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Reviews
Maidaan (2024)
A decade of Syed Abdul Rahim's resilience that earned India it's Gold.
Syed Abdul Rahim faces the backlash from the federation after India's humiliating loss at 1952 summer Olympics. He is determined to form a best team of his own to give India it's deserving chance and the federation supports him despite the naysayers. Thus begins, S. A. Rahim's quest for finding the best talents across the country and subsequently trains them as one. India makes a strong comeback in 1956, proving Rahim's focus in building the future of Indian football and this continues to cause a rift between Rahim and a senior sports journalist Roy. With the increase in politics in the federation and the threat of lung cancer, how does S. A. Rahim gather his strenght to battle both these diseases head on and earn India it's first football Gold medal at the Olympics in 1962, forms rest of the story.
Biopics are always tricky to make and especially when it's a sports legend. One has to tick the genre tropes despite being monotonous for dramatic effect while balancing the drama depicting a real person's life on screen. Director Amit Ravindernath Sharma and his group of writers partially succeed in pull this off. The mixture of an underdog team's rise to success, thanks to the single minded vision of their coach while battling the ego clash, use of politics to oust him by the rival journalist and the coach's personal battle with his own health. Maidaan is definitely a heavy film in terms of drama and the script is treated with utmost respect to the legend as well as the sport.
However with a 3hrs runtime, the film definitely felt exhausting at times. The tournament matches itself are quite similar to an other memorable film on hockey, but to give credit to the makers, despite the similarities the scenes involving the matches remain captivating. But in it's attempt to narrate this story of a legend, the writing overdoes it when it comes to Rahim - Roy's rivalry and since it gets dragged on till the final match, it struck out with a bitter taste as it was done solely for the dramatic effect. Having said that, not opting for subtle drama somewhat works with the husband - wife moments and ofcourse during the matches itself. A. R. Rahman's Music helps too. Like I said, biopics aren't that easy to make and one must definitely laud the efforts that went in here.
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024)
To be this dedicated in making a bad film is indeed very rare.
India has an new enemy who not just attacks the convoy transporting a very important thing but he also steals it. He wants to destroy India and with no other choice, Colonel Azad seeks out two court martialed soldiers Freddie and Rocky to go on this mission to stop the new enemy as well as bringing back what he stole. Misha is assigned to get the duo to work together and an IT specialist Pam to assist them. However, the mission they are on is a Chakravyuh and they aren't aware what they are up against. How does our heroes rise from the ashes and figure out what else rose from that very ash to torment them, in order to save India from it's biggest threat, forms rest of the story.
Ali Abbas Zafar's ambitious story suffers largely due to how dull and unoriginal the screenplay is. Known as a director who knows to elevate his main lead and having executed that extremely well with Salman Khan films, it is indeed a big surprise how he failed to give a single decent hero elevation scene here despite having two major action stars. Not a single action stood out in this 160 odd minutes film and there is only so much Prithviraj Sukumaran can do with his committed performance till the end.
The camaraderie between Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff suffers from lackluster writing with both of them getting outdated lines. The humor borderlines silly and honestly it takes special effort to make Tiger Shroff look dull in action scenes which he is most comfortable at. Tiger might be repetitive with his choice of films but that doesn't justify designing dull action scenes. Similarly, Akshay Kumar fails right from the look and letting Sanjana Sanghi's Pam address him as uncle is laudable, but considering his experience Akshay is indeed severely under used. As far as the story goes, no matter how much Ali wants to be sincere, it simply has no novelty and just putting Pakistan - China together as a threat alone isn't an excuse when the outcome is this silly. For those who watch till the end, there are 2 songs added in the end credits and a hint for a sequel which we can rest assured of not happening.
Madgaon Express (2024)
Two and a half men's misadventures in Goa!
Dodo, Pinku and Ayush dream of a trip to Goa during the high school days, only to be rejected by their parents. They once again plan it post graduation but end up with an accident. It's 2015, Pinku lives in US and Ayush in Capetown, leading a successful life. That leaves Dodo who is still in Mumbai and jobless. All these years apart, Dodo had created a fake perception on social media about his rich life. When the two friends plan their visit to India to meet Dodo, he convinces them for a trip to Goa via Madgaon Express. The trip begins with them losing their bag in exchange to a stranger's. What mess they get into during their stay in Goa with the cops and two rival gangs, all looking for a stolen stash of drugs, forms rest of the story.
