Reviews

As I waited for two hours in a long queue to watch this movie at the Mumbai Film Festival, I wondered why I was doing so much for a silent movie, of all things. Post screening, I'm ready to brave hail, rain or the super hot Indian summer sun and stand in a serpentine queue, just to watch this movie all over again.

'The Artist' is sure to go down in history as a must-watch. For those who want to study films, for those who pursue cinema relentlessly, and also for those who just watch movies because they just like to. If you're wondering why a silent film, the movie not only answers it, but makes you fall in love with the medium. it's clearly a product of a thinking director, where every thing in the scene has a story to tell. Whether it's the ironical film posters, street signs, or just a little dog barking quietly in the corner.

I don't need to comment on the talents. The Best Actor award at Cannes 2011 has done that already. I will however mention the four-legged supporting actor in the movie. Best performance I've ever seen so far!

Enjoy this movie. Add it to your collection. This is one movie worth upgrading to from DVD to Blue Ray to ...

Its film's like these which tell you that movie-making in the land of bollywood is headed in the right direction...

After a myriad of movies with glam star cast and no storyline, here's a movie which has got its priorities right. With a strong storyline and crisp film-making, Thanks Maa is a touching tale based on a relationship which most take for granted-- mother and child. The beauty of the film lies in the way it highlights the issue of abandoning infants, using ironies found rampant in our daily lives. At times the reality it portrays seems a bit too harsh to believe, but overall, the issue is handled beautifully, without making judgements or imposing moralities.

Wonderful performances by Shams and his cronies. (The National Award well deserved in his case.) Superb settings, amazing cinematography. There are moments which the movie could have done without, but then again, it might also have to do with the fact that most scenes and settings shown in the movie are stuff that we, who live above the poverty line, will never have seen or imagined. With settings like these it is easy to often fall prey to stereotyping, but thankfully, Thanks Maa has stayed clear of such mistakes. The dialogues are a little too harsh at times, but emotions run high and its easy to feel for the plight of the children. Maybe a little shaky on the technical front, but overall, this movie is a must watch...

Mohit Suri had clearly not made this film for those who watch Hollywood horror flicks. And for those who haven't. this film will take you through all of the ones you have missed.

With strong, and in some places, completely identical, references from movies like the Ring, The Grudge and The Haunting are uncanny. Right from the production design to the cinematography, it seems like all the filmmakers have done is create a montage of the best scenes from these horror films. And tell me that Hashmi's character doesn't remind you of Heroes? Where, finally, there is some original story from the filmmaker's side, the film loses plot and the audience wishes it would just go back to being a montage.

For those who have seen Raaz (1) and want to go back for a scare, you might be disappointed. The movie tries too hard to scare, and even then, it fails.

The acting was bad. Except Emraan Hashmi, no one is worth a mention. If I have given the movie a 3 star rating, it is only for its production design, which has successfully recreated the designs from its English counterparts.

Overall, this movie is worth a watch if you have nothing better to do. However, those who aren't fans of horror and haven't seen much of The Ring, Grudge and its likes, you will enjoy it much more than I did.

OK, so i may be a little biased as this movie is still fresh on my mind from last night. But when i look back on all the movies that I have seen, world cinema or mainstream bollywood, the one thing I can tell you for sure is that I have never cried so much throughout a movie! This movie makes you feel. I am not a mother, yet I could feel the separation during Ishaan's first day in hostel. I am not dyslexic and yet I could feel the humiliation and helplessness that Ishaan must've felt when mocked by the others...

The movie has tackled the issue of dyslexia brilliantly. Subtly highlighting the obstacles a parent faces when accepting a dyslexic child and most importantly what a child goes through when he just cannot fit in... every scene is cinematic brilliance. The dream sequences, the paintings, the imagination... wonderfully done.

Technically I am not even gonna comment. All I can say is that it is a Masterpiece. Every scene is going to take your breath away. I mean it.

Go ahead and treat yourself to this piece of cinematic brilliance. And I am not saying it 'cos of the films superstar director, but really, TZP just goes to show what good cinema with a strong message can achieve.

PS: The critic in me couldn't believe that I'd give any movie a 10. But really, as I write this I cant help admitting that this is one movie which I cannot rate. Any kind of rating will just belittle it.