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August 11, 2005
Eight Days a Week
FILM
The Island is set in the year 2019. Lincoln Echo Six (Ewan McGregor) and Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson) are residents of an antiseptic, enclosed colony because Earth’s atmosphere has become inhospitable and its air unbreathable.
The only place left on the entire planet which is capable of sustaining life is an idyllic island where some of the lucky citizens of the colony get to go when they win a lottery. Taking care of the residents in the meantime is a doctor (Sean Bean) and his trained staff. It’s a sterile and monotonous but safe existence.
However, when Lincoln Echo Six starts to have strange dreams/nightmares and begins to question the monotony and sterility, the administrators of the colony start watching him a bit more closely. They also don’t like his growing friendship with Jordan Two Delta although the relationship is entirely sexless.
There’s something strange going on in the colony and when Lincoln Echo Six gets an inkling of what it is (I’m not going to give anything away here but it shouldn’t be too hard to guess what’s at the bottom of the mystery) he plans an escape.
Director Michael Bay (Armageddon, Bad Boys II, Pearl Harbor) has an interesting premise here which is very relevant to what’s going on in the world right now. But he’s not actually interested in asking the really tough questions or exploring the ideas he raises. He basically wants to blow stuff up – which is what he does in most of his movies.
So the second half of The Island is drastically different from the first, and the movie goes from being a creepy, cautionary science-fiction tale to becoming a fast-moving, special effects laden action-adventure. Unfortunately, neither half of the movie is particularly compelling.
There are some interesting bits but there’s nothing that we haven’t really seen before (though thankfully Bay’s highway chase this time around is much better choreographed and exciting than the one he directed in Bad Boys II).
The ending, in particular, leaves many things unexplained and is heavy handed in the extreme. Still, McGregor and (particularly) Johansson are an attractive lead pair (and there are some good in-jokes in the movie about their looks). But that’s not enough to really recommend the movie. The cast also includes Steve Buscemi, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Djimon Hounsou.— Khusro Mumtaz
If Ram Gopal Varma isn’t directing a Mumbai gangland epic then he’s producing one. ‘D’ is directed by Varma protégé Vishram Sawant but RGV himself is also on hand as the producer. Like most movies coming from the RGV movie factory, ‘D’ (which many are calling a prequel to the Varma directed Company) is slickly done and comes in a professional looking package.Randeep Hooda also makes a favourable impression as Deshu (hence ‘D”), the small-time Bombay gangster who proceeds to become a major player in the underworld. The rest of the cast –– which includes Chunkey Pandey, Rukhsar (who failed in her first innings as a Hindi film heroine but has been “rediscovered” by RGV), and Isha Koppikar –– is also pretty good.
However, there’s a problem. And it’s a major one. As I said in my review of Sarkar a few weeks ago, RGV and company (pun intended) have pretty much drained this particular well dry. If you’ve seen Satya or Company or Sarkar you’ve pretty much seen it all as far as an RVG Bombay underworld film is concerned, and ‘D’ is no different.
The gangland rivalries, the brutal murders, the revenge killings, the power plays, the film world-underworld nexus, the dealings of the politicians with the gangsters, etc. etc.
And now one hears of Varma remaking Sholay –– but as a gangster film set in the Bombay underworld.
I say enough already. I’d much rather see another Rangeela from RGV now than yet another gangland saga.— K.M
ALBUM
In an age of podcasts and good old fashioned burning, the mega success of the Now That’s What I Call Music! 19 collection by Various Artists is quite a feat.This nineteenth volume of the generally inconsistent series is a true comeback story. A perfect blend of pop and R&B with just the right amount of country, hip-hop and alternative, this CD is an absolute must-have for music lovers.
The compilation features such gems as the catchy anthem Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani, the sexy Latin-pop La Tortura by Shakira, the soulful Speed of Sound by Coldplay, the runaway ballad Incomplete by the Backstreet Boys, the hot seller Let Me Go by 3 Doors Down, the heart-breaking country smash Making Memories of Us by Keith Urban and the potent alt-rock number Mr. Brightside by The Killers.
It also has some so-so but successful tracks by popular artists such as the hollerin’ Switch by Will Smith and typical Mockingbird by Eminem. However, there are some weak points on the CD including Ordinary People by John Legend, 1 Thing by Amerie and Be My Escape by Relient K.
While these may be fun to listen to, they are not quite of the same quality as the other songs on the CD and weaken a “Best Of The Year” compilation such as this.— T. U. Dawood
SINGLE
Led Zeppelin is considered one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Their classic single Stairway to Heaven epitomizes the group’s deft skill and alchemy. Although the legendary band has not released a disc of new singles in over twenty years, frontman Robert Plant continues to have a warm place in the heart of fans.The announcement of his solo album of new songs All The Kings Horses by Robert Plant & The Strange Sensation sent quite a buzz in the music industry and has had fans starting online and offline fan club discussions on whether the new disc will compare to the best of Led Zeppelin.
Plant’s solo sound, however, has always been very different from his former band. He has a bent for Eastern music and this influence continues to be evident in All The Kings Horses. Album opener Another Tribe has a core classic rock foundation but very innovative meters and harmonies.
The lyrics are bold and its one of the best tracks on the album. Another gem is the bluesy-Middle Eastern bass driven The Enchanter that is truly the best of the East and West. Dancing In Heaven and Somebody Knocking –– are not so subtle references to his Led Z days but are ultimate culminations of both his solo style and the best of his former band. There are low points on the disc as well including Freedom Fries that don’t quite live up to their potential. Overall, however, All The Kings Horses is a winner!— T. U. D
FILM
Goethe Institut is showing a French film ‘A man and a woman’ on August 17 at 6pm. Based on a love story the film, which won an award at Cannes as well as an Academy award, is about a widowed man and a lonely woman.—A.S.
ART
An exhibition of Abdul Rasheed’s calligraphy and acrylic paintings is being held at Kalamkar Gallery till the first week of September.
An exhibition of paintings by Mashkoor Raza is taking place at Gulmohar Gallery. The inauguration is on August 15 at 5.30pm. The exhibition will continue till August 31.EXHIBITION
ITCN Asia 2005 exhi-bition is taking place at the Expo Centre till Aug 11.CELEBRATIONS
Press Club is holding its August 14 celebrations. Programmes including games, food and music will continue the whole day.|
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