Reviews

When I bought this movie, I was under a great expectation from Sandip Ray, as I used to be a devoted admirer of his late legendary father. My other attraction was the stars, like Soumitra Chatterjee, Sabyasachi Chakravarthy, Dipankar Dey and Rituparna Sengupta.

First of all, I would say, it's one of those very interesting Bengali stories with a potential for realistic psychological suspense drama. We should thank Narayan Ganguly for that. Sandip Ray narrates the story quite well, as good as his contemporary Rituparno Ghosh.

The special effects used in the earthquake scene weren't really efficient enough to make it look believable. It looked more like the house has got a poltergeist or something! Furthermore, when everybody jumped out of the bed in panic and rushed downstairs, that moment they were neatly wrapped in their shawls! That was a ridiculous goof.

Let me ask you this. Is Bengali society (and Indian) still in that level that the housewife and her educated enlightened sister work at home almost as slaves, while all male characters sit around giving orders and drinking tea and gobbling snacks and smoking constantly?! Observe how differently they treat two guests, Sunita (female) and Brojen Lahiri (male). Even after the catastrophe, the women continue to pick up debris and supply food and drink until one of them falls on her face!!

Is it still in that level that in case of a childless couple, only the wife gets tested for fertility (and to be blamed)?!

Is it still in that level that even the young characters have no prior experience of outdoor activities like rock climbing/hiking etc or rescue training in a crisis situation, other than chain smoking and reading text books?! Western young men and women probably do that every summer just for fun!

Is it still in that level that people sleep in bed in sharis and sweaters or with outdoor clothes on?! Don't adults find their own separate homes in stead of living with their parents and siblings for ever?! Are we in the wrong century? They didn't look like from 18th century though.

But my main disappointment came from somewhere else. Sandip Ray might have his own reasons for this casting, which he also mentioned in his interviews, but some of the castings felt so wrong and odd. Soumitra Chatterjee didn't have so much task here as can be demanded given his reputation. I always wondered what actually made him such a big star. People say he is a talented actor, especially in stage (live theaters). I have seen almost all his life's works, and there is absolutely no exception in his acting, in my eyes. He plays all the good old men just as the same, with the same verbal tone, with the same accent, with the same gestures. When he plays bad guys, he just sharpens his eyes in addition.

Sabyasachi, Dipankar and Rituparna gave OK performances, though I liked them better in Atmiya Swajan. On the other hand, Parambrata Chatterjee was a complete disaster. Dark shades under his eyes like a drug addict and facial hair that made him look like a lamb, was that intended? He was pathetically uncomfortable! Every time Parambrata is in the scene, the movie comes down to the level of Anjan Chowdhury/Swapan Saha/Sukhen Das's movies. That's a shame! I must say that in the west we may get a wrong impression that these two guys Soumitra and Parambrata are two gay guys, because of their feminine body language, voice, line delivery, hand gestures etc.

Raima Sen's looks and acting totally impressed me, (if we kindly ignore her imperfect Bengali accent). She gave a much better performance than her contemporary Konkona Sen Sharma in "Titli" (2002). She definitely has the lead female star potential and a very sensitive face, like her legendary grandmother. It was hard to believe that Sunita had to consider this stay-home, no-good, gay-looking young man Shyamal as a future life-partner. Just because "he was there available"!! They had absolutely no chemistry together!

I believe it was only Anita who was under stress for long time and had been suppressing her emotions inside her like volcano until the natural disaster triggered the outburst. None of the other characters had any reason for that. Their smoothly running perfect life ended up in 3-4 days' starvation+dehydration+cold, which was responsible for their hallucination and insanity, and that might lead to cannibalism in the long run.

I understand that, it is certainly different to depict the gradual psychological/behavioral transformation of the characters after the chock in hundred pages in the book, than to show it in a more realistic way in a movie in only 140 minutes. Considering that, I would give it 6 stars out of 10.

This movie is utterly misogynistic. It had turned the table to the several centuries' history of exploitation of weaker sex.

Richard Gere is not as intolerable in this movie as in "The Jackal" or "The Mothman Prophecies". Over the years it has become evident that his 'acting' means merely posing for the camera. For example, "No Mercy" and "Pretty Woman". He is rather a model than an actor.

On the other hand Lauren Hutton is a complete disaster. She looks like Gere's mother, if that's what the movie's intention might be. She tries to act lovesick puppy and gives flirtatious looks, (oh please!) which she is obviously not and won't be in million years! She has such an annoyingly 'wrong' face! She has a completely broken voice. Most of the time one cannot even understand what she is saying. When she whispers, no sound comes out of her throat at all! Moreover, the writers didn't do a good job to portray her character. Because of that, her actions, developing feeling and relationship with Julian seemed pointless, groundless and implausible.

