The Film Guide The Film Guide | English Movie Reviews Hollywood | thefilmguide.eu : December 2014

Monday, December 29, 2014

The Interview (2014) Movie Review and Trailer

Dave Skylark and producer Aaron Rapoport run the celebrity tabloid show "Skylark Tonight." When they land an interview with a surprise fan, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, they are recruited by the CIA to turn their trip to Pyongyang into an assassination mission.


Directors: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen

Writers: Dan Sterling (screenplay), Seth Rogen (story)

The Interview (2014) on IMDb


Stars: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Randall Par



Perhaps the most controversial movie of the past 5 years was in the end a great comic feast. The movie that caused Sony Entertainment to get hacked and threatened was basically a below the belt hit at the current supreme leader of North Korea. To portray a living man in such manner is bordering on defamation and if that man is revered as a god by millions, then there must be some criticism against the appropriateness of the subject. Nonetheless, all aside the movie was hilarious!

The Interview (2014) - Official HD Trailer by TrailerWorld

The interview is a well complied action comedy describing the struggle of two friends in their pursuit of interviewing a greatly popular but highly detested personality, a dictator, Kim Jong-un. Aaron Rapaport, the producer of “Skylark Tonight”, along with his host Dave Skylark are known for broadcasting a popular television show, where they aim to make bizarre discoveries and headlines about celebrities. After a 1000-episodes bash, Aaron realizes that what he does is plain pathetic and that he should be doing stuff that benefits his viewers in some way. Tempt the fate and he soon gets a chance of interviewing the news sensation, Kim Jong-un. Plot twist? CIA. And from here begins a series of events leading to Kim’s interview and then his downfall as a dictator, followed by a revolution.
The duo, James Franco and Seth Rogen as we know them, have delivered a spectacular performance. The plot is new. There’s comedy. There’s action. A bit draggy, the story has good humor and keeps you glued to the screen until the end. Rogen is more or less the conventional Rogen that we are accustomed to seeing. Although Franco takes the lead with his impeccable comic-timing, both the actors have done justice to their roles. Lizzy Caplan, also appears sparingly, adding prettiness to the screen and has done a good job with her character.
For those of you who like comedy, this movie is not to be missed. It’s likely to give you a fairly good round of laughs. And if nothing else, watch it for Franco or Rogen. Enough said.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Gone Girl (2014) Movie Review and Trailer

With his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.
Director: David Fincher
Writers: Gillian Flynn (screenplay), Gillian Flynn (novel)

 Gone Girl
(2014) on IMDb
Stars: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris



Gone Girl, a mystery thriller is the story of a prolific female writer Amy and her relationship with her unfaithful husband Nick. Based on a novel by Gillian Flynn, the plot may have been familiar to those who have read the novel. But for those of you who haven’t, you guys are in for some mind-boggling, enigmatic maze of events as they happen.

The story follows starts off when the Amazing Amy mysteriously goes missing on their fifth marriage anniversary from their house, a few years after having moved back to her husband’s native town. The husband, a below ordinary guy, financially dependent on his wife, becomes the prime suspect after a number of revelations in the investigations that follow and gets into the spotlight, followed by media freak shows everywhere, allegations, accusations and what not. Every clue (since its Amy’s favorite game) leads back to Nick, suggesting that he has murdered her because of their not-so-successful marriage. The rest of the story, you got to watch it to know it.
The movie stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as the male and female lead casts respectively, have given a stupendous performance throughout the film. All characters have been very well played but Carrie Coon who plays Nick’s sister Margo has also delivered a noteworthy performance.
So if you are looking for a not-your-average mystery film, I suggest you reorder your list because this movie has got everything that you could ever ask for. Happy watching.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Queen (2014) Movie Review and Trailer

An Indian girl’s journey of self-discovery when her wedding is cancelled.

Initial release: March 7, 2014 (India)
Director: VikasBahl
Music composed by: Amit Trivedi

Queen (2014) on IMDb


Cast: KanganaRanaut, Lisa Haydon, Raj Kumar Yadav, Mish Boyko, Marco Canadea.



Queen is a story of a young Indian girl, who is engaged to a typical Indian guy. The girl is devastated when her fiancé calls of their wedding. But she decides to take the honeymoon trip to Europe alone. The story is about her journey of Europe and how she discovers herself and overcomes her fears and phobias.


