Movie Analysis : Jism2

Directed by : Pooja Bhatt
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2226666/

Duniya pyar ki sirf baatein karti hai .. chalti jung pe hai.

The first thing I did after watching the movie was, unfollow Pooja Bhatt from Twitter, though somehow I stopped myself from doing the same to Mahesh Bhatt.

To start off, the plot is ridiculous. I agree Jism was completely inspired (or copy as people like to say) from a Hollywood film, but its plot and the feel was very good. But, in Jism2 the main plot is silly, asking a porn star Izna (Sunny Leone) to help the Intelligence Bureau in catching a criminal, Kabir (Randeep Hooda) who was once a police officer and lover of Izna.

Inspite of such plot, had they written interesting dialogues and choosen right female lead.. maybe film would had been atleast 25% watchable if not more. There is too much of unintentional comedy throughout the movie. The screenplay is also too simple, with a predictable end if you ignore the silliest twist done for the sake of it.

Editing is very average, fast cuts would had made the film little bit bearable as the narration gets slow at many places. The cinematography is excellent, love the way they have captured Sri Lanka, specially that location where Izna asks Kabir to come. Even, the camera-work was good and different at various shots.

Though, I loved most of the songs.. the kinda of feel Jism songs had never comes in this film, also the background score was a total let down. Only, 'yeh jism hai toh kya' was a song that I could totally connect to, and it was among the worst picturised song in the movie.

Sunny Leone just couldn't act, though she appeared to have worked very well on her hindi diction. It was completely visible how much effort she was trying to put in most of her scenes, which shouldn't be the case for a actor. Also, what was the case with her breathing so fast in almost every scene.. was it the nervous Izna or nervous Sunny ?

Randeep Hooda in the role of police officer was good, but as a assassin he went very much over the top. Felt dissappointed after having loved his last performance in 'Jannat2' to such a great extent. Arunoday Singh was decent in the start, but once he starts to fall in love with Izna, his hamming started big time too.

That final confrontation scene between Izna and Kabir is so poorly directed and written (the only thing consistent throughout the film), I still remember and adore the final scene of John and Bipasha in Jism.. but here I kept looking for something good in the scene, and it never comes.

This is the second film I have seen of Pooja Bhatt, the other being 'Dhokha' which I liked quite a lot. She would need to be really good in her next outing to remove my anger now.


Overall, Jism2 is a complete nonsense movie, with no good acting, story, screenplay or direction. You need a proper story otherwise exotic scenes (though they are very few too) won't have any impact. Its only the beautiful locales and nice music that you take away after watching the movie. The director of Jism though would be happy, pooja bhatt has made his film looked hundred times better.


Verdict : INTOLERABLE

Killing Them Softly [Views]

Directed by : Andrew Dominik
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1764234/

Another gangster based movie, but this time it fails to make a mark on me. I felt the director tried to experiment a bit too much, for instance the scene where Russell (Ben Mendelsohn) has taken drugs and his point of view shots are shown where the frame blurs, goes black, and takes time for him to realize his friend Frankie (Scoot McNairy) said something to him. Even the conversation between Mickey (James Gandolfini) and Jackie (Brad Pitt) appeared very dull.

The robbery sequence executed by Russell and Frankie, was one of well directed scene in the movie. Also, the one where Jackie kills 2 people, from a distance as he likes to call it. The final dialogue scene of Jackie against Obama was good too. Though the ending was very abrupt, as if the director was forced to edit out proper ending.

Also, the title never goes with the movie.. there's hardly a killing that could be termed 'soft'. Brad Pitt gives a good performance, but not as impressive as he was in 'Moneyball', though less screen time is also a factor in that.

Ray Liotta, looked totally out of touch, maybe to give him a weak looking character was the idea of director, as I remember him for his great performance in 'the goodfellas'.

Even the conversations between Frankie and Russell were kept quite comical, maybe pulp fiction influence if it can be said.


Overall, 'Killing them softly' was a touch boring for me. Except for some good scenes, I just couldn't feel connected to the characters or the story.

