PIZZA - Surprisingly not as bad as you think

  

 

Recently, I am going through that phase where every Friday brings with it an urge to visit the theaters to catch the latest offerings cinema has to offer. But sadly good films are a rarity and its really the choice between the better of the half- decent films based on my gut feeling and early reviews. This week, I decided to watch PIZZA after reading the reviews and based on the fact that the original was a surprise hit down south and received much word-of-mouth publicity. The film as a whole is nothing path breaking in its genre, but it sure has its moments.

Kunal (Akshay Oberoi) is a pizza delivery boy who does not believe in spirits but has a wife (Parvathy Omanakuttan) who writes horror stories and is a believer. At one of his delivery points, Kunal encounter something that not only changes his beliefs but also his life.Yes, the premise is predictable for a horror film, but if you have not seen or read about the original, there are enough twists in this horror-cum-thriller to keep the audiences guessing.

The film has its genuine scary moments which are sharp and short and never stretches on.The 3D is used to good effect to explore the depth in scary parts.The thing about good horror films is that they retort to genuine creepy atmospheric elements rather than relying on gore or a disfigured caricature. This is where first time director Akshay Akkineni has to be applauded. He has used the spooky atmosphere of the big house to good effect with everything from the living room to the long corridor playing its part to add to the creepiness. For those of us who has seen it all in the horror genre, there is nothing new on offer with scenes being reminiscent of THE SHINING, SIXTH SENSE,etc , but it is far better than what BOLLYWOOD serves us these days in the name of horror.

That being said, there are elements of the films which really could have been handled better. Firstly, and most strikingly, the film takes its own sweet time to get on track and actually start the story. The pacing of the film is certainly not helped by the stiff acting of the leads and their almost robotic dialogue delivery.The side cast is good but their intentions are not clear. Overall, the audience will have to be patient with this PIZZA , because once it reaches its climax is the time it really delivers. The sting in the tail is the USP of this film and it certainly delivers in that as it will wow the audience.

Akshay Akkinen

Yes, it's a predictable enough premise for a horror film. But, provided you haven't seen or read about the original, there are enough surprises in the horror-meets-psychological thriller story to keep things interesting. - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/reviews/movie-review-pizza-3d-outdoes-most-bollywood-horror-flicks/article1-1241813.aspx?hts0021#sthash.7fX3HmJR.dpuf

Yes, it's a predictable enough premise for a horror film. But, provided you haven't seen or read about the original, there are enough surprises in the horror-meets-psychological thriller story to keep things interesting. - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/reviews/movie-review-pizza-3d-outdoes-most-bollywood-horror-flicks/article1-1241813.aspx?hts0021#sthash.7fX3HmJR.dpuf

PIZZA will not go down as one of the best horror movies in Bollywood, but it certainly is a unique offering which should be watched at least once before it surely takes backseat to the potential mega blockbuster KICK which would hit the screens next week.Try this PIZZA.

MY VERDICT

*** - Try It

THE BREAKFAST CLUB - A Delicious offering

There are certain movies which you hear of while growing up but somehow forget about or take a long time to finally watch it. And after you finish watching it, the first reaction is " How the hell did I miss this movie all these years......its damn gooooddddddd". Well, The Breakfast Club is one such movie for me. For years, I had been hearing the name of this movie being mentioned on and off, but it wasn't until last year that I actually gave it a shot and I am sure the experience of watching it will stay with me for years to come.

For those reading who honestly haven’t seen it , The Breakfast Club is the story of five high schoolers who are forced to serve detention on a Saturday. The five are seated in the school library and watched over by their angry principal, Richard Vernon (played by Paul Gleason). Vernon assigns them an essay to write, then heads back to his office, occasionally spot-checking back in on them but otherwise leaving the teens to themselves. The teens begin the day with nothing in common, as each of them come from distinctly different places and different strata of society. But the five bicker, banter, battle and bond and before the day is out, friendships and romances have formed. For a movie that is essentially five actors on a single set with no action and no clear antagonist, this film does an incredible job of engrossing the viewer.The Breakfast Club no-doubt presents stereotypical characters, and every member represents countless real-life examples. But what makes it so enjoyable is that applies a variety of themes to its context: prejudice/discrimination, acceptance/tolerance, diversity, class/status differences, family matters, group dynamics, etc. It also encourages us to look at others and ourselves beyond surface-level appearances. As the day progresses, the interchanges between them force reconsideration of their positions. Eventually, once the barriers have been broken and the teens have accepted that they can relate to each other after all, the common struggle that they’ve shared to arrive at that point leaves them with a strong bond. They wind up sharing amongst each other in an open and honest environment, revealing feelings and fears that they obviously would have never shared otherwise.