Besides, it's hard to believe that rich women used to be so horny back in 80s that they are chasing after this self-proclaimed Don Juan, even to his home address and pouring money and gifts over him. Good for Gere fans. 4 stars out of 10.

If you liked "Sex And The City", "She's The One", "The Real Blonde" and "Your Friends And Neighbours", you will like it. Good thing is, they are not all Gucci, Dior or Dolce-Gabbana, nor they are trailer-trash immigrants, rather they are a bunch of confused New Yorkers from different social levels who simply tell their stories to the camera. This is a more or less general picture of Americans, they get fat, get bald, cheat around, get busted, and in the end seem to be some sentimental hypocrite patriots. They break up, they make up. They desperately try to figure out the fine line between lust and logic. They identify themselves with dogs and bitches. You would come to pity them. One of the characters tends to think that getting laid is a huge issue for him where the actual huge issue with him was his knowledge in Geography. He needs to get back to school rather than getting back to his ex-wife. If one rarely travels overseas and think that moving across country is a big life-time deal, their mind will also end up like this, and rest of the world outside USA wouldn't even exist for them. Stanley Tucci, Dennis Farina and Brittany Murphy's performance are quite good, though Brittany Murphy's hair always annoys me. Edward Burns and Heather Graham were not bad. Realistic plot has been combined with a special scene-plan in this movie. Looks like a "hopping-shots" technique that suits the theme and mood of the movie. 7 out of 10.

Utterly boring, foolish and aimless movie. Silly dialogues made it even worse, like, an adult female saying "I said thanks a thousand times because I don't know what to say", or "I make very good steak, that is one thing I am good at", or "These things happen in St Claire?"-"Everything happens in St Claire….eventually" etc. I had to decide whether I am supposed to laugh or burp.

Robin Wright Penn plays the role of a divorced lady who seemed to have nothing better to do and she seemed to me quite desperate to fall in love with anything she sees first thing in the morning (Jeez, could be a toilet seat!!). She looked almost "male" to me with a very manly hairline and she annoyingly scratches her hair every now and then. She had absolutely no chemistry with the male-lead Garret Blake played by Kevin Costner.

Garret is a boring country-bum grieving on his past. Both of them looked very helpless with these two no-idea-what-this-is-about characters. They have practically no topic to talk about and no interests to share. How would they even spend time together and think that they "had good time"? Such empty-headed stupidity is infuriating.

The movie-makers vainly tried to make it look romantic using landscapes with soundtracks that took quite a long footage to fill up. The so-called intellectual narration was meaningless and diluted. Otherwise there is no story. They probably started this project to give jobs to some people who rarely get any assignment at all. It started at 21:50 local time and finished at 17 minutes past midnight. If it went on a few more minutes I had to scream and smash my TV out of frustration.

I watch this show just for one purpose only. I watch it to understand why a human being on earth would be interested to watch a moronic story about a wooden stiff dull imbecile girl like Felicity. The character is not even capable of being happy, stay aside making other people happy! And Keri Russel's acting really really sucks. She cannot even move her neck! All she can do is to press her lips and lower her eyelids every now and then, that's it, that's what she calls 'acting'!!! And doesn't she look old enough to be her own mother. No wonder she is not welcome on big screen in Hollywood. Just looking at her gives me a terrible headache.

All the other leads are bunch of clowns, specially Scott Speedman. I am quite convinced by now that only morons love to know about the moronic life of Felicity.

White-knuckle action thriller! Thoughtful screen-play! Bruce Willis did real good in the role of an ice-cold brutal international assassin 'The Jackal' who has been described as never actually seen by anybody. I think that is one of the weak points of the plot. During his missions, the Jackal interacts in person with several 'real' people who he does business with for example to get fake passports, to get guns, whatsoever. Therefore, he actually meets these 'real' people and whenever he feels they may cause trouble he just kills them. It is possible that these murders may leave a series of evidences that eventually can track him down. Another major weak point is his disguises; he was always very much recognizable in these disguises. He could have used rubber masks to change faces as Tom Cruise's character did in 'Mission Impossible', but the Jackal did not or could not use such things (there must be some reason why). The Jackal definitely seemed to become over-confident in this particular mission and got a bit too sloppy for a cunning assassin like him. For example, the mistake he makes with Major Koslova eventually kills him.

