Valkyrie

'Mission Impossible' star Tom Cruise is finally on a mission that’s truly impossible! Cruise plays one of the Nazi officers who want to see Hitler assassinated in this real event historical thriller. In 1943 Nazi officer Claus Stauffenberg (Cruise) after losing an eye and an arm in an allied air raid in Africa is transferred back to Germany with a promotion as Lieutenant Colonel.
There he meets disgruntled Nazi officers including Major General Henning Tresckow (Kenneth), General Friedrich Olbricht (Nighy), General Friedrich Fromm (Wilkinson) and Colonel General Ludwig Beck (Terence Stamp) with whom he hatches a plan to take over Berlin and ‘free’ the Germans from Hitler.

Stauffenberg (Cruise) himself takes the lead and is hell bent on implementing ‘Operation Valkyrie’ – an official order that would permit the reserved National Guard to seize Berlin in case they kill the Fuhrer. Stauffenberg and the plotters plan to use ‘Valkyrie’ as a plank not only to kill Hitler but to put a blame on his own SS guards.

For a story that has been already told and the climax known by the world, the film could have been a total disaster had it not been for the dependable script and brilliant cinematography. They build up enough tension to keep the heart racing. Director Singer fine-tunes the real life events with life-like drama. The film is skillfully assembled with terrific setup. The editing room also adds more life and tensions.

However, the one question most would put forward is: Why Cruise’s talks such smooth American English? Perhaps, a more German accent would have been more believable in his portrayal of Stauffenberg. But then, the ‘goody guy’ image with his firm jaws makes him no less a perfect Nazi officer. His performance is unmatched in any of his earlier films.

An exciting historical film that inspires hope and courage in time of crisis will put you glued to the big screen.
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English (U/A)
Cast: Tom Cruise, Keneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carie von Hauten, David Bamber
Director: Bryan Singer

Seven Pounds

In this ‘heart’ of the matter film Will Smith continues to bring out the intense emotions of humanity just as in The Pursuit of Happyness.

Ben Thomas (Smith) the ‘friendly neighbourhood taxman’ turns a Good Samaritan to seven complete strangers after his wife dies in a car accident (take note here: you can kill your spouse using a mobile while driving). That’s why the title ‘Seven Pounds’. These ‘pounds’ are all good people who have serious problems in their lives from which there seems no escape.

Ben’s attempts to bring happiness into the lives of others even at the cost of undertaking taking extreme measures on himself and his life may sound corny but the lack of importance and pomp given to his deeds certainly make this film free from extravagance.

Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson give a very good performance as two of the troubled strangers who benefit from Ben’s selfless sacrifice.

The intense and motivating script is clever and has integrity over the subject. This story is worth the time for its brilliant presentation of selfless and unconditional love.
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English(A)
Cast: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper, Woody Harrelson
Director: Gabriele Muccino

I'm Not There

I’m Not There is a piece by piece take on the diverse life of legendary musician and the ever enigmatic Bob Dylan. In this film we have emulators of Dylan each having something do with the life of the great talent.

An experimental art venture involving the nature and turns in Dylan’s life is played by six actors. Woody (Marcus) a black child obsessed with folk music; Jack Rollins (Bale) a revolutionary folk singer; Arthur (Wishaw) who takes to lyrical poetry; Robbie (Ledger) an established actor whose marriage crumbles under the weight of his lifestyle; Billy (Gere) the outlaw who echoes Dylan’s craze with the Old West; and Jude Quinn (Blanchett) a popular folk singer who tries to find a way out from the press and the world just as Dylan did in the 1960s.

This film altogether presents a challenging task over what approach a film critic should take on the constant changes in genres and thematic presentation for the story to be fully understood. If the usual method of watch and feel is employed, this film fails terribly in conveying what it wants to say.

The constant transition from black&white to colours and back again; the pseudo-documentary look presents a diverse visual style changing the very mood of each scene. It will be difficult for any ordinary film audience to understand the artistic nature and finally the story.

Dylan’s fans may also not be too happy as the film goes way out of context and fictionalisation. However, this film on Dylan’s life does open the third eye.

While the stars all fare well in their efforts, Cate Blanchett is the best among them. She plays a perfect ‘he’.
Like the title, Dylan is not there physically in this film but his songs are played in the background and it is only towards the end that one gets to know that this film is about Dylan. Crazy flick with its unorthodox narrative will work only for fans of ardent art film lovers and of course for Dylan fans.
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English (A)
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Ben Whishaw, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Marcus Carl Franklin, Nick Twiney, Denise Roberts, Heath Ledger
Director: Todd Haynes

'Tata' to Reliance!

