It’s that time of the week again! Friday is what every cine buff looks forward to. However, there is a sad news for the Bollywood brigade as there is no Hindi release this week. This Friday, 4 November, has Hollywood releases and a couple of regional movies and animated ones in store. Let’s see which ones those are:
Ventilator
Director: Rajesh Mapuskar
Stars: Ashutosh Gowariker, Viju Khote, Deepak Shirke
Gaji Kaka – who never makes an appearance – is breathing his last in the hospital. As the news of his illness spreads, the entire extended family gathers to show their support, at the hospital. But as the family gathers and meets after a long time, a lot more happens in the hospital’s waiting room. The film brings out the typical conversations, old hangups, and portrays characters that you will find in a typical Marathi family. Although grief brings them together, the movie shows how daily life continues and brothers, nieces and nephews of Gaju Kaka are worried about various things like the impending Ganesh festival. Ashutosh Gowariker, who returns to acting after a hiatus, plays (what else) a famous film maker, while producer Priyanka Chopra has a cameo as herself (as a Bollywood star). Boman Irani chips in as the doctor. With one hilarious situation after another, the movie is both entertaining as well as a mirror of a Maharashtrian household. The movie also takes a look at commercialization of medical aid and everything else through the last rites.
Piggy Chops has ventured into Marathi cinema, not only as a producer but also as a vocalist. Her song is an ode to all fathers and resonates the theme of her film Ventilator, a comedy drama which has a father-son relationship as one of its central narratives. Since the film is made in memory of her late father Dr Ashok Chopra, the song also comes across as a tribute by “Daddy’s Little Girl”.
DOCTOR STRANGE
Director: Scott Derrickson
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benjamin Bratt, Tilda_Swinton.
You don’t need to know Dr. Strange to know his story. A tale of hubris — with foolish pride and an inevitable fall — it opens in contemporary New York, where Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), is flying high as a supersurgeon. After a crippling accident, he abandons his old life (partly embodied by Rachel McAdams, dewy and funny) for a grand exploit, traveling simultaneously into his soul and to the misterioso Far East. He meets leaders and fellow travelers, studies books and unlocks secrets, in time becoming a superhero with magical powers, a dubious goatee and a flirty cape that dries his tears. Tilda Swinton, as the Ancient One, presides over the place, dispensing solemn wisdom about astral dimensions with droll wit. The conflict between her mysticism and Stephen’s spiky rationalism sets the film’s distinctive comic tone.
Most superhero pictures are CGI-cluttered eyesores, but the new Doctor Strange has a dazzling, kaleidoscopic palette that compensates for the usual thin-ish story featuring A-list actors zapping one another, along with a hero who looks fearsomely witty even in repose. For a long while “Doctor Strange” works both sides of the spiritual street with spectacular success. Then the film becomes what it was sending up so delightfully. All of this is pure Marvel mumbo jumbo of course, but it could not be more fun to watch. Cumberbatch proves a versatile star, stepping out the more proper British dramas we often see him do and really delivering a character that calls for sequels. Ejiofor has less to do but does it well. Two bonus sequences during the must-not-miss end credits promise there is much more he will be doing next time — and yes the final words on screen are “Doctor Strange Will Return.”
TROLLS
Directors: Mike Mitchell, Walt Dohrn
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Russell Brand, James Corden, Kunal Nayyar, Ron Funches, Icona Pop, Gwen Stefani, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Quvenzhané Wallis, John Cleese
From the creators of Shrek comes DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls,” a smart, funny, and irreverent comedy about the search for happiness, and just how far some will go to get it. This hilarious film transports audiences to a colorful, wondrous world populated by the overly optimistic Trolls, with a constant dance in their step and a song on their lips, and the comically pessimistic Bergens, who are only happy when they have trolls in their stomachs.
After the Bergens invade Troll Village, Poppy (Kendrick), the happiest Troll ever born, and the overly-cautious curmudgeonly Branch (Timberlake) set off on a journey to rescue her friends. Together, this mismatched duo embark on a rescue mission full of adventure and mishaps – trying to tolerate each other long enough to get the job done.
Utilizing music to further the film’s narrative, the “Trolls” soundtrack is produced by Justin Timberlake and features five original songs including songs by Justin Timberlake and Gwen Stefani in addition to a number of classic hits from the 60’s – 80’s.
