Movie Review: Dallas Buyers Club

Matthew McConaughey is having a dream run of late – his career revival has been so impressive that it has taken a lot of movie pundits by surprise. Movies like “The Lincoln Lawyer”, “Mud” and his one amazing scene in “The Wolf of Wall Street”, and TV show “True Detective” have showcased his immense talent. And now, he is given Leonardo Di Caprio a run for his money for the best actor Oscar, with a performance where he literally transforms himself. With Dallas Buyers Club, McConaughey has got a role deserving of an actor of his calibre.

McConaughey stars as Ron Woodroof, an AIDS patient who smuggled unapproved pharmaceutical drugs into Texas when he found them effective at improving his symptoms, distributing them to fellow sufferers by establishing the eponymous "Dallas Buyers Club" while facing opposition from the Food and Drug Administration. He strikes an unlikely alliance with transvestite Rayon (Jared Leto, in what should be an Oscar winning performance), and gets support from the understanding Dr. Eve Saks (Jennifer Garner). The movie shows the transformation of Woodroof from an unlikeable, ignorant, homophobic redneck to an unlikely crusader for those affected by HIV.

Dallas Buyers Club runs like most biopics do, focusing on the transformation of its protagonist in the face of adversary. The movie benefits from a really emotional and inspirational story, which is well adapted to the screen. The narrative could have easily slipped into a melodramatic mess, but assured screenplay and direction ensure that the scenes are beautifully understated. There are some endearing moments, mostly between Woodroof and Rayon. One scene that comes to mind is where Woodroof asks a friend of his to shake hands with Rayon at a supermarket. It’s just perfect.

The movie can be a slog and an uncomfortable watch at moments, since the pace slackens every now and then. With a very serious theme, Dallas Buyers Club is not necessarily an enjoyable movie. It’s definitely not for the casual viewer, and many viewers would be turned off by the heavy subject matter. But it is an important movie, and sheds a light at the flawed system and the corruption and bureaucratic issues in an important agency like the FDA. And though it can be depressing, there is no doubt that it is a very inspirational and eventually, a heart-warming movie.

The movie, however, succeeds mostly because of the performances. Jennifer Garner is the perfect fit for the sympathetic Dr. Eve Saks, and provides a good foil for the leads. The other supporting actors also perform their parts well. But the two performances that really form the backbone of the movie are from Jared Leto and, of course, Matthew McConaughey. Both have shed the pounds, and yet carry the entire movie on their lean shoulders. Jared Leto will almost certainly win the Oscar for best supporting actor. It’s not the easiest role, and Leto balances the comic relief and the emotional, gut wrenching moments with considerable ease. It’s a memorable performance, and one that is truly deserving of all the praise that it is getting. As for McConaughey, well, let’s just say that it’s a landmark performance. He plays the role with brutal honesty, and the vulnerability of the character, and his shift in character doesn’t feel forced or contrived in any way. It’s a difficult role, and McConaughey just runs with it. I hope to see more from him soon.

To sum up, the movie is undoubtedly good, though it may not be for everyone. However, there is no doubting that this movie is a showcase of some amazing acting. And for that alone, I think it is worth a watch.

P.S.: The Oscar for Best Actor this year may be one of the most closest. I, for one, can’t really pick between the two actors who have essayed real life characters. While “The Wolf of Wall Street” is more unconventional, “Dallas Buyers Club” is the kind of movie that the Oscars jury usually tend to love. In a tight race where there’s not much to choose from between Di Caprio and McConaughey, could this be the difference? Your guess is as good as mine. Until tomorrow.

Movie Review: “The Lego Movie”

For anyone who doesn’t know what Legos are, they are a popular line of construction toys consisting on plastic building blocks and mini-figures. They have been a major part of many a happy childhood; and I assume have inspired more than a few architects. Now that we have the general knowledge stuff out of the way, it’s surprising that it took so long for the Lego franchise to come out with a movie. The question is, now that they have, does it work? Well, let’s just say that directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller ensure that all the blocks are in place in this structure.

