The Social Network - Movie Review

I have to be honest... The first look of 'THE SOCIAL NETWORK' didn't excite me. I saw the trailer and the curly hair, chocolate face of Jesse Eisenberg, and Justin Timerlake (all of him, actually) put me off. Of course, I had no clue it was directed by David Fincher.


All of 2010, I was waiting for Christopher Nolan's 'INCEPTION'. It got released, I saw and Nolan conquered. At this year's various international awards, I saw that curly haired guy, smiling and clapping (winner's smile and claps).. and then on the same table I spotted David Fincher.. and I felt like a fool. 


Direction, Film, Music category, this movie was... sweeping awards.. and had to, since it is a Fincher film. In technical categories for Art Direction, and other technical fronts, 'Inception' was winning. 


So, horrified, I decided to watch 'The Social Network'.


I am a big fan of Fincher. His FIGHTCLUB is my all-time favourite. So it is no surprise that since the first shot of 'The Social Network', I was hooked. What a tirade of conversation between Erica Albright and Mark Zuckerberg! It was a sarcastic rendition on the conversation of women, in general, that forces them to involve some intellectual subject matter. And how they struggle to do so.


On the same note, I thought the entire movie revolved around how women had to match up to Zuckerberg's wavelengths: he throws a beer bottle at his business associate, Sean Parker, and for the latter's girlfriend as well, and she misses to catch it - twice. If I hadn't read about Zuckerberg and his GF before, I'd have thought that he hates women. 


The treatment of women in this film is something you can't ignore. You see under-age interns "working" at FB's offices and having more usefulness in the rave parties later on. Fincher directed Helena Bonham Carter in all her character's audacity in 'FightClub', and god, what a woman! What a portrayal! And now, this. But it seems as a tribute to womanhood, in general, considering that Sean Parker and Mark Zuckerberg moved mountains because they were ditched by women - sensible women.


The editing is to die for, in the movie. The movie begins, when the movie begins. And after that, there is no moment to loose. It moves fast, just like the brain of the protagonist. This film races for your heartbeat. The story-telling is also top-notch, the case/ trial/ negotiation advances with ease, letting the flashback fill the details of the present. Very Memento-esque.


Eisenberg surprises with his dialogue delivery and certain nuances, scenes that are based on his silence and expression. Timberlake, ah... well... no comments.
Andrew Garfield is a delight, relatively speaking. Armie Hammer's portrayal of "Gentlemen of Harvard" is beautiful.


The background score is racy, prefectly complimenting the pace of Zuckerberg's brain and Fincher's direction. Trent Razor and Atticus Ross may be Golden Globe winners, slated for their first Oscar win, but I still feel Hans Zimmer's score for 'Inception' was mind blowing.


Also ended up watching the mock version of the film on ZStudio, where the opponent's lawyer undresses and sits on the table, asking Zuckerberg, "Do I have your attention now?" lol


All in all, an awesome film. One of Hollywood's best, Fincher's best and 2010's best.

Powai Lake Pictures

For more, click here

Open Letter to Katrina Kaif/ No One Killed Jessica -movie review

Went and watched 'No One Killed Jessica' tonight.

Given the awesome star-cast of most talented women in our industry - something that is a rarity - Rani Mukerji and Vidya Balan, I knew I had to see it. But then the entire thing just got expedited because I heard the opening production of the song, "Aali Re" last evening. My dad, otherwise conservative, loved the song too. I liked the music rendition.... lyrics, well... am still trying to decipher its meaning even as I write this post.


By the way, the movie has some scintillating, electrifying background score. Wish I could download the background score to some scenes as well. Check out the electric guitar in the scene before the interval where the cop is interrogating Manish Bhardwaj. The chords tell a story of their own, give music to the sound of tension...


Technically, the movie had its slow moments, but all in all these kind of films make me hopeful ... that Bollywood has some directors who believe in something... And this is a rare phenomenon: me, being hopeful about Bollywood.


Rani Mukerji looks what I term as "hot" :D Well... hotness is what hotness does, right? ;) Hated her in Something Something Happens, where I thought she was just another bimbo with thunder thighs, playing second fiddle to the Nefertiti of Bollywood, Kajol. But over the years, Rani has come on her own... playing every character with sincerity. So for the past 5-6 years, she's been showing her true grit and style with the portrayal of various characters... she's intense and sinfully sincere.


Vidya Balan, ah.. well... classic beauty... she deserves to be in a painting. Graceful. Elegant. Classy.... and in these various dimensions, any sensible man - or woman - can find her charm and sexuality. 


Speaking of sexuality... I just wanted to tell Katrina Kaif that there's more to sexuality than sex... or skin-show... it's called character... I mean gyrating to Sheila and her jawani can ensure that men masturbate about eight times in a day... but then that's just that... 4 mins and the sloth is out of the system... till the time it pricks you again... ... and ... not too worthwhile so to speak... Cute little Japanese girls and Brazilian women could do it.. and a finer job than Kaif. 


