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Mumbai Saga (2021)
"Aaj se Mumbai tera ja Raaj kar"
Mumbai Saga is a Hindi action crime film by director Sanjay Gupta. As the name suggests the movie takes us through the saga that unfolded in the '80s and early '90s in Mumbai or what it was called then Bombay. The movie primarily focuses on Amartya Rao (John Abraham). Amartya lives a simple life and earns his living as a fruit and vegetable vendor. Vendors like him are often extorted by the local mob, choosing not to engage with the miscreants Amartya usually turns a blind eye and obliges with their demands. However, he is forced to take action against them when his younger brother is victimized by their harmful acts. After fending off a high-powered gangster and his goons, Amartya finds himself in power with the support of a local leader Bhau (Mahesh Manjrekar) who in his own words tells Amratya "Aaj se Mumbai tera ja Raaj kar" (From today Mumbai is yours, go rule). With Bhau's blessings he does go on to rule Mumbai for years, but a different type of storm is about to hit him with the advent of Inspector Vijay Sarvarkar (Emraan Hashmi), who will stop at no end to bring him to justice.
The age-old story of rags-to-riches is now quite ubiquitous and well known. So, any movie created with that backdrop needs to rely on different aspects than the story to make the movie successful. One of these Mumbai Saga prevails in its screenwriting. The dialogues are written amazingly well and are equally matched by the actors for their delivery. The background score and music was well created and surely outmatches other films, at least in the Indian Entertainment Ecosystem. On the acting front Manjrekar and Amol Gupte, the initial antagonist, both do a great job, Emraan Hashmi is rarely seen in the type of role he ends up playing in Mumbai Saga but he too plays his character amazingly well. Lastly, Sunil Shetty graces the screen nonetheless with a short cameo, but he does that amazingly as well.
While I have praised the creation of the music and score, in fairness it was disappointingly placed in the movie. Often overdoing it in many places, with the use of slow-motion which ultimately ends up being annoying by the end of the film. John Abraham does his fight sequences greatly but his acting is bland. Prateik Babbar may not have been the best casting choice for Amratya's younger brother. The film is fairly predictable and lacks any surprises. Finally, the end of the film suggests that the movie is somewhat of a biography, but it is far from it with loads of fictional characters with further fictionalized scenes.
In conclusion, Mumbai Saga is nothing new or innovative for Indian audiences. There is a lot the movie could have done but don't. If you love Indian action movies this surely won't disappoint. For others, if you like to watch a movie with depth and a good story, passing on this one won't be the worst idea.
Acting- 7.5
Casting- 7
Cinematography- 8
Dialogue- 8.5
Directing- 8
Editing & Effects- 5
Sound & Music- 7.5
Story- 7.5
Storytelling- 6
Rating- 6
Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi (2019)
Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi(2021)- Review
Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi is a drama-comedy directed by Seema Pahwa. It starts with Ramprasad's (Naseeruddin Shah) demise and his family having to come and live under the same roof to perform all the Hindu rituals within the 13-day mandatory period that they need to stay for. Ramprasad & his wife (Supriya Pathak) have a big family with 6 children their spouses, their children, and a lot many close relatives. While the task of staying and showing their respect sounds simple enough the enormity of the family and the friction among some of the members, the task is going to be nowhere near easy. The movie tries to showcase the familial bonding that one share's, even after having some dicey moments with their loved ones, and aims to do so with few comic scenes here and there.
In the modern hustle & bustle of urban life modern families often share a not so great relationship with their family. While this has come to be in recent times it is nothing as showcased in this new era of Indian entertainment, that blatantly try to make the characters and storylines ultra-modern with way too fictionalized & often pretentious content. The movie tries to break this norm and show the real picture of the Asian culture, or at the least Indian culture of modern times. The film's script is bold and tries to address the reality/change that has come about in people's social life with elements of gossip, envy, selfishness, etc. While the script has successfully done its purpose, other aspects of the movie don't do a good job upholding the creativity of the script. The casting department should be acknowledged to bring a cohort of people who have at many times been seen in successful movies playing supporting actors portraying comic roles.
While this usually works out in a movie's advantage, the culmination of so many actors with ample comedic prowess ultimately makes a mess of it. Such movies, where humorous situations are created while acknowledging the dire situation that has come about, often have the drama circumventing around the comedy displayed. But here it is the opposite with comedy playing second fiddle to grim scenes. Not that such movies are not good, but with the actors cast everyone watching this film would expect to feature a good bit of comedy. While Supriya Pathak does a satisfactory job her efforts are overseen due to the unsatisfactory output of other cast members.
The only thing done well in the movie is the authenticity and meticulous choice of the set. It is not a film that will be on peoples mouth's for long, if at all. All types of audiences will be disappointed no matter how low an expectation one keeps. It is not a must-watch and at best a movie that could be chosen when you are bored and limited for choices.
Acting- 6.5
Casting- 7
Cinematography- 8
Dialogue- 7
Directing- 8
Editing & Effects- 6
Sound & Music- 5
Story- 8.5
Storytelling- 4.5
Rating- 5.5
The White Tiger (2021)
The White Tiger(2021)- Review
The White Tiger is a drama film based on the book by Aravind Adiga of the same name. It is a story about Balram Halwai (Adarsh Gourav). Balram is born in a humble family with very few means or as stated in the movie in a 'Lower-Caste' family. Despite studying in a village he has quickly grasped the English language and envisions to study further and be a well-educated man unlike his family and this dream is further propelled when he is told he shall be given a scholarship to study in Delhi. But his fate had a different plan altogether. After his father's untimely demise he is forced to leave school and start working to pay off his family's debt. As time passes his dream of being educated stays a dream nowhere near his reality. Tired and fed up of his life in the village he wishes to step up the ladder by working in the city. The perfect opportunity comes along the way when he learns. Ashok (Rajkummar Rao the son of the village's landlord is on the lookout for a new driver. Ashok has just returned to India from The United States with his wife Pinky (Priyanka Chopra Jones), he has modern ideologies and evolved thinking unlike his father & brother, whom he constantly questions and asks to look beyond the caste system in India. With his wit and smart thinking he gets his wish and is hired as the driver for Ashok and his wife. Initially disappointed he finds his joy after the couple relocate to Delhi. Balram is happy and feels satisfied and creates a bond with his 'masters' who treat him with respect unlike others. While he believes he has achieved it all, earning fancily & doing a job none of his villagers could do, Pinky encourages him to be ambitious and reckons he can go much further in his life. Stubborn Balram continues to believe this is his destiny and serves his employers. But after that with a few unfortunate turn of events Balram realises he will no longer be a puppet in the hands of destiny and takes control of his fate. All this is showcased in the backdrop, narrated by Balram a successful entrepreneur, via his letters to the Chinese premier.
