blog by Gaurav Rhyme

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

THE DARK KNIGHT FALLING



First of all, Please all you fellow Batman fans and enthusiasts, Please don't get me wrong from the title. I'm equally hungry for THE DARK KNIGHT RISES coming into theatres as you are. And it's in no way to demean this awesome superhero creation, but this title has been kept for its literal meaning - that's 'FALLING'.

Whether it's Iron Man or Batman, one thing is common between both of them which has differentiated them from the other lot of superheroes, that's their human-ness, this thing bring them more closer to a common man who's without any superpowers. Both of the fictional characters has utilized their education, their intellect in order to justify what amaze the people around them, and make their enemy terrified. Tony Stark utilized his engineer skills for his aerodynamics powered exoskeleton of Iron Man. Bruce Wayne also used his intellect, detective skills, science and technology to make his Batman avatar possible. This preparation and vision of them makes them more identifiable & likable characters over the years. 




Now let's just discuss about our Dark Knight. Even though this Caped Crusader fights the crime with great passion and zeal, but his methods and techniques of justifying his daredevil acts has come under the scrutiny of physicists. Don't mind, but only Batman in the western world could have afford the study on its characteristics, otherwise other extra-magical & superfluous heroes don't have the balls to compete with science. Four physicist of University of Leicester has conduct a study over the Dark knight and shared some doubts over the capability of the Batman suit and techniques to perform what he conveniently does in comics and movies. For example, If Batman has to jump from the building, he has to keep one parachute for safe landing. On screen, Batman is able to jump from buildings with his cape spread out like wings, quite similar to the base jumpers who use the wing-suits to jump from buildings, bridges & cliffs. But they do carry parachute with them for landing. However Batman don't have this life-support with him as of now.


Given his current cape designs, Batman could glide to the distance of 350 meters, if he jumps from the building of 150 meters height. That's okay, but when he'll reach the ground level, his falling velocity will rises to around 110 kilometers per hour. At this speed, his landing will prove quite fatal until and unless he has parachute to slow down the speed, or he has some cushion-type base to land upon. Like the super-stuntman Gary Connery has recently made history by jumping from two thousand feet without any parachute but using the wing-suit and card boards as base. So there has to be some changes in Batman cape which needs to be done if we have to enable Dark Knight to perform in the most heroic fashion. So the scientist concludes that, Crusader require a large wings, parachute in backpack, and some propulsion jet to make his landing clean and safe. But let's take the scientist study forward and scrutinize it further. Well, Sheldon Cooper of Big Bang Theory would have liked that.



Even though scientists are mocking our Dark Knight for keeping parachute backpack and propulsion jet, I would say our super-intelligent Bruce Wayne might not have missed this scientific safety in the design. The Cape might be internally equipped with some fluids or gases such as helium to make the composite mass of Batman little lighter. Also the same Cape could have the modified feature of becoming a parachute in worse velocity scenarios. But if the stunts visuals of the movies is to be taken as a case, it lacks the method and approach for the same. But in the able hands of Director like Christopher Nolan, this could have been done in the more proper fashion. In order to keep our crusader afloat, we need to tackle the downward force of gravity which pulls us down to the ground level. The help in this case can be the upward buoyant force of air particles which balances the gravity. This balancing pressure decreased as we ascend up the air, and the corresponding gravitational force increases. So the Cape of the Batman has to imbibe the upward pressure thrust in its design to maintain the balance with the gravitational force pulling him down to the ground. I'm sure Bruce Wayne will find the way to do that in his laboratory.


Pictures credits (Kevin Nowlan, Neal Adams, Giordano/Layton )

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

SIR 'TOM HANKS' TURNED 56



Thomas Jeffrey Hanks completed his 56 years yesterday, I thought I should dedicate an article for his birthday as this man has given me some precious celluloid moments. I have grown up watching his impeccable movies. So at least this much I could do for the legendary artist who is working since 1980 with the same passion and caliber virtually unstoppable.


He is an inspiration to many, his selection of movies have always shown basic emotions like struggle and survival with a niche of himself. Who can forget his Academy award nominated-or-winning movies like Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, Terminal, Green Mile, Apollo 13, Big, Da Vinci Code, Charlie Wilson's War etc, You can easily gauge the scope of the movies I have mentioned here. All are timeless classic, and the way Tom Hanks have enacted different roles time to time is so commendable. My personal favorite is Saving Private Ryan, I have seen many war movies, but no movie comes closer to this one. And who else other than Spielberg could have make it. I have a deep respect for Saving Private Ryan. My father has retired from army recently. Whenever we watch any war movie with him, he has a habit of finding mistakes in the scenes execution, mostly saying," It doesn't happen like that in real". But when I make him saw Saving Private Ryan. He said it was quite closer to the reality he faced in Military. I was very happy.


In recent times, Tom Hanks has been seen wearing the hats of symbologist Robert Langdon (character) in Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons. He has essayed the role quite well. I personally feel very touched with his one more classic CAST AWAY. Especially the scene where his attachment to that non-living football becomes more emotional than anything else. Sheer class, great acting and execution.

                                           
                                                   

Although his career didn't started that well, he gave series of flops and his acting in those movies were also not upto the mark as cited by him. His first success came with movie BIG (1988), then again he gave few flops and find success in A League of their Own (1992). He was not so good in his earlier films but he constantly improved movie after movie. Once he quoted to Vanity fair, that in this modern era, because enough self-discovery has gone one, his work has become less pretentiously fake and over the top. And he proved this with the success of Sleepless in Seattle & Philadelphia in 1993. Former was a great box-office success, and latter awarded him his first Academy Award. The very next year he won the Academy Award for Forrest Gump consecutivelyonly the second in Hollywood to achieved this feat.

                                                   


Post 1996, he ventured into Writing, Producing and Direction part also, with From Earth to the Moon (1998), American Experience (2000) - a documentary. He also Produced Cast Away (2000). In 2011, he produced, written and Directed Larry Crowne which was not received well both critically and at the box office. Nevertheless, Tom Hanks is geared up for his upcoming flicks Cloud Altas( Post-production), and Captain Philips (Filming). Lets prepared for this cinematic treat this year. Happy Birthday Tom hanks once again !!

