Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns

Presenting a sequel inevitably lends itself to comparisons with the previous product, especially when you know that the ‘sequel’ was created only after the first instalment garnered massive accolades all over. It’s not as if the creator (director Tigmanshu Dhulia) had an idea he would like to pan out over multiple outings (ala Nolan and the Batman movies). Yes, one must always view an entity independently…blah blah… and it would be quite unfair to compare Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns (SBAGR) with the preceding Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster (SBAG). Watching SBAGR made me realise how much I loved SBAG! Forgive me for hopping back and forth between these films in this post, as I never really got down to writing one exclusively on SBAG and will use this opportunity to do that.

I have only vaguely read about but not yet seen Guru Dutt’s classic Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam, the original which Dhulia adapted for Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster. Hence SBAG for me was a fresh film not carrying any baggage from its inspiration. It was deliciously wicked, kept the audience engaged and on the edge of their seats! SBAGR, sadly, is too long, un-saucy and does not pack enough punch. The decay of the erstwhile rulers is portrayed quite well but it is stretched only to indulge the director’s sensibilities.

The writers of SBAGR must be commended for some crackling dialogues and for seamlessly weaving in references to real-life incidences (*spoiler alert!* porn-watching neta, MLAs being whisked to seclusion just like how it is done after elections to prevent horsetrading, lifestyle magazines featuring spreads on crumbling palaces and interviews that evoke the erstwhile glamour and nostalgia of the ‘royal’ way of life).

The songs of SBAGR are insipid and barely do anything to forward the narrative OR entertain the viewers. An attempt to spice up the proceedings via the customary ‘item song’ fails miserably as Mugdha Godse is a totally wrong choice for it! Not only is she a hopeless dancer but also, obviously, her cleavage does not make up for lack of expressions! What could have been a fabulous satirical number given the settings (think ‘Ranaji’ from Gulaal) ends up being a forgettable comment on our media-crazy times. On the aside, apparently the music of Dhulia’s films never really leave an imprint on us, unlike Anurag Kashyap’s! Anyone remembers any songs from Haasil? Charas? SBAG and SBAGR join the same league. That’s one thing consistent in Dhulia’s works!

SBAGR wraps up with a scope/ hint for the third installation to be attempted in future. Best wishes to Dhulia and team for hopefully making a film that will redeem this second movie. SBAG had everyone involved bringing something interesting to the board which is kind of missing from SBAGR. The former had menace that truly entertained but the latter fails to make an impact of any kind. I’m craving to watch SBAG now!

SBAGR is not a bad film, it’s just not good enough!

Images courtesy: http://avsongs.com/component/content/frontpage.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saheb,_Biwi_Aur_Gangster

Reversal of the Real

Dreams have always been a fascinating area of concern. From Freud to Nolan, people can just never get enough of fiddling with dreams! This movie has generated many kinds of noises around it. The blogger will keep this feedback short and crisp.

It’s a well-conceived movie woven around the concepts of ‘shared dreaming’ and ‘dream extractors’. We don’t know how much of it is true, but everyone will have their concerns! It’s a leap of faith to share your dreams. And dreams have the ability to become your personality, to define you. The power of the sub-conscious mind is a risky terrain, not to be treaded by the faint-hearted!

This film deserves a watch, not just for the stirring concept, but the ability of the director to keep you engrossed with the characters [all convincingly acted] and their mind games, across various levels of DREAMs!!!

Sweet dreams, anyone?!:P!

  http://www.cinematical.com/2010/07/19/dissecting-inception-six-interpretations-and-five-plot-holes

High UP!!!

Disney has an undeniably veritable history of producing endearing children’s entertainers. Over the past few years, their collaboration with Pixar has resulted in a distinctive style of story-telling with unassuming yet obvious portrayal of the fundamental human emotions. Their characters are well-etched, cutely animated and never fail to tug at the viewer’s heart. Case in point- Finding Nemo, Wall.E and now UP!!!

This movie epitomises the spirit of endurance in an adorable way! There really is a lot of power in persistence. Ultimately, you DO get what you want. And malicious intentions also reach their appropriate end. It’s all about believing in what you want and then pursuing it with diligence and a dash of tenacity!

The blogger will refrain from saying anything even remotely negative about UP...’coz there is NOTHING under that blanket! It is an upbeat film, taut and well made providing moments of thrill, drama, ingenuity, affection, et al packed in 1.5 hours! The old adage- “A PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS” has been brilliantly used to convey a lot without unnecessary dialogues. The flick manages to keep the viewer’s attention intact without letting it flounder.

The ‘little one’ of this film represents the average American child – not in great physical shape and incomplete parentage, but the universal ‘child’ at heart enjoying ‘boring’ things! [Well, who doesn’t?!] He has his own ideas about the world ‘out there, quite a few of which get debunked.

