(** Boy! New Year started on a busy note. Phew..!!**)
I am an awkward movie buff. And I am seriously fortunate to have found a bigger movie buff in Mr. Husband. His recommendations are simply the best. So when he tells about a movie that you should watch, you just sit up and watch it. Thankfully for me, he has a huge collection and out of the ones that I saw, the jewel wins the prize.
So this brings us to the winner for the MeghnaSays... Movie of the Year Award.
I am an awkward movie buff. And I am seriously fortunate to have found a bigger movie buff in Mr. Husband. His recommendations are simply the best. So when he tells about a movie that you should watch, you just sit up and watch it. Thankfully for me, he has a huge collection and out of the ones that I saw, the jewel wins the prize.
Having watched so many during the whole year (mostly catching up on the ones I had missed over the past few years) I am feeling a little dazed while trying to zero down the nominees. There are so many fighting for that space. But here's a small list of the best out of the best.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the nominees for this category are:
1. Despicable Me 1 and 2
2. Madagascar - 1, 2 and 3
3. Kung Fu Panda 1 and 2
4. Body Of Lies
5. Under Eight
6. To Kill A Mockingbird
7. John Wick
8. Bajirao Mastani
9. 21
10. Argo
11. Bucket List
12. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (!! Yeah I saw that NOW finally !! Like the many others in the list!)
13. All the remaining ones. :)
Despicable Me, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda are deal makers. They are winners all the way because of their best of the best packaging - story, voiceovers, animation, content, entertainment, everything. I wish there are a lot more sequels to all of these.
In Body of Lies, Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe deliver exactly all of that for which you want to pay to watch them; at times, even more with their versatility and accent, and eyes respectively. Golshifteh Farahani is a rare find, just like the handsome and brimming-with-attitude character of Mark Strong as Hani. This movie by Ridley Scott promises an overplus of all those elements that make movie watching the real fun it is, and the performances take it a notch above the conventional espionage thriller.
Under Eight is a movie I started to see only because of Paul Walker. But very very soon, the sled dogs stole the show. It is a very emotionally gripping tale of love, friendship, hope, loyalty, survival, never giving up and the power of will power - all of this between man and the dogs. Given the subject and man's strongest, most lovable friendship with dogs, movies of this underlying sentiment have more often than not fared well. But this one particularly stands out because of the Antarctic backdrop and the fact that there isn't just one or two, but Eight sled dogs in the movie. Superb story and spectacular performances from Paul as well as the awesome eight.
Just one thing to say about To Kill a Mocking Bird - this movie did justice to the book. Totally. And THAT is all we need for reviews when it comes to movies that are adapted from novels. The book by Harper Lee is an all time favorite, ever since I first read it a couple of years ago. I liked it so much that I wrote a book review for it then for this blog, which you can read here. I knew that there was a movie for this book too, but in most cases, the real essence of the book is lost in the movie, sometimes to the extent of it being brutally murdered. And since 9 times out of 10, I have not been content with the way novels are adapted into movies, I was skeptical while watching this one too. And I am so glad that this movie in black and white proved me wrong.
John Wick is a synonym of focus and an antonym of waste - both the movie and the laconic kickass title role as portrayed by the super dashing Keanu Reaves. It is an action extravaganza and keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first minute to last. Neither a minute nor a bullet wasted. Underscoring all the remorseless killing and vengeance-seeking is love lost, and the solitary moral - you don't mess with the Boss or you have to pay. And if a person like me who averts action and dhishoom-dhishoom as if instinctively can come up with a review like this, you know this movie will not disappoint you. Total Paisa-Vasool!
Bajirao Mastani - Mr. Bhansali's Magnum Opus, the epic historical romance and the most awaited movie since years. Stellar performances by Ranveer and Deepika in the lead roles of Bajirao and Mastani, and Priyanka is as subtle and subdued as was expected of her in the role of Kashibai. Tanvi Azmi and Milind Soman can brighten and lighten up any frame with their poise, gait and delivery. Another amazing adaptation of a book, one for which I think I am better off not reading it. A must watch. And A Big Salute to Mr. Bhansali. Please keep making your movies.
21 and Bucket List are two different genres, two totally different stories and therefore two diverse movie watching experiences. 21 is the story of how a Maths Professor played by Kevin Stacey trains five brilliant MIT students and used their skills to make millions playing BlackJack in Vegas, and how all this affects the life and times of one of the students who had totally different aspirations from life. A total roller coaster. Bucket List is about two terminally ill men, one loaded and the other not so, who decide to make a list of all those things they want to do before they die, and then do it. The ideas isn't particularly novel, but the superstars Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson make it a ride to remember. And inspire you to make your own bucket lists.
Bhaag Milka Bhaag doesn't need words. All it needs is a pair of eyes to watch the Flying Sikh's spirit enter the body of the super awesome Farhan Akhtar, and a pair of ears to hear the living legend's story. Long after Rang De Basanti has Mr. Rakeysh OP Mehra come back to make a film again, his way. In a way that this country of ours needs to see movies. And in a way that our countrymen want the movies they see to be like. Simply watching Farhan in this movie makes you want to get up and start chasing your goal. It also restores your belief in the fact that hard work will always be ahead of destiny. And, it also unveils the secret that many of us did not know - the fact that it was our neighbor country who nicknamed Mr. Milkha Singh as "The Flying Sikh". Spectacular!
11. Bucket List
12. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (!! Yeah I saw that NOW finally !! Like the many others in the list!)