THE CLOSEST SUCCESSOR OF GURU DUTT - AAMIR KHAN


I was just reading newspaper and wondered how the media is now constantly using 'Mr Perfectionist' nickname for Aamir Khan. Though the adjective is quite heavy in itself, and should not be use for just anyone. But then I tried to study Aamir, and then started comparing the traits of his with Guru Dutt.

I personally belong to this modern era and somehow lacks total character study of Guru Dutt, I know Guru from his movies, and through various written material we have courtesy his friends & colleagues, Like Dev Anand, Abrar Alvi & VK Murthy to name the few. Though still that info can not be compared to today's twitter-friendly & FaceBook-Driven actors and superstars.

I always wanted to have the more detailed study of Guru's thought process, his ideologies and his point of view about the world around him. That has played an important part in his cinematic outburst like Kaagaz ke Phool & Pyaasa. Clearly, he was the original Mr Perfectionist of Indian cinema without doubt. His way of treating Film-making as an absolute is quite well-known. His issues and rifts over the minute subtle artworks of his cinema has often led many legendary artists to avoid Guru Dutt. He had that heat of Iron, that uncompromising attitude which made him produce and direct many classic stories. Now let's connect the dots of Aamir & Guru.



Aamir favorite life-changing movie is Guru Dutt-starrer and Directed movie PYAASA (1957), he has often quoted him to be great inspiration in his career. Aamir Khan, though has directed only one film till now and that's Taare Zameen Par, but it was worth an effort. Even Aamir has given several co-actors and directors a hard time while filming of his movies due to his extra-specific scene demands and retakes-till-perfect behaviours. Also, many times he has been criticized by his Directors and producers that he always change his mindset and demands re-shooting of any sequence he thinks was not up-to-the-mark as per his vision. Recent feud between Reema Kagti & Aamir over his upcoming flick Talaash is also one example. Guru was also very specific about his sequences and treatment, that also gave his cameraman VK Murthy a hard time working over and over again for the perfect scene. It happened in KAAGAZ KE PHOOL trademark light-beam shot, which has became world-famous, and Pyaasa's last auditorium scene for which Guru Dutt took over 100 retakes. He always was unsatisfied with his final product, his intent always remains EK AUR SHOT, EK AUR....but this unsatisfaction was not just with his actors and actresses, but with himself too, his scene was never up-to-the-mark according to him.



He was so involved in the technical aspects of the movie that he used to guide his team how he has imagined the shot. At first his too many retakes thing was misjudged by the industry people who termed him as a novice Director who don't know the craft. But later everybody started respecting Guru. Thankfully, he was blessed with cinematographer like VK Murthy. Even Dada Saheb Phalke-winner VK Murthy thinks, that Aamir is best suited for the autobiographical movie on Guru Dutt which Anurag Kashyap & Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra were planning. According to Arun Dutt, Guru Dutt's son, Aamir has been approached for the role and he has asked for the script. Infact Aamir also did one photoshoot posing as Guru Dutt with Katreena posing as Waheeda in a trademark poster-picture of Pyaasa.

So if the film on Guru Dutt's Life actually becomes a reality, It will be interesting to watch Aamir preparation for the role. Though these characteristics traits and similarities are enough to state that Aamir Khan is more closest Film personality to Guru Dutt, Infact one newspaper even quoted him to be the incarnation of Guru Dutt. That's a bit too far. I think Aamir has a lot to prove in order to justify that phenomenon. But still he is lucky to be compared with the timeless genius Guru Dutt.

Monday, June 25, 2012

ANURAG KASHYAP'S BLOOD-SAGA: GANGS OF WASSEYPUR- Part I

So I have to plunge back to one of my dearest place for erupting cinematic emotions. Long time since my last post on Ghost Writer. I tried writing on various movies but stopped midway not satisfied enough. But then I saw something cinematic-excellence and classy yet equally commercially viable and that too with international appeal.


This last weekend I managed to watch Anurag Kashyap's Gangs Of Wasseypur in theatre with my friend and got the motivation to write a post on that. I will not just focus on the film but Anurag's impact on its making too. After a long thought on banking upon a bucket of new generation Directors to trust for quality cinema, finally I have found my pick of all - Anurag Kashyap. I was impressed by works of Vishal Bharadwaj, Imtiaz Ali, Dibakar Banerjee, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Sriram Raghavan, Vikramaditya Motwane apart from Anurag. But they all are good friends and compliments each other in their respective art fields. In fact in Anurag kashyap's own words he use to send his first-cut to last-cut draft of film to all these filmmakers for their take on the finished product, and then he readily accepts their views and opinions also, if he likes. I must say, After reading about this man, watching his interviews, seeing his past works, I can't stop myself from being his admirer, not just admirer but a follower also. This lad has given us films like Dev D, Gulaal, Black Friday & Udaan. All of them has Anurag Kashyap-trademark on them. In his career, he wrote movies like Satya, Shool, Kaun and Academy Award-nominated Water.

Whether it's Vishal Bharadwaj or Anurag Kashyap, both industry-friends has broken traditional norms of Bollywood and create a niche for themselves. Their choice of subjects and dealing the subjects with pure honesty has won them the hearts of millions. They're creating a great portfolio of films in their kitty year-after year. Initially I used to be confused between Anurag & Vishal to choose as my personal favorite in modern times, but after his new release Gangs of Wasseypur, Anurag has put an end to all my queries. GOW is doing well in India, has got critically acclaimed well, getting a rating of 9.1/10 in prestigious IMDB. It has been chosen to screened in Cannes as well and was well-appreciated inspite of his lengthy duration of 5 hours 20 minutes. 

Talking about Gangs Of Wasseypur, It's a great saga of revenge, blood-bath and animosity. The story is inspired from true events of Wasseypur region of Dhanbad in Bihar, it deals with the coal & scrap trade mafia. It's filled with gory sequences and a mix of slang-wit bihari style. So there are dark violent scenes but still you'll be given a situation to laugh and giggle upon.


Movie starts with Present-day prologue where Smriti Irani scene of Kyunki Saas..(KSBKBT) opening title-song on TV was airing, which after few minutes get blasted by a bullet, Sultan Qureshi with his gunmen wage a war upon the house of Sardar Khan where aged Farhan ( Piyush Mishra) with the family was inside. They had covered the house from all side and were shooting ferociously to kill each and every living creature inside the house. Finally Sultan called to confirm if anybody's picking the call. When there is no response form inside, they fleed. And story went back to the days of Sultana Daaku in 1941.