Ramin Bahrani has tried to create a film that can aptly portray the life & brutal reality of the sect of people who are mostly ignored. While he adapts the story from the book, he has done a good job writing the screenplay and an even better job directing the movie with a great outcome. The location setting and cinematography is also quite accurate giving the essence of the lifestyle of people from humble beginnings. The story is kept pretty much to the point and acted out at amazingly by Gourav and at a satisfactory level by Rao & Chopra Jonas.
While both the well acclaimed actors do a good job it is quite bizarre to see the two flaunting western accents, at least for Indian audiences who have seen the two in numerous Bollywood movies. If the two characters were played out by lesser known actors it could have been more enjoyable. The narrative style seems pointless and does not seem to add any value. With the narration a good anticipation is build that is expected to showcase Balram's rags to riches story, but the end is a let-down and even feels anticlimactic.
The end of the movie may not live up to standards but the rest is assuredly enjoyable and can be pleasant watch for most audiences. The movie can be disappointing but the story displayed is near perfect. It won't be the next Slumdog Millionaire (2008) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/) nonetheless it is a delightful watch.
Acting- 8
Casting- 6.5
Cinematography- 9
Dialogue- 8
Directing- 9
Editing & Effects- 8
Sound & Music- 8
Story- 9
Storytelling- 7
Rating- 8
https://thecouchreview-tcr.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-white-tiger2021-review.html
12 Angry Men (1957)
12 Angry Men(1957)- Review
12 Angry Men is a courtroom drama displaying deliberations, as its name suggests, by 12 men who are part of a jury and have to make a consensual decision about an 18 year old boy who has allegedly stabbed his father to death and faces a death penalty. The boy does not come from a glorious background and with his violent past everyone quickly forms a judgment of him. Initially seeming an open & shut case with all evidence pointing fingers to the boy, all jurors unhesitatingly vote guilty in a preliminary vote apart from one, Juror 8 (Henry Fonda). While he too doesn't have very high regards for the boy, but believes the evidence collected can be questioned when thoroughly studied. With this he feels there is a reasonable doubt to the boy's involvement to the horrendous act. Other jurors already having made a conclusion in their mind initially get agitated by Juror 8 who is taking an opposite position to the general public & all the jurors. Without all jurors agreeing a verdict cannot be declared so they need to continue their deliberation, this fact adds to all the other jurors' frustration. The movie till the end displays the whole deliberation among the 12 men and Juror 8 trying to make the others realise that there is a faintest doubt if not a strong one.
The movie may be made decades ago but still does not fail to capture the attention of any viewer be it of any generation. It is a brilliant production devising which would have required an exceptional mind. With only one location setting and majorly showing only the 12 men for almost the whole of the movie, might have initially caused ridicule in the ideation stage, but that concept of a single setting and just a little more than a handful of actors is what makes the film so amazing. The story/case is surely not the most expansive but with Fonda and the other actors gives a different depth which no one could have anticipated. The dialogues fairly well written keeping it precise and very much to the point.
Some viewers may be discouraged with it being a black & white film, through the start that is a little uncomfortable but after a while you won't even realise it. Having been made in the 1950's it is a rarity to see a film having a run time under 100 minutes.
There are very few if any aspects that can be deemed disappointing. 12 Angry Men is a must watch for everyone, it may be an old classic but its content is relevant even today.
Acting- 8.5
Casting- 8.5
Cinematography- 8
Dialogue- 9
Directing- 9
Editing & Effects- N/A
Sound & Music- N/A
Story- 8
Storytelling- 9
Rating- 9.5
Section 375 (2019)
Section 375(2019)- Review
Section 375 is a courtroom drama based on, as its name suggests, the section 375 of the Indian Penal Code. The film focuses on a well-known film director Rohan Khurana (Rahul Bhat) who comes to the infamous center stage when one of his subordinates Anjali Dangle (Meera Chopra), an assistant costume designer for his movies, accuses him of rape. Dejected and felling like a victim himself Khurana sees his reputation tarnished leading to a downfall in his personal & professional life while he is arrested and in jail. While in the court of public opinion he is already convicted, senior criminal barrister Tarun Saluja (Akshaye Khanna) still accepts to be his lawyer. Though his task won't be easy with Hiral Gandhi (Richa Chadda), once his trainee, now the prosecutor and defence barrister of the claimed victim. The film takes us through the events of this case in and out of the courtroom with both counsellors trying their best to prove their client's innocence.
In India the court has not always been seen as the place anyone gets justice so there have been very few films in the genre. These have only been successful mostly because they were inspired by specific cases, talking of Rustom & Jolly LLB's first instalment. Without a support of a critical story of real life, this film's writers have a done a great job fictionalizing the story with vey intricate detail and effort, which can compel anyone to believe that it is based on a specific true story. Khanna does a commendable job portraying the defending lawyer. Chopra & Bhat also give convincing performances of the accuser and the accused. Ajay Bahl doesn't make any overt mistakes in his directing that can trouble the movie. Lastly, the two lawyers' protégé-master relationship gives a good dynamic to the characters and plays out very well on screen.
However, Chadda does not live up to expectation and nowhere near the performance as given by her counterpart. The movie obviously tries to force the viewer to take a side, not maintaining a neutrality, maybe for better viewer experience but that might trouble a few viewers. There is also a series of scenes depicting the different events that may have been possible, not every scenario needed to be in as much detail as shown, but the primary one.
The film is created at a time when there is a good stir about the topic across the globe which keeps the viewer interested in the film having the relevance showing the sign of the times. It is neither a stellar movie nor having a well touted star cast but would still come in the checklist of better movies created in the genre.
