Amadeus75

Of all things that we search in our lives, the search for truth is the most excruciating yet addictive for most of us. Talaash is a tapestry containing varied hues of human emotions, trials faced by individuals of different backgrounds yet evoking our empathy because these are pains we can all relate to and ones which we feel achingly and knowingly.

It is an intricately woven gripping tale set against the backdrop of a mysterious event (car crash killing a movie star) that sets off an investigation by an Inspector (Shekhawat) essayed with ridiculous ease by Aamir Khan. But we all know that he pours his soul into each role and it is visible in every frame. The investigations bring to the fore a medley of characters, a pimp, sidekick of the pimp (Nawazuddin is simply a super actor and once again displays his emotive skills of a very high order). However central to the proceedings is also a prostitute Rosie who comes into contact with the Inspector as someone who is linked to the events concerning the dead movie star. Rosie played by Kareena is sensuality personified and I cannot but think of her as the one of the most seductive roles ever played on the Hindi screen. I said that no because of any brazen exposure but every word she utters suggestively, playfully, teasingly is only matched by an irresistible expression of her eyes in inviting someone to come closer. Wonderfully done by Kareena. There is then the role of the Inspector's wife played by Rani who is absolutely sincere to the character, elegantly draped in beautiful saris, she is a tormented soul coming to terms with the loss of her son in a tragic accident and it is this incident that binds the Inspector and his wife into a thorny embrace and they go through it in their own ways. The suffering of the Inspector spills on to his sphere of work and that's where the tale becomes even more intricate. There are several other characters all of whom have their place in this movie and every frame tries to make the most of telling us more and more.

Technically this is as good as it gets in Bollywood, with a scintillating background score and riveting cinematography. This is much more than a whodunit and so don't go in looking for a complicated plot on its own to be the hall mark. It simply is a tale of what our minds can take on in the face of very difficult moments in life, its about every day characters and their desperate urge to improve their lives, its about weakness and our struggle to remain strong against temptation. Its about a search for truth and retribution , a search for closure.. if ever there is one while we live.

There is little ambiguity that this movie was not meant to depict every single political twists, trysts and milestones of Margaret Thatcher. There remains little doubt that she did change the course of British history, had an iron will to see things through and would never have gone gently into the night. That indomitable spirit is still reflected in her ageing days while she battles her failing health including her state of mind. I really don't know much about her relationship with her husband Dennis but the movie does show that once we inch closer to our final days, most people including those who led larger than life existences would pine for that soul mate and when faced with that loss, you are a lost soul. Movie does dwell on this more than anything and most of my fellow commentators have objected to that taking precedence over the more destiny shaping events of her political life. I am disappointed with many sharp and merciless criticisms heaped on account of this but then thats the story teller's prerogative. What one can then cast an eye on and think through is how well it has recounted in the form of a screen play considering the flavour being brushed upon. I believe it is an interesting and touching narrative which has been carried all along by am absolutely marvellous portrayal by Meryl Streep ( those who accuse her of blatantly chasing an Oscar , pls grow up, she has achieved far too much). I have not seen MT in my days in person or more closely on tele but yet I do believe there is no one who could have donned the avatar of MT better.

I did ponder as to to moral right of making such a biopic showing a very private persona of a person who is indeed going through a difficult time in far contrast to her hey days. Is it right to fictionalise her old age particularly when she has stayed out out public eye and not even attended many events? I did observe large doses of vitriol being poured over by many here and I suspect there are many who expected a lot more, or have strong personal views about this figure or just simply could not come to terms with a different shade or slant.

With a bond movie, one can never go into the hall wanting more of the same yet also hoping for something unique and spectacular in each edition. Skyfall is an attempt to stir up something different as a genre within Bond series but for me it fails to leave any sort of indelible imprint. Right from the opening trademark action sequence, you are left hoping fervently that as the script turns the corner something more gripping, more slick, more intense, laden with twists and turns would emerge. Sadly nothing of that sort happens and it ploughs through all the usual windings . Bond going missing, checking in again, crossing paths with a mysterious exotic woman. There is a heavy role for M and it is a strong performance by the Dame as contours of a tumultuous relationship between M and Bond is set out. Daniel Craig grows older and grows into the Bond role with ease and a more humane persona is presented to the audience. Someone who is still fit yet shown with his foibles. He is no more just suave but someone who is also weary, resigned and yet a soldier and patriot. In the end, there is no standout moment, there is no pulse racing sequence, no smouldering exchanges with a strong lady character, nothing by way of a script that makes you think even a fraction. It does have some soul by way of certain relationships, by way of a rather uncharacteristic villain and Javier Bardem is superb and very assured. A word about the Bond women. Berenice Marlohe is beautiful in a not so usual way and hence I feel that she has just been marginalised and there could have been a lot more for her in this movie. Naomie Harris is a bit of a stereotype and again exchanges involving her can just about make you smile feebly. Just as the opening, the climax is very staid "bad guys lay siege and chase the good ones outnumbered and holed up behind the lines" and as movies closes, we are plain and simple assured of another Bond sequel and just as I started the movie and was hoping for something spectacular to emerge at every bend, I simple longed for something more and better as the credits rolled on..Maybe next time - Bond Loyalist.

