Badmaash Company (2010)

The Plot

Karan, Chandu, Zing and Bulbul are 4 youngsters just out of college in Bombay, 1994. They are on the lookout for some easy cash and a big life full of glamor. They get lured by fast bucks and don’t hesitate in going illegal too. They cheat the customs by not paying duty by following some fraudulent schemes.

Then they shift to the US, follow the same policy there too.  They try their hands in other types of shady businesses too and finally the law catches up with them and their leader Karan also becomes too egoistic, arrogant and he hardly respects his partners and family. He loses his business and friends.

Then he spends time in jail, realizes his follies and returns to re-unite with his buddies and this time they help Karan’s uncle resurrect his business in a legal manner. All is well in the end with the friends and also with Karan’s family. 

                                                                         

Hits

• Shahid Kapoor though heavily inspired by SRK, is very boyish, charming and is the typical dude. He shows a lot of intensity and talent.
• Anushka Sharma shows her super-hot, sexy and oomphy side in this movie. Jaw dropping stuff-strutting from her. She is obviously a good actress too as we’ve come to know
• The chemistry between the leads is truly sizzling. Their lip locks are so passionate and up the heat factor.
• The 2 friends Chandu and Zing have their moments too. Good smart character artistes. The scenes where they are obsessed with girls and booze are funny. They also do well in their confrontations scenes with Karan when he becomes arrogant. 
• Lovely peppy songs by Pritam, with maximum focus on groovy beats

Misses

• Since the movie is set in the mid-90s, it’s hard to believe the kind of language the friends speak, the kind of costumes they wear and the kind of facilities that are seen in all the locations.
• The schemes used by the friends are sometimes clever but very cinematic and hardly believable. 

VERDICT

Decent heist movie in typical Bollywood style. Colorful Yash Raj extravaganza. 

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

The Plot
3 long time friends, Kabir, Arjun and Imran decide to go on a bachelor road trip to Spain, to celebrate Kabir's last few days of bachelorhood. The plan is to try out 3 surprising adventure sports that would help overcome their fears. Deep sea diving, sky diving and bull fighting are the 3 chosen sports.

The 3 guys realize their life's true existence and after the trip they get what they want in life and are free from all confusions. Arjun meets his true love Laila, the sea diving instructor. Imran knows the truth behind his mysterious father and Kabir realizes that his marriage is nothing but an effort to appease his family. Some solid male bonding and dreamy romance are also part of the package

                                                                           
Hits

• The 3 adventure sports have been shot like a dream. We can literally feel the adrenaline rush and the swirl of emotions. Beautifully shot. All the 3 episodes take the cake.
• The Spanish locations are worth catching up on the big screen. Magnificent locales. We yearn to see these places
• Farhan Akhtar as Imran scores the maximum brownie points among this ensemble cast. He is spontaneous with his jokes, emotes well and dances cool too. 
• Katrina Kaif as Laila is every man's dream girl and her pleasant smile and elegant dressing add to her splendor. She emotes very well nowadays. The way she rides the bike and proposes to Hrithik is one solid romantic moment
• Hrithik as Arjun carries the business dude look with the yo accent and the money minded nature perfectly. He is a Greek God, plain and simple. His reactions when he is about to leave Laila are really endearing. His friendship with Farhan has its share of frictions and it pans out nicely in the end. 
• Abhay Deol's voice is girly but still he impresses with his honest portrayal. The Dev D star is better off doing the drugged and spoilt brat rather than playing the rich and decent lad. 
• The songs are a major plus and they are picturized as expected, in a grand manner. 'Paint it Red', 'Udi', 'Senorita' you name it, the movie has it. 

Misses

• A bit slow in the second half with a cameo for Naseeruddin Shah thrown in. Anyone could have done this role but, the surprise factor is what must have brought Naseer in. 

VERDICT

Bollywood's answer to the Hollywood road-trip genre with a nice message about 'living life to the fullest' and 'following your heart'. Fairy-tale like and feel good to the core. 

Green Zone (2010)

The Plot
The movie is about the WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction)scenario in Iraq. US Soldier Roy Miller heads the WMD unit and he leads his team to many spots but they don't uncover any WMD. He starts suspecting the US intel that they are provided.

With the help of a journalist Lawrie Dayne, another US official Martin Brown, a local Iraqi citizen Freddie, Miller uncovers the truth about the actual WMD scenario from General Mohammad Al Rawi, the former right hand man of Saddam.

