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Karachi Division (2021)
Is it worth it?
Well start off with the basic question is it worth watching? Yes.
Is it any good? Well good enough.
It offers a great premise, I mean gangsters and Karachi together is a firey combination if filmmakers only use it properly. Shamoon tried his best here but the lack of budget is quite visible on screen. A show with such story deserve a bigger budget and a more detailed execution. 20min episodes didn't help that purpose either. Where there is not much good in this show you can just watch it for the sake of some performance like Shamoon and Hassam and the guy playing SSP and the guy playing the cop (the honest one).
It surely is worth a one time watch but if season 2 is in the making then producers please invest a little more money in it. A story like this deserves grandeur.
Laxmii (2020)
1 because 0 isn't an option.
Laxmi or Laxmi Bomb either way it's a garbage. Worst film I've seen this year. It's an absolute disgrace of a film, Lawrence Mathew has no freaking idea what he's doing here, bad characters, rusty comedy that doesn't make people laugh these days, awful visual effects in fact there's absolutely nothing to like in this film. If go in depth for a review I'll be wasting my words and I'm not going to do that coz I've already wasted my time on it.
Churails (2020)
One Of A Kind!
Churails is a masterpiece in all aspects of it. Loved the well knitted script by Asim Abbasi, his direction is also on point, he explored every theme with great details. You will see the Anurag Kashyp influence on the show and in this generation who's not inspired by his work? But still Asim Kept it as his original idea his his own skill is also quite visible here. He proves himself to be a masterful storyteller yet again can't wait to see more of Asim.
Nimra Bucha is ferocious. she is absolutely nailing her part here. This is a wonderful performance probably the best of the show. Sarwat Gilani is also surprisingly good, but fawad Khan, inspector guy, he is amazing in the show. There are also some great cameos that I loved and Sania Saeed is the one I'd like to mention here. in fact the only weak performance in the show was by Yasra Rizvi, which towards the last 2-3 episodes got a lot better.
What I really loved about it is that it might make you feel uncomfortable but it is very balanced in it's approach. I was expecting it to be triggering for men but it is not. The injustice to women is real and we rather do something about it instead of getting triggered. It's gritty and raw and beautiful. Mo Azmi's cinematography is stunning. He makes Karachi look like a Heaven and Hell at the same time. Saad Hayat's score is exceptional. But in it's technical aspects what takes the cake here is Aarij Hashmi's production designs. They are one of the best I've seen lately.
To sum it all up I would just say that you need to watch Churails, spare yourself some time and watch it. It is absolutely worth your time and money.
Marriage Story (2019)
Just Go, Watch and cry your heart out
Marriage Story is a haunting and emotionally devastating tale of a divorce. It portrays the pain of two involved souls during the process. It is raw and real, it hits you hard and effectively. The only message Marriage Story is trying to convey is that, divorce is horrible, stay away from it.
Noah Baumbach has created this film with utter perfection. It is a very personal film for him since it is somewhat based on his own divorce. He took it seriously and created a masterpiece. Marriage Story features two of the finest performances of this year and maybe, even of this decade. Scarlet Johansson and Adam Driver are heartbreaking. They make you laugh with them, they make you sob with them. In that "Argument" scene, and you'll hear about this scene very often for a while, because it is incredible. The finest piece of filmmaking, it is so real and natural and emotional, I was having a hard time while watching it. It was heart-rending, thanks to Adam and Scarlet for their impeccable acting.
Marriage Story does not start as an alluring tale of love and then goes to a sad mode. It starts with melancholy and ends with melancholy. In very beginning of the movie, there's that scene when Nicole and Charlie are having a normal chat post-sepration decision, they're talking about this theatre play of theirs and as soon as Nicole leaves Charlie's sight, she crumbles, break into tears and that was painful to watch. That is my personal favorite scene from the movie. There's one monologue about six minutes log, all in one take, where Scarlet Johansson is touching every possible emotion, she's walking, crying, sniffing, sobbing, eating, giving complements about what she eats, I don't know how many take it too her but this is a remarkable achievement. I've never rated Scarlet Johansson very high as an actress but she surprised me here and same goes for Adam Driver.