Sultana Daaku was Qureshi, Shahid Khan a non-Qureshi muslim of the village impersonates Sultana Daku and started looting grains from trains passing by Wasseypur. And then he used to sell the same in cheaper price than Qureshis. Soon Sultana got to know about the same and he killed all the Shahid-men, and Shahid on insistence of his pregnant wife fled to city where he started working as labour in coal mine. He started working in Ramadhir Singh's mines. One day when a guard stopped him from reaching to his wife in pain of blocked child, he warned the guard that he will dig his grave if his wife or child will be in danger. Ramadhir Singh, an influential owner of the mines let him go to his wife ordering the guard to open the gates. But it was too late as his wife passed away giving birth to his son Sardar Khan. He went back and thrashed that guard till death in a gruesome one-on-one fight. There Ramadhir again saw the courage of Shahid Khan and he made him his henchman for handling the mine-workers. But Ramadhir Singh ordered his killing when one day he heard Shahid Khan's ambition of killing Ramadhir Singh to become the undisputed king of coal mines.

Child Sardar Khan got to know from his uncle Farhan that his father was killed by Ramadhir's men as they got Umbrella of Ramadhir Singh out side their house on the day of Shahid's death. He vows to be bald till he thrash the ego of Ramadhir Singh in a trademark words - Keh Ke Lunga, (I'll tell him, and then snatch his dignity). He started as a driver working for MLA-turned Ramadhir Singh grown-empire of coal and scrap trade business. He started hitting nails to Ramadhir's every wound, first fuel, then forced ownership on his land. In a memorable scene, he slapped and insult both Ramadhir & his son in front of the ACP in police station, asking the commissioner how much he will be sentenced for slapping Minister's son in police station. 

He marked his ambition in Jail as an undisputed kingpin of the area, quoting " Sardar Khan naam hai mera, bata dijiyega sabko". He led a carnage of killings for not just Ramadhir's men but even Qureshis of Wasseypur. In the meantime he also took time for his lusty activities in brothels where he get caught red-handed by his wife Nagma, played beautifully by Richa Chaddha. Soon he also feed his lust with a bengali girl Durga whom he married soon. His family was breaking, his sons, specifically Faizal (Nawajuddin Siddiqui) had traumatic childhood seeing his mother wailing and getting closer to his uncle Farhan. He soon divulge into Drugs and smoking, but also imitates Amitabh bachchan due to the fact that his crush Mohsina (Huma Qureshi) was a huge fan of Bachchan. 

Time to time, Sardar Khan establish the fact keh-ke-lunga to Ramadhir Singh in various occasions. Once he carried a band outside his home and insulted him publicly on account of a girl of his area got kidnapped by four guys of his pace. The Band played 80s popular Kasam-paida-karne-wale-ki along with some-real hilarious dancing. Once when his son got injured by Ramadhir's men. He again looted Ramadhir's dignity by breaking every part of Ramadhir's car in fron of him. Ramadhir was disturbed by the repeated attacks on his dignity while Sardar Khan also destroyed the rule of Qureshis in Wasseypur waging a war of bombs and desi-kattas on butcher Qureshis who were not accustomed to modern weapons. He killed many Qureshis, burnt many houses, Sultan Qureshi turned thirsty of Sardar khan's blood. And Ramadhir used this venomous bonding of the duo to great advantage. Now he'd employed Sultan to take on Sardar Khan. The characters are so well-written by Anurag, it feels like an epic drama.

The Film ended with Sardar Khan attacked by Sultan and his men gunning down his car to the pieces. Sardar Khan was showed rising up again soaked in blood and gun in his hand to justify the background song, Jiyo hi Bihari ke lala, ....Film first part ended here turning viewers thirsty for more. This film as critics said demand complete attention and can be seen multiple times to explore the nuances of characterizations and plotting of Director. A great effort from Kashyap and his crew especially Manoj Bajpai and Tigmanshu Dhulia donning their roles perfectly. Eagerly waiting for release of second part when as people are saying Nawazuddin Siddiqui would take the front like Michael Corleone in Godfather.

The scenes in the movie are made so real, that it gives you the feeling of watching reality of Bihari terrain through window pane. Infact, Anurag kashyap didn't gave the scripts to many actors involved in the movie till the very last moment in order to generate their natural emotions. I will discuss two scenes in particular, one where Sardar Khan(Manoj Bajpai) is trying to kill one of the Qureshis with knife, that scene has been shown so real where Manoj Bajpai actually got tired of Stabbing him, mowing down him with his jeep to ensure that he's dead or still alive. Another scene where Sultan visits Ramadhir Singh's home and Ramadhir tries to be courteous by offering him to sit with him, and not on floor, which was strange for a MLA from Bihar. But when he asked his mother to arrange lunch for Sultan also, She asked whether to use those Bone china utensil for him, and Ramadhir rotate his head in a shrugging approval. So real, I mean no director can came that close to face the reality. I hope you all have understood the point.

Music score of the movie is equally innovative courtesy the current youth sensation Sneha Khanvilkar globetrotting ways of creating music like her MTV show Sound Tripping. This girl has talent, infact She & Amit Trivedi(Dev D & Udaan fame) together holds the potential of carrying A.R Rehman innovative compositions legacy forward. My favorite tracks from the movie were Keh Ke Lunga & Womaniya. 

Anurag Kashyap has did it again, he has silenced his critics again. I'm also eager for his upcoming co-production with Danny Boyle - Bombay Velvet & his dream project Raj-comics character DOGA.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

THE GHOST WRITER


THE GHOST WRITER, This is one of the best modern political thriller I've came across in very long time. I mean it's one of those movies which leaves a lasting impression on you, as it has done with me. And though I was bit distracted by a phone call at the climax time, I so wanted to get back to finish it in one gulp, like a period wine, or just like those thick pacy thriller-spy novels which finds their place in the dusty dark corners of the library racks, away from the limelight of popular ones. Even the nature of story fits into this theme, a story about a writer who has to write as somebody else for money under deep surveillance & confidentiality.

