Laga Chunari Mein Daag- Journey of a Woman (2007)

Laga Chunari Mein Daag- Journey of a Woman
Rani Mukherjee ... Natasha
Abhishek Bachchan ... Rohan
Konkona Sen Sharma ... Chutki
Kunal Kapoor ... Vivaan
Anupam Kher ... Shivshankar Sahay
Rating: * 1/2 out of **** ( 1 1/2 out of 4)

Pradeep Sarkaar’s debutant film was successful Parineeta and now he returned with clumsy Laga Chunari mein daag-Journey of a Woman. And, there is nothing new to this woman’s tedious journey. Trivial situations as financial problems, bahen ki padhaai and a sewing machine to earn bread for family, horny employers that will say you don’t have qualification but you have much more, a man later in her life fell in love with her. How many hundred times? Only Konkana Sen and her sincerity keep you from walking out in this lackluster production. Better stay home than to think about going for this journey.

Johnny Gaddar

Johnny Gaddar (2007)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neil Mukesh: Vikram
Dharmendra: Sheshari
Vinay Pathak: Prakash
Zakir Hussain: Shardul
Rimi Sen: Mini

Written and Directed by Sriram Raghavan

Rating: ***1/2 out of **** (3 1/2 out of 4)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now this is something hits unexpectedly. Johnny Gaddar quite thoughtfully titled like 70’s hard-boiled thriller spins a devious plot and pulls off a fantastic thriller. This is one of those relentless movies just refuses to slow down. Having said that is a complement in itself. Bollywood always has flavor for romance and comedy but thriller is still not first class citizen here. In old days B R Chopra gave us real good mysteries and thrillers, in our time Abbas-Mastaan used to deliver but they have lost their way terribly these days. Writer-Director Raghavan’s last venture was brilliant Ek Haseena Thi with Saif’s snaky performance- his best till date. With Johnny Gaddar he exercised in the same genre and maturating it more and more. He penned a clever on-the-edge thriller and then got in director’s chair doing a through job.

Plot is a classic crime setup. Five regular partners going for a deal splitting profit five ways as usual. It is fine until one of guys [of course apana hero Neil] wants all and elope with his mistress[Rimi Sen]. But of course plan will not be executed without flaws and none of the member of the crew is rookie or push-over. Then onwards film is a gripping tale with twists and turns. It pays-off and it is also not timid to avoid contemporary cliché conclusion.

Film doesn’t have A-list stars to draw attention but has actors doing their job nifty making this kind delight. Star of the show is Neil Mukesh. This is a very bold, confident feature debut for the talented actor, certainly lambi race ka ghoda for the industry. Film offers some real good scenes. I really liked the scene when a cop sitting beside the rat in the gang suggests changing the topic and talk about his favorite actor extracting a virtual confession out. And there is another scene shows glimpse of gray in human carnival when one character held on gun-point and asked about how come others solve the puzzle earlier and met their demise. He bleeding, about to die, smiles wicked; refuses to answer saying that will puzzle and torment him rest of the life.

Film got a vintage treatment and several references are made to some classics. One of things I admired most here, hero is not sly or wicked but the script is. There seems so many innocent thread suspended loosely initially to pay attention but double backs in as crucial smart clues later. Altogether film is a darn dandy pleasure. Full entertainment all over. Strong Thumps up JohnnyO!!

Bas Ek Pal

--------------------------------------
Bas Ek Pal (2006)
Cast & Credits
Nikhil: Sanjay Suri
Anamika: Urmila
Ira: Juli Chawala
Rahul : Jimmy Shergil
Steve: Rehmaan Engineer

directed by Onir
Rating: * * 1/2 out of * * * *
--------------------------------------

After running a good trailer and Aatif’s intense “Tere Bin” I was kinda curious about Bas Ek Pal. It genuinely sounded like movie which will take a fine look at relationships. This is second film by director Onir whose last ‘My Brother Nikhil’ was critically acclaimed. While promoting this film I still remember Urmila saying “what I feel is best of this movie is even if characters are complex, situations are complex –but characters are written with clarity”, after walking out of the hall I could only give a sarcastic smile to this statement. Only thing I like in this is its central twist which I suspected coming but forgot as time passed, some of its music and one of the relationships that happens after interval. That’s the only reason two and half stars are given.

