Cinema Paradiso- All about Cinema: July 2014

Friday, July 25, 2014

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Hollywood English Film Movie Review, Johnson Thomas, Rating: * * * 1/2

#Movies(Best releases)ofTheWeek/25thJuly2014/Johnson Thomas

#GrandBudapestHotel(English) Rating: * * * ½ Richly composed fantasy of a fictional cinematic universe, enriched by an intricate tale of a glorious grand hotel and it’s mainstays, in Republic of Zubrowka, dating back to 1920’s. Wes Anderson’s stray outing, is a quasi dark adventure thriller that is fast paced, and idiosyncratically humorous , fronted by accomplished actors in impeccable form. A must-see for lovers of cinema! #RalphFiennes #WesAnderson #EdwardNorton #AdrienBrody #TildaSwinton #WillemDafoe #SoairseRonan #ParagDesai #20thcenturyFoxStar #UniversalPR

English Film review

Johnson Thomas

A marvelously rich bouquet

Film: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Cast: Ralph Fiennes , Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, Jude Law, Saoirse Ronan, Bill Murray, Tony Revolori, Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson

Director: Wes Anderson

Rating: * * * ½

Synopsis: A hotel concierge is bequeathed a valuable painting after the death of one of his lovers – much to the chagrin of her family.

Review:

This is a Wes Anderson film after all and there’s much more to the story than the simplistic premise. The creative juices of the celebrated director/writer are at it’s apex. This may be a different genre from the usual Wes Anderson product, yet there’s a whole lot of class and skill involved in the telling of it to make it a much more satisfying and involving watch than the regular dark-comedy-thrillers we’ve been subjected to at regular intervals. This film is a bounty of sorts in that respect. It’s been exquisitely framed, beautifully composed, compellingly toned and effectively paced. Comedy, drama, music, writing ,structure and action are all superbly ingrained. In fact the action chops, are breathtaking and there are quite a few to make you salivate with the thrills experienced thereof.

The film’s fictitious universe dates back to the 1920’s in the Republic of Zubrowka which houses the significantly impressive and historic Grand Budapest hotel. It’s a lavish establishment with an old world charm that attracts older women who come there solely to be entertained by Monsieur Gustave H’s(Ralph Fiennes) companionship. Of course as part of his many duties he also provides them sexual comfort. So the women are much obliged. Gustave is a character. He is reputedly the smoothest concierge in all of Europe - charming, very propah in his graces, respectful and even loving to some of his guests.

come solely for Monsieur Gustave H.’s (Ralph Fiennes) companionship. Gustave is the smoothest hotel concierge in all of Europe, and it’s easy to see why: he’s charming, he treats his clientele with the jumps around a few different moments in time, but it’s mainly set in the fictional Republic of Zubrowka during the 1920s. Zubrowka is the home of The Grand Budapest Hotel, a lavish establishment visited by old ladies who utmost respect, and, at least in some cases, he genuinely loves his guests.

His favorite, Madame D(Tilda Swinton), a woman in her 80s who depends on Gustave to take away her cares, is murdered soon after her visit to the hotel. Anf gustave is the No. 1 suspect. Madame D’s will is read and Gustave is mentioned as the beneficiary of a priceless painting titled ‘Boy with Apple.’ Her family including a son Dmitri(Adrien Brody) and three daughters are not amused. So Gustave is chased by Dmitri’s ruthless sidekick Jopling (Willem Dafoe), and is also wanted for murder by fascists led by Edward Norton. Gustave is forced to prove his innocence with the help of his lobby boy, Zero (Tony Revolori) who later on goes on to become the sole heir to the grand Budapest hotel. Therein lies another story told in flashback and the two intermingle as Gustave and his faithful Zero plan a grand escape with the help of an underground network of hotel operatives and finally manage to stay on the right side of the law.

The film opens with a young woman in what is now the former Republic of Zubrowka, visiting a grave labelled Author, its headstone festooned with hotel room keys. Thereafter we are treated to a rewind, author (Tom Wilkinson) in his study in 1985, telling of his visit to the Grand Budapest in 1968.

So the story begins with the author as a younger man,played by Jude Law, as he meets the hotel’s mysterious owner, Mr. Moustafa (F. Murray Abraham). The author is curious to know why Moustafa, phenomenally rich man, still stays in the servants quarter of the hotel he owns. And over a meal, the history unfolds. Budapest Hotel.

