Friday, March 28, 2008

Review : One Two Three

Let's start with a simple litmus test to see if you will enjoy One Two Three:

Do you think adding an 's' to all things English and making them plural (as in, Suneils Shettys, yous understands?) is a singularly brilliant gag? If you do, then this is your movie of the year.

If not, then you're best advised to leave this B-grade farce alone and pretend it never existed. It's all right, you won't have to try too hard -- I bet the actors are doing the same thing themselves.

Why make a film like this, so obviously bad it hurts?

It's scary to think of who made it. Ashwani Dheer, who did some fine -- albeit occasionally repetitive -- funny work with television's Office Office directs this monstrosity, bringing along a couple of the show's actors but none of its wit.

The prolific Kumar Mangat co-produces the film, which brings to mind the nightmarish thought that a poster for this hideous thing could actually, accurately, carry a 'From the producer of Omkara' tag. Aargh.

A still from One Two ThreeSomewhere, Dheer and his gang decided to play the old mistaken-identity game, and placed three diverse characters together in the same hotel and waited for obvious chaos to ensue. Unfortunately, beyond a weak two-para summation of the premise, not much else seems to have been written -- which is why the pained gags set up in the first few scenes by narrator Irrfan Khan continue to play out, again and again, right to the very climax.

Even that aforementioned 's' bit is something audiences have tired of, having seen it by now in both Saawariya  and Om Shanti Om -- and it's not as if it worked at all in either of those movies.

The first Laxmi Narain is Tusshar Kapoor, a bhai-to-be with justifiable reasons for matricide, out to get his first kill. The second LN is a moronically indecisive Suneil Shetty, out to buy a vintage car for his boss. The third LN is undergarment seller Paresh Rawal, out to get designs and move into 'lingeries,' we're told.

Alongside these buffoons are rival dons Manoj Pahwa and Mukesh Tiwari, the latter far higher up than even a bhai, his cohorts calling him 'Papa.' Yup, it's that kind of movie. Oh and when these two appear on screen, the background score, in its misguided attempt to be cool, tries to be casually profane and turns out to be simply embarrassing.

A still from One Two ThreeSpeaking of wince-provoking, there are the obligatory bunch of bimbettes. Neetu Chandra, playing a tough Jat cop with revolting taste in men, is the only one who keeps her clothes on while car salesgirl Sameera Reddy hesitatingly decides to strip to sell Esha Deol's car. Somewhere in the mix is Tanishaa, a girl who owes her film career to her neckline, even as Deol herself goes all Tamil in her trilled affection for the Mumbai underworld, going into the undergarment business because it too has the 'under' prefix to it. I kid you not.

And so the madness drags on. And on. As said, each gag is stretched far beyond its sell-by date, with a simple bag-swapping routine taking almost 20 minutes, and Shetty and Sanjay Mishra continuing to persist with the imbecilic routines they started the movie with.

Tusshar Kapoor isn't obnoxiously bad, while Mukesh Tiwari actually does quite okay � a mammoth achievement in this scriptless film.

It's as if you gave the Great Indian Laughter Challenge contestants a camera crew and asked them to make a movie. Sure it'd have some basic comic-sketch idea and maybe even funny dialogues, but try watching it beyond 15 minutes. I dare you.

Rating:

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Nandita Das in a Pakistani film

Nandita Das, the queen of unconventional cinema, has gone one step ahead by signing a film titled Ramchand Pakistani which is directed by a young Pakistani filmmaker Mehreen Jabar. The film also stars some famous television actors from Pakistan.

Throwing some light on the story of the film Nandita says, "The story is inspired by a real life incident and revolves around a small seven year old boy (Ramchand) who along with his father (Hindu Dalit settled in Pakistan) accidentally crosses the border. The story moves parallel between the father-son in Kutch jail and the mother left in a small village in Pakistan, unaware about the whereabouts of her family." Talking about director Mehreen, she says, "I met Mehreen at Kara Film Festival where Bawandar was to be screened. Later on, we became friends and she narrated me this story which I found very powerful. She is a very intelligent and a sensitive director."

