The Stoning of Soraya M (2008 American Movie Review)

Cast: Mozhan Marno, Shohreh Aghdashloo, James Caviezel

Living in modern, liberated societies it's incredulous to learn about the plight of women elsewhere. This movie's a must-watch as a reminder to all of us about how our ancestors must've fought for our own rights and of how there's so much more to do. Based on a true story written by Freidoune Sahebjam, the story is set in a village in Iran. Soraya (Mozhan Marno), a mother of two little girls and two older boys, is married to a man whose avarice seeks the hand of a 14-year old girl in marriage while ousting his wife and daughters. He's intent on divorcing Soraya without paying for her upkeep nor that of his two daughters. He manipulates his sons into supporting his dreams of  moving to the city with him, of leading a better life, and the boys turn against their own mother. The husband starts to plot with the town's mullah whose unsavory prison past is a secret weapon weilded by the husband. When a local mechanic's wife passes away, they convince Soraya to work in the mechanic's house tending to chores such as cooking in return for which she gets paid wages that can eventually win her financial freedom and enable the divorce her husband wants. Little does she suspect that her husband is plotting to level allegations of adultery against her. Soon rumors float with the village elders unanimously indicting Soraya to be an adultress and as such by Sharia law must be stoned to death.
The day after she is stoned to death horrendously, her aunt (Shohreh Aghdashloo) happens upon a stranded journalist (James Cavieziel) to whom she narrates the events. He ultimately escapes and recounts of the atrocities committed against Soraya to the world. This harrowing tale had me sobbing inconsolably for half the film. It touches on a raw nerve and unabashedly shows how some societies suppress, degrade, and rob women of a life let alone happiness.

Rating: Three out of 5 stars.

Karthik Calling Karthik (2010): Hindi Movie Review

Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Deepika Padukone
In addition to directing, Farhan Akhtar has taken to playing protagonist parts as an average city guy. In this one, he assumes a role similar as Karthik, a quiet, shy guy who's so gullible that he can't say no to others. Be that work or elsewhere, people take him for a ride. When he does try to retaliate, he loses his job. Unable to cope with his failings, he decides to end his life. Just as he's about to, he's saved by a phone call--a call from himself. This caller, his alterego Karthik, phones him thereafter everyday counseling him and transforming his hapless state into a man self-assured. Soon Karthik wins back his job, earns his boss' respect, and even gains the affection of the girl Sonali (played by Deepika) whom he's pined for a very long time. Despite the caller warning him to never divulge to anyone about the nature of these calls, Karthik relents and confides in Sonali. That triggers events to change the upswing in Karthik's life. An interesting story that weaves in suspense managing to sustain it through the end. This movie has fine performances from Farhan and proves that Deepika can hold her own! Farhan's quintessential charm shines through making him as enjoyable a watch as his home show 'Oye it's Friday.'

Rating: A 3 out of 5 stars.

Alice in Wonderland (2010): Movie Review

Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway

That this movie is a sequel for the famed original series by Lewis Caroll was evident from the start. Still expectant as one grown up dreamy-eyed on Alice frolicking in those adventures, I had to see this at the theater in 3-D. To me, the original was witty beyond compare without much of a point really--well, that was the point. There was no point to it all except to be completely silly, to explore a child's imagination, and poke fun at everything!

Did this version of Tim Burton's Alice revive that child's magic imagination in me? Sadly not. Mia's severe face, perhaps the vague, indistinct dialogues (including the raven and the writing desk reference) was every departure from the original. Gone was the dreaminess, the silly exploration, and classic wit. This creation rather spun off into another of those adolescent hero archetypes like the Harry Potters and the Twilight series. This is a story of how a grave adolescent overthrows her inner doubts, conflicts and shines as a hero however human. That said, the movie does bring to life the background and characters from the original. Helena as the thunderous red queen fits the part as do others and Anne Hathaway's presence as the white queen is almost impercerptible. Johnny Depp looks uncannily like Madonna complete with a gap in his front row teeth.

Rating: A 3 out of 5 stars.