It’s 1932 when Gustave comes across the new recruit lobby boy Zero. And from thereon it’s a pummeling adventure.

Not all characters in the film are defined beyond the rudimentary. Agatha(Saorise Ronan), though crucial to the storytelling, has the most piecemeal back story. The romance between Zero and Agatha is also not seen as much as heard of. But structurally and visually there is pleantiful happening. This crime caper is both heart-stoppingly beautiful and just as thrilling. There’s idiosyncratic humor to be had and the performances are all of a high order. There’s an underlying sadness in the overall tone, much like in Andersons’s earlier work ‘Moonrise kingdom,’ which makes the experience that much more affecting. This is a film for those who love cinema in it’s truest form!

Johnsont307@gmail.com

Kick , Hindi Bollywood Film Movie Review, Johnson Thomas, Rating: * *

#Kick(Hindi) Rating: * * Sajid Nadiadwala’s much publicized directorial debut starring his favorite- the inimitable Khan, is basically a patchy ,ill-defined, masala-fried show-reel propounding Salman’s richness of heart(much like ‘Jai Ho’ in that respect), while riding rough-shod over technique, script, narrative, action, dialogues and all else. Sajid appears to be paying homage to his bestie here and Salman is allowed free-rein to do whatsoever he wants. And mind you, it’s not a pretty sight! While the production values and international locations add luster, the ridiculous choppy action and bloated over-the-top performances make you want to kick yourself for watching what amounts to a ego centered cinematic selfie! #SalmanKhan #JacquelineFernandez #NawazuddinSiddiqui #SajidNadiadwala #RandeepHooda #SpicePR

Hindi Film review

Johnson Thomas

Running on Empty

Film: Kick

Cast: Salman Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Randeep Hooda, Saurabh Shukla

Director: Sajid Nadiadwala

Rating: * *

This one is for the brotherhood of inter-dependence. Sajid Nadiadwala has since long depended on Salman Khan’s star strength to do the trick for his productions and it’s been a ‘kick’ all along. So this film, ‘Kick’ , a remake of a south film, with Sajid donning the roles of Producer and debuting as Director, gives his hero a no-holds-barred license to ad-lib his way through the weirdest of antics ever seen in cinema. Salman acts as he pleases, utters his silly dialogues with trademark simpering impudence, dances with raw unpolished fervor, does the item grind in crude fashion, and action in a style that comes across as ridiculously fake. It’s basically Salman in full flow, riding on a sky-high ego and brandishing ‘hearty’ elements from his own life

The script attributed to Story writer Sajid Nadiadwala, Chetan Bhagat and Rajat Arora is a no-show here. There really isn’t much of it other than blotchy strands of threadbare plot intertwined with song and dance routines and rudimentary action. Much of the opening segment of the film takes on the ubiquitous job of explaining what ‘kick’ means. After some ridiculous exposition exposure you come to the conclusion that “kick’ is all about adrenaline rushes that the hero needs to keep him going. Incredibly inane sequences foloow just to establish that outlandish concept.

Devi Lal Singh(Salman Khan) is the everyman hero who not only helps young lovers elope but does it with canny control, much like a ring master does with his performing animals in a circus. That analogy is unfortunately quite appropriate for what transpires on screen here in the name of commercial cinema. The opening sequence has Devi piloting a weird looking hatchback attached motor-cycle with three passengers -a runaway couple and the bride’s beautiful Psychiatrist friend, Shaina(Jacqueline) through the bustling by-lanes of old Delhi. While he performs this showy escape act, he is also making time to call the bride’s Mother, a foul mouthed politician, informing her of his latest position en-route to the mandir. He also waits for her to reach the anointed place before he ferrets out the mangalsutra for the auspicious event. The bride is grateful for his intervention and explains his two-timing act away by claiming she wanted her mother to attend the sacred nuptials. Thus our hero is anointed the do-gooder. But ‘ Being human’ is not nearly enough to make his brand shine. He has to wear a ‘Zorro’ outfit replete with mask, black outfit, leather accessories and perform even more freakish dare-devilry in the name of charity before he can proclaim his own super-importance to the stumped and stupefied audience. Yeah. You guessed it. This film is merely a monumentally expensive show reel for a star who appears to have waylaid his shine. There’s no other explanation for such monstrously immature antics’ passed off as ‘performance’ on screen.