Goa itself is a single common emotion that one relates to and understandly there is an overdose of films about a Goa trip going berserk. The writing here is that predictable with three friends with all the generic tropes associated with boys going wild films. The first half failed to get me hooked and I even ended up finding Pratik Gandhi's portrayal of Pinku, too much or that's how he interpreted his character. As much as I didn't like him in first half, it was he who aced in the second half. Similarly, I ended up easing up to the narrative and the second half did entertain me.
The good thing about Kunal Kemmu is that he knows his strengths and plays to it, be it the direction or writing. His battle was half won with the casting and as the trio eventually life the film, seasoned actors Chhaya Kadam and Upendra Limaye lend their support big time. The humor which is silly largely works as the lead trio get their comic timing right in the second half. If the scenes once they enter Goa was handled better then it could've been a far better film considering how well the second half turn out to be.
Hit Man (2023)
"We made that one up."
Based on a monthly magazine article which itself was about a very real person, Gary Johnson. A psychology professor by profession, he also assists the New Orleans police department by going undercover. When another police who was tasked with going undercover as a fake hitman is suspended, Gary steps up to become Ron the hitman to catch the potential criminals who approach to hire him. What happens when Gary posing as Ron gets to meet a client and it's love at first sight? What trouble he gets into and how does he come out of the situation, forms rest of the story.
Richard Linklater narrates this particular story which shifts gear when it comes to varied genres and it definitely helps to have a charming lead. Gary loves his job and is happy taking care of his pets so when he does get offered to go undercover, he gives his 100% to turn into a fake hit man and an ordinary professor turning into this charmer, is a transition well executed. The humor filled dialogues help ease out even when things seems to get serious. This is a genre that made me want some bigger twist in the final act but Richard chose to be loyal in narrating Gary's story or to say, not that predictable as I expected the story to be. Majority of the fun lies in those lines uttered not just by the lead actors and it's this smart balanced writing where the film wins big time.
Sous la Seine (2024)
Oh my Lilith!
A group of researchers led by Sophia at Pacific ocean turns deadly as the mako they were tracking isn't the one they think her to be. Fondly named Lilith, the shark wrecks havoc, killing most of Sophia's crew. 3 years later, Sophia is yet to move on completely from the incident and the losses she faced, an youth activist approaches her to inform Lilith is now back in Seine. The transition from saltwater to freshwater shark baffles her and soon Sophia's realizes the threat. As they try to convince the police who are dismissive, the mayor however is hell bent on kickstarting the triathlon, afterall it's one shark to contain. With the stage set up, what does Lilith bring to the show forms rest of the story.
For one, I definitely enjoyed this film and I will admit that after a long time, here comes a good shark film. There is no sugar coating till the actual story begin as director Xavier Gens means business. As we are introduced to the giant Lilith, we are clear what's in store. There is an acceptable explanation to why this particular shark could transform itself into surviving in freshwater and no time is wasted in creating any drama or sci-fi mumbo jumbos. The CGI is off at many instances but that didn't put me off.
Once Sophia reaches out to the police then it's all Lilith's mayhem and it was totally worth it. The encounter with the ill informed activists was definitely the highlight. However, the set up for the Piranha-esque climax with the triathlon and shark on the loose, I was bit disappointed with lesser gore and though repetitive, I still wanted to see that in full glory. They did replace it with even more crazy stuff and the CGI was actually passable here. I may not be too keen for the sequel if it were to be made but I was all the more satisfied with Under Paris. Bottom line is it entertained me.
Snack Shack (2024)
A routine coming of age tale.
AJ and Moose are best friends and are a package deal when it comes to making some quick money. This is disapproved by AJ's parents. Defying them the duo bid on snack shack at the city council auction and win. Meanwhile, Brooke enters their lives and she is visiting for a brief period, awaiting her military father's reassignment. AJ and Moose are tormented by a couple of soft bullies but they have Shane to have their back. As expected, Brooke comes in between the best friends, affecting them as she starts to go out with Moose despite being interested in AJ. How does the boys get through the summer forms rest of the story.
