Mr and Mrs Smith

Movie: Mr and Mrs Smith
Starring: Brad Pitt, Angelina Julie, Vince Vaughan
Direction: Dogh Liman
Rating: *** ½

After enjoying this film I asked myself what was this movie about? What was the script? What was the plot? What was the its genre? I failed to answer any of these but I know I enjoyed this film.

In quick first act John(Pitt) and Jane(Jolie), two strangers totally over each other, fool around in a rain-party. And they get married on impulse. Now after 4-5 years of their marriage they are still strangers to each other! They haven’t yet aware about true nature of others job. Both are ‘deadly’ assassins. They finish their jobs (killing people) and return home at night as if has done a ‘9 to 5’ job. This routine is disturbed when they find each other on same assignment and came to know about true nature of their jobs. And so they come after each other.
Sequences when these two try to kill one other are presented in carefree manner. As that supposed to be. “Oh come on, it was just a little bomb” says Jane- can give you idea what I am talking about. This is a vague idea of ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’.

Film occasionally switches to the scenes (real, real high moments of movie) where these two are asked questions by a marriage counselor. We come to know that fire between these two is no more there now. Exact lines were:
Therapist: How is your sex life?
Jane: I don't understand the question John: I don't get it, is this another 1 to 10 thing?
Or one where John: ..There were moments ….u know…..

It is full of hilarious sequences like the conversation about curtains
Jane: If You Don't Like Then We Can Take Them Back.
John: Ok. I Don't Like Them.
Jane: You'll Get Used To Them
And there is one car sequence these two commenting, retorting each other. scenes with Eddie(Vince Vaughan) and John are fun to watch. It’s never ill or forced comedy, I must say. In one scene when these two look for hidden-weapons is sure to make you laugh. One with Angelina Jolie asked to hold the child in party, watch Jolie's expression there.

Dialogue here are crisp and to chew over and over. My most favorites are when Brad Pitt is caught in lift and threaten to be killed by Jolie:
Jane Smith: Any last words?
John Smith: The new curtains are hideous.
and in last scenes before credits roll John says “Ask the sex question again….(with that grin on his face)”.

No one dare to say against the performances. Those are fabulous. These two are the perfect cast. Sensuous Angelina Jolie is now rated most beautiful woman on earth. Brad Pitt is heartthrob for years and he will continue to be. Vince Vaughan is smooth and impressive.

I loved Soundtracks from it. Joe Strummer’s ‘mongo bongo’ (Jolie-Pitt rain-dance song) and Pink Martini’s ‘Don’t stop falling in love’ are just wow!!
Yet there is something missing in the film.

All steamy scenes might have cut by our dear censor board so can’t say anything about those. But they must have set screen on fire.

One advice before you see this movie: Don’t ask too many questions. It is a slick flick. Just Go and feel the kick!

‘Mr and Mrs Smith’ is emblazoned with exploding chemistry between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and plenty of cheezee one liners.
That’s it.

Parineeta

Movie : Parineeta
Starring: Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, Sanjay Dutt, Raima Sen, Diya Mirza,
Director: Pradeep Sarkar
Rating : ***1/2

It is kind of rarity in Bollywood to adopt classic novels and present it with the same height but Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Parineeta has almost accomplished it. Parineeta echoes old times where character-driven plots delighted audiences that attempt to find meaning and mysteries of love and passion. Love stories just fail to make their impact nowadays but this is not one of them. Romance here is just not usual masala-mix repetition instead presented with a height.

Parineeta is a passion tale of Lolita (introducing Vidya Balan) and Shekhar(Saif Ali Khan). In opening scenes we see Shekhar getting married to Gayatri(Diya Mirza). We see Lolita married. Shekhar is not at all happy getting married and movie goes flashback.
Lolita is an orphan who lives with her mama-mami and sister Koel(Raima Sen). Shekhar is only son of a big businessman Nabin Rai is her neighbor. Shekhar is fond of music. We watch them both grew up singing, playing, composing music together. Shekhar just can’t wait to show her whenever he starts composing new note not completely though and later both complete it. This is what we just adore.

One of the things I like most there is no ‘dosti’ kind of drama between these two. There is closeness and distance between these two well understated. Both of them aware of their feelings on some level but haven’t told even themselves yet. Their love starts to surface when they see other with someone else. This is what makes it more and more natural. Their characters are not just dreamy fools. Lolita is matured. Shekhar is grown up but flawed.

Girish(Sanjay Dutt) is London returned but simple businessman who has love-in-first sight with Lolita. Gayatri is daughter of a leading industrialist, she has a very hard crush on Shekhar from their first meeting. She says “ek baar meri isase shadi ho jaaye, I will kill him”. Nabin Rai is looking forward to Shekhar-Gayatri business marriage who is afraid about Shekhar-Lolita relation. Shekhar is simmering with fury that Lolita is paying any kind of attention to Girish. Nabin Rai is only villain that adds some twists to the story. Only letdown is its climax ( Real hoot!!).

