Tuesday 31 January 2017
Sunday 29 January 2017
Rockstar
Review
Rockstar has an interesting beginning, devoid of the typical filmi introductions. There is no heroic, dramatic entry of the lead protagonist, aided by slick cuts set to an even more dramatic background score. Instead it has a disheveled, bruised and a very vulnerable looking Janardhan Jakhar aka music rockstar Jordan, played by Ranbir Kapoor, escaping an angry mob of people chasing him to a waiting open air arena, thronging with screaming fans. He runs onto the stage and transforms into a belligerent, angst-ridden pop star, as he sings the soft ballad, Jo Bhi Main. From that moment on, you want to know Jordan’s story – all of it. The lyrics of the song, interspersed with flash cuts of his early days as a singer, entice you that little bit more. Janardhan, a college-going Delhi boy from a happy family, has just one dream – to make it big in the world of music just like his idol, Jim Morrison. But he fails to impress, be it at talent hunts or just strumming his guitar on the streets. He has a sympathetic group of friends who congregate at the college canteen everyday to offer their support, all the while sponging off Janardhan’s largesse, shamelessly ordering samosas on his tab. Khatara bhai, the canteen guy, played by Kumud Mishra, is the one Janardhan turns to for career advice. Khatara’s philosophy is simple - “Takleef nahi ho life mein to koi bada nahi banta hai” is what he tells him and Janardhan goes out seeking pain, something he’s never known. The scene where Janardhan talks to himself about not being molested, adopted, beaten up or never having starved for food or shelter with his real parents still alive, in a bid to try and find some sort of pain and misery in his life is, funny. Twenty minutes into the film, Heer Kaul, the college princess, played by debutant Nargis Fakhri auditions for a dance competition which has Janardhan mesmerized. Not by her beauty or talent, but as bait for his juvenile plan to get his heart broken or to feel the pain Khatara was talking about for his music. He walks up to her and speaks to Heer in an extremely loud and uncouth manner, only to be told to “Bugger off”. The scene is hilarious and Ranbir nails it. He continues to trail her with his proposal of love all around the campus and that’s how an odd friendship is formed between the sophisticated Heer and the boisterous and loud Janardhan, even though Heer is engaged to be married soon. Her “neat and clean” image on the campus is a far cry from her dark and adventurous side that she exhibits only to Janardhan. He is more than happy to watch seedy porn films like Jungli Jawani with her at decrepit cinema halls in purani Delhi, and wait as she greets a row of men peeing on walls one by one, just to indulge her crazy whims. Even though the film is called Rockstar, Jordan doesn’t really live the rock and roll life - there are no groupies, no drugs. Raju Shelar/Firstpost In case you’re wondering what happened to Heer’s engagement in all this jungli jawani and local daru binges bit, well, she does gets married to the Indian guy based in Prague, Czech Republic. Janardhan, whom she’s christened Jordan, is by her side in Kashmir, where the wedding takes place, till the very last minute. No runaway bride here, despite the crackling chemistry between the two. She goes to Prague, he languishes in Delhi, only to take over the music world with his raw talent, backed by Khatara bhai and a genteel Ustad Jameel Khan, a shehnai maestro, played by the late Shammi Kapoor. A big music company signs him on at the Ustad’s behest only to see him turn on the charm and play the rebellious truant with equal ease. Bad boy Jordan arrives professionally, but personally, he’s hollow with a needling pain he simply can’t fathom. On a chance trip to Prague, Jordan meets Heer again and this time round, it’s not just about the strip clubs and red light districts. Throw in some French kissing in the picturesque fields of Prague. The Jordan-Heer romance is there for you to see, but there are no ‘I love you’ exchanges or reams of poetic dialogues professing love. Prague is where the romance changes both Jordan and Heer’s life drastically, given she is a married woman and he, an unpredictable ruffian. You’ll know when you see the film. The film gets slightly heavy, but not unbearably so, towards the end, but that’s just the story. Continues on the next page Just a couple of things seemed a tad out of place in the film. I found the part where Janardhan is rendered homeless by his family slightly weird. The reason we get was that he wasted his time singing songs, instead of working and making money and that he had stolen five lakh