filmguru11 Reviews

Rattle the Cage (2015)

Zinzana - an intense ride

[9/10 · 30 May 2016]

The first feature film by Emirati filmmaker Majid Al Ansari and produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi, 'Zinzana' is a thrill ride from the very first frame.

Waking up in a jail cell for getting into a fight the night before, Talal (Saleh Bakri) pleads to the warden to set him free. Since he has lost his wallet and has no I.D. or money for bail, only a judge can decide his fate, which may take up to 48 hours. This is when the quirky maniacal Dbaan (Ali Suliman) enters the station impersonating a police officer. After murdering the warden, Dbaan soon establishes himself as the man in charge and begins a cat-and-mouse game of life and death odds with a confused Talal.

With the entire movie taking place inside the one room in the station, Majid Al Ansari has managed to craft a film that doesn't feel repetitive. There are shots so creative, the audience is taken through walls, pipes in the ceiling and even up into the sky for a satellite view of the area. The camera angles, which continually shift from close-ups to medium long shots works well, possibly done to show one's despair and the other's psychotic lunacy.

The two leads are impeccable in their respective roles, but it is Ali Suliman (Dbaan) who truly steals the show. His motives or agenda are never made clear until the very end of the movie. His cartoonish antics continually shift from quirky dance routines, to tempting Talal to have a drink, and even solving a puzzle in a Sherlock Homes style manner. His is a character that is complex and can either be classified as a genius or a lunatic. Saleh Bakri (Talal) is the complete opposite to Suliman's Dbaan, with a more reserved performance of his anguish. He is not only dealing with troubled personal issues, but also a mad man who is continually poking into his psyche and wrapping him around his fingers. The sweet natured female deputy Aida (Yasa) continually drops in to provide some comic relief to the surmounting tension, and her innocence is a breath of fresh air.

Al Ansari manages to set a steady momentum throughout the 90 minute run-time, and constant attention is paid to where the characters are both physically and emotionally during the film. For a one-set neo- noir thriller film, Zinzana may possibly mark the United Arab Emirates' cinematic entry to a global audience.

Bilal: A New Breed of Hero (2015)

Bilal: Film Review

[30 May 2016]

Produced by Barajoun Studios and wholly funded in the Gulf, Dubai's first entirely produced animated feature film is a grand spectacle indeed. Inspired by the real-life figure Bilal Ibn Rabah, the film follows the story of 'Bilal', as he and his sister are abducted as children and are raised as slaves under a ruthless merchant. Bilal will eventually find the courage to break free of his slavery and transform into a warrior fighting for equality and freedom not just for himself but for humanity as well.

The CG-animation is exemplary and easily distinguishable with other major Hollywood animated features released before it. The texture of the characters had consistent detail throughout the film, that even the tiniest of expressions could be noticed. One scene that stood out in particular was a dream sequence, where Bilal is in the middle of the desert and is up against a colossal demonic figure. The sheer gravitas of this sequence was quite a cinematic feat in itself not just for the visual impact it held but the symbolic nature of how immense his fight for freedom truly is.

The voice cast is simply stellar with the likes of Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Bilal) and Ian McShane (Umayya) honing their roles respectively. McShane was brilliant as the ruthless merchant seller Umayya, especially when he gets into his monologues of power and greed. Adewale's voice as Bilal is endearing and raises the emotional element of his struggle for freedom. The remainder of the supporting cast is enough to get the story moving along and doesn't really offer much emotional depth as the film's leads.

At a glance 'Bilal' seems like a film that has been done many times before. But seeing as it comes from this region where not many high profile animation features have graced the screen, Bilal can be a welcome sign that this part of the world is capable of creating large scale cinematic epics.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Avengers in space, but more fun

[8/10 · 26 July 2015]

The tenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe takes us into the far reaches of space and introduces us to a lesser known lineup from the comics, the Guardians of the Galaxy. Comprising of Peter Quill aka Star Lord (Chris Pratt), Gomorra (Zoe Saldana), Rocket Racoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) and Drax the Destoryer (Dave Bautista), this ragtag bunch of misfits must join forces to stop Ronan (Lee Pace) and protect the galaxy from complete destruction.

What works well for the movie is its humor and performances. Every time an insulting or witty joke is spoken, it stems from the character's motivations, feeling genuine and not forced. The best performances would be from the CG characters Rocket and Groot. The dialogues, on screen persona and buddy love between the two were just splendid. Another unique touch to the film was the use of music. It was well written into the story where Quill's mother gives him a mix tape of rock, pop and soul songs from the 1970's. The songs that play continually throughout the movie establish a quirky yet human tone to this space adventure.

