Million Dollar Arm (2014)

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Disney brings us the true story of RInku and Dinesh, two boys who win a competition in India to play baseball back in the USA. This was a last attempt to save a flagging career by sports agent JB Bernstein, who travels through India with a novel concept to recruit young men.

The strength of this movie is that its based on a true story, which makes it more real than aspirational. It is handled sensitively, showing a more rural and congested India, but not as gritty and stark as ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. What starts off as unique strategic move, turns into an evolutionary journey for all those who are on it.

Classic ‘sports film’ moments, the well placed highs and lows, the background score, make this film predictable, yet enjoyable. The casting is very impressive, with a host of talented actors present, but not necessarily impactful.

In the end I think this film was more of a culture exchange, rather than atheletic, which gave it its warm fuzzy Disney feel.

A strong pitch with a soft heart.

3/5

Godzilla (2014)

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This time the ‘King of Monsters’ may be on the side of the human race, naturally being drawn to radiation seeking MUTO’s (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism). Some think its nature’s way of dealing with the MUTO’s, others fear that Godzilla might create havoc. What ensues?

A back story with too much ‘forced drama/emotion’ leads us to the fantastic action sequences and destruction scenes. A tad long at 122 minutes, the 3D didn’t lend much to the visuals, though it wasn’t a deterrent either. New cities make a debut in the catastrophe landscape, a relief from the usual. 

The fans will love it and other mortals like us will enjoy the special effects. Isn’t that what a summer blockbuster is all about?

2/5

Amour (2012)

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When a film is called ‘Love’ we expect to see the ‘popular expressions’ of this universal force. What we are shown though, are the true colours, strength and qualities of love and its magnanimity.

An octogenarian couple is faced with the greatest test when one of them falls ill and starts deteriorating. How they both cope with it and keep their dignity and interdependence so balanced, is true genius by director Michael Haneke.

At age 85, Emmanuelle Riva became the oldest Best Actress Oscar nominee of all time. She and Jean-Louis Trintignant play an endearing yet resilient pair. The various complexities that old age and being by yourself bring upon them, are communicated in passing depth, which touch you momentarily, preparing you for the next scene. What unfolds is not necessarily difficult to watch, but a reality for all who are in relationships, or aspire to be in one.

The end is a triumph for love.

3.5/5

Philomena (2013)

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Judi Dench brings us yet another deep and understated performance as Philomena, supported brilliantly by screenplay writer and actor Steve Coogan. A political journalist needs to resurrect his career and a real life story takes him and his subject to the USA and back, where he unravels not only her past, but deals with his present as well.

The theme is difficult to bring alive, the proceedings make you wonder how it will all end. Theories of religion, the instincts of a mother, tolerance of sexuality, the past of the church all make a compelling story, which has a fair pace keeping in mind the length and breadth of the mystery. Peppered with footage which gives us glimpses of the past, we too feel like discovering and putting this piece to rest.

A film directed by two time Oscar nominee Stephan Frears (The Grifters, The Queen), it is filled with emotion and drama in the most tight-lipped, restrained manner possible.

3.5/5 

2 states (2014)

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A book written by and apparently based on Chetan Bhagat’s own dating and marriage story, has Arjun Kapoor (Krish) in a positive role, finally! Alia (Ananya) shines in a confident yet traditional role, different from her other two outings. They make a sparkling couple thanks to the way the director Abhishek Verman has presented them.

The story is simple, reminiscent of a side story in Vicky Donor where the Bengalis finally party with the Punjabis. Here of course, its the ‘Madrasis’ who are subject to Punjabi antics, dished out deliciously by Amrita Singh. She is up against Revathy, who gives it back with equal fervour. Wish there were subtitles for such a film, to let the audience truly be part of both states.

Its an ensemble cast effort, be it the strong and silent Shiv Kumar Subramanium who plays Alia’s dad, or Arjun’s alcoholic father Ronit Roy plays so convincingly. Both families put together, you have a southern buffet served with a north Indian tadka, made sensitively and sincerely.

The director has planned his highs and lows well in the film, sometimes stretching the plot too thin, but taking you to a beautiful conclusion nevertheless.

