Udaan (2010) - movie review

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They sneak out of their dorm in furtive steps, trying best to avoid Rathore, their warden. And whoopee! They manage to get out. Minutes later the boys find themselves and Mr Rathore in the same theater. Ouch! They know they're in deep shit. And you find yourself wondering - what next. The film pulls you in then on. Rohan and his friends Manu, Vikram, Binoy are expelled (for reasons, obvious) and they've got to figure out, what now. As Rohan heads back home, he is oblivion to yet another blow that awaits him...

Started way back in 2003, Vikramaditya Motwane's (who also wrote DevD) directorial debut Udaan wobbled and floundered all along, for reasons unknown, until it finally saw light of day this year and how! The film made it to the 63rd Cannes selection list. 

The story is simple. It's real. It's relatable. It borrows a bit from everyone's life. And that's what makes it likeable. There are moments that make you cry, moments that make you laugh, moments that make you nod in agreement and moments that amaze you outright.

Udaan does remind you of Taare Zameen Par but is watchable, nevertheless, for its different treatment. Thumbs down only to the duration. Could've been far shorter.

The film whips out brilliant performances. Rohan's eccentric father (Ronit Roy) and chachu (Ram Kapoor), both TV actors, hold sway. The 6-year-old Arjun (Rohan's half-brother) played by Aayan Boradia is a stunner. Not to forget Manjot Singh's (Rohan's friend) crazy shtick. 

Certainly a one-time watch!

2010: The Year in Films - So Far, and Ahead

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Best Films So Far:

Inception Why: Earlier post


Shutter Island Why: Martin Scorsese. Leonardo DiCaprio. Cinematography


Toy Story 3 Why: Pixar is the greatest film production studio of all time


Despicable Me Why: Steve Carell and his minions


Date Night Why: Steve Carell and Tina Fey (the funniest woman in America)


Overrated:
Kick-Ass Why: It was good, but nothing special


Decent:
Dinner For Schmucks, The Crazies, The Runaways, Nowhere Boy, Resident Evil Afterlife


Haven’t seen yet but heard:
The Other Guys, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Machete, The American

Predictions:

Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps Why: Michael Douglas returns as Gordon Gekko, his Oscar-winning role from 1987’s hit Wall Street. With him is Shia LaBeouf, and the filmed is being helmed by Oliver Stone, who also directed the first part twenty years ago. Also, I think this is the first time a best actor winner is doing a sequel with the same character. If, and I doubt it, he wins an Oscar for this role - again, that will make film history.




The Social Network Why: The good: director David Fincher (Fight Club, Se7en, Curious Case of Benjamin Button), and writer Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, A Few Good Men).
The I-don’t-care-about-because-the-good-is-enough-to-make-me-watch-this: It’s about the invention of facebook.


Hereafter Why: Clint Eastwood reunites with Matt Damon after last year’s Invictus (great film) in this supernatural thriller written by Peter Morgan (The Queen, The Last King Of Scotland, Frost/Nixon).

Due Date Why: Robert Downey Jr. (who can do no wrong, in film) and the guys who made The Hangover. Can’t wait. Robert Downey Jr. has two hit franchises that are worth over a billion each (Iron Man universe, Sherlock Holmes) for two different studios (which pretty much makes him the biggest star in Hollywood right now); and Todd Phillips is go-to guy to make adult mainstream comedies. It’s obvious that this movie is just a way for the studio to cash in on the team’s value, but I think it will be a good one regardless.

Little Fockers Why: Ben Stiller will always be funny because he made Zoolander. So I’ll watch anything he is a part of. And its a third part in the Meet The Parents franchise.

Black Swan Why: A thriller - directed by Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler) and starring Natalie Portman (one of the best actresses of this generation) and Mila Kunis - set in the dangerous world of ballet dancing.

Paul Why: It’s a comedy about aliens in America - two british, and one real alien. Probably the funniest movie this year.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (November 2010), Part 2 (July 2011) Why: Because its the biggest film franchise of all time. And because Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) got paid over $40 million for this two-part film - it puts him in the list of highest paid actors with Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, Tom Hanks, Robert Downey Jr. - based on the last of the Harry Potter books. So obviously it’ll make a billion dollars, or two. And yes it’ll be good too.

How Do You Know Why: Veteran filmmaker James L. Brooks (I like his movies, but I will always remember his as one of the creators of The Simpsons) returns to the romantic comedy-drama genre, starring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, and Jack Nicholson.

You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger Why: I’m not sure, but I hope it will be good. The cast is great (exception: Frieda Pinto from Slumdog), and it’s Woody Allen, who is the best-worst director who may or may not have lost his touch. But then he makes a film like Vicky Cristina Barcelona. So let’s hope its more like that, and less (or not at all) like Whatever Works.