Acting- 8.5
Casting- 8
Cinematography- 8
Dialogue- 7
Directing- 8
Editing & Effects- 7
Sound & Music- 8
Story- 9
Storytelling- 8.5
Rating- 8.5
We Can Be Heroes (2020)
We can be Heroes(2020)- Review
We can be Heroes is a superhero film, a standalone sequel to The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl (2005). In a world that is protected by superheroes 'Heroics Program', Missy Moreno (YaYa Gosselin) is a quiet & introvert girl who likes to be in the shadows, her father Marcus Moreno (Pedro Pascal) once the leader of all the heroes, now stays low and away from being a hero as he has promised to Missy to do so. On a dreary morning earth is attacked by aliens much powerful than all the heroes combined. To fight them Marcus has to break his promise and pick up his sword once again. But to no avail he along with all the heroes are captured by the aliens. Meanwhile before Marcus goes to the battleground Missy is transported to the Heroics Headquarters where she is kept with children of other heroes, they are children but all with their own set of superpowers, unlike Missy who doesn't have any. The Heroics program is headed by Ms. Granada (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) who orders the 'super kids' to stay put in the headquarters as their parents have been captured. With the defenders of earth now fallen it is up to their kids to save their world from an alien takeover.
The movie even with its rudimentary plot is still able to throw a few surprises no viewer would be expecting. The post-production work is not great but at a satisfactory level one would expect from a movie where people fly. As far as positives go that's about it.
Priyanka Chopra Jones starts off bad and gets even worse as the film continues. It is unclear what the target audience of the movie is with it trying to emulate a few aspects of the MCU and at the same time displaying a juvenile storyline with even more childish scenes. Robert Rodriguez doesn't do anything worthy of mentioning. The story reminds the viewer of Sky High (2005) with a couple of its sub-plots. The background score too was abysmal & unnecessary. With great performances in the recent past, even Pedro Pascal can't make the movie remotely worthwhile to watching.
Netflix most certainly would have better projects to put its resources into but it is still went on to make this, who know why. We can be Heroes is one of the worst way to spend your well-awaited evening of enjoyment. No one should waste their time watching this awful production. If you stare at the wall for two hours it will still be better use of time than watching this movie.
Acting- 4
Casting- 5
Cinematography- 6
Dialogue- 4.5
Directing- 5
Editing & Effects- 6.5
Sound & Music- 3
Story- 3
Storytelling- 5.5
Rating- 4
Rush (2013)
Rush(2013)- Review
Rush is a biographical sports film focussing on the 1976 Formula 1 Season and James Hunt & Nikki Lauda in particular. Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) is a hot headed, buoyant, playboy British driver, while Lauda (Daniel Brühl) is a calm, intellectual, meticulous Austrian. The two initially cross paths in the formative years of their driving careers, in Formula 3. A minor incident during the London race of the 1970 Formula 3 season depicts the beginning of the fierce rivalry that was going to culminate in the coming years. Having gained experience in the lower tier of the motor sport, both the drivers wish to be in a Formula 1 car and on the top step of the podium. But this isn't an easy task and will require getting rid of multiple speed breakers along the way. Both the drivers overcome their individual challenges and start their journey in F1. The 1976 season starts and the two are pegged to be the only major title contenders. The film then showcases the build-up to the famous rivalry, their personal lives and the big story that was to become on the race track, all during the 1976 F1 season.
Biographies often take their set of artistic liberties to keep the story interesting, but the real story of Rush gives the impression of an exciting & interesting story by itself. So, the screenplay does not deviate much from the reality and as always Peter Morgan's writing is as raw as possible. Ron Howard has surely put laudatory efforts in giving an amazing output. The films cinematography also needs to be appreciated keeping in mind it is not a simple task to portray speedy cars and make it look entertaining at the same time. With Hans Zimmer's music the soundtrack gives a certain level of profundity to the story. Hemsworth and Brühl too, give some amazing on-screen moments portraying the real life characters.
Continuing on the music it is most certainly amazing but maintains a level of tempo & atmosphere across the whole film. Varying it during scenes depicting different emotions could have made the movie more enjoyable. Sticking to the reality the film shows almost all main parts, but chooses to keep away from a few sub-stories. They could have slightly stretched out the film to include those too.
Nonetheless its positives heavily outweigh the negatives. It surely deserves all the nominations it has received. If you are a sports lover or are into biographies it's a must-watch, if not still do give it a shot it will still be worth your time.
Acting- 9
Casting- 9.5
Cinematography- 9
Dialogue- 7.5
Directing- 9
Editing & Effects- 7
Sound & Music- 9
Story- 9
Storytelling- 9
Rating- 9
Queen (2013)
Queen(2013)- Review
Queen is a comedy drama film starring Kangana Ranaut as the lead, who plays the role of Rani Mehra. Rani is a timid & shy girl living in Delhi with her parents. During her college days she falls in love with Vijay (Rajkummar Rao) and is to marry him in a big Indian wedding. The story kicks off when Vijay, on the eve of their wedding day, informs Rani that he has had a change of heart and thinks they are not right for each other. Dejected and heartbroken Rani feels she should build up the courage to be independent and bold rather than being helpless and reliant. With this epiphany she asks her parents to let her go by herself on the pre-planned honeymoon she was supposed to go with Vijay. Hesitant & scared her parents allow her to go. Rani starts her journey in Paris where she meets Vijayalakshmi (Lisa Haydon) a free spirited single mother. Alien to the European ethos initially she gets astounded by the city and its culture, but with a few passing days she gets comfortable and starts enjoying her solo trip, with the next stop at Amsterdam. The film carries on till the end in similar fashion with Rani trying fresh experiences, making new friends & creating life long memories all of which helps her find her own individuality and become a liberated women of the 21st century.
The storyline is quite ever-present in the west but it is rarely culminated in the Indian landscape, that too with a female leading the screen. Kangana Ranaut may not be liked by everyone, but her portrayal of Rani will be delightful for every kind of a viewer. Rao & Hayden too do a satisfactory job in supporting roles. Vikas Bahl's direction is spot on and meets all expectations. Unlike other Indian films, Queen's soundtrack fits perfectly and adds depth to the story.
