Asli-Naqli (1962) (Hindi)

Dev Anand is a legend in Indian cinema and in Asli-Naqli he gives one of his most underrated and subtle performances. Staying away from his usual larger-than-life roles, he plays the part of a spoilt brat, Anand, coming to terms with reality when one day after fighting with his rich grandfather he decides to spend the night in a park. Here he is taken home by a small factory worker Mohan (Anwar Hussain) who gives him food and shelter. Unbeknownst about Anand’s true identity Mohan along with his sister Shanti (Sandhya Roy) and the rest of the bastigive Anand support and love as the former playboy discovers the harshness of life and learns the all important lesson of being happy with whatever little he has.

Asli-Naqli (Real-Fake) is a film with a message. It signifies the ever growing diversity between the rich and the poor and their resulting thoughts about each other. The film is from a time when the middle class was nonexistent and thus the difference between the rich and the poor was a lot more stark and visible. As Anand goes about living in the basti he meets Renu (Sadhna) who teaches him about selfless love and the power of sharing education and helping someone without expecting anything else in return. As love blossoms between both Anand and Renu, the past catches up and it is at this point that Anand rises up to the occasion of breaking down the boundaries that exist between his former life, that he detests, and a simpler life that he has come to appreciate.

Dev Anand, while he has played varied roles throughout his career, and while some of his trademark acting traits are omnipresent in the film, still gives a commendable performance and stands out amongst the rest of the cast. The remainder of the cast takes on their characters rather well with Anwar Hussain and Sandhya Roy making the most of their supporting roles.

No Indian film is complete without songs and Asli-Naqli is not without the classics like "Tera Mera Pyar Amar" and "Tujhe Jeevan Ki Dor Se". The title song, which comes midway in the film, is especially memorable as it is in tune with the theme of the movie and the lyrics talk about how the rich people, busy accumulating wealth, are the ones who are at a loss and the poor, who might not have money, have hearts big enough for everyone.

Hrishikesh Mukherjee, one of India's most versatile directors, manages to capture the frustration of Anand really well. In his earlier life, Anand besides having everything one could require has a certain hollowness he feels in his heart. Now, living with people who give him love without expectations, he struggles to find or keep a job. What really is noticeable in the direction and the story is the abundance of humor, a trademark of Mukherjee that he explored much later in his career. It is these clashing moments of high tension emotion and comedy that bring alive the reality of life as it is.

Asli-Naqli is a film full of emotion, and does drag a little in between, but it is a film that preaches a simple lesson, one that encourages everyone to enjoy the simplicities of life and not just take everyone they meet at face value.

Rating 3.5/5

DVD Information:

Title: Asli-Naqli

Running Time: 145 Minutes

Format: Black & White

Distributor: Shemaroo

Price: Rs. 149

       

Anton Corbijn: Inside Out - Trailer and Film Info.

Anton Corbijn is one of the most prolific and influential artist of our generation. The documentary Inside Out takes an in-depth look at the workings of Corbijn and how he has been able to generate such a tremendous following amongst people from all facets of life.  

Below you can find the Trailer of the film along with the press release for the DVD. 

Photographer, filmmaker and video artist Anton Corbijn is one of the most prolific artists of our time. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the World including Joy Division, U2, Nirvana, David Bowie, Metallica, Depeche Mode,Clint Eastwood, The Rolling Stones, and R.E.M.

Anton Corbijn has shaped his subjects’ images for many years with his unique iconography, but who is the man behind the camera and what drives him?

Inside Out explores Corbijn’s persona, uncovering his motivation and inherent conflict as an artist, between audience's admiration and personal loneliness. It comes to DVD on 17 September 2012 courtesy of Momentum Pictures.

Director Klaartje Quirijns uses critical and insightful interviews with artists such as Bono, George Clooney and Corbijn’s family and follows the man himself, to his home, where he grew up, his studio and places of work to reveal his inspiration, his drive and his own demons.