Emmet (Chris Patt) is an ordinary Lego mini-figure, who is content following the rules and living a straightforward life. His normal existence is turned upside down when he accidentally recovers the hidden “Piece of Resistance”, the only thing that can stop the evil President Business (Will Ferrell) and his henchman Bad Cop (Liam Neeson) from unleashing the devastating weapon “Kragle” on the Lego world. Instantly considered as the “special” (read ‘chosen one’) as per the prophecy stated by blind wizard Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), Emmet must now join forces with Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), Batman (Will Arnett), Vitruvius and a slew of other master builders to ensure that President Business cannot carry out his evil plan.

“The Lego Movie” works on all levels –the animation, which uses CGI and has a stop-motion feel; is top notch and works well with the 3D to give the feel of a real Lego set environment. The plot, though predictable and really pushing its central message of ‘everyone is special’ and ‘let your imagination and instinct guide you’ onto the audience at every available opportunity, is quite heartfelt and sincere. Some may feel that it is more suitable for younger audiences as compared to other animation movies with more serious scripts, but I think all age groups would just enjoy letting their inner child out on this one.

The real plus here is the writing of the scenes and the dialogues – the movie will keep audiences laughing continuously as the jokes come one after the other with almost no let up. Even though most jokes are referencing popular movies and pop culture, and someone unfamiliar with these may not be able to appreciate some of the more ‘inside jokes’, there are just so many gags that every scene is enjoyable. Where else would you find Gandalf, Dumbledore, Michelangelo (the painter), Michelangelo (the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle), Shakespeare, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Green Lantern and Abraham Lincoln all in the same sequence?

The movie boasts of an incredible voice cast, including the likes of Morgan Freeman, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Cobie Smulders, Dave Franco and Charlie Day (whew). As can be expected, not all of them get the same screen time, and most of the best lines are reserved for the major players. But everyone plays their part, in what is an epic ensemble cast. The lines are delivered so well and so seamlessly, the dialogues, characters and the script gel well to give us one of the best animated movies in recent memory.

I think “The Lego Movie” is a fun time, where audiences should just forget their worries and have a good time. Even if you haven’t played with a Lego set all your life, chances are that, after watching this movie, you may rush to your nearest toy store to get a set to relive your childhood and set your imagination free.

“The Wolf of Wall Street” Movie Review

After watching “The Wolf of Wall Street”, the first thing that came to mind is – “Martin Scorcese is 72 years old, and he’s still got it!” Not that there was any doubt. He is one of those directors whose name assures that it’s going to be a fun time at the movies. And “The Wolf of Wall Street” is just so much fun.

“The Wolf of Wall Street” chronicles the meteoric rise of Jordan Belfort and his firm Stratton Oakmont, and his subsequent fall from grace. And, all the debauchery and craziness along the way. Jordan Belfort (Leonardo Di Caprio) starts off as a broker in New York, and after being laid off after the Black Monday of 1987; uses his wits and a motley crew including Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill) to start his own firm. By dumping penny stocks onto unsuspecting investors, he earns a fortune and gets dubbed ‘The Wolf’. It’s not long before he catches the eye of the FBI, and is pursued by the relentless Agent Denham (Kyle Chandler). Throw in between all the drugs, his relation with his mercurial second wife Naomi (Margot Robbie), his ‘angry at the drop of a hat’ father “Mad” Max (Rob Reiner) and a slew of other equally quirky characters and sequences into the mix, and you get a heady concoction that can best be described as a guilty pleasure like no other.

Scorcese’s stamp of class is all over this movie, and this is arguably the movie’s greatest strength. There is a manic energy about the proceedings, and Scorcese pulls out all the stops to show the excessive and indulgent lifestyles led by Jordan and his cohorts. Some scenes would just shock your socks off (despite the movie being censored in India) with the sheer audacity of the makers – there seems to be an extra effort to highlight the insensitivity of the characters to dwarfs, homosexuals and almost anyone other than themselves. There are some laugh out (really loud) moments – I was rolling over laughing in pretty much all of the scenes – but particular mention to the scene where Donny has a confrontation at a parking lot with Brad; and the entire sequence which I can only call the “Popeye” scene (you can’t miss it). Not to mention the scene where Belfort tries to take his ship to Monaco in rough waters… Or anytime Belfort takes the mike to motivate his employees. Safe to say, there are enough moments to keep audiences riveted.