For a movie that is completely immersed with CGI it looks visually fantastic. The colors and textures, cool spaceships, the various worlds revealed, as well as an appearance from the mad titan Thanos, were a delight to watch. The make-up has to be applauded as well, making a completely green Gomorra look stunning and a totally blue Ronan feel menacing. My only quip with the movie would be that Ronan should have got more screen time to show off his strength. Instead he's just reduced to the role of a dictator, although a really terrifying dictator with a great performance from Lee Pace.

A lot of credit has to go to director James Gunn for execution of Marvel's in-house style of epic scale and implementing his own method of humor and character development for the film. He handles the humorous tone with ease and balances them well with a tragic back story to maintain a steady momentum of the plot. The script, casting, costumes, make-up, set design, editing and sound were all effective in making Guardians of the Galaxy a genuinely fun sci-fi film.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Avengers Assembled to take on Ultron

[8/10 · 23 July 2015]

Earth's Mightiest heroes reunite once again to save the world from Ultron (voiced by James Spader), a self conscious A.I. hell bent on eradicating humanity.

Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Vision (Paul Bettany) have been added to the already existing superhero roster, adding some much needed firepower to take down Ultron.

The action sequences are quite spectacular, especially the one with an out of control Hulk and Iron Man (with his Hulkbuster suit), enough to leave the fan boys thrilled. The ending of course is literally out of this world as the Avengers have to contend with a falling Sokovia plummeting Earth as well as Ultron and his countless robot minions.

Hawkeye gets some character development introducing the audience to his family living in a remote cabin in the woods (get it). Banner and Black widow have a few scenes opening up to each other filling, some emotional depth of the movie.

The movie however does have a few plot holes that were left unexplained. At the end of Iron Man3 Tony Stark decides to quit being Iron Man, yet here he is in all his glory. A few jokes could have also been left out as it desensitized any tension or suspense.

Joss Whedon does an admirable job in making a consistent summer blockbuster. Cool CGI, fun one-liners, good performances and average plot is become somewhat of a template that most Hollywood movies seem to follow. I feel that Marvel should have tried to do something different as I was left wanting something a bit more. Age of Ultron is still an enjoyable film and will definitely entertain those who are just in for a good time.

Terminator Genisys (2015)

Arnold is back as the Terminator

[7/10 · 23 July 2015]

The fifth film in the Terminator franchise isn't nearly as good as the original or Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Thankfully, it's a slightly better offering than the third and fourth Terminator films (Rise of the Machines and Salvation).

In the year 2029, John Connor (Jason Clarke) and the resistance finally manage to defeat Skynet. However, they were a little late because a Terminator was quickly sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor and prevent the resistance from ever succeeding. John is forced to send Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back in time to protect Sarah from the murderous Terminator.

The movie goes downhill from here as the plot begins to get real complicated and convoluted. There are alternate timelines and paradox science thrown in, that had me scratching my head. Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) is like a lost puppy and does not live up to the fierce and iconic Sarah played by Linda Hamilton in the first two films. Jai Courtney is overall just bland and soulless in his role as Kyle Reese, even when the momentum of the movie is in top gear.

The stand out would be Arnold who plays the aging T-800 to perfection. With his goofy pretend smiles, and wise-cracking one liners, he is a delight to watch. Even when he's going into combat with three different updated Terminators and getting knocked down, you tend to sympathize for him and go all the way.

The chemistry between Arnold playing a father figure to Emilia's Sarah is lovable throughout the movie. The action sequences are quite exhilarating and the special effects are fantastic. Even with a complicated plot, the action in Terminator Genisys will keep you at the edge of your seat. Stay back for a small scene after the mid- credits, possibly leading to a sequel.

Pixels (2015)

Pixels Movie Review

[7/10 · 22 July 2015]

NASA sends a message containing video games, footage from old T.V. shows, and interviews from celebrities like Madonna into space, to communicate with intelligent life forms, who misinterpret them as a declaration of war. The aliens thereafter attack Earth as pixelized versions of characters from popular 80's arcade games.

Adam Sandler along with Kevin James, Josh Gad and Peter Dinklage star in the sci-fi comedy Pixels, portraying former arcade game champs, called upon to save the planet from the attacking video game characters of the 80's. The film utilizes nostalgia and video games to its advantage to develop an emotional connection with the audience wholived during that era, as well as connecting with the current generation.

The comic timing from Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Josh Gad were spot on. The actors were right in their comfort zone and honestly attempting exactly what was expected of them. Peter Dinklage was also good but there were times where his loud egoistic character was just plain annoying. Michelle Monaghan rounds up the loud ensemble group playing the strong single mother and White House military adviser. The special effects were wonderful and the video game characters with their vibrant colors looked fantastic. The gamer within was particularly overjoyed to see characters from popular games like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Centipede. Other lesser known games like Tetris and Asteroids are also portrayed and will take audience members back to the memorable time they spent playing arcade games. A blink and miss shot of Toru Iwatani (creator of Pac- Man) during the opening sequence, will have fanatics ecstatic. Later in the movie a lovely tribute is bestowed upon Iwatani, thanking him for giving the world one of the most popular games of all time.

Pixels overall is a fun ride if you just sit back and try not to analyze the film for what it really is – light-hearted entertainment that does not go over the top. It may seem nonsensical, but it is enjoyable and a cool blast from the past.

Jurassic World (2015)

Dinosaurs galore in Jurassic World

[8/10 · 13 July 2015]

Jurassic World opens twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, when the late John Hammond's (Richard Attenborough, Jurassic Park) vision of a fully functioning dinosaur amusement park on Isla Nublar is finally in operation. But with continually trying to keep corporate investors happy and customers losing interest in many of the park's attractions; the scientists use genetic manipulation and create a new dinosaur – the Indominus Rex. Quickly enough, the dinosaur escapes its captivity and is running rampant through the park, eventually heading to the thousands of unknowing customers.

The film's leads Bryce Dallas Howard (a stereotypical business manager who's always authoritative) along with Chris Pratt (a clever, courageous, humorous Velociraptor trainer) are tasked to take down the creature. This is where the film falls flat, with its characters. The actors are fine in their performances, but they are clichéd and seen many times before. Even Claire's nephews portrayed by Ty Simpkins (Iron Man 3) and Nick Robinson (Melissa & Joey) are good in their respective roles, but it wasn't groundbreaking as the kids in the original Jurassic Park. Irrfan Khan (Life of Pi) has a more prominent role as the owner of Jurassic World, although a tad eccentric makes a mark in the film.

Director Colin Trevorrow maintains a steady momentum as the story unfolds and uses various camera angles and shots to add a sense of intrigue, thrill and awe throughout the film. The CGI and practical effects are cutting edge and the sequences with the dinosaurs look majestic. This works well for the plot since the Indominus Rex is a ruthless predator, a scary killing machine that will have viewers jumping in their seat. The scenes with the Raptors are fantastic and definitely charming.

Jurassic World is a surefire summer blockbuster – epic, loud and a thrilling roller-coaster ride. The audience is given exactly what they paid for, a spectacle of dinosaurs that is scary as well as exciting. The characters were alright and the actor's performances were noble enough to have viewers rooting for them. The film does not capture the same charm as Steven Spielberg's original, but for the casual moviegoer it definitely delivers the experience.

San Andreas (2015)

San Andreas – The 2012 of 2015

[10 June 2015]

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's second film this year, has him going up against the largest earthquake in recorded history. Movie audiences have watched the city of Los Angeles endure volcanoes, tsunamis, alien attacks, tornadoes and now for the hundredth time, a major earthquake demolishing the city.

Johnson's tough-guy rescue-chopper pilot travels across the state of California to rescue his teenage daughter caught up in the calamity. He traverses by air, land and sea as Mother Nature crumbles everything around him.

The CGI is quite remarkable as far as the destruction goes, although audiences have already seen that in the movie 2012. However, one of the film's highlights would definitely be the collapsing of the Hoover Dam; due to the enormous scale in how it was shot, is completely breath-taking.

The actors' performances were pretty good considering that they must have been filming around a green screen majority of the time. The lead cast of Johnson, his wife Carla Gugino (Spy Kids) and teenage daughter Alexandria Daddario (Percy Jackson) hit the emotional mark just right. The standout performance would have to be Paul Giamatti's seismologist expert who explains the science of the earthquake quite exceptionally, bringing along a sense of fear to the gravity of the situation at hand.

