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Sanju (2018)
A man with a whirlwind life and his loving father and friend
"Sanju" tells the story of Sanjay Dutt from his debut in "Rocky" to his jail release in 2016. It shows how at each phase, this man made the wrong decisions and how his father and friend support him in times of need.
Growing up, I remember Sanjay Dutt as the actor who went to jail and was labeled a gangster. To me, he was the man next to Govinda in David Dhawan's films, the man who stunned my mom in Vaastav and of course Munna Bhai. Watching the trailer of the film, you get a sense they will touch on the worst parts of his life but it will be light hearted. But I was wrong and I am glad I was.
The film shows the dark days of the title character's life and his comeback in the 2000s. But other than showing him, the film shows how at each phase his friend and father supported Sanju regardless of what he did. From his drug addiction in the 80s, his jail sentence in the 90s and his comeback with Munna Bhai, we see how Sanjay Dutt went through each phase and how his father and friend helped him.
Ranbir Kapoor showed exactly why he is one of the best actors in Bollywood. His transformation to Sanjay Dutt was unbelievable and makes you believe he is Sanjay Dutt himself. At every scene, I connected with his character and wanted to root for him at each stage. Vicky Kaushal plays Kamli, the supportive and good friend of Sanjay that sticks with his friend through thick and thin. Kaushal's performance makes you wish you had a friend like Kamli and shows why exactly he is an actor to watch out for in the next couple of years. Paresh Rawal shows his versatility yet again as the tough, stern yet loving Sunil Dutt, the father of Sanjay Dutt. His tough love and his life lessons made me connect with him becausemy father is similar to Sunil Dutt. Another special mention is the hair and makeup department that really worked hard to make Ranbir Kapoor look exactly like Sanjay Dutt.
Apart from the performances, Rajkumar Hirani proves yet again why he is arguably the best director in India. His direction in this biopic makes it an entertaining watch and does not make it a documentary. His decisions to show Sanjay Dutt's dark day, while not holding back and his supporting cast make it a stroke of genius. Instead of focusing on Ranbir Kapoor, he also focues on Vicky Kaushal and Paresh Rawal to show the impact the title character has on them.
Sanju is not only an amazing biopic or a film filled with amazing performances. To me, it is a subtle reminder of how hard many fathers work to make sure their sons should make good decisions and should never suffer. At each point of the film, not only are you rooting for Ranbir Kapoor but you are also rooting for Paresh Rawal in his attempt to teach his son. The films really reminded me of how hard my father worked to ensure my happiness and to ensure I made the right decisions in life. This film showed not only crazy Sanjay Dutt's life but it was almost like a thank you note to all fathers out there who really work to ensure their sons turn out to be good men.
I highly recommend you watch Sanju on a big screen. It not only shows Sanjay Dutt's life but shows how messed up he was and how it is a miracle he is still around today. Watch it and you will never regret it.
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Opposites attract through errors
Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn team up for this unforgettable comedy movie. A story about two strangers that are brought together by some serious mistakes and a leopard.
Mr. Grant plays the straight laced, Dr. David. It's almost like he is an old school Ross Geller, without the three divorces. Ms. Hepburn plays the clumsy, lovable Susan. They meet on a golf course as Susan ruins his day with an important donor and later on have a chance encounter at a restaurant. She ruins every meeting and makes it hard for him to get married to his fiancé. One day, she seeks his help to take a leopard ("Baby") to her place in Connecticut. How they take the leopard to Connecticut and the adventures they have form the rest of the story.
Cary Grant is brilliant as David Huxley. In my opinion, he is the greatest romantic comedy actor of his generation. Katherine Hepburn is amazing as always and steals the show from her first appearance. Every moment that Susan and David have is hilarious and make you wish these two get together. The lead actors have great chemistry and make the film enjoyable, even to someone like me who did not grow up in that era.
Bringing Up Baby is a treat to all. It can bring joy even if you have had a rough day at work or just had a fight. Though the film might unrealistic to today's audience, it still is talked about today. The serious Grant and the happy-go-lucky Hepburn make it a treat to watch.
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
Can a man and woman just be friends?
Can a man and woman just be friends? That's the question I ask myself everyday.
Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan meet on the last day of college for a road trip to New York. Their relationship from enemies to a couple over the next 12 years forms the rest of the story.
This movie was plenty of fun to watch. The main characters are some of the most memorable characters you will ever see and the dialogue between them feels natural. Billy Crystal plays the smart alec Harry to perfection as the man who thinks he knows it all, but is also someone who seeks a true companion. Meg Ryan is brilliant as the high strung Sally who looks down on most of Harry's actions, but cannot do without him. And who can forget the line "I'll have what she's having" said by Rob Reiner's director. Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby played great as supporting actors and formed a perfect foil to Harry and Sally. The screenplay keeps you laughing and smiling all the way till they finally get married. From the time they hated each other, to just being friends to becoming a couple, the film has you smiling all the way.
