The Critique

Dir: Craig Gillespie Starring: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney Dur: 1 hr 59 mins Genre: Biographical Drama PG: Plenty of cuss words Rating: 7/10 Perhaps one of the most dramatic films of the past year: I, Tonya attempts to present before the viewers the sequence of events that led up to Tonya Harding losing her name and fame in the world of figure skating. The film centres around the controversial incident that took place before the 1994 Winter Olympics, where Tonya’s fellow figure skater, Nancy Kerrigan was assaulted, supposedly by a thug hired by her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly. Although this isn’t the real focus of the film, it is the reason behind the whole enterprise. The director, Craig Gillespie said that the film was an attempt to present Tonya “in a very honest way” without “trying to pull those heartstrings…just showing you why she is the way she is.” I think he and the whole crew did a might good effort with that. Watch it and you’ll know… Th...

Dir: Tom Shadyac Starring: Robin Williams, Monica Potter, Philip Hoffman, Bob Gunton Dur: 1 hr 55 mins Genre: Inspirational Drama PG: A Few Kisses Rating: 7/10 This is a great film based on the book Gesundheit: Good Health is a Laughing Matter written by Dr Patch Adams and Maureen Mylander. It documents the real story of Hunter “Patch” Adams who goes from being an inmate at a mental institution to being a beloved doctor who believes that medicine is a vocation and not a profession. His ideas and methods got him and those who surrounded him into a lot of trouble but ultimately also brought about better results. The story is indeed inspiring and proved to be all the more poignant since the lead role was played by none other than Robin Williams, a great comedian and actor whose life much like that of Patch consisted of lots of fun and laughter but hid a deep wound. I think that every medical student and doctor ought to watch this film although it is quite old. It s...

Dir: Khurram Alavi and Ayman Jarnal Dur: 1 hr 49 mins Genre: Animated-Drama Rating: 4/10 As I was browsing for new films based on real life stories to see I stumbled across this. At first, I was a bit surprised because it was the first time I had come across a real story told in the form of animation. I figured from the trailer that it had something to do with a legend in Islam but the trailer gives a different idea of the film altogether. This is basically the story of Bilal, a servant boy who embraced Islam in its initial stages and enjoyed the benefits of its belief. The film outlines the struggles he underwent but sticks to a rather mundane view of his life. There are no flourishes and definitely no ‘hero’ moments. It is more or less a story of an ordinary boy who did something extraordinary with his life and even managed to revolutionize his region. The animation was not up to the mark and the story could have been told in a better way but nevertheless the fil...

Dir: Jon Stevenson Starring: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Johnny Depp Dur: 1 hr 26 mins Genre: Animated-Adventure Rating: 6/10   I am a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes and I have always wondered why no body ever thought of turning Sherlock into a cartoon. They’ve made films on him and even a hit television series but no cartoon. Why? I believe children should have the opportunity to enjoy the adventures and experience the amazing talents of Sherlock Holmes. Most of them will probably never read any of his books even when they grow up so at least feed it to them through cartoons. But unfortunately, this has never happened until now, and I can’t tell you how happy I was. Sherlock Gnomes is a wonderful introduction of Sherlock to the world of animation. It is fun and full of adventure and mystery while at the same time remaining entertaining and educative. Like most animated films, this film has a powerful message of love, friendship and family. Humour is...

Anthony de Mello, Awareness , edited by J. Francis Stroud, London: Fount Paperbacks, 1990, ISBN 000627519, pp. 184, ₤ 5.99. This book is a compilation of Anthony’s conferences, thoughts and reflections on spiritual life. It could be called his Guidebook to Wholesome Living. It is decorated with priceless insights, ideas and experiences that bring home lessons that guarantee to make life worthwhile and meaningful. I have read a good deal of spiritual and even motivational literature but none touched me the way this one did. The book has 57 chapters. Well, actually they aren’t chapters but themes. They are short and precise. The language of the book is colloquial and even the tone is very direct and one-to-one. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and listening to some new and most old wisdom presented in a pretty novel and heart-touching way. What I liked best about the book is that Anthony is a no nonsense guy and that attitude comes across as one reads the pages. He is als...

Dir: Michael and Peter Spierig Starring: Helen Mirren, Jason Clarke Dur: 1 hr 39 mins Genre: Horror Rating: 6/10 Winchester claims to be based on true events and anything that is based on true events naturally draws my attention. I went in to see this film as if it was some kind of history documentary. Of course, I’m not so naïve to watch it that way but nevertheless, that’s how I approached it; hoping to learn something of the legend behind the Winchester haunting. The film is pretty well made. By way of storyline, the film puts out a rather simple premise. Sarah Winchester, the landlady is a grieving widow and CEO of the Winchester gun manufacturing company. Ever since the death of her family, she has developed the ability to communicate with the dead and she uses it to help victims of murder find eternal rest. A doctor who has his own set of problems is brought in to investigate her mental state at the behest of the company executives. Later, it is revealed that she...