Roman Polanski- The Director is a noted celebrity Director who has made movies like The Pianist, Oliver Twist, The Ninth Gate. I personally feel that he is not just obsessive about cinema, but he seems to be an avid reader also, it shows in his choice of subjects and movies. This Polanski's thriller is a must-watch for thriller-hungry seekers. I can easily compare the background score, screenplay and narration's intensity to the likes of 1965 Michael Caine-starrer, The Ipcress File or Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan espionage adventures. The movie have some allusions, starting from Adam Lang character inspired from Tony Blair, and other charachters inspired namely from the late Mr Robin Cook, former foreign Secretary to Tony Blair and Condoleeza Rice, United States Secretary of State. It faced criticism over these linkages, but how true the presentation of known facts is, you can't deny a bit. Yes, it tries to interpret the dark valleys of American-British alliance in their foreign policies.


It's a story about an unnamed ghost writer (Ewan McGregor) who gets hired on a new job of ghostwriting a memoir of former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan). The job was to complete the half-done job left by his predecessor Mike McAra, a ghost-writer & great loyal of Adam Lang. Initially he was a bit reluctant to do it, after he gone through a rough mugging incident the day he gets a manuscript copy from the Publishing house. But then his agent-cum-friend Rick Ricardelli, who aligned him for this job, convinced him to go for the job on account of fat earnings from this. The Publishing company advanced Adam Lang about $10 million for his memoirs, and the ghost writer was set to make $2,50,000 for the job. So he willingly grasp the job even though he states to publisher that no body reads the Political memoirs including him.


Now he is flied to an oceanfront island estate in fictional American village Old Haven, where former Prime Minister Adam Lang was staying with his wife Ruth (Olivia Williams), his personal assistant-cum-mistress Amelia Bly (Kim Cattrall), along with the staff of servants and security personnel. Well, Pierce Brosnan looks as stunning as he always looks in his Bond movies. His charisma was matching his charachter & persona as Lang too. Now, here the film starts getting interesting with all the ingredients of suspense & obscurity. Initially the ghost writer has to stay at the deserted hotel in the island where he could not take down the original manuscript of the memoir. But he do conduct some sessions with Mr Lang to gauge into his earlier Cambridge life and his motivations to enter into the politics. Then he also meet some strange person in hotel bar who try to find his link with Mr Lang. But he maintained the distance with such distractions and tried to focus on the writing of a mammoth memoir he has to do in such a short notice. The timeline to finish the memoir also got curtailed to two weeks by the publisher office as they had some deadlines to met. On the other side of the world, Mr Richard Rycart, the former British foreign Secretary raised some serious allegations upon Mr Adam Lang for orchestrating illegal seizure of some suspected terrorists and handing them over to CIA for deadly torture, a possible war crime. Lang faced a threat of getting prosecuted by International Criminal Court, unless he stays in USA or goes to the country which doesn't follow this jurisdiction. 

The Lang controversy brought herds of media people to the island along with protesting public all over the place. In the wake of the media storm, the ghost writer was shifted to the Lang residence for further stay to avoid media interventions. In a planned PR move, Lang with his assistant flew to Washington to meet top US official to show everything is normal. Back in the island, ghost writer had been shifted to Mike McAra's room, where he found an envelope, inside which the secretly hidden belongings of McAra was placed. There was a clear trail of Adam Lang's Cambridge linkages with some Paul Emmett in form of some old pictures and newspaper cuttings. The ghost writer became suspicious of Lang as he told him during his one of the briefings that a clueless young Lang was motivated to enter into the politics due to Ruth, his wife. But, a newspaper cutting showed that he joined the party 2 years before he met Ruth. Ghost writer thought that his predecessor might have stumbled into a dark secret related to Lang. He also find one strange phone number written behind one of the photograph, the call connected to Richard Rycart. He disconnected, and didn't picked the phone when Rycart called him back numerous times.


 He took one bicycle from the residence and ventured into the other part of island to find the truth about McAra's death. He found out from one old man that there was something very mischievous about McAra's death. His knowledge of sea currents propelled him to doubt the place, a beach where the McAra's body was found after disappearing from the ferry, and he said that his neighbor has saw some flashlights in sea that day. After that she went into coma afterwards, falling from her stairs. On his ride back, he was intercepted by Ruth & her security guard who were in a look out to find him. Inside the car, Ruth acted strangely towards the ghost writer, clutching his hands in the car, he didn't protested thinking that she is feeling down after being neglected & abandon by Lang. He shared the findings from the island with Ruth on dinner. She said that McAra had a row with Lang before he left in a ferry and died. Then while weeping she uttered, " In what problem my husband has thrown himself ". She left to clear his head in the raining weather. Then she came back in midnight all wet, waking the ghost writer from his sleep. Then she slept with the writer that night.

                         

In the morning, writer felt that he's becoming too involved with his subject and he left for the hotel. he picked a guest car from outside whose GPS was programmed by McAra on his last ride probably. He tried to follow the route to the hotel, but end up obeying the programmed car to the different route altogether, in far away Belmont estate off the island. It was the home of Mr Paul Emmett. Initially reluctant Emmett allowed him to enter after he insisted that he has some photographs of Emmett with Lang. In their brief encounter, Emmett maintained his stance that he had a  brief acquaintance with Adam Lang during some stage performances. And that the wall photograph of him with Lang was a kind gesture by Lang to bless the Arcadia committee formed by Emmett. During their whole conversation, Emmett's wife was constantly talking to a third person on phone, describing about the ghost writer. 

                         

During his way back to island, he was followed by stranger car, but he escaped, and reached the ferry. But he found the same car persons in look out for him in ferry, he jumped back from the ferry misguiding them and then stayed at the motel near the docks. There in fear, he dialed the Rycart's number, and he asked him to stay where he was. Meanwhile, the writer did Google search for Lang & Paul Emmett connection, and found out that Emmett had been working for CIA as late as 1971 when he graduated from Yale University, the very same period when Lang decided to join the politics. Also he found out that apart from being Pulitzer-prize winning author & geopolitical affairs expert, Professor Emmett was connected to the military contractor Hatherton group through the Arcadia think tank.  Rycart visited the motel with his men, and took him to his place, where ghost writer told everything he found about the Adam Lang. Rycart inferred that now the dots are connected, and he understood that Lang was acting as a pawn of CIA, and that's why Britain every decision were taken in favor of the United States. There writer also got to know that McAra gave him the information about Lang for his torture allegations. He told him that McAra didn't shared too much on phone, and he hinted that everything is there in the beginning of the manuscript. And finally he was murdered on his way back in ferry. Ghost writer received the call from Amelia Bly, the assistant of lang, finding his whereabouts. He was not willing to go back to the Wolf's den.

