Nautanki Saala

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Ayushman Khurana does it again, but not without some help from his able co-star Kunaal Roy Kapur. Talk about being an overly good Samaritan (which is the only thing I couldn’t digest), this film takes you on an unpredictable journey with lots of witty writing, smart laughs and intelligent direction. Some scenes are brilliant, while others drag.

The ‘nautanki’ aspect is played out well, in the real and stage lives of the characters. Old songs ‘So gaya yeh jahaan’ and ‘Dhak Dhak karney laga’ are remixed and used well. You get the ‘Bluffmaster’ feel from the film, a movie which wasn’t appreciated as much as it should have been. This too, might have the same fate.

Cut some length and this film will surely fare better.

2.5/5

Ek Thi Daayan

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Daayan isn’t a word one hears in daily conversation. It usually has comical or insulting references, but is a word to describe an evil witch. Horror as a genre is yet to receive a proper treatment and viewership in Hindi movies. Bollywood usually dabbles with both horror and thriller genres, achieving a little of both but not fully developing either. This film is a good example.

The movie has set its premise in the promos itself, so you know exactly what you are going for when you walk in to the cinema. The beginning credits song has a haunting and eerie quality. If the entire film had caught that mood, it would have been a stellar flick.

Vishal Bhardwaj’s finishing touches are visible in an Ekta Kapoor film, and they take it up a notch higher than expected. The story builds a world and the characters act within it. There is a myth and the plot develops around it. Some scary moments and good character development make a good first half. It’s the songs and lack of terror which make a damp second half.

Overall this is film which is not tacky or laughable, but cannot be taken seriously either.

2/5

The perks of being a wallflower

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Remember how hard it was growing up, a teenager dealing with issues, trying to fit in, make friends, deal with a crush, excel at school and so much more? Well here’s a film which has so many characters that represent many or all of the above aspects.

Many talented and well-known individuals make up the cast, but the story is the main hero. We see high school through a freshman named Charlie, who gets through the year with two friends, Patrick and Sam, who are seniors. Many issues surface as outcomes of their interaction, some from the past, and some from the present. How they deal with them is the strength of the film.

The movie is sensitive, captures the age and their problems with unapologetic reality. The moments are made dramatic not by action, but by tender, detailed expression. Brilliant acting by the cast and excellent sound, direction and screenplay by the crew.

4/5

Oblivion

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Without further ado I give you something to make no ado of… what a waste of time this film was. Yeah there were many layers, yes we got the gist of what you are trying to say, show and do. But it was so pointless. After all the parameters and problems are figured out, we are faced with a highly predictable end. Tom says something to Sally. I am saying the same thing to Tom in my head.

1.5/5

Jurassic Park 3D

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Two decades later, one of my favourite films comes alive on screen, in 3D. Like Titanic 3D, this film didn’t have any additional scenes and the 3D was for depth perception, adding to the existing effects of the film but didn’t feel like anything new. The film is everything it was in 1993, bringing back teenage memories and the thrill of watching dinosaurs.

The Trilogy was well received but part 4 has been in talks since the last decade. Finally, we have news that Jurassic Park 4 is being released on 13th June 2014.

Django Unchained

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Now I am not a fan of gore, though this movie didn’t rely on it for effect, it used it as a by product of its style. What a brilliant story! Its long for a Hollywood film, at almost 2 hours 45 minutes, but it keeps you glued!

Slavery, some startling facts about the ‘sport’ some people indulged in at that time, shocking inhuman punishments, suave and sophisticated murders, witty comrades and a most unusual and unique dinner conversation, make this a worthy film for the ones that can brave it.

Leonardo Di Caprio, Christoph Waltz, Jamie Foxx, Samuel Jackson, Kerry Washington, surprise, shock, entertain, enthral you and the many supporting cast members shine in this merciless bounty hunter journey.

Full points for a simple title, slick direction and for bringing alive an era so forgotten and some of it for good reason… Tarantino, take a bow!

4/5

Olympus has fallen

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While the White House is constantly under attack, this flick shows us all the ways ofpenetrating and damaging it, that we have never seen before.

The villain wasn’t scary, but at least he wasn’t laughable. There was enough drama and twists and turns to keep the plot alive. Some decent action/tension scenes and Gerard Butler make this film watchable.

2/5

Jolly LLB

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So we a Jolly new lawyer trying to get his practise to fly off, when he stumbles upon something that most lawyers wouldn’t touch

He then proceeds to come across many obstacles / foul play, which have witnesses, but for some reason are not presented in court. He does though, have a strong case, which because of our wonderful judicial system, keeps getting delayed. Not as delayed as they are in real life, one must add.

The end is predictable. But what you take away from this is a few things. Good performances by Boman Irani and Saurabh Shukla. Wonderment at why Amrita Rao is there. More wonderment at Arshad Warsi for trying something dramatic and pulling it off. And if you are really optimistic, some glimmer of hope in our laws for the common man.

2.5/5

G.I.Joe – Retaliation

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Hollywoods 130 Million Dollar April Fools Joke! 

A pointless film, with a weak plot and no story, this is the best way to celebrate the 1st of April.

A host of characters, with no development, laughable villains and an almost comical catastrophe, the film tests your patience pretty soon.

Barring a few good cgi/action scenes (which did not save the film), this is such a poor attempt to credit a franchise which had a popular and strong history!

Don’t get fooled into watching!

0.5/5

P.S. Chaning Tatum has a blink and miss role which upset many viewers, if this is why you want to go, watch a previous film of his!

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

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Magic is always fascinating to watch, difficult to learn and even more complex to perform. That out of the way, we have a simple story of 2 kids who are drawn to magic, turn to it for a profession when they grow older, grow apart, as many friends do, and get back together, as some friends do. What’s the ‘Incredible’ bit you ask? Just the word in the title.

We see Steve Carell in a very camp avatar, Jim Carrey in an extreme avatar and are entertained by the matter of fact Alan Arkin. Friendship, romance, lessons learned, audiences partially entertained. This bunny never made it back from the hat.

2/5