Must watch movies

February 2013

Special 26 – Movie Review

By |2022-10-08T01:20:21-05:00February 19th, 2013|Movie Review, talkies|

There was a time when there were two types of hindi movies, and both were horrible. Those times have changed. Nowadays it is tough to say "a very good hindi movie in a long time", when Gangs of Wasseypur, Matru ke Bijili ka Mandola, and to some (arguable) effect Barfi and Shanghai release in a year's time. "Special Chabbis" is the best hindi movie I have watched in the past month, and Neeraj Pandey almost exceeds expectations with his second movie. When his first movie, "A Wednesday" released, I remember saying "a very good hindi movie in a long time"; times have changed.

November 2012

Bond23: Skyfall – Movie Review

By |2020-05-15T21:49:52-05:00November 19th, 2012|Movie Review, talkies|

Judi Dench plays the vulnerable matriarch of Britain's external intelligence agency, and inimitable academy winner Javier Bardem plays her ex-protege, and now deeply deeply hurt nemesis, the sexual tension is palpable. In case I forgot to mention, the third character is Bond...... James Bond. And his time it is very very personal.

May 2012

Mohanlal’s Grand Master – Review

By |2020-05-15T21:49:52-05:00May 11th, 2012|Malayalam, Movie Review, talkies|

Mohanlal plays Chandrashekhar,a defeated IPS officer, who takes his personal briefcase of losses to work. He unlike Sherlock Holmes who uses cocaine, plays chess in office to keep his mind alert. Chess references abound in the movie, as a serial killer challenges Chandra to a game which combines crime and personal life. There is a trail of murdered women. Nothing is out of bounds, as Chandra accepts the challenge. Lalu Alex is the killer. (I'm kidding! he is not there in the film)

July 2011

Delhi Belly – Review

By |2020-05-15T21:49:52-05:00July 11th, 2011|India, Movie Review, talkies|

Delhi Belly has a very clever storyline by Akshat Verma to start with, but the treatment by director Abhinay Deo, and an intuitive musical score by Ram Sampath keeps the movie grounded and prevents it from going over the top. This script could have become very loud on screen, but despite the butt cracks, and incessant meditation on kitsch, Delhi Belly is a smooth ride that takes you along quite well.

April 2011

Santosh Sivan’s Urumi – Review

By |2020-05-15T21:49:53-05:00April 17th, 2011|Movie Review, talkies, Video|

Prithviraj disappoints. Then again I am back from watching Mohanlal's Chinatown, so disappointment needs to be understood as occurring when there is hope left. Mohanlal cannot disappoint me anymore. Prithvi loses control at critical junctures in the movie. This is the same actor who gave extrememly controlled performances in Vasthavam and Thalappavu, but he loses it occasionally in "Urumi".

December 2007

Katha Parayumbol

By |2022-01-07T20:44:55-05:00December 25th, 2007|Movie Review, talkies|

The story is a little "Malgudy"-esque and has universal appeal. A simple story set in a village with all its innocence and its unique characters The protagonist is Barber Balan (Sreenivasan) who struggles to make a living with his dilapidated saloon which he wants to renovate.

September 2007

Chak De India 20-0

By |2017-08-26T00:21:12-05:00September 6th, 2007|Movie Review, talkies|

Since August 31st I am hearing these torture and cluster bombing figures about the Indian team in Chennai. India destroy Sri Lanka 20-0 India defeats Bangladesh  6 - 0 India finish [...]

July 2007

Arabikatha and Cuba Mukundan – Lal Jose delivers

By |2017-08-25T23:56:06-05:00July 27th, 2007|Movie Review, talkies|

Film makers often fear to touch the communists,(and most often it is for singing praises) - they fear to touch live issues too. Lal Jose does both. Cuba Mukundan, the central character played by Sreenivasan is, when you think about it, the "party" itself. With all that is right about it and many things that are outdated. Lal Jose shows the decay with deep sympathy, as a true artist and like the touching poem in the movie, finds light at the end of the tunnel.

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