Tag Archives: Drama Movies

American Movies, Biography Movies, Drama Movies

“Sully” Movie Review : Chesley Sullenberger’s Tale Touches The Heart

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Movie: Sully                                                                           Release Year: 2016

Country: U.S.A (Hollywood)                                                Genre: Drama, Biography

Language:  English

Sully 2016 Movie Review:

Directed by Clint Eastwood, Sully is an adaptation of a book written by Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow. The film is based on the famous incident of “Miracle On The Hudson” where an US Airlines plane ended up landing on the water and without any causality on 15th January – 2009.

For Sully’s review I am not going to talk about the film’s storyline as everyone knows about this incident. I will rather focus on other cinematic areas and how Clint Eastwood has executed this story on the big screen.

The film’s starting sequence is great to watch and sets the tone for the movie. Although what follows next for about one and a half hour is not that “action packed” as you would expect from the first scene. But, then the movie is not supposed to show anything extra then what actually happened on January 15th 2009.

Clint Eastwood has kept everything simple and easy to understand for the audience. There is nothing over dramatic or constructed in Sully. The film follows the events as they occurred and tries to tell the “behind the scene” story of what actually prompted the Captain to land on water. Even the scene of landing on the Hudson river feels almost the replica of the actual footage of the incident. There was some criticism of Clint Eastwood for showing NTSB in bad light. But as a viewer I didn’t feel it. Yes, they are shown as professional and strict guys, but then this is their job and they were simply doing their job.

Why to Watch Sully?

Well, when you have Tom Hanks in the movie what else you would like to see? Yes, Mr. Hanks did it this time too. He looks awesome in those white hairs and mustache and you will love him in this avatar. Tom as Captain Sullenberger has literally carried the movie solely on his star prowess. Aaron Eckhart as Jeff Skiles has done a decent supporting job. Talking of direction, the camera work looks extremely decent. Editing is sharp and background score is slow but good enough. I liked the last part when Tom and Aaron are facing the public hearing that was an emotional and captivating part of the film. The manner in which Captain Sullenberger defends himself is worthy of watching.

The movie gives us a clear picture of what actually was going through the mind of Captain Sullenberger when he decided to land on water. It also shows his dedication towards his job and the human nature’s weakness as well as strong side. And, the most important of all “humanity is still alive”…

My Verdict & Rating:

I gave a thumping 9/10 to Clint Eastwood’s Sully. It is based on real events and they are shown with utmost truthfulness that I really appreciate. If you are a serious cinema lover then go and watch it. Just one thing from my side “Sully is a slow-paced film and you need patience to watch it”.

Stay tuned for many more reviews to come your way…!

 

Bollywood, Drama Movies, Indian Movies, Social Movies

Parched Movie: A Critical Review

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Movie: Parched                                        Release Year: 2015 (TIFF) 2016 (Worldwide)

Country: India (Bollywood)                    Language: Hindi (Rajasthani, Kacchi Dialect)

Genre: Social, Drama

Parched Movie Review:

As for its name “Parched” means thirsty or something that’s been baked by sun. Once can simply say a thing bereft of water or moisture. And, it is what our movie is all about. Parched tells the tale of 3 women living different lives, but none satisfied and happy.

The film is shot in a fictitious village with people speaking a “constructed” language rather a dialect of Hindi. In the words of the director of the film Leena Yadav, ‘she did this intentionally so that none of our countrymen could complain that this doesn’t happen in our part of the world’.

Well, I too not certain whether this happens somewhere or not. But, that must not be the topic of discussion while writing about Parched movie. As a cinema lover and reviewer I got to comment about film’s cinematic aspect and value.

What’s good in PARCHED?

Here I start, to my surprise the acting in Parched was of highest standard. People are praising Radhika Apte, but  Tannishtha Chatterjee, Surveen Chawla, Lehar Khan, Riddhi Sen, Sumeet Vyas and others too have looked extremely convincing. Kevin Tent’s editing is classy so does Leena’s direction. The film gives you a complete feel of “rural India”.

Radhika Apte Parched
Radhika Apte as Lajjo…

I too belong to a backward Indian state and have seen the worst of Indian villages in my life. But, now things have changed for better in most places. But, in this film the villagers are still living in an extremely restricted not to mention “male dominated” environment. They don’t even have a TV set in the village (a fact that was hard to swallow). Anyways let’s move forward.

