TOP 10 MOVIES OF BOLLYWOOD 2013

This is that time of the year where we start to look back at the best and the worst in the year gone by. We look back at everything from events in our own life as well as events in other fields as well. So why should films be left behind????

This year we celebrated 100 years of Bollywood and it is a really big milestone and a proud one for us Indians. But sadly the quality of films churned out this year ranged from obnoxious to downright dumb. Bollywood seems to be divided into two distinct parts - The one which counts Quantity and the other which counts Quality - and the sad part is that there is hardly any movie merging both together. 100 Crore seems things of the past and the new benchmark is 200- 300 Crores as set by some of the Blockbusters this year.But are the makers of these films really caring that films are a medium of art is a matter of huge debate. Can we judge the quality of the general audience based on these hits??? I don't know but I know this that unless this is a fad, it does not augur well for film lovers like us and the industry as a whole.

Anyway, this post is about the 10 best films Bollywood produced this year according to me. I guess I have watched more or less all the worthy films to be in contention - barring SHIP OF THESEUS and RAMLEELA - and this is my humble POV. This list may not contain the so called Blockbusters of the year, but films which made me sit up and pay notice. So here goes the list..............

10. D Day

 There was a time in his prime when Rishi Kapoor was frustrated with playing the same romantic hero in each of his movies. That was then, but during the past couple of years he has truly experimented with characters of the darker shade. AGNEEPATH showed that he can carry out the negative character with ease and in D Day he has again showed what a great actor he is. His portrayal of Dawood seemed as close to reality as it can get. Combine this with a brilliant ensamble cast including the brilliant Irrfan Khan and you have one of the better films of the year. The songs are good and the action sequences shot well. Its more than your one-time-watch caper.

9. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

This movie is the biopic of sprinter Milkha Singh and his journey from a child in the refugee camps after partition to becoming one of the most famous sportsman of this country. If there was one movie this year which was  a one man show, this has to be it. Take a bow Farhan Akhtar for portraying the role to perfection and his dedication for the role can be made out as soon as you watch the film. Be it  his awesome change in physique or his seamless change of character from a shy romantic to a fierce competitor, he deserves a pat on his back for this role.The only reason this film finds itself in the lower half of the list is its length and lack of anything else to mention other than Farhan.

8. Jolly LLB

Films like Jolly LLB proves time and again that a smart script with competent actors is all we need sometime to produce a wonderful film. I did not have much expectations from this film, but oh boy I had a smile on my face as I left the theater. The trio of Boman Irani, Arshad Warsi and specially Saurabh Shukla are brilliant and this is probably the first time we see in a bollywood movie what a real courtroom looks like. The story was in sync with our current issues and problems in our judicial system where the big fish often escapes, and the editing was well done. This one was a surprise package of the year.

7. Bombay Talkies

Being the 100th year of Bollywood,how come a film celebrating the milestone be too far in this list. BOMBAY TALKIES is a Omnibus of 4 films directed by 4 celebrated directors of Bollywood in recent times. Each of the films show different aspects of our lives and how each of the characters deals with them. Each of the segments are beautifully directed and the acting in each of them is brilliant - specially the segment featuring Nawazuddin. Overall, this was one film which may not get popular success but was a good effort and a nice collaboration.

6. Lootera

The thing with Romantic tragedies is that if executed properly, they stay with you for a long time. Yes we knew what was going to happen in the movie once it was revealed what was its source of inspiration, but still LOOTERA is a very well made film. The beauty of the film is its simplicity and the wonderful romance between Ranveer and Sonakshi who both does an excellent job in bringing their roles alive. Add to that some beautiful cinematography which transports us to the Bengal of the past and some really melodious songs, and we have a simple yet lovely film which should not be missed.

5. The Lunchbox

This was a year of some really innovative stories being tried on the big screen. Some failed to capture our imagination but some really hit the right notes. THE LUNCHBOX  was a delicious offering which was really out of the box. The story of friendship between two diametrically different human beings where food acts as the catalyst really is presented beautifully. We have a smile on our face as we become privy to their conversations, but at the same time can feel the void in their respective lives. Films like these are rare in Bollywood and the acclaim this movie received brings hope that all is not bad with the industry. But this film could have done with a lil more pace as it feels repetative at some point.

