The Critique

Christmas is a time of fun and cheer. We retrieve our neatly-tucked-away decorations and put them on display in and around our houses. We work together as families and communities to beautify our surroundings and to prepare sweets. In doing these things we spend time with one another and hopefully grow in our relationships, thereby developing new bonds and strengthening old ones. The activities of Christmastide like parties, visits and hopefully even the Sacraments, fill us with joy and contribute to making this season joyful and exciting. Christmas is a time of joy and generosity, but could it be that we are joyful and generous only to our friends and family? Beginning with myself first and then observing others, I found that there exists a certain amount of selfishness during Christmas. Do we not, most of the time, restrict our sharing and joy to our friends, family and those who are good to us? If this is so then we need to heed Jesus’ reproach, “If you love those who love you...

Dir: Brett Ratner Starring: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck, Michael Pena, Matthew Broderick Dur: 1 hr 40 mins Genre: Comedy-Drama Rating: 2.5/5 PG: Lots of expletives. Losing everything or to put it another way, having nothing sometimes leads people to do crazy things. The Tower is one of the most prestigious places to live in. Josh (Ben Stiller) is the manager at ‘the Tower’ and everything from the high security to the team meetings and pep talks points to a big heist that is imminent at the Tower. What can possibly be so valuable in a place that houses more rich hags than anyone else is baffling but of no great concern as long as something interesting is pulled off. The ball is set in motion when one of the most illustrious and wealthy residents is accused of fraud and is remanded to federal custody. This affects everyone at ‘the Tower’ as he was in possession of all of their savings. Josh tries to remedy the situation that he was partially responsibl...

Dir: Adam Mckay Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg Dur: 1 hr 50 mins Genre: Action-Comedy Rating: 1/5 PG: Lots of foul language, few sexual innuendoes This is essentially a story of the underdogs, the nobodys, who long to be somebodys some day. This dynamic is pretty common in everyday life but rarely finds its way onto the big screen. One very good reason why it doesn’t is because, as I see it, nobody cares. We all know how such a story ends up. As much as we would like it to be a happy ending, we know its not that simple. The Other Guys depicts the story of two average desk-cops who long to be in the forefront of action and the cameras but find themselves to be ill-handed to get the job done. Besides the expected comedy, we are dished out a whole lot of unwanted dialogue and action which is supposed to enhance the humour but only ends up reducing it to nonsense. The Other Guys is a parody of the police department. While the job they do is given a good show...

Dir: Thomas Carter Starring: Jim Caviezel, Laura Dern, Alexander Ludwig, Gavin Casalegno, Michael Chiklis, Dur: 1 hr 48 mins Genre: Inspirational Rating: 4.5/5 PG: Quite a bit of slang but otherwise clean dialogues. The De La Salle Spartans had the longest win streak in American football history. The streak lasted a few years and extended over 151 matches. Their domination at the top saw them amass all the top honours. Coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) is acknowledged as the man behind the streak but more importantly, as the man behind the team. Unexpectedly, the streak was broken in a most dramatic way and the rise back to the top marks the last part of this truly amazing story. The film, based on a true story, shows us how the De La Salle team was built. The coaching philosophy of Bob and the strong influence he asserted on the team and on the lives of his players his a real spectacle. The best part is you don’t have to wish it were real because it is. The fil...

Dir: Scott Smith Starring: Eric Mabius, Kristin Booth, Crystal Lowe, Geoff Gustafson Dur: 1 hr 20 mins Genre: Romance Rating: 2.5/5 PG: A few kisses. In the digital age, means of communication like the post are on the decline. Nevertheless, they do enjoy a certain amount value. There are still many things that are communicated best through post. One of the most popular among them is the card. Cards are, to this date, posted in their thousands. Cards for every occasion are dispatched and await in hope to reach their destination. Well, this film is of the sentimental kind. It takes us back to the original use of the post, namely to transport letters. The film circles around a particular department in a post office in America . The ‘Dead Letters’ department (something I’ve never heard off before) are involved in the delicate and somewhat drab task of trying to ensure that discarded letters reach their intended destinations. While the three employees approach the work...