At no point Parched felt to me as a film based on women emancipation. But, it did struck me more than couple of times to think about the plight of rural women of my country. The music, songs and background scores are pretty vernacular and typical of rural Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Storyline

Tannishtha Chatterjee Parched
Tannishtha Chatterjee as RaniStoryline:

Now let’s talk about the film’s story. It prominently revolves around 3 women named Lajjo (Radhika Apte), Rani (Tannishtha Chatterjee) and Bijli (Surveen Chawla). Lajjo is living in an abusive marriage presumably because she is barren. It’s only after Bijli’s insistence that she discovers that she is not barren when she gets pregnant with Adil Hussain’s child (a Mystic Lover in the movie). Rani a 32-year-old widow with a teenage boy whom she has married to a girl. But, her son is not the man who she thinks he is. Rani has not been touched by a man for 15 years and now she starts getting calls from a person who calls himself Shah Rukh Khan. And last, but not the least Bijli, a dancer and prostitute who once was Rani’s husband’s mistress and now her best buddy.

Surveen Chawla & Radhika Apte in Parched
Surveen Chawla & Radhika Apte in Parched…

Parched has plenty of bold scenes in it. Although, they doesn’t seem vulgar. The language used in the movie is very foul and abusive. It’s literally vulgarity at its zenith. But, then this is the reality of rural Indian and we must accept it.

I personally liked the end of the film as it depicted the end of Lajjo’s husband coinciding with the occasion of Dussehra festival. A festival that commemorates the win of evil over good.

My Verdict & Rating of Parched:

I rated Parched 8/10, due to its great acting, direction and the message it wants to convey to the audience. Although, I would absolutely not recommend it to people below the age of 18. There’s one more suggestion to the audience, if you are not a native Hindi speaker please see it with English subtitles as the dialect is extremely difficult to understand at places.

With this I sign out for today’s review. Stay tuned to The World of Movies for many more reviews to come….

Bollywood, Drama Movies, Indian Movies, Social Movies, Thriller Movies

Pink Movie Review

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Movie: Pink                                                  Release Year: 2016

Country: India (Bollywood)                      Language: Hindi

Genre: Social, Drama, Thriller

Pink Movie Review:

Pink is not a movie, it’s a slice of life for thousands of working women in Delhi. Not everyone faces the exact same situation, but most know it can very well be them.

I remember during my first job a colleague’s boyfriend got into a scuffle with a stranger who misbehaved with my colleague. Punches were exchanged and the stranger got a little hurt. Next day when my scared colleague narrated the incident our boss, a middle aged Delhite who clearly had more experience than us freshers commented that it was a foolish thing to do. She said in Delhi you don’t know who’s connected to whom and my colleague should pray that the roadside romeo wasn’t a nephew of an MLA or a Minister.

Thankfully, she never saw him again. Years later when my husband and I went to get an FIR filed for a small theft at home the SHO very cordially refused to do that. The SHO who Meenal Arora (Taapsee Pannu) goes to in the film had the same attitude as the inspector we dealt with. At all my places of work I have had colleagues from the North East and I first hand know of the ‘special’ treatment they get from all and sundry just for being who they are.

Pink 2016 Movie
Pink Bollywood Film 2016

For these reasons and more Pink doesn’t come across as a film. The incidents are close to life, the horror is palpable and when the girls are threatened your skin literally crawls in fear of what’s going to happen next.

The film grips you from the very first scene and keeps you on the edge until the end. I liked the way the details are not spelled out for the audience in the beginning but is pieced together as the film progresses, and only shown during the end credits.

Why to Watch Pink Movie?

Performances are stellar. The 3 girls are so natural with their expressions and gestures they don’t seem to be acting at all. I’m sure all women can identify a little with Meenal, Falak and Andrea. We can relate with the bold and aggressive Meenal who refuses to bow down to the goons on phone but as soon as the call disconnects runs to the safety of her home. We see a little of ourselves in Falak (Kirti Kulhari) who is mature and composed but loses her cool when provoked beyond her limits. Everyone of us who has ever known a girl from North East knows how true Andrea is when she says she’s harassed more than average girls only because of her place of origin.

The boys have acted very well too. One of them seriously gave me the creeps every time he said something about teaching the girls a lesson.