After watching the movie, I started to ask myself if a man and woman can only be friends. I don't have the answer to that yet, but this movie has me wondering. Watch it when you get the chance. You will also start to think about whether a man and woman can just be friends.
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
It has you smiling all the way
Four Weddings and a Funeral tells the story of Charles (Hugh Grant) who is a bachelor and attends weddings, usually arriving late. In one such wedding he comes across Carrie (Andie McDowell) and is taken away. They later spend the night together but move on. Later on the meet each other in other weddings and a funeral, hence the title Four Weddings and a Funeral. Along the way, we come across Charles' friends who are also single and looking for love. As the film progresses, we see how each friend finds romance in some person even if they met for a short period of time. Charles' friends also help him in trying to falling in love with Carrie. Will Charles and Carrie end up together? What happens to each of Charles' friends? These questions form the rest of the plot of Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Hugh Grant again shows why he is one of the greatest Rom-Com actors of his generation. I don't think I have seen an actor that has dominated the genre as he has in recent memory. Andie MacDowell is a good support to the cast but her performance was quite wooden. For example in the rain scene, (SPOILER ALERT!) she did not show a whole lot of emotion in such a pivotal scene. The standout in Charles' friends is Gareth played by Simon Callow. He is the jovial one of the group and gives the best advice to all the friends. But if there is one performance that I remember the most, it would have to be Rowan Atkinson as the newly ordained but bumbling Father Gerald. His short performance reminded me of the priest in The Princess Bride, except he can pronounce the words, but says the wrong words.
All in all, despite a slightly wooden performance by Andie MacDowell, Four Weddings and a Funeral is a great comedy for all. From start to finish, you will find yourself cheering on Charles and his friends in their quest for love. Don't miss it.
Shichinin no samurai (1954)
How Action movies should be
There is no question why this movie is considered one of the finest movies of all time. Kurosawa's screenplay, direction and actors make this movie one that keeps you entertained rather than boring you out for 207 minutes, a rare feat for movies.
The story is a village fears it will be pillaged by bandits in the future. So to protect themselves, they get the help of a group of samurais who train the people. Each samurai has a unique personality and contributes to the team in their own way. Each character is so well written that you feel that you know them in some way or can relate to them. My personal favorite is Toshiro Mifune as Kikuchiyo, the outsider of the group.
Akira Kurosawa proved yet again why he is considered one of the greatest directors of all time in cinema. His screenplay and direction is unmatched as he keeps the viewer entertained from start to finish and keeps the story moving. The film is filled with action, drama, love, friendship and other themes that make it more than an adventure film. My recommendation to anyone out there is watch it as soon as you can, even if it may be a long movie. It is not one to miss.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
A treat for Neo-Noir fans
L.A. Confidential is a must watch for those out there who are fans of mystery, crime or neo-noir. The story keeps you on the edge of the seat guessing what each character's next step is and what it will lead to. This film has all the elements to make it a gripping noir film: scandal, femme-fatales, sleazy officials and double- crossing. In this film, three police officers for the L.A.P.D. are assigned to investigate a series of murders in the city. The cops are completely different in the outlook on life and have their own motives. How these three cops come to investigate the murders forms the basis of the story. As far as the performances go, Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe are phenomenal in their Hollywood Debuts. At the time, these 2 were relative unknowns in Hollywood as they were only know in Australia and New Zealand. Kevin Spacey is equally impressive in his role but plays a more supporting character to both Pearce and Crowe. Kim Basinger as Lynn Bracken and keeps you glued to the screen. Overall, this film is a must watch for all noir film fans out there. It will keep you guessing what happens next and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Don't miss out.
La vita è bella (1997)
You learn to appreciate those around you after watching this movie.
Life is Beautiful is an Italian film that released in 1998 in USA. It is the story of happy-go-lucky Jewish man named Guido who is married with a son. The story is set in World War II in Italy where the Fascist Party is in power. And during the course of the story, Guido and his son are taken to a concentration camp. What Guido does to keep his son safe forms the rest of the story. Roberto Benigni plays Guido, the loving doting father and husband to perfection. His performance makes it so easy for us to love his character and to cheer him on. His son in the movie, played by Giorgio Cantarini, is also exceptional. After watching this movie, I was moved by how much Guido works to make sure his son is fine. It made me appreciate a father's role in a family more. All in all, this is a film that no one should miss. I recommend that you watch it whenever you have the time and after watching this movie, I believe you will appreciate your fathers more.
