Movie Time

Well, I watched a few movies which I have been wanting to see for a very long time.

1. The Pianist

****

A brilliant film based on a true story about a Polish Jew and his family during the beginning of the Second World War when Germany had invaded Poland. Adrien Brody's portrayal of the pianist is topnotch and he deservedly won an Oscar. The only hitch- no subtitles when the German officer speaks to him.

2. Kill Bill Volume1

***1/2

Quentin Tarantino's fourth film but the first I have seen. I haven't watched Pulp Fiction as yet. It is about the revenge the bride plots after her whole family and her unborn child were butchered by professional assassins on her wedding day by Bill.The film has got style and Uma Thurman does some great stunts. The gory blood scenes were repulsive to watch but I liked the film. Have to see Kill Bill Vol2. before I forget the first.

3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

****

A beautiful concept mixing romance with sci-fi starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. Joe ( Jim Carrey) decides to erase everything about his girl friend Clementine ( Kate) from his memoery using a professional service offering the same after he learns that Clementine has already done so, but when he does that, he doesn't really want to erase her memories be that sweet or not-so- sweet. I think this would be Jim Carrey's finest performances and a nice change to see him in a serious role instead of comedy. Kate Winslet is brilliant as a girl whose hair colour changes with her moods. The film has been voted in top 100 best movies of all time. I loved the poem from which the movies' title has been taken. It is a poem by Alexander Pope.

4. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

***

I had heard such horrible reviews from people that it is a bad film but somehow I liked it. Yes, the film is totally illogical but Shah Rukh as Surinder Sahni was great. Anushka Sharma is just passable and Raj, SRK's alter ego was irritating at times. Vinay Pathak as Bobby was good. It didn't turn out to be that bad. Haule haule, the film has grossed 180 crores worldwide!!

5. Welcome to Sajjanpur

***1/2

Shyam Benegal's satire on the rural life is immensely watchable. The film had a take on a lot of issues- illiteracy, migration, widow remarriage, superstitions and politics. Dialogues are good. Performances are excellent. Shreyas Talpade, Amrita Rao deliver good performances, Ila Arun was brilliant and I forgot the name of actor who played an eunuch, he was too good. One of the best scenes was when he came to Madhav( Shreyas) asking him to write a letter to the collector asking for protection from the village goons who opposed his candidacy for the election. Benegal makes subtle comments without being preachy such as the comparison that an eunuch was able to sign where as the incumbent sarpanch's husband did a Angootha signature, that is why Shyam benegal remains India's finest film maker.

6. Aamir

****

Raj Kumar Gupta's contemporary story about a man caught in a difficult station is very different. Rajeev Khandelwal shows he is a great actor. Amit Trivedi's music was exceptional specially that song Ek Lauh Zindagi ki, no wonder his music in Dev D is getting attention. A good film.