Change Your Image
Muniba Mastani
Reviews
Unbreakable (2000)
Almost Unbearable
After 6th sense, I had great respect for M.Night Shyamalan. With Unbreakable, methinks he has become rather self indulgent. The sole saving grace of the film is it's end. When Samuel L. Jackson turns out to be the evil genius. The twist in the surreal tale is brilliant to say the least, even better than that of SS, but whereas SS took you along on the most enjoyable ghost ride ever, Unbreakable drags. I watched the film in three painful sittings. Bruce Willis was awful as the super hero who doesn't know what a superb specimen of humanity he really is. He moved slowly, talked slowly and his whinging wife was just the icing on the cake. Whereas it worked when he played a ghost, it doesn't for his Superman in jeans. The only good thing in the film was Samuel L. Jackson as Elijah. I loved the hairdo and the suits. Shyamalan knows how to paint a picture in his own beautiful way, but can he give a story the colours it really needs like, well, that master of all masters Scorcese. I mean, Cape Fear and Casino has nothing in common, but Unbreakable was Willis sleepwalking back to life from the dead, if you know what I mean...
Mujhe Chand Chahiye (2000)
Simply the best
Mujhe Chand Chahiye stands out like a shining star in the reams of formula films churned out by Lollywood (the official nickname of the Pakistani film industry. A great script, tight editing, superb cinematography, lovely songs and imaginative direction compliment this high end melodrama. Atiqa Odho gets the film role of her career, Shaan is brilliant as her son. Noor manages to hold you attention by the way she shakes that thing. Highly recommended for anyone who has acquired a taste for Lollywood.
Almost Famous (2000)
Virgin in Rock World
What a film. Simple, real and extremely effective. And yet such a change from Jerry McGuire, which was great too, but in a completely different way. That was feel good. This is feel it. If you know what I mean. And if you don't, you'll figure it out when you watch this all to real ride into hyper real world of rock.
Raat Chali Hai Jhoom Ke (2002)
An edgy tour de force through the brightest city in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Brilliantly madcap portrayal of the city I live in. This film has a lot going for it. Great performances, terrific script, and tight plot that is a bit shaky in the beginning, but gets better and better as it goes along. I don't know how someone who hasn't lived in Karachi will react to it, maybe Mumbaiyyas will identify with it. But then again, lord knows when it will be available and how. Even I don't have a copy even though I want one. If you live in Pakistan, you will know what I mean, and if you do, be blissfully ignorant or else get here. At least in this place, you don't know what will happen next, just like you won't in the film. A must see for every Karachiite who has never crossed the Clifton Bridge.
Notting Hill (1999)
Slightly better than AWFUL but only slightly
As bad as yesterday's bile still rising today. Robert's, the shining American star looks so damn ridiculous in front of unknown English actors who make up in pizzaz what they lack in beauty. Slow moving, stale script and blurred characterization do not a blockbuster make even though Roberts is headlining. Damn, even her smile looks fake in this film, and I never though that was possible. Miracles do happen. Hugh Grant doesn't look like a lemon tart and I didn't think that was possible either. Yes, miracles do happen, but this film is definitely not one of them.