The journey

Back to the roots once more, A peek through the memory door,
Wondering what is the difference, the eye or the ambiance,
Once again, it's time to fly; my wings, and your azure sky.....

Mishawr Rawhoshyo(2013)

                                

Mishawr Rawhoshyo - Srijit Mukherjee's fifth directorial 

venture based on Sunil Gangopadhyay's novel was a treat 

to watch from beginning to end. The attention to detail 

and innovative camera angles right from the start bore 

an indication that something special was in store.

 Srijit twisted and modified the original story to make

 it relevant in the present times, interspersed it 

with enough comic moments to make the movie 

thoroughly entertaining and bound everything 

together in a non linear timeline seamlessly.

 Prosenjit Chatterjee delivered in style as Kakababu,

 the larger than life handicapped yet jovial protagonist

 and all the other actors were brilliant in their respective 

roles. The vast deserts and the inherent mystery of 

Egypt was captured with panache and along with the 

mesmerizing background score, made the big screen 

experience one to treasure. 

All in all, it was really fulfilling seeing our childhood 

hero come to life and save the day in style in a 

scintillating adventure. At the same time it made me a

 little sad thinking that there won't be another 

new kakababu novel in the pages of Pujabarshiki Anandamela....

Django Unchained (2012)

Quentin Tarantino, arguably the most stylish director of the generation directs a spaghetti western involving slavery with Leonardo Di Caprio, well, that combination can't go wrong by any margin now, can it? Django Unchained delivers, and delivers in a grand style. It's everything you expect a Tarantino movie to be, and much more. It mixes up brilliant action set pieces, a romantic angle and a sparkling chemistry between the two leads- Jamie Foxx as Django and Cristoph Waltz as Doctor King Schultz. Moreover, it also incorporates several sensitive issues like the miserable situation of the black slaves, using stirring and sometimes graphical scenes which make us downright sympathetic to the characters and many a times forces us to think about the inhumanity of humans.

While Tarantino definitely exaggerated things, but who expects a Tarantino-western to be realistic and historically accurate. So questions about authenticity and correct depiction of history would be futile. This film is about a black man's audacious and fantastical revenge story against what seems like the whole society which was brilliantly depicted in this landmark conversation: Dr. King Schultz: "How do you like the bounty hunting business?" Django: "Kill white people and get paid for it? What's not to like?" While dialogues like this have triggered controversies, but helped in giving a certain stylish edge to the story while elevating the movie to a whole new level.

The acting from the ensemble cast was brilliant, especially from Waltz, who brought alive the extraordinary character of a gun slinging righteous dentist to perfection and upped the entertainment quotient of the film to a large extent. Leo had a medium sized role in which he played the bad guy with an attitude and panache quite well and his character grew quite profound and depicted multiple emotions with passing time. 

Now I'll just list the pro's and cons of the film for all the lazy guys like me out there who don't wanna read a whole review in order to decide whether to watch the film or not.

PROs:

1. Peppered with stylist action scenes.

2. Brilliant acting by the cast

3. Awesome dialogues and screenplay

4. Emotional as well as romantic angles.

5. Great soundtrack.

CONs:

1. 165 minutes run-time.

2. Scenes of graphic violence.

3. Historical inaccuracy

4. Exaggeration of characters.

5. Somewhat predictable

Verdict- Highly recommended for lovers of action movies and Tarantino fans. People who flinch at the tiniest of bloodshed should avoid it.

Ruby Sparks (2012)

A "one novel wonder" young writer is suffering from writer's block and keeps seeing a girl in his dreams. Instigated by his shrink he stumbles on the idea of writing a novel about the girl making her a part of his life. Suddenly to his astonishment he finds that girl, in his apartment, in flesh and blood. This movie documents his journey from plain surprise, to a picture perfect love story to several complications and finally rediscovering his love.

This movie deals with the idea of materializing an idea and how the protagonist deals with it, inter-spread with several funny and moving moments. Nobody can be perfect, and nothing in life can be tailor-made, keeping this basic ideology in mind, Jonathan Dayton (the man behind the gem "Little miss sunshine") takes the viewer to a roller coaster ride of emotions and tries to keep our mind off the "impossible" and focus on the human angle.

The acting in the film was quite mediocre from the female lead, Zoe Kahan and she seemed quite irritating at some parts, that maybe intended; but Paul Dano gave a brilliant performance as the emotionally disturbed writer with only his brother as a friend dealing with all the strange events occurring in his life.

Characters coming to life or authors controlling creations in real life has been earlier seen in movies like "stranger than fiction" , "Deconstructing Harry" or "purple rose of cairo". What separates this film from the others is it's inclination towards revealing the vulnerabilities of the characters rather than only fixating on the funny side, which makes this film darker and to be critical a little boring. But if you enjoy a movie just for the emotional drama and a decent story-line, you should give this a watch. 

