TALAASH

Genre: Drama Mystery Fantasy Thriller

Direction: Reema Kagti

Lead: Aamir Khan

Reema has already set her mark for extraordinary talents in story and screenplay in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and since the bar was set so high, this movie did not make it upto that level of excellence. Not that the movie lagged anything, it's just that the script was not that powerful in the first place. The movie gives such high-teaser build-ups at times for the accident's mystery that keeps the audience waiting for the suspense to unravel. And that's why the audience is left disappointed in the end because the movie actually gives the feel that it's about a crime case, which it is not. The movie is not about solving the puzzle but about how solving the puzzle affects the protagonist's life and connects with his constant feel of dilemma and regret. The movie is about a caring father who regrets his one mistake that led to his son's accidental death. It's a drama flick revolving around that father and how he is unable to find the closure to his son's death.

The movie has been built up as a suspense flick similar to Kahaani, but it is far from it. There is no such big twist in the end but a simple turn that isn't as shocking, but touching. The writing is simply awesome, but of course(!) why wouldn't it be, as it had some of the best Bollywood writers at work for it - Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar and the director herself. The dialogues are deep! Absolutely superb job of writing.

The pace is quite low though. The constant flips going on raises the expectations from the movie and then for a long time, it doesn't offer anything. So overall it drains down the average energy of the movie. So due to several instances where it gets boring, it loses some points. It's certainly an adaptation of some of the top Hollywood movies but revealing the names of those movies would spoil the fun out of this one. It's a good try for Bollywood, though, for it has entered some new areas to explore. So even though it did not live it upto its expectations, the movie does deserve a pat on the back.

RATING:

LIFE OF PI

Genre: Adventure Drama

Direction: Ang Lee

Lead: Suraj Sharma

Amazing direction as well as cinematography! This could certainly be considered as Ang Lee's best work till date. Most novel-overridden films miss out on plot-points but this being an adventure novel, easily comprised the entire loop. The emotions are depicted splendidly and though reading the novel would be more interesting as it would lead to numerous imaginations of that world in our minds, this does not fail to amaze the audience. Suraj Sharma has done his part greatly and so is the script, but those credits go to the novel-writer Yann Martel, for the deep and touching lines that build up through the beginning of the movie.

The story is about a kid who gets cast away into the ocean due to a ship wreck and with him, is another survivor of the crash, a Bengal tiger. But the story does not stick merely to the bonding of the human and the tiger, but revolves through the complete natural habitat. This can very well be one of the most effective ship drowns ever since Titanic. Everything in the movie has been shown very deeply that will truly touch the hearts.

It would not turn out to be a surprise if this gets nominated for the Oscars, but now the downside, which will be that though the open ending element is really good, it leaves the audience wanting more, without giving them a proper closure. It was quick. And the attachment with the kid is not made that deep, as compared to the other similar movies like Cast Away. The connection feels to be missing a beat and could have been better if it were more descriptive of the character rather than just viewing his experience in the ocean, which reduces the overall pace of the movie. Also, the build-up to the story is very powerful with the lines like "it will make you believe in God" but that element is lost in the way.

All in one, it's a delightful adventure journey to enjoy. Definitely watch it for feeling something extra-ordinary out of the daily life. It's wonderful!

RATING: