Shanghai - Dibakar Does It Again!

What?

Shanghai – A political thriller drama around an apparent assassination of an activist and the consequent investigation.

Who?

Dibakar Banerjee directs Abhay Deol, Emraan Hashmi & Kalki Koechlin among others.

Why?

Dibakar Banerjee. That’s why. The trailers didn’t say much but still managed to showcase something different. It successfully created the initial interest that is required to capture the attention of the filmgoer who has a slightly above average intellect. Not saying people who loved Rockstar or Love Aaj Kal or Jab We Mate are dumb. They’re just special children of God.

What is most impressive about Shanghai is that it takes a fairly common story of ‘bad politics’ but showcases it wonderfully well. It is brilliant and one of a kind. After KKG, OLLO & LSD Dibakar Banerjee has reached new heights with Shanghai. It is unique in its own right and it’s a film that will make you think about what you just saw and will surely generate some interesting conversations between different people who’ve seen it. Conversations which might not always be pleasant. Read: opposing views.

Just like his other films, Dibakar has made something completely fresh with Shanghai but has managed to bring out the constant ‘Dibakar’ element that can be seen in all his films. If you’re his fan then you’ll see how the film is nothing like his earlier work but you still manage to notice that it’s Dibakar.

What works for this film is the treatment. What’s shown has been shown before but never in this way. It’s very Coen-ish. Not to say that anything’s been copied from any of the Coen Brothers films’. To show a political thriller drama of sorts without going over the top is what I am talking about. The slightly slow build up, individual scenes making sense but that wonderment about what’s going on in the film as a whole, things patching up towards the end and making sense, and a not so definite beginning or end will only keep the film lingering on in your head. This kind of ‘feel’ has earlier only been seen in Hollywood films, save for a couple of Hindi ones, especially the kind of cinema Coen Brothers make.

Starts off a little slow in a town which is 2 hours away from Delhi (by road, air, or rail; we’re never told). And the best part? You never find out which town they are in. Things don’t make sense initially but it gradually picks up. The acting is brilliant almost all the time. Abhay, portraying a South Indian, falters a little every now and then. Emraan in a not so flashy role takes time to really get inside the character. Kalki, who I’d written off after debacles like Shaitan and Yellow Boots, proves me wrong and gives her best performance after Dev D. The supporting cast is ‘real’ and adds to the feel. I loved seeing two unknown actors from Shor In The City (one of the best films of recent times) in Shanghai. Vishal-Shekhar disappointed with regards to the music. Amit Trivedi could’ve done better, maybe? A good background score could’ve really worked wonders. But it wasn’t all that bad either.

Definitely watch this movie if you liked Dibakar’s earlier work. If you like movies which make you use your brain, leave you wondering about what happened, this one is a treat. If you just want to watch something new and fresh, again, Shanghai is the film. But be open minded enough to accept the fact that it takes guts to make a movie like this. It might not be perfect, it will have its flaws, but it’s in the right direction. You might like it or maybe not, but in the end you will appreciate the efforts.

If you think Om Shanti Om rocked, Deepika Padukone can act and Imtiaz Ali can direct, please skip this and wait for Cocktail and Teri Meri Kahani. Rest of the junta, go for it.

This film was worthy enough to make Sir Rachit Varma to come out of his sabbatical and write a full length review after ages means something, right?

Rating?

7/10

Youth In Revolt - Review

Youth In Revolt

Nick Twisp(Michael Cera) is a teen with above average intelligence. He reads classic prose, likes Frank Sinatra and is an aspiring novelist. He lives with his mother Estelle Twisp(Jean Smart) who is currently dating a truck driver Jerry(Zach Galifianakis) who also happens to be a pathological liar. His dad George Twisp(Steve Buscemi) is currently jobless and is dating the wonderful 25-year old Lacey(Ari Graynor). Nick is irritated with everything around him, which includes his last name as well, and to top it off he is still a virgin.

