CineSketches_The Fault in Our Stars

Size and Scale:

Fits All! A romantic flick with an unusual drama. Definitely makes you start loving yourself and the near and dear ones more, after understanding what can be the extreme situations in life. Not exactly 10 on 10 but a lot closer to that. Must watch!   

CineScope:

Well it could have been an usual story of teenage love between Haze (Hazel) and Gus (Augustine) who are studying , falling in love with each other and with situations creating some drama. What if the situations are way too drastic than one can imagine? So unfortunately both of them are cancer patients, at later stages of the disease and knowing that they are not going make it longer. The 2+ hour movie traverses through the graphs of emotional lows and occasional highs in their lives, or probably the efforts made by them, their parents and friends to create those highs, moves us inside out. It is also about the very sensitive  element of parenting the kids with such diseases and dealing with very delicate mindset of such kids. It's also about the caring, the enthusiasm, and the determination to realize self and others dreams during the curtailed span of life. 

BFB (Bang For the Buck):

A very apt title. Both the leads were played by very young actors Shailene  Woodley (Haze) and Ansel Elgort (Gus). While Shailene has potential to become the next Jodi Foster or Sandra Bullock, Ansel definitely is the next Leonardo DiCaprio. Even after knowing the movie consists of some traumatic situations, you'd watch it for their outstanding performances, and for occasional lighter and humorous moments, for their funny friend Isaac (played Nat Wolf) and a cameo by none other than William Dafoe. It takes time to understand the  importance of William Dafoe's shabby, drunkard, and annoying character.  

 

My High!

1. Scene depicting the 3 ailing friends at Gus's pre-funeral knowing his last days are nearing.  And then they speak his eulogies. Very unusual situation and very touching.

2. In the end when Haze first refuses to take / read the piece of paper which she receives at Gus's funeral, and then after reading the crumpled paper the emotions unfold for Haze as well as for us, makes us take a bow at the writing prowess.

 

And the Award goes to…./ ScreenEsha Speaks

1. Both Shailene and Ansel have already received multiple awards at junior / certain levels. They may even be considered for the Golden Globe / Academy awards.

2. John Green's novel (by the same name) would be in the race at Oscars for best story.

3. Josh Boone the Director may have his share at least for his nomination.

 

YO & U

CineSketches_LUCY

Size and Scale:
Game for somewhat emotional,  and also a bit more logical sci-fi Hollywood/Western flick? Lucy it is then for you! Fits All, even though has some violence. Lucy is the new 'Terminator', and boy it is amazing. 10 out of 10!

CineScope:

Based on a theory that for ages human beings have been using only 10% of their brain capacity, what if it can be a little more than that, or what if it can operate at the full 100% levels. Sounds simple, but not it is. Lucy briefly refers to the first hominid /ape / human registered in the history, but then the story revolves around another Lucy of the current era - played by the beautiful Scarlett Johansson. While studying / working as an ex-pat in Taipei and living normal life of a young woman, how she gets trapped, becomes a drug mule and what makes her develop and use 100% of her brain capacity is all about Lucy!

BFB (Bang For the Buck):

I was captivated right from the moment I watched the promos in the theater. For the very theme and for Scarlet Johansson, not just for her :-) but for her being in a completely different role from her on-screen image. True-blue Sci-Fi, but from 80s /90s,somewhat like 'The Terminator', and probably NOT from the Matrix era. In short the special effects are minimal and it also tries and covers the emotions while dealing with, literally and 'explodingly!' increasing capacity of the brain. No futuristic gadgets,  gizmos, or aliens, spaceships etc. but the sci-fi that gets straight to your heart / or probably into the brain :-)

My High!

1. I could relate to the theme (100% usage of brain) as I experienced (need not to be believed though:-)) something similar. Me and a couple of friends visited Swami Kriyananda's (foremost disciple of Yogananda Parmahansa) Anand-Ashram near Pune on 1 January 2011. He was recognized as the eminent spiritual Guru in the world. Everyone in the hall attended the session that day, could get a chance to take his blessings. While he was doing that and I looked at him for a moment, I felt as if he has scanned me completely and knows everything about me and also about every single person in the hall. The gaze was so powerful and was just out of the world, as if he is God / Superhuman / Someone using his powers / brains to infinite levels.

And the Award goes to…./ ScreenEsha Speaks

Probably 4 Academy Award Nominations, may not be a winner though:
1. Scarlett Johansson best actress, and Luc Besson the director, Luc again for the Writing and the  Best Picture.

YO & U

CineSketches_Mardaani

Size and Scale:
Even if 'ata tumchi satakali asel' still you won’t mind watching ‘Mardaani’ and still acknowledging the Police in the latter. ‘Must Watch’ in a theater with (respective :-)) spouses / friends. Though has some abusive language and violence (Doesnt fit All). It's 10 on 10 movie.

CineScope:
A Senior Police Inspector, who dresses, talks and  acts like real life police. It’s about some Policemen (err) and their values, doing right things to help society, and without any preaching.  Also subtly touches upon their stressful work and personal lives.  And did I mention Policeman - Oops the Senior Inspector is played by Rani Mukherjee (Shivani Shivaji Roy!). But then do you want to classify it as a woman centric film? That will be a bit of disrespect towards the overall theme of the film. The raw language and action makes it more realistic against movies wherein HEROS ’banging 20 villains and 10 cars jsut with their ‘dhai or whatever kilo ka haath’. 

BFB (Bang For the Buck):
Zanjeer of today's era and the first time the Angry Young Woman genre has actually worked for the Hindi Movies. Rani at her best, should get her worth after this movie. Puts her in the leagues of Madhuri, Vidya Balan (read utterly versatile) of recent period. She is superlative delivering Mumbai (slang / offeding) Marathi and Hindi, comic, emotional and action scenes. The Pradeep Sarkar we know of was for his gentle movies like Parineeta. But the anger that is shown here makes you feel like getting into that situation and fighting it out with all those Goons and Dons. The new age villain portrayed by Tahir Bhasin actually compliments/successfully generates the anger to make Rani’s character even stronger. Hats off to Rani, Pradeep da! and probably to the editor for keeping it crisper, under 2 hours. 

My High!
1.       A crime scene - Goons smashing and breaking a shop. Shivani the inspector dashes in. And asks them to stop in a true Department (read Police) tone. The goons still mistook her for just a woman. Shivani starts slapping the goon and counts a penal code for the crime they committed for every slap. For ages we are used to see Senior Bachhan doing that so convincingly on the Silver Screen.
2.       Several other moments which take the experience to next level purely by Rani's portrayal of Inspector Roy. Simply put she has made the 'Angry Young Woman' genre and 'Shivani Roy' character immortal.

And the Award goes to…./ ScreenEsha Speaks
1.       Multiple awards for Rani and Pradeep Sarkar and for the Picture
2.       Hopefully we'd get to see more of Rani in these roles and off-course Pradeep Da! as well
3.       a) More movies of this genre in Hindi  b) probably Mardaani be either remade in Indian Regional Cinema,  c) this genre would be explored more in Indian Regional Cinema. 

Yo & U!