Richard Gere as IRA terrorist taken out of prison to help catch the Jackal!!! No way! Over-weight over-aged Richard Gere looked really pathetic and ridiculous, with his same mannerism of frequently shifting eye-balls, all-the-time blinking eyes and chuckling (grunting?)through his nose from time to time. Doesn't he do these same three things in all the movies in all types of roles? I really wonder what makes him a big-budget Hollywood hero!!!

Richard Gere got so much focus that he became the only one to carry the last scene all alone on his shoulder while the whole army waits somewhere else!

A very dramatic suspense has been created every time the Jackal meets Declan Mulqueen (Richard Gere) eye to eye, a fantastic background tune.

7 out of 10.

The silliest movie of the year. Who is going to want to marry a woman like `Julianne Jules' who is so constantly irritating, temperamental, malicious, abusive, jealous, selfish, liar, betraying and repulsive? Who is going to even LIKE her, stay aside marriage? The character is so repulsive and disgusting, she didn't even try to seem civilized in the least! And who could be better fit than Julia Roberts to play this role with her same same all the same attitude (acting?) ever since……same permed hair, same messy look, all she did in this movie is the same monkey-business when not showing the same wide grin. Cameron Diaz (`Kimberly Kimmy') didn't even look attractive as she did in `The Mask' (1994). In this movie she is cast just as an empty-headed dollie. The two male lead roles in this movie are better, cooler, at least more normal and decent, though Dermot Mulroney in Michael's role is not even close to seem so madly desired and loved by women, it is practically difficult to believe when one looks at him! The Director and screenplay-writer vainly tried to give it a musical nature for some unknown reason.

So what? Those are the words I wanted to say after I watched this movie. The number of women who sacrificed their own interests for their families all over the world ever since is countless. What is so special about this plot? Francesca is no exception having a dilemma to choose between dream and duty. Thousands of women strangled the throat of their own dreams and desires under the pressure of society just as Francesca did. The movie is overall slow and sad type. The only thing I intend to emphasize on is Meryl Streep. I really wonder why people respect this "award-winning" actress so much! She is simply pathetic and a clown. She has terrible problem with her hands, especially in this one, she constantly touches her own cheeks, throats, arms, parts of her dresses, this and that, other things, failing to decide what to do with these hands, where to put. She speaks in the most inaudible way as if having an uttering problem, drugged or drunk or sleepy, as if the words are rolling out of her mouth! In all the movies she plays all these same "too-good-too-simple" type female leads. She has got one and only one idea of acting in the world, just leaning her head on one side and a simple smile and a line-delivery that sounds like stoned. I am really curious how can she even survive in the film industry. If one looks at the movie databases, one would find that Ms Streep either practically begged for some roles on her hands and knees at times, or some other times said she would rip some other actress's throat out for getting the desired role! What is the matter with this woman? I am really curious. Film industry does not have to be so stupid in the first place. Clint Eastwood is quite lovely in this movie, and believable as an irresistible magnet to lonely housewives. I have a feeling that he should have thought about doing such roles more than those western movies or one of those stereotype sullen face cops with creased foreheads who never smiles. I do not know if it has ever occurred to him.

First of all, the main weak point of this movie is an initial "not-so-convincing" misunderstanding between Lucy (Sandra bullock) and the Callaghan family, and the entire movie is standing on this persistent misunderstanding. The Callaghan family may be funny but did not necessarily have to be stupid. However, if this initial weak point can be ignored, the rest of the movie is a simple fairy tale told in a charming and lovely way. The activities of the Callaghan family is hilarious. Although it seems to be a problem to understand Sandra Bullock's babbling (she mumbles most of the time), she is cute in her over-sized outfits carrying a lonely, bored, puzzled, craving-for-love type of a disposition. It is totally impossible to imagine Demi Moore in Lucy's role, which was originally written for Ms Moore. Bill Pullman is irresistibly attractive in the role of Jack Callaghan. Bullock and Pullman make a real romantic couple. (Pullman has lovely hair and a great smile). The ending, however, has lost its intensity and was not so thoughtfully projected. The movie is overall entertaining. I rate it 7 out of 10.