Movie Analysis : Kismet Love Paisa Dilli

Directed by : Sanjay M. Khanduri
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2402131/

When you are in a theatre with only 4 people, it leads to only two conclusions.. the film hasn't got the right promotion or the film is too bad. Unfortunately, it was the latter case for me.

I have heard lots of good things about the director's last (or his first) film 'Ek chalis ki last local'. Hence, the expectations were definately there. But a poor script, cheap scenes and bad dialogues meant all hopes were gone in the first 20 minutes of the movie only.

Even the suspense they built with Neha Dhupia's character didn't bring any joy because till then I had already started to feel exhausted. Even the thought of leaving film in interval came, and this happens very less for me.. Nevertheless, watched the entire film.

To name a few positives in the film, it would be Ashutosh Rana's 1st dialogue.. he is so effective yet directors don't give him right roles. The 'Appy Budday' song was very fun and nicely choreographed, only song that I liked in the torturous album from a tortuous film.

'Dhiskiyaaun' song comes from no-where into the narration, maybe director thought we are in 80's-90's era. The over-dose of pee sequence, the double meaning references with Vivek Oberoi's friend too often, the extended Ashutosh Rana-Punjabi's fight (if you can call it that) scene. The humour can easily be described as utterly disgusting in this movie. While, the romantic angle between Vivek and Mallika hardly works.

I felt bad for 'Anshuman Jha', to have his character named 'Nunna' and then the sick background run with his each scene. And not to forget, the sudden powers he gets as he starts flying, so when people lose their mind and get mental, they start flying like this ? Anshuman was very good in 'Love Sex aur Dhokha', so bit dissappointed to see him in this nonsense role.

Vivek Oberoi and Mallika Sherawat are okay, they couldn't lift this film with their performances, no scope at all.


Overall, Kismet Love Paisa Dilli is one of the films that you don't want to remember that you saw it.


Verdict : INTOLERABLE

Movie Analysis : English Vinglish

Directed by : Gauri Shinde
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2181931/

Jab apne aap ko pasand nahi karte hai na, 
toh apne se judi huyi har cheez acchi nahi lagti,
nayi cheezein aakarshik karti hai ... 
jab apne aap ko pyar karne lagte hai, 
toh wahi purani zindagi nayi lagne lagti hai, 
achi lagne lagti hai.

Sridevi's comeback movie, and for actors of her talent you never feel that this actor wasn't into films in past few years.

The story revolving about a housewife/mother Shashi (Sridevi) who initially ignores her inability to speak proper english, only to realize that she needs to learn english by joining a coaching class so that she may not be insulted time and again from her own family members.

The ploy of director to delay showing face of Sridevi when opening credits begin was good one. This kinda of film can easily become either preachy or very dramatic. But, thankfully Gauri Shinde opts for a simple storytelling. She never tries to over-build the romantic track between Shashi and one of her class-mate in class, also the climax where Shashi's husband Satish (Adil Hussain) is not shown apologizing to her for making fun of her.. instead there's a plane scene where he feels happy to see the confidence in her.

Satish over-emphasising that her wife was born only to make ladoos and, Shashi's daughter Sapna (Navika Kotia) talking in a rude manner to her mother who's always so kind and sweet with her. These were sequences that didn't please me. But, I guess such families would exist in real.. so to treat it as just 'fiction' may  be wrong.

Shashi speaking to the french guy in hindi, and the guy in french with her.. was another very good thought. As shashi describes why its used in the film 'acha hai na, kuch samajh na sako aur sab bol do jo dil mein hain'.

Its never a movie about transformation from hindi to english speaking, its just a way of telling how one can regain self-respect on their own will power and the confidence in themselves comes right with it. English learning is used just as a metaphor.

Amit Trivedi's music is very good to ears, 'Manhattan' song in the context of the film appeals a lot, and so does 'Gustaakh dil'.

Sridevi so easily displays the uneasiness to speak english, the feeling of dissappointment when she speaks 'Jazz' in wrong way at dining table with her family, how she corrects the servant's english word 'gift' or her son's hindi, making the english professor speak in hindi showing how he also struggles in communicating in a language he ain't good at, the cafe scene where she finds herself in total uncomfortable situation and she quickly runs away from the place bursting into tears,  the 'eagerness in her eyes to learn' when she watches english dvds or weather forecasts on tv. Even in the climax, kudos to director.. she learns only to speak english, not proper english. And yea, her micheal jackson dance move too. Plus, how gorgeous Sridevi looked in those variety of sarees throughout the film.

