patobiero Reviews

Dosti: Friends Forever (2005)

Nice heartwarming movie about friendship

[8/10 · 18 October 2006]

'Dosti: Friends Forever' was a pleasant surprise to me. The performances were very strong and I loved the dynamics between the 2 lead characters, Raj (played by Akshay Kumar) and Karan (played by Bobby Deol). The portrayal of intimate friendship was very heartfelt and honest, and it was moving to watch. To me, the way these 2 actors portrayed this bond is the core of the film, and it carries the film.

This is a movie about choices, about identity, about how a friend can change your life and make you a better person, about relationships, about unselfish love, about life. This film tackles some very important issues in a real and honest way. It will make you think and will touch your heart.

The two lead actors were very generous with each other, especially Bobby Deol, and this must be applauded. It was not competitive with the actors constantly trying to upstage each other. This reminded me of the dynamics between Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan in 'Sholay'. In a way, some parts of 'Dosti' are a mini-homage to 'Sholay', which was a nice idea. There's a part where they're both on motorbikes singing a song with the words 'Yeh Dosti' in it. The homage is discreet and not an obvious 'copycat' attempt, which is nice and wise because although Bobby Deol is Dharmendra's son and Akshay has played Bachchan's son in movies like 'Waqt' and 'Ek Rishtaa', these 2 actors, although very good, have not attained the status of the older actors, who are now icons.

Akshay Kumar surprised me in this movie with a beautifully nuanced performance. He did incredibly well, as did Bobby Deol. The 2 of them deserve kudos for great work in this film. 2 stand-out scenes are where Bobby is railing at God; and when Akshay begs Juhi for a chance to attend his friend's wedding. At the climactic dance scene in the movie, Akshay seems to do a bit too much, but in retrospect, that's probably what was right for his character and the intensity of his position. Lovely acting, I was really impressed.

The rest of the cast is also very good, especially the 2 actors who play Bobby Deol's mother and father. The scene where Karan's father apologises is very touching. Very nice work by the 2 of them.

A couple of flaws: the 2 female leads, while adequate, did not work hard enough to portray the turmoil of their characters. Their performances ended up seeming a bit shallow. Kareena Kapoor was slightly better than the other lead actress (who seemed more concerned with dancing in skimpy outfits), but even Kareena lost steam by the end and failed at the crucial moment to truly depict her character's turmoil on screen. Akshay gave her chance but she didn't rise to meet it. In my opinion, both actresses could learn something from Juhi Chawla. In a small role as Aditi in this film, she leaves a solid emotional impact. Nice work by Juhi.

Another glaring flaw is that the beginning of the movie, with the 2 friends as kids (nice acting by the young ones, I must say) appears to take place in the present time. There is no 'aging' of the costumes and decor, and the 2 boys are even playing contemporary video games. 20 years later, nothing has changed. However, this and several other inconsistencies I might name are commonplace in Bollywood (with a few exceptions like 'Parineeta'), so they really don't affect one's enjoyment of the movie.

The music in the film is excellent, the direction is also very good and I really enjoyed the flashback technique employed by the director and the screenwriter. The 'flow' of the movie was beautiful, and it was very well paced and kept to a nice length.

There are parallels between 'Dosti' and films like 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' and 'Waqt'. I think Dosti is just as good, in fact better than either of these movies, and that's saying a lot, because 'Waqt', for example, was very good indeed.

To sum up, this really is a nice piece of work, the actors have done well and the film will definitely touch your heart if you let it. It actually made me cry!

Abhimaan (1973)

Very nice movie

[10/10 · 17 October 2006]

This is a lovely little movie with really strong performances by Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri and the rest of the cast. It's about love, envy and understanding the dynamics of a relationship.

The film is beautifully and minimally directed, and the music is also lovely - my favourite is 'Bindiya'. The movie moves at a very nice pace, and the chemistry between Bachchan and Bhaduri is excellent and compelling. I understand this film was made around the time of their marriage, and it shows. They are adorable as a young couple in love who are torn apart by the vagaries of fame and success.

Jaya Bhaduri's subtle but comprehensive performance in this film is wonderful - for me, she is the star of this movie - the way she expresses herself with her eyes is powerful. Amitabh Bachchan supports her excellently with a nuanced and understated portrayal of his tragic character. Asrani is good too, I love the scene where he shows her the 'chhoti chhoti' socks.

