Movie Reviews

Owing to Xmas, it has been good have a few days off. Leading to the new year, we have had a hectic schedule. So it is very essential to have a break of sorts. These days of (24th Dec- 2nd Jan) have come as a welcome break.

One of the things I am most likely to do on my days off is watch as many movies I can get my hands on. While this does make me sound like home body, it does help me relax. I did get out too ….But sometimes watched movies through the night…Nothing like catching a good flick with a good friend. Its always fun to watch movies which have been decorated in the movie reviews, but also those which have not. A part of me is still yearns for Theatre, Acting mostly and more recently Editing and Scripting. Every time I am done watching a movie, I analyze it briefly in my head….sometimes making mental notes about what I liked about it…and what I didn’t….and why…and what could have been better? After all….my career passion is User Experience. Its nice to use some of the principles from work into your daily life.

A quick note about Movie Reviews. Well…I don’t believe in them. To each his own I say….Like I said, I am a big movie buff. Not someone my friends have come to like….especially for my heavy criticism after watching Hindi films. I just don’t understand why film makers in India cannot come up with innovative ideas/plots to make films. Having said that, they are “inspired” by every Hollywood hit. Even so, they seem to make a mess of a perfectly good Hollywood film by “Indian-ising” it far too much.

What is Indian-ising (desi-karan for my fellow country folk) a movie? Well…the recipe goes like this. Hear about, or watch a Hollywood (recently even a Tollywood, i.e. Telgu movie or Kollywood i.e. Tamil movie. As it is evident even the film industry in a region is named/called the same…..). Anyways it starts with get a movie….most probably one which has a lot of critical acclaim…but it fairly under the radar (to avoid copyright infringement or legal hassles). I guess this is where “inspiration” comes in. Watch a movie, get inspired…change to exotic locales…twist and mould the plot…so that it seems relevant and coherent with India/Indians and then add that spice (which we can totally do without). One of the worst things that I think about “Indian-ising” a movie is adding 6 spicy songs. The day we learn to avoid that, the day films will start getting better.

I know in India most of the revenue these days comes from Music. The industry is facing a lot of strife with copyright violation, downloads being easily available and I guess the standard Hindi movie buff “demanding” some sizzling hot songs. But it is important to know..that Musicals have long disappeared from mainstream cinema. If it is a musical, it is explicitly called a musical, like the recent Disney’s High School Musical series. Every movie isn’t one. You cannot possibly imagine Leonardo Dicaprio singing and dancing to a beat in Africa with Jennifer Connelly with Djimon Honsou in the background in Blood Diamond…now would you??

Its sometimes almost retarded….the way music is almost thrust onto you….totally unnecessary….breaks the flow of the movie (if there is any created) and leaves you wondering…what the hell was going on before everyone started dancing? I really don’t want to get into song bashing mode…as I think I can go on and on about that topic. I must admit, there is a marked improvement in it now….compared to those ridiculous Govinda songs, but still there is a long way to go. Just another comment on songs…whatever happened to beautifully inducing songs in a movie like Grease? The Indian film makers have a lot to learn. Its not just them though…its the music directors who need to understand this…the lyricists….everyone needs to be mindful of this. While we all know Switzerland is beautiful…we don’t need to see it for 4.5 minutes especially if we know the protagonists are slum dwellers otherwise broke to even have the money to have a cup of tea….when they are not dreaming as well either. I mean what is that ??? I remember as a kid I would laugh…asking myself “why can’t I dream in Eastman color?”…and then even I…a 5 yr old knew the answer…it was because it wasn’t possible !!!!!! Simple as that…

Well I don’t want to go on about Hindi movies…as there haven’t been that many films produced this year, which I thought were good. Definitely three come to mind…A Wednesday,Fashion and Dostana in that order. I don’t need to say much about these movies and whoever saw them….am sure must have liked them.