Goodfellas (1990)
Got to be one of the best Mob Movies
Goodfellas has got to be one of the best mob movies I have seen. Not only that, it is probably the best Scorsese film I have seen so far. The acting, the dialogues, the setting, everything in this film is brilliant. Anyone who watches this film is guaranteed to love it. The plot is based on a true story of a real life mobster Henry Hill. It follows his beginnings as a kid growing up in Brooklyn who eventually works for a crime family. The reason why he wants to work for a crime family, is because "as far back as he can remember he always wanted to be a gangster." Henry's life as a mobster forms the rest of the movie. Henry Hill is played by Ray Liotta, an actor that I wish to see more on the big screens. His portrayal of the real life gangster is as realistic as it gets. From the mannerisms to the speech delivery, it is almost like we are all thinking this is a real gangster. Robert De Niro plays Jimmy Gent, who takes Henry under his wing and in a way mentors him. The other guy Jimmy takes with him and who eventually works with Henry is Tommy DeVito, played by Joe Pesci. This to me is the best performance of the film. DeVito is a character with a short fuse and Pesci played the character to perfection. This film shows why he is one of the finest actors of his generation and why he won an Oscar for his role. To me, his performance is what you will think of when the movie is over. All in all this was a fantastic film and definitely one of the best mob movies ever. As I said before, everything aspect of the film from start to finish is incredible. This is a film that no one should ever miss, especially if you are one who loves mob movies.
Khoobsurat (2014)
One of the more underrated films of 2014
Khoobsurat is one of Sonam Kapoor's best performances. It is about a happy-go-lucky physiotherapist who comes to a royal family's house to treat the family patriarch. How she treats her patient and interacts with the family is the rest of the story. Sonam Kapoor plays the bubbly Dr. Milli Chakravarty with ease. Her mannerisms and actions are absolutely hilarious and make this film a treat to watch. Today she is known more as a fashionista than as an actress. I believe this film will start to make everyone see her as a leading lady. Fawad Khan, who is a well known actor in Pakistani Cinema and Television, is great in his debut. He seems confident and he compliments Sonam Kapoor very well. His performance as the disciplined Vikram Rathore is something to watch out for. Ratna Pathak and Kirron Kher are great in their supporting roles and do not go unnoticed in the film. Overall this film is funny, romantic and makes a great date night movie. This film was not talked about as much as other films such as Haider and Queen, but I believe it should be because I think it is one of the top 10 movies of 2014. Catch it whenever you can and you will enjoy the film.
Kahaani (2012)
Evidence that Vidya Balan is one of the best actresses in India
Sujoy Ghosh,who previously made Aladin, directed this gem of a movie. The story revolves around a pregnant woman named Vidya who comes to Kolkata to find where her husband is. But the police say her husband is not in any records. Will she able to find him? One can only get that answer by watching this movie. Vidya Balan is absolutely outstanding as Vidya Bagchi, a woman who is determined to find where her husband is despite the odds against her. Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Parambrata Chatterjee are good in their supporting roles but at the end of the day this is Miss Balan's film. Her performance is the only thing you will be thinking of after you have finished watching this movie. She truly is one of the best actresses in recent years and I hope she gets a good role soon. A great film is one that makes you think about it after it is done. This is one example of a great film and should not be missed at all. I highly recommend watching this gem.
Paan Singh Tomar (2012)
Truly one of the best films of 2012
India typically focuses on cricket as we see it as a religion, but times have changed. Other sports in the past were not given much attention, such as steeplechase running in this case. This is the story of one of the best steeplechase runners in India who became a dacoit due to circumstances in his life. Paan Singh Tomar is an army officer who joins the athletics division as his performance wows his army seniors. Soon he becomes a steeplechase runner for India and achieves national stardom. Soon he is involved in a dispute in his village which eventually leads him to become a dacoit. Tomar went from a national level athlete to a dacoit. His transition and his life as a dacoit form the rest of the story. Tigmanshu Dhulia directs, in my opinion, a soon to be cult classic that tells the true story of one of India's forgotten athletes. The story is well written and as a result, the acting is flawless. Irrfan Khan is exceptional as Paan Singh Tomar as he plays the performance with ease. His transition from an army officer to an athlete to a dacoit make it all believable. As a result of his acting, he won the National Award for Best Actor for films released in 2012. In the end of the day, I truly recommend this movie to film goers out there, whether you like sports or not. It is a film no one should skip out on.
