Two Line Reviews - #395

Movie: Duel (1971)

Plot: Anything revealed about this film might spoil the mystery and bring out an experience of a far lesser magnitude!

What Works?

• Steven Spielberg's debut film!!!! The idea works big time; The same could well be said of the execution too!
• Excellent Camera-work!

A stupendous film of the 'must-watch' kind!

Two Line Reviews - #394

Movie: Jerry Maguire (1996)

Plot: A sports agent gets busted for a 'mission' statement he drafts that doesn't go well with the company he works for! When a big-shot deal fails him, all he has to rely on is a single athlete who stays loyal; He finds love in the midst and due to the tumults of professional failure, his personal life takes a hit- Before the athlete sets things right!

What Works?

• This is not a sports film at all! This is a film about a person who is as persuasive as he is egoistic and morally good. Good writing indeed by Cameron Crowe!
• Tom Cruise actually revels in his Maguire avatar and comes up with the right emotions at the right times!
• Renée Zellweger as Dorothy, with her confused and cute looks stays in your mind; So does the kid!
• The relation between Maguire and his athlete Rod Tidwell is special and that is something which makes the film work!

A tale of a special relationship!

Two Line Reviews - #393

Movie: Ronin (1998)

Plot: A group of freelancing experts are hired for a covered operation on snatching a mysterious package before it reaches the hands of either the Russians or the Irish both of which gangs are hell-bent on getting their hands on it!

What Works?

• The mystery that shrouds the film's plot is what makes it tick; Kudos to Frankenheimer and Zeik for that.
• Robert de Niro is scintillating as ever and here again, showing bursts of temper and cool, he shows real stuff!
• Aiding him adequately are Jean Reno and the beautiful Natascha McElhone; The chase-action sequences are pulsating.
• Music by Elia Cmiral sets the mood brilliantly right from the start!

Action that sends your adrenaline up!

Two Line Reviews - #392

Movie: Coach Carter (2005)

Plot: A former player for the Richmond high school takes over as coach of the current team after a poor year. He imbibes confidence in them and makes them taste victory! But, his concept doesn't end with that. He makes them academically successful too, in his own special way - By benching them all!

What Works?

• When the film takes the detour after the team's succes, that's where this film gets different from the rest of the pack! Thomas Carter uses the film to nicely present an emphasis on the student-athlete concept!
• Samuel Lee Jackson is monstrous in his role; With his trademark accent and a simple outlook, his role earns all the respect.
• The boys too have done a good job.
• The basketball action is captured marvelously; There are some scenes which look completely real!

'Just another' sports film - That's what this film is not!

Two Line Reviews - #391

Movie: SLC Punk! (1998)

Plot: Two youngsters in the Salt Lake City take pride in them being the real rebellious 'punks' in town. They lead lives on their own terms with no iota of how the world around them moves. After a sudden shake-up, things get order resumes.

What Works?
The narrative is interesting and the screenplay wanders here and there which suits the mood the film provides.
The role played by Matthew Lillard is the core and his nice performance helps the cause; Bob's character makes the audience sympathise with him.
Some dialogues involving the cult group, the city and the habits are extreme fun!

Not the usual teen-rebel stuff!

Two Line Reviews - #390

Movie: Vazhakku En 18/9 (Thamizh, 2012)

Plot: The misdeeds of a pampered school-going youngster on a school-girl & the arm-twisting capabilities of politicians and the bribe-hungry nature of policemen in power together turn the life of a poor housemaid and a worker who loves her with all devotion.

What Works?

• In two separate but connected tracks, Balaji Sakthivel tries to narrate and give messages on a lot of social ills and that is quite commendable!
• The new faces have been cast aptly and have performed marvelously; Especially, the character who plays Idlykadai Velu! The story of his past too is impactful.
• There has not been much dramatisation in the screenplay (that is otherwise bland) which is appreciable.
• The camerawork gets experimental coming good at a few places and the music is adequate and experimental too!
• The climax, though predictable, is powerful.

What doesn't?

• The fact that the same story could have been made into a 20 minutes film too is undeniable.

A very noble attempt at revealing some nasty social-ills!

Two Line Reviews - #389

Movie: You've Got Mail (1998)

Plot: A man and a woman in Newyork are mail-friends over the internet. Personally, they both are business people in the same line! The man's shrewd business sense makes the woman go out of business; She confronts him with the advice he gives as the anonymous chatter. The cat-fight leads them to love, all with the woman not knowing who her mailing friend is!

What Works?

• This must have been one of the films that took up the Internet boom for a story-line and the presentation of a love story in such a setup is good with the book-store factor acting a prominent thread that carries the film.
• Tom Hanks plays his role with comfortable ease and Meg Ryan's role is absolutely adorable.
• The squmishes they get at the sight of each other is funny and ironic to watch!

Predictable love story but enjoyable too.

Two Line Reviews - #388

Movie: Mighty Aphrodite (1995)

Plot: A couple decide to adopt a child; When the adopted child grows into a kid high on IQ, the father is curious to find who his parents were. When he gets to know his mother, he tries to smoothen and set her life up so that it becomes socially reputable!

What Works?

• An unusual plot of this kind is something only Woody Allen can come up with and narrate convincingly!
• The mythical characters that act as his conscience, their songs and the way they lament are fun to watch and still carry strong meaningful messages for life!
• Woody Allen, the dumb-headed wannabe actress have nice chemistry going on between them and that surely creates an impact.
• The pig clock in the lady's house is an epic :)

Interesting, funny and special too!

Two Line Reviews - #387

Movie: Tootsie (1982)

Plot: An actor, after a frustrating period of unemployment, chooses the unthinkable! He makes himself up as a lady and wins a place in a show. With his spontaneous acting skills, he wins over the awe of audience making his lady a popular character! In the process, a co-actress confides in his lady-self while he falls for her! The question in his mind is 'When and how to open the Pandora's box?!'

What Works?

• The characters click wonderfully; the narration is filled with classic humour and there is Dustin Hoffman to play the lady - What more would one need to have a hilarious piece of time!
• Dustin Hoffman,as Dorothy, looks and behaves like a tempered old lady would and his voice modulation is absolutely brilliant as well!
• The background score and the songs play a nice little role in the film.
• Portions involving the actress, her father, Hoffman's friend and girlfriend all of who act nicely offer blasts of humour.

Humourous, yet touching!

Two Line Reviews - #386

Movie: Everyone says I Love You (1996)

Plot: An American girl narrates the romantic associations of the members in her family and in the process explains how she tried to tie her divorced father up for a relationship with a lady who meets a known shrink!

What Works?

• This one, probably, is Woody Allen's tribute to musicals and he has chosen an apt story for that! Some of the musical portions make this a refreshing watch!
• The Woody Allen-Julia Roberts portions are as eccentric as they come in WA films!
• Drew Barrymore's terrace scene with the murder convict is a hilarious piece as well; Edward Norton has a minimal role to play but the tap dance at the ring shop is memorable.

Good in parts,this musical is.