thauseefbhai Reviews

Just Another Love Story (2007)

Strange, erotic, ambivalent, cruel, funny, scary, ugly, beautiful!

[8/10 · 10 January 2009]

This movie is everything that reminds me why I love movies. I came across it unwittingly as I stood outside a remote movie hall in New York and was drawn to its English title, "Just Another Love Story". One glance at the poster told me it was anything but that. A man, stands with a gun drawn over a dead man in a pool of blood. Time wasn't wasted. Tickets were bought. Seats occupied.

The movie begins like promised with a series of numbered love scenes. Except that it was hardly love. It begins with the protagonist's narrative of how it all ends and then we are thrown into his life, abruptly as we come in terms with the brutality of what he does, boring mundaneness of how he lives and how he is suddenly, unwittingly drawn into a passionate love, an exotic fantasy and a forbidden life that he claims as his own.

And as we follow him through a sensory overload of events, we are both repulsed and strangely attracted to his actions. The guilty pleasure of enjoying something really despicable. There is always a woman, the protagonist says, and there is one here. One, we are as much mesmerized with, as is the protagonist. Cleverly written, the characters often dwell in the intricacies of metafiction. A woman and a mystery are the ideal ingredients of a movie, one of the characters says sarcastically. A good shot, says the protagonist in another scene which is a classic film noir shot if any ever is.

The background score is brilliant, alternating between a slow haunting acoustic guitar, to a symphony of sorts as we move through the protagonist's life. The script is fresh and pulsating with energy as we laugh one second and are repulsed the very next. If a movie can make you grimace, laugh and bite you nails with apprehension and wonder at the intelligent sharp exchange of dialog, it is one that has managed to make its mark. This particular movie has surpassed the mark.

Acting by the lead characters is ace. The confrontation scene between the protagonist and his opposite number is fletched out stunningly. Fragments of each life are shown to you, and as you put everything together and move towards what is a stunning climax, you realize somewhat surprised, that this movie is exactly what it promised to be.

Just another love story.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

A grim fairy tale with bursts of originality and beautiful visuals.

[8/10 · 28 November 2008]

A director like Danny Boyle, who gave us the sickeningly tragic comedy "Trainspotting" and the more insane "A life less ordinary" (which for some equally insane reason, I loved), and of course, "The Beach", takes up a subject closer to my home country; Without doubt, I am intrigued. Also, given Boyle's penchant for seeing humor in sadness and pain, I wonder even before I step into to watch the movie, if he will present a slightly harsher version of the (under?)developing country India is.

Surprisingly, Danny Boyle has done a great job of putting together the glimpses of life in the slums, an element that the richer Indian has almost developed an invisible eye to. We know these issues exist, but it takes a movie like Salaam Bombay or in this case, Slum dog Millionaire for us to realize that this is exactly what the city holds in its slums, despite all the fame and glamor of Bollywood and the moonlighted houses at Harbour Road.

The movie is technically strong, visually appealing and bristles with the sort of innocence that only young artists seem to bring out so finely. The background score by A.R. Rahman, is simply fantastic and coordinates so beautifully with all the chase sequences in the movie (there are plenty). Parts of the movie, with their rich color and the harsh truths behind them appealed to me as brilliantly unique and brashly artistic. The cinematography and editing blossomed with originality.

The script however, was anything but unique. I tried to give it the benefit of doubt and think of it as a sort of crude fairytale version of live, but the harsh realism was too much in contrast with some of the prolonged displays of love, which neither Dev Patel or "girl with non Indian name and a shot to fame with no real good acting skills", seemed comfortable or good at.

I felt that while the younger artists performed brilliantly in the movie, the older actors for the most part, came out looking unbelievable. Here was the host of the show, who talks and mocks about a Chai waala, something they would NEVER do (and never did) in the original show. Some of his jabs are plain ridiculous and its unbelievable that the sets had an audience that seemed to enjoy it.

Dev Patel, as the innocent (confused? nervous? what was he trying to portray?) kid on the seat, was confusing in his expressions. One of my friends asked me during the movie, if he was blind. That was a genuine question, considering how Dev Patel looked a little blurry eyed in many scenes. Same with Mahesh Manjrekar as Latika's husband? His performance was a little over the top.

And yet despite these little faults, the movie does stick on to its promise of wrapping up with a fairytale ending. It gives you one last surprise though, and when it finally ends, you are not really unhappy. And it follows up with a Bollywood type number as the credits role, and thats the sweet chutney in your spicy Pani puri. No reservations whatsoever. The Pani puri has worked its magic.

The Dark Knight (2008)

A stupendous effort that needed a little tweaking.

[9/10 · 19 July 2008]

This review is for you, if you have watched it, and are wondering if it was brilliant and flawless. Or was there a tiny little "hard to point your finger at" thing that was wrong with it?