I really liked A Wednesday, a wonderfully scripted movie with powerhouse performers like Naseerudin Shah and Anupam Kher. It hit home because the plot was so relevant, real and just brilliant. All those who haven’t …must see film this one. Fashion, yet another Madhur Bhandarkar special. True the story has been told before, but he found a a unique way of portraying it and that’s why it also scored on the box office. Dostana, probably the biggest hit…again…same story….different/better narrator and I am sure a sort of “coming out of the closet” for KJ. You could argue, the songs…sizzling hot…were used well in this movie…though I felt it was one too many. English films have songs in them…they are called Original Sound Tracks…anyone listening? True our Indian crowds love the “show”…well..whatever happened to treating them as OST music videos ? Part of the movie, but not really.

There were others worth a mention….but none of them had an original story line. Repeat…NONE of them had an original story line. While others might argue my critique, I would say One Two Three was a decent movie, where you did not need to use your brains and could watch it once and have some fun. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na…was an all right film. Very predictable….and totally run of the mill story. Bachna Ae Haseeno, was a decent film…but nothing to write home about. I think the movie was doing really well, until the whole “apologetic” episodes took far too long. I mean yes…as anyone who believes in Karma…well I agree…you have to put in the hard yards to make sure your karma is back on track. But all of that left little time to see…why all of a sudden the female protagonist suddenly starts having feelings for him !! But all and all..it was far better than other movies. So it does get a nod. Bhootnath was decent. Mithya was watchable. So was Ugly Aur Pagli.

I have left out Rock On…I liked the movie..but I think it would have been better for Farhan Akhtar not to have sung all his songs. I am all for genuineness …..full marks…but what about actual singing prowess? He has done a decent job…one has to agree, but the songs had potential to be better had Shankar M or Sonu Nigam sung them. Producing cutting costs ? I think not. While I liked Farhan’s acting, I still think we need Directors and Producers like him…may be do a double role FA?

The biggest disappointments for me were Sarkar Raaj and Ghajini. With Sarkar Raaj, no comments….nothing can compare to Sarkar…the characters this time around weren’t powerful at all….Aishwarya…no comments.RGV has proved that he can take anything just a bit too far and experiment more than necessary, yet again.

I only liked parts of the film Ghajini…I think the songs were un-necessary…you don’t have to sing songs to be in love…do you? I think the girl’s character was a bit too long than what it should have been….the big burly inspector was a waste of screen time…didn’t achieve anything….the 3 hour movie….should have been cut down to 2 hr 10 mins…with crisp editing…that would have made it better…and even a bigger hit. I guess the movie needed a twist may be similar to that added in the Tamil version of the movie (from which this one was inspired) of Ghajini having an identical twin….Aamir has done well with his acting and has worked hard on his physique. But his “Hrithik” like look (bold colored open shirts with scarves and hats) did not catch my fancy. I don’t think he of all people needs to work on a look like that to succeed.

The films which really and truly appalled me were : 1920, Aamir, Black and White, Bombay to Bangkok, Chamku, De Taali, Drona, God Tussi Great Ho, Golmaal Returns, Hello, Heroes, Hijack, Jannat, Jodha Akbar, Krazzy 4, Kismat Konnection, Kidnap, Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic, Love Story 2050, Mission Istanbul, Money hai toh honey hai, Phoonk, Rab ne bana di jodi, Race, Roadside Romeo, Shaurya, Singh is Kinng, Sorry Bhai, Sunday, Superstar, Tashan, Woodstock Villa,  Welcome to Sajjanpur and Yuvvraaj.

Of a good 30 odd films I saw this year…only 3-4 were good. And whats worse is the others were utterly miserable.No film that I have seen recently is as bad as Rab ne bana di jodi. What a disaster. I pity the Indian crowd and I am sure SRK would be laughing at my predicament as it is the biggest hit of the year. That film…a hit??? Please people get a life.SRK for once was given a chance to “overact”…as if he ever needed one.

