Showing posts with label jennifer lawrence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jennifer lawrence. Show all posts

Sunday, 25 May 2014

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST: Entertainment just can’t get any bigger, any better! [4/5]

The most loved mutant series X-MEN returns to its original generator after 11 long years and the influence, empathy and compassion between the two grow like they were never separated. No wonder, Bryan Singer helmed X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST turns out to be the most entertaining affair of the lot. It is also an adrenaline-charged reunion of the older and newer members of the mutant gang known for their magical, mystical & marvellous powers. Together they ensure a wholesome entertainer you’ll cherish long after leaving the theatre. Action speaks louder than words but action here in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST is more amusing, enjoyable and flattering but without eclipsing the power of words.

In the futuristic world of endless possibilities, heroic mutants headed by the older professor X [Patrick Stewart] and Magneto [Ian McKellan] are being hunt and gunned down by army of Robotic Giants called The Sentinels supposedly developed by the gene and blood-cells of Raven-the Mystique, played by the enigmatic Jennifer Lawrence. The threat upon the very existence of mankind and mutants are constantly getting thicken and the only way out is to rectify the mistakes done in the past by taking the much fascinating time-travel route. The volunteer chosen is the edgy & impatient Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman. Now, he has to deal with the younger versions of his associates who are still ambitiously driven by their own set of differences and unaware of the fact that eventually they had to be one at one point of time.

This journey from future to past sees ample of electrifying moments to keep you constantly on the edge of your seats. The engaging plot and unpredictability in the writing make sure you never have a dull moment even for once. Rather, the story moves forward and gets unfold in a manner that the 2 hour duration of the film looks absolutely jam-packed with much of thrills and chills. Of the lot, the best is when Peter aka Quicksilver [Played by Evan Peters] decides to help Charles Xavier [James McAvoy] and Wolverine release Erik [Michael Fassbender] in a prison-break in an almost impossible Pentagon. In a lyrical representation of how the ‘blink and you miss’ fastest of the all Quicksilver reacts in fractions of a second to this particular sequence, you are bound to be left awe-struck and overwhelmingly impressed by the ultra-slow-motion technique and the fascinating music score over it to double it up the whole experience. In another, you see Erik using his epic superpowers to thrash and lift up an entire sports stadium in the air and later, to make it a guarding wall around Washington DC. This is as big as Chris Nolan creates in his super science fictions. Absolutely breath-taking!

If anything that does get unsatisfying to some extent, is when you see many of your favourite characters like Storm played by Halle Berry getting side-lined with a not-so-evolved brief role but then possibly this is not the film for them to be remembered for. They had their own share in the previous and hopefully will get another in next. With the layered emotionally dehydrated and hilarious drunken act of James McAvoy as younger professor X, the witty reactions and one-liners of Wolverine, the action sequences involving the tiff between Erik and Raven, you shouldn’t really ask for more reasons. It tastes as good as it smells. Entertainment just can’t get any bigger, any better! [4/5]  

Saturday, 18 January 2014

AMERICAN HUSTLE: A Delicious comic-con film that is not so common con film! Delightful Watch!! [4/5]

With an opening line that says “Some of this actually happened”, David O. Russell’s Oscar Nominated crime-comedy drama AMERICAN HUSTLE turns out to be one of the most delightful con films I have seen. Credit goes to the categorically best ensemble star-cast that serves you with the most delicious performances you have ever tasted. This is one of those films that have an interesting brigade of actors playing juicy, buoyant and dynamic characters you take home for a very very long time in your heart.

When Richard DiMaso- an FBI agent [played by Bradley Cooper] busted the illegit exercises of 2 con-artistes Irving Rosenfeld [Christian Bale] and Sydney Prosser [Amy Adams] in cheating people with fake impersonation of a loan approval agency, he didn’t have the slightest notion in his weirdest dream that his assessment to go a step further & entail these two in his operation to capture some more big shots on camera could be a heart-piercing roller-coaster ride of his lifetime.

Christian Bale again surprises you with his extensive physical transformation as a paunchy, bald & aging Irving Rosenfeld swaying and swinging between his new partner-in-crime Sydney and his wife-in-broken marriage Rosalyn [played by Jennifer Lawrence]. He is a smartass but don’t expect him to be other than just a rotten husband when he is with his big-mouthed unreasonable wife. Watch him in the opening scene where he is busy dressing his hair-streaks to conceal the bald surface. He’s terrific.

Amy Adams plays the other con-artist in love with Irving but after revelation that he is a married guy, wants to move out in desperation only to find a possible match in Richie- the FBI guy. She shows extreme confidence in her character with a ‘go-get it’ attitude with a flair of jealousy & resentment in parts.

Bradley Cooper’s enthusiastic, animated & restless Richie provides good laugh especially in an on-going gag with his superior agent where the later tells him a story about his father and brother…and the fidgety Cooper tries his hands every time to guess the end & find the moral behind it but ends up maddening him even more.

Jennifer Lawrence charms the screen as thousands of neon gets lit in one spark. Though she played a typical ‘never in control’ housewife with her ‘god only knows’ analysis of situations, she oozes you with her frivolous facetious attitude. Watch her in the side-splitting ‘microwave’ scene. Jeremy Runner Plays a sober, well-intended mayor who gets trapped while striving to do better for their people. Robert De Nero’s cameo as the mob-head is a satisfying surprise.

Getting these many dominant faces in one frame or film is not the only highlight of David O Russell’s AMERICAN HUSTLE. The writing with witty lines, remarkable characters, the performances, set & production design with eyes of detailing, impressive direction, not-so-overdramatic twists in the tale and last but not the least, the emotional inconsistency in every character, as Irving says in the film, “not everyone is black or white but grey”, are what make this story of changing sides in the game of love & hustling people set in corrupt political scenario not just any other common con film but a delicious Comic-Con movie you’ll enjoy thoroughly! [4/5]