Ronnie Screwvala Movies
- 2009
Inspired by author Madhu Rye's Gujarati-language novel Kimball Ravenswood, director Ashutosh Gowariker's airy romantic comedy tells the story of Yogesh Patel, a handsome, marriage-minded man who must find his true love in ten days in order to save his family from ruin. Surmising that the best means of finding his ideal spouse is to meet one woman from each star sign, Yogesh plans two dates per day, a schedule that permits him six days to find the right woman and three days to make his final decision. On the tenth day Yogesh will get married. If only it were truly that easy. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harman Baweja
- 2009
Previously adapted for the screen by such revered filmmakers as P.C. Barua and Bimal Roy, Anurag Kashyap's Dev D is a contemporary take on author Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's popular novel Devdas. Traditionally, the story of Devdas finds the eponymous character, a legendary lover, becoming so despaired at the loss of his true love that he begins to veer down a perilous path of self-destruction. Alternately, this version of the story paints Devdas as a self-pitying hypocrite whose will is so weak that he cannot even summon the fortitude to stand up for himself. The son of a zamindar (tax collector), Devdas longs to marry childhood sweetheart Paro. Unfortunately for the would-be couple, differences in status and caste make the prospect of marriage impossible. Sent to Calcutta as Paro is married off to a wealthy yet aged widower, Devdas meets the prostitute Chandramukhi (Kalki) and ultimately falls into a tragic cycle of excess due to an overpowering sense of remorse. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Lady in the Water director M. Night Shyamalan puts PG-13 suspense on pause to tell this grim apocalyptic tale about a family fleeing a natural disaster that poses a grave threat to the whole of humanity. Philadelphia high-school science teacher Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg) is discussing the disappearance of the bees with his students when the staff is summoned to the theater and briefed about a mysterious event that is currently unfolding in New York City. According to reports, citizens in the vicinity of Central Park have suddenly and inexplicably begun seizing up just before killing themselves by whatever means are at their disposal. As the phenomena begins to spread and talk of terrorism fills the airwaves, Elliot, his wife, Alma (Zooey Deschanel), their friend Julian (John Leguizamo), and his daughter, Jess (Ashlyn Sanchez), board a train bound for the presumed safety of the country. When the train screeches to a halt before arriving at its final destination, however, the frightened passengers are forced to fend for themselves as each consecutive news report paints an increasingly grim picture of the situation in more urbanized areas. Theories abound on what could be causing the unexplainable rash of suicides, but the only thing that everyone seems to agree on is that it's some kind of airborne contagion that is carried in the wind. It would appear that humankind's reign on planet Earth has come to an end, but perhaps if this small band of survivors can find a safe place to lie low until this all blows over, all hope for survival of the species might not be lost just yet. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, (more)
- 2008
- NR
A quick trip from the USA to India turns into a life-altering journey of self-discovery for a man traveling with his ailing grandmother. Upon arriving in Delhi with his grandmother, Roshan (Abhishek Bachchan) begins to experience an inner transformation that he never anticipated. The ancient walled city is a character unto itself -- embodying the chaos of the Indian people, their beliefs, and their religion -- and before his trip is over Roshan will have fallen deeply in love with Delhi. The pin code of Delhi is 110006, though the locals affectionately refer to it as "DELHI-6." ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, (more)
- 2007
A compelling snapshot of the lives and loves of early-21st Century Dubai dwellers takes viewers on an emotional journey through the heart of the city in director Anurag Basu's earnest urban drama. Rahul (Sharman Joshi) is a call center executive who silently pines for his beautiful boss Neha, but the secret to Neha's fast success is the furtive romance she has been having with her own boss - an unhappily married professional named Ranjeet. Ranjeet has grown bored with his marriage to the smart and beautiful Shikha, and despite the fact that the couple has a six year-old son Ranjeet is willing to risk it all to shower Neha with lavish gifts and enticing opportunities. Back in school, Shikha was a better student than Ranjeet, but when the couple had a son she put her professional aspirations aside in order to care for the child. These days