Not just baseball !!

Film: Moneyball
Director: Bennett Miller
Cast: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt,  Kerris Dorsey 
Genre: Drama | Sports


At some point in our life, we all confront challenges which unavoidably demand change in our thinking. Bennett Miller’s biographical sports drama ‘Moneyball’ adroitly talks about that change, which actually is precondition for living. It is a poignant story of an Oakland Athletics baseball team which is consistently performing poor and all of a sudden does wonders when Billy Beane (played by Brad Pitt) adopts new approach to the game.    


Oakland baseball team is not only morally down but is also financially kaput. Departure of 3 key players from team just adds fuel to the fire and now Billy Beane, the general manager of the team along with a cluster of experienced scouts is supposed to change the fortune of the team.

In Cleveland Indians, Billy meets rotund nerd Peter Brand (played by Jonah Hill) who at first sight & dialogue seems extremely foolish but later on proves that he’s a whiz kid. His impeccable statistics of player analysis helps Billy reconstruct the team. Consequence is far beyond anyone’s belief. 20 consecutive victories (world record!). And this takes Billy Beane’s career to orbit.


Billy has been a dismal failure as baseball player, his marriage is already broken & he is on verge of losing job. Character of Billy Beane has enough depth to make viewers sympathize for him. Pitt easily manages to depict frustration and his acting is so impressive that it didn’t look like he was acting even for a second.


On other hand is Jonah Hill who’s undeniably film’s biggest and most pleasant surprise. His naïve expressions, ability to represent character’s passion for the game and excellent dialogue delivery establishes that no other actor could’ve possibly done that sort of justice.

Screenplay of  Moneyball is outstanding. And how can it not be ! Duo Sorkin & Zaillian have injected tremendous energy to table conversations. Body language is a vital asset of people associated with sports. I was immensely impressed with Pitt’s body-language during the table conversation when he takes the charge and expresses his idea with sheer buoyancy.


One of the most touching moments of the film comes in climax when Billy while driving listens "the show" sung graciously by his daughter Casey (played by Kerris Dorsey) which surmises his entire life.


Potency of the film lies in the fact that even a viewer with bare minimum knowledge of baseball will be able to cherish it and more importantly, feel it.

Rating: 3.5/5

Ekk Deewana Tha: is partially enjoyable !!

Problem with Ekk Deewana Tha starts with opening credits itself. No other film in recent times has been so old fashioned as Ekk Deewana Tha is, in terms of opening credits.

Gautham Menon is so much in love with this film, that he’s making it for 3^rd time. Before, film was made in tamil and telugu. Both were hits. But this time, it won’t happen because film is just partially enjoyable.

Why the protagonist of Gautam Menon’s films has to be mechanical engineer only? Remember Madhav Shastri of RHTDM?  I guess it’s because Gautham Menon himself is a mechanical engineer.

Despite being a mechanical engineer, protagonist of the film Sachin (played by Prateik Babbar) chooses to maneuver his career towards cinema. He is also madly in love with gorgeous Jessie Thekkekutu (played by British model - Amy Jackson) who in film is malyali christian by religion and in her whole family there’s a viral that goes like this: Watching films and getting associated with it is sin.

But you know magnet theory, don’t you? Hiccups between them are portrayed childishly and there’s hardly any difference between Nargis Fakri & Amy Jackson, if compared in terms of acting. Second half is a complete drag. Being film-maker is not a cake-walk. But it is, according to Gautam who wrote this film.  

It’s first half that works and it works wonderfully. It has got plenty of charismatic moments and smart one-liners. Making fun of malyali language is fun, indeed.

Clumsy behavior of Prateik is entirely adorable and his nervousness to look right into the eyes of Jessie is way too interesting to witness. He just looked like another vella (jobless) from my street, his hairs are uncombed, he elegantly plays cricket and drives Pulsar. So, every lad can straightforwardly connect with Sachin.

Anay (played by Manu Rishi) is a cameraman who helps Sachin to step into the world of cinema and also helps to follow his love. He is a faithful friend & totally nuts, just like Shrek’s donkey. His fantastic dialogue delivery is one of the aspects which makes this film quite tolerable.

Rahman’s music works like magic at two instances. One’s when Sachin climbs to Jessie’s house in Kerala and expresses his honest feelings & another one’s in the climax when Sachin leisurely reveals his relationship status. Songs are forgettable. And yes, Prateik didn’t understand even a single thing about songs so he performed like a junior artist in each and every song.

It’s a watchable film, only if you possess utmost affection for rom-coms.

Rating: 2.5/5 

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu: is a boring film !!

