Snatch (2000) (7/10)

Seemingly too many characters in rather unconnected walks of life. The movie happens in too many places at once. Everything rotates about a diamond. A rather big one. Some know about it and some don't. But they get connected with it anyway. There is a lot of pig headedness and bullishness and very natural dialogues. Unlicensed boxers, bullet dodgers, accident freaks. Its all there. It all goes to the dogs. I generally don't take to movies that seem to be so nonlinear to the extent that (a) either they don't make sense or (b) are rather life like. This one, however, was hard to turn away from. Its fast and a variety of things keep happening. Fights inside and outside rings, successful and unsuccessful heists, people who get killed and people who refuse to get killed. Even the police put in a token presence in all the intense action. They have a rather unique way of bringing the story to a closure. All loose threads meet their end.

Snatch (2000) (7/10)

Pinjar (2003) (8/10)

There are many movies about religion, about religious strifes, about partition. But none combines these AND love and social issues like Pinjar does. It handles these complex issues in an immaculate and moving way. Flowing with the masses and then seeking individuality in it is explored as also social pressure to act in certain ways even if it means giving up your own child. To think that perhaps people in some parts of the world may still be going through such situations. The performances are stellar. It seems to flow slowly but never bordering on being boring. The emotions need the time to come out. If for nothing else it is worth watching for the human angle.

Pinjar (2003) (8/10)

Calcutta Mail (2003) (6/10)

A movie with a great promise dwindled in the middle and recaptured somewhat in the end. It begins with a bit of intrigue and the viewers are left a bit groping about what it is all about. A flashback starts revealing it and why all that is happening could be happening. A part of it drags on a bit though and this is where it loses some ground. What ensues then i.e. the continuation of the story in the present is interesting, especially the gimmicks by the hero with some risks related to his son. The usual nexus, tangles involving politicians, policemen etc. are brought out. A few twists and turns ensue, not all completely transparent, but that germ does restore the earlier promise. The Kolkata backdrop and its environment is used in an interesting manner.

Calcutta Mail (2003) (6/10)

99 (2009) (5/10)

They have combined elements of truth (viz. matchfixing in cricket), more truth (viz. extortion) and even more truth (viz. stupidity) and mixed it with people's dreams, relationships and somewhat perceptions of life. The mixture of this should create a few funny situations if you try hard. The trouble is they are not very funny, nor are they very insightful. A few usual coincidences round up the performance. Actually the tieing together of the threads is in fact somewhat better than most of the movie. The acting is pretty good though. Credit is also due to the movie for connecting seemingly unconnected things in a bizzare but almost believable way. Oh, the bad mouthing of Delhi.

99 (2009) (5/10)

Changeling (2008) (8/10)

A movie that grabs your attention with good acting and a believable plot. (Well, some would say it is based on a true story - but then that is not enough. You have to make it watchable). Its about a woman who tries to stand up against LAPD (of the 1930s) since she thinks they have made a mistake which they wont own up to. It helps that a couple of people readily come to her aid. In a couple places the scenes are unnecessarily dark, and one sequence towards the end may have been unnecessary. But may be that is why Eastwood made the movie. Some gory scenes. Some snipets don't seem to connect too well. But overall it makes sense.

Changeling (2008) (8/10)