The Intern – Feel good film that deserves an audience of every generation

A 70 year old guy who is retired, has done everything from learning Mandarin, to doing Yoga, to travelling across the world, but is still bored in life, and so takes up an internship opportunity at an online fashion retail start-up in Manhattan. What follows is the best that can come from Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway.
The story is really simple and a heart-warming one. Anne Hathaway as a start-up founder, juggling many roles, trying to do right by everyone, will definitely melt your heart, if you are an emotional person. Robert De Niro is at his best. There is nothing to hate about this film. The relationship between a boss and an intern, between other employees and the new joinees is presented in a way that you feel connected to it.
Nancy Meyers knows the subject well, her team has researched on the start-up ecosystem and the controversies and situation surrounding women entrepreneurs.
Anne Hathaway will bring back some of the memories of The Devil Wears Prada, not that her character is anything like Meryl Streep’s but just the whole fashion scene and the chaos and the pressure of delivering.
Robert De Niro as the intern will make you laugh, cry, may bring back memories of your internship and may even make you think about what you are gonna do when you are 70? Rene Russo plays Fiona (the masseuse) and Anders Holm plays Anne Hathaway’s husband in this film. Although, they both don't have much roles, they are still good for the time they are on screen.
Nancy Meyers has directed films like What Women Want, Something's Gotta Give, It's Complicated, and others. You see her touch in this film as well. A lot of scenes are based on true events that have recently occurred in the Silicon Valley and the tech start-up ecosystem.
Overall, I would say this is a fun, and a must watch film for all ages. There is nothing to not like about this film. Definitely will be nominated at The Oscars for atleast a couple of categories.

Black Mass – Johnny Depp’s best performance till date

Black Mass stars Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Joel Edgerton, Kevin Bacon, Peter Sarsgaard, Dakota Johnson. Based on true events, Black Mass is a dark mobster / gang wars movie, but with less bullets flying around. It’s more of a drama which involves relationships between friends, families, business partners, alliances with FBI, ratting out your enemies.
The film starts off with a promise but falters a bit in the second half. Music by Junkie XL is good, goes with the flow of the film. The dark setting of the film with a lot of f-words, and blood will be uncomforting for some. Johnny Depp as James ‘Whitey’ Bulger and Benedict Cumberbatch as William ‘Bill’ Bulger have done an excellent job. Even Joel Edgerton as John Connelly sometimes overshadows Benedict Cumberbatch and his character.
I’ve read few reviews which say there is nothing new in the film, boring storyline and nothing good from Johnny Depp. But I would say this has been Johnny Depp’s best performance till date. This film proves his versatility as an actor, the films that he has done including Pirates of the Caribbean series, and the film The Rum Diary and many more just prove that he is best at what he does even if the film flops. I think Johnny Depp will be nominated for the Oscars.
Scott Cooper has directed films like Crazy Heart starring Jeff Bridges, and has also Out Of The Furnace starring Woody Harrelson. I haven’t seen any of those films but with this I think he’s a done a pretty good job. Although he may not be nominated for the Oscars but the treatment that he’s given to this film will work in its favour, plus the big star line-up should bring the crowd to the theatres.
I didn’t know that this film is also based on a book, and I think will also be nominated for the ‘Best Adapted Screenplay’ category at the Oscars. Other stars like Kevin Bacon, Peter Sarsgaard, Dakota Johnson have very little screen time when compared with Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Joel Edgerton, but they play their part well and don’t let the film lose its pace.
Overall, Johnny Depp as the South Boston mobster and crime boss of the Winter Hill Gang is definitely worth watching in this film and so is Benedict Cumberbatch (Cumberbitches are gonna love it). If you think this film will have bullets flying around throughout, then you’ll be disappointed. If you want to watch a film based on a mobster’s life with a good storyline and actors, then this is the one.
I liked the film and I would definitely recommend watching this one.

Fantastic Four (2015) - A build up with a slow and shaky start

Fantastic Four (2015 film) is nowhere close to a Marvel film, with no quirkiness, almost no humour, no rogue superheroes, no insane / wow action sequences and not too long run time. The good thing about the film is the acting by all the actors - Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Miles Teller, Jamie Bell. There are a few scenes that add a bit humour and a Marvel touch to this otherwise very meh storyline. Like seriously inter-dimensional travel? How many films that have released in the past 2 years have had this thing called "other dimension". I think the subject has been exploited enough to just give a break.
Director Josh Trank (Wikipedia tells me he directed Chronicle - sci-fi film) has done justice to the script that was given to him and he could have done worse but thankfully not. It lacks every other element of the Marvel film thus ruining it.
But if you check history, Fantastic Four films have always received negative reviews and low ratings and the franchise has been one of the lowest grossing in the Marvel Entertainment saga. I think more than anyone else 20th Century Fox should take lessons from this fiasco and in future not arm-twist creative individuals to create something that the former has no idea about.
I have absolutely no regret of watching this film because the performances were good even if the story lacked the punch. It lacked everything, from action sequences that will make the audience go wow to dialogues which lack originality.
It is still not clear whether Fantastic Four will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (I think it should join), but if it does, then it will be awesome and then watching this film considering this as a build up to the big event in the future isn't bad at all. This is the 3rd time the character of Doctor Doom has been portrayed although the 1st film never released in theatres, and I think there's a lot that this franchise deserves and it can be better with the sequel.
(Surprisingly, this film has an even lower IMDb rating than this week's Bollywood release All Is Well)