San Andreas is exactly what you would expect from a destruction film – large skyscrapers collapsing, the ground ripped apart and massive tsunamis leveling an entire city. With the recent earthquake that occurred in Nepal, the film does leave you with a warning that just maybe you should be prepared for an event of this magnitude.

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

Birdman takes an in depth look at lost glory, redemption and interpersonal relationships.

[9/10 · 22 December 2014]

Way back in the 90s, Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) rose to super stardom for portraying the comic book hero 'Birdman'. Two decades later he is broke, separated from his wife Sylvia (Amy Ryan), detached from his teenage daughter Sam (Emma Stone), overshone by his star lead Mike Shiner (Edward Norton) and close to losing his sanity. He chooses to redeem his former glory and pursues to direct and star in a Broadway play based on the Raymond Carver story 'What We Talk About When We Talk About Love'.

Although the film's promotion suggests it to be a superhero adaptation, Birdman however is a deconstruction of complex emotions ultimately leading to the protagonist's spiraling meltdown. This is where the film shines as its performances are splendid with each actor truly excellent in their respective roles. Edward Norton as a deeply involved method actor almost ruining the first audience preview of the play and Emma Stone's fear inducing monologue to Keaton are the highlights of the film's supporting cast. With his versatile talent, Keaton leads the high strung supporting ensemble in a role that can be considered his most powerful work till date.

Birdman is written and directed by Mexican Director Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams and Babel). The film was shot in a technique that makes it look like one long continuous take. The camera follows its characters with ease around the stage as well as backstage and is a marvelous feat for cinematography as well as choreography. With awards season just around the corner, Birdman could be a sure-shot contender in leading categories.

Oblivion (I) (2013)

Oblivion Movie Review

[7/10 · 20 July 2014]

Oblivion is the second film from director Joseph Kosinski (TRON: Legacy) and thankfully its miles away from the debacle that was TRON when it comes down to a good sci-fi movie. It is evident that he has learned that visual effects isn't everything in a movie and added a human emotional back story to an otherwise tried and tested Hollywood blockbuster.

The movie begins with visuals of a washed out Earth and Cruise's voice over narrating the events that have occurred unto this point. An alien race called Scavengers (aka Scavs) have invaded Earth for its resources. Humans won the battle but lost the planet and have since relocated to Saturn's largest moon - Titan. The humans have installed large fusion reactors that convert seawater into energy for their survival on Titan, and to protect them from the Scavs attacks have stationed medium sized orb like machines called drones.

Ever so often the drones take a hard hit after a Scav attack and drop down like flies. This is where Jack Harper (played by Tom Cruise) comes into action to provide tech support and security. Jack along with his beautiful and intelligent communications officer Victoria (played by Andrea Riseborough) are the only human survivors on Earth and are ordered to continue on their mission to protect the reactors and drones from the Scavs attacks.

Jack is a highly trained efficient soldier and is played effortlessly by Cruise, as he pilots a high tech vessel, smoothly drops down ropes and engages in high end action. Something we are accustomed to expect as seen in Cruise's other blockbusters namely Top Gun, Mission Impossible and Minority Report to name a few. Andrea Riseborough does a splendid job with her performance as her character constantly shows signs of intrigue which keeps you guessing which side she is on. Olga Kurylenko's character was vital in pushing the plot forward but her performance was generally dreary. Morgan Freeman has very little screen time, but does exactly what he's expected and shines in his wisdom preaching General.

Oblivion shines beautifully when it comes to the aesthetic look of the film. The movie has fused innovative visual effects along with a variety of picturesque landscape shots and uses it to its advantage. We see glimpses of notable landmarks lying in ruin throughout the film, which works better than the post apocalyptic destroyed city setting used time and again in many movies.

Even though Oblivion from the outside looks like a complete no brainer action blockbuster with its futuristic visuals, the human element in the story adds some emotional life into the movie. The movie does take inspiration from other sci-fi classics like Planet of the Apes, Total Recall, Independence Day, 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Matrix. But even though it has borrowed various elements from the aforementioned movies, Kosinski has managed to balance it well with his story and derive something fresh and exciting. The performances were top notch throughout the film and Tom Cruise has once again proved that he is still capable of holding a movie on his own and sealed his superstar status. Oblivion has all the essentials that make a great sci-fi film with brilliant landscape shots, amazing visual effects, engaging story and excellent performances.

