300

What happens when you take a group of artistes, give them a digital canvas and a box of CGI paints with multiple hues of crimson thrown in? A comic book comes alive — Togas, Sandals, Swords, Battles — an epic is unveiled. Kudos to the unflinching storytelling aptly supported by the technical wizardry, digital blood and real 6-pack abs.

Sivaji

4 states, 4 languages, 400 million people, 1 star, R-A-J-N-I!
Does it matter if the story is cliched? Does it matter if the direction is templated? Does it matter if the style dominates the substance? Hell NO! One of the worst movies made by Shankar, became one of the highest grossers of the year, courtesy Rajni. Enough said.

The Bourne Ultimatum

Lean, mean protagonist; dazzling, lighting-fast camera; kinetic, no-nonsense direction; frenetic pace of the storytelling – grasps you by the jugular and leaves you breathless until the end. The saga that started with the amnesiac flotsam hero ends on the same note with him rising up to life, not unlike a phoenix. Sequels have never been this bewitching.

Chak De! India

India is a land of diversity. And our movies depicted that with help of scenarios where Masterji’s *yateem* son finds *panaah* with some *Faadri* Michael, or Khan saab’s daughter’s *izzat* saved by one Ramu kaka who doesn’t hesitate to *qurbaan* his *jaan* for her. Never before Chak De was the diversity of Indians portrayed on screen — not counting the bonhomie Mile Sur Mera Tumhara and the DD songs as such — where the vast linguistic barriers of the variety of states prevent each other from discovering the common thread in our sense of belongingness. Never before Chak De was the spirit of sport shown on screen — not counting the intelligent Lagaan and other money spinners as such — where the partisanism, favoritism, insecurities, and injustices prevent the players from showcasing their best. The fact that this movie was sponsored by Yash Raj makes it more surprising, more welcome, and more worthy.

Om Shanti Om

Homage! Fromage! Guilty fun, like eating a cheese cake! Spoofs like this are path breaking art pieces – because they hopefully inspire more spoof movies, not unlike Airplane, to be made. Till then, all cool folks rise your hands and say with Farah “Om, Shanti Om”. You go girl!

The Simpsons Movie

Do’h!

Michael Clayton

One of the initial scenes gives you a glimpse of the story to come, a mysteriously emotional moment that haunts you during the film.

Michael Clayton, a high flying attorney, a legal fixer if you may, who has been burning the midnight oil playing a *power* poker game and then talking to a guilty client of his, stops his Benz by the country roads of Westchester. It’s dawn and he sees three majestic looking horses, standing tall and still on a misty hill. Clayton’s wistful looks — as if he desires to break free from the invisible prison sentence of a life to become free, just like those beautiful animals — are windows into his soul.

After Good Night and Good Luck, Syriana, and The Good German, this is yet another Clooney Tune from the man of many faces but one true heart!

No Country For Old Men

Fate defines that randomly destined moment of life where the probability — literally — of your survival depends on the flip of a coin. This principle of deadly abruptness adds color to the vast vistas of Texan deserts, profoundly described by Cormac McCarthy in his tome:

“The raw rock mountains shadowed in the late sun and to the east the shimmering abscissa of the desert plains under a sky where raincurtains hung dark as soot all along the quadrant.”

Trust the Coens to bring these words to life on screen.

Happy Days

A glorified music video by Sekhar Kammula, the talented man who sadly chose to take the easy way out. This movie, however, unfortunately stands tall amidst other insipid fare that the Telugu movie maker midgets chose to dole out this year. Pity!

Taare Zameen Par

Colors. Kites. Innocence. Trauma.

Every viewer (macho men included) is sure to cry like a baby while they’re in Ishaan Awasthi’s audience. Darsheel Safary, Aamir Khan, Amol Gupte – Take a bow guys!!

My favorite scene is the scene where Ishaan attempts solving the math questions the Calvin way (C&H) by going on a heroic galactic mission not unlike the Spaceman Spiff. No one can beat Calvin’s prowess of solving simple math problems in an outrageously advanced way, but Ishaan comes pretty close.