01.22.07
Posted in 70 mm, Bollywood, Hollywood at 10:05 pm by soumitra
Movies I saw this weekend on TV/DVD (for the first time).
Don (2006) :
If what they say about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery is true, Amitabh should be most flattered.
Shahrukh is not going to win any accolades for his acting if he’s compared to Big B. (maybe they will come up with a movie “Main Amitabh Bacchan Banna Chahata Hoon”)
The story, though adapted nicely to fit in today’s context, has its flaws.
Boring titles – they should have spent more on CGI.
And too many “influences” from Hollywood movies to count!
Has a couple of nice dialogues though – I had to see it twice and pay attention – w.r.t. the twist in the end.
The Marksman:
B grade movie, nothing exceptional.
Kingpin:
Something between a comedy and a farce, this one has a nice ending. That’s what I like about most of the Hollywood movies – they know how to start and end a movie.
Deep Impact:
Typical apocalypse movie, though attention to details for a “what if” scenario is pretty detailed. Téa Leoni’s acting is pretty dull – especially as a TV anchor.
Jeremiah Johnson:
A Sydney Pollack film. Not a standard fare, so don’t think it will find many takers.
Uptown Girls:
Typical B grade semi romantic “lead role on the brink of destruction finds aim and/or purpose of existence”.
Dakota Fanning is the one to watch…she’s going to be the to next sensation, me thinks.
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01.14.07
Posted in 70 mm, Bollywood at 11:15 pm by soumitra
Little piece of advice: never ever (ever) read reviews of movies before watching the movie.
Pretty much most of the reviews I read for Guru are hyperbole. Not that the movie is that bad, mind you, but to suggest that the movie “fails nowhere”, as one of the reviews put it, is simply hogwash.
I admit I am hard to please. (If Oscar Wilde were to be alive right now, we would have almost exchanged high fives!)
So, coming back to the review, I won’t re-hash the plot here, for there are plenty of others doing it for you.
What I will do is what I am best at. I.e. criticize. (Today being Makar Sankranti I should not be foul mouthing too much)
Let’s start with the titles.
The Flip-book concept is really good (and amongst them too, some animations are better than others).
Aish fails to impress on her entry. She seemed unattached to the movie in her first song of the movie (Barso re). Somehow, it felt that she didn’t exactly like being there in the rain, let alone dance, and worse, it showed.
She starts involving herself more in the movie as it progresses, though.
Talking about the song, I have no idea what the cinematographer was doing while shooting that song. Probably he was too busy watching Aish (!) than do his job. Or sleeping, because I could see bright sunlight all around, and, horror-of-horrors, it felt like it gets in Aish’s eyes and she’s squinting while dancing! In the rain!
I mean, come on you guys, what’s wrong with you?
Even during Yammo Yammo, the lighting is sub par during those evening scenes.
The period era is shot better. It would have been really great if they would have been able to recreate the old Mumbai charm and shown some landmark locations.
I was just about to say that the fashion style and some scenes remind me of The Godfather and stuff, when I saw the official movie website. The director of photography says that some elements of Godfather “…inadvertently crept into our mindscape though unintentionally.” Hey buddy, I believe you.
(And what’s with MSN grabbing most of the header while hosting the site? Is it going to be taken down afterwards?)
Next topic: superimposing. Why can’t they do it right? Should it always be so bad that you can tell? I really hate it when I see that edge around the shoulders betraying the studio shoot.
I am not saying that Hollywood is perfect in that. They, too, cut slack in this department (latest I remember is Hitch).
But if you consider Jurassic Park (I) – I mean, it’s pretty hard to tell those T-Rexes aren’t really there – then it should be possible, isn’t it? Technology has got cheaper than those times, as far as I know.
I won’t talk about music because I am kind of prejudiced towards Rehman.
Let’s not talk about the storyline either.
I can’t say much about other characters because I think I won’t do them any justice.
And that brings me to the focus of the movie, Amitabh. Oh did I say Amitabh? I meant Abhishek. Ah, but there is so subtle a difference!
Truly, Mani Rathnam has managed to bring out the Big B in him. (What was that TV spot where he pays with the Big B’s card and they think he’s Big B? Well, it’s like the reality now.)
Post intermission he really brings it on. Close your eyes for a second, and you’d think it’s really Amitabh up there on the screen. The same angry young man, the same raspy voice and same dialogue delivery! (All’s missing is the ‘aainh?’ at the end!)
Tell me if you are not reminded of “Jaao pehele usse sign le kar aao …” Deewar and Agneepath… Amitabh part deux.
And what a performance!
Watch the sweet innocent smile of the first half turns into a nasty sneer by the end, or the Marlon Brando-esque drooping cheek and one lip … the perfectly imitated paralysed position of fingers…too much!
Can’t get better than this …”Waise bhi perfection ko improve karna mushkil hota hai“… to borrow Aamir’s phrase 
.
All said and done, you have to see the movie …for him!
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