Iyobinte Pusthakam

My review: Iyobinte Pusthakam

Amal Neerad's "Iyobinte Pusthakam" is a visual treat. With the cinematographer and director in Amal Neerad competing with one another it is a field day for the audience to devour a period drama with ample dose of action, suspense and thrills. Aided with a solid script by  Gopan Chidamabaram, Amal has trasnformed it into epic proportions by his characteristic making, both visually and cerebrally. The intelligence of the writer is evident from the seamless confluence of the story with some of the significant historical events that happened during the period between 1900 and 1976, the timeline of the film's story. 

Though movie ambles along at a leisurely pace it does so with purpose. There is hardly any digression from the plot except two unwarranted songs in the second half. The focus with which the story is told keeps your interest glued on the screen. Towards the end the gore gets a bit over done but story of jealousy, deceit, revenge and infidelity warrants it nonetheless. 

Lal is the fulcrum around whom the whole movie travels and he has lived the character of Job aka Iyob with perfection. The various shades of his character as it evolves from a slave to servant to finally becoming a master himself and his eventual decline and demise are wonderfully brought on the screen by the veteran. Fahad Fazal as Iyob's youngest son does a terrific job himself with his understated histrionics in contrast with that of his elder brothers.    

Jayasuriya is a revelation in his role of a conniving businessman with his cool visage and coldblooded smile that leaves you dumbfounded. Padmapriya sizzles in a mysterious role while Isha Sharvani has nothing much to do. Both Chemban Vinod Jose and Jinu Joseph as the two elder evil sons of Iyob are terrific in their roles. Reenu Mathew, Lena, Srijith Ravi and Vinayan along with a long support cast do their parts to perfection. Overall the performance of the actors in the movie is terrific and is one of the prime reason why the movie leaves you with a lasting impression.

Neha S Nair and Yakzan Gary Pereira's musical score and background score complements the narrative vision of the writer and director. As said earlier, Amal's cinematography is one of the biggest pluses for this movie. Movie is technically one of the best ever to have come out of Malayalam film industry. Movie is fertile  with lost of memorable shots aided amply by the lush locales of Munnar and the western ghats. 

On the whole, "Iyobinte Pusthakam" is a well made movie with a clear cut narration aggrandized by terrific making. 

Bottomline:  A visual treat with some cerebral topping. 

3.5/5

Gone Girl

My review: Gone Girl

No one even in their wildest of dreams can come out with such a chilling story of a couple whose marriage is under strain. To come out with a story as brutally chilling as "Gone Girl", you must be one of those who is either twistedly intelligent or intelligently twisted. Wonder how could Gillian Flynn can come out with such a decadent tale of love, hate, revenge and misery with such lyrical undercurrent. David Fincher's screen adaptation of Flynn novel is a spine chilling thriller that entertains married couples more than anyone else, albeit with all its guilty pleasure. 

The movie warrants an inquisitive viewing to piece together the bits into a whole to make sense of  it all. Along the way loads of emotional investment happens unwittingly that may leave you drained in the end   salubriously all the same with the glee of having watched a wonderfully crafted movie. The screenplay never looses its steam, keeps you at the seat's edge all through with its numerous twists and turns. It reaffirms the fact that the twists and turns of a crooked mind is more horrific and adrenaline pumping than the fast and furious metallic actioners.   

Besides Flynn's terrific screenplay and Fincher's brilliant direction, what makes "Gone Girl" what it is is the acting from its lead, Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. Everyone is at awe with the power-packed performance from Pike as a borderline cum dissocial Amy Dunne who goes to the extreme extent possible for revenge. Indeed she has given her career best in the role that has shades that are oblivious to a normal psyche which she has identified and portrayed magnificently.

