Zero Dark Thirty Movie Review

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Mark Strong

Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow’s second directorial venture Zero Dark Thirty could’ve gone horribly wrong. The good news is that it doesn’t.

Doing in-depth research for a film is one thing but encapsulating all prominent facts and accommodating them in a tight screenplay is a different ballgame altogether. Zero Dark Thirty successfully manages to ace the research required to chronicle the events surrounding the hunt for ‘The most wanted man in the world’ aka Osama Bin Laden. Don’t let the length of the film discourage you because the gripping narrative immediately sucks you in from the very first scene till the credits finally roll.

Bigelow, along with her terrific writer Mark Boal, present a powerful story backed by facts that are brilliantly infused into the film’s narrative. Even when you know what’s eventually going to happen, you’re still made to feel the eerie tension in the narrative and a few shocks in the plot just make it edgier.

One aspect that stands out the most in this film is the absence of romanticizing triumph. Most American war movies tend to advertise ‘The Great American Dream’ through melodrama and over-the-top sequences. ZDT does not take that route at all. It is raw story-telling at its best, sans any frills. Like the torture scenes, for which Bigelow faced so much unrequired flak, which are portrayed with brutality and ruthlessness, mirroring the mood of the situation. Or even, while portraying the nature of the characters which emerge at the most unexpected of times. After you’ve watched the film, these scenes and character idiosyncrasies refuse to let go, as they constantly remind you how ‘real’ they were.

Another huge achievement for Bigelow-Boal duo is to not only break stereotypes but crush them into smithereens. ZDT’s main protagonist, Maya played by the brilliantly nuanced Jessica Chastain, who in a way is the sole person who believes that Bin Laden is in Pakistan and not hiding in some cave. There are various scenes where men look down upon her, are indifferent to her and some are even ignorant about her existence and importance in the CIA. She sets them right, with a poker face and a stern reply. One of my favourite scenes in the film is when an officer from the President’s team is being briefed about the plan to capture Bin Laden. He poses a question to the team, full of men, who supposedly don’t have an answer to the query. Maya’s strategic reply, takes the officer by surprise and he inquires about her credentials. “…And who are you?” He asks. “The motherfu**er who found this place,” she replies referring to Bin Laden’s hideout. Many such scenes bring a tinge of layered sarcasm into this dramatic film.

Jessica Chastain as Maya is just unbelievable. How can the perfectly-accented Gia from Madagascar 3 and Maya from ZDT be the same actor? She has proved her range time and again but this time she’s risen above expectations. Watch out how she perfectly plays this innocent, naïve-looking woman who suddenly transforms into an encyclopaedia of OBL and his network, spewing cuss words, clashing with senior authorities and not giving up even after surviving an assassination attempt. She’s the heart and soul of ZDT.

While you watch Chastain weave magic on screen, one can’t help but imagine maybe Bigelow was trying to project herself through the character. Just maybe, Bigelow is Maya. Who fights all odds in a surrounding still dominated by men, to do what she does best – make movies. And we sincerely hope she keeps doing that. Can’t wait for her

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Jack the Giant Slayer Movie Review

Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Jack the Giant Slayer’ directed by Bryan Singer starring Nicholas Hoult, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ewan McGregor is an action-adventure fantasy film, inspired by the classic fairy tale of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’.

The fairy tale follows Jack, a poor farmer, who accidentally sows magic bean seeds which grow into a gigantic beanstalk, in his back-yard. Jack climbs up the stalk and finds a giant castle, where there lives a ruthless giant. He steals the giant’s riches, i.e. a hen that lays golden eggs and a harp which plays on its own, and uproots the beanstalk to kill the giant.

The plot of ‘Jack the Giant Slayer’ takes off from there: Jack accidentally opens a gateway to the world of Giants, and an ancient war restarts. Jack is forced into a fight to not only save his own life, but that of those in the kingdom and the princess.

The promo promises a film full of romance, action, and giants (of course!). The power packed trailer ends with fantastic visual effects of a mob of giants running behind 6 men on horses.

Director Bryan Singer whose last film ‘X-Men: First Class’ was a massive success and is currently busy with ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ says, “I grew up reading the story of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’. Fairy tales are often born of sociopolitical commentary and translated into stories for children. But what if they were based on something that really happened?”