 But Rycart asked him to go back in order to avoid any suspicion from lang's office. Lang came with his private jet to take him back to the island to complete the memoir work which was disturbed during the chaos. In the flight back, ghost writer told him everything he found about him on his insistence. Adam Lang was surprised & at the same time shocked to hear about McAra involvement and the negative claims of writer about himself. He shouted that he had always followed his mind, and in no way connected to CIA or terror thing. Infact, he would like to have two queues on airports. One with all the check and security, an one without all that, he pose a question to Rycarts of the world, which queue they'd like to sent their kids into. Writer felt convinced by his remarks and his intent, but it was too late, as when they landed, Lang was assassinated by British anti-war protester who lost his son in Iraq war. In return, Lang's men shot him down. Writer was taken as a prime witness by US authorities, and his passport was taken so that he'd to stay and can provide information.

                         

Back in London, during the book launch party, Amelia tells him by accident that the order of manuscript not accessed by all people came from Americans, as the beginnings contained a threat to national security. There in the party he also saw Ruth with Paul Emmett. He asked Amelia about his presence in the party and she replied that he was Ruth's tutor when she was Fulbright scholar. He then realizes that the truth was laid in the beginning of each chapter of manuscript. And he connected the first word of every chapter, It comes out as a stark ling fact to him: "Lang's wife Ruth was recruited as a CIA Agent by Paul Emmett of Harvard University. " Ruth has shaped every Lang's decision to favor United States, as per the guidelines from CIA.

The writer pass on a note to Ruth in the gathering about the same, and then raise a toast like gesturing her that he knows the truth now. He then left from the party as she started chasing him. In the end, when he was crossing the road off-camera holding original manuscript in his hands, a car accelerates towards his direction. And then papers of the manuscripts came back flying as the sound of car-hitting him is heard by the passerby who gathered and ran in that direction.

And the mysterious soundtrack continues, with the manuscript papers flying all over the place.

Monday, February 13, 2012

I SHOT MY WIFE. PROVE IT !


This is a sensational thriller packed with all the chills Sir Anthony Hopkins-flick can guarantees. If you have saw the famous Dr Hannibal Lecter series of movies, you can identify with me on that. His charismatic expressions and gestures can haunt if he want, even the dead in the grave. The story starts with an aeronautical engineer Theodore Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) finding her wife Jennifer (Embeth Davidtz) cheating on him. He was constantly following her with her secret lover. She was having an Affair with Detective Robert Nunally (Billy Burke). He shared the revelation with his wife before killing her point blank seriously hurting her head. After that he fired three more bullets on the window to warn the passerby near the house. When they contacted police, detective Nunally came to the scene of crime with his men. Crawford asked him to come alone inside. And then they put their respective gun down. Crawford was in a state of eerie calmness while he was describing what he has done. Detective Nunally went numbed to see his darling covered in blood. He lingered over her body to revive the deathly stillness of her. Then he took Crawford into custody while transporting breathing Jennifer to hospital. She went into coma.


Ted Crawford has already confessed his crime to police. Four bullets were fired, One pistol was captured with convict on the scene of crime. All these facts made this an open-and-shut case for the rising star deputy district attorney Willy Beachum (Ryan Gosling). He was busy these days in the transition from criminal law to corporate attorney in Wooton & Sims, a well-known high-paying firm. Initially he was reluctant to take this case, but after seeing the nature of the same he agreed. He was sure, the case will be fast and easy, he'll gonna win, his conviction rate was 97%, and this case would be another feather in his cap before he leave for the Wooton & Simms. Meanwhile, He also developed a romantic relationship with his future boss, Nikki Gardener ( Rosamund Pike). Gosh ! How lucky he was to have Rosamund Pike as her boss.


In the trial, Crawford requested to be his own attorney, even after constant effort by Judge & District attorney Beachum to take the help of professional. But Crawford remained adamant on being his own attorney and why not ? His nasty legal wits inside the courtroom were the soul of the plot. The first blow to district attorney Beachum came in form of supposedly Layman terminology used by Crawford to nullify the confession as an evidence for the case. He smartly uttered to Judge " What do you say....in legal terminologies..fucking the victim.." So as per the Crawford, as Detective Nunally was having a affair with her wife, and assaulted him during the arrest, and was present with his officer friends during the confession. So Crawford's confession ruled out as an evidence as it bear the fruit of poisonous tree a/c to Judge. The second blow to attorney Beachum came in form of the another supposedly crucial evidence of the case- the murder weapon. Police found out that Crawford's gun has never been fired and is not been used in the murder at all, as the shell casings wasn't matching to the crime scene. Beachum repeatedly sent cops to look out for the handgun in every corner of the house. As per the reports, during and after the murder, people have surrounded the house and nobody saw anybody coming out of the house, so gun should have to be in Crawford's home. But to the amazement of everyone, even after tearing everything apart they didn't find any gun in the house, like Beachum rightly joked about gun having grown legs and ran away itself. 



Detective Nunally tempted Beachum to plant a false evidence (gun) as they knew Crawford has done it. But Beachum refused, Infact when Crawford put forward the motion of acquittal on account of no evidence against him, Beachum got tempted to use the false evidence but he decided to forbid that at the very last minute, and Crawford was acquitted. The disgraced Nunally shot himself right outside the courtroom with his own gun. Beachum lost the case for which he destroyed his chances in the prestigious firm along with his relationship with Nikki Gardener. Plus, his own firm boss has already told him that after all this, he can't take chances taking him back, as that would raise many eyebrows. But Beachum was not at all worried about any of these things, he was obsessively searching out for the unconnected dots of the case. He wanted an answer, an explanation, and he repeatedly visited comatose Jennifer in hope of seeing her wake up and answering him. But sooner on Crawford's plea, a restraining order is issued forbidding Beachum to visit the patient. But when Crawford shared his thoughts about unplugging the electronic device to end the life of the only eyewitness of the crime, Jennifer. Beachum goes on a great length to take a court order to put Jennifer on life support, but to fail, as Crawford succeeded in whitewashing the last evidence.

