SIKANDAR’s attempt to deliver a powerful social message is diluted by a weak script Movie Review: SIKANDAR attempts to deliver a powerful social message

Star Cast: Salman Khan, Rashmika Mandanna

Director: A R Murugadoss 

Sikandar Movie Review Synopsis: SIKANDAR is the story of a man with a heart of gold. Sanjay Rathod (Salman Khan) belongs to the royal family of Rajkot. He's happily married to Saisri (Rashmika Mandanna). While flying to Rajkot from Mumbai, Sanjay beats up a man, Arjun (Prateik Babbar) for outraging the modesty of a woman (Neha Iyer). Arjun turns out to be the son of the Home Minister (Sathyaraj). The home minister seethes with rage and deploys a cop, Prakash (Kishore), to nab Sanjay and give him a hard time. Prakash's attempts are futile as Sanjay is too popular in Rajkot thanks to his humanitarian efforts. Hence, arresting him is next to impossible. Meanwhile, Sanjay's life takes a shocking turn, and he is compelled to move to Mumbai. As luck would have it, it is also the turf of the home minister, leading to madness and chaos. What happens next forms the rest of the film. 

Sikandar Movie Story Review: A. R. Murugadoss' story (story discussion team: G Jagannathan, P Kinslin, N S Ponkumar) holds much promise. A. R. Murugadoss' screenplay fails to do justice to this superb plot. Except for a few well-etched scenes, the rest of the script is full of loopholes and cinematic liberties. A R Murugadoss' dialogues (additional dialogues by Rajat Aroraa, Abbas Dalal, Hussain Dalal) are substandard. A film like this needed to have many more hard-hitting and seeti-maar dialogues.

A R Murugadoss' direction is shockingly disappointing, given his great body of work. He has tried his best to pepper the narrative with loads of crowd-pleasing action and dramatic scenes. There's also an unexpected moment in the first 45 minutes which will astonish moviegoers. Also, what works the best is Salman Khan’s entry scene. It is terrific, and it's not there just for the heck of it; it’s also a part of the story.

But after a great start, the film goes downhill. Except for the scene at the hospital and the scene at Vaidehi’s (Kajal Aggarwal) house, the rest of the scenes don't leave the desired impact. The narrative also seems haphazard; it gives a feeling that several scenes have been chopped off, too badly. Certain developments don’t make sense. The scene where Arjun asks the cameraman to pan the camera on Sanjay defies logic. In another scene, the kid is sitting in the open without his shirt when he has just gotten his lung transplant done. The slum dwellers were poor but they were also benevolent and would not allow a sick child to roam around in such a manner, that too in a polluted environment. The film is replete with such sequences which will be panned by the audience. On top of it, the villain track is weak. A film like this ought to have many more confrontational scenes between the hero and the villain. 

Sikandar Official Trailer – Salman Khan, Rashmika | Sajid Nadiadwala | A.R. Murugadoss

Sikandar Movie Review Performances: Salman Khan looks dashing and plays a role which is in sync with his ‘Being Human’ image. As a result, his fans will surely lap it up. However, he seems stiff in a few scenes and doesn’t seem to have given his hundred percent. Rashmika Mandanna looks ravishing and is the soul of the film. Sadly, her screen time is limited. Sharman Joshi (Amar), Kishore, and Jatin Sarna (De Niro) lend able support. Sathyaraj fails to impress. Prateik Smita Patil is over the top, but it works for his character. Kajal Aggarwal (Vaidehi) is decent, but her track should have been simplified. Anjini Dhawan (Nisha) and Sulbha Arya (Savithri) are hardly there. Sanjay Kapoor (Sriram) and Nawab Shah (Virat Bakshi) are wasted, while Ayan Khan (Kamaruddin) is cute. Neha Iyer, Dhanya Balakrishna (female staffer in Sikandar’s team), Vishal Vashishtha (Vaidehi’s husband), Vijayant Kohli (Sudarshan), and Rajesh Jhaveri (Seshadri; Vaidehi’s father-in-law) are fair. 

Sikandar movie music and other technical aspects: Pritam's music does have a shelf life. 'Zohra Jabeen' is the best of the lot as it is catchy and fan-pleasing. The title song is okay. 'Sikandar Naache', 'Bam Bam Bhole', 'Hum Aapke' and 'Taikhaane Mein' don’t impress. Santhosh Narayan's background score is much better and exhilarating.

S Thirunavukarasu's cinematography is functional. RedChillies.VFX's VFX is below par. Kevin Kumar's action is superb. In a rare instance, he has been credited as one would mention a debutant actor. Amit Ray and Subrata Chakraborty's production design is tacky. Alvira Khan Agnihotri's costumes for Salman Khan are stylish. Meagan Concessio's costumes for Rashmika Mandanna are glamorous, but the one she wears in her entry scene is awkward. Puneet Jain's costumes for the rest of the actors are functional. Vivek Harshan's editing is not up to the mark. 

Sikandar Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, SIKANDAR attempts to deliver a powerful social message and showcases Salman Khan in a role that’s sure to resonate with his fanbase. However, the impact is diluted by a weak script and erratic direction. At the box office, the film will initially benefit from the Eid holiday and the lack of competition, but sustaining momentum in the long run will be a tough challenge.

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BLACK BAG rests on a talented cast but the film suffers from a confusing narrative Movie Review: BLACK BAG rests on the strength of a talented star cast

Star Cast: Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Black Bag Movie Review Synopsis: BLACK BAG is the story of an intelligent agent and his dangerous game while trying to find a traitor. British intelligence officer George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) investigates the leak of a top-secret software program code-named Severus. The list of possible suspects includes his wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), who is also an intelligence officer. He invites the other four suspects, also spies, to his house for dinner. These four suspects are satellite imagery specialist Clarissa (Marisa Abela), agency psychiatrist Zoe (Naomie Harris) and managing agents Freddie (Tom Burke) and James (Regé-Jean Page). Their food is drugged to lower their inhibitions. A lot of secrets tumble out during dinner. George continues to investigate all of them and feels extremely suspicious of his wife, especially when she leaves for Zurich for an undisclosed mission. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Black Bag Movie Story Review: David Koepp has written a story, which is based in the spy world but is unlike the other films made in this space. David Koepp's screenplay is very confusing and also doesn't involve viewers completely. David Koepp's dialogues are conversational.

Steven Soderbergh's direction is not as engaging as intended. To give credit where it's due, he keeps the duration in check (94 minutes) and also assembles a talented star cast. The film begins on an intriguing note. The dinner table scene, interestingly, gives a deja vu of KHEL KHEL MEIN [2024] though soon, things take an unexpected turn.

After this dramatic sequence, the film goes downhill. There's so much happening that if one doesn't pay attention for a second, one will fail to understand the goings-on. The narrative style is also complex and it becomes tedious after a point to join the dots and remember the events and the intentions of the characters. The climax arrests attention but is not impactful enough. Lastly, the release period is also questionable.