Featuring appearances from U2, Metallica, Lou Reed, Arcade Fire, Depeche Mode and an outstanding soundtrack including Joy Division, Nirvana, Depeche Mode, U2 and original music by Gavin Friday, this is a fascinating and revealing portrait of one
of the most significant artists of post-modern pop culture.

Title: Anton Corbijn Inside Out 
Release Date: 17 September 2012
RRP: £12.99 Cert: 15
Cat. No.: MP1171D Barcode: 5060116727289
Running time: 80 mins approx Language: English/Dutch with subs

WIN! A DVD and World Cinema Postcards

As promised here I am with my very first self funded (in a way) competition. Although I have followers from other countries, this competition is limited to participants from India only. It's a way for me to maybe gain more local followers and also it is cheaper considering the overseas postage charges.

So, just to start off, I am going to give away two prizes, yes I know I am very generous. They are somewhat unique and fun and not too expensive, yes I know I am very cheap.

First up is a DVD of the film DRAGON DYNASTY: Kingdom of the Fire Dragons. It's a bit of fantasy mixed with reality as a stone given to Marco Polo unleashes the gates to the dragon world releasing two dragons out to kill Marco. The film stars Federico Castelluccio, James Hong, and Stana Katic. The DVD is rated 15 for strong violence and is in Region 2 format.

The Second prize is a set of 6 HMV World Cinema Postcards. They make a great addition to your collection if you are a cinephile like me.

In order to win one of the above mentioned prizes you must guess the number of DVDs (and only DVDs) that I have in my collection? (Hint: If I wanted I could watch at least 1 movie each day for a year and a little bit more)

Once you have a number in your mind, you must also do only ONE of the following to be considered (if you already follow me, no need to do anything);

Follow my blog by clicking the FOLLOW button at the bottom right tab.

Follow TICKER on Facebook by clicking and liking HERE

Follow me on TWITTER by clicking HERE

Then simply EMAIL ME with your answer, SUBEJCT - Competition # 1, and which of the three Follows you have performed (Do let me know the ID you have used).

In case no one is able to guess the correct answer, I shall pick the closest number guessed. Also if more than one right answer is received, then I shall choose the two winners from those correct entries.

Now for some other T&Cs

This competition is valid in India only. The prizes will be delivered to an Indian address.

Incomplete entries will not be considered.

The final decision lies with the blog owner.

No cash alternatives will be given.

The prizes will be sent via post and we are not accountable for late/lost/damaged/stolen prizes.

The prizes cannot be substituted or refunded.

Only one entry per household will be considered.

The Competition ends on 6th August 2012 at 11:59 PM

Ticker Talks Film has the right to change/alter/cancel the above competition without notice.

The Winners will be contacted directly via email. 

A Midnight Clear

A movie about war, yet one that looks at peace; inner peace from the turmoil soldiers face during warring times.

Starring Gary Sinise, Kevin Dillion, Peter Berge, and a young Ethan Hawke, A Midnight Clear is about a group of American soldiers assigned to a mission towards the end of World War II in the snowcapped French-German border mountains. It's here that they come across seven German army soldiers who initiate talks with their American counterparts and work on a scheme to surrender without any bloodshed.


It doesn't take long to realize that the movie is not a typical war movie. There is hardly any "fighting". A Midnight Clear is a study of human nature in times of adversity. It's a look at friendship and trust and brotherhood amongst the men on the front line. It's also a stark look at the politics of war.

While the slow buildup of initial tension in the story does lead to momentary jubilation, eventually like war in the end there is sadness, destruction, loss, and a general feeling of melancholia.

The film succeeds brilliantly in taking the audience on a roller coaster ride of emotions. There are light moments of self discovery as we witness the time when our young American soldiers loose their virginity, together. Or the time they have a snowball fight with the Germans. But, unexpectedly the truth of war catches up on them and the harsh realities of being away from family in severe conditions eventually takes it toll.