Miller comes to know that the US Govt. had actually faked the intel and that there is no WMD in Iraq ever since 1991. He realizes that this war is a major sham to just eliminate Saddam and take over Iraq for the oil and other such reserves. He exposes this in the end to the media.

                                                                 
Hits

• Matt Damon is the single biggest force in the movie and he carries this action movie on his shoulders with his charisma and intensity
• The depiction of firing and other such standard army procedures is quite authentic. 
• The screenplay is action packed all through. Not much space for long dialogues et al. 

VERDICT

Though the movie is cinematic in that, a single soldier exposes a major military scam, it is still a worthy movie from the 'Bourne' director-actor combo of Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon. Yet another US-Iraq war movie.  

Twelve Monkeys (1995)

The plot

The world has been devastated by a deadly virus that has killed about 5 billion people, starting from the US passing to many other countries, in 1996. James Cole is sent on time travel to the past, first 1990 and then 1996. The purpose of this time travel is to find the source of the virus in its purest form so that scientists in the present can find a cure for this virus and help humans regain control over the planet. Animals have taken over the planet in the present day world.

In 1990, he is sent to a mental hospital where he meets Jeffrey Goines a lunatic whose father is a famous virologist. He also meets a psychiatrist Kathryn Railly who is intrigued by his prepositions that the world has already seen the loss of 5 billion people. She doesn’t believe what he says at first but later accepts as events unfold according to what he says because he has already seen everything happen before.

In 1996, he meets the psychiatrist again and they both are on a mad race to find the source of this man made virus and the mystery surrounding the army of the twelve monkeys

An intriguing sci-fi movie which is complex at the same time highly understandable thanks to a brilliant screenplay.  

                                                                           

Hits

• Brad Pitt as the lunatic Jeffrey Goines brings out the most flamboyant crazy act seen in movies. The accent, the gestures, the crazy smiles and the hyperactive expressions are all worth watching again and again.
• Bruce Willis is overshadowed by Pitt when they are in the same frame. But, his performance is also very good as the disturbed James Cole, who is confused whether he is really lunatic or whether what he visualizes and believes are true.
• Madeleine Stowe as the psychiatrist Railly looks so cute and adorable. One of the prettiest women around for sure and a highly competent performance as the frustrated and desperate Kathryn Railly.  
• Brilliant concept aided by a very fast screenplay. Never a dull moment. Seat edge moments galore. 

Misses

• Some confusing moments. I assume that the most competent among the dead 5 billion, are in the time machine and volunteers are sent on a time travel to gather information on the virus. 

VERDICT

The brilliant concept, Brad Pitt's natural talent showcase, Madeleine Stowe's super pretty face and a typically brooding Bruce Willis make this movie a must watch. 

Classic: Donnie Darko (2001)

The Plot

Donnie Darko is a school kid and he has some sleep walking problems and he takes medication also for the same. He has 2 sisters and lives with his parents. The story happens in October 1988

Suddenly he starts getting visions of a big bunny rabbit that gives him instructions to do certain destructive things in and around his place. It also tells him that the world is about to end at the end of the month. Donny treats this imaginary character as a friend called Frank. Donny also meets a doctor Lillian Thurman for counseling. He gets a new girlfriend at school and is not in the good books of his gym instructor because his thoughts are too radical. 

He then starts reading a book about time travel written by a mysterious 101 yr old day in his area called Roberta Sparrow who was a former science teacher at his school. He finds coincidences to what he reads in the book and what happens to him in real life. As he reaches the end of the book, we are startled as a big shocking twist is thrown at us. The movie turns out to be a big mind bender and dreams & visualizations are a major part of the movie. 

                                                                          

Hits

• Jake Gyllenhaal with his wry smile and light eyes is perfect for the part of the mentally affected Donny.
• Other than him, the other characters are just minor additions like the English teacher played by Drew Barrymore, Donny’s parents, his girlfriend, his sisters, his gym instructor, Jake Cunningham, the old lady, Frank, the 2 school bullies, the Chinese class mate etc. etc. 

VERDICT

This is totally the director Richard Kelly’s movie for the stunning screenplay and shocking climax. MUST 

WATCH. Needs repeated viewing of the key portions at-least for total understanding. 

