No Country for Old Men

It certainly is looking like that for John McCain. RCP is averaging a 6 point lead for Bambi for like the 6th week in a row. But polls are polls, not elections. We'll see the election on Tuesday.

On the look of it, everything is a dead heat. The GOP base is strong as ever (forget the pundits, I'm talking of those trailer families in the mid-west). The Dems too have rallied behind Bambi.

Morpheus and Neo even appeared together couple of days back. For every Hannity there is an Olbermann in the media.

But if there is one thing that Bambi has and McPalin doesn't, it's the Awakening. Yes, the white elephant in the room is starting to move. Race was always a big factor in 2008. And while everyone was concerned about the "hard-working working class white Amercians", no one wanted to talk about the disillusioned, not-working-because-unemployed Americans. Now, who'd expect a democratic infidel like the black man to even think of a taking a political revenge at the ballot box? Isn't that how the white guy is expected to respond?

Well, apparently not. On Tuesday one country will become "No Country for Old Men, Old Thoughts, Old Beliefs, Old Ways". And hopefully this will reverberate across the world.

PS: Ya'll know Posh Spice....guess what's Sarah Palin? .........................Bible Spice!

Sarkar doesn't Raj

I saw this sometime back and I didn't even get pissed enough to vent out a scathing post. A one word description of this movie would be - S L O W.

I liked the first movie so I'm not sure if I went in with 'high expectations' (that's the weirdest part - people tell me 'you shouldn't go in with high expecations, then you'll love the movie' ---hmm.....lets hope for an absolute fuck-up so that we'll never be disappointed; and let't not limit this philoshitty to just the movies, let it drive everything in our lives)

Getting back to the point, this movie kinda had everything going for it. A great first movie, set storyline, big-ticket actors, etc. Unfortunately Varma has squandered these advantages. The story unfolds at a snails pace with some characters just being planted into the sets. The main (new) characters are not developed enough. And, apologies for the spoiler - but killing Abhishek's pregnant wife was totally unnecessary. What was it? Ode to Coppola?

And, like three frames later, Shankar (Abhishek) makes a move on Anita (Aishwarya). Geez. Romance right after your pregnant wife is blown to smithereens in front of you.

Then there's the actual story -- the purported reason for all the chaos. Politics or rajneeti as Subash(Big B) calls it. In what is unique to Hindi cinema, the protagonist somehow always lands up explaining the plot to the audience in the waning minutes of the movie. Haven't we seen this before? Damn!

Come to think of it, think Varma realized that the plot was too convoluted for the audience to even imagine so he brought it the Big B to do the honours.

So, there you are. Bad Bad story. Worse than no story. The background score is splashed all over, making it lose its intensity. Screenplay is average. Cinematography is ok. Some shots looked refreshing because of the angles in which they were taken. Acting is good. Dialogues are average.

Gangster flicks are my fav, but I'll pass this one. There's going to be another one by Varma. Hope that one will have more to offer.

A Tag too late

...so I guess I AM the last one to respond to this tag... Much love to BVN for bringing me back to my own page on blogger.
Here we go:
1. LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATER:
The Nanny Diaries. Self-inflicted injury. Had to watch Pulp Fiction to get the faith back in the movies.

2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
I Woz, the narcissistic autobiography of Steve Wozniak. Reinforces my hatred of the gawky geekdom.

3. FAVORITE BOARD GAME?
Any damn game after four large whiskies. Heck, I'll do a pole-dance if you want me to.

4. FAVORITE MAGAZINE?
NYT Magazine, Time and Business Today

5. FAVORITE SMELLS?
The misty smell of rain...... And the smell of my room (never realized this until I had a chance to move out.....walking back in, the smell brought back memories of yesteryears).....And aroma of mom cooking my fav dish :D

6. FAVORITE SOUND?
Ice cracking when it hits the scotch?......hehe... More like waves hitting the shore....

7. WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD?
Doubting my own self.

8. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE?
Uh, what's the time like.....? Ok... five more minutes..

9. FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE?
Any Darshini. Yeah BVN....Waffle House... Triple, Scattered, Smothered, Covered and Peppered with loads of Coffee.

10. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME?
Lemme get the girl first.

11. FINISH THIS STATEMENT. "IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I'D...?
Buy a yacht and go sailing..

12. DO YOU DRIVE FAST?
Sometimes.

13. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?
Gawd. Yeah I do. I am the fucking stuffed animal.

14. STORMS-COOL OR SCARY?
Cool! Not cool if I'm driving though...

15. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?
Here I shall agree with BVN. Corolla. Black. I loved zipping around in that machine.

16. FAVORITE DRINK?
Cold coffee. Scotch. Both on the rocks. BVN, next time you are in Blore, check out Couch on MGs, they serve Irish coffee blended with whiskey. Neat.

17. FINISH THIS STATEMENT, "IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD .....
do something else on the weekends (apart from sleeping and gorging)

18. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?
Yeah dip them in chicken gravy first.

19. IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE?
I'll call George Clooney for hair-advice.

20. NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS YOU HAVE LIVED IN.
Ah! Bangalore, Jamshedpur, Davangere, Kushalnagar, Weston......But home is Bangalore. Always.

21. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Formula 1. With KF strong and a buckful of french fries.

22. ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU.
He'll share a smoke...even if it is the last cig in the pack. (I know, I know, that's about the biggest compliment you've ever got)

23. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED?
Right now? Well I sleep on the floor so....

24. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN?
Yes. A little less confused. A little more passionate (about anything!)

25. MORNING PERSON, OR NIGHT OWL?
Totally a night owl. Love the serenity.

26. OVER EASY, OR SUNNY SIDE UP?
Sunny Side Up

27. FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX?
Beaches...... Balconies with BVNs decor....... The Sweet Chariot beside Cash Pharmacy.

28. FAVORITE PIE?
No favs here...Is there a thing like Pineapple Pie?

29. FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
Chocolate no doubt....More like hot chocolate fudge junior at Corner House.

30. OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU TAGGED THIS TO, WHO'S MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST?
I'll try DJ

Amadeus

This is an epic. You instantly know that this was made with an intent of being the magnum opus. Milos Forman's effort brought him 8 Oscars (of 11 nominations). It won him plenty of other awards as well.

It is easy to see why. From a cinematic perspective, this film has got most things right. A great subject, awesome narrative, impressive acting, extraordinary sets and costumes and a background score by, well the best in the business - Mozart. In some ways, this movie reminded me of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane and K. Asif's Mughal-E-Azam. There is an overwhelming grandiosity about the film. You instantly know that this is not one of those frugal Clint Eastwood movies or earthy, street-smart Scorcese types. It's more Spielbergish, I'd say.



The narrative becomes especially poignant because its told by Antonio Salieri - Mozart rival so to speak. Salieri, no mug with the keyboard himself, tells the story of his bitter-sweet relationship with the wizard. In doing so, Forman brings in a deep philosophical undertone to the movie. The story operates at two levels - one, the obvious chicanery that Salieri uses to sabotage Mozart's career and life and two, the underlying theme of a mediocrity vs genius (reminds me of The Fountainhead).

And these two themes have been interwoven brilliantly. The main characters have been developed thoroughly with great attention to detail. There are plenty of relationships in the film. Mozart with his atypical music; his deep devotion toward his dad. Constanze (Mozart's wife) with him and their life together. Salieri and the boy-wizard. Salieri and his faith. The establishment with Mozart. etc..... Forman has done an excellent job of holding all this together until the end.

The set and costumes look authentic and classy. The Opera's and the lavish use of Mozart's music are charming and delightful. The acting is fantastic. Amadeus got two best actor nominations and Murray Abraham won deservedly. Tom Hulce is also good, but Abraham steals the show throughout. He is controlled yet passionate. Scheming yet humane. Imperfect, yet not evil. Amazing!

The only drawback I thought was the length. I saw the director's cut and at 2 hrs and 52 minutes, it's a touch too long. The final runtime was 160 minutes, I read, but even at that, it's a touch too much. This didn't win the Oscar for editing. Something in there I guess.

A good watch, if you really like the movies. Otherwise, get a bag of popcorn and watch the last season of Friends.

Pink Panther

I haven't seen the original by Blake Edwards starring Peter Sellers as French Inspector Jacques Clouseau, but the 2006 version (call it a remix?) is good only in patches. PP is from the 'wacky comdey' stable. If Austin Powers were a 3 and Naked Gun were a 2, then PP is 1. Get the drift?

PPs positives are a good plot, great actors and some hot GQ (galmour quotient). Any story which has a murder interwined with a missing diamond is sure gonna kick in some audience interest. Add to that Steve Martin and Jean Reno. Then some Beyonce Knowles. Mix it up with a little funny French and you have something to work with.

Unfortunately Shawn Levy, the director, left it at just that. Unlike Naked Gun or Austin Powers, PP lacks great dialogues. Those witty, quirky one-liners; those double-entendres (Allota Fagina, Felicity Shagwell). . Not there :(

Screenplay doesn't evoke any laughter either (remember Mini-me?). Levy seems to have lost track of other characters in the movie. The short screen times for the other actors could have been forgiven if atleast their characters were properly developed and weaved into the plot. That doesn't happen here (the whole scene with 006 is a total wreck).

Amidst all this, Steve Martin shines. He antics are hilarious, accent funny and expressions awesome (one scene where he asks Reno "You Knew?" tells us what a phenomenol actor Steve is). PP survives because of Steve.

All in all, an average flick.

PS: I don't think there's been a comedy that ranks right up in IMDB. Except Dr. Strangelove. Weird, I thought. Isn't a comedy a serious movie? Pun intended.