A Midnight Clear is a beautifully shot film. Keith Gordon directs wonderfully giving the snowy terrain a character of its own, bringing together the beauty of nature alongside the beast of war. The entire cast supports each other rather well with Ethan Hawke giving one of his finest performances.

A Midnight Clear is a must see film. It's not about war, nor does it preach about peace; what is does is encourage us to look inside ourselves and think about the important things in life like family, friendship, courage, forgiveness, love, ...

Rating 4/5

A Midnight Clear: 20th Anniversary Edition is available to buy on DVD and BluRay from April 16,2012 courtesy of Second Sight Films.

My Collection 10 - James Thompson

The Collection 10 series continues with James from Kent, UK.

Those who are new, the aim of the series is for people to take 10 DVDs from their collection at home, photograph them, and write a line or two about them. They do not have to be favourites, but just movies that have a story behind them. You might like them, hate them, or till now didn’t even know you had them, it is all about letting everyone know a little about your likes and dislikes.

1. Donnie Darko - My favourite film of all time had to be the first I mentioned. I actually own 3 copies of the film, the original, this, the director's cut 2 disc edition, and the blu ray containing both versions. When it comes to your favourite ever film, having multiple copies of the movie proves how much of a fan you truly are.

2. xXx - It may not be the best film in the world, far from it, but xXx is purely on my list due to the fact it was the first DVD I ever bought. Having never seen it before purchase, I have the excuse that I was only 13 years old when the film came to my attention. That said, i could still stick the film on today and enjoy it to a certain extent.

3. Sin City - I love Sin City. It's one of the most stylish films ever made in my opinion and boasts such an incredible cast it's hard to ignore. It was also the first steelbook DVD I ever purchased and for that I had to put it on my top 10 list.

4. Drive - If there's one DVD or Blu Ray of recent times that MUST be in the collection it has to be Drive. Oozing coolness and one of those films I could put on again and again it must be stated that a film collection would be lacking something huge if Drive was not in it.

5. Anchorman / Wake Up Ron Burgundy - Any fan of Will Ferrell will likely say that Anchorman is his best film and by far the most quotable comedy perhaps of all time. I admit to being a huge fanboy when it comes to Ron Burgundy and when this boxset was released I was first in line to buy it. A huge must for fans of the film, after all it's more doses of the Channel 4 News team!!

6. Casino Royale - As one of my favourite James Bond films and the first blu ray I bought, Casino Royale is a blu ray I am glad to have in my collection. It looks amazing in high definition and the special features are masterful. If you're a fan of Bond this is the only version of the film to have in my opinion.

7. Nick Frost's Danger 50,000 Volts - This DVD is worth it's weight in gold purely for the special added extra of 'Danger 50,000 Zombies', the Nick Frost and Simon Pegg edition advising you how to survive a zombie attack. This is the Pegg-Frost pairing at its most hilarious and a real treat.

8. The Host - There are some foreign language gems out there and my personal favourite has to be South Korea's The Host. Bringing to screen a highly entertaining monster movie that doesn't fall at the hurdles through clichés and poor acting, The Host is a worthy film in any DVD collection.

9. The Tom Hanks Collection - As one of my favourite actors of all time, a boxset containing Tom Hanks' best and well-love films was a necessity in the DVD collection. Who can argue against a set including the likes of Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, Castaway, The Terminal and Forrest Gump!

10. When asked to delve through my film collection to bring my favourites I noticed one title that caught me in a moment of disbelief. So much so that I had to put it in the list, despite being an eternity away from one of my favourites. In fact, it's the worst DVD I possess; that's right, White Chicks. I don't think it needs a particular explanation but I'm sure many of you will agree this film is awful. Enough said!



Thank you James for taking out the time to do the post for Ticker Talks Film.  You can view James' blog at www.fanaticalfilm.blogspot.com and follow him on Twitter @thommoj03


If you would like to share your Collection 10, please get in touch with me via Twitter (@raghavmodi) or via email (raghavmodi9@gmail.com)

My Collection 10 by Nostra

The Collection 10 series continues with Nostra from The Netherlands .

Those who are new, the aim of the series is for people to take 10 DVDs from their collection at home, photograph them, and write a line or two about them. They do not have to be favourites, but just movies that have a story behind them. You might like them, hate them, or till now didn’t even know you had them, it is all about letting everyone know a little about your likes and dislikes.


First of all I would like to thank Raghav for this opportunity to send in a selection from my collection. It was difficult to pick one as I have bought quite a lot of DVDs through the years. In the end I settled for these 10;

Black Swan - this is my all time favorite movie (another one from my top 3 features later). It's a movie which moves me every time I watch it. Just like the last line of the movie: It's perfect.

Alien Quadrilogy - I bought this because just look at it, it looks awesome. I will have to admit that I didn't see all 4 movies yet, only the first 2, but that happens to a lot of movies in my collection

Allemaal Film - this is another example of something I still have not seen yet. It's a 9 part documentary about the history of Dutch cinema from 1945 till now. It's always good to know about the history of things from your own country!

Mr. Nobody - in my all time favorite top 3 this is number two. A complex story which looks at the consequences of our choices and this movie tries to show a lot of them. The scientific bits only add to that feeling of complexity and completeness. One I can't get enough of.

The Odd Couple - When it comes to comedic actors these two are my favorite and have quite a selection of the stuff they did together.

Green WIng - While this isn't a movie I just had to include this comedy series from the UK. In my opinion the funniest TV show ever made.

Shaolin Soccer - I'm a big fan of Asian cinema (lately watched a lot of Korean movies) and Shaolin Soccer is a very funny movie with some great special effects which makes this so much fun to watch.

Spirited Away - When it comes to hand drawn animation Studio Ghibli is the best there is. They have shown that stories can be very complex and don't always need a princess.

Back to the Future - In my opinion there are not enough movies that deal with time travel, but this is one of the most enjoyable ones ever made.

I, Robot - Although the movie itself isn't amazing, the box in which the DVDs are stored is just awesome and looks great in my collection.



Thank you Nostra for taking out the time to do the post for Ticker Talks Film.  You can view Nostra's blog at www.myfilmviews.com and follow him in Twitter (@MyFilmViews). I would also like to specially mention that Nostra has been a great source of information for me, personally, when it comes to Documentaries and Korean Cinema, and is somewhat partly responsible for me appreciation both the genres.   


If you would like to share your Collection 10, please get in touch with me via Twitter (@raghavmodi) or via email (raghavmodi9@gmail.com)

My Collection 10 by Chip Lary

The Collection 10 series continues with Chip Lary from United States of America.

Those who are new, the aim of the series is for people to take 10 DVDs from their collection at home, photograph them, and write a line or two about them. They do not have to be favourites, but just movies that have a story behind them. You might like them, hate them, or till now didn’t even know you had them, it is all about letting everyone know a little about your likes and dislikes.

The Matrix - This was the first DVD I ever bought.  It was in early 2000 and it was even before I owned a DVD player.  I knew I was going to be getting one in a couple of weeks, so I wanted to make sure I had something to play on it when I set it up.

Lawrence of Arabia - Defines "epic" when it comes to movies.  This was a special edition with a really nice cloth covered case.  Later releases of this movie on DVD went with a standard plastic case.

Total Recall - Speaking of special packaging, Total Recall was first released with a separate metal Mars case that sits on top of a thick paperboard base.  The DVD is inside the metal case on a foam support to prevent it from scratching.

Black - I have worked with many Infosys contractors from India and I would discuss movies with some of them.  One of them had a Netflix account before I did and after he watched this movie he loaned it to me before he returned it.  I liked it and wanted to buy a copy of my own, but somehow Netflix had managed to get Region 1 DVDs for rental before the movie was even released in the United States.  About a year later I finally found a DVD I could buy on a U.S. website that specialized in movies from India.

