'LINCOLN'-  Tanmay’s views and Review

Starring:- Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Tommy Lee Jones

Director:- Steven Spielberg

‘Lincoln’ Directed by Steven Spielberg has sent ripples across every big film festival and award function globally and there is a definite reason for this. This film brings forth the story of Lincoln, the Politician, the leader, the visionary, the father and the husband. Based on a part of Lincoln’s Biography “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” . This film is more factual then fiction.  Set up in early 1865 during the second tenure of the 18th President of America, in the middle of the civil war. 

The film beautifully portrays the challenges that Lincoln faced while trying to pass the vote on the 13^th Amendment, which  meant to abolish the slavery of black people in America in the constitution, in the House of Representatives. The film essentially is an apolitical drama, which revolves around how the visionary, shrewd, leader Lincoln manages to achieve the 13th amendment. This amendment according to him will lay the path of prosperity for America in coming years and finish the bloody civil war that has ripped the country apart.

In a Steven Spielberg films it is the directorial brilliance that sweeps you away but in this film it is the superlative performance by the lead actor Daniel Day Lewis who portrays Lincoln blows you away. Everything is amazing in Daniel Day Lewis act, from body movements, to voice modulation, to dialogue delivery and you understand why this man got the best actor award in most of the nominations. His portrayal of a loving father, helpless husband, and astute leader is par brilliance.  The scene where his wife played by Sally Field argues him for allowing his son to go to war leaves you speechless. Tommy Lee jones has an interesting role and you admire the veteran for his act.

During the climax when the 13^th amendment is debated by senators, it is heart filling to know how they believed or portrayed that they believed that the white people are chosen by God to rule over the blacks and it is their duty to rule over them.  You also feel to clap along with the ones in the film when they are countered in the debate.

The Film is advised for those who have a taste of political drama, and has the patience of sitting for around 30min in the first half as the movie takes time to step up the pace and it takes a while when you get hooked to it. Brush up your history facts before you watch the film !

Score Stack Up:-

+ ive:-    Brilliant Performances, Great screenplay, Fantastic direction.

-  ive:- …….?? I am thinking

Box Office, Paisa Vasool Rating:-  3 out of 5

Tanmay's Rating : 4 out of 5

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scores Classifications- 

(5)  Very Good, Must Watch 

(4)   Good, Should Watch 

(3)   Not Bad ;

(2)  One Time Watch ; 

(1)  On your own risk ;  

"Special 26"- Tanmay’s View and Review

Cast:- Anupam Kher, Akshay Kumar, Manoj Bajpayee, Jimmy Shergill, 

Director:- Neeraj Pandey

By the time I write this review, the verdict is out “Special 26” will most probably be the surprise hit of the year following the lines of “kahani” and Director Neeraj Pandey’s very own "A Wednesday”. The Movie is being appreciated by people and rightly so. What makes this movie a runaway success is the tight execution of the script by the Director. Neeraj Pandey once again demonstrates his skills as a brilliant story teller of what could be said as a single line plot.

“Special 26” is reportedly based on true incidences of heist conducted in 80’s and Pandey executes this period drama with acute details like use of Old Maruti cars and other vehicles, creating Delhi’s Connaught place and Mumbai’s skyline of 80’s with VFX effect. The detailing goes as deep as old ads being played in the background. The retro feel in the movie is added by the beautiful use of trumpet in the background score. Even the Movie's name in the posters is styled like in 80's.

This movie is a thriller with a dope of surprise and twist in it. Anupam Kher once again displays his vividness by easily switching between characters. Jimmy Shergill has an interesting role. Manoj Bajpai in his new thin frame looks very convincing. The romantic angle in the film slows the pace a bit, it becomes a commercial compulsion for the Director when he chose to work with a commercial star. As nobody dares to make a film with a formula star without the usual song and dance routine, but the goodness of the execution of screenplay in this film takes you through this song and dance routine. During the end of the movie just when one can start accusing the Director of glorifying crime, Neeraj Pandey gives an interesting twist to keep the message going.

‘Special 26’ is no doubt a special film to make your movie watching experience even more special !

Score Stack Up:-

+ive :- Crisp narrative, fantastic screenplay, amazing performances, and good background score

-ive:- uninspiring songs.

Box Office, Paisa Vasool Rating:- 4 out of 5

 

Tanmay's Rating : 4 out of 5

 

MURDER 3- My Review

If 2004 ‘Murder’ was an erotic thriller, and 2011 ‘ Murder 2’ was a psychological thriller, the latest ‘Murder 3’ is neither an erotic thriller or a sleek psychological thriller. Although,  this movie tries hard to be one, but fumbles in its way through the end. Loosely based on Columbian thriller “the hidden face’ { which is the USP of ‘Bhatt camp’ and we call it ‘Inspiration’ J  ) does  not really brings the eee!!! Factor

Randeep Hooda plays an ace photographer with a funny hair piece on his head ( he could have grown the hair for this ! why use a wig !), he performs less than half of his potential. Both the female leads Aditi Rao Hydari  and Sara Loren add up to the glamour quotient, kissing Hooda regularly ( is someone missing Hashmi !) The Movie starts with Hooda finding his missing Girlfriend and it does successfully engage the interest of the viewer till the interval. During the time the usual dose of awkward sound in Bathroom, thundering, lights suddenly going dark, window crashing, suspense revolving from one character to other, which are part of a horror-thriller kind of movies keeps you engaged.

