ankishraj's Reviews

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

10/10

Sincere, grave, funny, effective, fantastical, brilliant and above all, magical.

22 February 2015

Birdman is undoubtedly the best film of 2014. And Keaton certainly deserves the Oscar for his numb-rendering performance. The screenplay weaves together everything beautiful. The surprise black comedy works very well. Innaritu's direction gets better with every frame. The last one minute of the film locks your attention in a sleeper hold. The climax packs a powerful, unexpected, somewhat ambiguous yet spectacular punch, allowing you to let your imagination fly. The camera works are excellent, making the film appear more cohesive. The background score melts with the mood of the film. The sound mixing is delicious. The editing is taut and not one frame meanders. What takes Birdman a notch higher is the impeccable cast. Keaton is at the zenith, delivering his career's finest performance, breaking into the character of Riggan and not leaving a single stone unturned. He by far excels Eddie Redmayne, yet may succumb in the race for the Oscar. Edward Norton nails it the moment he appears on the screen. Right from Fight Club, that man has been outdoing himself at every opportunity. In any other year, the Oscar would have been his but not this year. Courtesy: JK Simmons. Emma Stone as Riggan's disturbed druggist daughter imbues a certain discreet charm into her role. Zach Galifianakis specializes in comedy and that is what he delivers, that too in top form. Naomi Watts does well with whatever little her role offers.

Verdict: Birdman captures ego, frustration and breaking free of a washed-out Broadway actor in a unique and captivating piece of cinema that is a masterpiece in every sense, the best of last year. Innaritu most certainly deserves a bow for it.

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Kali-Katha (2014)

10/10

The Perfect Prologue

26 January 2015

Well for those of you who don't know this is the prologue to Anurag Kashyap's Ugly. It is a sort-of introduction to it. Ugly is a film about a girl named Kali who gets kidnapped. I actually watched it after the film and believe me, it all makes so much sense now! It is a simple introduction to what you can anticipate from the film. And it has been excellently shot. It's barely 5 minutes long but the impact it creates is phenomenal. You can find it on YouTube. Quintessential Anurag Kashyap! Highly recommended for those who have watched or plan to watch Ugly. This prologue and the film as well are proof of why Anurag Kashyap is Bollywood's finest director.

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Ugly (2013)

10/10

One dialogue that makes all the difference!

26 January 2015

Ugly is much more than a drama-thriller with true-to-life characters. It is also a satire, rather a non-satirical satire. All the while it was a whodunit where every character was trying to make money out of the kidnapping and the audience is trying to guess who the culprit is. But it was only one dialogue, the last dialogue of the film, that made all the difference and it is the reason this film shall remain unforgettable. I haven't seen a Bollywood film with such an exceptionally written screenplay. The setting, the dialogue, the characters are all perfect. There is a stroke of genius in Anurag Kashyap's direction. He pays attention to the very small, intricate details which sets him apart.There is a scene in the second half which has no dialogues at all, just the intimidating background score and a man dancing like a lunatic with money stuck up in his underwear. There is something so extraordinary about this scene that cannot be expressed in words. No dialogue, minimum action and yet it is my favourite scene in the film. The background score throughout is great, probably one of the best sound editing done for a Bollywood film. As of the cast, its a total hammer that completely nails it. Each and every actor gives a stand-out performance, especially Rahul Bhat and Tejasvini Kolhapure. Revealing the last dialogue would make this review a spoiler but watch the film, listen to the last dialogue very carefully and hopefully you'll get it. If you don't, just remember that we often set about in pursuit of the useless things rather than things we really should have pursued. Dark, vicious, brutal, shocking and soul-numbing-- Ugly is undoubtedly Anurag Kashyap's and 2014's finest-- a masterpiece in true sense.

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Fight Club (1999)

10/10

My favourite Hollywood flick..!!

17 December 2014

Fight Club is a class apart psychotic thriller. It might be too hot to handle if you don't prefer films that require 100% attention and understanding! The sudden, exceptional twist hits you so hard that your mouth drops open, literally. I actually felt a bit scared when the the suspense was revealed and the climax unfolded. Fincher is one hell of a director. He has created Fight Club and made you live it. The nitty-gritty details are handled and manipulated exceptionally well by him. The performances are top-notch. Brad Pitt as the cheesy soap-dealer is both charming and menacing. Hellena Bonham Carter fits to the T in her unorthodox role. But it is Edward Norton who steals the show with his tremendous true-to-life enactment of The Narrator who represents all those men who are sick of their job and lead a life of submission and slavery. Fight Club is the first and only of its kind blow-my-brain-out thriller.

