A Separation

Director - Asghar Farhadi

Genre - Drama

Everyone and all mothers should watch this movie. Directors, producers,scriptwriters and actors should have the DVD with them at all times as a reminder to be better at what they do. That is how insanely perfect this movie is for us. It is acted with such natural ease the believability factor becomes unquestionable, and directed with such a firm hand it renders most of what Hollywood puts out embarrassing. This is Iranian cinema at its peak looking down on all the poseurs out there. A couple on the verge of divorce encounter a host of problems which test their resolve, sliding their lives into chaotic instability. Before you go 'typical family court drama', let us assure that this is much more than that. It is an investigative thriller structured around a very human drama which will incite you to re-examine your view of what's right and wrong. This sits on the altar of cinema and inspires an almost spiritual adoration of the art form.

5 STARS!

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You Are the Apple of My Eye

Director - Giddens Ko

Genre - Drama/Romance

Adapted from a popular novel, this movie directed by the author himself was a big box office hit in its home turf. Alas, we do not think that it deserves such warm reception. Crass and juvenile in its presentation, this coming of age story with aspirations in tackling comedy and romance fails at both. The only saving grace here are the 'not so bad at acting', quite likable leads. We were really put off by the constant mention of sex, distasteful sexual innuendos and far too many masturbation scenes. 'American Pie' wasn't all that sophisticated too, but at least it didn't disguise itself as a love story.

2.5 STARS!

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Sweet Smell of Success

Director - Alexander Mackendrick

Genre - Drama/Film-Noir

Screenwriters would give their arms and legs for the gift of being able to pen the precision sharp lines in this film. No time or cinema reel were wasted here as barrage after barrage of 'quick on the feet' dialogue takes center stage, spewed almost unceasingly out of the characters' arsenic lips. Tony Curtis plays a press agent named Sidney Falco who has to depend on a spiteful, arrogant columnist (J.J. Hunsecker) played by Burt Lancaster as his meal ticket. When Sidney is asked to do J.J. a favor which compromises Sidney's already thinning view of honor and integrity, what will he choose? They say money is the root of all evil and this movie certainly went out of its way to show how low some of us can stoop to gain a whiff of success. Tony Curtis shrugged off his pretty boy image (this was a different era, mind you) to play a scheming, no good hammerhead and Lancaster exuded an even more despicable great white shark. Together, they represent a hunger for capitalism and a disgust of moral justice. That is actually the crux of the story and the lesson of never giving up our humanity no matter what reverberates even to this day.

5 STARS!

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Senna

Director - Asif Kapadia

Genre - Documentary/Biography

An impeccably realized documentary about legendary Brazilian F1 driver, Ayrton Senna. Through the ups and downs of his career, we are shown the strength of his character and the moments which define him as much more than a well paid F1 driver. Loved and worshiped by Brazilians from all walks of life, he was an inspiration to millions at a time when his home country was in poverty and depression. The director Asif Kapadia deftly maneuvered the film with humor and tension-filled shots of races, often emphasizing with dramatic results the rivalry between Senna and Alain Prost, his nemesis on the race track. For those who know next to nothing about cars (including ourselves), this aspect is a relieve because heavy mention of the technical parts of F1 would have gone over our heads completely. All in all, this is the most exhilarating and moving documentary we've ever seen. Senna was truly a remarkable man and the film does justice to his legend.

5 STARS!

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Rakht Charitra 2

Director - Ram Gopal Varma

Genre - Action/Crime/Drama

We put our foot in our mouths when we raved in the review for the first movie that this continuing saga starring Vivek Oberoi will be awesome. We still stand by the first part that it was indeed good. The sequel however, leaves a bad aftertaste. The story here is underdeveloped and looks as if it was done in haste. The ending is abrupt and frankly, a discredit to the first film. Pratap (Vivek) here is like a shadow of himself in the earlier picture. Self-doubting and not as cocksure as he was before, Pratap is defeated time and again by his new nemesis. We weren't even sure who to root for anymore. The 'villain' who was out for revenge or Pratap, who disappointed us with his lack of resolve in dealing with his enemies. Like a cold chapati, this one shouldn't have been served up.

2 STARS!

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Araya

Director - Margot Benacerraf

Genre - Documentary

A Venezuelan documentary about the salt pyramids in a place called Araya and those who made their living there. Trust us, whatever job you're doing right now, it is nothing compared to what these people have to put up with. They toil from day to night, with little payment and in the scorching sun. They were resigned to their fate since childhood and it is the only thing they know. The director chose to shoot like a fly on the wall (in this case, on a salt pyramid) what they actually do in a day. After you watch this, you'll appreciate your job and life like you never did before. It is an affirmation of the human ability to take on what seems impossible and turn it into an amazing possibility. The cinematography in black and white was illuminating too. Take a chance and give this a try. You won't regret it and might even learn a thing or two about human being's indomitable perseverance.

5 STARS!

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Thor

Director - Kenneth Branagh

Genre - Action/Adventure/Fantasy

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, this is his first foray into commercial film-making. Previously, Branagh was mostly known for bringing adaptations of Shakespeare's plays such as 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'Hamlet' to the screen. Although 'Thor' is a God with mythical leanings and his background story is indeed very Shakespearean-like, this is still a huge departure for Branagh. The world in which Thor lives serve well to transport our minds in tandem with the story's progression. We often shoot down the use of CGI but in here, the imagery constructed is wondrously captivating. Resembling a Greek or Shakespearean tragedy amped up with otherworldly disbursement of comic bravado, Branagh has turned the Superhero genre into something with more bite. Thor is a God amongst mortals, and in Branagh's hands, this distinction from the rest of Marvel's and DC's universe of Superheroes is clear. Maybe 'Superman' stood a chance of competing with such an invincible Avenger, but in the big screen at least, that possibility had already ceased to be with the 'Superman' franchise being quite dead in the water. Oh, did we mention that this movie is mighty entertaining as well?

3.5 STARS!

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