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Reviews
Killer Soup (2024)
Just the Acting
Killer Soup: series in Netflix released in 2024 directed by Abhishek Chaubey. Konkona Sen and Manoj Bajpayee were splendid as always. But the series takes like 6 episodes to get interesting, and it's 8 episodes long, so that's saying something. Maybe their acting will force you to keep watching. That's about all that can be said. Essentially a talentless chef who keeps making the same horrible soup, but wants to start a Diamond of Manjur restaurant, and is having an affair with a doppelgänger of her husband who is squint eyed. The plan they come up with when he dies in a struggle. Nasser as police officer was fantastic. Is it worth the time? No.. not really. And the last episode is just weird when the truth comes to light.
Fool Me Once (2024)
Suspense dragged out
This is a new concept for me.. a mini series. I would say it does keep you gripping till the end. There are some suspense moments. Story starts off my Joe dying and Maya, his widow, being puzzled by his image in the nanny cam. And then finding the bullet that killed bin and Maya's sister is the same. How the story pans off to the past with boarding school years, and also exposing the Burkitt empire's pharmaceutical lies.. overall good watch. Good acting as well. I am a little puzzled by Shane, Maya's army friend, kept turning up in her house, was he just checking if she's doing ok probably. Did not expect the suspense on who murdered Joe, good twist.
Philip's (2023)
Finding positivity in extreme sadness
Directed by Alfred Kurien Joseph and released in 2023.. this film also holds speciality for being the legendary actor Innocent's last movie. The incident that happened in this movie shook me.. could not stop crying throughout in fact. Cannot imagine how anyone can resurface from extreme sadness of that extend. But the family does, and the little fighter. The little girl Quinn is amazing. Life can be really harsh and unpredictable at times.. but to realize when to forgive.. and to realize how to move forward finding positivity in such a situation.. the message the movie conveyed is just so touching. Really wonderful heart touching movie.
SparkShorts: Kitbull (2019)
Short and Sweet
Short sweet story released in 2019. Written and directed by Rosanna Sullivan. Story of friendship between a stray cat who was living in the grounds of a house and a bull dog who was a new pet to the house. One day the doggie was thrown out in the rain, their distance friendship intensifies and they become close.. and escape the house to freedom..... and hunger. Till a nice stranger comes along.. who initially tries feeding the kitten.. but she runs and grabs the dog.. the ending is very sweet. Like a big family the couple.. the kitten who looks happy and cuddly.. and the faithful playful doggie..
Neru (2023)
The essence of acting
Directed by Jeethu Joseph and released in 2023, this movie is a treasure in acting. Lalettan, the veteran is amazing as always; but Anaswara Rajan as young Sara will leave you spell bound. I can't remember seeing such pure talent in any actress in recent times. Her portrayal as the blind rape victim who is an amazing sculptor is pure and genuine. Story is of the rape that happens to this young girl, who with her skills makes a sculptor of the guy who raped her. And Lalettan has to bring him to justice, while the nations best criminal defense lawyer (Siddique) is trying to fabricate evidence to get him out. Jagadish as Sara's dad was also effortless and natural. The only reason I didn't give this movie a 10 was some of the court scenes seemed below dignity and almost cheap, especially of Siddique.. can't believe a top defense lawyer would conduct his case in such a low blow manner, seemed a bit overdone there. But the way Lalettan destroyed all their fabricated evidence was fantastic.
Falimy (2023)
One time
Released in 2023 directed by Nithush Sahadev, this is the story of a dysfunctional family who set out to fulfill the wish of their grandfather who wants to go to Kaashi.. in the process they bond, especially the eldest son and the father who were not on decent speaking terms. The life experiences when the train leaves without them, and the travel in bus and a smugglers van etc in between, and finally how the grandfather goes missing, all kinda one time watch, no comedy moments other than Basil Joseph with his expressions (the one where the smuggler does sudden break when a cow passes and Basil is thrown face first to the window is funny). Predictable that the grandfathers friend would pass away when he's on a trip. Overall one time watch if you have time to kill.