Possibilities [both bright and of grim] of the future have been ably communicated via this movie and WALL.E.

This movie is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. It’s a must watch for people of ALL ages. Those who dismiss animated movies as ‘cartoons for children’ should go with an open mind and look BEYOND what is shown on the screen to pick up or refresh some important life-lessons!!! a B-I-G THUMBS UP!!!

This the first 3D Animation flick from the Disney-Pixar stable. Alas..the blogger had to see it in normal format..even though the theatre was a multiplex in an upmarket mall..:-(

PS:- The initial animated sequence of “Gods above the clouds MAKE babies and then the “stork comes visiting” to deliver them … utterly cute and delightful!!!

Almodovarian world...

The man from La Mancha

Volver,set in Pedro Almodovar’s hometown, La Mancha, is a movie where the living and the dead co-exist without problems

PRAGYA TIWARI

(Original : http://pragyatiwari.com/2009/09/28/volver-the-great-almodovar-comeback/)

Volver, Pedro Almodovar's latest venture opens to action which shifts between his hometown of La Mancha and a working class neighbourhood in Madrid but in sooth the film is situated in the sort of Almodovarian world his followers have grown to love over the last two decades - where every room and street corner is saturated with bright color and there is a dash of red in every mis-en-scene alongwith vivid and discordant feelings of violence, pain and love.

With Volver, he abandons the dark terrain of his male-centric films like Live Flesh, Matador and Bad Education to revisit the woman-centered territory of his films like Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown and All About My Mother.
His women are hearty, self-possesing and compassionate despite the monstrous abuses that plague their lives. They live in a world nearly free from prejudice, luminous and optimistic. He loves his women characters and watches over them like a guardian angel (sometimes literally with top shots), generously handing the film over to his actresses who shoulder its weight almost entirely and easily on their gorgeous shoulders. The film may be reminiscence of the early American Feminist ideas of sisterhood but Almodovar's greatest source of inspiration is clearly his own childhood memories of being brought up by women in a patriarchal and gender-divided world of fascist Spain.

With the years the enfant terrible's films have become more self assured and simpler with lesser intricate parallel plots or flashbacks and more structural niceties. Also missing is the wild overt sexuality of previous films like Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down; but the essential quirkiness that accentuates his work is intact in this film as ever.

The film deals with death in the most natural way treating it as just another human state and liberating it from the clutches of heightened tragedy. The directors violent rebellion against the church is less pronounced but puts in an appearance nonetheless as he indulges the idea of resurrection of body. One of the central characters long thought dead reappears and expresses her desire to color and style her hair before she can elucidate the more mstical reasons for her return.
The plot is full of twists and turns, secrets and mysteries- embroiling cancer, incest, ghosts, murder and the ills of tv. It is often improbable but that is of little concern given that it is merely a tool for the director to get to the heart of his matter- the soul and spirit of women. And in laying bare their soul, he lays bare the soul of Spain through History. In a blink-andmiss shot there are turbines that dot the skyline. Clearly, much has changed in La Mancha from the times of Quixote's windmills, but the essence of the small town- its superstitions and madness are preserved as if from the times of Cervantes.

Volver means coming back and true to its name the film marks the coming back of this unsurpassable Spanish master to his home town, his comedic roots, to Carmen Maura who he casts for the first time after a fallout 16 yrs ago but most importantly to the world of women he has created with his previous films- a world where they survive boisterously balancing reality and romance-The only of its kind where it is always great to be a woman.

What Code...eh?!

Hey…. I am posting in my blog after what seems like centuries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leaving the faff aside I’ll just get on with the works!!!!!!!!!

I saw ‘The DaVinci Code’ on 27th May, 2006. Not TOO late considering the movie was released in India the previous day!!

Well, I don’t have much to say about the movie. Nice flick. I am leaving the flogging to the critics… that’s what they’ve done ALL over the world…. From Cannes to Canary!!
People….. TAKE A BREAK!!!!!!

Juz relax n have a dekko. The movie is an unpretentious piece of fiction trying hard to be a racy thriller. But….. simply put…..it’s cool. Don’t bother about who’s saying WHAT!

You don’t need to have read the book to watch the film. I didn’t!! and I will not. Yeah… u MIGHT have many points contention if you have been the reader as well as the viewer of this thingy… but that’s okay. It juz shows that ur brains r in place n well oiled!!

Though, it’d help if u have some idea about the history of Christianity. No…. not for establishing whether Christ fathered someone or not. But just to be at ease when the Pagans and their likes come into the scene (not literally).

My fav. scene... when Sophie drives her cute car backwards at a somewhat neck-breaking speed.

My fav. dialogue… “The French cannot be trusted.”
Touche.