Juno : by Jason Reitman

Jason Reitman has a novel way of presenting things (reminiscent a lot of "Thank You For Smoking")


Juno is a breath of fresh air ...... n' simply irresistible

Ellen Page plays Juno , a sixteen year old , who in a fit of sexual arousal , gets into unwanted pregnancy .. !!

The umpteen preg tests undergone by Juno , makes her take this development as casually as the daily sunrise :) :)

Her boyfriend who is in the thick of things , is heart broken when Juno decides to abort ... and then out of the blue , the conscience makes her think otherwise.

Her family is damn supportive , and her decision to raise the new born vicariously through a sweet couple in need of a child , is superbly handled.

The film is all about the relationships tango between Juno , her boyfriend , her parents , her class-fellows and last but not the least the adopting couple!

The dialogue writer has done a commendable job in putting up a witty show , Ellen Page blurring out words at a rate of knots. The hilarity is just extra-ordinary leaving the cine goer into splits.

Special Mention : The background score with super acoustic guitar riffs , is just terrific and very pleasing to the ears ...

Felt bad that Ellen missed out on the Oscar yesterday.......
Watch it for a simple , innocent , serious , outrageous , whacko ride!!


Rating : 4.5/5.0

Se7en : by David Fincher

Seven Deadly Sins :

PRIDE ,
GLUTTONY ,
LUST ,
GREED ,
ENVY ,
WRATH ,
SLOTH ..

David Fincher is at it again , It cannot get better than this ... !!

Zodiac was a disappointment , Fight Club was a revelation ..

Se7en is just terrific , this is an understatement ....

Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt play detectives on the trail of psychic murders , flabbergasted by the events. Detective Sommerset (Freeman) is about to retire and detective Mills (Pitt) is the new kid on the block.

This bridge of experience and youth , gives freshness to the film starting at Sin Number One GREED.

The murders are gruesome ... gory toooo!!! The detectives have no clue , no evidence , until things take a flip , confusing the audience for sure.

The end reels had me DUMBFOUNDED ... the director shooting a bolt from the blue!!

Full Marks for captivating the cinegoer and shocking at the same time !!!

Rating : 5.0/5.0

Mithya : by Rajat Kapoor

Mithya .... meaning "a lie" is not a typical bollywood potbolier , it breaks the cliche' to the hilt.

The team of Bheja Fry collaborate for the most unexpected ride of 2008 ,with Rajat Kapoor in the thick of things behind the camera.

Ranvir Shorey , plays a struggling actor frustrated with the knick - knacks of bollywood world. Unexpected events at a night out in mumbai street , creates a storm in the life of VK (Ranvir) .

The story is a maze of events involving the two underworld gangs and VK is in this muddle. Naseerudin Shah , Saurabh Shukla , Vinay Pathak , and many more are the pawns of a Chess Game and someone is surely checkmated!!!!

The script by Rajat and Saurabh Shukla is well-written and reminds us of Ramu' s Satya and yesteryear's Don. The performance by Shorey is once again superlative , he is definitely the king of off-beat cinema in India!

Neha Dhupia is just ok , and the supporting cast gives much needed impetus to the story!

Watch this film for Ranvir only and the unconventional story-telling .

Rating : 3.5/5.0

Atonement : by Joe Wright

Atonement .... as the bible says "satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends, reconciliation" 

It is a story of two people madly in love with each other , James McAvoy and Keira Knightley.

The youngest of the three sisters Briony , misinterprets each moment shared by them as an act of erotiscism on the part of Robbie ( played by James ) .

The circumstances build in such a manner which implicates Robbie into a false charge solely on Briony's testimony.

The film then shifts 4 years ahead , England is at war during WWII , Robbie given a choice between prison sentence and joining the army , chooses for the latter. Keira Knightley ( Cecilia ) meets Robbie and the lost love is found!

The twists n turns in the second half , are out of this ordinary, with the narration leaving the cinegoer dumbfounded.

Hats off to the performances , James is into the character with ease , since I saw him in Last King of Scotland. Keira is passe ' , could have done a bit better .