Black Bag Movie Review Performances: Michael Fassbender delivers a subtle performance and it goes in favour of his sharp-minded and clinical character. Cate Blanchett, as expected, is very impressive. Marisa Abela is the surprise of the film and she dominates the other veteran actors in several scenes. Tom Burke's performance stands out due to his character. Naomie Harris and Regé-Jean Page lend able support. Gustaf Skarsgård (Meacham) and Pierce Brosnan (Arthur Stieglitz) leave a mark.

Black Bag movie music and other technical aspects: David Holmes' music has a mysterious and dramatic feel and goes well with the theme of the film. Peter Andrews' cinematography is appropriate.

Philip Messina's production design is rich while Ellen Mirojnick's costumes are appealing. Mary Ann Bernard's editing is slick.

Black Bag Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, BLACK BAG rests on the strength of a talented star cast with a respected writer and director at the helm. However, the film suffers considerably due to its confusing narrative, which takes away from its overall impact. While it was released worldwide on March 14, a day-and-date release in India would have been ideal. Releasing it during the SIKANDAR and L2 EMPURAAN week is a miscalculation that will likely dent its box office prospects.

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L2: Empuraan boasts mass appeal, grandeur, a powerful subject, and stellar performances by Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Movie Review: L2: Empuraan boasts mass appeal, grandeur, and stellar performances

Star Cast: Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran

Director: Prithviraj Sukumaran 

L2 Empuraan Movie Review Synopsis: L2 EMPURAAN is the story of a mysterious man. Five years have passed since the events of the first part. A check dam is being built in Kerala on an existing dam. This project threatens to displace thousands of villagers and hence, there is a lot of resistance to it. The chief minister of the state Jathin Ramdas (Tovino Thomas), however, seems to support it. He has also become autocratic and in no way close to the way his late father, P K Ramdas aka PKR (Sachin Khedekar) used to function, which causes uproar in the party, IUF. Jathin holds a special meeting and keeps the agenda hidden. At the meeting, he informs that he is leaving IUF as he's unhappy with the party members and their activities. He decides to float his own party called the IUF-PKR. Moreover, he joins hands with a communal leader, Baba Bajrangi (Abhimanyu Singh). The decision shocks the people and political class of Kerala as they fear that it’ll prove detrimental to the ideals of the state. Govardhan (Indrajith Sukumaran), the journalist-cum-activist, appeals to Stephen Nedumpally (Mohanlal) to return and save God's Own Country. Stephen disappeared from Kerala 5 years ago and his present-day whereabouts are uncertain. The mention of Stephen scares Jathin and he instructs CIB officer Karthik (Kishore) to ensure that Stephen won’t meddle in the affairs of the state. Sadly for Jathin, Stephen decides to return to save his homeland. He’s once again joined by Zayed Masood (Prithviraj Sukumaran), who has a personal vendetta against Baba Bajrangi aka Balraj. What happens next forms the rest of the film. 

L2 Empuraan Movie Story Review: Murali Gopy's story has a lot of elements compared to the first part, LUCIFER [2019]. Murali Gopy's screenplay is gripping. The best part of the writing is that there are a lot of subplots but he puts all of them together very nicely. Murali Gopy's dialogues and their Hindi translation are likeable.

Prithviraj Sukumaran's direction is cinematic. LUCIFER was also a grand film but L2 EMPURAAN goes many notches higher in this regard. It is not easy to have a film that talks not just about the politics of a state but also about the chaos in the world of spies. Prithviraj blends both of them neatly and hence, it doesn’t give an impression that either of the tracks is forced into the narrative. Moreover, it's also a brave film as it talks about communal politics and its dangers. The film begins on a shocking note and it nicely serves as a base. The back-and-forth narrative is also done stylishly and yet, it's easy to understand what is going on. A few scenes that stand out in the first half are Jathin leaving IUF, Stephen’s entry and the interval point. Post-interval, the scene of Priyadarshini Ramdas (Manju Warrier) at the public meeting is memorable. But the scene thereafter is even more entertaining and would be greeted with whistles and claps. The climax is also quite massy.

L2 Empuraan Trailer (Hindi) | Mohanlal | Prithviraj Sukumaran | Gokulam Gopalan | Antony Perumbavoor

On the flipside, it is compulsory to watch LUCIFER before watching L2 EMPURAAN. But it's difficult to say how many people have seen the first part in the Hindi-speaking belt. As a result, they might not be able to fully get involved in the proceedings as they will not be able to comprehend the goings-on in the absence of the back story. Secondly, this is a rare film where the main hero’s entry happens at the 61st minute, that is, almost after an hour! It might make people restless, especially his fans. The run time of 179 minutes is also a bit of a downer, especially during the extended climax. Lastly, the lack of buzz and release period can affect the prospects of the Hindi version. 

L2 Empuraan Movie Review Performances: Mohanlal makes up for the late entry with his subtle yet impactful performance. The way he communicates with his eyes is seen to be believed. Prithviraj Sukumaran has less screen time, just like last time, but yet again, he rocks the show. This time, viewers get to know more about his character and it adds to his performance. Special mention should also go to Karthikeya Dev, who plays the young Zayed. Tovino Thomas and Manju Warrier leave a huge mark. Abhimanyu Singh is terrific as the villain. Sukant Goel (Munna) also makes his presence felt. Sachin Khedekar is decent in a cameo. Indrajith Sukumaran, Andrea Tivadar (Michele Menuhin), Jerome Flynn (Boris Oliver), Eriq Ebouaney (Kabuga), Nikhat Khan (Subhadra), Fazil (Father Nedumpally), Saikumar (Mahesha Varma), Baiju Santhosh (Murukan), Alexx O'Nell (Robert McCarthy) and Mikhail Novikov (Sergei Leonov) do well. Saniya Iyappan (Jhanvi), Nyla Usha (Arundathi) and Giju John (Sanjeev Kumar) are wasted. 

L2 Empuraan movie music and other technical aspects: Deepak Dev's music has no scope. 'Phir Zinda', however, is well-utilized. Deepak Dev's background score is powerful and elevates impact in several scenes.

Sujith Vaassudev's cinematography adds considerably to the scale of the film. Stunt Silva's action is disturbing but also mass-appealing. The scene in the jungle especially will be loved by the audience. YFX Studios, Labyrinth Studios- Mumbai, Binary Circus, Paperplane, Ident and DTM's VFX matches global standards. Prithviraj Productions' production design is of superior quality. The same goes for Sujith Sudhakaran's costumes. Akhilesh Mohan's editing is slick but also dragging in some places. 

