Razzmatazz

Call it Whatever

Nikhil — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:35:22 +0000

Embrace it.

A friend’s mother once told me. I didn’t quite understand it then. What embrace loneliness? Why would I ever be lonely? I got like a gazillion friends, I got facebook, and hell I even got twitter.

It’s the one thing you have to learn. No rules, no shortcuts. It’s the only way to be at peace with yourself. Let them shout, let her giggle, let the market do its job. Oh, it’s the rat race. If you can be there and still be aloof -you’ve made some enemies. Enemies who hate to see you calm and smiling.

The saints chose the mountains & forests to create their abode, why? It’s because those were the only place’s that had not lost its sacred value due to human contact. The only places where one could still find pure vibrations. We pollute everything if not physically then by thoughts. And today, a broken beer bottle greets you wherever you go.

We all have heard the story about that guy who used to do everything that others did, and still managed to make it to the top. I’m not saying I know it all, but I do know this – If you can be at peace with yourself, it doesn’t matter what you shoot – You just made the world lighter.

A swell life with not even a night’s sleep to show for it? No, thank you. And yet I sell my soul for it.

It doesn’t hurt if you friend turns you down cause you understand he might have other things to tend to. It doesn’t t hurt if she exchanges your gift for something else, we are materialistic after all. And yes it doesn’t hurt when you lose the records ‘cause you know it’s you who built it.

Dylan said :

Ain’t it hard when you discover that

He really wasn’t where it’s at

After he took from you everything he could steal.

Peace.

Waiting for Superman

Nikhil — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:35:09 +0000

Davis Guggenheim (think Inconvenient Truth) directed Waiting for Superman has everything going for it. Almost.

“There was no one coming with enough power to save us.” Says Geoffrey Canada when he learnt, back in the 5^th grade that Superman was a fictional character.

The entire movie is based on that one quote and the dismal state of affairs of the American Education system. Waiting for Superman has every element a documentary should have. It’s got the right motive, a problem which affects the masses, a few examples to elaborately explain the crisis, knowledgeable commenter’s who’ve been working on the problem and above all a director who has given his heart to the cause.

DIRECTOR:
Davis Guggenheim

DATE OF RELEASE:
January 22, 2010

The movie tracks how and why, even after America being a superpower and a world leader manages to lag way behind most of the other developed nations when producing talents in the field of education. It goes to the root of the problem showing us exactly how this is happening by taking the example of five kids with not so lavish backgrounds yet determined to get a good education, and how they have to ultimately depend upon fate to do so. The expression on the faces of those little kids while the lottery process is taking place so aptly defines the title of the movie. It’s almost synonymous.

It gives us a good overview. The graphical representation using animation side by side the commentary does help in comprehending things better. The short movie snippets from over an array of flicks aids in keeping the users interest alive. So do the superman scenes, mostly at the start and end of the movie.

The entire documentary however is overshadowed by its out-of-the-box end credits and the beginning of a campaign. The way the filming team has used the concept of end credits to say what they wanted to all throughout without sounding preachy has worked like a charm. Moreover, they don’t let the issue die out with the documentary, instead start an sms and an online campaign. How many actually do that? It’s remarkable on Waiting for Superman’s part. The movie does lose some credibility over the questions raised on the accuracy of the facts shown. Well, they sure can be overlooked to an extent.

It’s a must watch for the people of America and that of the world. Cause it’s not only America that’s suffering from the problem. It’s a problem faced by most of the developing nations with the pressure that’s put upon students to get a decent college education for a ‘successful’ life. No wonder, it bagged the Best Documentary feature (Audience Award) at the Sundance Festival 2010.

Justified : Season Two

Nikhil — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:42:58 +0000

A cop show with criminals, shooting and stuff. Boring right? Pause. Consider this: A cop show with criminals, shooting and stuff except that the cop and his antics resemble a western cowboy. This show is exactly that. It brings those Dirty Harry, outlaw-ish Clint Eastwood western days back to TV, and who better to do so than Timothy Olyphant?

CREATOR:
Graham Yost

CAST:
Timothy Olyphant
Nick Searcy
Joelle Carter
Jacob Pitts
Erica Tazel
Natalie Zea
Walton Goggins

YEAR OF BROADCAST:
2011

EPISODES:
13

Justified‘s second offering doesn’t kick off as you would have wanted it to. The initial episodes float around the average mark but the show does pick up after this hiccup. In hindsight, these episodes were necessary considering the detailing that’s gone into the show; not one messy subplot or backstory.Justified is all about family feuds and this season we see another one entering the ring – the Bennett family.

The Winona-Raylan connection gets stronger as we see Boyd team up with Ava and if you thought the first season had a lot of blood, this one acts as a double for your money as we see close ones getting hurt. The Loretta subplot was a stroke of genius and so is the use of Braid Praisley’s- “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” to mark the end of the season.