Shikha, too, has grown bored with her marriage, and soon falls into the arms of divorced artist Akash despite the pride she has taken in her vow to always remain faithful. In another part of town, Shikha's aunt Vaijanti bides her time in an old age home. When Vaijanti's childhood sweetheart Amol returns to India after forty years in exile to spend his remaining years with her, old love blossoms anew. Shikha's sister and Neha's roommate Shruti is a thirty-something radio producer named Shruti who has fallen hard for radio talent Wishy K. Though she has recently met marriage-minded Debu though a matrimonial-oriented website, she is bored by his traditional ways and soon enters into a heated affair with the charismatic Wishy K. As Rahul realizes the potential for profit and advancement in lending the key to his vacationing uncle's apartment to co-workers seeking to have discreet flings, Neha approaches Ranjeet about making a true commitment. Carelessly snubbed and insulted by her high-powered lover, Neha attempts suicide in Rahul's uncle's apartment. Later, when Rahul discovers Neha in the love nest and nurses her back to health, the pair begins to form a tenuous bond. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shiney Ahuja, Shilpa Shetty, (more)
Actor/comedian Chris Rock directs and stars in this American remake of Eric Rohmer' s classic French comedy Chloe in the Afternoon. Richard Cooper (Rock) is a high-powered investment banker with a beautiful wife and two wonderful children. Though on the surface it would appear that Richard could want nothing more out of life, his thoughts always seem to drift toward sex. Whether it's during his daily commute into the city, his endless barrage of meetings, or even his downtime changing diapers at home, Richard's mind is constantly preoccupied by fantasies about the women he sees on the commuter train, on the city streets, and in the boardroom. Richard's daily life has gradually devolved into a blur of mind-numbing banality, and these days sexual fantasy has become his sole means of escaping the constant pressures of work and fatherhood. Though Richard never had any real intention of cheating on his faithful but preoccupied wife Brenda (Gina Torres), a chance run-in with his old friend Nikki (Kerry Washington) -- a drop-dead gorgeous stunner who appears at his office door one day seeking career advice from the successful banker -- finds his steely resolve fast turning flimsy. It's not long before the smitten Richard and the smoldering Nikki are meeting for clandestine lunches, and temptation begins to turn Richard's once-predictable life upside down. As his uncontrollable fantasies begin to lead him down the dangerous path of infidelity, the man who once kept his libido safely in check finds it increasingly difficult to refrain from acting on his impulses. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Rock, Kerry Washington, (more)
- 2007
- NR
Ashutosh Gowariker's epic historical romance Jodhaa Akbar tells the story of how the Mughal emperor Akbar found his match in the princess he marries for political reasons. In order to convince the Rajputs that he was worthy of their fealty, the shrewd leader Akbar marries their princess, Jodhaa. Soon he develops true feeling for the woman, who feels no need to consider herself inferior in any way to her husband. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, (more)
A couple coming to terms with living in a new culture discover their troubles are compounded by their son in this drama from filmmaker Mira Nair. Ashoke (Irfan Khan) and Ashima (Tabu) are a young couple who are brought together in an arranged marriage and soon leave Calcutta to seek their fortune in America. As the couple becomes accustomed to one another, they learn to deal with the coolness and superficiality of life in New York, even as they revel in the opportunities the city offers them. Before long, Ashima gives birth to a baby boy, and pressed to choose a name, they dub the infant Nikhil, though he soon picks up the nickname Gogol, after Ashoke's favorite author. By the time the child is old enough to attend school, he insists upon being called Gogol at all times, and he displays little interest in his Indian heritage. Several years on, Gogol has decided he wants to be called Nick (and is now played by Kal Penn) and has become a thoroughly Americanized teenager, openly rebelling against his parents, smoking marijuana in his room, and dating Maxine (Jacinda Barrett), a preppy blonde from a wealthy family. Ashoke and Ashima are uncertain about how to deal with their son's attempts to cut himself off from their culture, but Nick begins expressing some uncertainty himself when he meets Moushumi (Zuleikha Robinson), a beautiful girl who also comes from a family of Indian expatriates. The Namesake was adapted from the bestselling novel by Jhumpa Lahiri. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
