MAMI 2013: Day 2

Four films in a day. This is probably a first for me, says my father. He may be right. If there have been any prior instances, they elude me. Keep reading if you're interested in knowing which four films I managed to watch today.

•      Good to Go:

Ivan (Evgen Car, so endearing) is not a happy man. One could say that a lot of his misery is self-imposed. "All my life is in these boxes," says Ivan to his brother Vinka (Ivo Ban), though here I might be paraphrasing just a little bit, as he packs up his belongings to move into an old age home. "It wasn't a very interesting one either," retorts Vinka.

Ivan's life may not have been so, but the home he leaves behind is of great interest to his icy daughter-in-law Polona (Janja Majzelj, reminiscent of Cruella de Vil according to a friend) who wants to make more than a few major alterations to it upon his departure, while his son Marko (Vladimir Vlaskalic) looks on. The only person who can soften the scowl creasing his face, forehead to jowls, is Ivan's granddaughter Brina (Juta Kremzar).

The doting grandfather spares his smile for none else, not even the residents of the retirement home. Just when it sounds like the old timer could do with a little 'Carpe Diem' in his limited lifespan; he begins to enjoy the company of fellow resident Melita (a lovely Milena Zupancic).

There are other old men, with their little pranks, nuances and humourous touches who add life to Ivan's life and to what could otherwise have been a meandering film. Watch out for the scenes that include their computer classes, card games, an aerobics class in the pool and a planned getaway from the home for a music concert.

My friend with me found the Matevz Luzar-directed film slow and would only want to give it three stars. I don't know about rating, but I know that this is something I would everyone if I could get my hands on it.

This Slovenia-Croatia beauty will be screened again on 23rd October at Cinemax, Versova – Screen 1 at 12:30 pm.

Please don't miss it.

•      Before Midnight:

Okay, I'd be lying if I said I saw Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. Yes, I heard those collective gasps, but I did know the plot lines for both the films and figured this one would be a bit stand-alone in itself. There are a lot of references to the prequels, which would be better appreciated by those who saw them.

I'm not saying I disliked the film. In fact, the long shots of endless discussion made for quite a class act. It is so difficult to maintain a consistent chemistry on camera but Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke pull off the mature, married couple with élan. Fans of the series would love to see the duo age and evolve. Others may not take too kindly to their domestic quarrels.

For those who haven't seen the previous films, this one's about conversations. No major plot. Just simple, thought-provoking conversations as if you were only sitting next to them. I enjoyed the ride while it lasted, but felt a sense of incompleteness when the end credits rolled. It's a film that could or could not work for a lot of people.

I'd wave a green flag for this. Not too enthusiastically, but just for some lovely nuggets of conversation before the characters get whiney.

If interested, the film will be screened on 23rd October at Liberty cinema, Marine Lines at 5:30 pm. No, it isn't a multiplex.

•       Liar's Dice:

The only reason I attended the screening of writer-director Geeta Mohandas' film was for Nawazuddin Siddiqui. It's the story about an anxious wife (Geetanjali Thappa) and her little daughter (Manya Gupta) from the mountainous Chitkul village embarking on a perilous journey to find her husband, their pet goat in tow.

Nawazuddin plays an army deserter who decides to tag along, since it isn't a safe world for women. Least of all if her itinerary includes Delhi as the end point for her search.

I tried to keep an open mind about the film, but after a point it began to drag. The climax, when it comes, gets a little confusing. The dots aren't connected all that well and the ensuing hysteria, though effective, is grating. Not something I would recommend, but if you're a Nawazuddin fan, go for it.

I don't want to completely run down an entire team's effort to shoot over vastly differing terrain, so I give full marks to the makers for capturing the essence of a harried commute through the mountains with the shaky cam. However, it does get excessive in the second half.

I'm not sure if there are repeats for the film. At least I could not find any after this. This was probably the second and last screening.

•          Don Jon:

The much-awaited Don Jon was filled to capacity in Cinemax, Versova today. Yours truly was one of the fortunate few who managed to reserve her seat in time. It was the hype, more than anything else that drew me in. Written and directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Golly!

Or not.

JGL plays Jon Martello, a bartender who seems to possess remarkable powers of seduction over the women who groove at the club, though nothing about his character really comes across as smooth and charming. Anyway, he plays the game, beds the woman but can't really get his rocks off with physical intimacy. He needs to watch porn for that.

So yes, explicit porno footage ahead, though not blatantly graphic.

Enter Scarlett Johansson, whom Jon decides he is ardently in love with because she did not yield to his sleazy manliness. At least that's how it looks. The question is… is this something that will last?

Honestly, considering it was a JGL film, I expected it to be smarter, especially with dialogue. It has the cool quotient down with the editing and a recurring background score every time our hero feels the need to surf the nasty online. But somehow, it lacks the punch, the character development and a decent enough conclusion to really do it for me. Shame, considering the film started out so well.

But don't look disappointed. If you still have your heart set out on Don Jon, you can catch it on 24th October at Metro (Marine Lines), Screen 5 at 6 pm.<