Sajid Nadiadwala , in his all out efforts to please his ‘muse’ even includes an animated segment explaining away the incredible precociousness of this wonder child born to incorrigible parents(Mithun Chakraborty & Archana Puran Singh). The wonder boy also assumes the role of ‘Devil’ a masked bandit who loots the rich to save the poor. And before he becomes ‘Devil’ he falls for the beautiful Psychiatrist, gets her Dad(Saurabh Shukla) to agree to the match and then for the flimsiest of reasons abandons her for murkier pursuits. So smitten childhood friend and good cop Himanshu (Randeep Hooda) who is hot-in-pursuit of the ‘Devil’ is allowed brief moments of stilted romance with Shaina before the inevitable happens…

The oft repeated explanation for Salman’s trademark illogic is that his fans love him irrespective. But that’s no longer the truth. .. “Jai Ho’ did not really do as well as the trade pundits proclaimed and previous to that, his endorsement of Modi, alienated a large chunk of his traditional fan base. The ‘Id’ effect is also not likely to help much because it falls on a Tuesday, two days beyond the weekend when most films take a huge dip. So ‘Kick’ will have to brave not only it’s own lack of credibility as an all-out entertainer but also the waning popularity of the ageing star. But of course that will not stop the marketing machinery from going all out to brandish the film as a huge hit. So beware..!

Salman no longer looks as fresh faced nor is he as agile as he was two films ago. In ‘Kick’ he is chunkier and also seems pretty much afraid to expose his once, much vaunted muscled abs. In this film his freestyle dancing, absurd facial twitches and clunky moments make him look less of an all-conquering hero. The incoherence, the sloppily picturised masala elements, the implausible narrative jumps, the sheer waste of talent (Saurabh Shukla. Randeep Hooda, Nawazuddin Siddiqui all going over-the-top) makes the experience even more ugly. The only ‘Kick’ you are likely to experience here, is the severe pain in your backside after two hours and 29 minutes of such utterly irresponsible and corrupted cine exposure!

Johnsont307@gmail.com

#Movies(Best releases)ofTheWeek/25thJuly2014/Johnson Thomas

#Movies(Best releases)ofTheWeek/25thJuly2014/Johnson Thomas

#Picks&Piques/Snippet Film reviews/25thJuly2014/Johnson Thomas

#Picks&Piques/Snippet Film reviews/25thJuly2014/Johnson Thomas

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Planes:fire&Rescue, Hollywood English Film Movie Review, Johnson Thomas, Rating: * * 1/2

#Planes:Fire&Rescue Rating: * * ½ A fairly effective animated salute to America’s firefighter heroes. #WaltDisneyStudios #BobsGannaway #DaneCook, #Ed Harris, #Julie Bowen

English Film review

Johnson Thomas

Film: Planes: Fire & Rescue (Disney UTV)

Cast(Voices) : Dane Cook, Ed Harris, Julie Bowen, Curtis Armstrong, John Michael Higgins, Hal Holbrook, Wes Studi, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher, Stacy Keach, Cedric the Entertainer, Danny Mann, Barry Corbin, Regina King, Anne Meara, Jerry Stiller, Fred Willard.

Director: Bobs Gannaway

Rating: * * 1/2

Synopsis:This sequel finds championship air-racer Dusty Crophopper (voice of Dane Cook) beginning an exciting new career fighting forest fires. In the wake of another successful racing season, Dusty returns home to Propwash Junction to resume his training. But a debilitating injury forces Rusty to consider a new career path. Before long Rusty is training with the Aerial Fire Fighters at Piston Peak Air Attack Base. Becoming a Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) is no simple task for an injured plane, but with the guidance of seasoned fire-and-rescue helicopter Blade Ranger (voice of Ed Harris), fearless leader of the Piston Peak Air Attack team, Rusty is soon soaring through the clouds once again.

Review:

Small minded and kiddish, this adventure is nothing more than a rehash of Disney’s earlier forays into auto-mated territory. The character dynamics are familiar but effective. The visuals are beautiful, the aerial acrobatics are thrilling and the voice performances add gravitas to the entire show.