On asking about her character in the film, Nandita informs, "I play the mother of Ramachand, a Hindu dalit who is a Pakistani by Nationality named Champa. There are lot of Hindu Dalit families who were left behind during the partition in the Sindh area. In fact, their language and their ways of dressing is very similar to that of people living in Rajasthan and Gujarat border area." She further says, "The film also brings in the limelight the complexities of being a Hindu dalit and Pakistani at the same time, in an Indian jail."

Ramchand Pakistani will be showcased at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Deepika Padukone teams up with Rishi Kapoor

It may take yesteryear lover boy Rishi Kapoor and his son Ranbir some time to showcase their talent together. But the young actor's girlfriend Deepika Padukone already has that privilege.

She will be sharing screen space with Rishi in Saif Ali Khan's first production to be directed by Imtiaz Ali of Jab We Met fame. "I did a reading with Rishi uncle for the film, and I was simply stunned. He's that good. Imtiaz's film will be a departure for me," Deepika told IANS.

"I'm lucky enough to work with both Ranbir and Rishi uncle. Now all I need is a film with Neetu aunty to complete the picture," she added. The actress, who debuted with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om, will play Saif's leading lady in the yet untitled film.

"I'm definitely looking forward to working with Saif. He's one of the best actors we've ever had," she said. But before that Deepika is currently shooting for Nikhil Advani's action flick Chandni Chowk To China with Akshay Kumar.

"I've trained in martial arts for the film and I enjoyed myself thoroughly because I'm athletic. People see me as very ladylike and proper. But there's another, very tomboyish side of me that you'll see in Chandni Chowk To China." However, her first post Om Shanti Om release would be Yash Raj Films' Bachna Ae Haseenon. In the film, Deepika has to share her boyfriend Ranbir with two other leading ladies. "Yes, but that's only for the screen no?" she quipped. "It is Ranbir's film all the way. In my very first narration I was sure I wanted to do it.

"Siddharth Anand suggested I take some time to decide, but I liked his honesty and I loved my bit in the script. Siddharth was honest enough to tell me there were three other girls with Ranbir in the film - now, of course, there're only two other girls. As an actor it's important for me to be part of projects I believe in even if my role is comparatively small."

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Julia Roberts is the most memorable on-screen prostitute!

Julia Roberts has topped an online poll for the 25 Most Memorable On-Screen Prostitutes.

 

The Oscar winner's role in Pretty Woman saw her beating off competition from other actresses.

 

Second on the list was Jennifer Jason Leigh for her role as Tralala in Last Exit to Brooklyn.

 

In third spot on U.S. magazine Entertainment Weekly's online countdown is Patricia Arquette in True Romance.

 

Rounding up the top five was the only male in the top ten Dermot Mulroney in The Wedding Date and Kim Basinger  in L.A. Confidential.

 

1. Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman

2. Jennifer Jason Leigh in Last Exit to Brooklyn

3. Patricia Arquette in True Romance

4. Dermot Mulroney in The Wedding Date

5. Kim Basinger in L.A. Confidential

6. Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour

7. Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge

8. Charlize Theron in Monster

9. Nancy Allen in Dressed to Kill

10. Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas 11. Richard Gere in American Gigolo

12. Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy

13. Rob Schneider in Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo

14. Leonardo DiCaprio in The Basketball Diaries

15. Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho

16. Lukas Haas and David Arquette in Johns

17. Rebecca De Mornay in Risky Business

18. Jamie Lee Curtis in Trading Places

19. Shelley Long in Night Shift

20. Jane Fonda in Klute

21. Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver

22. Kathleen Turner in Crimes of Passion

23. Elizabeth Taylor in Butterfield 8

24. Rita Hayworth in Angels Over Broadway

25. Marlene Dietrich in Blonde Venus

Monday, March 24, 2008

Like Aamir's new look?

