A Sort of Review - Body of Lies

Films, Media, Reviews 7 Responses »
May 162010

I like watching movies uninterrupted. no breaks every 15 minutes, no phones ringing, no kids crying …. Which pretty much rules out watching movies on TV or even at the multiplex. At one point in time I had a huge VHS collection – now I tend to buy DVD’s where i can, or watch it as a DIVX.

I acquired a Body of Lies sometime last year. I have always liked the work of Ridley Scott – and consider Blade Runner amongst my favorite films of all times.

Body of Lies is Ridley Scott’s adaptation of a novel by David Ignatius.The story is about the CIA’s war on terrorism – and how the lines get blurred between them and those they fight.

Di Caprio plays Roger Ferris a ground level operator – who hops across the Middle East trying to keep the world safe ! Russel Crowe plays his CIA controller Ed Hoffman – flabby, and with a God Complex – who pulls his strings like a puppeteer.

The one role that stood out was that of the Jordanian Intelligence Chief Hani – played by Mark Strong. He is alone worth the 2 odd hours you spend on the film.

If you suspend belief – which you must since this is a film – the film is plausible. The film contains the kitchen sink – Gizmos, satellite technology that can read a coke label from the skies, A Hero who can flit from country to country and take over spy operations, who speaks the language like a native, who along with one guy on a computer manages to create a terrorist organisation by him self, and a nice nurse whom he falls for – and for whose safety he hands himself over to the bad guys to face torture and possibly death. It makes you ask ek admi desh ke liye kya kya karega :)

In a way it was a nice Sunny Deol role for Di Caprio – the only thing missing was dancing in the desert.

Di Caprio is earnest as Roger Ferris – almost believable in what’s a Bond role without the suspension of disbelief. Crowe – his controller, and someone Di Caprio is in conversation all the time – has a seriously funny track. He controls intelligence while playing dad – in between taking his kids to the loo, football matches, dropping them off at school and the like. If intelligence is controlled this way – no wonder the US is losing the war on terror :)

This by no means was a bad film, but it is not something i will remember even next week !

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Posted by gargi at 10:10 pm Tagged with: , ,

One Line Review - Avatar

Films, India, Reviews 1 Response »
Dec 282009

One Line Review – The Day the Naxals won !

summary – on a planet far far away, computer generated ancient people – who live as one with nature – face off against wicked humans who want to mine a rare metal ! And, of course, with bows and arrows, other primitive weaponary, a wing and a prayer -  go up against automatic weapons and win – bad guys lose, good guys win. hero gets the girl – and its’ a houseful !

sometimes old stories work the best !

I enjoyed it !

 

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Posted by gargi at 8:21 am Tagged with: ,

Review - Saga of the Swamp Thing

Reviews, graphic novels 2 Responses »
Nov 052009

I have been, for long, a huge fan of Alan Moore -the British Comic writer – who has shaped the form that comics have taken since the 1980′s.

The 1960′s and 1970′s were the time when comics in general, and super hero comics in particular were bright and cheesy – and mostly for teenage boys. People like Alan Moore and Frank Miller changed that around – making characters created at a different point in time & invariably single dimensioned – into layered characters that you and I will want to read week on week, month on month. In a way what they did to comics in that period of time is pretty much what studios in the US are doing to old shows like Battlestar Galactica or Mission Impossible or Star Trek … reimagining them for a whole new audience and a whole new world.

In its original avtaar, the Swamp Thing was a scientist – Alec Holland – who fuses with bio stuff from a swamp – after a murder attempt – and becomes the Swamp Thing. He had his own set of villains – and it was more or less set in the horror space.

Alan Moore took over the comics and turned it on its head. In his version the Swamp Thing is not a creature out of horror, but a soldier of earth, who protects nature from those who pollute it. It’s a creature that has fused with intelligence and can call upon a million memories.