Something

Nikhil — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:32:47 +0000

I don’t know what’s wrong tonight. It was all so wonderful. I had you, you had me. But then, you got more, and i still had you and you, me. It wasn’t enough, it seems. I wanted more but you… you already had ‘more’. And now I don’t know if it’s you or me, or ‘us’ that’s imperfect.

I thought the room was empty. I checked, I made sure before I got in, that it had space… enough space to accommodate me and my idiosyncrasies. Little did I realize then, that the room had a back door, a rat hole. And even before i knew, the cup was full.

You enjoyed every moment, giving each occupant the desired time. No, I don’t call you a whore but a slut of sorts. And no, it wasn’t you who was wrong, but me. You had your mind set, your intentions were there in the open. Only… I was so lost that I couldn’t see past your beauty.

You always wanted to be that, while I kept dreaming about ‘we’. How stupid it was of me to have entered in the first place, but hell, it sure was fun as long I could pay the rent. Keep my space as the tenant of that little space in your heart.

And now, I take leave. ‘Thank you Ma’am’, thank you for the best moments of my life and I say it because it ain’t best until it leaves you heartbroken.

Delhi Belly

Nikhil — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:36:45 +0000

DIRECTOR:
Abhinay Deo

CAST:
Imran Khan
Vir Das

DATE OF RELEASE:
July 1, 2011

“S#!t happens”

Was exactly what I said as I left the theatre.

Hailed as the Pulp Fiction/Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels mash up that’ll suit the Indian palette; Delhi Belly is anything but that. In fact it leaves another sore blot on the trying-to-be-english-page for movies. A profane sex comedy, not. With a cent percent track record, Abhinay Deo directedDelhi Belly is the seventh offering by Aamir Khan Production.

At the core of it, the movie has nothing new to offer other than the explicitly in terms of language. Yes, it’s a first for Indian cinema where words like “blowjob” and “oral pleasure” are used in the same sentence, and no efforts are made to cover jokes using sexual innuendos but all this at the cost of good cinema? No thank you.

It’s discomforting to see the gradual demise of the most important element of a movie in recent times – the plot (they should seriously consider paying writers more). Movies nowadays bet high on the feel, look and appeal rather than the story and Delhi Belly is no exception. Three working youths, their pity worthy economic state, a shipment of diamonds and a goon – connect the dots.

Imran Khan as Tashi is no revelation and continues playing the same character since the time he debuted – twenty something dude with coolio wardrobe and a mass media-ish job, stuck in the 21^st century love dilemma (doesn’t hurt to try something new; specially when you have such a constant failure rate). Vir Das’ Arup might come off as hilarious but again, it’s no different than one of his stand up acts at one of the high profile gatherings in and around Delhi – snappy, back and forth, wit infused humour. On the other hand Kunaal Roy Kapur (Nitin) seems to be cast only to justify the title of the movie – an unestablished character with an awry stomach; he had nothing more to show than a quirky boob press (hilarious by the way).

Vijay Raaz comes off as the only true entertainer. A powerhouse of talent; seems stupid that he isn’t cast as often. With a neat history of hilarious caricatures in the likes of Monsoon Wedding, Run and Barah Anna, Delhi Belly adds another star to his credentials. The extortion scenes in the hotel are particularly gut-busting providing for some unimpaired guffaw. His “Barrister Vinod” being undoubtedly the best dialogue in the movie. The shootout scene however is something forgettable.

The two female characters play their parts well. Shenaz Treasurywala playing Sonia the air hostess and girlfriend to Imran did what she was chosen for – show off her well toned body, err jugs. While Poorna Jagannathan portrayed Menaka – Tashi’s soon to be love interest; though not a beauty, is a good find.

Music is one aspect where they’ve actually worked. It’s raw, refreshing and new age. Credits – Ram Sampath and Amitabh Bhattacharya. The movie doesn’t include any songs per se but the album songs make for the perfect background score. Be it Sagial Blues for the start credits, Switty tera Pyaar for the car chase sequence or I hate you (Like I love you) and Bedardi Raja for the funny parts. The Farah Khan designed Jaa Chudail part can be termed awesome. It seems all their creative appetite went into making the music videos than the film; the Aamir decorated I hate you with the end credits being the highlight and a refreshing watch.

With 95% of the movie being in English, it was made keeping only the multilplex audiences in mind. I’m assuming if you are a part of that upper bracket, you would have had your fair share of Hollywood experiences to help you judge better. Granted that Aamir was looking to break the all holy Indian you-know-what barrier and in some ways he may even have succeeded in giving budding moviemakers the go ahead for such projects but this shouldn’t have been the movie to start it all.

