Buried

Buried is  a thriller where the movie credits need only show 'Ryan Reynalds" for playing the only character who appears on camera (Oh no! There was a snake and one other human on his mobile video stream). The movie is set in a coffin and because I knew this, I avoided watching it for as long as I could. But, when I decided to watch it, I was surprised. I don't know what I expected in the first place. But, I didn't think that an event in a box would turn out to be thrilling and I also did not expect that the whole movie would be shot in the box! I don't want to reveal too much about the movie or its ending, but as IMDb or Yahoo Movies will tell you, the story is about a contract worker who gets kidnapped by Iraqis and is held hostage in a coffin. He has a pen, lighter, a tiny flask with some liquid and a mobile phone with enough minutes to make international calls. The latter was added "kindly" into his coffin by his captors. 

Ryan Reynalds is a good actor and he's the only reason why you'd consider watching the movie to begin with. But, after that, the movie takes over and you are at the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. I'm surprised how this character was in the coffin for as long as he was, without panicking and choking in his own fear. So, the movie shows you what adrenalin can do if it kick over but then, destiny will play its part too. So, please do watch and tell me what you think. 

Morning Glory

Morning Glory is a comedy about how a young, newly hired, executive producer revitalizes a channel's morning show and its crew. The show is dying and soon to be extinct. The staff is unmotivated. And then like a breath of fresh air, in comes this young, hard-working, smart woman with new ideas. So, that's what the movie is about. There's Harrison Ford who plays the part of a brilliant, bitter old man, very well. There's Diane Keaton who plays his co-anchor. Still, they are both underutilized and the characters don't seem good enough for these legendary actors. Rachel McAdams is cute. The characters learn two things. 

"Don't work too hard and let your life go by". 

"Don't hang on to your past glory. Change with the times". 

I would recommend that you watch this movie just once if you don't have anything else to watch or do.

Tanu Weds Manu

Based on the movie's trailer and soundtracks, I thought this one would crackle with wit and amusement. I like Madhavan (a.k.a Maddy) and the beautiful Kangana and was therefore, inspired to watch the movie. However, for the most part, Madhavan appeared un-spirited and ordinary. Well, his character is an NRI doctor who leads a tedious, unromantic life making pacemakers in London. Instead of transforming into the night in shining armor after meeting the love his life, he continues to shine less brightly than even before. Kangana's character is a rebel. And why she is so, I couldn't figure out. She defies her parents in everyway she can. She consumes alcohol, puffs cigarettes and parades with one man every week (where do you find so many desirable men, anyway?) just to spite her parents who seemed quite sweet to me. Anyway, the director/writer didn't bother to elaborate on her rebellious nature. 

I just felt sorry for Maddy because he's a charming actor with a charming smile. And I hate to see that wasted on a dull character. There was just one line that I liked from the movie. Kangana's character (Tanu) tells her friend that Manu was the only one who didn't try to "customize" her. I thought that was a nice way to explain what we do in relationships. Tweeking, customizing, training our partners to be whatever it is that suited us. 

The dullest moment in the movie was the climax scene with Tanu's boyfriend (Jimmy Shergil) darkly pointing a pistol at Maddy, while Maddy stands dull, fearless (apparently) and Kangana tearfully standing by Maddy. All that rebellion disappeared once she fell in love with the unlikely candidate. Imagine this scene with them and a crowd of supporters for each side. The angry mob should have actually pounded at each other without even knowing the reason for the riot. Instead, they stand in pin-drop silence and listen to a monologue from Jimmy. Jimmy continues to point his gun at Maddy and only hints at bloodshed. Why does Maddy stand still? Because, he says, "this feels right". Remember, if you're right, someone else is wrong and then things could go very bad. So, you either fight or flee. But, adrenaline was one thing not flowing through this NRI man or this movie. I think you can skip this one. If you liked this movie and you're a bit surprised by my review, please pardon. I just expected more from this cast and the movie.

Last Night

On a night when I couldn't get any sleep, when my mind juggled thoughts of this and that, I watched this movie. As the movie cover illustrates, it is a drama about what happens between two couples, one evening. Will they, wont they?

Michael and Joanna are a married couple of three years and one evening, they have a tiff over Michael's very attractive work-mate, Laura (Eva Mendez). The next day, Michael leaves on a business trip with Laura, where they spend time together. Joanna meets her ex-boyfriend, Alex and spends the evening with him. Will they, wont they? That's the question you'll be asking yourself and then, what's next? Alex's friend advises him not to ruin a virgin relationship with a friend by sleeping with his ex-girlfriend, who is married and has a "life" with her husband. Because, what's next? All relationships culminate in a stalemate or a state of equilibrium, anyway.

Anyway, you can watch this one, if you like this topic. I, for one, spent an hour without tossing and turning in bed.

The King's Speech

Wow, what a movie and what an actor Colin Firth is!

I thought the movie would be too serious for frivolous movie watching. But, I was taken by suprise by the movie's novel storyline. Colin Firth won the Oscar, this year and so did the movie and boy! was it well deserved or what?

Without elaborating too much, the movie is about a Prince of Britain who, has a speech disorder and in-spite of it, must master public speaking, his insecurities, to shoulder royal responsibilities and eventually, become its king.

Don't make the mistake of avoiding this movie on the grounds that its too serious for your taste. Just turn it on.

Beautiful Girls

This drama released in 1996 and is a story about five 30-something friends (men) who come together for the high school reunion. Actually, one of them comes back to visit his quiet home town, where the rest of his friends live less glorious lives than they imagined for themselves. All except one short fellow, are at crossroads in their respective romantic relationships and by the end of the movie, come to terms with relationships, commitment and women. Hence, the title,'beautiful girls'. Don't watch this movie expecting an array of beautiful women seducing the male characters and yourself. 

There's Natalie Portman playing the role of an insightful and bright 13-year old who develops a crush on her new neighbor. Uma Thurman plays the role of a woman who is visiting a cousin, ruminating about her own love life while making the men think for themselves too. Even if Rosie O'Donnell plays a very small part in the movie, she makes her mark. I enjoyed her advise to the men on the pointlessness of fantasizing about "perfect" women because even perfection isn't lasting. But, isn't that what we all want! Women included.

Go ahead and watch the movie once if you can.

Knocked Up

I'm a fan of Katherine Heigl and so, I watched this 2007 movie based on a friend's recommendation. The movie is a romantic comedy. I am cringing when I use the word 'romantic' because there is nothing romantic about the lead actor. His character is a plump, unemployed who lives with similar such friends and knocks up Katherine Heigl. :( I feel awful for judging such a person this way. Sorry! I love fairy tales which are based on perfection.

I just couldn't identify with Katherine's character who, in-spite of being hot, gets knocked up by this plump guy she meets at a bar. She decides to have the baby and raise the child with the same guy. I mean, she wanted to try to get to know him and have a relationship! She doesn't know or like him the morning after the mishap. Yet, she makes this life altering decision involving this unknown person. Ok, that's the movie. I don't need to freak out.

However, the movie had a few funny scenes with unemployed friends and their money-making website, "Flesh of the Stars". There's even Paul Rudd playing Katherine's brother-in-law and his comic responses to his marriage and foul-mouthed wife. There's this scene where Paul (in a drunken state) displays five different chairs at a Vegas hotel room and goes through varying emotions while he sits in each one of them and talks about his marriage. Ha, ha!
I'd give this movie a 3/5 because you can watch it for some comedy and while away your time. It's not my usual handsome-boy-meets-girl flick but I should be ready for something different, right?