I am an avid Batman fan, who has been devouring the Frank Miller graphic novels that depict the grim and gritty side of the dark Knight. I have followed the tidbits and stories on Dark Knight for over a year. Batman Begins marked the beginning of one of the most amazing "ordinary superhero movie" ever witnessed. Four years later, as I stepped into the hall, and awaited the beginning of this new movie, the excitement was almost palpable.

I was not disappointed. The movie had enough chills and sadistic pleasures to keep me hooked and unable to look away from the screen for the most parts. And yet, when the credits rolled, I had a queer feeling, as though something wasn't entirely right.

A few hours after the sensory overload, when I could finally think,I realized one of its drawbacks was dwelling into too many story plots simultaneously. For instance, we follow the joker through a long, and sometimes cumbersome car chase, which except for that final brilliant (and much publicized) truck sequence, was nothing great. We have been lead to believe that the joker is a man who attacks psychologically, and is not physically strong. This is portrayed eloquently in the interrogation scene.

As a result the car sequence became the sort of cliché they could not avoid despite the possibility of becoming the only boring sequences in an otherwise splendid movie. I remember because, I caught myself yawning.

Also considering how Joker is the arch nemesis of Batman - the yang to the Dark Ying, the absolute bad guy, Two Face pales by comparison. No doubt, the make up and graphics are grotesque and excellently done. But we just are not able to believe that he is capable of the menace that Joker manages to exude.

I just could not believe that Two-Face was that bad. The directors have somehow failed to bring the transition between his characters. If i remember the comic books, the disaster drove Two Face insane, making him dependent on the coin even for small decisions.

The real trouble if you ask me, was bringing in a new villain in the last half hour of the movie. One that made the joker's final confrontation with Batman seem a little unsatisfying. I kept expecting them to show Joker one last time. He didn't die, did he? Yes, I do understand how Joker is the arch nemesis, and its Batman's great burden that he can never kill Joker, and they are back at it time and again...but Ledger is dead. We know he won't return. So we, as audience wanted an ultimatum. Not a dangling loose end and definitely not a dangling loose joker from a building top.

Enough with the criticism. I am Batman fan. A son of batman, if you wanna call me (ref: Frank Miller). I loved the style. I loved the bat pod, the first robbery sequence, Joker's pencil disappearing trick, the flick of his tongue, the little line about Joker completing Batman, the other line about joker being the dog that chases the car and not knowing what to do if it catches the car...

Dark Knight was about Heath Ledger. Sadly, we wanted more of him. It JUST WASN'T ENOUGH! Batman as always was his sporting best, the flight sequences were brilliant, Caine and Freeman had the best lines apart from Ledger. Aaron Eckhart did a great job as Harvey Dent, though I did feel that Two-Face lacked character. I expected the sort of chill Javier Bardem inspired in No country for old men, when he tosses the coin. Instead, Two-Face's tosses were merely just passably interesting. Oh, I must really commend the Nolan brothers for doing away with the only female lead, and in such a sudden and scary way. I almost couldn't believe it.

Enough has been spoken about Ledger. I do not want to be repetitive. Clearly, his lines were the best. But more important was his body language and sequences, which were to say the least, eccentric. Kudos to Nolan for a good script, something that could give Ledger an opportunity for such a mind blowing performance. He sparkles in every scene, and we only wish there was much more of him.

A word on Bale. As Batman, he is the best ever. As Bruce Wayne, he does excel in a few scenes. But were those scenes requiring Bruce Wayne driving around in his Lamborghini necessary at all? In the quest to make The Joker the most remarkable villain ever, some of the dilemmas that made Batman the Dark Knight are never questioned. Batman Begins did such a good job of bringing in the character. Why leave him like hanging like a prop actor in this one?

Some of these sequences could no doubt be shortened. Batman could have been given some character and Two Face could've been the surprise element, AFTER a somewhat more definite end to JOKER, and the movie would have been a tad more awesome. I would have given it a 10. Instead I give it a 9. I dare not give it less than that...

Background score was brilliant. The scenes involving Joker, just before he mutilates someone, or pops a psychological question, are well, horrifying. I was almost squirming in my seat.

Over all a brilliant movie. A landmark Batman film, that ends on the right note, ready to jump headlong into the next phase of Batman's life. I only hope it doesn't take four more years! Long Live the Batman franchise. Long live Nolan fraternity. RIP ledger.

Dasavatharam (2008)

Watch it for its sheer enormity, its brilliant acting, its amazing CGI and the one man army who dons ten avatars!

[9/10 · 17 June 2008]

The most talked about movie in South India, one that had been evading release for almost two years now, and has faced its share of controversy, finally made it to the screens this week. Needless to say, I was there, awaiting a glimpse of what would be one the most exhilarating rides that a movie has ever offered me.

