Little to Report

Observe and Report fits the mood for the lowest common denominator in popcorn fare. While I am about to trash the movie below, because of its sheer lack of imagination, the fact is that this movie does not pretend to be anything more than it actually is – a strictly “one time viewing” experience of a mall security guard and his fantasies of being a policeman, and his trying circumstances – an alcoholic mother, a group of misfits for friends, a bunch of chronic haters at the police force, a two-timing here-today gone-tomorrow girlfriend. Indeed Ronnie’s (Seth Rogen) life is so miserable that you almost end up wishing that the underdog would finally make it. And he does – somehow

5/20

The Strangest Resistance

Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) gives a stunning performance in Tanantino’s latest – Inglourious Basterds, - that sees alternate history as two parallel and similar plots are hatched to put an end to the Third Reich. Rather limited in the insanity quotient, and actually serious in parts, the plot revolves around the Nazi-killer team led by Lt Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) and their encounters. Typical chapter-based Tarantino narration – the first scene about the purge and introduction to the central character of menace, the long scene and encounter wrt Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) in the basement, the showdown between Hans Landa and the German actress, are the most memorable. The inexplicable fact of Shoshanna owning a theater in the heart of Paris explained away rather trivially, the sharpshooter Pvt Frederick Zoller (Daniel Bruhl) and his mixed emotions, the ramblings on Goebbels’ propaganda, the strange silouhette of Marcel and his giant pile of inflammable film make sure that Tarantino’s quirky touch is very much alive and kicking. A mellower, more circumspect Tarantino, but enough to keep fans engaged

15.5/20