Movie : Red Chellis
Language : Malayalam
Date : 17th Feb, 2009
Review : Shaji Kailas has come up with good so called hero worship movies (Narasimham, The King) and taut thrillers (Tiger, Chintamani). Red Chilleis tries to be both of these jounres reaches no where in doing so.
Usually you say while reviewing a movie that 'script has some gaping holes'. But well in to second half, you understand that RC's script has so many holes that it looks like a completely torn cloth for that matter.
First half progresses with some suspense along with some dialogues and situations that are really 'funny' to say the least. Factor the ones below:
* OMR (Mohanlal) arrives at a massage parlor in Singapore to meet his killer. The blonde women massaging the villain gasps after seeing Mohanlal and says "Welcome back, My dear Brad Pitt".!! (edited after confirmation)
* The police reach some village in Tamil Nadu searching for the Red Chillies gang. There is an inhaler that was dropped by one of the girls during the run. I thought that the predictability of that inhaler being taken as trace would stop there. But Sorry, it goes one step ahead. The police finds a bubble gum on the ground nearby and he goes " Ee pattikaattil aara bubble gum thinnunne. It has to be Anna Bella from Red Chillies". !!!
*Red Chellis trying to escape after a hit and run. They reach their 'head mistress'. She says asking them to escape quickly - "Police Eastilekku pokumbol, Red Chillies Westilekku pokanam". !!!
I was laughing for a good portion of the first half because the silliness of the script, dialogues made me do that.
Mohanlal has nothing to do in the first half. He keeps making calls from Singapore. Roaming around in some expensive cars and walking around with Chinese body guards who fill up the screen in large numbers with black shades on.
Yet there is some amount of suspense in the first half to be frank.
The second half descends and all hell breaks loose. It turns in to a super human, super hero tale where OMR takes the lead and he does everything from there on. He is the advocate out to save the girls (aka LK in Chintamani). The police quartet who were chasing the case on a break neck speed in the first half, are no where to be seen.
OMR is presented as God. People worship him in their prayer rooms at home. He carries a blank visiting card. Is he Osho or is he something else? He is the unknown. The space. More and beyond. (Oh My God!!!!!!)
And if you thought that you have seen all the flashbacks from hero's past lives, you are wrong. OMR has one instore for you. Lal and Shaji return to some different Mana (Tharavadu) this time and show a troubled past for the hero. Betrayed father who was a ISRO scientist (Just that they show a microscope on screen when they mention a telescope!!!!! ).
Finally, there is a twist in the tale. But let me tell you. I completely lost interest in the movie by the time the twist arrived. ‘Who damn cares what happens to the movie’ was my thinking by the time the twist came.
There are so many questions left unanswered.1. Headmistress gets arrested in the first half by police. She is shown as free and in OMR's company when the second half starts.2. OMR asks the girls to be put behind bars at the court. What happens to them after that? They completely vanish from the scheme of things and are shown only in flashbacks.
The whole timing of sequence (7pm , 12:01) and Red Chillies shown on the road in Thilakan – Jagadish scene when night has fallen is all unrealistic.
There are so many more but one final one. How on earth does a nun become a radio jockey and roam around in designer wear.? Completely defies my sensibilities.
To wrap it up. There are freeze shots. Slick editing and all of that. But who cares.
The only saving grace is a good performance from Thilakan. Note worthy among girls are Renjini.
Finally, its sad. Sad to see a great actor wasted in such rubbish. Shaji is in awe of Lal's stardom and that makes him blind. Its really sad to see recent movies like RC and CG. I was saved from LIS, I guess.
The one +ve thing I thought is that I felt that Thandavam was worse than this. But is that a way to judge a movie? No, I guess.
A disappointed fan of the 3 Ms - Mammotty, Mohanlal and Malayalam Cinema.
Rating - 1/5 Verdict - Exhausting & Lackluster.
Movie : Luck By Chance.
Language : Hindi
Date : 02- Feb, 2009
Spolier alert : Some parts of the story have been used to review the movie.
Zoya - The Director
There is a dialog which Konkana's character tells to Frahaan's towards the end of the movie, Luck By Chance. Farhaan has made a lot of compromises in his life to get success but when he realises that he needs Konkana,he returns back to her and apologises and asks her company for the rest of the life. In 9/10 situations she would have embraced him with a hug and like any other quintessential bollywood movie, we would have seen a happy ending. But here is where Luck By Chance stands out. Konakana gives the most convincing dialogue of the movie in which she unearths the selfishness of Farhaan's.
That truly for me is the moment when Zoya left her eternal stamp in the movie. She could have been easily tempted to close the movie after Farhaan's dialog. It was a convincing apology and sincere. But she dared to give an umcompromising slap on the face of that irresistable temptation with Konkana's follow up.
A bold director and a bold step indeed!!
Movie
About the movie, Luck By Chance is no ordinary movie. It has greatness of a well crafted movie written all over it. Especially the dialogues and the direction. Both are of supreme quality. The screenplay could have been tighter. It has its own sweet pace which can be a taxing one for many.
The performances are supreme and the characterizations top notch. Music had nothing much to take home with you.
Performances
Farhaan just proves why he is the best bet for the 'next superstar with a substance' tag. He acts out a complex role with grey shades in a very convincing way. Watch him sparkle in the scene at the movie premiere, or the scene audition at Isha Sherwani's home, or the night scene when isha comes to his room, his conflict with his friend and his reaction when he sees Konakana at outdoor location as well as the last scene. Its all superb and top notch.
Farhaan's reaction at the movie hall when he sees the first audience reaction to his movie was the only place which was not suitably done. Though not cliched but it doesn't look appropriate.Konkana is superb in his role which pans the entire positiveness in the movie. She shines in a natural and convincing performance which is sure to fetch her laurels.
Of the rest, Rishi Kapoor as Romy Rolly is my favourite. He is remarkable in his scenes.Dimple is also great in her role. Juhi, Farhaan's drama actor friend,Isha Sherwani all are fine.
Stars galore
About the guest appearences. Hats off to Zoya for the finest handling of guest appearences in recent times. Of the lot I best liked SRK's as he has the right lines in which he makes Farhaan realise that he shouldn't forget his roots. Aamir is fine as well.Hrithik has an Ok role. Nothing great but just fine.
Negatives
Now to the -ves. Yes the movie has some. I felt that the movie is very strongly rooted in the hindi film industry.It has a message which says that 'You choose the Success you get' but the generic nature is limited. It will most be enjoyed by people who are very close to the hindi film industry. Even a spot boy to a superstar will love this movie much more than an ordinary cinegoer does. And there in lies the slight disconnection.
Also the pace of the movie is another issue.
Finally, Luck By Chance has a graph of its own. Like Rock On or say Lagaan it doesn't progess slowly upwards to end at a high culmination. Thats not a mistake by any means. Each story and film maker is free to choose individual graphs but there by lacks the impact.
But for daring to make such a movie with such uncompromisng wits. Superb characterizations, Great situations and performances, LucK By Chance needs to be applauded hugely.
Rating : 3.5/ 5 My head says that it deserves a 4 but my heart says 3.5. And I go with that. I place it below Rock On.
Verdict : Good