 As mentioned by someone, this movie has a universal appeal and is timeless - probably with the exception of the fashion sense. It doesn't matter if you have completed your high school 20 years ago or 2 years ago, these are issues that existed then, exist now, and will probably exist forever.Watching the kids slowly open their hearts out to each other and, the occasional song and dance thrown in makes this a pleasure to watch. Though the majority of the credit for this movie is often given to the director John Hughes, the 5 actors were just as brilliant.

Its really a shame that none of the actors, save Molly Ringwald, never went on to make it big. Judd Nelson as Bender was the Criminal whom everyone hates and he looks just like young Al Pacino and gives a nice performance. I thought the best of the pack was Emilio Estevez as Andrew Clark the Athelete who was intense to start with but really transforms to the most funny guy by the end of the movie. Ally Sheedy as the Basketcase was the cutest and the most unpredictable who brought a completely different dynamic in the group. Anthony Michael Hall as the Brain and Molly Ringwald as the princess are as different to each other as it can be possible, but by the end of their time serving detention, they too find a common ground. Every single actor gives in a commendable performance and it can be safely assumed that this was their finest performance in each of their career.

In the end, the writing, the acting and the exploration of universal themes make this movie a movie for the ages.  We have all encountered  the Brain, the Athlete, the Basket Case, the Princess, and the Criminal, but never had a chance to form the breakfast club. Lets just say this movie is a reflection of that wish within us and we would preserve it all our life.

WORTHY MENTIONS

John Hughes wrote the screenplay to this movie in just two days (4 and 5 July 1982). 

Molly Ringwald was originally asked to play Allison but wanted to play Claire, she eventually convinced John Hughes and the studio and was given the part. 

MY VERDICT

**** 1/2 - Ageless Movie

BEFORE MIDNIGHT - I wished the night never ended

For some of us, the on screen romance that has slowly played out between Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke over the course of two decades – and now three spectacular movies – is part of the fabric of our cinematic lives. We have sort of grown with them and feel the same feelings they felt at different junctures in their lives. Richard Linklater is probably the greatest storyteller of our generation who conceived this wonderful yet simple trilogy.

In Before Sunrise, the actors - whose improvisations and revisions added much to an original script by Richard Linklater- played two young travelers whose lives cross during a talk-filled night in Vienna. Nine years later, Delpy and Hawke were sharing screenwriting credits- and an Oscar nomination- for Before Sunset, wherein the couple meet for only the second time, their respective lives having moved on, but the brief encounter spark between them still clearly very much alive. That film ended on an ambiguous note – a teasing spine-tingler that left the audience to decide whether Jesse catches the plane back to his old American life, or stays in Paris for something more...

 Before Midnight takes place nine years after the events of Sunset. Jesse and Céline are still together and have managed to have twin girls, Nina and Ella, and are living in Europe. The film takes place at the tail end of a six-week vacation in Greece where Jesse has just dropped off his thirteen-year-old son Hank, from his previous marriage, at the airport for his return back to Chicago. Realizing that he's missing the formative years of Hank's teenage life, Jesse and Céline explore the option of possibly making a move to America, leaving opportunities and a life in Europe behind. Obviously there's no big fantasy battle or a near death experience for the meaning of life to be physically explained but in the power of words, and words alone, Before Midnight manages to become the benchmark for screen writing and brilliant storytelling for years to come. There are long takes for the viewer to be present whether it's in an airport conversation between Jesse and Hank or at a lunch with in the beautiful valleys of Greece or even in a hotel room where a man and a woman share intimacy like older lovers typically do.The whole film basically consists of these three scenes but if you are a follower of the series, you would know it would not feel boring for one single moment.

This film  is a lot more melancholic in tone than the previous two installments, but life is not all about the sparky romances and the excitement of impulsive decisions, is it???? Once life settles in, there are responsibilities and decisions are to be made which much thought behind them, and as Jesse and Celine finds out, it is often a case of conflicting choices and making compromises. Before Midnight portrays the not so romantic but practical side of a couples life after having kids and settling after marriage.Time was when they mesmerised one another with their ramblings about life and art; now, it's a disillusioned account of what they've done to one another. Is it fair for Jesse to ask Celine to move to Chicago with him? Is it justified for Celine to blame Jesse for her lack of development in her musical career?? Who has made the more compromises and sacrifices??? These are questions which are to be decided by the audience but somewhere some of these questions haunts the life of couples at one point or the other, and the two lead actors, as usual, has given a near realistic depiction of the situation. I was particularly impressed with Julie Delpy, who has given her best performance so far in the series. Her portrayal of  a bimbo and the Woody Allenesque one liners were just brilliant.