Just on that thought…when the stars, know…that their films are going to do well..just on face value…why can’t they choose good scripts. Most of them have started producing and directing as well. They have the power to take Indian cinema to a new level. Take Clint Eastwood for instance…class. Actor-Director and Producer…made sure the film was a hit…and whats more…he was in it !! One of the reasons why Taare Zameen Par was a hit and took away all the awards…good script…excellent performances…wonderful/soulful and intelligent used music … it did leave me a bit wanting on the editing and at times on direction…but still a wonderful movie. One thing is for sure….the King Khans and the other younger brigade….the superstars…..Hrithik, Abhishek, Ranbir, etc…must take the onus on themselves to do better.

I personally am surprised how they even say “yes” to do a movie like RNBDJ. Of all the actors….Aamir Khan’s movies have always been full of promise and have delivered. The others must take a leaf off his book. They can make their own movies and don’t have to wait for people to bring good scripts to them….they have their Dad’s legacy in film making….female following…. they have so much going for them. Why can’t they make good movies?

Are people just not creative enough? That I know for sure isn’t true. Take adverts for instance. Probably India makes the best ad films, especially if you compare to those which run on the tele here. Pathetic may be putting it too mildly. Having said all that, the next time a film releases….I will see it…may be thats the problem right there.

Before Sunset (2004)

Like I said I made it a point to watch Before Sunset (2004) today. If you haven’t please read “Before Sunrise” prior to reading on.

I was really tired from work and didn’t really feel up to it, as I knew I would be writing this blog if I did watch it. Well, too late now. A part of me wanted to see it, almost to get it over it. I am a cynic, not by choice but by circumstance, or by the product of many.

Check this out, courtesy Wikipedia of course, under Julie Delpy. Just for these two films.

• 1995 MTV Movie Award Nomination, Best Kiss for Before Sunrise (1995)
• 2004 San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award, Best Actress for Before Sunset (2004)
• 2005 Academy Award Nomination, Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay for Before Sunset (2004)
• 2005 Writers Guild of America Nomination, Best Adapted Screenplay for Before Sunset (2004)
• 2005 Empire Award, Best Actress for Before Sunset (2004)
• 2005 Independent Spirit Award Nomination, Best Screenplay for Before Sunset (2004)
• 2005 Online Film Critics Society Award Nomination, Best Actress for Before Sunset (2004)
• 2005 Online Film Critics Society Award Nomination, Best Screenplay, Adapted for Before Sunset (2004)

Well once again, I recommend you to see this flick. Honestly…see both of them if you haven’t. If you see Before Sunrise, you almost cannot avoid Before Sunset. I thought to myself, for those who had seen this in 1995, Before Sunrise that is, it must have been a painful wait…almost 10 years for the sequel to come out. Its a long time…isn’t it? But the movie was scripted to perfection, yet again by Richard Linklater, this time helped by the stars, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (JTYJN)

After a long time, I have liked something about a Hindi Film. Although the story line of the movie has been used time and time again, this movie does deliver on the promise. I heard from my friends in India that the movie was pretty good. I decided to give it a go. On a Sunday afternoon, watching the flick was better than doing nothing. The story is a dead give away, right from the start you pretty much know what to expect. It can be a drag at times as well. The songs are all right. The only highlights of the movie are the humorous bits and acting of Genelia D’Souza. The film is a debut venture for Imraan Khan, yet another Khan, nephew of the King, Aamir Khan himself. Aamir Khan has produced this film and made sure that he hasn’t left a stone unturned.

Although A R Rehman has composed the music, the lyrics and play back singers don’t quite measure up. Rehman has tried a few new singers. Some of them sounded awful. It came as a shock to me, that they ended up on th record. One exception is the song “Kabhi Kabhi Aditi.” The song is quite peppy and upbeat. The song has been sung by Rashid Ali, who plays lead guitar with the Rehman troupe. I loved the song as it has cool sounding lyrics, a peppy tune, a fresh voice, good cinematography and most of all it does make sense in the movie.

