Movie Review: Doctor Strange – Has Soul Searching Marvel Found Their Key to Survival?

Every movie franchise needs a rebirth at some point. Christopher Nolan’s storytelling changed the way we look at superhero movies forever with that kind of conflict that rips our understanding of right and wrong. DC may have done the reverse of it with the utterly terrible Batman Vs Superman, Dawn of Justice. But Marvel seems to have turned a page from their formulaic action extravaganzas to formulaic magical extravaganzas. I use the word formulaic because despite the soul searching that the franchise undergoes along with Dr Strange, it is the writing that lets it down.

Doctor Strange follows that life of Dr Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) an arrogant but brilliant neurosurgeon who loses his way after a terrible accident. In search of an eastern cure, he unwittingly falls into the hands of the Ancient One (Tilda Swindon) who along with Master Mondo (Chiwetel Edjiafor) transforms Dr Strange into a universe saving sorcerer by introducing him to dimensions that defy time and space. And when the inevitable threat comes to earth it was up to the trio to save it from falling into darkness.

Robert Downey Jr must be pissing himself at the sight of Benedict Cumberbatch. If he though he nailed the role of World’s famous detective, out came Cumberbatch with his version of Sherlock Holmes that blew the audience away. Now Downey Jr’s title as the best Marvel Cast member might be at threat with Englishman stealing the show as Dr Strange with an arrogant, narcissistic yet lovable, goofy and funny portrayal. There may be shades of Sherlock to it but only just. He mesmerizes us with a performance that shifts from self-centred arrogance to a world saver without essentially losing the soul upon which the character is developed. And yes, that smile! How long before he stars in a timeless romantic flick?

Though originally not conceived in the comics as a Celtic sorcerer, Tilda Swinton as the ancient one steals the show with a measured performance that resonates with the very purpose of the movie. Chiwetel Edgiafor has done far more challenging roles so this is a cake walk for the talented actor. Mads Mikkelson doesn’t do a lot of mainstream Hollywood movies but when he does it stands out like the Bond Villain in Casino Royale, the series Hannibal and now as Caesillius. Benedict Wong and Rachel McAdams has limited screen space but that does not stop from leaving an impression.

Doctor Strange might just be the template upon which Marvel could continue its cinematic existence. Here they have moved into a darker territory and the sort of concepts that stimulates the modern movie going geeks. There is humour that goes extremely well written for the characters and doesn’t look forced. Originally conceived in the 60’s, the writers have done well to introduce modern concepts of physics to enchant the modern intellect and enough spiritual material to appeal to the family audience. The special effects stay close to the movie’s time and space bending concepts. Yet there are some inevitable flaws that they could not correct. The screenplay follows an extremely tried and tested path and sometimes overbearing of CGI that could take the focus off storytelling. There is an instant comparison to Nolan’s Batman Begins that follows a similar trajectory of a talented lost man in search for his soul in the orient and Inception inspired CGI although others may argue that Nolan stole the original idea from the comic itself.

Marvel after Infinity Wars could have been a stretch given the orgy of stars and that sort of final battle that could make a successful movie franchise and force their audience into submission. But with an alternative look to its thinking, Marvel might have found a way beyond that with Doctor Strange. 

Match Report: Liverpool Vs Manchester United, Barclays Premier League, Anfield

Ah you Mourinho! It is in these fixtures that he lightens up to become the party pooper. He set it up and he delivered spectacularly. The moment United went into the break not able to score after all their pressing, it was quite clear he will order a shutdown and his players executed it all so well. Make no mistake, it wasn’t a boring draw and it’s not like Liverpool played badly. If you look at the game from a defensive perspective, it was an excellent game for both the team’s defenders except perhaps Lorius Karius who looked pretty suspect. David De Gea is the best goalkeeper in the world by a country mile. The fact that he chose to stay without Champions League football only increases my respects for him. And one midfielder controlled the game and that was Ander Herrera who wasn’t exactly playing in his best position. But a great performance from the Spaniard and a deserved Man of the match.

Enough of United, where did we make the mistakes? Well, they were not bad but United stifled Liverpool so effectively that one man was missed more than ever. Adam Lallana’s introduction galvanised the team so much that one only wonders what would have happened had he started. I might be going on a limb here but Klopp really needs a couple of more players who should be in tune with that midfield to not miss a player. Emre Can did not particularly have a good game losing the ball a lot and a lot of defensive passes that got into the Anfield crowd’s nerves. But the biggest disappointment of the night was Sadio Mane. Again, Mourinho and his instructions were very clear to Daley Blind. Don’t lose Mane and he did just that. Too many slips and misplaced passes. Klopp was right in his post-match comments that Liverpool were not calm enough.