Mani Ratnam's much anticipated multi lingual Raavan (a.k.a Raavanan in Tamil) is a commendable and bold cinematic effort to recreate the timeless epic of Ramayana which embodies universally appealing values of heroism, jealousy , mistrust , revenge and evil. Though evil here is more about revealing the antihero in Raavan and seeing those same traits ironically reversed in Ram at another point in time. Ram here is Dev (played by Vikram)a duty bound cop with a single mission to bring down his nemesis Beera (played by Abhishek) who is the protector of the downtrodden but one who does not let morals come in his way. A much wanted criminal in the eyes of the law. His philosophy is almost a Mahabharata borrowed one of "ends justify the means". What drives him to do that one thing that bring hims onto a vengeful collision path with Dev is unveiled slowly during the movie . It all starts off with the abduction by Beera of the character based on Sita , represented as Ragini (played by Aishwarya). Ragini is the wife of Dev and this begins the odyssey set against some of the most spectacular landscapes shot most brilliantly and expectedly by Santosh Sivan.

Set against lush forests, deep gorges, inundated streams and constant cleansing of the earth by the abundant rain, Ragini tied and gagged is dragged along by Beera, with Dev and his band of other cops in pursuit. Beera is an unusual specimen, intense , unpredictable, maniacal yet a character with whom one does start forming a bond of affection and empathy as we realise a certain lovable and humane side of his character. Abhishesh plays Beera industriously , trying to get under the skin of the character even though there are mannerisms which could have been handled more subtly but then that is the directors outlook. In all a performance worth acknowledging set against the often churned out mediocrity of Bollywood. One can't ever relegate Aishwarya to the background and not the least here because she is the focal point of the movie, the one who is subjected to a cruel fate. She does portray her character with intensity but what annoys is her voice and associated intonation and that creates a certain hamming like effect. No doubt sensing the potential of such a role, she does seem to have put in that little extra effort. Her beauty, with time has not waned and she is graceful and classic at most times. Dev played by Vikram is powerful for the action sequences and when he is angry but surely Mani Ratnam should not be compromising on the power of speech expecting delivery in Hindi from a chap who is not a natural Hindi speaker. Govinda plays the character based on Hanuman and is at best a very marginal role. Others including brothers of Beera and the aggrieved step sister of Beera player by Priyamani are all just about OK. Now the reason that I believe this is not a memorable movie is on account of the fact that Mani Ratnam has excessively depended on visuals and even facial expressions to attempt to create a unique experience but this comes at the expense of dialogues which lack the punch and often is mistimed. The narrative does not really dig deep into the characters and reveal their flaws and strengths. Abhishek has done what he could as his best but was he the best choice? Finally the climax and the last 30 mins of the movie is a lot more engaging and does eventually make you leave the movie hall with a fair amount of satisfaction but with a lingering doubt as to if this is indeed the best we can now expect from Mani Ratnam ? Once you have finished watching the movie in a movie hall (not on DVD), think of the opening sequence.

Ridley Scott whose Gladiator gave us all an epic experience pushed me out of home to watch another take on Robinhood. We all have loved Robin for being the outlaw who is the quintessential underdog, the one who loves to rob the rich and give to the poor, for his band of brothers and their camaraderie.. However this back to the future is set against the backdrop of 12th century politics of England and the struggle for power between Richard the Lion heart and his brother John with the French powers thrown into the mix.. So for those reasons this does not give you the tale that we have grown to love and so you end up being exposed to a watered down Braveheart, or a kingdom of heaven.. Ridely Scott does deliver the goods when it comes to production values of authentic props, extracting solid yet uninspiring performance from the actors.. However there are hardly moments that you take away from the movie hall, very few goosebumps from arrows hitting the mark, and no anticipation as you watch frame after frame.. Possibly the script needed to have lot more intensity, be more taut if one were to focus on Robin before he became an outlaw as this is virgin territory.. In all , felt a bit let down as I trudged home and was thinking hard about the positives that were eluding me.

