MOVIE REVIEW

MALEFICENT

Director: Robert Stromberg
Writers:  Linda Woolverton, Charles Perrault
Stars: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley
Runtime: 97 minutes
Strength: Special effects, acting and cinematography
Weakness: Predictable story and plot
Rating: 3.5/5
Plot: A vengeful fairy is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child may be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land.
Review: Maleficent marks the return of Angelina Jolie to the silver screen (since 2010's the Tourist), and, once again, she is both charming and talented in a leading role. Jolie plays a beautiful, pure-hearted young woman who lives in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land's protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal at the hand of who she thought was her true love - an act that turns her to stone. Bent on revenge, she places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom - and perhaps to her true happiness as well. The trailer and the posters advertise a big baddie, bringing out the dark side of Angelina Jolie, but that is just one part of a very complicated angel that Maleficent is. This is also the remake of the classic Disney movie, "Sleeping Beauty" timely and soundly panned out by wonderfully depicting both beautiful and gloomy sides of fairy land of Maleficent that feuded with selfish humans. The visual effects and acting lifted the somewhat predictable plot to a watchable one. Maleficent is this year's family movie. There are a lot more to feel, enjoy, and learn from. Not a Disney movie fan? Doesn't like a female protagonist? I don't think it will matter because once you start watching, you will be mesmerized by the imposing world and the ambivalent emotion of Maleficent.

Reviewed by Mohammad Haque

***

MARDAANI

Directors: Pradeep Sarkar
Writers:  Gopi Puthran
Stars: Rani Mukerji, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Sanjay Taneja
Runtime: 113 minutes
Strength: Story, acting
Weakness:  Some unnecessary dialogue, music and background score
Rating: 4/5
Plot: A cop's search for a missing teenage girl leads her to the depraved world of child trafficking. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game between the fearless cop and a ruthless mafia kingpin.
Review: Rani Mukherji is well established as a fantastic actor. But, the fact that she is possibly the best has been established with `Mardaani`. The film deals with the difficult subject of human-trafficking and Director Pradeep Sarkar tackles the issue very carefully. Shivani Shivaji Roy (Rani Mukerji) is a senior inspector of the criminal branch in Mumbai. Shivani takes on a case that changes her life. A teenage girl, Pyari, who is like a daughter to her, is kidnapped by the trafficking mafia and smuggled out of the city. What follows is a cat and mouse game between a ruthless mafia kingpin and the police. The acting in the film is superb.  Tahir was a revelation of sorts. The minute you set eyes on his character, you begin to loathe him. He has powerfully played a young urban villain, without any cheesy lines. `Mardaani` is also a proof of how good supporting cast can make a world of a difference to the feel of the movie. Even though the flick is centred around Rani`s character, the smaller roles have provided the much-needed realistic feel of the film. The lack of absurd over-the-top action is a relief, as watching cars fly and glass break in every second scene of a movie has taken a toll on the quality of cinema that an average movie-goer has to go through. This flick is much more grounded and makes a thoughtful statement about the issue of trafficking and abduction. Technically brilliant camera works and BGM helped the movie greatly.  If you are tired of the nonsensical action, and over-the-top drama, `Mardaani` is the film for you. The movie has the power to invoke thought and subjects you to question the ultimately ineffective candle light vigils that need to now metamorphose to a more powerful resistance to lawless cruelty and nip crime at its bud.

Reviewed by Broti Rahman

***

CLASSIC REVIEW

MISERY (1990)

Director: Rob Reiner
Writers:  Stephen King, William Goldman
Stars: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth
Runtime: 107 minutes
Strength: Acting, story and screenplay
Weakness: None
Plot: Best-selling novelist Paul Sheldon is "rescued" from a car crash by an obsessed fan.
Review: Misery is the film where Kathy Bates' true acting talents were discovered. It is a shining, shocking dark comedy in the Hitchcock mold! Writer William Goldman and director Rob Reiner do Hitchcock proud with this one. It has all the elements: a seemingly innocent place and situation invaded by a growing sense of sinister dread until a breathtaking climax. The intelligent script is peppered with moments that will either make you cringe or make you laugh, depending on how morbid your sense of humor is. It is a harrowing movie to watch the first time around. The crew has done a good job of making you feel Paul Sheldon's pain. Few films torture the audience like this one. In fact, I venture to say this is the best film of its kind since "Psycho" thirty years before Misery was made. The acting is fantastic. Farnsworth steals every scene he's in with his sardonic and relentless sheriff - he did not get enough accolades for what would have been a routine part in a lesser actor's hands. Caan is solid and underplays beautifully, and the inimitable Kathy Bates carries the film with her alternately hysterical or ridiculously-sappy Annie, the psychotic Sheldon fan. Her performance is a throwback to Hollywood's old days - it's not subtle, not quiet, and borders on over-acting. This is not method acting, this is showing off. But Bates makes it work, investing Annie with enough pitifulness to make the character complex and, thus, hold the role together. This movie is famous, of course, for making Kathy Bates an overnight sensation as everybody went into the movie wanting to see what Sonny Corleone looked like as an older man, but left with accolades for Kathy Bates on their lips. She is absolutely terrifying and unforgettable in this role and perfect for it. If you are a sucker for thrillers, then this movie is a must watch for you!

Collected from the Internet