Oscar Special: Hugo (2011)

Hugo Cabret is a young boy who lives at the train station in Paris. He knows to fix things thanks to his late father, who was a clock maker. Following his death, Hugo moves in with his uncle and the clock at the station is his abode. One automaton that can write, is his favorite possession and it is not in perfect working condition now.

He steals things and eatables at the station and a toy shop owner Georges is particularly incensed by young Hugo. Georges takes away the book that Hugo so dearly treasures, one that his father gave him. Isabelle is Georges' god daughter and she befriends Hugo. Isabelle loves adventures and she is always behind Hugo in his endeavors.

There is a big suspense behind the identity of Georges and Hugo figures this out through the automaton. This suspense is truly special and is of epic proportions. Georges rediscovers his purpose and he credits young Hugo for this.

Review

• The initial scenes and the characters at the station have been beautifully portrayed
• The art work, the cinematography are surreal and magical. Paris, seen through the clock is exceptional.  
• Asa Butterfield as Hugo is the new boy wonder. He is so realistic and endearing. Chloe Grace Moretz as Isabelle acts too cutesy. She is pleasing, though. Ben Kingsley has the best role in the movie. His ease at histrionics during his flashback, is surprising given his age. Helen McCrory is beautiful and graceful as Mama Jeanne, Georges' wife. Jude Law has a small, impressive cameo. Sacha Baron Cohen as the inspector who is constantly looking out to nab the young thieves at the station provides some funny moments. His romance with a flower seller at the station is a welcome distraction.
• The music by Howard Shore is dreamy and takes us to 'wonder' land. If not for 'The Artist', this was Oscar worthy music for sure.  
• That particular scene between the kids facing the Eiffel Tower, where Hugo compares the world to a big machine with each person having some reason in it, is dreamy.
• The significance given to film history in this movie closely on the heels of 'The Artist' is a nice coincidence. These scenes are nostalgic. 
• Finally, the automaton is the biggest draw in the movie. So serene and haunting. 

VERDICT

A fantastic genre bender by Martin Scorsese. An adventure movie but, not only for the kids. MUST WATCH 

Billa 2 new look

Thala's much awaited Billa 2 is getting ready for release for his birthday on May 1. His legions of fans are super excited as always while the general audience also wants more of Thala after the blockbuster success of Mankatha, his 50th film.

The earlier released stills carried the same look and feel of Billa 2007. Ajith looked his suave best in his designer suits and coolers. One still showed a rugged Ajith with a gun and standing along the coastline. Some other stills showing Ajith visiting a brothel were released some days back. In a clean shaven avatar, Thala was plump and a bit jaded.

The latest still shows a rugged Ajith, again with a gun in hand and walking with a helicopter in the backdrop. Looks sexy and classy for sure. But, very predictable.

Whenever an Ajith film is getting released, certain elements are becoming very much constant  - a gun, coat / suit, helicopter, coolers etc etc. Ajith needs to rediscover his cheerful ways. Why so grim, Thala?

Nevertheless, Billa 2 is a sureshot. Can bet the last penny on this movie. Thala's 51st offering. It is a prequel to Billa 2007 and the music by U1, official trailer will be out in the coming days. The expectations will reach feverish pitch, guaranteed.

Audio Launch: March 2nd week

Kamal Haasan in Endhiran

Kamal Haasan and Preity Zinta were supposed to do Robot for Shankar, a decade or so back ... Some fascinating photoshoot stills ... 

Now that Endhiran has been made and created all the right noises both on the critical and commercial front, it is hard to debate whether Kamal would have been a better choice for the movie. 

Rajini did it in his own style and bowled over the entire globe particularly as Chitti 2. Whether this Kamal movie would have had the same story as Endhiran is hard to say. Anyway, the stills are awesome. 

A young Kamal and an even younger Preity Zinta. Photoshoots were rare in those times. Shankar and Kamal had the foresight to do one. Sadly, the movie didn't happen. It missed many heroes' hands and finally landed in THE Superstar's laps and he created boxoffice history like only he can ... 

Oscar Special: The Artist (2011)

A beautiful silent film that has many layers, like the transition of films from the silent era to the talkie era, the bonding between a dog and his master and the love (bordering on devotion) that exists between a woman and the man she idolizes.

George Valentin is a big star in the silent era but, is very skeptical about welcoming sound into films. As a result he is phased out and he suffers major losses in the silent movie that he directs and produces.

Peppy Miller, an admirer, grows in his shadows as a major star in the talkie era. Her films rake in the moolah as George himself suffers. George's wife ditches him and he actually escapes death at an instance due to his loyal dog. Peppy gives him the necessary care.

In the end, George realizes certain obvious follies and decides to reciprocate Peppy and also takes up the offer to star alongside her in her new talkie movie.

Review

• The music is lilting, mesmerizing and fills the void left by the absence of dialogs. The periodic display of title cards is humorous and also revealing. Ludovic Bource takes the cake as well as the Oscar for his score. 
• The performances by the lead are superior. Jean Dujardin is Oscar worthy for sure. Berenice Bejo is ravishing with her charm. Their expressions and ease at dancing are a real treat to watch. The climax tango dance is a refreshing experience. 
• The loyalty shown by the dog and the driver is another touching subtext. 
• Film students will feel nostalgic about the silent films with a live orchestra playing in the theater, when the silent film is being screened
• The climax when people actually mouth some words gives a nice feel good effect. 
• The black/white & silent treatment of the film goes with the era that is being depicted

VERDICT

An experience not to be missed. WOW moments galore. The music, the performances and the basic presentation of the movie make the 5 Oscars totally worth it. 

