Naari-Magazine aug edition

a fierce critic of romantic comedies. Her close
friend Whitney (Betty Gilpin) and colleague
Josh (Adam DeVine) who secretly has feelings,
attempt to dissuade her but to no avail.
However, Natalie’s life takes a 360-degree turn
after being mugged by a man at the subway,
resulting in an injury to her head following a
collision while escaping. Her life now resembles
the perfect plotline for the heroine of a romantic
comedy, with Blake (Liam Hemsworth) a rich,
handsome client now madly in love with her.
Natalie’s journey from here on as she
struggles to recognise what she really needs
in life to feel fulfilled sets up the storyline for
a grand finish. Is it the companionship of Josh
for whom she realises feelings or something
deeper to be realised for her life to go back
to normal Natalie’s journey further gets all the
more interesting following the introduction
of Isabelle (Priyanka Chopra), a swimsuit model
and yoga ambassador who falls in love with
Josh, much to her dismay.
Rebel Wilson makes her presence felt with
a standout performance, alongside the likes of
Priyanka Chopra and Liam Hemsworth. Priyanka
is equally effective in her role, giving the
audience another glimpse into her capabilities
as an actor. Hemsworth further delivers an
interesting portrayal despite limited screen time.
Director Todd Strauss-Schulson ensures the
complete package with the perfect blend of
humour and satire, delivering a movie which
needed to be told. The cinematography, editing
by Simon Duggan and Andrew Marcus is certainly
excellent as well.
One is certainly guaranteed an enriching
experience with a worthy message to top it all,
making ‘Isn’t It Romantic’ a tempting choice on a
lazy weekend.
2) Queen of Katwe (2016):
Director: Mira Nair
Hollywood is replete with movies indicating
the harsh humanitarian conditions, chaos and
sorrow which have been prevalent in Africa
over the years. However, Director Mira Nair
who is known for movies like ‘The Reluctant
Fundamentalist’ (2012) brings a story of hope
and determination despite intense poverty.
Queen of Katwe is
based on the life of
Phiona Mutesi who
is considered one of
the greatest chess
players to emerge
from Uganda, despite
battling lack of
education and dire
paucity of finances.
The plot begins with
the portrayal of
10-year-old Phiona’s
(Madina Lalwanga)
life focussed only on helping her family comprising
of mother Nakku Harriet (Lupita Nyong’o), an
elder sister and two youngsters afford two square
meals a day, by selling maize in the market.
However, a chance meeting with Robert
Katende (David Oyelowo) who teaches chess
at a local missionary program transforms
her life, as she soon discovers her talent for
the game, emerging as a top player under
Katende’s guidance.
Madina Lalwanga delivers a fine performance
bringing the helplessness, despair into the fore
with a maturity beyond the years. Kenyan-
Mexican actor Lupita Nyong’o who featured in
the Oscar-winning historical drama ‘12 years a
slave’, stands out yet again with a praiseworthy
display. Lupita’s portrayal of a mother who is
overburdened by the responsibility of supporting
the whole family singlehandedly but nurses a
strong desire to watch her children achieve their
dreams certainly strikes a chord.
David Oyelowo further makes his presence felt
as a coach who aspires to motivate his wards and
guide them in the right direction, through thick
and thin. Oyelowo’s interactions with Lalwanga
as the latter struggles to maintain confidence in
her capabilities following setbacks is one of the
key highlights of the movie.
Mira Nira’s astute direction, backed by astute
cinematography from Sean Bobbitt makes
‘Queen of Katwe’ a must-watch for every woman
out there.
By
Our NAARI Delhi Correspondent
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