The supporting cast is great ,particularly Cecillia's younger sister Briony. The background score is awesome , particularly at every instance of Briony's intro , the piano keys surely rings alarm bells!!

The finale makes me hail the writer of the book as well the screenplay adapted by the director Joe Wright!! ..... am teary eyed at the end of it all!!

Rating : 4.0/5.0

Michael Clayton : by Tony Gilroy

Michael Clayton played by George Clooney is about an attorney termed as a FIXER hired by a law firm to control unlawful situations.

Arthur Edens ( a leading attorney of the firm U-North ) is in a middle of a controversy when he incoherently talks at a hearing.

George Clooney is summoned to help him get out of this mess and he discovers that Arthur is into mental illness due to non-medication.

The turn of events puts Michael Clayton in a fix where he is in a tangle of deceit and trickery. The film meanders with the sole purpose of finding the truth which has been mis-represented , Michael Clayton is the man to find it!

The performance by George Clooney is worth noting after seeing him in Ocean's Thirteen long since. Tom Willkinson is just about ok as an eccentric attorney stuck in a lawsuit .

Noteworthy , not oustanding.

Rating : 2.5/5.0

The Prestige : by Christopher Nolan

This is the second Christopher Nolan installment after Memento which I have seen from start to end , and he dumbfounds me each time !!!

The Prestige is a period film set in London , where in MAGIC is the bread n butter of aspiring artists and a delight for the audiences.

Christian Bale plays Borden and Hugh Jackman plays Angier , two ambitious Magicians. Michael Caine plays the veteran , having all the tricks up his sleeves.

One fine day , Borden in his charm for experimentation , makes a blunder , which turns Angier as his only foe. The Prestige at this point comes out as a survival of the fittest (magician !) with both of them trying to out do each other.

The turning point in the film is the Transported Man trickery performed by Borden(Bale) , making people marvel him.

This cat and mouse duel in between all the ABRACADABRA ... culminates in such a manner never seen before.. !!

The director has always been an expert in non-linear narration (a la' Memento) , and comes out good this time too.

Awesome execution of the plot!!

Rating : 5.0/5.0

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind : by Michel Gondry

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ... !?!?!?!?

This theatrics by Michel Gondry is intriguing and bizarre to say the least and you will definitely believe it when you see it!

This Valentine , relationships which have been going wrong can have a look at ESOSM , where in protaganists , Kate Winslet and Jim Carey carry the film through with maze of events hard to fathom but compelling for sure.

Jim Carey on a regular day realizes a series of events where-in someone else is controlling his memory to wipe out all the minute details of his ex-girlfriend.

The doctors have already wiped out the memory from Clementine's (Kate) mind pertaining to Joel ( her beloved) . Joel , in a fit of rage decides to undergo the same treatment.

The film at this point shows the sequence of events in the past related to their relationship and how Joel tries to hold on to memories which doctors are trying to wipe out ...

PHEW!!! ... What a Concept!!! ...

Kate and Jim are superlative ... watch it for the sheer eccentricity in love !!

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Sunday : by Rohit Shetty

Sunday is one hell of a hilarious ride with a pinch of suspense adding a cherry on top of the cake.

Rohit Shetty after Golmaal , enthralls the audience with this film similar to the genre of Welcome / Golmaal / Dhol / Dhamaal .

The "USP" of this movie is the murder mystery in between all the whacko hilarity.

The plot revolves around this girl played by Ayesha Takia who is a animation dubbing artist caught in a maze of events she does not re-collect.

Ajay Devgan plays a semi-corrupt cop , handling the re-occuring crimes in and around Delhi.

The best of the lot are Irrfan Khan ( wannabe bollywood superstar) and Arshad Warsi (the street taxi driver) .... they just make a lethal combination ... having me down on the floor , laughing out the loudest !!!

The post-interval portions of the film intrigues the cine-goer as the suspense is unraveled!

A BIG THUMBS UP TO THE DIRECTOR FOR A ROLLICKING RIDE
....... eagerly waiting for Golmaal Returns!

