AND THE OSCAR GOES TO..... Part 2

Welcome back everyone for the next round up for this years oscar's. Feeling that two movies wont be enough to catch up to the oscars this time we are going to analyze three probables and as usual one goof up and one Razzie favorite.

Lets get on with it (exams are nearing so all of you gets pardoned from all the superficial things which i would have written in the name of introduction)

OSCAR PREDICTION

Rachel getting married

The man who gave us the heart wrenching Philadelphia and the spine chilling Silence of the lambs, Jonathan Demme has come up with this movie. "Rachel Getting Married" is a drama with an aggressive sense of humor about the return of an estranged daughter to the family home for her sister's wedding. Kym's arrival brings lot of chaos in the family but the return of this dysfunctional kid from Rehabilitation would not just teach Kym about the importance of family but the whole family about family values. This trip is sure to bring in a smile on your face. The movie has a shot in the best original screenplay, Best director and Best Film but what seems to be a sure shot is the statue for the Princess herself, Anne Hathaway. She has already bagged the best actress in the National board of Review awards and with the Golden globe right around the corner there is a possibility she can sweep all the Awards. All the very best Anne.

Oscar Chance – 75%

Watch the trailer here

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=1wDDgSwEo1s&feature=related


The Dark Knight

This Christopher Nolen directed masterpiece is no ordinary tale of a masked vigilante but the movie which showed how a blockbuster movie should look like. The darkest Batman movie ever not only collected a record 158 million dollars in the first weekend which led to the staggering figure of 530 million in US alone (and counting) but reaped in 460 million worldwide to bring it in inching distance from the one billion mark. The summer blockbuster brought in the oscar buzz even before the movie released, for the late Heath ledger's portrayal of the deadly Joker. The buzz indeed proved worthy as the Heath ledger's version of Joker has gone down in the books as one of the all time best performance by an individual donning a negative role. But the movie is not gonna stop at that, but this masterpiece of a movie by the classy Christopher Nolen is sure to get a few other nods too, which includes Best sound editing, Best sound mixing, Best Film, Best director, Best editing and Best cinematography. If anyone has not seen the movie yet, please do yourself a favor and go rent the dvd in a shop near you as its one of the best movies of 2008 and hands down the best super movie of all-time.

Oscar chance – 70%

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=6UBP2nXtRRo

Curious case of Benjamin Button

Now for the biggie, a sure shot to the Oscar this year. A fantasy movie by a director who has made name for f directing thrillers. Imagine David Fincher the man who gave us Seven, Fight club and Zodiac coming up with a movie like Benjamin which looks more like a movie which would interest Tim Burton. But the oscar buzz is over the roof, the trailer looks damn interesting and the people who had the opportunity to get a sneak peak cant stop talking about this sensation of a movie. The movie has already been selected as the top ten films of 2008 by the National Board of Review apart from winning the Best director and Best adapted screenplay awards. The movie can expect the record number of nods but are favorite to win the Best film, Best director and Best make-up.

Oscar chance – 100%

Watch the trailer

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=UsJXFRsmPa8



OSCAR GOOF UPs

Oscar has taken many unpredictable decisions and one of the many blunders came in the year 2001 when one worked for more than a year to act in a role which got him all the awards in the book and was so certain to win the Oscars too. But Tom hanks and his mono act in Cast away was beaten by Russel crowe for his grim performance in Gladiator. The role as the Gladiator didnt expect much from the actor as he just have to look stern and do cry in one scene when compared to Tom hanks where he has to redefine all the emotions written in the book to act as the Fed Ex supervisor and a good friend to a basketball. But the very next year Russel Crowe did understand the pain Tom hanks went thru the previous year which will be discussed next time.


RAZZIE FAVOURITE

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Raja Gosnel does it again, making dogs talk, making a pathetic movie and still making it a hit. Kudos. But making it gross 92 million dollors in US itself doesnt give it respite from the critical eyes of the Razzie masterminds. The movie is considered the worst and by getting a meagre 2.3 rating in the IMDB list it places itself in the 95th position in the all time worst movies which is good enough for this year's worst director and worst movie awards. After the Scooby doo series and its stint at the razzies I am quite startled at how Raja got Disney to nod for this pathetic movie. Disney might have got more than what they have invested but its reputation has definitely gone for a toss.