Good Grief (2023)
Grieving while watching
It's a slow movie experience. Directed by Dan Levy and released in 2023. The husband dies, Dan is grieving from beginning to end. Turns out the husband had an affair (but he also said it was an open marriage, which confused me a bit). In the process of grieving he goes to Paris where the husband had a whole place with the lover. The damaged lives of the friends are also shown. One thing that stands out is how insanely rich and luxurious Dan is in the movie. Towards the end he meets someone who convinces him to go back to his passion of painting. Lots of intense fialogues at every point. Good acting bg everyone.
Forensic (2022)
Average serial killer experience
Forensic: released in 2022 and directed by Vishal Furia, all I can say is the suspense is out of the world unexpected. But the movie per se is pretty average serial killer movie. A police officer and a forensic expert tracks down a serial killer who targets small girls. Some latest forensic technology like DNA phenotyping is shown, pretty cool. Acting overall was ok, Vikrant Massey is portraying the eccentric forensic officer and Radhika Apte the police officer, not really charming.
It looked as if they were planning to make a sequel, the excitement on their faces on hearing about another set of crimes is kinda bizarre.
Queenpins (2021)
Real Fun
Released in 2021 directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, this one is a real fun watch. The story of two neighbors who are best friend, who make a fortune out of free coupons that they get mailed in from Mexico where the coupons are printed, and selling them through a simple YouTube channel ad. Some of the quotes in the movie, about how family is the most important, and also the relevance of letters to people, is amazing. First time I learnt about US Postal Inspector! FBI is similar to them per that officer! Also loved how the person who was very strict on coupon rules starts bending them a bit by the end. The film is loosely based on the story of Robin Ramirez, Amiko (Amy) Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson who were arrested by the Phoenix Police in 2012. The police found more than $25 million of fake coupons in Ramirez' house and seized more than $2 million worth of assets including 22 assault weapons, 21 vehicles, and a 40-foot boat.
Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2015)
Dumb horror
Directed by John Varghese and released in 2015, this movie is a painful one time watch. Only thing worth watching is Neeraj Madhav and Aju Varghese, they do manage to bring some laughter. Dhyan Srinivasan just cannot act, no expression, no humor, and being the center character that hurts as it killed a lot of comical moments. Story is of a girl who gets into the men's hostel to slap Rohan Mathews (see if you can recognize him! ).. and in the process gets stuck in the hostel.. and the things the 4 friends do to get her out of there. In the end a slight horror touch comes where it's revealed there is an actual ghost in the building, probably why the grandma in the building across keeps ringing her bell, though not much explaination is given of it.. or of whom the ghost wants to murder.
RDX: Robert Dony Xavier (2023)
Martial Arts and Style
Huge respect for Shane Nigam, Neeraj Madhav and Anthony Varghese. Their effort has paid off. Especially Neeraj Madhav with his Nunchaku tricks has stolen the show. Excellent first movie by Nahas Hidayath released in 2023. Story is of two brothers Robert and Dony, along with their close friend Xavier, all three excellent in martial arts. The issues that happen with a rival colony gang, the many fights. When the rival gang attacks Donny's family with all its members, all hell breaks loose in terms of revenge. Part of the same gang was the reason for Robert to leave the place long ago during a fight in the village festival. Music is amazing as well. I've watched this movie twice, loved it both times, Shane Nigam's talent in dancing and acting is unmatched.. and Neeraj Madhav shines out like a superstar throughout the movie.