 What the film conveys so impressively is the scene-by-scene, almost moment-by-moment uncertainty of what will happen to the couple next. Theirs has always seemed a passionate but fragile bond, and the way they stare at a slow-sinking sun towards the end casts an ambiguous haze over what their future holds. Will they get over their differences or the tension is too much?? I am not sure if there will be a fourth installment , but if there is not, some viewers may complain that the ending was not they expected . But life is not always as we want them to be, isn't it????

WORTHY MENTIONS

This movie was shot in 15 days.

Dedicated to the memory of Amy, the woman who was the inspiration for Before Sunrise (1995). Richard Linklater had spent a night walking and talking around Philadelphia with her, but eventually they lost contact. Some time between Before Sunset (2004) and Before Midnight (2013), he finally learned that Amy had died many years before in a traffic accident, so he dedicated the movie to her.

MY VERDICT

**** - Don't miss this if you are a fan of the series.

ANNIE HALL - A comedy classic

Woody Allen probably has the longest lead time for a director between my having heard of him and my having seen one of the films he directed. I’m fairly sure I first heard of him when I was a kid, seeing his name come up on occasion in the Academy Awards (why I was watching the Oscars when I was too young to understand any of the films is a question I cannot answer.) Yet the first time I watched a film he directed was maybe early 2005, with Match Point.  Of course, I knew something of what to expect from Annie Hall, about which I heard some rave reviews. I knew it was a romantic comedy, and by reputation an unorthodox one. And I knew Woody Allen would be playing a neurotic New Yorker, because Woody Allen is pretty much impossible to picture as anything else. What I wasn’t sure on was how well I would appreciate the humor. 

New York certainly has a strong presence in Annie Hall, but the humor is framed in a way that makes it more relatable. It’s a love story. A broken, fragmented love story about a relationship that we’re told right from the beginning has already fallen apart. Everybody’s had some form of relationship, doomed or not, and usually a fair mix of each. Not everybody has the same neuroses that Alvy (Woody Allen) or Annie (Diane Keaton) have, but we’ve all probably had some neurotic moments in a relationship. Allen shows these moments in multiple different ways during the film, from subtitling it with the characters’ thoughts, to having Alvy “interview” random passers-by to get their thoughts on his relationship with Annie. It’s as if each anecdote of their lives is a different experimental film. And though the story is told in bits and pieces and out of order — like a man’s rambling memories — we see the whole thing unfold, from their awkwardly cute meeting to the relationship’s eventual self-destruction as Alvy’s efforts to get Annie to grow into him cause her to grow away from him. Yet even most of the sadder moments involve some humor.

 

And along the way, it casually introduces New York City itself as a character - just like Tokyo in Lost In Translation. Not a major one. Just a minor but recognizable side character.  And as Annie spreads her wings to pursue a career in Beverly Hills, that city reflects hers. But it’s also more relaxed and more willing to embrace new things. By Alvy’s own admission, New York is stagnant. It’s shown a lot more briefly, but one gets the feeling that the Beverly Hills shown in Annie Hall is more pleasant than New York. But New York is a lot more Alvy, and one suspects more Woody Allen. There’s an autobiographical feel to the character of Alvy, which is seemingly confirmed when Alvy writes his first play — an idealized version of his relationship with Annie. The characters in the play get the typical romantic happy ending, but as Alvy says in the opening, he and Annie broke up a year before.

It’s not a typical romantic comedy. It’s not a typical anything. It’s more wistful than hopeful, more apt to go for the smile than the laugh (though it does score a few of those.). It’s purposefully disjointed in its storytelling, giving the impression of somebody very meticulously pounding puzzle pieces into the wrong spaces. And somehow, it all works to create an enjoyable film, one that probably requires more than one viewing to fully appreciate, but which is certainly appreciable on the first outing.

 

WORTHY MENTIONS

 

In winning the BEST PICTURE award in 1977 it edged out "Star Wars," an outcome unthinkable today. 

Diane Keaton's real name is Diane Hall and her nickname is Annie.

 

MY VERDICT

**** 1/2 - A Classic not to be missed

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