See the trailer here

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=K7tleFb6TlI


Coming soon – Part 3

Dasvidaniya - Movie review

Vinay Pathak is back on the screen with his new Dramedy Dasvidaniya. The movie directed by debutante Shashant Shah was not marketed well, and even the production value looked tacky which was clearly shown in the not so impressive trailers but there were positive buzz for the movie and with zilch expectation did we sit to watch the movie? And what a nice little surprise it turned out to be.

The story of a man who is facing death, we are not talking about the glossy Kal ho na ho or the Classy Aanand but the story of a simple middle class man who has never tried to do anything out of the ordinary decides to live the last few days of his life to the fullest by writing a wish list. Yes! the movie is inspired from the Jack Nicolson and Morgan freeman's movie Bucket list, but quite cutely desified.

The movie is about Amar(Vinay Pathak) a 37 year old accounts manager who leads a less than ordinary life, but never complained. But when he finds out that he is having stomach cancer and has only three months to live with the help of his alter ego decides to write the ten things he wants to do before his death. This wish-list includes the average aspirations of almost every common man from owning a car, learning to play guitar, getting to hit back at his boss, finding his first crush (Neha Dhupia), going on a foreign trip, meeting his long-lost school friend (Rajat Kapoor), finding love in life, patching up with his younger brother (Gaurav Gera) and things alike. Whether he achieves those ten to-do things is what the story is all about.

The wish list looks so easy and normal but that is what Amar is all about, he has never achieved even the normal stuffs in life. As he says in life Life is his problem, but at the end of it we do feel happy for him which is all the film set out to achieve.

Shashant Shah has impressed with his very first movie and from now on if he just improves, he is sure to go places. The scripting by Arshad Syed is decent but the pace does drop thanks to some unwanted scenes. The cinematography by Arun Varma is functional. The scene where Vinay tries to become the Boss ka boss looks so amateurishly done, it could have been much better portrayed if they had thought it out imaginatively. The dialogues at many instances are inventive and intelligent. Kailash Kher has not just scored the music but also written the lyrics which does go hand in hand with the overall mood of the movie, kudos!!

The movie is all about Vinay pathak and the performance he has given is sure to be lauded by one and all. Watch out for the scene where he expresses his love to Neha Dhupia through dumb charades or the time when he shares a tender moment with his estranged brother, just brilliant. Everyone in the supporting cast from Sarita Joshi, Gaurav Gera, Neha Dhupia, Rajat Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla and Joy Fernandes play their parts to perfection.

Overall, a movie which can make your handkerchief wet and bring out a smile on your face at the same time. The people who loved Hrishikesh Mukherjee's kind of movies would love this fare.

Dasvidaniya – An emotional cycle trip towards the horizon.

Ratings - 3/5

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO..........(Part 1)

What a month this is going to be for Hollywood? A December like none other, movies like you haven't imagined. Oscar race has never been this close (at-least to my knowledge). With the season for realistic movies surely gonna compete at this years academy let us discuss on some of the movies which are going to run the race. Academy time and again has proved to be biased but still we don't care, it is the golden statue for god sakes. And whether we are dissatisfied at the nominations by January end or the winners by March first week we do love this time of the year when quality products come in bunch to attract the critics and the viewers alike.

As this year we are talking about too many a probables for the coveted award I am going to write about two movies which are competing, One goof-up Oscar did in the past and One movie which is running for this year's Razzie (people have no clue of this term, shame on you!!) every two days, lets hope i catch up with all before the nominations are out :).



