Jal (2014)

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The promos of this film showed the sweeping landscapes of the Kutch desert and ‘beautifully shot’ was a unanimous opinion before we entered the cinema. What remained to be seen was the story and its execution.

The plot was simple, real and rural. It does not come close to anything contemporary. If you can appreciate it for what it is, a tale of villagers shot for the multiplex audience, then you will like the film. The cinematography did not let my attention waver, as there were ample doses of drama interspersed with gorgeous natural scenes and time lapses.

Purab Kohli shines in a difficult role, playing a spectrum of emotions with ease. The director, Girish Malik, has put together a great cast who does their part well, but he doesn’t develop any one character in detail, giving them a ‘caricature like’ feel. They say their stories whilst making ‘jal/water’ the prime focus of survival in the desert.

The two leading ladies Tannishtha Chatterjee and Kirti Kulhari deserve special mention for their appropriate restrain and abandon when required. Overall, the language and diction could have been perfected and subtitles were definitely needed. It ties up well in the end, but could have been shorter. The background score is effective as is the track ‘jal de’.

It seemed like a film which should be edited for IMAX viewing, a short 60 minute feature where people can gasp in awe at one of the many untapped beauties of India.

2/5

Noah (2014)

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If you are expecting to see Noah build an arc where animals walk single file into it, in neat pairs, this is not for you. The film tells us precisely what it calls itself; its all about Noah. Earlier depictions of this film have been pretty safe and by the book. Here of course, cinematic liberties have been taken, to show you the inner turmoil and moral dilemma that Noah faced.

I have maintained time and again that 3D shouldn’t be used if its not required. In a film like this which was mainly over cast, stormy and rainy, it surely wasn’t. There were tough questions which were asked of Noah and his family, sacrifices for the rest of humanity, doubts about how mankind would survive and repopulate the earth. If those questions are seen from the perspective of a single family handed a task to save creation, than this film has come close to showing us what it could have been.

The cast was impressive, with Russell Crowe and Emma Watson being the highlights. Jennifer Connelly has one hard-hitting scene, besides being the strong female figure throughout the film. The length and costumes were perhaps the biggest drawbacks of this film, besides the 3D.

Director Darren Aronofsky has tried a different approach to say his story and has partially succeeded.

2/5

Need for speed (2014)

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A simple film about racing and speed, director Scott Waugh spaced out its highlights in a sensible manner to keep the audience occupied. There were enough moments to keep us guessing, tense, on the edge of the seat or purely entertained.

While it doesn’t have a convincing back story or a strong motive for the proceedings, the gang of four and the cool attitude of the protagonist Aaron Paul makes it watchable. Dominic Cooper does a decent job as the bad guy, while Imogen Poots provides classic British flavour as Julia. Micheal Keaton makes an interesting cameo, while we enjoy the changing landscapes of America and the coolest cars of the world.

2.5/5

Ragini MMS 2 (2014)

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What Ekta Kapoor set out to do, she achieved. The promos promised a frat-house slasher style flick with some scares and sex, we got all that and some humour too.

Picking up from where Ragini MMS left us, we are introduced to ‘Sunny’ playing herself. The Baby doll song being an instant hit, was a smart way to start off the creepy proceedings. AIB cast member Tanmay bhat makes an unrequired cameo, we would have liked some jokes rather than sleaze.

The humour was very effectively provided by Sandhya Mridul and Karan Mehra, both of whom got rewarded by Sunny ;-). Parvin Dabbas tries comedy but annoys and the famous Marathi ‘chutkan / chudail’ back story is finally revealed.

Cheesy, predictable with a few jolts and scares, it was everything it promised to be and nothing more. Sunny Leone can act, so this was a good move for her. Divya Dutta is wasted in a role that didnt need a person of her calibre.

I would have liked more horror, but that genre needs some risk taking and an experimental approach in India, which is unlikely to happen soon.

2/5

August: Osage County (2013)

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We stand on the peripherals of the Weston family, watching the dysfunction, quietly knowing we will be sucked right in at any moment. When that happens, we are privy not only to their eccentricities and delusions, but to the downright disintegration of human relationships.

The Weston daughters are fighting their own battles, have their own secrets and exercise a certain amount of denial (as we all do) to survive. It’s when their mother, the superlative Meryl Streep, displays her own truths, she upsets a precarious balance barely maintained by her girls. Julia Roberts as the oldest, matches Meryl in every frame. The eyes play table tennis watching one volleying the other. Extended members of the family are struggling with their own failures and shortfalls, projecting them on their fragile loved ones.

