keynesrules Reviews

NCIS (2003– )

How to distinguish yourself from every other cop show/procedural?

[8/10 · 7 May 2007]

Be fun! That's what this show gets right. Do we remember what fun TV was like? Remember the sheer (albeit cheesy) entertainment value of the 80s prime time shows? Airwolf, Knight Rider, A-Team, Magnum etc which sacrificed strict adherence to the laws (judicial and physical!) to entertain TV viewers?

Week after week the officers of NCIS deal with murders, kidnappings and other threats to the lives of Naval officers across the globe (well at least the U.S.) but rather than adhere to the dark, overly serious tone of the law&orders or CSI's this program offsets the (often heinous) crime of the week with the banter between the central characters. Now I'm not suggesting that crime is a laughing matter but a lot of shows on TV have substituted entertainment for large doses of shock value reality. Detailed autopsies and simulations of how an icepick can crack open a skull are okay, but not at the expense of following the whole investigation. While the CSI's follow a Holmes like approach with regards to evidence, NCIS distinguishes the forest from the trees as it were, by switching to and from the autopsy/evidence/forensics back to the larger case. I guess I'm a viewer who doesn't find the notion of meticulous attention to detail on an entertainment show that rewarding.

Truth be told, I was not expecting such a clichéd assortment of characters to click as well as they did. We have the silent but strong type leader (Gibbs), his boss and former lover (Shepard), his older friend and mentor (Ducky), the hotshot womanizer (DiNozzo), the rookie agent/computer genius (McGee), the spunky female agent (Kate/Ziva) and the happiest, Goth forensic examiner (Abby) - okay, well she's an original. What impressed me is how the writers breathe fresh life into what could have been just another ensemble.

While the stories of the week are interesting enough, they've all been covered ad nauseum in many different shows: homicide; hostage-taking; blackmail; assassination-threats etc Credit must be given to the writers for the humor that's been injected into this show - whether it's DiNozzo cracking on McGee or Gibbs admonishing his Junior agents - the wonderful chemistry the cast seem to share comes through every time 2 or more of them are on screen. Pauley Perrette is a delight to watch While the dialogue may not always crackle there is enough zip and some genuinely funny one-liners that somehow develop these characters beyond the 2D cardboard cutouts they could have become.

I continue to look forward to this show every week and Season 4 seems to have lost none of the momentum of the past 2 seasons. One complaint I often hear about this show, is that it seems unrealistic how fast the cases get solved. I'll grant you that McGee and Abby seem to have superhuman abilities to process data and crack codes, but I submit to you that the 3 act structure that a typical episode of this show presents, requires a certain amount of time compression to fit into the 42 minutes and change of every broadcast hour. Seeing how 24 continues to entertain us despite the absence of traffic i.e. realism, I'll continue to give this show leeway as long as it remains interesting.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Watcha' gonna do when the Fuzz come for you?

[8/10 · 10 March 2007]

Hot Fuzz is undoubtedly the funniest R-rated action comedy, film set in a quaint English village so far. The real question is; could it possibly be the greatest buddy cop film of all time? The genre has become so by-the-numbers of late that it seems ripe for satire. Fortunately writers Simon Penn and Edgar Wright appear to love the source material they delightfully skewer, making references-a-plenty to their predecessors – Lethal Weapon, 48 Hours, Point Break and Bad Boys to name a few. However, unlike the painfully dull, teen catering spoof movies (Scary Movie franchise, Epic Movie, Date Movie), the humour is not handled clumsily and neither is the screenplay overloaded with easy jokes and obvious references. Hot Fuzz is that rare movie which manages to satirize while giving the genre a complete overhaul. At times the film reaches Python-like levels of comedic brilliance.