Every time I hear about a magnum opus from Kamal, I am drawn to seeing it in the hope that I would see a terrific script but above all to witness the sublime as well as powerful acting from a person who has given us Nayakan, Guna, Indian, Sathya that come automatically to your mind. This movie is pure megalomania of wanting to impose upon audiences the multitude of one actor using the much hackneyed make up gimmickry. While the script in its nascent parts has signs of blossoming into a tight and engrossing one along the lines of "Crash" from Hollywood (where events are inexplicably intertwined), it meanders, it chokes and eventually reduces world events to a fracas. One is left to questions as to what the raison d'etre of so many roles are because if it is only to prove that Kamal can don so many roles then it does not seek such an effort. That leaves me to believe that this is but a desperate publicity stunt. Performances to Kamal in some of the roles do pack a punch such as that of the environmentalist Boovaragan and there are glimpses of vintage Kamal comedy in the character of Naidu offering some relief. Asin, the heroine is a terrible cacophonous nuisance and she lasts through the movie, Mallika is lean and mean and full of glamour. Rest of it fades from my memory. If you set out to add elements of a science fiction in a script, then you must have top class special effects to match and that plus ridiculous stunts are another big letdown. Character of Bush is a lame trick and is again an amateurish attempt. In all i feel terribly let down by an actor who i have over the years held as an epitome of mature and passionate cinema in India.

Dor is a true tribute paid by film maker Nagesh Kukunoor to the resilience and inner strength of women irrespective of their background. Story tells the rather poignant tale of commonplace people and their rather hide and seek with destiny. While lives of people who have infinite degrees of separation suddenly get intertwined, there is bound to be endless possibilities of change of course of events in the lives of the people concerned. Zeenat (played with enormous amount of maturity and grace by Gul Panag) heads on a mission impossible to find Meera (Ayesha Takia) who has been widowed when her husband dies of an accident in Saudi Arabia. However the dor or the link is that Zeenat's husband Amir was his roommate and had a hand in his death while it not being intentional. In Saudi, Amir has been sentenced to death and only the wife of the deceased by providing a pardon to the accused can allow amir to walk free. Zeeant comes to Rajasthan where in an oppressive haveli, meera has begun the live of a condemnation.

Enroute Zeenat finds an unlikely good Samaritan in a trickster come mimic played once again adorably by Shreyas Talpade with consummate ease. He guides her to Jodhpur where they zero in on the haveli where meera resides.A beautiful friendship starts to build between the women who met at a desolate temple every evening. The moment of truth is however around the corner and cannot be escaped. With this haunting dilemma facing zeenat, we head into the last half hour of the movie simply feeling for these lives. That i feel is where Nagesh has also got the viewer into the dor. Kudos to Nagesh and some truly sincere performances by Ayesha Takia, Gul Panag (she deserves better projects) and Shreyas Talpade. Support roles are equally well cast. Akin to the movie paheli, rajasthan in the hands of a skilled cinematographer becomes a land of magical colours and breathes life as a canvass. Enjoy this movie alone in your world or with a loved one.

Beyond doubt, we all acknowledge the power of art to wake up inert souls. However it is a very thin line for one to cross from the desired goal of inspiring and overwhelming into soul less preaching So to that end, Rang de basanti, does cause a lump in your throat, a resonating call in your heart and certain empathy for the five likable, very different characters of this story, without ever lapsing into either maudlin sentiments or moralizing to bring to the fore the plague called corruption sweeping India.

The revolutionaries of Indian freedom struggle (Bhagat Singh and Co) represent the righteousness and courage of the past and they seep into the five modern day characters who are jolted from their lackadaisical and somnolent day to day existence. Fate brings few college friends into contact with Sue a young penniless documentary film maker who cannot afford professional actors. The sacrifices and tribulations of the freedom fighters does leave a mark some where deep within the consciousness of the five friends. All it takes is a horrendous tragedy which then makes them take steps never contemplated before.

The focus is on the moral awakening, the call for justice and not on the consequences of the drastic actions of the youth while attempting to make corrupt politicians and businessmen pay for their deeds. Aamir is magnetic and powerful in his role as events transform him from a college vagabond fearing reality of life and seeking solace in the four walls of a university to someone gripped by painful awakening of conscience.

Each and every character (Siddharth, Soha, Madhavan, Atul, Sharman) essay their roles with consummate ease. The background score and cinematography is indicative of the new breed of technicians in Bollywood, slick and effective. The end is not pleasing to the mind or eye and is disproportionately brief but then one suspects that the director never wanted the end to be the fulcrum or highlight. It is in the narrative of the lives of the youth from pre to post a tragedy that remains as the food for thought. A very nice movie, well intentioned, and truly aimed at what the byline says " A generation awakens". Much needed for a nation which is showing clear signs of awakening.

