M Cream (2014) User Reviews

This movie could have been so much better.

[suveer-gaur · 2/10 · 27 February 2017]

M cream boasts to be India's first stoner film.The film justifies this and how.Even a stone could have made a movie which was more honest and less pseudo-intellectual.

Though to a regular movie viewer some of the finer aspects of the film strike out as bold(like the farmhouse party scene where the camera just becomes a member of the party and doesn't show any of the protagonists for quite a while.)Its these little moments which make the movie bearable.

As far as the story is considered,there is practically none of it..a road trip to a mythical place is full of possibilities and character developments..but unfortunately all that we get is a hodge podge of every possible intellectual idea the makers could think of..revolution..corruption..environment èt al.

Acting wise some of the scenes are so bad that they would put a school play seem better(like the one where the police hits the protesters..one can clearly see that the sticks are not even hitting any of the actors)

A stoner movie is at least expected to have good music..except the song belle by moriarty..the rest of the soundtracks could be easily skipped)

Bottom line : Even if you get truck loads of the mythical m cream..the movie will be hard to sit through.Watch it for the beautiful hills if your hill traveling plans got canned and you have too much time to kill.

M Cream Review: – Sex, Drugs, but Not Much Rock N Roll

[DareDevilKid · 3/10 · 24 July 2016]

Reviewed by: Dare Devil Kid (DDK)

Rating: 1.5/5 stars

It's bemusing to see how Director-writer Agneya Singh hit all the right notes with his characterization, yet keeps missing the mark with his story arc and narrative flow. The biggest problem with M Cream lies in the indecisiveness of what he wants to show. What begins as a road- trip to find a famed-magical hash in a mystical land whose very existence remains a mystery, keeps making detours to political grievances, activism, rural issues faced by villagers, and stanza after stanza of life lessons being imparted through endless preaching.

For a movie about being cool and hip and trippy, M Cream is way too preachy. Everything from the Tibetan crusade to deforestation to Gandhism is touched upon without anything reaching any sort or real purpose. It's like the kind of reactions you'd expect if you'd try and have a logical discussion with an actual stoner – lots of half- baked replies and topics cut short because of the other party zoning off. If that was the aim of this film, then it certainly scores a home run. But, a movie, unlike a stoner's life, needs proper direction and purpose, even if it's based on stoners and hash.

At the end of it all, M Cream scores points for its characters, performances, Mingjue Hu's cinematography (Dharamsala and its neighboring areas seldom looked this beautiful), and novel concept. However, for a film that touches upon a unique premise, it just comes across as an idea that's trying to break free from mainstream clutches rather than actually standing out. It's neither a fun film like Pineapple Express or The Big Lebowski nor does it make pertinent statements like Udta Punjab or Hare Rama Hare Krishna. M Cream just makes a lot of noise without actually saying much.

A radical and bold ode to the spirit of revolution!

[rahulgrg90 · 10/10 · 26 September 2014]

A lyrical and psychedelic road trip to the far reaches of the Himalayas in pursuit of an elusive drug! This is one film that I will watch again and again and again! It is the first of its kind and the only one that I know that has so effortlessly and honestly captured the pulse of my generation... Not only is the film a wacky, fun and riveting adventure story, it is also a politically charged testament to the idea of revolution! The film follows the journey of four young renegades who embark on a daring road trip to secure M Cream, a mythical form of hash! Through the course of the journey the film meditates on a host of issues so very relevant to our times. A brilliant production featuring stellar acting, direction, editing and music!

Mindless, awful and a waste of time

[alienashu · 1/10 · 15 September 2014]

I got a chance to be a part of a free screening of this movie. I was not expecting anything extraordinary except that the plot seemed to revolve around hash and the actors included children of Naseeruddin Shah and Lillette Dubey.

The script is written by someone completely stoned so you be prepared to abrupt transitions. Acting is so horrible (barring Indu Dubey) that it is impossible to go through this ordeal. Most of the viewers could not finish it and left in between. Tom Alter was wasted. The movie also boasted of Barry John (who runs an acting school which boasts of training SRK, Shiny Ahuja, Freida Pinto, etc) and his performance was so pathetic, I wonder what these stars learned over there.

Cinematography is fine but the abysmal acting and direction is unbearable. Please take my advice (especially all you manala cream fans), avoid this movie.

Edit 2016: When I wrote this review, it was the first one at the time. And I am ready to bet a million bucks that that other 10 star reviews were written by movie makers friends to bury my comment. After many years, just saw another article of how bad the movie is and came here to check. Don't tell me I didn't warn you.

A Fantastic Road Movie and a real Epiphany at that!

[rosa-collins-young · 8/10 · 26 September 2014]

I was lucky enough to catch this film at its World Premiere at the Closing Night of RIIFF 2014. I must say that I expected some dopey Bollywood song/dance routine but boy, was I wrong! This film introduced me to aspects of India that I never dreamed could exist. While showcasing the youth culture, it also very subtly presented several topics of socio-political significance such as the adverse impact of religiosity, the idea of rebellion in a democratic setup and most importantly the environmental and ecological damage that we are inflicting upon Mother Earth. Naturally, these are all issues that concern us here in the States and elsewhere too. What I really appreciated was the blend between art house and mainstream elements in the film. Unlike a lot of festival movies, M Cream was fun fun fun! Hats off to the team for a wonderful Q&A session too... The actress Ira Dubey was wonderful and the young directors Agneya Singh and Aban Raza had a lot of energy and passion about the film and the overall idea of revolution. I definitely recommend this movie - it's not just for Indian audiences but for a global audience. Love, Rosa

A brave film that we should all champion!

