To Rome with Love [Views]

Directed by : Woody Allen
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1859650/

There's a normal job guy, who wakes up one day suddenly to realize he has become a celebrity, a architect who walks through the place where he lived once as a student, a young couple who have come for honeymoon and a frustrated opera director who finds a singing talent in the father of the boy his daughter loves.

Woody Allen creates a good comedy out of these 4 seperate stories. There's some very funny sequences like the one where Jerry (Woody Allen) recognises how good Michelangelo (Flavio Parenti) sings during shower in bathroom, and then the way he urges him to sing at opera, that too under a shower because he sings well only when having a bathe.. too funny. Also, Leopoldo (Roberto Benigni) during the scene where he is followed by lots of journalists, and he returns back to home feeling scared, or the one where the camera shoots 'we will show him shave till the last and final stroke'.

Also, I liked the idea of John (Alec Baldwin) disturbing the conversations between Jack (Jesse Eisenberg), Monica (Ellen Page) and Sally (Greta Gerwig). Many times, he would give advance warnings or advice as what could happen if it isn't stopped now, and that brought good humour moments. For me, this story starts on a good note, but as it moves on.. it gets dull and also its quite predictable too except for the end maybe. I liked Ellen Page, she looked cute and still fit into the role of playing a girl who ends up seducing guys. Jesse (the social network fame), somehow looked odd to me in the character, somehow I wasn't satisfied with his performance, can even say he was the weakest among all in the film.

In the story of young honeymoon couple, the idea of call girl Anna (Penelope Cruz) and the wife Milly (Alessandra Mastronardi), of Antonio (Alessandro Tiberi) getting lost in a new place with no ways to get back in contact was good writing. My fav part was, all the uncomfortable meetings Antonio has to go around with that call girl, and the hotel sequence of Milly with a movie star she loves, and the entry of a thief to make it super hillarious.. my best infact from the movie. Probably felt that there were less scenes given to Antonio-Anna part, more importance went to Milly and her adventures. Woody Allen could had brought more humour out of the tough situation Antonio was in with that call girl.

Since, I haven't seen any of previous Woody Allen films.. so the locations of Rome were quite pleasing to see. Also, another good thing about the movie for me was, the ending.. If you notice, all the characters have committed some mistakes, specially young couple and Jack story. But, the director doesn't go into the mode of 'You did this, how could you', instead he shows their lives go smoothly and they never admit what mistakes in a particular moment happened with them. Maybe they would had admitted later in life, but in the film's time length it never happens.

Among the performances, I liked Roberto Bengigni the best, the way he portrayed a normal guy, and then a guy who has suddenly become so famous that he can't have free time with himself alone. Also, Woody Allen's funny reactions to the way he thought he has found a singing talent, and his continuous urge at the dining table, another hiallarious scene. Plus, Judy Davis who plays his wife in the movie gets some of the best written dialogues in the film.  I like the conversations they both have at many parts of the movie, there would always be one line to crack you up.


To Rome with Love does bring enough laughs, but the film has lots of weak points especially if you try to think about 'how on earth is that possible' logics. Still, a good enough film to get entertained...

Fire in Babylon [Views]

Directed by : Stevan Riley
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727790/

Its my 1st sports documentary, and first time I am writing on a documentary film. The first audio of the film begins with a bouncer that hits the batsman very badly, and the commentary of Geoffrey Boycott. Great commentary and aggressive bowling, makes cricket double exciting to watch. Something today's cricket is missing.

The documentary shows the times when WI cricket were struggling, they were termed as players who would entertain the crowd, but end up on the losing side. And given the name of 'Calypso Cricketers'. Until, Clive Lloyd stepped in as captain, considered very calm in his approach to handling the team. His first major challenge was playing against Aus in Aus, and he failed at it as Wi lost that test series 5-1 (yea, 6 match series use to happen then.. and today there are silly 2 match series at times). Wi were made to struggle, with some very pacy fast bowling by Lillee, Thompson and co aimed at their bodies. Lloyd took that strategy, and Wi pacers Robert and Holding took inspiration from it to make India suffer during their Wi tour(it was the same tour where they chased 406 in 4th innings, but this documentary didn't mention it).

Then, it was followed with England series, their major enemies as shown in documentary who treated them as slaves during 60's and before, plus the racism that was strong at that time. Tony Greig's comment 'We will make them grovel', and it costed his team badly as WI aggression doubled, and they had a easy test series win.

Later, they took revenge against Australia in Australia, winning 3-0. They always kept producing great fast bowlers then, Holding, Garner, Roberts, Croft, Marshall, Ambrose, Walsh.

Also, the batting heroics of Greenidge and Viv Richards (the master blaster of that time) were shown in few games. Plus, the narration with the players telling how it was then, Viv describing his team's policy of banging the ball short as, aggression meets aggression, no one ever intended to kill people. They were just doing their job. Also, the crowd that would be non-sporting to them specially while playing in Australia, along with the sledging of Australia.