Noah Baumbach made this film around a divorce, a very poignant situation. But there's no melodrama or other gimmicks, it is just so natural and real. These two people are against each other, but Noah approached this story with a very neutral eye. No one is the villain here, this man and woman are equally responsible for what they are going through. Noah does not want you to judge but rather empathize these characters.
Film's screenplay is very well written, despite not being a high octane thriller, this sophisticated drama keeps you tied up with the seat. Screenplay gives you some light hearted moments, moments you'll laugh at. Unexpectedly this is quite funny when it wants to be.
Marriage Story is going to be a front-runner in every department this coming Oscars season, I loved Joaquin Phoenix in joker and thought he could be a sure shot winner, but now I think it's not going to be that easy.
Section 375 (2019)
A great comeback film for Ajay Bahl
Ajay last made a film way back in 2012/13 that was B.A Pass. Bollywood has changed quite a bit on these last 4-5 years. But back in 2013 a film like B.A Pass was nothing sort of a bravery, because a film like that couldn't have a box office fate, and B.A Pass badly failed. Ajay went off from the scene and directed his second film a huge gap in 2019.
The film did not mention it but I'm sure it is inspired from one of those MeToo accusations on people from the industry. This film is giving us both the prospectives, victim and the accused. It is beautifully written. The dialogue, one liners, amazing monologues which work like a charm to this amazing courtroom drama. My experience with films gave me an idea what they're going for, and I could sense the ending, but I must say the end was like the one I thought, but the way it was came to me as a shock.
Great performances, meticulously plotted, brilliantly directed. Section 375 is a film you don't want to miss.
Vuelven (2017)
"Once Upon A Time ....."
The film is a striking blend of realism and fantasy, it is the story of a pack of kids, orphaned by the drug wars, surviving in this underbelly of Maxico. Film's major cast is consist of child actors and they are mesmerizing to say the least.
The films follows a girl Estrella, who comes home from school, which closed early under emergency because there was gun-fight going in the neighbor. She comes home and finds out her mother is missing, to make things weird, in a good way, director added this flavor of fantasy to this. This girl has these three pieces of chalk that her teacher had given to her as three wishes she can ask for, just like in fairy tales as she tells her. So she asks for her mother to come back as her first wish, and then there's this line of blood constantly following her wherever she goes. Alone and scared she leaves home and finds a group of urchins, poor and destroyed, surviving on their own, she joins them. This group of kids is led by this small but tough-talking boy Shine, who somehow has got his hands on a pistol and a cell phone, that later plays a very important role in the film.
Film's imagery is absolutely stunning and heartbreaking, amazing metaphorical shots, some I could get some I could not but they were absolutely beautiful to look at. There is this stuffed tiger, talking, corp of Estrella's mother following her. Writer-director Issa Lopez has done a remarkable job at delivering the message of these underprivileged kids with utter realism and fantasy simultaneously. And all that with some very good performances from these are very, very young kids. If you have some free time, it would not be a bad idea to give this film a go.
The Irishman (2019)
"I HEARD YOU PAINT MASTERPIECES"
It is a master in complete control of his craft, it's Scorsese at the top of his game. Scorsese's recent magnum opus of mob genre is the best film experience I've had this year.
