Anwar (2007)

Dir: Manish Jha (also by him Mathrubhoomi)
This movie had potential. Alas, the lack of good editing spoiled it. As adaption of a short story in Hindi, the movie, according to me erred in the fact that it was too slow. Yet while your so called 'art' movies are also slow, it is coz the director is exploring thought provoking scenes. In Anwar similar scenes tend to be just irritants that force you to check the slider's progress on the media player.

The plot is certainly good and i believe the short story would make a great read. Probably an attempt was made to reproduce the text word for word.

I also felt that the movie failed to focus on a central theme. It explored several ideas in bits and pieces and tried to create a climax of sorts. To speak in favour of Anwar, the last 15 minutes were absorbing.

Siddharth Koirala plays Anwar and does a good job. Looks every part the protagonist, Anwar. Nauheed Cyrusi plays 'Mehru', the girl whom Anwar falls in love with. She looks great in the movie.

Eventually, a thought provoking film, if you can manage to sit through it. And ofcos, you could watch it for the mellifluous 'maula mere maula mere' song which is beautifully picturized.

Concept: 8/10
Screenplay: 7/10
Performance: 7/10
Technical: 6/10 (Editing)

Overall: 7/10

Cashback (2006)

movie for the depressed, though not a depressing movie, but quite close. Had the protagonist been a junkie too, i'd have not watched past 5 minutes. Watch it if you're lovelorn and philosophical at the same time!

The movie is an feature adaption of a short film by the same name,director and cast that released in 2004. It was then nominated for the oscars in the best short film category. hmm...come to think of it, yeah.


trivia: The protagonist, Sean Biggerstaff, has also essayed the role of Oliver Wood, captain of the Griffindor quidditch team.

i rate it 6.8 - eclectically good

I Am Legend (2007)

Its all hype! I thought this was going to be as good as it gets - science fiction, creepy crawlies and WILL SMITH!!...what more do you want? well, maybe rachel bilson running across the canvas every few minutes :P...point is, all my hopes were dashed to mediocrity, which is all this movie is about. Alas, even Will Smith couldn't salvage it from my disgrace

Concept: 5/10
Performance: 7/10 (-1 for the female lead)
Screenplay: 6/10
Technical: 7/10

Overall: 6.3/10

Mr. and Mrs. Iyer (2002)

Sad Movie. What a drag!! its amazing how a 1 1/2 hour movie can seem never ending. There's nothing to the movie from a concept point of you. If its designed to be subtle, its probably a bit too subtle to have an effect.

Special mention of Konkona Sen Sharma for handling a typical Tamil Brahmin character with aplomb.

Aparna Sen's movie has won a lot of awards, but i fail to see the point.

Concept 5/10
Performace 8.2/10
Screenplay 7/10
Technical 7/10

Overall 6.8/10

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Its a weird movie. I don't see how it could have won the best film oscar for 2007. The acting is good, the direction is gripping, there is a plot, but you shouldn't be rewarded for leaving the audience in the lurch, but thats exactly what happens. All throughout the film, the suspense is building up, characters are merging in, lot of action is happening, everything is moving towards a possible culmination when bam! credits!

what kind of a sadist plot is that?


Javier Bardem is menancing as the psychopathic killer and Josh Brolin looks the quintessential cowboy. Tommy Lee Jones is thoroughly wasted just mouthing some cool deductions and putting in place his stupid assistant


Director brothers Ethan Coen and Joel Coen live up to their expectations. Just like Fargo(1996) and The big Lebowski(1998), this is yet another weird movie from them.

Concept : 5/10
Performance: 7/10
Screenplay: 7/10
Technical: 8/10

Overall 6.7/10

Mithya (2008)

I expected much more from Ranvir and Vinay. Maybe that hyped the movie in my mind. no, I don't think so. Mithya is a bad film. The script probably had potential, but the treatment was pedestrian.

The characters were very colourful and interesting to watch. They kept my mind off the seriousness, if any, implied in the screenplay. That should be a drawback; lack of a tight screenplay. Also too many characters spoil the film!!

Come to think of it, its the exuberance of its motley of characters that cost this film its reputation.

Neha Dhupia looks good throughout. Thats one plus!

Concept 6.5/10
Screenplay 6/10
Performance 8/10
Technical 7/10

Overall 6.9/10

The Big Lebowski (1998)

I don't approve of weird comedy. This is the same guy, Joel Coen, who gave us Fargo. Steve Buscemi is a permanent fixture in his movies. I couldn't quite fathom the consequence of his presence in this movie though. Well, nor of a lot many other characters. Damn! the whole movie didn't make much sense to me. I mean, it did make sense, but a lot didn't.

There are some good laughs, u would enjoy them. But the core competence of this movie is its weirdness and i don't approve of that, as i said before.

Jeff Bridges brings a lot of charisma into the character. He's the only sane character in the movie and thts a huge relief. Rest is a crazy lot

Some thing!

Performace 8/10
Concept 5/10
Screenplay 6/10
Technical 7/10

Overall 6.5/10

Epic Movie (2007)

Very so so movie. Lacked originality, especially the first humour point. Kinda puts you off when you encounter a sad piece of humour right at the beginning. Having said that, one of the characters is brilliant enough to deserve special mention. He is Darrell Hammond who delights in his spoof of Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean). That apart the rest of the cast fails to impress. Kal Penn is a let down. I had high expectations of him

Few sequences now and then elicit a chuckle at most. Thats about it. Not a patch on the Scary movie series from the same director

The sets were pretty elaborate and attractive, but they alone can't sustain a movie.

To summarize, you wouldn't miss anything if you give this movie a miss

Concept 5/10
Performace 6/10
technical 8/10
Screenplay 6/10

Overall 6.2/10