Dir: Mohit Suri Starring: Siddharth Malhotra, Shraddha Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh Dur: 2 hrs Genre: Action-Thriller Rating: 3.5/5 PG: Violence, foul language and a bit of romance. Life is a stage and every one of us is an actor. In each of our stories, we are mostly at the centre. We are the hero/heroine and the drama circulates around us. Usually we come out on top, maybe not in real life but at least in our fantasy. A similar tale is told in this story. (Siddharth Malhotra) is a reformed gangster. His encounter and subsequent relationship with (Shraddha Kapoor) effected his transformation. Just when life began to shine light in the pre-existing darkness of his life, the source of his light is violently cut away. Shr, his wife is killed by a serial killer. He sets out to avenge her death and thereby heal the wound her loss has caused. He is a villain turned hero. (Riteish Deshmukh) is a failure. His job, marriage, in fact everything around him is crumbling. He ve...

Raymond E. Brown, A Coming Christ in Advent , Minnesota : The Liturgical Press, 1988, ISBN 0-8146-1587-2, pp. 71, $3.95. Advent is a season of preparation for the coming of Christ. In this book the author takes a look at the first chapters of Matthew and Luke and draws reflections that enable the reader to enter deeper into the text and consequently deeper into the mystery of Christ. These initial chapters contain the long historical preparation for the coming of Christ in the history of Israel . Both Matthew and Luke allude to the historical developments leading up to Christ’s birth. Their views of history find expression through their narratives and are doctored to suit their readers, keeping in mind their context and background. Therefore, the first chapter of Matthew and Luke don’t only tell us about the events around Jesus’ birth but also unearth the story of Israel which lies beneath. The first chapter delineates the origin and purpose of the infancy narratives and thu...

Dir: Raykesh Omprakash Mehta Starring: Aamir Khan, Soha Khan, Siddharth Narayan, Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor, Atul Kulkarni, Alice Patten     Dur: 2 hrs 35 mins Genre: Drama Rating: 4/5 PG: Bloodshed and a few swear words. Youth are the strength of the nation. This is no mere platitude aimed at making the youth feel proud of their identity and status; it is a fact, although it often goes unnoticed or untapped. Rang De Basanti aims at waking the youth to their responsibility as citizens of the nation. Politics is given a bad name by the numerous scams and overall corruption associated with it but politics, in itself isn’t a bad thing. It’s a good thing used for a bad purpose. This film tries to rescue politics from its degraded status and present it in better light. I had imagined the film being based on the freedom struggle but I was surprised when the film opened with a young British journalist making a choice to come to India to popular...

Surendra Nihal Singh, The Modi Myth , Authors UpFront Paranjoy, 2015, ISBN 978-9-38443-954-5, pp. 107, Rs. 345.  The Modi Myth situates the Prime Minister against the wider canvas of contemporary Indian politics. The author is a retired journalist and a much accredited editor of well-known newspapers. He endeavours to present a background to the swashbuckling personality who occupies a pivotal position in the grand Indian political scenario. The author begins by pointing out to Modi’s transition from a humble background to the RSS and the world of politics, culminating finally in his present position and status as the nation’s Prime Minister, a transition he will refer to many times in the book. Interestingly, the point of departure of the book is Modi’s governance in Gujrat and in particular, his handling of the awkward questions that arose with regard to the 2002 Gujrat riots. The author indulges in a constant back and forth, illustrating events that help create ...

