Yaariyan (2014) - Romance

Yaariyan precisely is a great example of – when you have loads of money and resources at your disposal but no talent. WOW! It’s actually hard to tell if it’s a movie with half a dozen glossy music videos in between or music videos with some mindfuck story in between. Surprisingly it even talks about the racial treatment Indians get in Australia these days and still they don’t react but just forgive them as after all what we want is their citizenship by end of the day. Barring a few foot tapping numbers and some real gorgeous shots of Shimla / Sikkim – the movie has nothing much to offer. It was totally a Yawn inducing story with nothing much to talk about – it’s shocking by the way it progresses and unfortunately movie is tad too long to see it in one go – Almost 2 hours and 30 minutes – off which 45 minutes should’ve been chopped to make it better. The best part of the whole exercise is the ending credits where you get to see the making of the movie with its cute Director and her kid – too good. I will give it a 1/5 that too half for the cinematography and the remaining half for those 3 songs that I liked. Rest – it’s a superb waste of time and resources.

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) - Comedy

Another terrific movie from the lethal combo of Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio camp. Mindblowing is the handling and I am sure all MS and LDC fans just like me will go head over heels in praising this one – big time. It deserves all the accolades and mind it – if this one doesn’t gets him an Academy – no other movie ever will. Oh and before I forget – my full sympathies with the folks in India who saw it on big screen and a heartfelt request to please check it out again on an uncut DVD – so that you should know what you missed. 180 minutes of running time throughout which MS and LDC with superb support cast made sure that I had a solid ear to ear grin plastered on my face permanently. The less said about the language used in the movie the better as we all have heard about it already multiple times – I couldn’t understand why would some tell MS on his face during an award ceremony (“Shame on you”) after watching the movie. The movie is about a New York stockbroker who runs a firm that engages in securities fraud and corruption on Wall Street in the 1990s – ends up making millions of dollar and where all that lands him is what it’s all about. Right like all other earlier MS movies – this one too stands out big time – totally loved it as I saw it right after “American Hustle” debacle which became the first of its own kinds of Christian Bale movies – which I am never going to see again. I will rate this one a fantastic 4/5 with a must watch recommendation to all (especially my male friends – pick up a six pack and enjoy it with your friends). Not to be missed at any cost.

Sholay 3D (2014) - Thriller / Action

How do you rate or review a movie you have grown all your life watching or talking about? When I first heard that it will be rereleased that too in 3D format – I guess the whole of my generation was doubly excited about the same. And to top it off the time of its release coincided with my parents visit to Mumbai. It was truly a mind-blowing experience to say the least – 200+ minutes of sheer fun watching my parents duck the bullets coming out of screen, flying debris, those amazing chase sequences live on big screen with superb background score. Almost every word said by that stellar cast is something I remember by heart and I was actually saying it in my mind before even they could say the same. This isn’t the first time that I saw the movie on big screen – this was my second viewing – first was somewhere in late 80’s I saw it as a part of one film festival back home. 3D definitely added an amazing 3^rd dimension to the movie – it was almost like peeking inside a window and watching everything come alive. Although the quality of the same is highly debatable but wasn’t bad from any standards – if you’ve seen it – I am sure you will agree. It is one heck of a movie that you see as many times – it connects damn well with the audience and to tell you the truth it became another first of those movies where I witnessed that not one soul walked out of the auditorium till it was finished – that’s something I haven’t seen in years (Especially couple of last year’s). I haven’t seen a better thriller / action / comedy / drama – all in one almost in all departments and the less said about the cast the better. I will definitely rate it a fundoo 5/5 for sure, have lost count how many times I have seen it and dunno how many more times I am going to see it in future. If you haven’t seen it on Big Screen yet – times is to take a break – do not miss it at any cost.

Club 60 (2013) - Drama

Another superb heart touching and meaningful movie after a long time (I mean after “The Lunchbox”) from Bollywood. Just couldn’t resist a movie with that kind of casting – Farooq Sheikh, Sarika, Raghubir Yadav, Sharat Saxena, Suhasini Mulay, Zarina Wahab, Tinu Anand, Satish Shah and couple of more guys. As the title suggests – story of 60+ oldies and their struggle, the best part of the movie is the earnest and heartfelt performance by the entire cast, even a couple of songs are rightly placed which take the mood another couple of steps further. Nothing outstanding – it’s pretty predictable affair – I will call it a little slow too for people who like action / thriller / comedy, but for someone who enjoys meaningful movie giving you a good lesson on life – it’s an amazing piece of art. Raghubir Yadav at the helm of things – doing what he does best – play the character a little over the top still makes you feel for his character. Farooq Sheikh and Sarika as Doctor Couple were simply outstanding recovering from their son’s untimely death. Every oldie has his own story to tell which are so life like that you just can’t help but agree. I just didn’t like one character – the guy who plays Income Tax officer – I guess Zakir Hussain would’ve been the apt choice and could have played the role very convincingly still he was able to do well. I am sure a lot of friends will agree and laugh on these Oldies histrionics and we will definitely be doing exactly what they were doing the movie, Amen - to that. I will definitely give it a good three stars for its three stars and one for the handling hence it gets a 4/5 from me and a very high recommendation. This one cannot be missed.

Ram Leela (2013) - Drama

I am unfortunately one of those guys who actually admire people like SLB for their self indulgent movies and subjects that they pick up and give it their own touch (So far). Now with this one I must say he has actually taken a revenge of sorts from his critics and told them that “See I will make a disaster in the name of a movie and yet will hit the jackpot this time (Read 100 crores)” and Bravo! What a movie he has made this time which pleases all and satisfies none, still he has  hit the nail on the head and figures are doing all the talking now.

I absolutely never expect SLB to make a mindless movie where his audience is supposed to leave their brain behind but where the heck does that happens in India? The India that he has showin in this movie? Where they sell guns like toys on road and people shoot each other at drop of a hat?? And Girls like Deepika - daughter of a Don fall in love at first sight that too with a guy like Ranveer and do all that in the very first meeting? WOW. How did we miss those girls in our life? if this has to do anything with reality.

I am sincerely waiting for Narendra Modi (CM of Gujarat and upcoming PM of India) to see this movie and react – he will die of shock I am sure. The only people enjoying this movie will be Guajarati’s I guess with that thick laughable way everyone talks in it. And I haven’t heard of this kindda underworld anywhere - what was their source of Income? Govt Contracts and all? And who was working on them while they were busy making out and shooting each other in spare time? OK I guess I should have loved the Colors, Canvas, Huge sets etc only and music i guess? In that case I should be hooked to Discovery, Nat Geo , VH1 and MTV more. It wasn’t a timepass entertainer as per me, neither a love story, nor a underworld ki kahani, neither it has any message for crowd or was it showing the real society as in time? I don’t know what that was?

Anyways, it turns out to be first confusing movie of one of my favorite Directors which leaves me royally confused. And I am sure it must be putting guys like Quentin Tarantino, Vishal Bhardwaj and Anurag Kashyap to shame – as he has achieved what they could never dream of. I will give it a good 2/5, One for its dialogues and second for interactions between Ranveer / Supriya and Deepika.