Rating : 3.5/5.0

No Country For Old Men : by Coen Brothers

Coen Brothers have come up with an exceptional story - telling experience through this film.

"No Country For Old Men" , is about a drug-deal gone wrong in the middle of Texas dessert.

The premise of the film revolves around three people , THE PSYCHO kingpin of the drug deal and a professional hitman , THE HUNTER finding himself in the whirlpool of deceit and homicide , and the SHERIFF on the trail of these crimes!!

The performances are exemplary in particular the hitman played by Javier Ángel Encinas Bardem , a Spanish actor. The potrayal is of a cold-blooded killer who is after the million bucks stolen from the drug deal by the Hunter played by Josh J. Brolin .

The screenplay is gripping and cinematography is worth mentioning . The deserts of wide open country - Texas have been captured superbly.

Glitches!?! .... The climax could have been more spicer :) .... hope it wins the Oscar this year!

Rating : 4.5/5.0

The Holiday : by Nancy Meyers

The Holiday is one of the few movies I have seen directed by a woman in hollywood, and I can tell you it has a lot of nuances which a sensitive lady can present on celluloid!!!

The Holiday is all about relationships , how people behave and react to a person he/she loves till the end of time , unrequited love , trust , honesty , guilt , passion , tears , smiles and what not!

Cameron Diaz in L.A is frustrated seeing her boyfriend cheating on her and Kate Winslet is in love with a guy not reciprocating the same in London.

The two women swap homes for the holiday season of 2 weeks and their lives are replenished with vigour and joy!! Jude Law comes as a refreshing person in Amanda's Life ( played by Diaz) . Winslet finds solace in a 90 year old neigbour , long forgotten film legend..

Jack Black is the sweet boy next door music arranger bringing happiness back into Kate's life.

The story enlightens us of most talked about emotion called LOVE ..........

..... and it is highlighed well enough creating an instant connection as an audience for me!!!!!

Significant Dialogue from the film ....

"I understand feeling as small and as insignificant as humanly possible, and how it can actually ache in places you didn't know you had inside you, and it doesn't matter how many new haircuts you get, or gyms you join, or how many glasses of chardonnay you drink with your girlfriends... you still go to bed every night going over every detail and wonder what you did wrong, or how you could have misunderstood, and how in the hell for that brief moment you could think that you were that happy. And sometimes you can even convince yourself that he'll see the light and show up at your door. And after all that, however long all that may be, you'll go somewhere new, and you'll meet people who make you feel worthwhile again, and little pieces of your soul will finally come back. And all that fuzzy stuff, those years of your life that you wasted, that will eventually begin to fade" ---- IRIS ( Kate Winslet )

Diabetics stay away .... Sugar Coated Motion Picture!!!!!!!!

Rating : 4.0/5.0

American Gangster : by Ridley Scott

American Gangster comes across as just another Martin Scorcesse / Francis Ford Copolla genre of big bad boys movie based on cult gangster themes.

Ridley Scott gives his best shot into this chartered territory with plethora of talent at his disposal a la' Oscar Winners Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe.

Based on a true story of a Drug Smuggling Empire set up by Frank Lucas played by Denzel during the bloodshed of Vietnam in the 60's , is compelling to say the least.

The smuggling nexus is led by him in tandem help of US Army deployed in Vietnam and it grows into massive proporations , killing thousands due to the addiction of drugs.

The performances are extraordinary in particular Denzel Washington proving his prowess time and again.

Ridley Scott , the director has come a long way since Gladiator , and the audience should appreciate his efforts in putting up a good show to this real life drama.

Rating : 3.5/5.0

The Queen : by Stephen Frears

" Princess Diana was the people's princess " says Tony Blair , the recently elected Prime Minister of England.

Does the Queen agree to the above statement???????????????

The Queen , film by Stephen Frears is a semi-documentary on the hush-hush at the Buckingham Palace post Diana's death .
Dame Helen Mirren plays the title role with unprecendented grace , humility and authority!!!

