Monthly Archives: September 2008

Movie Review: Saawariya (2007)

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1.5 Stars (out of 4)

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Based on a Dostoevsky short story, Saawariya follows a lonely musician’s efforts to woo a young carpet-weaver as she awaits the return of another man. The movie looks gorgeous, thanks to the saturated blues of the sets and costumes. Unfortunately, the two lead characters are boring and unlikable. Slow motion shots of the pair running in the rain are supposed to convince the audience of a romance that doesn’t otherwise seem to exist.

PG (brief nudity, violence); 142 minutes

This review originally appeared in The Naperville Sun on November 16, 2007

Movie Review: Laaga Chunari Mein Daag – Journey of a Woman (2007)

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2.5 Stars (out of 4)

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Vibha (Rani Mukherjee) saves her family from financial ruin by moving to Bombay to become an escort, though her secret isolates her from her loved ones, physically and emotionally. The complex relationships between Vibha, her sister Chutki (Konkona Sen Sharma), and their mother (Jaya Bhaduri) effectively convey the themes of female empowerment and sacrifice. But the musical numbers in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag feel shoehorned in, and Abhishek Bachchan is wasted in a role that’s basically a glorified cameo.

No Rating (sexuality, mature themes); 140 minutes

This review originally appeared in The Naperville Sun on October 19, 2007

Movie Review: Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007)

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3 Stars (out of 4)

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When the mansion Siddharth (Shiney Ahuja) inherits appears to be haunted, he turns to his psychotherapist friend Aditya (Akshay Kumar) to explain the mysterious happenings and ease the fears of his superstitious relatives. The resolution is clichéd and drawn-out, but Bhool Bhulaiyaa is saved by its climactic dance number and Kumar’s terrific comedic acting. The awkward English subtitles are sometimes hard to follow, but the humor and chills translate well.

No Rating (violence); 155 minutes

This review originially appeared in The Naperville Sun on October 19, 2007

Movie Review: God Tussi Great Ho (2008)

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1.5 Stars (out of 4)

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Writer-director Rumi Jaffery’s attempt to recreate the success of Bruce Almighty with a Bollywood-style remake of the film falls flat. In God Tussi Great Ho, AP (Salman Khan) blames God (Amitabh Bachchan) for his failing career and girl troubles, so he’s granted divine powers to see if he can do a better job running the world. The characters are unappealing, and Jaffery coaxes hokey performances out of the actors who portray them. This one won’t get a sequel.

No Rating (violence); 152 minutes