Dir: Dustin Marcellino Starring: Blake Rayne, Erin Cottrell, Ray Liotta, Ashley Judd Dur: 1 hr 36 mins Genre: Drama Rating: 4.5/5 PG: Family film. As I watched this film I couldn’t help but think it had something to do with the great ‘King of Pop’, Elvis Presley. Nothing was mentioned and so I conclude that the idea at most, is inspired by him. America in the early 1900’s was a difficult place to live in, much less to start a family. Born into this situation were boy twins. Their parents barely had enough to sustain themselves and were desperate for help from any quarter. One night, William, the father of the twins, listens to a preacher sharing about the inability of him and his wife to bear children. He convinces his wife and they decide to give one of the boys up for adoption. The preacher, Reece Wade, and his wife, Louise, are at first against the idea but on further insistence by the Hemsley’s, acquiesce. Thus, begins the lives of the two brothers who only hea...

Dir: David Ayer Starring: Brad Pitt, Shia Labeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Pena, Jon Bernthal Dur: 2 hrs 5 mins Genre: Action Rating: 2/5 PG: Gory violence. Expletives galore. The horrors of the Nazi regime doesn’t seem to leave people’s minds. Every now and then a film will be produced depicting the inhumanity of the Nazis. Fury is another such attempt. The setting however, is very different. One I have seen for the first time. It shows us the horrors of war. The merciless killing of soldiers and the numerous corpses and injured men that lay strewn all over the land. The film is highly graphic and yet poignant. Don (Brad Pitt) is head of the tank from which the film takes its name. The whole movie is basically about this band of 5 guys who make the tank their home and set out on the ‘divine’ mission of ridding the world from Nazi clutches. The reality of war is pretty well displayed and begs the viewer’s sympathies. Crude living and crude killing can define the lif...

Dir: Sashanka Ghosh Starring: Sonam Kapoor, Fawad Afzal Khan Dur: 2 hrs 5 mins Genre: Rom-Com Rating: 3/5 PG: A few lip-locks. This film is made in collaboration with Disney and so that already raises in one certain expectations and also if I may add, a hint of the outcome. This is a very modern fairytale, told in the language of the time, using the means available at the present moment, involving characters who are modern in every sense of the word but an ending like all the fairytales of old – Happy Ever After. Mili or rather, Dr Mili Chakravarty (Sonam Kapoor), is a well-known physiotherapist. She is called upon to treat a ‘king’ in Rajasthan. Life in the royal household is nothing like she is used to. Born and brought up in the Punjabi culture, where expression is given importance, Mili finds the formalities of royalty suffocating. Her extraversion and enthusiasm embarrass and knock over nearly everything considered dignified. She doesn’t seem to fit in but is t...

Dear Sir/Madam, I have been living in Nashik for some time now and am still amazed at the near-total disregard for traffic rules especially by the drivers of autorickshaws. Absence of a policeman seems to convey an absence of law and order. Jumping the gun at signals and driving that makes ‘rash’ seem like a tame word to use, are the order of the day. What’s more confounding is the nonchalance with which such actions are taken. Everyone seems to be okay with this for no one says anything about it. Every time I raise an objection, I am met with disgusted looks from my fellow passengers and a curt remark from the auto driver. It’s no secret that our country is known for it’s acute shortage of road sense but things cannot go on like this.

Dear Sir/Madam The abandonment of 18 patients and their subsequent deaths, in the ICU of MIOT hospital in Chennai is deplorable. The hospital authorities displayed extremely poor judgment and failed to live up to their roles as preserves of life. This is a crime against humanity and the action of the hospital staff must be considered inhuman. Tamil Nadu chief secretary, K Gnanadesikan, has assured that the law will be exercised, but that remains only at the legal level. The human level of the problem is not being addressed. The commitment to life is something that doctors vow when they make the Hippocratic oath. A similar promise is made by all other hospital staff, including the management. The behaviour of the staff of MIOT cannot and must not ever find an encore.   