This year, JD got me the Saga of the Swamp Thing for my birthday. It blew my brain. Gone was the swampy Hulk types that took deadly revenge on those who messed around with it, with muddy origins, and in came Nature’s soldier .

The first issue of the first arc, has a dead Swamp Thing – and the introduction of Jason Woodrue – (him of the poison ivy fame) by the ‘wicked’ General Sutherland to figure how Alec Holland was tranformed into the Swamp Thing. The answer changes the ‘mythology’ of the Swamp Thing – rendering it timeless. 300 years from now – if we haven’t anihilated ourselves – the new improved origin of the Swamp Thing will still stand, and allow for contemporary stories to be written. The rest of the stories are equally gripping.

Art by Stephen Bissette – is moody and atmospheric – and i am glad that they have gone in for the slight matt finish to the books – giving it that character of arcaneness

If you like the works of Alan Moore or indeed the comic book form – this is a book to check out.

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Posted by gargi at 8:16 am Tagged with: ,

Review - Flow for the Love of Water

Desi Pundit, Development, Documentary, Environment, India, Media, Reviews 2 Responses »
Oct 042009

Irena Salina’s film “Flow – For the Love of Water ” aka “Flow – How did a handful of corporations steal our water” is a well made documentary that looks at the issues regarding clean portable (drinkable) water to the world’s population at large.

The film’s narrative weaves together myriad issues including providing water to all; the corporations involved in bottling and selling water, issues regarding privatisation of water; the World Bank as a provider of loans to build dams, and finally the hope in terms of activism that ensures that water is available for all.


I often tell my students that documentaries are not news – and they don’t have to even keep up the pretense of being unbiased. Documentaries are a POV – and the point of view presented here is that Water belongs to all of us – and we cannot let a few corporations take over this natural resource and exploit it.

The film looks at the issues surrounding water, in both the developed & the developing world. It also looks at indigenous, innovative solutions for the affordable provision of water to large numbers of people (decentralization is one of the solutions)

The ray of hope in this film is provided through the bits in India – where men and women of extraordinary courage and conviction have made sure that rights are not trampled over. Be it Vandana Shiva, Medha Patkar, Rajendra Singh , Shripad Dharmadhikary , or activism in places like Plachimada against Coke – what you see are a people – who are willing to take on the power elite and win.

The depressing part of this film comes from the USA – where the system conspires to trample over the rights of individuals. Be it in terms of pesticides that are banned elsewhere and available in the US or in the form of battles against depletion of ground water by large corporations – the citizen loses.

There is a lovely line in the film that encapsulates much of what has gone wrong with ‘centralised’ development over the last 75 years :

“the world bank knows to spend a billion dollars in one place, it doesn’t know how to spend a 1000 $ in a million places “

I liked the film. It was well researched, well shot and well put together. The interviews were crisp – No one rambled for too long and the flow was gripping . There is only one problem that I had with the film – that too many issues being crammed together in the two hours. As a result a) there is an information overload; and b) more seriously, everything ends up looking like a grand conspiracy theory to keep people away from clean drinking water. While that might be the case, it doesn’t do too much good to hit the audience on the head with it ! Let them figure it out themselves.

But, the film is definitely a good view – worth the two hours that you will spend on it

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Posted by gargi at 1:19 am Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , ,

Outliers - a Review

Books, Desi Pundit, Media, Reviews 7 Responses »
Jul 262009

Outliers

Take some data. it could be any data. Add a bit of correlation, stir in a bit of causality, simmer with coincidence and garnish with a leap of faith – package well with a chatty narrative style -and bingo – you have Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, which looks at what makes people successful.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the book immensely. I finished it in two days. I found it entertaining and his take on the world, as always, is engaging. But, there was nothing new. Nothing that made you look up from the book and say “oh, wow – why didn’t i think of that’ . Nor is there the kind of insight that there was in “Tipping Point”

But, as always, with his books – i did like the construction of each hypothesis and the way he draws together various, diverse, distinct and seemingly antithetical strands – and builds cohesive and plausible argument.

