Gandhi, My Father (2007)

The subject is close to heart so obviously enjoyed a lot. The making is quite decent. Excellent performances by all four leading actors. But somewhere I felt the movie was unfair to Harilal Gandhi. He keeps saying his parents are responsible for his failures but the movie itself does not demonstrate that, nor does it assert that Harilal is wrong.

Khoya Khoya Chand (2007)

Translation: Lost Moon. Story of a woman lost in the world of 70s (and earlier) Hindi Film Industry. Problem is, so is the movie, lost in the world of the aforementioned. While the same aforementioned is portrayed very well, it is at the cost of story telling. I had a hard time keeping track of the story. Comparing to the other Actress in dirty industry with wolves all around movie, Bhumika, this one can't hold a candle at it.

Sudhir Mishra is a good film maker, but I sincerely did not enjoy this on. Soha Ali Khan is a fine actress, but then I became her fan when I saw her on Sa-Re-Ga-Ma-Pa a few weeks back.

5.5/10.

Khamosh Pani (2003)

AKA Silent Waters. Story of a the emotional trauma of a mother as she sees her son -- and a country -- descend into fundamentalism. The subject of partition is close to heart and therefore appealing. The movie is also well made and we enjoyed watching it. But I think the subject and events are lot more powerful then the making.

The one I watched has a short interview of the lead actress Kirron Kher in the beginning where she says the director Sabiha Sumar is a Pakistani, married to Sri-Lankan, living in Delhi. Talk about regional integration.

The story reminds one of Pinjar, Punjabi girl left behind in Pakistan during partition marries a Muslim and converts to Islam. But the stress is on the woman's emotions in Pinjar while the political implication in Khamosh Pani. Though the making is better here too, I think I enjoyed Pinjar a lot more, probably because I was hearing Amrita Pritam's writing instead of the Dwivedi guy's making.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0357283/. 6/10

That Sinking Feeling (1980)

A group of kids steal Kitchen Sinks. Some good gags, but incoherent overall. Am I losing my ability to laugh? I hope not, I don't think so. 4/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080012/

Spider (2002)

I liked this David Cronenberg movie, even if I had to run to IMDB boards soon after finishing it to understand what happened :-). Good acting, and mumbling, by Ralph Fiennes. Still need to see it again, with the director's commentary track. 6.5/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0278731/

The Last Seduction (1995)

I definitely did not like this John Dahl movie. I like both Peter Berg and Bill Pullman and Linda Fiorentino is both a good actress and good looking. But the movie just sucks. It is a bag full of stupid tricks.

I am wondering what's wrong with me. IMDB gives it 7.1 and Rotten Tomatoes 94%. Maybe it ws interesting in the last 20 minutes. But looking back, there wasn't anything even in those last minutes I didn't know was coming. 4/10.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110308/

Bikur Ha-Tizmoret (2007)

AKA The Band's Visit. The Band is title is an Egyptian Brass Band, invited to Israel for inauguration of some Arab Cultural Center. But their pick-up doesn't arrive at the airport and they end up taking a bus to.....nowhere. Literally. They land up at some wrong place, without money and no place to go and no place to stay. Till they are given the shelter by the currently unmarried restaurant owner Dina.

A slow comedy, if there can be such a thing. While it is interesting in parts, overall I found it barely entertaining. My rating is 5/10.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032856/