The 50 Word Review

Reconstruction – 2003 – Christoffer Boe

cinefile — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:35:46 +0000

Against the backdrop of an intricate plot set in a slick looking Copenhagen, the protagonists Maria Bonnevie and Nikolaj Lie Kaas spend the better part of the film smoking in a way so alluring it may convince the viewer that cigarettes are the real secret to eternal beauty. Sabine Wolf

Michael Clayton - 2007 - Tony Gilroy

cinefile — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:48:15 +0000

Why on earth Tilda Swinton landed a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her barely-there roll in Michael Clayton baffles me. Still this post-Enron thriller starring George Clooney as a corporate fixer is decent, if muddled. Compared with a Grisham thriller it’s far more understated and subtle and the better for it. JJ

Race - 2008 - Abbas, Mastan

cinefile — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:19:10 +0000

Race is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. A flawless story unveils a litany of suspenseful moments. Saif-Ali Khan and Akshay Khanna are at their best - 10 out for 10 for the script. Neha Kumar.

Jodha Akbar - 2008 - Ashutosh Gowariker

cinefile — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:06:58 +0000

A masterpiece portraying the life of Akbar, the legendary Mughal Emperor, and his marriage to his Hindu-wife Jodha Bai. Aish looks stunning in her some 100 kgs of Tanishq jewelery. At more than three hours long it’s one to watch, once. Neha Kumar.

Iron Man - 2008 - Jon Favreau

cinefile — Tue, 06 May 2008 09:24:14 +0000

Iron Man makes a semi-entertaining silver screen debut. From the get-go there is promise, the chutzpah and wit of Robert Downey Jr, some nefarious Middle Eastern gunmen (they’ve replaced the Soviets since 9-11) and a bodily transformation. However, IM fails to deliver and doesn’t rise above your standard superhero fare. Expect a sequel.JJ

Gone Baby Gone - 2007 - Ben Affleck

cinefile — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:09:15 +0000

Second review in as many days about a Bah-stan movie. Ben Affleck makes a shaky directorial debut. At times the tension is finely tuned, other times it’s drawn-out. Still the dramatic plot, centering round a child abduction, and a commendable performance by Casey Affleck make it worth watching.JJ

The Departed - 2006 - Martin Scorsese

cinefile — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:55:10 +0000

Adapted from the original, set in Hong Kong, Scorsese finally bagged an Oscar for his tense portrayal of corruption set in Boston. He nails pretty much everything in this brilliantly written, and acted, thriller. Leonardo De Caprio comes of age and Nicholson proves he is the best actor in America. JJ

Vivah - 2006 - Sooraj R. Barjatya

cinefile — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:58:43 +0000

A simple, honest and graceful movie. While some may complain that this movie is sickly sentimental, I thought it beautifully reflects India’s culture and traditions in a touching manner. Maybe women would enjoy this more than men as it’s a regular family drama! Neha Kumar

Naked Blood - 1995 - Hisayasu Sato

cinefile — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:27:02 +0000

A very bizarre, dated, Japanese movie about a high-school teenager’s quest to rid the world of sadness and pain, by replacing it with happiness and ecstasy. He spikes his mother’s experimental test subjects with his test serum, and videotapes their progression as well as orgies and the elation of eventual death. A weird film. Brian Murray

Some Like It Hot - 1959 - Billy Wilder

cinefile — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:13:44 +0000

Such delightful innocence and good fun too. From an era when you could disguise two men - on the run from the Mafia - with dresses and some breast padding. Add to the mischief the sweetness of Marilyn Monroe and you have a classic. JJ