Suuresh Ramachandran

Try to guess which 'small' planet is being referred to here. I'm sure this comes as a surprise. It's the earth. A particularly adventurous young outer space being Kreton (Jerry Lewis) lands on earth. Coincidentally, he lands in the Govt official's house who is tasked with the responsibility of finding out details of the flying saucer which has been spotted in the skies above. Kreton's teacher has advised him to stay away from human emotions like love. Kreton is being watched by his teacher and peers from above and the teacher curtails Kreton's powers when he thinks Kreton is straying and falling for human emotions. A particularly sweet moment is when the Govt official's daughter is teaching him to kiss. Finally Kreton has had enough of the earth and his teacher comes to pick him up. In a certain sense, this Film is like an 'outside look, literally and figuratively, at our lives on earth, the emotions we are used to, e.g. love and jealousy.

If you are in the mood to watch something to lift your spirits, Cougar Hunting might be the Film for you. A light-hearted Film which ends up with the timeless message of love and how true love trumps over any and every adventure in the world of flirting and flings.

One man in a seaside village develops the notion that a storm is going to hit soon. He starts panicking, even going to the extent of building a bunker in his lawn. Surprisingly, no one else shares his worries. Once he is convinced that the storm will hit tomorrow and therefore he shifts into the bunker with supplies for many days. The next morning he comes out of the bunker and finds that the sky is clear with no sign of a storm. He starts to think that something is wrong with him. He approaches a psychiatrist and begins taking therapy. One day he is playing on the beach with his kids. As we pull out to a wide shot, we see approaching dark, thick, ominous storm clouds as far as the eye can see. And that's where the Film ends. The important thing is how the suspense of an impending storm is maintained throughout the Film.

21 pilots die as a result of faulty cylinders made in the factory of Joe Keller and Steve Deever. We come to know that Steve Deever is in prison for the offence. Joe Keller, the boss, was sick and at home on the day when the cylinders were delivered. Joe Keller's elder son Larry Keller has been missing for a few years and now his second son Chris Keller wants to marry Larry's fiance, Ann, who is Steve Deever's daughter. George Deever, Ann's brother and Steve Deever's son is against the marriage. Quite early in the film we get the sense that somehow Joe Keller is the real culprit. Interestingly, the fact-finding is done by Chris, Joe Keller's own son, who first goes to meet Steve Deever in prison. Steve tells Chris that both Joe and Steve knew the cylinders were faulty. But on the day the cylinders were to be shipped, Joe chose to stay at home and convinced Steve to ship the cylinders by asserting that if there was an issue, he, ie Joe would take the blame. In the court, Joe denies any knowledge that the cylinders were faulty and Steve is imprisoned for the crime. Eventually, Joe realises his folly and commits suicide saying, 'They were all my sons'. Kate Keller, Joe's wife and Chris's mother, sends off Chris and Ann with the message that let bygones be bygones and to make a new beginning.

A Hungarian Count is also the PM of the country. His loyal butler of many years, gets elected to the Parliament from the opposing Party. What is going to happen now ? Suffice it to say that at the end, the butler marries the Count's daughter. Enjoy the journey. Baroness and the Butler’. is a slap on the face of Marxism/Communism. A different look at the classic question of rich vs poor, proletariat vs bourgeoisie, haves vs have-nots. So therefore, while no one denies that there is a dispute, it does not necessarily follow that the two sides are sworn enemies, baying for each other’s blood, an impression we have been given as the only possibility.