I love the ending of this movie... redemption and rediscovery is so sweet! A satisfying and mature Bollywood movie.

Ghazab (1982)

Classic Bollywood movie

[10/10 · 14 October 2006]

This movie is fantastic. Dharmendra is awesome as usual, and it's tough to believe he made a movie like this in his mid-to-late forties. Go Dharmendra! Rekha also puts in a fine performance, as does the rest of the cast. Interestingly, almost everyone in this movie is either a villain or is out to make a quick buck... very different from the average movie which typically has one or two villains. 'Ghazab' is heartrending at times, but also exciting, fun and very amusing. The young couple who come in to pretend to be Ajay's mother and brother are hilarious. Ajay himself is both an extremely irritating and annoying; and very funny character - great comic timing. The story is good, the direction is fantastic and Dharmendra... whoa!! Must also remember the music - great songs, especially 'Jaanemaann' and 'Dekho dekho' (sorry if I spelt them wrong). Watch this one, you'll be glad you did!

Domitilla (1996)

Do-mi-til-la!

[7/10 · 10 October 2006]

Domitilla is a landmark film in the Nigerian home video industry. It kicked off the now-established trend of shooting films about 'single girls' and their (mis)adventures in big cities. The buzz for this film was remarkable, and the word 'Domitilla' was on everyone's lips. Everyone kept wondering what it meant, and it was cleverly used as a marketing gimmick, which made this film a blockbuster (a deserved one, though). At the time, 'Domitilla' became another word for prostitute or for a woman of loose morals.

Ann Njemanze, in the title role, gave a performance that made her an instant star. She made a few more films but doesn't seem to be interested in movie-making anymore, which is a pity. 'Domitilla' shows what she's capable of. Sandra Achums, a proved versatile actress, does well in this movie, and Zeb Ejiro, arguably Nigeria's most respected contemporary director (with the possible exception of Tade Ogidan) does excellently at the helm.

Domitilla is basically a story of what young girls get into in the quest to survive. Sometimes, they're fuelled by greed, sometimes by need, sometimes by poor company, sometimes by bad experiences ... but the bottom line is they end up doing things they shouldn't do. What are the consequences? Watch this film and find out.

Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978)

"O Saathi Re..."

[8/10 · 10 October 2006]

For me, the most beautiful thing about 'Muqaddar Ka Sikandar' is the song 'O Saathi Re'. It is a wonderful song and is sung beautifully by Kishore Kumar. Amitabh Bachchan does a good job of expressing the emotions of the song.

"Muqaddar ka..." is a tragedy (and a particularly tragic one), but it's a tragedy that manages to evoke just the right amount of sympathy, without becoming unduly weepy or maudlin. It's a tragedy done properly, with class, honesty and depth. Amitabh Bachchan is great as the lead character. I just loved him in this film, from start to finish (the little boy who played the young 'Sikandar' was wonderful too). Sikandar is at heart a good (even noble) man, but yet is a deeply flawed character, who feels deeply but is completely unable to express it. He's been hardened by his life, but he still has a very soft core, which few get to see. The scene at Memsahib's birthday celebration (when she's older), when Sikandar comes in with her precious gift, is breathtaking. It's a haunting echo of the experience Sikandar had at her 'younger' birthday party. A beautifully nuanced performance, definitely one of the Big B's best.

Vinod Khanna also does a lovely job as the young lawyer, Vishal, in this movie, and the rest of the cast does well, too ... with one notable exception: the lead female, Rakhee. By the time the film was over, I hated her character, and I'm not sure that was the intention of the film makers(or was it?). She managed to portray 'Memsahib' as extremely shallow, uncaring and fickle. It's difficult to see even what the character of Vishal sees in her (although Sikandar's love for her - being completely childlike, pure and unselfish, is perfectly understandable). Even her last-minute repentance rung hollow. I've seen Rakhee do loads better in other movies, so I won't hold it against her in this one .. although it does slightly retract from the overall quality of the movie.

Rekha, as Zohrabai, deserves a mention ... hauntingly lovely and tragic (which is what she does best), she puts in a very good performance. Her role is very stereotypical, but she pulls it off and makes it memorable. Watch out for the scene where she threatens to swallow the diamond.

