Film Review - Lone Survivor

In The Thick of Action

 

Film: Lone Survivor

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch

Directed by: Peter Berg

Duration: 2 hrs

Rating: * * * 1 / 2

Lone Survivor is based on a true story, the exploits of Marcus Luttrell during the war in Afghanistan. Films set in a conflict are by and large very engrossing, there are some that delve into the politics of it and there are others that focus on the individual story rather  than the hostility. Lone Survivor directed by Peter Berg is in the latter category.

A gripping film from start to finish, full credit goes to the director for making the story so enthralling in a Paul Greengrass’isque fashion, minus the handheld camera shots. Set in 2005 when the Americans had settled in Afghanistan, a bunch of young soldiers were sent to hunt down a Taliban warlord and his gang, they were supposedly hiding in a village. Since they have to be tackled on ground, the soldiers cannot be airdropped at the exact point and hence they have maneuver through some very tough terrain before they can get to the village which is surrounded by some of the most breathtaking mountains you have seen.  

Before they embark on the mission we are given a brief background of the army men – while we don’t know much about Marcus (Mark Wahlberg) there are others, one who is getting married and his girlfriend wants an Arabian horse (he calls it an Arabic horse) and another who constantly professes his love for his wife.

These handful men tread a long way before settling down at a distance but they quickly discover that there are not just few, but hundreds of Taliban soldiers holed up there. It is not too long before the soldiers are ambushed by the gunmen making them run helter-skelter and hang on to dear life. The title of the film is a dead give away as to how many survive the ordeal. The men put up a brave and valiant fight before help comes is on the way.

Once the action starts you are glued to your seats and those scenes are remarkably well executed. One can only presume that some of the action towards the end can be attributed to ‘cinematic liberty’ Unlike say Zero Dark Thirty which made everything look so real this one goes a bit over the top at the end. But that doesn’t take away much.

One can make a guess that virtually every second mission in Iraq, Afghanistan or in all conflict zones is a story waiting to be told. What I am not sure is, if it can be made into an engrossing cinematic experience as this one. 

Published in The Navhind Times on 9th Feb 2014

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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 - Heartless

                     

Heart to Pagal Hain

Film: Heartless

Cast: Adhyayan Suman, Ariana Ayam

Directed by: Shekhar Suman

Duration: 2 hrs 5 mins

Rating: * 1 / 2

As a host/comedian, Shekhar Suman has well and truly entertained us over the years but he has virtually wiped off all his good credentials after this brainless film called Heartless which is a rip off of the 2005 Hollywood film Awake. This one is more than likely to put you to sleep. 

A tribulation lasting over two hours, it defies all logic and common sense. Adhyayan Suman plays Aditya the son of a rich lady industrialist (Deepti Naval), among other things, he also has a heart problem. During a trip to the Gulf, he falls in love with the hotel employee (Ariana Ayam) and after the mandatory song and dance they fall in love but since he has a heart problem (the biological one) they break off. Once he comes to India he has a change of heart (metaphorically this time) and decides to go for a heart transplant so that he can win his lady love back.

The doctor (Shekhar Suman) happens to be his good friend and during the operation he experiences anesthesia awareness where the patient can hear everything that is happening around him. Suffice to say that he learns about one of the most preposterous plot of the 21^st century which is the ‘twist’ in the film. 

There is precious little going in favor of the film, the story doesn’t have any conviction and barring a few minutes of the operation theatre episode, the absurdity of the rest is beyond measure.

Published in The Navhind Times on 9th Feb 2014

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Film Review - 12 years A Slave

History Revisted

Film: 12 Years a Slave

Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o

Directed by: Steve McQueen

Duration: 2 hrs 20 mins

Rating: * * * *

There is a scene in this film where a black slave, with his hands tied back and the noose around his neck is hanging by a tree, with his feet touching the ground albeit barely. He grunts uncomfortably while struggling to stay alive as his toes slip on the wet soil. During his ordeal the other people around him, all black slaves, go about doing their work, without flinching. The camera lingers on long enough for you to realize the gravity of the situation and what life was worth then- basically nothing. At the same time, you also marvel at the way the shot is superbly executed.