Sabotage (2014)

Arnold thriller without much thrills

[5/10 · 27 March 2014]

Arnold is back in Sabotage, as the head of an elite DEA task force taking out drug cartels in the city of Atlanta. After a mission in a cartel safe house leads to ten million dollars in cash missing, they are taken down one by one by the cartel. Written by Skip Woods (A Good Day to Die Hard, Swordfish) and Directed by David Ayer (End of Watch), the visual style of Sabotage is raw and gritty and rarely glorifies its heroes like a standard Hollywood movie.

Boasting a wide range of hunky actors like Sam Worthington (Avatar), Terrence Howard (Iron Man), Joe Manganiello (True Blood) along with two annoying female leads, the performances are by far the weakest link in the film. Their roles of elite DEA operatives, family and honor loses credibility when you see them indulging in alcohol, debauchery and hillbilly behavior. They play their characters with little dedication that even when they begin to fall apart you are least bothered with their troubles. Arnold plays a more grandfather figure to these delinquent characters with ease and doesn't overdo the role as he usually does. Also his fans won't be disappointed as they will witness him using various weapons like a bad-ass from his earlier films.

But what Sabotage severely lacks in performances it makes up for in its action. David Ayer directs the shoot em up scenes similar to how he did in End of Watch and it looks fantastic. The gunshots, bullet wounds and explosions feel so real; it will drop your jaw to the floor. Unlike other gore movies like Saw and Hostel where the grotesque nature is watchable, throughout the movie the mutilated corpses of various victims will make your head turn. Using practical effects instead of CGI was definitely the right call by Ayer making the action look brilliant in a movie that otherwise doesn't have much going for it.

Jack Reacher (2012)

Jack Reacher on Cruise control

[7/10 · 31 December 2012]

Jack Reacher is based on the popular Lee Child novel 'One Shot', and follows the title character as he investigates the murders of five random victims of a sniper shootout. The movie begins with a sharp-looking sniper, selecting his victims through a sniper scope and then quickly eliminating them in one brisk shot. The police investigate and arrest the suspect, who they believe is the shooter. During his interrogation he says nothing, but on a notepad he writes 'Get Jack Reacher'.

The following scene has two police investigators reading up on Reacher with the conventional dialogue of a tough as nails guy, served in the military, brilliant investigation skills, numerous awards and the ever so clichéd, "Can't find him, unless he wants to be found". This marks the entry of Jack Reacher, portrayed by a younger (he is now 50) looking Tom Cruise with a broad physique and a no-nonsense look on his face, who's there to learn why the man he despises the most has asked for his help.

During his investigation Reacher learns that the killings weren't random and there is a much higher conspiracy at play. His shrewd detective skills and years of hardened military training ensures he leaves no stones unturned and takes on hired thugs, a brilliant thundering car chase sequence between Reacher and the assassins and outsmarts nearly the entire police unit to uncover the truth. The supporting cast although credible in their performances somehow fell flat and redundant half way through the movie. Rosamund Pike started off very motivating, but her character lacked the anxiety and urgency once the plot started to thicken. The addition of legendary German film-maker Werner Herzog as the film's spooky villain seemed quite intriguing at first, but he was reduced to nothing more than a shadowy figure simply lurking in the background. Although quite late into the movie, a magnificent special appearance from the seasoned Robert Duvall as Reacher's sidekick provided excitement and thrill to a climax that was quickly losing its momentum. Lastly, a splendid performance by Jai Courtney as the master assassin is proving he has the mettle to grab a foothold in Hollywood. He put up a tough fight against Tom Cruise in the finale and next spring he will rub shoulders with another Hollywood heavyweight - Bruce Willis in 'A Good Day to Die Hard'.

Jack Reacher is Tom Cruise's show from the very first moment he enters the frame. His performance as the judge and executioner to those who think they are above the law pays homage to a modern age persona of Harry Callahan aka Dirty Harry. The film clearly does have its flaws with underused performances and unexplained sub plots, but these can easily be overlooked due to the movie's thrilling momentum and Tom's on screen persona. It's not the usual over the top movie audiences have come to expect from Cruise's previous films, but a rather down to earth execution makes Jack Reacher a first-rate action thriller.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Peter Jackson's latest is a masterpiece

[9/10 · 31 December 2012]

It's been nearly nine years since we last voyaged through the mystical world of middle earth. But just when we thought nothing could surpass that incredible experience, Peter Jackson decides to gift us an early Christmas present with - The Hobbit.

