yogesh-kalyankar Reviews

How Do You Know (2010)

Paul Rudd stands out

[7/10 · 6 September 2014]

So I was watching this movie on one of the movie channels. I had to go out the movie was going on. When I came back the movie was still on my mind and it was available online and I watched it. Those are good enough signs to like a movie

While Owen Wilson and Paul Rudd might not make to the really A list of stars, its nice to watch them. More on that later The movie is not a typical girl met guy romance. Its nice and like a few reviews here its very underrated. no stereo types either about the girl or guy. Starts with Reese Witherspoon going into a relationship with Owen Wilson, while Paul Rudd is coming out from his. No tragedy here. Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd meet on a blind date. While Reese is into some sports, Rudd is a son of a business tycoon (ever devilish Jack Nicholson). Wilson is an athlete.

The movie does not have a plot like a Inception but the dialogs are not expected either like 'I love you' and 'I love you too.' There's a very believable character in form of Rudds assistant. She is there as a friend to Rudd, one who is always there to help. At one point of time she is so much annoyed with Jack Nicholson trying to put is son down, she is ready to hit him. Thats more funny than exaggerated.

The movie itself is nice as said earlier. Don't recollect the music taking precedence over either the characters or the storyline. Production values are neat. Nothing seems out of the place. Cinematography is nice as well.

Of the cast, Reese come out nicely while trying to decide among both the guys. Owen Wilson does his character all the justice. Jack Nicholson comes out with regular intensity to his character. I don't have to mention One flew over cuckoo's nest, departed, batman, As good as it gets. As much as he is believable in Anger Management, he is believable here as well But honestly one person who stands out is Paul Rudd. I have seen him in Friends, I love you man, Anchorman. Its possible for him to convey the most difficult moments with only his eyes. He needs to get his due. Watch it without expectations you will enjoy it.

Vaastupurush (2002)

Amazing

[10/10 · 30 October 2008]

The problem with Marathi films is they do not get the enough media publicity and the people who watch them in a theatre are really selected few. Movies like Saat chya aat Gharat, Vaastu Purush, Dombivli Fast and Shwaas (nominated for Oscar) should be given more publicity both by the government and producers.

Vaastupurush - Vaastu I guess means home and purush means man. Vaastu purush necessarily is the Guardian of the house. Vaastu shastra is science similar to its Chinese counter part Feng Shui.

This film is about 5 generations (almost). Though it majorly revolves around three main characters 1)Aai meaning mother played par excellence by Uttara Baokar. 2)Young Bhaskar portrayed brilliantly by Siddharth Daftardar. 3)Krishna Tai played beautifully by Renuka Daftardar. Sadashiv Amroapurkar as Vadil meaning father played again very brilliantly. He portrays a man of ethics, a freedom fighter with Gandhian thought with extra-ordinary lustre.

The film revolves around a family settled in rural village in Maharashtra post independence. The earnings of the family are meagre. The village does not have any doctor. The mothers only dream of life that Bhaskar become a doctor and bless the entire ancestors by helping the poor. The father refuses to use his influence to the then minister as it is against his ethics. He feels that his child should get admission based on merit. Bhaskar's elder brother Nishi (Atul Kulkarni) was in love with Krishna but father has opposed that since the girl is not from his caste. Present day Bhaskar's son (Tushar Dalvi) has married an American doctor. Bhaskars uncle Ravindra Mankani(Kaka), a widower, wants to dig his own house because he believes that his ancestors have kept family fortune there. This entire family is under the maternal care of Aai who also looks after Vadil's foster mother.

These intricacies have been so beautifully intervowen by the director duo Bhave/Sukhtankar that the movie never leaves you confused or out of occasion. You feel you have watched a good movie for a very long time. This director duo has also directed another beautiful movie called doghi. Watch that one for Sonali Kulkarni. I honestly feel a gross injustice that has been done to film is it did not get enough publicity and critic attention. Watch it once you will recommend it to every one

The Dark Knight (2008)

Wonderful Movie - Bale/Ledger

[9/10 · 15 October 2008]

Movie freaks, Fans for Batman, Cristopher Nolan, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Joker (the character), this movie is for you all. The movie was always in the news. Initially for Heath Ledgers death and from then on it was the most awaited movie.