13. All the remaining ones. :)
Despicable Me, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda are deal makers. They are winners all the way because of their best of the best packaging - story, voiceovers, animation, content, entertainment, everything. I wish there are a lot more sequels to all of these.
In Body of Lies, Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe deliver exactly all of that for which you want to pay to watch them; at times, even more with their versatility and accent, and eyes respectively. Golshifteh Farahani is a rare find, just like the handsome and brimming-with-attitude character of Mark Strong as Hani. This movie by Ridley Scott promises an overplus of all those elements that make movie watching the real fun it is, and the performances take it a notch above the conventional espionage thriller.
Under Eight is a movie I started to see only because of Paul Walker. But very very soon, the sled dogs stole the show. It is a very emotionally gripping tale of love, friendship, hope, loyalty, survival, never giving up and the power of will power - all of this between man and the dogs. Given the subject and man's strongest, most lovable friendship with dogs, movies of this underlying sentiment have more often than not fared well. But this one particularly stands out because of the Antarctic backdrop and the fact that there isn't just one or two, but Eight sled dogs in the movie. Superb story and spectacular performances from Paul as well as the awesome eight.
Just one thing to say about To Kill a Mocking Bird - this movie did justice to the book. Totally. And THAT is all we need for reviews when it comes to movies that are adapted from novels. The book by Harper Lee is an all time favorite, ever since I first read it a couple of years ago. I liked it so much that I wrote a book review for it then for this blog, which you can read here. I knew that there was a movie for this book too, but in most cases, the real essence of the book is lost in the movie, sometimes to the extent of it being brutally murdered. And since 9 times out of 10, I have not been content with the way novels are adapted into movies, I was skeptical while watching this one too. And I am so glad that this movie in black and white proved me wrong.
John Wick is a synonym of focus and an antonym of waste - both the movie and the laconic kickass title role as portrayed by the super dashing Keanu Reaves. It is an action extravaganza and keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first minute to last. Neither a minute nor a bullet wasted. Underscoring all the remorseless killing and vengeance-seeking is love lost, and the solitary moral - you don't mess with the Boss or you have to pay. And if a person like me who averts action and dhishoom-dhishoom as if instinctively can come up with a review like this, you know this movie will not disappoint you. Total Paisa-Vasool!
Bajirao Mastani - Mr. Bhansali's Magnum Opus, the epic historical romance and the most awaited movie since years. Stellar performances by Ranveer and Deepika in the lead roles of Bajirao and Mastani, and Priyanka is as subtle and subdued as was expected of her in the role of Kashibai. Tanvi Azmi and Milind Soman can brighten and lighten up any frame with their poise, gait and delivery. Another amazing adaptation of a book, one for which I think I am better off not reading it. A must watch. And A Big Salute to Mr. Bhansali. Please keep making your movies.
21 and Bucket List are two different genres, two totally different stories and therefore two diverse movie watching experiences. 21 is the story of how a Maths Professor played by Kevin Stacey trains five brilliant MIT students and used their skills to make millions playing BlackJack in Vegas, and how all this affects the life and times of one of the students who had totally different aspirations from life. A total roller coaster. Bucket List is about two terminally ill men, one loaded and the other not so, who decide to make a list of all those things they want to do before they die, and then do it. The ideas isn't particularly novel, but the superstars Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson make it a ride to remember. And inspire you to make your own bucket lists.
Bhaag Milka Bhaag doesn't need words. All it needs is a pair of eyes to watch the Flying Sikh's spirit enter the body of the super awesome Farhan Akhtar, and a pair of ears to hear the living legend's story. Long after Rang De Basanti has Mr. Rakeysh OP Mehra come back to make a film again, his way. In a way that this country of ours needs to see movies. And in a way that our countrymen want the movies they see to be like. Simply watching Farhan in this movie makes you want to get up and start chasing your goal. It also restores your belief in the fact that hard work will always be ahead of destiny. And, it also unveils the secret that many of us did not know - the fact that it was our neighbor country who nicknamed Mr. Milkha Singh as "The Flying Sikh". Spectacular!
So this brings us to the winner for the MeghnaSays... Movie of the Year Award.
Ladies and Gentlemen, with a thundering applause, please welcome, the 18 award winner, the Awesome
"ARGO"
Starring the devastatingly handsome Ben Affleck as an exfiltration specialist and based on the Iranian Revolution of 1979, Argo chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue 6 Americans taking refuge in the home of a Canadian Ambassador in Tehran. As you watch the movie, you go, "Wow, never even imagined this story for a movie" and "what a novel and incredible screenplay, this writer is really high on imagination". And then the movie ends. And there is the note: "Based on True Events". Bam! Your. Mind. Is. Blown.
And then you realize that you were watching a movie directed by Ben Affleck. So there has to be something superbly special about it. Unapologetically special.
And then, frame after frame, all the the characters in real life are shown along with their movie counterparts and the real story which inspired the movie is in a way retold. And again, Your. Mind. IS. Blown. Such stark similarity. Characters, situation, location, emotion - everything perfect to the T.
No wonder this is this movies Nineteenth Award...!!!
And then you realize that you were watching a movie directed by Ben Affleck. So there has to be something superbly special about it. Unapologetically special.
And then, frame after frame, all the the characters in real life are shown along with their movie counterparts and the real story which inspired the movie is in a way retold. And again, Your. Mind. IS. Blown. Such stark similarity. Characters, situation, location, emotion - everything perfect to the T.
No wonder this is this movies Nineteenth Award...!!!
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