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Reviews
The Killer (2023)
Is it a spoof? Not impressive
For the first 20 minutes, the killer is staging for his kill and rambles on about something from Popeye to his strategies of anticipating, not improvising etc. 21st minute, he takes the killer shot and kills the wrong person! Lol! Then he has an apparent panic and paranoia attack. He is so miserably running from police sirens that you'd want to tell him to breathe, calm down and not break driving rules (duh!) or he will surely get caught. So much for him not giving a f$&@ to anything. 15 minutes and series of event later he is in hospital with his girlfriend who is seriously injured and almost in coma. The lady suddenly gets out of it and coherently rambles for next 10 minutes?? How? To director - have you ever taken an anesthesia in your life? Seriously, is this movie a spoof of something? Am i missing the point? A 1 hour and 22 minute movie and almost half of it already gone in wrong killings, panic attacks, and so so so much rambling. Where is direction? Where is the story? Who wrote these dialogues? Was editing ever a plan of this movie or you made the editing team sleep by your dialogues. Also, not a correct actor man. Overall a very lazy job by everyone.
Choona (2023)
Jimmy shergill is sheer brilliance
Story line is good, brings a very good mix of comedy, technology (VR), astrology, politics and in place love story. Comedy is not forced, dialogues are good and all the actors have done a really amazing job. But the true star of the show is Jimmy Shergill. He was always a good actor and few series here and there show his range. This one is another feather to his hat.
Series is loosely made on the book " not a penny less, not a penny more" but has many sensible editions making it India related. In times when it seems like Indian cinema is dying because of lack of good content, nepo actors and missing efforts in general, these low budget, sensible series are holding the fort in terms of content, acting and entertainment.
Dubai Bling (2022)
Trashy but stylish and I love it
It was totally trashy and full of spoilt, brazen, entitled people who are miles away from reality and real life problems. But that's the beauty of it. You would want to see their world, their irrelevant problems, their styles, fake tears while they try to wipe eyes with manicured hands and well done nails. It was a no brainer with no real story and I had good time chewing my $2 popcorn and drinking $1 coke while commenting how LJ is so correct by not getting impressed by a helicopter pick-up for a date..lol. If anything, I want to be them!! Spoil me please......If not, make second series atleast.
Bhaag Beanie Bhaag (2020)
Extremely Bad. Pathetic Indian version of marvelous Mrs Maisel
One of my school teacher used to say that one requires sense even to cheat/copy."Story writer/ copier" and director of this movie are far away from anything called sense. I would have given "0" rating here if that was possible. Which age do they suppose metropolitan India is? A girl is in a relationship with this man for 3 years but she doesn't have courage to tell him that not only she doesn't want to get married or have kids but she is not even really in love with him. She cannot even tell this to her parents and I couldn't understand why not. So off she goes on stage and tells it to 1000 people.
The plot this movie was "inspired" from - Marvelous Mrs Maisel was set in an era when women did not have financial or social freedom and hence entire plot fell into place. It was comic, warm, one could relate with. Also she was beautiful and charming.
Bhag Beanie Bhag is set into today's time when women have freedom. Yet the heroine will make sad faces and go along with wedding plans like she is being tortured. Here the only one being tortured are the audience.
Swara Bhaskar used to be good - but she looks irritating, ugly and melodramatic here. The comedy she tries do not incite any laughter. Other people in the movie are not even recognizable as they uselessly fit into stereotypical moulds for Northern India people. No, not every girl in Delhi wants to settle for a rich, tall punjabi!! And stop showing punjabis as shallow, non driven, non ambitious, mama's boys. Its downright insulting.
I tried to sit through, really, but gave up after 30 minutes. Its a time, I will never have back.
Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020)
Brilliant acting, tight editing and superb direction
This series helped me regain my trust and hope in the Indian production. The storyline while remarkable in itself only comes alive due to great direction and superlative acting. What's truly amazing is that while the main lead is excellent beyond words, other actors are also not far behind and compete with each other in terms of performance. Also, not a scene is wasted or a word extra. I guess this all ties in together because of director's vision. Kudos Hansal Mehta, you showed what a talented director is capable of even without ridiculous stunts, atrocious budgets or big names just for the heck of it. I cannot wait for more from you.
