Movie Review: Yes Man

Jim Carrey is wonderful in this movie. This is a movie of a man who has lost his sexy, blonde girlfriend and now is stuck in a rut. He sulks, he refuses to have a social life and declines every opportunity – good or bad – that comes his way. He works as a loan officer in a bank and has not progressed. Everything is a ‘no’.

That is when Terrence, a guru that preaches the magic of ‘Yes’, comes into Frank’s (i.e. Jim Carrey’s) life. He tells him that he has cast a spell, a covenant to himself, which compels him to say yes to all opportunities posed to him. He must not refuse…

This leads to hilarious situations, where Frank finds himself saying yes to things that he would not have done in his wildest dreams. He is learning Korean, taking flying lessons, playing the guitar and even is forced to play footsie with an old grandma!

It is a film that helps you see how much of our lives is determined by invisible boundaries that we have set for ourselves. It is said that if you keep doing the same things over and over again, and expect different results, it is insanity. And the truth of the matter is, most of us are actually insane! Push the envelope and experience life; that is the message of the movie. Hilariously put, but worth a watch.

Stars: * * * ½

Movie Preview: Slumdog Millionaire

This one is racing towards the Oscars headlong. It is a pity they haven’t had a worldwide release yet. It is based on Vikas Swarup’s novel Q&A. Now, this is about the streets and slums of Mumbai. (And the ironical thing is that is exactly where I saw its first copy – pirated, of course, lying yesterday! It was on a rickety table, placed on a pavement near a prominent railway station. I confess, I did stop to skim through a few pages, but was quite appalled at the way the novel seemed written. I have heard the director has really taken pains to clean up the mess and present a more complete story.)

In fact, there seems to be a tendency amongst our writers, of late, to explore the squalor hidden beneath the Indian underbelly, be it Arvind Adiga’s White Tiger or now Vikas Swarup’s Q&A. Shantaram, Maximum City and Black Friday have specifically been set in Mumbai. And all these books have won many awards. (Why do we have to always play to the galleries, and act so third-world, to get an award?!)

Mumbai, you see, is a cosmopolitan city. It has life – the urban who live in high towers and gated bunglows surrounded by guards; and there is life on the roads, pavements, bridges and even road dividers. If you do not believe me then next time move out of South Mumbai once, and as your airplane lands look out the window – you will see Asia’s largest slum area, Dharavi…

The protagonist of Slumdog Millionaire, Jamal, belongs to a slum; he is a young teenager who is orphaned, uneducated and depressingly poor. Yet he participates in, ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ (Indian version – Kaun Banega Crorepati). And he is winning! The host (played by Anil Kapoor) is in total disbelief. This uneducated fool is cheating, he alleges. The teenager, Jamal, is arrested by the police. A lawyer, Irrfan Khan, appears and interrogates his client – how do you know all the answers? And, then the real story unfolds of Jamal's experiences while growing up in constant penury. Experiences that have hurt him, humoured him, caused anguish, sickened him at times, but in the end educated him….

With 20 awards to its name, it seems like a winner.

Movie Review: The Day the Earth Stood Still

Disappointing is the word for this one. Keanu Reeves is a great actor, who has given stellar performances in films like Speed and The Matrix triology….here well, the less said the better.

The movie is more a damp squid; we are as usual the self destructive animals.

Humans, you see, have a tendency to see the worst in everything and especially each other. We are disrespectful to the environment and would rather wage war, and look for invisible WMD’s than sit and debate. Well, that is, what a Japanese alien (yeah!) placed on Earth has gauged from his years on our planet. Yet, we are a lovable, whimsical lot whom he cares for as well.

Yet, the super alien, Keanu believes he needs to save the Earth from further assault from humans. But when he sees a step mom hugging her step son, his soul stirs and he thinks we can change. How? No answer. Do we all adopt stepchildren? Or shall we all weep like the lady protagonist, and pray to gods (or aliens) to save us? What is the guarantee we can change, when we haven’t in years? And why in the world does the Secretary of Defense, USA speak for all of mankind!!!

It is an unreasonable movie, action is down to zilch and there are just few twilight zone special effects thrown in.

It is so bad, that even the aliens watching it will be bewildered!

And by the way, this god-this-is-the-end-of-the-world story is not original, in fact it is a remake of a 1951 classic sci-fi movie, that even won a Golden Globe. However, important sequences have been skipped, making it quite incomprehensible.

Stars: * *

Movie Review: Transporter 3

It is a typical Statham movie; full of action. Though, when I look at it, it seems like the poor man’s James Bond.

He has a swanky car – a black Audi. He ferries parcels from one place to another. He asks no names. And he works alone. These are his rules

Only, this time he breaks a few. It is like the recent 007 release, also focused on a villain who doesn’t mind wrecking havoc on the environment. He wants to dump toxics in Ukraine. Destroy the flora and fauna. If the fumes are inhaled it would cause instant death. But, hey the villain does not care. He in fact is going to use the ‘Tranporter’ Frank (John Statham) to aid him in his plan.

Frank shows his lighter in this movie. He likes life and enjoys the adrenaline rush; he just had not dwelt on the subject yet… He saves the day; and does it in style.

A movie that I recommend you see on DVD.

Stars: * * *

Movie Review: Body of Lies

Great stuff! Leonardo Di Caprio has a very convincing role of an undercover operative working in the Middle East. They are searching for clues to catch the number one terrorist; who seems to share a clever resemblance in ideology with Osama Bin Laden.