KanganaRanaut plays Rani in the movie. She is an under confident, shy eastern girl. Her fiancé calls off the wedding two days before it is supposed to happen. Rani is devastated and desolated. She then decides to take the pre booked honeymoon trip all by herself. In Paris, she makes a new friend, Vijayalakshmi, who works at the same hotel where Rani is staying. Together they enjoy. Vijayalakshmi shows her the brighter side of life and teaches her to be independent. Rani is a changed person when she comes back home.

On the whole, the movie is amazing. From ‘London thumakda’ to ‘Harjaiyan’, the music is fantabulous. The story is different and unique. It is a must watch. Because this movie teaches you how to take control of your life and be independent.

Rating: 4.5/5

Ek Villain (2014) Movie Review and Trailer

Ek Villain Movie Review
Ek Villain (2014)
Guru’s pursuit of his lover’s killer.

Initial release: June 27, 2014 (Pakistan, USA, India)
Director: Mohit Suri
Music composed by: Mithoon, Ankit Tiwari
Screenplay: Milap Zaveri, Tushar Hiranandani
Producers: Shobha Kapoor, Ekta Kapoor

The Villain (2014) on IMDb

Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra, Riteish Deshmukh, Kamaal Rashid Khan, Shaad Randhawa.



Ek villain is an Indian romantic thriller. It is a story about an orphan Guru, played by Sidharth Malhotra, who grows up into a thug. He meets Aisha, played by Shraddha Kapoor, who is in love with life and has unique wishes and desires. He falls in love with her unique personality. She later tells him that she has a terminal illness and about her to-do list. Guru helps her fulfill most of her wishes. He marries her and gets her proper treatment. She recovers miraculously. 


Ek Villain - New Trailer á´´á´° by geekpk.com

Rakesh Mahadkar, played by Riteish Deshmukh, is an unsuccessful man who is continuously nagged by his wife for being useless and poor. This makes him frustrated. He gets out this frustration by killing other women. Aisha happens to be one of them. He makes her beg for her life and the life of her kid but he kills Aisha while she was pregnant. The story is about Guru’s pursuit of her wife’s killer.

Overall, the movie is above average and totally unpredictable, which makes it stand out from other Bollywood movies. ‘Banjara’ being the most romantic number, the music is above average. I personally liked the movie because it’s emotional and unpredictable.

Rating: 4/5.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Happy Ending (2014) Movie Review and Trailer


Contributed by: Naima Khalid

Yudi becomes caught between finding inspiration and love. 

Happy Ending (2014) on IMDb


Initial release: November 21, 2014 (India)
Directors: Krishna D.K., Raj Nidimoru.
Running time: 136 minutes
Music composed by: Sachin-Jigar, Jigar Saraiya, Sachin Sanghvi
Screenplay: Krishna D.K., Raj Nidimoru

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Ileana D’Cruz, Govinda, Kalki Koechlin, Preity Zinta.

Happy ending is a comedy of a romantic comedy(as Govinda uses the innuendo ‘Romedy’ in the movie). Saif Ali Khan plays Yudi, a young writer who is in search of an inspirational story for his new book. His last book had been released 5 ½ years back and he has had 8 ½ girlfriends within that time. While he is on the lookout for inspiration he falls in love with Aanchal who is a bestseller writer. She is the one who has replaced his contract.


Happy Ending (2014) Hindi Movie Official Trailer - Saif Ali Khan, Ileana D’Cruz, Govinda & Kalki by Farah Rani

The story is funny, typical and a bit worked up. The male protagonist is just living in the moment, partying, flirting with girls and going in and out of relationships. He does not have a care in the world. But the crux in the story happens when his contract expires and he gets broke. Now he needs a comeback in the writing industry. For that he has to have a stirring story. In his search for inspiration, he meets Aanchal, the one replacing his contract. They spend some quality time together. Their love for freedom, adventure and excitement makes them fall in love with each other but then they part because Aanchal is just not ready for a next level relationship. Yudi then realizes that she is his true love and gathers the guts to pursue her. They both finally come to the conclusion that the cliché “Opposites attract” is not always true and a part of us is always in search of another part of our soul that makes us feel wholesome and complete. That’s the only depth in the movie by far. The rest is all play-and-party.

Overall, the acting is just okay. For the most part the story is predictable. Music is at par but nothing spectacular. If you are looking for some fun on the weekend over a bucket of popcorn, then it is a movie to watch. Entertaining and a good time-pass.

Rating: 2.5/5