from them. Given Janardhan’s character is a buffoon living peacefully in his own little musical world, the family discord seems very contrived and forced into the screenplay. From having no problems whatsoever, Janardhan seems to be snowed under by a slew of them all of a sudden. Also, when Janardhan roams the forts of Delhi with Heer and goes out “gandh-phelaoing” all over the city, as they call it, not once does he strum his beloved guitar which he carries with him at all times, and not once does any conversation between the two revolve around his passion for music. Even though the film is called Rockstar, Jordan doesn’t really live the rock and roll life - there are no groupies, no drugs, no entourage, nothing. His romantic dalliance with a married Heer and erratic mood swings are the only two things that add some edge to his musical persona - he’s more a pop star than rockstar in the film. Also, driving a Nissan car, doesn't really scream rockstar and peddling the car in the film just because Ranbir plugs the brand in real life, doesn't blend with the character at all. US based model, Nargis Fakhri makes a stunning debut – not only is she beautiful, but she is an able performer with a charming screen presence. Raju Shelar/Firstpost The end of the film is what you make of it, quite literally. It didn’t quite work for me when the end credits rolled, but by the time I left the preview theatre, I imagined Jordan and Heer together, forever. Ranbir Kapoor is, in one word, flawless as an actor in Rockstar. For the entire duration of the film, you are drawn into Jordan’s world - you can feel his angst (especially in Sadda Haqq) his vulnerability, his naiveté, his passion for Heer – the entire gamut of emotions through his performance. Ranbir’s performance as both, Janardhan and Jordan, is thorough and he plays the multiple layers of his character fabulously. US based model, Nargis Fakhri makes a stunning debut – not only is she beautiful, but she is an able performer with a charming screen presence. What does one say about AR Rahman’s music other than praise it to the skies, especially in this film. The songs, the poetic lyrics of which are written by Irshad Kamil, are a melodious confluence of cultures and religions, have been set to some terrific music by the maestro. Imtiaz Ali should be credited for introducing international models who can’t speak a word of Hindi or Urdu and transforming them into convincing actors in his films — Brazilian model Giselli Monteiro, who played a Punjabi girl in Love Aaj Kal, walked and talked the part effectively, and now, Nargis, who is part Czech and part Pakistani who has you convinced she is a Kashmiri girl living in New Delhi. Imtiaz’s treatment of the film’s narrative with its back and forth timelines lends itself well to the story. Imtiaz shines as a director yet again after wowing audiences with Jab We Met (2007) and Love Aaj Kal (2009). The opening credits pay a subtle homage to the late Shammi Kapoor, which is indeed touching.Wednesday 25 January 2017
PK
Review
It has become a trend of sorts now that the year ends with a major release by none other than Aamir Khan in the month of December. After the release of DHOOM 3, as we gear up for the Christmas holidays, Aamir Khan brings his new film PK. Said to be a comedy-drama, the makers of the film have managed to keep the story tightly under wraps, despite the film's heavy promotions. As already reported in the media, Aamir Khan plays the role of an alien, something that is relatively new in Bollywood. Add to that, director Rajkumar Hirani wielding the megaphone after three back-to-back hits, PK has managed to generate tremendous hype prior to its release. However, does the film manage to live up to the expectations, will the past success (3 Idiots) of the Aamir Khan - Rajkumar Hirani combination work its charm in enticing the audiences to the theatres, will PK be a Christmas gift to cherish for the film loving audiences? Lets analyze. The film starts off with PK (Aamir Khan), an alien, landing on earth, in the desert of Rajasthan, to study about human begins and life on earth. Arriving stark naked on a earth, PK has a rough start on the planet when his tracking remote, that helps him send signals back to his spaceship, gets stolen. He now has to find the remote to contact his spaceship and till then survive on earth on his own. Unaware of human mannerisms, language or life in general on earth, PK finds it difficult to adjust. However, fate brings him in touch with Bhairav Singh (Sanjay Dutt) who becomes his dear friend and helps him with life on earth. But destiny takes PK to Delhi. From here on starts a whirlwind story of a stranger in the unknown city of