Bel Ami [Views]

Directed by : Declan Donnellan, Nick Ormerod

Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440732/

Its not enough to be loved, its so clear to me. 

A guy who manipulates and uses the influence of rich married woman's to his own advantage, to get rich. That's the one line plot of this movie which I believe is taken from some novel. 

I didn't like the concept of the film, but if I even accept it then also, the screenplay and the performances are very un-interesting. Robert Pattinson as the main lead, dissappointed me, his acting was out of sorts, at so many instances I felt I was watching a actor act, not a character in a scene. 

I liked Christina Ricci, she did a fairly good work in the film as the one who keeps loving Georges (Robert Pattinson) despite knowing he isn't the right person to be loved. Also, Uma Thurman's performance.. in two scenes specially, one where she quickly gets sex done with Georges so that he could focus on the work she wanted him to do first.. and the other where she tells what Georges in real is. 

It never looked clear, whether Georges felt guilty for using any woman, but were any of those woman's also not in the same league. For instance, Uma Thurman's character was bit tricky, with her relationship to that guy who comes every Tuesday. There's many things that are not properly told, and scenes which had in them to be built more properly, like the one where Georges gets angry over that guy related to his wife. 

And I didn't like the ending too. There's too much of fakeness the woman's do in the film, that is hard to accept. 

Bel Ami wasn't my kind of film.. 

Movie Analysis : I am 24

Directed by : Saurabh Shukla
Imdb link : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2288124/

Subhendu (Rajat Kapoor) believes in living life without lies, whereas his room-partner Gagan (Ranvir Shorey) says to survive, you need to lie and cook up stories. One night, over a internet chat with a Delhi girl, Kanak (Manjari Fadnis) he ends up speaking lies but he feels good and decides he would follow his room-partner's way of living.  But, how long will Subhendu lies save him when that delhi girl comes to Mumbai for visiting him along with her Miss India contetest ? Also, sub-plot of Gagan who is struggling actor tries to woo  Sheela (Neha Dhupia) who is also a struggling actor.. working for Saurabh Shukla production. And there is, Vijay Raaz, part time actor and waiter at restaurant, who can't get his pending cheque from Shukla's place.

I liked the plot, and the screenplay to certain extent is nicely put up. Though, the final 15 mins appear to be rushed in specially the Gagan-Sheela part which looks very abrupt when he says 'lo bhayi mera toh ho gaya', as if saying to director 'my part in film is over, I can leave the schedule'.

Rajat Kapoor gives a very good performance as a guy who lives life at his set rules, and tries not to bother about his roomie who doesn't like his ideals. How, he feels excited to chat with a girl on net, and wants to meet her but also worried about his lies about being 24 in age. That scene where he starts giving interest to Kanak when she shows him who Tony is, or the entire meeting seqence with Kanak where he is full of joy to meet the girl he likes a lot, and the realization he has at that marine drive sequence when Kanak tells him about her feelings.

Manjari Fadnis was good, to talk of she has only that meeting sequence with Subhendu in film as in rest film she is just on a webcam. She portrayed the frustration and anger very well, to see the guy she liked a lot turning out to be something different, then what he had told her, that feeling of being cheated was well enacted by her.

Ranvir Shorey was good, though he reminded me a bit of 'Dasvidaniya', maybe for all the advices he keeps giving. Plus, that irritating scream he keeps doing was completely uncalled for.

Neha Dhupia was natural, and lovely as always. Love her scene in restaurant, where she makes Subhendu and Kanak feel comfortable.

Lilette Dubey and Saurabh Shukla were nice, except for that over-laugh scene. While Vijay Raaz was funny in his character, Delnaaz good in small cameo.


Overall, 'I am 24' was very entertaining for most part of the movie, while one may argue about whose way of living was right 'Subhendu' or 'Gagan', or maybe both were wrong.


