TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN (1969)

A hilarious directorial debut of the man, the genius, the unique- Woody Allen. The film is loosely narrated mock documentary on the life and times of Virgil Stockwell- a wannabe criminal who attempted several bank robberies with few masterminds and most of the time ending up being caught by cops. He is the man of constant failures for whom the world is too difficult to cope with and still his dream lies in seeing his name in world’s ten most wanted criminal. We see the black and white montages of his childhood, his grandpa and the interviews of his cello teacher, his Groucho Marx makeup clad parents, his friends, partners in crime and his girlfriend-wife.

Though the film doesn’t have those signature Woody one-liners on platter as in later part of his career representing the most lovable paranoiac and cynic but that doesn’t mean he failed to tickle your funny bone. We can clearly see the emerging of original entertainer in his debut film who constantly been mocking himself than anyone else to spread fun for his audience. Watching Woody on screen is unmatchable treat for all of his hard core fans and they know pretty well that one doesn’t need a review or reason to watch Woody films. Watching him on screen is enough to bring genuine smile on your face like those classic Chaplin, Marx Bros or Keaton films.

Ratings-8/10

THE CHASER (Korean) (2008)

One of the unusual modern thrillers from happening cinema of Korea. It begins with surprising kidnapping of call girls. An ex-cop turned pimp is after a nameless caller to whom he sent another girl just a few minutes ago. The search for the man takes us to dark alleys of the city at night. What we see is the street, parked cars and an deserted apartment where the killer has already set prey for his next victim. Get ready yourself for brutal bloodshed as the killer is not only psychopathic but sadist who uses chisel and hammer as his tool for killing. It's much more than thrill when the victim knew that she’s prey and the ray of hope lies in bathroom but then life gives you shock more than surprise in critical moments.

Something happens and the killer has to leave the tied girl half dead to save his ass from trouble. But the destined trouble keeps chasing him either as car crash with the most unlikely man or the left keychain and identified cell phone number. So much to our surprise both the killer and the pimp was caught by cops within the first thirty minutes of the film and the drama rolls into police interrogation where he surprisingly but ambiguously confessed the murders. A psychologist while interrogating let us know the reasons of his killing too. But soon he is released free due to lack of evidence and due to another shameful messy incident for police department. Need i go any further ruining it's awesome last thirty minutes? Absolutely not.

There is something so original about the way Director Na Hong-jin unfolds the whole film and executed it with impeccable thrill of chase, raw fight, dark portrayal and to quote one of fellow cinephile’s words ‘a poetry of violence on screen’. Like his contemporary Park Chan Wook, here is another face of Korean cinema who knows how to make violence an aesthetic treat on screen. Both lead players brought anything more or less than the character and after a long long time I see the face of unfathomable serial killer. Catch the brilliant portrayal of deserted narrow alleys of the city where nobody knows damn about what sort of gruesome things could happen in the next door neighborhood and above all do catch its edge on the seat climax quenching your thirst of watching truly an unusual modern thriller.

Don’t miss.

Ratings-8/10

CROUPIER (1998)

‘Gambling is not about money. Gambling is about not facing reality, ignoring the odds.’

So what’s the golden rule of gambling-‘Quit when you’re ahead’. And here is the story of the man who really wanted to quit when he was ahead. Did the golden rule change his life? Off course, yes but than it has its own pitfall. Here is one of the underrated British films, an absolutely crisp, tautly executed thriller drama made by Mike Hodges, the man who gave us absolutely mind-blowing ‘Get Carter’ starring firebrand Michael Caine, a role of lifetime. ‘Croupier’ has brilliant narration and captivating script (deserves two thumbs up for Paul Mayersberg) accompanied by wonderful lines and plot that keeps your fingers crossed for twists and turns of Casino’s roulette ball. Hodges like an insider shows us the relentlessly sleazy and yet hypnotic world of casino joints, punters, boss and croupiers.

One has to watch Clive Owen here as suave and focused professional croupier Jack Manfred, must say one of his finest act for sure; do watch ‘the seasoned hands of the conjurer’ and an underground man who knows pretty damn how to deal with cards and bets, blackjack or roulette. He’s detached voyeur working in casino and a man of contradiction or ‘enigma’ as told by his girlfriend. Behind his croupier job lies a face of desperate novelist seeking an insider story of his subject. He remains Mr. Clean who doesn't gamble and doesn’t cheat unlike others until he fall into trap of another professional, the mysterious woman at casino table. While playing real and literary double life of croupier, he soon discovers a heavy price to pay. And we see jack quote Hemingway to the fellow- “The world breaks everyone. And afterwards many are strong at the broken places.” And as the movie ends the unexpected way, we see the wicked smile on the face of the croupier where he no longer heard the sound of the ball.

Highly recommended.

Ratings-8.5/10

DESPICABLE ME (2010)

There’s no better option than watching an animation flick especially when you have a terrible and hectic day at job. It’s fun watching the wannabe greatest villain of all time, Mr. Gru. With help of Dr. Nefario and lovable minions he makes a plan for the moon heist. So how could he do that? It’s so simple- by shrinking it with shrinking ray gun. But getting shrinking gun from rival villain Vector isn’t easy. But his initial selfish interest drives him to adopt three cute orphan girls who’re selling cookies for Miss Hattie slowly transformed him from despicable one to most loving one.

