Opening This Weekend

Road, Movie: Director Dev Benegal (English, August, Split Wide Open) returns with his first film in ten years, starring Bollywood new wave's poster boy Abhay Deol. The film has been playing on the festival circuit for quite some time now and most people who've seen it have raved about it. From the official synopsis: "VISHNU, a restless young man, itches to escape his father's faltering hair oil business. An old truck beckons, which Vishnu sees as his ticket to freedom. He offers to drive the antique Chevy across the desert to the sea, where it has been sold to a local museum. As he sets off across the harsh terrain, he discovers he's not merely transporting a battered vehicle, but an old touring cinema."

In an interview to IANS, Abhay Deol says: "Road, Movie is a celebration of cinema. It’s actually a film that you are watching within a film. It plays upon how important it (cinema) is to us and how it is treated and accepted. It is a journey of cinema". That sounds FANTASTIC! I'll be at the ticket counters on opening day. If you haven't visited the fabulous website for the film, please do so now -- you won't be disappointed!

Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?: Is Konkona Sen Sharma looking for a change of image? Or merely a break from more meaningful work? Everything I've seen about this film suggests that it's going to be as terrible as the last Ajay Devgan comedy, but I could be wrong.

Broken Embraces: You wouldn't want to miss this one if you're a Pedro Almodóvar fan -- it features an excellent performance from Penelope Cruz (yet again!). I was slightly disappointed with this, though one of the reasons could be that this is one of Almodóvar's more subtle films and it didn't grab me immediately like his previous work -- I definitely need to see this again! 

Legion: An out-of-the-way diner becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race. When God loses faith in humankind, he sends his legion of angels to bring on the Apocalypse. Humanity's only hope lies in a group of strangers trapped in a desert diner with the Archangel Michael (Paul Bettany) (IMDB plot summary)

Thanks Maa: This film has also been playing at a number of film festivals across the world, though I'm not sure what the response has been. Here's an excerpt from the not-so-good Screendaily review: "The global success of Slumdog Millionaire might help to create some curiosity about Thanks Maa, a sentimental melodrama set amongst Mumbai’s street children. Actor-turned-writer/director Irfan Kamal attempts a somewhat similar blend of urban fairytale and social commentary as Slumdog, but lacks the sure emotional touch and bravura filmmaking instincts that distinguished Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winner."

Hello Zindagi: Based on environmental themes, this film follows the life of a rebellious teenager who sets on a mission to save the endangered Olive Ridley Turtle, finally finding clarity in life. As per the official synopsis, "Hello Zindagi is the story of one young woman's journey towards self-realization."

Rokkk: The producers of this horror film have claimed that they will keep ambulances posted outside theatres where the horror film will be screened, a la RGV. Apparently people with heart problems have fallen ill during test screenings.