Adil Hussain gives another effective performance in a supporting role. Shivansh Kotia, who plays Sagar, young son of Sridevi brings some of the lovely cute moments in the film.. special reference to the scene where he tries to tell Shashi about her sister Sapna 'aapko gussa nahi aa rahi' ?

Also, the small cameo from Amitabh Bachchan was very nice.. to see both Sridevi and Amitabh in same frame, and the fun moments they share.

Priya Anand looked very beautiful, and played a nice supporting role who helps Shashi a lot when she reaches New York.


Overall, English Vinglish works for me big time, mainly because of Sridevi and the way Gauri directs the film.


Verdict : VERY GOOD

Movie Review : Bol Bachchan

Directed by Rohit Shetty

Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1728986/

He is one director, whose films dont appear appealing to me from trailers, but more often I end up liking them (Golmaal3 was an exception). Bol Bachchan also gets added with that exception now. 

I liked the way Rohit Shetty uses, old Golmaal (Amol Palekar one) in narrative. That was good thought. But, the reason this film fails for me, is the humour isn't good. The jokes fall flat, and most of the times its a forced comedy. 

For instance, the loud character of Ravi (Krishna Abhishek) is highly irritating. Since there is nothing new in the story, it was important to have a screenplay that keeps you entertained with good humurous dialogues. But such scenes are very less in the film. The climax is completely over the top, and so is the role of Archana Puran Singh that is completely made to look like Comedy Circus.

Songs are more or less irritating, except for one song, where the non-moustache character of Abhishek goes to Ajay's house to teach his sister dance. That song which ends with Ajay dancing too along with Prachi, was good one.

Abhishek Bachchan was decent, he does hams a bit in the 'without moustache' character. Though, his dance test scene was very good. Ajay Devgan's comic timing is once again too good, infact he's the reason you get some laughs out of the film. The way he says the hindi lines in english, or the scene where he says 'Sunooooo..' were hillarious.

Asin looks completely out of the character to me, for me the part where she plays the lover of Ajay in past i.e that irritating Himesh song.. thats where she looks best. Prachi Desai looks cute, but hardly has got much to do in her role. Archana Puran Singh and Krishna Ahishek just hams.

Neeraj Vora and Asrani in supporting roles do good work. While Amitabh Bachchan shouldn't had done the item number, poor choreography as well as the song.


Overall, Bol Bacchan doesn't work for me at all. Ajay Devgan provides some entertainment, but the script and dialogues are a total let down.


Verdict : BELOW AVERAGE

Movie Analysis : Heroine

Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1949548/

Tum star ho, tumhe actress banne ki koi zaroorat nahi... 

Its trailer was very average, the songs didn't live upto the hype some of the friends of Salim-Suleiman built on twitter. Yet, the name 'Madhur Bhandarkar' kept the hopes alive for me who aint fond of Kareena for some obvious reasons. And Heroine fails like how...

Last venture of Madhur was 'Dil Toh Baccha Hai jee', a light comedy.. but with Heroine, he was to get back to his known cinema i.e Fashion, Page 3 , Corporate etc. The problem here is, that he doesn't show anything new to you. Its like I was re-watching Fashion, the story, scenes, actors maybe different, but the main theme and feel of the film never appeals. Once again, there is a girl who is at the top and then due to her own mistakes falls badly, and thereafter its her struggle to regain the top place. The difference in screenplay this time for Madhur is, that the rise to fame aint shown unlike Fashion, here we are taken directly to the point where Mahi Arora (Kareena Kapoor) is at the topmost position in the hindi films industry. To add drama and suspense (if you may say so), he begins the narration in non-linear way.. to be frank, that was not required at all.

There is the predictability factor with the screenplay, the over-use of typical characters we are now accustomed to in Madhur films, the gays, lesbians (yea thats also there this time). Even, Madhur's direction is so weak that I couldn't feel bad for Mahi Arora after the film ends, could just not connect with the ending.