OSCAR PREDICTIONS

Slumdog Millionaire

The movie has already bagged the coveted British Independent award for Best film, Best director for Danny Boyle & best promising newcomer for Dev patel. National Board of Review award For Best Film, Best screenplay – Adapted and Best Breakthrough performance- male for Dev patel. along with the People's choice award & Audience award in the Toronto film festival and Austin film festival. The movie shot entirely in and around Mumbai is about a slum dweller Jawal malik(Dev Patel) who is about to get 20 million in a “Who wants to be a Millionaire” program but the host Prem Kumar(Anil Kapoor) hates him as he is so sure a slum dweller cant be knowing so much and he brings in an inspector Irfan khan but only when Irfan khan investigates does he come to know of the real reason why Jawal is participating in this show and how he came to know of all the answers to the questions so far. The movie is considered the best this year and the audience is lapping it up too, the movie which was released last month in limited release is expected to rake in almost 6 million by the end of its 4th weekend at the US box office alone, and throughout the award season the movie is sure to find legs and more screens which will sure to make it the surprise sleeper hit this season. The music for the movie is given by the Asian Mozart A.R.Rahman who is also up for an Oscar nomination. The movie can expect five odd nominations for best film, best director, best screenplay- adopted, best actor, and The best soundtrack for a motion picture.

Oscar chance- 88%

Watch the trailer
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=AIzbwV7on6Q


Gran Torino

Disgruntled Korean War vet Walt Kowalski sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal his prized possession a 1972 Gran Torino. But he should also keep this teenager and his family safe from a rogue gang, will the veteran be upto it? I guess? if not for the The good then who?. This Clint Eastwood directed and acted movie is releasing next weekend in the U.S. has already got some favorable reviews from people who have been lucky to get a sneek peak. Clint eastwood has already got the Best actor in the recently announced National Board of review awards. Expect the movie to get a nod in the Best actor category but other nods are a long shot, but he would be competing with Mickey Rourke who is the favourite for the time being to win this coveted prize for his WRESTLER. But as always we can never predict Oscars.

Oscar chance – 60%

Watch the Trailer

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=9teLeXZ3XMU


OSCAR GOOF-UP

This is a story of an actor turned director Todd Field, who made a movie called “In the bedroom” in 2001 and the movie got nominated for Best actor, Best actress, Best Supporting actress, Best Screenplay and best film too but he didnt get the nod for Best director. But the nomination was given to big time directors like David lynch or Ridley Scott, whose movies didnt get a nod for the best picture category.. Surprising!!

RAZZIE PREDICTION

Love guru


The comedian par excellence, the man who made us laugh our pants out in Austin came up with this dud of a movie, Love guru. A movie where he teaches everyone how to love, did little for it to be loved by the audience. A comedy movie which lacked the most important thing, Comedy. After watching this movie we do feel Mike myers should probably give his voice to green ogres and never ever come on screen.




Razzie preciction – Worst film, Worst actor, Worst screenplay and Worst actress (maybe the award would go to her but for some other movie, lets see)

Watch the trailer here

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=mVdD0ZxPq_g


Part two – Coming soon

Kanchivaram (Tamil) - movie review

Priyadarshan, the badshah of illogical comedies trying art house cinema? I was shocked too, but Priyadarshan has made many pathbreaking, award worthy creations which is just overshadowed by the comedy blockbusters he churned up the past few years. But will his magic still work? It does! and how?

The only word which does succeed to come out of your mouth after seeing this masterpiece is 'WOW'. and I should thank Priyadarshan as i saw this movie on my birthday, what a birthday present he has blessed me with! "The best one ever!"

It is a period movie set in the pre independence era in a small town of Kanchivaram in Tamil nadu, the protagonist Prakash raj works as a silk weaver, may be the best in the town. He pledges that he would provide a silk saree for his daughter when she is getting married, which becomes the talk of the town as a weaver simply cant afford such a humoungous price. He does save up some money but his brother-in-law ruins his plans, so to attain the inevitable he starts stealing a single strand of silk from the workplace, every single day and secretly weaves a saree for his daughter for 19 long years. He is involved in communism and heads a strike against his owner who gives paltry amount to the weavers, which comes as a deter as his daughter's marriage nears and he has to finish the silk saree on time. What will Vengadam do now? find out yourself.