L2 Empuraan Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, L2 EMPURAAN has its share of mass-appealing scenes, grandeur, powerful subject and impressive performances by Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran. However, its business in Hindi might be affected due to the SIKANDAR wave and limited buzz. It’ll need positive word of mouth in the Hindi-speaking markets to spring a surprise at the box office.

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TUMKO MERI KASAM is weak. It will be affected big time at the box office Movie Review: TUMKO MERI KASAM is weak in merits

Star Cast: Anupam Kher, Ishwak Singh, Adah Sharma, Vikram Bhatt

Director: Vikram Bhatt

Tumko Meri Kasam Movie Review Synopsis: TUMKO MERI KASAM is the story of a man wrongly framed in a sinister case. The film is set in two timelines. Dr Ajay Murdia (Ishwak Singh) is based in Udaipur and is married to Indira (Adah Sharma). Both are professors. Ajay has a deep interest in the subject of fertility and he quits his job to start a fertility clinic. The other track is set in the present day. Dr Ajay Murdia (Anupam Kher)'s fertility venture, Indira IVF, has become very successful. Shockingly, he's arrested for attempting to murder one of the core employees of the company, Rajeev Khosla (Meherrzan B Mazda). Ajay's defence is that he is innocent and that Rajeev himself plotted the attack on himself. Rajeev retorts that he could have almost died in the hit-and-run accident and hence, there's no way that he could have orchestrated it. Though Ajay is released on bail, his image suffers and he's pressured to resign. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Tumko Meri Kasam Movie Story Review: Vikram Bhatt's story is promising and could have made for a captivating flick. But Vikram Bhatt's screenplay is poor and full of loopholes. Vikram Bhatt's dialogues are simple and a few of them are childish.

Vikram Bhatt's direction is poor. To give credit where it's due, a few scenes of young Dr Ajay and Indira are sweet, especially how they have to struggle to open the fertility clinic. The courtroom drama keeps one engaged. A memorable scene in the first half is that of the boardroom.

On the flipside, despite the film's long length (166 minutes), there are several questions left unanswered by the makers. Except for a feeble argument by Rajeev, one doesn't understand what made him so angry about Dr Ajay, especially when the latter did so much for him. The attempt to draw parallels between the two tracks works at times but mostly, it doesn't. While doing justice to both tracks, the sequences of the young Dr Ajay get a raw deal. Moreover, the film is poor technically. Lastly, though the courtroom scenes are engaging, they are shot in an amateur manner. To see the attendees breaking into a commotion every time a witness says something sensational becomes laughable after a point. It’s also bewildering that Kishan Khosla (Durgesh Kumar) is brought in as a witness by Rajeev. The twist is unexpected but didn't Rajeev and his team anticipate that Kishan will side with Ajay? Hence, the writing has gone all wrong and the poor execution further ruins the experience.

Tumko Meri Kasam – Official Trailer | Anupam Kher, Adah Sharma, Ishwak Singh | Vikram Bhatt

Tumko Meri Kasam Movie Review Performances: Anupam Kher tries his best to rise above the substandard script and deliver a fine performance. Ishwak Singh, too, puts in a sincere performance. Adah Sharma is adorable and suits the part perfectly. Esha Deol (Meenakshi) is just okay but does well in some of the courtroom scenes. Meherrzan B Mazda is apt as the villain. Durgesh Kumar leaves a huge mark while Sushant Singh (Ramnath Tripathi) lends able support. Mohit Dagga (Nitiz Murdia) and Adnan Khan (Kshitiz Murdia) make their presence felt in the boardroom meeting scene. Vicky Dutt (Devendra; Ajay's driver), Sushil Tyagi (V N Doshi; judge), Varun Akki (Shyam; truck driver), Zamin Abbas Rizvi (Bhosale; ward boy) and Arbendra Pratap Singh (Suleiman; scrap yard owner) are over the top.

Tumko Meri Kasam movie music and other technical aspects: The songs (by Prateek Walia) don't impress, be it 'Ishqa Ishqa', Chahun Tumko Aise', 'Berang', the title track, etc. The background score, too, fails to entice. Naren A Gedia's cinematography is functional while Priyanka Mundada's costumes are realistic. Naushad Memon's production design is akin to that of a TV Show. Nube Cirrus' VFX is very tacky. This film serves as an example of how the VFX shouldn't be in a film. Kuldip Mehan's editing is sluggish.

Tumko Meri Kasam Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, TUMKO MERI KASAM is weak in merits. At the box office, the negligible buzz and Ramzan period will affect its collections big time, despite the BOGO and cheap ticket offers.

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SNOW WHITE rests on moments that appeal but the inconsistent writing proves detrimental. Movie Review: Despite moments that appeal in SNOW WHITE inconsistent writing proves detrimental.

Star Cast: Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot

Director: Marc Webb 

Snow White Movie Review Synopsis: SNOW WHITE is the story of a princess fighting an evil Queen. Snow White (Rachel Zegler) is the daughter of a kind-hearted King (Hadley Fraser) and Queen (Lorena Andrea). The Queen dies of an illness and after some time, the King falls in love with a stunning woman (Gal Gadot). He marries her eventually. However, she turns out to be the Evil Queen. The Evil Queen sends the King away to fight a battle and he never returns. Thus, the Evil Queen takes over the charge of the kingdom and she changes certain policies. As a result, the subjects are a dejected lot. Moreover, she puts Snow White under house arrest and forces her to work as a maid. Interestingly, the Evil Queen asks her Magic Mirror daily ‘Who is the fairest one of all’. For years, the mirror always answers that the Queen is. But one day, the Magic Mirror deems Snow White the fairest of them all. The enraged Evil Queen orders her Huntsman (Ansu Kabia) to take Snow White into the forest, kill her, and bring back her heart in a jewelled box as proof. Huntsman takes her into the woods but is unable to kill her. He asks her to run away. Snow White does as asked and happens to meet seven dwarfs. She also meets Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), a thief with a heart of gold. What happens next forms the rest of the film. 

Snow White Movie Story Review: SNOW WHITE is based on the fairy tale 'Snow White' by the Brothers Grimm and Disney's 1937 classic SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. The plot is slightly changed though. Erin Cressida Wilson's screenplay is engaging but could have been better and sharper. The dialogues are decent.

Marc Webb's direction is fair. He keeps the duration in check (109 minutes) and ensures that it's a film which can be enjoyed by the families, especially the kids. A few songs are catchy and the track of the seven dwarfs is cute. Technically, the film is also quite top-class.

On the flipside, the makers could have thrown light on a few aspects. For instance, where did the Evil Queen come from all of a sudden. The entire track of the King disappearing could have been simplified. The rebel group of Jonathan is never properly introduced and hence, viewers don’t form any association with them. The climax is convenient; one expects a grand battle but that doesn't happen. Also, the dwarfs hardly have to do anything at this point. Lastly, the casting controversy dents the impact to some extent. 

