An American Nightmare

Fresh-off-boat from Pakistan, Changez (Riz Ahmed) finds a quality education, the girl of his dreams (Erica (Kate Hudson)) and a career of his dreams on Wall Street, in The Reluctant Fundamentalist. It is post 9/11 that the dissonances between what he has left behind and what he has become tear apart Changez’ life. A humiliating strip-search at the airport. A buyout mandate that displaces – renders redundant – a Turkish publisher who is the keeper of the works of many poets, including Changez’ father. A girlfriend who turns around and makes a public exhibition of private vignettes of the relationship with Changez. Perhaps it is time to return to the country of birth and try and improve matters. But, is it also time to give in to the dark clouds of radicalism that hover around Changez. The question lingers in the air, even as the movie trails off with the inevitable real conflicts between the two worlds that Changez traverses

12.5/20

Out of this World Consistency

What can I say about the Dreamworks franchise except that for me the name has become an eponym for the perfect animated movie. Monsters Vs Aliens is no exception. Will remember this movie for the fact that Rikk (all of 1.5 yrs old) watched it in total silence. And that is no mean feat for a movie, notwithstanding the large screen and digital audio et al. Reese Witherspoon anchors a near perfect animated performance that sees her co-star with a snob fiance, a genius cockroach, a "missing link", a jello and a giant larva. And it all makes sense, and mankind is saved once again, and none of it looks trite or boring. Rob Letterman (Shark Tale fame) roduces another near perfect entertainer. Go watch it irrespective of age. Any age

15.5/20

Horrific Reflection

The best horror movies of late have ingenious takes at commonplace objects. Moving into a motel (Vacancy), taking the simplest of photos (Shutter), watching TV (The Ring). Mirrors is about the nether world trapped behind the glass that we look into everyday. The evil that lurks right across turns a man's life into a living hell. Until the end, where, well, the man and his reflection redefine the nature of their relationship. The movies continues the trend of (successfully) distilling our fear and uncertainty surrounding everyday objects.