The first of a trilogy, The Hobbit manages to take the audience through a life sized journey. The new technology of filming in 48 frames per second (known as HFR) along with 3D allows for smoother, sharper, more realistic motion and special effects, visually enhancing the depth of J.R.R. Tolkein's powerfully descriptive middle earth. As the audience, you are nothing more than a tiny speck in the face of this brilliant work of art.

The movie begins by introducing you to the mighty dwarf kingdom of Erebor (a large fortress kingdom within the mountain), well-known for producing impeccable weaponry and armour as well as for its infinite treasures. When it is unexpectedly invaded by the vicious dragon - the antagonist of The Hobbit series - Smaug, the entire kingdom is lay to waste, treasures stolen and leaving the surviving dwarfs to find a home elsewhere. Years later, the grand wizard Gandalf along with the thirteen dwarfs of Erebor turn up unannounced at Bilbo Baggins' (a conservative hobbit and the titular protagonist) home and request him to join them on their honorable quest to reclaim their kingdom from the evil dragon Smaug. What follows is an exhilarating adventure of survival as the group encounters ghastly trolls, stone-giants, nasty goblins, ferocious orcs, giant spiders and wild brutal wolves.

The characters enacted by all the actors were magnificent. Martin Freeman as the doubtful reserved hobbit who rises up against all odds and transforms into a hero, was endearing in his performance. Ian McKellen as the wise wizard Gandalf was brilliant as expected. The twelve dwarfs amusingly infused the comic relief, while the leader of the dwarfs Thorin (Richard Armitage) reserved his emotions to honor, nobility, discipline and revenge. Special appearances by Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving and Christopher Lee were quite enlightening and reminiscing of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Lastly, the master of 'motion capture' Andy Serkis returns as the sinister and creepy Gollum to remind audiences that it was his character that set into motion the forthcoming series of events.

Peter Jackson's latest endeavor is nothing short of a masterpiece. His execution of the script, camera angles, performances, visual effects and music is near perfection. The grand scale of the film immerses the audience into a world that is an absolute bliss for the senses and has to be experienced to be believed.

Barfi! (2012)

Barfi - a delightful film.

[8/10 · 31 December 2012]

Actions speak louder than words, and Barfi manages to pull it off rather well. At the very beginning of the movie we are introduced to Barfi (originally named Murphy, but pronounced Barfi by the protagonist) a deaf and mute individual who lives his life filled with mischief and mayhem despite his physical disabilities. But Barfi is not a story about the tragic life of a physically disabled individual, but more of a love story that delves so deep into the characters that they become devoid of their disabilities.

The movie revolves around Barfi falling in love with the beautiful Shruti (played wonderfully by IlleanaD'Cruz) who also happens to love Barfi in spite of already being engaged to a wealthy man. After a few outings and romantic moments, Shruti decides to carry on and wed her wealthy fiancé, leaving Barfi a heart-broken wreck.

Enter Jhilmil, a young autistic girl belonging to a wealthy family, but is completely ignored by her parents as well as society. In the time Barfi is getting over his heartbreak, his father suffers an attack and Barfi has to desperately raise the capital for the operation. He decides to kidnap Jhilmil and ask her father for ransom to pay for the operation. But in a bizarre turn of events Barfi and Jhilmil realize that they are perfect for each other and learn their physical disabilities are no longer nuisances.

Barfi brings to memory the magnificent escapades of Charlie Chaplin portrayed brilliantly by the talented Ranbir Kapoor. His entire body language and behavior of the character was simply a delight to watch. From his numerous escapes from the law to the comical situations he unintentionally gets himself into, it was entirely a treat for the eyes.

Priyanka Chopra as well has done a fantastic job of getting into the character of the autistic young girl named Jhilmil. But the scenes of her portrayal that shouted brilliance and proved rather heart wrenching were those of her riveting cries for Barfi every time he left her side. Her performance was outstanding and can easily be compared to that of the autistic Sean Penn in I Am Sam. That role won Sean Penn a Best Actor award and the same could surely be said for Priyanka.

Anurag Basu has managed to capture the beautiful scenery of Darjeeling and Kolkata with finesse and add to that the wonderful music and background score makes the viewing of Barfi a breath of fresh air. All in all Barfi hits the right notes with story, performance, screenplay, sound and direction being above excellence. The movie is proof that a film about the physically challenged doesn't have to be the conventional pitiful and sorrowful experience, but instead it can be a joyful and charming piece of cinema that will leave you speechless.