Snow White Movie Review Performances: Rachel Zegler plays her part with panache and especially impresses once she reaches the forest. Her persona has the 'Good Princess' vibe, further aiding her performance. Gal Gadot tries her best but doesn't seem convincing as a woman who's jealous of a young girl's looks. Andrew Burnap disappears in the middle but manages to impress. Ansu Kabia lends able support. Hadley Fraser and Lorena Andrea are okay in cameos. From the voice cast, Jeremy Swift (Doc), Martin Klebba (Grumpy) and Andrew Barth Feldman (Dopey) stand out. 

Snow White movie music and other technical aspects: The songs add to the interest level. A few memorable ones are 'Heigh-Ho', 'Whistle While You Work', 'Princess Problems' and 'A Hand Meets A Hand'. Jeff Morrow's background score is appropriate for the film's theme. Mandy Walker's cinematography is neat. The VFX is fantastic and in the scenes of animals, it's very realistic. The costumes are regal while the production design is superior Mark Sanger and Sarah Broshar's editing is fine but it gives viewers a feeling that some scenes were edited out. 

Snow White Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, SNOW WHITE rests on certain moments that would appeal to the families and kids. But the inconsistent writing, its release in the dull period and the controversy over its casting will prove detrimental.

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BE HAPPY works due to the performances and the strong emotional moments Movie Review: BE HAPPY works due to the performances

Star Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Inayat Verma, Nora Fatehi

Director: Remo Dsouza

Be Happy Movie Review Synopsis: BE HAPPY is the story of a father and a daughter. Shiv Rastogi (Abhishek A Bachchan) lives in Ooty with his daughter Dhara (Inayat Verma) and father-in-law Mr Nadar (Nasser). His wife Rohini (Harleen Sethi) died in an accident and ever since, Shiv has been depressed. Dhara is passionate about dancing and wins the contest in her school. The judge at the contest is the popular dancer and dance instructor Maggie (Nora Fatehi) and she invites Dhara to join her dance academy in Mumbai. Maggie wishes to train Dhara well so that she can get shortlisted for the popular dance contest, 'India's Superstar Dancer'. Shiv, at first, refuses as he doesn't take Dhara's dance passion seriously. But Dhara remains adamant and Nadar also pushes him. Hence, he agrees. Shiv and Dhara, thus, move to Mumbai on a temporary basis. Thanks to her immense talent, Dhara becomes the top dancer at 'India's Superstar Dancer'. All is going well until she is asked to dance with a family member for the 'Family Round'. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Be Happy Movie Story Review: Remo Dsouza's story is different from his other dance films. Tushar Hiranandani, Remo Dsouza, Kanishka Singh Deo and Chirag Garg's screenplay is a bit weak in the first half but then leaves a mark, especially in the emotional scenes. Kanishka Singh Deo and Chirag Garg's dialogues are witty and they sweetly bring out the banter between the father and daughter and daughter and her nana.

Remo Dsouza's direction is simple. Like always, he peppers the film with relatable conflicts, humour, drama, music and of course, lots of dance. The characters of Dhara and Shiv are well fleshed out and the viewers will instantly get invested in their story. The trailer gives a bit too much of the story but thankfully, the makers didn’t divulge the main conflict. Hence, when it unfolds on screen, it comes as a jolt and that’s where the film gets immensely touching and moving. The finale is lovely.

Be Happy – Official Trailer | Abhishek Bachchan | Prime Video India

On the flipside, things happen very conveniently in the first half, from Dhara winning the school contest to being shortlisted for 'India's Superstar Dancer'. The makers probably wanted to keep the major obstacles for Dhara in the second half. Yet, there’s not much of a challenge for Dhara, except convincing her father. Viewers anyway knew that he’d agree and hence, the first half is entirely predictable. The second half is way better but even here, the narrative gets dragged. The Ganapati song will stand out individually but as part of the film, it seems forced. The film ends a bit abruptly and one wishes the makers had informed viewers what happened to the characters. Lastly, the recital of a poem during the end credits gives a very heavy feeling and it doesn’t go well with the otherwise uplifting finale.

Be Happy Movie Review Performances: Abhishek A Bachchan, as always, puts his best foot forward and keeps his act subtle. He gets better in the second half and yet again proves why he’s a supremely talented performer. Inayat Verma is the life of the film and she dominates all the other actors in several scenes. Her dance moves are killer. Interestingly, she and Abhishek have teamed up for the second time after LUDO [2020]. Nasser is adorable. Nora Fatehi delivers an impressive performance. Harleen Sethi leaves a mark in a cameo. Johny Lever (Gopi) and Sanchit Chanana (Prem) are funny. Rupali Krishnan (Kusum; neighbour) is okay. Jay Bhanushali, Punit J Pathak, Salman Yusuff Khan, Elli AvrRam and Sonali Bendre play themselves and are fine.

Be Happy movie music and other technical aspects: Harsh Upadhyay's music won’t have a shelf life but is well woven into the narrative, except 'Raja'. The ones that work are 'Sultana', 'Devi Aayi', 'Superstar', 'Mere Papa' and 'Dream'. Harsh Upadhyay's background score is better.

Vijay Kumar Arora's cinematography is impressive. Rahul Shetty's choreography is stunning. Denish Hamirani's costumes are realistic while Jerry Dsouza's performance costumes are flashy. Tanvi Leena Patil's production design is appropriate. Sherwin Bernard's editing could have been slicker.

Be Happy Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, BE HAPPY works due to the performances of Abhishek A Bachchan and Inayat Verma and the strong emotional moments in the second half.

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MY MELBOURNE rests on an interesting idea but fails to entice. It will go unnoticed at the box office Movie Review: MY MELBOURNE rests on an interesting idea but fails to entice.

Star Cast: Arka Das, Arushi Sharma, Ryanna Skye Lawson, Setara Amiri

Director: Onir, Arif Ali, Rima Das, Kabir Khan, Rahul Vohra

MY MELBOURNE consists of four stories exploring themes like LGBT, disability, gender and race. All four stories are inspired by true events.

1. Nandini (Directed by Onir)

The plot: Indraneel (Arka Das) is gay and lives with his boyfriend (Jackson Gallagher). Indraneel's mother passes away in India. His father Mihir (Mouli Ganguly) arrives in Melbourne to be with his son and to conduct the final rites. Mihir had disowned Indraneel due to the latter's sexual orientation. But in times of grief, they come closer, although tensions remain.

Nandini is the best short film of the lot. Gregory Francis and William Duan's screenplay is neat and Onir's execution is appropriate. The film moves at a slow pace but it works and the only piece of background score – the song ‘Nandini’ (by Madhurima Roy) – is haunting.

Arka Das plays the difficult part with aplomb. Mouli Ganguly is convincing as the father who's conservative but trying to come to terms with the reality. Jackson Gallagher lends able support.