 But in my opinion it is Ben Affleck's portrayal of awkward Nick Dunne that takes the cake. Without his terrifically understated performance, the impact that Pike was able to make would not have happened. Towards the latter half, when his hidden layers keep unraveling one by one, the gradual transformation his character undergoes that reaches the crescendo in the interview scene and later when he gets reunited with Amy are just tremendous. 

On the whole, "Gone Girl" is a terrific thriller, a sociopathic commentary on the disintegration of the institution of  marriage in the modern times of an anomic society. 

Bottomline:  Must watch and goosebumps guaranteed.  

4/5

Poojai

My review: Poojai

If you have seen all of Hari's movies so far, then you are the only people who can endure this torture thy name, "Poojai". There is not even one scene or a shot that you have not seen so far in his movies. Right from the first frame till the last, novelty and plausibility goes for a toss. Movie follows strictly the template of hero scene, heroine scene, song sequence,villain scene, comedy scene, family scene, action sequence, then again hero scene, heroine scene...go on till the end, with the only variation is in the number of song sequences decreases and the action sequences increases as the movie progresses. And if in the end of it all if you don't get an excruciating headache, then you should get your head scanned to check whether something that is remotely related to what is known as brain is present or not.

Vishal after a brief detour into the sensible territory with his previous couple of movies has again forced himself into the nonsensical territory with "Poojai". Shruthi Hassan has come back to Tamil cinema after poor start to her career armed with the loads of "talent" she has gained by her substantial stint in the Telugu movie industry through her "legendary" performances in the movies like "Balupu" and "Race Gurram". Rest of the caricatures are given life by loads of supporting actors and actresses. A special mention to the comedy track starring Soori, Pandi and Imman Annachi, "Legen...wait for it...dary". In the movie's endeavor at excruciating headache, this "out-of-this-world-intelligent" comedy track has a king's share in it. 

Less said about the music and movie's songs, the better. Yuvan....., so sad. On the whole, the homeostasis of Tamil cinema industry seems to get restored as for every "Goli Soda", and "Thegidi", we have a "Poojai" and "Yaan".   

Bottomline: A terrible film.

1/5

Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe

My review: Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe

Lakshmy Ramakrishnan after her impressive debut "Aarohanam", impresses yet again with her second feature film "Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe" (NVM). Basically a road film, the story happens on a day when the country is stifled with petrol crisis. Movie follows the protagonist Chandru and his encounter with multiple characters on his journey from Trichy to Karaikaal. The effortless ease with which Laskshmy has handled the non-linearity of the screenplay is brilliant. 

The story is simple but the tension that the writer-director so seamlessly able to infuse into the narrative keeps you engrossed. At first you tend to feel exasperated with the number of characters that we are introduced to and the pace with which things unfold. But as the narrative settles down and you get acquainted with the characters the movie gets intriguing. NVM is the kind of movie that warrants active viewing. You have be at your attentive best to piece together the happenings to get a proper sense of what is going on. 

On the down side, with the kind of build up the narrative sets itself with, towards the end the climax unfolds without any modicum of tension whatsoever, make you feel let down. The end twist could have been conceived a bit better but then that is what most mainstream commercial makers are there for. This movie is more about the intelligence of the writer and the viewer. 

Movie has many characters, yet each of them make a mark on their own. Even a passing character, each have their own arc has an impact on the viewer. A single mother who at the first glance deceives you with her appearance and behavior, a somber mobile-game playing cop who suddenly boils over when questioned about his casualness, a callous friend who slips out as soon as someone talks about police are example of how meticulously each and every characters are etched out. Shabeer is good, apt for the role. His understated performance gels well with the narrative while Pia Bajpai does her bit well too. Movie has bevy of actors in its support cast and everyone of them have done their parts well. 

Movie looks technically sound. Vinod Bharathi's cinematography is good, keeps it simple. Medley Blues' background score and the songs blend seamlessly within the narrative. On the whole, NVM is a thoroughly entertaining movie which entails an active viewing and some degree of patience.

Bottomline: A good movie.

3.5/5