Atithi Thum Kab Jaoge (2010): Hindi Movie Review

Cast: Ajay Devgan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Paresh Raval

The director spends a good portion of the film explaining what Atithi (guest) means as if apologizing for picking a title phrase that the audience might confuse with the more common name Adithi! Atithi thum kab jaoge (guest when will you leave?) results in a pretty much predictable story of a guest that overstays a family's hospitality and patience. Paresh Rawal who plays the guest 'atithi' is truly trying. Agreed, his penchant for delivering humorous roles and comic timing is noteworthy but his characterization gets testy more so on the viewer's nerves. The end result abates the intended comic effect leaving the viewer stranded on their fraying nerves. Konkona Sen Sharma's done a decent job but one wonders why she's wasting her talent here. In her efforts to break into successful commercial cinema, should she have to take on such lackluster roles? Ajay Devgan suits this role with his trademark frown. The songs look plugged-in and unnecessary as they neither complement the mood, sound mellifluous, nor help carry the story forward. They're skip-worthy like the rest of the movie.

Rating: A reluctant 2 out of 5 stars.

Revanche (2008 German, Russian movie)

Cast: Johannes Krisch, Ursula Strauss, Irina Potapenko

Revanche in German means revenge or vengeance. Alex, an aging convict works as an errand man at a brothel in Vienna. He's in love with a pretty sex worker, Susanne. When the brothel owner starts to deviously manipulate her into making more money, Alex learns of these plans and turns to protect her. They escape from the brothel but left with no money to live on, Alex convinces Susanne that he must rob a local bank and with this money he can invest in a bar in Ibiza to afford them a comfortable life together. After some hesitation, she gives in but insists she'll wait in the car (that he's stolen) closeby. While she's in the car praying, Alex robs the bank with his face masked brandishing an un-loaded gun. When he makes it back, he spots a cop by the car questioning her. So he waves the gun threateningly at the cop and they getaway in the car. As they're fleeing, the cop shoots. Alex drives away but soon discovers Susanne dead from the cop's shooting. Sobbing his heart out, he finally steps out abandoning the car and his dead Susanne in a wooded area, and walks on foot to his grandfather's little farm house. There he stays on to help his ailing grandfather with chopping firewood and tending to cows on the farm. As it happens, the cop and his wife live on a neighboring land. Does Alex get caught? Does he kill the cop out of vengeance?  Although suffering from bouts of dizziness, Alex's old man refuses to go to the hospital saying thus "Once they take you in, they never let you out. And then they'll send me to a home. No, I'll stay here. If I leave here, everything will go to ruin. They can carry me out when am gone." Life must go on at any event whether good or unpleasant, just as one needs to eat or sleep. This story is real, human. 

Rating: I'd give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars. 

Departures (2008 Japanese film)

Cast: Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki

Departures is a beautiful film about death. One that doesn't shy away from exploring the loss, helplessness, and the inevitable mortality faced by the living. The dead pass away but it's hard for the ones left behind to deal with the loss and grief for the departed. Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) lands this job quite by accident after losing his job as a cello player in an orchestra. He applies to the NK agency's ad in the newspaper for a person with no previous experience required in the business of 'departures.' Taking this to mean a travel agency, he's entirely unprepared and unwilling at first to work as a professional casketeer--professionals that prepare the dead for their final passage, allowing the family and close ones to bid their last farewell. All of this done in a manner so dignified with a calmness that can otherwise be icy cold to the harshness of life, yet now gentle in caring for the peaceful passing away.This is one movie that leaves behind a residue of a poem sad but exquisite.

Rating: Four out of 5 stars.

Hindi: Raat Gayi Baat Gayi (2009)

Cast: Rajat Kapoor, Iravati Harshe, Neha Dupia, Vinay Pathak

Produced by Rajat Kapoor and Pritish Nandy, the flick is a masala film made with flair. The film opens on to a party where Rahul (Rajat Kapoor), an ad film executive in his 40s married with wife and child, is flirting under the influence inappropriately with a none the less sober Sophia (Neha Dupia). The rest of the movie follows with what Rahul goes through the Sunday after the party. Did his misconduct lead to more with Sophia, was his wife (Iravati Harshe) avoiding him because she found out? Vinay Pathak plays Rahul's friend (Amit) whose own marriage isn't any smoother. Ranvir Shorey offers a touch of humor as the party loud mouth. The Vinay Pathak, Rajat Kapoor combination has appeared in a few movies together, Dasvidanya being one, and they pack in  punchy performances. Iravati Harshe and Neha Dupia play their bit with aplomb.


Rating: Very watcheable. A 3.5 out of 5 stars!