2. Jules (Directed by Arif Ali) The plot: Sakshi (Arushi Sharma) is a newly married woman who has moved to Melbourne with her controlling husband. She works in the kitchen of a restaurant. A homeless woman, Jules (Kat Stewart), with an acidic tongue, sits outside her restaurant and Sakshi is traumatized by her. Soon, Sakshi’s marital problems compel her to grow closer to Jules.

Contrary to what the makers claim, Jules is not directed by Imtiaz Ali. He’s the creative director while Arif Ali is the director. The misleading claim was avoidable. Arif Ali, Shivangi Bhowmick and Monique Nair's screenplay is engaging. However, the whole bit of Sakshi’s hubby getting angry over Sakshi’s picture with her male colleagues on social media is unconvincing. Sakshi is shown trying to tell her chef Leon (Jake Ryan) to remove the picture, albeit unsuccessfully. Instead, she could have simply untagged herself. Hence, the makers should have thought of a better idea to explain this rift between the couple. Arif Ali’s direction is fine but he rushes through the narrative in the end needlessly.

Arushi Sharma slips into her character effortlessly. Kat Stewart is damn good and delivers as per the requirement. Jake Ryan is fair.

3. Emma (Directed by Rima Das) The plot: Emma (Ryanna Skye Lawson) is a talented deaf dancer in her early 20s with increasing doubts over her sense of self and her career as a professional dancer.

The concept by Samira Cox is promising. But Samira Cox and Monique Nair’s screenplay is dry and ambiguous. Rima Das’ direction is also weak. What could have been depicted neatly and concisely is told in a confusing manner. Hence, a section of moviegoers will not get a hang of things. A few scenes end and begin rather abruptly too.

Ryanna Skye Lawson delivers a good performance but is let down by the script, execution and editing. Others also do well.

4. Setara (Directed by Kabir Khan, Rahul Vohra) The plot: Setara (Setara Amiri) has moved to Melbourne with her mother Latifa (Sepideh Falleh) and sister Asia (Ella Wilson) after the Taliban took over their country, Afghanistan. Setara is admitted to a reputed school and makes new friends. She is an aspiring cricketer and used to play back in her homeland. Latifa, however, makes it clear that Setara should give up on cricket and focus on studying while in Australia. However, her school coach (Brad Hodge) discovers her talent and insists that she join the school team.

Monique Nair and Nazifa Amir’s screenplay is okay and doesn’t do complete justice to the great idea at hand. Kabir Khan and Rahul Vohra’s direction is cinematic and they try their best to give the plot a big-screen appeal. He also focuses on how running away from one’s country can result in different kinds of traumas for different people. But this story is predictable. The cricket match is not filmed with the same finesse that Kabir directed in ’83 [2021].

Setara Amiri does very well and that it’s based on her own life adds to her performance. Sepideh Falleh and Ella Wilson lend able support. Brad Hodge is lovely.

My Melbourne Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, MY MELBOURNE rests on an interesting idea but fails to entice. At the box office, it’ll go largely unnoticed due to negligible buzz. However, it might find some audience once it releases on OTT due to the association of reputed filmmakers like Imtiaz Ali and Kabir Khan.

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NOVOCAINE makes for a fun watch, but its gory climax might affect its box office chances Movie Review: NOVOCAINE makes for a fun watch thanks to its subject.

Star Cast: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder

Director: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen

Novocaine Movie Review Synopsis: NOVOCAINE is the story of a man who can't feel pain. Nate (Jack Quaid) is a shy gentleman who lives alone in San Diego. He works at San Diego Trust Credit Union bank as an assistant manager and suffers from Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA), which means that he can't feel pain. Moreover, he doesn't even have solid food with the fear that he might unknowingly bite his tongue. He's in love with Sherry (Amber Midthunder), who works in his bank but never has the guts to ask her out. As luck would have it, Sherry begins to speak to him and they even get intimate. As a result, Nate is elated. The next day, on Christmas Eve, the bank gets burgled by three men in Santa Claus suit. The trio compel Nate to divulge the locker combination. The burglars not only rob the money but also take Sherry as hostage. Nate chases them to save the girl he loves the most. The cops arrive and Nate becomes the suspect. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Novocaine Movie Story Review: Lars Jacobson's story is entertaining and reminds one of MARD KO DARD NAHI HOTA [2019] and also AANKHEN [2002] to some extent. But Lars Jacobson's screenplay is very different from the former though in both the films, the characters have the same disorder. The writing, however, gets a bit stretched in the second half. The dialogues are mildly funny.

Dan Berk and Robert Olsen's direction is simple. The run time is 109 minutes and the pacing is just right. The characters are introduced neatly without rushing through the narrative. This part is sweet and touching. The film switches genres once the bank is robbed and from here on, the film is riddled with hilarious and action-packed scenes. The twist at the midpoint comes as a shocker. Post-interval, the scene where Nate enters a booby-trapped house stands out.

On the flipside, the film is very disturbing and is not for the faint-hearted. The action is very gory and, in the climax, the makers push the envelope in this regard unnecessarily. The film also starts to drag in the finale. Lastly, the buzz is minimal in India.

Novocaine Movie Review Performances: Jack Quaid gets into the skin of his character. He is apt as the socially awkward person who begins to indulge in fights and murders due to the prevailing circumstances. Amber Midthunder dominates the beginning scenes and delivers a fine performance. Jacob Batalon (Roscoe) has a late entry but makes up for it with his lovely performance. Betty Gabriel (Detective Mincy) lends able support. Matt Walsh (Detective Coltraine) is nothing great. As for the antagonists, Ray Nicholson (Simon) leaves the maximum mark followed by Evan Hengst (Ben) and Conrad Kemp (Andre). Garth Collins (Zeno) and Lou Beatty Jr (Earl) are memorable.

Novocaine movie music and other technical aspects: Lorne Balfe and Andrew Kawczynski's music is minimal in the beginning but later, it enhances the madness. Jacques Jouffret's cinematography is satisfactory. The same goes for Kara Lindstrom's production design and the costumes. The action is one of the strong points of the film. A few action scenes are quite stunning and will be loved but some of the violent shots will shock and disturb viewers.

Novocaine Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, NOVOCAINE makes for a fun watch thanks to its subject and some memorable action scenes. However, the lack of awareness of the film and its extremely gory climax might prove detrimental to its box office outcome.

