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December 22, 2005
Eight Days a Week
FILM
Writer/director Suparn Varma lifts the Ed Burns/Rachel Weisz/Dustin Hoffmann starrer Confidence almost lock, stock and barrel (with a few scenes from Nicholas Cage/Ridley Scott’s Matchstick Men thrown in for good measure) to make his Eik Khiladi Eik Haseena.
Fardeen Khan plays a conman who falls foul of gangster Gulshan Grover and has to pay him a lot of money back fast. He plans another scam and pulls in psychologist Koena Mitra into his schemes while Kay Kay Menon is assigned to keep an eye on him by Grover. There are cons within cons and everybody’s pulling over the wool over everybody else’s eyes. The end result is fairly slick and Varma manages to make a convoluted storyline comprehensible to anybody who’s paying attention (unlike the mess that was Chocolate, the recent Mollywood “remake” of The Usual Suspects). Certain scenes don’t make any sense story-wise since they are there more to fool the audience than any of the characters in the movie but that’s a tolerable quibble. Catchy numbers by music director Pritam round out a reasonably entertaining, though hardly original, movie.
To sum up: if you’ve seen the originals then there’s no need to see this one but, if you haven’t, then you can check this one out for something a little different for Mollywood.—Khusro Mumtaz
OR
Did we really need yet another adaptation of Jane Austen’s venerable novel Pride And Prejudice? One would have thought not but debutante film director Joe Wright and screenwriter Deborah Moggach (who lived in Karachi at one time and wrote the novel Hot Water Man that was set in the city) turn in a tight little version with Pride & Prejudice that is thoroughly entertaining and told with zest and verve.
In Keira Knightley, who plays Lizzie, the second of the five Bennet sisters of marriageable age, they have a starlet finally coming into her own as an actress and delivering a performance that will take her to another level in the Hollywood stakes. She’s already won a Golden Globe nomination for her performance and I’m betting that an Oscar nomination isn’t too far behind. The rest of the cast all make their mark and quite a few scenes are stolen by Tom Hollander as William Collins, one of Lizzie’s potential, but rather ridiculous, suitors. The cinematography and music are also quite brilliant (both won in their categories at the recently concluded Kara Film Festival) and keep a look out for the brilliant camerawork in some long takes and the ballroom sequences.
This latest adaptation proves that there’s life yet in Austen’s tale of love and subtle class distinctions. A definite crowd pleaser which is likely to garner a number of Oscar nominations.— K.M.
SINGLE
The 2005 dance club mega hit of the year is I Just Can’t Get Enough by Jason Herd and Jon Fitz featuring the vocals of Abigail Bailey. By far the biggest track in clubs at the moment as well as a favourite at fashion shows, this single appears on various compilation dance tracks in Pakistan.
With a killer backbeat and a souped up groove, I Just Can’t Get Enough combines Bailey’s phenomenal voice with the classic riff from Kariya’s Let Me Love You For Tonight. Officially classified as “vocal house,” this track features plenty of old fashioned soulful vocals and true mainstream pop chords, ensuring radio popularity.
The single starts off on a very classic note. The production focuses on uplifting chords, repeat crescendos and at the centre of it all a powerful diva reminiscent of the 1990s which was the heyday of house music. In fact, it is Bailey’s emotion-rich vocals that ensure you won’t be able to get enough of this track. A definite winner. Do check out the tons of new mixes including a fabulous Freemasons remix.— T. U. Dawood
ALBUM
Megastar Eminem has just released his supposedly “last” album Curtain Call. Although it’s likely just media hype, rumours continue to abound that this greatest hits CD is a “curtain call” in the truest sense.
Love him or hate him (George Bush famously labelled him as ‘the greatest threat to our children since polio’), you have to admit Eminem a.k.a. Slim Shady has had a profound affect on the music industry and in fact popular culture. Whereas once he was the poster child for controversy and condemned for his explicit lyrics and court cases, now he is more often praised for the depth and craftsmanship of his music.
Although he has only released four full-length albums since he came onto the mainstream music scene six years ago, he’s had an impressive list of hit singles and even an Oscar for Lose Yourself off his film debut 8 Mile! With his recognizable mop of blond hair, razor-sharp articulation and rhyming skills, the artist dared to be different with his unique combination of hard-core anger mixed with wit and tongue-and-cheek humour. Backed by the slick beats of his producer and mentor Dr Dre and some very glossy videos, it didn’t take Eminem and his music long help create mainstream pop-rap as its own genre.
A career retrospective, Curtain Call features megahits Stan, Cleanin’ Out My Closet, The Way I Am, My Name Is and Lose Yourself along with three new tracks written and produced by Slim Shady himself titled Fack, Shake That (featuring Nate Dogg) and When I’m Gone. Wisely the artist stays away from his more controversial songs such as 97 Bonnie and Clyde.
Although there is no standout track among the new singles, the old hits are timeless. Occasionally the cultural references in the lyrics are dated, but the richness of the musical chords and Eminem’s intense vocals feel as fresh and potent as ever.— T. U. D
TV
A 40-minute docu-drama based on the life of Ruttie Jinnah, this programme focuses on the young woman who stole the heart of the man destined to change the map of the subcontinent. Starring Sehar as Ruttie, and Fahd as the young Jinnah, the programme’s cast also includes Hasan Shaheed Mirza and has been directed by Rehan Ahmed. On air on December 25 on Hum TV at prime time.— S.R.
OR
Koi To Ho is based on a young and ambitious girl’s life who has been raised by her father while struggling with his limited resources. Becoming a doctor she applies for a job in Dubai and is selected. But little does she know that she is stepping into a web of intrigues. Being aired on ARY Digital at 9.20pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The cast includes Nadia Khan, Aijaz Aslam, Munawar Saeed and others.— A.S.
EXHIBITION
Lahore-based Ghulam Mustafa, recipient of the Pride of Performance award is holding an exhibition at Canvas Gallery on December 21 from 5-8pm. The exhibition will continue till December 31, from 11am to 8pm (excluding Sunday).— A.S.
OR
The second international trade show is culminating on December 22. Ramp shows all three nights with bridal, formal wear is being exhibited. Designers from different countries including Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Syria are participating in the show at Beach Luxury Hotel. The exhibition is from 11am to 9pm.
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