The problem begins with the second half; as the Climax is unfolded with a little unconvincing twist. This could have been the master stroke of the film, but sadly Vishesh Bhatt struggles to justify the twist in the film. The loose strings of the film are - undefined character of Randeep Hooda, is he good, is he Bad or is he ugly?. Rajesh Shringarpure who plays a tough cop ( every thriller has to have a tough cop, but thankfully for the film, he does not solves the mystery !) His character is flooded with average dialogues like “jise tum nahi dikhana chahte ho wo dikh raha ha” “ Agar nisha ko kuch hua, to mai jaanch nahi karoonga seethe jaan loonga”  . One of the main reason of success of earlier ‘Murder’ Films were their music but this edition has a very weak soundtrack  except for ‘Teri Jhuki Nazar’ which is hummable. The film has an open end, may be a sequel is on the way….

All in all Murder 3 will serve you as an eye candy, little engaging but slightly unconvincing film. We expect  a lot more from Vishesh Films or the Bhatt Camp, who looks like struggling every time they make a movie without Hasmi…..Bring Him on Bhatt Sahab……

 

Score Stack Up

+ives :-  Glamour of the two leading ladies; good suspense build up

-ives:- unconvincing climax unfold, weak dialogues, average Music and very avg performances
 

Box office, Paisa vasool Rating :- 3 out of 5

Tanmay’s Rating:-  2 out of 5

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scores Classifications-

(5) Very Good, Must Watch

(4) Good, Should Watch

(3) Not Bad ;

(2) One Time Watch ;

(1) On your own risk ;

VISHWAROOP- My View and Review

 

 

 

 

‘Vishwaroopam’ or Vishwaroop in Hindi is Kamal Haasan’s attempt to bring forth a different story and satisfy his never say die hunger of playing different characters. His past work from Appu raja, to Hey Ram, to Chachi 420 to forgettable Dashavtar and now to Vishwaroop is clear evidence that Mr. Hasaan keeps on toying with one idea diagonally opposite to the other. Regardless of box office results, Mr Hasaan keeps his fans engaged in one film after the other.

This time Kamal Haasan has spun a story which is globally relevant, around jihad, America and bombing. The Film has a smart narrative as it begins as a story about a disinterested wife and gradually turns into the ‘bigger cause’ of Jihad and America. It does not tell us why a jihadi becomes a jihadi, what it does is projects Jihad as a business run by religious fanatics. The narrative keeps on moving back and forth which keeps the viewer’s interest alive and in the end the disinterest of the wife turns into love for the husband. Vishwaroop has an interesting cast (Shekhar kapoor in his little role but a svelte style.)

 

The Characters in the film speak in either Pashto or English whenever required with subtitles in Hindi does good to the film, otherwise in Bollywood movies we see Indian actors either faking accent or foreign actors trying to speak in Hindi. The camera work by Sanu Varghese is good with tight editing by Mahesh Narayanan. The locations are also good and look authentic. The movie does revolve around kamal hasaan and his ptryal of a gay dancer, Jehaadi and RAW agent but you can't really blame the man as he single handily drives the film ( like any other Jackie Chan or Sylvester Stallone movie, they too pump their money in the film.)

Rahul Bose plays his evil best ably supported by other characters. Jaideep Ahlawat get a good screen length after small roles in films like ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ and little known ‘Chittagong’.

 

Vishwaroop is little slow with almost nil in the comic content (except little bit in the scenes in beginning) and an average background score (except in a scene where the tension is nicely depicted by south Indian classical music) and tends to drag itself in places. The action thriller of this taste ought to be an edge of the seat thriller. The film is watchable for its Hollywoodish content and bollywoodish execution. Maybe we see a better, sleeker and tighter version in Vishwaroop 2 ! 

 

 

Score Stack Up:-

 

+ For narrative, Plot, locations, Performances, Camerawork ( for being Kamal Hassan's Fan)

-  For Being slow, For No good Music

 

Box Office, Paisa Vasool Rating:- 3 out of 5

Tanmay's Rating : 3 out of 5

 

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Scores Classifications- 

 

(5)  Very Good, Must Watch 

(4)    Good, Should Watch 

(3)   Not Bad ;

(2)  One Time Watch ; 

(1)   On your own risk ;