However, all the fun and games dilutes the seriousness of the issue of securities fraud, to a point that some people would feel that the movie actually promotes the lifestyle the protagonists lead. The fall from grace feels like an afterthought, and honestly, hampers the pace as it’s not nearly as fun. I also felt that it would have added something if the script had included more details on the different ways how Belfort actually made his money, rather than just focus on how he blew it (pun intended). It looks like the makers felt it would slow down proceedings and confuse viewers, though I would have to disagree. But these are minor glitches in the fun rollercoaster ride.

The movie benefits from the unbridled performances from its two main players – Leonardo Di Caprio and Jonah Hill. Di Caprio, in his fifth collaboration with Scorcese, pulls off a magic act, portraying Belfort as an off-the-rocker, eccentric player, and gets viewers to invest in Belfort despite all his flaws. This performance could finally get Di Caprio the Oscar that has eluded him so far – it’s definitely a deserving performance. He shares excellent chemistry with Jonah Hill, who is in fine form as the even crazier Azoff. The supporting cast is also really good and adds to the movie. And I just have to mention Matthew McConaughey who leaves a lasting impression with literally one brilliant scene (pretty much the only scene he is in). You have to see it to believe it.

My final verdict is simple – “The Wolf of Wall Street” may not be for everyone as it pushes virtually every envelope there is, but very few can deny that it is a lot of fun. And for me, that warrants a trip to the movies. 

“Gravity” Movie Review

I know, I know – the movie released ages ago. So why am I giving my review now? Well, for one thing, the movie is still running in theatres. But, more importantly, it’s a movie that redefines the movie going experience. It very successfully does what few movies do nowadays – leave you in awe. I recently saw the movie for a second time, and I was as moved as I was the first time. And now that I am back to writing reviews, I just had to write this one.

Starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, and directed by the brilliant Alfonso Cuaron (it will be a disappointment if he doesn’t win the Best Director Oscar for this one), “Gravity” is essentially a ship-wreck survival story set in space. Medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) and veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney) are part of the shuttle Explorer’s STS-157 mission. During a spacewalk to service the Hubble Station telescope, Mission Control in Houston warns the team about a Russian missile strike on an inoperative satellite, which has caused a chain reaction forming a cloud of space debris. High speed debris strikes the Explorer, killing all the team-members except Stone and Kowalski, who are stranded in space. The movie is about their attempt to get back to earth.

The movie works on every level – it is a tense thriller, and at the same time a story about the triumph of human will against seemingly insurmountable odds. And a big reason it works is the acting. It’s not an understatement that the acting rests squarely on the able shoulders of Sandra Bullock and George Clooney (they are, after all, the only actors in the movie – ignoring the voice actors). Clooney hits all the notes playing the wise-cracking Kowalski – he oozes charm and wit, but still conveys the experience of a veteran, and the concern and caring for Dr. Stone. As for Sandra Bullock, she gives a great, nuanced performance as Dr. Ryan Stone – from the nervousness of the character, to the sheer panic, to the despair, to the resolve to survive – the journey of the character has been portrayed beautifully.

Of course, I have to devote some words for the special effects, which are in a league of their own. This film makes the best use of 3D I have ever seen – hands down. The scenes where the debris is hurtling towards the screen would have most audiences ducking. If a movie had technology specifically made for it, you can imagine it would be worth something. A lot of the stuff on screen would have been very difficult to pull off, and it definitely pays off. The movie is visually stunning, and the vastness of space contrasted with the claustrophobic feeling of being in cramped spaces gives so much more depth to the scenes. For me, the experience I had was almost as if I was also floating in space.

