HEADS OF STATE thrives on a gripping geopolitical premise and Priyanka Chopra’s action-packed role Movie Review: HEADS OF STATE thrives on a gripping geopolitical premise

Star Cast: John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Director: Ilya Naishuller

Heads Of State Movie Review Synopsis: HEADS OF STATE is the story of two country premiers in an unusual situation. In Buñol, Spain, a joint operation of FBI and MI6, headed by Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) fails miserably. Several agents die and even Noel is presumed dead. A few days later, US President Will Derringer (John Cena) and UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) meet in London for a greater cause, concerning clean energy. Both can't stand each other and yet, share the stage for the press meet. Things go South as the media asks about the failed Buñol operation. Will and Sam end up exposing their differences while reacting to the incident. As a damage control measure, it is suggested that Will and Sam should travel together in the Air Force One plane to the G20 conference to be held in Trieste, Italy and also wave before boarding the flight. They hope that it would indicate to the press that all is well. The plan is put in motion and the flight takes off. Mid-air, an attempt is made to finish off both Will and Sam and crash the plane. Will and Sam jump off the plane using the last two parachutes. The Air Force One plane crashes in the forest of Belarus. Meanwhile, news spreads that Will and Sam are dead though in reality, they survive. They realize that those who tried to kill them should not know that they are alive. As a result, they destroy their phones and they attempt hitchhiking a ride to a safehouse in Warsaw, Poland. The journey won't be easy for several reasons. Will and Sam despise each other. Secondly, both are the most recognizable faces on the planet and hence, their identity can be known and publicized anytime. Lastly, the ones who tried to bring the plane down are still lurking around. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Heads Of State Movie Story Review: Harrison Query's story is fantastic. Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec and Harrison Query's screenplay is a bit cliched and also has cinematic liberties. But it’s also very captivating. The dialogues are one of the USPs.

Ilya Naishuller's direction is entertaining. There have been many such 'road trip' films before, that is, two characters, who can't see eye-to-eye are forced to be together and fight a common enemy. But here, what makes it interesting is that they are premiers of the two most powerful nations on Earth. On top of it, you realize that even the antagonist is menacing. If he can attempt to harm them, he won't stop at anything as he has no fear. A few scenes stand out like the embarrassing press conference, the fight on the Belarus farm and the encounter with the sheep. The track of Marty Comer (Jack Quaid) contributes to the overall chaos and fun. The climax is fitting.

On the flipside, there are too many cinematic liberties. The agencies of both countries seemed to lack the will to track down the villains even after they attempted to kill the state heads. It becomes clear after a point to Will and Sam that they are being tracked using CCTV cameras. Yet, they keep exposing themselves. The film gets repetitive in the middle. The Croatia track is fun but is too far-fetched.

Heads Of State Movie Review Performances: John Cena and Idris Elba equally play their parts with panache. The film rests on their strong shoulders and they ensure the viewers will be amused by their antics. Priyanka Chopra Jonas disappears for some time but dominates in the second half. Performance-wise, she’s first rate and the way she has fought the baddies will be loved. In fact, this is her most action-packed role ever. Jack Quaid leaves a huge mark in a special appearance. Paddy Considine (Viktor Gradov) is decent as the villain. Adrian Lukis (Jack Gordon; journalist), Simone Bradshaw (Sarah Niles), Richard Coyle (Quincy Harrington), Carla Gugino (VP Elizabeth Kirk) and others lend able support.

Heads Of State movie music and other technical aspects: Steven Price's music is effective. Ben Davis' cinematography is breathtaking and gritty in action scenes. The action is likeable and not gory or violent, except for a few shots. Niall Moroney's production design is rich while Jany Temime's costumes are classy. Tom Harrison-Read's editing is slick but stagnates in some places. The transition in two shots, where characters are explaining how they travelled extensively, is stylish and unique.

Heads Of State Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, HEADS OF STATE thrives on a gripping geopolitical premise, powered by the electric camaraderie between John Cena and Idris Elba. The icing on the cake is Priyanka Chopra in her most action-packed role ever. Thanks to the casting, subject and abundance of entertainment, it’s bound to fetch huge viewership for Amazon Prime Video.

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KANNAPPA triumphs with its mythological appeal and a goosebumps-inducing final 20 minutes Movie Review: KANNAPPA triumphs with its mythological appeal

Star Cast: Vishnu Manchu, Preity Mukhundhan, Akshay Kumar, Prabhas, Mohanlal, Kajal Aggarwal

Director: Mukesh Kumar Singh

Kannappa Movie Review Synopsis: KANNAPPA is the story of valour and belief. The film is set in the 2nd century. Thinnadu (Vishnu Manchu) lives in a hamlet, ruled by his father Nathanatha (R Sarath Kumar). As a child, Thinnadu lost interest in God after his friend was sacrificed to stop an illness from plaguing the village. One day, while he is on a hunting expedition, Thinnadu comes across Nemali (Preity Mukhundhan). She belongs to the neighbouring tribe and falls for her. She too falls in love with him despite the fact that she is a staunch Lord Shiva devotee. Meanwhile, a dreaded warrior, Kalamukha (Arpit Ranka) sends his brother and some soldiers to Vayulingam with bad intentions. The brother and the soldiers attempt to kidnap and violate the women of Thinnadu's helmet. Thinnadu kills them. Before dying, the brother warns that his brother will arrive with his army of one lakh people and attack his hamlet and also the neighbouring villages. Nathanatha summons the chiefs of the nearby hamlets in the forest and asks them to put aside their differences and unite for a common cause. Thinnadu is chosen to lead the alliance. But his non-religious beliefs create a dent. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Kannappa Movie Story Review: Vishnu Manchu's story has its roots in mythology. Vishnu Manchu's screenplay is stretched and inconsistent. But overall, it works especially due to the climax. Akella Shiva Prasad's dialogues are deep and easy to decipher.

Mukesh Kumar Singh's direction is simple and mass-appealing. The characters are well introduced and the conflict has substance. Moreover, the transformation of the protagonist from an atheist to a true devotee is heartening and more importantly, convincing. The various cameos further add to the appeal and also star value. The director, however, reserves the best for the climax. The last 15 minutes is when the film reaches dizzying heights and will give goosebumps.

On the flipside, the film has a run time of 181 minutes and hence, it's too lengthy. Ideally, it should have been shorter by 15 minutes. The film doesn't follow the conventional approach. The villain track culminates earlier than expected. As a result, one might wonder in the second half where the film is heading. The first half is just alright and the romance track before the intermission gives a strong déjà vu of Prabhas-Tamannaah Bhatia track in BAAHUBALI [2015].