This movie is one of the most tightly packed white-knuckle nail-biting suspense-thriller I have ever seen. The script and the background music are excellent. Richard Gere is in his top form as the cool-headed negative-lead in this movie. Andy Garcia always surprises me being such a little man in size but having such a heavy screen-personality (not to mention his penetrating eyes). Think of the difference between his roles in "Ocean's Eleven" and "The Untouchables". I personally admire Nancy Travis not only for her being a stunningly beautiful smart woman (she has the loveliest hair too) but also for her natural gift of acting ability, her throw of words, expression on her face, her movements, the way she carries herself ("Three Men and a Baby", "Three Men and a Little Lady", "Running Mates"). I don't know why she has never been the "most-demanded" actress in Hollywood! Laurie Metcalf was a perfect selection as Amy Wallace in this movie. The movie winds up to become a sharp quadruple in the end with these four people. I rate it 9 and ½ out of 10.

I don't believe and never imagine one can think of Meg Ryan in the role of a psychologically troubled housewife in a movie like this, which is mainly based on mind games. She is the shallowest kind of actress one can ever find in the visual industry. All she can do is to show an effervescent babbling juvenile attitude to all roles she ever acted in all kind of movies, Joe Versus the Volcano, The Presidio, Top Gun, When Harry Met Sally, French Kiss and so on.

Andy Garcia as pained husband with marriage problems? No way. He is probably better off with one of those mafia roles like Benedict in Ocean's Eleven. I believe Benedict was his best performance.

When a man loves a woman is the last thing this movie can be about. This movie even fails to describe what the problems are about, gets us to nowhere, shallow, nonsense and boring…...(yawn).

This movie received too much attention and did a very good business. Probably the most discussed one that time, and the sequels thereafter. First time I had to watch it with a friend of mine who rented the video and the second time is last night, it came on Denmark TV1. So many people said so many things, there is nothing much left for me that I can write. But let me tell you a couple of things, dear American kids and adults, grow up and start doing stuff like throwing yourself under a rushing underground train, jump down from the Empire state building or eat bullets. Anything is possible, nothing is impossible. You can do anything, you can kill people, make them alive again, kill yourself and next moment you are still alive, because you are going through a painful brainwash and human life is nothing but a meaningless illusion. My suggestion is please don't die in the process.

And those silly dialogues, those supposedly mystique, hollow, abstract speeches, like "the answer is out there, it's looking for you", "if you are not one of us, you are one of them", I strongly believe they themselves don't even know what they are talking about and what it means!

Both Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss are horrible. I saw Fishburne once playing Othelo, he was unbearably painful to our eyes. And that woman who plays Trinity, Carrie-Anne Moss, she is not only ugly, she really gives me creeps so to say, I hate her hair, I hate her nose, I hate her teeth, I hate her voice. She made me real sick. I really wonder why one would think of these two people, Fishburne and Moss in this movie, while we have several tall fit macho people like Gene Hackman, Donald Sutherland, Alec Baldwin, Julia Roberts, Geena Davis, Rebecca De Mornay, Laura Linney...........

3 stars for the special effects out of 10.

A complete wastage of an action hero like Arnold Schwarzenegger who acted in movies like "Twins", "Commando", "Kindergarten Cop", "Running man", "Total Recall" and series of both funny and hardcore action roles. This movie has a stupid storyline and cinematography that failed to bring it anywhere close to being eerie, made it rather foolish so to say. Robin Tunney is a constant pain to our eye. Some brutal displays of violence and imposed connections to the church, priest etc made it more annoying. It's not worth to spend time watching this movie. One thing I have really been wondering about for quite a while now, why Arnold practically never gets a glamorous heroine, he always gets those actresses whom nobody even wants to look at, can anyone enlighten me? I would rate this movie 0 out of 10.

It's a very clean and smart movie displaying human values and responsibilities of the law-enforcement. It indicates you cannot always live by the book, good guys make most of it from within professional limits and constraints. That's quite encouraging. Judge Reinhold as Detective Rosewood and Lisa Eilbacher as "Jenny" are very good selections. I normally don't like Eddie Murphy because he doesn't seem to learn to avoid temptations of over-acting, but Beverly Hills Cop is his best performance I would say, in this movie he carries a rather serious disposition with soft touches of clean humors. I really enjoyed those funny moments, when it came on TV this week-end I ignored all other hit movies on other channels and sat tight to watch it through.

One of the most annoying and filthy movies I have ever seen. Everybody in this movie acts artificial and unreal, seems like they felt helpless to act stupid doing stupid things. All that Tom Cruise can do is to keep his mouth slightly open all the time and his face expressionless when he is not showing us all 32 teeth of his. All that Nicole Kidman can do is to put too much makeup and act like a cheap prostitute, just like her other roles for example "Practical Magic". Why would people watch this movie while they can rent freaky videos next door? What's the message of this kind of movie anyway? Freaky stuff is all rich people love to do just because they have enough money to freak out and don't have to bother about what to eat tomorrow?