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Reviews
Paa (2009)
Its good to see offbeat cinema...
I feel special in a nice way that more off-beat movies are coming out of India and as I read somewhere probably with more universal and crossover appeal. Bringing awareness as well as entertaining people and still being commercially viable isn't an easy thing to achieve, and I sincerely hope the movie does that and also provide a positive precedent for other movie makers with creative energy to follow suit. The intent is not to change the world, but to create a potential thought that can bring awareness towards different issues. We have seen people change their course of lives seeing pressing things around and I believe movies too have a significant role to play.
Regarding the content of the movie, I found it very lucid, with no compulsion of over doing anything (acting, cinematography, music, screenplay) which makes it all the more endearing.
4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile (2007)
Realism at its best
I have a fascination for foreign movies. Didn't have any expectation high or low when I read the synopsis of the movie but thats just to have a neutral mindset before the movie. What I like most about the movie is the reality that comes out of the situation the characters are put into. The way Gabriela undergoes the ordeal of abortion and how she tries to act in a certain way, when she didn't tell all the truth even to her friend and the supposedly so doctor is very natural. I can only try to understand what a traumatizing experience it can be if someone were to find out and that necessitates the need to hush up in every possible way, even forgetting that it leaves you more prone to mistakes and lets you even more suspected. She looks so unbelievably vulnerable and real. On the other hand the character Otilia as a trusting friend is very strong, the one who would stand by you in situations like these. The way the events unfold and the choice of locations and timings (night scenes) and the way the cinematography is done, adds to the urgency and gloominess of the situation. The acting was superb and comes out at all points but noticeably during the dinner table setting at their parents house when you have Otilia's near expressionless face depicting how preoccupied and out of place she must be feeling at that time when everyone else is happy and talking themselves out. Quite naturally it also shows how she had her share of nervousness when she goes out to dispose the fetus when she is extra cautious about the slightest movement around and even suspecting a by goner as a threat. I think it's a brilliant piece of realism about this situation from that era in Romania. I would really look forward to more movies from the director.
Once (2007)
Heart poured out all over
I was given a recommendation by a friend to watch this movie. It was playing at the local Angelika, which I always like going to. I have seen quite a few foreign movies in that theatre and love it for the quality of movies they show almost always and undoubtedly this stands out for its impact it had on me. Its the level at which the movie is able to connect to you. Very deep, intense, thoughtful piece of art and spiritual at the same time and thats what makes it so different. I read it in one of the fact-o-files about the movie that the songs in the movie were intended to replace the need for lengthy dialogues. The feeling and the spirit and the positioning of the songs is able to do not just right, it takes it to a sublime level. Actually the movie lets you loose and at a certain time you feel convinced that for whatever reasons this movie is at a different plane and the set rules can very politely be ignored for making a comparison. I believe this is about the heart poured out and if you see this angle you will be able to leave aside all the critical nuances which one is quite often obliged to weigh a movie on. The songs are like meditation, raising the soul and you seem to get lost in them and I have listened to them every now and then and the impact keeps on growing. Definitely enjoyable and not just an ordinary musical. Not to be misunderstood as a chick flick.
Khuda Kay Liye (2007)
Liked it a lot.
My first view of any movie made out of Pakistan and it was a great experience. Worthy of note is the underlying spirit and the message. Though the movie has various good scenes noticeably the maulwi brainwashing Sarmad, the symphony at the music school, most of the scenes shot around the village, the torture in the US jail but the scene which caught my imagination and what I consider being the crux of it was the court house scene. The interpretations given by the maulwi who brainwashed Sarmad and later the corrections given out by the other maulwi (played by Naseer-ud-din) stand out the most. There are always misgivings and misinterpretations of scriptures and its a sad story that the religion and the people stand out to loose for the most part of it on the acts of the few. I congratulate the makers of the movie of very crisply passing this message and I would advocate the movie to everyone who have any slight doubts about any religion. Don't judge religion and people based on the acts of few. Its not just about Islam as I see it, there are other religions which are compared on similar grounds because mostly people are ignorant enough to judge them based on their limited knowledge. I hope the movie is viewed by the larger and diverse audience.
Johnny Gaddaar (2007)
You wouldn't want to miss this one.
I have sat through below average movies several times because I have always believed in something 'keep your expectations low and you are in for a positive surprise'. However, I have been reading the pre release media coverage on this one and had it on in my watch list. I had expectations on this set already and usually it contrives the other way round, but this one proved me wrong. I still get to gain, since this is something which I rate as a rare cinematic experience as far as bollywood goes. I believe its a very brave effort to even think about a plot and to give it the look it has. With more of fantasy driven plots doing the rounds at bollywood box office, movies which venture in to unexplored territories always score better with me. Not just that, this one has quite a few reasons. Cinematography - It takes you to the retro era of the 70's. The color combinations of black and blood red, with the tall fonts for cast and the posters is very pleasing and reminiscing of the era of not so technical but still gruesomely intense thrillers of the 70's. Its a real tribute to that era.
Music - The title track is one of the best and looks like to be a big hit already. The blend of the old and the contemporary techno music is very refreshing.
Plot - The unpredictability is something which has not been seen in a while considering that you know the culprit through out. It makes you see the movie through the eyes of the characters. Its like a anti-climax repeated several times. It keeps your brain cells on the toes and you better not sit back and relax if you don't want to appear dumb after wards.
The performances have been superb and still it manages to have its own humorous moments as well. It reminds me of 'Sholay' since there are so many scenes which appear so discretely superb but blend in perfectly.
Highly recommended to the metro-plex audiences.
The Namesake (2006)
Very subtle
I was wanting to see this film after reading a number of good reviews on IMDb. Today was a day I will remember for quite some time.
The story delves and gives an insight on what really goes behind when a family has made a choice of leaving their home country for good.
There are many reasons as I believe that connects the movie to the audience. Its a very realistic portrayal of lives of a lot of people who have had a situation like this. This is also one of the most beautiful movies with a very excellent characterization of a middle class family, which has to face the constant battle of seeing their kids through till they have earned a good life. I can swear from my personal experience that had I been just in India and not exposed to what it takes or how it feels being in a different country with a different culture, I wouldn't have ever appreciated the movie as much as I do now. May be my fallacy. I loved it for the subtlety in which character portrayal has been made. The way the story unfolds and how the philosophy of 'everything comes out of the Overcoat' is tremendous.
This is a kind which you really don't want to validate with your mind but one with an open heart. It has its moments of joy and sorrow. It really connects if you implant yourself in to the heart of the characters, which the movie facilitates. You will feel the joy and the pain despite being in the theatre seat. I couldn't believe like the character 'Ashima' when she hears that husband who was fine till evening died of an heart attack. I could hear the loud sigh of a lot of beautiful human beings in the theatre who I am sure were well connected with the lively character played by Tabu. I find myself unable to recollect the last movie, which had an impact as deep as this one. It is joyous in its own way as it shows how an incident in the life changes the approach of Gogol towards life in total. It is so inspiring as it gives thought on how understanding the couple were towards each other and the kids as they grew. I think the highlights brought out by creating a parallelism when comparing the two cultures were just to add fun and not at all demeaning. I loved it every time they did that. I am going to see it again:-)