Movie Analysis : Blood Money

Directed by Vishal Mahadkar
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2246595/

Hum hum toh rahenge na, ab toh bas hum hi hum rahenge.. 

Kunal (Kunal Khemmu) has big dreams of a luxury lifestyle as he reaches Cape Town with his wife Arzoo (Amrita Puri) for his new job of diamonds export. Arzoo starts feeling ignored with Kunal's busy new job. And after a while Kunal realizes the trap set against him, the people he works for are involved in smuggling as well as contacts with undeworld. His dreams becomes nightmares ...

As a first timer, director Vishal Mahadkar succeeds in engaging me towards the film for major part. But, the writers especially the one who wrote the dialogues simply weakens the film. Strong dialogues would had given much more weightage to various scenes.

Kunal giving reasons to Arzoo in their major fight sequence, Kunal's boss asking him to chose between 'Sach and Khushi' with reference to Italian food (Very well written and executed scene), and to a certain extent the climax sequence were some of best moments of the movie. Also, special mention to the voice-over dialogues of Kunal in the film, the only few ones that are properly written.

Except for Gunaah, every song was very well used. 'Chahat' used romantically in end credits, 'Aarzoo' covers the new lifestyle Kunal and Arzoo get in Cape Town, 'Jo Tere Sang' brings the change and mistakes Kunal does to achieve his dreams, 'Teri Yaadon Se' my fav song of album I feel would had been better with Kunal not drunk until he reaches the bar else I liked the way its filmed. Gunaah fails because one it is halting a particular ongoing activity, and two the parallel cliche of girl in temple and boy running. Not to forget the 'vidhwa' dialogue in between!

Kunal's performance is really good, I feel he has matured a lot ever since 'Kalyug', only in the climax sequence I thought his dialogue delivery was going slightly over the top. His expressions when Arzoo narrates the witch story or when he quitely watches the actions of Zaveri's brother in his new given cabin (my personal fav scene of film).

Amrita Puri dissappointed me, she still appeared to me in her 'Aisha' role, surely she could do much better than this. Also, she looked bit over-weight. Manish Choudhary was good in a scene or two only, though he was saddened with some poor dialogues.

Mia looked hot, I don't think she had anything else to serve for in the film. The guy playing Zaveri's brother was completely over-acting. While the friend of Kunal in film was pretty good.


Overall, Blood Money is a decent film. Its poor dialogues lets it down, otherwise director Vishal is very much able to narrate a story about how a dream job could so easily end up as your worst nightmare of life.


Verdict : NICE

Bicycle Thieves [Views]

Directed by Vittorio De Sica
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040522/

You live and you suffer .. 

What amazed me the most is, how a small thin plot of trying to catch a theif who stole your bicycle was turned into a complete 90 mins movie. And its highly moving and engaging film..

Antonio Ricci (Lamberto Maggiorani) gets a new job for himself, but for that he needs to buy a bicycle. His wife sells bedsheets, and lets him get the bicycle. But as the destiny is, the bicycle gets stolen while Antonio is busy working during his job. Now, Antonio along with his son Bruno (Enzo Staiola) starts the search to find the theif, with the police offering no help whatsoever.

The screenplay is very good, not a single dull moment. Special mention to the two long sequences in the film, one where Antonio along with his friends and son Bruno, goes to a place where market of cycle parts is put up. How one by one each of them tries to see if any part is from the stolen bicycle. And other sequence, where Antonio completely dejected thinks of stealing a bicycle, I completely love the way his expressions are captured there, and how much delayed his action is done with lots of cut shots.

The first 20 mins of the film very easily bring you into the life of Antonio, telling how important that job as well as bicycle is for him. There's lot of humour in the film, especially through the performance of Enzo, who as a small kid for most time of the theif search journey gives a expression of 'why I am forced into finding him along with you dad'. All his mannerisms, and expressions are so epic, like the one where Antonio slaps him and notice how angry he gets by maintaining a distance with his father walking thereby. The swimming sequence after that was a very good thought by the script writer. Also, the conversation between Antonio and Bruno at restaurant. And, the role a predictor lady plays too..

The father-son chemistry is amazing to see, with Maria (Lianella) limited to small supporting role only.

The ending is different, though I wonder if FINE is their way to write (THE END like we did in those times), or it was to do with the film's situation.