They included Wi music, without which the documentary would had been incomplete, plus 2-3 Wi supporters footage. The latter half of the film was slightly less appealing, mainly because I just wanted to see cricket related things only instead of racism, and different cities of Wi. Even then, Wi had probs with their board, all players getting ban for playing world series, and then the public protested making Wi players retun back.

Holding states in the final scene of the film, that Wi didn't lose a single test series for 15 continuous years from 1980 to 1995. Maybe, they could had shown more of those clips..

There is definately a favourism done towards the Wi cricket in the film plus lots of drama enforced through continuous body hits and crowd background, but for someone like me who hasn't seen any cricket of that time.. this movie works a lot. The passion, overcoming hard-times, the aggression Wi cricket had at that time, they considered themselves unbeatable. Watch this film to see the rise of Wi cricket during late 70's. You would definately love batsman being hit all over by Wi bowlers (at a time when there were no helmets either, and some players didn't prefer wearing).

Movie Analysis : Raaz3

Directed by : Vikram Bhatt
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140315/

Meri zindagi, meri khushiyaan... sab mera career hai. 

Indian directors are still to make that one horror film which would become cult film. Atleast in last decade or so, I haven't seen such films come. 'Raaz' is one film that was very good, but still had its flaws.

Raaz3 is based on black magic, a concept I don't believe in but I enjoy watching it on screen. Shanaya (Bipasha Basu) can't see a newcomer actress, Sanjana (Esha Gupta) get ahead and steal the stardom that Shanaya feels is for her. She loses trust in God, and takes help of a shaitan in form of Black Magic. Aditya (Emraan Hashmi), a successful director and lover of Shanaya helps her in this act.

 Shagufta Rafique as a writer, wrote superb character 'Shanaya'. Also, Sanjana and Aditya are well written roles. But, what makes Raaz3 look silly, is the dialogue writing and the direction to some extent. 'Bacha aur kutta.. pyar ka bhookha hota hai', seriously what kind of dialogue is this ? Also, Esha Gupta's miserable acting continues in this film even though she looks very beautiful unlike Jannat2.

Too many old cliches are used, and the aatma trying to behave in funny way is the worst possible thing you could opt for. The spirit has to be scary, nothing else. Another major flaw is the sudden shift from horror to sex scene, even if they wanted to have such scene (which is a must for emraan hashmi film), they should had shifted to new sequence.. how can a girl who just saw a dreadful sight of a man killed, get into a passionate sex scene, with a romantic background song on it. Plus, the logic of 'aatma' having sex with living person seems very odd. But, Vikram Bhatt has defied such logics in earlier films too.

What I loved in the film was Bipasha Basu performance. Watching her in every frame, gave a feeling of how much effort she has put on into the film. Its like, she wanted to prove something or possibility of understanding her character so well. Be it the scene where she seduces her love, or the one where she orders Aditya to do what has been told to.

Emraan Hashmi is yet again used badly by director, he's a talented actor but most directors feel he's limited to kissing and hot scenes. Watch the scene where he matches Bipasha shot after shot during the scene when Aditya leaves Shanaya. Also, the other significant scene he has, is where he takes Sanjana to his beach house, and has a conversation with her.

Manish Chaudhary is just wasting himself doing such films. His dialogue delivery is so good, reference to his 1st scene in the film, but the character he chose was silly. Aneways, he sure will be seen doing better films in future.

I liked the use of 'Khayalon mein' and 'Rafta Rafta' songs. The former is very good composition as it easily gives a feeling of a new character introduced who is very soon gonna encounter lots of scary incidents. While, the latter for the confusion to tell the truth.. and more so for the light romantic feel. The songs are good, only the title track is a big let down.

The cockroach sequence is probably the best scary (if imagined) moment in the film. The climax should had been more powerful, with the parallel cuts they were doing. It just went too easy for my liking.

Raaz3 would be best remembered for one of very good performances from Bipasha Basu, nothing else. Just making some good bits and pieces scenes, never constitute for a good film.


Verdict : BELOW AVERAGE

Aiyyaa [Trailer]

Excellently cut trailer, looks like full on laughing entertainer. Rani Mukherjee in another rocking performance after last seen in 'No one killed Jessica'. Until now, Vidya Balan was no.1 this year for her performance in 'Kahaani' but watching this trailer gives me a feeling that Rani Mukherjee would give total competition to that performance.

Also, looking to see Prithivraj's debut in Hindi films industry. In the trailer, another character that made me laugh is the one playing Rani's mother.

And heard that Rani will be seen in 3 item songs in this film. To sum it up, its a anurag kashyap produced film.. with Sachin Kundalkar as debut director.

Waiting for songs, and film that will be out on 12th Oct.

'kya chehra hai .. kya aankhein .. he he .. kya hassi hai ..'

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.