Let Me In 2010 Review

Article first published as Review: Let Me In ( 2010) on Technorati.

Movie: Let Me In (2010) on DVD/Blu-Ray

Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz and Richard Jenkins

Rating: 4/5

One of the best remakes I have ever seen is the vampire tale presented in Let Me In. A remake of the Swedish film Let the Right One In (2008), Let Me In tells the story of a vampire girl who is twelve years old and has the innocence of a child.

She, however, can only survive on fresh blood and turns into a horrible monster as she smells or sees blood near by. This is a story of a vampire who befriends a human boy and discovers a streak of humanity in her savageness.

It is a story of a lone boy who finds humans to be more savage than a vampire in their way of discrimination and abuse. This is a love story of two twelve-year-olds with extremely contrasting natures, yet strikingly similar loneliness.

Abby (Chloe Moritz) is a vampire who has been twelve for hundreds of years. She moves into a new neighborhood in the house next to Owen (Kodi Smit), a troubled and bullied naive boy who is pushed around by his fellows at the school. They hesitantly become friends and a story that has many beautiful contrasts — coldness vs. warmth, chaos vs. peace, guilt vs. innocence, darkness vs. delicacy, and despair vs. hope — follows. To say more about the film would give away a lot, and so I am all hush hush!

Chloe and Kodi have acted brilliantly and are perhaps the best child artists in Hollywood. I honestly believe that Let Me In is one of the greatest American remakes of all time.

Patiala House (2011) Review

Movie: Patiala House

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Hard Kaur

Rating: 3.5/5

Cricket Junoon is running wild the world over. India and Pakistan are two countries that eat, drink and breathe cricket and with the Cricket World Cup 2011 being hosted by India, for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh the heat is on as far as cricket craze is concerned.

Amongst the excitement of the mega event of cricket comes a film that celebrates cricket and glorifies its charm and peoples' love for it. It is a film that shows the importance of family, the passion for cricket and a man's endeavor to live his life-long dream.

Parghat Singh Kahlon aka Gattu (Akshay Kumar) belongs to a cricket crazy Sikh family, the Patiala House, who had moved to England years ago. His father Gurtej Kahlon (Rishi Kapoor) is a cricket fanatic but also harbors great hatred for Englishmen following his elder brother's murder decades ago on the basis of racism. When Gattu gets selected for the English line-up in his teens his father stops him from playing saying that he would die if his son plays for the Goras (English). Gattu buries his dream in obedience of his father setting an example for the others to follow. No one in Patiala House could dare to even dream against Gurtej Kahlon and if they even spoke up they were asked to follow Gattu's footsteps. Gattu was hated by all and no one saw his frustration and sacrifice.

When the English team faces a lack of a genuine fast bowler for the upcoming T-20 Championships, they consider Gattu on the recommendation of one of the selectors Mr. Bedi. Gattu at 34 is still quick and accurate and forced by the members of Patiala House he accepts a place in the English team. Will Gattu play for England? Will he be successful? Will the family be able to hide Gattu's selection and the fact that he is playing for England fron Gurtej Kahlon? Will Gurtej accept his son as England's fast bowler? Will the Patiala House be free to dream and fulfill their dreams? You have to watch the movie to get answers for these questions. I would recommend all cricket fans to go see it.

Akshay Kumar has acted well and Rishi Kapoor has given a memorable performance as well. Anushka Sharma is charming and refreshing. Her great talent and awesome body makes for a delightful view. She surely is the next big thing in Bollywood.

The Resident (2011) Review

Article first published as Review: The Resident (2011) on Technorati.

Movie: The Resident (2011)
Cast: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Hilary Swank and Christopher Lee
Rating: 3.5/5

Many horror flicks come an go and leave no mark on your memory. The Resident is an exception in this regard. It is an unconventional scary film in the sense that unlike Paranormal Activity 2  it does not rely on any supernatural phenomenon to create creepiness and horror.

Although many films are based on human disorders and psychotic anomalies, The Resident is still unique in its treatment of the subject where intimacy, love, sex and obsession are all given equal weight-age.

It is a wonderfully presented film about how you can never be sure of who is monitoring your daily routine at what time with what intentions. It also addresses the fact that many sweet gestures can be interpreted in undesirable ways by seemingly sane people causing them to react insanely and dangerously.

Dr. Juliet Dermer (Hilary Swank) moves to a new apartment and after some days feels that she is not alone in the place. She frequently misses the wakeup alarm and feels that some external influence is causing her to oversleep. She finally finds out that her landlord Max(Jeffrey Dean Morgan) has harbored a passionate and raging obsession for her.

The best feature of the film is its presentation of sexual desires, lust and want. The cinematic presentation of Swank's curves and features is sensual to say the least. The translation of both Juliet's and Max's frustrations is immaculate, where Juliet is shown masturbating in the tub and max is shown perving on her naked body through a peeping hole.

Although I don't consider Hillary Swank (who has also co-produced the film) as a particularly attractive woman I must admit that she has looked impressive without clothes. Her full figured body gives a good explanation of Max's perversion and attraction. She has acted very well as the heart-broken, frustrated doctor who really wants to get it on with her landlord but is confused and finally returns back to her ex.

Not giving much away about the film, I must say that it is quite scary simply because it shows how a seemingly sweet person can have a dark side to him that could be triggered by a misguided gesture.

The Next Three Days (2010) Review

Article first published as Review: The Next Three Days (2010) on Technorati.

Movie: The Next Three Days (2010)

Cast: Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks and Liam Neeson

Rating: 3/5

The Next Three Days is a thriller following the efforts of a husband to break his wife free from a prison. Lara Brennan is arrested for murdering her boss whom she had an argument with. She was seen leaving the scene of the crime and her fingerprints were on the murder weapon. Her husband, John would spend the next few years trying to get her released but there's no evidence that negates the evidence against her. And when the strain of being separated from her family especially her son gets to her, John decides to break her out. So he does a lot of research to find a way.

Russell Crowe plays John Brennan, a professor who has a steady life with his wife Lara (Elizabeth Banks) and kid until his wife gets arrested and sentenced for murder that she has not committed. He tries to get her out but the evidence is just too concrete and he finally decides to break her out of prison. John is inspired and guided by an escapist who had broken prison multiple time played by Liam Neeson who has nothing much to do in this cameo.

Crowe gives an honest performance as usual with convincing anxiety and strong presence. He fits the role with his everyday persona, a bulky presence and an unassuming personality.

The movie has little to write home about in terms of novelty and is shallow apart from Crowe's acting. The monotony of the script and the lack of supporting cast and characters makes it a dull and unexciting film to watch. With films like Inception and The Fighter  you can easily pass it by, but if you have nothing better to do, Russell Crowe is worth a watch any day of the week.