The setup is simple enough: Nick Angel is metropolitan London's top cop. His office is on the streets of the city and business never closes. As a matter of fact he's so good at his job that he singlehandedly outshines his entire department. This does not sit well with his superiors who quickly promote him and pack him off to the sleepy village of Sanford – winner for the last several years of the coveted "Village of the Year" crown. Once here the film begins on an entertaining fish out of water track as we witness Angel's toughest assignments which include a crackdown on underage drinking and capturing an escaped Duck (scene stealer of the year!) Naturally he is reprimanded by his superior officer, Inspector Frank Butterman, played ably by the wonderful Jim Broadbent, who always seems to be too good for the parts he plays. He is formulaic-ally teamed up with the less competent Danny Butterman, whose puppy like enthusiasm and man love for his new partner injects hilarity into the inevitable male bonding moments of the film. Look a little closer though and you'll see how good the satire is. We are never shown Nick Angel's love interest - a metaphor for the fact that the love interest in a buddy cop film is typically unmemorable? Except of course for Téa Leoni in "Bad Boys", but I digress...

All is not what it appears to be in Sanford, naturally. Someone is killing residents of the village and the murders appear to be connected. The rest of the local police service is content to call each case an "accident" and shut the books, but Nick Angel is not convinced. "Sanford hasn't had a murder in over twenty years" he is told, but what of the malicious remarks made by supermarket owner Simon Skinner? (Played by Timothy Dalton obviously having a great time.) Don't worry; I haven't spoiled anything for you. The movie makes the identity of the killer fairly clear from the outset, though you may be surprised by the motive. As with Shaun of the Dead and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, it's the menace used to underscore the humorous screenplay which works effectively by keeping the audience amused and unsettled in turns. A serial killer is at the very least disquieting and each time the viewers settled into the comedy groove of the movie, the writers orchestrated another gruesome "accident". The fate that befalls one plucky reporter is a particularly cringe worthy moment.

The film's biggest laughs come at the climax when the action ventures into the preposterous not simply because of the level of violence (which brings to mind the term 'disproportionate response') but also because of the setting. I loved the "man with no name" reference just prior to the final confrontation which had the audience screaming hysterically at my screening.

Having said all that, a few things did not work for me. The reveal scene in particular lasts a tad too long and while suspension of disbelief is a given with a story like this, the logistics behind the "accidents" are mind-boggling considering Angel keeps such a sharp eye on the town. The odd joke falters and Angel escapes a Mexican standoff too easily. These isolated moments do not detract from one of the most entertaining movie experiences of my life, and the film works really well as a date movie.

Two and a Half Men (2003–2015)

What if Full House brought the funny?

[8/10 · 21 September 2006]

The best sitcoms aren't the ones which announce their arrival by flaunting self congratulatory phrases on TV or in the print media. The funnier shows aren't that high concept, often start slow, with a few shaky jokes/episodes while the writers flesh out the characters and story lines. I've never seen any of these shows from their pilot episode, in fact I've usually been looking the wrong way.

You hear about shows like 'Two and a Half Men', 'Seinfeld' and 'Arrested Development' from your friends or on message boards online, check out an episode or two on TV and get drawn into it. Last weekend I rented the first two seasons on DVD to give this show a fair go, and I was quite pleased with the results. While not packing in as many jokes/gags per minute as 'Arrested Development' and not as iconic as 'Seinfeld's - no hugging no learning no-thing philosophy', this is still quite an entertaining show. Some of the jokes miss, and the laugh track seems irritating at times.

Raunchy jokes are funny. Raunchy jokes in front of impressionable kids are funnier. I'd find it harder to believe that a kid wouldn't be hearing some particularly non-PC comments in a house with 2 guys. Yet the funniest episodes by far seem to focus predominantly on Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer (sorry Angus, but you get some great one-liners). Two standout episodes include Charlie and Alan pretending to be a gay couple at a party (it sounds clichéd, but Jon's flame-out is hilarious) and Chris O'Donnell's appearance as Charlie's ex-girlfriend with a sex change operation (You are now forgiven for Batman & Robin). Supporting cast is wonderful as well, with genuinely funny performances by Melanie Lynskey as Rose, the lovable psychopath, and Holland Taylor as the boys insufferable mother.