                                         

So Crawford was having an upper hand till now. But two things happened which helped Beachum in nailing down him. First, when he was leaving the city, his old Boss consoled him that technically, he didn't let him get away with the murder of his wife, But he let him get away with an attempt to murder. Second thing, when  Beachum was reading the case related files in police station, his phone get switched with the cop, and that's it. Whole story unfolds, he noticed, even though quite late that, Crawford has switched his gun in hotel with Nunally's gun when Nunally met Jennifer secretly. He shot Jennifer with Nunally's gun. And then he reloaded the gun and exchange it again when Nunally visited the crime scene, particularly when Nunally was lingering over her body. Detective put the murder weapon in his holster unknowingly. In his own words, Crawford described the plan as simply BEAUTIFUL, as Nunally sat with the murder weapon in the court room all trial long, and finally ended his life also with the same weapon without noticing that he already had what he's searching all over the world. He didn't care to notice the facts.


Crawford use to brag about his eye to detail, to see fractures in every egg, his stand that if you'll focus you can find fracture or weak point in everybody like he found that Winning is the weak point of district attorney Beachum. But his eye to detail seriously hampered in judging the nitty-gritties of the Double Jeopardy clause. Yes, his only mistake in the whole game-plan. He confessed everything to Beachum thinking he was applicable to Double Jeopardy clause, a procedural defence that forbids the defendant from being tried again on the same charges for which he's acquitted. But Beachum pointed out that last trial was for attempt-to-murder, but now after the death of Jennifer, he can be prosecuted with fresh murder charges. He flaunted that after her death, police can retrieved the bullet inside her head, and he'll be behind the bars. Before taking exit from Crawford's door, where several cops were waiting for them. Beachum said to him, if he had not taken Jennifer out of life support, he could have been protected by Double Jeopardy clause. 

Beachum sarcastically quoted.
"Why you need to pull that plug huh, According to Doctors, she would have outlived us !"

In the end, the fresh trial started against Crawford, where he was shown surrounded by defence attorneys of Wooton & Sims.

'All Rise!' Beachum pointed towards Crawford to adjust his tie as the proceedings initiated.

Friday, February 10, 2012

DEEWAAR - I'LL DIE FOR MY MAMA !


Deewaar, a movie who was an inspiration behind popularly known Slumdog Millionaire, Two brothers story. One running behind wealth, other honest and truthful. Infact Danny Boyle, the director of Slumdog, said that Deewaar is the absolutely key to Indian Cinema. And a movie with the same old formula of rags-to-riches though triumphed in the recession-prone western globe. But this Yash Copra-directed movie was a bigger and more deeper movie than the Slumdog any day. 

 

Deewaar is lesser the duel between two brothers, but it's more about the mother-son relationship and the clash of the practicality & idealism. And when it was released in overseas, it bear the title 'I'll Die for My Mama', which clearly justified the intent of this artwork, though a bit far-fetched and obscure for western audience. It was a phenomenal ground-breaking movie. It was way ahead of its time with superb and intense acting by one & all. And apart from script, the screenplay & dialogue were impeccable. No doubt Salim-Javed raised the value of script-writer at that period. Infact they were paid as high as the film heroes in their coming ventures.



Movie starts in a flashback. Two brothers, Vijay(Amitabh Bachchan) & Ravi Verma(Shashi Kapoor) had a tough and testing childhood. Their father who was a trade unionist got betrayed by the management of firm, and had to runaway from the infamous workers deal he was compelled to sign due to the blackmailing of  corrupt businessman, who threatens to kill his family. He left his home due to shame after saving his family. But his acts became a deep wound in the heart of little Vijay when some angry workers who branded Vijay arms with words "My Father is a Thief". The family had to struggle on the streets of Mumbai afterwards. His wife has to do labor work under the lusty and exploited eyes of skyscrapers. Vijay use to counter not just every abuse against her mother, but he toiled hard to make his brother Ravi schooling done. He started as shoe-polishing young boy with a great self-pride. Who can forget the popular scene "Mai Phenke Hue Paise nahi uthata"(I don't pick thrown money). As they grew up, Vijay started working on ship dockyard and Ravi became a jobless well-qualified young man. Both of the brother faced different realities, they read different books of life. While Ravi school books taught him truth & idealism, Vijay's life-book was about the mad race to survive, it was about survival of fittest. And he gain power & rose to become the smuggler king-pin Dhabar Seth right-hand. Infact, he gain full hold of gang with his clever trickster-ship with Samant gang. He escaped death several times due to his dockyard days badge 786. 



Two epic scenes in his rising days were, one when he accept the offer of Dhabar Seth imagining his mother hardships, and the other when Dhabar Seth introduced childhood polisher truth to Jaichand. But then Ravi became Police inspector and Vijay forehead got more tenser lines. And finally the brother duel of truth-false, ethical-unethical started. The power of raising weapon against his own brother seems inspired from Geeta, Ravi felt helpless like Arjuna who has to fight his brothers. But he got the wisdom in form of a poor school teacher whose child got hurt from his bullet. He decided to take the case of Vijay Verma & Dhabar Seth. The popular signature scene still holds large eye-attention in different stage & stand up acts till date. Ravi left the Vijay's home with his mother. Vijay became alone and find solace in arms of Anita (Parveen Babi), a dancer he met in a bar. Ravi Verma became an intelligent and arduous police officer, and once he caught hold of 7-8 men of Dhabar with all consignment. And then Vijay's gang member demanded Ravi Verma's death, unknowingly pinching Vijay's brotherly heart. Vijay tried to convince Ravi to take transfer from the city with yet another iconic scene " Mere Paas Maa Hai", probably one of the most classy scene in history of Indian cinema. Vijay was misunderstood by every dear & near one except Anita. As Anita rightly described, Vijay was feeling down. First his brother left him, his mother got angry on him, his father found dead, and then his mother also get hospitalised which made him enter into his No-Go zone -Temple. He was about to abandon underworld & marry the pregnant Anita, when she got killed by Samant. Vijay took revenge from Samant and his people. 