Delhi asking questions that despite their innocence hold a valuable and deep meaning. Aided on by Jagat Janani (Anushka Sharma) who teams up with him on this journey, PK challenges some of the oldest rituals of religion that are ruling life of people on earth. As for the performances, Aamir Khan excels in the title role. This is probably one of the most challenging characters that he has played so far and with his stellar performance, Aamir Khan carries the film all the way. His childlike innocence, his Bhojpuri accent and his love for 'paan' only adds layers to the character of PK. Anushka Sharma, who has in her previous releases earned quite a bit of critical acclaim, does a good job as Jagat "Jaggu" Janani. She stands shoulder to shoulder with Aamir through the entire film. Sushant Singh Rajput is impressive in an extended cameo. Saurabh Shukla, though good, seems to be underutilized along with Boman Irani who too could have been given a meatier part. Sanjay Dutt, on the other hand, manages to carry off his role as a Rajasthani man with panache. Music of PK is composed by Shantanu Moitra, Ajay-Atul and Ankit Tiwari and the lyrics are penned by Swanand Kirkire, Amitabh Varma and Manoj Muntashir. Songs like 'Nanga Punga Dost', 'Tharki Chokro' and 'Love Is Waste Of Time' have already gained popularity and they take the story forward in the film. 'Chaar Kadam' featuring Sushant Singh Rajput and Anushka Sharma is a soft number that sets the mood for romance just right. Rajkumar Hirani, known for his films like 3 Idiots and the Munnabhai series tries to live up to his reputation of telling an engaging tale with a message. Though the storytelling is seamless, PK does seem to lack the punch that his earlier films had. Though the screenplay (Abhijat Joshi and Rajkumar Hirani) of the film is comprehensive and engrossing, with humorous situations and entertaining dialogues, the narrative does get slow at certain points. PK however hits the right notes and entertains. Overall, PK that releases during the Christmas holidays enjoys a three week free run at the box office. Despite the film having its share of ups and downs, it is surely a good entertainer. Being a film that deals with the topic of God and Godmen, audiences are bound to draw a few similarities between PK and the previously released Akshay Kumar-Paresh Rawal starrer OMG OH MY GOD! But while latter dealt with a lay man asking some prominent questions about God and the almighty himself coming down to earth, PK differs with an alien not directly questioning God, but instead questioning the belief system that humans have created to reach God. But with high level of anticipation and a massive release (approximately 5000 screens domestically and 800+ screens overseas), PK is sure to create new box-office records. On the whole, Aamir Khan's PK is a solid entertainer that will surely entertain the masses and classes alike. An outstanding film. Go for it.
Friday 20 January 2017
The Secret Life Of Pets
Director:Chris Renaud
Writer:
Ken DuarioCinco Paul
Brain Lynch
Cast:
Louis C.K as MaxEric Stonestreet as Duke
Bobby Moynihan as Mel
Kevin Hart as Snowball
Albert Brooks as Tiberius
Ellie Kemper as Boss
Hannibal Buress as Unknown
Lake Bell as Chloe
Ellie Kemper as Katie
Review:
“The Secret Life of Pets” is a kind-hearted, sweet story about the unique relationship not only between pets and their owners but between pets and major cities like New York. It may open with lovable terrier Max (voiced by Louis C.K.) speeding through Central Park in the basket of his owner Katie’s (Ellie Kemper) bike, but it’s more about apartments, fire escapes, roads and sewers than parks, and how a lovable group of animals is forced to traverse them on one crazy day. To be more direct, it’s an almost beat-for-beat rip of Pixar’s “Toy Story,” from the idea that we don’t know what our toys/pets do while we’re gone to the “new guy who mixes things up” storytelling dynamic. In the end, it’s too aggressively likable to hate—especially given its strong character design and excellent voice work—but simultaneously too shallow and forgettable to really register. The best animated movies give us themes to discuss with our kids when they’re over and work for both adults and children. “The Secret Life of Pets” is the disposable, summer diversion that many families will be looking for as temperatures rise and the start of school seems so far away, but most won’t be able to remember after they see it.Thursday 19 January 2017
Student Of The Year
Directors: Karan Johar, Abhishek Varman (as Abhishek Verma)
Writers: Renzil D'Silva (screenplay)
Niranjan Iyengar (dialogue)
Cast
Stars:
Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan,etc.