We get to know Nikhil (Suri) is back from US to India after five years bumped into Urmila in a disc where she helps him to get into there. They like each other and start to play. Urmila pretends to be hard to get and Suri continue to peruse her. Rahul (Jimmy) and Nikhil are friends, Rahul is friend with Steve who is on down slope of his marriage with Ira(Juhi). Then an incident takes place which turns everything up side down. What happens after that is better left for interested viewers to go and figure out.

Bas EK Pal does wander in the relationship pitfalls - insecurity, paranoia, misunderstandings, jealousy, lust but it would have been effective if it’s supported by a strong plot rather than a fate play. Lots of drama goes on screen but it fails to make us care for what is happening on screen. There are many ridiculous scenes when Nikhil only looks like psycho obsessive lover despite a man with so much of bad luck. He is supposed to be lead character but nothing we feel about him. And same is the story for other characters. We never feel for them. They are like born with worst luck in the world, tangled in such complex situation but still no. Why Nikhil is in love with her we never know. Is love at first sight is not enough to justify such a difficult subject? No. For other it will be revealing too much so I stop here.

Only thing it manages it way up is one of the relationships. Its central twist is good one and justifies its fate plot after first half. Aatif’s ‘Tere bin’ is there when credits are rolling but audience has suffered enough and is too late till then.

When it comes to performances in such movies with such a subject - actors get chance to show what they are capable of but alas! Not even one of five has en-cashed this opportunity. Suri is capable actor and he has shown that in Zankaar Beats but here he is deadpan. Juhi, Jimmy and Rehmaan are ok. And Urmila- God, actress of her caliber who was brilliant in her last outings like Ek Haseena thi [for me her best so far. Others are Rangeela and Kaun? ] and Pinjar is a huge let down. She has made comeback after such a long break but looks like has caught rust.

Sorry to say Mr. Onir, like your characters bad luck for you and for us this time.

-Manoj

Closer

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Closer (2004)
Cast & Credits
Anna: Julia Roberts
Dan: Jude Law
Alice: Natalie Portman
Larry: Clive Owen
Directed by: Mike Nichols. Written by Patrick Marber.
Columbia Pictures presents a film Running time: 101 minutes.
Rated R (for sequences of graphic sexual dialogue, nudity/sexuality and language).

Rating: * * * * out of * * * *
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cynical. In one word Closer is cynical. It all deals with love and lust, the old equation but still it is unique. Mike Nichols’ Closer is a complex dark motion picture where we watch vulnerable selfish dimensions of human beings are explored and presented nude.

Four main protagonists. Dan (Jude Law) is an obituarist in London. Alice (Natalie Portman) is a stripper who has flied there to get out of a relationship. They meet in the opening scene of the film when Alice got hit by a cab and Dan gets her to hospital. They start talking and end up loving together. Dan who has written a fiction novel now on his relationship with Alice shows at Anna’s (Julia Roberts) studio to photograph for book-jacket. Anna has read it and impressed on the way he has accurately depicted sex…love in his novel. They feel the attraction towards each other as conversation continues and they kiss. But she steps back when she come to know Dan lives with Alice. “You are taken” she says. But Dan continues to lurk around Anna’s studio. Then we meet Dr. Larry (Clive Owen) chatting with Dan on an adult site where Dan pretends to be Anna. Dan invites Larry at an aquarium as practical joke to meet. Ironically Anna happens to be there. Larry and Anna are now dating each other while Dan didn’t stop craving for Anna. What happens next is best to watch on screen.

There is an obvious sexual tension between these. In one of the best scenes, in Art Gallary, where Anna’s photo exhibition is in session Dan and Alice show up. Alice and Larry start conversing about the exhibition, Alice says “It's a lie. It's a bunch of sad strangers photographed beautifully, and... all the glittering assholes who appreciate art say it's beautiful 'cause that's what they wanna see. But the people in the photos are sad, and alone...”. Larry learns about her profession as a stripper. He finds her attractive. He even leans to kiss her, she doesn’t move but Larry shuns temptation with a smile and says, “I'll see you around”. Dan says to Alice, “I am your stranger JUMP!!!!”.

They deceive each other. They love, hurt, talk in fierce manner. In the process innocence is broken and all turn cold and nasty. Exploiting opponent’s weaknesses and while doing so they don’t care or even sometimes seem to take pleasure of that control. In another best scene where Larry shows up at Alice’s strip club after splitting with Anna. Alice is all hurt still presents her as icy while Larry is all stripped emotionally in front of her begging crying in agony. He asks her to talk with her real life she says, “Lying's the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off - but it's better if you do”. He pours all his money to give him her real name but she insists as her name is Jones. He asks her to move in with him. She snaps him with “I am not your revenge fuck!”