One of the other iconic scene of the movie was beautifully shot temple scene. "Aaj Khush to bahut hoge tum" is remembered by one & all. After the final clash between the brothers, Vijay breath his last in his mother lap asking for forgiveness, while Ravi get awarded for pursuing justice. But the mere essence of the movie is the intense love for mother. Vijay did everything for his mother. He chose the wrong path but to make his mother and family happy. And he finally died for his mother. One scene in particular, which gives me goose-bumps every time I watch it, when Vijay bought the building as a gift for her mother, where she had once lifted bricks. Mother played an integral part in Salim-Javed written scripts. And Amitabh Bachchan established himself as the angry-young man of bollywood after this 70s blockbuster. The movie sweeps Six Filmfare awards except just one, Best Actor in Leading Role for which Amitabh was nominated. Surprisingly, his critically acclaimed role was left un-awarded while everybody attached with this film won numerous awards.
This movie can really move anyone who is as attached to his mother as Vijay, I felt his pain, his struggles, his fight for- not right or wrong, but just one thing- MAA ! 

Sunday, February 5, 2012

SPIRITUAL ADIEU TO FAME & STARDOM- VINOD KHANNA

Recently we've been surrounded by the several creative works imbibed with the cults of 70s & 80s, trend started from Om Shanti Om, Action Replay till Dirty Picture, to name the few. We've also witnessed the avalanche of remakes one after another, some inspiration, dedication and some tribulations (Like Aag) as well. But there has been a common unsaid creative pact made within the film making fraternity, to inject a feel of retro, whether in the scripts, locations, actors, styles of yesteryears art of celluloid. Its a common phenomenon these days.


Within these Cult-books of 70s era, Vinod Khanna was a chapter which is one of the most popular & the most incomplete chapter. His some of the popular recent mention in the cinema being- Abhay Deol character in 'Oye Lucky Lucky Oye' who use to flaunt himself in Vinod Khanna style, even the film starts with Vinod Khanna song, 'Chahiye Thoda Pyaar..Thoda Pyar Chahiye' (Movie: Lahu Ke Do Rang). Apart from that, I like the recent trailer of much-awaited Saif thriller, Agent Vinod, in which to hide his identity he call himself as Vinod....Vinod Khanna.


This is a well-known fact that he was the most stylish superstar of that era, and probably the only one to give neck-to-neck competition to the Ruler of 70s, Amitabh Bachchan. Some even says that he had literally overtook Amitabh in every sense when he suddenly took the retirement from the films and bollywood at the peak of his career. He became a strict follower of spiritual leader Rajaneesh (OSHO) and left the industry in form of self-imposed exile to live in Rajaneeshpuram city in Antelope, Oregon area of America. And thus, after Rajesh Khanna's end of stardom, the only threat for the numero uno status to Amitabh lost forever in the garb of spiritual inclinations.


And Vinod Khanna not just gambled his career, but even his family & friends on his way to experience the spiritual transformation and quest of inner peace. Infact, nobody knew what he did in his 8 years of time spent in Rajaneeshpuram City. Then he returned after a decade to join the bollywood again, and started his second inning, while his marriage was on the rocks until his divorce. Then he got married again 1990 & then further became an MP in late 90s. But his charisma, charm & tough exterior always won the hearts of the audience. Even though he had many self-imposed exiles on himself, but he maintained his royal-ness and turned more spiritual & intellectual personally, as shown by him in various interviews. He's now serving as MP of Gurdaspur constituency. He was always called as an elusive star with a rebel attitude, he always followed what he believed in, once he made up his mind it was hard to refrain him from doing it.


I can relate with his inclinations of exile as even I had once made my mind to have this experience of peace and self-introduction, though I was comparitively young and not even a successful superstar. And I got counseled by my annoyed friends & colleagues about the futility of that action on my own life and my family. I myself gave it a thought and found it quite amateurish in nature. I found that inner salvation can be experienced by doing one's Karma in the most genuine way and by following one's duties towards Self, family & society. Though I'm still in this diverged pathways, analyzing my path between the two. I found my father remarks so useful, that First show that you can gain, then express your desire to renounce. When there is nothing what you have attained in life, nothing you've enjoyed, How you can feel the pain or joy of losing it for spiritual or delusion sake. I liked the idea, and it helped me a lot. Even in my doing MBA & later job, as I at least proved my family, my father in particular, that I have some capability.


But coming back to Vinod Khanna, I would have wished he must have continued his career, the heights of oneness and peace can be attained in your chosen trade too, like A.R Rehman, I think he always connect to the one while composing or producing music. Same way I feel for Tendulkar in cricket. So achieving the oneness in Karma can be a better notion then exile. But god knows what was best for him. As post-emergency quality of cinema hindered seriously when films sole motive became gaining money whether by vulgarity, plagriasm or some household daily-soaps type movies for VCR generation. And later after his exile he too joined that third class cinema bandwagon saying NO to his guru Rajaneesh for handling Pune Ashram of OSHO.

But anyways Salute to his courage & conviction of sacrificing his all for his purpose & vision. That was surely not for publicity sake like many others. He had paid a great price for that decision both personally & professionally. He might have actually became the Superstar of the millennium instead of Mr Big B, But who knows if that would have mattered to him or his inner peace eventually. He would always be remembered as a great actor & star of bollywood despite all the drama underlying his life story.


Thursday, February 2, 2012

AGNEEPATH ! AGNEEPATH ! AGNEEPATH !


Say Hello to my little friend ! Tony Montana !

No, I don't mean that Agneepath was a copy of Al Pacino's Scarface at all. But yes, one do tend to compare the style and mannerism of both iconic stars Al Pacino & Amitabh. In fact Scarface is one hell of gangsta movie which started a trend which continues since its release to the launch of GTA Vice City game. No Scarface, No Agneepath, No GTA Vice City. But hey, you must be thinking, why I'm talking about Old Agneepath, when new remake has broken all record in collections whether domestic or Overseas. But unfortunately I didn't felt connected with new one, It was a nice effort, nice tribute. That's it !