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Bang Bang (I) (2014)

5/10

All swagger, no substance..!!

6 October 2014

Bang Bang will explode your brain. It is a frame by frame reproduction of Knight and Day, but a shallower and more senseless version. Right from the clichéd patriotism to the Physics-defying action by The Amazing Spiderman's stunt-director, everything you had expected sinks to the floor and everything you now predict becomes true. Hrithik looks great and I don't really think I need to say more..!! Katrina to does well. Good to see her act and not only dance. She makes her presence felt. All in all, Bang Bang is a lame, overblown potboiler that suffers from the plot-holes of the original. And if you've watched Knight And Day, watch Bang Bang if you have loads of cash and 3 hours of absolutely spare time. Or if you want to watch it for Hrithik and/or Katrina of course.

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Haider (2014)

10/10

Haider is Vishal Bhardwaj and Shahid Kapoor's best..!!

6 October 2014

Haider- a dark, deep, disturbing and soul-stirring drama. The characters are all freshly-written and the film nestles perfectly in the Kashmir conflict while retaining the essence of Shakespreare's best play- Hamlet. Vishal Bhardwaj sticks to the dark theme and executes his screenplay perfectly, not making it one bit boring. His dialogues and poetry are beautiful. The music is different in flavour, Aao Na being the best. Pankaj Kumar's exquisite cinematography captures the stunning Kashmir landscape and the intimidating background score compliments the chronology. Shahid Kapoor easily delivers his best performance. Kay Kay Menon was outstanding and deserves a Filmfare for this. Tabu too does wonderful. Shradha Kapoor was just adequate. Haider is a soul-stirring, thought-provoking, emotional tale sometimes even funny. Like Haider, you too will find yourself in an internal conflict, if not throughout the film, then in the climax at least. Haider is not to be missed.

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Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

10/10

A classic that hasn't lost it's flavour even after almost 2 decades..!!

27 September 2014

The youth of the 21st century find DDLJ boring, hackneyed and too melodramatic. And you can't blame them. The reason for this is simple- they have seen bits and fragments of DDLJ in countless other films that borrow from it so when they see the original, they find that it is the same old recipe. But no matter how many films borrow from DDLJ, they will always lack in the class and feel of this classic. DDLJ is an epitome of an ideal love story, simple yet effective. This is the most appealing part, simplicity. The characters of Raj and Simran are true to life, light years away from larger-than-life. You may call some parts over-dramatized but honestly, this film is 19 years old and considering that, Aditya Chopra's direction is perfect to the flaw. Ditto for the actors. Shahrukh Khan and Kajol are outstanding. Besides it also touches some relevant issues of Indian society. Gender inequality and marrying off the girl to the boy the parents like, without even asking for her opinion, are all dealt with and exposed without getting preachy. Another important aspect is the music. The soulful music adds a spark to the progress of the beautiful story. And the breathtaking climax- multiplies the impact of the film manifold Watch DDLJ like a classic 1995 film and you'll see it's true beauty. Watch it like you've watched everything and you ruin its essence. It can easily be called Bollywood's evergreen love story and it strikes the right chords.

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Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

9/10

Memorably excellent..!!

22 April 2014

There's a certain unusual charm about Dallas Buyers Club. The transformation of Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey is not the only thing to appreciate here. The absolutely beautiful way of handling the issue too is appreciable. The screenplay is interesting and the twists and turns come in perfectly. The make-up and styling too is clearly brilliant. Jean- Marc Vallée does complete justice to Woodroof's story. The acting department too is outstanding. Jared Leto is too good as Rayon. And McConaughey leaves us speechless. He laughs, cries and exhibits each and every emotion marvelously. The acting, direction, make- up and this final product is an absolute beauty. This film is a must watch.

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Queen (2013)

10/10

Queen conquers the heart..!!

8 April 2014

Well, honestly I saw the promos and knew it was going to be good. Good? For Heaven's sake, don't insult it. It was outstanding. And I never thought it was going to work on the Box Office because the masses love action-masala film. But I was proved wrong and I am happy for that.