Conveniently manipulate their selves as per their means is another major aspect told here. These characters just blindly serve their desires but make sure as if love with their partner. Dan says “What's so great about the truth? Try lying for a change, it's the currency of the world”. Look for its dialogs- snappy and witty. These highly eloquent characters are given lines to tear hearts.

Actors are at their best here. I love Clive Owen most. I just couldn’t stop raving about his scene during strip club with Portman. His best line for me is “Everything is the version of something else”. His transitions from caring to nasty are most painful to watch. Natalie Portman probably gave her career best so far here. Her pain right from the scene when she asks Roberts to take her photo with tears rolling down her chick. As something is burnt in that moment and never come back later. Jude Law’s Dan and Julia Robert’s Anna are again no doubt fine.

At the very end when Dan is back with Alice. He leaves to get smoke, he calls for lift and as lift door opens he sees himself in mirror and something strikes him. He just picks some flowers and goes back to Alice where she tells her the truth that she doesn’t love him anymore. She tells her truth about the strip joint night. This ends up Closer bleak.

Is there ever any love in Closer or all was just human desires presented pretended as Love by these protagonists? Can men n women be that dangerous to lie in so deceivable manner? Is human heart that soulless? How can we hurt someone we love so brutally? With surgical precision Mike Nichols gave us Closer and left me numb.
Alice asks Dan “No one will ever love you as much as I do. Why isn't love enough?”
Larry heartbreakingly asks Anna “Did you ever love me?”
Anna asks to Dan, "Why did you swear eternal love when all you wanted was excitement? Love bores you." Dan responds, "No, it disappoints me."
Closer asks all these questions and if you are watching you have got your answers.

Trailer Link:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/closer/large.html

BluffMaster

Movie : BluffMaster (2005)
Cast : Abhishek Bhacchan, Priyanka Chopra, Ritesh Deshmukh, Boman Irani and Nana Patekar
Director : Rohan Sippy
Rating : * * * 1/2

Bluffmaster is one of the popcorn entertainers of the year with fun fast 2 hours, fine performances and of course its unique MUSIC. I did enjoy it than any other comedies last year except No entry which was also hilarious. What makes it different is it handled every aspect with equal importance. Whether it is Drama, Comedy, Music or of course Love. Surprisingly what I loved most after its Music is its luv estory Part. There is a scene when Roy (Abhishek) telling Sim (Priyanka- Hot in ‘Come to me’ number) about love affairs –“Biggest lie in this world is – I LOVE U- jaise time bitata hai LOVE nikal jaata hai and only left behind is I n U”. Then she argues over this as on same basis when Roy proposed her with same line if it was a lie. Watch Abhishek’s response- ‘Vo such tha Sim. Vahi to ek such tha’. This is my most favorite scene in movie.

As title suggests Roy(Abhishek) is bluffmaster looting (fishing in his language) and after making good money retired from the line and planning to settle with his girl-friend Sim(Priyanka). Which didn’t work out as on engagement one of his tricked one shows up and leading to heart-break of Sim and blah blah. Roy is now longing for Sim making every possible effort to make her believe that he is changed. There is a very nice scene when he is sitting in the restaurant, ordering coffee after coffee that eventually persuades Sim to talk to him but she refuse to forgive him at any cost.

We meet various characters- Dittu(Ritesh) who is now getting trained by Roy as a favor- Now kahani me so called twist is Dr. Bhalerao (Boman) diagnosed Roy is suffering from some last stage Brain Tumor. He has only three months. Boman gives theory of life where he explains how we live for 30 years but Only 30 were memorable? So make these 90 days memorable and live for another 90 years kinda. Valid indeed. End of first half we are introduced to Chandu (Nana Patekar). Dittu is seeking revenge from Chandu and it can be possible only if Roy help him out. Well, Climax turns everything upside down but I find it is well come surprise ending.

On Downside it fails to keep high on certain sequences but it is not too long.

Talk about its Music-It is awesome- One of the best varied collections of songs the year. Both Original and Remixes are like hitting bull’s-eye. Fantastically choreographed Right Here Right Now I can watch hundreds of times for sure. Same is with ‘Bure Bure’. Both have topped pub and disco DJ lists to get crowd wild.