I'd like to close, by reiterating what was said by another reviewer on this site. One of the reason why this show works for me at least, is that writers never go out of their way to lobotomize Charlie on the show simply because he's living with his nephew. Unlike other shows, which are 'family-themed', here the inclusion of a child actor doesn't 'rock someone's world' thereby resulting in dramatic changes about which the character complains throughout the show before learning to live with them. It's enjoyable seeing Charlie treat Jake as an adult and not compromise on his own philandering lifestyle at the same time. Add Jon Cryer's neurotic Allen now trying to restart his love life, throw in sex jokes a pinch of physical comedy, and you get a laid back show that entertains - which is all I ever wanted from a sitcom to begin with.

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000 Video)

A brilliant addition to the Batman mythos

[10/10 · 21 June 2006]

I've always rated "Batman Beyond" the cartoon series a few notches below "Batman: The Animated Series", even though I grew up watching the former and was introduced to the latter when it released on DVD.

In my opinion, the conscientious choice in "Beyond" to sacrifice character development for action when introducing a new (and if I may add, interesting) rogues gallery has ensured that "Beyond" would never reach the classic status of it's predecessor. Even though I loved how well future Gotham was portrayed and was pleasantly surprised how well Japanimation complemented the look and feel of the series, the best Batman stories have always been the ones which probed the psychological conflict between Batman and his adversaries. This is where adventures of Terry McGinnis fall short (in the cartoon series).

I was therefore completely unprepared this movie, though in retrospect the fact that Paul Dini wrote it should have allayed my doubts. Dini understands Batman and most of his stories find the right tone between the bleak nature of the Dark Knight's war on crime and the humor which ices the cake of a cartoon series if properly done. Dini's greatest stories however, seem to be the ones that chronicle the psychological cat and mouse games played out by Batman and the villains who plague Gotham. This film if I may venture, is far darker than anything out of the animated Batworld and in one scene in particular borders on the absolutely disturbing.

However, a quick recap. It is approximately 50 years into the future and Bruce Wayne has retired from active crime-fighting preferring instead to monitor his protégé: Terry McGinnis. McGinnis who lost his own father under tragic circumstances is the Tomorrow Knight and patrols the streets of Gotham in a souped up Batsuit. He comes across a street gang called the Jokerz who are involved in a high tech robbery from WayneCorp which puzzles him as it doesn't fit the typical street gang M.O. His investigation leads to cover ups and secrets and things only becoming more confusing with the reappearance in Gotham of Batman's greatest nemesis - The Joker, thought dead for many years. But is he who he really claims to be? Bruce fires Terry's from the job without any explanation. Terry who is utterly confused turns to Barbara Gordon, the once Batgirl, who is now the commissioner of police to learn about what happened the night Batman had his final confrontation with the Joker many years ago.

The flashback that follows is unnerving partly because the events unfold in a cartoon and because of what the film doesn't show us. Just as with Jaws, Dini holds his cards very close to his chest making the revelation all the more disturbing. Also, for those who thought the animated joker straddled the line between funny and cruel, prepared to be blown away by how sadistic he really is.

All this leads up to a satisfying conclusion in a film that tries not to use tired clichés to reveal the mystery of the Joker. No, it's not a Joker-clone or a long lost son! The stakes are high in the final confrontation between the Joker and the new Batman, when Bruce is almost killed and Gotham faces devastation at the whim of a madman. Dini is a master storyteller and he knows these characters inside out. He weaves a brilliant final act that not only convincingly ties all the loose ends, but ends up giving you (or at least me) new respect for McGinnis' Batman. His take down of the Joker is memorable not for it's action, but because of the psychological leverage Terry tries to use. The last 2 thirds of the movie alone make it a must watch for Batfans and thriller fans alike.

