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Reviews
Anjaam (1994)
Madhuri is sensuous, alluring and enchanting...
This film is perhaps one of the better films to have come out of "Bollywood" in the mid 90s. Bearing in mind that Hum Aapke Hain Koun came out in the same year it showed the versatility of one of India's finest actresses... I am of course talking about Madhuri Dixit! So the plot may be a little far stretched and the sub plots may be a little distracting (referring to the transvestites) but all in all what a powerful film! "Bollywood" is accustomed to certain codes and conventions so lets not forget we are watching a film from a completely different arena (compared to Hollywood).
Now to the songs (a key feature of any "Bollywood" film)... Badi Mushkil Hai, Channe Ke Khet mein, Tu samne jab aata hai and Barson ki baad - all top notch! Maybe its become common knowledge now but Barson ki baad was taken in one single shot! That doesn't happen often now does it?! Madhuri is sensuous, alluring and enchanting in her seduction...nothing is vulgar about this - can't say that about the heroines of today!
I don't think you have to be a fan of either Shah Rukh or Madhuri to appreciate this unique film... However, one does ponder if their performances were the real pull for this film - I can't imagine anyone else in their place!
Final thought: if you are sick of the stuff "Bollywood" is churning out these days - go back to the 90's and make sure you pay Anjaam a visit!
Sex and Breakfast (2005)
Elongated short film and very disappointing!
The 2 stars go to Eliza Dushku - without her I wouldn't have bothered to continue with this snooze-fest!
Firstly this looked like a low/no budget movie and reduced it to looking like a student film. That, and also it felt like the concept may have been an idea for a short but was then stretched out into a "feature"... It really doesn't work because there is no real drama here - I didn't feel like I could know the 4 main characters - the only character who seemed to have an attempt at becoming multi-layered is Renee.. From the mention of wanting to be with a girl and then befriending the waitress, who seemed like she could be a lesbian, a new layer began to unravel for Renee. Ellis who felt threatened by this didn't react the way Renee (and possibly the people in the audience) expected. It was supposed to be a turn on but it back fired and their relationship inadvertently came under scrutiny.
I liked the ending for Renee, in that she left the waitress' number behind and we don't know if it was by accident or if on purpose to commit to her relationship with Ellis. There was something endearing about that...
But this in itself was not enough to make this movie worth a see - I think Dushku fans (including myself) will watch this just for her and will be glad to finally see her in something, anything... however it makes one wonder why on earth she did this! She is capable of so much more and it's sad to see her career not really going anywhere :( The rest of the cast were just okay - Macaulay Culkin is miscast, you can't help but see the home alone kid only he's gotten old and ugly! There is no attempt on his side to change his look and to be taken seriously as an adult actor either. The other two who I have never seen before are quite wooden and contrived.
Final thought - don't bother! Sorry Dushku but what were you thinking?!