Happy Feet in Boots( stilettos)

It was a double whammy of animation, CGI, 3D and IMAX. Thought It would be fun watching back to back at IMAX.

I went to watch both Puss in the boots and Happy Feet Two last night. Still wondering why I did it. Regretting? Not sure. Enjoyed it? Not sure either.
Judging by the look in her face, the husher(gate keeper in India) at BFI IMAX who I am sure thought I was weird watching them back to back. Worst even, I had booked the same seat (M18) for the both shows. There's a method to that madness. With IMAX you got to have the best seats. Preferably third or fourth row from back and in the center.

Not to mention the pre-christmas holiday buzz and all the families come to the cinema. Children running around spilling their popcorn. Parents taking them to loo in the middle of the show.

Shall we start our first venture- Puss in the Boots. It was animated. One word describes it all. Perfecto. Script so skilfully written for 3D and even IMAX, it doesn't fail to impress in that front. The twist in the traditional fairy tales and some adult jokes thrown in dos make it a good entertainer. I would say it does serve the purpose. Fine afternoon affair, nothing to take home to.

On the other hand Happy Feet Two failed to impress me. Neither script nor 3D and IMAX did anything to lift my opinion about it. But one thing did, certain homo-erotic double entendre between the characters Bill and Will, the Krills voiced aptly by two undeniably sexiest hunks in hollywood today Matt Damon and Brad Pitt. I would have loved to be in the recording studio when they were lending voices, just to view that unmissable man chemistry between them.

We have come long way in entertaining families.

The Damsel, the Knight and the Damned - My Week With Marilyn

Being beautiful sometimes can be such a curse. Marilyn Monroe was cursed. Insecure, unhappy and forever longing. Dying young, beautiful but sad. It's second time in this week I am seeing a damsel and her distress on the screen.

Michelle Williams is so good as Marilyn, I came out of the hall just remembering her. Brilliant performance in a mediocre script. If Oscars could honour The King's Speech which to me was an average affair, Boy, They can't ignore the queen of celluloid either. This is an oscar-worthy performance. To act like Marilyn should not be difficult. We all know she was pretty bad actress. But bad acting is always difficult for good actresses. But portraying a bad actress and her bad acting must be most difficult of all. That's were Michelle Williams wins. She was so good as Miss Monroe acting bad. Moreover she brought to life all the insecurities and the quest for love of Miss Monroe. That's a true Damsel for you.

Then there is a Knight. Sir Lawrence Olivier. The shining armour is missing. Kenneth Branagh tries hard. But like in the script just fizzle out.

Let's not talk about the damned. My heart still feels for the young boy who lived his dream for a week. Colin Clark and his wet dream years. Eddie Redmayne brought that certain raw novelty to the character.

Overall it was a fair sunday evening watching this film which had it's moments and all those moments belonged to Miss Williams.

I keep thinking it takes a damn good actress to portray a bad actress.

The Dirty Picture

I went to see The Dirty Picture with lot of apprehensions. Not just because it is loosely based on the life of legendary late Silk Smitha who I kind of developed respect and certain degree of fondness lately, also that the film is set in the 80's, the decade very close to my heart. 80's was the decade which made me what I am today. My growing years.

80's Indian Film industry which which I think was to certain extent a golden era in it's own right or at least for me. People called 80's films fake and superficial often comparing it to an adolescent phase of maturity in terms of subject and technology or even infancy. When Hollywood had directors like Spielberg and films like Top Gun and E.T, we had southern films with dancing sirens and paunchy heroes. Still there was certain honesty in those films which I felt sadly got lost in 90's.

That was the era of Amithabh, Sridevi, Jeetendra, Bappi Lahiri and south brigade. Then there was Silk. The siren, the vamp who rose to phenomenal heights of mass popularity. Silk was quintessential sex symbol of the era. Totally non-apologetic. Lady who lived on her terms and defined the sexuality of the nation for decades to come. Still we do see the streaks of Silk in every actress in Bollywood today.

My apprehensions about the film was not totally unfounded. They managed to capture the zest of Silk's personality. Her care-a-damn attitude towards conservative "intellects". Lady ahead of her times. However there was certain awkwardness in the portrayal of the southern atmosphere. Some minor and to a certain extent major details could have taken care better. Silk excelled in those vampish dance numbers which were popularly referred as cabaret in India. There was none in the film. Instead there was a duet which reminisces then popular duets between hero and heroine.

But hey, no more complaints. The film despite of flaws was very entertaining and scored high for some honest performances by the lead actress Vidya Balan. Not my favourite but nevertheless worthy.

At last Silk got a worthy tribute.