There isn't very much that is disappointing. But to cherry pick a couple of aspects, with dead right cinematography and location setting the movie displays a very archetypal European setting. Not that that's a bad thing but they could have been bold and added a modern element to it too. Adding on there are a few scenes were the dialogues are a bit shaky which could have been written better.
In conclusion, Queen has a handful of errors that too don't affect the viewer experience in a slightest way. It is a must-watch for all audiences and will be a wonderful watch for everyone.
Acting- 9
Casting- 9.5
Cinematography- 9
Dialogue- 7.5
Directing- 9
Editing & Effects- 7
Sound & Music- 9
Story- 9
Storytelling- 9
Rating- 9
AK vs AK (2020)
AK vs AK(2020)- Review
AK vs AK is a Netflix film starring Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap, playing themselves as the title characters. The film begins with displaying a celebrity feud between the two "AK's" that has been boiling for years. The story then kicks in when Kashyap develops an idea for a film/documentary where Kapoor's daughter Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, needless to say played by herself, is kidnapped on his birthday and he needs to find her before the sunrise of the coming morning. Kapoor's quest to find his kidnapped daughter will be filmed by Kashyap, and he'll need to follow a few instructions as laid out by Kashyap. The film runs through Kapoor's attempts & pursuit trying to fulfil the story/film as devised by Kashyap. But it won't be a cakewalk as planned with a few surprise curveballs & speed breakers that come along the way.
The story seems rudimentary with a simple kidnapping story unravelling, but it quite far from being a simple kidnaping movie. The movie brings out its distinctive with an unusual display of the story giving a documentary/reality vibe to it. The characters playing themselves feel very candid and take the viewers through a wild ride of making them guess between reality & fiction. Vikramaditya Motwane needs to be commended for his direction which would have taken enormous effort in the attempt to keep the on-screen output as raw as possible. Devising the movie story would have given more than a few headaches to the writers & Anurag Kashyap. Kashyap is initially wobbly with his acting and feels to go out of character, but by the end of the film balances out his early shortcomings and gives a more than satisfactory performance one would expect from a non-actor.
Anil Kapoor the actor of the duo gives a feeling of over acting in many scenes particularly when sharing the screen with his non-actor cast partner, which they do for the huge chunk of the movie. When the story boils up to a point, it spills with a predictable climax. The film could have been shortened with careful thought to a few scenes. The dialogues are kept to seem as authentic as possible but due to the nature of them may upset an older audience.
If I had to give one word to describe the film it would be 'Unique', it is a bold production which many would have avoided, but it didn't stymie Netflix. There is a scarcity of such art films, if it can be called that, in the Indian landscape. It could have backfired but works out well with the creative prowess of both the leads. It is surely not a film that will be the toast of the town for long, but it can pave way for a new era of Indian entertainment, and could be remembered to be a pioneer for that. It is not a must-watch, but I would recommend to not miss out on it if you have chance.
Acting- 8.5
Casting- 9.5
Cinematography- 9
Dialogue- 8
Directing- 9
Editing & Effects- 7.5
Sound & Music- 7.5
Story- 8.5
Storytelling- 9.5
Rating- 8
Suits (2011)
Suits(2011-2019)- Review
Suits is a legal drama, primarily showcasing a law firm (initially Pearson Hardman), its workings and the stories few of few of its executives. It would have been a very much alike to the ubiquitous TV shows' on lawyers/law firms, but Suits brings together a curl to the high flying lifestyle of lawyers, or as has been showcased on the screen. Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) is nothing short of a genius with his brilliant mind and photographic memory, but due to his unimpressive history in his previous years has stymied him in achieving his dream from becoming a lawyer. To make ends meet he takes on a few jobs whose legality can be questioned. When one of these jobs takes a dark turn, and Mike trying to fend off the police of his shoulder, serendipitously runs into Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht). Harvey is interviewing candidates for his firm. Harvey extremely impressed by Mike offers him the job despite knowing that he does not have a law degree. The basic premise of the story works on this with Mike & Harvey trying to keep Mike's identity a secret, along with taking on difficult cases and trying to find solutions in unconventional ways.
Creator & writer Aaron Korsh doesn't disappoint much throughout the series, with well thought of stories & scenarios. Gabriel Macht does an amazing job portraying an uptown playboy-esque New York lawyer. Patrick J. Adams too does a good enough job, but sometimes does not meet the high standards set by Macht. Other members of the main cast should also be appreciated for their efforts, particularly Sarah Rafferty as Donna Paulsen & Rick Hoffman as Louis Litt. The music and background score is satisfying and gives a bit of excitement which works in the series' advantage when some episodes' story is not good enough. Direction & Cinematography too does not fetch too many complaints.
The series runs for 9 seasons and by the end feels stretched out lacking much depth. It would have been better if they would have taken the Breaking Bad route of limiting the seasons. Initially the cast remains standard across seasons with a few additions here and there, but by the end it's a jumbled up cast with a few original members and additions, who too are changed time and again, which is not always received well by the viewers. Story-wise it is plausible and remains to the point, but by the end it lacks quality, as it is being tried to be overextended. For a legal series if a few more storylines/scenes would have been based in the courtroom like Boston Legal it could have been better.
It kicks off with a bang but by the end loses its touch, but it is surely entertaining throughout even with its flaws. If you choose to see only the first 7 seasons, it would not be the worst idea. It can be boring for people who are not much interested in business/corporates type of genres, but if you are into it it's a must watch.
Acting- 8.5
Casting- 8.5
Cinematography- 9
Dialogue- 8
Directing- 8.5
Editing & Effects- 7.5
Sound & Music- 9
Story- 8
Storytelling- 8.5
Rating- 8.5
Coolie No.1 (2020)
Coolie No. 1(2020)- Review
Coolie No. 1 (2020) is a comedy film, remake of the 1995 film Coolie No. 1 starring Govinda and Karisma Kapoor in the lead roles. It starts with Jeffery Rozario (Paresh Rawal) who wishes to marry his daughter, his only criteria is choosing a boy who is extremely wealthy. Soon he gets acquainted with Kunwar Raj Pratap Singh (Varun Dhawan), who is a billionaire, has a slew of cars, and dines with famous cricketers & film stars and has phone calls with Trump & Modi. Sounds way too good to be true right? That is because it isn't remotely true. Kunwar Raj Pratap Singh is in reality Raju a coolie. In order to get married to Jeffery's daughter Sarah (Sara Ali Khan), Raju is portraying the persona of being ultra-rich, after he is convinced by pundit Jai Kishan (Javed Jaffrey) to do so if he wishes to marry Sarah. Jai Kishan has an ulterior motive of bringing the pride of Jeffery, after he was balefully insulted by him. Raju, in trying to keep up the ruse of being rich gets tied down in his own spiral of lies, which creates supposedly funny situations.