Verdict : NICE

Shark Night [Views]

Directed by : David R. Ellis
Imdb link : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1633356/

The film could had been so good, if they used the scare of 'sharks' in right way. I haven't seen 'Jaws' yet, but I have heard a lot.. specially during film classes I had that Jaws was immensely good film only because the director opted never to show the shark, and instead build the scare everytime with the feeling that 'the shark would come anytime'.

The pyscho angle involved in the film's plot was something that I didn't like but then I couldn't disapprove of either. But having said that, they didn't build a screenplay that would make the kind of impact that this pyscho thing should had. Also, for me the performances of almost everyone, except for Chris and Katharine was very average.

Even some of the deaths that comes through shark, weren't as chilling and scary as it should had been.

Overall, the movie was below average mark, and only Chris performance along with some shark scenes made it watchable. But, one thing this movie surely did is.. remind me that I need to watch Jaws sooner.. will surely do that.

Movie Analysis : Joker

Directed by : Shirish Kunder
Imdb link : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1918886/

Kunder's work in Jaanemann to me was impressive, some of the shots in that film were emotionally very touching. But, in Joker.. it appears as if Kunder never made Jaanemann or maybe he got too badly affected by his wife's film 'Tees Maar Khan' and ends up making a film that looks like sequel of that film in terms of torture.

The problem here is, the plot. When you pick such a stupid plot, form a script on a bad plot.. then a screenplay.. you are just building a terrible film nothing else.

Let me just tell few of good points in film.. Chitrangada Singh's item number was lovely to watch in theatre. Though, her dance moves aren't good, plus the choreography was poor, but her screen presence is terrific. That shot where they build a crop circle was good to see visually. Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi share 1-2 good comic scenes between them. Sanjay Mishra and Darshan Jariwala were likeable in few scenes.

There's no point in talking about the performances of lead actors, they get no scope to shine in such a bad film.

Pitobash, Shreyas Talpade and Minnisha Lamba should had simply said 'NO' to Shirish when he offered them this film. Shreyas alien lingo in the film was so irritating.

Except for the Item song, none of the other songs are good to ears, Udit narayan song is decent at best. Also, they are badly used in the narration.


Joker is a film, that I won't like to remember at all.

Verdict : INTOLERABLE 

Delhi in a Day [Views]

Directed by : Prashant Nair

Imdb link : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1725803/

A Britisher comes to India, like a typical tourist, he intends to know more about India. But, as colourful India looks with the typical cliches, there's another India he ends up witnessing.

I liked that the film told the message without trying to impose it on you. The climax scene for me was brilliantly done.

The film is a dark comedy, but I felt it had the scope of being much darker, or maybe the director wanted to keep the tone lighter.

The scene where Rohini (Anjali Patil) dances when urged by the other servants, or the one where Chottu (Arun Mallick Kumar) makes her dance when feeling depressed, and Rohini going to a place for help in getting money were the best scenes in the movie. Also, special mention to the song 'Yeh jo hua hai, hua bhi nahi hai' used aptly in the background.

Anjali Patil without a doubt, gives the best performance in the film.. as the maid who is poor, loving, filmy, good dancer and caring. The helplessness on her face, when she finds herself and her other mates in problem due to the money of Britisher that gets stolen. Its not a surprise, that the final shot was kept on her.

Also, Lillette Dubey was very good portaying the rich woman of the house, showing her authority over the servants, and her ways to solve the stolen money problem.


Delhi in a Day, works for me.. its short film, more of a light take on the rich and poor.

Movie Analysis : Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi

Directed by : Bela Sehgal
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2187972/

Its a light hearted movie of a couple, Shirin (Farah Khan) and Farhad (Boman Irani) who in search of their soulmate find each other by chance, and end up falling in love. But, the drama develops when Farhad's mother finds out Shirin is the same woman who removed a tanky which was 'the last nishaani' of her husband.