To list what I liked was definitely the performances. Connor Sherry as AJ and Gabriel Labelle as Moose instantly impress with their bromance. Nick Robinson chips in with a good performance too and Mika Abdalla leaves a mark too. The film held my attention till the boys won the auction and started their snack shack successfully earning $1650 on their first day. It is after this the film started focusing on the love triangle and even after a scene between AJ and Brooke, it still continues to revolve around AJ's feelings about her leading to the jealousy among best friends.
What really disappointed me was the third act and how annoying generic it became. A personal loss bringing the bigger change is an accepted routine but it is not all that impactful if the writing is deliberate. By the third act, the film gets stagnant with it's drama and even until then, it wasn't backed by hilarious comedy which eventually impacts the all too serious final act. If the writing had to let go off these generic tropes, the film could have worked a lot better. I would still recommend this for the performances.
Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
Love grows bleeding.
It's 1989 and Lou is working a gym manager. She belongs a crime family with Lou Sr being the patriarch. She loves her sister Beth who has abusive husband JJ, whom Lou loathes. Beth remains blindly faithful to her abuser while Lou hates that JJ isn't paying for his crime. Meanwhile, a bodybuilder Jackie joins the gym and both Lou - Jackie fall for each other. Their steamy love story quickly is challenged with Beth's attack, followed up with a murder. What this path of crime has in store for the lovers, forms rest of the story.
Love Lies Bleeding definitely started off very well with introduction to Lou and her life, with the gym taking most of her time and she has quit drugs as well as smoking. As we get a glimpse at her family, enters the mysterious Jackie. What drugs and sex does to the duo, the narrative slows down in the second act and I did fear it was getting all too predictable. Thankfully the final act started to save itself with Lou and Jackie's relationship getting shaky. These weren't the couple to get an happy ending and once that is established, Rose Glass and Weronika Tofilska throw their trump card at the viewers. That one scene simply did the trick, breaking the normalcy and that is exactly what the film needed.
Keeping Up with the Joneses (2016)
Tiresome!
The Gaffneys are an interesting couple who are too concerned about the new neighbors they are about to get to their cul-de-sac. While Jeff Gaffney works as an HR at MBI, Karen Gaffney is an interior designer. Their two kids are away at camp and they are in desperate need to spice up their marriage. The new neighbors are the Joneses and they are completely opposite to The Gaffneys, enough to get them jealous. As Tim bonds with Jeff, Natalie is still doubted by Karen. Soon the Gaffneys learn that Joneses are not who they say to be but spies. How does the Gaffneys get themselves to be part of their mission and still come out alive, forms rest of the story.
It is the weak writing that brings down this film despite Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher in the lead. There are barely any funny scene or dialogues written for them. With Isla going bit overboard with her Karen portrayal, much of the scenes is rather saved by their comic timing. Similarly Gal Gadot and Jon Hamm don't get much to do except the action scenes. One expects the third act to go all out crazy but it instead goes down the hill with a rushed ending. The whole bit about the Gaffneys getting the Joneses to talk it out, improving their communication, is left as it is. With a shorter runtime, the film feels like 2hr long.
Ordinary Love (2019)
Ah the terrific tearjerker.
Joan and Tom are happily married and even after all these years are deeply in love. There is a personal loss involved, leaving them be the ones sticking together forever. Tom loves her unconditionally and humors her, just a perfect couple until Joan feels lump in her breast. A doctor check up leads to the diagnosis of breast cancer and somehow their perfect little world starts crumbling. Joan initially is ready to fight it whereas Tom rightfully fears losing her. He comes onboard and the rest is documentation of Joan's journey through the chemotherapy while getting closer to other cancer patients. The find solace in each other and the ones fighting back the dreadful disease.
Lesley Manville as Joan is simply terrific and is the star here, firmly supported by Liam Neeson as her loving husband Tom. There are another couple Peter and Steve, who too are going through the same path as Joan and Tom. I was rendered speechless for most part of the film while Liam Neeson tried to lighten things occasionally. But that very scene where Joan breaks down with the pain getting unbearable for her, supremely performed. That scene belonged to Lesley and she owned it. But then the scenes especially with Steve was very emotional. The ending still gives all the hope required and I would definitely call Ordinary Love as a must watch film.
Made in Italy (2020)
Father and son learn to grieve together.