There is one case that is very puzzling these days and that’s one of Daniel Sturridge. He had an excellent game against Leicester despite not scoring a goal, making the right runs and creating chances for others. But these days he just seems too moody. Either him or Klopp needs to realize that he needs a change of attitude or this could very well be his last season. Title chasing teams cannot afford players who are on and off. It’s one thing that Liverpool did not find him enough but he is not a Balotelli or a Benteke isn’t he? He needs to be more involved too when he does not have the ball.

From a defensive perspective, it was a pretty good game with Matip and Lovren more than handling the threat of Ibrahimovic, Rashford and Pogba. But Karius still looks very suspect. I guess Klopp gave this start not to dent his confidence and the clean sheet should springboard him for better performances. 

Tactically, it’s a game that United won fair and square. For Liverpool it should feel like a loss but there is no need for dropping shoulders because now that Liverpool has played the big teams except Manchester City, it should not hurt them as much. But Jurgen Klopp should deal with the exact same problem I mentioned after the Burnley and Swansea game when teams counter Liverpool in their own game. It just seems like a perfect template to stop Liverpool attacks. That would determine where Liverpool finish in the league.

5 Years a Banker – The Story of a misfit who flourished

Sometimes in life, it just happens. There are no explanations, not even a warning signal. About 5 years ago, a slightly nervous yet excited young man stared at the “Allahabad Bank – Vellore Branch” board for a full minute before walking into the manager’s cabin. It was his first day at work as a probationary officer. He was not related in any way to the field to have chosen it as a career path (Expect that his dad was a banker), having graduated it Bioinformatics and worked in a corporate giant like Wipro (albeit for a few months). Yet somehow it all just clicked for no reason at all. This is not just my story but could be related to any of the hundreds and thousands of youngsters who join this grand old industry.

Part of the reason why I joined a mid-tier bank like mine despite having offers from two other highly ranked banks is what I thought would be a moderately good working culture. And boy was I right! Especially with the kind of people I got to work with and more specifically my fellow officers. I have never called myself as a complete banker, probably never will. And a lot of my fellow mates have been more surprised than the people who recruited me on why I am in this field. It’s true that I am bit of a misfit in this industry not only because of my background but also because of my interests that could vary from writing to making a movie (all of which my job allowed me to do). But two things made me stay put and enjoy my work. One is that I have always done what my heart told me to and second is undoubtedly my fellow officers. You see, it can be mildly frustrating (to put it mildly) to answer basic doubts from a fellow officer who has been here for more than 3 years. But that’s what I did. God knows how frustrating it can be. But they all had a smile on their face and a willingness to help me no matter what. That’s not easy to find and I am incredibly lucky that way. And it’s not every day that you sit down with your managers at the end of a hard day’s work and talk travel, literature and exchange books. That’s dream if you ask me.

It frustrates me when sometimes people look down of a bank job but it also amuses me on how less people know how good it can be. Yes, there is pressure and yes there is work and lots of it and every branch is always under staffed. But the greatest thing that being a banker had done to me is that I never had a phobia of Mondays. It just doesn’t make any sense to me when I see people post about Mondays because there had not been a single time where I thought “Oh My God! It’s a Monday!” The fact that I am writing this on a Monday evening says a lot. There is a lot of work but it’s never monotonous. There is pressure but there is also satisfaction. The sense of achievement that you get when you make some stranger’s life better is unparalleled. This is say despite working exclusively as an urban banker. It multiplies exponentially if you are a rural banker. This is a field where its personnel actually make a difference to the society. It’s not a “Facebook will pay 1 dollar for every like” world. This is the real deal and it’s tremendously satisfying to be an agent of actual change.

It just felt right to write this because my friends in banking proved me wrong you know. I never thought I will find these many good folks in my line of work given that I work in an office that has 10 people. There is great camaraderie and respect. There is hardly any rivalry even when appearing for promotions together and a genuine sense of happiness when a fellow officer is promoted and a responsibility to get everyone up to the next level. I mean, name one corporate where you can find mates like this. I may not end up retiring as a banker but whatever time that I spend here will most definitely be some of the most special years of my life and I have my mates to thank for. 

The Revenant – Welcome to Hell, on Paradise

Very few movies provide its audience one particular experience that can only be given by a book, getting lost into it. While other movies let us watch the story unfold, these select few let us be part of it. We struggled to differentiate reality and a dream state (Inception), we felt grateful to have touched the soil after passing enormous hardships to get back to ground from outer space (Gravity). Likewise, we have now felt pain, hunger, anger and solitude in a barren tundra and know what it is like to be left to die alone. There have been a lot of Man Vs Nature movies before but none have left us this beaten and bruised as Alejandro Innaritu’s exceptionally shot, The Revenant.

