Day: January 11, 2012

2012 Trends

- Roshan

I predict that we will have a lot of doomsday believers doing a lot of posts and/or vlogs about the end of the world as we know it and how a big planet, 3 asteroids/planetary bodies, 3 spaceships will destroy us all (hmm, who will play me in the movie). Bible thumpers will tell you that it is all predicted in the Bible and it is not too late to accept jesus in your lives, all you non-believers. Islamic fundamentalists will claim a hand in the destruction of earth and will chant ‘inshalla’ & ‘suban allah’ as the date approaches and say that it is allah’s plan for the rest of us ‘infidels’. Hindu fanatics will find Shiva in some corner of the sky, etched in a cloud. I don’t know what the Jewish fundamentalist will say – probably blame half of it on Nazis and half on the Muslims!

I also predict that there will be more marriages; proposals made on the spur of the moment. More people having more sex and hence more pregnancies – all because of December, 2012 looming in the distance. I also feel that there will be more killings, more destruction and more people going nuts. I predict a few more natural catastrophes and destruction to land, people & property. This is just the way that things are going to be. Will the Mullaperiyar Dam burst? Not sure but the stories, blog posts, Tweets & Facebook posts will not die down until the last 3 months of the year.

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Numb

- Roshan

Kinda found out about this 2007 movie by accident and thought “I should get this”. I must say that the only reason for trying out this movie was the fact that it starred Matthew Perry aka Chandler Bing but if you think for one moment that this film is going to be a Chandler-fest event – think again. Numb is a drama movie with slight elements of comedy and sees Perry dish out perhaps his best acting role in his career. It’s more of an film festival movie rather than a movie to be seen for the masses. However I would have an appeal to the masses who have seen & liked Friends & Chandler in particular – go and get your own dvd copy of this film!

Directed by Harris Goldberg who, according to an interview on a bonus feature of the DVD release, says he was inspired to write the screenplay by his own experience battling  depersonalization disorder and clinical depression. So let’s get on with the movie: Perry plays Hudson a moderately successful script writer in Hollywood who already suffering from feelings of inadequacy and some depression, smokes too much pot one day and becomes alienated from the outside world and even his own body and is diagnosed with ‘depersonalization disorder.’ The title ‘Numb’ is the feeling he has of not caring about anything around him. Which makes interacting with other people, which makes his job along with partner Tom (Kevin Pollak) that much more difficult.

As Hudson stumbles through life  he searches for a solution by seeing various therapists but none seem to work out. When nothing seems to help Hudson consults Dr. Richmond, who also sees drugs as the solution. While he continues down this road, he meets Sara (Lynn Collins), a studio executive & a beautiful young woman, who finds him attractive and appealing and decides to introduce him to as many positive and compelling experiences as possible. He wants to be with Sara but is unable to stay involved in the relationship. Sara is also shocked at his bout with a little kleptomia – Hudson steals a pen from the same store he goes to regularly and his bedside drawer is filled with them. At first, Sarah deals with his condition and tries to help him get over it. As the relationship goes on it becomes more and more of a problem.

Also adding to the mix is Dr. Blaine (Mary Steenburgen) another therapist who Hudson sees and she ends up having sex with him. It turns out she is even more desperate and wacky and she needs professional help herself. Hudson wants to change and be better for Sara but he doesn’t know if there is a cure. Adding to this is the death of his father (William B Davis), his estrangement from his brother & his troubled relationship with his mother (Helen Shaver). In a desperate attempt to reverse his problem, Hudson even tries to smoke even more pot at one go. When that doesn’t work, he steals from a store and runs away but gets caught by a cop. He befriends a homeless guy and decides to end his therapy sessions and decides to make another attempt with Sara.

Totally a movie out from the left. I felt that they could have done better with some changes to the script. But it wasn’t meant to be a huge comedy or a blockbuster or a summer sleeper hit. 7 outta 10!

Baichung’s Farewell Internationl Match

- Roshan

Indian football’s most prolific & accomplished player Baichung Bhutia said his farewell to international football with a final exhibition match played against visiting German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich held in New Delhi. The man from the tiny hamlet Tinkitam in south Sikkim, who became the face of Indian football, pulled the curtain downs on his illustrious 18-year-old career amid standing ovation during his farewell match against the German giants which ended in a 0-4 loss to the Indian national side.

The 35 year old who captained his national team for a final time, was fresh and chased, lunged and stretched for every ball during the 84 minutes he played. His form was that of during his hey days and he urged his teammaes to give it their all against their much superior opponents. Despite letting in 4 goals during a lopsided first half, the Indians fought for every ball and even challenged the heart of the mighty Bayern defence in the last quarter of the game. As he walked off the pitch at the 84th minute being substituted, the 50,000 strong crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Bhutia is currently contracted by the club he owns, United Sikkim, which he also plays for. Bhutia has had four spells at I-League football team East Bengal Club, the club where he started his career. When he signed up to play for the Englishclub Bury in 1999, he became the first Indian footballer to play professional football in Europe. Afterwards he had a short loan spell at the Malaysianfootball club Perak FA. As well as this he has played for JCT Mills, which won the league once during his tenure; and Mohun Bagan, which failed to win the league once during his two spells, in his native India. His international footballing honours include winning the Nehru Cup, LG Cup, SAFF Championship three times and the AFC Challenge Cup. He is also India’s most capped player, and in the 2009 Nehru Cup he received his 100th international cap.

Bhutia, who has a football stadium named after him in honour of his contribution to Indian football (first player to have such honour while he is still playing), has also won many awards, such as the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri. In October 2010, he founded Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools in Delhi in partnership with football by Carlos Queiroz and Nike.