Storyline
Several alumni reminisce about their final year at St. Theresa's College and the events that shaped their lives.Review
I think this movie is good enough to consider in your watch list. This is not too deep sentimental sense like another Bollywood movie. Its light but entertaining. The most i like from this movie is character from every people who involved there, especially Sidahart Malhotra, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan. Their act look totally for a debut film. This film look so glamour at every stuff. And absolutely fresh & gorgeous.I enjoyed the plot , but it needs improvement and deepening of the story in order to strengthen the character, cause they look so totally on their rule. one which is unfortunate is the music, if you listen it, you might thinking that this movie isn't Bollywood movie
every character look so good.
They are act so good and all focused on their part. maybe some of best part is in the ending. its look perfect toclose of this movie.
And maybe i will looking for some Bollywood movie after watch this movie.yes if you looking for drama movie for this time. i think this movie should in your list.
I am going back to Bollywood.
Tuesday 17 January 2017
Jab Tak Hai JAn
Review
Jab Tak Hai Jaan makes life look easy. So easy that a self proclaimed 25-year-old, who looks 40, gets to kiss a girl who seems to have walked out of Vogue. You also believe that the latter, despite all her Mercedes and Gucci glory, can't keep her hands off a waiter who has an annoying habit of speaking like he is perpetually in an art of living class. Life's so easy, that an aspiring documentary-maker, can walk straight into an army camp in Ladakh in barely visible hot pants and prance around shooting, presumably stuff, while there are people detonating bombs all around her. Also, if you have legs like Anushka Sharma's, you belong to a curiously privileged class who can dance around in beach volleyball attire while goats, men and children around shiver through layers of winter clothes. A still from Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Image courtesy: Yash Raj films. You can also go from being freeloading floozies to Michelin-starred restaurant owners in no time, you can lose and get your memory back pretty much the same way you get back an iPod forgotten in the shorts pocket, and you can jump from age 25 to age 35 without half a cell on your face withering. Logic is the biggest casualty of Jab Tak Hai Jaan. You could say, of course it is, in any Yash Chopra film, but there was always a story. In JTHJ though, what you get is a bit of Veer Zaara, only re-packaged with taller women with hotter legs. Shah Rukh Khan here is Samar Anand. The film opens to tell you he is the Michael Phelps of bomb disposal in the Indian Army. We, predictably, are in Ladakh where SRK whooshes in, in all his week-old stubble and aviator glory to defuse a really dangerous bomb. With the kind of intensity one shows while restarting a PC, he picks on this wire and that, and whoops the bomb's arse - or so says the thundering background music. Cut to Anushka Sharma - she with her washboard abs, endless legs and holding a perfect cover-girl pose in a bikini in Ladakh - who is an aspiring documentary filmmaker assisting a Discovery Channel crew. She is also called Akira Rai. (Cue to gush, 'How quirky!'.) So sidekick heroine stumbles upon hero's diary, where he has written down his 10-year-old love story, presumably with the lyrics of the songs he had sung with his girl and details of all the places they had made-out. Filmmaker Rai then bamboozles her way into the high-security Army camp to shoot a documentary on Mr Kick-ass bomb disposer, does cool military-ish stuff while managing to sport a perfect blow dry hairdo and also falls in love with hurt-in-love hero. Oh by the way, hero's ex-girlfriend, Meera - Katrina Kaif with an absolutely drool-worthy wardrobe - had left him ten years back. When Anand had an accident, Meera made a promise to Sir Jesus (cute god-next-door names for Jesus Christ), that she would dump her boyfriend if God makes sure that he lives. Hero lives. She dumps him, because she has promised God she will. Hang on, yes, you're reading this right. You don't question how a documentary titled 'A Man Who Cannot Die' has people gushing about it in London. It's important for the story to move on you realise. So, cynical Discovery people have to make sure that Akira was not shooting a