The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015) (7/10)

A biopic about Srinivas Ramanujan (born 1887), the story had to mostly stick to facts. But there was enough drama in Ramanujan's life, not to mention the dramatic mathematical formulae he conjured one after another. Liberties have been taken about relative ages of people involved but that seems to help in keeping the focus on his life and mathematics. Only a little discussion of actual mathematics ensures that people will not get repelled by it. There is enough broad-stroke discussion to try to give the general audience a rough understanding of what Ramanujan managed despite troubling conditions.

At one point Hardy says: 'We can not converse in Tamil', to which Ramanujan replies: 'But you would want me to converse in English'. All the characters do use English in the movie, and the retort is ironic because Dev Patel playing Ramanujan does not speak Tamil.

The balance of proof (necessity of) and intuition comes out nicely. Ramanujan wants to run away with intuition but Hardy would like to reign him for the sake of concrete progress within Ramanujan's life-time. Intuition, or drawing together diverse facts subconsciously, happens best when you are at ease. Ramanujan though, seems to have managed it despite troubles of all colors. I guess it is the focus that he could muster would have played a large part.

Its a pity that a journey through the lost notebook can not be shown to all like Indiana Jones going after the lost arc. But I did feel after seeing the movie that it would be fun to dabble again a bit in Pure Maths. The abstract joy of even rediscovering connections known for a long time is unparalleled.

The recent - and continuing - story of Mochizuki's work on the abc conjecture tells us how the world has drawn away from purely intuition based works. Clearly Mochizuki would have had intuitions about his Frobenioids, but he had to also put together a proof for his solution. No more isolated romanticism as the world is too connected. Or is it?

The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015) (7/10)

Dharm (2007) (6/10)

The movie is set in Varanasi, the point which connects heaven and hell through Earth, a place that transcends the three worlds. It is a place of highest religious ordeals on the one hand, and a place with dense hindu and muslim localities with not infrequent skirmishes on the other (and the Buddhist Sarnath is not too far off). The city (a town really) is junk if you are not looking at it from Pauranik goggles. I have personally talked to priests there who speak nothing but Sanskrit, and I have seen dead rats on narrow alleys, and calfs tied to one of the umpteen Shivlingas that the city is home to.

The story is about a Brahmin who is staunch and genteel. His life is somewhat changed when an infant is left at their doorstep and they have to take care of him. It changes even further when the mother shows up a few years later to reclaim the child. Without leaving his dharm, his stringent vows he learns to transcend the narrow interpretation of some of the scriptures he has been following. For him its a journey which justifies the change in his behavior. For some others its not so obvious.

The acting of the main actors is great, and the story line is timely. Worth a look. 

Delhi Belly (2011) (7/10)

The Delhi, The Belly. I hate you like I love you. Many people may find it a bit crass due to its language (really?) or perhaps due to the anatomy figuring - no, not raw, just figuratively, and, yes, a bit audibly. But its a fast paced, well acted, case with some simple but interesting twists. It has all the interesting parts - smugglers, airlines, hotels, guns, love, break-up, blackmail, policemen, burquas, diamonds and a few other things that are needed for a twisty, fast, irrelevant movie. There is Amir Khan thrown in the end as well. Hate him, or love him, you can't ignore him.

Shaun of the Dead (2004) (6/10)

A British comedy about ordinary folk in extra-ordinary conditions viz. surrounded by zombies. Some parts are funny, most others are mundane. But its different. Sometimes it is difficult to tell apart the zombies, and that is one of the points. Its only 99 minutes and would have been a drag had it dragged on. The romance aspect is what keeps the world together, whether you are alive, half-alive, about to be zombified, or actually a zombie. And Shaun is no exception ...

Prometheus (I) (2012) (5/10)

A thoughtless movie about alleged origin of humans (or human DNA to be precise) seeded from "far flung dark part of the universe" which is of course a constellation within our own Galaxy. The journey to this place is actually completely uneventful with a wealthy geriatric, a commander, two scientists, two engineers, three people running the ship and an obviously HALsque persona.

On the distant planet (or its moon actually) which they reach without encountering anyone else, they meet strange things which I will not go into to save the suspense except for saying that advanced species are unlikely to do that (they may, no, will, have wars, but this wasn't war - it seemed to have no purpose). The good thing was that they do not conjure up additional people who will get killed when the time comes (like in 'Lost').

Clearly there is to be  a sequel. Saying that all will be revealed there is equally senseless if the first movie is simply meant as an intro to the characters and ill-posing the question itself. Overall, a blot in the name of sci-fi (or even sci-fantasy). What, you say its just about aliens? May be so, but apart from a different location, and an alleged different purpose, what is the difference? 