Hoop Dreams - Speaking of hard to find: I saw this movie on a cable channel back in 1995, but it was never released to DVD until a few years ago.  I think that Criterion sometimes is too much of a groupie for certain directors, but when it comes to this film I wish I could personally shake the hand of whoever at Criterion got the rights to it so that it could be put on DVD.  It is the best documentary ever made.

Done the Impossible - This is a DVD that you can't even buy, except from the people who made it.  It is a fan produced documentary of the death of the TV show Firefly and its rebirth as the movie Serenity.  It's not cheap looking, though.  The people who did it were professionals.  There is a ton of content on it, including hours of interviews with the cast.

Whale Rider - I'm including this just because I try to get as much notice for this film as I can.  It features a great story and an absolutely terrific debut performance from Keisha Castle-Hughes, who at the age of 12 became by far the youngest female ever nominated for a Best Actress Oscar.

Bikini Summer 2 - Why include this?  Just like The Godfather Part II, it is a sequel that is better than the original.  Okay, maybe not *just* like The Godfather Part II.  Seriously though, I included it just to show that I'm not completely highbrow when it comes to movies.

Amelie - I'm including this because the character of Amelie may just be the most appealing person ever put on film.  I also love Audrey Tautou's expression on the cover.

Black Cat White Cat - Finally, I am including this DVD because I only just bought it after spending 12 years trying to see this movie.  I found an all regions Korean import I could buy.  Why was I looking for this movie?  Because I needed it to complete seeing every single movie on the IMDB Top 250 year end lists since 1998 (a personal goal).  This Balkans movie - made during the time that Yugoslavia was still breaking apart - appeared in the 1999 year end list and I have never been able to find it until now.  I look forward to watching it.

Thank you Chip for taking out the time to do the post for Ticker Talks Film.  You can view Chip's blog at www.tipsfromchip.blogspot.com 


If you would like to share your Collection 10, please get in touch with me via Twitter (@raghavmodi) or via email (raghavmodi9@gmail.com)

My Collection 10 by Mark

The Collection 10 series continues with Mark from Brighton, UK.

Those who are new, the aim of the series is for people to take 10 DVDs from their collection at home, photograph them, and write a line or two about them. They do not have to be favourites, but just movies that have a story behind them. You might like them, hate them, or till now didn’t even know you had them, it is all about letting everyone know a little about your likes and dislikes.

Platoon - A great movie, which stars Charlie Sheen back in the days before he went completely crazy. I think the cover shot on the DVD is brilliant with Willem Dafoe on his knees as he gets shot dead by one of his own.

Zulu - One of my all time favorites. Introduced to me by my Granddad when I was young, I have some very fond memories of watching this with him over and over again. I love watching this back and seeing a very young looking Michael Caine lead his regiment of limited numbers in a stand off against thousands of Zulus.

Jaws - A classic that is a must have for everyone’s DVD collection. Jaws shows off the raw talent of a young and upcoming director Steven Spielberg from back in 1975. A film that has struck fear into everyone entering the sea for the years since, Jaws is not only brilliantly shot but also has some excellent acting performances considering most of the movie is set around three men in a boat out at sea chasing a big fish. I have always loved Richard Dreyfuss in this.

Anchorman - Yes, this happens to be one of my most used DVDs in the collection, which means I could actually recite the movie word for word now. The DVD is nearly worn out mainly because you can just sit back and relax in the world of Ron Burgundy. My favorite of all Ferrell's films and adding Steve Carell and Paul Rudd at there very best makes this one of the best comedies ever.

Black Adder - I am a massive fan of British comedies and this happens to be one of my favorites. The box set contains every episode of the brilliant series and I often watch a couple of episodes when ever there is nothing else on to watch. The cast is fantastic and the writing is even better. A timeless comedy that will still be funny 50 years from now.

Bottom - Another British comedy, but this in my opinion is by far the funniest every comedy series. The duo of Rik Mayall and Adrian Edminson playing the disgusting and stupid Ritchie and Eddie is nothing short of hilarious. Each episode is as funny as the last and if you have never seen any episodes I highly recommend you do so. The series was very popular in the 90's and still has a bit of a cult following today. They moved on from the series to do a number of live shows which were brilliantly crafted. I was lucky enough to go to a few of them. I still hold on to that bit of hope that they will come back once more for a special episode.

Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas - One that I forgot I had in the collection and found lurking at the back of a cupboard. The strange world of drugs is shown by Johnny Depp sporting a bald head which isn’t the best look for him. An interesting watch if not a bit strange!

Stir Crazy - This is Gene Wilder (Skip) and Richard Pryor (Harry) at there very best, classic comedy from the pair who seem as if they were made to work together. Incredibly funny and is another must watch if you have never seen it before.

Pulp Fiction - Had to add this one, many people will agree that this movie is worth a spot on the greatest films of all time list. Tarantino at his very best with a killer plot and a cast that is flawless, this DVD seems to almost get better every time I watch it.

Star Wars 1-6 - The complete collection, well no collection is complete without these. Granted the 1,2 and 3 don’t get watched as much as the original trilogy but I still had to have the full collection.

Thank you Mark for taking out the time to do the post for Ticker Talks Film.  You can follow Mark on Twitter @Reviwer or view his blog www.ultimatereviews.co.uk If you would like to share your Collection 10, please get in touch with me via Twitter (@raghavmodi)

My Collection 10 by Russell

The Collection 10 series continues with Russell from Australia.

Those who are new, the aim of the series is for people to take 10 DVDs from their collection at home, photograph them, and write a line or two about them. They do not have to be favourites, but just movies that have a story behind them. You might like them, hate them, or till now didn’t even know you had them, it is all about letting everyone know a little about your likes and dislikes.

American History X

One of the most powerful movies I have ever seen. Edward Norton was beyond impressive in this. American History X was one of the very few select movies that I went to see 3 times at the cinema. A true power house of a film.

Any Given Sunday

I loved everything about this movie. I thought that Oliver Stone did a hell of a great job showing the American footballers as modern day gladiators. One of the best scenes is where Lauren Holly is yelling at Dennis Quaid in the kitchen about how she married a footballer…it’s terrifying!

Black Rain

There is nothing that I didn’t love about this movie. In fact I have one copy I purchased in Australia and another one that I purchased again in the States for the special features. Standout scene is Andy Garcia and Ken Takakura singing Ray Charles in the karaoke bar.

Chopper / Two Hands

Both of these movies revolutionised Australian cinema for me. They showed that Australia can make modern crime movies that can stand up to the rest of the world. They both have action, drama, and a distinct Aussie humour which made them a must have!

Collateral

Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx showing a different side to their usual film roles. Michael Mann went above and beyond creating a isolated feel in a heavily populated city. The shoot out in the Korean bar is one of my favourites and could only be handled by Michael Mann. Also the movie has my favourite commentary track.

Falling Down

Personally this is my favourite Michael Douglas movie. He created an “everyman” character dealing with the frustrations of daily life by reacting in increasingly violent ways. The parallels between Douglas and Duvall are brilliant and multi-layered.  Quite easily in my top 5 movies of all time.

Play it to the Bone

I saw this at the cinema. I heard that Harrellson and Banderas hated each other during the filming so the fight scenes were real. It was a great movie. The first half is a character study of 2 friends preparing to fight each other and the second half is a full on action movie. Worth a watch.

Point Break

This movie is just a whole lot of fun! Keanu at the top of his game. Swayze is iconic as Bodhi. And starred Lori Petty too…whatever happened to Lori? It’s like the tagline says “100% pure adrenaline”. The question is, why wouldn’t you watch it?

The Godfather

What can I say about The Godfather. The great film of all time. No DVD collection is complete without it. Plain and simple.

Thank you Russell for taking out the time to do the post for Ticker Talks Film.  You can follow Russell on Twitter @Russell_Oz or view his blog www.137exactly.com. If you would like to share your Collection 10, please get in touch with me via Twitter (@raghavmodi)