The story is what one would expect, not logical but giving out hilarious content. At the core of it, it mimics the original film with a few variations applying modern touches to it. Varun Dhawan puts good effort in his portrayal of Raju, but it seems too much effort as at times it feels like he is over acting. Due to Dhawan's similar acting style across most of his movies, the character of Raju & its portrayal seem very much like the main character played by Dhawan in 'Main Tera Hero (2014)'. Raju's recurring mimicry of famous actors & dialogues can get annoying after a point of time. The film surely tries to cast actors famed because of their comical prowess namely Paresh Rawal, Javed Jaffrey, Rajpal Yadav & Johnny Lever, but even with these, the film does not meet the expectations of the viewers. Particularly Jaffery's portrayal of Jai Kishan & him being casted in that role can be questioned.
From time to time Bollywood has proved movies can be funnier even with its absurd & illogical story line, but this movie's story is not even remotely backed by a funny movie to the level one would expect. The fight scenes seem redundant and unnecessary with the story line. The soundtrack has a good set of artists creating it with fairly good songs, but the songs seem forced in the context of the movie and try to stretch the movie for no apparent reason. The movie does not even give time to build up to the story or get familiar with the characters, rather delves directly in it within a few scenes.
Overall the movie isn't extraordinary or indulging. No one would see anything different from similar types of existing movies. You will not miss out on much or actually anything if choose not to watch the film. The movie is at most worthy of your sparest of spare times, surely not one for which you should be making time for.
Acting- 6
Casting- 6.5
Cinematography- 8
Dialogue- 6
Directing- 7.5
Editing & Effects- 6
Sound & Music- 7.5
Story- 4
Storytelling- 4
Rating- 5.5
House M.D. (2004)
House(2004-2012)- Review
House (previously called House, M.D.) is a medical drama that centers around Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), he is an exceptional & brilliant doctor running the diagnostics department at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. What he makes up in medicinal prowess is undone by his lack of social skills and carefree nature. He has a reputation of being erratic, unpredictable and extremely hard to work with. As his diagnostic skills & unconventional treatment methods which more often than not successful, are outmatched by most of his peers, the hospital has no option but to have him if they want to have a diagnostics department. The hospital administrator and Dean of Medicine, and long-time friend of House Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), is the only person that can keep him in check, and only person that can tolerate him as a subordinate. House's only friend is Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), head of the Department of Oncology. Throughout the series House and his team come across several cases that are not yet diagnosed. They try to find the diagnosis and ultimately its cure. Under the instructions of House his team too is made to engage in unconventional methods, which leads them to sometimes cross legal/ethical/moral lines, due to it he and his team often find themselves in a conflict with other doctors at the hospital, mainly Dr. Lisa Cuddy.
The unique & peculiar character of House, miles away from what one would expect from a doctor, makes the series fascinating. The story writers keep the as much in line with reality as they can, flouting a medical jargon here and there, but does not make it too complicated for the viewer to not understand and become disinterested. Hugh Laurie's portrayal of House is what to keeps the show together across its 8 seasons. The detective-esque way in which he and his team try to find a solution is pretty enjoyable, and surely one of a kind considering its doctors trying to find the 'mystery', and not a cop/detective as we are used to seeing.
The reshuffling of the cast can be annoying as it is done far too many times and the connection the viewers have made with the characters. It can seem exhausting to watch the full series with 8 seasons and 24 episodes in almost all the seasons, but it would not feel boring at any point. The uniqueness of the character of House majorly works in favor of the series as mentioned above, but sometimes it feels way too unusual borderline illogical for any kind of character, let alone a doctor.
House certainly has its set of shortfalls but it is still enjoyable with a distinctive storyline. House does not attach to many relationships, but it is appeasing to see the only one that he maintains, with Wilson. All in all it is not a show that will make you glued to the screen, but at the same time it won't be boring if you choose to watch it.
Acting- 8
Casting- 8
Cinematography- 9
Dialogue- 8
Directing- 8.5
Editing & Effects- 8
Sound & Music- 7.5
Story- 8.5
Storytelling- 7.5
Rating- 8.5
Unpaused (2020)
Unpaused(2020)- Review
Unpaused is an anthology film consisting five different segments of different stories.
The first one, Glitch, set in the future where the world has transformed owing to Covid-19 and its variations like Covid-22/Covid-30 (referring to the year of the new virus' inception). It tries to imagine what the world could be like if this dreaded virus stays with us for a long time. It primarily focuses on two young adults trying to kindle their relationship in this new AR/VR world. Ahan (Gulshan Devaiah) is paranoid & fearful or hypo (possibly meaning hypochondriac) as people like him are referred to. On the contrary Alizah (Saiyami Kher) is a brave and bold women. Initially puzzled by how they were matched by the dating app dislike each other, but with time a love story follows. Unlike the old times, religion/family/society type of issues are not hindrances that stop the romantic 'happy ending' for the couple, but new type of challenges that ensue with evolution of a technology & Covid driven world.
The second segment is The Apartment in which Devika (Richa Chadda), who runs a successful magazine, finds herself being lonely in the current locked down world, and is depressed with issues that have come in her personal life due to her husband Sahil (Sumeet Vyas). Devika ready to give up, is continuously troubled by Chirag (Ishwak Singh) her new neighbour from downstairs, or so she was told.
The following segment, Rat-a-tat showcases a grumpy widowed retired singer Archana (Lillete Dubey), who is not liked by many, and Priyanka (Rinku Rajguru) a production assistant struggling in these Covid times. It shows how the two women befriend & help each other out, in an emotional yet entertaining manner.
