Take #9 : Bang Bang

As you can  imagine, I wrote this review quite a while ago. But I posted it on Facebook, where it is likely to eventually likely to get lost - so I thought I would copy it here. 

If you're looking to get lots of ‪#‎BangBang‬ for your buck from the latest Hrithik-Katrina starrer, you won't be disappointed - IF you haven't seen "Knight and Day" : for this film faithfully clones the original script (permitted masala added), but is unable to rise above its own genetic flaws >>> Hrithik, 12-pack and all, can't quite manage Tom Cruise's cheesy-grinned comic turn, and Kat can't ape Cameron Diaz's goofiness and facial expressions. Also, some of Kat's scenes imitate her product ads so perfectly, you keep thinking it's the interval....

....having said that, this may well rank as one of Katrina's better performances, if I may be forgiven the use of that term.

It still won't hurt to see it, though : the stunts are interesting and the locales (Greece, Prague, what looked like UAE and Thailand) are amazing. Carry along earmuffs as a precaution, just in case you feel the way I do about Salim-Sulaiman's music, and Katrina's voice when it hits the high notes.

Take #8 : The Judge

I say this categorically, people - make this a must-watch. 

A truly superb film, I won't be at all surprised if this one goes all the way to the Oscars. Robert Downey

, Jr absolutely excels in his role of a hotshot Chicago lawyer coming back to the small Indiana town of his misspent youth. Robert Duvall is masterful in the role of the judge. The film is made with caustic humour, subtlety and incredible sensitivity. 

It doesn't really matter whether or not you're an Iron Man fan - this movie will leave you aching to see it again, soon.

Take #7 : Gone Girl

From Bond girl to "Gone Girl" has been an interesting journey for the lovely Rosamund Pike - and an even more interesting experience for the moviegoer. 


Riveting performances from her and from a rediscovery-with-every-film Ben Affleck make for a compelling, albeit oddly disturbing, watch.


A splendid supporting cast and some shoot-from-the-hip dialogue also help to take this taut film to a different level altogether.


Everyone's not going to like this one - but believe me, it's different, and it will stay with you.

Take #6 : Margarita, With a Straw

This is a touching, sensitive film that will force you to sit up and take notice of Kalki Koechlin, if you hadn't already. 

We have in the past year or so seen a significant number of films with ladies in leading roles, and this one is right up there with the best of them. 

Kalki is ably supported by some stunning cameos from relative unknowns........amidst crisp editing and beautiful music. 

Shonali Bose, take a bow. 

People, if you can digest a hefty helping of realism, you need to see this film. However, It was unfortunate to see the hall less than half-full on a Saturday afternoon......these are, after all, the same people who thronged the halls for "Barfi!" some years ago. 

It looks like we're ready for a dramatisation of a physically challenged person's life - but we can't deal with a few pages from their diary, eh ?

Take #5 : Piku

Piku.

A charming little film, and one with which anyone who has significantly senior citizens to look after at home, will readily identify. 

Bollywood's second potty-themed film scores heavily over the first (Delhi Belly, if you remember) - not least because of restrained performances (Deepika, Irrfan), a bit of nostalgia (Moushumi Chatterjee), beautiful cinematography showcasing the Kolkata we know and love, and of course, the unparallelled Amitabh Bachchan. 

Go see this one- smile a lot, laugh out loud a few times, and wipe away the hint of a tear at the end. 

It's was a full house in its first weekend - so, clearly, Shoojit Sircar scores again

Take #4 : Dil Dhadakne Do

Oh all right, I know the movie released quite some time back - and this review wasn't written recently, either..... but I clean forgot to add it to this collection; and anyway, the movie's still running, so there's hopefully someone out there who hasn't seen it and will benefit from this little summary !

The film took me completely by surprise.

Why ? Many reasons :

I hadn't expected to like it; 

Shefali Shah was out of this world; 

Ranveer, astonishingly, is getting better with each film; 

Farhan Akhtar's cameo was among his best performances to date - he performs like a Hollywood actor, and not like one from Bollywood; Priyanka was looking and acting like a million dollars; 

the music was, well, just right (Ehsaan, buddy, you've done it yet again!); 

and Anil Kapoor was quite the revelation.

But the trophy, I think, goes to Zoya Akhtar: this film could so easily have been a complete mess.....but she kept that recipe for the last five minutes alone !