Review: 3:10 To Yuma (2007) RUSSELL CROW & CHRISTIAN BALE

A power packed cast in Russell Crowe, Christian Bale & Ben Foster to pull off the movie. Director, James Mangold does a pretty decent job. Since the film is based back in time, you see actors donning cowboy costumes, peppy background score, horse rides and a vast desert.

The movie is about a criminal, Ben Wade played by Russell Crowe, who is wanted by Govt Marshals. Ben gets caught and is to be put up on a train to Yuma at 3:10. However, the task is not easy as notorious gang member Charlie played by Ben Foster is trying to rescue Wade. Joining hands with the marshals is Dan, played by Christian Bale. Dan has a grudge against Wade as his barn was destroyed by him. He also wishes to be a hero in his son's eyes thus joins this dangerous mission. In the middle of their trip, Dan's son, William also joins the troupe.

During the trip you come to know that Wade has a human side too. He and Dan get closer as they spend time together. In the end, Wade tries to help Dan and reach the train station while they are targeted by Charlie and his gang. Dan dies at the hands of Charlie and Wade kills Charlie and gets into the train. A nice end to a nice drama.

The movie gives you something different apart from regular stuff ad it is this quality that makes it enjoyable.

Review: Dog Day Afternoon (1975) AL PACHINO

You see the genius of Sidney Lumet here again. Like many other of his films, this too is very real and original. The film is based on a true story of Chase Manhattan bank robbery in New York city. Al Pacino and John Cazale play the part of bank robbers, Sonny and Sal. Supporting roles of FBI agent and Sonny's gay partner, Leon have been played beautifully too.

Sidney Lumet is a master of one location filming. Most of the movie is shot in the bank premises and you wonder how the Director is able to hold your attention. The movie starts with Sonny, Sal and one more friend enter a bank to rob. However, the third friend develops cold feet and leaves immediately. Sonny and Sal go ahead with the plan only to find out that there is very little cash in the bank. Soon after, police surround them and the only way out for the robbers is to take the bank employees hostage. Sonny tries to deal with FBI agent and asks for a jet so that they can fly out of the country.

Many a drama unfolds during this period when you see bank employees getting along with the robbers, Sonny (a bisexual) talking to his wife and gay partner, Sal getting nervous, Sonny & Sal becoming media stars and Sonny dealing with the FBI agent. The movie moves at a brisk pace keeping you engaged throughout. Al Pacino and John Cazale put up stellar performances.

The film looks so real that you can actually imagine the whole incident that happened. It also helps that the film was released in 1975, just three years after the incident in 1972.

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) ..... A VISUAL TREAT

Directed by: David Lean

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA is 1962 British EPIC movie based on the life of T.A.LAWRENCE and his experiences in Arabia during 1^st world war. Movie is directed by David Lean and it stars Peter O’Toole in title role of T.A.LAWRENCE. The film has other leading stars like Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, Alec Jiuness and Anthony Quayle.

 Lawrence who is a British army lieutenant is posted in Cairo during 1^st world war, he is only known for his unorthodox behavior and his knowledge. He is sent to find the prince faisal and analyze the situation of revolt against Turks. It moves on with how he gets the people of different communities in Arabia to get together and fight for their land. He does some of the unbelievable tasks which were looked impossible. His struggle with his own identity is also important aspect in the movie.   

One word to describe this movie “HUGE”, yes to make this scale of movie is no child’s play. This is made on bigger scale real locations (almost 60% movie is shot in desert) so many long shots covering many people and camels. It has running time of almost 215 minutes (generally movies don’t have running time like this) and it was shot with advanced technology of coming age. If this would have been made today it surely would have been biggest budget movie by far.

Movie is visually superb. Excellent camera work. And background music is excellent and has been used effectively. All the actors did very well especially Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif.

A good option to watch at home on weekend this classic.

