Reviews

Sometimes you miss certain movies that you should have seen much earlier. #ILostMyBody combines stunning animation with a touching story about fate and the unexpected journeys we embark on. Should've seen it much earlier. 😊

With excellent use of sound and a smart decision to have grey colours dominate so much in the film, Jérémy Clapin expertly uses his animation talent to build a mood, a difficult task that animated films often ignore.

The strongest part of this adventurous movie is about the character whose hand is severed, whereupon the plot introduces a dual focus of that character with his remaining body and of that of his disembodied hand, the latter of which assumes an independent agency and movement. The showcase of the fly, intermittently, is of crucial importance.

Small scenes that talk about the North Pole, Igloos and the Polar Bear. Namrata Lodaya and me can't stop smiling at each other. Ignore this, it is not related about the movie. Some personal moments that do not form the part of this small review. Very few movies out there have the capacity to touch hearts these days, this is one of them.

This bold and bizarre film is a poignantly maddening meditation on the cruel nature of disconnection. It's also profoundly gorgeous. The blend of weirdness and melancholia makes this movie unique and original.

You can watch it on Netflix, if you already haven't.

#Unorthodox is such a wonderfully made short series. Please watch it. 😊 #ShiraHaas, have never seen any series/movie involving her or probably don't remember her. She is brilliant in the series. She flees her suffocating ultra-Orthodox sect in this fine coming-of-age drama.

It is a melancholic story, told with a touch as sensitive as it is respectful, but with the same overwhelming feeling as an observer: "Get out of there!". And yet the feeling underneath this story is a quiet angst, which sometimes erupts in tears that fall down the cheeks of courageous escapee #Esty.

Communicated in English, German, and Yiddish, Unorthodox tells a compelling story about escaping rigorous doctrine and inherited trauma for a life of meaning and self-actualization. Fascinating depiction and well crafted story shedding light on sexism in all religions.

In the land of the free, most of us have a deep need to belong, to be part of community - feelings that are only accentuated in a time of quarantine. Unorthodox is a story less about one woman or one Hasidic sect so much as an extreme parable of communal devotion taken too far.

Amazing attention to detail. Respectful, but honest. Performances are riveting. 😊

Possibly, the right time to watch movies that you would have missed. A movie watched over the weekend - #BlueJay is so beautiful. It released in Netflix in 2016; long time back. A lot of people who would've already seen it, can ignore this chota sa review. 😊

This is an incredibly intimate film, in all the best ways. People often confuse intimacy with sex, so let me clear, I don't mean sex. There is a kiss and miss, but the words, and the emotions these two bring to life are deeper, and more meaningful than what some couples share in an entire life time. The chemistry is perfect, their interaction is superb as it burns you down and takes you back through memories of your life you once had. It was like sitting by a stream on a quiet summer day and letting the flowing water hypnotise and soothe you.

There is nothing I didn't love about this wonderful film. There is a good possibility that people shall have some down time right now. :). I recommend spending it with #MarkDuplass and Sarah. You can hear their souls singing in their performances, and in his writing, and to me that makes Blue Jay a piece of art.

The scope of #AlexLehmann's Blue Jay is humble, detailing not a great rectification of missed opportunity, but revealing instead in two unhappy people as they work through their longings in an extended duet. Watch it, if you already haven't. 😊

'Thappad' is such a mind-blowing hard-hitting film. It is a big slap to the entire society.

Well done #MrunmayeeLagoo! Really happy for you.

Taapsee Pannu is fantastic in the movie and the way she portrays happiness and melancholy is a sight to behold. You feel happy when she is happy and you feel sad when her sadness is reflected.

#AnubhavSinha - with every movie, the delivery keeps getting better and better. Thankfully, a number of storytellers in Bollywood are aiming to surprise, shock and charm you with attention-grabbing yarns you haven't witnessed earlier on the Hindi screen. Some get it right, some don't, but where he needs to be lauded is the effort to break the mould and to go beyond the stereotype.

