Film Review - Unbroken

Of Guts And Glory

Film: Unbroken

Cast: Jack O’Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, Takamasa Ishihara

Directed by: Angelina Jolie

Duration: 2 hrs 17 mins

Rating: *  *  *

The story of a former Olympian ending up as a prisoner of war is an interesting premise to begin with – not many have heard of Louis Zamperini, the son of an Italian immigrant who represented America before WW II broke out and he landed in the army. Instead of running on the race track, he was aboard fighter planes trying to defeat the Japanese.

After her debut feature In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011), Angelina Jolie returns as a director and being a glamorous actress, one has a few notions to shed before you can reconcile with the fact that she does have a knack for direction. The screen play that bears the name of the Coen Brothers as co-writers, is slightly elongated and you don’t expect anything short of the best when the two brothers are involved and it is only fair to say this is mediocre by their standards. 

Based on the book by Laura Hillenbrand, the film opens with a bang – an air raid across the Pacific where Zamperini (Jack O’Connell) and his buddies are dropping bombs in a fighter plane.  You are on the edge of the seat when the action unfolds as the bay door doesn’t shut and they have to come out of a tricky situation. 

 In flashbacks, we are told about Zamperini’s childhood, he was a rather difficult kid to deal with till his brother spots the potential in him as a runner. He went on to represent USA at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and even though he didn’t win any medals there, he was noticed by everyone for putting up a close fight. 

Cut to the present, along with two other survivors, he ends up in the middle of the ocean in the dinghy after their plane crashes. The survival story takes over and we have seen such segments before so there is hardly any novel element there. Jolie sufficiently manages to engross you in their ordeal and Zamperini’s never say die attitude. It continues in the third and final act as well but to a lesser degree when he is taken to a prison camp which already has a bunch of Americans and is singled out for special treatment by a rather brutal corporal (Takamasa Ishihara, a well known singer -songwriter). His fascination for the athlete is intriguing, there is some kind of an admiration there but all some deep hatred as well. At one point, he lines up all the prisoners to punch Zamperini in his face. 

It is in the last and final lap that the film stumbles a bit – after all, there is only so much of prisoners camp incidents that you can take, not because of the violence but because it gets routine. Jolie perhaps wanted to highlight the fact the how in-human mortals become during war and the point is well taken. 

Zamperini’s story is inspirational in many ways – not only for his spirit (he was forced to hold a log of wood on his head, if he drops it, he’ll be shot) but also for what he did afterwards, he forgave everyone for their misdeeds. But this is just mentioned in the title cards at the end.

Technically, the film is quite accomplished with names like Roger Deakins behind the camera and Alexandre Desplat as the music composer. It also is a big breakthrough for the lead actor Jack O’Connoll who with his good looks also makes a positive  impact. All in all, Unbroken is not deeply but reasonably satisfying. 

Published in The Navhind Times on 4th Jan 2015

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Film Review -The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death

Back in Black

Film: The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death

Cast: Phoebe Fox, Jeremy Irvine, Helen McCrory

Directed by: Tom Harper

Duration: 1 hr 38 mins

Rating: *  * 1 / 2

Susan Hills popular ghost story The Woman in Black was adapted as a film in 2011 and since it was a commercial success the sequel has followed suit. Apart from the economics, I don’t see any reason why this film was made, it is not a terrible sequel but there isn’t a great deal to write home about either.

The original film starred Daniel Radcliffe and since his character dies at the end he is not in this film although the chance of bringing him back as a ghost couldn’t have been ruled out.

The film is set during WWII and people of Crythin Gifford have left the village. Barring the ghost and an old caretaker, there is no one there. With the war in full swing , children are rescued and sent to more safer places. In this case, they don’t find any better place than the rather eerie village. Eve Parkins (Phoebe Fox) is a kind hearted teacher and the headmistress (Helen McCrory) is rather strict lady. With a handful of kids in tow they land in the old haunted Eel Marsh mansion.

The first target for the ghoul is a young boy Edward, who doesn’t speak and slowly the evil starts spreading around. Ms. Parkins also has a suitor in the form of a fighter pilot who is the only other resident in that part of the world.  

