Sneak Peek ~ Upcoming Chartbusters ~ 2012

 

Warrior (2011)

"The only thing that I have in common with Brendan is that, pair of us, we have absolutely no use for you. ~ Tommy"

Warrior is a coming of age story of struggle & endurance. We have seen something alike in last year’s acclaiming movie The Fighter.

Plot : We are introduced to Tommy a former marine who drops in to pay a visit to his estranged alcoholic father Paddy, a former coach of Mixed Martial Arts. Soon we learn about Tommy’s elder brother, Brendan who works as a high school Physics teacher seems to be stressed financially to support his wife & two kids. Brendan & Tommy do not seem to have a cordial relation because of some precedent misapprehension. Even worse, they both hate Paddy for his past abusive nature. Fate however brings both brothers to the arena against each other in mixed martial art tournament for a take away of five million dollars. One likes to win to overcome bankruptcy & support family, the other one has to win so that he can help a widow & her children of his fallen mate from Marine Corps.

At one point it becomes obvious when we don’t like the brothers to lose. It’s strange but true. Nick Nolte as Paddy nailed his character as the regretful father who wishes to sober up in his remaining days. Joel Edgerton seems to be right pick by Gavin O’Conner who reminds us of Jim Braddock from Cinderella Man. Tom Hardy once again proves his worth as a multitalented actor who can switch to any roles he is given to act upon.

With intense fight sequences & riveting tale, Warrior would undeniably stand out as show stopper for the days to come.

My Rating : 8.5/10

Drive (2011)

"If I drive for you, you get your money; that’s a guarantee.
You tell me where we start, where we’re going, where we are going afterwards; I give you five minutes when we get there, anything happens in those five minutes I’m yours no matter what. Anything a minute either side of that & you’re on your own. I don’t sit in while you’re running it down. I don’t carry a gun. I drive."

Drive is a kind of movie which would gratify nearly all the generic viewers. Ryan Gosling’s new avatar as the shadowy driver is just a paradigm of how good he can be with diverse roles. Even though the story is simple the cinematography & Cliff Martinez’s phenomenal soundtrack will keep you hooked until the end. With a blend of dark story, implicit romance & acute violence Nicolas Refn delivers this year’s best crime noir.

Plot : Ryan Gosling enacts as the anonymous driver, he works as a part-time stunt driver & a mechanic. Sometimes he even takes on wheels as a getaway driver. As the plot commence it’s made quite evident by Ryan’s driving talent when he carters two burglars after their successful heist. He works alone, follows some strict code; five minutes for ending every deal & never to work for the same people twice. Things change, when he falls for his neighbor, a single mom named Irene Carey Mulligan who stays with her small son. When Irene’s husband, Standard Oscar Isaac returns from prison, the driver tries to help the family to wrap up one final job which would help in paying off debts that Standard owed to local mobster for buying protection while he was in prison. The job however turns murky when driver finds himself being deceived in a dirty deal that threatens to destroy everything he loved so intensely.

Drive offers everything you would like to expect from a crime drama. It does not finish with the regular note we are used to see so often. Refn has skillfully polished the story with talented castings which would definitely get noticed at various international award arenas. Drive packs a poignant yet intense punch which would linger in your mind till the finale.

My Rating : 8/10