Any movie of Kamal's cannot be described without a preamble on him. And a movie that fills you to the brim with different aspects of his character - ten avatars (forms) to be precise, cannot be gotten into without acknowledging that the movie, is not about the script (which in this case, is sometimes faulty), not about the music (which is ordinary) and definitely not about logic (which is perhaps non-existent).

The movie instead, is about Kamal Hassan.

Here it is then, the ode to Kamal Hassan. Arguably the best actor India has had to offer, along the leagues of Mohan Lal and perhaps Naseerudding Shah. He has done the most awe inspiring roles in other movies, from a dwarf (Appu Raja) to a buck toothed politician (Indiran Chandiran), to a seventy year old man (Indian), to a communist who's face has been scarred by an accident (Anve Sivam).

In Dasavatharam, he pulls the coup of his life, donning ten roles. The most worthy of which are the hot passionate 12th century Vaishnavite, Rangaraja Nambi (Kamal emotes mostly with his eyes in this role), the protagonist Govindarajan, ( a biotechnologist who is probably the only character without make-up) , George Bush (or at least what appears to be Kamal's little spoof on him), the suave a-la-terminator villain Christian Fletcher, the bumbling cop Balram Naidu, the Japanese martial artist Shinghen Narahasi, the dalit leader Vincent and the old woman Krishnaveni.

Some of these characters are simply mind blowing. You cannot help but stare in awe as you watch the cold blooded Christian Fletcher kill mercilessly, or enunciate in a perfectly American accent, or flip the camera in a well portrayed scene. He is the epitome of chillness and one cannot but remind oneself gently that beneath the make up, it is Kamal Hassan, not some white dude. The same Kamal Hassan who is the protagonist running away from the killer.

Balram Naidu, as the over weight, bumbling CBI officer, is hilarious, and is one of the most well fletched out characters in this movie. Having said that, I must also say, that in a quest to have ten characters, and hence fulfil the title of "Dasavatharam", meaning "Ten Avatars", a few characters, have nothing to do, except slow the script down. Kalifullah Mukhtaar, for instance, the Seven foot Muslim youth, has nothing much to do, except look tall, and walk around, putting his little share in the "Chaos theory"/"chain of events" plot line that this film revolves around.

The plot, as I said before, is not without it faults. But its a technicality that we must not bother ourselves with. When you have special effects the likes of which have never been seen in an India movie, characters that have been given flesh and blood by none other than Kamal Hassan, who really cares if the plot is not the most amazing piece of literature that you have ever witnessed?

Watch the movie for what it is - A noble attempt that no-one has ever attempted. Not even Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove, who played four roles. While Kamal himself has attempted four roles in an earlier movie, the task of putting in ten roles, can sometimes cause the script to have a few lose ends, which is what has happened in this case. Instead get lost in the special effects and the maddening race of characters on the screen that interact and run and fight and argue, and let it strike you every now and then, that each of these characters is none other than Kamal Hassan himself.

Watch the breathtaking 12th century sets, the Tsunami scene that captures the essence of the disaster, the spoof on George Bush ( One particular line has an aide telling him that a biological weapon has gone haywire and can only be stopped with common salt, to which Bush replies, why cant we just use Nuclear weapons?), the awesomeness of the villain, and some of the most brilliant acting/voice modulating that Kamal has done ever.

Watch the movie, if you like Kamal. Or watch it, if you have a passion for movies at all. Watch this movie for the same reasons that you would watch a Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez movie. Because this movie is the passionate work of somebody who loves them!

And you know that they had a ball making it.

August Rush (2007)

If you had the vaguest of imaginations, you will probably predict it!

[5/10 · 13 March 2008]

With a star cast that consisted of Robin Williams, Terence Howard, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and one of the biggest star kids in Hollywood -Freddie Highmore, a story about a musical genius, it has to be a brilliant movie, hasn't it? Wrong. Instead, this is by far the cheesiest, most predictable trash I have seen this year. Jonathan Rhys Meyers sleepwalks through the movie and the Irish angle that did wonders for Gerard Butler in PS - I love you, only ends up sounding clichéd here.There is no hint of romance between the lead pair. Freddie Highmore who did wonders in movies such as Finding Neverland and Charlie and Chocolate factory, just comes up looking like a kid who has no clue what he is doing. Robbin Williams is entirely wasted in a role that neither has the melancholic undertones that it ought to, nor the dilemma his character must have had. Terence Howard manages to look serious and mournful through out the movie, and while those very traits did wonders for him in Crash and Hustle and Flow, here, they only make you wonder what he is even doing in the movie.

The final verdict? While the makers seem to been successful in assembling a powerful star cast, if only they had paid half as bit importance to the script, they would have a much more watchable movie.

Chances are, you will yawn when you see the kid in the field for the first time, and right through the movie till the credits roll.

5 on 10.