To pick faults would be to talk about script losing its tautness somewhere in between halfway and end, one song too many, a shallow probe into the malaise called corruption in Indian social and political setting. But then we all know the tumour exists, what is genuinely needed is a courage to pluck it out each and every time to prevent it from raising its head.

The film I believe is in that respect will for sure strike a chord in the youth across the nation.

Sideways. Released in 2004, it won an Oscar for its brilliant screenplay. So what is this movie all about? Two men embark on a road trip into the heart of America's wine making Californian countryside. They are college buddies and now facing a mid life crisis of sorts in their lives. Miles is a school teacher trying hard to get his first novel published and Jack a small time actor about to get married. Miles a divorcée is a lover, student, guru of wines and for him the trip is all about taking time off with his friend. Jack on the other hand is looking for that last sexual adventure before he comes home to get married. They run into Maya , waitressing and stephanie working at a winery. Jack and Stephanie hit it off in more ways than one and Jack is well on his way to sexual nirvana prior to his wedding. Miles very disapprovingly is an accomplice and just tags along. Soon a bond starts forming between Maya and Miles. All his life Miles has been in a swirl of negativity and does not permit him to have faith in a potential relationship with Maya. A man low on confidence he keeps a distance from Maya initially to eventually developing affection for her. Jack on the other hand continues to live for the moment with each day nudging closer to his wedding.

This is a brilliantly narrated movie with characters as realistic as they come. A superlative performance from Paul Gimatti who portrays Miles the diffident, very human, well intentioned middle aged man seeking literary fame. Thomas Haden Church as Jack is again a very well etched character. Wines and Vineyards forms the perfect back ground to this very simple narrative which is smooth, fruity at times and leaving a beautiful full bodied after taste in the viewers mind. Virgina Madsen as Maya is full of restraint and subtlety , gelling with the ambiance of the settings. Sometimes a movie is to be watched not for its plot, not for its grandeur or passion but just for the ability of the characters to move into our living rooms as we watch the movie and this is one such movie.

I did rush to catch this movie with a lot of anticipation, amol palekar at the helm, a story line whose outline i knew about aroused curiosity and finally an accomplished star cast. So 140 minutes later, I emerged quite pleased at the way the evening went but another hour later on the train home, there was no waves of images and thoughts heading back to my brain except for some bright colours and the visual recreation of the spectacle of Rajasthan.

A bridal party makes an unscheduled stop and the new bride ( Rani) is spotted by a ghost (SRK) who is spellbound by her beauty. Few days later this very ghost sees the husband (again SRK)leaving the bride behind in the single minded pursuit of business, the ghost cannot resist the temptation to enter the life of the bride taking the form of her husband. However the ghost amongst his various human qualities that he still carries around, has not lost his honesty and comes clean to the shock of the bride. The bride welcomes the love and cherished the warmth lavished on her and accepts the ghost into her life.

While all this may seem rather far fetched, the rest of the movie continues to then shrug of all rationale and flows in a fairy tale manner amidst colourful tastefully done songs.

In one way the movie is true to its name and that is it makes the viewer asking many questions for which answers are hard to come by and that is what makes it definitely a true paheli.

Restrained acting performance by SRK fitting the dual roles well, once again a mature performance from Rani and a fine ensemble of supporting actors ( Amitabh in a cameo is a force fit though) well handled by the veteran director make it a pleasant experience but definitely not a memorable one. Songs are one too many, costumes are brilliant, screenplay is not tautly handled and that is a shame as it is a theme or story which is rather unique.

Parineeta is the timeless story of tumultuous love which goes through a roller coaster ride and this is the essence as essayed by two lovers who are thrown into life's twists and turns. Lolitha, the girl next door, the one who brings joy to all around, one who lights up a room with her sheer radiance has all along been the one who makes the life of the Sekhar complete in every way. Sekhar, the son of the rich businessman has never had to struggle for anything in his life and this extends to love that has been showered on him by Lolitha. Often this means that a person does not value that which is always around and so when he sees that Lolitha is turning to a new benefactor Girish in times of her adversity, jealousy and mistrust seep into his soul making him bitter and weak. However the large hearted Girish recognises the undying love of Lolitha for Sekhar. Vidya Balan a debutante to the big screen essays her role with panache and is outstanding. Saif has once again proved that he is a truly versatile actor and not a flash in the pan. Most other characters fit their roles well. The strains of music across the movie add fine flavour to the story. The sets and depiction of 60s Calcutta is aesthetically done. In all the director, Sarkar and Vinod Chopra deliver a fine movie except for a not so desired melodramatic finale. This is only a small blemish in what is would consider to be an excellent movie with fine performances.