Some of the scenes are worth to mention, like symmetry of scenes when Shekhar meets Diya and Lolita is with Girish, Lolita and Shekhar completing ‘Piyu bole’ melody, Shekhar missing Lolita uttering lines “nahi, Tagor ki hai idiot…..”,Shekhar and Lolita commenting each other through Shekhar’s friend.

On Technical side, sets are gorgeous. Freshness oozes through the screen that makes Parineeta delight to watch. Script is adapted from a classic novel but only thing I missed here is there are not too many those classy dialogues that might make it a great romantic drama. Those are good but not great.

In acting department, Saif’s portrayal of Shekhar as a jealous lover is too good. He has proved his caliber in many of his last movies and this one is added in that list. But Vidya Balan is real highlight of Parineeta. She has given such a performance, I can’t think anyone else could do the same justice to the character of Lolita. One of peak moments of Parineeta when she bursts out in tears, sobbing, confronting her love to Shekhar is awesome. Diya looks gorgeous and done her job with flair. I just loved the way she delivers her lines without taking her eyes off Shekhar for a second convincing her crush on Shekhar. Sanjay Dutt is one of the veteran actors so no doubt about him.

In one line, Parineeta is a must watch.

Se7en

Movie : Se7en
Starring : Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, John C. McGinley, Richard Roundtree, Kevin Spacey
Direction : David Fincher
Screenplay: Andrew Kevin Walker
Rating : *****

‘He is preaching….punishing’.

Serial killing with clues from killer is not a new thing to Hollywood but David Fincher’s Se7en exceptional. Its evil genius.
Se7en opens with a homicide where a fatso is killed in a very strange manner. We meet Detective Somerset(Freeman) who is about to take off and detective David Mills(Pitt) has just fought to get assigned there. Somerset is calm, mature and has achieved mastery over his job. He probably seen so much that now he badly wants to go far away from this bloodshed. David appears cocky first but turns out amiable character of the film. Tracey(Palthow) is David’s wife who hasn’t got used to with guns even after so many years of their marriage.

It begins. Each killing is shockingly repellent. Like an artist’s signature every victim holds a note, a sin highlighted with lines from Dante Alighieri’ s ‘Divine Comedy’, Shakespeare’s ‘Merchant of Venice’. And his name is John Doe(Kevin Spacey). Those lines are screaming that this not just some insanity. He wants to make a point.

Each murder is done by reaching horrific extremes of those deadly sins. A fat man is fed until he burst. Then there is an infamous lawyer got gun stuck on his head, handed a knife -a weighing scale is in front of him and he has to cut 1 pound of flesh from his body by himself. A druggist tied to bed for a whole year!! A famous model, her nose is cut and bandaged again and gave a choice- phone in one hand to call help n sleeping pills in other one to die rather than live deformed. A whore is punished ruthlessly that you should see on screen only.
John says, “The world is so shitty…and we get used to them”.

This Script is sumptuous. It mirrors today’s society skillfully and boldly. Nothing is hidden by the camera. All we watch is naked truth that we hate to admit and most of the time that we hardly care. The spirituality woven in has its impact all over. Most of all ending is a blow. It is stunning. Screen-writer Andrew Walker must have felt demonic inside when he write Seven.

There are number of memorable sequences in Seven. One especially is breath-taking when Somerset and Mills reaches John doe’s apartment and Doe directly starts shooting at them and chase sequence followed is absolute fabulous. On other hand dinner party at Mills house we feel wine mixed in the air. Tracey and Somerset’s meeting at coffee shop is the finest ones I ever seen. The intensity of that conversation can’t be described.

This is a very dark film. It is all time raining. All environment surrounding Se7en is so grim and ghastly it clouds viewers with the same. Music refuse to leave us even when it is over. I must mention titles and credits rolled, one of the best I ever seen.

Se7en comes out with strong performances. Morgan Freeman is truly outstanding. Brad Pitt made me his fan from this movie. The way he says “Ladies and Gentleman we have a homicide here” and same David when taunted by Somerset “You are saying you care for these people?” says with assuring impulse “Sure I do….!!!”. Gwyneth Paltrow ‘s Tracey doesn’t have much screen presence but when she is there, we just can not stop love her character.
In final half an hour we are introduced to Kevin Spacey’s John Doe. The preacher. What can I say about this chilling work? Spacey gave such a performance that stings. We hate to admit with this man but somewhere we know he is right. Somerset asks him, “So you are saying some higher power tell you to do this?” Just watch John Doe reply “Lord works in mysterious ways..”. Interesting thing pointed out by one of the fan is Somerset and John Doe both observed the same facts about today’s society but responds in different ways, Somerset want to run away and Doe takes action.

No matter how many thrillers I shall see but this will always one of my favorites.
It affects deeply. That’s the power of Se7en.
Se7en is a terrific thriller and a modern classic.