It shows gender inequality so embedded in the framework of the society we live in that its hard to even detect it. It is not something that we do not know about but the nuanced writing, the sensitive and balanced treatment, and the superlative performances of all the members of the cast make it such a sensitive movie to watch it at any cost.

Initially, it seems to be geared primarily towards females but it is actually geared towards the entire society in general. The best part is that the movie is without any stereotypical Bollywood ending. This gutsy film deserves a standing ovation!

It might have been a tough pill to digest for so many people! 😊

Saw Parasite yesterday. Something that we missed out during MAMI. What a brilliant gripping tale this is! It is a class-conscious thriller that you wouldn't want to miss.

To start with, it makes you laugh with its comic rendering. When you see the entire movie it defies all your expectations along the line. Bong Joon-ho crafts an intricate look at modern-day social hierarchies. He keeps you flipped on one mood then drastically changes it to the other while delivering some brilliant thematic elements. When you spend 132 minutes seeing this movie you encounter and experience: clever, humorous, dramatic and every other kind of emotion.

It is also a hilarious and irreverent take on South Korea's class warfare. I cannot overstate how refreshing Parasite is both as a genius piece of arthouse cinema, but also a very contemporary comedy of errors. Parasite is so sublime because it can be watched for pure entertainment value of a sly poor family manipulating gullible elites into paying them for various services, but Parasite also wades in deep waters of sympathy for its poor desperate souls.

It is an outstanding South Korean dark comedy that will stand up to the ages. Its final moments are so unsettling, and so unforgettable and impossible to estimate. It is a test that you undergo yourself and you're most likely to fail! 😊

1917 reminds you of various movies that we have seen at different times in our life. It reminds you of #Dunkirk, #Fury and Saving Private Ryan at various junctures. The best aspect is that it is a fantastic achievement in immersive film-making. It keeps you hooked and on the edge of your seat for its entire 2 hour duration.

On top of being an engaging story, it is filmed in such a way that it makes it feel like one continuous take, for the most part, which ultimately begs the core actors to deliver their brilliant performances. Quite possibly, this is #GeorgeMackay's best performance.

Coincidentally, had talked about #SamMendes and his association with Louis Vuitton when I had met somebody at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris this year. We were such big fans of #SamMendes and it enabled us to talk about Skyfall and American Beauty. #SamMendes immerses his appreciative fans once again! He takes you through the loss of young lives, families torn asunder and those waiting in anxiety and hope and the overwhelming longing for home.

It's not always the most comfortable experience. It is, however, a virtually unprecedented one. 😊

Chhapaak is difficult to watch but it is also difficult to look away from. It reminds you of multiple incidences of your childhood which may not waver around acid attacks but other incidences that had blocked the confidence of your own life.

The protagonist, Deepika Padukone, in the film is rechristened from Laxmi to Malti and other character names have been changed as well. The story, however, remains a firm showcase of her real-life incidents. The scene where Malti sees her maim face for the first time in the mirror and howls in consternation is compelling.

The unique portrayal of travel of the movie between decades is very interesting. It highlights Malti's struggle as well as acknowledges the support she receives from various people. Padukone's quiet portrayal of Malti's determination is quite moving actually. At a certain point, you feel why is she still worried about not taking her dupatta off her face but eventually she does and she fights.

Uyare Movie, the Malayalam movie, that released last year had focussed on a similar concept. It was better than Chhapaak in terms of the sizzle it provided but it had its own certain flaws too.

KA Productions, Fox Star Hindi, Deepika Padukone and Meghna Gulzar have made a wonderful movie.

Ignore multiple controversies surrounding Chhapaak. Instead, please watch the movie. 😊

Bombshell is a character driven drama that is entertaining and quite gripping.

It directly lands on its targets, men with power and immorality to squander. There are so many men that I have seen across different corporate organizations who would have shivered if they would have seen it. It is quite engrossing because of the #Metoo and workplace harassment concept involved. It is a finely crafted film which benefits from its super acting ensemble.

It triumphs as a close-up look at the harasser in action and as a depiction of how Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie stop harassment by speaking out and supporting each other.

