate about the plot. It is a mix of fact and fiction, but this is as close as it can get to reality.

Kudos to the whole team who put this movie together. Portraying reality onto the screen is a tight rope walk, which was successfully carried out. As far as acting is concerned, Rani Mukherji and Vidya Balan stand tall individually, and I couldn't make out who was better. While this movie might rekindle Rani's career life, Vidya Balan's managed to put up a worthy achievement in her resume!

About the movie as a whole -  Some found it slow, whereas I found its pace consistent and just enough to keep my interest level high. Since the audience knows the story, it is not about being hooked to find out what happens next - rather you look forward to know how the subject is being treated. And according to me, it is very well done. The movie highlights the influence of power and politics over justice, futile attempts of Sabrina Lall to ensure that the guilty is punished and finally the nation wide anguish and uproar against the so called verdict.

Not even for a single moment does the movie deviate from the subject and that's what makes it worth a watch. No One Killed Jessica is not an out and out entertainer, which makes you forget your worries back home and is certainly not light hearted movie meant to enjoyed over popcorn and drinks. This one makes you think and question our faith in legal system; even wonder in amazement how frivolous reasons can take your life just like that.

NKJ merits more than just stars.

Finally, a movie worth paying for. Do watch it.

Who wants to see SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE?

I do, I did and other's will too. With the media wearing out their pens till the last drop of the ink to highlight every aspect of SM, it came as no surprise that the theatres ran full house in the week that it released. Big B's unfavorable comments for the movie (or so it is said) just won SM some brownie points and the indecisive lot will go for it. :D The cast being very much indian, the location 'amchi mumbai', the Golden Globe Award, the 10 Oscars and many other nominations just sent the whole nation into an orgasmic pleasure. But the reins of SM lies in the hands of Danny Boyle, not so much of an Indian, eh?

Well the movie wasn't bad... rather I would say that SM has every right to be a blockbuster. Technically speaking, movie rendered me speechless, be it the background score, the child actors, and the way the story is weaved without tangles. What fails to sink in me is "Is Mumbai the only city in this whole world where there's filth, beggars, slums, mafia, human/ drug trafficking, bomb blasts and communal riots?" Here, I am NOT disagreeing to the ugly side of Mumbai, but is this the only way can films be made? As it is other countries still have misconceptions about India and don't think twice before asking if we've heard of Mc Donalds!! One shouldn't forget that Slumdog has a world appeal... and Mumbai for them is Mumbai shown in movies made therein. I think this is the movie made by firang for the firangs.

Having said that, let me move on to what I saw and appreciated. Dev Patel, with his unconventional looks and off beat demeanour puts up a performance thats commendable. Freida Pinto hasn't got much of a screen space, but whatever she did, she did right. If the movie gets an Oscar, the major reason for it will be the child artistes, who have done excrutiatingly well. The raw truths of Mumbai have been laid bare by these spec of actors, which is unbearable to accept.

Character-wise, it is Jamal's (the protagonist) elder brother Salim who is a mixed bag of being fiercely protective, selfish, street-smart. What one would call a true grey character. Next comes Anil Kapoor, the quizmaster, who during the course of the movie will confuse you whether he's good or a baddie. Nonetheless, Anil Kapoor will keep you entertained even during the shockiest part of the movie. Finally there's Irrfan Khan and Saurabh Shukla, as policemen. They are as much of an extras as much are they a part of the movie. All in all, there wasn't a loose thread, no place where you can say this isn't explained or wonder what this character is doing.

Movie-wise, I recommend it as one time watch.

Ek daav... Dhobhi Pacchad!

Now that's what I call a movie, "Ek daav... dhobhi pacchad"!! And marathi movie at that! Beats many Bollywood movies that claim to be humorous. Confusing and hilarious seems to be the right masala to make a good paisa-vasool movie. And this was it! Boasting of a cast that underlines comedy, this was one film that concentrated on making the audience laugh and how!

With a rare mix of humour, a not-so-believable-yet-so-nice plot and some ingenious thinking on the part of the producer, this movie is a nice experience that sets all other intricacies that I always look for, into oblivion. The language, the comic timing and a blast of real good actors who know their acting, gripped me so hard that I didn't want to find faults with this movie. (not that it lacked any)

I very much recommend this movie to those who 1. enjoy good, decent humour, 2. love Ashok Saraf and 3. understand marathi, like properly, to get the undertones of many dialogues. That's about the movie, I give all thumbs-up!

Though I wasn't happy with three things at E2. The caramel popcorn regular costs Rs. 40(!!!!) with the box getting smaller and smaller and the caramel evaporating at the rate of petrol! And parking rates have gone up by Rs. 10. So now car parking will cost you 40 instead of 30 with no account for the increase of 10! And finally, they have become so chikkat that they have stopped showing trailers before the movie. Therefore, you have some stupid song playing and no ads! I sulk, positively!

Things I was happy at E2. They play our National Anthem before every movie. :D The periodic air freshner smells deeeeevine, as always! And it is still the closest multiplex to my house. heee!

Rab ne bana di jodi

... but whoever made this film????!!!!!

I stifled 5 yawns, straight one after the other, when the names were dancing on the 70 mm. Going for RNBDJ was an immense bravery task for me considering that (i) it was an SRK movie (ii) I knew SRK will scowl and cry and make clown faces all at the same time (iii) i knew whatever i say abt SRK is gonna fall on deaf ears (bcuz of reason iv) and (iv) I was going to go with 2 perennially-addicted-to, swooning-at-the-name-of, loyal, ardent SRK fans! And yet I chose to go was because I'd made this friend of mine come for A Mighty Heart, just because I wanted to see our french directeur in the movie. So, bleh!

The movie started with middle class Surinder (SRK) escorting his newly attained wife (Anushka Sharma) in his very middle class sober home which is situated at a very middle class locality in Amritsar. Then it dragged, like really did... and I could no longer hold it back, I yawned severely several times. Since I did not want my eyes to shut involuntarily, i reminded myself that I had paid for the movie tickets this time.

Fine so, where was I? ohh, yeah, Suri came on screen... and bored the audience with his boring looks, boring dialogues, boring attachment towards his wife and I yawned.... keep the count please. I liked a few parts in the movie, otherwise it's nothing but a good dose of medicine for insomniacs.

Then came Raj... (YRF movie, so Raj is a must-have character like a cherry atop a black forest pastry...only this time it was a smelly cherry and the cake, 7 days beyond it's expiry), his cheap looks, cheap dialogues, cheap attachment towards a married woman. It's in the same movie. Go find who's Raj now. He made the not-so-happy-more-so-sad Suri's wife laugh, dance, opened up a new world for her... sheesh..why am I even typing all this??? In short, he loves her, she loves him but is obligated to her hubsand who ... never mind...

I banged my head against an imaginary wall when the heroine maroed pathetic and repetitive dialogues "tum kyon aye mere zindagi main, Raj?" and "maine pyaar ke saare darwaje bandh kiye the Raj" and "main uss pyaar ka gala ghonth chuki thi Raj." and "Mujhe yahaan se le chalo Raj." C'mon pleeeeeeezzzzzzzzz...

By the time the movie got over I was teary eyed. No, not because I was moved sentimentally.... I was yawning continuously since the interval. I know my narration hasn't made any sense. The movie din't either. But my review is more entertaining than watching this ridiculous farce on screen.

When SRK made his appearance on screen, the chapri crowd of 6 guys howled. When Anushka came, they hooted and then they all went off to sleep.

Please don't waste money on this movie. Incase you have excess of it, credit it into my bank account. I happily accept cash donations. I use it for good social cause. I'll use it next time I go socializing with friends. :D