Two Line Reviews - #410

Movie: The Mist (2007)

Plot: There is a mystery in the mist that shrouds a little town. Many of the townsmen are held up in a super market and all hell breaks loose when a store boy gets eaten up by what appears to be a tentacle of an unknown being! Upon severe distress, many turn fanatically religious and the escape plans of the rational few fall on deaf ears - What follows is utterly calamitous!

What Works?

• It has definitely got to be the imagination on how a clueless life threatening situation can take the civilised man back to his barbarian roots; The film based on Stephen King's novel presents an interesting premise to dwell on that topic!
• The portions inside the supermarket with the multiple views and the dreadful events are gripping.
• The hero & his kid, the super-store assistant manager, the teacher, the old man and the biblical lady have prominent roles to essay.
• The anti-climax is bloody ironic and touchy and the eerie music for this portion is a good fit.

What Doesn't?
The reason that is told for the mist and the deadly creature is weak to a point of being ridiculous.

When calamity strikes, beware of 'Mankind' - Well told!

Two Line Reviews - #409

Movie: The Next Three Days (2010)

 

Plot: A family is devastated when the wife gets charged for the murder of her boss. After a suicide attempt by her, the husband decides on a plan to let her free and works meticulously for three years to make the 3 day execution successful. Amidst all this he has to take care of their kid and the watch-dog policemen!

 

What Works?

• The film has a crooked plot but not something a common man made to face an uncommon situation cannot relate to! So, there gets established the connection.
• Russell Crowe's stoic expressions are apt for the role he plays here and the family form a good threesome.
• The background music helps; the twists in the chase are enjoyable & action blocks(specifically the scene where the wife tries to get off the car!) are gripping.

What Doesn't?
The very idea on which Crowe works based on the inputs from Liam Neeson who plays a cameo is a bit impractical!

 

A racy serving of uncommon action.

Two Line Reviews - #408

Movie: Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

Plot: A very young kid is abundantly talented in Chess that he is compared by the biggies to Bobby Fischer, who disappeared after becoming the first world champion from U.S.A. He is mentored by a chess author who wants to see Fischer in him; He is also trained by a park-side speed chess specialist. Caught between the two and an unexpected contender, fear sets in the kid's mind and he loses focus. His parents work their way out to get back him back on track!

What Works?

• As a film that's partly fictional and partly based on a true story, the right mix of both worlds makes it tick! Steve Zaillian's work needs appreciations for that.
• The game of chess is shown in all its glory to such an extent that not having known to play it would hurt (not the viewing as the film is completely understandable)!
• The mental battle that champions need to face at the zenith and the methods to tackle it are brought forth brilliantly.
• The kid, being the pivot, plays a superb role - and offering different equally good dimensions around him are his parents, parents' friend & child, Ben Kingsley and Fishburne!

Champions' stuff, for the champions in every one of us!

Two Line Reviews - #407

Movie: Dazed and Confused (1993)

Plot: In 1976, a batch leaves High School and a junior batch gets in. The after school 'last day' parties go on and on as the drug and alcohol induced fun get limitless as night breaks into dawn!

What Works?

• The film is set in the 70s and stays true to the time. Generates the overall feel perfectly!
• The funny gigs students of the outgoing batch put to show are enjoyable.
• The babbles of the drug-sters and the conversations of the nerdish trio provide the needed impetus for laughter.
• The resolve of 'Pink' Mr.Floyd and his junior successor please too! Not to forget the amazing soundtracks!

As 'high' on content & style as the drug-sters in it!

Two Line Reviews - #406

Movie: Bolivia (Spanish, 2001)

Plot: A man from Bolivia joins a restaurant in Argentina as a cook and tries to settle himself in and get some money back to his family in the economically battered Bolivia. A slow turn of events jeopardise his plans but the reason behind that is a macro-issue.

What Works?