[rahul-dayal-one · 10/10 · 26 September 2014]

Well, I too attended the private screening of this film in New Delhi and believe me it was jam packed! Entire scores of people could not get in... This is the most awaited Indie film of the year! It's not a crowd pleaser but for those of us who are wise enough to understand it, M Cream is a hauntingly beautiful portrayal of the youth of today! It's not only a film about drugs thought that is a theme, it is a film about life and wanderlust and the quest for meaning! Haters will be haters but I for one am proud that I had the chance to see this film and it has changed my life forever! Please watch this film - you will either love it or hate it - but if you love it then you won't be the same person after having seen it! Trust me on that.

A flowing, meandering tale of the conflict between 'what is' and 'what should have been'

[agniva_pro · 9/10 · 25 July 2016]

M Cream forms the crème de la crème of underrated movies in recent times. Watching the film in a sparsely packed multiplex in an otherwise charming weekend evening, the reactions I overheard from my fellow moviegoers ranged from idiopathic to outrageous. Film critics from leading dailies in India gawk vacuously at this wistful gem of a movie that neither adheres, nor cares about form or construction in any tangible way. Yet, this subtle lack of coherent narrative sets it apart from even the best of the parallel cinemas that came out of this country in the last few years (or more).

This is a story about four youngsters in search of a mythical hash that goes by the name of 'M Cream'. Based on your personal predilections, you may or may not find the story to be vague (I didn't), but you can't deny the fact that the movie does send across a message that is quite delectably hidden inside the script. It does not make this message obvious. You need to hunt for it. And the delight lies in the chase. It is about the conflict between the conformist and the rebel inside the characters. It is about the hypocrisy that each of these characters carry with them, and what happens when the shield of pretension goes kaput.

This is not the kind of movie that would suit your palate if you are looking for tangible plot elements like thrill, humor, suspense, romance or any such stuff (although, each of them are present, sprinkled here and there with wonderful restraint). It does not step into the realm of extreme abstraction. Some of the sequences does remind you strongly of Trainspotting (but that's just me, there is no obvious connection here, just a faint similarity in the aftertaste). The acting performances are natural and believable. The photography is brilliant. So is the editing. But, having said that, it's the director's vision that transcends everything else.

Excellent Movie!

[zarkovthemaster · 10/10 · 26 January 2016]

Caught this flick at the ICA in London! Really enjoyed it. The acting was first class and you just end up falling in love with Imaad Shah's swagger, Ira Dube's misplaced sense of propriety and the Himalayan expanse. That being said - older people or should I say people with old skool mindset might want to give this a skip! A lot of drugs, sex and bad language. Very unlike any Indian movie I've ever seen... Anyway, recommended to all the stoners out there! They really captured the beauty of places in Parvati Valley - the hash region in North India! Think I'll go down there myself to scope out the Cream. It really does look to be heaven on earth! PEace

An Eye Opener!

[rick-das1941 · 9/10 · 24 December 2014]

Never imagined to see an Indian Film like this! Amazing!!! Loved the acting - so natural! Great direction and pumping soundtrack. Very cinematic locations too - a must watch for the connoisseur of cinema! I found the ending to be especially interesting. Just when you think you have figured it out - it takes a completely different direction. The protest element is very current and shows the troubles in India that are not highlighted in films that we see otherwise. Very mature treatment towards the notions of the youth of today - not only in India but everywhere. The end of the film at the sing-a-long where Figgs and Jay reach the 'destination' was very moving for me. It's an ending that takes you far beyond the physical end of the film and forces you to think about the harshness of the world that humankind has forged here today. Peace.

A Damn Cool Movie!

[jon-mehboob1976 · 10/10 · 1 January 2015]

A damn cool movie! A damn cool story! A damn cool time!

Four friends set out on a road journey to find - Malana Cream - the best hash in the world! This is not some ordinary hashish like what one finds in Morocco or Spain. This is special and has the power to alter minds and change lives. The story revolves around the hashish but it is a lot more than that - it is a story of who we are - as people - as wanderers. 'I am a wanderer lost in a storm' - It is a tale of spiritual transcendence - attaining oneself when all else is lost - when the world itself is crumbling - a journey into the self - a travel into the wilderness of the Himachal - a lovesong - a memoir - a footnote in the halls of eternal youth.

The travelers never find the hashish but they become one with nature- with the earth - with fellow humankind - a fight for meaning - in a world gone mad - time running out - the hash is unattainable - the truth is even harder to find.

Come - let us travel - come let us fly

Compelling Film!

[jackjons · 9/10 · 6 February 2018]

I really liked this movie. It's a poignant story that presents the POV of the wayward youth of India - rebelling against the political landscape, traditional values and so on. Interesting depiction of stoner culture and drugs.

Mesmerizing

[ricky-ahuja1970 · 9/10 · 13 January 2015]

Mesmerzing means to capture the complete attention of (someone); transfix. This is what M Cream - written and directed by Agneya Singh - did for me! A debut feature, the film held up a mirror to the fuzzy reflection of the youth of India. The music was amazing and deserves to be released separately. The acting was okay but definitely better than most other films. I am not giving it 10 starts but only 9 because of the acting that was lacking in skill at parts - especially the protagonist played by Imaad Shah pulled down the entire film. Also, too much emphasis on drugs but if cleverly understood, the film has nothing to do with drugs. It really shook me to the core and made me confront my own choices in life age 20 on. A film that I highly recommend as you probably will never see another one like it! That I can promise you! Great costumes and production design!