Looper (2012) (5/10)

The movie has an interesting premise - sending unneeded people back in time to be killed by hired guns. The people sent back are sent back with payment for the "job". Sometimes you have to have this killers killed and that is precisely where the problem begins - as one would expect.

If they had restricted themselves to the loops and created as many paradoxes and complexities as they wanted, it would have been fine. But they bring in the supernatural in terms of telekinesis which takes the plot for a ride and makes the movie passe from potentially good.

The Thirteenth Floor (1999) (7/10)

It starts with an intriguing concept of building a simulation of the past with lifelike beings. It naturally shifts to allowing the programmers to interact with this unreal world. So far nothing out of the ordinary. But then there are hints of the beings in the simulated world realizing that they may not be real. The fun starts there with one such being in particular wanting to climb into the real world.

The way the consciousnesses are exchanged between the two worlds, it makes interesting things possible, and the story is built around that with many loops, seeming exceptions, and a good handling of the concept. The simulation part is in a vague way like that in 'matrix', but the mechanism bears a closer resemblance to  'Being John Malkovich' and definitely to many aspects in 'The Mind's I'. How do I know I am not someone's dream.

talaash तलाश (2012) (5/10)

talaash तलाश is a Aamir Khan movie in which he seems to hang the principles people seem to suppose he possesses. Some spoilers after this sentence completes, so don't read beyond the fullstop if you plan to watch the movie but just be warned that it is not worth watching anyway. The acting is good, the story seems good initially but then it starts clinging to supernatural stuff, the last thing the Indian masses need from someone like Aamir. The movie is slow in the middle though it keeps moving. Some inexplicable bits are interspersed and some mysterious ones, essentially deliberate wrong leads.

The dog right at the start suggests something supernatural but it seemed more alien like - but I guess that is a bit too much to expect. Mediums, and ghosts, and opening car doors inside water despite the large pressure. This is not what one has come to expect from Aamir. But he is a showman, said someone. Really? Isn't he in idol? The review may be a bit misdirected, but somewhat on purpose. तलाश - द लाश.

Sound of Heaven: The Story of Balgandharva (2011) (6/10)

The film is somewhere between a documentary and a movie. Upto the interval it moves connectedly, building a picture, and then the director is in a hurry to show all the remaining important bits in the life of the great singer 'Balgandharva' mostly through the actions of others, especially in the later part of his life.

The story of the inseparableness of males roles of females in the plays is brought out, but many other aspects are inexplicable. While Balgandharva's sticking to his guns (lavishness on the stage, not accepting gift money) may seem principled on the one hand, his manner of throwing away the money is again strange. I am not sure which part of it is the directorial license. Same is true with his scene with his wife. It has to have bene imagined by the director since there is no way it could have been communicated to anyone, or through anyone.

Most of the songs are good as are many of the performances, but the jumpy nature of the story ensures that you will not remember many of the performers.

Gladiator (2000) (6/10)

After a journey to Rome recently I gathered enough courage to watch Gladiator. Or rather felt obliged to watch it. Not unexpectedly, it did not turn out to be the grand movie. The sets and the settings are good, and so is the acting. The complex character of Commodus is brought out rather well. But the other characters, including Maximus often seem undecided, and hence human. May be that was intended. Not much of Rome shown, not much of the senators shown. That makes it a rather one-track story-line. Sure, there are a couple of twists, but these are trivially overcome - at least in the movie.

Why don't slaves revolt? Why don't people revolt? Why don't we revolt?

Gladiator (2000) (6/10)

The Maiden Heist (2009) (5/10)

An attempted comedy involving three guards in an art museum who are in love with an art piece each. When they learn that those pieces are among the ones to be moved to Denmark, and that this was decided without consulting them, they decide to take things in their own hands. Of course the plan goes a little awry. Not too many complications or twists. The Maiden Heist (2009) (5/10)

Just Go with It (2011) (6/10)

A fun comedy, where you go along just as the title says. One white lie leading to another, just compounded by the forced accomplices also wanting their share of the white lies. As usual things don't turn out the way they are supposed to be, one thing leads to another. It all start with a rich person wooing a young woman. She thinks he is married and he has to convince her that he is going to get divorced. And then he has to convince her. Just Go with It (2011) (6/10)

Being There (1979) (8/10)

A fabulous movie starring Peter Sellers with a very straight face and absolutely no intensions save some gardening perhaps. A man who has not stepped outside his house until he is a man is asked to do so, and he does. Chance takes him(self) to meet many different people. He is so blank that he unknowingly gets mistaken for a mirror with people getting the vibes they want. For that reason alone it does not seem farfetched. One metaphor can apply to so many situations. There are a few twists and the suspense almost kills. The power of few words is apparent. If only people could shut up they could reach so much higher. Being there is important, not saying it. Eve, and Bobby, and the attorney, and the doctor all play their roles. The transformation in Ben is amazing. And it really comes from the inside. Life is indeed a state of mind.