Queen was marketed as a comic entertainer about a stupid virgin. But it was much more. Queen was a class apart. It touches such relevant issues in a completely refreshing manner. There is humor throughout. And that unconventional ending, wow! The music by Amit Trivedi, too, is brilliant.

Queen belongs, invariably, to it's director Vikas Bahl. He has an amazing story(with an ordinary screenplay, though, but it doesn't matter) to which he does complete justice. The entire country should salute this man for coming out and making such a bold and meaningful film that every Indian, and I mean the males as well, must watch.

Kangana Ranaut has proved herself. She is simply flawless. Her dialogue delivery and perfect comic timing add to her beauty. Her career's best performance, and it will be no big deal is she wins the Filmfare Best Actress (Both Critic's Choice and Popular) awards.

All in all, if you're a strictly masala lover, then ignore it. But if you want to watch some unconventional cinema which stands for one or more causes, this one is memorably excellent.

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Gunday (2014)

9/10

The film is powerful and entertaining...ignore that factual error guys and just enjoy it..

4 March 2014

Guys, just chill out. I know that the manipulation of Bangladesh's history really hurt you guys but please don't rate this film 1/10. This film is a great entertainer and you know that. Bollywood is one place where you should put in no brains because that is only going to bring headache to you and will make no difference to the film-makers. The film has already been declared a "hit" and the producer and director and actors are happy with it. Please don't make it #1 in the "Bottom 100" category. It does not deserve that. As far as the script is concerned, the film does have flaws and is almost predictable but the attitude and the energy the leading duo brings is mind-blowing. And the climax has such an amazing twist and unpredictability too. That's what makes it worth it. The first half of the film has some really good comic moments. You know it, the film is technically very sound. there are some really powerful moments that get your heart pumping. But there also are a few clichés like the costumes of PRIYANKA CHOPRA and a few locations that don't look like 70's or 80's. As far as the performances are concerned, they are top-notch. RANVEER brings his usual "mardaangi" with himself and delivers his career's second best performance. His screen presence and charm is thoroughly felt. ARJUN gives us his best performance after a little dip in AURANGZEB. The two also have good comic timing. PRIYANKA is back with an eye catching sparkle after a few disastrous outings like ZANJEER. IRRFAN needs no words. He is simply magnetic. All in all, ignore that manipulation of history and what you get is entertainment, entertainment, entertainment, all thanks to the attitude, attitude and attitude of the leading men. It's an 8 for the film, 1 for the leading duo and 1 for the technical brilliance and climax. That makes it 10. But being fare, I'd like to deduct a star for that tweaking of the 1971 war. So that makes it a 9 on 10. No offence intended to anyone. It's simply my opinion.

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Fast & Furious (2009)

9/10

The best in the series yet..!!

16 February 2014

Fast and furious has a good story. There are also great twists and a superb suspense. There is no dearth of adrenaline pumping and heart-stopping scenes. The film begins at such a high octane level that it gets you hooked on almost instantly. The director of the film and director of action do a stunning job of co-ordinating the action sequences brilliantly. The stunning cinematography also adds to the effect. Vin Diesel is the man that makes this series what it is. He is absolutely outstanding. His perfect partner in crime, Paul Walker, is no less. He is cool and effortless.The rest of the cast does good as well. All in all, a must watch.

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Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)

6/10

A dedicated biopic which often meanders and gets boring....needs some serious editing..!!

13 January 2014

BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG is riveting to the core and inspiring. No doubts about that. But the disappointment comes to spoil the thrill.

BMB has a runtime of almost 3 hours 15 minutes that is too much. The film's biggest flaw is the editing. The film needs dome serious editing not because its 3 hours but because it gets boring at many places. The training sequence mainly needs trimming. The film is otherwise a good watch because it's brimming with inspiration that young India needs.

The direction is good and RAKYESH creates the retro look well. The music by SHANKAR-EHSAAN-LOY is amazing, especially ZINDA and MERA YAAR.

FARHAN AKHTAR is the soul of the film. He's not actually acting- he's being Milkha, he's living Milkha. SONAM KAPOOR was paid 11 rupees for this film. I say she's over-paid. She is a joke amidst all the stunning performers. The rest of the cast does really well.

Altogether, watch BMB if slow-paced biopics and inspirational pieces suit your taste. I'll go for a 5 for the film and an extra star for Farhan. So 6/10 for this flick that is dedicated but often falls short and bores you.