4. Kai Po Che

You can never be sure how a movie adaptation of a Chetan Bhagat book turns out. While I found his book THE THREE MISTAKES OF MY LIFE as his worst book, I was sure it was the one which could be made into a great Bollywood masala film. But the big screen adaptation really left me surprised. It was great alright, but it was far from the melodramatic masala it could have been. It is narrated in a such a manner it touches your heart and you begin to feel for each of the characters. It helped that the ending was tweaked for the movie which made it more hard hitting. Bollywood may have unearthed a future star in Sushant Singh Rajput and Raj Kumar Yadav is brilliant as usual. The music and songs are awesome too. Overall a surprise package which surpassed my expectation.

3. Madras Cafe

You may wonder how does a film starring John Abraham and Nargis Fakhri - admittedly not the best of actors - be so high in this list. But make no mistake this is one of the best and slick thrillers ever seen in Bollywood. It is a Political thriller based on the assassination of former Prime minister Mr. Rajeev Gandhi as told from the POV of the character of John. This must be the best shot film of Bollywood in recent times, if not the best ever. The pace is taut and acting brilliant. Be pleasantly surprised with the performance of Siddartha Basu who makes his debut.

2. Special 26

Its always a treat when a con movie gets it right, but more often than not the big twist or revelation is the major letdown. But this wonderful movie manages to carry the story beautifully with the right twists at the right time. The movie is certainly helped by great acting from brilliant actors and none more than Akshay Kunar. He shows us yet again what is he capable of, but sadly we see this side of him rarely these days.A wonderful tale told in the backdrop of Delhi and Bombay from years gone by, this one is indeed Special.

1. Raanjhanaa

At the start of this year, If someone told me that I would rate RAANJHANAA as the best film of 2013 come December when I sit down to make this list, I would have just laughed away and think he must be out of his mind. This film stars Sonam kapoor who has as many expressions as there are dinosaurs inhabiting our earth, and opposite him we have Dhanush of Kolaveri Di fame who is by no means the ideal choice for a bollywood hero.The question was how good can it be. Believe me when I say that you have to watch this film to know just how good it is. There is still the same number of expressions on Sonam Kapoor's face, but Dhanus will steal your heart and make it ache for him.He gives the best performance of this year and the transformations in his character over his journey to find love and do everything to fulfill his side of unconditional love is just amazing. The score by the mozart of Madras adds an extra dimension to the movie. I was blown away by the film and this, for me, is the best film of 2013.

So these were the films I felt deserved to find a mention as the best of 2013. I know its not the most conventional list as this list features almost none of the top grosser of the year, but as I said earlier, this was a year where either you side with quantity or quality. Overall a very mediocre year in terms of quality but huge on quantity........

A SINGLE MAN - A Wonderful Tale

Tom Ford’s A Single Man is swimming with emotion and heartbreak. The wonderful performances, combined with a striking depth of character, brings a sense of joy and heartbreak in the heart of the viewer. The beautiful cinematography adds a charm to the film which is perfectly contrasted by the woe and tragedy of the story and the life of the lead character. As we journey with George through his daily life we become engulfed with him, in his tragedy. After losing his partner in an accident, George’s life has become monotonous, meaningless and painful. As we join him in his morning routines in the first few minutes of the film, we are instantly drawn to his suffering. Colin Firth is at his best ever in A Single Man.Firth gives a performance so raw and so fascinating that it is impossible not to feel the sorrow and solitude that consumes him.

Julianne Moore is dazzling in her role as George’s one true friend, Charley (She always is). Her empty marriage and the lack of real love in her life are replaced with the material. As George’s comfort, Moore gives a delicious performance that highlights her ability as an actress, to truly understand a character and deliver the inner workings of a woman on to the silver screen. Nicholas Hoult also compliments Firth brilliantly as the new love interest and the lingering reminder of freedom and youth.I came across this guy recently in Warm Bodies and I wish he delivers more in the coming years.It is the combination of these performances, along with Ford’s exquisite direction, that makes A Single Man such as striking piece of work.

A Single Man is wonderful without trying to be. It is cool, collective and chaotic all at once. This film succeeds in the wonderful art of making you care about characters that aren’t necessarily very likeable individuals. George is matter of fact, slightly arrogant and closed off. Charley is shallow and selfish and yet our hearts break as we watch them try to cope with losing true love and the heart wrenching agony of never being able to say goodbye. A Single Man combines a masterful script with detailed characters and performances that do such characters justice. It is the use of visual colour that adds a perspective to the suffering in this story that only cinema could do. This is undoubtedly one of my favourite films of the last ten years, A Single Man will draw you in, consume you and leave you feeling both empty and elated.

WORTHY MENTIONS

The film was shot in just 21 days. 

Tom Ford financed the film himself and this was his directorial debut.