At a runtime of 102 minutes, it is not a waste of time but it’s certainly not what you expect. Shrug off the expectations and you might have a decent laugh. Watch it only cause you might not see Vijay Raaz and such intellectual foul mouthed-ness and imagery on the silver screen in the near future. As for a cult classic, we’ll have to wait.

Justified : Season One

Nikhil — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:24:20 +0000

CREATOR:
Graham Yost

CAST:
Timothy Olyphant
Nick Searcy
Joelle Carter
Jacob Pitts
Erica Tazel
Natalie Zea
Walton Goggins

YEAR OF BROADCAST:
2010

EPISODES:
13

Justified is a 2010 series, conceptualized by Graham Yost. Based in the small town of Kentucky, it follows the life of the pseudo-stylish US Marshall Raylan Givens (Olyphant) as he is entangled within the troubles of Harlan County. The show has the perfect cast, location and accent to pull off something this bold. Even the music complements the niche attempted. Full marks for infusing a fading genre with so much vigour and exuberance.

This first season is dedicated in the unraveling of the mystery of Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens. Transferred to Kentucky from Miami due to his notorieties, his way with criminals paves the way for a perfect start to the season. What follows is an intense drama fueled with adverse family ties, and involves childhood buddies turned criminals and a divorced wife in the same city. The Winona (Zea) angle has been exploited to perfection and the settings, locations and backstories seem genuine. The only thing that comes close to matching the cowboy hat worn by Timothy is Walton Goggins (Crowder), and the chemistry between him and Raylan serves as the soul for the majority of the episodes.

My Week with Marilyn

Nikhil — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:18:02 +0000

“She’s quite wonderful. No training, no craft, no guile, just pure instinct. “

They say that you know beauty when you see it, and I’d be damned if I didn’t find this motion picture beautiful. My Week with Marilyn is like a poem, having its own little ups and downs, and flowing like a river onscreen with ultimate grace brought about not only by the lead pair, but the entire cast, setting and persona of Marilyn Monroe.

The entire film is a true account of the most coveted celebrity in the world at the time. It follows the life of Monroe and how she goes about doing what she does best – breaking hearts, that is. In this case, of a young third assistant director (played by Eddie Redmayne) for a movie she’d been called in for. Seems simple; however it’s her movie star antics and her perpetually puzzled frame of mind that lends in to the beauty of the film.

DIRECTOR:
Simon Curtis

CAST:
Michelle Williams
Kenneth Branagh
Eddie Redmayne
Emma Watson
Judi Dench

DATE OF RELEASE:
October 9, 2011

No nonsense, no frailties, not a bit of unnecessary drama. Just exactly what Marilyn was, and it’s a sheer joy. Kudos to actress Michelle Williams for playing the character with such supreme elan and doing justice to the fair skin, that tiny mole, the characteristic red lipstick and that crazy fuzz of hair. With films like these supplementing her previous work

in Synecdoche, New York, Blue Valentine and Shutter Island, there’s little doubt that she’ll go down as one of the greats o

f our era. Eddie Redmayne does good to bring out the boyish charm that a twenty four year old would have had upon such an encounter with Marilyn. And a special mention goes out to the uptight yet Marilyn loving Kenneth Branagh for playing the movie star Laurence Olivier. He sure has some of the best dialogues in the movie, including

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”

I’m not sure how close the screenplay is to the actual turn of events but regardless, the auteur in Simon Curtis has been triumphant in capturing the essence of Monroe in an idealistic motion picture perspective. The fact that the entire movie isn’t a biography but merely a slice of Miss Monroe’s life lets your imagination run wild as to what else her depressingly short lifetime would’ve encompassed. Overlooking all the usual minor flaws, this movie deserves one of those careless watches on a lazy Sunday afternoon when you’re in the mood to soak in some poetry. And all those numerous accolades it’s gotten too.

“When she gets it right, you don’t want to look at anyone else”

Wait.

Nikhil — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:01:16 +0000

I figured. It’s The WAIT.

The wait, the wait to grow up, to become an adult, to be eighteen, to fuck, to drive, to go to college, to go back home, to win, to pay the bill, to get the park bench, for the movie ticket, for the vegetable, the mail, the message, the call, the sms, the green light, exam end, new semester, get a job, your first kiss, the love, the care, the wish, to grow your hair, to say ‘I miss you’ to the wait to say ‘ I missed you’, wait for the rain, for sun, for moon, for the new album, the movie, the concert, the game, the cd, The dvd, the match, the telecast, the tour, the trip, for the birthday, the gift, for death, for return, for the like, the notification, the smile, the drink, the smoke, the joint. The wait to meet.

It’s what keeps you alive; It’s what kills you. The wait.

And it disappoints. As soon as the wait ends, there’s always another desire ‘waiting’ to be fulfilled. It’s what we feed on. It’s what makes the end all the more special. More desired, more cherryish. But we, hate to wait. We want it quick, fast, rapid – and it exactly was quick, fast and rapid when we look back in retrospect at THE WAIT. Ironical.