Official Secrets (2019)
Tight script, good direction, good acting
Nice watch - goes over every essential fact without overdoing anything. Sticks to the story it wants to narrate and good acting definitely makes it worth watching. I would recommend. However, I would also recommend reading a little about this incident, the history and allied facts before watching it. Its an intelligent movie and is not everyone's cup of tea.
Class of 83 (2020)
I slept mid-way.
I suffer from insomnia and usually have trouble sleeping. Last night I watched this movie and miraculously slept within 45 minutes. Fast asleep - like a near death experience. Husband had to throw a bucket of water on me before I managed to open my eyes in the morning. I do not know whom to give credit for this deep sleep - the absurd direction, expressionless Bobby Deol or bleak picturization. Let's be safe and say they all played a role. Story held some promise but let's be realistic - I will never know. I plan to watch it again today and everyday for easier sleeping. Highly recommend to all - specially those who depend on medication or alcohol for sleeping. In fact, please make 2-3 sequels and maybe I will skip 2020 altogether and will directly wake in the dawn of new year!!
Mirzapur (2018)
same old village goon thing, shot mostly at night.
Take few local slangs, abuses, dirty-village like surroundings, a well established goon, a good-for-nothing-drunk-with-power son, a nonsense case, an upright lawyer, add few bullet and sex in the mix - and here you have a sure shot successful formula for Indian movies or web series these days. Wasted an incredibly talented Pankaj Tripathy in this role - I wonder why he is accepting all similar roles? However, what stands out most is that this series is majorly shot at night, dim lights, creepy atmosphere and what not - I couldn't see half of what's happening with my myopic eyes.
Bombshell (2019)
Powerful performance mixed with such strong direction that I thought it was a Spielberg movie!!
From almost accurate presentation of facts to using actual names, this movie is as real as it can get. All the leading stars deliver a super powerful performance and two hours are intense and gratifying because of great editing. What I liked most about the movie is that it has a voice and takes a stand - a scene where Meghan is listing all good qualities of Roger and then she looks at her daughter who is sleeping in the backseat of the car; her face face says it all. Most of the movies these days stand on neutral ground and end diplomatically, but not this one. I also love how how the movie finishes with Gretchen having multiple thoughts - what will happen to her career, was the fight worth it, will she always carry the stigma of a victim etc. These are some legit thoughts an individual has when they are subjected to workplace harassment and decide to fight back. Also, an amazing take on how an entitled person who truly believes that they made people, careers and organization feel betrayed when confronted for what they think is a minor mistake. Showcasing both the sides without much melodrama while siding with the correct stance is immensely satisfying. It is a reflection of water tight script and a brilliant vision of the director. I would call this equivalent to a Steven Spielberg direction. Totally recommend watching.
Shakuntala Devi (2020)
Movie is an emotional torture and not Shakuntala devi's journey as a maths genius
The major story in this movie is a relationship between a women/man or mother/daughter. And as fillers, few mathematical feats of shakuntala Devi are shown. Mostly Shakuntala Devi is shown doing simple multiplication and/or square and cube roots equations. I want to believe that she was more than this. I wish that the movie was kept short and just focused on her maths abilities and how she helped the field advance. I wish she was shown having deeper and more intelligent conversations with intellectuals of her field and how over time she honed her natural gift. Instead we get to see Vidya Balan laughing like a monster most of the movie wanting to convey Shakuntala Devi loved living. Believe me, there are other ways of showing this. These apart, my major disappointment lies in the fact that in an attempt to woo the Indian audience, an unrequited emotional baggage is added. Oh my lord, her daughter not wanting kids, than unable to manage kids, then that awful teary-eyed lawyer scene!!! I really wish that Indian movies stop adding masala in what was supposed to be a jalebi. I just wanted to see a mathematician and her claim to acclaim and instead suffered through this emotional torture.