Jack Foster is a manager at an art gallery owned by his wife Ruth's family. They are separated and she is seeking divorce from Jack. Adding to that, she informs him about the plans to sell the gallery. As he invested himself to the gallery, he pleads her to give him a month to raise the money required by selling a house in Italy, belonging to his late mother. For this, he needs to reach back to his father Robert Foster, with whom he doesn't have a good relationship ever since his mother passed away. Going back to his childhood house in Italy, will the time spend together help the father and son repair their relationship? Will they both find new friendships that begin in Italy leading to a second chance at life, forms rest of the story.
Jack Foster and Robert Foster is played by real life son and father, Micheàl Richardson and Liam Neeson. They both share a personal tragedy in 2009 and that adds another emotional layer to their respective portrayal of grief and the way they handle it. The film definitely has many moments where the father and son's sense of loss being depicted effectively. The writing doesn't explore beyond them which is both a good and a bad thing as beyond these two characters, other characters get a template writing when it comes to their back stories. The love story between Jack and Natalia appears half baked whereas the failed marriage of Jack and Ruth is restricted to Ruth being selfish. This impacts the pace and uneven narrative at times drags while the two lead performers elevate the emotional scenes together.
The Commuter (2018)
Liam Neeson's family is threatened again.
You put him on an international flight or a commuter train, just do not threaten him using his wife and son's safety. Liam Neeson is Michael MacCauley, a former NYPD officer leading a normal middle class life as an insurance agent for past 10 years. It appears the relationship with his wife is getting boring but they are still strong. One day, Michael is fired from his job and onboard his train, a mystery woman Joanna, offers him $25000 to find a passenger named Prynne with a stolen bag. He has to find them before train reaches Cold Springs or else his family's lives in danger and so are the other passengers. How does the righteous Michael with his particular set of skills get out of this mess along with the others, forms rest of the story.
Despite the credible actors cast in brief appearances in an full blown Liam Neeson action film, The Commuter is all been there seen that. Again watching it 6 years after it's release, obviously it felt dated. The convenient screenplay does offer some generic fun moments in the train with couple of decent action bits but that's about it. Liam stays vulnerable but not beatable. Third act gets all too familiar with the reveal of the mystery passenger and why their life is on threat. Further, a bruised up guy questioning and telling hypothetic scenarios, doesn't alarm any passengers and in an all out entertainer, this wouldn't have stuck out as weird. Sadly, the film barely works and a dragged final act, ends the film on a dull note.
Cold Pursuit (2019)
Citizen of the year but it's still same old Liam!
I haven't seen the original and this remake is about Nels Coxman, a snowplow driver who was awarded citizen of the year by Kehoe's ski resort. His son is murdered by a drug cartel leaving Nels cold and seeking revenge. As his wife mourns the death of their only son, Nels way of mourning is to find the culprits. In his pursuit, he murders 3 from the drug cartel run by their leader Viking. Soon Viking suspects the rival cartel leader who goes by the name White Bull to be behind the murders. As they wage war against each others, Nels plays the waiting game to get his sweet revenge.
What didn't work for me was the slow narrative despite it getting me hooked initially. 5 years later, the film definitely looks dated and Liam Neeson has played this role a gazillion times before, in the same manner. As it offers very little mystery behind the death or about Nels plan to wait out, the generic villain characters don't help much for this revenge drama. The snow clad mountain backdrop and the cartel run by the local Ute should have been explored more to give this a unique narrative but the film's primary setting was revenge drama with men all out murdering at their will. It quickly becomes routine and nothing new left to offer.
Darkness of Man (2024)
Ah the voice-over!
JCVD plays Russell Hatch, an interpol operative who gets ambushed during a raid while his informant Esther gets killed. Russell feels responsible for her death and vows to take care of her son Jayden who has grown up with knowing the truth behind his mother's death. Russell is close to Jayden's grandfather and gets caught between the Koreans and Russian mobs. To protect Jayden, Russell goes to the extreme by taking down the Russians. What is the actual truth behind the gang wars and is Russell being played on?
JCVD's new B-movie is just basic filmmaking with an extremely limited budget, outdated script and a dull screenplay, resorting to full blown violence after a point. The performances were pretty bad overall and JCVD too looked tired throughout, which may have been the way his character was conceived, with him being old but that doesn't mean the performance be this lethargic. One can see the twist right in the beginning and there is no need to sit through 100mins to know who the actual villain is.
The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)
ALOHA.