Deiva Thirumagal (2011)

The Plot
A remake of the Sean Penn starrer "I am Sam". Vikram and baby Sarah reprise the 2 memorable lead roles of the mentally retarded man with the mental faculties of a 5 yr old and his 5 yr old cute daughter. If in the original, it is the Govt. that is against the father staying with his daughter, here it is the father-in-law's family that is against the father staying with his daughter.

Here also, a lawyer Anuradha takes up the case of the father Krishna, as he aims to reunite with his daughter Nila. Nila's mother dies during her birth and her sister Shweta comes to know about Nila and doesn't want to give her up. A senior lawyer Bashyam is on Shweta's side and is against Krishna's bid to get his daughter.

Krishna has his set of childish friends and he is a very good man at heart. He works at a chocolate factory and there are some comedy portions here, involving Krishna and 2 other workers. Anuradha also has her 2 sidekicks who provide some funny moments as they try to get a case desperately.

In the end, what happens to the father and his daughter and whether they reunite or not is the question.

                                                                     
Hits

• Dr.Vikram scales peaks yet again. As the naive, pure and childish Krishna he is A rate. But, heavily inspired by Sean Penn's act
• Baby Sarah is angelic and godly. Lovely emoting too. The father daughter bonding is the biggest highlight of the movie. Their pranks with their hands, their attempts at story telling etc. etc. are so touching and innocent
• G.V. Prakash is the biggest highlight of the first half as his mesmerizing BGM and songs take up the entire first half. This is his best work till date, by a mile. Maestro like. 
• Anushka looks elegant and acts well too. Amala Paul looks fresh but, a very minuscule part. 
• Santhanam looks very smart and provides some funny moments as he attempts to win the case for Krishna by manipulating the witnesses
• The childish friends of Krishna are also a take-off from "I am Sam". Good genuine fun nevertheless. 
• Other characters like Ragi and the factory owner also make a mark with their pure intentions. 
• Director Vijay's cute touches at showing Krishna's law abiding and helpful nature

Misses

• Some comedy scenes in the first half are irritating
• Vizhigalil Oru Vanavil song looks great and smashing on screen thanks to Nirav Shah, the editing and the visual effects. But, very poor placement.
• In the end, Anushka's efforts and character lose their weight. 
• Nasser appears brooding in the entire film. Quite an irritating and lengthy character portrayal. 

VERDICT

In-spite of the misses and the obvious inspiration, the movie makes a mark for its feel good nature 

The Big Lebowski (1998)

The Plot
Jeffrey Lebowski loves to call himself 'The Dude'. He doesn't have a job and his only work is to go bowling and have a good time with his 2 buddies Walter and Donny. Walter is a Nam war veteran and Donny has this knack of being rebuked for each question he asks.

Due to a confusion arising out of the same name, The Dude is mistaken to be a big shot of the same name and 2 people come to his home, rough him up and pee on his rug. The big Lebowski has a young wife Bunny who is into pornography and she takes money from many parties without bothering to return the money. There are people who are after her for the money.

The Dude gets mixed up with the Big Lebowski after Bunny goes missing suddenly. The Dude is asked to be the courier to deliver the money to the supposed kidnappers. He is offered some money for this job too. The Dude is now caught between the parties who are after the money from Bunny, the supposed kidnappers and also with the big Lebowski and his manager. The big Lebowski's daughter also uses the Dude like a sperm donor for her child

In the end, The Dude realizes that everything is just a sham and that the big Lebowski wants Bunny dead and Bunny has not been kidnapped at all. But unfortunately, in the ensuing fight in the climax, he loses his friend Donny to the bullet. Finally, The Dude gets back to his laid back life on the bowling alley along with his aggressive friend Walter.

                                                                   

Hits

• Jeff Bridges looks the part as The Dude. Always clad in casuals and with his coolers and long locks in place, he is a true rock star. And his voice covers all the emotions easily.
• John Goodman as the aggressive Walter is another guy with dude looks. The huge frame and the light coolers go so well with him. He impresses in the scenes when he spews aggression worked up in him from his Nam days. 
• Steve Buscemi plays the unfortunate Donny. A nice touching cameo from him. We feel bad for his death. 
• The ladies in the film are all ever willing to expose. A good time for the lads.
• Philip Seymour Hoffman as manager Brandt is another charismatic character and he has a way with his words

Misses

• Some confusion due to too many characters in the movie

VERDICT

Another complex and enjoyable entertainer from the Coen brothers. It's sort of a buddy movie in the end.