Mirza's Ammi

Stumbled upon review of a book by Saeed Mirza which seems to be interesting one to read. Its been ages since I read fiction (though this seems to blend fiction and nonfiction being a fictionalized memoir of Mirza's mother or ammi)
Here is a blog review of the book and I found some parts to be very relevant.

"The result is an absorbing mix of fiction and non-fiction – it’s as if a line has been drawn down the book’s centre, separating the Nusrat-Jahanara story (which is abandoned at the point where the couple are about to start a family) from the autobiographical sketches of later years: the one about his parents’ stoical reaction when he unwittingly ate a ham sandwich in school, for instance. (“A sinner is someone who sins against people – not because he eats pork,” his mother hesitantly concludes after thinking things over for a while, though she quickly adds, “But in my house there will be no pork!”)"

Movie Review:In Bruges

In Bruges is a delightful fast paced comedy. Starring Colin Farell, Ralph Fiennes amongst others, it is a light hearted look and neutral look into the world at a particular slice of time of two hitmen who are cooling their heels in a small town called Bruges.

It reminds of the Mel Gibson starrer Payback with its nonchalant matter of fact way of depicting crime as just another profession. These movies provide a different way of looking at such matters than is treated in conventional cinema. Standard Moral Judgements are reserved for the viewer to make.

This movie also has lots of witty one liners and a couple of barely known 'truths' veiled in the form of comedy which makes it a definite treat to watch.
Its not a must watch movie, but guess its certainly worth its time. Though at times, I felt as if the movie wasnt even made for the viewer but just for the director himself. There is very little explanation for why the characters do certain things but that looks more like something deliberate than an oversight or laziness. Its a genre which says that in life not everything has to have a reason.

Movie review: There will be blood

Finally watched the movie after the second sitting. It is dark, brooding with subtle (maybe only for me) undertones which I am grappling to understand. Probably need some better background of American history and the way this country was made, to appreciate the movie more fully.

What stuck me was the resonance that the theme of the movie set in early 1900s has with the situation in America today? Religion's dependence on big money and the big money's discomfort with it. Atleast that seems to be what is happening even now. But I guess the situation is similar in other countries too.

Addendum: To make up for my dreadful attempt at review up there, I will link to Steve Sailer's long, informative and interesting review. And in case you do not have time, or you have read Sailer's review, then read this short and cute review at the ambler.

Movie Review: 300

I finally watched the movie which created the biggest opening record at the box office. If I had written this just after that experience, I would have lot more expletives to add but right now I would just say that it was a load of b****hit.
They say that you should count till 10 when you are angry. Well, after counting over a million, it struck me that if there are such movies like 300, then there are also movies like Cinema Paradisio, Lord of War etc which make up for it. Like people, all movies are not the same. And if you look for the negatives you can find it in anyone and everyone. This may sound a bit like zen or buddhism but thats the truth. I feel sorry for the ppl behind this movie but hey, they atleast must be filthy rich now. So good for them.

But then my good friend Dr. Booze was angry about that for a different reason. He thought in a way I didnt. He believes that this movie actually shows the fight of good and evil as the fight between East and West. So after a few references to Persia, the enemy becomes entire Asia. So we have the chinese and arabs and even elephants fighting for the dark evil side.

It has been criticised for this reason by lot of Iranian bloggers. They believe that it is actually a psychological warfare indulged in by some section of hollywood against Iran, so that it would be easier to sell the war against iran if the neocons decide and are in a position to wage it.
Some links on that are here

Gor'e'y future

Watched Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth' today. A slick well made documentary, which has won many awards, it focusses on the problem of Global Warming and its alarming consequences.
Al Gore has certainly taken the right lessons from his failure to become the next US president. He has made use of that outcome to turn the attention of the world to what seems to be his core issue. In this respect, perhaps, we can say that Gore is a politician who is ahead of his times. For he is talking about problems that are not pressing needs of the day but whose solutions can only be succesful if they are started today.
Effective communication is about passion. If you have passion about the subject, then you need nothing else to be a good communicator. And Al Gore certainly has lots of passion about this issue (inspite of his poker face).
Climate Change is the most important problem facing the world today and I would recommend this as a 'must see' to everyone.
The official website

Band Review : Flipsyde

For all those who like variety and eclecticism, Flipsyde must be one of the band to hear. This band fuses together Hip-hop, rap, rock and latin elements together to create beautiful songs. Its not that well-known but I do hope that that changes. For these guys deserve to be heard by more people and I am sure they will be appreciated.

The band does have an indie music feel to it but they are trying to suceed commercially as well.
Apart from the sound, what I like about them is that they are thinking people and their lyrics reflect that. Their song "US history" is probably one of the best protest songs that I have heard. They touch upon various topics including the guilt of abortion in "Happy Birthday", vagary of fate in "Someday" and also do have a sensible advice to give in most of their songs in a sensitive way.

I will be following their career and hope that these guys do well. Piper, Steve, Dave and D-Sharp, you rock!

News of their recent tour to India.