Mardaani 2 (2019)
Catch me if you can
Took 5 years to make a good sequel to Mardaani, with the 2019 release by Gopi Pathran. Vishal Jethwa has performed amazingly as the serial killer who sexually assaults girls and kills then extremely brutally. I mean you will hate him, in every scene. Rani is again amazing, showing her brilliance and dedication in profession. Tracking him down and bravely trying to capture him at multiple times. The news channel sequence where Rani goes at length on how women are undervalued in India is really amazing.. would love for another sequel to come for this one. The blind hatred the criminal had towards women including his mother is shown.
Mardaani (2014)
Must watch
Directed by Pradeep Sarkar released in 2014. Don't know how I delayed watching this movie for so long. It was amazing, Raju Mukherjee as usual has acted brilliantly. She portrayed the role of Crime Branch Officer Shivani really well. Story is of a child, sex and drug trafficking gang, the head behind it is a ruthless youngster; how Shivani with her brilliance tracks him down, and ultimately punishes him the right way. The villain Tahir Raj Basin has acted well. This character of Rani definitely deserved a sequel, which was made, and the movie is so fast paced that you would binge watch both together.
Kaathal - The Core (2023)
Slow-paced
2023 movie by Joe Baby. The topic is certainly relevant.. the stigma against being a homosexual and how coming out into the open is so difficult for that person. Also it correctly showed how parents think getting them married to someone of opposite sex should fix the 'problem'. Mammotty is always wonderful. Guilt at what he did to his wife, shame of the situation he is in, in being exposed of his reality after so many years, the hesitation in coming out of the closet, and sadness at the end.. especially the scene with his father, is very touching. There is just a lot of silence throughout the movie, that's the general tone. There is no explanation on how she found out who Mammotty loved, and the explanation of that relation is left vague at the end. Just like the silent way the whole movie proceeds. Some story about his relationship with the alleged person and how his wife came to know about it would have been good. Overall socially relevant topic, worth a one time watch.
Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023)
Fun and realistic
Movie is of three good friends in their 20s who have realistic struggles of career, love. The childhood trauma of one has made him a standup comedian who finds solace in humor for every situation. Ananya has a very troubled love life and her stalking the boyfriend who broke up with her in social media is so realistic. She has acted well in this one! The third guy is a gym instructor who is secretly dating an influencer, and how that turns him into a hateful social media character is shown. Overall good watch, good paced movie. Their strong friendship with idea to go into business together with full trust is also inspiring.
A Ranjith Cinema (2023)
Deserves negative rating
What this movie intended is beyond me. Bunch of jumbled stuff, enacted by a group of people who can barely act. The only people who at least has a good screen presence is Saiju Kurup. Even Ranji Panicker with all his talent has a pathetic useless role. Story is of a filmmaker whose reel life somehow seems to be blending into real life. They show a murder of a prosecutor without a proper story behind it, it gets captured in Asif Ali's camera and is shown to the world in an unceremonious manner. Meanwhile every scene is shown twice as they have to show the real and reel life. And scenes are just dragged to the extreme. Other than Saiju Kurup who looks spectacular and is dressed very fashionably and stylishly, everyone else looks unglamorous with tasteless outfits as well. Complete waste of time.
12th Fail (2023)
Real Restart to Bollywood
The feeling when you see one gem of a movie.. that's what this movie does. Apparently inspired by the real life story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma, who battled extreme poverty to crack one of the toughest and most competitive exam out there with its critical selection process at the end. How the story starts with Manoj thinking cheating is how you pass exams, to learning from an honest officer that anything gained by cheating is not worth it, whereas even a little bit gained with honest efforts is worth so much more. He fails the 12th exam when the officer takes away cheating privileges that year, and next year he passes with low marks without any cheating, in fact the only student who didn't cheat that year. He tells the officer he wants to be an honest officer like him.. the rest of the story is the extreme battle he does in Delhi with sever poverty preparing for the IPS prelims, mains.. and then the interview is cherry on top indeed. How he simply explains the very thing with truth and honesty and intention to make it good for the country.. truly truly inspiring human being and an amazing movie. His love interest is also pure and genuine and her contribution is also not to be forgotten.