Wreck It Ralph (2012)

Wreck-It Ralph -- What happens when the bad guy gets tired of being bad and wants to turn the tides and feel appreciated? Wreck it Ralph, the 'villain' in the game "Fix it Felix jr" feels the same and to accomplish the feat he goes from his own game in the arcade to other games and wrecks havoc everywhere. He makes new friends, some enemies and ultimately realizes the truth behind his identity... Amazing animation, full of colors and really cute, this film stirs the nostalgia of old video-games and makes the viewer smile and frown with the characters. Being overtly critical, the story line(not the idea) was a little cliched, but that's what you expect from a Disney animation venture. All in all a really fun film to watch....

Les Miserables (2012)

Les Misérables -- The stage musical based on the Victor Hugo all time classic found a dynamic dimension packed with powerhouse performances by Anne Hathaway , Hugh Jackman Russell Croweand almost the entire cast. Jean Valjean, convicted of stealing a bread is released after 19 years of jail and breaks parole to become the Mayor. Inspector Javert is always at his pursuit and catches up with him several times during the course of the film. Both of them face existential crisis, while trying to establish their true identities and facing their inner demons during those. Set against the backdrop of the political unrest of the French revolution, several emotions mix together in the already overflowing pot and makes this a truly extravagant endeavor.

Anne Hathaway's portrayal of Fantine, A factory worker turned prostitute with an illegitimate daughter takes the emotional quotient to a whole new level and her rendition of "I dreamed a dream" is sure to moisten the eyes of the viewer. She's a definite forerunner in this years academy awards for best supporting actress. 

The idea of everyone speaking in terms of songs may seem strange and the stretching of the last syllable of each sentence even funny those not accustomed to musicals but the style grows on the viewer and soon we notice the emotions behind the words rather the words themselves. All in all this was a grand accomplishment in terms of turning a stage musical into a beautifully photographed and acted movie and deserves all the accolades it's receiving.

Argo(2012)

Argo -- A thrilling caper film set in 1979, where an Exfil expert CIA agent (played by Ben Affleck) tries to rescue 6 American diplomats trapped in Iran in a state of political outrage. The film maintains its brisk pace right from the beginning and sustains an atmosphere of suspense which keeps on increasing as the film progresses. Although the film has been accused of moulding history I felt that it was necessary to keep the drama intact while following a story based on true life. The supporting cast of the film including Alan Arkin and Bryan Cranston (breaking bad fame) did an excellent job while Affleck proved it once again that he's a much better director than an actor.

The film's award nomination streak shows once again that Americans are really obsessed with the heroism of their intelligence agencies or the military and in order to satisfy this, unnatural glorification of certain characters was evident during the course of the movie. But all in all it was a good watch, thrilling and surprising the audience at the same time.

Silver Linings Playbook(2012)

Silver Linings Playbook movie -- Another David O. Russell comedy which derives all it's elements from the real life scenarios, nothing too glitzy, nothing very flashy but still maintains a brisk pace and an overall feel good mood. Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper gave career best performances in the title roles of two mentally unstable people searching for their silver linings, and Anupam Kher shined in the little yet important space provided to him. The quirky camera angles and sharp movements gave the film a rough yet substantial edge. It definitely deserves all the accolades it's getting primarily for not being a cheesy rom-com which it so easily could have been. The movie walked the thin line between being funny and being offensive as it dealt with a sensitive topic of mental illness and depression. But kudos to the creative team and the cast that they passed with flying colours as the film provided us with light funny moments as well as a chance to empathize with the characters. 

Skyfall(2012)

Skyfall -- Bond goes "classic" in his newest mission where M's past comes back to haunt(hunt) her and Bond himself has to confront his past to fight the villain who is not only an ace hacker but also a previous MI6 super-spy.. The action set-pieces were brilliant as usual but what made this film different from most others was it's character development and considerable inclination towards giving an emotional background to the story, a phenomenon silently put forth to action ever since Daniel Craig donned the Bond suit. A special mention to the Adele number and opening sequence, which really set the momentum of the film. Overall the sound effects and the cinematography were brilliant too.

If anyone watches the last part of the film isolated, it would be very difficult for him/her to associate it with any other previous Bond film. Here we sympathize for the villain, doubt the capabilities of the hero, feel the vulnerability of the whole situation while the feelings try to sink in midst the usual bullet fires and humongous blasts. All in all, this was an action thriller with an emotional edge, making it arguably the best Bond film ever. 

Lincoln (2012)

Lincoln -- When Steven Speilberg and Daniel Day-Lewis combine, you can rest assured that the final outcome would be quite extraordinary.. The whole movie revolved around the last few years of Lincoln's life, his strife to pass the 13th amendment up-to his assassination at the Ford theater.. To be honest i felt the first hour to be a little dragged, delving too much into the political intricacies, but when the human side of the legend started to emerge, those still expressive eyes of DDL showed that behind all that power there still lived a vulnerable person who loved his son and cared for his wife, the film reached a whole new zenith. Can't think of anyone else taking home the best actor Oscar. 