Trust Aamir Khan to toss us a surprise.

Always experimenting with his looks, Khan stunned us all when he walked in with wife Kiran Rao at the Race premiere last week.

Sporting tremendously close-shorn hair -- apparently the next step is shaving it off entirely -- for his upcoming Ghajini, Khan looks drastically different from the spiky-haired look we'd gotten used to with Taare Zameen Par

What do you think of the new look, dear reader?

Is it yet another Aamir masterstroke? And which of Aamir's distinctive looks have you liked best, over the years?

Sarkar Raaj complete after Abhishek's patchwork

Abhishek Bachchan took a day off from his hectic schedule to do some additional shooting for Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar Raaj before he flew off to Miami to join Karan Johar's crew for Tarun Mansukhani's Dostana.

According to Ramu, "There were a few vital close-ups of Abhishek that I wanted to add to the film, so before anyone jumps to the conclusion that I re-shot my film, let me quickly clear the air. I think Abhishek excels in silent close-ups. Not too many actors of his generation know how to hold silences on camera. I made him do that in Naach. And I just thought a few tight close-ups would add to the drama in Sarkar Raaj."

According to Ramu, Abhishek has given yet another riveting performance in Sarkar Raaj after Guru. "I wouldn't even compare the two performances on any level except that intensity that Abhishek brings to both the roles. Abhishek and Aishwarya in Sarkar Raaj will be very different from Guru. And if you ask me, he has gone far beyond what he did in Sarkar."

Ramu adds, "Abhishek is looking really thin these days. For those who are writing that he's frantically gyming to lose weight here's some disappointing news. I don't think Abhishek can lose any more weight."

On Tuesday night Abhishek left for Miami to do what he calls a fun film on the beach. Before that he tried to spend as much time as possible with wife Aishwarya who, incidentally, is trying juggle domestic duties with script readings.

Shatrughan Sinha's son ready for debut !

Another superstar son is all set to make his debut in the film industry following the footsteps of other star sons like Abishek Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Ranbir Kapoor.

Former cine star and BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha's son Luv Sinha is all set to make his debut with film Sadiyaan, which is based on the relationship between India and Pakistan.

"Like others, I also wish that my son becomes a far better and successful actor than me," Shatrughan Sinha said on Sunday. Sinha had also interacted with the film's unit which is shooting near Chandigarh.

Sinha said the film which has been shot at different locations in Punjab and Jammu, is expected to release by September next.

Actress Hema Malini and Rekha will be seen together in this film almost after 20 years. Actor Rishi Kapoor is playing the role of Luv's father in the film while the role of heroin is being played by a Kashmiri girl Fareen.

The film is being produced and directed by Raj Kanwar who has given hit films including Shah Rukh Khan starrer Deewana. Popular Pakistani actor Javed Sheikh is also playing an important role in the film

Thursday, March 20, 2008

I get nervous working with Salman: Kareena

Kareena Kapoor, who's been on a high since the release of Jab We Met, finally started shooting a new film Main Aur Mrs. Khanna with Salman Khan. She says the idea of working with her "sister's co-star" makes her nervous.

"Although we've done Priyadarshan's Kyon Ki... before, I always get nervous working with Salman. He was my sister's hero long before we were paired together. And now to be doing a film with him," Kareena told IANS.

Kareena started shooting on Tuesday at Film City at the outskirts of Mumbai.

Kareena and Salman were expected to serenade to immortality in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Bajirao Mastani, but the film never happened.

She was also signed for Salman's home production My Punjabi Nikaah. That never happened either.

Kareena chuckles in disbelief. "Main Aur Mrs. Khanna is an intensely romantic film. I don't think Salman has done a pure love story like this before. Neither have I. Sohail is also in the film."

Interestingly, this is the first time in her distinguished career that Kareena will be working with a debutant director Prem Soni.

"He's very talented. It wouldn't matter even if he wasn't - I'm doing it for Salman," said Kareena emotionally.