Hollywood 2014- Review Spree

The Theory of Everything

The film's no doubt the weakest contender for the best film Oscar. It is a very average biopic and has numerous aberrations from the turn of events of Hawking's life to his body condition and physiognomy post-ALS. More than Hawking i think this film's focused on his first wife's character which has been decently portrayed by Felicity Jones. You get a profound feeling of 'A Beautiful Mind' playing. Eddie Redmayne completely fits the role courtesy his resemblance to hawking. The background music is perhaps the only outstanding feature of it that makes it seem like a fairy tale of some sort. Over all, a mediocre biopic.
RATING: 3 / 5

Nightcrawler

The film hasn't been nominated for the best film Oscar. Jake Gyllenhaal has been completely ignored by the academy which actually surprises me. As per me this flick's almost at par with the Imitation Game and American Sniper. It is excessively consistent; never loses the plot though the level it maintains from the beginning is not very far from above average. Direction, cinematography and screenplay gell. Gyllenhaal as Louis Lebloom - a dull and vicious character- is strangely refreshing. He should've been nominated for best actor. What ruins the film is the background score which is a huge misfit during intense scenes. 
RATING: 3.5 / 5

The Imitation Game

This film's biggest achievement is perhaps its oscar nomination for best film. The first hour reminds you of none other than the BBC sherlock. Of course it is not Cumberbatch's fault but he cant just dump Holmes persona playing a sociopath genius in this one. The film is being promoted as a historical thriller. Let me make it very clear- there is no point in the film where it is or gets thrilling. 
Its a quintessential British drama. Its setting and production reminds you of The King's Speech. Direction-screenplay ok. Dialogues- quite nice and soothing. The last half hour and post script are the best arts which make you realize how important the film is. Portraying homosexuality through this perspective is something that certainly makes it a significant film.
RATING: 3.5 / 5

Boyhood

12 years. Richard Linklater should be applauded for the concept though the direction and dop is not as extraordinary but anyway decent. Actors are extremely natural. Setup is very authentic. The story is very very close to what you may now call ‘slice of life’. Undoubtedly it’s a film worth watching. The pace becomes pathetically slow in the middle as the film starts to look like a documentary. The background score is negligible at times which is nice however the introductory part where Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’ is played seems very irritating. All in all, a nice film. The 12 year USP makes it stand out.

RATING:  3.75 / 5 

 

Whiplash

I think I've finally found an 'extraordinary' film for this year's Oscars.
I'm not sure if it'll win THE BEST FILM Oscar or not but in my view it surely deserves that (more than Boyhood). It will certainly win the Independent spirit award, best sound mixing and maybe the best adapted screenplay. No one- i repeat- No one can take away this year's BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR's Oscar from J.K. SIMMONS. This man is ecstatic! 
This film has broken certain stereotypes associated with drumming. The film is about a 'Jazz' drummer and not the usual rock or metal band drummer which we're so used to watching in cinema. The movie's also got a different angle towards the teacher-student (not per se) relationships.
It is refreshing, electrifying and you won't even realize how short it is.
The direction is very good. Dialogues are simple and yet distinct. This flick's a complete package. It's the lowest budget film among the Best Film biggies like Boyhood, Birdman etc.
I really want this Indie film to kick every other film's butt. 
Watch it Right NOW!!
RATING: 4.75 / 5

American Sniper

There isn't much to say about the film but it definitely belongs to the league of war zone flicks like The Hurt Locker and Green Zone. Bradley Cooper delivers his best performance after Silver Linings Playbook. Direction is good. Clint Eastwood has directed classics. This isn't one of them. Screenplay doesn't have much to offer.
Over all, this film according to me isn't gonna win any Oscar but it is certainly a decent watch.
RATING: 3.5 / 5

Birdman (Or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

This film's my bet for best Original Screenplay Oscar. It's a healthy balance of imagination and reality. The plot is quite unique, at times dark and riveting. Michael Keaton owns the film. Edward Norton does a kick ass job. Zach Galifianakis and Emma Stone: decent work. It's surprising that it wasn't nominated in the 'Production Design' category. The direction and cinematography are at par with each other. The 'single-shot' format doesn't hold for the complete film but it's been done quite cleverly. 
Two particular scenes i really liked: when Riggan Thomson (Keaton) enters the theatre in underwear and delivers his dialogues; and the larger than life birdman hallucination that fills in energy into he film. The very last scene is very very interesting and smart. The film loses the flair in between and one particular scene (in which Edward Norton tells Emma Stone that if he weren't afraid he would carve out her eyes and put them in place of his to see the world through her eyes) is quite cheesy and bizarre. 
The film should be watched.
RATING: 4 / 5

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Aesthetically, the most beautiful film of 2014. Ralph Fiennes is superb with his mindboggling speeches. Story seems a mixture of fantasy and fun. The last word I would use to define this movie would be ‘pragmatic’ or ‘real’. It feigns thrill and mystery. The dialogues are mediocre except the ones which come out of the great concierge’s and occasionally lobby boy Mustafa’s mouths. I think ‘…Budapest…’ is all about its hues and production design and the warmth it emanates. Design par excellence.

RATING: 3.5 / 5

[*'Selma' and 'Gone Girl': 2 very important films not reviewed by Besan Ka Halwa as of yet.]

The Interview

(This review seems completely out of place but yeah...)

The Interview, more than a film, is a massive carrier of huge political propaganda. The film is highly disgusting and not at all funny in first 40 mins until Franco and Rogen touch down Pyongyang (north Korea). After Kim Jong Un's entry, it picks up pace gets MAD and starts to be quite a lot of fun. All three lead actors have done an average job. They may have also been successful in getting across the political message they wanted to make. As a contemporary political, controversial and at the same time comedy film it is a seemingly rare mixture. And it is certainly not more than a one time watch.
RATING: 2 / 5