I can't vouch for historical accuracy but I felt that some characters were exaggerated for the sake of cinematic appeal. But the film had the power to make the viewer feel about what was happening out there. When the vote was taking place to decide whether or not to pass the amendment, I secretly cheered for the Republicans. And when they won, I felt myself joining the celebrations. That is the point of a movie, right? To make you feel along with the characters, to laugh with them and cry with them. In this regard, Lincoln was an astounding success. 

Somewhere Dutta Vs Dutta lyrics

I know there'll be pain everywhere

and i know there'll always be despair

and there always will be fighting for no rhyme or reason

but I know that i'll find you somehwere

there will be someone dying on the road

and there'll be someone carrying all the load

and i know that this whole world will never ever care

but i know that I'll find you somewhere

somewhere in the darkness of defeat

somewhere on a lonely crugged street

somewhere when there's nowhere to turn to and care

yes i know that i'll find u somewhere

somewhere in the shadows there is care

I have seen the love in the eyes that are scared

yes i know that there's a home somewhere inside the hatred

yes I know that i'll find you somewhere....

(Lyrics of the song Somewhere by Neel Dutt in the movie Dutta Vs Dutta)

Zero Dark Thirty

Zero Dark Thirty-- The hunt for the most 'remarkable' terrorist of our times, Bin Laden, finds a dramatic (mostly over-dramatic) conclusion in this Kathryn Bigelow action-adventure. Right from the beginning it was a film begging for attention, trying to poke at the already controversial and over-hyped topic. On the plus side, Jessica Chastain pulled off the role of a dedicated CIA agent who was responsible for the capture of Laden almost to perfection. And if Bigelow deserved an oscar for The Hurt Locker, she atleast deserved a nomination for this one, as she seems to be growing as a director, but still very far from a great one...

Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas -- Six intermingled and inter-weaved stories spanned across several centuries that basically deal with the eternity of the soul and how the repercussions of a simple act of kindness reverberates across time and space. This is a film which transcended genres, turning from sci-fi to drama to comedy to thriller with effortless fluidity as the stories darted back and forth from one into the other, bound seamlessly. The people behind The Matrix , The Wachowskis with a budget of over 100 million dollars created a visionary masterpiece which has and will redefine the word epic for times to come. The ensemble cast comprising of Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant and many other veterans gave power packed performances in one of the best films of 2012. The only deterrent while watching this is that it may seem very complex at times, but in the end everything falls into place.. 

War Horse

War Horse Movie -- A touching tale of a horse who touched hearts across the borders and even in no-mans-land... An epic documentation of the victory of love over hatred,over war.. Definitely one of Speilberg's better movies... On a criticizing note it felt like a typical oscar-aimed movie. No wonder it has bagged 6 nominations....

Journey

As the fragrance of the wilted flower withered away,
Baffling the biding bee who wanted to stay,,,,
Disillusioned,heartbroken, it flew away...
Towards another eluding sway,another grayish new day...

Drive

Drive- A true to it's soul gritty action film, which never tried to outdo itself.. The muffled silent shots, the blank expressions, haunting background scores, all in all made an amazing amalgamation of splendid back-to-back sequences. Ryan Gosling with his deadpan expressions and deep stares once again proved his raw talent... This movie is bound to become a cult classic, with dedicated fan following.

Crazy Stupid Love

Crazy Stupid Love-- Back to back Ryan Gosling film after Drive on the same day. He pulled off this totally different role with equal panache, he's really a very underrated actor and is bound to be a sensation in future. Nothing much special about the movie, the typical feel good film with average characters. But really good performances by everyone. It'll make you smile if you keep an open heart. Enjoyable overall...

Hachiko- a dog's story

Hachiko: A Dog's Story - A touching true tale of a dog's loyalty pervading through death of his master.. It's gonna leave you with a tear in the corner of your eyes and smile in the corner of your lips...

Winter on my mind

The winter chill makes you feel, that you're still alive;
The changing beat, of the street on the dark drive;
The fleeting fog does clog the numbed down mind;
Still the aspiration for the rising sun puts the night behind.

I didn't know

Wandered in the darkness of the black night,
Foraged for a glimpse of light....
Didn't know then that my eyes had turned blind,
Unlike all those who can see with their eyes, not with mind.


Wanted to watch what was ahead of me,
Life bound in shackles or i'm supposed to be free,
Didn't know then that destiny was not for me to see,
Unlike those who dread the future and try to flee.....


Tried to hear the heavenly symphony
Which could relieve me of the aggravating agony,
Didn't know then that my ears had turned deaf,
But still I could feel the sound of the slowly falling leaf.