Kannappa Movie Review Performances: Vishnu Manchu puts his heart and soul into the character and delivers a very impressive performance. Akshay Kumar is the divine surprise of the film. As Lord Shiva, he's flawless. Hindi-speaking audiences will be proud to see an actor from their market being given such a role to essay that too by South makers. The makers could have chosen any actor from the South industries for it but they went ahead with Akshay and that speaks volumes. Prabhas (Rudra) comes next and makes his presence felt. Mohanlal (Kirata) and Mohan Babu (Mahadev Shastri) lend able support. Kajal Aggarwal (Parvati) gets into the skin of her character. Preity Mukhundhan looks stunning and delivers a worthy performance. It’s a performance that will surely get her noticed. R Sarath Kumar is impressive. Arpit Ranka and Lavi Pajni (Bebbuli) are over the top. Brahmanandam (Pilaka) is wasted. Aiswaryaa Bhaskaran (Maremma) has a tremendous screen presence while Mukesh Rishi (Kampa) is decent. Madhoo (Pannaga) puts her best foot forward but gets sidelined after a point.

Kannappa movie music and other technical aspects: The romantic songs fail to entice. 'Om Namah Shivaya' is exhilarating while 'Shiva Shiva Shankaraa' is well picturized. It also comes at a crucial juncture. Stephen Devassy's background score has a cinematic appeal.

Sheldon Chau's cinematography is breathtaking. The locales of New Zealand are well captured. In a few scenes, one does get a feeling that the shooting location is not based in India. Nevertheless, it works as it is unlike one has seen in any Indian film in a long time. Chinna's production design is authentic while Ajay's costumes are appropriate. Kecha Khamphakdee's action is not too gory. The VFX is fine overall, although it could have been a bit classier in some scenes. Anthony Gonsalves's editing is slugging in places.

Kannappa Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, KANNAPPA triumphs largely due to its mythological appeal and a goosebumps-inducing final 20 minutes. The lead performances are exemplary, with Akshay Kumar standing out as one of the film’s biggest strengths. His impactful presence as a prominent North Indian actor in a South-led ensemble is sure to evoke a sense of pride among Hindi-speaking audiences. While the film’s lengthy runtime and the relatively low pre-release buzz in the Hindi belt are minor drawbacks, the film holds the potential to surprise, provided it garners strong word of mouth.

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A one-of-a-kind mythological-horror MAA rests on some fine performances Movie Review: MAA is a one of a kind mythological horror film

Star Cast: Kajol, Kherin Sharma, Ronit Roy

Director: Vishal Furia

Maa Movie Review Synopsis: MAA is the story of a woman trying to save her daughter. Ambika (Kajol) lives in Kolkata with her hubby Shuvankar (Indraneil Sengupta) and daughter Shweta (Kherin Sharma). Shuvankar is originally from Chandarpur, West Bengal and has broken all contact with his ancestral village. Shweta is hell-bent upon visiting Chandarpur but Shuvankar refuses to listen to her plea. The same day, Shuvankar learns that his father (Aashit Chatterjee) has passed away. Shuvankar reaches Chandarpur and completes the final rites. He meets the sarpanch, Joydev (Ronit Roy), and expresses the wish to sell off his mansion. He leaves for Kolkata the same night and dies under mysterious circumstances. Ambika and Shweta are in shock and manage to move on in life. A few months later, Joydev informs Ambika that a broker will be arriving in a few days for the sale of their property. Since it was Shuvankar's last wish to get the sale done, Ambika decides to head to Chandarpur to do the needful. Shweta also joins her as she doesn't want to be left alone. Both reach Chandapur, leading to madness. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Maa Movie Story Review: Saiwyn Quadras' story is praiseworthy. Saiwyn Quadras' screenplay is riveting for most parts but gets messy in some places. Aamil Keeyan Khan and Ajit Jagtap's dialogues are simple and also hard-hitting as required.

Vishal Furia's direction is promising. He manages to create a very eerie atmosphere and that adds a lot to the impact. The goings-on touch a chord as it's about a mother fighting for her child. As a result, there's a universal appeal. Moreover, we have seen horror films and horror comedies while MAA stands out as it's a mythological horror flick. This makes it a one-of-a-kind film. A few scenes stand out like the intro, the death of Shuvankar and Ambika and Shweta reaching Chandarpur for the first time. Post-interval, the scene in the car takes the cake. The climax fight is arresting.

On the flipside, in a few scenes, the VFX is tacky. Films like SHAITAAN [2024] and also those of Maddock Cinematic Universe have set a benchmark when it comes to CGI in this zone. While the makers get it right in some scenes, the VFX leaves a lot to be desired in the rest of the film. A few developments are plain silly and might lead to unintentional laughter. Also, the makers ideally should have ended the film at a certain point. The very last scene will put off viewers and also goes against the idea and even the title of the film. Another factor that might be seen as taboo is the crucial plot of girls getting their first periods, though one can’t deny that it’s an interesting idea.

Maa – Official Trailer | Kajol, Ronit Roy, Indraneil Sengupta, Kherin Sharma | Vishal Furia

Maa Movie Review Performances: Kajol delivers a smashing performance and proves yet again why she is one of the finest actors of our times. She is exceptionally fiery in the climax. Kherin Sharma lends able support. Ronit Roy is the surprise of the film and this is surely one of his most accomplished performances. Indraneil Sengupta is lovable in a supporting role. Jitin Gulati (Shekhar) does well but his character gets a raw deal. Gopal Singh (Bikash) and Dibyendu Bhattacharya (Bimal) are impressive while Rupkatha Chakraborty (Deepika) and Surajasikha Das (Nandini) leave a tremendous park. Aashit Chatterjee, Vibha Rani (Purohita; old) and Yaaneaa Bharadwaj (Purohita; young) are fair.

Maa movie music and other technical aspects: The song ‘Kali Shakti’ is forgettable but its visuals are striking. Amar Mohile's background score adds to the effect. The same goes for Pushkar Singh's cinematography. R P Yadav's action is a bit gory and works well. Sheetal Duggal's production design and Radhika Mehra's costumes complement the goings-on. NY VFXWaala's VFX is a mixed bag, as aforementioned. Sandeep Francis' editing is functional.

Maa Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, MAA stands out as it’s a one-of-a-kind mythological-horror film and also rests on some fine performances, especially by Kajol and Ronit Roy. However, it suffers due to tacky VFX, inconsistent writing and an unacceptable plot point in the climax.

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F1: THE MOVIE is a gripping, captivating experience that should be experienced Movie Review: F1: THE MOVIE is a gripping, captivating experience

Star Cast: Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon

Director: Joseph Kosinski

F1: The Movie Review Synopsis: F1: THE MOVIE is a story about the bond between two drivers. Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was an expert F1 racer. He had to quit the championship in 1993 after suffering a major accident on the racing track in Spain. After recovering, Sonny couldn't stay away from races and kept participating in various championships. In the present day, Sonny has just helped a team win during a 24-hour race at Daytona. He's about to apply for a Baja car racing tournament when he's approached by Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of the APXGP team and also a former F1 driver. Ruben's team is not performing well and he risks losing it if it doesn't perform. Hence, Ruben asks Javier to be the second driver during the upcoming racing season for APXGP. Sonny agrees and he reaches London to join the team. They don't give him a warm welcome, especially the lead rookie driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), who has reservations about the fact that  Sonny played an F1 race ages ago. Sonny's cocky attitude also puts off others like technical director Kate (Kerry Condon), team principal Kaspar Smolinski (Kim Bodnia), race engineer Nickleby (Will Merrick), Dodge Dowda (Abdul Salis) etc. During the press tour, Sonny is asked uncomfortable questions about his past, that is, his accident, losing most of his wealth to gambling, divorces etc. and this further makes him an unpleasant addition. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

F1: The Movie Story Review: Joseph Kosinski and Ehren Kruger's story is excellent and a little different from the usual underdog stories. Ehren Kruger's screenplay is not pacy like the cars in the film but ensures that it keeps the viewers captivated. The dialogues pack a punch. Many one-liners are sarcastic and add to the entertainment.

