Tuesday 21 February 2012

Hugo (2011) Movie Review


Storyline

Hugo is an orphan boy living in the walls of a train station in the 1930s in Paris. He fixes clocks and other gadgets as he learned to from his father and uncle. The only thing that he has left that connects him to his father is an automaton that doesn't work; Hugo has to find its heart-shaped key. On his adventures, he meets with a cranky old man who works in the train station and his adventure-seeking god-daughter. Hugo finds that they have a surprising connection to his father and the automaton, and as he discovers it, the old man starts remembering his past and his significance to the world of film-making.

Review 

Long Live Scorsese

A film adventure in every sense of the word. I was propelled into Martin Scorsese's cinematic mind in a film he made for his 12 year old daughter. Everything about it speaks of love of cinema. I wept, I must confess it right here and now. I really wept. Not just for the humanity of the story but by the heart and mind of the man behind the camera. This is the same man who gave us "Taxi Driver", "Raging Bull", "Goodfellas" Every detail enriches our experience. Dante Ferreti's production design is, monumental, costumes, photography and Howard Shore's score are, quite simply, breath taking. I'm running out of superlatives and I haven't yet mentioned Sacha Baron Cohen, priceless. There is moment in which our young protagonists sneak into a movie theater and sit in amazement watching Harold Lloyd hanging from the clock. For me, to see Lloyd in the big screen as part of Martin Scorsese's latest dream, is the highest and most moving point of my movie going year.

Director: 

Martin Scorsese

Writers: 

John Logan (screenplay)Brian Selznick (book)

Genres:

 Adventure | Drama | Family | Mystery


The Artist (2011) Movie Review


Storyline

Outside a movie premiere, enthusiastic fan Peppy Miller literally bumps into the swashbuckling hero of the silent film, George Valentin. The star reacts graciously and Peppy plants a kiss on his cheek as they are surrounded by photographers. The headlines demand: "Who's That Girl?" and Peppy is inspired to audition for a dancing bit-part at the studio. However as Peppy slowly rises through the industry, the introduction of talking-pictures turns Valentin's world upside-down.

Review 

A unabashed love letter to Hollywoodland

This is a treat. Charismatic leads with chemistry and talent, in a love story that plays as a pitch perfect homage to vintage Hollywood features, whilst never tipping over into parody, and that's no mean feat. The period detail is outstanding: film stocks, tints, (heck even the frame weave), captions and montage are all on the money. 

There's an evocative score, an imaginative use of silence, wonderful locations and costume. All rounded off by a top notch cast which includes a brilliant dog. Dujardin is every inch the charming 20's star and Bejo is sassy, surefooted and gorgeous. Go see this people. They do make 'em like they used to!

Writer: 

Michel Hazanavicius (scenario and dialogue)


Cast

Jean DujardinJean Dujardin...
Bérénice BejoBérénice Bejo...
John GoodmanJohn Goodman...
James CromwellJames Cromwell...
Clifton
Penelope Ann MillerPenelope Ann Miller...
Missi PyleMissi Pyle...
Constance
Beth GrantBeth Grant...
Peppy's Maid
Ed LauterEd Lauter...
The Butler
Joel MurrayJoel Murray...
Policeman Fire
Bitsie TullochBitsie Tulloch...
Norma
Ken DavitianKen Davitian...
Pawnbroker
Malcolm McDowellMalcolm McDowell...
The Butler
Basil HoffmanBasil Hoffman...
Auctioneer
Bill FagerbakkeBill Fagerbakke...
Policeman Tuxedo
Nina SiemaszkoNina Siemaszko...
Admiring Woman

War Horse (2011) Movie Review


Storyline

Dartmoor,1914: To his wife's dismay farmer Narracott buys a thoroughbred horse rather than a plough animal, but when his teenaged son Albert trains the horse and calls him Joey, the two becoming inseparable. When his harvest fails, the farmer has to sell Joey to the British cavalry and he is shipped to France where, after a disastrous offensive he is captured by the Germans and changes hands twice more before he is found, caught in the barbed wire in No Man's Land four years later and freed. He is returned behind British lines where Albert, now a private, has been temporarily blinded by gas, but still recognizes his beloved Joey. However, as the Armistice is declared Joey is set to be auctioned off. After all they have been through will Albert and Joey return home together?




