Tales from the Counter: Jan 11 2008

Releases this week JAN 11 2008:

Bollywood sees the release of two major flicks.

While powerhouse director Rajkumar Santoshi comes with a hard hitting thriller in the form of HALLA BOL, we have newcomer Nikhil Dwiwedi making a debut with the E Niwas directorial venture MY NAME IS ANTHONY GONSALVES.

HALLA BOL
Cast: Ajay Devgan, Pankaj Kapoor and Vidya Balan
Directed by Raj Kumar Santoshi

Pros: Pankaj Kapoor's ever dependable acting, Raj Kumar Santoshi's ability with hard hitting themes.
Cons: A soundtrack that fails to excite or ignite, a predictable and dragging screenplay.

HALLA BOL is a powerful film that has its heart in the right place. Bollywood Hungama (IndiaFM) 3/5

In the times of new cinema, the film stands out as a sore thumb – BUZZ 18

Enjoy the performances which overcome the predictability of the storyline - RADIOSARGAM 7/10

Enjoy the broadstrokes, the cliches, and, above all, the film's honesty.This is, after quite a hiatus, vintage Santoshi, for which we should be glad REDIFF 3/5

Halla Bol brings together Santoshi and Devgan after a very long time. Besides the combo, the film has the right mix to keep it going at the box office. INDIAGLITZ 3.5/5

The excellent Pankaj Kapur, with all the scenes written in his favour, steals the show effortlessly. HT 2/5

Twelve years ago Halla Bol may have connected, but today, it's just a blast from the past IBNLive 2/5

Review Summary: Looks like a film that might be dated in technique and style, but still has elements of the Santoshi brilliance in bits and pieces. Cannot expect a bumper opening anyways at the BO being a Devgan starrer. Add to that the lacklustre music.

MY NAME IS ANTHONY GONSALVES
Cast: Nikhil Dwivedi, Amrita Rao, Mithun, Anupam Kher
Direction : E Niwas

Pros: Debutant Nikhil Dwivedi, From the production house of Shahrukh Khan, director E Niwas
Cons: A script that tries its hands at a lot of genres, no big names in the star cast

The sad part is MY NAME IS ANTHONY GONSALVES appeals in bits and spurts. An ordinary idea seems to be stretched beyond a point and lacks the fizz. - Bollywood Hungama (IndiaFM)

My Name… is a film that doesn't try to show off or take itself too seriously. It's got likeable characters, who you could visit on a lazy Sunday afternoon. (BUZZ 18) 2.5/5

My Name is Anthony Gonsalves is a journey that leaves you lost but hats off to E Niwas for proving that you don’t have to be a Kapoor to be a hero (Indiaglitz) 2.5/5

Drama looks tragedy at times, comedy looks forced and screenplay immensely weak. But overall, one can call My Name is.. a timepass film (RADIOSARGAM) 5/10

Anthony is worth a watch - REDIFF 2.5/5

It lacks fireworks HT 2/5

Despite an earnest performance by newcomer Nikhil Dwivedi, it is a dull-as-dull-can-be drama held together by the flimsiest script that may have ever been written. IBNLive 1/5

Review Summary: Looks like a bad screenplay has got the movie to just theek-thaak standards. But thankfully none of the critics are blasting this film. Therefore the film might do decent enough atleast by the time it reaches on video or on TV. But box office wise this might just turn out to be a dud! Afterall it seems it has lost the initial race with HALLA BOL!

Meanwhile at the Hollywood box office, things also did not seem to be heading anywhere.

Ice Cube starrer FIRST SUNDAY seems to be a total waste of talent and time as it fails to live up to any of its comic charms. In fact the script seems to be a total let down.

Simillarly what looks to be a crappy version of the LOTR, the Jason Statham starrer IN THE NAME OF THE KING also looks like heading to the pit and looks to live up to its awful image!

And sometimes performances are simply not enough. Because even despite efforts from veterans like Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, they cannot save their latest film THE BUCKET LIST from being a sappy touchy flick with a disappointing script.

Though the book is definitely way better, it seems that we have a rather decent adaptation of the Khaled Hosseni best seller THE KITE RUNNER. Though not exceptional and comes with the flaws, it still is much better a movie than anything out there on offer.