MOVIE REVIEW

AKASH KOTO DURE

Director: Samia Zaman
Cast: Aunkon, Faria Shahrin, Mostofa Prokash, Razzak, Shormilee Ahmed, Misha Showdagor
Runtime: 123 minutes
Strength: Good direction, cinematography, music
Weakness: Predictable storyline, mediocre acting
Showbiz Rating: 3/5
Plot: Bicchu (Aunkon), an orphan, lives in an orphanage after his mother's death during his birth. Beaten up by the authority he leaves for the uncertain place ultimately coming to Dhaka. Here he meets two other orphans who steal for a living.
Review: Samia Zaman's second movie 'Akash Koto Dure' (The Distant Sky) incorporates the story of an orphan named Bicchu. He leaves in an orphanage after his mother's death during his birth. Being beaten up and tortured by the authority in the orphanage, Bicchu leaves for uncertain lands in order to find the meaning of his life finally coming to Dhaka. With no money in his pocket, he meets two other orphans here who are engaged in illegal work, and steal for a living.   
The story is smooth and easy going with the characters being presented one after another spontaneously for the sake of the plot. The representation of the village landscape, shooting, direction and incorporation of a different story shows the craftsmanship of Samia Zaman. Anyone can find the direction, music and acting to be different from a traditional Bangladeshi movie. The story is particularly woven to reflect on the central character, Bicchu. The other characters seem to be circling and supporting the central character for the plot's development, but there no strong supporting roles in the film.  The music is impressive and creates a sense of love and care. "Valobashi Etai Sesh Kotha" touches the heart of the viewers. Anyone can argue the movie to be children's movie with the central characters being children. Yet, the music and Faria's glamour would claim it as a wonderful love-story.
The mediocre acting of few characters might come to front as viewers start watching the movie. Faria, being new in media, tried her best, yet has a long way to go as an actor, as do Aunkon and Prokash. All in all, it is a wonderful Bangla movie to enjoyed seen with family and friends.

Reviewed by Mohammad Zahidul Islam

***

HER

Director: Spike Jonze
Writer: Spike Jonze
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson
Runtime: 126 minutes
Strength: Story, script, cast and Joaquin Phoenix's fantastic acting
Weakness: Too long, a bit slow at times
Showbiz Rating: 3.5/5
Plot: A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that's designed to meet his every need.
Review:  'Her' is the story of a very lonely protagonist (Joaquin Phoenix) and his computer's operating system (voiced superbly by Scarlett Johansson) and a surrogate sex partner the “couple” had previously agreed upon. Spike Jonze's fourth film is an astonishing piece of work from a filmmaker whose movies have all, in one way or another, served as outlandish examinations of the psyche and what it means to be human. In this film, Jonze – who also wrote the screenplay – tackles loneliness and the search for (human) connection in an increasingly-isolating digital age. Phoenix stars as Theodore Twombly, a sad sack of a man who ghostwrites “heartfelt” letters for other people by day and spends his nights holed up in his apartment playing video games. Currently in the process of a prolonged divorce from his wife (Rooney Mara) of many years, Theodore has withdrawn from social interaction.
Things begin to change for Theodore when he purchases a new operating system for his digital devices. Touted as the world's first artificially-aware program, the operating system is designed to continuously evolve based on its user's needs. It isn't long before Theodore and the operating system, having dubbed itself Samantha (played to perfection by Johansson), enter into what can only be described as a relationship. This is a film populated by broken people, be it in the form of a commitment-craving blind date (Olivia Wilde) or game designer Amy's inability to save her marriage.
Ultimately, the conflict here isn't whether or not Theodore and Samantha will live happily ever after, but whether Theodore will ever grow up and admit to anyone (including himself) his almost pathological tendency to push people away. When the film ends in the only possible way it can, we aren't anywhere near as shocked as the characters involved, but we do somewhat understand their states of mind. After all, at one point or another, everyone needs a shoulder to cry on, even if that shoulder is just a voice in your earpiece.

Reviewed by Mohammad Haque