Bollywood extra and demand bomb-stud Major turn up in London. He does, is knocked down again and lands up in a hospital again. This time, however, he doesn't lose a girl. He loses ten-year's worth memory. And a lot of drama, sad song singing and cheesy dialogue throwing ensues. Unfortunately, this goes on till the film ends. And by the time it does, entry rules in Army camps in India have been successfully established as being as stringent as those in coffee shops, so the climax doesn't take you by surprise. It's probably rude to bad-mouth the dead. But even the highest amount of respect for Yash Chopra cliches can't make Jab Tak Hai Jaan less of a burden on its viewer. If Shah Rukh Khan lip syncing to a Rabbi song every now and then is not annoying enough, Chopra seemed to have completely lost the plot with the dialogues this time. The only times you're reminded you're watching a 2012 film and not some Rajesh Khanna-ish flick of the seventies is when Anushka Sharma talks like an average 21-year-old. Unlike in a Dil To Pagal Hai from fourteen years back, you can no more sell Shah Rukh Khan as a traffic stopping dancer. Jumping around while juggling a fedora cannot be passed off as hot anymore. A Katrina Kaif in grunge glory and her new-found post-Sheila dancing oomph, for company, doesn't help Shah Rukh Khan's case either. And no amount of bronzer can make him look 25, which you are told he is for one whole half of the film. AR Rahman's music, on the other hand, fails spectacularly in doing what music is supposed to in a Yash Chopra film - sugarcoat and lull you into not noticing how impossible it is, in our parallel world, to groove in a bikini blouse and micro mini as the sky breaks into heavy snowfall. Or how the hero sings in different voices in different songs, without being drunk or flu-struck. You have seen everything Jab Tak Hai Jaan has many times before, just in other films. And probably with far better music than AR Rahman threw into this oneThursday 12 January 2017
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Directed by Aditya Chopra
Writing
Credits (in alphabetical order)
Aditya Chopra ... (dialogue)
Aditya Chopra ... (screenplay)
Aditya Chopra ... (story)
Javed
Siddiqui ... (dialogue)CAST
Shah Rukh Khan
Raj Malhotra
Kajol
Simran Singh
Amrish Puri
Chaudhry Baldev Singh
Farida Jalal
Lajwanti 'Lajjo' Singh
Anupam Kher
Dharamvir Malhotr
Satish
Shah ...
Ajit Singh
Achala
Sachdev ...
Simran's Grandmother
Himani
Shivpuri ...
Simran's Aunt Pooja
Ruparel ...
Rajeshwari / Chutki
Review
If you missed this movie than you have missed the best movie made in bollywood history.This movie never seems to bore you.I have saw over a hundred times(Really).It's a fascinating movie.The plot was wonderful.The acting was really award winning.Shahrukh Khan is a gem of an actor.Really incredible acting by him.Kajol was excellent.The songs were awesome!The music was wow.The direction was cool.A must see for those who adore romantic flicksWednesday 4 January 2017
Jannat
Director: Kunal Deshmukh
Writers: Vishesh Bhatt (screenplay), Kunal Deshmukh (story).
Stars:
Emraan Hashmi, Sonal Chauhan, Shakeel Khan etc.
Review
I went in to watch the movie with very low expectations but
was surprised with the the first half.It had a nice and enjoyable plot and i
especially liked the opening card game (me being a big time card
enthusiast).The second half more or less fell apart with all the emotions
flying in.It suffers from what i call "The Soap Opera mentality"
where every small thing is made a very big deal of.
Emran Hashmi was extremely believable as the
grey-charactered high profile match fixer. His speaking style, i felt somehow,
encapsulated the apprehensiveness yet decisiveness of a fixer. I would say this
performance by him was his best,second only to one in Gangster. Vipin
Sharma(Arjun's dad) was rather flat while delivering his dialogs and so did the
emotionless Sonal Chauhan. The one performance i was bowled over by in this
movie was of Javed Shaikh(especially the weight in his voice).
Another let down in the movie was for the ones among us who
wanted more of insider-story from the match-fixing scenario. There, the movie
lacked material.it ended up more as a love story rather than a match-fixing
story(which quite a few of us were hoping for).
I would rate this movie a 8/10, a definite watch if you have
got the time and can bear the second half that gets all draggy.
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