J. Edgar (2011)

The film is a biographical account of FBI director J. Edgar, during his career that spanned 48 yrs. Edgar was a man who wanted to get rid of American society's evils like communism and later the menace of gangsters. He lived with his ageing mother and didn't have a social life.

He liked to take the credit and always loved to be in the spotlight. He is assisted by his secretary Helen Gamby and his "man Friday" Clyde Tolson with whom he has a homosexual relationship.

Edgar narrates his experiences to a writer so that they know his story and the story of the FBI. He doesn't always reveal the truth which only Helen and Clyde know. A controversial career on the whole which had a lot of secrecy.

Helen hides all the secret surveillance files that Edgar maintained, about high profile people in the society. In the end, he dies a natural death as his partner Clyde mourns. The president is on the look out to destroy all the secret files but Helen keeps them safe.

Review

• Intense performance by Leonardo as the controversial J. Edgar whose life is anything but normal. Solid support roles for Naomi Watts and Armie Hammer. Armie takes the cake in the climax and towards the end when he is attacked by a bout of fits. The dialogue diction of both LDC and Armie is excellent. 
• The makeup for the ageing 3 main characters is authentic. 
• There are frequent time shifts in the narrative
• Edgar's tackling of the communism menace and the Lindbergh kidnapping is intelligent to say the least. The fingerprint collection, the handwriting analysis, the wood analysis, monitoring of registration numbers on the ransom notes etc etc. Truly indigenous. 

VERDICT

Clint Eastwood and Leonardo - the best possible combo. Their film is gripping with great performances by the lead trio. 

Citizen Kane (1941)

Charles Foster Kane is a very maverick, eccentric and narcissistic person who runs a newspaper called the New York Inquirer. He meets with a lot of success and is even in line to be the next US President after getting married to a President's niece. But, his arrogant ways and affair with a singer called Susan bring him down and his political hopes are thrashed. He later marries Susan

He doesn't respect his friends and colleagues and slowly starts living a life of solitude as it gets miserable for him. He forces Susan to become an opera singer when she doesn't have the talent to be one.

His later years are spent in solitude after even Susan ditches him. He dies uttering the words "Rosebud". Kane's childhood and his life are depicted in flashback mode as a journalist attempts to find the significance of Kane's last utterance through some memoirs and a series of interviews with Kane's associates and Susan.

In the end, as his belongings, statues and various other items are burned in his self-built palace "Xanadu", Rosebud continues to remain the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle for the journalist. We get to know what Rosebud is, in the end. It isn't much of a shock, though.

Review

• The rise and fall of Kane has been depicted in a very engaging manner. Never a dull moment. A truly unique man, Kane is 
• The English diction in the movie is so correct and a delight to listen to, though a bit dramatic and old fashioned, obviously. 
• The makeup for Kane as he ages, is quite artificial. Being 1941,one can't expect much. 

Ekk Deewana Tha movie review

Gautham Vasudev Menon brings his much acclaimed 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya (VTV)' to Hindi with two fresh actors - Prateik and Amy Jackson. The support actors have also matched well with the original cast. The setting of the movie has been changed for nativity sake, obviously.

The girl Jessie is a 23 yrs old Malayalee Christian while the guy Sachin is a 22 yrs old unemployed Mumbaikar. He wants to become a film maker and he falls in love at first sight with the alluring and uber sexy Jessie. Sachin befriends Anay, a cameraman and he is his mentor both in the film world and also his buddy in love matters.

Jessie is a very confused girl who isn't decisive about falling in love due to fear of troubles and parental opposition. There is indeed a lot of opposition from her parents, her brother and her own fickle nature.

In the end, Sachin makes his dreams come true by making his debut film about his own life and also accidentally manages to meet Jessie and nails his love affair for good. The magical pair unites in the end much to the delight of the viewer.

Review

• The dialogs are really on the mark and send the meager crowd into raptures on many an occasion. 
• The feeling and emotions in the original version are almost there in this version too. A job well done. 
• The way The Taj has been used in the place of the US (in VTV) is magical and adds to the involvement quotient of the climax.
• Amy Jackson is alluring. Kudos to the Brit for shining in her Hindi debut, the same way as she did in her Tamil debut. Her lip sync is admirable. Prateik is youthful, earnest and fits the role to the T. Good casting. Manu Rishi plays the cameraman to perfection. He is a competent replacement for VTV Ganesh. He is THE entertainer of the movie, by a mile. The bald Kerala uncle is a laugh riot too, with his broken Hindi. 
• The technical finesse of VTV is there in Ekk Deewana Tha too. Gautham doesn't compromise on this, one bit. 
• The climax is different from the Tamil version and is a happy ending. A feel good one, that is quite apt for the hero's efforts and heartbreak. 
• Some intense portions that were there in the Tamil version like the chat between the lovers in the backwaters of Kerala, the extended coffee shop argument etc etc. aren't there here.

VERDICT

A worthy remake that sadly hasn't struck the right chord. Do catch it before it's out of the theaters ...