When Jerry sells a no good car to a couple of sailors, Nick and his mother escape with Jerry to the peaceful, religious town of Okiah where they go to a trailer park aptly named “Restless Axles Trailer Park”. This is where Nick meets Sheeni Saunders(Portia Doubleday), the girl of his dreams. Sheeni is an intellectual, beautiful girl who has a major fascination with France. Nick falls in love with her at first sight and wishes to have babies with her. But in the way of his dreams and plans are a lot of people and problems. Firstly there is this perfect guy Trent who Sheeni is dating, then there are Sheeni's parents who are religious fanatics. Nick has always been this sweet kid who is polite to everyone around him, but now he realises that to get the girl of his dreams he has to change his whole personality and become a total opposite of what he has been for the past 16 years. But in doing so he commits some crimes and is on the run from the cops. All this is very exciting for Sheeni. In the picture then comes Sheeni's brother Paul Saunders(Justin Long) who should be given a special mention for playing a short but hilarious role. He is this marijuana smoking, mushroom eating, hippie kind of a guy who just happens to come from nowhere. All this makes a lot of chaos by the end, and Nick is confused whether he should still be that bad ass or be what he actually is, a sweet little virgin.

This is not your typical teen romantic comedy but its not all that great either. Michael Cera has nearly perfected in playing a nerdy looking sweet boy character but now it looks a little repetitive. Lets hope he grows up soon and plays different roles. Portia Doubleday has acted decently well but at times looked like she was trying to act a little too old. Steve Buscemi and Zach Galifianakis don't have a major role in the film but they do their part nicely. Justin Long put a refreshing touch to the film.

Go watch it once. A light hearted movie with some funny scenes here and there.

(6/10)

Sir Rachit Varma

Kick-Ass Review

Disclaimer – This being my first ever full length review, pardon my French. Ardon Pardon come to my garden. And yes, I haven't read the comic Kick-Ass. Or 'graphic novel' if you'd prefer to call it that.


Kick-Ass



It is a superhero movie nothing like what you've ever seen before. It has got no bulky, hoarse voiced macho men. Its got no super futuristic weapons. The heroes don't fly. In 'Kick-Ass' what you end up seeing is a bunch of kids who thrash real gangsters, and thrash them good. They don't care how old they are, they do what they need to do. Kick some ass.

This story is about Dave Lizewski(played by Aaaron Johnson), an average high school kid, with very few friends, no skills to talk up a woman and he even gets bullied by the other kids. But what he's got is love for comic books which when combined with building frustration over his inability to do anything cool, can be quite, lame. He gets this stupid gooey looking green colored costume and names himself Kick-Ass. He's got no style, no skills, but again, what he's got is, is a good heart and the will to do good things and not just stand and watch people do wrong things. But while doing this he gets his ass kicked big time! He looks like Ass-Kicked rather than Kick-Ass.

But then come our real heroes. Damon Macready/Big Daddy(played by Nicholas Cage) and Mindy Macready/Hit Girl(played superbly by Chloe Moretz) are a father daughter duo who want to avenge the death of the wife/mother and during that process make this world a better place. Damon very calmly shoots at his daughter, who's wearing a bulletproof vest, just to prepare her if there ever is a situation like this in the future. They play with guns and the girl knows inside out about glocks, tommies, bazookas and what not. She plays with a knife as if its a doll. She is this cute little 11 year old girl what when she gets down to killing people, she can be mean. Now both of them see Kick-Ass getting his ass kicked so they decide help him and form a sort of alliance to fight crime.

Now I won't spill any more details out for you here, but will they be able to defeat the ganglord who caused Big Daddy to become a vigilante in the first place? Will Kick-Ass finally get to be a hero? Will he get the girl of his dreams? Watch to find out. Its a good entertaining film, a refreshing watch. Its got a lot of disturbing images which include a violent 11-year old girl hurling abuses at the bad guys and using cuss words in general. All this might look a little disturbing to the viewers and might send out the wrong message to kids everywhere. But lets not worry about the kids as they are not supposed to watch an R-rated film in the first place, so you can't really blame the director of the film. Its art. It's meant to be subjective. It's meant to challenge the norms. But she has played the role of her life and she looks to be a promising little actress who can really make it big in the future. Nicholas Cage is finally acting his age by not being some stupid burning bike-borne killer. The music just blows you away, with a very unusual mix of classics and modern remixes which are put into the scenes in a very effective manner which really jacks up the viewers enthusiasm towards the particular scene and involves him. All in all a good job by Matthew Vaughn who delivers another good product. I wonder when will he get a good BO hit. Its his third movie which is particularly good and interesting but like the other two this hasn't really garnered the money it deserves. I'll be waiting for Kick-Ass 2.

Hit Girl: Show's over, motherfuckers.

4/5

Sir Rachit Varma