Joseph Kosinski's direction is exemplary. In recent times, he has executed TOP GUN: MAVERICK [2022] and TWISTERS [2024]. These and F1: THE MOVIE all have an adventurous streak but at the same time, they belong to diverse worlds. Hence, Joseph also has executed them accordingly. One of the aspects that is very striking is that those who are ignorant about the world depicted in the film might feel that it’s a biopic. Expect many viewers to Google about the characters only to realize that it’s a fictional flick. The conflict is well thought of and the character of Sonny takes the cake. One can't predict what he'll do during the race to hit back at his opponents. The turn of events just before the intermission is shocking and increases the drama and tension. The climax is nail-biting and is quite hatke as well.

On the flipside, to keep the authenticity, the makers haven’t dumbed down on the usage of race-related terms. The race aficionados won’t have a problem with it but a majority of the viewers, who are unaware of the world of F1, might struggle in a few places to comprehend the dialogues. Some of the tricks used by Sonny on the field will also be a challenge for them to decipher. In the middle, the film stagnates a bit. The run time of 155 minutes is also a bit too much. The product placement adds to the realism but is an eyesore in some scenes. Lastly, this is not a mass-appealing film and this can affect its box office outcome to some extent.

F1: The Movie Review Performances: Brad Pitt effortlessly plays the part. He's very charming and makes sure he pleases not just the characters in the film but also the audience in the cinema hall. Javier Bardem is apt for the part and performance-wise, he's first-rate. Damson Idris leaves a huge mark, despite the presence of such top stars. Kerry Condon is impressive. Sarah Niles (Bernadette; Joshua's mother) is memorable. Kim Bodnia, Will Merrick, Abdul Salis, Callie Cooke (Jodie), Samson Kayo (Cash; Joshua's manager), Tobias Menzies (Peter Banning; investor) and Simon Kunz (Don; journalist) are memorable. Luciano Bacheta (Luca Cortez) gets no scope. Lastly, the cameos by real-life F1 drivers and personnel will be lapped up by the fans.

F1: The Movie music and other technical aspects: Hans Zimmer's music is exhilarating and well-woven into the narrative. The various songs in the film also provide a nice touch. Claudio Miranda's cinematography gives the film a grand, cinematic feel. Julian Day's costumes and Ben Munro and Mark Tildesley's production design are classy. The VFX is world-class. Stephen Mirrione's editing is dragging but overall, it's fine.

F1: The Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, F1: THE MOVIE provides a gripping, captivating experience to the viewers. This is not a film for home viewing and should be experienced only on the big screen. While it may not cater to conventional mass tastes, its high-octane storytelling and cinematic scale are bound to drive strong box office numbers, especially in the IMAX screens.

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ELIO is touching and entertaining but suffers due to the narrative and pacing Movie Review: ELIO is touching and entertaining but suffers due to the narrative

Star Cast: Yonas Kibreab, Remy Edgerly, Brad Garrett, Zoe Saldaña

Director: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina

Elio Movie Review Synopsis: ELIO is the story of a young man who accidentally becomes the Ambassador of Earth. Elio Solis (Yonas Kibreab) is an orphan. He stays with his maternal aunt, Olga (Zoe Saldaña), who works on a military base observing space debris. Elio has withdrawn into a shell due to the death of his parents. But a visit to a space museum and learning about the possibility of extra-terrestrial beings gets him excited. The story moves a few years ahead. Elio is now doing better and his life's mission is to be captured by aliens! He uses a ham radio to try to communicate but to no avail. At his aunt's workplace, he overhears from a conspiracy theorist named Gunther Melmac (Brendan Hunt) that aliens might exist. He uses Melmac's device to send a message to the aliens, leading to a power outage in the facility. Olga almost loses her job and fed up with Elio's behaviour, she sends him to a camp. At the camp, Elio is confronted by bullies. Suddenly, an alien ship appears and takes him away, much to his delight. Elio soon arrives at the Communiverse, a place where aliens of all kinds bring knowledge from their own worlds to share with others. Elio realizes that they received the message that he sent from Melmac's device. They assume that he's the Ambassador of the Earth, not realizing that he's just a kid. Meanwhile, Elio decides to solve a conflict between Communiverse and the dangerous ruler of Hylurg, Grigon (Brad Garrett). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Elio Movie Story Review: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina and Julia Cho's story is out of the box. Julia Cho, Mark Hammer and Mike Jones' screenplay is captivating but has its share of minor blemishes. The dialogues are entertaining.

Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina's direction is decent. It is a relatable fare as it touches upon depression, bullying, etc, too. On the other hand, a few scenes are amusing like Elio dying to get abducted by the aliens, Elio’s duplicate on Earth, Elio using Glordon (Remy Edgerly) as a 'bargaining chip'. The finale is engaging.

On the flipside, the transformation of Elio from an introverted depressed kid to one chasing aliens is sudden for the viewers, even though the transformation happens over the years in the film. The humour is limited; a film like this ideally should have had laugh-out-loud scenes. The whole idea of Elio reaching Communiverse and other space-related aspects can be difficult to comprehend for adults and more so for kids, the target audience. The fact that there are three directors shows - a few scenes seem a bit disjointed and are executed differently from the rest of the scenes. Lastly, the buzz is pretty limited in India.

Elio Movie Review Performances: The voiceovers that truly work big time are those of Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly. Brad Garrett comes next followed by Zoe Saldaña. Brendan Hunt, Jameela Jamil (Questa), Shirley Henderson (OOOOO) and Jake Getman (Caleb) also do well.

Elio movie music and other technical aspects: Rob Simonsen's music has a Disney feel. Derek Williams and Jordan Rempel's cinematography is spectacular. Harley Jessup's production design is top-notch. The animation matches global standards, as expected. Anna Wolitzky and Steve Bloom's editing is too fast-paced.

Elio Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, ELIO is a touching and entertaining saga. However, it suffers due to narrative and pacing issues and a lack of sufficient humour. At the box office, it’ll face tough competition from another family-friendly film, SITAARE ZAMEEN PAR.

