SPECIAL CHABBIS ("IT'S CON TIME")

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, Manoj Bajpayee, Jimmy Shergill.

Director: Neeraj Pandey.

Neeraj Pandey is known to keep his audiences guessing about what's going to happen next. Special Chabbis which is based on real incidents is no exception.

Akshay kumar, Anupam kher, Rajesh Sharma and Kishore Kadam are conmen who keeps raiding the houses and offices of politicians and businessmen posing as CBI/Income Tax Officers. Manoj Bajpayee plays the (real) CBI officer who is in pursuit of Akki and his gang. What happens next forms the rest of the story.

Akki is cool as usual but his performance is subtle, subdued and perfect for his character which he intentionally downplays. Though he is the master mind of the gang who always has a trick up his sleeve he lets Anupam Kher deliver the cool dialogues and cheesy one liners (like asli power dil main hoti hai) most of the time. Anupam kher as the fearful old man who wants an early retirement from his "job" and Bajpayee as the relentless, truthful but over confident CBI officer excel in their roles. Jimmy Shergill does his part neatly.
The 1987 India has been depicted perfectly by the director by the smart use of the costumes, vehicles (like Maruti 800, public transport vehicles etc) and newspapers in the scenes. 

Kajal Agarwal’s character and the two songs could have been done away with. Average BGM and a few scenes with bad CG may be overlooked. Though the screenplay could have been tighter especially in the early stages of the film the dialogues that are smart and funny are a stand-out throughout the film. As the film progresses it picks up speed keeping you on the edge to deliver a master class climax!!!

I am giving a 3.5/5 for Special Chabbis. It’s Con time don’t miss it!


Rating Scale (Out of 5)
Less than 2 - Unwatchable.
2 to 2.25 - Below average.
2.5 to 2.75 - Average.
3 to 3.25 - Good.
3.5 to 3.75 - Great.
4 to 4.25 - Exceptional.
4.5 and above - Extraordinary.

LINCOLN (“OSCARS CALLING”)

Cast: Daniel Day Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon Lewitt.

Director: Steven Spielberg.

Lincoln is a biopic with a difference mainly because of the sense of humor infused into the script (of a serious subject) by Tony Kushner. The film showcases the last four months of Abraham Lincoln’s life. The theme which is the abolishment of slavery (by passing the 13^th amendment) is stated within the first five minutes of the film.

The highlights of the film are undoubtedly the splendid Oscar worthy performances by Daniel Day Lewis and Tommy Lee Jones and the outstanding dialogues. Daniel portrays the subtlety and outburst, authority and vulnerability of Lincoln with such control and grace that you are left in awe of the man. He keeps narrating stories every now and then to the amusement as well as irritation of his colleagues. Jones literally lives as the fiery Stevens (who wants Racial equality) running down his opponents with his wordplay, supporting Lincoln in spite of their ideological differences. You will burst into laughter at the way he ridicules his opponents. Sally Field as Mrs. Lincoln is ok.

The dialogues of the film are the power of words EXEMPLIFIED, be it Lincoln’s, Stevens’ or those in the courtroom.

The direction is spot on depicting the sensibilities really well along with the BGM creating the proper mood. Cinematography is really nice with the occasional close-ups capturing the subtleties.

One thing that dampens the film, If I may say so, is the unnecessary detailing of the screenplay especially in the first half. It tends to confuse one with little knowledge on American history and it takes some time into the first half to get the viewer engaged. But once the pace picks up towards the end of the first half things get really interesting with lies, trades, lobbying, arm twisting and threats.

I am giving a 3.5/5 for Lincoln. Watch it for the magnificent performances and fiery wordplay.

IMDB Link - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443272/?ref_=sr_2

Rating Scale (Out of 5)

Less than 2                  -           Unwatchable.

2 to 2.25                      -           Below average.

2.5 to 2.75                   -           Average.

3 to 3.25                      -           Good.

3.5 to 3.75                   -           Great.

4 to 4.25                      -           Exceptional.

4.5 and above             -           Extraordinary.