Legendary Rocky Mountain Frontiersmen Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is injured in a vicious bear attack while guiding a fur trapping expedition in the northern Missouri river. Left for dead by members of his hunting team, he needs to find extraordinary skills of survival to stay alive and extract revenge on John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) who had done him great wrong.

In what is essentially a simple tale of revenge, Alejandro Innaritu manages to create an unforgiving masterpiece of grit, determination and survival so raw that you can even smell the breath of the characters. The intimacy of the work is such that you wonder if what’s giving you the chills, is the air conditioning of the movie hall or the landscape depicted in the movie come to life. It is minute-after-minute of arrow stricken men, butchered animals and ghastly moments that are downright visceral and can leave you with a disturbed gut but it is also of visual brilliance and great acting. While you could literally feel the drooping saliva of the grizzly, you can also taste the water when Glass sticks his tongue out to drink water from the falling sleet.

Eddie Redmayne’s reaction when Julianne Moore declared the winner of best actor at this year’s Academy awards perhaps encapsulates just how much the World wanted to see Leonardo DiCaprio lift the Oscar statuette. Some might question the choice given that there were two other power packed performances last year from Bryan Cranston (Trumbo) and Redmayne himself (The Danish Girl) but perhaps its poetic justice and a culmination of all his previous nominations that tipped the favour towards DiCaprio and now the World has one less thing to worry about. The performance itself resonated with his Oscar misgivings: Beaten, Bruised and left in the cold, he eventually crawls and fights his way to get his revenge.

Mark Rylance’s phenomenal work as the captive US spy in Bridge of Spies was the only thing that stood between Tom Hardy and a first academy award as he spits venom in his role as John Fitzgerald who is as cold and unforgiving as the landscape of the movie itself. Tasked with a role that is more challenging than DiCaprio’s, Hardy captivates the audience with so much of dark side that you are forgiven to have missed the humanity in it. How much he communicates through those powerful eyes! The premise of his character is not new to him specially after The Dark Knight Rises, Warrior and Legend but he brings something fresh to it every time he laces up his boots as a Villain. This complex, power packed performer will be one of the best performers of this era.

Alejandro Innaritu’s vision is a testament on how to convert what in essence an art house making into a commercial blockbuster. The Revenant is grand, brilliant and spell binding but ultimately exhausting. In an attempt to elevate the movie from a simple revenge tale Innaritu poses a lot of questions from race to climate change to humanity to a brutal system that helped build a nation. But he leaves no attempt to answer them but simply lets his characters be victims of all these problems. In doing so he has left a sense of incompleteness which is akin to Glass’ final moments in the movie, a long stare into the emptiness. Is that the point of it all?

It is not customary to finish a review with a take on a movie’s cinematographer. But Emmanuel Lubezki’s work is so captivating that you really wonder what this feature would be without this triple Oscar winner and multiple time nominee. His work in the Revenant is not just visual but also the way he lets the audience feel the movie or in his own words, immersive. Shot exclusively in natural light which is limited in the terrain where they shot the movie (Canada and Argentina), Lubezki brings us every sunrise, frozen plants, shooting stars, frozen waterfalls, every wound in Glass’ body and the fear in the men’s eyes. What could be equally or more challenging than shooting landscapes is capturing human emotions in its micro detail. So, the idea a movie like this involves the camera to be more emotional than mechanical and that is exactly what Lubezki achieved. Shooting for this movie was termed hellacious by the cast filled with unnatural hardships but the end product is heaven. The movie itself is a grand statement of what happens when the director and cinematographer works perfectly in sync with each other.

While the Revenant falters on content and grace, it more than makes it up with its unique style of moviemaking that’s brutal and awkward to watch but ultimately manages to floor you with knock out performances and out of the world cinematography. 

The Conjuring 2 Review – The Sequel that does just enough

I don’t watch a lot of horror movies, simply because I am scared of them. I remember watching Darkness Falls back in the day and keeping a torch next to my bed for a week because the ghost, Matilda is afraid of light. But then, that’s what they are supposed to do aren’t they! I remember watching Conjuring and thought to myself, this is the sort of horror movies that I want to watch! Good investigative storyline, no over the top acting or short & wet dresses and really good light and sound effects. But then Annabelle happened and ruined it for me. I mean what kind of horror movie was that predictable. But when they announced The Conjuring 2, I started hoping again and I have to say that they did not disappoint although that is another way of saying, they did only just enough.

Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) are back, this time in England to investigate the supernatural incidents happening to a family of single mom and 4 young children. The Warrens themselves experience strange visions not necessarily relating to this event. How they manage to solve both (In an extremely well thought out twist in the end) forms the crux of the movie. The template doesn’t change at all. A family experiencing strange and horrifying incidents during the night, a resident ghost who just won’t leave and finding a medium to fulfil its demonic wishes. Then comes the warrens who investigate the matter, collect proof of demonic activity and with the help of the church manages to get rid of the resident evil. Same old same old, but what separates the Conjuring series with other horror movies is how they have managed to convince human powers to fight a higher evil. It is like how Gandalf explains in the Lord of Rings Trilogy that it’s not great power but the everyday act of kindness from simple folk that keeps darkness in bay. While in the first part it was the love of a mother that fought the demon inside her, here it is a family sticking together. This concept makes the Conjuring series more endearing to all audience alike.

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga has forged a simple yet formidable chemistry between them that it’s impossible to think of another pair doing a better job at it. Their simple acts of kindness like Wilson fixing the poor family’s household items or the Elvis song that puts a smile on the much affected family’s faces. But the breakout star of the movie is Madison Wolfe as Janet Hodgson who is used by the ghost as a medium. There is an underlying sadness in her eyes that lets her go through the sheer range of expressions the character demanded with aplomb. Like I said earlier, the movie steers clear from predictable horror movie stereotypes and therein lies their success. The fact that they used real haunted locations and simple engineering mechanics to create the horror scenes and not relying too much on CGI makes the movie that much more authentic.

The movie has got its moments, quite a lot actually. But it isn’t the scariest that I have seen and it definitely does not get you to the edge of the seat all that frequently. Although the reason why Lorraine could not sense anything in the house is revealed in an exciting climax twist, the climax itself was a bit of a let-down. But what it quietly does is, let you travel with the Warrens and experience demons in an unassuming way that you actually feel relieved for yourself as much as for the Hodgsons. It’s not the most riveting but it is not a franchise killer either. I am already expecting a third part, only this time a bit scarier.  

You can finish that book now Sujatha Sir

Heaven must be overloaded with geniuses by now, especially in the last year or so. Writer Sujatha left a few years ago, creating a void that may not be filled. The triple shockers from the film industry happened next, with Balu, KB and MSV. And now, the man who inspired a nation to make its own missiles, rockets and even atom bombs is no more. Despite the achievements his biggest inspiration was not in science after all. It’s in the minds of the youth of India where Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam sowed the seeds of a better India. In a country as diverse as ours in every sense of word and its people who had given up on the very leaders they had so emphatically voted for power, it needed a miracle man to unite them all in self belief. And along came Kalam. How could a man,  quiet, soft spoken with the most genial smile and all of five feet five with no political background manage to do that? 

As a nation, we have witnessed for the past so many years, two faced leaders who would beg for power and crush the very people who put them there. The problem with diversity and large population is that, any reform that can and should happen almost never happens. Vote bank politics has managed to divide the nation more than what the British ever did. So how did Kalam manage to get through all these barriers? Truth! A man who lives by the very principles he preachers is endangered in this era. Plus, he was clear where his teaching must reach. Not the politically brainwashed seniors and middle age men whose very ambition is family and just that (not that I find fault in that) but it is in the uncluttered minds of the youth is where he found the path to a better India. Which is what made him write books, made him travel all across the country and take up presidency when it was offered. To him it was not a seat of power or a route for personal wealth, like how a certain lady showed later, but a chance to reach out to more people and elevate their minds. Although for the most part, he was nothing more than a glorious final signature, he did manage to stamp his authority in various areas without being public about it. His legacy as a president was not in the documents but the change he made in the minds of people either by his speeches or by his sheer personality (Remember his refusal to shed his locks after he became president!). One look and you know that here is a man I can believe and follow. 

Although I am deeply moved and happy for all the posts that bombarded the whole nation in social media since last evening, I am deeply worried about what is going to happen next. In a time where news reporting is so dramatized and everybody is looking for the next big incident to talk about, are we going to let the memory of this great man slip away from us like any other news? We talk about it for two days frenetically and move on to the next Bollywood controversy. How long before this gets boring? He told us to dream. He himself dreamt of a nation, strong, just and powerful. Are we going to keep dreaming or we going to make his dream and vision come alive? India 2020 is not viable anymore, not at the rate we are travelling. But sooner, rather than later, we can all make it happen. That is what we can do to the man who rejected the idea of family and liaisons just so he can work on his vision. “Unlike the political leaders, we are his heirs.” It is in what we do for our nation and humanity that will make him rest in peace. 