The screenplay is so artfully done, the movie goes back and forth the time line with consummate ease. The editing is superlative. The street- play in the second half looked forced and the movie could have been better without it. The cinematography by Thiru is of international standards, the color tone gives the right background palate for Priyadarshan-the artist to work on. And the production design by Sabu cyril just takes this art work to epic proportions.

M.G.Sreekumar the musician sways us with his titling music, especially the lori which is sung when Prakash raj and Shreya reddy's daughter is born which is reprised to melancholy effect during the tragic finale.

The acting is of high order, leading the spectacular array of performance is the lead man of the story Prakash raj, whose portayal of Vengadam can only be termed as spectacular if not sensational. But such a great actor to whom all the emotions in the book comes so naturally is still having some trouble with getting his laugh right, his laugh as always looks so forced and unnatural. Shreya reddy as Vengadam's innocent wife has given a blinder of a performance. She did impress in her villainous role in Thimiru but she bowls every one in the audience over by a performance which could even fetch her a national award. All the other actors does their job convincingly.

Overall this movie is a work of art, a beautiful sonnet, a beautiful painting. Priyadarshan in his latest interview told his anguish on the selection on Taare Zameen par over Kanchivaram, After seeing the movie, we do believe that this tale of Weavers would have been a better bet than the tale of the Dyslexia patient.

Kanchivaram – Kollywood's answer to Mona lisa

Stars- 4/5

Atayalangal(malayalam) - movie review

Atayalangal

A movie with a debutant is a tough sell and that too directed by a filmmaker who has a renowned name in the documentary film sector is really a tough sell. But Valluvanandhan movie's first production has got 5 state awards before it got released and it did quite decently in the theatrical release too. so with lot of expectation i sat down to watch the movie in IFFI as it is one of the movies selected in the Indian panorama section.

Did the movie live up to the expectation? i have to say it did. the movie being a biography of the renowned writer Nandanar (1926- 74). The movie follows the writer's early days on how he was involved in the war, his love, his pain, his family, and his problems. The protagonist, Gopi, 19 year old son of a Kathakali performer, happens to join the army for livelihood even though he hates war. He falls in love with a mysterious Meenakshikutty, who instills enough confidence in Gopi and motivates him.

The director proves that he is a documentary film-maker as the flow of events, scenes which is documented does make you feel that you are watching one. But Nandanar's life was exactly like a documentary, all he faced was defeat which led to the tragic end of his life but the director skipped his death scene which could have elevated the movie to new levels. Or maybe the director is thinking of making a sequel to Atayalangal? I definitely hope not. As any debutants work this movie too has its share of pluses and minuses, the main plus for the movie was M. G. Sasi's thought process, there are a few scenes which would evoke ghoosebumps, like the scene when the protagonist's dead father with his kathakali outfit grace Gopi to bless him. But most of the other sequences look too theatrical to be enjoyed fully. The Seductive scenes could have been much better portrayed on screen and the scenes of Baskara Kurup needed much more weight-age but it was sidelined.

The screenplay is made vulnerable thanks to the half baked direction of Sasi and quite low production values. Even the editing needed to be more crisper as the 93 minute movie seemed much longer than it is, many unwanted scenes spoilt the flow of the movie. The cinematography by M J Radhakrishnan is one of the highlight of the movie as it is pictured so artfully. The music by Vaidhyanathan is soulful but the back grounds score is quite unbearably loud at times.

Now coming to the Acting department, Soorya the debutant as Gopi, looks smart and does show Spark here and there but should definitely work on his emotions, if he did he can give a run for the money for most of the actors in the industry now. All the other from T G Ravi, Sathi, Sreeraman did their job with conviction. Jyothirmayi as the seductive Meenaxikutty was excellent, she oozed sexuality something which was needed from her.

Overall Atayalangal was a decent visual documentation of the life of Nandanar, but which had the potential to be a much better movie. The producers should be applauded for believing in such a art-house movie which had so less commercial value.

Atayalangal – A musical, theatrical documentary

Rating – 2/5