As it had to be, the young teacher also becomes a target of the haunted spirit and it all comes to an end with the expected explanations.

Angel of Death has the occasional spark but for many parts it is just dull. At no point is enough interested evoked in the characters, including the ghost. Luckily, the director has restrained himself from overdoing the standard tropes seen in horror films. Relative newcomer Phoebe Fox as the leading lady has put up a good show but otherwise this ghost business is average fare.

Published in The Navhind Times on 4th Jan 2015

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Film Review - Lokmanya: Ek Yugpurush

Freedom Struggle 

Film: Lokmanya : Ek Yugpurush (Marathi with English subtitles)

Cast: Subodh Bhave, Chinmay Mandlekar, Sameer Vidwans
Directed by: Om Raut
Duration: 2 hrs 25 mins
Rating:  * *  

When it comes to biopics, you want to applaud the effort put in by film makers when they tell an inspirational story. But going by the evidence of biopics in Indian cinema, it is an uphill task to make a film that will rightly capture the spirit of what these idols stood for. Director Om Raut’s effort to shed light on Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak life is a sincere and noble effort but sadly it doesn’t translate into a film that will do justice to the life and the thoughts of the great man. 

There are some inspiring moments but there are is a bit of melodrama as well and there is no point in stylizing such content – for instance we see Lokmanya Tilak running in slow motion at least thrice in the film. Such stylization is best left for commercial potboilers and not for a man who gave all his life for the freedom struggle and to reform the society.

Many of his contributions are well known, his advocacy of Swaraj, the Swadeshi movement, public celebrations of festivals like Ganesh Chathurthi, Kesari the news paper and in the field of education.  Plus his role in the shaping the freedom struggle has also been highlighted in school history books. 

The film is told cutting between the past and the present, a journalist (Chinmay Mandlekar) is inspired by the life of Tilak after reading about him, a la Rang De Basanti.  The leaders life is recounted through various incidents that occurred during his life time, his friendship with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar (Sameer Vidwans) with whom he shared the same ideology to begin with but then split later right to the bubonic plague that struck Pune in 1896 to his six year imprisonment in Mandalay, the film covers it all.

But the narrative is faulty. At times it is a bit all over the place and doesn’t stick a particular thread. Also the fusion of the past and present doesn’t really amalgamate well and looks artificial. 

The highlight is Subodh Bhave who is excels in the lead role. It is his effort that has adds considerable value to the film, which, though it tells an important story cinematically it leaves a lot to be desired. But it remains an important story all the same. 

Published in The Navhind Times on 4th Jan 2015

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Film Review - Ugly

Eye of the Beholder

Film: Ugly

Cast: Ronit Roy, Rahul Bhat, Girish Kulkarni, Tejaswini Kolhapure

Directed by: Anurag Kashyap

Duration: 2 hrs 7 mins

Rating; * * * *

Anurag Kashyap’s much awaited Ugly has finally hit the theatres just as we say good bye to 2014. Suffice to say that even though this tale is dark and grim, it is a good way to end the year, after all, Ugly is certainly one of the best films of the year

.

While Wasseypur was whacky and brave, this is the Kashyap we know of from Black Friday – a director who doesn’t mind walking the lonely path and do his own thing and yet connect with the audiences. Much like that film on the Mumbai blasts, Kashyap also extracts some terrific performances from actors who are not in the A list of stars. 

Plus, he also has that knack for writing and crafting brilliant scenes. Imagine the child is kidnapped while the father and his friend go to the police station to register a case, the cop instead of looking into the matter with urgency is more curious to know about smart phones and how a person’s photo can be displayed along with the number when he or she is calling. As absurd as it may sound, it is one of the most remarkable scenes among the films we have seen in 2014. 

At the heart of it, Ugly is a kidnapping drama. A ten year old girl vanishes from a car when her father Rahul (Rahul Bhat) leaves her alone for just a bit. But it is not your standard formulaic kidnapping story, this is more of a human drama and every character here has something at stake. Rahul is a struggling actor still looking for his big break, his best friend Chaitanya (Vineet Kumar Singh) is a casting director who first notices that the little girl has gone missing. The actor is separated from his wife (Tejaswini Kolhapure) and she is inseparable from alcohol. She is now married to a top cop (Ronit Roy) who is a tough cookie and will go to any extent to find his step- daughter.

