Humor
Pockets of Time
"Pockets of Time" In the bustling city of Strathmore, Alex, a dedicated museum curator with a penchant for history, stumbles upon an archaeological marvel during an excavation. Among the artifacts uncovered, an ancient pocket watch catches Alex's attention. Little does Alex know that this seemingly ordinary timepiece holds the key to a remarkable journey through the ages.
By Kiruthika Gopalakrishnan3 years ago in Fiction
Mr. Right
She was beside herself. Her conduits between her left brain and right brain were faltering. She planned her day with her left brain, but her right brain decided to sleep in. Some time after, she had managed to drive to the mall, albeit with many left turns at no-left-turn corners.
By Gerard DiLeo3 years ago in Fiction
"Sriram Raghavan's 'Merry Christmas' Review: A Delectable Crime Thriller Elevated by Vijay Sethupathi's Stellar Performance"
Sriram Raghavan's recent cinematic endeavor, "Merry Christmas," astounds audiences by pairing the unexpected duo of Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi as the leads. Renowned for his adept storytelling in crime, passion, and mystery, Raghavan introduces us to a compelling, deliberate Neo-noir that unfolds against the backdrop of Bombay's lively Christmas celebration. The core of the narrative revolves around Albert and Maria, brought to life by Sethupathi and Kaif, respectively. These two solitary individuals chance upon each other in a restaurant on Christmas night, and their connection deepens as they traverse the illuminated streets of Bombay. Layers of discontent in Maria's marriage and a veil of mystery surrounding Albert's past unravel, yet the newfound bond takes a sinister turn when a lifeless body is discovered in Maria's apartment, injecting confusion and suspicion. Crafted by Raghavan, Arijit Biswas, Pooja Ladha Surti, and Anukriti Pandey, the screenplay deviates from Raghavan's usual modus operandi in the first half. Rather than relying on the anticipated twists and turns, the film unfolds as a nuanced conversation between two strangers, akin to the Before Sunrise series. The initial focus is on Kaif and Sethupathi's characters engaging in dialogues and leisurely strolls through Bombay. Despite the absence of immediate suspense, the story unfolds organically, mirroring the pacing of a well-crafted novel. Adapted from Frédéric Dard's "Bird In A Cage," the film skillfully tailors the source material to Indian sensibilities. The screenplay gradually unveils the hidden truths of the characters, keeping the audience invested without resorting to constant suspense. The outcome is a captivating film that doesn't demand a perpetual edge-of-the-seat experience but successfully immerses viewers in the lives of the characters. The screenplay is enriched with easter eggs and pop culture references, a hallmark of Raghavan's films. Early pulp fictions, nods to classics, and retro music seamlessly integrate into the narrative. The second half introduces the anticipated twist, elevating the pace and intensifying the audience's engagement with the unfolding story. Undoubtedly, the casting emerges as one of the film's strongest assets. Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi deliver stellar performances as Maria and Albert, respectively. Sethupathi, renowned for his acting prowess, embodies Albert as a do-gooder ensnared in an unforeseen murky situation. His interaction with Anne, portrayed by child actor Pari Sharma, stands out, showcasing the actor's ability to forge organic chemistry with young co-stars. Kaif's evolution as a performer is palpable, with "Merry Christmas" arguably marking her best performance to date. From her early days as a model to becoming a prominent figure in action blockbusters, Kaif seamlessly embraces the role of Maria – elusive, tragic, mysterious, and hauntingly beautiful. Together, Kaif and Sethupathi create on-screen magic that surpasses expectations. The supporting cast, featuring Sanjay Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Radhika Apte, Tinu Anand, Pratima Kazmi, and Ashwini Kalsekar, injects the right amount of quirkiness, characteristic of Raghavan's noir style. Madhu Neelakandan's cinematography beautifully frames the narrative, capturing the essence of Bombay's festive streets. Daniel B George's background score enhances the storytelling, with Raghavan opting for music over dialogues in the climax. Notably, the Hindi version's climax reportedly differs from the Tamil version.
By Mohan Mohan3 years ago in Fiction
Bird's Eye View
Mackenzie Davis set us some mean challenge! Yes, she did! To get those grey cells a-buzzing and a-spitting and producing some of that storytelling magic here in the grand old year of 2024. Yes, sirree! And here's my little effort, for the high-flying birdie in the photo. He looks like he's a-having a fine time of it, don't he?
By Rachel Deeming3 years ago in Fiction
The Lost Little Duck
This story has been written in response to L.C. Schäfer's proposal to spend 2024 losing my mind...sorry, I mean, choosing to write a microfiction story every day, making 366 stories for every day of this lovely leap year. You can check her original story out here:
By Rachel Deeming3 years ago in Fiction
Willingly Lost
"Olly olly oxen free" is a catchphrase or truce term used in children's games such as hide and seek, capture the flag, and kick the can to indicate that players who are hiding can come out into the open without losing the game or that the position of the sides in a game has changed[1] (as in which side is on the field or which side is at bat or "up" in baseball or kickball); alternatively, that the game is entirely over. The origin of the phrase is unknown. The Dictionary of American Regional English says the phrase may be derived from all ye, all ye outs in free, all the outs in free, or possibly ”calling all the outs in free”; in other words, all who are out may come in without penalty.[2] Others speculate the phrase may be a corruption of a hypothetical and ungrammatical German phrase alle, alle, auch sind frei (all, all, also are free).[1] A number of variations exist. "Ollyoxalls" is one such variant, said to be used in Portsmouth, England.[3] Another variant is "Ollie Ollie in come free.*
By Kelli Sheckler-Amsden3 years ago in Fiction
Com N. Decency
It is with great regret that we announce the passing of beloved citizen Com N. Decency (originally Com N. Sense, Jr.) on November 8, 2016. He was poisoned in his sleep, left to die a slow and painful death. His final words were “Don’t punish my murderer too harshly. You must pity those who are so sick as to commit such a deed.”
By Stephanie Hoogstad3 years ago in Fiction
