Inception Movie Review | The Critique

Rating: 5/5

Some movies are simply a big mind game with its audiences. Whatever they call such movies; Chris Nolan is a pioneer of that genre. Hugely acclaimed Memento and The Dark Knight’s maker raise the cinematic experience of his movies to a higher level. Inception in one word is awesome.

Inception is about dreams and a hypothetical theory that we can influence some one’s dreams (I hope its hypothetical). Dom (Leonardo) is one such manipulator. With his friends and aides he plays with dreams of people to earn money. Dom wants to return to his children but he cannot, as he is wanted in his country. He wants to live in present but his past echoes in his psyche. He gets an offer to insert a thought into some one’s mind and in lieu he everything will be arranged. How he does it is the crux of the movie. Will he be ever able to forget his past? Will he be able to return home? Will inception be successful?

Strolling brilliantly between the different levels of dreams during inception, direction, cinematography, concept and performances; everything falls into right places like a big jigsaw. You will be simply awestruck by the development of the inception theory and the way everything is arranged. The movie itself is a maze and you need to be hyper-alert o understand it fully. The story and the concept deserve a big round of applause.

Inception has some amazing scenes. One, Ariadne, the architect of dreams folds the city and then weaves the bridge out of nothing. The personal dream world of Dom. The car being chased in a particular level of dream. And the classic one; paradoxes. Leonardo, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Arthus and Ellen Page as Ariadne did justice to their roles but the delight of acting was provided by Ken Watanabe as the businessmen who gives the assignment. He was really good.

Watch this movie. Highly recommended… And get with an answer. There is a slight indirect reference to Citizen Kane (intentional of not; I don’t know). What is it?

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Last Few Days Before Its Over | Editor’s Pen

I have read it somewhere that if in three attempts, you are successful even a one-third time, you should consider yourself three-times lucky. I don't know how much of it did I grabbed out of it, I noted one thing for sure. Success depends on luck but bad-luck should not be allowed to deter you from your targets.


Some people not only believe, rather follow this rule pretty diligently. We believe in it...

Before I signoff, I remind you that voting for Uttkrishtt will close on 31st of July, evening. Vote. It’s your call after all...

Regards

Sujoy Ghosh

Pankaj Kapoor | Movie Career |Statesman

Pankaj Kapoor, one of the finest actors amongst the present lot of character actors. He can easily be put in the list right up there with Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri. Alas, he never got the same fame as the other two. Pankaj Kapoor is a qualified engineer, but his passion for films lead him to join National School of Drama.


6 years later, in 1982 he acted in his first movie 'Arohan'. In 1983 came 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' which is the first movie that had him in a prominent role. Thereafter he starred in another comedy 'Chameli ki Shaadi' co-starring Anil Kapoor. Both films were critically acclaimed but Pankaj Kapoor had only minor roles in them.

In one of his lesser known works is 'Ek Ruka Hua Faisla'(1986) displays the caliber of his acting skills. It was adaptation of hollywood classic '12 Angry Men' with Pankaj Kapoor in a vital role.

Early 90's saw him starring in two important films 'Ek Doctor ki Maut' and 'Roja'. 'Ek Doctor ki Maut' was very highly acclaimed by critics and he won National Award for Best Actor. In 'Roja' he played Kashmiri Terrorist where he got to work with Mani Ratnam.

In 2003, just when most people had started to think that his career was over came 'Maqbool' with him reprising the role of Abbaji. Abbaji was modern take on Shekespeare's Macbeth. He played his role somewhat similar to Marlon Brando's role in Godfather. His performance is easily one of the best by any Indian actor in last 10 years.
Recently an interviewer asked him about his works in progress to which he replied "I am out of work". How such a great actor is out of work is beyond comprehension. This has been tragedy with him all through his career. His talent is under utilized. Hopefully he will keep giving us gems like Abbaji in coming future.
PS- He is directing his son Shahid Kapoor in upcoming film Mausam. Hope both father and son deliver a hit big time!!

Written By Ali Naqvi

Marley And Me | Flash Review

Marley is an uncontrollable dog who runs like hell and has energy of ten wild bison. Still, sweet Mr. and Mrs. Grogan tames him and soon he becomes a part of their life; literally inseparable. Marley And Me is a sweet beautiful movie about a dog and his masters that climaxes with his death and Mr. Grogan realizing that his journey with Marley make him understand what he wants in his life. Owen Wilson and Jen Aniston bring life into a story with their genuine performances. Watch it.

My Take: Rampal On Killing Spree In Rajneeti | Under Lens

Arjun Rampal is one of those few actors who are improving with every movie. In Rajneeti, he was really good in a few scenes. My take is the one in which he decides to kill corrupt cop in guesthouse. Considering Michael’s role in Godfather, it’s expected that Ranbeer would be killing him to take the revenge of that one tight slap. But, when I saw the rage in eyes of Arjun in that slap-scene; I realized that it’s going to be the other way this time. Sonny will go for the kill.

Now, cut to scene where Arjun comes to know about the whereabouts of the cop. He is infuriated and the image of his brother with injury on face comes to his mind, what else is expected from a hot blooded person like Prithvi. The character instantly decides to kill the cop as he promised his Uncle (Nana Patekar). His people gherao the guesthouse and he enters with a vicious grin and lyrics of a popular song of 90’s- ‘Kabhi Ankhiyan Ladaun…’ The cop is killed in cold blood and it is followed by murder of the women worker who changed her loyalty. Rampal simply lives the character with a high level of success.

Prakash Jha is a genius when we think about such scenes. It’s interesting to note that the way he created the character of Prithvi; it became the most memorable one in the lot. Samar has a greater parallel in Michael. For Prithvi… I need to think a lot.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh