Two Line Reviews - #88

Movie: Peepli [Live] (Hindi,2010)



Claps:

• Politicians fight for power,Media networks fight for the bigger share of the pie - All when a farmer fights for his death/life. A simple yet hard-hitting film with dark humour on the plight of illiterate helpless farmers in the country.
• The actors who play Natha & his brother - They bring out the 'we are illiterates & we are exploitable' expressions wonderfully.
• All credits to the lady behind the film - the director Anusha Rizvi..too good an attempt for a debut film.

Blips:

• A bit exaggerative.
• Pre-climax scene has been shot entirely in the dark - A bit confusing.

Overall Score: 9.4/10

Unfinished Business - That little bet!

Mr.Sathur & Mr.Anand. I have taken my own time but finally I am here to start the completion of our bet -the unfinished business of watching and reviewing those 6 six films you gifted me when I parted ways!

1.Sumaithaangi:

Directed by Sridhar-regarded as one of the most smartest and exciting directors of his generation, this film is definitely watchable. A story of the ill-fated twist in the life of a carefree college going youth falling in love with his family suddenly facing shudders with the loss of job of his brother, the sole bread-winner . The hero is forced to sacrifice his love, his interests for the sake of his family – Run of the mill stuff. But he gets exasperated of his sacrifices at a point and goes on to question the purpose of his existence. The lively first hour is followed by a pathos filled mega serial type one hour after which the film gets brisk and ends in an unpredictable yet plucky climax.
Gemini Ganesan marvels in his role showing tremendous transformation from a happy youngster employing flirtatious ways to capture the imagination of his lady love to a lost, sacrificial lamb. Other performances of note are those of muthuraman (who plays his brother), the father of the duo(casual acting was at its best display), the heroine and Nagesh.But, it is amusing and makes no sense when the lead pair start conversing in thooyaththamizh after their initial break-up. Funny!

One big plus for the film is the music of the Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy duo. Surprisingly I was familiar with not one, not two but all songs in the film - The most popular ones being Manidhan enbavan dheivam aagalam & Mayakkamaa Kalakkamaa (I didn’t know both were from the same film!).

So the first hurdle, luckily , was an easily crossable one. Awaiting five more!

Two Line Reviews - #87

Movie: Double Indemnity (1944)



Claps:

• A puzzle that involves the murder of a man by careful plans laid & worked out by his wife and an insurance agent,incentive being the insurance amount - Solved in an interesting fashion.
• The performance of the man who plays Ketes - A livewire on screen & at solving the case.
• The engaging dialogues & the set of turns that the story takes at the end.

Blips:

• Nothing of note.

Overall Score: 9.5/10

Two Line Reviews - #86

Movie: Casablanca (1946)



Claps:

• A nice crisp story on a French revolutionist seeking escape from German forces being protected by a pro-french Hotel Owner at Casablanca with a tale of love acting as the catalyst for his ways.
• The first Humphrey Bogart film I have seen and I have got the answer to why he is highly regarded as one of the very best actors - What style,what elegance,what subtlety he shows!
• The limited 3-4 other important characters,riveting and sensible climax & the beautiful beautiful Ingrid Bergman who plays the desperate confused lady.

 Blips:

• The flashback at France was too small to cause any impact.

 Overall Score: 9.1/10

Two Line Reviews - #85

Movie: Love,Sex aur Dhokha (Hindi,2010)



Claps:

• Claps for the sheer daredevilry of the totally unconventional candid camera attempt that captures love & scandals that news channels love to buy - a good strong dig at the media.
• The concept of showing three stories in one film - The Amores Perros way.
• Cam angles used & showing captured moments with timer. Noting down the timer will only give us a sense of the order of the proceedings.

 Blips:

• The three stories are connected for the heck of it.They weren't cohesive & that was disappointing.
• Stories 1 & 2 end abruptly.
• Adult(e)rated content & one gory scene that can be disturbing.

Overall Score: 9.0/10

Two Line Reviews - #84

Movie: Rocket Singh Salesman of the Year (Hindi,2009)

 

Claps:

• An unusual film on the Sales industry & intricacies involved in it - A thoroughly engaging fare.
• The idea employed by the under-utilised sales guy that forms the core of the film - I wish something like this happens in the IT service industry as well!
• Ranbir shows versatility & convinces us that he is asli sardari.
• Able shows of the supporting cast - the partners & father.

 Blips:

• There is definitely a dose of dramatic scenes that aren't realistically possible.

 Overall Score: 9.3/10

Two Line Reviews - #83

Movie: Wake Up Sid (Hindi,2009)



Claps:

• This film, again on an ignorant,arrogant,immature young guy, is in stark contrast to Dev D. It is such a positive,feel-good film on a duo.
• Ranbir Kapoor garners attention with his tremendous screen presence & Konkana Sen is at her usual best.
• Costumes,Art work & the wonderful music of Trivedi & S-E-L,Trivedi's Iktara being the best.
• Some very absorbing scenes like the tussle with pop, & clicking pics of the next door child for his mom.

Blips:

• Some needless characters are let loose at the end.

Overall Score: 9.3/10

Two Line Reviews - #82

Movie: Dev D (2009,Hindi)

 

Claps:

• The story of Devdas rehashed and presented in the context of the Y-Gen. But has the Indian Y-gen gone so far? I suppose it hasn't. Still a different attempt.
• Usage of very little dialogs and conveying a lot through tracks was a good move. All tracks fitted,emotional atyachaar being the best, and were not speed- breakers.
• Abhay Deol's performance as the lowly loser & the portions of Leni's trauma.

Blips:

• The protagonist has nothing positive about him. He is selfish,egotistic,spoilt & hopeless right from the word go. That leaves little or no impact at the end.

Overall Score: 8.7/10

Two Line Reviews - #81

Movie: Aamir (Hindi,2008)

 

Claps:

• An interesting plot with a gripping narration,PhoneBooth style.
• The entire bus sequence towards the end - the dilemma brought out wonderfully.
• Amit Trivedi's apt musical score.

Blips:

• The villain seems to know even the timing of each and every move of his pawn, as if he can read his mind.

Overall Score: 9.2/10

Two Line Reviews - #80

Movie: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

Claps:

• A Sci-fi fantasy film of such convincing proportions made in 1970s when computers meant to too few!Unbelievable work!
• The bonding between the robots C3PO & R2-D2, especially C3PO's humourous one-liners.
• Harrison Ford's casual,rip-roaring role & Obi-wan Kenobi's quotes.
• Starships & the battle in the outer sphere.

Blips:

• Not a blip. A note of caution could be the fact that the first 10-15 can make one go restless as characters are all too strange,but once one gets acclaimatized, there's no looking back.

Overall Score: 9.6/10