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DETECTIVE SHERDIL fails to entice due to faulty script and silly developments Movie Review: DETECTIVE SHERDIL fails to entice

Star Cast: Diljit Dosanjh, Diana Penty, Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak Shah, Sumeet Vyas, Banita Sandhu

Director: Ravi Chhabriya

Detective Sherdil Movie Review Synopsis: DETECTIVE SHERDIL is the story of a clever officer solving a tricky case. Sherdil (Diljit Dosanjh) is a detective who works in Budapest, Hungary. Commissioner Barry Kane (Mike Capozzola) assigns him the case of the murder of billionaire Pankaj Bhatti (Boman Irani). Pankaj was killed on a deserted highway by an assassin. After putting a bullet in his head, the assassin bombed the car. The suspects are the family members - wife Rajeshwari (Ratna Pathak Shah), son Angad (Sumeet Vyas), foreigner daughter-in-law Elizabeth (Sarah Barlondo) and deaf-and-mute daughter Shanti (Banita Sandhu). Shanti's boyfriend Purvak (Arjun Tanwar), also deaf-and-mute, is on the run and is a prime suspect. This is especially because Pankaj has willed 80% of his wealth and assets to Purvak. The remaining 20% was divided between a dog, named Rabbit, and Rajeshwari's brother Bodhi (Chunky Panday). Not just Purvak but Pankaj's driver Jaipal (Mukesh Bhatt) is also missing. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Detective Sherdil Movie Story Review: Ravi Chhabriya and Ali Abbas Zafar's story could have made for a promising murder mystery. Sagar Bajaj and Ali Abbas Zafar's screenplay is decent in some places. However, there are too many loopholes and not enough has been done to cover them. Sagar Bajaj and Ali Abbas Zafar's dialogues and Suraj Gianani's voiceover dialogues are quirky. However, some dialogues, supposed to be cool, don’t have the desired impact.

Ravi Chhabriya's direction is okay. There are a lot of characters and also back-and-forth narrative. But Ravi ensures that the narrative doesn’t become confusing. He makes good use of the location and has fleshed out the character of Sherdil nicely. A few scenes are quite amusing like Natasha (Diana Penty) being shown as talking in Diljit’s voice, Pankaj’s pen being mentioned as that from 3 IDIOTS [2009], etc. The finale is also unpredictable.

On the flipside, the beginning 5 minutes are incoherent and badly edited. Pankaj is shown to be Europe’s most successful businessman. But one doesn’t get that feeling, especially the way his murder investigation is handled. The detectives don’t seem to be under any pressure and are taking their time in finding the killer. When they are told that Bodhi is absent, the police should have ideally located him immediately. But they don’t and instead, wait for him to come, at his convenience! Shockingly, there’s no post-mortem done, it seems; if it was, a lot of aspects would have got clearer about the bullet used. The entire bit of Purvak changing house every 21 days and the manner in which Sherdil is able to find his residence is quite far-fetched and even silly. There are other issues too. Why is Sherdil unhappy to know that Natasha will be joining him in the investigation? Did they date each other? Or did they have any quarrel while working on an earlier case? The audience never gets an answer to these questions.

Detective Sherdil Movie Review Performances: The film has an ensemble cast. Diljit Dosanjh is the saving grace. His performance and his subtle antics ensure that the film is watchable right until the end. Diana Penty plays the role of the no-nonsense cop with panache. Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak Shah and Sumeet Vyas are aptly cast. Banita Sandhu leaves a huge mark. Arjun Tanwar makes a confident debut. Chunky Panday does fine but is let down by the writing. Mikhail (Detective Danny) and Kashmira Irani Saxena (Falak) make their presence felt. Mukesh Bhatt, Mike Capozzola, Sarah Barlondo and Olivia Stewart (Detective Olivia) are fair.

Detective Sherdil movie music and other technical aspects: DETECTIVE SHERDIL is a song-less film. One track is added during the end credits but it's forgettable. Joel Crasto's background score is catchy, especially the mouth organ theme. Marcin Laskawiec's cinematography is appropriate. Malvika Bajaj's costumes are glamorous while Amit Sharma, Tejas Amit Korgaonkar and Ankita Dhar's production design is rich. Ravi Chhabriya's editing is bad in the initial scenes but is fine and even stylish later on.

Detective Sherdil Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, DETECTIVE SHERDIL fails to entice due to faulty script and silly developments. The performance of Diljit Dosanjh and a few amusing moments make the film watchable to an extent.

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SITAARE ZAMEEN PAR enlightens, entertains, and leaves you with a smile Movie Review: SITAARE ZAMEEN PAR is quintessential Aamir Khan - cinema

Star Cast: Aamir Khan, Genelia Deshmukh, Ashish Pendse, Aayush Bhansali, GopiKrishnan K Verma, Simran Mangeshkar, Aroush Datta, Rishi Shahani, Rishabh Jain, Vedant Sharma, Samvit Desai, Naman Misra

Director: R S Prasanna

Sitaare Zameen Par Movie Review Synopsis: SITAARE ZAMEEN PAR is the story of a brash coach and his life-changing experience. Gulshan Arora (Aamir Khan) is the assistant basketball coach at the Delhi Sports Association. During the Delhi vs Karnataka match at the National Basketball League, Gagan gets into a fight with the head coach, Paswan (Deepraj Rana) and assaults him. Gulshan is suspended. The same day, while returning home, he gets drunk and bangs his car with a police vehicle. The judge, Anupama Mandal (Tarana Raja) asks him to do community service, that is coach a basketball team consisting of neurodivergent people, who are affected with Autism and Down Syndrome. Gulshan, at first, is not happy to be heading a team of 'mental' players. But soon, Gulshan's outlook changes and even influences his relationship with his estranged wife, Suneeta (Genelia Deshmukh). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Sitaare Zameen Par Movie Story Review: SITAARE ZAMEEN PAR is the official remake of CAMPEONES [2018]. The story is fabulous. Divy Nidhi Sharma's adapted screenplay is full of entertaining and touching moments. Divy Nidhi Sharma's dialogues are simple yet effective and enhances the humour and emotional quotient of the movie.

R S Prasanna's direction is superb. To begin with, SITAARE ZAMEEN PAR is not a scene-to-scene remake, as alleged. The makers have added a few sequences, which were not present in CAMPEONES and is very well inserted into the narrative. From start to finish, the film is a fun and light-hearted ride with never a dull or boring moment. The characters are very well fleshed out, especially that of Gulshan. While making viewers laugh, it also educates them about the characteristics of neurodivergent people. Its sure to be an eye-opener. Unlike the predecessor, TAARE ZAMEEN PAR [2007], there are hardly any scenes which will make viewers teary-eyed. Yet, the impact is made.

On the flipside, the first half is just alright and the high is missing during this hour. The approach taken by the makers, with the sports scenes, is different than the one we are used to. One might get a feeling that the characters are able to easily win the match or that the matches are not given their importance. 2-3 funny scenes don’t land well. Lastly, the music is not upto the mark.