Vishanu, the fourth segment, portrays the hardships & the brutal truths faced by the not so fortunate section of a society in a developing nation like India. Manish (Abhishek Banerjee) a daily worker, with his family is finding it hard to survive with rare work opportunities and no place to live. He finds a short term fix for his sheltering his family, but with meagre savings to live on wishes to return back to his village, but faces the million dollar question as many people did, how?
The concluding segment Chand Mubarak follows the story of an old spinster Uma's (Ratna Pathak Shah) unconventional bond with auto rickshaw driver Rafique (Shardul Bharadwaj), after she befriends him on a spontaneous trip to the medical store late one night, in the abnormally quiet streets of Mumbai.
The distinctive stories are amazingly well thought of and brilliantly portrayed by the individual directors. What makes it an emotional and heart-warming watch, is the precision with which the brutal and almost accurate realities faced by the people in these hard times. The pace of all stories is excruciatingly slow, which most certainly works in the favour of the film. All actors are casted fittingly and act out their individual parts in an entreating fashion. With very few successful or even very few anthology movies created in India, this is a very bold & unique step, rightly taken by Amazon Prime Video.
The movie has a bigger than usual soundtrack, one would expect from a movie consisting five different stories. Songs may not have been need in some of the scenes, where the soundtrack has been fit into. The order of the segments could have been arranged in a better way, seeing as to the first one is set in the future and the ones preceding it are set in the current period. Omission of this segment altogether could also have worked as it felt too distant with the other four stories.
In conclusion, even with its idiosyncrasies the movie is a spectacular watch. It is relatable to the totally of the population, as each & everyone went through that torrid period. By the end of the film one feels a sense of pride and gratitude, reminiscing how we all got through that period. It is a must-watch for everyone.
Acting- 9
Casting- 9.5
Cinematography- 8.5
Dialogue- 7
Directing- 9
Editing & Effects- 8
Sound & Music- 7.5
Story- 8.5
Storytelling- 10
Rating- 9.5
The Princess Switch: Switched Again (2020)
The Princess Switch: Switched Again(2020)- Review
The Princess Switch: Switched Again is a 2020 American Christmas romantic comedy, sequel to The Princess Switch (2018). It continues two years after the ending of its prequel, Stacy (Vanessa Hudgens) being married to Prince Edward (Sam Palladio) is now the Princess of Belgravia and Margaret (Vanessa Hudgens) is to ascend the throne of Montenaro after the death of the king and his successor choosing to abdicate. With the unexpected responsibility bestowed upon her, Margret finds herself in a conundrum and tries to juggle between her personal and her new 'professional' life which leads to Kevin (Nick Sagar) and her splitting up. Stacy and Olivia (Mia Lloyd), Kevin's daughter, are heartbroken seeing this break-up, are trying their best to get them back together. This task is full of difficulties as Margret is fancied by a count/ his childhood friend/ his chief of staff Antonio Rossi (Lachlan Nieboer) who tries to stymie any new developments in Kevin and Margret's relationship. Stacy hoping for them to get back together suggests doing the good ol' switcheroo. But things get complicated with the arrival of Fiona (Vanessa Hudgens), Margret's cousin, who has a switcheroo plan of her own. Needless to say Fiona also resembles Stacy and Fiona.
If you think that the film seems a forced and unnecessary sequel, you are not alone. The film tries to stretch out the story of the original film that too without much thought. Even after keeping very low expectations from the film it is still disappointing. The original film too lacked a good script & screenplay but it still had a little flare to its story which is completely missing here. Vanessa Hudgens tries her best to portray the three different characters, but her efforts do nothing more than make the viewer realise the absurdity of the story. Of course we have seen absurd stories be highly entertaining in the past, but here there are no attempts to make the movie better with other aspects of the movie.
One can hardly make out which side of the Atlantic the fictional country of Montenaro is, with uncanny European accents of the characters and portrayal of American-esque environment in the backdrop. Or even better it may belong to a new fictional continent, who knows. The movie could have been at least named better with something like 'The Queen Switch', in line with the continuation of the story.
In conclusion, the film is a thorough let down and barely entertaining. One would be using their time better doing anything but watching this movie.
Acting- 7
Casting- 7.5
Cinematography- 8
Dialogue- 5.5
Directing- 7
Editing & Effects- 7
Sound & Music- 6
Story- 4
Storytelling- 5
Rating- 5.5
Jawaani Jaaneman (2020)
Jawaani Jaaneman(2020)- Review
Jawaani Jaaneman is comedy-drama film revolving around Jaswinder Singh (Saif Ali Khan) or better known as Jazz. Jazz employs a free going and carefree attitude, and works with his brother (Kumud Mishra) as a property broker in and around London. Jazz is not too big on serious relationships and avoids commitments whenever he can. At night he parties with his close friend Rocky (Chunky Pandey), the pair maybe getting old but their spirits still remain youthful and continue to live the lifestyle they have been accustomed to, into their 40's. Jazz is disinterested in having a traditional 'Indian family-life', and has a slew of one-night stands. Little did he know on one of the several rendezvous with women, he has fathered a child (Alaya Furniturewala), the existence of whom he learns after almost two decades when she comes to London looking to get acquainted with him. Jazz, being in his 40's is barely able to keep up with his womanizer-carefree lifestyle, is dreading the advent of a new problem he finds himself in with a young daughter coming in his life which he didn't know existed, and to make matters worse, is pregnant. In the coming months Jazz tries to juggle between taking care of his daughter, to keep her as a secret to his family, continue living his lifestyle and on top of that being in the middle of an important multi-million pound deal. Jazz trying to manage it all gets into funny and hilarious situations and in the way somehow finds himself.
The story seems quite straightforward and seems to remind the viewer of similar types of sit-com/rom-com's of Hollywood, but it is quite unique as it is able to connect with viewer with multiple Indian twists' to the age old story. The screenplay seems to be well written with the story slowly moving and pacing when needed. Cinematography and location setting is spot on with accurate display, as is to be showcased with the story.