Kingdom of Heaven is an honest attempt by Ridley Scott to portray an epic clash of two very polarised religions and cultures. This was the time of 2nd crusade when King Baldwin IV was at the throne and this leper king part of a pan European alliance had to face the very formidable foe, Salahuddin (saladin) who represented the Saracens and who wanted to reclaim the holy land of Jerusalem.Enter Balian the recently anointed successor to his nobleman father, Godfrrey a Baron from France. His wife's suicide makes him want to seek salvation at Jerusalem. So while he is still not a true believer, for what can be called a vested interest,he heads to Jerusalem. This becomes an underlying theme in the movie where Ridley wants to show that most men did not really know what they were fighting for and ultimately it seems as each man was fighting for either survival of for more power.

Orlando simply does not have the physical stature and persona of a Russel Crowe or Mel Gibson but does manage to go about his job without much fuss. Sadly other characters are not well etched except for Saladin. The battle scenes, the forte of Ridley are engaging, though not spectacular. So i left the movie with one dominant thought that for once it is balanced view of historical events even though the accuracy was a casualty ( Balian according to more authentic sources was actually spared by Saladin in the battle) though cinematic excellence wise it will fade in our memories faster than you down your first beer after movie.

6 PM - London, It is bitterly cold and i dreaded the thought of finishing a Sunday with a cold trudge to a not so close cinema to watch this movie. I don't have any one to accost me for this movie. But then, i had all along imagined BLACK to be a movie to be seen by myself. Surely it was moving, definitely welling up more than a tear but at the end of it the thoughts which stuck with me as i walked out into the cold were appreciation of Sanajay L Bhansali's courage to handle such a theme, the excellent performances especially that of Rani and Ayesha Kapur with a pleasing visual splendour. Amitabh is a thinking actor and he has ample justice to his role and character. Nevertheless i would also hold various directors guilty of merely bringing out a single hue to his performances over the years, always capitalising on his booming delivery. I still subscribe to the view that there is more to Amitabh than what is being extruded by Bollywood directors.

There are disappointments for me and they remain largely consistent in most well intentioned Hindi movie, namely weak scripts and very elusive subtlety in sight and sound. In this movie as well, the narrative is at times soporific and exchanges very often monotonous. Finally research into a topic which so very diligently and intelligently done in Hollywood is often a big gaping hole in Hindi movies and in BLACK , i can still sense inadequacies in representation of how one should be using the right kind of sign language when communicating with Michelle.

But yes, i did walk out into the cold night touched in the heart and wishing to make a difference to someone. Well if these emotions can be evoked in me, i would say "Sanjay, congratulations and thank you". Yes Bollywood is making slow but the right kind of steps forward.

There are times when you realize how precious life is and a sense of balance returns to your life, you start appreciating life like a gift. This is yet another truly soul stirring movie not so much for the role of a fellow human being in helping Andrew Beckett but for show casing how the very same society to which we belong to in one way or the other, often alienates us (abandoned when bruised and battered on the streets of Philadelphia.

Another aspect of this movie is how it rekindles memories of social ostracisation on account of illness such as AIDS. Today we have demystified AIDS to a large extent and hopefully a more effective cure is on its way but it only takes another new undiscovered and unraveled ailment or social practice to bring out our prejudices.

So in that respect, such a movie for me, personally brings out from the compassion for a fellow human being as he lies in bed, inhaling the final remnants of life. A great performance by Tom Hanks who incredibly imports life into such otherwise common place characters we see in life everyday. Denzel Washington is superb, cannot say anything more. Finally i did cry but those tears when washed away only rekindles hope and makes the heart glow.

i am not embarking on a cinematic critical review but would like to begin by saying that if a movie has left me with warmth of a feeling or the cold shiver of an emotion or simply any touching emotion i think the moviemaker would have more often than not met the objective quest. this movie is the tale of two souls of our times who are absolutely lost in swirling waters of life which throws up few real options amongst apparent myriad options. Hence we are often magnetically drawn to people purely circumstantially as we seek solace in another person who can resonate some of our feelings if not all. It also captures very well the fact that age does not really often impede connection of minds Bill Murray and Scarllet are literally the only actors in the movie and they have performed to a T the roles as conceived i guess by Sofia Coppola. But the element of greatness will be clearly the poignant scenes of separation. Separation is always painful and that pain can be redeemed .. see the movie to know how