Film Starts with iconic Scorsese tracking shot though the hallway of and Old Folks Care centre, and at the end of it we see and aged Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) is sitting in a wheelchair. This is the story of this Irishman spread over several decades, Frank was a WWII veteran who fought in Italy, that is why he speaks Italian and that's why he's merciless when killing people. Frank narrates his story that goes back to 1950s when he was working as a truck driver, delivering meat, but then he started stealing it for a local gangster. This eventually drops him into the orbit of Russel Buffalino (Joe Pesci), who is a national level mobster, a soft spoken Mafia don who is part of a body that controls Philadelphia. Russel tries to be a good person, but he's a person who will scare you by just talking. After Sheeran proves his worth as friend and Hitman for Bufalino, he eventually meets Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). Frank forms this enduring bond with Hoffa over the years, and he becomes Hoffa's confident, his go to person. Hoffa makes this bond with Sheeran's family especially his daughter Pegy who for some reason is scared of Bufalino, she just can't look at him properly, but with Hoffa it's different, there's love and respect for each other between them. But then tension starts building up between Hoffa and Bufalino and things start going south for everyone especially Frank.
The Irishman is masterclass in terms of story telling, the film is dark, brutal, gritty but somehow manages to be funny at times. Scorsese allowed his character to not fight and kill all the time, they sit they talk and just stay quiet at times. It has iconic Scorsese violence, people get shot in the face so many times that you'll not be able to keep the count. It is a master dealing things with full control, he gets the best of his actors and performance are absolutely breathtaking. Robert De Niro being Robert De Niro, he's just at so ease when acting, he's been in some pathetic movies lately but The Irishman is a proof that De Niro is not an actor for films like Dirty Grandpa, this is what he's made for. Al Pacino is known for roles when he's yelling at the top of lungs, when he's angry or when he's showing extreme emotion, full of passion, that is what he's doing as Jimmy Hoffa. He's fierce as Jimmy Hoffa. Joe Pesci is although playing a character totally opposite of his reputation. He's quite and terrifying, he's a guy you don't want any trouble with. He will kill you and then will go on with his normal life like nothing happened, he's that cold, and Joe Pesci is astonishingly good as Russ Bufalino. When the film is into its final act, these are the moment so priceless it's hard to put in words. The tension is built with impeccable camera work, Scorsese just suddenly cuts the background music and there's complete silence in the background and De Niro and Pacino are acting like it is their last time, few words more expression, and then The Irishman becomes an instant classic.
A film for the ages, you will love it and cherish it for years to come. Thanks to Netflix and producers for putting their 160 Millions into this project. Go watch The Irishman because this is a collaboration we might never see happening again, EVER!
Joker (2019)
Un-freaking-believable
Unbelieveable
The film stars as Aurther Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is shaping his face as if he is smiling but he is not he is crying inside. He is crying for help. He is crying for respect which he never got. In very second scene of the movie, Aurther Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) was laughing, and looking at him a smile was about to break on my lips too, but that laugh of Aurther started getting weird, and before I could laugh I was in absolute shock. The look on my face was just amazement. And I was slowly clapping my hands for Phoenix. This actor managed to impress everyone just within two scenes of the film, and this is some seriously incredible achievement.
The film is set with 1981s backdrop, Aurther Fleck a guy who lives in this fictional Gotham City. A man who is nothing more than a joke to those around him. Such a man that fifteen sixteen-year-old children pass by beating and humiliating. And he is not completely normal. He is suffering from many mental problems. And that is what film shows that how situations turn an innocent character into a brutal murderer.
Setting the film in 1981s period was a very smart move by Todd Phillips. This Gotham City looks gorgeous and scary place to live at the same time. Thanks to Lawrence Sher's mind blowing work behind the camera. Film's colour palette is absolutely beautiful. Dark feeling of film is to tell you that Gotham City is full of crime, it is lawless, there's no justice for anyone but the rich. I salute Todd Phillips for having the balls for making something like this.
This film deserves a lot of respect and appreciation not "the film is too dark". Joker is criticized that it can promote violence. It is said that the violence is glorified in the film. , the film is neither promoting violence nor glorifying it. In fact, this is something the film is totally not about. The movie is about how people with mental problems like Arthur reach to the point of becoming "Joker".
"madness is like gravity all it takes is a little push."
