User Reviews

Me being a Sri Lankan and yet who is in love with Malayalam cinema is due to movies like this. Plot, Acting, Music, Direction... What ever the category, this movie perfects them all.

I've seen Joju before but not like this. He catches every moment perfectly.

Among the reasons I love this cinema is how each character is crafted and handled carefully. And here there's no exception. Cast supports it perfectly. Specially Dileesh. Love him always.

And then the voice of Yesudas. Every time it's giving a shocking vibrance all together.

Yes. Malayalis have done it again.

Nothing more just grab your tickets and watch it guys. Joju was burning inside with an outer ease !

Movie opens with a medal awarding ceremony at a police parade. Then there is the falshback portraying the protagonist's life. Joseph, played by Joju George, is a retired police officer leading a life of solitude. He is an alcoholic and a chain smoker, yet he is a living image of ' Sherlock Holmes' due to his impeccable ability to understand and solve crimes. Due to that he is often an unofficial part of most difficult cases post his retirement. The first half of the movie largely revolves around the tragic life of the protagonist and the evolution of his character. Joju George shines throughout the movie with his exceptional acting ability, especially during emotional scenes. He makes us forget that he is actually the Joju George who played all those witty comic roles. Kudos to him. That said the supporting characters were also brilliant. The director makes the tragic life of the protagonist more appealing by adding an element of melodramatic music every once in a while which actually compliments the context of the film. The second half of the movie deals with the death of Joseph's ex-wife and him investigating the death. The crime investigation in the second part isn't anything overwhelmingly brilliant. It relies on an implausible coincidence. Yet the story manages to convey some socially relevant message to the audience. But personally I thought the second half of the movie was a little down as compared to the first half. Everything said the movie was a great experience. The cinematography was out of the world. The music was good. Also we get to see how capable an actor Joju George is. Being a largely male centered film, the portrayal of female characters were a little weak but that doesn't affect the movie in any way. The movie is really worth a watch. Hope it does well at the box office.

I saw this movie today and still i cant get over the hangover of this movie.First of all the movie is a slow burner but once it starts to burn it burns like an volcano,its a great dark thriller with nice twists and lots of emotions.Words cant describe how much i enjoyed this movie and Jojus acting was breath taking he is surely an under rated actor i hope he gets more such good roles in his career . Movie also deals with a social relevant scam .you would not regret watching this movie on theater .

Best thrilles movie . I love this movie . Joju acting was perfect 1

Good direction, good acting, good music and an equally good story and screenplay. An unusual thriller which doesn't follow the normal routine clichés associated with thriller movies and holds its grip until the final moments. A very well made movie.

Good theme. The film shows unknown truth now a days happening in our society. Good direction and off course joju George's acting superb very talented actor.

When Joseph was announced and when posters released, we expected it to be a good movie. We saw Joju George in a very different avatar in poster and teaser. The thing is, Joseph is not just a good movie. It is one of the best movies of the year and one of the best thriller in recent times. Watch Joseph as almost all technical side and performance is brilliant except the main lead actresses.

A best movie in all direction without over presentation all are in nice combination

Thrilling movie.. will keep you gripped right from the beginning. The way the lead actor unravels the organ transplant scheme is intriguing. Too many unnecessary songs is one of the bad things about the movie.

Story line in first half is not convincing at all. Most of the time people are shown either consuming alcohol or smoking cigarettes as if theme is alcohol promotion. Joju acted well, but script not promising.

There was no need for the first half in the film. Absolutely no point in having any of the songs. Total drag. The movie slowly comes to the point only close to the interval - nothing that happens in the first half is necessary for the core story. Entire first half could have been composed is 2 sentences. What was the point of showing the lead's first love and a duet added for no reason !? The reveal was so confusing and convoluted and all that invoked was sleep. Drag of a screenplay and rubbish writing.

Don't even think of missing it . Another milestone in Malayalam movie.

I liked the movie very much and it's worth watching. Songs, climax, story, directions all perfect blend.

Its simply bonafide and the best film of 2018. Joseph has gone very deeply onto each and every viewers heart. Spontaneous and hats off JoJo...

Things will never be the same for Joju George.........

Yes, It's going to be the same hard work that Joju has to put up to keep his new fan following crowd crave the mesmerizing acting done during the movie ''Joseph''. Absolutely passionate, delivering a strong script to the masses.

In the movie Joju George plays a retired police officer who is still invited by the force once a while to conduct a study of a post-crime scene. His ability to understand and find things on the spot that his juniors cannot, sets him apart. However things become serious as he is forced to investigate matters related to his own family members.

This is a movie that will grip you from the beginning to the end.

Joseph was wonderfully wrote, directed and presented. This is the simplest form that I am able to express my views about this movie. Malayalam films are stood apart from thrilling plots and it's just minute numbers of films had that quality somehow through Drishyam, Abrahaminte Snathathikal etc. but this one was really just fine in portraying a trilling subject undo a public relevant depiction. Joju George was exceptionally locked into Joseph throughout the movie and he matured from the way that we know about him earlier. Joseph's observation and analysis are the key factors that gone along with the plot and that observation was the basic thing lead the film into an important subject.