Mahesh Elkunchwar

Taken at his residence in 2004-05

I do not know a lot of people whose are listed in Wikipedia. Mahesh Elkunchwar (my relative, grandfather actually, its complicated to explain how…) is one such entrant who I know (quite) well (NOT).

I am proud to be a part of a legacy….may be only the surname….but Family always comes first…right ? Here are some links which do have a lot to say about this famous playwright.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahesh_Elkunchwar

http://www.tribuneindia.com/1998/98oct18/sunday/view.htm

http://www.hindu.com/lr/2004/03/07/stories/2004030700240400.htm

http://www.glamsham.com/dramas/Articles/05/sep/28mahesh.asp

http://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/interviews/mahesh_elkunchwar.asp

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0253913/

http://wikimapia.org/1397618/

http://www.anothersubcontinent.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7881

http://pipl.com/directory/people/Mahesh/Elkunchwar

http://www.bookfinder.com/author/mahesh-elkunchwar/

http://www.bagchee.com/browse_author.php?id=30532&order=1

The list is never ending….

Holi (1984)
————

By VINCENT CANBY

Published: April 8, 1985

”HOLI,” an Indian film directed by Ketan Mehta, is set in what appears to be an Indian equivalent of one of our coeducational high schools, where the students live on campus and suffer the same frustrations of students their age all over the world. Most of the faculty members are dolts, the curriculum is out of touch with the students’ needs and the male students and female students lust after each other, but discreetly.

On this particular day, the students are upset because an annual religious holiday, celebrating ”the burning of evil” and God’s coming to the rescue of the faithful, is canceled in favor of the observance of the school’s Founder’s Day, a boring, very proper ceremony presided over by a visiting educator of immense pomposity.

”Holi,” directed by Ketan Mehta and based on a play by Mahesh Elkunchwar, seems sometimes to be a parody of conventional Indian films – as in a scene in the school cafeteria that turns into a rowdy but carefully choreographed song-and-dance number – and sometimes to be a serious melodrama about youth in protest.

Some of the dialogue is funny, as when several disenchanted young men talk about their fathers. One fellow reports that his dad, a contractor, has become successful by constructing buildings designed to collapse. Another brags that his father does even better because of the bribes he receives as a Government official, while a third, the son of a doctor, swears that his father makes his fortune by finding ever-new ways to keep people sick.

When one wayward student, standing on the dormitory roof, is asked what the school looks like from up there, he answers as if he were a young playwright: ”Like a factory that manufactures slaves, or a prison.”

The students’ general anger is made even more particular when they receive word that the school has decided to drop several liberal-arts courses in favor of business courses. By the time of the Founder’s Day ceremony, there’s no restraining them. After heckling the principal guest, who insists on speaking in English instead of Hindi, they pelt the man with garbage, provoking a melodramatic climax not easily supported by the quality of the fiction that precedes it.

The film, which the production notes report was largely improvised, is very decently and exuberantly performed by the nonprofessional actors. ”Holi” is, however, less interesting as melodramatic comedy than as evidence that kids in the third world are really no different from those in the first and second. These students have an additional burden: the remains of a dual identity imposed on them by Empire.

Campus Unrest

HOLI, directed by Ketan Mehta; screenplay (Hindi with English subtitles) by Mahesh Elkunchwar and Ketan Mehta, adapted from a play by Mahesh Elkunchwar; camera by Jehangir Chaudhary; edited by Subhash Sehgal; music by Rajat Dholakia; a Film Unit Production. At Roy and Niuta Titus Theater 1, Museum of Modern Art, as part of the New Directors/ New Films Series. Running time: 120 minutes. This film has no rating. WITH: Sanjeev Gandhi, Rahul Ranade, Asutosh Gowarikar, Amol Gupte, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Deepti Naval, Dr. Shreeram Lagoo