The resemblance of the characters in the film to the people in flesh is remarkable in particular Tony Blair played by Michael Sheen.

The political game going on at the critical time leaves the audience gasping for more. The Queen adamant on showing any signs of remorse on Diana's death does not go well with the British Masses .

Blair's gimmick and political hand-holding pacifies the situation in the end.

The reel captures the essence of the top monarch in the world , the subtlety in the performances is noteworthy.

Scene of the Movie : Tony Blair meeting the The Queen for the first time after being elected as the PM

Helen is par-excellence as the Queen deserving the coveted Oscar for the same .

Sitting here in UK ... learnt a lot about the governing of this country :) :)

--- Nice watch---

Rating : 4.0/5.0

Zodiac : by David Fincher

"Zodiac" , I was having enormous expectations from this movie , coming from the den of David Fincher a la' Se7en and Fight Club ,

Zodiac is about the notorious crimes in San Francisco during 60's and 70's commited by a serial killer named as Zodiac. These random killings bamboozles the San Francisco Chronicles staff and the Vallejo Detectives .

The Cryptic Letters with blood-soaked shreds puzzles one and all except the over-obssessed Cartoonist at the same newspaper.

The case meanders over the years , stumbling upon evidences and clues and suspects , of no avail , and then the turn of events courtesy Jake Gyllenhaal (the cartoonist) throws light on the facts.

The story picks up in some of the portions , otherwise the screenplay is dull.

It was disappointing . Period .

Rating : 2.5/5.0

The Bourne Ultimatum : by Paul Greengrass

Expectations were huge after seeing the prequel day before yesterday , and I am here writing this review with upmost gleee!!

Matt Damon as Jason Bourne has travelled far and away spanning the 3 films to know his identity and sure he does in the final installment .. it is an absolute privilage to witness such storytelling!

Bourne Ultimatum starts where Bourne Supremacy ended in Moscow... Jason is still at large and operation Blackbriar is at stake!

This time his accomplice is Nicky Parson and both of them travel thru Morocco and London to find answers which Bourne des·per·ate·ly seeks!!!!

Eye-Catching Sequences :

• Street Chase by Bourne in Morocco to save Nicky.
• Master Plan to out-think Noah Vosen , the CIA head of the operation.
• The Culmination of the movie with Jason struck by the truth at the treadstone facility
• The Action throughout the film and the background score by John Powell is superlative.

Matt Damon as "Jason Bourne" for me surpasses James Bond , Indiana Jones and many other cult action characters.

The brainchild of Ludlum has been given full justice ..... AMEN!

Rating : 5.0/5.0

The Bourne Supremacy : by Paul Greengrass

The Bourne Supremacy was the 2nd installment in the trilogy of the novels written by Robert Ludlum , an accomplished fiction author ;

I was lucky enough to watch it yesterday ... better late than never!!!

The film starts 2 years hence where Bourne Identity was left off.

Bourne in India is again haunted by the aftermaths of an assasination executed by him in Berlin ... Treadstone is after him again ...

The film is damn racy and fast-paced to say the least , meandring from Goa to New York to Moscow.

The attempt on his life , takes him into a journey of finding answers to his identity.Meanwhile CIA have trails on him for commiting crimes even after dissolution of Treadstone way back.

The action is slick , the background score is just out of this world , one of the best I have experienced and the skills in acting , what can I say , MATT DAMON is superlative as Jason Bourne .

The best sequence of the movie : Jason Bourne targetting the CIA chief from the rooftop with his sniper and the tête-à-tête that follows!!!!

Super Duper Edge of the Seat Action Thriller!!

Rating : 4.0/5.0

The Notebook : by Nick Cassavetes

Nicolas Sparks wrote his heart out in this fairytale romantic fable.
The movie adapted on the same tome takes the audience on a journey full of dreamy romantic oblivion.

The film is set in the 40's era , where a young country boy woos the girl of his dreams on whom he has fixated his eyes.

The chemistry between the couple ooozes heart felt affection with
deep need for companionship ,friendship and never-to-be-broken bond

...they are inseparable...