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NADAANIYAN has its share of cute moments but suffers due to poor writing Movie Review: NADAANIYAN has its share of cute moments

Star Cast: Ibrahim Ali Khan, Khushi Kapoor

Director: Shauna Gautam

Nadaaniyan Movie Review Synopsis: NADAANIYAN is the story of two teenagers in an unusual arrangement. Pia Jaisingh (Khushi Kapoor) is a student at Falcon High School, Delhi. She is the only daughter of Neelu Jaisingh (Mahima Chaudhry) and Rajat Jaisingh (Suniel Shetty). Her best friends since childhood are Rhea (Apoorva Mukhija) and Sahira (Aaliyah Qureishi). Both are not talking to Pia as they assume that she is interested in their classmate Ayaan (Dev Agasteya), who is Sahira's crush. To save her friendship and stop Ayaan from spreading rumours, Pia lies that she already has a boyfriend and assures them that she'll introduce him soon. In reality, Pia doesn't have a partner and she starts looking for one. She bumps into Arjun Mehta (Ibrahim Ali Khan), who has just joined Falcon High through a scholarship. He ticks all the boxes - he's funny, charming, smart and very good-looking. Pia asks him to pretend to be his boyfriend. Arjun is apprehensive and Pia offers to pay him Rs. 25,000 a week to be her fake boyfriend. Arjun comes from a middle-class background; his father Sanjay (Jugal Hansraj) is a doctor while his mother Nandini (Dia Mirza) is a teacher at Falcon High. Hence, Arjun agrees. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Nadaaniyan Movie Story Review: Riva Razdan Kapoor's story is modern. Ishita Moitra, Riva Razdan Kapoor and Jehan Handa's screenplay has its share of blemishes and should have been more convincing. Ishita Moitra and Jehan Handa's dialogues are conversational and a few one-liners stand out.

Shauna Gautam's direction is decent. She gives a youthful flavour to the film and it’ll appeal to the elite target audience of Netflix. The scenes of Pia and Arjun are cute and it will keep viewers engaged. She has also handled the picturization of the songs well especially 'Tera Kya Karoon?'. She also keeps the duration in check (119 minutes). Moreover, there are references to films like KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI, DIL TO PAGAL HAI, KAL HO NAA HO, etc. which will be liked.

On the flipside, the writing is weak and Shauna’s direction does little to salvage it. The entire bit of Pia lying about having a boyfriend is unconvincing. Hence, the base of the story itself is shaky. On one hand, the makers show the college students, including Orry, dying to know who Pia’s boyfriend is. On the other hand, we see Pia roaming around the campus and clicking pictures with Arjun with no other person around! Knowing that she’s popular with 3 lakh followers and when she has heightened the mystery about her partner, would her fellow students and her friends not stalk her to find out the identity of the mystery man? The other major issue arises in the second half when hell breaks out in the Jaisingh family. Arjun, unaware of it, wonders why she didn’t join him in Mumbai for the championship. Agreed that Pia is going through a major crisis but she doesn’t even remember such a big event is very difficult to digest. On top of it, she goes to Rajasthan to meet a family friend and is reminded about Arjun only 24 hours later! The makers should have thought of better ways to show the rift between the lovers. Lastly, the setting in NADAANIYAN doesn’t look like that of India at all and is more on the lines of American campus drama shows and films like NEVER HAVE I EVER, TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE, etc.

Nadaaniyan Movie Review Performances: Ibrahim Ali Khan is a bit raw but has the spark and manages to put up a watchable act. His good looks and resemblance with Saif Ali Khan add to his performance. Khushi Kapoor has an arresting screen presence and delivers a decent performance. But she still has a long way to go. Mahima Chaudhry is just okay. Suniel Shetty is impressive but his track ends rather abruptly. Jugal Hansraj and Dia Mirza are adorable. Archana Puran Singh (Mrs Braganza) is hilarious though a few of her dialogues are absurd. Apoorva Mukhija, Aaliyah Qureishi, Dev Agasteya, Agasthya Shah (Aakash Goenka) and Nikhat Hegde (Rani Priyanjali) are okay. Barun Chanda (Dhanraj Jaisingh) has no role. Meezan Jafri (Rudra) is hardly there after a heroic entry. Orry is as usual. Riya Sen (Anahita) is horribly wasted. It's shocking why she even accepted such a blink-and-miss part.

Nadaaniyan movie music and other technical aspects: Sachin-Jigar's music is of chartbuster variety. The title song is okay but 'Ishq Mein' stands out. 'Tirkit Dhoom' is the best of the lot although it begins all of a sudden. 'Tera Kya Karoon?' is well picturized while 'Galatfehmi' is passable. Tushar Lall's background score is in sync with the film's theme.

Anuj Samtani's cinematography could have been better. Anaita Shroff Adajania's costumes are very appealing. The same goes for Rahul Vijay's costumes for Suniel Shetty. Sabrina Singh and Amrita Mahal Nakai's production design is unreal. Vaishnavi Bhate and Sidhant Seth's editing is functional.

Nadaaniyan Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, NADAANIYAN has its share of cute moments but suffers due to poor writing. Nevertheless, the curiosity to see Ibrahim Ali Khan in his debut film is huge and this would result in a healthy viewership.

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MICKEY 17 rests on a crazy yet highly relatable premise and is packed with outrageously hilarious moments Movie Review: MICKEY 17 rests on a crazy yet highly relatable premise.

Star Cast: Robert Pattinson, Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette, Naomi Ackie

Director: Bong Joon Ho

Mickey 17 Movie Review Synopsis: MICKEY 17 is the story of a man on a crazy adventure. The film is set in the future. Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) starts a macron eatery by taking a huge loan. The business fails and the lender, Darius Blank (Ian Hanmore) is behind his life and that of his business partner Timo (Steven Yeun). They decide to leave the Earth and enlist in ultra-rich businessman Kenneth Marshall's (Mark Ruffalo) space program. Mickey unknowingly signs up for being an ‘Expandable’, which involves taking a ‘backup’ of your body and memories and getting into dangerous and fatal tasks. The idea is that even if Mickey dies, Kenneth Marshall's team of scientists can ‘reprint’ him and once again send him on life-threatening missions. Mickey and others, including Kenneth and his wife Ylfa (Toni Collette), are flown to Nilfheim, a planet that Kenneth wants to colonize. Mickey dies 16 times on Nilfheim and while he's on the way. Mickey 17 is one day sent outside the space shuttle in Nilfheim to catch a ‘creeper’, an animal that inhabits the planet. Kenneth's team wants to study the animals and possibly exterminate them as they are seen as a threat. Mickey falls into a gorge full of creepers and is believed to be dead. Mickey, however, survives and goes back to the space shuttle. Meanwhile, assuming that Mickey 17 is dead, Kenneth's team ‘prints’ his replacement, Mickey 18. Mickey 17 goes back to the shuttle and comes face to face with his clone, leading to madness. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Mickey 17 Movie Story Review: MICKEY 17 is based on the book 'Mickey 7' by Edward Ashton. Bong Joon Ho's story is one of a kind. Bong Joon Ho's screenplay is very entertaining and engaging. Bong Joon Ho's dialogues are normal.