How many times will they make Imran Khan look like a cute doll and present us on screen ? And how many times will he readily accept such roles ? Hell again, a tasteless bollywood rom-com.

Thanks to prosperous production house, film is shot lavishly (Las Vegas). Not only that, they've hired trademark musician Amit Trivedi. Sadly, soundtrack is just average. Cinematography of David Mac Donald is truly glistening and mood of the film is exactly analogous to Abbas Tyrewala’s Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Naa. If you loved that film then you are sure to relish this one, unlike me.

Rahul (played by Imran Khan) is the sweetest kid you’d have ever seen on Earth. Which boy listens to his parents till the age of 25? Answer is: Rahul. Yes, such impossible creature is the creation of the script writers (Shakun Batra & Ayesha DeVitre). Color of the tie which Rahul puts on every time before stepping out of his residence is decided by his Dad (played by Boman Irani) and his modern mom (played by Ratna Pathak) insists Rahul to chew food 32 times before swallowing. So basically Rahul is a pet. 

Riana (played by Kareena Kapoor), is a hair stylist and a bubbly but terribly spoilt girl. Charming leads meet at store, then at psychologist centre & then accidentally on a christmas night, Riana urges Rahul to drink, drink in abundance. And in the drunk state, shit happens i.e. marriage. Now legal demolition of marriage demands minimum 10 days of patience and we are shown that span. In that span of time, we witness unemployed & frustrated Rahul discovering his inner self and falling in love with the girl who doesn’t possess “that” kind of feeling for him.

Script is nothing but a jumbled combo of What happens in Vegas & Wake Up Sid. But truth is EMAET doesn’t comprise even 1/4th of the total humor which What happens in vegas had. In terms of music & acting, film is not eligible to be compared with Wake up Sid. When Rahul presents his will to become photographer, neither are we shown his passion to become one nor are we blessed with glimpse of his achievements in that field. At least, they could’ve shown us something. Other characters in the film have enacted their part perfectly and climax is superior compared to other bollywood rom-coms. But in a rom-com when chemistry & humor goes missing what else is left?

110 minutes are more than enough for a film like this.

Don’t want to comment anything on Shakun Batra who directed this film (as it’s not worth) but releasing a rom-com close to Valentine’s Day surely makes Kjo a wise businessman.  

Rating: 1.5/5 

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island - is a stunning blend of 3D & CGI.

Is it appropriate to think logically while watching a B grade Hollywood film whose clear objective is to entertain the viewers? Is it even appropriate to think? Sometimes, it’s way too fruitful to suspend the disbelief.

We weren’t familiar with 3D in 2008 and in that year, Journey to the center of the earth was released, in 3D. Film flopped but brave makers are back with a sequel “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” which surprisingly is a watchable film. 

Protagonist Sean (played by John Hutcherson) wants to save his grandfather (played by Michael Caine) who’s stuck on the fanciful & dangerous island. He must solve a riddle to get the map. Map will lead him to that mysterious island.

Hank (played by Dwayne Johnson) is Sean’s stepfather who not only gets him map by solving riddle but also accompanies him in his precarious adventure. By the way, he was quicker than Sherlock Holmes in solving riddle. Gabato (played by Luis Gazman) is a navigator who takes them to that island via. aged helicopter. We also have one more passenger in this journey i.e. Kailani (played by Vanessa Hudgens) who acts as eye candy and obviously is the ladylove of Sean.

Sean manages to locate his grandpa but the mission now is to vacant the island before it gets drowned. 

Banter between the characters at times is mildly funny but mostly it’s tasteless and ridiculous. Thanks to the wooden expressions of Dwayne Johnson, family drama here fails to strike the right emotional chords.

Seeing characters battling their lives in adventure films is always exciting and thrilling but for that unpredictability is pre-requisite & Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is a film devoid of astonishing twists and turns. Acting by each and every actor is of third rate. At last, film survives because of kick-ass special effects. Gorgeous 3D and CGI are used so wisely that you don’t care for anything else. Makers have injected “fun” element in abundance to keep you glued to your seat. 

Director Brad Peyton has really emphasized the word “mysterious”. I came to that conclusion when I witnessed characters riding bees, fighting gigantic lizard and strolling through the heart of the lush green island clad with waterfalls. And how can I forget the volcano of gold. That really was imaginative.

Island here is not as naturally blessed as Omaticaya (Avatar) but it surely has the exquisiteness which makes up for all the faults of the film. Pretend that you are a kid while watching and I assure you, you won’t criticize. 

Rating: 3/5

PS: One more film is coming in this series. You must check the title of that film.