Here are five ways to spice up your weekend.
Ittefaq
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Nanda, Bindu
Director: Yash Chopra
Plot: A mad murderer on the run takes shelter inside the huge bungalow of a 'home alone' housewife. There is more to both these protagonists than meets the eye as an intriguing drama unfolds.
Aces: Yash Chopra's songless quickie earned brownie points with the critics and a best director Filmfare trophy, thanks to its unconventional setup and engaging treatment. Considering Ittefaq happens to be one of his earlier works, Chopra didn't shy away from choosing an offbeat subject, which only fortified his keen script sense in the long run.
Years later, Ram Gopal Varma explored a similar premise in Kaun. Ittefaq stands strong on performances of its lead characters. A raw Rajesh Khanna impresses with his enthusiastic, emotionally charged act. Nanda, in contrast, is suitably subdued and compliments her co-star's animated energy. If you enjoy fascinating dialogue reflecting the inner complexity and outer conflict of the human mind, Ittefaq is just what the weekend ordered.
Extras: Available in English subtitles. Interview with Yash Chopra by Karan Johar. Highlights from star-studded premiere.
Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Frances McDormand, Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener, Greg Germann, Scott Caan.
Director: Nicole Holofcener
Plot: A circle of friends, comfortably rich and socially settled and the not so well-to-do housemaid buddy amidst struggling both on a professional and personal front.
Aces: There's no real story in Friends With Money. It works like episodes in succession taking the viewer closer into the heads and hearts of the protagonists. Holofcener subtly illustrates the growing insecurities and dispute between characters in relation to their age and marriage respectively.
Even though she plays the central role, Aniston's character remains the most ambiguous. She replaces her characteristic spunk with exerted sincerity. Her co-stars McDormand and Keener effortlessly shine in their well-defined parts.
Extras: Available in English and French subtitles. Commentary by writer/director Nicole Holofcener and producer Anthony Bregman. Behind-the-scenes featurette. Los Angeles Premiere featurette. Sundance Film Festival featurette.
Cast: Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger, Eileen Atkins and Brendan Gleeson.
Director: Anthony Minghella
Plot: During the time of the American Civil War, an injured soldier leaves the field and makes a long journey back home to be with his beloved.
Aces: Trust Minghella to paint a striking portrait on celluloid canvas. Based on Charles Frazier's best-selling novel of the same name, Cold Mountain, this starry vehicle is poetically and leisurely (two and a half hours long) told by the The English Patient director.
Besides good performances from Kidman and Law, Zellweger scores with her endearing vivacity. Hardly surprising then that she won the Oscar in the Best Supporting Actress category for this film. V for Vendetta star, Natalie Portman also makes a lasting impact in a brief cameo. The emotional content of Cold Mountain lags during the second half despite the easygoing chemistry between the talented stars. Cold Mountain notched seven Academy award nominations, including for John Seale's stunning cinematography and Gabriel Yared's soulful score.
Extras: Available in Spanish and French subtitles. Commentary by writer/director Anthony Minghella and editor Walter Murch. Climbing Cold Mountain, a documentary. A Journey to Cold Mountain, making-of featurette. 11 deleted scenes. Words & Music of Cold Mountain Royce Hall Special concert. Scared Harp History - musical influences and roots. Storyboard comparisons (three scenes).
Cast: Shane West, Mandy Moore, Peter Coyote, Daryl Hannah, Lauren German.
Director: Adam Shankman
Plot: A shy cleric's daughter bumps into a cocky 'Mr Popular' high school student. The unlikely duo falls in love but destiny has some other plans.
Aces: Agree Mandy Moore is no natural born actress but the singer-actress does quite a decent job here. Adapted from Nicholas Sparks tearjerker, A Walk To Remember, in comparison to the hip, new age teen romances which are high on in-your-face attitude, takes the sweet, old fashioned route to the boy-meets-girl routine. A tender love story with a tragic twist, this teen mush is nothing unpredictable, however the fresh and eager disposition of the young cast lends to its credibility.
Extras: Available in English, Spanish and French subtitles. Two separate commentaries: 1) By Shane West, Mandy Moore and Director Adam Shankman. 2) By Novelist Nicholas Sparks and Screenwriter Karen Janszen. Mandy Moore Cry Music Video
Cast: Govinda, Karisma Kapoor, Paresh Rawal and Kader Khan.
Director: David Dhawan
Plot: A young chap, hailing from an affluent family, parades as a man-servant to win over his girlfriend's eccentric household.
Aces: Fultoo time pass! That's the best desi cliché to describe most fare from the Govinda-David Dhawan pair. Lately, we haven't seen much of this jodi though the two -- in addition to Salman Khan -- will soon come together for the reportedly Hitch rip-off, Partner.
Trivia aside, Hero No 1, cashing on the title success of Coolie No 1, borrowed bits of Aditya Chopra's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and chunks of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Bawarchi and blended it with Dhawan's own brand of gag-telling. Of course, the inimitable Govinda played to the gallery with his comical antics and sparkling pairing with Lolo. Anand Milind's peppy songs Sona kitna sona hai, Tere baap ke ghar se and Maine cycle se ja raha tha too caught the fancy of Chi-Chi fans.
Extras: Available with English subtitles.