Lincoln (2012) Movie Review

Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln focuses on the personal and political life of Abraham Lincoln during the final stages of the Civil War. The grit and the inner strength of the political leader is showcased throughout the drama. Brilliant acting, dialogues and the visual persona of the characters enables the movie to achieve its objective.

The introductory fighting scene in the rain and the bloody after-war scenes establishes the context of the movie. The black soldier completing Lincoln’s speech emphasizes the trust they have placed on Lincoln and in a way is reminding him of his promise.

There is a good degree of Lincoln’s personal life shown in the movie, thereby helping the audience in appreciating his holistic personality and empathizing with him. He derives his strength by confiding in his wife.  Lincoln is resolute, visionary, strong-hearted (ability to support his eldest son’s wish of  becoming a soldier inspite of unbearable grief of already having lost his youngest son, his conversation with the messenger boys at the piano), composed under pressure, believes in his judgement (even when his close confidants question the possibility), a terrific leader and yet a simple man (his walking style, the general way of talking, amazed at the garnishing brought by the maid for his wife the day before the reception, sharpening his pencil during a heated discussion). All these attributes of Lincoln are brought out convincingly. The humour element is used very well without undermining the seriousness of the context when trying to fish for supporters of the bill.

In the concluding part of the movie, there are a couple of scenes conveying so much with no words. The senator removes his wig as if symbolizing the attainment of his life’s mission and the look on the house assistant when Lincoln leaves his house one last time, conveying his deep gratitude.

Rating - 4/5

Bangalore Days (Malayalam) Movie Review

The movie is a few chapters in the life of three Malayali cousins (also close friends) from their early 20’s until their next step in life – marriage. The charming aspect of the movie is its positive outlook to life at all points. The three protagonists (Kuttan, Ajju and Kunju) have their own problems but the overall tone of the movie is always positive. The three characters are young, lively and wanting to enjoy life. The song before the wedding, the friendly banter in the night before wedding and the scene just before the wedding establishes that they are close and caring friends. Their friendship remains equally important to them even after Kunju’s marriage.

The characterisation of the protagonists and the underlying theme of Kerala culture easily connects with most of the audience. Even minute details like the eating style of Kuttan while in Kunju’s house (Kerala style) has gained prominence by giving a close shot.

Kuttan is someone who is traditional, straight forward, well behaved, confirms to family norms and expects to find a traditional Malayali girl for marriage. He works in IT and gripes that he like many other would start hating it after a while. He needs financial security (talking about different monetary rates with his brother-in-law) and is mature when he urges Ajju against driving when he is angry.

Ajju, on the other hand is a contrast to Kuttan. His parents divorced and with none to answer to, lives life on his own terms. He does what he likes and he is kind of a rebel. He doesn’t like being bossed, questions the traditions and sacrifices (changing surname, giving up MBA) that Kunju follows after getting married. He mocks at the phrase ‘happily ever after’ with a bias against marriage (thinking of his own parents). All this changes when he meets Sarah, a free-spirited, positive woman just like the movie, who shapes Ajju’s life.

Kunju is somewhere mid-way between the characters of Kuttan and Ajju. She is traditional (her indifference to changing name after marriage, her comment : “everyone here likes apple juice” though she likes mango juice etc.), chirpy (taken care even in minute details like she slides over the car door to get into it – after the argument between Ajju and Ashok), smokes to get over the nervousness before marriage, quick mouthed and social (gets friendly with all the neighbouring flat members).

Kunju however manages to redeem her husband of his guilt. Driving car at a high speed is just another example that he has got over his guilt. Having a senior actor as the father of her husband’s former ex-girlfriend adds more heaviness to the grief. Another instance of using the same technique is the choice of the mother’s character of Ajju’s love interest.

In short, an entertaining movie for audience of any age.

Rating: 4/5

NH10 - Movie Review

A thriller from Navdeep Singh, it holds your attention throughout the film. This is one of those movies which you find gripping and yet regret that it had promised for more. Except for the climax, which somehow seemed cliché with the triumph of good over evil, your mind experiences the plight of Arjun (Neil Bhoopalam) and Meera (Anushka Sharma) for the entire 1 hour 55 min. Not many movies manage to do that.       

The movie begins with showing a newly wed couple, Arjun and Meera, characterised by the intimacy between them. The protagonists being from different states (used later to show contrast between urban and rural lifestyles) could have been established much well in the audience mind. The reference made twice to the forgetfulness of Arjun (once when he forgets to take his mobile phone to the party and the other when he keeps telling Meera on their journey to the villa that he has not forgotten anything this time) emphasizes that this forgetfulness would play a role in the mess they were going to get into.

The film is a thriller trying to bring out the difference in the urban and rural lifestyle especially of women. A couple (inter-caste marriage) is beaten up brutally by the members of the girl’s family in the village whereas the women in urban India are upset about bars being closed at 11 30 PM in Bangalore. The protagonists, Arjun and Meera have themselves had an inter caste marriage. When questioned by the policeman about her caste, on the way to rescue Arjun, Meera doesn’t even know hers and the policeman points out that even a 12 year old girl in the village would know hers.            A mild indication of this subject of the story is provided at the very beginning with a comment passed by one of Meera’s male colleagues “Women employees tend to have it easy with bosses”.    

A tense tone is maintained throughout the movie. The car attack on Meera on her way back from the party (though at this point you tend to erroneously believe that the film would revolve around the identity of the perpetrators), crescendo in the swimming pool scene, the toll booth operator mentioning about someone being shot, the scene where Arjun gets down in the village to ask the route (with the focus on the stranger in the rear view mirror), Meera smoking a cigarette in a way testifying the tense environment, the shot with the camera behind the guy lurking amidst the trees when Arjun and Meera reach the forest, sustain the tense mood of the movie.

The movie at times is trying a bit too hard to highlight the contrast between the lifestyles of urban and rural women not suiting its thriller genre.  The discussion between policeman and Meera in the jeep on the way to save her husband is easily spoiling the carefully built momentum so far.

As the film nears its end, Meera carries the film on her shoulders. However, the film relatively loses its tension from this point and doesn’t live up to its standards set so far. The jeep scene, stage show scenes help in doing so.

Rating – 3/5