Bong Joon Ho's direction is splendid. After PARASITE [2019], he yet again explores certain social themes, while ensuring the entertainment quotient remains intact. This time, he also makes a larger political statement. In fact, certain characters are very similar to real-life personalities and it adds to the fun. The film begins on an intriguing note and then goes into a flashback. The makers spend the first hour in build-up and once Mickey 17 meets Mickey 18, the film goes to a different level. The dinner sequence also stands out.

Post-interval, the film continues its maddening journey. However, the villain track is a bit weak. He's very dangerous and powerful but the protagonists are able to overpower him rather easily.

Mickey 17 Movie Review Performances: Robert Pattinson steals the show. All the Mickey's have distinct personality traits and in this regard, he comes out with flying colours. Mark Ruffalo delivers one of the finest performances of his career. He gets into the skin of his character and comes out with an act that does justice to his eccentric character. Toni Collette also lends able support to Mark and delivers an equally impressive and crazy performance. Naomi Ackie (Nasha Barridge) maintains a strong position and stands out among such compelling performances. She is very memorable in the scene where she meets both Mickeys. Anamaria Vartolomei (Kai) leaves a mark. Cameron Britton (Arkady), Patsy Ferran (Dorothy), Steven Yeun and Ian Hanmore are decent.

Mickey 17 movie music and other technical aspects: Jung Jae-il's music has an opera feel and fits seamlessly with the narrative. Darius Khondji's cinematography is lovely as it avoids the grandeur shots and focuses more on the principal characters. Fiona Crombie's production design and Catherine George's costumes are appropriate. The action is realistic while the VFX is top-class. Yang Jin-mo's editing is slick.

Mickey 17 Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, MICKEY 17 rests on a crazy yet highly relatable premise and is packed with outrageously hilarious moments and strong performances. The buzz in India is currently limited, but the positive word-of-mouth, a clean release window, and the fact that it's directed by PARASITE filmmaker Bong Joon Ho should hopefully draw audiences to cinemas.

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CRAZXY rests on Sohum Shah’s bravura performance but suffers due to the disappointing climax Movie Review: CRAZXY rests on Sohum Shah’s bravura performance

Star Cast: Sohum Shah

Director: Girish Kohli

Crazxy Movie Review Synopsis: CRAZXY is the story of a man in danger. Dr Abhimanyu Sood (Sohum Shah) works in a Delhi hospital. He leaves for his workplace with Rs. 5 crores in his car. Suddenly, he gets a call from a mysterious man who claims that he has kidnapped his daughter Vedika (Unnati Surana). Abhimanyu, at first, assumes that it’s a prank call. But soon, reality dawns upon him. The kidnapper asks for a ransom of Rs. 5 crores for his daughter's life. Abhimanyu gets suspicious; he wonders whether the kidnapper knows that he's carrying Rs. 5 crores. He doubts his ex-wife Bobby (voiced by Nimisha Sajayan), especially at the instigation of his current partner (voiced by Shilpa Shukla). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Crazxy Movie Story Review: Girish Kohli's story is minimal. Yet, Girish Kohli's screenplay is gripping and keeps the viewers engaged only to go haywire in the climax. Girish Kohli's dialogues are straight out of life.

Girish Kohli's direction is fair as the whole film is a one-actor show for most parts. Yet, one realizes this much later. This is because, unlike many such films which are set in one location, the protagonist in CRAZXY is running around. The other actors do join him but only through audio calls and rarely through video calls. Hence, it doesn’t give an incomplete feeling. In the second half, the film goes to dizzying heights in the scene where Abhimanyu changes the tyre of his car while also dealing with a crisis at work. It is one of the most unique scenes of Bollywood and will be loved.

But in the end, the film comes crashing down. The suspense is unpredictable but it's also silly and will not be accepted by a majority of the moviegoers. Moreover, the lack of buzz will also prove detrimental.

Crazxy Movie Review Performances: Sohum Shah single-handedly shoulders the film and plays his role with panache. He’s exceptional in the tyre-changing scene as well as in the climax, though the latter is let down by the writing, as mentioned above. Unnati Surana leaves a mark in a small role. Speaking of the voiceovers, Tinnu Anand is the best of the lot; his voice is instantly recognizable. Nimisha Sajayan and Shilpa Shukla are equally good followed by Piyush Mishra (Dr Nilay Majumdar)

Crazxy movie music and other technical aspects: Vishal Bhardwaj's music is okay. 'Paapi' stands out while the recreations of 'Abhimanyu Chakravyuh Mein' and 'Goli Maar Bheje Mein' are impressive. Jesper Kyd's background score is top-class and elevates impact.

Sunil Ramkrishna Borkar and Kuldeep Mamania's cinematography gives a big-screen feel. Sheetal Duggal and Amit Waghchaure's production design and Abhilasha Devnani's costumes are authentic. Vicky Arora's action is realistic. Sanyukta Kaza and Rythem Lath's editing is satisfactory.

Crazxy Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, CRAZXY rests on Sohum Shah’s bravura performance and some engaging moments. But the film suffers big time due to the disappointing climax. The limited hype might further affect its box office prospects.

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SUPERBOYS OF MALEGAON tells an unbelievable true story and celebrates friendship and cinema Movie Review: SUPERBOYS OF MALEGAON tells an unbelievable true story

Star Cast: Adarsh Gourav, Shashank Arora, Vineet Kumar Singh

Director: Reema Kagti

Superboys Of Malegaon Movie Review Synopsis: SUPERBOYS OF MALEGAON is the story of friendship and filmmaking. The year is 1997. Nasir Shaikh (Adarsh Gourav) runs a video parlour in Malegaon. He prefers to show world cinema and hence, he gets limited footfall while the other theatre in the vicinity benefits by showing popular Hindi films. To attract higher footfalls, Nasir edits action scenes from different old classics creatively and presents them to the viewers. It leads to house full shows as Nasir markets it as a 4-films-in-1-ticket show. Soon, the cops, accusing Nasir of piracy, raid the parlour and damage the equipment. This is when Nasir decides to make his own film so that he can't be blamed for pirating any film. As expected, no one believes him and he's mocked for it. Nasir even has to let go of his girlfriend, Mallika (Riddhi Kumar), as her father gets her married to a settled chap. Before their break up, Mallika insists that he should fulfil his dream of making a film. Soon, his friends like Shafique (Shashank Arora), Farogh (Vineet Kumar Singh), Akram (Anuj Singh Duhan), Aleem (Pallav Singh) and Irfan (Saqib Ayub), join him. Realizing that Malegaon residents desire to see a comedy, he decides to make a spoof version of SHOLAY [1975]. By doing so, he gives birth to the Malegaon film industry. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Superboys Of Malegaon Movie Story Review: Varun Grover's story is fascinating. Varun Grover's screenplay is engaging and peppered with funny, emotional and dramatic moments. However, the writing does have a few rough edges. Varun Grover and Shoaib Zulfi Nazeer's dialogues are sharp.