12 Years a Slave is based on a true story, the harrowing experiences of Solomon Northup and it also marks director Steve McQueen’s first film to be released in India (his other two features, Shame and Hunger are also strongly recommended)

Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Solomon a free black man, an excellent violinist who also does a bit of carpentry. He is living happily with his wife and kids when two men make him an offer he can’t refuse. They want to hire him as a musician for a couple of weeks, since the pay is good, Solomon accedes.

At the end of the two weeks, he is kidnapped and finds himself drugged and chained. Soon he is sold into slavery and transported to another part of the country where he works for a plantation owner (Benedict Cumberbatch) who is sympathetic but only to a degree. Solomon is then sold to Epps (Michael Fassbender) who is a beast in the form of a man. As history has it, he wasn’t the only one, there were many like him, who believed and even convinced the slaves that they had the approval of the Bible to commit atrocities.

Epps is also very fond of a black woman Patsey (Lupita Nyong’o) whom he uses purely for carnal purposes, even though his wife keeps a close eye on him.

The film not only has a powerful story but full marks to director Steve McQueen and writer John Ridley for adapting it well. If Tarantino’s Django Unchained was an action filled drama, McQueen leans more towards telling a human story. In this endeavor, Sean Bobbits camerawork assists him ably in terms of enhancing the visual aspect.

12 Years A Slave may not be easy viewing but at the same time it is necessary as it makes you reflect on so many issues – sure, you know many of them already but there can never be enough reminders of the same.

The cast can be summed up in one word, brilliant. Michael Fassbender as the evil owner and Sarah Paulson as his wife are superb. Lupita Nyong’o, always at the receiving end, makes a stunning debut as Epps object of desire. Deservingly, she’s got an Oscar nomination. Chiwetel Ejiofor has given the performance of a lifetime. As a man who finds himself facing such tribulations in spite of having done no wrong, he is remarkable in the lead role. 

12 Years A Slave makes for an essential viewing, don’t miss it.

Published in The Navhind Times on 2nd Feb 2014

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Film Review - One By Two

All Half Measures

           

Film: One by Two

Cast: Abhay Deol, Preeti Desai, Rati Agnihotri

Directed by: Devika Bhagat

Duration: 2 hrs 20 mins

Rating: * 1 / 2

When a grown up Abhay Deol is lectured by his parents’ non-stop, he has the most exasperated look on his face. I felt pretty much the same throughout this film, titled One by Two. Written and directed by Devika Bhagat (her past writing credentials include Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl, I, Me Aur Main, Manorama Six Feet Under and Jab Tak Hai Jaan) the film is as tedious as driving with the brakes on.

The story of a young man (Abhay Deol will be 38 soon)  and woman whose lives are going no where, can make an interesting plot. But when the boredom of their lives, raised to the power of three, seeps into the audience, then we are in for a hard time.

Amit Sharma (Deol) is a computer geek (he uses the Ubuntu operating system) and has a regular job. His mom (Rati Agnihotri) still buys underwear for him (stretchable ones) and he has just broken up with his girlfriend, or rather, she has dumped him. He also has an affliction - flatulence. I can’t remember any character in a film, let alone the hero, who farts so much, as if he is a railway engine, letting off steam. That perhaps could be one of the reasons why his girlfriend left him.

In another part of the city, Samara Patel (Preeti Desai) a British passport holding desi girl is an aspiring dancer who is in a relationship with the bloke who runs the dance school. To make it look urban and hip, we are also told about her underwear. Every rose has its thong after all.

Among many problems in her life, one is the fact that her single mom (Lilette Dubey) consumes more alcohol than Amitabh Bachchan did in Shaarabi. They live in a posh house in Mumbai and that is something more than you can ask for. Papa also makes an appearance out of the blue but by then you don’t care what they do and why.

The only likable and fun character is the stocky girl, who is the potential bride for Amit. She is smart, normal and with her thoughts sorted out.

While there is an attempt to give background stories to the characters, it falls flat. Take the Samara’s parents problem for example, we have seen that countless times before. So what is the point in going down that same old road? And even that reality show dance contest angle is a crashing bore.