Script writer and director Bobs Gannaway (a longtime Disney TV helmer making his feature debut) and returning “Planes” scribe Jeffrey M. Howard were inspired by the fact that crop dusters were in fact used in wildfire air attacks which becomes the basis for heavy dramatics in this picture accompanied by impressively staged setpieces. The animation here is nearly flawless in its detailed rendering of natural settings. The fire is also rendered flawlessly, which makes the rescue acts even more thrilling. And that’s the most unique and impressive feature of this otherwise standardized production.

In other words, this is nothing much more than a simple elevated tale- of fire fighting planes to the rescue with Dusty, experiencing trouble and therefore reinventing himself for a far more noble cinematic sojourn.

Best suited for the below 10 age group. Their wards will have to bear-up with it , of course!

Johnsont307@gmail.com

Begin Again, Hollywood English Film Movie Review, Johnson Thomas, Rating: * * * 1/2

#Begin Again(English) Rating: * * * ½ previously titled ‘#CanASongSaveYourLife?’, this musical romcom about what happens when lost souls meet and make beautiful music together, gradually gets you in the mood for music and love. And #KeiraKnightley can sing soulfully too! #JohnCarney #AdamLevine #MarkRuffalo #PVRDirectorsRare #catherineKeener #WeinsteinCo

English Film review

Johnson Thomas

Singing Romcom

Film: Begin Again

Cast: Keira Knightley, Adam Levine, Mark Ruffalo,

Director: John Carney

Rating: * * * 1/2

Running Time: 101 min.

Synopsis:An ambitious young female singer moves to New York City in search of stardom, but finds only disappointment until falling for a struggling record producer who helps her down the road to fame.

Review:

This showbiz based drama written and directed by John Carney(Once, Zonad), toplining Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine in his debut movie, is about lost souls meeting and making beautiful music together after experiencing some tough personal issues. College sweethearts, songwriting duo and long-term couple Greta(Keira Knightley) and Dave(Adam Levine)move to New York when Dave is offered a deal with a major music label. Dave, given the sudden and varied opportunity, strays and leaves a lovelorn Greta bereft and alone. Soon enough she meets a disgraced record label exec, Dan(Mark Ruffalo) who stumbles upon her talent while she is performing at an East Village stage. Captivated by her talent he sets out to help her achieve fame and fortune and in the process of course they fall in love. And then Dave comes back begging to get taken back into Gretta’s life…

John Carney’s treatment of romance is a little asexual. There’s a lot of sweetness and compatibility in the relationship between the two but the passion and sex are missing…or it’s not in sight- at least for the viewer. But that’s not a bad thing altogether because you get to see the two Greta and Dan coming to terms with their past and blending together for a stronger more secure future.

The narrative recounts both points of view. Dan tells his story from his point of view and then it’s Gretta’s turn, So ‘Begin Again’ does appear to be an appropriate moniker. Separated from his music journo wife Miriam (Catherine Keener), Dan has problems dealing with their petulant teenage daughter Violet (Hailee Steinfeld) and he’s also out of touch with the current music set-up. Since he hasn’t brought in a bankable new act in years, he gets kicked out of his job by Saul (Yasiin Bey, aka Mos Def). Then it’s Gretta’s recount of her own shaky hurtful past with Dave.

Thereafter, Carney’s narrative does the couple thing. A drunken Dan and an interested Gretta decide to make a demo album along with some seed money received from Rap artiste(Ceelo Green) who owes his career to Dan. So off they go, recording everything differently- outdoors, the natural way!What follows is not predictable so the interest remains kindled.

The film is of course powered by music, sentiments, performances and involving treatment. The love ballads have an evocative refrain that lends attachment. The performances are perfectly keyed. Keira Knightly sings soulfully and performs with an assurance of a thespian. Mark Ruffalo, does a food take on cash-strapped boozard. While Catherine Keener, as his estranged and bitter wife looks suited to the role. Both Ruffalo and Keener have essayed these sort of roles before so their familiarity with the nuances makes them look perfect. Adam Levine in his debut, does a solid act. Bery much the egoistic teen idol whose values go for a toss when fame and popularity pummel into his life! There’s no doubt that the Irish director of ‘Once’ has remodeled this take on the same story , albeit on a bigger and better scale, riding on waves of humor, pain and romance. And he has pulled it off beautifully!

Johnsont307@gmail.com