All in all, this movie is simply unmissable Bollywood. Watch it, and I guarantee you'll be hearing 'O Saathi Re' in your head for a few days afterwards.

The Burning Train (1980)

I love...love...love this movie (and the lead actors too)!!

[10/10 · 5 October 2006]

"The Burning Train" is a very nicely put together, entertaining action thriller. The film is a tribute to India's railways, and to sacrifice and heroism. The sacrifice made by the heroes of the film in trying to save the 'burning train' is nicely mirrored by the sacrifices they make in their personal lives, often with less than happy results.

The movie is also a very satisfying story about relationships (particularly the friendship between Vinod (played by Vinod Khanna) and Ashok (played by Dharmendra), envy, betrayal, redemption - and love.

Dharmendra(whom I love love love - that was 3 loves) and Vinod Khanna (whom I love love - that was 2 loves) are excellent in this movie (as always),putting in brilliant performances. They are very effective and complimentary leads, and they're also quite funny (the scenes where they try to snag their girlfriends by tricking them are great).

Hema Malini is excellent as well (I always love the energy between her and Dharmendra - see the classic 'Sholay', although Malini's character in this movie is very different from Sholay's 'Basanti'). Parveen Babi (in a smaller but very effective role) is good too. There are parallels between their roles and relationship in this movie, and the roles they played in 'Do Aur Do Paanch'. That's not a criticism, though - if it ain't broke, why fix it? I think they make a great pair.

Danny, who plays the villain ('Ranvir') does quite a good villainous face, I must say! With his pitiful 'wannabe great but know I ain't' demeanour (supplemented by even more pitiful hair), you can't help but feel sorry for the guy. Nice portrayal of how a villain can still manage to be really pathetic.

All the other performances (Jeetendra, Neetu Singh and the others - the scene when they all sing on the train is another highlight of the film) are fantastic as well.

The film is really well scripted...it never drags on and maintains a nice brisk pace. It's kept to a nice length as well. I also love the opening scene, which introduces the main characters perfectly. I had to go back and watch it after the movie was over.

The big-budget (for that time) special effects in this movie also deserve a mention. Despite a couple of forgivable poor shots of a model train, the 'burning train' of the movie's title is very realistically portrayed. You almost feel as though you're on the train tracks. Very nice work.

I also have to mention the lovely song sung by Vinod Khanna, Dharmendra, Hema Malini and Parveen Babi near the beginning of the movie (ok, I know it wasn't sung by the actors but by Asha Bhonsle, Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar etc, but you know what I mean). Captures the mood perfectly - the bliss of love and friendship (sorry if that's not actually what the song was about - I don't understand Hindi and the song wasn't subtitled - so just guessing here)... just before life (as it usually does) jumps up and bites you in the behind. I love the song and the choreography.

By the way, if you don't like a healthy dose of sentimentality (in which case you probably don't like Bollywood movies in the first place), then this movie is not for you.

Anyhow, I think I've said enough...all that's left to say is this is a great, entertaining movie for the family. It has action, thrills, romance, comedy, everything. I wish there were more like this.

Insaniyat (1994)

Awful

[3/10 · 5 October 2006]

I am definitely one of the world's biggest Amitabh Bachchan fans ... which is probably why I hate this movie and haven't even been able to finish watching it. Bachchan's early work is brilliant, in my opinion, and there have also been some stunning performances in his recent movies ... but 'Insaniyat' falls in a huge crack in the middle. The Big B looks awkward, tired, out of date and (unbelievably for Bachchan) severely and desperately uncool in this movie. He does try hard, but he doesn't pull it off (not by a long shot), and the worst part is that you can tell he knows he isn't succeeding. I'm so glad he didn't retire from the big screen after this movie, and that he's still putting out fabulous work. Sunny Deol does his pouting best in this movie (although he can never, in my opinion, match up to his legendary dad - sorry, Sunny), but it's not a remarkable performance. This movie does try hard, with a star-studded cast, a big budget and fair performances by most cast members, but it just doesn't fulfil its promise.

Gigi (1958)

They don't make 'em like this anymore!