As I said earlier, Gladwell looks at what makes successful people. And, the answer is Hard Work (10k + hours before success), when you were born, Historical conditions, ethnicity – the Chinese work harder because of their history as paddy growers; Language – kids who learn in their more precise mother tongue do better ; and social class. Definitely not rocket science. Nor piercing insight. But, well written, nonetheless.

Would I recommend this book – yes. it is a lesson in non linear thinking. So long as you don’t expect any great insights – its a good book.

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Posted by gargi at 8:11 pm Tagged with: , ,

Quick Review - Pride & Glory

Films, Media, Reviews 1 Response »
Apr 052009

i kind of know why I stopped watching movies. They got bad. Then, they got terrible. And, then they just got plain unwatchable. And, i went from being someone who would watch a movie a day to one who watches one every 2 months, and that too because it is work :)

This year, part of my resolution is to watch atleast a movie a week and some TV. I have been managing to stick to that. This week’s TV outing was a random episode of Yes Prime Minister, and the film outing was Pride & Glory !

pride-and-glory-poster

“Pride & Glory” – what can i say about it. Even the combined talents of Edward Norton & Jon Voight cannot save a film that has nothing new to say.

The story is basic. 4 officers get killed in a drug bust gone wrong, and as Edward Norton begins investigating he realises that things in the police department aren’t as clean as they ought to be. Problem is that big brother runs the department, dad is both their boss, and brother-in-law is super crooked cop (the type who will threaten to iron babies to get their dad’s to talk).

The film tries to be about the dilemma — family or truth ?
But, there isn’t really any dilemma. The bad cops are so bad that they have no redeeming features – and the ‘good’ cops have no choice but to take them down. And, this takes two hours !

If you want to watch a good film on police procedure, loyalty and that kind of jazz watch “L.A. Confidential‘ or Serpico. This film is terribly retarded…

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Posted by gargi at 10:44 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

Films, India, Reviews 3 Responses »
Dec 132008
Shahrukh Khan as Everyman !

Shahrukh Khan as Everyman !

The buzz, the glamour, the hype, the smartness, the over exposure, in a way makes us forget what a good actor Shah Rukh Khan  is. And, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is another example of a person carrying a film by their sheer ability.

Yesterday, along with a full theatre at Cinemax Versova, I saw Yash Raj Film’s latest offereing Rab ne Bana di Jodi.

Aditya Chopra and SRK have delivered the ultimate Hrishikesh Mukherjee film – a story of an everyman, with his everyday issues, who is not out to lead revolutions or beat up bad guys – but who has his own little universe, his own woes and his own issues. and how he overcomes them.

In a bad market, with a sense of insecurity that permates – a movie like this reminds you that things are possible. All you have to  do is try.

The story is very simple.  Two nice people Surinder Sahaney (SRK) and Taani (Anuskha Sharma) enter into a marriage of convinience. Surinder – Suri – an officer at Punjab Power (we light up your life) – has no great expectations of life or love, but he falls truly and deeply in love with his wife. Tanii, on the other hand, recovering from the death of two peole she loved the most – is in a zone where she wants no love.  The story is about Suri deciding to woo his wife. He does that by taking on another persona.

The premise isn’t new. But, the characters are. It is a story of two ordinary people and how they fall in love.  And what they do to find love.

Shah Rukh Khan carries the film. You laugh, and cry and root for him – like you never have. Newcomer Anushka Sharma is believable – and after a long time there is a heroine who can deliver dialogue in normal Hindi. God is the other main character in the film – although s/he is never shown. But the presence in the film is real – which possibly helps to explain loopholes in the screenplay. But, this kind of a film is not so much about screenplay as it is about characters and what they say to each other, and, Aditya Chopra‘s dialogue script is brilliant. The dialogues are real. The characters are real. Some situations  situations may be slightly contrived, but hey, its a film :)

The ethos of the film is very middle class suburban India. Not the elite, the media or services. But, people from the PSU’s, Nationalised Banks – not the bureaucratic elite, but the officers who mind the place. An India which is pretty much tolerant and integrated – go to a Government or LIC colony to see what i mean. And, this is reflected very subtly in the film. It is nice to see YRF that spearheaded the NRI based movie , return to roots.

