shankomac Reviews

Just Mercy (2019)

A decent movie.

[8/10 · 24 April 2021]

The film is based on the memoir Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.

It centers around the systematic racism that has existed in the past and the prejudices that come as a consequence to that racism.

Simple and straightforward story. Acting is good. The runtime felt a tiny bit longer than I would've liked, but nothing disruptive enough to destroy the pacing of the story.

With all of that out of the way, I don't understand the reaction this movie has been getting. I think it's perfectly fine if you don't like the acting or consider the story boring or any other factor that might throw you off. It boils down to personal preference and it's absolutely fine to dislike the movie.

I had read comments talking about how it caters to the left propaganda but at no point did I see any kind of political ideology being pushed into the fray.

If movies that build their story acknowledging racism seem political to you, this movie is not for you.

Addressing social issues is not political. If you feel otherwise, there are more problems with you than the movie.

Dil Bechara (2020)

A movie that will pinch you emotionally.

[8/10 · 24 July 2020]

For what it's worth, this movie is a must-see. This should be the audience's standard for Bollywood. An actor that can connect with such grace. An actor that has an immeasurable impact even while resting in heaven.

Sushant Singh Rajput is no more. This is a sad reality. Something none of us have the courage to come to terms with, but unfortunately have to admit. Not only did we lose an insanely skilled and passionate artist, we also lost a great human being.

But it also raises a question. Would this gigantic response exist if Sushant was still with us? Most of the audience tuned in because of his tragic loss. His death is not just a fault of the broken system and the corrupt elite. It also falls on us, the audience. We prioritize storyless entertainment over quality acting. This doesn't end with Sushant or this movie. The only way to respect the legacy of Sushant is by prioritizing talent over talentless.

Whether it was a suicide or a homicide, regardless, we lost a beautiful soul. This movie is a tribute to his memory. A reminder of the bond we've formed after his tragic demise. It is on us to honor his memory.

The world let you down when you were with us, but you didn't. You exceeded expectations both in life and in death. Rest in peace, Sushant.

13 Reasons Why (2017–2020)

If you are just thinking of watching this, stop after season 1.

[5/10 · 24 August 2019]

Disappointed is all I'll say. People may disagree but this is honestly how I feel about the show.

Season 1 was 9/10 for me. Brilliant season. The shock factor made this show stand out. It felt like a refreshing presentation of not very commonly talked about situations. I do advice a little discretion if you're going through a tough time as it can have negative effects inadvertly. The show should have ended right here, and no one would've complained.

Season 2 is a drag. A very huge dip. It still ties to the main story but draws a lot of different branches, each of which explore the main plot from Season 1. Still watchable.

Little "extra" details ahead: Season 3 is a disaster in my honest opinion and hence you see the earlier 9/10 become a 3/10. I don't want to spoil anything exactly, hence I can't give away precise details. The third season doesn't even feel like 13 Reasons Why. It is so overly obsessed with "who does what" and "who is it" over 12 episodes while contributing contents of character development which doesn't even get utilized in the 13th (finale) episode. There's a new randomly introduced character and that character is supposedly someone the viewer should care for, for some odd reason. They tried character development to impact the viewer's perspective, but I feel like the execution was poor.

Season 4, here we go. Not as big a disaster as Season 3. I've seen people hate it and I totally understand why. The season is weirdly paced. Sometimes it feels dragged, sometimes it feels forced. There's too much unnecessary information again. What started off with the first season has zero relevance to this season, at this point. That being said, I think it's good to see them wrap it up. It could've been worse. Coming out of season 3, I didn't know what to think. But it is not as worse as I imagined it to be. It's still below average in my opinion, but at least they concluded the story without making an even bigger mockery of it. The emotional touch at the end did influence my opinion on the season.

9/10 for the first season. 6/10 for the second season. 2/10 for the third season. 3/10 for the fourth season.

5/10 for the whole 4 seasons.

Dylan (who played Clay) was great throughout the series. Katherine Langford did a really good job with potraying Hannah. Tyler, Justin and Bryce were well acted out too.

The show had a very limited shelf life. The show should've ended with Hannah's story. I think the creators should've acknowledged this simple fact. The story fell apart as the timeline progressed, even though the acting was top notch. It's a shame. Regardless, the first season of the show will always stand out to me. It will always be one of my favourite seasons of any show. Anything after that? I'd probably avoid.

Bharat (2019)

I have just one simple question.

[1/10 · 5 June 2019]

Why? Save your money. Trust me. Please. I'd rather watch the DVD screensaver for 3 hours.

Breaking Bad: Felina (2013) Season 5, Episode 16

I don't know if any show would ever match this conclusion

[10/10 · 31 May 2019]

I always thought Breaking Bad was over hyped until I watched it. IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED IT YET, DO IT NOW. Watch it now! Yes, I am 6 years late. This is perfection. I don't think I've been more involved with a series than this. The character development throughout the series is fantastic. I cared for the story, I cared for the characters and I wondered the outcome. Except for a handful of forced scenes in the series, I don't know if there are any other flaws. This episode was rightfully concluded and literally flawless. That's how you end a brilliant series. I don't know why I chose not to watch this . However, I regret not watching it earlier. Now the only problem I'm left with is what's next. I'm certain that any other series I watch would be based on this standard this show put up. Should be #1 show over here.

Sacred Games (2018–2019)

Not as good as people hyped it

[7/10 · 7 August 2018]

I seriously don't think the amount of violence and sex in the series is justified. At times, it seemed as if the scenes were forcefully included to invite more edgy audience. That being said, I think Nawaz deserves some serious applause for his role. The atmosphere that Nawaz creates around him in all 8 episodes makes me stumble in the thin line between script and reality. I wouldn't mind being occupied with anticipation for the next season.