[10/10 · 4 October 2006]

'Gigi' is one of my all-time favourite movies, and I consider to it to be a true masterpiece. Everything about this movie is stunning - the music, the costuming (the precision is fantastic), the story, the cinematography, the performances... everything. For me, 'Gigi' is a perfect example of a movie that just 'works'.

Leslie Caron is effervescent as 'Gigi', a role she was simply born to play. Interestingly, I don't like many of her other performances - they seem a bit 'same-y' to me. But her performance as Gigi stands out. I love the moment when she sings 'Say a prayer for me tonight', and she manages to convey the fact that her character is more concerned with surviving the impending heartbreak that may accompany her choice, than with impressing Parisian socialites. You immediately identify with her and (for a young romantic girl like me), even want to be her by the end of the movie.

Much has been said about Maurice Chevalier's performance as 'Honore', and it's all true. Even though you almost want to, you can't quite see him as an irresponsible dirty old man. He wins you over. Louis Jourdan as 'Gaston' captures the essence of his character perfectly, and with great style. Again, a role he was born to play. I love the song 'Gigi' when he goes for a stroll around Paris, and the look in his eyes - breathtaking. You can feel his character coming alive.

Paris is stunning in this movie, and the filmmakers do a great job of making it look like the stuff of all our romantic fairy tales (which, sad cliché though it may be, it is).

The story behind 'Gigi' deserves a mention too - it is sweet and romantic but also manages to be realistic and true to the time and social milieu in which it's set. For me, the story is timeless and universal. There is no glossing over of the harsh realities of the time (particularly for attractive young women, often consigned to a life of quasi-servitude to a string of wealthy men), but the story of Gigi and Gaston makes you believe one or two people may have risen above it. That's the most seductive thing about this movie, and by the time you're also seduced by the lovely(brilliant) music, the excellent acting and the awesome visual detail....what else could you ask for?

Mere Mehboob (1963)

Heartwarming and sweet!

[7/10 · 29 September 2006]

This movie, about young love and the consequences of societal disapproval, started out a bit slow for me, and I almost started to regret buying the DVD. I was also a bit spooked by the paleness of the male actors' faces (I know it sounds weird, and maybe it's just me, but there you go). The make-up they used in those days must have been some kind of white chalk-based powder! Not a good look. But once I got over (or at least, tried to live with) my fear of pale male faces, and the story in the movie really kicked off,I was pleasantly absorbed.

The music in the film is lovely, and the lead actors, Rajendra Kumar and Sadhana, pull off very sincere and touching performances. Sadhana, in particular, is enchanting and charming as Husna. The actor who plays 'Husna's brother', the actress who plays the role of 'Najma', and most of the other cast members all do very well. The legendary Pran, looking very young and sprightly and with all his fantastic on screen presence, does a great job in this movie.

The only exception to the good acting in 'Mere Mehboob' is the dreadfully (in my opinion) miscast young man who plays Rajendra Kumar's young poet friend, and supplies most of the comic relief in the film. First of all, the young man does not look young at all, and certainly doesn't look like Kumar's contemporary. There's a scene where he's with his parents, and they look more like 3 siblings. Also, his humour seems forced and was a bit annoying. I should probably give him an 'A' for effort though, it looks like he was trying his best, anyway.

All in all, this a sweet tale of love and acceptance, and of being proud of who you are and where you come from. Very charming.

Ramji Londonwaley (2005)

Very lovely

[8/10 · 23 September 2006]

I really, really loved this movie. It was a simple and heartfelt story about a good, caring and simple man who tries to take care of his sister and gets into a load of trouble along the way.

I found the story very moving, and the performances, in my opinion, were all very good. Madhavan shines in the lead role (he plays strong, sensitive, and simple very well...and looks good too, I might add - sorry just had to put that in there!), and the lead female actress is great too. The other actors all do a decent job. The guy who played 'Jai' was generally very good, but his scenes with the 'Samira' character were stilted. I cringed every time he called her 'baby'.

The film has a strong message, about being true to yourself, and finding good in others. There's also a message about using your talents and appreciating the gifts we each have. For me, the love that grew between the lead characters was very believable, and was the anchor for the story. We saw it develop over time - it wasn't over-sexualised or ridiculously sudden like in a lot of movies. And a lot of topical issues were dealt with in the movie, but not in a preachy way (see Shah Rukh Khan's 'Pardes' for an example of a Hindi movie that preached at the audience - I felt I was being hit over the head with a mallet). In 'Ramji Londonwaley', the messages are more subtle and therefore seem more sincere.