I can't believe that people are hating this film because it is violent and brutal and dark and all that. What you were expecting? that he'd kill people by telling bad jokes or what? this is absolutely nonsense. People are familiar with this character. Joker was a mass murderer. It had to be brutal and dark to do full justice to this character since he's getting his solo movie.
I humbly request to those bashing this film because of its subject, that it doesn't dipict the mental illness properly, please don't. Don't do this. Todd Phillips has made a great film that deserves every bit of respect and appreciation.
Unbelievable: Episode 1 (2019)
Now I know Why it's called "Unbelievable"
The first episode of "Unbelievable" shows that a girl who in the first scene gives the police a statement that she was raped. But as this episode goes on, the truth of this statement begin to be doubted. The girl herself is not fully aware of what happened, is she is lying deliberately? Because she cannot say anything completely convincing. One moment you realize the situation she is going through, you start to feel bad. The next moment you start hating her for laying about it.
The show is off to a great start, and as I'll go further into it I'm sure it'll get more exciting and intriguing.
Laal Kabootar (2019)
Karachi on screen like never before
A crime thriller based in the city of Karachi is already a very intriguing scenario and then you add some great actors and a great director like Kamal Khan it becomes a must watch.
How Karachi is whatever happens in Karachi is not good but when it is about filmmaking then Karachi is a gold mine for filmmakers but unfortunately no filmmaker had dug that gold but now Kamal did. Kamal Khan has used Karachi not as a city but as a character in the film. it is a very courageous movie, and especially for a Pakistani filmmaker. Hats off to Cheema brother and sister who took that risk.
The film is gorgeous Mo Azmi has captured every single shot with absolute perfection. Music by Taha Malik is absolutely top notch.
I am out of words to describe how great this film is, I would just say that this is a very rare film we don't see films like this coming out of Pakistan everyday or even every year, so please go out and support this movie and encourage these producers so they can take more risks and make more movies like this.
Todos lo saben (2018)
Asgar Farhadi this time went to Spain to blow our minds yet again
Everybody Knows is a 2018 Spanish Drama/Thriller film directed by Asghar Farhadi (A Separation, The Salesman). Films starts acting giants like Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Ricardo Darín. Film was released in its origin country with some mixed reviews from critics and the audience.
Now I personally loved the film. I think like Farhadi's previous films this latest offering is also a masterpiece. A very typical Farhadi film that starts with a drama and then turns into a nail-biting thriller. Story Revolves around Laura (Penelope Cruz), Paco (Javier Bardem) and Alejandro (Ricardo Darín). So Laura comes to her hometown in Spain from Argentina, without her husband (Alejhandro) to attend the wedding of her sister. So the family and friends are getting together for the Wedding and a lot of drama is happening, characters are being introduced. We meet Paco and find out that he the ex love intrest of Laura. So during this wedding ceremony light goes out and when it comes back Irene the younger daughter of Laura is missing. And then starts happening the typical Asghar Farhadi suspense. Where she is who kidnapped her what happened to her all that. Now I loved the film because the story is so real and believable. Simple and yet very gripping.
The performances, Oh My God !! performances are absolutely top notch. And it is not just the lead characters, the extras in the film even they are so in character that you don't realise it's a movie you think it is some real thing happening, it is actually happening. And if a film makes you feel this way it means they've done a wonderful job.
We throw the term masterpiece around so often that it is not effective anymore but I would still say that this movie is a true Masterpiece. The climix will make you tear your hair out.
Cake (2018)
Showing Pakistani cinema the right path
Pakistani cinema has shown some improvement in these last 4 to 5 years. Wr made some quality movies but the problem was that we work limiting ourself to a certain genre that is comedy / Romance/ action you know all that typical masala stuff. And then came Asim Abbasi for our rescue out of nowhere. He is wonderful director I really enjoyed this film. It's beautifully directed, wonderful acting performances and the most important part is its script a very very well written script. It's the kinda movie that I've been waiting for since I saw Moor directed by Jami. The subject of the Cake is family and it is tackled with sheer brilliance. The cinematography of the film is done by Mo Azmi and is breathtaking. Cake is one of the finest dramedy movie I have ever seen that'll make you laugh and cry at the same time. Asim Abbasi has pushed the limits of Pakistani cinema with cake and now other filmmakers need to follow his path.
