[ItzToday.com] 'Dhobi Ghat' Movie Review |
| Posted: 21 Jan 2011 09:50 PM PST  Film: "Dhobi Ghat"; Cast: Aamir Khan, Prateik Babbar, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra; Director: Kiran Rao; Rating: **** 1/2Every year literally hundreds of thousands throng to the city of dreams, Mumbai. To cover so many dreams in a small span of an-hour-and-a-half calls for some brilliant filmmaking. And watching "Dhobi Ghat" will make you realise that there indeed have been very few debuts as stunning as this one. "Dhobi Ghat" is the story of five characters - Yasmin (Kirti Malhotra), Arun (Aamir Khan), Shai (Monica Dogra), Munna (Prateik Babbar) and the city of Mumbai. After a one night stand with Arun, who is a painter, Shai, an investment banker from America and an amateur photographer, obsesses over him, while her dhobi Munna pines for Shai. Arun, meanwhile, discovers a few tapes in his flat from the previous tenant and, watching them, falls in love and find a muse in the woman who has made them - Yasmin. Each of the character is thus looking for something in one another, while the fifth character, Mumbai, simply stares blankly at them without comment or prejudice. One of the best things about the film is its casting. Each of the actors complement the film, its director, and the city of Mumbai perfectly. Each is believable in his or her own garb. Prateik is bound to become the heartthrob of the generation, while Kirti Malhotra's innocence has to be seen to be believed. Real life singer Monica brings out the uncertainty of her character beautifully. The only one who is a little out of place, and hence the small sore point of the film is actor Aamir Khan. He begins shakily and is self conscious, unable as he is perhaps of shaking away two decades of Bollywood's acting baggage. By the end of it though, he manages to get into the film's rhythm and gives a believable performance. It is hence not Kiran Rao's luck that she got superstar husband Aamir to act in the film, but Aamir's luck that he is in this film, which will go down in the history of cinema as one of the best character sketches of a city and its people. Very few people in the world have sketched any city with such tender love, care and affection. And to add to the lilting melody that is Mumbai in the film is composer Gustavo Santaolalla who gives a haunting background score. Director Kiran Rao brilliantly manages to find a physical representation of Mumbai city, in the old woman who blankly stares at all the characters, but says nothing. The metaphor is simple but powerful - Mumbai is a dying, decaying city, but one that is definitely alive and watches over all. And like the character of Arun who becomes a voyeur into the life of Yasmin, it is Kiran Rao that has played voyeur on the city of Mumbai. Another good thing about the film is that nowhere does it slacken or lose pace. On the contrary, it unfolds almost like a mystery, like a rose bud, only to scintillate the senses in full bloom. It thus might become the low budget indie Indian film that will finally make money like big-budget Bollywood fare. In the end though, that wouldn't matter much to the audience who will find themselves somewhere in the film. Each one of the characters in the film is like Mumbai, and Mumbai is like each one of us who inhabit it. 
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| Posted: 21 Jan 2011 09:36 PM PST  Film: "Tangled"; Voiceovers: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy; Director: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard; Rating: ****You know that a film is good when despite it being based on an ancient story, it has been twisted to incorporate modern sensibilities but you not only fail to notice it, and instead see the altered one as the real version. Based on the fable of Rapunzel by Brothers Grimm, "Tangled" is one such delightful fun ride of a film. After discovering a magic sunlight flower that restores her youth every time she sings to it, Mother Gothel kept it for herself. However, one day the king's men searching for the same plant for their dying, pregnant queen, take the flower away. The queen gives birth to a daughter whose hair has the same magical qualities that are lost if cut. So, mother Gothel kidnaps the girl and keeps her locked in a tower with only her long hair to lead her up, till one day a thief, losing his way, discovers Rapunzel. One of the most delightful things about the film is a story that even though you know, you realise you did not know. That is because the story has been twisted to match modern sensibilities. Consider this: in every version of the popular fable, Rapunzel is a commoner while her lover is a prince. The film tangles the story to reverse it with the girl being a princess and the boy, a thief. Two delightful side characters and their antiques remind one of the imaginations that made Disney popular in the first place. The first is a horse that is not only more of a dog with great sniffing capabilities and ability to wag his tail, but can also fight with a sword better than a man. Next is a chameleon, whose idiosyncrasies, colour changing abilities and long tongue provide much laughter. The beautifully written story and script also does not shy away from drawing up an analogy. Here it is of maternal envy. Though it is obvious that the motivation of Mother Gothel is mainly to keep Rapunzel for herself, it is can also be seen to denote mothers who scare their children with needless fears thus preventing them from reaching their full potential. "Tangled" is fun, witty film with characters that are as real as we find them in our life and yet charming. It has a story and execution that will not only please the majority, but also the discerning audience and critic. That in itself is a rare achievement. The 80-odd-year-old company Disney has been undisputed pioneers in the field of animation. Sadly, in the last two decades, with the advent of computer animation, they were finding it hard to find a solid footing. With their 50th animated feature "Tangled", it does seem that they have once again found their groove. Hopefully, they will delight audiences once again, with films like "Tangled" that is bound to go down in history as one of their finest works. That in itself is a very tasty proposition. 
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| 'Season Of The Witch' Movie Review Posted: 21 Jan 2011 09:25 PM PST  Film: "Season Of The Witch"; Cast: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Claire Foy; Director: Dominic Sena; Rating: * 1/2It is not necessary for a film to have a point. But for one to be so pointless and clueless about its own existence makes for a supernaturally horrific experience for the discerning audience. It's the age of the crusades, times when witches are burnt at the stake. Behmen (Nicolas Cage) and Felson (Ron Perlman) are knights fighting and killing in the name of Jesus. But when they have to kill women and kids, they desert the religious army and try to wander back home only to be captured at a village that is in the throes of a plague. Here they are given the chance to redeem themselves by escorting a woman suspected of being a witch, to their main monastery. This one is a film full of loopholes, one of the main being that an opportunity for either suspense or to make a statement against the insanity of religious wars is royally wasted. The film would have become much more interesting if the first few minutes that show a witch with supernatural powers were removed. This would have left a doubt in the audience's mind, as it is not made clear throughout the remaining film whether the woman being escorted is indeed a witch. In the end, the film does pit the sins of the devil versus the sins and killing done in the name of Jesus Christ. Yet the dialogue at the end of the film where the devil makes a reference to this point ends up being nothing but a lame and desperate defence. The scenes and flow of the film are also unbelievably done. Yes, it is a fantasy film. But even a fantasy film is based on certain logic. It cannot simply function on the whims of the writer or director. For instance, whereas in the entire film it has been shown that the devil can move things by sheer thought, Behmen very conveniently manages to pin him down while another man reads the spell to destroy him. The only saving grace, if you could call that, is the cinematography and special effects, neither of which leave much to be desired. Finally you do end up wondering, what was indeed the point of the film even though you are perfectly okay with many films not having any point whatsoever. 
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