Wire in the Blood - Prayer of the Bone

Too much style is never a good thing and this set in Texas tale of what is becoming one of my all time fav shows really suffers coz of it. That and the writing isn't upto par when compared with Season 1.

I probably should have watched everything in chronological order but I had this available and nobody can ever accuse me of being patient.

Wire in the Blood

Many moons ago I had picked up a Val McDermid book by random fluke at the BCL and had been mighty impressed by her writing skills. I had made a note to myself to read her other works but alas that was another addition to the list of things not done.

So many moons later in another Indian territory (so to speak) I came across this BBC series based on her books and it was a case of neki aur pooch pooch. I've just seen the first episode of Season 1 and by God ki kasam I'm hooked. Featuring an neurotic clinical psychologist and quite frankly yummy female cop , the show is one of the best British police procedurals I have seen.

Each show runs to about 90 minutes and with 3 shows per season and about 6 seasons till date I have quite a bit of watching to do. Splendid old chap. Simply splendid.

A Wednesday

A WEDNESDAY - 2008

A Wednesday offers a unique plot with nice twists and turns,engaging camera angles,  a fast paced and well timed storyline and a pretty good script. Fantastic acting by all four of the main cast: Naseer Ud Din Shah as the orchestrator-in-chief "Stupid Common Man", Amir Bashir as the duty-before-self-family-child Inspector Jai, Jimmmmiey Shergil as the only-too-happy-to-smash-your-bones Inspector Arif and Anupam Kher as the negotiator and narrator of the movie Commissioner Rathod.

Once I got to know that two of my favourite actors, Anupam Kher and Nasser Ud Din
Shah, are both in A Wednesday I expected it to be a great movie. Good direction by Neeraj Pandey. The movie is not a high budget flick (probably good and brings in a bit more realism). No compromise on production values. No songs (none are called for by the script anyway). Both of the super gods of method and character acting Anupam Kher and Nasser Ud Din Shah have dished out such flawless and realistic performances that I didn't once think of them as anybody other than the characters they portray. Neither has been able to out shine the other and both thespians emerge as winners. Need I say more.

My only two complaints (but please don't let me detract anything from A Wednesday you must see it never the less): The back ground music is possibly the worst I have experienced in a recently released Bollywood movie (absurd sounds are played at every characters introduction and also in between some of the most important dialogues which distract from the attention which these dialogues deserve) , and the details behind how Nasser Ud Deen Shah's character gains the trust of the four terrorist are murky at best. Oh and there is immense product placement in the first few minutes and this left a slightly sour taste in my mouth. Oh and the reporter babe is umm...forgetable. Seems like the list is a bit longer than I thought.hm...

I liked this movie and wouldn't mind seeing it again or recommending it to others. Now I look forward to Neeraj Pandey's next effort. 


Must See Movie.

State of Play

When you mix Bill Nighy, the BBC and the term "political thriller" in the same pot you get State of Play. As good a mini-series as you could ever hope to see. Watch out for the film remake by Kevin McDonald.

Transsiberian

Ben Kingsley steals the show in anything he's in and this taut thriller is no exception.

Dialogues of the movie:
 
Woody Harrelson to Ben Kinglsey: "Don't tell me you miss the USSR, wasn't it this dark, evil empire?"
Ben Kinsley: " Maybe so but at least then we were living in the darkness, now we are dying in the light, which is better?"

Ben Kinglsey: "In Russia we have an expression, with lies you may go ahead in the world, but you may never go back"