Finally, voice acting is credible. Kevin Conroy is Batman. He's been doing it since 1992 and he's timbre is the perfect pitch (pardon the pun) for the Dark Knight. Mark Hammill reprises Joker from the animated series, and puts up a valid case for dubbing all past and future Joker portrayals. Hammill has bounds of energy and fun with this character and you can hear it on screen. Will Friedle is convincing as McGinnis - he doesn't play Terry as a moper or a whino. My only gripe is that they didn't use Stockard Channing for Barbara Gordon. I love her rendition of the character, although Angie Harmon is okay.

I can't recommend this movie enough, though if you rent/buy it please make sure you have the uncut version PG-13. The edited version is too diluted and the movie experience diminishes with it.

Lakshya (2004)

No sophomore slump from Farhan Akhtar

[9/10 · 18 June 2006]

When your first film is 'Dil Chahta Hai' a movie that not only clicks with Urban audiences all over India, redefines cool amongst the aspiring yuppie crowd and stylistically influences the Chopras, Johars and other filmmakers in terms of what GenNext wears and does, there are going to be huge expectations from your second effort.

Director Farhan Akhtar does not disappoint with Lakshya, the story of an urbanite Delhi slacker named Karan Shergill (Hrithik Roshan) who's just graduated from college and is still not sure what he wants to be when he grows up. His patient girlfriend Romi (Preity Zinta) loves him and is confident that he will excel in whatever he sets out to do, but even she is beginning to get weary of his attitude towards his life and their relationship. On a whim, Karan decides to join the Indian Army, clearing their grueling entrance exam, with a friend. It's a decision that puts further strain on Karan's relationship with his overbearing father (played masterfully by Boman Irani).

Once in boot camp however, Karan is unable to withstand the pressure & discipline that army life places on new cadets. He drops out of the academy after a few weeks and reunites with Romi at their favorite spot. Romi is however, devastated to hear Karan has dropped out and decides to end their relationship once and for all, citing that Karan has no aim in life whatsoever. This turn of events pushes Karan to return to the army and to finish what he started - for Romi, and more importantly for himself. It is at this point that the father-son pair of Javed & Farhan Akhtar make things interesting by weaving the fictional story of Karan together with an actual piece of 20th Century Indian Army history.

Fans of 'Dil Chahta Hai' may be surprised at how less light-hearted the tone of the movie is especially in the second half where it strays into the realm of pure action. What Farhan displays here is how adept he is at managing realistic action and provides a fresh look at the war genre, free from the cliché-ridden plots of J P Dutta. Amitabh Bachchan makes a memorable appearance as Karan's superior officer who leads our protagonist to a final, tangible Lakshya (aim/goal/target). Cinematography in the mountain ranges of Kashmir is wonderful and as is becoming apparent with Farhan's films, the story in extremely grounded and rarely leaps into the realm of 'far-fetched'. The music by Shankar-Ehsan-Loy suits the tone of the movie, and Farhan wisely limits the number of songs to carefully selected arenas. He does however recognize that in Hrithik Roshan he has the most gifted dancer in Bollywood and in the song 'Main Aisa Kyon Hoon' he lets his star cut loose in a wonderfully choreographed piece by Prabhu Deva. I think it is Hrithik's greatest performance on the dance floor to date.

Finally onto Hrithik himself, someone who I've admired more for his dexterity in dance scenes than for his acting chops. Hrithik delivers his best performance to date in Lakshya (I thought he was over the top in Koi...Mil Gaya) and manages to capture the initial confusion and eventual determination of Karan wonderfully. When his character returns to military training you see his metamorphosis into a man obsessed. The scene where he reconciles with his father over the phone before setting out on his mission is dignified and soulful. You really believe that Karan's dad has accepted his son's decision. Finally when Karan reunites with Romi after years of army service and points out to her with sincerity "This is my Lakshya", you believe in the conviction of this young man. This it truly Hrithik's movie all the way and for once his theatrics outshine his foot skills.