Reema Kagti's direction is exceptional and uncomplicated. She establishes the setting and the characters and doesn’t waste time in establishing the crux of the story. The scenes of Nasir and his team trying to make the film and convince the residents about it are amusing and give a nice déjà vu of cult Marathi film, HARISHCHANDRACHI FACTORY [2010]. The film also focuses on friendship and it is a nice ode to the previous Excel entertainers like DIL CHAHTA HAI [2001], ROCK ON [2008], ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA [2011], FUKREY series, etc. A few scenes that stand out are Nasir editing films creatively, Mallika’s father rejecting the proposal, the entry scene of Trupti (Manjari Pupala) and the premiere scene. The intermission point is memorable. The last 20 minutes are captivating while the final scene is very moving and is sure to give goosebumps to the viewers.

On the flipside, the film dips at the beginning of the second half and also, there’s a shift in the tonality of the narrative. As the story moves from 2004 and then 2010, one wonders where the film is heading. A few tracks like Trupti’s domestic issues get a raw deal and a little more time should have been devoted to it. Also, the biggest issue with the film is that its trailer doesn’t do justice to its greatness. Its posters are also dull and as a result, the excitement surrounding the film is very limited.

Superboys Of Malegaon – Official Theatrical Trailer | In Cinemas – 28th Feb | Prime Video India

Superboys Of Malegaon Movie Review Performances: Adarsh Gourav handles the lead part with perfection. He does justice to a character who is a leader and can influence his friends. Vineet Kumar Singh, after CHHAAVA, delivers yet another powerful performance. Watch out for him during the interval point. Shashank Arora doesn’t get much scope initially but dominates the show in the second half. He takes the climax to dizzying heights with his mere expressions. Manjari Pupala leaves a mark while Muskkaan Jaferi (Shabeena) once again proves her worth. Gyanendra Tripathi (Nihal; Nasir's brother) is decent but his character is similar to the recently-released web series, BADA NAAM KARENGE. Anuj Singh Duhan, Pallav Singh, Saqib Ayub, Sanjay Dadich (Siraj), Abhinav Grover (Raju; tea seller) and Yash Yogendra (Asif Albela) lend able support. Dhananjay Kapoor (Nashik doctor) and Jagdish Rajpurohit (Sunny Talreja; producer) are fair.

Superboys Of Malegaon movie music and other technical aspects: Sachin-Jigar's music is poor. The sole song ‘Bande’ is forgettable. But Sachin-Jigar's background score is very catchy and creative.

Swapnil S Sonawane's cinematography is superior. Bhawna Sharma's costumes are realistic. Sally White's production design is impressive, especially the set of Prince Video Parlour and its changing décor over the years. Sally's VFX is apt for this film. Anand Subaya's editing could have been slicker at the beginning of the second half.

Superboys Of Malegaon Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, SUPERBOYS OF MALEGAON tells an unbelievable true story and is a fine celebration of friendship and cinema. Sadly, the film has hardly made any noise due to its dull assets. Hence, it would need a strong word of mouth to attract the viewers to cinemas.

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Despite powerhouse performances THE BRUTALIST struggles to hold the Indian audience's interest Movie Review: THE BRUTALIST boasts of powerhouse performances

Star Cast: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce

Director: Brady Corbet

The Brutalist Movie Review Synopsis: THE BRUTALIST is the story of a visionary architect. In 1947, László Tóth (Adrien Brody) arrives in the USA. He is a Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor and also a reputed architect. But he's a nobody in the USA and is forced to start from scratch. He has been forcibly separated by his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) at the concentration camp and he misses her dearly. In the USA, his cousin Attila (Alessandro Nivola) and his Catholic wife Audrey (Emma Laird) offer him accommodation and also a job at his furniture shop. One day, they meet Harry Lee Van Buren (Joe Alwyn) who asks them to renovate the library at their mansion as a surprise for his father, the wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce). László and Attila work hard and design a world-class library. Sadly, Harrison doesn't like it and ousts the cousins from his estate. Attila blames László for the unexpected turn of events and kicks him out. As a result, László starts working as a coal labourer. Three years later, Harrison meets him and expresses regret over his behaviour. He offers him another job and through a common friend, also expedites the immigration of László's wife and niece Zsófia (Raffey Cassidy). Life finally seems to be on track for László but soon, he comes across some shocking turn of events in his life. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

The Brutalist Movie Story Review: Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold's story is intriguing. Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold's screenplay is gripping but only in a few places. The dialogues are realistic. Sadly, in a rare instance, this Universal Studios film has no subtitles and hence, it’s a struggle to understand certain dialogues, especially the ones mouthed by Adrien Brody in his Hungarian accent.

Brady Corbet's direction is okay. To give credit where it's due, he uses creative filmmaking styles that impress viewers, be it the unique opening credit cards, the use of music or the final scene being presented as if it’s a footage from the bygone era. The film gives the impression that it’s based on a true story. Some scenes that stand out are Harrison ousting László for renovating his library, Harrison and László meeting after three years, László meeting Erzsébet after ages, Harry informing László that they are 'tolerating him' etc. The pre-climax is arresting.

On the flipside, the film has a runtime of 202 minutes. It moves at a very slow pace and tests the patience of the audience. The narrative is a bit like a docu-drama, which might not be liked by a section of the moviegoers. As mentioned above, there are no subtitles and the censor cuts further hamper the impact.

The Brutalist Movie Review Performances: Adrien Brody delivers one of the finest performances of his career, at par with his act in THE PIANIST [2002]. He also expresses through his expressions beautifully. Felicity Jones has a late entry and then dominates the show. Guy Pearce, on the other hand, has a dramatic entry scene and later on, impresses with his subtle but impactful performance. Raffey Cassidy leaves a mark in a small role. Joe Alwyn is impressive while Alessandro Nivola, Emma Laird, Isaach de Bankolé (Gordon), Stacy Martin (Maggie; Harrison's daughter) and Jonathan Hyde (Leslie; builder) are decent.

The Brutalist movie music and other technical aspects: Daniel Blumberg's music is unconventional and adds to the cinematic appeal. Lol Crawley's cinematography gives the film a grand appeal and is also immersive in several places. Judy Becker's production design is very impressive and it is a must as it’s a film based on architecture. Kate Forbes' costumes are realistic. Dávid Jancsó's editing is slow.

The Brutalist Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, despite boasting powerhouse performances from Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, and Guy Pearce - each delivering award-worthy performances - THE BRUTALIST struggles to hold the Indian audience's interest. While its 10 Oscar nominations have garnered global attention, the film's sluggish narrative, lack of subtitles, excessive 202-minute runtime and censor cuts significantly dilute the experience.

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