Bluffmaster wouldn’t be same if casting would have been different and who is irreplaceable in all is Nana Patekar. He portrayed such a flamboyant character stealing scene after scene with cheesy one-liners. Favorite is “IMAGE!!!” and “kis liye? picture bahot acchi chal rahi hai..parade pe fekane hai”. Nana is utilized here 100 % as Nana and dialogs have developed a vada-paav kinda relation. He is offered very best lines here and his colorful character never misses a bit. Rithesh, Boman and Priyanka made a well supporting cast. And Abhishek Bacchan who is getting better and better with every outing. Check out how cool he is in ‘Right Here Right Now’ number. Same in rain drunk scene, in Sim’s Coffee shop scene.

Honestly I went this movie with no expectation but left hall ekdum paisa vasool.

Top #10 in 2005

My Bollywood Top #10 in 2005
# 1 Black
# 2 Sehar
# 3 Iqbaal
# 4 Page 3
# 5 Apaharan
# 6 Bluffmaster
# 7 Sarkaar
# 8 Parineeta
# 9 No Entry, BnB
# 10 Hazaaron Khwahishen Aisi

My #10 Chartbusters

# 1 Jal –Aadat (Original Jal Song by Aatif)
# 2 Who Lamhe – Zaher
# 3 Right Here Right Now - BluffMaster
# 4 Aashique banaya aapne Title Track
# 5 Kajaraare – B n B
# 6 Let the Music Play -Shamur
# 7 Tera Hi Karam – Karam
# 8 Halka Halka - Chocolate
# 9 Maahive – Faakir
# 10 Ishq Hai Zoota – Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena

The Narrows

Book : The Narrows
Auther : Michael Connelly
Rating : ***


Warning: This review is full of spoilers so return to it after you read the book.

Michael Connelly’s ‘The Narrows’ starts with such a big promise but fails to keep it.
Two stories runs in parallel in it.
In first one, Rachel Walling got a call at mid-night from LAPD tell her that the Poet is resurfaced. He has sent a message in the name of her and a clue in form of a GPS system. This is the call she waiting for. Currently, She is thrown in South Dakota Division from last seven years - for her act in “The Poet”. She has't quit yet as she doesn’t want them to win.
Second Harry Bosch is retired now but he is appointed to investigate murder of former detective friend Terry McCaleb. Terry is former LAPD cop we are familiar in other Connelly’s novels. Harry got his cases that he was working on before his death. In that he learns about the Poet.
Rachel is told at murder scenes in LA that she is just an observer here. It’s not her case.
She wants Poet ahead of them.
In between Rachel and Harry cross paths. Rachel took chance to join with Harry to catch Poet. And on.
Now as plot seems extremely interesting and it is. But there are places where it falters.

***START OF SPOILERS***
“There are no such thing in an investigation as coincidence” I think Connelly has forgotten his own words in the same novel.
I truly understand there are things that govern by instincts but hitting bull’s bye to such a critical points based just on that, well I am not convinced.
Harry has to find from where Poet’s operating, his third point in Terry’s triangular theory and that just came out on instinct. The last clue that points them to Poet’s next target, a picture that got destroyed in the explosion which was seen ‘”by chance” by Harry again and then the haft burnt page- which he figures out on mere coincidence who was in that picture and what those words meant actually!!! I was just disappointed with it otherwise will be a solid novel. And then the most disappointing part- its climax, before I read this novel some people had compared Poet’s character to Hannibal Lecture. No such thing at least in this novel. He mere served as a villain in the plot. That’s it. -kept a stack of corpses just to announce he is smart enough to kill those innocent people walked to LA just to take vacation?? What happened to that Poet that successfully disguised himself inside academy for years and targeted FBI agents not some helpless strangers??

On positive side, Connelly’s certain dialogues are at his best. Certain monologues from Harry are real high-moments in here. Pace is not a problem at all. It moves with ease. There many sequences here that keep on us the edge. Evidence gathering, the way case moves and makes its turns is again good ones. But logic behind them on major turns is not striking. I expected more from Connelly. There are certain facts astonished me that we are under constant impression that Poet has killed Terry and now its Rachel’s turn but we came to know, Poet is just drawing both of his protégés to the place where he has kept his victims - challenging them to catch him and figure out what are his real motives behind this return after so many years- the cause of his return this time that he is going to finish his so long awaited work which he couldn’t finish in the past. He didn’t kill Terry and never intended to any one of them, not this time at least. And that chewing gum clue is imaginative. Not too many clues of this quality are here.
***END OF SPOILERS***

Bottom Line: The Narrows is good but is not smashing for sure.