MY VERDICT

**** - Sublime

INSIDIOUS - Scaryyyyyy with a Wildddd theory

I have been watching a lot of horror movies lately which I may have missed lately. Insidious was the one I started out with.I had heard a lot about this film but the storyline never tempted me enough.But I must admit its damn scary in parts but with a predictable storyline.The film mainly tries to build on the jump scare moments, but boy they succeed in doing so in some of the scenes.

The Lambert’s have just moved into a new house. Renai (Rose Byrne) quit her job to focus on music and raise the kids, but the latter is proving to be more time-consuming than expected. There’s boxes to unpack, a baby who won’t stop crying and a husband (Patrick Wilson) who’s becoming increasingly distant. Josh assures her nothing’s wrong, but something feels off. She knows it. She just can’t put her finger on what. Unfortunately, that proof comes by way of a terrible accident. Oldest son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) goes exploring in the attic and lands on his head. Apart from a few bumps and bruises, he initially seems fine but fails to wake up the following morning. He’s rushed to the hospital where the puzzled doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong. He’s not in a coma. He just won’t wake up. onths later, the family has gotten somewhat used to their comatose son, but the weird occurrences have continued, getting more and more menacing to the point of them actually seeing frightening beings wandering around their house. Changing houses doesn't rid them of the problem, and by the time they call in a paranormal investigator with her crew, the situation has put you well on edge, not knowing what exactly is going on or what will happen next. 

The best thing about the movie is that the above events constitute two-thirds of the movie and the audience still  has no clue of what is going on. And this answer is the key to the movie.Its as wild an explanation as I have ever come across. Either it would go down well or it would spoil the whole experience.I somehow accepted it as it was sort of interesting.

A key component to any of it working as well as it does is the perfect casting of Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne, two terrific actors who have proven they can do anything. They're incredibly believable as a married couple and they really pull you into the lives of the characters just as it's disrupted by them being pulled into the unknown.Although Wan and Whannell are working in a genre that's been done to death, they're able to keep things from getting too predictable due to their quirky sensibilities, ably avoiding the clichés despite the obvious influences. Sure, there are a few jump scares but they're never done in a cheap way. In fact, most of the scariest moments take place during the most innocuous dialogue sequences, just as you're relaxing from the last one, which just makes the whole freakier, since you never know exactly what might happen next.

Insidious is  one of the scariest and creepiest movies in some time - Wan does one better in his latest -and the odd sense of humor that permeates the film's darker moments just makes it that much more enjoyable.Recommended for all horror fans.Films like these proves that a film can be scary sans the blood and gore.My only complain - THE DEMON COULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO LOOK SCARIER.

 

WORTHY MENTIONS

 

Screenwriter Leigh Whannell gets into the act, showing up as one of the paranormal investigators named "Specs" (yes, he wears glasses), and it's infinitely entertaining to watch him and his partner Tucker (Angus Sampson) pulling out an odd array of gadgets to investigate the paranormal activities. 

 

MY VERDICT

 

***1/2 - Nice gem from Wan

 

BESHARAM - The name says it all

BESHARAM was released on a Wednesday keeping in mind the national holiday in our country, and with no major releases the week before, this film was guaranteed a grand opening. The film boasts of a director whose previous work set the balls rolling for the mass entertainers in Bollywood. It has the whole Kapoor trio of father-mom-son and some hummable songs. How bad could it be??? Must be a one time watch to be enjoyed on a lazy wednesday evening - i convinced myself and my friends - and set out to watch it. The only suggestion I can give to the others who has not seen it yet is PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THIS.

The title of the film takes itself too seriously. The film is loaded with crass humor and toilet jokes but the problem is that it never tries to be smart or even sensitive.We have seen Jim Carrey pull off films doing crazy things wearing even crazier outfits, but there was some great stories to back him up. The only thing reminiscent of the great comedian is the expression the protagonist and his sidekicks borrows from him at the start of the film. But it goes downhill from there. Besharam turns over every cliché from the Big Black Book of Hindi Movie Plots section that lists “Robin Hood-inspired Thief Takes Good Turn After Heart is Stolen."During its course it even tries to pay tribute to the 70s with its settings and songs but you don't even care for it after a while.

The film's plot is centered on a loutish car thief, Babli (Ranbir Kapoor), who must steal back a car that he sold to a murderous money launderer (Javed Jaffrey), when he falls for the poor girl who owned the car (newcomer Pallavi Sharda). The plot is wafer thin but if handled adequately, could have been less treacherous.Add to that the pair of Rishi and Neetu Kapoor who never decide upon their character shades and suddenly disappear in the second half only to return inexplicably by the end of the movie. The same can be said about the only likable actor Titu (Amitosh Nagpal) who never appears enough in the second half.