Being There (1979) (8/10)

The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain (6/10) (1995)

A feel good movie about the war times when a Welsh village is about to lose their latest asset owing to two Englishmen just doing their job. The towns folk set about the task of convincing (or is it duping? or is it just transmitting their point of view?) the duo about "reconsidering" their execution of their job. They do it in a perfectly Gandhian way - non-cooperation. Romance is thrown in, and some rules to the air. Making a mountain out of a mole? You have come to the right spot.

The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain (6/10) (1995)

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) (6/10)

A nonlinear story about an individuals moral issues with extramarital sex. Good performances and suspenseful stuff of secret societies keep it intriguing. An individuals foray into an area where he does not belong. He seems to realize that, and yet keeps on getting drawn. And then there are the pangs of having endangered a few lives in the process. Stanley Kubrick.

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) (6/10)

Of Gods and Men AKA Des hommes et des dieux (6/10) (2010)

A group of missionaries (monks of Tibhirine) living in Atlas mountains in Algeria peacefully near a muslim village in the 1990s when terrorists threaten the well being in general, and perhaps the Christian priests in particular. Its a slow moving movie as the situation warrants - with the priests deliberating whether they should leave and thinking what their mission is, what they are headed for and so on. There is always the possibility of their being kidnapped or killed. Some of them go through phases of wanting to leave, but a couple are steadfast that they won't including the medic priest.

The encounters are a bit documentary like because they are real but the acting is superb, and the icing is the bit during their "last supper" when they have all decided to stay - a piece from Tchaikovsky's ballet, Swan Lake (10th movement, the first from Act II: Scene: Moderato).

While the discussions of the priests are shown in fair detail, the other side is shown just in sketches, and their encounters have no discussion as such (perhaps as is likely to happen in a real-life situation when at least one side has its views fixed). I would have liked to see more on those lines though.

Of Gods and Men AKA
Des hommes et des dieux (6/10) (2010)

The Fifth Element (1997) (7/10)

A fun movie. Sci-fi with the usual space ships, evil, aliens, magic antidote and so on, but also humour. In fact on one level it seems like a parody of many other serious counterparts to itself. The fifth element needs to be combined with the other four. But the fifth element happens to be alive. I do not know if it is fair to say, but Bruce Willis seems a lot like Indiana Jones but for the background. Not too much acting is needed as there is enough action. Many things about the evil and the aliens go unexplained as usual.

The Fifth Element (1997) (7/10)

Æon Flux (2005) (6/10)

A futuristic sci-fi movie where a dying world was saved by a scientist and all the saved people are living in a huge city separated from nature. This continues for 400 years but something has been brewing. The action is too fantastic as is often the case when anything is dubbed futuristic, and so are some of the gimmicks. Its always the right people with the right implements. Including the magnetic balls, in-brain communication, the non-distributed master database.

What I did like about the movie was its premise, which is plausible, but also mainly the solution that comes about. Many times time is a very good solution to many problems provided no destructive interference is being brought about.

Æon Flux (2005) (6/10)

The NeverEnding Story (1984) (5/10)

The story has a weak premise of interactive stories, as usual in another dimension. A school and a home are shown for an excuse but it is really about rescuing a princess who is awake just a for a few minutes throughout the movie. Its more about a boy who has to go on a quest for the princess just because her uncle says so. His character does not get built. There are a bunch of other characters thrown in for effect which they summarily fail to. What is this a mix of? Alice in wonderland, Wizard of Oz and Spongebob or something like that

The NeverEnding Story (1984) (5/10)

Enemy Mine (1985) (4/10)

Netflix thought I would like this. So much for their AI algorithms. It is sci-fi (really? it was more about emotions - first anti, then for and the usual violence thrown in for good measure - just good old earth -on any part of it for that matter - in a different setting), it is based in outer space, it has aliens. Are the criteria so simple?

It is about species, ugliness (of the body, of perception and of the mind) and perhaps goodness (or is that just the residual when ugliness leaves?). In short, you can avoid this. Why did I spend time writing this? Perhaps just to indicate that some good is still left in me.

Enemy Mine (1985) (4/10)