Under the Shadow (2016)
Best art-house horror movie
I am a fan of horror and every time if there is a good horror movie I'm in for it and especially if it is an art house horror. Not too far just a month ago I saw The Babadook and I was like this is the best horror movie by far. But now after watching under the shadow I'm forced to change my mind. This is the best horror movie I have seen to date.
So the movie takes place during the Iran Iraq war. There is a family a husband, wife and their only daughter. Their daughter she is afraid of jinns (ghosts). And husband is a doctor. This woman who is playing the lead she is very free-living women she has a VCR at home she is doing exercises in morning wearing jeans and tops, she is not wearing the outfit that every other Iranian women is. So then her husband is transferred to another city which is right in the middle of War so he has to go there but he do not take them with him because it's not safe. Now this woman is living alone and she has to take care of her daughter on her own now. And thing starts to get worse as by the time it's not just daughter anymore she herself is seeing things now.
So what makes Under The Shadow a stand out among the rest? Well it's pretty much everything. So this is not just a movie about some Supernatural stuff going on, it's way more than that. Story of the film takes place in the time when there was Iran Iraq war going on, and that makes the atmosphere of the film more intense. In the film people are doing their normal stuff and suddenly there is a blast somewhere around and that shakes you from the core. its hard to believe that it's Babak Anvari's first film. Settings he used in film the camera angles the sound design the framing it seem like he is the master of horror.
There is one scene in the movie when the woman who is playing the lead she is lying on the bed and camera angle is tilt and then she gets up and now she is sitting on the bed and that tilt camera moves with her and now the camera angle is straight and then the camera moves slightly to left and her daughter is standing next to her bed. This was really very well done.
Editing of the movie is really good this is not a really long movie it's just 80-85 minutes long and that's perfect. Pacing of the movie is more than perfect you won't be bored for a single second it will grip you from the start and will not leave you until it's over.
Saat Din Mohabbat In (2018)
A perfect Eid film
So first of all 7 days love in is not an art house film if you're going for this movie and expecting a Shawshank Redemption or Forrest gump from it you are not gonna get it. This is the most important thing don't go in with wrong expectations. This is a commercial film and probably the extreme form of it.
This movie is a perfect Eid release a movie that you want to watch on the occasion of Eid; It's a totally fun and Masala film. So if we talk about the plot it's a guy who has to find true love in 7 days or else there is a Jin who will make him a slave of his. And there are some physical and spiritual obstacles this guy has to face. So it's not a very layered story it's simple and it's very good. To be honest I really enjoyed every single bit of this movie.
This is a kinda movie that you sit there for 2 hours have fun and leave. You are not going to be thinking about this movie when You will leave cinema hall. And that is perfectly fine for such occasional movie, on Eid you want to watch a movie like this, an easy movie. I am saying it again it's a fictional romcom don't expect too much from it just go and watch just to have some fun.
The director duo of this movie, their previous work was Zinda Bhaag which was huge critical success and I really loved that movie so I was really excited when I heard that Meenu and Farjad are making another movie and this time its a commercial one and they did not disappoint at all. This director duo with they are really talented and very good storytellers.
For me the only drawback of the movie is Mahira Khan she was over acting throughout the film I feel. It's just Mahira who I didn't like otherwise the cast is good and they have done a very very good job sheheryar Munawar is great as Tipu. After reading some of the reviews about the film I feel that this remarkable well written script by Fashi Bari Khan is being criminally underrated. If you like Pakistani fiction stuff like the great Ainak Wala Jin you are gonna love this movie because this is a purely Pakistani material.