-Manoj

Kaal

Movie : Kaal
Genre: Thriller
Starcast: Ajay Devgan, Vivek Oberoi, John Abraham, Esha Deol, Lara Dutta
Rating : ***
Direction: Soham

Sole purpose of some movies to entertain… to take off your mind off the all burden away and just show you some good time and nothing more.
‘Kaal’ is sure one of those. It plays all the clichés that a thriller should play. And end with a shock. I am not saying it is flawless but it is satisfying n important of all it dared not to follow our normal bollywood junk.

At start of film, we first see some tourists were attacked by a man-eater tiger in some jungle. We get know soon there are number of tourists getting killed or disappeared magically in same area. Then we are introduced to couple John and Esha who are wild life researchers by profession. John didn’t believe those killing are coz of some carnivorous animals. He wants to dig down and find a story. Vivek n Lara with their two friends are leaded to same jungle by a guide. Things went awry and one after other start to die in ‘Final Destination’ manner. In between they meet Ajay who is guy from forrest-‘pahadi’ region who is helping them to get out of the it.

Despite its flaws on bright side it serves as a genuine thriller. Start to end moving. Songless.There are plenty of boooo and scary moments most of the time with sound effects. Most of all it has explanation to strange things happened when mystry unfolds. And at last there is ‘tauba tauba’.
On downside of it, there are some sequences that hurts the pace and script, even in such a tight 2 hour running length. For example we see scenes that attempt to switch the suspision on Vivek Oberie in such a poor and laughable manner. Plenty of space to ‘Readers don’t digest’ column and we don’t feel for the characters too much when they start dying.

In acting department Ajay Devgan is on the top. He played a mysterious character from jungle who is smirking all the time. That sarcastic smile he wore in the movie following his mocking comments worked well. I liked the moment when he presents lines from a poem about death. It is one the best scenes of ‘Kaal’. John is good. Esha and Lara are glam dolls and did their part and being scared thoughout. Biggest let down is Vivek Oberoi. Other supporting characters fill the space.

Debut Director Soham has is one of protégé of RamGopal Verma and we get feel of that in it. Kaal is certainly good start for him. Music and photography suits to the tone of the movie .
Many many of my friends complained about its ending but I think it is totally fair. Obviously there is always shock ending to movies like this and in this one it comes from a direction we hardly expect.
Believe me if you recount all the incidents in your mind after the movie you will feel it certainly not cheated!!

-Manoj

Angels & Demons

Novel : Angels & Demons
Author: Dan Brown
Rating: ****

It’s not too long when Dan Brown’s ‘Da Vinci Code’ stunned us with its explosive contents ,intriguing presentation, powerful dialogues and challenging code-breaks. And the rest is history. It placed him directly in the best author’s list like star in one night. ’Da Vinci ’ phenomenon created a buzz worldwide. Naturally now everyone were waiting for his next outing and he offers his latest ‘Angels & Demons’. Another thriller that deals with ancient codes, secret brotherhood, conspiracy, murders with Robert Langton and his symbology.

Plot summary of Dan Brown new novel ‘Angels & Demons’ can be given as:
Illuminati is back and first announcement of their deadly return is bloody shining on the chest of a lead CERN physicist. They are taking their long awaited revenge; and they are doing it in style!
Threaten to Brand four most likely cardinals for next Pope with their ambigrams at an interval of an hour on ancient path of Illuminati.
Illuminati – secret Brotherhood of scientists. Establishment of a secret brotherhood by one of the great scientists of all times.
Now after such a passage of time when its doubtful existence is debate amongst their expertise.
Is infamous Illuminati deepening its roots in every possible field….? Are they taking their long awaited vengeance? They have set up Vatican City we can say Capital of Church on an inevitable time bomb which is ready to explode at midnight and destroy everything it got.

From thriller point of view ‘Angels & Demons’ is standout. It throws one after another thrilling sequences and doesn’t release its reader till its very end. The environment created in this novel is again surrounded with mysteries, dark one and it is magnificent. Codes of course, beauty of Dan Brown’s novels this time encrypted in form of sculptures which is one of the most ingenious example of infiltration that Illuminati ever given. Those sculptures looks innocent on surface though. Breaking codes is again a wild ride and some astound logic is here too. Brutal, bon-chilling n yet intriguing murdering scenes here are one of the strengths of ‘A n D’.
Only downside I found is its far stretched and fetched climax. But aside it this is completely satisfying experience.

There is inevitable comparison of ‘A n D’ with its successor ‘Da Vinci’. Many of the readers complained about ‘Angels & Demons’ is more or less like ‘Da Vinci’. But what I feel is Dan has developed a formula and used it again with purpose. It worked again. Even structural similarity between these two doesn’t make this any less thrilling drama. Dan successfully keeps his readers on edge and readers’ mind engaged till very end of the novel until its finale when mystery unfolds completely tone of the novel changes in its climax chapters and it asks very powerful questions. I don’t want to discuss it now coz that will spoil the reading. But point of the whole novel is in its climax part.

Don’t just shun this book away out of prejudice.
This is a strong proof that Dan is virtuoso in this genre and not a one novel thing.

-Manoj