At the end of the day, this movie is all about the director. Cuaron delivers another believable science fiction movie (if you haven’t seen “Children of Men”, I would highly recommend it) with a taut screenplay, and great attention to detail – I read that the science is pretty accurate (though I wouldn’t know, and it really doesn’t matter for a regular movie-goer). And of course there’s his love for long continuous scenes - just pay attention to the first scene, it’s 13 minutes long! There are a lot of beautiful shots, and despite all its technical brilliance, there is no compromise in the story or the characters. And the one thing that shines through is Alfonso Cuaron’s assured touch which makes, what could have been a really simple and ordinary movie, an extraordinary piece of work.

If you still haven’t seen Gravity, change that immediately. If you have seen Gravity, but not in 3D – change that immediately. This movie is a cinematic landmark, one that will stay on in your minds long after you have left the theatre.

P.S.: Once you see the movie, you may want to check out the short "Aningaaq".

“American Hustle” Review

With an incredible star cast, with the likes of Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence (oh, Jennifer Lawrence), and directed by David O. Russell, it can’t be bad. It emerged a big winner at the Golden Globes, and it has picked up 10 Oscar nominations, of which it will undoubtedly win atleast a few. So it can’t be bad, right? Well, let’s see.

Con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his partner in crime Sydney Prosser (a stunning Amy Adams) are forced to work for off-the-handle FBI agent Richie Di Maso (Bradley Cooper) to save themselves. What starts as being a plan to arrest four other cons quickly turns into a sting to get corrupt Congress officials and mob bosses when popular and straight as an arrow mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) gets involved, and Di Maso keeps pushing the envelope against Rosenfeld’s instincts to keep it low-key. To make matters worse is Rosenfeld’s unpredictable wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence, in what I am pretty sure will be her second Oscar winning role).

Needless to say, “American Hustle” isn’t bad. In fact, it’s great. But I have to say, at the end of the movie, I couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed. Sure, the acting is top class, the direction has David O. Russell’s assured stamp, and the story (based on the FBI ABSCAM operation in the late 1970s and 80s) is definitely ripe for a great con movie, but somehow the movie is missing something. I think it could have used some of the manic energy that made “The Wolf of Wall Street” so enjoyable.

The movie has some really enjoyable moments. I particularly enjoyed the running joke where Di Maso’s superior is trying to tell him what happened to his brother on an ice-fishing trip. Some smart dialogues and great chemistry between the cast also elevate a lot of scenes, most of which I won’t elaborate on to avoid spoilers. The 70s vibe is created well - the costumes and hairstyles in particular (Bradley Cooper in curls, for crying out loud). The soundtrack is also great.

I could go on forever on the cast, but it should be no surprise that all of them are great. Christian Bale, whose body transformations are now a trademark, carries off the harassed Rosenfeld with ease, though it’s a little hard to digest him as being from the Bronx. Bradley Cooper gives Di Maso the necessary ‘loose cannon” eccentricity, and turns in a memorable performance – probably his best. Jeremy Renner is good as the quintessential nice guy. Louis C.K., as Di Maso’s superior, was a really pleasant surprise for me. But it’s the ladies who really shine here – Amy Adams as the seductive Sydney Prosser hits all the right notes, and shares cracking chemistry with both men. And Jennifer Lawrence is just oh-so-awesome!! I would never have imagined her in a role like Rosalyn’s, but she pulls it off brilliantly (Needless to say, I am extremely partial to Jennifer Lawrence, but with good reason).

At the end of the day, it really is David O. Russell’s show. It’s easy to see that there is a lot of improvisation here, and everyone is having a great time. He uses his ensemble cast and creates a good movie – definitely something playing to the awards jury. The dilemma of the characters and the unpredictability in their situations is shown well - it's a good character driver caper, and that's where the fun comes from. But I felt that the kind of tension one would associate with a con-movie, the feeling of excitement the audience should feel as the stakes keep getting higher, was missing for me. Which is a shame, and possibly the only flaw in the movie.

That being said, don’t miss this movie for anything. The cast alone is reason to book tickets for the next show. And with so much going right in the 138 minutes, it's definitely a must see.