For me and Namrata Lodaya, it was so good to see #BrigetteLundyPaine as part of this movie. She has been one of our favorite for some time now. 😊

It slightly disappoints in between but it is still one of the most important movie that has released this year. It is a punch in the gut of various men who would be involved in it not in the United States but everywhere.

Of course, India too, if the relevant people see it. 😊

Finally, could see The Two Popes!

The movie basically revolves around two character affairs whose actors have clearly come to play. The performers Anthony Hopkins & #JonathanPryce are at the top of their game. The results are fascinating master classes of give-and-take, of knowing when to overshadow and when to stay back.

The extraordinary thing about this movie is the humanity of the diverse pair, and the wonderful portrait of two characters who intersect in a central point: to maintain the unity of their church.

The theme of the movie is universal, and the message of the movie is exactly the message we need right now, not just in India, in the entire world: Build bridges, not walls. 😊

For certain people (like me) the best part is simultaneous showcase of football till the end. The movie ends with 2014 FIFA World Cup Final. The end of the movie does away with their titles and their history, real and imagined. For once, they're just two humans, rather than two popes.😊

#Atlantics is outstanding.

In the world, #Atlantics depicts in Senegal and the vivid characters inhabiting it, it is engaging, informative and absolutely worth your while!

Despite being late to watch it still doesn't hamper anything primarily because it is unlike anything else I would see this year.

Its emotional reality provides both an anchor and a basis for elaboration; desire, defiance, and a twisting but carefully controlled sensuality all guide it beautifully till the end.

It is a fantastic super debut for #MatiDiop! Watch it. 😊

Marriage Story advocates that a divorce is horrible! The biggest aspect showcased is to understand that perhaps it is nobody's fault in a divorce. Perhaps, it happens for it to not happen. 😊

It showcases #MerrittWever for only few minutes or so. It reminds you so much of #Unbelievable that still rings in your mind. 😊

#ScarlettJohansson and #AdamDriver are extremely brilliant in every single scene. The little moments in the movie mean so much and #NoahBaumback doesn't waste a single one. He captures that most directors won't: how married people shout loudly and continuously + how married people love + how married people cry + how married people undercut + how they leave each other!

It is a melancholic, heavy-hearted yet joyously bittersweet story about marriage and its unfortunate path to severance in order to find happiness.

No cheek is left dry. 😊

Missed 'The Irishman' during Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star. It has taken me four days to watch it in bits and parts. Finally, watching it, is done. 😁

The Irishman leaves you with a swallowing sense of regret, loss and frailty. In a brilliant scene, Pesci's character tells De Niro's Frank Sheeran, "Look how strong I've made you. No one can touch you." The statement is starkly contrasted by powerful men who are assassinated, imprisoned, betrayed or weakened by age. Most devastating is watching a man achieve his peak power, and then see his slow realisation that he has lost the love of his children.

It will be revered as one of the greatest films ever produced about organised crime, and might very well be the definitive statement on the genre, because it's difficult to imagine anyone eclipsing what Scorsese has done here.

It is obviously long but it's never less than compelling - #MartinScorsese, #RobertDeNiro, #AlPacino and #JoePesci, all in their mid-to-late-70s, are each carrying a lifetime of work, with practiced ease.

If you fortunately see them all together for 4 consecutive days, your happiness multiplies. 😁

#KnivesOut is an absolute blast and it is one of the most entertaining films you shall see for some time. It is also meticulously conceived and carefully executed. In #KnivesOut, everything just works. Even if you don't like mysteries you shall like this one!! 😊

It takes you for a ride with the help of smart writing and superior direction. You shall love the humour and especially #DanielCraig's ludicrous yet perfect performance.

This cracking mystery is a lean-forward experience, as the movie lures you deeper and deeper into its intricately plotted layers.

Not mentioning anything else. Go watch it! 😊😊

Couldn't see Aamis during Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star! Finally, could see it yesterday.