SITAARE ZAMEEN PAR has a straightforward opening. The character of Aamir is not introduced with a dramatic entry sequence. The first 10-15 minutes neatly establishes Gulshan and the life he’s living. The film gets better once Gulshan has his first lesson with the basketball team of neurodivergent people. The scene where Kartar Paaji (Gurpal Singh) enlightens Gulshan about the lives of his team players is heartening. The intermission point is sweet. Post-interval, the entertainment increases as Golu Khan (Simran Mangeshkar) gets introduced. The scenes where Suneeta agrees to join the team and Kartar refuses to join the national team are unconvincing as their reasons for doing so are not properly established. The madness in the bus also gets a bit far-fetched. However, the film shows his brilliance in the last 45 minutes once the team arrive in Mumbai. The elevator scene is funny but watch out for the scene thereafter. It will bring the house down. The finale will induce a lot of emotions in the viewers. The final scene and the end credit visuals are worthy.

Sitaare Zameen Par | Official Trailer | Aamir Khan | Genelia Deshmukh

Sitaare Zameen Par Movie Review Performances: Aamir Khan is in top form, especially compared to his act in his last film, LAAL SINGH CHADDHA [2022]. He gets completely into the skin of his character and delivers an outstanding performance. Genelia Deshmukh is hardly there in the first half but dominates the post-interval portions. She’s top-notch and proves yet again why she deserves to be seen more. Gurpal Singh plays a crucial role with perfection. Dolly Ahluwalia Tewari (Preeto) and Tarana Raja leave a mark in supporting roles. Brijendra Kala (Daulat ji) seems wasted at first but turns out to be the surprise of the film. Deepraj Rana is decent. Happy Ranajit (Surinder; Gulshan's lawyer) Sham Mashalkar (Rustom), Nikhat Khan Hegde (Hargovind's mother) and Amin Hajee (Ashok) have special appearances and perform ably. And finally, coming to the ‘sitaares’. Ashish Pendse (Sunil), Aayush Bhansali (Lotus), GopiKrishnan K Verma (Guddu) and Simran Mangeshkar leave the maximum impact followed by Aroush Datta (Satbir), Rishi Shahani (Sharma ji), Rishabh Jain (Raju), Vedant Sharma (Bantu), Samvit Desai (Kareem Qureshi). Naman Misra (Hargovind) stands out due to his character and performance.

Sitaare Zameen Par movie music and other technical aspects: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is one of the weakest parts of the film. But they are well-woven into the narrative. The title track and 'Good For Nothing' work to some extent. 'Shubh Mangalam' is worth watching for the visuals. 'Sar Aankhon Pe Mere' is forgettable. Ram Sampath's background score is in sync with the film’s mood.

Srinivas Reddy's cinematography is satisfactory. Sylvan Desmond's basketball coaching and sports choreography is praiseworthy. Parvez Shaikh's action is minimal. Nikhil Kovale and Apurva Vijay Bhagat's production design is rich yet realistic while Sachin Lovalekar's costumes are straight out of life. Charu Shree Roy's editing is smooth.

Sitaare Zameen Par Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, SITAARE ZAMEEN PAR is quintessential Aamir Khan - cinema that enlightens, entertains, and leaves you with a smile. The final 40 minutes are the film’s emotional crescendo, lifting the narrative to dizzying heights. These sitaaare shine bright and are bound to win your heart. At the box office, the film may open on a modest note, as anticipated, but is poised to witness dramatic growth over the weekend - paving the way for a strong and steady lifetime run. What’s also commendable is Aamir Khan’s unwavering belief in the theatrical experience - he’s backed this film with full conviction, and audiences just might return the favour generously. Recommended!

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MATERIALISTS has potential to surprise at the box office, despite competition from two Hollywood films Movie Review: MATERIALISTS has the potential to surprise at the box office

Star Cast: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal

Director: Celine Song 

Materialists Movie Review Synopsis: MATERIALISTS is the story of a woman being wooed by two men. Lucy Maison (Dakota Johnson) lives in New York and works in a matrimonial company named Adore. She's great at her work and her team is celebrating her ninth successful pairing, Charlotte (Louisa Jacobson) and Peter. She attends their wedding where she meets Harry Castillo (Pedro Pascal), the brother of the groom. She attempts to make him a client while he wants to take her out on a date. At the wedding, she also bumps into her ex-boyfriend John (Chris Evans), who is working as a caterer at the venue. John drops her home and sparks fly between the two. Meanwhile, Harry attempts to woo Lucy. Lucy always wanted to marry a wealthy, successful man and he fits the bill. Hence, they start dating. Meanwhile, Lucy is trying her best to get a match for her client, Sophie (Zoë Winters). After many unsuccessful attempts, she manages to find one but things go horribly wrong. What happens next forms the rest of the film. 

Materialists Movie Story Review: Celine Song tells a story that is relatable, especially for the Indian audience. Celine Song's screenplay is a bit dry and unconventional but it works. The dialogues are one of the USPs. This is a talk-heavy film and the conversations take the story forward. However, a few one-liners come across as unintentionally funny.

Celine Song's direction is lovely. The first thing that strikes you is that the execution is a bit like film festival cinema and also on the lines of her past work, PAST LIVES [2023]. Therefore, get ready for long takes and shots with no background music. The opening scene seems bizarre at first; one might fear that they are watching the wrong movie! Even the final scene during the credits is so hatke. However, the plot is true to life. For Indians, the film will appeal as it's all about aspects that are commonplace in our country like matchmaking, people marrying for money, couples breaking up because one of them is broke, etc. A few scenes that stand out are Lucy meeting Harry and John at the wedding, Lucy checking out Harry’s mansion when making out with him, Lucy-John’s break-up, Sophie confronting Lucy, etc.

On the flipside, the art cinema style execution hampers the impact in some places. The conclusion is simplistic. Though the beliefs of the characters are practical, some dialogues might be unintentionally problematic. Lastly, the 'A' certification is needless. It is shocking that the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) gave such a rating and also for the studio to even accept it. 

Materialists Movie Review Performances: Dakota Johnson rises from the MADAME WEB [2024] debacle and delivers a dominating and confident performance. Chris Evans, as always, seems dashing and makes the performance of a vulnerable and pragmatic chap believable. Pedro Pascal has less screen time but makes up for it with his handsome looks and fine performance. Zoë Winters is apt for the part and has a crucial role. Marin Ireland (Violet) lends able support. Louisa Jacobson makes her presence felt despite being there in just one scene. 

Materialists movie music and other technical aspects: Daniel Pemberton's music is very minimal. Shabier Kirchner's cinematography is satisfactory. Anthony Gasparro's production design is classy while Katina Danabassis' costumes are stylish and glamorous. Keith Fraase's editing is slick. 

Materialists Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, MATERIALISTS explores the themes of matchmaking and relationships, topics that deeply resonate with the Indian audience. It has healthy advance sales and thus, has the potential to surprise at the box office, despite competition from two big Hollywood releases.

