Cinema Paradiso- All about Cinema: September 2014

Sunday, September 28, 2014

#DeliverUsFromEvil English Hollywood Film movie Review, #JohnsonThomas, Rating: * *

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#DeliverUsFromEvil(English) Rating:* * Yet another salvo at the horror genre with plenty of religious motifs and pedestrian efforts to scare. A cop and a priest team up on a case of demonic possession.#TheConjuring it is not! #EricBana #EdgarRamÃrez #OliviaMunn #SeanHarris #JoelMcHale #ScottDerrickson #SonyEntertainment

English film review
Johnson Thomas

True prayer for the cynics

Film: Deliver us From Evil
Cast: Eric Bana, Edgar RamÃrez, Olivia Munn, Sean Harris, Joel McHale
Director: Scott Derrickson

Rating: * *

Running Time: 117 min.

Synopsis:
A cop and a priest team up on a case of demonic possession in this Screen Gems horror film based on actual cases investigated by retired NYPD police officer-turned-demonologist Ralph Sarchie. When a series of frightening and unfathomable killings leave the citizens of New York City fearing for their lives, troubled cop Sarchie (Eric Bana) fails in his attempts to find a rational explanation for the crimes. Sarchie's eyes are opened to a frightening alternate reality, however, when renegade Jesuit priest (Ã‰dgar RamÃrez) convinces him that demonic possession may be to blame for the gruesome murders. Together, this unlikely duo wage a valiant supernatural struggle to rid the city of an otherworldly evil.

Review
Ever since ‘The Conjuring’ did the trick-giving the horror genre a fresh new lease of life, it’s been open sesame for similar attempts. This one claims to be based on true life events. The film is inspired by the book “Beware the Night,” by Ralph Sarchie and Lisa Collier Cool. Sarchie has the unusual credentials of retired New York City police officer and demonologist, Scott(Sinister) Derrickson directs from a script he wrote with Paul Harris Boardman. This film appears to have been made to appease the genre fans. It foes through the motions with a lassitude that’s unbecoming and has little to excite or scare you. Everything is set out very seriously though.

Eric Bana's Sergeant Ralph Sarchie, a haunted member of the New York Police Department, has an intuitive "radar"-like sixth sense. Sarchie's intuitiveness leads him and partner Butler (Joel McHale) to a string of related domestic abuse cases. In each case, parents abuse their children while a mysterious string-bean of a man (Sean Harris) hovers nearby. In each case, Sarchie is beaten to the prowl by hard-drinking Jesuit priest Father Mendoza (Edgar Ramirez) and continues to nudge skeptical Sarchie toward an acceptance of his limitations regards the supernatural occurings.

Been there, seen that is what you’ll be telling yourself while watching this tried and tested trope fest. ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘Seven’ appear to be the most suitable borrowings here. Dead kids ply on the sentiment women are useful plot devices while men- fathers really, are the most knowledgeable about these paranormal occurring. Though based on true events, there’s nothing tangible or real to hold on to. The treatment in fact lacks bite. Delving about the characters and their motives is not of any interest to the director here. He just wants to set up the traditional scares without really justifying them. And that too without much finesse!
Johnsont307@rediffmail.com

#TwoNightStand, English Hollywood Film Movie Review, #JohnsonThomas, Rating: * *

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#Picks&Piques/SnippetFilmReviews/JohnsonThomas26Sept2014

#TwoNightStand(English) Rating: * * Boring romance starved of imagination and completely unoriginal. #PVRFilms #MilesTeller #AnaleighTipton #JessicaSzohr #ScottMescudi #LevenRambin #MaxNichols

English Film review
Johnson Thomas

Boring, Unoriginal

Film: Two Night Stand
Cast: Miles Teller, Analeigh Tipton, Jessica Szohr, Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi, Leven Rambin
Director: Max Nichols

Rating: * *

Running Time: 86 min.

Synopsis:
When a blizzard blows through Manhattan, two strangers (Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton) get snowed in together following a one night stand that they both regret.

Review
Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton star in the debut feature from director Max Nichols (Mike's son), about a couple snowbound after a one-night stand. It’s not a new idea by any standards and especially since his father Mike Nichols postulated similar incidents in the Al Pacino-Michelle Pfeiffer starrer Frankie and Johnny. Even the 1969 romance starring Dustin Hoffman and Mia Farrow had a similar premise. Max though has modernized the story a bit using the mechanics of the times to get the two lovers together for the first time. It’s a internet hook-up which brings them together for their one-night stand and then they get snow-bound for the second coming.

Mark Hammer making his debut as screenwriter creates some sharp moments only to fritter them away with trite and tired plotting. Max , in his directorial debut can neither enliven nor engage with his narration. There’s really nothing very unique about this offering.

Basically a flimsy plot line with a lot of interim dialogue to save face. Some of it is interesting but the rest is plain dead-boring. The characters have a dim view of life (considering their ages) and insights on human behavior and sex are so flaky and immature, they sound laughable. When certain truths waylay the final act, everything before it appears to have been a castle built on sand. The characters are basically stereotypes –not live enough to make you want to get to know nor feel for them. The actors try their best to be likeable but there’s only so much they can do when all else seems intractable!

Johnsont307@rediffmail.com

#Tapaal, Indian Marathi Film Movie review, #JohnsonThomas Rating: * * * 1/2

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#Tapaal(Marathi) Rating: * * * ½ Internationally feted, Heart-touching story of a little boy & a childless couple who adopt him and the endless social discrimination/ostracisation they face in their small village. #MaitreyaMassMedia #PickleEntertainment #NanduMadhav #VeenaJamkar #MilindGunaji #UrmilaKanetkarKothare #RohitUtekar #LaxmanUtekar #Media1PR #GaneshGargote

Marathi film review
Johnson Thomas

Stunningly Evocative

Film: Tapaal
Cast: Nandu Madhav, Veena Jamkar, Milind Gunaji, Urmila Kanetkar and introducing Rohit Utekar,
Director: Laxman Utekar

Rating: * * * ½

‘Tapaal’ is cinematpgrapher(English Vinglish) Laxman Utekar’s directorial debut and it’s a spell-binding one I must say. The film has already been feted and appreciated in several International film festivals and showings and it comes to the theatres in India riding on that Tsunami of appreciation.

The story of a little boy, Ranga Rao(Rohit Utekar)who gets informally adopted by a childless couple and the social discrimination/ostracisation faced by them in their small village. The film is set in a small village, somewhere in the Konkan region, in the year 1977. It dwells with sympathy, concern and understanding on the bond between the little boy and the childless couple, and the social discrimination that they face.

TAPAAL's script writer, creative producer and presenter is none other than Mangesh Hadawale, of TINGYA fame. He creates some very tangible moments strong on pathos and enlivenment.
The performances by all the actors are stunningly evocative- and especially so with young first-timer Rohit Utekar who manages to stun you with his naturalness and amazing confidence.
Laxman Utekar, in his very first directorial effort proves that he has what it takes to go the distance as a director of repute!

TAPAAL had its World Premiere at 18th Busan International Film Festival 2013, South Korea. It was selected in Indian Panorama Section at 44th IFFI (International Film festival 2013) and 9 other International Film Festivals as well. It was also screened at 3rd Eye Asian Film Festival and Pune Film Festival. That's not all. Veena Jamkar bagged the best actress award at South Africa Film Festival. While Rohit Utekar won Best Child Actor Award, Prakash Holkar got the best lyricist award for his emotional composition 'don disanchi sawali ' at the Maharashtra state film Awards.
Johnsont307@rediffmail.com