By Nahai
On January this year, I got my first internet connections from Reliance after taking suggestions from friends and some service providers. I subscribed to their Freedom Night Plan (Data Card) which permits me to surf 'Free' from 10pm-6am every day. But within a week I started receiving SMS saying my bill had gone upto Rs 1743! I had browsed for just 22 hours away from the 'Free' service. I was amazed and felt cheated.

So, I personally went to the same customer service center who were not so efficient as on the day I had purchased their data card costing almost Rs 3000/- After some tongue twisting and threatening to disconnect my connections they finally agree to let me speak to their superiors who was somewhat smart and articulate.

"Sir, We are sorry about the SMSes. Please ignore them. Your bill is just Rs 943/-.... This won't repeat again," he told me politely.

I paid my bill and thereafter was constantly on the look out for alternatives. Call up Airtel and BSNL service.

"Sir, We have no connections in your area, we are sorry!" was all I could get. Last week I finally decided to call Tata Indicom Broadband people. I don't know why I had not thought of their service in the first place. Was it just my inhibitions or fear of having to venture with an entirely new service provider. I have never used any of their telecom services before.

Finally, I spoke to their customer representative who immediately arrived at my door the same evening to collect the documents. Quick and efficient, I thought. After verifying my address and so forth I got their WiMax connections installed at home in just two days!

Since then I had no more hang-ups when browsing. Tata's Infinity 380 WiMax broadband service speed is a good choice for home users. So far their service is upto my expectations. I'm trying to say 'tata' to Reliance Data Card now. Hopefully they will process it without much problem.

Marley&Me

If you are planning to tie the knot sooner or later, or if you are newly wed, a pet dog could come in handy. That’s what we get to know from the makers of Marley & Me.

Directed by David Frankel (of The Devil Wears Prada fame) and based on the hit memoir of John Grogan, this film has journalists John (Owen Wilson) and Jen (Jennifer Aniston) as a newly wedded couple trying their best to start a family.

But it is not until they bring home Marley, the labrador, for their pet, that they pick up lessons on how to drive around the various turns in their married life.

Marley is as stupid as possible but the cute puppy’s antics come to signify the unexpected challenges that humans face as adults.

The film moves back and forth between Marley and its owners, but the unconditional love theme remains intact without faltering. There is endless fun in Marley who will eat anything, pee anywhere it wants, hits glass doors, jumps over the neighbour’s wall, runs away from home... it’s an endless joy watching. Marley steals the limelight as much as Wilson and Aniston. As far as the script is concerned this is one comedy flick perfect for Wilson. He carries the funny lines naturally without much efforts. Aniston too proves to be a lovable co-star.

Comical, laugh-out-loud presentation and provoking, Marley & Me as a comedy focusses on the challenges of building a family and the role of dog as man’s most faithful friend. An all out family entertainer
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English (A/U)
Cast: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Alan Arkin, Kathleen Turner
Director: David Frankel

Honeydripper

This award winning film set in the 50s has versatile actor Danny Glover portraying Tyrone, a struggling club owner in Alabama, who pins his future on the performance of rock star Guitar Sam to save his dying pub, ‘Honeydripper Lounge’. However, when Guitar Sam does not turn up Tyrone has to strike a deal with the sheriff to release Sonny, a boy who could stand in for the rock star. Tyrone must turn Sonny into a make believe rock-n-roll star or else face total bankruptcy.

Rest of the plot is quite predictable with the birth of a new genre of music through a country-made electric guitar and some raw jibes on the rock-n-roll scenario giving you some reasons to smile.

What keeps the film and eventually the pub story flowing is its inspiring tale that leave no room for self-pity among the characters. The era of hatred in American history represented with a classic touch also adds life to the screen. The film is quite moody but the plot builds up enough heat to make you sweat for the Saturday event.

The music could have been a bit classier. Nevertheless, the brawny grain of the film resembles a remarkable photographic setup. To put it simple: An ingenious motivating motion picture set to soothe the heart and make you more resolute.
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English (U)
Cast: Danny Glover, Gay Hamilton, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Gary Clark Jr
Director: John Sayles