I wasn't expecting too much from this movie (and it does start out a bit slow), but I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I loved and enjoyed it. A good job by all.

Koyla (1997)

A "different" kind of Bollywood movie

[7/10 · 22 September 2006]

At first, I hated this movie. Amrish Puri was so evil he scared me to bits, and Madhuri Dixit's character (Gauri) seemed to be a nitwit. I have always loved seeing Madhuri in intelligent, strong and charming parts (Dil, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Dil To Pagal Hai), so seeing her act like a 2-year old was annoying.

And then... Somewhere in the middle, the movie all started to "click", and I really started enjoying it. Shah Rukh Khan put in a fantastic performance which I absolutely loved. He was raw, yet charming; simple yet mysterious; and pulled off his role of deceived mute man who becomes 'enlightened' perfectly. A reviewer here said something about the fact that he could sing in the musical numbers but is supposed to be mute...but that reviewer obviously does not realise that songs are usually a suspension of reality in Bollywood movies. Characters usually can do anything and everything during a musical number! Besides, in most of the songs, it was a trick with Johnny Lever's character that 'enabled' Shah Rukh's character to sing.

Madhuri Dixit's character, Gauri, actually grew up and became much more likable. Madhuri ended up pulling off a fascinating portrayal of a young childish girl who is dragged into maturity by evil. Who wouldn't grow up, anyway, when faced with the terrors of Amrish Puri's "Rajasaheb"? And the relationship between Gauri and Shanker (SRK's character) is really sweet, complex and perfectly captured.

Rajasaheb, though terrifying, irritating, and very over-the-top, now strikes me as a fairly good characterisation. Like another reviewer said on here, a villain that we love to hate is hard to find. (see 'Dushman' starring Kajol, for Ashutosh Rana in a fantastic portrayal of another 'villain you love to hate' - much better than the one in 'Koyla', in my opinion).

I loved the other actors as well, the girl who played Rajasaheb's secretary was particularly good. Johnny Lever (though very silly as usual), the actor who played Lever's father, and Mohnish Behl (in a brief but strikingly tragic appearance)all put in well-rounded and credible performances. Very nice work.

The film is pretty violent and sometimes shocking (one particular attack actually made me physically jump), but I think it was a case of justifiable violence. The director, Rakesh Roshan, was trying to achieve a certain rawness, and he definitely succeeded. It does make you wonder, though, if he was going through some kind of "blood and gore phase" at that point in his film-making career.

All in all, 'Koyla' is very unusual for a Bollywood film, and that, in my opinion, is what makes it worth seeing.I started out hating it and finished it very happy. It is a satisfying and entertaining movie.

Main Hoon Na (2004)

Watch this movie when you're feeling' blue

[10/10 · 23 August 2006]

This is a true feel-good movie. It has all the right elements - action, tragedy, comedy, romance....I loved it. Farah Khan handled this movie with extraordinary creativity and precision, for a first-time film-maker. She exhibited a true love for Indian cinema, and as far as I'm concerned, has given all those 'established' directors out there a run for their money. I also liked her story, and the way she interpreted it was delightful. It never lagged, or dragged on too long as some Hindi movies do. It was perfectly paced and just a gem to watch. For me, this was one of Shah Rukh Khan's best performances. He really breathed life into the character of Ram, playing action hero and disciplined soldier (as well as lover-boy) with amazing aplomb. I know SRK has a lot of haters, but for me the boy can act! He really puts his guts into it, and he always entertains.(And he's hot too, but that's another story.) Amrita Rao also puts in a very believable performance. I also enjoyed Zayed Khan and Sushmita Sen, as well as the rest of the cast, but for me SRK and Amrita had the stand-out performances. I really think SRK should've won the Filmfare Award for this role, but I guess he has enough on his shelf to make up for it, anyway. The music in the movie is absolutely great (charmingly done), as is the choreography (guess it always is, with Farah Khan at the helm). Watch out for the closing credits! They are so much fun. Truly a great movie, one to watch again and again. I will give this movie 9 out of 10, only because I was annoyed by a triviality.