For now, we wait to go back.
A crazy summer.

Of all the hardships a person had to face, none way more punishing than the simple act of waiting.” – Khaled Hossein

Exit Through the Gift Shop

Nikhil — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:32:38 +0000

DIRECTOR:
Banksy

CAST:
Thierry Guetta
Banksy

DATE OF RELEASE:
March 5, 2010

Exit through the Gift Shop is a an hour and a half long documentary on street art. Yes, street art.

Directed by Banksy (one the most prolific street artists of our times), he along with other street artists including the protagonist Thierry Guetta , narrate the story of how Thierry tracks down Banksy himself and goes on to become the phenomenon we today know as MBW “Mister Brainwash”.

The documentary traces the path taken by Thierry Guetta, from being a garment shop owner, to a guy with a video cam fetish, to him tracking street art with his cam, the hunt for Banksy, to an amateur film maker and finally to a street artist himself. All this accompanied with beautiful street graffiti, subtle humour, and an exclusive narration style tracking the growth of a movement, an evolution – The Street Art evolution, makes this fun filled documentary an entertaining watch.

The heart of the documentary is the rare video captures of the artists going about the town, printing bare walls with their signature patterns, and all this with the danger of being caught. The rise of street art shown in deep contrast with the rise of a street art artist himself (MBW) makes it all the more interesting. How a garment shop vendor with absolutely no idea about art, nor the money to produce it, went on to host the largest street art exhibition America had ever witnessed.

The documentary is bound to leave you speechless and excited. It unravels a world you had only heard about or seen glimpses of . A must watch and definitely the most promising documentary of 2010 i’ve come across. Grab your copy now.

Kahaani

Nikhil — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 11:44:24 +0000

Jodi tor ?ak shune keu na ashe tôbe êkla chôlo re….

And that’s exactly what Vidya Bagchhi aka Vidya Balan in Kahaani directed by two time failed director Sujoy Ghosh does. Being 7 months pregnant, she lands in Kolkata all alone to hunt for her missing husband all the way from London. What follows is a tightly woven and textured thriller of the kind that you wouldn’t normally expect; leaving you gaping at the unpredictability of it all.

DIRECTOR:
Sujoy Ghosh

CAST:
Vidya Balan
Parambrata Chatterjee
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Indraneil Sengupta
Abir Chatterjee
Saswata Chatterjee

DATE OF RELEASE:
March 9, 2012

Kahaani derives its strength from the city it’s based in – Kolkata. The intelligent plot, perfectly cast characters, apt music and sincere direction would have resulted in the movie being just another thriller. However, it’s the backdrop of the city chosen by Sujoy Ghosh which gives Kahaani that elitist status. It’s mesmerizing to watch city having been portrayed so beautifully. From the mystic Kolkata morning, the dilapidated alleys, unfinished clay idols, soothing tram rides, yellow ambassador cabs to street side food with the trademark tea glasses, there’s not a inch of the movie that doesn’t make you go Oh! Calcutta.

Such powerful cinematography clubbed with the genius of Vidya Balan who faithfully delivers another stellar performance worthy of a National Award makes the movie one of the most interesting watches of recent times. Each and every actor seemed handpicked and molded to perfection to fit that very role. Special mention goes to not one but three such characters who linger in your mind long after the plot has unfolded.

Parambrata Chatterjee as Satyaki/Rana or as Balan describes him – Arjun ka saarthi, can be truly named as a find. Portraying a police officer who assists Balan in her hunt, Parambrata almost cruises effortlessly through his role leaving behind a smile that’s hard to forget. Next up, is Khan the expletive spewing intelligence bureau official who demands your attention with his charismatic performance played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. And lastly, Saswata Chatterjee aka Bob Biswas; if there was an award for the most creepy, psycho contract killer Bollywood has ever seen, there’s no doubt that all five nominations would have been for Bob Biswas. Infact, Saswata alone is good enough a reason to watch the movie. Macabre personified.

Vishal-Shekhar do a great job once again with the music score, giving us a beautiful rendition of Tagore’s classic poem ‘Ekla Cholo re’ by Amitabh Bachhan. The song can be rightfully called as the heartbeat of the movie. Sujoy also succeeds in keeping the audience engaged through carefully woven subplots that add life to the smart plotline. These include the trivial ones like the relationship between the kid working in the guest house and Vidya and the way Satyaki falls in love with Ms. Bagchhi to the much more cogent themes like the use of Durga Maa signifying the power of motherhood and good over evil. The movie is seen to end aptly with a monologue from Amitabh Bachhan explaining this very concept.

There’s absolutely no question of why you should not watch Kahaani. A cultured thriller without an aorta of western influence and corroborated by such a tight screenplay, it ends up acting as a lesson on how stories should be told.