Saif Ali Khan brings a unique style to the character which may not have been there if any other was casted. Alaya Furniturewala debuts with part of Tia & acts it out in fine fashion, but may seem a bit shallow at times, possibly owing to her lack of experience. The movie has an expansive soundtrack, of course in line with Indian movies, but on occasion its inclusion may seem unnecessary. Tabu's entry in the later stages as Ananya, Tia's mother may not sit well with all viewers because of the strange nature of the character.
In conclusion Jawaani Jaaneman makes for an interesting and certainly funny watch, with a few emotional situations now and then. It is surely one of the more logical Indian comedies and would not disappoint viewers of any age.
Acting- 8.5
Casting- 9
Cinematography- 8.5
Dialogue- 7
Directing- 8
Editing & Effects- 7.5
Sound & Music- 7.5
Story- 9
Storytelling- 9
Rating- 8.5
Wonder (2017)
Wonder (2017)- Review
The 21st century has been all about materialistic possessions and the aesthetic value of everything, including humans. On the face of it we may be going with the now accepted notion, but deep inside we feel a sense of shallowness in judging it all from just its exterior. This feeling occupies a tiny space in our heart, of wanting to go beyond what is displayed. Wonder simply reaches out to this deep kept feeling of ours that we have been ignoring.
Wonder is based on the 2012 novel of the same name by R. J. Palacio, which centres around 10-year old August "Auggie" Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) with Treacher Collins syndrome. He is nurtured and loved by his parents (Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson) and an elder sister (Izabela Vidovic), who have home-schooled him, but as he approaches 5th grade they feel he now needs to step out of the well protected bubble his parents have created from him. With a heavy heart and fear they enrol him in Beecher Prep, a private school. Auggie mindful of his peculiarities is himself scared and tries to fit in. Initially he is secluded but then makes a friend or two. The movie follows his attempts to blend in and the issues he and his family face along the bumpy journey which they expect it to be.
The story seems rudimentary but it is unquestionably portrayed in a distinctive way keeping in mind the vision and thought process of R. J. Palacio the writer of the novel it is based on, for which director Stephen Chbosky should receive thorough credit for. In our modern miscommunicated world full of assumptions and expectations, the movie follows a unique method of playing the story through the perspectives of the main characters.
Tremblay's portrayal of Auggie is mere perfect, which is helped by the unbelievable job done by the make-up department. Unless otherwise the viewer informed about, Tremblay playing Auggie, no viewer in a million would guess it is Tremblay under the make-up, such is the job done by the make-up department, which is commended with a deserving Academy Award Nomination. The pairing of Wilson and Roberts as a couple may seem a poor choice, but with their effort in acting mellows all the questions a viewer could have had before viewing the film.
The story could have been stretched out, but the brevity of it works in favour of the film. The film rarely gives any for the viewer to be dissatisfied and keeps us wanting for more. The movie hits the right nerve and brings out the emotions in our heart making us weepy with a smile nonetheless. Wonder can be a great holiday watch for the whole family. If you are feeling down or remotely dejected pick this movie up and it surely going to make you feel better.
Acting- 9
Casting- 9
Cinematography- 8
Dialogue- 7.5
Directing- 9
Editing & Effects- 8
Sound & Music- 8
Story- 8.5
Storytelling- 9
Rating- 9
Special OPS (2020)
Special OPS (2020)- Review
Special Ops is a story about Himmat Singh's(K.K. Menon) quest to find a terrorist who was directly involved with the 2001 Indian Parliamentary attack and at the same time trying to prove his existence to the Indian authorities. With the prologue displayed in the initial scenes, the series kicks off, which is set years after the event in question. In that time Himmat's hair has turned to grey from sombre and he is now heading the government agency he worked for but he has still not been able to find the terrorist nor has he been able to successfully prove his existence. The story continues with Himmat and his team trying to capture the mystery man, all while still trying to prove the existence of whom.
The series follows the now so common sequence of the protagonist reliving his story while retelling it in front of a camera/person. Nonetheless, because of the short amount of information to be shared from the past, the unoriginal storytelling style would not bother the viewer too much. Despite indicating the importance of other characters of Himmat's team to the 'operation' and the story line, it excessively focuses on K.K. Menon's character. It vaguely and quickly introduces the other characters, with diving deep in the 'back/origin story' of only one of the characters Farooq Ali (Karan Tacker) and ignoring the rest for the time being (possibly leaving it to be showcased in the following seasons), which may initially disappoint the viewer.
Acting-wise K.K. Menon's portrayal of Himmat is a class apart which makes the viewer realise the short comings in acting of other cast members. The story is extremely well written and smoothly portrayed. Background score and sound has a huge scope for improvement, nevertheless it does not hamper the viewers experience. The fighting sequences may have gone a little overboard, the inclusion of which too can be questioned.
All in all the series has its set of shortfalls but they are compensated with an engaging story and good directing & cinematography. While viewing Special Ops one may be reminded of celebrated spy characters and Tv shows of the west from James Bond & Jason Bourne to Homeland & Jack Ryan, all with a fair share of 'Indianness' showcased in it.
Acting- 8.5
Casting- 9
Cinematography- 9.5
Dialogue- 8
Directing- 9
Editing & Effects- 7.5
Sound & Music- 6
Story- 9.5
Storytelling- 8.5
Rating- 9
Ford v Ferrari (2019)
Ford v Ferrari (2019)- Review
Ford v Ferrari is drama based on the real story of Ford Motor Company trying to enter the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. The film introduces Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), a former driver who won Le Mans in 1959 & owner of Shelby American a vehicle manufacturing company which he founded after his career as a racing driver was cut short due to medical conditions. Further, we are acquainted with Ken Miles (Christian Bale) a British racing driver and a part-time mechanic. Miles has a reputation of being a hot-head and being hard to work with.
The real story then begins with executives of the Ford Motor Company (FMC) proposing to Henry Ford II of adding a racing division to the company which will be helpful in increasing sales. Ford convinced with his executives' pitch agrees. Rather than build a division from scratch FMC thinks it would be better to acquire an existing racing team. A perfect opportunity presents itself as Ferrari is in the search for a buyer for its distressed company. Positive and hopeful FMC exec's reach out to Enzo Ferrari the owner of Ferrari with a potential deal. Ford expecting a conformation of the deal being completed, is informed Enzo Ferrari, after stalling their deal and using it as a bargaining chip has completed a deal with Fiat. Ford takes this as a betrayal and feels he was wrong done by. Vengeful Ford orders his staff to build a racing division on its own with the sole purpose of beating Ferrari.