Dir: Gary Fleder Starring: Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder Dur: 1 hr 36 mins Genre: Action Rating: 2/5 PG: Plenty of foul language, violence and a brief scene where a man has mounted a woman. The film is based on the novel by Chuck Logan. Sylvester Stallone has a hand in the making of the film but his contribution isn’t very conspicuous. As in most Jason Statham films, the movie is too heavily balanced on his character. Here, he plays an unassuming father who has had a rough past in the police service. He is trying to give his daughter a good platform for life but his past creeps back to destroy the bubble he has tried to blow around himself and his daughter. James Franco masterfully portrays a small town gangster who tries to kick up a storm with Phil (Jason Statham) for some flimsy reason. The story builds up rather clumsily and seems a bit incoherent. The dialogues are loaded with expletives and fail to pack any punch. Izabela Vidovic, who plays Statha...

Dir: Jason Reitman Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick Dur: 1 hr 44 mins Genre: Drama Rating: 2.5/5 PG: Foul language used occasionaly. A few romantic scenes. A partially nude scene. The concept of the film is a bit abstract and strange. It takes quite a bit of time to make some sense of what exactly is going on. One thing is clear: this is a story about Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) whose job is to travel all over America and off-load staff from firms and companies on behalf of the management. His job forces him to constantly remain on the move. Since his destinations are far from one another, he uses the air to travel and hence the name of the film Up in the Air . Ryan‘s job makes it difficult for him to settle down and have a family. Besides, he has grown so accustomed to his lifestyle that when a change is suggested by an enterprising young recruit, Natalie (Anna Kendrick) and is taken up by the company, he rebels. His boss thinks it best for t...

Dir: Jonathan Liebesman Starring: Megan Fox, Will Arnett Dur: 1 hr 37 mins Genre: Action/Animated Rating: 2/5 PG: Sexual innuendoes are used. This is a film that will mostly appeal to teenage and pre-teen boys. The turtles are animated but in a sophisticated way. They are up-to-date with the latest gizmos and lingo although they still use their traditional weapons and battle their traditional enemy. There isn’t much to get out of the film except for a couple of humorous dialogues. The plot seems ridiculous – an old hag in a Gucci dress. Since there is little reality, Megan and Will are forced to carry the show, which they do admirably. Megan is the one to look out for although she’s not nearly at her best. Her role in Transformers seems to be a distant perfection lost over the years. She tries hard but just cannot pull the film through herself. There are plenty of laughs and dizzying action – wait, did I mention that it seems ridiculous? The naiveté portraye...

Dir: Gareth Edwards Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Bryan Cranston Dur: 2 hrs Genre: Sci-fi Rating: 2/5 PG: Occasional foul language. I had watched the older make of this movie and though I was young at the time, I remember that the film had intrigued me. This time around the only thing that got my attention was the technical terminology. The human race stumbles upon a discovery that changes the face of the world – actually only America was defaced. The bogeys – there are three of them are all animated. They look intimidating and adequately repulsive. Actually only Godzilla or Gojira looks decent the other two look more like giant automated mosquitoes. The destruction they cause, needless to say, is seismic. Fear descends upon the American continent and they inadvertently occupy front row seats. The key characters in this drama are Joe, his son and his wife and child. Lots of lives are snuffed out and heavy losses are incurred but t...

Dir: Nikhil Advani Starring: Sooraj Pancholi, Athiya Shetty Dur: 2 hrs 10 mins Genre: Action-Romance Rating: 1/5 PG: Violence Bollywood doesn’t seem to have made great progress in the ‘Hero’ genre of action films. The hero is and he was from bygone ages, a superhuman, unbeatable, overcoming-all-odds character who sustains multiple injuries, far more than the villain or villains but still manages to walk away from the carnage in slo-mo. Hero is another run-of-the-mill film, serving to us our favoured choice of genre. The story is a slight adaptation of the age-old ‘love and war’ duet. The new faces don’t help the stale plot and in fact, unnecessarily get themselves dirty in the bargain. Sooraj (Sooraj Pancholi) and Radha (Athiya Shetty) fall in love despite their fathers being arch rivals of each other as a consequence of being on either side of the law. Sooraj tries hard to get Radha‘s father to accept him, but his family history creates a boulder. Just when he see...