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HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON is a faithful adaptation of the 2010 film and is a well-made entertainer Movie Review: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON is a faithful adaptation of the 2010 film

Star Cast: Mason Thames, Gerard Butler, Nico Parker

Director: Dean DeBlois

How To Train Your Dragon Movie Review Synopsis: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON is the story of a friendship between a timid Viking and a mysterious dragon. The film is probably set in the early medieval times. The village of Berk, inhabited by Vikings and a few other tribes, is constantly attacked by dragons. These dragons cause destruction and take away livestock. Hiccup (Mason Thames), the son of the village chieftain Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), wants to fight the dragons just like other warriors in his village. However, he’s deemed too weak and is instead asked to intern with Gobber (Nick Frost), the village blacksmith. The experience helps Hiccup to understand and create different machines. He manufactures a bolas launcher and he takes it out when the dragons attack one night. He goes away from the village and realizes that he is able to spot a Night Fury. It’s a dragon no one has ever seen and is considered to be the most dangerous of all. Hiccup launches an attack and shoots down the Night Fury. He informs his father and villagers about it but they don’t take him seriously. The next day, he goes to the outskirts to prove himself right. He realizes that he is right and that he indeed attacked the creature. Instead of killing him, Hiccup sets the Night Fury free. The dragon also doesn’t kill him but escapes. The Night Fury is unable to fly as Hiccup’s bolas tear off one-half of the former’s tail fin. This is when Hiccup designs a prosthetic tail fin for Night Fury. Hiccup further names him Toothless. Toothless is now able to fly but only if Hiccup will ride on top of him. Meanwhile, Stoick and the rest of the warriors have ventured into the sea to find the nest of the dragons. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

How To Train Your Dragon Movie Story Review: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON is adapted from a book of the same name by Cressida Cowell. The story is fantastic. Dean DeBlois's screenplay moves at a fair pace and has enough funny, dramatic and emotional moments that keep the interest going. The dialogues add to the entertainment.

Dean DeBlois's direction is simple. He was one of the directors and writers of the 2010 animated original and hence, it was a given that he would know his job well. Yet, adapting an animated film into a live action can also pose challenges. But Dean comes out with flying colours. The basic storyline is the same but he has tweaked certain plot points. The intentions of certain characters are now much more defined. The animated film has a scene where Hiccup brings the dragon to the village to tweak the prosthetic design. It is a scene which always seemed far-fetched. Thankfully, the makers have eliminated it completely. On the other hand, a scene where the Vikings get attacked by dragons when they set out to find the nest has been added and it makes for a nice watch.

On the flipside, since it’s the same story compared to the original, those who have seen the 2010 film repeatedly will not find anything new in terms of plot, except for minor tweaks. The makers have also shown that people of other ethnicities also reside with the Vikings in Berk. But it served no relevance to the story. It would have been great to see them fighting the dragons in their style. Shockingly, they were conveniently forgotten after their memorable introduction. Lastly, the series is not as popular in India as it is in the West, which can prove detrimental.

How To Train Your Dragon Movie Review Performances: Mason Thames delivers a stupendous performance. He gets his act just right without going overboard. Gerard Butler slips into his character effortlessly and delivers a great act. Nico Parker (Astrid) has an arresting screen presence and performance-wise, she's first-rate. Nick Frost lends able support. As for the actors who play teen warriors, Julian Dennison (Fishlegs) is the most memorable followed by Gabriel Howell (Snotlout), Bronwyn James (Ruffnut) and Harry Trevaldwyn (Tuffnut). Naomi Wirthner (Gothi) is decent and the character has much more screen time this time.

How To Train Your Dragon movie music and other technical aspects: John Powell's music is exemplary. Bill Pope's cinematography is breathtaking. The locales of Ireland are well captured by the lensman. The VFX is top-class and the team especially did a great job with the dragon. It looks cute yet has the quality to terrify. The action is sans any gory. Lindsay Pugh's costumes and Dominic Watkins' production design are appropriate for the era depicted. Wyatt Smith's editing is satisfactory, despite it being nearly 20 minutes longer than the 2010 animated flick.

How To Train Your Dragon Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON is a faithful adaptation of the 2010 animated flick and is a well-made family entertainer. Since the popularity of the series is limited in India, it'll need patronage from its target audience to score at the box office

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FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA organically takes forward the much-loved franchise Movie Review: JOHN WICK: BALLERINA works due to a gripping second half, action and performances

Star Cast: Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves, Gabriel Byrne

Director: Len Wiseman

From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina Movie Review Synopsis: FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA is the story of a woman seeking revenge. The young child Eve Macarro (Victoria Comte) lives with her father Javier (David Castañeda), a Ruska Roma. Her deceased mother was a part of the Cult and its members want to take away Eve with them. Javier is not okay with the idea and hence, he's hiding along with Eve. One day, the Cult members, under the leadership of the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), locate Eve and Javier. Eve escapes while Javier is killed. New York Continental owner Winston (Ian McShane) finds Eve and brings her to the Ruska Roma. Eve meets their Director (Anjelica Huston) and agrees to join them. 12 years later, Eve (Ana de Armas) is now a trained ballerina as well as an assassin. Now that she's ready, she asks the Director about the Cult so that she can find the Chancellor and take revenge. However, there exists a longstanding truce between the Cult and the Ruska Roma. Hence, the Director forbids Eve from going after the Cult. Eve anyway decides to find them, leading to chaos. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina Movie Story Review: Shay Hatten's story is cliched. But Shay Hatten's screenplay is better and keeps viewers engrossed. Shay Hatten's dialogues are conversational. Sadly, there are no subtitles available which will make it difficult for a section of the viewers to understand certain dialogues.

Len Wiseman's direction is pacy. He brings a certain freshness to the series of JOHN WICK as his execution style is different from that of Chad Stahelski. The training sequence stands out and the fact that it’s a female character adds a nice touch. Len reserves the best for the second half. The manner in which the town of Hallstatt is depicted and the way its residents are portrayed are very novel.

On the flipside, things get repetitive. Though the direction style is different, the pattern is still the same. Hence, one knows what to expect, more or less. The characters of Daniel Pine (Norman Reedus) and Lena (Catalina Sandino Moreno) are not properly fleshed out. Lastly, the first half is just alright. A scene starts all of a sudden, depicting that Eve has killed tons of men in a washroom. Though it makes for a unique watch, it is also abrupt.

From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina Movie Review Performances: Ana de Armas adds a lot to the lead character with her bravura performance and star power. This is no easy role by any stretch and yet, she pulls it off effortlessly. Keanu Reeves (John Wick) is to this film what Salman Khan is to PATHAAN or Ajay Devgn is to SIMMBA. He is superb in a supporting role and his scenes will be greeted with whistles and hoots. Gabriel Byrne is subtle and very effective as the villain. Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, the late Lance Reddick (Charon), Abraham Popoola (Frank; arms dealer) and Juliet Doherty (Tatiana) lend able support. Norman Reedus and Catalina Sandino Moreno do well but are let down by writing. Waris Ahluwalia (The Eye, who oversees the town) leaves a huge mark due to his character and Indian connection. David Castañeda, Victoria Comte, Choi Soo-young (Katla Park), Jung Doo-hong (Il Seong) and Ava McCarthy (Ella Pine) do well in small roles.