Overall, I really liked this Italian film (saw with subtitles). I am still thinking over those cute expressions Bruno makes in the entire film. If ever you get a chance, you should definately see this film.. would like it certainly.

Movie Analysis : Agent Vinod

Directed by Sriram Raghavan
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1395025/

Moscow aur Morrocco ki police bhi pooch taaach kar rahi hai .. Aap qataar mein hai.

I am fan of Sriram Raghavan, because his earlier two films 'Ek Haseena Thi' and 'Johnny Gaddar' were quite special. The expectations were very high, specially after loving its theatrical trailers. But, the film is a big dissappointment.

RAW Agent Vinod (Saif Ali Khan) has a task to discover what is '2 4 2'. A number one of his colleague discloses before dying. The search makes him change identities, and travel from one place to another.

There are just too many different locations used, as a result it almost becomes tough to like the film as a whole. What eventually happens is, you like a certain sequence/location only. For instance, the starting of film with 'Death of  Desert' is pretty likeable, leaving asides the pov shot of Rajan (Ravi Kissan) which disturbs the view of the action scene. And the use of new version of background theme with lyrics was surprising, along with the stylish credits, introducing Saif with the dialogue 'Aapka naam kya hai' - 'Govind bolo chahe gopal bolo'. Also, 'isko plastic glass mein beer dena, bada shaatir hai yeh' was one hillarious scene.

There are some very long sequences in the film (special reference to conversation between Saif and Dhritiman), which doesn't serve any purpose at all. Simply poor editing! Add to it, the way action scenes are edited..most of them fail to excite you, only place where I liked action was the Sri Lanka parrallel cut shots of Vinod fighting same guy simultaneously now, and some time back with the regional (probably sri lankan) song running alongside.

Also, I would had liked Iram (Kareena Kapoor) to be in a negative shade. That would have made her character more powerful, instead it weakens when we know her truth after Interval. Her performance was okay, only scene where I liked her was the medicine she gives to Vinod to know his real identity.

What the film lacks the most is the edge of the seat sequences, a thriller demands that especially a spy thriller. The background themes aren't properly used, save that 1st sequence. Some unusual mistakes done in screenplay too, why does Vinod let Colonel (Adil Hussain) call his people when he could easily pinpoint gun at him to avoid that ? Why Iram has to do a Mujra knowing people would easily recognise her.. must had been some other way of using the item song if the desperation was that high ? What was Vinod doing in that security uniform standing near to a Pakistani guy who he knew knows him ?

Among songs, 'I do the talking tonight' is stylishly used, while 'Raabta' is a very well executed single tracking shot. 'Dil mera muft ka' despite used illogically, is very pleasing to see for the great choreography of Saroj Khan.

Cinematography is good, and lots of references to movies done by Sriram something he did in Johnny Gaddar too. The dialogues could had been more humourous like 'yaadon ki baaraat disturb karne ke liye sorry'.

Saif Ali Khan's performance is nice, at places his dark humour fails because the movie isn't going the way you want. For instance, 'aap qataar mein hai', was lovable when seen in trailer, but not in the film. Prem Chopra gets a good small cameo, the mom sequence was very funny. Gulshan Grover and Ravi Kissen are wasted. Ram Kapoor's look was odd, else I liked his small villianeous act.

Dhritiman Chatterjee was good yet again, but he is getting repeated in same kind of roles (Kahaani his last film). If it doesn't change then we would well in advance know what he is in reality in the film.

The person who profits the most from this film is Adil Hussain, the one who was husband of Vidya in Ishqiya. As colonel, he comes across as a person who is very clever and full of right plans to get his work done.


In the end, Agent Vinod fails due to a screenplay that doesn't interest you at all. It ends up as a long tiring movie. Every director has one bad movie in career, this was Sriram's that movie.


Verdict : BELOW AVERAGE

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close [Views]

Directed by Stephen Daldry
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477302/

If things were easy to find, they wouldn't be worth finding. 

Oskar (Thomas Horn) who is still coming out of the death of his father during 9/11. He finds a hidden key in his father's room, and then begins the adventure of his life to find the purpose of the key. He has to go through various obstacles, one beng his mother whom he doesn't trust, other his own autistic health making him incapable to have social interactions with strangers.