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Dedh Ishqiya (2014)

8/10

Interesting and humorous..a must watch...!!

12 January 2014

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Dedh Ishqiya is a surprise package that indeed has a lot to offer. In fact, it's Madhuri's dream comeback. The film owes much to the dialogues by Vishal Bhardwaj. The frequent use of beep-worthy words (which have not been beeped..!!) is really "the" thing that adds to the comedy.

The story is interesting and the screenplay is appreciably written. The special applause goes to the director, Abhishek Chaubey. He seems to have mastered the art of creating black comedies. Another thing that appeals is Vishal Bhardwaj's music which is soulful and pleasing.

Naseerudin Shah is back in fine form after straying away on failures like "JACKPOT". The same goes for Arshad Warsi who has just overcome the flopping of "JOE B. CARVALHO". He has a great comic timing. Huma Qureshi is both cute and naughty. But the disappointment here is the comeback lady. Madhuri lacks the charm that worked back in the '90s. And her replacing Vidya Balan does not get along well due to the lack of sex appeal which the latter has. Even her lisp and "adayein" seem unnatural.

Altogether, Dedh Ishqiya is a must watch owing to the funny one-liners, interesting plot and unanticipated twists and turns.

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Chennai Express (2013)

10/10

Rohit Shetty's best..!! A neat 'n' clean family entertainer..!!

12 January 2014

Warning: Spoilers

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The promos had already created a lot of buzz and excitement which was very evident by the way it kept on breaking box office records one after the other.Rohit Shetty has done a good job.The movie has a classic plot which does have innovation but the climax may not suit everyone's taste.Honestly,Rohit Shetty is the only director who can recreate the classy DDLJ's train scene.He has shown true brilliance by keeping a predictable plot interesting.The first half is a perfect roller-coaster comedy.The second has some decent comedy but is more in on romance while the climax is action-packed.And there is a slightly surprising moment just after the son "Tera rasta".

But the best thing here is that unlike Rohit Shetty's earlier movies or the other Bollywood action-comedy flicks,the action here is not at all over-the-top. In fact, it's greatly convincing.

Shahrukh Khan is the true energiser bunny.He has put in an energetic performance which is fun to watch.The best of his performance was when after the chase the orange car breaks down and Menamma asks-"What happened? Is there some problem with the car?"(in Hindi-of course!). The way he replies to it,one cannot help but laugh.

Deepika,on the other hand,is the true delight of the movie.She has spoken in the Tamil accent with such ease that you don't even feel that she is acting.Her lucid expressions do the remaining work.

All in all,Chennai Express is a joy ride full of amazing twists and comic moments.The background music blends perfectly in the scenes.The songs are catchy and pleasing. Besides,Chennai Express is a salute to female emotions and an appreciation of women.Be it the casting (where Deepika's name is before SRK's) or the small messages in between the movie (eg:Really, none can understand a woman!) or even the speech just before the action-paced climax- SRK is all in to promote women freedom in face of recent rape cases.

Tip-off: The best thing about CE is that you can watch it with your family without having to look away from the screen even for a moment. But you may not like it if typical zany Bollywood masala movies or SRK is not your appetite.

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Dhoom 3 (2013)

5/10

Illogical Dhoom:3 disappoints...drops the bar of the Dhoom series...!!

8 January 2014

D:3 is a disappointing thriller in which there is a sore lack of action. It gets too emotional for a suspense thriller. The film borrows heavily from "The Dark Knight" and "The Prestige" and that's not it, the non-sense continues. The story has a number of loopholes and flaws. How is the suicide of Aamir's father the bank's mistake? Why does Chicago police go for Mumbai Crime Branch officers rather than the Interpol. Moreover, none of the thievery has been shown. Aamir appears out of the blue, jumps off the roof or runs on the wall, jumps on his bike, and whoosh!! He goes into one place and comes out from another. The performances are top-notch. Aamir does perfectly what he has to. Katrina has an amazing screen presence but sadly appears for barely 15-20 minutes including songs. Abhishek is good and Uday is the relief-provider here. Altogether, D:3 is the worst in the series and is a sheer waste of time. Watch it on CD or download it but don't waste your money on it in a cinema hall. It's bullshit and you'll feel robbed of your money..!!

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