Film Review - Lucy

Big Bang Theory

Film: Lucy

Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman

Directed by: Luc Besson

Duration: 1 hr 31 mins

Rating: *  *  * 

French Director Luc Besson makes those leave-your-brains-behind kind of action films like Taken, Transporter and the Taxi franchise. He tried his hand at sci-fi with The Fifth Element and this enterprise, Lucy, is a cross between science fiction and a superhero film. 

The films poster says that “an average person uses 10% of their brain capacity. Imagine what she could do with 100%.” Right away you know that you can’t take the science or the fiction too seriously. Once we have that out of the way, you can just sit back and enjoy what comes your way.

Set in Taipei, Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) is a student who is forced to deliver a briefcase by her friend. Reluctantly, she does that only to be kept captive by the gangster dealing in drugs.  A packet of a new lethal drug is stitched inside her and when it breaks, Lucy can start increasing her brain capacity and do the unthinkable, like control just about anything and everything around her. 

Seeking revenge, Lucy sets out on a mission to destroy the mafia boss and the drugs. Morgan Freeman plays a scientist who knows a thing or two about unlocking the powers of the brain and is an expert in that field. 

There is a scene at the beginning where Freeman talks about the evolution of mankind and the usage of the brain (reminiscent ofAlain Resnais’ My American Uncle) that was fine but later when they tried to juxtapose science and the action it got a little farfetched at the point. If there was any metaphysical point that was made, then I missed it. 

But still Lucy provides a few thrills – it is fast paced, has a decent concept which is hypothetically interesting.  Since it is a Luc Besson film, a car chase on the streets of Paris is mandatory.  The direction otherwise is pedestrian, as it usually happens in Bollywood films, what is shown on screen is also explained with dialogue. “Look the computer is moving” a character says – the audience doesn’t have to be told that, they can clearly see that the computer is moving.

Scarlett Johansson is first rate, whether it is the action or the trauma scenes, she pull it off convincingly. Clearly Besson has used 10% of the brain while writing the screenplay, else Lucy would have been even more fun.  

Published in The Navhind Times on 3rd Aug 2014 

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Film Review - Transcendence

The Mind, With Fear

Film: Transcendence
Cast: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Morgan Freeman

Directed by: Wally Pfister

Duration: 1 hr 59 mins

Rating: * * *

I can’t remember the last time I was so befuddled after watching a film, as I was after watching Transcendence. Sure the core idea of the film is a grand one, the story gives an impression that it has some higher purpose or a point to make but part of it gets diluted. It makes some extremely interesting points but the execution doesn’t translate them all that well, hence the bafflement, which is unfortunate because the premise had the potential to make it to the big league. 

Some of the concepts in science fiction films go beyond fiction and certainly beyond science, the latest case in point being Spike Jonze Her, which like some of the very good science fiction films of our time, tell a human story in a world of technology that doesn’t exist today, but could very well be a part of the future.

Directed by Wally Pfister (best known as the cinematographer for Christopher Nolan films), Will Caster (Johnny Depp) plays a scientist who is a genius of sorts. He specializes in Artificial Intelligence and is on the verge of making a breakthrough that will change lives. As a result, he gets targeted by a group of people who detest modern technology because it is taking our lives over.

Watching the teenagers in the theatre busy with their cell phones rather than concentrate on the film, I could completely sympathize with such a group.

But these bunch of people go to the very extreme, critically wounding Will and destroying almost all AI labs in the country. With very little time on hand, they go for the jugular with help from his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) who also knows a thing or two about his work. 

Before dying, his ‘consciousness’ is uploaded on a grand computer, thanks to a project which he was working on. Will continues to live (not physically though) and communicates with Evelyn even after death. Not only that, they move to a remote town where he starts taking control of everything and becomes more and more powerful.

The authorities (Cillian Murphy) and Will’s colleague (Morgan Freeman) realize the danger the he poses as he evolves even though primarily, he just helps the needy who need medical aid but then very soon he starts networking human minds turning them into hybrids.

Like the Theseus paradox, the question is, even though the mind and consciousness is his, is it the same Will Caster whom we knew, after he has been re-assembled?

Star Trek fans will remember an episode akin to this story (Where No Man Has Gone Before). 

The finale takes the easy way out where a virus is uploaded to set things right but not before we see nanotechnology at work where just about everything manages to repair itself, including solar panels which again is a fine insight.

While the film doesn’t fail in making its point, you wish it would have done so with conviction instead of circumventing around with no purpose at times. 

While writing this review I am convinced that Transcendence gave enough food for thought though as a film it may not have been the most satisfying experience but it is still worth a shot.

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Film Review - The Lego Movie

Toys Will Be Toys

Film: The Lego Movie

Voices of: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Morgan Freeman

Directed by: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Duration: 1 hr 40 mins

Rating: * * * *

            The Lego Movie is in the league of those few animation films that make the cut as far as entertaining children and adults is concerned. While the visuals will keep the kids happy, the gags and satire will appeal the elderly.

            It helps that they have a range of characters right from Batman, Gandalf to C-3PO to make use of, but it is also the lead that contributes to all the entertainment. While the plot of an underdog become a hero is a part of virtually every animation film, The Lego Movie is several notches above.

            Set in the world of Lego toys, Emmet (Chris Pratt) is an ordinary construction worker who is mistaken for the ‘Special one’ as per the prophecy of a wizard Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman). This common man is supposed to save their whole clan from the evil guy appropriately called Lord Business (Will Ferrell). A woman Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) is the first to be convinced that Emmet is the chosen one and then it is upto him to save the day although he is just an ordinary guy.

            Their plan is to fight Lord Business who intends to freeze their world using the ‘Kragle’which is basically glue. The story tries to draw parallels about good and evil and then there is the theme of self-belief.

              There are plenty of amusing scenes and laugh out loud moments because the film doesn’t take itself too seriously and hence you know that something funny is just around the corner. You can also see that the film is striving to aim at and achieve something instead going down the beaten path. That is what sets it apart and good times are guaranteed at the Lego Movie. 

Published in The Navhind Times on 9th Feb 2014

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Film Review - Last Vegas

For Old Times Sake

Film: Last Vegas

Cast: Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline

Directed by: Jon Turtletaub

Duration: 1 hr 45 mins

Rating: * * 1 / 2

Last Vegas is a film that sails through only and only because it has a set of actors whom we’ve loved watching over the years. Replace them with a younger cast and there will be nothing to write home about as far as this film is concerned because the story is no great shakes.

A bunch of guys, four to be precise have grown up being best friends. Now in their 60’s, they all have their own problems to deal with. Archie (Morgan Freeman) who has a few health issues lives with his over caring and married son. Paddy (De Niro) has become a lonesome man after the death of his wife and there were some issues between him and their other friend Billy (Michael Douglas), a successful man who is all set to marry a woman who is in her early 30’s. That leaves Sam (Kevin Kline) who has knee problems not to mention his titanium hip but also has a carte blanche from his to do anything in Vegas.

All four of them head to Vegas for Billy’s bachelor party and while they are looking for a good time, the ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’ type, couple of them fall for a charming singer Diana (Mary Steenburgen) bringing back memories of the past.

While there are some funny lines on the whole the script never rises above the ordinary. But what keeps the film going is the charm and the chemistry of the four actors. Even when there is the odd dull moment they manage to steer the boat clear. 

There is no clear standout performance as far as these four actors of considerable repute are concerned; they all have their moments in the film. They make this otherwise average film watchable. 

Published in the Navhind Times on 15th Dec 2013

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