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MAR ADENTRO (The Sea Inside)

Language: Spanish

Directed by: Alejandro Amenábar

The movie is based on true life story of Ramon Sampedro who got paralyzed by his both arms and both legs after a diving accident. He fights for 28 years for his right to end his life but could not get the court judgment in his favor.

Story is told from the point of view of Ramon Sampedro (Javier Bardem) who is paralyzed by his both arms and legs. He decides to end his life because he believes that living life without dignity is worthless. In the due course of movie he tells how he was before accident a person with full of energy who went to explore the world in the age of only 19. Even after he got paralyzed he writes beautiful poems with the help of his mouth. His family members are against of his decision of ending life but he has kind of personality which moves the thinking of others like lawyer who herself is also suffering from a strange disease, his family members and his friends who wants him to live, but he conveniences them why he wants to die.

The movie is very touching and some of the scenes are performed so well and helps in building story strongly. Like one where his lawyer asks him that why he wants to die?, he explains that different between your hand an my hand is merely 2 feet but that 2feet is like dream for me to cover on my own. (He put this way his point of living life without dignity). His character is not the usual characters we see who are paralyzed and feeling sad and laying on bad, he is ever smiling and confident about his state of mind. He is having great sense of humor.

Performances are excellent. Javier Bardem portrayed Ramon Sampedro with utmost perfection. Belen Rueda as Julia (lawyer) and Lola Duenas as Rosa were superb as leading ladies. Alejandro Amenabar’s direction is outstanding and narrated the story very well. He has woven Ramon’s character perfectly.

A heart touching tale of person with superb performances. A worth watching Academy award winning movie. ( A 2004 Oscar winner for best foreign language film)

RASHOMON (1950)

Language: Japanese

Directed by: Akira Kurosawa

Movie has taken 12^th century of Japan as backdrop. It starts with two people sitting on gate of RASHOMON under heavy rain and later joining them another guy. These two people, a monk and a woodcutter tell the story of a bandit, a samurai and his wife. Where samurai and his wife were attacked by bandit in forest and samurai gets killed.

The story of samurai, his wife and bandit are told in four different ways by different witnesses in front of authority. One by the bandit, second by samurai’s wife third by samurai’s soul by the medium of his wife and last by the woodcutter who claims that he had seen all the happenings in the forest. but at the end it was believed and concluded that story told by woodcutter was true.

The movie tells the story of how people become selfish and liar. Why and how human beings are unable to be honest with themselves about themselves. They have a tendency to mould the truth and they can not talk about themselves without embellishing.

I think movie was way before its time. Kurosawa has narrated the story with brilliance. He has smartly used all the different characters in narration for different point of views of story. Camera work is also superb to that time ( it is to be noted that the movie was made just few year later the second world war ). All performances are superb.

For me movie has to have a story and that also well crafted and narrated and this movie has all. It’s a classic from Kurosawa will all the merits.  

The Boondock Saints (1999)

A wanna be Tarantino. People who like violence and blood shed will like this flick too. Nicely shot action sequences with uber cool background score entertains you.

The story is about two Irish brothers who have a fight with Russian mafia and kill them all. Its after this incident that they find their true calling, to wipe out people who deal in evil. They consider themselves sent by God to clean up this earth. They are joined in this mission by a thug and their friend, David Della Rocco. Rocco is a fun character, you like to see him on screen with his unique style and comical dialogues. Chasing these three men is a FBI agent played by Willem Defoe. And boy, Defoe puts up a great performance. As the movie approaches its end, you find Defoe joining the protagonists in their good deed along with few other govt officials.

This movie is full of style and attitude. Just sit back with a huge snack combo in your lap and you are sure to have a good time.

DABANGG…..a test of viewer’s patience

Directed by: Abhinav Kashyap

Starring: Salman Khan

              REST OF THE CAST IN SPECIAL APPEARANCE

One day arbaaz would have thought to make movie and he would have told salmanbhai that “bhaiya I want to be a producer” salman “lets make a movie”. Arbaaz  “what about story? Screenplay? Salman “don’t worry start the movie with few characters story will evolve in the movie anyhow.” This way the idea of this movie would have come.