From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina movie music and other technical aspects: Tyler Bates and Joel J Richard's score is in sync with the JOHN WICK series and is catchy. Romain Lacourbas's cinematography compliments the goings-on. The town of Hallstatt is beautifully depicted. The action is a high point and is quite entertaining and also gory in places. The one that takes place in the Hallstatt eatery and the one involving the flamethrower stand out. Philip Ivey's production design is first-rate while Tina Kalivas's costumes are stylish. Jason Ballantine's editing is slick.

From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA organically takes forward the much-loved franchise and works due to the gripping second half, action and the performances of Ana de Armas and Keanu Reeves.

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HOUSEFULL 5 is a paisa-vasool killer comedy that works due to the performances and the climax Movie Review: HOUSEFULL 5 is a paisa-vasool killer comedy

Star Cast: Akshay Kumar, Abhishek A Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri

Director: Tarun Mansukhani

Housefull 5 Movie Review Synopsis:

HOUSEFULL 5 is the story of a murder in a cruise. United Kingdom's seventh richest person, Ranjeet Dobriyal (Ranjeet) is all set to celebrate his 100th birthday in his luxurious ship. The head honchos of his company - CFO Maya (Chitrangda Singh), COO Bedi (Dino Morea), CMO Shiraz (Shreyas Talpade) and CEO and Ranjeet's son Dev (Fardeen Khan) - are in attendance, along with Captain Sameer (Nikitin Dheer), cruise officer Batuk Patel (Johny Lever) and Aakhri Pasta (Chunky Panday). Suddenly, Ranjeet passes away. The lawyer, Lucy (Soundarya Sharma), arrives and reads the will of Ranjeet. As per the will, Ranjeet has bequeathed all his wealth to his son from his first wife Shakuntala Devi (Archana Puran Singh), Jolly. Jolly is all set to arrive on the ship the next day. To the horrors of Dev and the rest of the team, three people arrive, all claiming to be Jolly - Jalabuddin aka Jolly (Riteish Deshmukh), Jalbhushan aka Jolly (Abhishek A Bachchan) and Julius aka Jolly (Akshay Kumar). They are joined by their respective spouses, Zara (Sonam Bajwa), Sashikala (Jacqueline Fernandez) and Kanchi (Nargis Fakhri). Dev decides to conduct a DNA test to find out who the real Jolly is. At night, all of them party. They consume a drink mixed with a mysterious powder and as a result, they forget what happened at night. At the same time, Dr Aman Joshi (Akashdeep Sabir) is murdered. All clues indicate that the murder is committed by one of the three Jolly's. From the UK mainland, two cops, Bhidu (Sanjay Dutt) and Baba (Jackie Shroff), arrive to investigate. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Housefull 5 Movie Story Review: Sajid Nadiadwala's story has all the trappings of a blockbuster. Sajid Nadiadwala, Farhad Samji and Tarun Mansukhani's screenplay has a few rough edges but overall, it works. Kudos should go to the writers as there are so many characters and motives. Yet, they have managed to flesh them ably. Farhad Samji and Tarun Mansukhani's dialogues are a highlight. A few one-liners are below the belt and even slightly racist. But the frontbenchers and those who don't mind such humour will have no complaints.

Tarun Mansukhani's direction is supreme. His biggest achievement is that he has retained the essence of the HOUSEFULL franchise, though he comes from a different school of filmmaking. He has also succeeded in keeping the interest levels high from start to finish. Moreover, it's unpredictable. The identity of the killer in both versions will shock viewers.

Housefull 5 | Official Trailer | Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh | Sajid Nadiadwala

On the flipside, after a rocking first half, the interest level drops post-intermission. The jokes of the cops don't land properly. Certain scenes had no relevance to the overall plot and it made no sense to have them in the film. Also, the use of ChatGPT type stills for the very final scene could have been avoided.

HOUSEFULL 5 begins on a bloody note and it gives an impression that one has come to see a slasher film. The scene that follows sets the base. The use of a medley of the old HOUSEFULL songs will put a smile on the face of the viewers. The introduction of Jolly's is superb and also the track of the bird, Gucci. But the real fun begins when the protagonists wake up with no memory of the last night. The scene of Jalabuddin and Kanchi especially will bring the house down. Even the intermission point is too funny. Post-interval, the entry of Dagdu Hulgund (Nana Patekar) is massy. The ending is full of madness.

Housefull 5 Movie Review Performances: Akshay Kumar, as expected, kills it with his humour and badass performance. Riteish Deshmukh comes next and is very entertaining. Abhishek A Bachchan plays a character that has quirk. Though he is fine, he gets overshadowed by the rest of the cast. Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Soundarya Sharma and Chitrangda Singh are entertaining and add to the glamour quotient. Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff are lovely but are let down by the writing. Nana Patekar has a late entry. Yet, he leaves a mark. Fardeen Khan and Dino Morea lend able support. Shreyas Talpade is sadly wasted. Chunky Pandey, Ranjeet and Johny Lever are funny while Nikitin Dheer and Akashdeep Sabir are okay.

Housefull 5 movie music and other technical aspects: Songs are well woven into the narrative. 'Laal Pari' is catchy while 'Dil E Nadaan' and 'Qayamat' are foot-tapping. 'The Phoogdi Dance' is based on an interesting idea but it doesn't come out as intended. Julis Packiam's background score is exhilarating.

Manikandan Velayutham's cinematography is cinematic. Parvez Shaikh's action is appropriate. Rohit Chaturvedi and Sanam Ratani's costumes are very glamourous. Rajat Poddarr, Rajnish Hedao and Iain Andrews' production design is grand. Do It Creative Ltd and NY VFXWaala's VFX is satisfactory. Rameshwar S Bhagat's editing could have been slicker in the second half.

Housefull 5 Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, HOUSEFULL 5 is a paisa-vasool killer comedy that works due to the performances of the lead cast, subject, humour quotient, unpredictable climax, franchise value and unabashed madness. If you are in the mood for mindless fun, this one hits the sweet spot.

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THUG LIFE fails to entice due to the weak execution and silly post-interval portion Movie Review: THUG LIFE fails to entice due to the weak execution

Star Cast: Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan T R, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi

Director: Mani Ratnam

Thug Life Movie Review Synopsis: THUG LIFE is the story of a man facing betrayal from all corners. The year is 1994. Shaktivel (Kamal Haasan) is a gangster and runs a gang started by his brother Manickam (Nassar). One day, while they are at their basti in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, they are attacked by the police. A newspaper vendor dies in the firing. Shaktivel adopts the son of the vendor, named Amar. Amar later informs Shaktivel that he also has a sister, Chanda, and she’s missing since the day of the firing. Shaktivel promises to find her. 22 years pass. The year is 2016 and Amar (Silambarasan TR) is now the right hand man of Shaktivel. Manickam feels neglected and develops jealousy. Meanwhile, his daughter commits suicide after she gets pregnant and her boyfriend, Ranvijay (Rohit Saraf), dumps her. Ranvijay is the nephew of Sadanand (Mahesh Manjrekar), an old foe of Shaktivel. Shaktivel finds Ranvijay and kills him, further fuelling the enmity with Sadanand. Shaktivel is arrested and Amar takes charge. Amar joins hands with Sadanand to end the bloodshed, though Shaktivel has reservations. Ranvijay’s brother (Ali Fazal) doesn’t agree with the alliance and he attacks Shaktivel. Shaktivel survives but that’s not the end of the problem. Amar, Manickam and other gang members gang up to finish Shaktivel. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Thug Life Movie Story Review: Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan’s story has promise though it’s also clichéd. Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan’s screenplay is arresting in places. But overall, it’s messy and full of cinematic liberties. The dialogues are decent. A film like this should have some clapworthy one-liners, ideally.

