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.

Opening This Weekend

The latest offering from the Farhan Akhtar/ Ritesh Sidhwani stable, Karthik Calling Karthik arrives this weekend. Ad-man Vijay Lalwani makes his directorial debut with this intriguing feature, supposedly based on the concept of "Depersonalization". I was reading up on this and here's what the Wikipedia entry on depersonalization states:

Depersonalization is a malfunction or anomaly of the mechanism by which an individual has self-awareness. It is a feeling of watching oneself act, while having no control over a situation. It can be considered desirable, such as in the use of recreational drugs, but it usually refers to the severe form found in anxiety and, in the most intense cases, panic attacks. Sufferers feel they have changed, and the world has become less real, vague, dreamlike, or lacking in significance. It can be a disturbing experience, since many feel that, indeed, they are living in a "dream".

Individuals who experience depersonalization feel divorced from their own personal physicality by sensing their body sensations, feelings, emotions and behaviors as not belonging to the same person or identity. Often a person who has experienced depersonalization claims that life "feels like a movie" or things seem unreal or hazy. Also, a recognition of self breaks down (hence the name). Depersonalization can result in very high anxiety levels, which further increase these perceptions.

The article goes on to state that this is the third most common psychological symptom after anxiety and depression! The last film (that I know of) to have used this concept was 2000's American Psycho, starring Christian Bale (if you haven't seen this great film, see it now!).In an interview for Hindustan Times, Farhan Akhtar says that during the making of the film... "I did stop meeting friends, answering the phone and even exercising. The character I was to play was lonely and feeling sorry for himself. I ended up feeling depressed too."

I don't know about you, but all this sounds extremely interesting to me. I'll try to catch the film on Friday and will hopefully have a review up soon!

(Edit: I just discovered that Wikipedia is the only place which states that Karthik is based on depersonalization. In fact, it says "This Film Base on Depersonalisation".

Under Box Office, it says:

This is Farmans One of the most awaiting Film in to the all of youth

After Rock on Farhan Need one other Hit

Deepika Look Gorges in this movie

This movie shall go in to the this year hit list

LOL. So not sure if the earlier information is correct, but it'd be cool if it is)

Also opening this week

It's Complicated: At the unlikely age of 60, the great Meryl Streep has turned into quite a box office draw. This Nancy Meyers directed romantic comedy also stars Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin and has grossed almost $200 million worldwide.

Invictus: Clint Eastwood's Nelson Mandela biopic failed in its Oscar bid for a spot in the expanded Best Picture line-up, but it did manage to score nominations for its two main stars: Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. This will be a good choice if inspirational dramas are your thing.

Teen Patti: Amitabh Bachchan and Ben Kingsley star in what seems to be a remake of 21. Leena Yadav, who earlier directed the terrible Aishwarya Rai-Sanjay Dutt starrer Shabd says: "Teen Patti is a study of materialism, greed and acquisitiveness in our times", while denying any relation to 21.... right.

The Princess and the Frog: Disney's latest attempt to re-capture its old magic. The film was well received by critics and has been nominated in the Best Animated Feature category at the Oscars.