DABANGG is the story of chulbul pandey(salman khan) and he takes the story wherever he wants in the movie. So movie starts with a fight sequence (ENTRY OF ‘HERO’ MUST BE WITH BANG) where he robs money from bank robbers. Chulbul has a lovely mother (dimple kapadia- in her worst role), a step-father (vinod khanna) a step-brother (arbaaz khan). He hates his step-father and brother. In a fight sequence he gets to see THE HEROIN Rajjo (sonakshi sinha- her role is smaller than those HAVALDARS roaming around salman in the movie- and very few dialogues). There is a bad guy in the movie called CHHEDI SINGH (sonu sood- whom director forgets after few appearances in first half and appears in second half only).

So salman khan moves the story with these characters. Salman and sonu sood doesn’t like each other and as salman doesn’t like his step father and brother, sonu sood takes benefit of this situation. At the end our hero salman gets to know that her mother was killed by sonu sood so he gets more angry and the best part of movie comes where salman flexes his muscles so much like THE HULK that his shirt tears off and he breaks the bones of the bad guy and kills him. THE END

Only merit of the movie is MUSIC which is quit enjoyable. The movie works on the brand name of SALMAN KHAN only and the marketing of movie. SALMAN has proved what AAMIR can do I also can (making public fool).

Watch it on your own risk. ( BEWARE: HE HINTED ‘A SEQUEL’ OF THIS IN THE END)

RATING: 4 out of 10 (3 FOR MUSIC AND 1 FOR REST)

    

Find Me Guilty

Another classic from the stable of Sidney Lumet. I just love this guy. Movie is based on a true story of Italian crime family "Lucchese". 20 members of this family were tried for Organized Crime, one of the longest trials in the history of America, 22 months. The main protagonist in this movie is "Jackie Dinorscio", played by Vin Diesel. The movie is a court room drama showing arguments between the prosecution and defendants. And Sidney Lumet manages to capture your full attention as always.

Jackie is serving a 30 year sentence for narcotics trafficking and during this time, the US Govt tries to bring down the whole Lucchese family. Govt approach Jackie to turn him into a witness but as he rightly puts it, "Jackie never rats, Jackie will not rat". Jackie fires his lawyer and defends for himself in the court in a rather comical way infuriating the Judge and the Prosecutors. He however manages to capture the attention of the Jury. He is also apt at cross examining the witnesses put up by the Prosecution. Slowly and steadily he is able to win the trust and attention of his mob, lawyers as well as the Judge. The Jury declares all the defendants not guilty on all counts.

A great performance by Vin Diesel. I never liked him as an actor, but this movie made me look up and notice him. Other actors are equally good in supporting roles. Main cheers for Sidney Lumet who once again gets the best from his actors and holds the plot tight. I just love the way he manages to capture audience's attention by keeping everything very simple and realistic. A very good thing about him is he conveys only as much as is needed, nothing more. A great weave of comedy, emotions and storyline and hit your heart directly.

GROWN UPS (2010)

STARRING: Adam Sandler

                      Kevin James

                      Chris Rock

                      David Spade

                      Rob Schneider

GROWN UPS is comedy starring Adam Sandler and his friends who are regularly seen in his movies. Whatever ‘critics’ say about Sandler and his movies, how so ever badly criticize his movies but this man knows what he is doing. He knows that people like his movies. Critics say he is not funny and looks silly but people find him funny otherwise why his movies would make millions of dollars like this grossed more than $200 million. Anyway leave this.

This movie is typical buddy movie where friends meet after so many years on their basket-ball coach’s funeral. After that they plans a week leave on a lake-house with their family and how they enjoy this time together is the storyline of the movie.