There is some very clever product placement in this film. check out the integration of Pepsi, Santro and Compaq.

We live in a time where we don’t have much to smile about. Watch this film. If just to smile and feel good.

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Posted by gargi at 3:44 pm Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Tezuka - Ode to Kirihito

Books, Reviews, graphic novels 1 Response »
Oct 032008

Ode to Kirihito – Osamu Tezuka is one of my favourite graphic novelists. I found his Buddha series incredible, and his Apollo’s Song heartbreakingly beautiful. JD gifted me ‘An Ode to Kirihito a few months ago, but i simply didn’t have the time to start it. A few weekends ago, I took it to Lonavala and finished it at one go. The book, like all his books, is unputdownable (if such a word exists!).

As always, Tezuka looks at the dilema arises when there is a conflict between what you desire and what you believe to be ‘right’. He has explored this in Buddha, Apollo’s song and in in this. He blends Christian motifs and philosophy with very Eastern concepts of honour, family, obidience, and desire for status quo.


ode to kirihito

Ode to Kirihito is about a young ambitious doctor Osanai Kirihito, who is ordered to a remote village, where there is an outbreak of people turning into dog like creatures. His boss believes that this is a result of virus, he believes that there is something else, possibly a different scientific explanation. Kirihito himself contacts the illness. His medical prowess prevents him from degenerating as much as the rest – he is still in control of his mental faculties. However, what happens is that he becomes a shunned, reviled freak. Ode to Kirihito is about the dog/man’s journey to regain his own humanity and stand up for right to his dignity.

Tezuka weaves in the strands of love and lust, sacrifice and avarice, falling from grace & redemption, dignity and vileness – in an engrossing and involving manner. there were parts where the sheer humanity and the compassion of the author made my eyes moist. If you are a fan of the medium, this is definitely a book to check out.

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Posted by gargi at 9:02 am Tagged with: ,

Krishnaa's Konfessions Quick Review

Books, India, Reviews 1 Response »
Aug 122008

After a long time, I picked up a book by an Indian author and managed to finish it. And enjoy it. And, not tear out my hair in frustration at the pace of the story or the meta level philosophical inputs that keep creeping into story lines.
krishnaa

Smita Jain’s debut novel is a good fun romp through the murky pool that is the Television Soap industry. Krishnaa – real name Priya – is a soap writer with a writer’s block . When you have to churn out 4 episodes a week – and everyone and his kitchen sink are doing pretty much the same — there is a definite possibility that a writer’s block will set in. So she sets about turning her neighbour’s telescope into the homes of other neighbour’s and ends up with a mystery that could end up getting her killed.

Fun, contemporary, desi and without any metaphysical angst or mumbo jumbo — Krishnaa’s Konfessions is a fun read… do try and pick it up…

I am hoping to see more from this author….

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Posted by gargi at 3:20 pm Tagged with: , ,

Shakespeare - The World As Stage

Books, Media, Reviews No Responses »
Feb 242008

…..Not so much a concise book, as a slightly largish magazine feature. It has the wry observation, and the witty descriptions that is Bill Bryson's trademark .. but it isn't an involving read. And much like nicely written features for In flight magazines – there isn't too much to object to, at the same time there isn't too much that you retain. 

I don't know too much more about Shakespeare now, than I knew earlier. But, what little there is , is told nicely. It is more a nice brisk travelogue through the lives & times of William Shakespeare than a biography. 

I much preferred A Short History of Almost Everything or a I'm a Stranger Here Myself . It isn't that I didn't like the book — it is just that i have no memories of anything that I read :)  

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