Lakshya is mainstream Bollywood cinema with a difference. Just as with 'Dil Chahta Hai' there is a 'hatke' quality about this film which audiences should appreciate. Farhan doesn't make conventional 9 song love stories and he doesn't need to. His unique vision is a welcome addition to Bollywood. With Lakshya there is a lot of maturity in his storytelling and direction. The action/drama quotient has been upped in favor of humor which was a smart decision considering how sensitive and serious the final act is.

In a final note, some people have commented that the factual incident weaved into the storyline & Javed Akhtar's remarks on the matter means that 'Lakshya' is an Anti-Pakistan film. I would suggest instead that it is a pro-army and pro-determination (if that's a word) film. Karan's example shows us that if we focus our minds onto achieving one task then no power on earth can prevent us. If we look inside ourselves and dedicate our energy on achieving our Lakshya then nothing is impossible. One now expects great things from Farhan Akthar's 'Don'.

Dil Chahta Hai (2001)

Bollywood 2.0

[10/10 · 1 August 2005]

Less is more in Farhan Akhtar's 'Dil Chahta Hai'. Strip away melodramatic plots which always drag on longer than they are supposed to. Get rid of unbelievable protagonists who have all the answers and can fight off a horde of villains. Have no 'villains' to speak of, with the exception of the dude engaged to the girl you fancy, who acts like a bit of a prick.

Build a story about the people you spend most of the time with - your friends, your dawgs, your posse, and ponder how you guys are going to sort out the really important things in your life. Like falling in love. Cracking on your friend who seems to fall for every girl he sees. Or your sensitive friend Sid who is in love with a much older woman - is he crazy? Wince as two of your best friends get into a very heated argument which splits them up and wonder what you will do now that you're caught in the middle. Hope for love and friendship to find a way through to reconciliation.

Make a smart movie, without elaborate dance pieces set to a sweet soundtrack that remains in the top 10 a year after the film's release. In fact have a song that parodies the 'running around trees' segment that every other Hindi film since the 1950s has had and that the guys at school used to kid about. I mean, guys don't express their love for girls that way! Keep out guns, drugs, politics, strife, and family melodrama. Lace up your script with generous doses of humor which brings to light the hereunto underused Saif Ali Khan. Finally make sure the 'heroes' have shown some growth at the end of it. Of course it's been done to death in LA. That it could have been done so well in Mumbai is the astonishing thing.

Finally, make reality cool again. Whatever your heroes wear, however they cut their hair, right down to the way they interact has to be believable. Make short hair and a goatee beard the national craze amongst guys. Put some real thought into color coding and matching outfits and give a laid-back style to the proceedings.

Welcome "Dil Chahta Hai". The film that has had the largest influence of the look and hopefully the story of the biggest Bollywood films to follow it. A film that many people have been able to relate to. It seemed so obvious until Farhan Akhtar did it. Now watch how his ideas permeate through Bollywood.

Here's looking forward to "Don" in 2006.

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Be prepared

[8/10 · 30 June 2004]

"Spider-man 2" is a much more serious movie than the original. This may catch fans of the first movie by surprise. Gone is the lightheartedness of nerdy Peter Parker's life (there may an odd scene here), gone is the sweet puppy love between Parker and MJ (here it's full on heart breaking, soul searching love)and gone is the joy of discovery of powers and responsibility (here it's about finding the right balance). For about the first 90 minutes of THIS movie Peter Parker can't catch a break. He loses (among other things) his faith, his ideals, and his reason for putting on the costume.

The action is also very paced out in the movie, with the three major action scenes coming in the second half. There are interludes of speech which are deftly written, but makes the viewer pine for the movie to kick into high gear. When it does though, oh boy (!) does it deliver - the piece de resistance being a train sequence that puts movies like 'Speed' to shame. Each one of the action sequences are masterful, and it is evident where the money has been spent in this movie. Watching Spidey swing through NYC is sheer exuberance.

Yet the brilliance lies in the depth of this movie, what some may believe is boring exposition, but don't be fooled. Raimi and co. have crafted a wonderful movie here. I just felt it could have been 10 minutes shorter.

True to form, the movie ends on a spectacularly high note while setting up the sequel.