First thing first don’t us your brain while you watch sandler’s movies. Just go and have a great laughing time. He and his friends entertain for about 90 to 100min non-stop. Movie is full of many moments where I laugh a lot.

Movie is kind of slapstick comedy. It isn’t great but it entertains if you want to have some fun otherwise if you bring bias opinion like those critics you will not going to enjoy.Just have fun.

TOY STORY 3 (2010)

DIRECTED BY: Lee Unkrich

VOICE CAST: Tom Hanks as Woody

                        Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear

     Joan Cusack as Jessie

                        Ned Beatty as Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear

                        Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head

                        Michael Keaton as Ken

                        Wallace Shawn as Rex

                        John Ratzenberger as Hamm

                        Estelle Harris as Mrs. Potato Head

                        John Morris as Andy

TOY STORY 3 is last of the toy story series. After two roller costar movies in the series here comes a time in the movie where owner of the toys Andy has grown to 17years old and ready to go for college so the toys gets worried that they will be thrown to garbage as they are old now, but Woody (hanks) tells them that Andy still love them and will not throw them.

Despite of all the efforts they don’t believe woody and sets them selves in the box which was get donated to Sunnyside-a place for kids. There they receive warm welcome from the toys that stays there and shows them a rosy picture. Woody alone returns after every toy decides to stay there. Things change when all the toys gets to know that the rosy picture they were shown was fake and they started treated like prisoners.

When woody was about to escape from Sunnyside he was found by a little girl called Bonnie, she takes woody to her home where other toys tells him the facts of Sunnyside and how new toys are treated. Woody now decides to go back and rescue his friends.

Like earlier this one also is full of toys of course but has great energy and entertainment. It’s a roller costar ride which one should not be missed. It shows the imaginary world which every one wants to be part of and showed if toys gets in to live what would they expect from their owners.

The movie is lovable and specially the climax where Woody writes a note for Andy which leads him to give his valuable toys to Bonnie and he tells her how he loved his toys and take care of them.

It’s worth watching.

MEAN STREETS (1973)

DIRECTED BY: Martin Scorsese

STARRING: Harvey Keitel

Robert De Niro

David Proval

This film comes in to early credits of Martin Scorsese as he showed his kind of expertise in Italian Mafia movies which we saw in his later movies. This also contains some excellent performances from Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro.

Charlie (KIETEL) is an Italian-American catholic, who is has great desire to move up in to mafia and he is working for his uncle who is next best step to move in to Mafia. But he is stuck in to a situation where one side he has his uncle and the his business and other side his childish crazy friend Johney Boy (De Niro) who has become headache for so many people because of his behavior. Charlie couldn’t find the way to save Johney boy from the local money lenders whom Johney owes a big amount and as Johney has insulted one of the guy whom he owes money invites big trouble.

This movie is stand out with two excellent performances from Kietel as Charlie, he played the role with his full conviction, a guy is stuck between religion, girlfriend, his mob uncle and a crazy friend and how he manages with all. DeNiro as Johney Boy is outstanding, his crazy acts in the movie shows the clear picture why he has become pain for all.

Definitely a worth watching movie specially for performances from the lead and for Scorsese’s direction.

THE WILD BUNCH (1969)

Directed By: Sam Peckinpah

The Wild Bunch is 1969 American-Western movie. The movie is about a bunch of crooks on Texas-Mexico border. The group was lead by Pike-an old outlaw who wants to make a final shoot with the last robbery. They plan to rob a railroad office containing silver but they didn’t know that they were trapped. Thorton-a former partner of Pike helps authority to trap them. This results in to a failed robbery by Pike and his group as they find what they rob was steel dishwashers not silver. So he decided to move ahead on Mexico border where a train with ammunitions was to come, so they make a deal with a Mexican General to rob the rain for them. On the other hand Thorton was sent to get Pike and all his associates for American authorities.

This movie contains lots of chasing on horse and gun fight, especially in climax. A worth watching western movie.