Review

Horses fought too.
I was expecting this movie to be just another extravagant sentimental potboiler. Wow, was I surprised. This is a great movie. The title says the movie is about a horse, but it's really about a lot more than that. The horse plays a central role but the humans figure in the story too, in a big way. The cinematography is outstanding; it really conveys the bleak, gory nature of war. The movie alludes to the Battle of the Somme which is one of the costliest battles in history in terms of the sheer number of lives lost. at times the movie does lapse into sentimentality but in general the story proceeds at a fast pace (pun intend3ed). The performances of the horses in this movie are impressive. They are stars in their own right. If the movie accomplishes nothing else, it shows that war is hard on animals too, and like the humans, they are victims too; there was never a horse that wanted to go to war. That any horses survived at all in the war is amazing. Anyway, this movie is well worth watching

Soundtrack (2011) Movie Review


Storyline

Arriving in Mumbai with just a backpack and a guitar, Raunaq Kaul hooks up with Surinder Bhan, who introduces him to Charlie, the owner of 'Charlie Tango' nightclub. This is where Raunaq makes his start and achieves phenomenal success as a composer virtually overnight. He quickly regresses to a life of illicit drugs, including Charas, Cocaine, Ganja, smoking, and alcohol. Unable to perform, he goes for a medical check-up with Dr. Manu Rishi Kaul, and is told that he has lost his hearing in the right ear, while the left one is only partly functional. In order to avoid deafness, he must avoid loud music as well as try and keep off drugs, alcohol and smoking, and wear a hearing-aid. Unable to focus on his work, he alienates himself, gets into an argument, which results in an accident - taking away his hearing altogether. Depressed, refusing to communicate with anyone, he prepares a padded sound-proof room with hopes of recovering his hearing...

Review
Highly recommended!!
In recent times, Bollywood has witnessed many melodramatic remakes (most of them, remade from South Indian movies). Soundtrack, though a remake of Canadian movie It's all Gone Pete Tong (officially mentioned in the end credits of the movie), is thankfully not over-the-top.


Rajeev Khandelwal as Raunak Kaul is just marvelous. He is thoroughly in sync with his character and he has proved his versatility with this movie. He transits well from a DJ hunk to a deaf musician. Mrinalini Sharma is unbelievably hot. Soha Ali Khan acts well (yes, you read it right). Both the ladies represent contradictions in Rajeev's character. Mrinalini makes you go high in first half and Soha makes you feel dry in second. 



Soundtrack, has very good music but the background score of the movie sounds a bit pale. Two songs, Naina Lagey and Banao are placed wrongly in background score, which can't be digested in a musical drama. The "Johnny Joker" element added to make it a bit artistic movie, is appreciative, but not needed.



Camera works is fancy. Cinematography is brilliant.Dialogues are fresh, crisp and hap devoid of any melodrama, which is commendable. Direction is good, not excellent.



The movie could have been narrated in a heroic way but the director chooses a subtle and documentary kind(not to misinterpret as a mediocre way) of narration giving it an artistic touch rather than commercial appeal. 


Don't trust the reviewers that rate Bodyguard as first class, and do go for this movie. You won't be disappointed.

WATCH FULL MOVIE On-line IN THE ATTACHED VIDEO LINK(YOU TUBE).


Director: 

Neerav Ghosh

Writers: 

Neerav GhoshRajiv Gopalkrishnan (co-writer)

Cast


Rajeev KhandelwalRajeev Khandelwal...
Raunak Kaul
Soha Ali KhanSoha Ali Khan...
Gauri
Mrinalini SharmaMrinalini Sharma...
Shonali
Mohan KapoorMohan Kapoor...
Charlie (as Mohan Kapur)
Yatin KaryekarYatin Karyekar...
Surinder Bhan
Ankur TewariAnkur Tewari...
Banjo (as Anku Tiwari)
Siddharath CouttoSiddharath Coutto...
Biscuit (as Sid Coutto)
Manu RishiManu Rishi...
ENT Spealist Dr. Manu Rishi Chadha (as Manu Rishi Chadha)
Jyamin AliJyamin Ali...
Musician at Kathak Dance
AngieAngie...
Drunk PYT
AqeelAqeel...
Himself (as DJ Aqeel)
BaniBani...
Herself (as VJ Bani)
Harjit Soni BhoondpalHarjit Soni Bhoondpal...
Charlie's Angel 2
Anisa ButtAnisa Butt...
Charlie's Angel 3 (as Anisa Bhutt)
Sagar ChavanSagar Chavan...
Photographer at Press Conference