The typical bollywoodesque turn of events , keeps you on tenterhooks , culminating to apt finale.

The book as well as the film is predictable to a certain extent and is for people falling in love , are in love , want to be in love !!!

Romance , Love , Charm and Rhapsody sugar coats the movie to the core.

Sweet , Simple love story.

Rating : 3.5/5.0

The Last King of Scotland : by Kevin MacDonald

Forest Whitaker the actor , says " You are my closest advisor " and hell breaks loose in the life of a wannabe scottish Dr Nicolas Garrigon played by James McAvoy.

The Last King of Scotland creates a regime : no fear , all freedom for the common man in Uganda . Promises given under oath by the President (Army Chief ) furnishes a smooth road ahead.

"Food,Infrastructure,Roads and all the common amenities" .

Dr. Garrigon , one fine day saves the life of the President and is caught in a whirpool full of Deceit,Mass Killings,Apartheid and Hidden Propaganda

Forest Whitaker , is one of the finest performances I have witnessed on screen by an actor leave alone black one!!! (Oscar truly deserved)

He is a paradox ,switching between being a mean tyrant to a closest ally.

The last moments of the film keeps you spellbound , too good to be a true story!!!!!!!!

Must Watch for getting into the psyche of an African Nation conglomeration....

Rating : 4.5/5.0

Thank You for Smoking : by Jason Reitman

Argument is the best form of lobbying , not negotiation , right Mr Nick Naylor.

As the President of the Academy of Tobacco Studies , he enjoys his job to the extent of absorbing all the hatred of the masses whilst propagandizing SMOKING!

Team of M.O.D (Merchants of Death) , Nick alongwith a liquor & a firearms entrepreneur , meet over drinks to discuss the numbers added to their respective DEATH TOLL count!

Hilarious to say the least , the movie throws light on the flip side of the lobbyist , winning verbal duels with Talk Show Hosts , Senator of the State , NewsPaper Reporter and even his Boss !

Freedom of choice is what drives Nick Naylor , preaching the same to his son and all.

Film Satire , the genre chartered well by the captain of the ship ... nice comic caper!!

Rating : 4.5/5.0

I am Legend : by Francis Lawrence

Robert Neville is a virologist & the last man on earth : Year 2012

The crazy notion of curing cancer using the measels virus , led to a massive catastrophe wiping over 90 % of the human face on this earth.

Less than 1% were immune to the virus and Will Smith playing Dr. Neville was the last survivor. Each day in broad sunlight , with his pet dog , would go on a search for any survivors.

The film is set in downtown Manhattan , devoid of any life other than non-human species.Even if the human samples were there , they would be infected to the highest degree taking shelter in dark places reactive to UV rays.

Some noteworthy nuances :

• Playing golf on the wing of an airplane.
• Talking to mannequins just to converse.
• Creating AV of his experiment on recorder
• Reciting the dialogues of Shrek memorized to the limit

Will Smith has done it again with a powerhouse performance. He has turned into a sensitive actor post Pursuit of Happyness.

------- Nice Watch --------

Rating : 4.0/5.0

The Italian Job : by F. Gary Gray

Italian Job is yet another heist movie which I have seen lately and it does disappoint a wee bit.

The premise of the movie starts in Venice , where in a team of 5 pull-off a sensational vault robbery planned to perfection!!

The events take a turn when the gold in the vault is snapped up by an avaricious member, Mark WahlBerg taking the plunge of planning out a revenge.

Charlize Theron , plays a vault deciphering specialist with the common goal of taking out the villiany out of Edward Norton.

The planning gone into the robbery in the second half of the reels is incredibly thought of.

Some of the high points of the film were :

1. Use of Mini Coopers as their heist vehicles!!
2. Tracking the truck carrying the gold worth 37 million!!
3. The Climax blows the audience out

The downside of the film : Getting access to the US vehicular traffic control system was far-fetched!!!

No novelty for me after Ocean's Eleven,Twelve,Thirteen and The Inside Man!

Rating : 3.0/5.0