Fukrey

Rating : 7/10
Release Date : 14th June, 2013
Time : 137 minutes
Director : Mrigdeep Singh Lamba; Writers : Vipul Vig; Music : Ram Sampath
Starring : Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma, Manjot Singh, Ali Fazal, Richa Chaddha, Pankaj Tripathi, Vishaka Singh, Priya Anand



Weird dream sequences which result into lottery numbers. A good for nothing kid who’d failed in the 1st standard. And then thrice again in the XIIth. Another who’s prayer sessions in a Gurudwara usually result in something being stolen off his bike parked outside. A college gatekeeper who has his fingers in many pies. A gangster babe who runs many rackets.

Fukrey is a film set in and celebrating Delhi, its Punjabi sense of humour, the jugaad ability and never say die attitude of its denizens while living in the cramped mohallas.

Pulkit, the kid who failed the 1st, was given company by his childhood friend, Varun, while failing the XIIth. Both now need money to buy the XII std exam papers to fufil their dream to enter Bishops, a nearby college.

While on the topic of dreams, Varun specializes in exceptionally weird ones. Usually involving Pulkit being in all sorts of trouble (there’s one where he is trying to bite himself, like a dog trying to bite its tail) and Varun coming and rescuing him. These dreams, the ones that Varun does remember the next morning, are interpreted by Pulkit the next morning and then distilled into a lottery number. And they never lose. Now they want an investor to bankroll them so that they can win big and buy their way into college.

Joining them is Manjot, a sweet boy who’s father runs a sweet shop, also desperate to get into the same college. And Ali, who studies in the college but is desperate for money due to his dad’s illness. Their official advisor is the college gatekeeper (Pankaj Tripathi) and their bankroller is Richa Chaddha, a feisty, foul mouthed gangster who is into all things nefarious.

The film is laced with funny, genuine, heart-warming moments. Manjot’s specific appeals to the Guru in the Gurudwara and the reaction of the kid sitting next to him. The non-sequitur responses of the passerby whenever something is stolen from the bike. Varun’s dreams and overall idiocy. Pulkit’s self-confidence and jugaad. Kite messaging. The Sinderella tattoo. The ‘Contact Us for Love Marriages’ sign. The excellent soundtrack.

However, the film is a bit unevenly paced. Sometimes slow, picking up dramatically and then slowing down again. The second half is a bit farcical at times with the end not going down the gullet too easily. Priya and Vishaka both have limited roles and the whole angle of the drug addict thief didn’t make sense. Everyone acts well (Ali a tad too mournful throughout the film) but Varun was the pick of the lot.

There is more going for the film in terms of its characters and style of story-telling rather than the story itself. Its a fun ride as long as you don’t care about where you land…

Man of Steel

Rating : 6/10
Release Date : 14th June, 2013
Time : 143 minutes
Director : Zack Snyder; Writers : Christopher Nolan, David S Goyer based on the character Superman created by Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster; Music : Hans Zimmer
Starring : Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue, Harry Lennix, Richard Schiff, Christopher Meloni, Ayelet Zurer



This is a Hindi movie masquerading as a Superman film, with lots of wonderful but overdone special effects. Henry Cavill as Superman is discovering himself through the film, finding reserves of power which you wonder why he didn’t use when he was getting bashed up by the bad guys. The baddies try every trick in the Hindi film book, including kidnapping the mom and the girlfriend. Amy Adams as Lois Lane is transformed into a near superwoman, who does stuff she isn’t qualified to and comes up with solutions which neither scientists or her beau can. And all this in the backdrop of alien ships, lots of explosions and skyscrapers collapsing dramatically

Henry Cavill is sent to Earth from Krypton moments before its collapse by his parents, Russell and Ayelet. His new parents, Kevin and Diane, spend a lot of time trying to unsuccessfully get him to conceal his superpowers, worried about the reaction of the rest of the world to something they don’t understand. Henry becomes a drifter, moving from job to oddjob. However, when General Zod (Michael Shannon) and his cohorts come looking for him, the time for hiding is gone, Henry has no option but to reveal himself. The only one who knows his secret is Lois Lane, the two of whom mutually fall in love at first sight shortly after he saves her life.

The climax is way too overdrawn, too many things blown up, too much of the ‘America is the center of the universe’ kind of stuff, quite predictable in lots of ways. There are a lot of things that don’t entirely make sense – the solution that Amy comes up with, the role of the Codex, the powers that the visitors from Krypton have…

The movie has its moments as does Henry Cavill, whom I found a bit wooden though, despite his Greek God, statuesque looks. What I did find fascinating was the central question – if someone with powers like Superman were really discovered on Earth, would we treat him as a threat or would we embrace him, worship him as a God ? I think the jury is still out on that one…

After Earth

Rating : 5/10
Release Date : 7th June, 2013
Time : 103 minutes
Director : M Night Shyamalan; Writer :Will Smith; Music : Toshi and Sarin Sabri
Starring : Jaden Smith, Will Smith, Sophie Okonedo, Zoe Kravitz



While I would give this film full points for build-up and its central premise – a young boy has to travel a 100 kms in hostile territory (happens to be Earth) to save himself and his wounded father – the film just passes you by without making any sort of impact, with a cloud of predictability looming large over it.