True Grit Why: The Coen Brothers. Matt Damon. Jeff Bridges. Josh Brolin. Oh, and it’s a western too.

Somewhere Why: Sofia Coppola (Francis Ford Coppola’s daughter, not that she needs the introduction though) wrote and directed this film about “A hard-living Hollywood actor re-examines his life after his 11-year-old daughter surprises him with a visit.” She already won The Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival last week, which is the highest prize to be given to a film at the festival.

Da'bang' for the buck (for Sallu fans!)

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Watch it for Salman Khan! It's a routine Bollywood masala film with a hero, a villain, a Maa, and a sautela bhai! There's also the usual item number. (Takes you back to the 70s.) The only difference being the hero now flaunts a Ray Ban. 
Back then, the item number was strictly in honour of the villain. (Naach Basanati naach. Nahi Basanti, in kutto ke saamne mat naachna, remember?)
Here our hero also joins the party! Honestly, Dabangg is all about the hero aka Chulbul Pandey. And this larger-than-life character well lives up to his name. (He couldn't have gotten 'chulbul'er ;) You'll fall in love with him as soon as he enters the frame. Be it the way he flings his glasses (Rajnikant ishtyle?) or slips them down his collar or the way he does a shimmy on Jalwaaa.

Among other characters, it's Sonu Sood's performance that catches the eye. Arbaaz plays a dud, and is no good even when it comes to acting like one. His decision to produce the film, however, was right on the money! The film has beaten all previous records collecting 14.5 crore on Day 1. 
There isn't much of Sonakshi, (Shatrughan Sinha's daughter) in the film. She's there to look good and act pricey and she does it well.
Wanted is, beyond doubt, a better film. Dabangg is more of a masala entertainer. Can't end this post without mentioning the music. Melodious numbers -- from chori kiya re jiya to tere mast mast nain. Munni, however, steals the show ;)

Not worth all the hype but Salman's fans sure can't afford to miss  this one!

Just Like Heaven (2005): Quirky, but fun

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Based off a french novel Et si c'était vrai...(If Only It Were True), Just Like Heaven, at first, feels as unreal and off-the-wall as it can possibly get. After a point, though, it's this oddity that draws you closer. You're almost led into believing the absurdity of the situation.

Elizabeth Masterson (played by Reese Witherspoon) , a doctor in San Francisco, works her ass off day and night. The word 'fun' eludes her. It's then that her sister decides to set her up on a blind date. Destiny, however, has a different plan. Elizabeth, on her way to meet her date, meets with a tragic accident.

Meanwhile, landscape architect David Abbott (played by Mark Ruffalo) coincidently rents Elizabeth's apartment. At the apartment, Elizabeth's spirit haunts him. Elizabeth remembers nothing about herself, her family, or the hospital she worked at. All that she remembers and knows is that this is her apartment and that David should be out of it. David, meanwhile, does everything to ward her (spirit) off. It's interesting to see what unfolds next.

A few goof-ups there but it's funny, gripping and enjoyable, nevertheless! And the chemistry between Reese and Mark Ruffalo is another reason why you might want to go for this romcom.

I didn't know if there's a bollywood film thats a rip-off of this one but had there been one, it had to be an assured flop. (you can't trust Bollywood treatment with these kind of fictitious films) But a lil googling did get me some information. 

I See You (2006), a Bollywood film starring Diya Mirza and Arjun Rampal, is heavily inspired (read: lifted) by Just Like Heaven. 

I See Who? ;)

We are Family (2010) - movie review

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The film is predictable for the ones who have seen Step Mom, and for those who 'haven't' ;) But yes, it's been executed well, which seems unlikely for a film that's a rip-off of another. The hard-core family drama doesn't fail to evoke emotions despite bad music. The only song that works is Hamesha and forever. Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy seem to have scrambled through the rest of the album.
The film is heartwarming. Arjun, Kajol, Kareena are convincing in their roles. I was never keen on watching Arjun. The two Ks explain why I went for this one :) Arjun, however, surprises. He's been on a roll (after Rajneeti). You won't see his usual poker-face self. And he looks dapper (except in his repulsive beard in the last shot).

Aaliya's role playing Kajol's eldest daughter is too much to digest. A 13-yr old, out in the middle of the night night with boys and beer! Gimme a break. The other two kids Anjali n Ankush  were adorable. The film has its moments (mostly weepy). High on visual appeal and relationship (overdone in parts!) quotient, WaF is a typical (and modernised) Karan Johar film. 
A one-time watch, but!