Ben Benjamin's marriage has ended and is afraid to accept the same. He is a writer and this phase he is in, he has stopped writing and seeks employment as a registered caregiver. He is hired by Elsa to look after her 18 year old son Trevor, who is suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy. As Ben makes himself accustomed to the routine of Trevor forms a bond with him, he comes to know about Trevor's estranged father and a bunch unopened letters Trevor has received from his father. This prompts Ben to convince Elsa to allow Trevor to be taken on a road trip to visit the deepest pit and do an important thing on Trevor's bucket list. What does this trip have in store for them as they are joined by an hitchhiker and a pregnant lady, forms rest of the story.
Paul Rudd is somehow among the best choice when it comes to such roles and he carries the film throughout. The scenes he has with Craig Robers are the highlight. As the film starts with a session on ALOHA - Ask, listen, observe, help and ask again. The screenplay doesn't completely utilize this as the writing resorts to being predictable after a good start and there aren't any major conflicts considering everything gets resolved quickly. This made the entry of the pregnant woman more like a deliberately addition, just for that climax. If the writing was bit more subtle then the humor could've been better balanced with the drama. It is still a decent watch and definitely worthy giving it a try.
Downsizing (2017)
Downsizing the ambitious story.
Overpopulation has been the bigger threat to earth along with global warming and an Norwegian scientist comes up with a process to shrink the people to 5inches as a solution to the overpopulation problem. The Downsizing leads to considerable reduction in human waste quantity and is made out to be a viable solution to the immediate threat. Years later, people are offered to downsize themselves with a better life prospects in the small world. Paul and Audrey are interested in the program but Audrey backs out leaving Paul downsized. Moving on with life, what does Paul discover in his small world and how he accustomes to this life, forms rest of the story.
This one is a weird exception where an interesting story with an able director like Alexander Payne, somehow backfires. It started off well to be honest, introducing the characters and premise, just when I bought into the premise, the film started getting derailed. Once we move forward with the Paul's story, the writing gets a bit generic and the characters get one dimensional with only Paul getting a predictable character arc. The life at the slums should've been explored better than just being used as a plot device for Paul and Ngoc Lan's love story. There were many things to explore but once Paul gets downsized, the story moves into predictable territory and offers nothing new.
Unfrosted (2024)
Give up the tarts, old man.
The story behind creation of Pop-Tarts narrated via Bob Cabana who was the head of development at Kelloggs while being at loggerheads with their rival Post and surviving the threat from the milk cartel. After knowing from a spy that Post is creating a product with the input from an ex-employee of Kelloggs, Bob sets up his own team named taste pilots as well as the dumpster kids to race against the time to beat Post and other rival companies, to release their product. How does they succeed in doing that forms rest of the story.
Jerry Seinfeld's directorial opts for a satirical comedy narrative and he has a bunch of talented actors cast, most from the SNL alumni. The problem is the treatment is quite dated like it's jokes and Jerry somehow fails to grab the viewer's attention throughout. The over the top humor works party and that too solely because of the known faces. Was I glad to see the familiar SNL faces? Definitely. Yet that is not what Jerry relied upon. There is a fun story behind Trat Pops being successful as Pop Tarts. The fierce competition, the involvement of Russia and US president in the proceedings to even the rebelling mascots, yet they fail to bring them together to give an entertainer.
The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)
"Hey there. It's over. Sorry."
Audrey is just dumped by her boyfriend Drew and worse, it happened before her birthday. All she has is her best friend Morgan Freeman. Audrey tries to flirt with a guy named Sebastian and he turns out to be an MI6 spy, revealing her that Drew isn't the one she thinks him to be. Drew does reach out to Audrey, to take back his things but is soon attacked. Audrey and Morgan go on a run to Europe and they are in possession of an USB drive that multiple parties want for themselves. With the MI6 and CIA on their back, how does Audrey and Morgan save themselves, forms rest of the story.
As predictable the screenplay was, it solely relied on crude humor, violence and Kate McKinnon to save the film. Sadly, they gave her a weakly written one dimensional character and their cue to her was just be Kate. Infact the film is pretty much dull and it is the actors who did everything to carry the film till the end. This is evident when the only good joke is the "Americans?" one and it appears randomly, just fitting in. Mila Kunis and Kate are funny but the writing wasn't. The runtime too is long as the film drags on and if not for Kate, I definitely wouldn't have sat through this. The lenient rating ofcourse is for the actors trying hard to save this film and that's about it.
Challengers (2024)
Just like this.
