Finally .... Cloud Atlast!

What is life? And is there an afterlife?

What shall happen when we die? There shall be bereavement, shrill pitched voices explaining how good we were, interestingly same voice could never bestow the same degree of accolade whilst we’re alive.  

So by all probability, death…is that it? Is that the boring finale of our dull lives? Born, brood, burn, breathe last...

Only thing to differ, this isn’t it. There is a certain afterlife, a life whose genesis is implied the very moment our karmic cosmic particles are in motions. I have been hearing that karma thing for years like you only go back in high heavens or lowly hells, after getting even with your karmas and yourself. However, few fellows seem to trespass that threshold and that strengthens the notion that they’ve been exempted the karma cycle swiftly. Though only thing, that isn’t it as well, karma carries on following you and decides what you’re going to be in your next life.

Revenge is a dish, best served cold – Kill Bill v.2. Quite well put, though revenge carried out across time frames that could range from colonial centuries to post-apocalyptic world is what makes it gruesomely awesome.

There are few flicks that re-instate you belief in something mystical, something far more complex and typical than our ignoble brainy cells could ever comprehend. The condescending nature of human superiority overtly eludes few deceptive facts that are as certain as eye to a face, yet we choose to be misled every time shallowly for our own good…bad, don’t know.

This very flick describes on such hell of an amazing ride and it takes you across centuries within blinks and yet you can make out the connection in between those two eclectic, seemingly incongruent events. Ever played connect the dots? Just that this time you’re seeing your brain do the homework while you sit tight trying to help the poor fella out.

Unbelievably deep layers of stories that in one way or another, relate to what gets served, is marvelous representation of thought provoking cinema. For example, a person too bad, full of greed and lust in colonial times turns out to be a nice fella in early 18^th century and then keeps on improving until he meets his fate, in an excruciating way. You can ponder, hell bloke was nice for two centuries and then suddenly? Yeah, karma cosmic, remember?

There are several such mind numbing examples set out in movie that make you actually wonder that you’re a changed man after watching it.

Tom Hanks – this man carries enough space up his belly to carry all the awards conceivable and yet walk like a camel. In his till date most phenomenal performance from a contemporary failed writer to an primeval lust-bitten doc, he justifies his grandeur once again and takes the cake for this year’s best supporting role, if I were to be believed.

And squeezing out such a grimly overlaid script in 172 minutes is an achievement in itself. From euphonious and amazingly mellow background music to grandiose of one of the finest cinematography I’ve ever seen, I am afraid this movie is not for everyone who loves to see fantasy movies with the fantasy, eyes wide jaw dropped, brain hibernate style. Most brain-tickling movie I’ve ever seen in recent times is easily this special movie which even makes inception a bit duller, albeit only at different plateau. Watch it for the sheer imposing cinematic experience that will render you flabbergasted for a more somber and subtle view next time.

These aren’t my ruminations, you may call it fiction, some may call it fantasy, others may call it karma delectation, though I prefer to call it in its originality – CLOUD ATLAS!

11/10

Barfi Review - Magical per se

Yeah yeah, I know!

Don’t give me that att.*Sucha late review*…my company doesn’t gives me free passes and I have a knack for DVDRIPs. Now back to review!

Barfi..hmm!

 

what are they going to say about us darl?


What should I write about a mystical flick that is already so much well placed in the rave ranks of almost the whole nation and critics, barring a finicky few, it becomes quite a rant praising it, again and again.

A deaf-mute boy that manages to win a pretty lassie’s heart by his peccancies, though he cares more for an autistic girl - throw in some Charlie Chaplin style acts that keep you tossed between two shots of dramedy.

Run shukla run, you 52 waister!


Well, yes this movie is deeply enchanting, magical to say the least. Only movie this year, post GOW, that gets the cake. But yes, Anurag basu tried to play it all very smart and though he ran very well, alas, he couldn’t hide! 

I could relate as many as this much scenes from the movie ‘inspired’ or lifted from other movies:-

In the scene where Ranbir plans to rob a bank, he plays hide-and-seek with Saurabh Shukla's cop character using a sliding door. The sequence is similar to Charlie Chaplin's 1917 short film, The Adventurer.

The sequence where Ranbir sits on a sofa with a dummy and tries to entertain Priyanka - lifted from Singin' in the Rain.

The ladder sequence at the start of the film feels like a copy from Buster Keaton's 1922 comedy, Cops. The scene shows Ranbir balancing on a ladder while cops try to pull him down.

 

The scene where Barfi is found sleeping under the cover of a statue that is unveiled is lifted from Chaplin's 1931 hit, City Lights.

The bicycle chase scene in Barfi also seems to be inspired by Jackie Chan's 1983 comedy hit Project A.

 Another scene in Barfi where Rupa Ganguly, Ileana's mom, tells her about her past lover is taken from 2004 romantic drama, The Notebook. Even the end scene where Ranbir and Priyanka die together, sleeping in each other's arms, is directly copied from The Notebook.

 The scene where Ranbir walks into a door and his nose gets bent is taken from 1952 American musical comedy Singin' in the Rain.

Apart from the scenes, the idea of the film seems to be inspired by 1993 Johnny Depp-starrer, Benny & Joon, which was a film about a mentally ill girl finding love with an eccentric man.

Well where there is Pritam, there is inspiration - Pritam's theme tune in Barfi is also similar to what Yann Tiersen composed for 2001 French comedy, Amelie.

Foxed?
 

I could go on about 21 other such scenes explaining their resemblance but then does it matters?

Even novel inspired movies, or homage movies in past have gone onto win the prestigious Oscar (The Notebook, Slumdog millionaire, up in the air etc.).

Moreover, the scenes which I’ve mentioned aren’t a blatant rip off, unlike Abbas-Mustan trademark, they have been beautifully read, presented and been made dramatically interesting. The silence of the film shows much more glibly-ness than actual dialogues, if there were to be any!

Acting wise, movie is great enough to be called as just inch short of mediocre.

Ranbeer Kapoor may be just another star-kid, but he spoke a lot in this movie [sic]. Had it any dialogues of him trying to do his part….mark my words, this would have been disastrous! Anurag Basu smartly realized his flaw and nailed it quite good.

Priyanka Chopra is good but feels like overdoing her part many times. Someone like more seasoned and accustomed actress would’ve superbly fit her place (I can’t suggest who, no name comes to mind!).

Illeana d’Cruz as a narrator is good enough in her small yet effective role. Saurabh Shukla is phenomenal is his portrayal of a Bengali over-plumped cop, who regrets his 52 to 42 transformation, there wasn’t a single moment when he came on screen and I wasn’t excited. Ashish Vidyarthi does his part well.

Direction is superb though you CAN spot out few errors here and there. Cinematography, I have to say, if Darjeeling is this beautiful as rendered in this pic without any hunky dory gawdy-ass special VFX effects, then thanks, Mr. Ravi Verma, I have found my next destination! Terrific representation, aspect ratio of 2.35 actually did wonders to the movie.

Well, music is unlike I’ve ever heard. It’s so different and dynamic in the ranges that you literally get immersed while listening to it. Each and every song sets out a lasting effect on you and leaves you confounded in the war of choosing your next recital melody. My favourite being, Sawali Si Raat and Phir le aaya (reprise), thanks to their exceptional instrument spectrum and feel. Though, I will wait further to dig out whether Pritam da actually composed it (highly unlikely) or he got inspired again!

All in all, Barfi is a marvelous experience that leaves you thinking way after its denouement and certainly makes sure that this BARFI takes the cake for this year’s finest movie experience!