A shrewd plan is hatched; they will hurt this terrorist’s ego! His numero uno status will be threatened by another fundamentalist who will head a terror group, albeit fake, which will attack the Western world. Of course, this is not as easy as it sounds. It has to look believable; and therefore begins a slew of deceits. And it involves risking the lives of innocents…

But deception is a game that the intelligence forces like to play between themselves as well. Leo’s well meaning intentions, in spite of his efforts, creates trouble for him and the people he cares for. He is left grappling with a situation that can go explosive any moment. The intelligence of both countries, Jordan and USA, apparently refuse to help.

An intelligent film and well executed. An added attraction is Russell Crowe

Stars: ****

Movie Review: Wall-E

Oh my, this is the sweetest animation movie and perhaps the best I have seen after the Ice Age series. It cannot get cuter and sweeter and funnier than this.

The Earth has been abandoned, because of the pollution and excessive garbage on the planet. Small robots, Wall-Es, have been designed to crush the size of the garbage – however all of them are dysfunctional, save one. This is the last Wall-E and he has a pet cockroach.

One day a lovely white ‘girl’ robot descends on Earth who also takes to cleaning, but ends up discovering a sapling that Wall-E has found recently. She shuts down and is whisked away by her spaceship... Wall-E is in love and follows her to the outer limits of space.

This ship has humans who, after centuries of sitting on cozy, automated chairs and communicating through virtual networks, are lazy and unable to walk. When the captain of the ship learns about his home planet, there is quite a tussle between him and the fleet of robots designed to keep them in continual orbit.

How Wall-E saves the human race and his lady love, is the most endearing story I have seen in a long time. There is hardly any dialog, just their expressions are enough…


Stars: *****

Movie Review: Horton Hears A Who

I have been neglecting my animated buddies. So let me talk of Horton. Cute elephant, truly and one with courage and determination…

Horton one day while he is bathing hears a person shout out from a speck of dust. And that is how he finds a whole new world on a speck, which he then balances on a flower.

The jungle does not believe him; the young ones do, though. The self-proclaimed ruler of the jungle – a lady Kangaroo – is unhappy with Horton’s ‘beliefs’. She tries to have the flower crushed by an evil vulture. Yet, Horton is undaunted and goes forth to save this new world and tuck them safely on a mountain far far away.

A story of believing in yourself; and not getting swayed by a mob. It is actually a story book by Dr.Suess, the second one in fact.

The theme is good, but the makers did a much better job of delivering this message in a funnier and more powerful manner in Ice Age.

Stars: ***

Movie Review: Burn After Reading

George Clooney and Brad Pitt star in it. Yup, that is pretty much the review.

Actually, this is quite a simple movie and humorous too. Not the ha-ha-ha type, but strangely amusing. It is about how clueless the entire Intelligence department is always.

An ex-CIA analyst has recorded his memoirs or in other words, mindless banter. However, the CD goes missing, and all hell breaks loose. The CD is found by Brad Pitt, who works in a gym. He and his other lady instructor, Litdzy Litz (at least that is how here name sounded like) tries to get Russia involved trying to buy the drivel. The clueless duo wants to use it to get money for a few cosmetic surgeries for Litdzy...

Brainless is the word; but well intended. It will bring a smile to your face for sure, and at times will leave you scratching your head exasperated at their foolishness. But then, it is a lazy afternoon fare anyway!

Stars: **

Movie Review: Death Race

The world as usual has gone to gone to the greedy corporate dogs. The prison system has become a gladiator’s arena – only this time, the audience views the prisoners’ dilemma through the Internet. is

The plot is about the prison system being handled by a private company. They maintain the system and keep law and order in place. However, these are greedy entrepreneurs – they want to make money out of the prison system as well. And hence, begins Death Race.

Rules are simple, you survive and win five Death Races – you walk out a free man. But, there is a question of TRPs. So, the Death Race has twisted men behind the wheels, who are allowed to bomb, kill and mutilate his opponent and his navigators. This ghastly play brings in the viewership.

One ‘heroic’ driver, Frank, has a face so terrible, that he hides behind a mask. Only, Frank does not survive his fourth race and is replaced with a man convicted of killing his wife.

Action, drama and lots and lots of explosives. A true-blue bad boy flick...the usual Jason Statham material.
Nothing great, but if you have nothing to do and the meaningless gore does bother you, then you can see it.

Stars: **

Movie Review: Max Payne

Perhaps the director was thinking, “How do I inflict maximum pain on my audiences…oh yes, let me make a useless movie that makes them tear out their hair!”

Yes, you know my opinion of the movie. Skip it, please!

No, you still want to know? Persistent! Well it is about people who are drinking blue colored drugs and then believe are being collected by black winged demons. To protect themselves they wear tattoos… Now, these demonic forces have a link with the protagonist, Max Payne’s wife’s murder. This man is a detective solving unsolved mysteries…blah!

It is a twisted plot inspired by the Hulk – only Hulk was great, and this can be relegated to the back of line.

Stars:*

Movie Review: Quantum of Solace

James Bond is seeking solace…he wants to avenge his girlfriend’s death. The first time you see him hung up on a girl! Else this Casanova is known to flit from one lady to another without a second thought.

Anyway, it has the usual action sequences and an element of drama. The neurotic villain who believes the world can be controlled by him, the Bond girl who believes can take on the worst of men, the doubting yet protective M and of course, 007 himself – emaciated looking at first, though.

Even then, it does not live up to the expectations set after Casino Royale. Daniel Craig is still flexing muscle, but the rawness that audiences liked so much is missing. However, the problem is with the flimsy story line itself.

Pierce Brosnan had been able to carry off the flimsiest of plots with ease – his suave approach, endless gadgets and soft smile had carried them through, but the new Bond is struggling on that count.

Daniel is indeed a great actor and we hope he gets to act in a better Bond movie soon and gets a much much better Bond girl. He deserves it!

Stars:***