3/5

Blue Jasmine (2013)

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Only Woody Allen can attempt such films and do justice to them. We have seen why actors have been lauded for their performances in the past. They get into the character, display a range of emotions. They are raw, unaffected, soulful, dramatic or understated.

Cate Blanchett manages to do all of the above mentioned, in one scene, weaving in and out of hysteria, breathlessness, denial, delusion, throughout the film. To beat Meryl Streep’s performance in August Osage County, she did something right. Strike that. Many things right. And just for that you should watch her as Jasmine.

Alec Baldwin lends able support, as do Sally Hawkins, Bobby Cannavale and Andrew Dice Clay. What we learn about are ‘patterns’. Either we repeat them, or we doubt them and try and break them. The key is to identify which ones are good for us, and which ones are detrimental.

The music makes the turmoil easier to digest and the skyline gives us something concrete to balance the erratic behaviour of the cast.

3.5/5

Rio 2 (2014)

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We are back in the world of Blu, Jewel, Linda and the gang, where they travel from Rio to the Amazon. While the earlier story was told from a singular point of view, this one was about the entire species and of course, the in-laws (always a funny subject!).

The ‘other’ love story that happens on the side is highly unlikely and perhaps provides more entertainment than the domesticated Gunderson family. Andy Garcia as the father-in-law, Kristin Chenoweth as Gabi, Bruno Mars as Roberto and Philip Lawrence as Felipe add more to the already talented cast.

It has more colour, resonance to current issues, family values, the whole animated experience.

Watch if you are a ‘Rio’ fan.

3/5

Divergent (2014)

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A post apocalyptic Chicago is divided into factions, based on human virtues. They are ‘Abnegation : selfless’, ‘Dauntless : brave’, ‘Erudite : Intelligent’, ‘Amity : peaceful’ and ‘Candor: honest’. While it would be impossible to divide a complex human race on such grounds, it has been done to control them and maintain peace.

Of course, everyone doesn’t fit neatly into the above. This is the film adaptation of Veronica Roth’s first novel in her trilogy and makes an interesting watch especially for someone who hasn’t read the book. The beginning has an aftertaste of Harry Potter and its sorting ceremony, but quickly becomes far more riveting than a sorting hat putting you in a particular house.

It seems like a simple world, but disintegrates into similar patterns of power and politics, where one’s innate virtues are first used for them and later against them. The story is told via Beatrice’s (Shailene Woodley) journey, which is inspiring as well as predictable. She is supported by Four (Theo James), Ashley Judd, Tony Goldwyn and many others, who are restrained by a system which is utopian to say the least.

Kate Winslet makes a special powerful appearance, bringing a quality on screen which only she can. Director Neil Burger, who has made The Illusionist and Limitless, seems very much at home with the subject, weaving a believable world for us to experience.

Watch out for Insurgent and Allegiant which are already in pre-production.

3/5

Main Tera Hero (2014)

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David Dhawan is back! And he offers us a 6-pack cocktail of all his popular heroes! Varun manages to go over the top and entertain, not annoy. We see shades of Govinda, Sanjay Dutt, Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor and hams and styles of many others in this comedy caper.

While coerced love brings the twists and turns, its the one-liners and silly character traits that kept us laughing throughout. The music was good and this time round, they attached logic to some key details in the plot.

Short at 2 hours 8 minutes, it also stars Illeana D’Cruz, Nargis Fakhri and Arunoday Singh who may not be spot on with comic timing, but do a decent job. The real laughs were provided by Anupam Kher, Saurabh Shukla, Rajpal Yadav and Shakti Kapoor, when ‘Seenu’ (Varun) wasn’t up to his antics.

A fun, light watch.

3/5

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

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A complicated plot and mythological style shield warfare made the movie tedious, entertaining and laughable. I guess the audience had to just identify ‘good guy bad guy’ and relax into watching the events unfold.

The action sequences were brilliantly shot, as were the special effects, which have become standard in Hollywood. Made on a budget of 170 million USD, its already grossed over 300 million USD in its OPENING WEEKEND!

Watch it for the stunts, CGI and scale of weaponry. You have been warned about mindless anarchy, a predictable whodunit and some ‘kuch bhi’ (anything goes) scenes.

2/5