It’s one of the impressive Hollywood animation films of the last year which got nomination in upcoming Oscar with two finest and tough rivals- ‘Toy Story 3’ and ‘How to Train your Dragon’. Keeping apart the Oscar buzz, I must say its cool animation film stuffed with entertaining ingredients of fun, emotion, action, adventure, drama and lovable characters. So there are cool gizmos ranging from cookie robots and piranha gun to freezing ray guns and above all shrinking ray gun which makes even the moon shrinks! But I like those assemble minions sound gibberish and helped Gru and kiddies to get it all through while remaining sidekicks. Pleasant entertainment, recommended to all animation lovers.

Rating-7/10

7 KHOON MAAF (2011)

I’m ending up watching the first worst film of the year made by none other than the man who made two finest children films loved and admired by grown up audience and two finest Indian screen adaptations of Shakespeare’s famous tragedies. Vishal Bhardwaj’s last film ‘Kaminey’ didn’t appeal me much compared to the standards set by his own earlier films but let me tell you honestly with this film, he made a film which I love to hate. The only thing worth watching in the film is the beginning and the murder of Suzanne’s hateful hubby number one, the rest is all improbable, dragging, nonsense gimmicks that ended with a ridiculous redemption.

From the title and promos we already know about Suzanne and her victim husbands but in Ruskin Bond’s short story adaptation made by Bhardwaj, the victims are not murdered hubbies but the poor honey. Both Bhardwaj-Priyanka tried to get sympathy for poor soul Suzanne who didn’t get true love from a single husband! And yet we see her confess her true love not made for hubbies but her godson who grows up from a kid to young married man as she grows old! The film is absolutely improbable one especially in the case of Suzanne. Does she marry and remarry just to kill her hubbies or vice versa? Forget her seven hubbies as they have very limited screentime but Priyanka is all there and I must say it’s so poorly portrayed discreet character that till ending of the film we don’t care damn about her.

Watching promos and reading rave reviews about her performance, I’m expecting Priyanka as modern femme fatale here but she’s big letdown here. She’s got one or two bitchy sparks in entire film and rest of the time trying to seek our futile sympathy. It's not her fault but poorly written and portrayed ambiguous character more made to serenade the men on her charm. Among all hubbies, the only one who looks quite probable and worth to notice is the one played by promising Neil Nitin Mukesh as lame army man suspicious about her wife. The rest of the players don’t have much time to develop their white or black sides and ended up on screen much before we notice them! In my opinion, Bhardwaj tries to sell gimmick which won’t work out well. This time even music isn’t as soothing except that Russian song inspired ‘Darlingg’ number. Its better watching free fun of Ekta Kapoor vamps or ICC world cup drama on TV rather than wasting your money and weekend fun on something like this.

I kept scratching my head till interval wondering am I watching the film of director who gave us ‘Makdee’, ‘Maqbool’ and ‘Omkaara’ but post interval I just keep remembering the victim toll so that I can see the end. Will Bhardwaj back with one more disappointing gimmick or back with another striking film that keep pushing the Indian New wave cinema?
I keep my fingers crossed for the second option.

Ratings-5/10

THE SPANISH PRISONER (1997)

“One thing my father taught me about business: always do business as if the person you’re doing business with is trying to screw you, because most likely they are and if they’re not, you can be pleasantly surprised.”

Joe Ross is smart, honest and dedicated employee working for big corporate honchos, the only problem with him is that he’s too nice for everything to everybody. His friendliness gesture to a mysterious stranger made him win friendship with a man powerful and rich enough to solve his personal problem. He didn’t know that this fabricated relation is a big trap that going to give him enough jolts including murder charges and there’s only one woman on whom he can rely to get out of this mess- his personal secretary whose emotional advances and cautions he avoided from long.

Written and directed by David Mamet, one of the gifted and brilliant script writers who knows damn well how to tell a story so cleverly, diverting our attention in twists and turns of lies and a big trap. He shows you the cards but not the game. Clues and hints are offered to Ross in form of his friends and characters; mind well they’re not to reveal the secret but to make it more intriguing. However I feel somewhat feel duped by the time film shows denouement of mystery and that’s the only one big loophole of this otherwise well made thriller/mystery. Mamet wrote some of the finest quotable lines in this film and they keep flowing along with absolutely thrilling drama that holds you to your seat. Here’re few rushes-
“Worry is like interest paid in advance on a debt that never comes true.”
“Beware of all enterprises which require new clothes.”

Recommended to all thriller fans.

Ratings-7.5/10

THE IPCRESS FILE (1965)

This is what I love to call an admirable spy thriller than most of successful but routine formulaic entertainment of Bond. Director Sidney J. Furie brought here suave and thinking man’s Bond on screen named Harry Palmer starring bespectacled Michael Caine. It begins with kidnapping and soon we come to know that around seventeen renowned scientists were kidnapped, returned brain washed few days later and ceased to function as earlier. Palmer is appointed for investigation and the rest is all absolutely edge on the seat, stylish, gritty espionage thriller from British cinema.

Unlike Bond films, Palmer here is not represented as super spy designed to give you merry go round entertainment of action- adventure- chasing-destroying cool cars and romancing with sexy dames; instead he’s no nonsense secret agent belongs to working class who has more to rely on his brain and imperfect eye vision. Instead of Martini and gizmos, he loves cooking and listening Mozart. It has some of the Hitchcokian thrilling moments and matching great score by John Barry. One of the taut, well made and compulsive spy thrillers of its time.

Ratings-8/10