Insurance agent John Forbes is married to Sue. Sue was voted the prettiest girl in her class and John Forbes the student most likely to succeed. When the Film begins, it is established how boring and predictable their lives have become. This itself is a narrative device because when a Film opens with the characters bored with their lives, it sets the stage for something exciting going to happen. Detective Mac is pursuing a difficult case for John's insurance company and has been meeting Mona and admits that he likes her. John asks him to stay away and that the insurance company will take matters in their own hands from there. He goes to meet Mona. Mona is Smiley's girlfriend. Smiley is serving a prison terms for stealing, the proceeds of which he had spent on Mona as gift. John and Mona take to each other and there is an apparent sexual liaison that very day. Unknown to John, Mac has been keeping watch. There is confrontation between John and Mac over Mona. Mac goes to the prison and poisons Smiley's mind against John. Smiley is let off from prison early because of the cooperation extended by Mona. He comes to Mona's house with a gun and tell her he is going to kill John. Mona warns John and John prepares to meet Smiley. In the ensuing scuffle, Smiley is killed. Mac goes to Mona's house convinced that with both John and Smiley out of the way, the field is clear between him and Mona. Mona shoots him. The District Attorney lets off John convinced that John had acted in self-defense. Sue forgives John and takes him back.

Straight from the heart is a lovely love story. Jordon Donovan is a photographer who shoots garbage. Garbage, literally, Just when she is expecting Edward, her boyfriend of 5 years, to formally propose, he disappoints her by asking her to move into a live-in relationship with him. Jordon's roommate then sets her off to a ranch for a blind date with Tyler Ross. Tyler is struggling with the loss of his first wife. The picturesque settings at the ranch make for a set of beautiful photographs that Jordon is able to take. Just when a romance seems to be blooming between Jordon and Tyler, Edward comes to the ranch. He formally proposes Jordon for marriage. They move to the city and everything seems to be alright. Jordon's photographs are a hit and therefore she meets with professional success too. And then a realisation strikes Jordon.

Becky is happily married to Henry. One fine day, her first husband, William, who was presumed drowned dead returns. What follows is a rollercoaster ride with nail-biting suspense and constant laughs. In conclusion, the realisation that dawns upon you is 'why is it important to answer every question which life throws at you'? In my opinion, the title might have worked better as 'Two Many Husbands'.

What this Film is about is besides the point. Imagine a 2 hour 20 minute film with only two actors. If you do not know who those actors are, it might be a good exercise to make a guess. One is an all-time legend. Probably the greatest ever. A British actor who has acted in scores of Shakespearean plays. Yes, Sir Laurence Olivier. The other, no less a stalwart, Sir Michael Caine. A 2 hour 20 minute film with only two actors throughout, yes, only two actors, with not even secondary actors like servants or bearers, not one, and set inside a drawing room. To be sure, a drawing room of a large house with an adjoining billiards room and a staircase and a yes, there are a couple of scenes in the basement and outside in the garden, and otherwise, the action is entirely in the drawing room. Oh the sheer audacity. Do yourself a favour. Watch.

aka The Donor. A doctor is telling a young couple that the woman has only two months to live because both her kidneys are spoiled. It will take months for her to rise up the list to receive a kidney. The husband says, 'I haven't given up yet' and we are riveted to our seats wondering what is going to happen now. Leaving the hospital, they are approached by a male staff giving them a number to get in touch with for kidney replacement, clearly illegal organ trade. The husband is a LAPD detective but this question is a no brainer for him. His wife's kidney is replaced, The donor is a young 17 year old. The very next day the body of the donor is discovered and it's all over the news. The wife is deeply perturbed and sets out fact-finding about this particular illegal operation. The dead girl's father also arrives in town. He is visibly hurt and angry and buys a gun from a gun-dealer to seek revenge. The gang members find out that the wife has been snooping on them and at one point capture both the wife and the doctor who had done the operation. The detective husband realises his wife is in danger and cops set about to find the goons. Meanwhile, the dead donor's father finds the church where the gang operates from. He fires at the goons but fails. Hearing the firing, the LAPD Detective and his senior arrive to investigate. Finding nothing, they are leaving. As they reach outside the church, the Detective Husband recognises the shooter sitting in the cop car. He is the dead donor's father. Immediately, the husband realises that this is where the gang is stationed. A nail-biting finish to a taut thriller ensues.