Don't get me wrong, Katrina... you're cute... and beautiful, too... sometimes... vulnerability fools certain men into believing you're sexy. I agree too. But then, do have some self respect for yourself. Instead of losing 10 kilos weight for slimy  skin show, better take off for 10 months and take a course in acting, sweetheart. Perhaps you're forgetting... this is Bollywood, not a showcase for wanna-be models... or porn industry... acting is a major requirement... I know, you're confused... but you're taking a wrong lead... Aishwarya Rai isn't a good actress. Beautiful women like Deepika Padukone still have to learn something known as dialogue delivery. I mean, I find these women and you, very beautiful. But hey, being a woman means more than just boobs and hips... we are more than that, right?


An artist is not just a painter, barefoot and pondering over a canvas.. You've gotto go beyond the gifts of being a woman - hips and boobs - give the world something more than that... 


And I know you must have had to resort to such things like shaking the booty just to secure an entry in B'wood... just to grab eye balls (and worse things when the camera wasn't even rolling) but right now, you've got everyone's attention... so, it's time to act. In your resume, Raajneeti seems like a fluke. Take Hindi lessons, and most importantly, acting lessons. Please.


And you've also seen first hand Tees Maar Khan's bad strategy: plotting an entire movie around your waist.


I know it must have been a terrible disappointment. I honestly thought your waist would have been able to take the burden off the script and turn it into a big hit. I also thought Indian men would have seen your film, anyway, turning it into a smash hit. Just like, Singh is King. But you see, some men would be sensible, after all. And moreover, in times of inflation, no one would really want to spend Rs. 150 or more on sleazy show of skin... porn is much cost-effective, don't you think?


Gone are the days when people thought a movie with a message would be a dud at the coveted Box Office. Rang De Basanti, Taare Zameen Par (but what was the Cerebral Khan thinking when he made Ghajini!!! Nevermind!), Do Dooni Char, No One Killed Jessica and the like, have proven that the Indian audience, unfortunately, is a thinking one. And that Tees Maar Khan and Housefulls are a national assault of  the spirit of intelligence - and even its pretense. 


You need to excuse ROBOT, though... I mean... that was out of the world. I'll always watch it to forget all my worries... keep laughing till I cry. Very few movies can do that. 


Coming back to Balan and Mukerji... you're.... two beautiful women, genuine artists, and fantastic, sexy women. Kaif depressed me all of December.  


Balan and Mukerji, thank you for uplifting me from the clutches of Sheila and Munni. 


And Raj Kumar Gupta, I loved your AAMIR... and this one... is a ... delight. So thank you, for a great cinematic experience.

To Love/ Affirmation

This is my first post for 2011. And I am happy to dedicate it to the people I deeply care about: my closest darling, the whirlwind of a woman and the comfort of a deep, twinkling light, Jasmine; my best friend with whom I have the comfort of fighting and smiling, soon after :D, DC; the quiet yet intense friend, and my reminder of the best of my life and my own self, Deepak Nagar; and the cutest couple in town, my geeky nerdy  (raised to the power of n, where n = infinity) friend, Atul and his Prajakta.


And most importantly, here's a toast to my beautiful cousin (not related by birth, though) Meghna and her fiance to be, Subodh; Utpal, Nirzari and their kiddo, Dev.


Utpal is an old, old friend, and like old wine, our friendship, too seems to age better. I was happy to meet Nirzari, his ever smiling, and strikingly beautiful wife. I had a great time shopping with her for earrings at Colaba. I cherish such moments of girl-bonding. It's better than a date, anyday. And with the arrival of Dev, they make a perfect family. Touchwood.


This world can seem like a dark, forsaken place, more often than not: mistakes are committed, fallacies of people and even beloved ones not forgotten and worse, not forgiven. It takes little to dampen the human spirit. Very few people can look back at themselves and smile. Smile at their own mistakes, acknowledge the hurt they have caused others, and their own self. Some people said the hardest thing was to forgive one's own self. 


And of course, there's the curse of The Human Condition.


In times like these, I am happy to be overjoyed with the beautiful, and by far the most important achievement of my near and dear ones. They make this beautiful world, a little more beautiful place.... they add a little extra sparkle to sunshine, re-affirming all our hearts with the mystery of our fates, destinies, gods or Powers That Be... and that we are safe placing our trust in their plans, and most importantly, in our own selves.


This is a time of joy, and of love. Of our own very personal brand of Sunshine.


And this is also the time where I try not to use too many "and"s.


Dedicated also to my oldest friend, Manish Rajani, who gives nostalgia a whole new world of meaning and pain; Rahul Valia, a person who can make a sad day seem the funniest of my life, and Juice a.k.a. Jyotsna Pathak, a very beautiful woman, wonderful human being and my sparkling friend who deserves the best.