Hindi movie: Kurbaan

Cast: Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Vivek Oberoi

Karan Johar attempts to tell another story much like the theme in his more successful My Name is Khan venture of the Western world's war against terrorism and the connection to Islamic extremists. Saif (Ehsaan) wins over the love of Kareena (Avantika) while they're teaching in the same college in Delhi. When Kareena decides to move back to New York, Ehsaan suggests they marry and move together. In New York they soon settle in making their home in an Indian neighborhood. Avantika and Ehsaan befriend their muslim neighbors whose women members Avantika observes are suppressed. One of these women pleads with Avantika for help and warns her of her own life endangered. Here the plot thickens. It turns out that Ehsaan and the neighboring trio of muslim men are in fact a terrorist sleeper cell planning a series of terror attacks in the US. The first attack blows up a passenger plane, among those dead, Vivek's (Riyaz) paramour. Riyaz a seasoned war journalist follows a lead to hunt the perpetrators and avenge his lover's death. Can Riyaz sabotage the other planned attacks, does Avantika escape the clutches of Ehsaan and the killers? The rest of the movie unfolds this story.

One does wonder why Avantika can't dial 911 in the first place before being captured by Ehsaan and co. or why Riyaz the war jouralist can't involve authorities in his effort to sniff out the killers, but must resort to very rudimentary sleuthing. I suppose this was intended to give the movie its 2 hour stretch. Don't expect the chemistry between Saif and Kareena, the real-life pair, to sizzle. On-screen only Kareena's smokily lined eyes do.

Rating: Viewable to the extent that you set aside your brain. This earns a predictable 2 out of 5 stars!

Hindi movie: Love Aaj Kal (2009)

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Rishi Kapoor.

Directed by Imtiaz Ali who's been my favorite with movies such as Socha Na Tha and Jab We Met, has cast the film quite well. Saif plays the double protagonist parts as the lover of the 70s and as the contemporary lover boy. His innate smooth, charming, self-assured aura carries through in this role as well. In that sense, Saif's getting stereotypical--playing the same "Dil Chahta Hai" formulaic character over and out. Plus his age is starting to show in this one. Deepika as the modern ladki is ravishing but her presence seems all too calm to be at all capable of feeling the tumultous emotions of love that the story provokes. Her ultracool portrayal goes so far that she even glibly smiles her way through situations that naturally call for at least a cynical smirk or a bitter smile.

Rishi Kapoor's role is the same as the other easy-going, likeable parts he's played in a Namastey London or a Hum Tum. The surprise casting of the Brazilian model, Giselle Monteiro, as Harleen Kaur the yesteryear heroine, has its effect. Her role though minor--for she's little to say apart from looking meek, being shy--she comes off looking fresh-faced and interesting in the frames. The only giveaway to her non-indian origins is her inability to groove bollywood style.

Rating: The movie makes for a fair pass time and begets a 2.5 out of 5 stars. Imtiaz I expect more from your next effort!!!

Hindi movie: Tum Mile (2009)

Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Soha Ali Khan.

Watched this movie today. It's a story of two estranged lovers who meet by coincidence in a plane journey to Mumbai and subsequently reunite as they rekindle their feelings of love through the wake of a tsunami that hits Mumbai at the time.

Both actors play their parts justifiably. Am not surprised this is a Mahesh/Mukesh Bhatt production for Emraan seems primarily cast in all of the Bhatt films. Though enacted well, the plot turns sketchy toward the end. Where was the need to do away with Emraan's friend's character? That seems like such a gimmicky stunt to arouse the audience from the stupor of the easy paced movie even through all of the fatal tsunami flooding.

The movie's watcheable and yet another flick delving into strains of modern relationships.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Hindi movie: Paa (2009)

Cast: Amitabh Bachan, Abhishek Bachan, Vidya Balan

This movie's garnered high praise from most quarters. Not unsurprisingly so for it casts big B in an unprecedented on-screen persona as a special needs child, Auro. Granted the movie has been directed simply and has been cast well, but the story aspect is quite unbelievable and hence bollywoodesque. His father, Amol the politician, aka Abhishek Bachan, being a busy politician has all the time to spare for some special needs child he crosses path with. Okay, let's swallow that bit. Is it also credible that a child with a marked physical disability such as Auro's does not get bullied, teased, or alienated in school? To the contrary, this kid gets the ideal special treatment right at the onset from the principal to every other school member to whom Auro is endearing and even famous! Isn't that a bit much? Amitabh and Vidya Balan won best actor awards in the male and female categories both at star screen and film fare awards (2010) this year. As for me, watching this movie was a trying feat. First off, that Auro got treated like he was the superstar big B even in his Auro role was a put off! Secondly, Auro's voice and dialogue delivery sounded muffled--maybe the disability he was projecting affected his voice chords or that big B was playing it extra cool.

Rating: The movie gets a 2 out of 5 stars from me!