Amitabh Bachchan is brilliant and dominates the second half. His arguments in court are fantastic and spot on. However, I didn’t quite get the significance of him wearing a mask and watching over the girls in the beginning. I also couldn’t understand the significance of bringing his ailing wife in the picture.

The support cast is fantastic. The judge, other lawyer and woman SHO have all given realistic performances. I especially enjoyed Amitabh Bachchan cross questioning the SHO.

One must credit the director (Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury) for giving attention to detail – the tattoo Meenal sports, the modest unsophisticated courtroom, the jail cell with wet floor – all add to the flavor of the film.

Pink Movie Verdict:

The film is a tight slap on the faces of all those men who think like Rajveer (Angad Bedi) and his friends. It conveys the message loud and clear and as one of my friends said this kind of films need to be released every weekend instead of the trash we see in halls ever so often. The whole team of Pink needs a standing ovation for their outstanding work. In fact I feel the film should be made tax-free for the strong social message it gives.

A must watch for each and every man and woman.

 

Reviewed By: Aparna Kunal Jain

She manages a Facebook Group called “The Movie Club“…!

Bollywood, Drama Movies, Indian Movies, Romantic Movies

Hamari Adhuri Kahani Review

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Movie: Hamari Adhuri Kahani                   English Title: Our Incomplete Story

Release Year: 2015                                    Country: India (Bollywood)

Genre: Romance, Drama, Tragedy            Language: Hindi

Hamari Adhuri Kahani Movie Review:

I watched this movie yesterday. Although, I had Hamari Adhuri Kahani on my laptop since its release, but due to my personal issues I wasn’t able to see it till now.

The film stars Emran Hashmi as Aarav Ruperel, Vidya Balan as Vasudha Prasad and Rajkumar Rao as Hari Prasad in lead roles. Talking about their acting I must say it was great to watch. Specially, Vidya Balan has acted the way she is recognized in Bollywood. Emran Hashmi too has looked convincing enough while Rajkumar Rao has provided the much required spark in the otherwise, slow movie.

For me the best part of Hamari Adhuri Kahani was its music and songs. I loved all the songs because they have “heart piercing” lyrics and beautiful music. You can check out the playlist Here:

Hamari Adhuri Kahani Movie
Emran Hashmi & Vidya Balan

Storyline:

Coming to story of this 2015 Bollywood movie, at first when you start watching Hamari Adhuri Kahani everything looks fine and goes in a definite direction.

There is a wealthy business tycoon  (Emran) who falls for a mother of one (Vidya). Vasudha is a typical Indian “Sanskari” woman who despite not seeing her husband for 5 years still wears “Mangalsutra” and waits for his return. However, it is revealed that his husband is apparently a wanted terrorist accused of killing American journalist.

When Aarav gives Vasudha an offer to work with his Dubai hotel after initially saying NO she agrees. Vasudha wants to raise her son Saanj and live free of her past. But, the movie goes haywire when Emran tells Vidya how much he loves her. Again she says NO at first, and then agrees after meeting his mother.

The movie feels like it has so many lessons under one chapter. There is a reference of ‘soul to soul love’, ‘women subjugation’, ‘women emancipation’, ‘terrorism’, ‘corrupt politicians’ etc.

And the problem is that all these doesn’t give a seamless experience to you as an audience. 2 hours seem very short time to show all above mentioned issues in a single movie.

Things Left Unexplained in Hamari Adhuri Kahani:

  1. How come Hari get to know Vasudha’s life when he was away from her for 5 years?
  2. How Aarav a poor boy became a hotel magnate and that too at a relatively young age?
  3. How come Hari who is serving a death sentence is set free only on the basis of one person’s testimony? Is it really that simple in India?
  4. Why did Aarav chose to take his foot off the landmine? When he could have asked Apoorva’s help. All he needed was to wait for the rescue team to come there.
  5. What happened to Aarav’s business empire and how could Saanj became a rich man despite Vasudha taking him away from his father to live a seemingly poor life?

My Verdict & Rating:

Despite of all its flaws I have rated Hamari Adhuri Kahani 8 out of 10. Yes, I did because of good acting and some great music. The movie is a no win, no loss affair. Watch it with your own wish and there’s a chance you will not regret it. Although going by the ratings and reviews by experts Hamari Adhuri Kahani is a must “Not Watch” film of 2015. But, I certainly don’t conform to this view.