I loved Stephen's last film 'The Reader', but this time around I was touch dissappointed by his direction. The performances of Thomas Horn playing the small kid and Tom Hanks, the motivating father of Oskar were totally spot on. The relationship between Oskar and his mother (Sandra Bullock) gets very un-identifable. While there are some scenes where Oskar's behavior was questionable, getting too loud.

The relationship Oskar shares with a stranger (living in a apartment next to his grandmom) is one of the most engaging part of the film. Two scenes where Oskar narrates the happenings of his adventure, once direct to us and once to the stranger with all the montages, and loud background score making it as 'Extremely loud' as possible, were the best thought of by Stephen. Also, I liked all the meetings Oskar has with 'Black'. And the use of the voice mail messages at seperate intervals to generate the emotional impact.

If only the way Stephen films the adventure part of Oskar (minus when he meets Black), was different and impactfuly, then the emotional connect with the film would had increased. Because everytime Oskar would meet a certain Black, and then return back ponding over the meeting.. it won't work as a viewer.

Thomas Horn was good in his performance, though for me Paul Klementowicz was the show stealer. He removes some of the fears young mind of Oskar has, plus the train sequence and the bridge were exciting.

Sandra Bullock suffers from inadequate direction, though her character sketch is pretty confusing too. Tom Hanks is pretty good in small role.


Overall, 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close' is a decent film, but I expected much more from it. The director does justice to the title though, wish he didn't took 'Extremely Loud' part so seriously.

Carnage [Views]

Directed by Roman Polanski 

Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1692486/

Morally you are supposed to overcome your impulses, but there are times you don't want to overcome them.

One of those few films that is entirely based on conversations between 4 ppl in a single room. Parents of two kids who had a fight, happen to meet each other to sort the matter out. One side parents are apologetic, while the others demand the apology. But, as the conversation builds, the parents who felt their kid was wrong start to disagree. The chaos increases when the parents from both sides start sharing their married life miseries.

The opening credits sequence was creative, with a activity going on in the background which would become the reason for the rest of the movie.

I like how the parents act fakely in the start of the conversation, and slowly both parents get real.

Christoph Waltz was specially brilliant in the film, those sarcastic replies he gave, the laugh and all those phone calls, eating the dish while busy on phone and the misery of his mobile. John C Reilly was very good too, his phone conversations with Mom and the 'pet' related talk with Kate.

Kate Winslet was decent, nothing worthwhile in her performance to remember. Jodie Foster was good, except for the post 'alcohol' scenes where she didn't appear natural.

The dialogues were very well written, because this movie required to engage you in those conversations. I missed watching the end credits, so don't know if they showed the kids re-unite or not. It could had been a ending.

Its one of those films that I ain't sure if I would like to see again, despite having liked it in the 1st view.

Watching a film avoiding Promos!

Have you ever seen a film without watching any of its song promos/dialogue promos ? If you have done it, then its really good, and if you have done it without watching even the theatrical trailers then its wonderful. Because, I have decided to watch films from now on keeping away from any of the film's song promos or dialogue promos.

I would watch all the theatrical trailers the film would release, normally there are 2 or at max 3 theatrical trailers a film has. The Hollywood films do the good thing, they release only main trailers. I had once tweeted too, that how I wish we followed Hollywood in this regard which I know won't happen since we are more of a publicity karo, paisa kamao nation of film-makers.

Aneways, I hope this plan of mine works because this means I will have to avoid watching any music channels on T.V. But, one thing I am sure of is, that it will enhance the joy of watching films further this way. These song/dialogue promos give away too many scenes away. Recent eg is 'Agent Vinod', so many of the action scenes already revealed, why ?

Here's for a new way to deal with the Hindi films for me .. good luck.


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Yash

Ishaqzaade [Trailer]

The starting 10 secs resemble 'Dabangg', probably intentional, with the dialogue the tone changes. Arjun Kapoor looks pretty okay as of now to me. Parineeti again in excellent form, though again in a aggressive role, even more than it was in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl.

The dialogues ain't interesting, nor is the background theme. But Habib Faisal, the director is same guy who last made 'Do Dooni Chaar', so less interesting trailer wont hamper the expectations from the film for me.

Arjun's laugh reminds me of Abhishek Bachchan, hopefully he turns out to be better than Sonam Kapoor as a actor.

'Arts and Crafts hobby hai aapki ? Ji 8 saal pehle thi, ab meri hobby shikaar karna'.


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Yash