Earth is now abandoned. Overrun with animals who feed on humans. And the Ursas, who detect their prey via fear. Will Smith is badly injured, his legs broken as their flight crashes on Earth during a routine training mission. The tail of the plane, some 100 kms away, contains an emergency beacon which is the only hope of survival for him and his son.



One of the things hanging unresolved between the father, Will Smith (a hero, Commander in Chief of the humans) and his young son, is the death of Zoe, Jaden’s sister, who dies protecting him against an Ursa. Jaden beats himself up for not doing more at that moment to protect her, Will Smith beats himself up for not having done more to be there.



The events that unfold , well, are as you would expect them to, with almost no surprises or twists. One of the reasons the film doesn’t really work is that Jaden is at that awkward in-between age. Not really old enough to be a hero, have a mind of his own and not young enough to make it really interesting, dependent on his father’s remotely driven advice.



Its well shot, lush green forests, nature at its pristine best. But lacks any sort of tension, compelling narrative to make it grow on you. And that’s a strange thing to be saying about a M Night Shyamalan film, even one that’s written by Will Smith.

Yamla Pagla Deewana 2

Rating : 2/10
Release Date : 7th June, 2013
Time : 155 minutes
Director : Sangeeth Sivan; Writer : Lynda Deol; Music : Toshi and Sharib Sabri
Starring : Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Dharamendra, Neha Sharma, Kristina Akheeva, Annu Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Johnny Lever



Pure, complete and utter nonsense. No story. Terrible acting by most actors (led by Bobby Deol). And jokes, gags that fall whimperingly flat



Am going to struggle to describe the plot since the makers clearly lost it. Lets just say that it involves a con, Godmen, rich, confused businessmen, unmarried daughters and sons, corny, filmy dialogue amongst the Salman Fan Club, a man posing as an Orangutan, a villain who calls himself Dude, yet another fake twin brother who pulls the moustache trick (for people who claimed to watch a lot of movies, surprising they fell for this ?), couple of evil henchmen who’s core competence seems to be changing get ups for every scene, Sumo Wrestlers / Kung fu specialists and the obligatory fight scenes with our ‘dhai kilo ka haath’ Sunny Paa ji…





The actors who really appall are Bobby Deol and Anupam Kher (one of his worst performances, roles for a long time) and a lot of the extras, side role artistes. Sunny Deol and the two women, purely in it for their eye candy, low neckline / high hemline abilities, manage to come out of it at least without egg on their face. The overdrawn climax scene is bad beyond belief.



Resisted an impulse to walk out during halftime. Will respect my hunches more the next time.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Rating : 6/10
Release Date : 31st May, 2013
Time : 161 minutes
Director & Writer : Ayan Mukherji; Music : Pritam
Starring : Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Kalki Koechlin, Aditya Roy Kapur, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Farooque Shaikh, Poorna Jagannathan



There are some great, funny moments which help salvage a film that otherwise deals only in clichés and treads softly in very shallow ground.



Deepika is a nerd. School topper. Now studying medicine. Feels hemmed in. Meets cool (wearing grungy short shorts, so must be cool ?) and outspoken schoolmate, Kalki, by chance at a supermarket. Learns she is going with some friends to Manali for a trek. And decides to run away and join them. Aditya Roy Kapur is also with them, playing the part of a good for nothing skirt chaser. While Ranbir Kapoor is the life and soul of the group, while also being good for nothing and a compulsive flirt and allergic to marriage and commitment.





The first half is all about this trip. And the second half, eight years later, is all about a wedding (what else, it’s a Karan Johar production after all ?) and all the characters getting back together again. Where everything seems to have changed while remaining the same.





The ‘I never’ game, played in the train enroute to Manali, is fun. The dance sequence with the vodka fuelled Kunaal is hilarious. The toffee instead of the ring was a nice touch. And Farooque Shaikh stands out in his brief appearance as Ranbir’s dad (the Rooh Afza acha hai was beautifully done).



For the rest, the movie delights in dealing in cliché’s. It relies a lot on Ranbir’s cuteness and dancing ability, gives him charm and a carefree attitude but no depth. It is chock a block with songs, using them to express every emotion (happy, sad, heartbreak, wedding – its all in there).



But most galling for me were the weak women characters in the film. Deepika, having had a heart broken once, is so weak-kneed in front of Ranbir, that all she fears is falling for him again (give me a break) and not being able to recover from that (you’ve got to be kidding). She is now a successful doctor, seems to have recovered from her school day inability to make friends but is apparently the type of woman who will be sitting by herself at home. On New Year’s Eve. And, of course, despite the eight year gap, has never had a boyfriend (apparently Indian women don’t do that kind of stuff). Kalki, for all her spunk, goes gushingly desi (kind of like Deepika in Cocktail) when it comes to marriage. And even Poorna Jagannathan, in the tiniest of roles, cant stop gushing over Ranbir, offering him the job of a lifetime. Haven’t the makers of this film ever met any woman with a real backbone ? Who can give as good as they get ? Who can moderate behavior based on the kind of guy they are dealing with ? Just found the characters so inconsistent and well, regressive, despite the drinks and the short dresses.