In this otherwise dull enterprise, Amitabh Bhattacharya’s lyrics and Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s music is enjoyable. Preeti Desai is easy on the eyes and looks comfortable in front of the camera but needs to fine tune her acting. Like his character, Abhay Deol looks a bit lost. 

One By Two could have been a nice fun film, unfortunately, it is anything but that.

Published in The Navhind Times on 2nd Feb 2014

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Film Review - A Rainy Day

A Superlative Effort

Film: A Rainy Day (Marathi/Konkani with English subtitles)

Cast: Subodh Bhave, Mrinal Kulkarni

Directed by: Rajendra Talak

Duration: 90 mins

Rating: *  *  *

Made by the most prolific film maker in Goa, A Rainy Day is released in both Marathi and Konkani languages. Director Rajendra Talak’s previous film O’ Maria was the biggest hit among contemporary Konkani films and had a remarkable run at the theaters. It would be fair to say that with A Rainy Day, he has pushed his aesthetics of film making, a notch higher.

The problem with many other modern day Konkani films is that they don’t follow the basic grammar of cinema. Perhaps that could be because of lack of formal training in film making. But Talak has been working with well known names like cinematographer Debu Deodhar, till he passed away a few years back. This time, he has teamed up with Resul Pookutty for the sound design. Besides that, he has been choosing subjects which the audience can relate to- whether it is the mining problem in Aleesha or the real estate issue in O’ Maria.

This time, he has dealt with corruption and morals. Subodh Bhave plays a corporate executive who has no qualms about getting the job done by hook or crook. Just when he gets the news that his wife (Mrinal Kulkarni) is expecting, there is something unexpected in store. 

One by one, his wife reminds him of his dark secrets and the misdeeds he has done. Right from an incident in his childhood to the ones in his professional life where he bought expensive gifts to bribe government officials and was also indirectly responsible for the death of an activist, she knows it all. It remains a mystery to him as to how she found out the details of these incidents and consults his friend (Ajinkya Deo) to decipher out more about it.

The climax is not so much of a mystery because there are enough hints during the course of the film as to where the answer lies. So in that sense, the final outcome is a tad disappointing after the strong build up.

The biggest strength of the film is the narrative which is aided by some excellent camerawork by Sanjay Jadhav. Some of the visuals of a wet and rainy Goa are quite striking and the scene at the cemetery stands out. Considering there is the sound of rain throughout the film (there is no background score) the sound design too plays an important role in giving you the right feel, the delicate sound of thunder though was overdone  a couple of times.

The acting largely hinges around the lead pair of Mrinal Kulkarni and Subodh Bhave and they’ve executed their roles efficiently, particularly the lady who has put up a good show. The supporting cast of Manoj Joshi, Neha Pendse, Harsh Chhaya, Prince Jacob and the rest is competent.

On the whole, A Rainy Day has a few flaws but it is still worth a watch and considering it’s a regional film, there is all the more reason to promote it. After all, it is better than many mainstream Bollywood and Hollywood films that we get to see week after week.

Published in The Navhind Times on 2nd Feb 2014

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Film Review - I, Frankenstein

Dead Wrong

Film: I, Frankenstein

Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy

Directed by: Stuart Beattie

Duration: 1 hr 32 mins

Rating: * 1 / 2

There are many films in Hollywood these days that hit the bottom of the barrel, I, Frankenstein is another one of them. Some day, it would be nice to meet the studio executives who gave the go-ahead for such films. What exactly were they thinking when they read the script and what good did they see? 

This one is based on the graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux who also wrote the screenplay which obviously lacks the fire power.

Overdone with special effects from beginning to end, like some of the characters, the film lacks a soul. It starts on a reasonable promising note but sinks pretty soon. Aaron Eckhart plays Adam or Frankenstein’s monster since he was the creation of scientist Victor Frankenstein. After the death of his creator he is attacked by demons (that’s when I first started losing interest) but is saved by gargoyles who take him to their queen (that’s when I lost all interest in the story). The rest of it is just a mundane exercise of getting rid of demons from the face of the earth. The talented British actor Bill Nighy plays the villain and even he has a tough time in looking convincing.

Dull and dreary, this Frankenstein will put you to sleep in your seats and make Mary Shelly squirm in her grave. 

Published in The Navhind Times on 2nd Feb 2014

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