Mississippi Masala -- Intelligently Braided

I was waiting for long to watch this movie, however, i don't what was it in me which held me back. But this weekend, i was in a different kind of mood. Outside, the dark clouds took over the sky and i was feeling good plus sad. Yea, i don't have much of words to describe that feeling. Anyways, i was completely in the mood to fall back to some original and classic movies. So, i picked Mississippi Masala from my storage disk.

Cast

Denzel Washington, he is one of the top five actors who i would include in my all time favorite actors. He was the reason of me finding this movie. About a couple of years back, i was so into Denzel that i started renting all of his movies. I rented almost all of his movies and that was the day when i saved Mississippi Masala to my storage disk.


Sarita Choudhury, was one name, in the lead, of whom i hadn't heard of. When i checked about her in IMDB, i found that she has also done a lot of credible work since this movie but i was stupid enough to have never seen any of her movies. But that won't happen again as one of her movie "For Real" will soon be released in India and i'm going to watch the movie.


Mira Nair, a well known name among Indians and people who watch movies. She has directed many beautiful movies like Salaam Bombay, Monsoon Wedding, Vanity Fair, The Namesake etc. Salaam Bombay and The Namesake makes it to my all time favorite movies and the movies i recommend. 

Plot


Mississippi Malasa, as the name suggest, is a mix of different stories and emotion of a family. An Indian family, settled in Uganda, is forced to leave the country during the rule of Idi Amin in the 1970's. Jay (Father) is reluctant to leave the country because he was born and brought up in the same country and he feels that Uganda is his home but had to leave when forced.


Cut - to 1990's



The family now lives in Mississippi, US. Jay (Father) is still fighting for his rights and property in Uganda against the Uganda government in the court. His wife Kinnu (mother) works at a alcohol shop to support the family. Their daughter Meena, works for the same Indian Motel they live in.

One day, in a road accident, Meena (Sarita) meets Demetrius (Denzel) and after a couple of meetings, they start liking each other. Meena decides to keep her relationship with Demetrius a secret from her family. But the secret is unveiled as one day a neighbor of Meena catches her in a motel with Demetrius. After which, Meena's family forbids her from seeing Demetrius and the neighbors try to get Demetrius out of business by hampering his carpet cleaning business. Results of which, Demetrius leaves Meena. In the meanwhile, Jay gets a call from Uganda court asking him to come back to take the property case further. The family decides to leave Mississippi and move back to Uganda. When meena meets Demetrius to bid goodbye, Demetrius asks her to marry her and move to a different city with him. Meena, who no more wants to go back to Uganda and wants to continue her life with Demetrius.

Jay goes to Uganda to fight for his rights while Kinnu, his wife, stays back in Mississippi waiting for him with the good news.



Good Points

The best thing about the movie is the performances delivered by the cast. I can't point out a single actor that's why would like to applaud for the whole cast for playing the role with the highest dedication. I have always believed that it's director's job to bring the best from the actors that is why, Mira Nair is such a good director.

Bad Points

Well, i have seen many people arguing about the climax of the movie which i agree to a certain extent but not completely. People say, that the end was not appropriate as they it left the story in half and they wanted to see at least what happened to the Jay (Father). I agree to this, i thought, Mira Nair should have added or created that part too. Then, the climax also leaves me in a confusion who was the important character in the movie Jay, the father or Meena, the daugther?

Anyways, it's a good watch and can be categorized as the Sunday Movie.

8/10 from me

The Manchurian Candidate

Again, i found this movie while i was wandering around IMDB looking for some good movies. As Denzel Washington is one of my fav actors, well, actually he would easily top that list. So, i was looking for a Denzel Washington movie, which i came across this one...............and you know what was the plus point to this one. It also has Meryl Streep in the cast. Now, i think this is the only Denzal - Meryl movie made. Though, can't confirm it.

Talking about the movie, The Manchurian Candidate is a remake of a 1962 classic, named the same. Looking at the star cast of the movie, i was talking to myself that i have to watch this movie. So, got down to the local video library to get one.....and saw it this weekend.

Cast

I don't think you have anything to say, if you see Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep in the cast. My expectations from the movie raised to another level, just by looking at the star cast it had. Another good performer in the star cast was Liev Schreiber, who is very convincing in his character as "Raymond Shaw".


About The Movie


The movie starts in middle of Gulf War......where a small troop of soldiers is cornered by the enemy. Cut-to a few years later, Denzel(Major Marco) is praising Liev(Raymond) of his bravery and how he saved lives of other member of their team. Raymond Shaw receives the Medal of Honor for his bravery, the highest a soldier can get. But somewhere in the unconscious mind of Major Ben Marco, there is a dream that on that night......nothing like that happened. That, Raymond Shaw was not the person who saved them. 

One day, Ben Marco meets a man who was with him on that night. The guy also tells the Ben Marco about the strange dreams he has been having. Major Marco is amazed cause whatever the guy tells is the same as he used to see in his dreams. Now, he starts investigating about the whole issue. Raymond Shaw, son of Senetor Eleanor Shaw(Meryl Streep), is standing in the presidential Election. Major Marco tries to get in touch with Raymond but whenever is does, he couldn't convince Raymond about his dreams. While searching for evidence, Marco comes across a dark truth which leaves him in a shock. There is a Manchurian Trust, which was responsible of all this. They have hypnotized Raymond Shaw and since the gulf was night, have been manipulating his mind, something similar to what they did to him and his team member too.

He finds out that Manchurian group people are trying to put a person, on the president's seat, who is like a robot of their own.

How does Major Marco comes around this whole mess? Does Raymond Shaw know what he is doing? What is this whole Manchurain Trust?

Good Things

You can count every bodies performance as a big plus point to the movie. Movie has a good storyline and also has some thrill to it.

Bad Points

Not so convincing Screenplay and Direction. The movie also feels incomplete cause at the end, you still have more questions....which are left unanswered.
Movies pace is slow too. Think there were a few moments which could have been deleted especially because it's a long movie.....more than 2 hours.


At the end, though it's a good movie, however i won't recommend it to people who like watching comedies and fun movies, there is nothing in this movie for you people.

6/10