Special 26 Movie Review

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, Manoj Bajpayee, Jimmy Shergill and Kajal Aggarwal

Inspired by real-life events. That statement creates a certain blanket effect for a film. Saving it from its own loop holes, because the viewers’ mind keeps harking back to the thought that ‘this really happened’. Special 26 benefits from that statement immensely. On the strength of its actors’ performances and filmmaking technique this film rises above its many narrative loop holes to give you a fairly entertaining experience.

Neeraj Pandey’s A Wednesday was lauded because it had a social stand and it gave a fierce voice to the common man’s supressed emotions. Nothing of that sort happens in Special 26. But, had the film taken one such stand, perhaps we’d have had another Munnabhai MBBS. But it doesn’t. Instead, it plays out like a regular heist movie. A band of very professional guys fake CBI identities and raid a minister’s home. They make off with all his black money and of course nobody files complaints because end of the day its theft of illegal assets. But an honest cop and a spirited CBI officer team up to hunt the perpetrators down. There’s a romantic angle as well, but that is by far the weakest link of the film.

Watching the meticulously planned heists in Special 26 is a thrilling experience. The depth of writing shines through in its plots and subplots. The movie pits two lead characters against one another, Akshay Kumar’s Ajay and Manoj Bajpayee’s Waseem. Ajay’s confident the law and order can’t apprehend him and Waseem believes he can outsmart any crook on the planet. As these guys lock horns the movie’s entertainment kicks into gear. The drama is amplified by superb dialogue that adds a touch of dry humour as well.

This is a movie based in 1987. Pandey’s shot on location in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. Full marks to him and his production designer for getting the period feel right. With smart camera angles, a little CGI and superb prop use (old cars, clothes, hoardings, newspapers etc) Special 26 recreates an India in the eighties. Also valuable are the background music and shots where the camera walks with the characters. It creates a sense of adrenaline. Making you sit up and take notice.

All said and done, when the climax finally hits you it leaves too many questions unanswered. Too many possibilities unresolved. If the CBI know where you live, it’s obvious they won’t let you get away. But the story’s shortcomings really don’t matter because by the time the end arrives performances from Akshay Kumar, Manoj Bajpayee and Anupam Kher have charmed the pants off everyone. Akshay gives a controlled performance sans any of his usual onscreen histrionics. Bajpayee is as good as he always is, but the show stealer here is Mr Kher. His nervous and edgy character keeps jumping into bouts of overconfident leadership and the veteran actor shows why he’s one of the best acting talents in the country, ever.

Special 26 is an engaging film. Sure it’s end could’ve been much better. Sure this isn’t Pandey’s best. But this is still one of the best films you’ll watch this year.

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Movie Review Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Few minutes ago the first look poster of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani was released. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is the upcoming romantic film of bollywood starring Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in the lead role. Deepika  looks enchantress in the first look poster of Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani while the bollywood’s chocolate boy Ranbir looks super cool. Deepika Padukone will be seen with her ex boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor after 2008 hit film Bachna Ae Haseeno. Below we will discuss why Ranbir and Deepika broke up and the star cast, story of the film, hot buzz and about all the updates related to Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani.

Katrina Kaif Saree Photoshoot

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Bhairavi Goswami’s Long Legs walk to stardom

Gone are the days when Bollywood actresses only used to wear sarees and suits. Current Bollywood actresses have become more daring with their style. They have got beautiful bodies and they love to flaunt it. The perfect shape, the perfect length and the smoothest looking skin are just a few of the attributes that make up a pair of perfect legs. It’s the legs that can make woman look truly sexy. Hottie Bhairavi Goswami is one of the luckiest actress who got killer legs and surely knows how to work her best assets. She will put her good genes to good use as she flaunts her never-ending legs in a skimpy bikini in her forthcoming movie “The City That Never Sleeps” which is Produced by Satish Reddy and Directed by Haroon Rashid.

Bhairavi said, “My beautiful legs made their appearance in the memory of all my fans and I loves to flaunt my enviable assets. I have best body ever and I want to show it. I believe it’s all about sexuality and freedom that one should have.”

Bhairavi Goswami’s beautiful golden legs almost took away the glory from her stunning face. It’s hard to decide what we like more about her– her face or her legs. Yes, we all know that Bhairavi’s has always had one of the hottest bodies in Bollywood and her legs surely play a vital role in it. It’s a known fact that everyone wants a piece of her luscious legs.

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Bollywood Babe Zarine Khan Sexy Images

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