Also, the story is narrated through a journalist, which also in my view was a wrong move. Madhur should had kept Kareena herself narrating it.

Music is pretty ordinary, with only 'Halkat Jawani' sounding good thanx to mainly the beats this song has, plus the choreography was good too. 'Saiyyan' is decent. The less I talk about the title song, the better. While, the background score is another weak point of this film.

Special Mention to 'Manish Malhotra', his costumes for Kareena especially were completely in synch with the film.

Only Kareena Kapoor's performance keeps you going till the end in this long tiring movie. I wonder if she has seen any of previous Madhur films, if yes.. then its quite silly from her side to do a movie that has nothing new to offer. For me, the scene where she creates a controversy to make her film get success at Boxoffice, was the best sequence in the movie. Mahie's character goes through variety of emotions in there, which Kareena captured brilliantly. Also, liked the scenes where she questions herself, whether she is a good actor even or not ? And, her scenes with the director who makes realistic films.. the struggle she faces to adapt to a altogether new kind of cinema was well portrayed by her. Also, special mention to the confidence and attitude she brings in her walk during the interval scene.

Arjun Rampal was decent, in a role that's not properly etched out. He has one key moment still, when he tries to help Mahie, but feels terribly dissappointed by the lack of trust of Mahie and the move she makes on him.

Randeep Hooda is getting one dimensional for my liking, the chewing gum and the casual approach.

Ranvir Shorey was superb in the small cameo, infact that part of the movie involving him was Madhur's best direction in this movie.

Shahana Goswami was fine. Mugdha Godse is totally wasted.

Among the supporting cast, Govind Namdev as the secretary and caretaker of Mahie Arora was very good, also Divya Dutta in a slighltly glam role as she helps Mahie get back to the top. I liked the style in her acting.. And Helen in a special apperance, had some of best dialogues in the movie.


Overall, Heroine is a very mediocre film, it may appeal to you if you are watching this as your 1st madhur bhandarkar movie, otherwise you are bound to get dissappointed only. Being a lover of Aishwarya Rai's acting, I am happy she didn't do this movie.


Verdict : BELOW AVERAGE

Movie Analysis : Oh My God

Directed by : Umesh Shukla
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2283748/

'An anti god film', just this much of plot is enough to make me little excited even though the trailer was very average.

Until the entry of Leeladhar (Mithun Chakraborty), the film was going in right direction. But this character was so irritating throughout the film, I dont know whom he was idealizing from the real saadhus.. only thing I can say is, I hated each frame of Mithun in this film.

Also, the modern Lord Krishna (Akshay Kumar) appears hard to digest for a start. Though Akshay Kumar does the role very well, he has in the past done such characters that presents him as a very polite person efficiently.. my memory goes way back to the film 'Dhadkan'.

Its Paresh Rawal who carries the film from the start till the end, amazing performance and probably very apt for the role of a person who doesn't believe in God. The scenes to look out for are, where he fools a devoted to god person at his shop, or the way he fights his own case against Mahesh Manjerkar as lawyer, and the one where he reveals various activities of saadhus that has been looting people in the name of God.

Apart from the mentioned characters, where the film suffers is the typical hindi film feel given to lots of sequences by the director, taking the realism away.. for instance the courtroom scenes, or the entry of Lord Krishna or the way modern Krishna uses the key of motorbike to represent Chakra or how easily Tisca Chopra as a reporter gets convinced to Paresh. Also, at many places the film is preachy through the dialogues.. that should had been taken note of while screenplay was formed.

The way they try to bring 'belief in God' in the heart of Kanji Lalji (Paresh Rawal), was to certain extent impressive. Plus, that hospital scene was well done. Also, showing how these saadhus may actually be looting, and do loot people was good thought. That scene where the saadhu is doing anshan in public, and eating in private.. was superb.

Nice small cameo from Om Puri too..


Overall, 'Oh My God' was a film that looses its track, and gets too preachy in the narration. Better screenplay as well as writing would had made the film look better. Still, for Paresh Rawal's performance, and the thought behind the movie.. its a decent watch.


Verdict : AVERAGE