The Critique

Dir: Jeff Zimbalist Dur: 1 hr 47 mins Starring: Kevin de Paula, Seu Jorge, Mariana Nunes Rating: 8/10 Pele is a name that is known the world over. Every football fan will have heard his name atleast if they know nothing else about him. This film is biographical and hence gives us a view of Pele’s background and rise to fame. The film follows a similar route as Goal: The Dream Begins , (which is for me the most inspiring sports-based film ever). A slum dweller dreams of overturning Brazil’s fortunes after a sound thrashing at the 1950 World Cup and a humiliating campaign at the following World Cup. Dico, as Pele was baptized, is blessed with natural flair and has the Brazilian jinga (what is now known as Samba style or Samba magic) gushing through his veins. The jinga defines the Brazilian style of football and is quite specific to them. The history of the jinga is briefly told and its role in Brazil’s rise to football’s throne of glory is evidently displayed. The story ...

Gordon E. Morris , The Bible for You and Me, Self-published, Rs 20, pp. 62. Archbishop Pascal Topno of Bhopal sums up the worth of this book in his short message printed on the back cover. I quote him verbatim: “I read “The Bible For You and Me – A Journey Of Faith and Love”, with great interest. I would like to see this book in every  Catholic family and in the hands of every student and teacher in my diocese. It gives to our lay faithful ready, short, and precise answers to their own questions and questions put to them by others about Christian faith and the Bible.” The sentiments these words carry and the efficacy with which they state the fact leaves hardly any room for further discussion. Nevertheless, for the sake of my readers, I would like to add my views on the same. The first thing that struck me about the book was the presentation. Graphics are used quite a bit and the presentation is as if taken straight off of a scripture class board. The matter is not too ve...

Dir: Nick Hurran Starring: Kevin Zegers, Samaire Armstrong Dur: 1 hr 33 mins Genre: Rom-Com Rating: 8/10 John Gray has written the infamous book titled, ‘Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus’. The film under review reflects this title as the protagonists, Nell (Samaire Armstrong) and Woody (Kevin Zegers) are persons who are so different from each other that it’s ironic that they are next door neighbours. Nell is the school geek not that she looks geekish but only because she seems to be the only one with a focus in life and possessing an apparently conservative attitude while the rest of the school is steeped in partying and loosing living. Woody, on the other hand, is similar to Nell in just one aspect: his focus on pursuing a career in football (American football). A class visit to a Museum which housed a God of disguise led to a change that is the essence of the film. We are shown the dynamics of teen life, college life, competition and relationships. Wha...

Dir: Baz Luhrmann Starring: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor Dur: 2 hrs 8 mins Genre: Musical, Romance PG: The theme of the club is very sensual. Sexual references are made on and off. A couple of kisses. Rating: 7/10 Before actually watching the film I briefly went through it and judged that it wasn’t my kind of movie. Since it was of a musical sort I figured it would be a bore. But my prejudice couldn’t have been more false. It tells a story that is truly and completely about love. What’s great is that it touches nearly every emotion one would associate with love. Better still it does so with music and theatrics. A young idealistic writer falls for ‘The Sparkling Diamond’, a stage name for a woman of poor character and rich looks. The setting is an entertainment club of the past century. Hence one musn’t be appalled at the gyrating and frisking, not to mention the sexual innuendoes. There is however a lot of colour and choreographed dance sequences to go along with the ...

Dir: Neill Blomkamp Starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Alice Braga Dur: 1 hr 49 mins Genre: Sci-fi Action Rating: 6/10 Apocalyptic sci-fi films interest me in as much as they portray fascinating futuristic concepts, vehicles and lifestyle. Elysium is set in the next century and is named after an alter earth that has been designed and created by mankind. The earth is over populated and sick.  All around the Los Angeles in which the story is based we see debris and waste, and hear Spanish spoken more than English. Elysium on the other hand, is spick and span and caters to the needs of the elite. Sadly, we are shown Americans in Elysium and that does hurt a catholic sensibility. The President of Elysium is an American of Indian origin but that doesn’t quite satisfy as he is still ‘American’. I shouldn’t be complaining too much, atleast the Russians and the Muslims get a break. Max (Matt Damon) is an orphan working in a factory that produces robots for Elysium. ...