Best friends Patrick Zweig and Art Donaldson have won the junior doubles tournament at US Open back in 2006 and both of them are instantly mesmerized by upcoming talent Tashi Duncan. Having tennis as the common factor, they try to win over her and eventually Tashi starts dating Patrick, leaving Art jealous. Years later, Art is married Tashi, who post her injury, couldn't revive her tennis career and turned herself into Art's coach. Art is closer to a career grand slam but is out of form while Patrick has turned into a nobody. To boost Art's confidence, Tashi gets him to be a wild card entry at a Challenger event and his opponent is none other than Patrick. What led to Patrick-Tashi breakup as well as what caused Art-Patrick's broken friendship, is revealed in rest of the story.
First thing, the narrative is pretty much slow paced and the choice to have a non-linear narrative with the time jumping between 2006 - 2019, takes it's own sweet time to work effectively. The brief raunchy bits might have been promoted heavily but Challengers actually has a good story and is aided by good performances by the three main leads. It took me 30 odd minutes to be properly immersed in the narrative and once I bought the premise, it was a smooth watch. The build up to the third act is done superbly and it pays off like anything. Patrick's predicament, Art's realization and the unapologetic Tashi, take the film a notch higher.
Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil (2024)
Falls short of expectations.
Vinu is engaged to Anjali and is very close to her brother Anandan. They have formed such a close bonding without meeting each other in person that Anandan has been helping Vinu get over his ex-girlfriend. Meanwhile, Anandan's marriage too is going through a rough phase and Vinu in return, gets Anandan to bring back his wife and child home. Just days before the marriage Vinu arrives from Dubai to get married, only to realize Anandan's wife is none other than his ex-girlfriend. What happens when both these men try to sabotage the wedding and their ways to stop the wedding further complicates things, forms rest of the story.
The plot is quite decent foe a mad cap comedy film but the fun here seems to end pre-interval itself. Up until then, both Prithviraj and Basil Joseph keep the show running with enough fun moments and the same elevated by the remixed version of Azhagiya Laila song. However, the pace drops considerably pre-interval and the writing instead chooses to go further down in the second half. The two songs in the second half simply adds to the runtime and the rushed climax fails to generate the intended humor. It is not how silly the scenes get that pulls down the film but it is the weak writing in the second half that tries to handle too many characters together, backfires.
Tarot (2024)
Final Destination lite!
Seven friends rent a mansion in the Catskills for one of their friend's birthday. The group involves a couple, Haley and Grant, who had just broken up on their way to the mansion. After having drunk all the beers, they find a box of tarot cards and for fun, they let Haley to read their horoscopes individually. Unknown to them the tarot cards are cursed and they soon start dying based on what their respective cards read. Will they be able to survive and break free from their curse, forms rest of the story.
These PG-13 films with unnecessarily darkly lit set up, with a routine screenplay tend to be terrible and Tarot is no different. There are 7 characters who possess no interesting personality trait and since Haley - Grant are the couple and so the main leads, the story revolves around them. The flashback to the astrologer too is half baked and rather narrated that it barely leaves an impact. The film is predictable from the word go and none of the actors, including Jacob Batalon and Avantika bring anything worthwhile on screen. The film is devoid of entertainment, decent kills and the convenient screenplay makes it for a dull watch.
Sting (2024)
4 days of dull spidey on the hunt.
Charlotte adopts and takes care of a spider which she randomly finds at her apartment. Her stepfather is incharge of the building maintenance and he tries everything to be a dad to her. But Charlotte is too self centered for her own good and despite the growth rate of the spider, she continues to feed it. As pets and residents become the prey, the residents seek out an exterminator but fail to figure out the cause of the problem. What happens when the spider outgrows and so does it hunger? Will Charlotte be able to save herself and her family?
With a bunch of half baked characters and not much backstory to the main characters, the writer-director doesn't offer much to root for Charlotte or her family. There is a bit of family tension and that is restricted to exactly one scene. Not much is revealed about the species of the spider but that was never going to pose an issue in this particular genre. The problem was with the treatment and deliberate scares don't yield any interest in the proceedings. The final act with the girl taking over barely entertains and the predictable ending was no surprise. I am going with the lenient rating for the atmosphere and the creature effects.
Crew (2024)
Fails to entertain!