The songs, apart from the catchy ‘Badtameez Dil’, lack bite, including the much hyped (and unnecessary item number with Madhuri). The second half is stretched and the climax way too long drawn. A cloud of predictability hangs over the film. But I guess the advantage of being shallow is its all light, bubbly, frothy, the style and clothing impeccable and the fun catchy enough to entertain and make this one fall neatly in the low impact but totally ‘timepass’ category.

Fast & Furious 6

Rating : 6/10
Release Date : 24th May, 2013
Time : 131 minutes
Director: Justin Lin; Writer : Chris Morgan; Music : Lucas Vidal
Starring : Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Luke Evans, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Jordana Brewster, Gal Gadot, Elsa Pataky, Gina Carano



The Akashi Kaikyo bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world, with a central span of 1991m ie almost 2 kms between its main towers. However, you’re going to need something way bigger to suspend the amount of disbelief at the various plot holes in this film. The fact its still watchable is due to some jaw dropping stunts and the jokes flying thick and fast throughout the film.





Paul Walker is now a father. Vin Diesel lives in a non extradition country with gorgeous girlfriend Elsa. And the rest of the crew are busy spending their loot from the previous films. However, a theft executed with military precision and the sceptre of a tech bomb forces Hobbs to call in Vin Diesel and the crew in a ‘you need a thief to catch a thief’ logic (why couldn’t he go the army mobility division, where the ringleader Luke Evans hailed from ?). The fact that Michelle Rodriguez may still be alive is enough for everyone to jump right into the fray.





The thefts by Luke and his gang (from Interpol and later a base in Spain) are riddled with implausibility. As are the way Vin Diesel’s team searches for clues and follows them up (no back up and just too easy). The chase sequences are baffling because of the lack of air support and the complete absence of any firepower with the cops / army units chasing the bad guys. Imagine someone turning London into a racetrack, having stolen sensitive army equipment worth billions. Surely a couple of F16’s wouldn’t be out of order ?





Well, in the world that Vin Diesel inhabits, apparently the code is everyone does everything with cars. And tanks. And maybe a cargo airplane. But mostly its just cars. The movie is furiously paced, the cars skid, swerve and speed with style and there are a couple of insane stunts (the one which brings the tank to a halt is very cool).



The jokes are what set this film apart though. From the snide ‘functional clothing’ remarks from the British car dealer and the sweet revenge against him by Ludacris. The one liners by and at the expense of Tyrese Gibson (about his forehead, the whole sequence when he wants some snacks during Hobbs debrief) and the hilarious conversation between Sung Kang and Tyrese (about ‘he’s a man’ and later about the necessity for rocks) make sure there is a smile on your face almost constantly through the film.



Logic certainly takes a back seat in this film with the men and women all exulting in non stop, adrenalin pumping action. However, since it is fast, and very furious, perhaps I shouldn’t complain too much.

The Place Beyond the Pines

Rating : 6/10
Release Date : 12th April, 2013
Time : 140 minutes
Director & Writer : Derek Cianfrance; Co-writers : Ben Coccio, Darius Marder; Music : Mike Patton
Starring : Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Mahershala Ali, Ben Mendelsohn, Bruce Greenwood, Emory Cohen, Ray Liotta, Dane DeHaan, Harris Yulin, Rose Byrne



The central theme here is that a man’s legacy (and I’m using the word ‘man’ in a very unisex way here) lives on long after he’s gone. This is a movie split in three distinct halves. The first about Ryan Gosling. The second about Bradley Cooper, who’s life intersects for just a fraction of a life changing moment with Ryan’s. And the third, well, I aint telling…






Ryan is white trash, a daredevil bike rider. Meets a very sexy Eva Mendes, and post a very steamy encounter (which is completely snipped off by our beloved censors), he leaves with his circus to return a full year later. When he reunites with Eva, he feels compelled enough to quit his job and stay back. Doing some odd jobs before, given the lack of money and egged on by his mate, he decides to rob banks.





Bradley Cooper is an ex-law student and a cop, against his influential father, a retired Supreme Court judge’s wishes. Intelligent, charming, articulate, with plans to transform the police force. Likes to play it by the book, do the right thing. But his chance encounter with Ryan changes all that.



Love. Fate. Opportunism. Fatherhood. Corruption. Politics. Marriage. Love. I wish the movie was a bit faster paced. That there was more screen time with Bradley and Ryan together, quite rare that you see two hunks oozing such sex appeal, together. I wish the censors wouldn’t be so childish in ‘A’ rated films. Several times, it felt the movie was about to end, only for it to acquire fresh legs. Several times you felt the film was dragging only to get piqued at a new turn of events.





It’s an interesting premise, told in a strangely disjointed, quiet, understated way. It makes its points in a ruminative, soft-spoken manner rather than the sledge hammer approach more favoured by Indian film makers. However, its possibly precisely because of such a demeanour, parts of the film stay with you, some of the questions it raises, float in your head as you leave the hall. This is one of those films which makes you wonder what you would do in such a situation. Just wish it was put together as a more compelling whole.