Whiplash (2014)
Definitely Deserved an Oscar Nomination
Wow!!! That is the first thing that came to my mind when I finished watching this film. A great film is one which still leaves you thinking about it after it is over, and that is exactly what this film did for me. The film is about a student (Miles Teller) in a musical boarding school who gets a chance to play in the school's best conductor's (J.K. Simmons) band. The problem though lies with the instructor as he is very abusive towards his students. How the student plays in the band is what forms the plot of the film. Miles Teller is great as Andrew, the student who gets a chance to play in the band. He showcases in this movie why he is one actor we should pay attention to in the future as he has the potential to be one of the best actors of his time. The director Chazelle has done a fantastic job in keeping the audience glued to their seats and keeps us guessing what the next move by one of the character's will be. But at the end of the day, the film belongs to one person and one person only: J.K. Simmons. Simmons plays Terrence Fletcher, the abusive music conductor in the band. His intense performance leaves you in awe just by the intensity of his character. It is no surprise he got the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. It almost seemed he was destined to play this role. In the end of the day, Whiplash is an excellent movie and one in which no one should ignore. Watch it for the story as well as the performances.
Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014)
A modern day version of DDLJ really?
The Indian Express reported that this film is a modern day version of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. This is a complete lie as this film was a waste of time and money and made me upset when I left the theaters. The characters are nothing like Raj and Simran and the story is not anything special that can keep you enjoyed in your seats. Basically Varun Dhawan plays a guy who falls in love with a girl, played by Alia Bhatt. The only problem is that she is set to married an NRI. How Dhawan tries to win Bhatt's heart forms the plot. The characters are quite annoying to watch and the movie shows no sign of paying a tribute to Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Apart from the story, some of the songs such as Samjhwan, Lucky Tu Lucky Me, Saturday Saturday and D se Dance are great to listen to and get your feet tapping a little. Forget what the critics said as this, in my opinion, is not that great of a film. Avoid at all costs.
Udaan (2010)
A Masterpiece
With the change in audience in the past decade or so, Bollywood has seen a change in stories as well as acting. Nowadays, Bollywood comes up with great plots along with great acting and directing. Udaan is one such film that is part of the recent change in Bollywood. It is the story of a boy, Rohan, who comes back home to his abusive father and unknown half-brother. From here the story takes off and keeps you engaged as what Rohan will do and cheer for him to take his Udaan (flight). The story is flawless and the acting is brilliant. Rajat Barmecha makes an extraordinary debut and wins the audience with his innocence and silent strength. Ram Kapoor plays a great supporting role as a loving Uncle. But the real star in Udaan is Ronit Roy, who plays the father and shows his acting prowess that was not seen in his previous soap operas. This is a film that I recommend every film fan to watch and you would not regret watching this future classic. The performances, along with an excellent screenplay as well as brilliant performances from everyone, Udaan is a film that no one should miss. If there was an equivalent list for Top 100 Cheers in India, I would put Udaan on the list. Go watch it, and enjoy.
The Usual Suspects (1995)
Outstanding Film!
This has to be one of the greatest thrillers of all time! Keyser Soze has definitely become one of my favorite villains of all time. The film is about 5 criminals who form a team to rob a ship for a mysterious man named Keyser Soze. Keyser Soze is a mysterious man who nobody knows except his henchman. It's almost as if he knows you but you don't know him. The ensemble cast has to be one of the best collection of actors I have ever seen. It consists of Benicio del Toro as Fenster, Kevin Pollack as Todd Hackney, Gabriel Byrne as Dean Keaton, Stephen Baldwin as McManus, and Kevin Spacey as Verbal Kint. All 5 characters are different in personality but have one job to complete together for the mysterious Keyser Soze. The plot keeps the viewer guessing what comes next and keeps them on the edge of their seat. By the end of the film, you will think this has to be one of the greatest thrillers of all time and Keyser Soze is one of the best villains of all time. This is a film that no one should miss in their life. Watch it as you can and I can guarantee you will be amazed at this incredible film.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
One of the greatest Rom-coms of all time
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) is one of my favorite films of all time. It is the story of Raj and Simran, two polar opposites who meet on a train in Europe. Raj is the son of an industrialist and is a modern an outgoing guy. Simran on the other hand is the daughter of a gas station vendor and is more reserved. After these 2 meet, the audience is in for a fun ride filled with romance, comedy and drama.
From start to finish, the film keeps you engaged and makes you cheer on for Raj and Simran. The songs are great, melodious, and make the film more enjoyable. The dialogs are equally memorable, so memorable that the President of the United States quoted a line from this movie when he visited India.
This review is coming from a guy, and yes most guys do not watch Rom-coms. But this is one Rom-com no one should miss. Whether you are Indian or not, a man or a woman, this is a movie no one should miss. It is great for all ages and once someone watches this, that person will watch it multiple times later in life. To me, it is the best Rom-com I have seen and that is why I highly recommend it to anyone. This is a film which I believe everyone should see at least once in their life. So sit back, relax and enjoy one of the greatest films in Bollywood history.