Writer Sujatha, who was a classmate of Dr. Kalam during his St. Joseph’s days, recalls in his memoir “Katradum Petradum” the times he shared with the great man. He recalls how Sujatha and his friends, apart from their studies, would indulge in movies, dramas, cricket and stuff while he was always about work and learning more. He also recalls an incident in the Russian Consulate in New Delhi where Kalam was offered Vodka by the Russians. Unable to refuse the drink as it might seem rude, he accepts the drink, secretly pours all the drink in Sujatha’s glass and poses instead with a glass of water. Needless to say, our writer was not himself that night! They were planning to write books on various topics including the nation and ways to make it a superpower. Now wouldn’t that be a masterpiece! Every time they met to discuss, either of them would become busy with some work or the other. Now, safely aboard in heaven and far away from the magnificent chaos that is India, you can finish that book now Sujatha Sir. Just find a way to drop it on to us.                  

Yennai Arindhal Review

What do you do if you get to direct your favorite hero for the first time? You mix your previous movies into one predictable cocktail and present it straight up, no twist. I may sound a bit cynical but Gautham Vasudev Menon’s Yennai Arinthal with Ajithkumar in the lead did not satisfy the appetite of the fan inside me who craved for this combination for a long time. Let me get one thing straight. It’s not a bad movie. It had its moments sure but I did not go in there to see Anbuselvan IPS lose another Maya and do a Raghavan IPS sort of investigation, get involved in a Major Surya-esque rescue of a child only to lose his own and finally puts another Aradhana-like life in danger to beat yet another Pandiya/Amudhan. Even though Gautham insists that the mix was done knowingly and as insisted by Ajith himself, you come out of the theatre feeling a bit let down by brand GVM.

Brand Ajith however, did not disappoint. You finally get to see the brilliant actor that he is, after Kreedom (Even though my Mallu friends would probably be sharpening their knives by now!). That’s seven long years and it was worth the wait. Ajith has underplayed his image as a mass hero and delivered a soul stirring, near to life performance as an honest cop, a caring father and a passionate lover. You see him crying, searching, yearning and losing which you cannot associate with his brand. Gautham Menon’s movies always show the lead actors in an elevated scale as far as looks are concerned. But what happens when you Ajith in the lead? You vehemently agree with Anushka’s observation as “the most handsome man on earth”.

In recent times it is only for Anushka that I have seen an equal response for a female actor as much as a male actor on screen. But these days you sense that she is simply trying to accommodate a lot of movies in between her two major projects, Bahubali and Rani Rudramma Devi. You can feel the strain in her and it reflects in her performance. So it’s Trisha as Hemanica (How GVM comes up with these names!) who leaves a lasting impression in an extended cameo. To call this as a lifetime role of Arun Vijay is wrong for this wonderfully gifted actor. But he had stood up against a colossus and comes up with a performance that is appreciated by even the most hardcore of Thala fans. The support is a plethora of GVM’s cliched set of actors and you almost end up counting to see all of them made it to this movie too. But thanks be to the good lord for not letting Gautham voice over his villain again.

Dan’s cinematography gives a gloomy and dark feel to an erstwhile Gautham movie and suits the mood of the script perfectly. Harris’ songs, except for the “Unakenna” number, leave a lot to be desired and so is his BGM. It’s a classic case of “What could have been!”

Gautham Vasudev Menon as a director must be applauded for leaving his mark (albeit cliched) while working with a larger than life hero. But then if you can stand out of a Kamal Hassan movie, I don’t see why not. But it’s the script itself that I have problems with. He will convince you that Ajith wanted it to be a G

VM movie and that it’s just another episode in a police officer’s life. I don’t deny that and I think that’s how it should be. But no matter what, I am not entirely convinced with the idea of rehashing all of his old movies. It unfolds as an honest flick with realistic performances that’s sure to go well with the critics. But as a fan of GVM’s direction and Ajith’s acting, my expectations were sky rocketing into something else altogether. It could be down to the fact that the movie just happened out of the blue with him already gone shooting for his movie with Simbu and he had to get a script ready in the last minute to make a movie with an actor he had wanted to work ever since his first movie. The movie did not disappoint for sure and it was refreshing to see Ajith in a performing role but you can’t help but feel a bit let down by the writing despite having Sriram Raghavan and Thyagarajan Kumararaja on board. May be this is only the first chapter of a long and fulfilling partnership. I’d be happy to see Gautham direct a full fledged romantic movie with Ajith in the lead.

As for Yennai Arindhal, well, nothing much to know about it!