No I'm not discarding the new one completely, I liked the picturization of Harivansh Rai Bachchan poem in movie both times, when Vijay father is reciting it to him, and when Vijay is reciting the same to Kancha Cheena while killing him.

So, in short, I just Like the poem in the new one, nothing else!

The new one didn't enticed me enough to grab the retention plot of my memory even though I watched it recently. The old one even with some imperfections, were able enough to grab the mind space of mine.

Like thousands other people, even I still remember the old movie Vijay Deenanath Chauhan Introduction in police station, and many other scenes. The new one was flooded with fresh faces and fresh make-up, but no soul. Still I would say It was better than some of the other crappy remakes. 

But why they do not think logically while scripting remakes or presenting old wine in new bottle.

In the old one Vijay character was larger than life, this time antagonist Kancha & newly-included Rauf Lala were portrayed in larger than life manner. 

Name Kancha Cheena & character suited Danny more than Sanjay Dutt, no guesses on that.

Apart from get-up & look, Sanjay had little to experiment with Kancha, but he did a decent job in spite of some exaggeration here and there. His toying with Gita shlokas and demonly wisdom was good though.But that was the character fault, he was no more human like old movie Kancha Cheena, now he was demon. 

A/c to me, Background score plays a vital role in fueling the scenes, and old Agneepath background score was just AWESOME. Even though it was lifted from Jean Michel Jarre - Second Rendez-Vous (Part II), Type the same in YouTube and see for yourself. But I dont care from where it came from, but was suiting Amitabh sequences & style so well. 

The Old one was tribute to Harivansh Rai Bachchan poem, the new one was tribute to old Agneepath, but no Agneepath can be dreamt without the iconic poem itself. I've fallen in love with the poem so precise, so short and so deep in meaning. Hats off to Mr Harivansh Rai, he was my second best Hindi poet after Ram Dhari Singh Dinkar. This post cannot end without the mere essence of the movie - Path of Fire, the poem:-

Vriksh ho bhale khade
Ho Ghane Ho badhe
Ek Patra Chhao bhi 
Mang Mat Mang Mat Mang Mat !
Agneepath ! Agneepath ! Agneepath !

Tu Naa Thakega kabhi
Tu Naa Thamega kabhi
Tu Naa Mudega kabhi
Kar Shapath Kar Shapath Kar Shapath
Agneepath ! Agneepath ! Agneepath !

Yeh Mahaan Drishya Hai 
Chal Raha Manushya hai
Ashru Sved Rakt se 
Lath Path Lath Path Lath Path
Agneepath ! Agneepath ! Agneepath !

So, A/c to me, this poem will always be classier than both the Agneepath movies.

Monday, January 30, 2012

PYAASA - Story by Shadows, Silhouettes & Serene Shayari !!!

  
  Since 1957, Lot's has been said and analyzed about Pyaasa. It is world renowned classic which has found space in the most classically-learned, elites and reputed shelves. And there are many views and ways through which we can see inside the veins of Pyaasa. Today I'm just focusing on its art of camerawork, screenplay and lyricism.


    Talking about Camerawork, its the most unique form of camerawork I've ever seen in my life. Guru Dutt had the ability to build the ordinary sequences into completely larger-then-life molds of picturesque scene. Who can forget the epic climax scene of Jesus-like posture in auditorium. It will always be remembered as the God of all shots in the history of Indian cinema. No wonders it took numerous retakes for Guru Dutt to make it right. He'd a great eye for detail, and his colleagues like V.K Murthy, working with 75 mm lens always gave him the shots he wanted, no matter how difficult the implementation occurs.

Whether it's Guru famous extreme close-up scenes, or the beautiful use of Lighting all around the sets, through which he can create the web of shadows & silhouettes, a silent talking cinema in itself, literally no dialogue were required at that moment. But still the equation gets completed when the scene gets the throttle of immensely deep & inquisitive poetry by Sahir Ludhianvi. Its the epitome of lyricism. And what you get in front of you is the real Film-making manual by Guru Dutt. Ya Buddy, that's how you should make the movies. Learn it from here !


I remember one very interesting, stimulating and goose-bumpy scene where Vijay, the protagnist is deeply sad to hear the demise of her mother, and find himself insulted by brothers in the alms of his friends at brothel nudging him to gulp the alcohol, which he reluctantly drank in one go, justifying it with Sahir Poetry,

Gham Is Qadar Badhe ke Mai ghabra ke pee gaya...
Is Dil ki bebasi pe taras kha ke pee gaya
Thukra raha tha mujhko badi der se jahan...
Lo aaj is jahan ko thukra ke pee gaya

                       

And then he confront a brutal reality in front of him. A tired helpless mother ignoring her wailing baby, a prostitute dancing to the tunes of his friends and other lusty guests. Gosh, I've never saw tears falling on the camera lens so beautifully, actually it never happened before or after Pyaasa according to my knowledge. Tears are not just falling on camera lens showing Vijay pain, but were also falling on his glass of alcohol. And after suffering from the guilt of being witness to this cruelty, he finally left from the place and walked open in dimly-lit brothel street with his yet another critiqued notion about Hind, the capitalistic independent India of 1957 where love is on sale. These are my favorite verse of all,

Yeh Kuche Yeh Nilaam ghar dilkashi ke..
Yeh lut te hue karvaan zindagi ke..
Kahaan hai Kahaan hai muhafiz khudi ke..
Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par Woh Kahaan hai..



This song has such a scary impact on you, it really shows the mirror to the hypocrite society in its own way. The lighting, windows and street corners are so beautifully captured to describe the lyrics in visuals. Its a remarkable job done by V.K Murthy, the Cameraman. In his own words, he marked that even though technically KAAGAZ KE PHOOL is his greatest work, But PYAASA as a film was more complete and varied experience. It had so much to express under the purview of Art.


These close-up shots, blurred visions, teary camera lens, shadows & silhouettes & lyrics together formed such a marvelous and epic combination which this world will never forget, At least the art fraternity will never forget that cinematic magic. Kudos to V.K Murthy, Kudos to Sahir Ludhianvi, Kudos to Sir Guru Dutt !!

Without such artistic perfection, YEH DUNIYA AGAR MIL BHI JAAYE TO KYA HAI !! CLASS !