I loved the 1st half, the scenes were very funny, Boman and Daisy Irani (her mother) especially were hillarious. She asking details of guy's wife whom he divorced so as to fix her up with her own son, or the one where Boman realizes he is in love and dances in his room (though he looks wierd dancing around).

2nd half totally dissappoints, the drama overtakes the comedy plus it isnt interesting, with a climax that is way over the top. Rhamba mein samba song is totally forced into the film, and I totally dislike its choreography, though the idea was good, poor execution. Also, just like Boman.. to see Farah dance wasn't good to eyes.

I don't understand why many directors still like filming the old cliches ? Father in coma, from no-where gets up and starts talking like he was never ill. The guy is talking to girl, and a dreamy sequence happens, how can girl sit for 3 odd minutes watcing him quietly dream ? And many more such nonsense scenes.. Such kind of drama I hate to the core.

Boman Irani acting was as always great, that scene where he says 'kuch bhi karna, bas mera dil mat todna tu'.  Farah Khan was okay strictly. Daisy Irani was excellent, Shammi ji were good and nice to see her in a movie. Infact, in a way Daisy-Shammi reminds me of same chemistry mother-grandmother of Vicky in 'Vicky Donor'.


Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, aims only to entertain you.. and it does but the drama quotient lets the movie completely down.


Verdict : BELOW AVERAGE

Movie Analysis : Ek Tha Tiger

Directed by : Kabir Khan
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2016894/

Woh mohabbat hi kya, jismein koi deewangi na ho .. 

Its Kabir's 3rd film, I am yet to see his first and best film 'Kabul Express' as I have read people say a lot good about it. While New York was quite nice film. With Ek Tha Tiger, Kabir tries to narrate a story of a spy guy working for India's RAW who shifts his priority from his country, to a girl he falls in love with.

The problem with the film is, that one line plot is used to build a whole screenplay. To make matters worse, kabir opts for a very linear story narration. Yes, he gets his love or not, one dies, or both dies.. this remains a question till end.. but you are bound to feel disappointed with Kabir or to be precise the script that could had been altered giving scope of 2-3 extra action sequences.

The opening action sequence is excellent, different and not the regular/typical salman action scene. Also, the tram sequence and the final two action sequences. Infact, the main usp of the film is the way action scenes have been filmed, a reason why I felt the film could had done with more such scenes instead of the regular drama or romance.

The songs are perfectly used in the narration, it was good to see that Kabir removed one stanza from the only emotional song of the album 'Saiyaara', limiting the dose of drama with it.. should had done the same with 'Banjaara'. Lapatta was the best picturised song, mainly because it perfectly describes the situation both the lovers are in. The background theme is too good, initially I found it less impactful, but now I love it.. and its used again and again in the film very aptly.

Scenes where ultra slow motion used like 'ciggerette falling and salman's face turn' or 'salman wearing coat after end of tram sequence' etc were uncalled for. They diminish the magic of action sequences. Also, the scene where Salman wants help from Ranvir, appears very un-real.. how could he trust him, knowing he betrayed the country for his love.

Salman's performance was very good, leaving apart the comical scenes where he hammed a lot. Katrina Kaif surprises in her action sequences, and she got much better written role to perform, than what Kareena got in Agent Vinod, and Katrina made the most out of it.

Ranvir Shorey is kinda of wasted, his role could had got more value if the conversation scene with Salman was lengthened and made dramatic, probably increasing film's length by 10 mins.. giving some powerful scene for Ranvir.

It was good to see Girish Karnad in a longer role, and he did it very well expectedly.


In the end, Ek Tha Tiger ends up as yet another film, instead of a memorable film like Bourne Series despite the great action. No one would remember this film after 2-3 yrs, thats where Kabir Khan lost. Salman fans can rejoice, they aneways love his average films like Bodyguard too.. so no problem for them. For quality film lovers, Ek Tha Tiger fails to impress as a complete film.


VERDICT : NICE