Mani Ratnam’s direction is occasionally decemt. To give credit where it’s due, he keeps viewers engaged, at least in the last one hour. The scene at Goa before and after the bomb explosion is memorable. The climax, though a bit unimaginative, keeps viewers hooked. The opening is also quite stylish and the use of black and white gives an interesting touch.

On the flipside, the film soon drops after a great start. The scenes are not properly stitched together, which is shocking, since the director is highly talented. But the film falls rapidly immediately after the intermission. A character is recovering from a bullet injury. He is shot twice and falls from a great height that too in biting cold. Yet, the character survives as if he has suffered just a minor bruise. And that’s not all. The character walks for miles and gets caught in an avalanche! Needless to say, he still survives. This track looks out of place, as the first half gives an impression that it’s a realistic gangster drama.

Thug Life – Hindi Trailer | Kamal Haasan | Mani Ratnam | STR | A.R. Rahman | RKFI | MT | RG

Thug Life Movie Review Performances: Kamal Haasan, as expected, rises above the script. He looks convincing while doing action and shines in the emotional scenes. Silambarasan TR too puts his best foot forward. Trisha Krishnan (Indrani) looks stunning and performance wise, one wishes she had more to do in the film. Abhirami (Jeeva) is memorable in the second half in the beach scene. Nassar is dependable as always. Ali Fazal hardly has any screen time and is too similar to his act in MIRZAPUR. Aishwarya Lekshmi (Anna) is too good, albeit in a cameo. Joju George (Pathros), Sanjana Krishnamoorthy (Mangai), Bagavathi Perumal (Anburaj), Ashok Selvan (Jai Royappa) and others are decent. Mahesh Manjrekar and Rohit Saraf are passable.

Thug Life movie music and other technical aspects: A R Rahman’s music is just okay. ‘Jinguchaa’ is the best of the lot followed by ‘Sugar Baby’, ‘Veer E Kainaat’ and ‘Chand Ke Tukdey’. A R Rahman’s background score is exhilarating but in a few scenes, it starts all of a sudden.

Ravi K Chandran’s cinematography is splendid. Anbariv’s action is entertaining though it’s disturbing in a few scenes. Sharmishta Roy’s production design is realistic. Eka Lakhani’s costumes are authentic while Amritha Ram’s costumes for Kamal Haasan are realistic. Special mention should also go to Akihito Ikeda’s make-up for Kamal Haasan. A Sreekar Prasad’s editing is functional.

Thug Life Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, THUG LIFE fails to entice due to the weak execution and silly post-interval portion. The Hindi version releases amid limited buzz and strong competition from HOUSEFULL 5. As a result, it will struggle to find an audience.

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STOLEN leaves an impact due to its stark realism and edge-of-the-seat moments Movie Review: STOLEN leaves an impact due to its stark realism

Star Cast: Abhishek Banerjee, Shubham Vardhan, Mia Maelzer

Director: Karan Tejpal

Stolen Movie Review Synopsis: STOLEN is the story of two brothers on the run. Gautam Bansal (Abhishek Banerjee) arrives at Kumba railway station to receive his brother Raman Bansal aka Rambo (Shubham Vardhan). They have an important family function to attend the next day. Raman alights from the train and at the same time, a kidnapper escapes with Champa, the five-month-old daughter of Jhumpa (Mia Maelzer). The kidnapper bumps into Raman and then runs away. At first, Raman is accused by Jhumpa of snatching her child. The cops arrive and begin investigations. Raman is interrogated thoroughly and the cops even catch the tea boy at the station, who confesses to being a part of the kidnapping. He reveals that the kidnapper is hiding with Jhumpa in ‘kasuni kothi’ (cursed manor). The cops express their inability to go to that place. Raman calls out their callousness as he feels bad for Jhumpa. This enrages the cops and they compel Raman and Gautam to join them for the expedition to the cursed manor. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Stolen Movie Story Review: Karan Tejpal, Swapnil Salkar and Gaurav Dhingra's story is inspired by real-life events. Karan Tejpal, Swapnil Salkar and Gaurav Dhingra's screenplay is engaging for most parts. Shubham Vardhan and Swapnil Salkar's dialogues are straight out of life and conversational.

Karan Tejpal's direction is decent. The film is around 93 minutes long and keeps one on the edge of the seats, especially in the second half. Also, it's relatable as it's derived from incidents of innocent men being attacked on suspicion of being child kidnappers. The director also makes sure that the film is unexpected from the very beginning. One assumes that the function in the Bansal family must be the marriage of one of the children but it turns out to be something else. Similarly, the track of Jhumpa has been well executed. After every 10-15 minutes, the opinion of the viewer would change about her. Is she a victim or is she a criminal herself? – this question will keep playing on one’s mind. The second half is much more hard-hitting and the film ends on a justified note.

On the flipside, a few developments seem unconvincing, especially how Gautam and Raman get entangled in the whole affair of the missing child. The back story is not much established and this also dents impact. It's also bewildering that the family is completely forgotten. Moreover, a few scenes are disturbing while the execution is niche and film festival-type. Hence, it is not a film for every section of the audience, even on OTT.

Stolen Movie Review Performances: Abhishek Banerjee is superb in his first leading role in a feature film. His character goes through a lot – from an arrogant chap who can get away with the help of money to the one who gets humbled by the circumstances – and he gets it right perfectly. Shubham Vardhan has a fine screen presence and plays his part with aplomb. He’s sure to get noticed by the film industry, thanks to this film. Mia Maelzer is an even bigger surprise and is an actor to watch out for. Harish Khanna (Pandit ji; constable), Sahidur Rahaman (Inspector Shakti Singh) and Saarthak Dewan (Acchelal) lend able support. Bhanu (Tea Boy) is fair.

Stolen movie music and other technical aspects: Arpad Bondy's music is minimal yet effective. Isshaan Ghosh's cinematography adds to the realism and also the impact. The same goes for Babbu Khanna's action, Neeraj Kumar Singh's production design and Harsh Dedhia's costumes. Special mention should also go to Uma Sejwal's makeup, hair and prosthetics. Shreyas Beltangdy's editing is slick.

Stolen Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, STOLEN leaves an impact due to its stark realism, performances and edge-of-the-seat moments.

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