Our laughter was laced with nervousness and relief, when the tragedy turned to comedy for brief moments .To say the film is dark would be an understatement. The temperatures are soaring, the mood is stifling, the characters are on edge. Morality, logic and maturity take a back seat, whilst every form of shocking behaviour becomes the ‘normal and mundane’.

3/5

Highway (2014)

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What can you expect from a young actress who plays a rich spoiled kid in her first film? Her second film also starts off the same way. ‘Poor little rich girl’ wants to get away from her abundant and opulent life. Get away she does, when she is kidnapped.

From gun shot to gun shot, her performance left me flabbergasted. I was more in shock at how well she acted, how she managed to portray a deep, meaningful character, with so many layers, without saying or doing much. A few glimpses into her world and we were drawn to her story and plight in an instant. She had two very powerful, long, emotionally packed scenes, which she knocked out of the park!

Randeep Hooda, donned the character of the scruffy, unkempt captor so well, with a convincing command over the local language. He has one scene which displays his emotionally caged Mahabir, who matches Veera’s echoes of hurt and childhood suppression. She develops the Stockholm Syndrome towards Mahabir and some of his gang, perhaps as a reaction to the lack of unnecessary violence.

Cinematographer Anil Mehta has captured time and tide in sweeping montages, showing Indian landscape and highways as never seen before. The journey seems endless, yet not pointless. Director Imtiaz Ali has gifted the audience a long nurtured story, which takes you on the winding road within, as it does on screen.

A brilliant set of performances with a visual treat which puts you in a reflective state.

3.5/5

Queen (2014)

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Quite a departure from ‘Chillar Party’ in 2011, Director Vikas Bahl serves us a single honeymoon of a simple girl from ‘Rajori in Delhi’. Rani is an emotional wreck since she was abandoned the day before her wedding and decides to travel abroad for the first time, alone.

The film is rich in so many ways. Tiny nuances, small gestures, the nonchalant manner Rani goes through the many shocking incidents, maintaining her naivety and dignity, touched the hearts of the viewers. Some people are calling it a ‘coming of age’ film, I thought of it more as a revelation and empowering story. Rani went into the big bad world and survived. She didn’t need anyone by her side and she had always done as she was told, but the one time she took a chance, she realised she is capable and can be totally independent.  

If Kangana is the heroine of the film, the writing is the hero. To have the audience laugh at her sadness, the many situations she lands herself in and of course the many ‘adult’ encounters she faces without even realising, is how well it was written, and acted. The travel was all well and good, I wondered how they would end the film. It was done so beautifully, where all she says is one word, and that’s it. I feared a monologue or sermon, but it fit with the rest of the film so well, and was a gem of a scene. A clever association with a melody like ‘hungama’, has rewired our memories to picture Kangana in it, with a totally new meaning.

Queen will rule your hearts and the box office, and deservedly so, for such good content and acting should reach every viewer.

3.5/5

300: Rise of an Empire (2014)

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Taking off from where ‘300’ left us in 2006, the Greek empire needs to unite to face the Persian attack. While they negotiate unity on land, they fight a battle on the Aegean Sea. The generals leading both armies and the Persian King have interesting back stories which have been shown in vivid concise detail.

Short and action packed, this film is all about naval attack strategy and war tactics. It was visually rich in 3D, without being jarring to the senses. The bloodshed was toned down in dark colours, which made it a little easier to digest.

Setting a clear stage for a third part, the film is fast paced and full of drama without going over the top. There were some eye opening dialogues and one scene that was ‘edited’, a war attack of a different kind.

An entertaining sequel which was true to the original, by director Noam Murro.

3/5

Gulaab Gang (2014)

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Debutante director Soumik Sen took on a huge task to show women’s struggles in villages and vigilantes who protect them. It was a casting coup, with Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla coming together on the screen for the first time. The subject is tricky and not a sure fire hit with the audience and it bears a striking resemblance to the Gulaabi gang lead by Sampat Pal Devi. A court order which put a stay on the release which was lifted on Thursday, confused viewers and really hurt Friday numbers.

The film shows us an anarchy of power, where women have strength but don’t seem to train for it. They sing and dance as merrily as they mete out justice. They weave saris, string baskets, teach the alphabet and are every bit the alpha male, who comes away unscathed from a fight scene.

Madhuri serves us several shades, a handful of which we haven’t seen before. She is powerful, yet soft, strong yet emotional, a total contrast to what she should have been shown as, to believably play Rajjo. Juhi on the other hand, is a consistent negative character. She serves us with shocking lines and crude actions in her trademark sickly sweet style and is a revelation. She clearly stole the show.

Overall the film is peppered with predictable events and some un-required dances. How they dole out punishment is fun to watch. Released at an appropriate time, it just may meet with an audience who appreciates it in parts.

Happy Women’s Day!

2.5/5