Cinema – March

TV

Tropic Thunder:

Drowned by hype. It had a few laughs but it was not as funny as I expected it to be. Tom Cruise was the funniest.

At the movies

Watchmen:

An adult superhero movie. Strictly okay. Karadi’s one-liner summed it up - ‘Kadisiyila idhu oru oya padama?’

Online

Maltese Falcon:

I have read the story of course. Didn’t get the plot in its entirety then. Didn’t get it after watching the movie. The movie is a bit of a cultural icon – Sam Spade, the character, is practically the guiding light for film noir. “you’re a good man, sister” – is often quoted. Fat Man and Little Boy – character names used to identify the bombs that hit Japan – it doesn’t get more iconic than that.

The Man who knew too much:

The most bollywood-ish of Hitchcock movies I should say. Good narrative but the ending is a bit dated – especially for someone used to a healthy does of Indian movies. The ‘Que sara sara’ tune is well used.

Justice League: The New Frontier:

Superman is under-used but overall a nice comic book movie. Need them once in a while.

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

Nicely told documentary but it did not work for me.

a) I haven’t read any of Hunter Thompson’s work. My mistake.

b) I think the literary crowd tends to glorify non-conformists a bit too much in this country.

Laakhon ki baath

A delightful Basu Chatterjee comedy. Interesting in a way that there are no ‘good’ people in the movie. Everyone is shady at some level.

Transsiberian

On hindsight, there is not much of a plot. However, the build up of suspense and atmosphere was expertly done. Good thriller.

The Magnificent Seven

The movie that was inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai which also inspired Sholay. Western drama that would have thrilled me in the teen years now just a tick on my check list.

88 Minutes

It pains me to see Al Pacino in these stupid movies.

DVD

Saw

It is as gory as any prime time episode of a crime serial. Nice twist at the end. Didn’t see it coming.

Blood Diamond

I like it when a movie tackles a serious subject by focusing on the issue rather than use any of the actors’ histrionics. The movie sucks you into Sierra Leone and its issues.

Seabiscuit

A grieving father, a lonely horse whisperer, a partially blind jockey and a stubborn race horse – together they lifted the spirits of America during the Great Depression. Where is the Seabiscuit of this age?

Movie of the month:

Blood Diamond