• The film attempts to tell a bigger story with the story of an individual immigrant. It doesn't appear to do so and there lies the beauty of the making!
• The events at the restaurant are so routine that the climax comes as a shocker, though one would have expected that!
• The narrative presents the views of both nationals through characters(who have all acted well) in the restaurant and never takes a biased view which makes it all the more special!

Short, Crisp tale of a mammoth-issue!

Two Line Reviews - #405

Movie: Eight Below (2006)

Plot: When an antarctic expedition of 2 explorers is halted midway due to a very rough weather, they return back to base leaving the sled dogs that helped them with their expedition. The trainer who communicates with the dogs promises them that he would be back to get them but is not allowed. The dogs wait resiliently and the trainer makes his attempts to fulfill his promise. Who wins?

What Works?

• The emotional connect the sled dogs make with its trainer is powerful. No surprises as the film has its roots in an Asian film (Japanese) from the 70s!
• The entire journey is informative - How the researchers and explorers make living and travel in the snow-mountains is astounding!
• The scene in which the dog Maya saves the doc from the glacier is a goosebump moment!
• The latter portions when the trainer feels for a guilt he needn't associate himself with is typical of a good-nature d soul!

A sound tale of survival instincts!

Two Line Reviews - #404

Movie: Glory Road (2006)

Plot: In Texas, a college basketball coach makes heads turn and lips 'psst' when he chooses a team with a majority of Black-Americans. He changes the lack of belief within and outside the team as he steers them on to the pinnacle at the national championships!

What Works?

• Maybe another film on sports, maybe another one on the blacks - But not preachy, it's racy! That makes this James Gartner film a good watch.
• The way the team builds up, the way it is motivated and the manner in which the white players understand the occasion and make way in the final evoke respect!
• Josh Lucas's essayal of the heroic coach Don Haskins is commendable.

Not unusual but deserves the respect!

Two Line Reviews - #403

Movie: Hoosiers (1986)

 

Plot: A coach reputed for his controversial approach takes up the mantle of readying a small town school basketball team for bigger glory. He encourages a drunkard who knows a thing or two on basketball strategy to give up his drinking and take up his skill seriously.

 

What Works?

• The fact that this is another inspiring sports story doesn't make it a usual fare thanks to the town angle given to it.
• Gene Hackman doesn't look the part as a coach superficially, but when he gets into the act, he does what can be expected of the veteran!
• His confrontations with the special boy talent, with the drunkard and the school teacher add fillip to the show!

Shows how sports can give a town its name!

Two Line Reviews - #402

Movie: Du rififi chez les hommes (or) Rififi (French, 1955)

 

Plot: Three men meticulously plan to rob a bank and bring in a fourth expert into the team. After careful study and trials, they pull of the robbery but a small post-loot female fetish mistake gets them all into trouble.

 

What Works?

• The different groups involved - The robbers, their families, the rival gang - etc. are used aptly making way for a crisp narrative.
• The way the gangsters plan for the heist is something incredible and the suspense is pulsating!
• The determination of the chieftain played by Jean Servais is evident throughout. The climax is a silent killer! 

Breathtaking heist stuff!

 

Two Line Reviews - #401

Movie: Invincible(2006)

Plot: A bartender in Philadelphia appears for the season trials organised by the revolutionary new coach and surprises every body to get into the Eagles team and inspires fans of the team by helping the eagles resurrect themselves! Based on the true story of Vince Papale.

What Works?

• This is one of those hollywood films that show action at its own pace, gaining momentum gradually and finishing off in style! A pretty familiar brand, interesting nonetheless.
• Mark Wahlberg's portrayal of Papale commends respect and the way he uses a personal insult to propel himself to success is inspiring stuff!
• The father's role is small but crucial; Those of the NY fan-girl, Coach, Papale's friends make a mark too.
• The scene when he comes back to his backyard to play and turn the timid friend into a believer stands out.

Inspiring enough if not invincible!