Investigating the case Jadhav (Girish Kulkarni), a no-nonsense cop who will go that extra yard since his boss is involved in the matter.

None of these finely characters are what they appear to be – there is deceit, double crossing and ultimately all of them are serving their self interest. Kashyap succeeds in making the film more than just a kidnapping tale. In fact, for most parts of the film you are more attentive to what the people are upto and why rather than ponder about the little girl, everyone has their own agenda here.

Unlike say Inkaar (1977, which was inspired by Kurosawa’s High and Low (1963) which were in a thriller mould to a large extent, Kashyap exposes the frailties of human nature. 

While more and more film makers are moving away from Mumbai when it comes to shooting outdoors, Kashyap’s love affair with the city continues and cinematographer Nikos Andritsakis (Love, Sex aur Dhokha fame) captures every detail. 

The acting department deserves kudos. Rahul Bhat as the tormented father and Ronit Roy as the heartless yet dignified cop are spot on. Vineet Singh as the sleazy friend and Tejaswini Kolhapure as the mother are apt. National award winner for Deool (2011) and well known Marathi actor Girish Kulkarni makes a smashing debut in Hindi films.

All in all, Ugly is the work of a director who is on the top of his game.

Published in The Navhind Times on 28th Dec 2014

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Film Review - Home Sweet Home (Konkani)

It’s Better In Goa 

Film: Home Sweet Home (Konkani)

Cast: John D’Silva, Rajdeep Naik

Directed by: Swapnil Shetkar

Duration: 2 hrs 17 mins

Rating: * * *

There are very few Konkani films made every year and at times, they lack consistency in terms of story-telling and craft. But am very happy to report that Swapnil Shetkar’s latest venture Home Sweet Home is film that will strike a chord, especially with the Goan audiences. Tackling the subject of migration, land sale and Goan-ness, the young director makes some pertinent points without being too preachy most of the times.

The writing (by Shetkar himself) is admirable with some witty and peppy dialogues but the film flounders in the last final act. But barring that this effort is quite heartening and if this is a sign of things to come, we can expect Konkani film makers to raise the bar even higher. 

John (John D’Silva) plays an NRI who doesn’t have much of a family and returns to Goa after a decade and a half. He strikes a friendly note with a taxi driver Raj (Rajdeep Naik) but John gets the shock of his life when he reaches his home. Well, there is no house there to begin with instead he finds that an apartment has replaced his ancestral abode.            

While he was away, he had left it in the safe hands of his friend (Luis Bachchan) but turns out that a builder ‘bought’ the property and built a residential complex. There on begins John’s struggle to get back what rightly belongs to him and giving him company is the taxi driver.

The camaraderie between the two men is what pulls the film through. While there is an occasional dose of humor, the screenplay also makes points about this whole issue of Goans leaving for greener pastures abroad and non-Goans coming and settling in Goa. “If there are so few opportunities in Goa how come outsiders are coming settling here?” a character rightly asks.

For most parts, this Goan, non-Goan issue is tackled sensible, there is the odd scene where it goes overboard though. The finale acts as a dampner and instead of wrapping it up nicely it takes a rather unexpected route.

But that is a blemish we’ll have live with otherwise Shetkar and co have done a mighty impressive job.

Barring those pointless close-ups and there are quite a few of them, technically you can see there is an effort to get it right. That long take scene for example, when the two men are having a conversation Raj’s house over a drink, it’s an example of a good writing and it is equally well shot. The background music also contributes significantly when it doesn’t become too dramatic that is.

The lead actors have done a remarkable job. John D’Silva is a big name on stage and proves again that he has it in him in front of the camera as well. Very few actors are gifted with such terrific timing and John D’Silva is surely one of them. Rajdeep Naik, another stage artist also holds his end equally well and together they make a good team. 

For those who love anything Goan, this film needs your encouragement and hence it’s not to be missed.   

Published in The Navhind Times on 28th Dec 2014
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