But whats most disappointing and a curious case is the association of one of the finest actors in this generation with this tragedy of a film. For a actor who has done varied roles in movies like Wake Up Sid, Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year, Rockstar and Barfi, the actor sure needs to choose his roles carefully. He has become more of an icon for the youngsters and this film will certainly not go down too well with them. He never fails in way of acting, but his mannerisms and histrionics will certainly not make the parents happy who bought their kids along with them to view the film. I dare say that this movie wouldn't even have got a decent opening if not for the association of Ranbir Kapoor and that's a big responsibility and he has let his fans down on this one.

The movie has certainly got a good opening but it's future in the box office depends on its content and sadly there isn't any. But so didn't  some of the recent releases which has gone on to become hits. I don't care about it's collections, but don't waste your time and money on this tacky and off-putting mess.

MY VERDICT

* - Avoid this

THE FROZEN GROUND - Cold hearted drama

Films based on Serial killers tend to follow a common trend.There will be a police officer who conducts his manhunt based on some witness or evidences. A prime witness who manages to escape from the clutches of the killer.The killer himself leads a dual life like Jekyl/Hyde and has no particular reasons for killing off his victims. And lastly, some scenes depicting the act of killings itself. Debutant director Scott Walker doesn’t bring any new insights to the serial killer genre, but he creates a satisfying atmosphere of dread and desolation.

Set in 1983 in Anchorage and based on a real case, the screenplay follows in the tracks of state trooper Jack (Cage) and his team as they hunt for serial offender Robert Hansen (Cusack) before he kidnaps, rapes, tortures and murders his next victim. Their only hope is a prostitute, Cindy Paulson (Vanessa Hudgens), who escapes her attacker’s clutches and understandably doesn’t want to go anywhere near the police.

The only thing really separating this film from the others like it is the cast.The biggest stars are Nicolas Cage as the State Trooper after Hansen, Vanessa Hudgens (unfortunately) as the escaped victim and John Cusack as the killer. Nicolas Cage is so grounded here, so real and simple. The whole film really hinges on Holcombe trying to make Cindy trust him so that she will testify and be a reliable witness, and this is where Cage shines. His entire performance is about two things only: thinking and listening.Cage was one of my favorite actors for quiet a while till World Trade Center  happened. Things went terribly south thereafter and he has been a shadow of his past, but it is so good to see him return to something of his best here. John Cussack is a hugely under rated actor who has given really good performances in his carrier, and he doesn't disappoint here as well.But the real surprise package is Venessa Hudgens who has matured tremendously from her High School Muical Days.

For an inexperienced director like Scott Walker this a great start to a career. The desolate Alaskan wilderness is shot in a way that reflects the bleak and hopeless mood of the first hour or so of the film. In contrast, the busy city of Anchorage seems dangerous and dirty much like the people and the girl gets mixed up in.This is a film with nothing new to offer and even the serial killer himself is not a legend like Ted Bundy. But, there is something different in its intensity and presentation.If for nothing else, watch it for Nicholas Cage and his revival which I hope would continue for some time.

WORTHY MENTIONS

There is a blink and miss role by 50 cents

MY VERDICT

*** - Good to see Cage back

THE BLING RING - Are American celebrities so dumb

At the start of the film we are told that the film is based on an article in Vanity Fair magazine and that it is based on real events.After watching the trailer, I was excited by both the premise of the story and the lady behind the lens - Sofia Cappola. But after watching The Bling Ring, I was firstly disappointing by the handling of the story by the director and I was equally awestruck by the utter dumbness of the celebrities who were affected and I did not feel any symapthy for their stupidity.

The Bling Ring inspired by the case of a gang of Los Angeles teenagers who broke into the homes of some of the city's celebrities and stole a total of $3 million in jewellery, cash and clothes. It wasn't difficult. Doors were found unlocked and security cameras were easily avoided - until they got really careless.Our guide to the working of the gang is Marc (Israel Broussard). He meets the others when he and his parents move into a  suburb in the San Fernando Valley full of big, boxy houses with immaculate lawns and well-placed families for whom status matters quite a lot.He's taken up by Rebecca (Katie Chang), a self-possessed Korean-American girl whose obsessions match his own. And from that point things accelerate rapidly. They're soon consulting the websites that keep tabs on the whereabouts of their favourite celebrities and whenever they're out of town, they break into their houses.Before long, the gang has expanded to include Rebecca's friends, dedicated party girls Chloe (Claire Julien), Nicki (Emma Watson) and her adopted sister, Sam (Taissa Farmiga). All of them are delighted at the prospect of launching a new career in grand larceny, and Marc, the only one who expresses any qualms about the possibility of getting caught, is persuaded to calm down and get on with it.