Then Shelby is approached by an FMC exec to build a car which is competitive enough to win 'the most prestigious automobile race in the world' & 'Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency', the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Shelby initially not fully convinced, that the level of success can be achieved as visioned by the executives of the FMC, still accepts. Shelby then tries to get Miles on board as its driver. Miles too having the same reservations as Shelby did, is convinced by Shelby to join him. The film continues with the two trying to build a perfect car and win the coveted race. In between there are multiple speed breakers that they need to try and find solutions for.
The film surely keeps the viewer curious with the fascinating real story. Unlike other motor racing movies, this one focuses more on the backend workings of a racing team than the on track excitement of the race, which too is wonderfully depicted in the latter part of the film. The movie could have been christened better, as the title can be misleading from which the viewer may assume the movie to be a portrayal from a neutral point of view, focusing on both Ford as well as Ferrari, which is clearly not the case. For major parts the movie sticks to the real story, but includes a few fictional stories and characters as well, still it does not let down the viewer.
Audiences may have been disappointed when Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt who were initially casted and replaced by Damon and Bale. Still both Damon and Bale do a stellar job in their portrayal of the real life characters. We surely have seen better acting performances from the pair previously, but still this performance does not extract any obvious complaints. The screenplay and dialogue is well rounded with what one would expect from such a movie. Director James Mangold too does a fair job, leaving very less room for disappointment. The post production effects could have done a better job, but maybe was kept mellow considering the time period.
Taking everything into account, Ford vs Ferrari is great watch lacking any areas of disappointment. Motorsport lover or not the movie keeps the viewer interested throughout and surely deserves all the Academy Award nominations it has received.
Acting- 8.5
Casting- 9
Cinematography- 8.5
Dialogue- 8
Directing- 9
Editing & Effects- 7.5
Sound & Music- 7
Story/Plausibility- 8.5
Storytelling- 8.5
Rating- 9
Serious Men (2020)
Serious Men (2020)- Review
Serious Men is yet another attempt by Netflix to create a quality film independent of the traditional production houses, in Hindi for the Indian market as they did with Roma in Mexico. But this film too can be added to the failed attempts list of Netflix.
Serious Men centers around Ayyan Mani (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a smart and intelligent man yet uneducated and by his own accounts unprivileged, and his attempts to make sure his son has all the 'privileges' that he was not fortunate enough to have and make sure his son lives a better life than he did. As simple as the above task seems, Ayyan makes it a little too complicated with a few white lies and rule breaking.
The story lacks depth and is a further reminder that, in the modern era of Indian entertainment films only with renowned actors will still fail if the film doesn't have a good story and a strong screenplay. As has been the case for some time now Nawazuddin's acting is unquestionable which brings life to the character. The film almost accurately depicts the lifestyle and living conditions of families that are not well of in challenging and fast paced cities of modern times. But that's about it as far as compliments to the film go. The film starts of well with a good portrayal and peculiarity of Nawazuddin's character and feels like a unique story building up, but it seems too unique for one's liking and the film loses interest & attention of the viewer about halfway through the movie.
So all things considered you won't be missing out on a lot if you choose to avoid this movie, with better options on Netflix to spend your spare time.
Acting- 7.5
Casting- 6.5
Cinematography- 8
Dialogue- 7.5
Directing- 8.5
Editing & Effects- 6
Sound & Music- 5
Story- 5
Storytelling- 5.5
Rating- 6.5
Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020)
"Lala, Risk Hai to Ishq Hai"
The Sony Liv production, biographical drama based on The Scam: Who Won, who Lost, who Got Away by Sucheta Dalal and Debashish Basu, takes us through the journey of infamous stock trader/businessman Harshad Mehta. The series starts in 1992 at the height of Harshad Mehta's success, with TOI reporter Sucheta Dalal being informed by a whistle-blower about discrepancies in the books of SBI, allegedly due to the actions of Harshad Mehta. With the initial tease of the intriguing story of the 'scam', the series cuts back to the late 70's where a young and unexperienced Harshad Mehta and his family are finding it hard to make ends meet in the city of Mumbai. After displaying the initial struggles of the protagonist the story kicks off with him being introduced to the stock market and trying to learn the tricks of the trade to turn his fortunes around. With the quick and sharp learner he is, Harshad takes no time in acquiring the skills of a seasoned trader and his road to success begins. The story continues and takes the viewer through the wild ride of Harshad Mehta to the very top, we are introduced to multiple characters some friends some foes, we are shown the legal and illegal ways he earned his fortune which caught attention of authorities and indeed journalist Sucheta Dalal and lastly we are acquainted with the exuberant lifestyle he and his family became accustomed to. Then we arrive to 1992, with the incidence depicted in Ep.1, which is the beginning of the end for Harshad Mehta. The story continues with Harshad Mehta trying to prove his innocence and trying to keep a hold of his fortune as the enemies he made while on his path to success come back to bite him.
All in all the series tries to accurately retell the story as it happened, nonetheless while taking some artistic liberties as biographies do. The rags to riches story connects with viewer at a deep level, weather you support or are against Harshad Mehta you sympathize with him. The background score and soundtrack is very well prepared and quite intricately thought of. The lead and supporting cast may have stolen the show but the casting choices were made amazingls well without which even good acting may not have paid off. The structure and sequence of the story may seem unoriginal but the series rarely lacks creativity. Apart from a few ignorable post production mistakes the series keeps the viewer intrigued and interested till the very end.
The series has outmatched every Indian series by a mile and seems like the inception of a new chapter in the Indian online Tv space. When the writers of the show wrote this show they would not have imagined the reception the show (and to some extent even the aforementioned dialogue) has received.
Acting- 9.5
Casting- 9.5
Cinematography- 8.5
Dialogue- 9
Directing- 9
Editing & Effects- 8
Sound & Music- 10
Story/Plausibility- 8.5
Storytelling- 8
Rating- 9.5