A mind bending thriller, with the sensibility and sensitivity of the best of romance, Joseph is astonishing. The story's arc is breathtaking and the interplay between the past and the present, in the first half, would keep you glued. My only grouse with the film is also in the first half where the first 15-20 minutes show Joseph as this superhero investigator. Felt unnecessary by the end. The second half is intriguing and the conclusion, intellectually satisfying. Jony George, who plays the eponymous character, is an actor to watch out for. He essays two portions of Joseph's chronological age, one at 30 something and the other at 50+, with relish, by really getting into the character. Kerala, with all its verdant beauty and its allegedly liberal liquor culture, is brought to vivid life. What a film. Must watch.

Joju !!! no words ....an excellent plot giving a good message. Interesting is its a crime thriller without any fight scene.

Joju plays a character that is Brilliant and depressed at the same time, an ex-cop and a man with broken family... how will he give his dead ex-wife justice is what story is all about... A slow burner... well acting, story & screenplay is all good but seems something is missing, that edge of the seat feeling... 6.5/10

Joseph (2018) : Brief Review -

Why is it always Malayalam Cinema coming up with some sensational revelation? Joseph is another UNMISSABLE THRILLER! I have been going through some major Malayalam classics recently and i have found many of them really great. But the sad truth is, those films come from small industry so don't get enough recognition on pan India level hence, the IMDb Rating or Social Media popularity is far less than what it deserves. Because of these classics, some really good classics from other industries have started looking overrated. Anyways, Joseph is another less popular film compared to other overhyped thrillers of South and it easily beats 90% of those Top Rated IMDb Movies from all industries of South. The story develops through the life of four retired policemen. It has the tone of a thriller investigation. An issue affecting the life of Joseph, the central character, and his family is being investigated. I am not gonna reveal anything about the story because i want you to watch the film with blank mind. There is something different and important at the end which might shock you and it is related to our lives. So, it's not just a film for fictional entertainment but it is also important to the society. How and why, you find out yourself after watching it. Just don't miss it for your own sake. Joju George as Joseph is superb. Not a single scene where he looked out of the character. There are variations, there's is compatibility and there's stone-like attitude. Not just him but other cast members are very good in their roles, too. The screenplay is little slow in the middle but overall it's enough engaging. Cinematography is quite good and dialogues are fairly decent. The film is more about sensational revelations and the plotting around it than regular thriller aspects so one has to look at it from that perspective. A salute to M. Padmakumar for daring to make such a film with great cinematic sense.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Joseph is a haunting tale of certain illicit activities prevalent in our times that is so brilliantly narrated (thanks to Joju George's otherworldly performance as an alcoholic divorcee) that by the time it ends you only can pray that these things do not affect you despite believing that these things do happen in real life too. TN.

If not for a somewhat brilliant show by Joju George, 'Joseph' doesn't come across as a satisfying thriller by a long shot. The screenplay is a bit of a slow-burner; building the titular character up one emotionally-tugging scene at a time. Joseph, as we'd expect, is a highly intelligent (but retired) cop who can spot potential cues in a crime scene very quickly. He constantly has either a drink or a beedi in hand, owing to everything that has happened in his past (shown in short but effective flashbacks). He has a gang of cop-friends around him who have taken to his habits and body language pretty well.

As an investigation thriller, the film doesn't shy away from capturing the ghastly details of murders in all viciousness. Even if that's so, the imagery doesn't make you wince, and the applause for that should probably go to M. Padmakumar, the director, and Manesh Madhavan, the cinematographer. However, the same two people should take the blame for extending shots by several seconds (in many an emotional scene), sometimes throwing their essence out of the window. Once 'Joseph' moves on to embrace certain thriller elements in the second half, it does get slightly more interesting.

Eventually, the writer does fall back on the scenario of one person being subjected to the same crime on multiple occasions, which seemed far-fetched when you perceive how scenes (and characters) were being built up in the first half. The finale is nothing short of a bummer, and a court scene detailing Joseph's strategy of catching the culprits red-handed is one that doesn't give you the feel of a complete thriller. Honestly speaking, 'Joseph' works better as a character study than a tightly-knit thriller.

The major women characters, played by Athmiya, Malavika Menon, and Madhuri Braganza, all of whom meet the same fate, in fact, feel like unfortunate ploys to enhance the sadness quotient of the protagonist. The writing (by Shahi Kabir) needed some refinement in both halves while the editing department had to do better by trimming certain scenes that didn't contribute much to the film. Nonetheless, if there's one factor that still makes me ask a casual viewer to check 'Joseph' out, would be the stellar performance by Joju George. The Mohanlal-shades are hard to deny, but it does feel like a very sincere effort put in by an actor whom we've constantly seen doing comical/supporting roles. If you're a fan of dark thrillers, then keep your expectations minimal and watch the movie!