There are some major flaws in the movie.The main problem with the film  is the lack of accountability.Coppola seems to send out a message like, "they have so much stuff, it's hard to feel sorry for them." Yes, but a victim's wealth doesn't normally figure in deciding the amount of culpability.When a victim is as rich and stupid as Paris Hilton (she actually left her spare key under the mat), does that mean she deserves what she gets? This film comes to no real conclusion, just leaves you wondering what exactly the parents were doing while all this was going on. For another, there's the involvement of actual celebrities in a movie that's mainly about celebrity-envy. Paris Hilton and Kirsten Dunst have non-speaking cameos as themselves; more importantly, Hilton's real house is used throughout the film.Coppola neither makes a case for her characters nor places them inside of some kind of moral or critical framework; they simply pass through the frame, listing off name brands and staring at their phones and posting their celebrated acts on Facebook.It seems she is unsure of her own feelings about this and thus makes a shallow ambiguous film for each to reach his own conclusion.

The other thing that turns what might have been an underdog heist story into a glamorous mess  is the casting of Emma Watson as one of the bling ring leaders. This is very distracting, and Watson's well-toned figure is given excess airtime, leaving the lesser – and potentially more interesting – members of the gang with insufficient space for their motives to be heard.

This film could have been so much more if the director was more sure of her motives and feelings about the incidents.It seems that she had detached herself from the characters just like her characters in Lost In Translation. After an hour into the movie you would feel that you have been watching the same things over and over again. We would have loved to see the back stories of these characters and a little bit more pace.Instead, we get a shallow movie about narcissistic characters and dumb celebrities.

WORTHY MENTIONS

Watch out for the long take during the robbery of Audrina Patridge's house. It reflects the sense of detachment we feel as the viewer.

This is the first movie starring Emma Watson not based on a book. 

MY VERDICT

**1/2 - Wait for the DVD

42 - Not just about sports

There is a scene in 42 in which Philadelphia Phillies manager Ben Chapman climbs out of the dugout and spews cruel racist remarks at Brooklyn Dodgers rookie Jackie Robinson.You can see the pain and rage on Robinson’s face as he tries to concentrate on his bat, knowing if he goes after Chapman, the headlines won’t be about the hateful manager — they’ll be about the first black player in the major leagues “attacking” the opposition.You immediately feel for this rookie and the fine line of emotional balance he has to maintain at every step of his amazing journey.On the exterior, this may seem like just another sports film, but it is much more than that. This is more of a drama centered around around one of the most significant sporting events in the history of baseball.

Based on the true story of Branch Rickey’s signing of Jackie Robinson for the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team in 1946 in a bid to start racial equality within the sport; the film’s opening narration informs us that before this season there was not one black player in the league but things were about to change.Racism, however, was not only present in the game but also rife across America at this time, and the film is more about what Robinson stood for for humanity, not just baseball in general. Robinson and Ricky knew they will be hated and abused from the fans and fellow players, but the weight of what Robinson must have had on his shoulders must have been incredible, especially as he knows one wrong word or if he shows a fight against his oppressors, he will not only lose his personal battle, but also damage the possibilities for other black players to follow in his footsteps.

Chadwick Boseman as Robinson is good and handles the array of emotions really well, but somehow I felt he could have done better with the role and seemed too uni dimensional at times. Harrison Ford as Rickey gives one of the best performances of his career.Whether Rickey’s lecturing young team members in his office, or observing his team from the sidelines, he’s filled with one-liner wisdom and perfectly timed punch lines. Andre Holland is solid as Wendell Smith, a black sportswriter who’s more of a travel guide for Robinson.

42 is one of the better films of this year but not without its faults.At times the journey of Robinson seems too easy and the film could have shown more of the struggles he may have gone through in his time.But without being too critical, this is a good movie about human courage and character and it is a film which deserves to be made. The screenplay is excellent,the sports scenes are excellent,the support cast competent and Harrison Ford with a potential to get an Oscar nod.Don't miss this if you like warm uplifting films.

WORTHY MENTIONS

Watch out for the superb scene which follows where Robinson breaks down out of sight from the media’s eyes.

the number 42 is retired in Baseball as a tribute to Robinson.

MY VERDICT

***1/2 - Uplifting