Movie starts with Joker's antiques. Thats where the movie captures you. It has no rules. Heath Ledger as a joker is not only appropriate for the role but he has done the role in a rather unorthodox fashion. Perfect would be an understatement for him. He crawls into the skin of the character with charm and pulls it off with such a ease that you actually feel that that is Heath. Just when you think the battle between good and bad is over the movie comes with surprises from Joker. Its only too sad that he didn't live enough to see his best performance till date Harvey Dent played by Aaron Exkhart takes on the role of DA and later on Two Face with precision. He is the sane guy in the insane world. The real white knight. Rachel Dawes is good as both Harvey's and Batmans love interest.

Finally Batman. Hats off to Christian Bale. I became a die-hard fan of this guy after Prestige, another beautiful film by Chrisotpher Nolan. Christian Bale dons the role of Dark Knight with finesse that a few before him have been able to do. I am surprised everyone here has said so many words about Joker and no one wants to say anything about Christian Bale. He has modulated voice for Batman and uses a separate voice for Bruce Wayne. The synchronization between him and Michael Caine is wonderful to watch. I also read that he gained lot of weight for his previous Batman movie.

For that reason the entire cast. Unlike earlier Batman movies where the negative characters overshadow the entire movie, here all the characters have done more than justice.Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman have performed par excellence. And this movie has some messages which go beyond the batman movie. To say that one character steals the entire movie would be like doing an injustice.

I will eagerly wait for next Batman movie hopefully by Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale.

A Wednesday (2008)

A Must See

[9/10 · 8 October 2008]

There are a few movies that entertain, there are a few movies that give message and then there are a few movies that you can relate to. A Wednesday is definitely one such movie.

The story revolves around an anonymous man (Shah) who calls up the commissioner of police (Kher) and informs him about the bombs that he has placed. Bomb blast is something that I personally am scared of. It had ripped Mumbai in 1993 and then in local train and bus. Only people stood by each other. It followed thru out the country. And what can one common man do? .

The story line is fantastic. Its hard to believe that this is Neeraj Pandey's first movie and he has taken a gigantic leap without including any songs. The movie itself is only one and a half hours - half of what Bollywood movies usually are. Then he has not shown the police administration either as corrupt or the bookish kind of honest. He has probably taken the real view of police department And then the cast. Naseerudding Shah is one actor who can crawl under the skin of any character. Be it the coach in Iqbal or the pirate in The League of Extra-ordinary gentlemen. Then there is Anupam Kher whose acting abilities are still not tapped to the best by any director. These two stalwarts make-up this movie. And this movie does not have him in a stereo typical dads role. Aamir Bashir as Jay and Jimmy Shergill as Arif are just outstanding. Nothing in the movie is out of context. Well-acted, well-directed, well-scripted, well-executed.

Johnny Gaddaar (2007)

A Perfect James Hadley Chase Thriller

[10/10 · 21 November 2007]

The entire movie has just one word - Awesome!!!! Cheers to director, he has evolved from better to best since his last movie- Ek Hasina Thi . I cannot wait for his next venture Cast: The team of crooks has really done a nice job. Dharmendra is no longer in a wasted role. The three other actors (Shiva, Shardul and Prakash) fit well in their roles. But rarely do you find an actor who can make such a lasting impression in his first movie, Neil. He easily fits as Vikram, the young charming hero (Anti-Hero????) having romance with one of the characters wife. His plan to steal the money from the entire team leads him to become a murderer. The movie then goes through lots of twists that it keeps you guessing what next. Thankfully the romance doesn't go beyond whats necessary. Songs don't take you away from the script. Collector's movie!!!