Geeta, Jasmine and Divya are flight attendants at Kohinoor airlines and it announces bankruptcy. Geeta is supporting her husband in his food delivery business as well as her brother's family. Jasmine is happy to fake a luxurious life and only cares for her grandfather. Divya is trained to be a pilot but to her bad luck, she ends up working as a flight attendant and has an education loan she struggles to pay back. What happens when the trio find a dead senior flight attendant to be a gold smuggler? Will the easy money blind them entirely or will they see the big picture and fight for justice of their own, forms rest of the story.
The strength of the film however are it's three main leads - Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Kriti Sanon, infact the seniors dominate Kriti throughout. The comic timing they bring in elevates the scenes and it has a passable first half. It is the second half where the film gets derailed with it's own sense of justice and payback. The writing goes haywire here, taking way too much liberties which only leaves the trio nothing to carry on. They still remain in form till the end and the screenplay failing to support the actors is quite evident. If the film focused entirely on the gold smuggling and them escaping the customs, it would've worked better. Instead it turns the characters righteous and their flight goes downhill.
Atlas (2024)
Peace to the fallen and a lollipop.
Atlas Shepherd is a goddamn analyst and not a soldier. She distrusts AI when they are human's ally as well as main enemy. Atlas wants Harlan, an AI turned terrorist dead because of the mayhem he had caused. After capturing and interrogating agent Casca, she learns about Harlan's current location which is an another planet and when the mission to capture Harlan goes south with the bunch of rangers killed and their ship captured. It is upto Atlas to overcome her distrust and sync with her AI partner Smith to figure out how to stop Harlan on time.
For this feeble done to death story about AI trying to take over earth with a sinister plan of wiping out half the population in order to save humanity, there isn't much to expect out of the script. Then problem is how dull the screenplay is and mainly how it is devoid of any sort of entertainment. The banter between Atlas and Smith should've somewhat saved the film but except for the lollipop line, nothing else works. The vfx is sub par and the poor dialogues doesn't help JLo and rest of the actors much. With a 2hr runtime, the story drags on with the predictable twists and the unimaginative action blocks.
Ordinary Angels (2024)
The ordinary angels around us.
Sharon Stevens is a co-owner of a salon and has a turbulent relationship with her disapproving son which is one of the reason she uses for her alcohol addiction. When she comes across a newspaper article about 5 year old Michelle Schmidt in need of a liver transplant and has just lost her mother, she decides to help out the family. She independently raises fund at her salon in a day but soon realizes that isn't enough. Ed the father has a larger debt due to the hospital bills and his income isn't enough to cut it. How she helps out the family in order to save the girl's life and even help herself with repairing the relationship with her son, forms rest of the story.
Based on the true events that occurred in 1994, Ordinary Angels is a straight forward tale of the triumph of humanity when people come together to help each other out. With Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson leading from the front, ably supported by the rest of the cast including a cute Emily Mitchell as Michelle, Ordinary Angels succeeds in narrating a near 2hr story of one family facing the crisis with a committed Sharon being their angel. The old school narrative here works largely and it is much easier to connect with the family's situation. I always look forward to some of the real life footages during the end credits and that made this extra special.
Ordinary People (1980)
A Masterpiece!
Calvin Jarrett is trying his best to understand his son Conrad as well as his wife Beth. Ever since they lost their elder son Buck at a tragic sailing accident, the negative impact of it pushed Conrad to take an extreme step. As Conrad and Beth grow distant in handling their grief, it is Calvin who tries to hold it together. Conrad tries to get help from a psychiatrist Dr. Berger as he is failing to have a social life and let anyone into his life. How this family copes up with the aftermath of a tragedy that struck them and how Conrad finds the help he desperately needs, forms rest of the story.
Robert Redford's direction, Alvin Sargent's screenplay based on a novel and ofcourse the strong performances by the four main characters, justify why this film won the Oscar so deservingly. It's a character study and how! Hats off to Judd Hirsch for playing Dr. Berger so exceptionally well. Those therapy sessions with Conrad were simply terrific and leave a lasting impact. Then there is Calvin and Beth where I was surprised that how these characters were dealt with. There were no good and bad people here, the way Beth behaves post the loss of Buck is also presented in such a mature manner. Individuals deal with their grief differently and it is never meant to be easy or even fair, which the film supremely establishes. I would definitely recommend this as one of the most important films on mental health and it shouldn't be missed.