Bhaskar HaZarika has done a fabulous job in creating an unusual and a brilliant movie! The script is an absolute marvel. People like me would feel so energetic while watching the entire movie. There is so much unnerving imagination. 😊

Aamis is a chilling tale of Lima Das and Arghadeep Barua who live simple lives but bump into each other leading to an ordinary food affair which slowly grows into an extraordinary tale of love, lust, longing and life. Their relationship remains undefined that eventually becomes astounding.

The themes and metaphors in Aamis are about how love consumes us and how we consume the people we love with love. Meat becomes a metaphor for passion. It utilizes FOOD as a source of ecstasy and peerlessness.

Go watch it, if you already haven't. 😊

If you already haven't, please watch Hellaro! 😊 Abhishek Shah has done a wonderful job. Go watch it and you shall not find it even slightly exaggerated. 😁

Hellaro is a wonderful movie that portrays Garba, the world-famous song-and-dance form of Gujarat. It is employed - probably for the first time in Indian cinema - to represent women's liberty and subversion of patriarchy.

There is one scene where they showcase how people from Kutchch in 1975 try to read people's mind and change people's fortune via some random volume increment of the Baba who gets possessed by GOD and helps them.

People like me understand it because people like me have seen fake silly these things for a long time and it still continues across Kutchch, Gujarat and everywhere in India amongst people from Kutchch. 😁

Finally, last week allowed me to see Jallikattu and it left me puzzled, shocked and amazed. Some movies deserve so many good things. Watching #Jallikattu is as exciting and an unusual experience as it may never happen. Lijo Jose Pellissery has utilised a simple story, but it is excruciatingly complex in execution.

It is an incredible visceral and sensational journey that also deals with politics, religion, humanity, morality, revenge, nemesis and basic human emotions. The conflict is not man versus animal, it is a conflict between the beast and the beast within us.

It is an allegorical tale of mankind's eternal struggle to subdue nature. However, it is not possible to control nature, and when the nature runs riot, the result is mayhem.

You don't need a lot of colours or beautiful gardens or even spells for magic. You just need to capture the right moments. #Jallikattu does that. If you already haven't, please do watch it. Do not miss it. It is available on Amazon Prime!😊

Since yesterday night, I haven't been able to get this away from my mind.

Honey Boy is one of the best self-movies I have seen it in a long time. It is extremely humane and deeply discomforting. It is a difficult watch but a transformative film.

Despite Shia Lebeouf's dysfunctions in his own life, it is definitely his most gut-wringing performance. He plays his own father. There's an honest heart in Lebeouf's own script. Alma Har'el's brilliant direction ensures that the film has so much quality that it rises way above a simple movie.

It is an auto-biographical drama that you should NOT miss whenever it releases. :)

It takes time to soak in a humbling and an unforgettable documentary.

It gives a simple message: 'The relationship between humanity and the world in which we live must be handled with care'.

The best part is your realisation that you are watching a documentary in Macedonia. Every moment that was captured was captured at the right time. Even if they would've hired the best actors and actresses from any industry they would've still not been able to construct a perfect documentary as this is.

#HatidzeMuratova has responded so beautifully to directors #TamaraKotevska and #LjubomirStefanov.

Their simple message of 'Bees shall sting you, if you try and overpower them' narrates bigger understanding of life (plants, animals and various living beings) that all viewers go through.

A WONDERFUL MUST WATCH.

The trailer of Moothon - The Elder One was extremely gripping.

The movie is another engaging Malayalam movie but at quite a few junctures you feel that it is replete and overloaded.

If you can resist that, I think it is an aspiring attempt by Geetu Mohandas that should be watched once. It releases on 8th September in Kerala at least.

Nivin Pauly is fabulous in this movie. Probably, he has outperformed himself.

The movie has so many moments that make you gasp multiple times.

Don't think twice. Don't miss it. Watch it.

Sorry We Missed You showcases a 'family struggle' in Britain to regain financial independence. The family life becomes extremely toxic as both parents become exhausted and eventually start losing their sense of dignity.

It implicitly showcases an intimate and powerful drama about what's going on in people's everyday lives all over the world.

Like most of #KenLoach films, this is also brutally honest and difficult to watch at times. It is showcased with extreme empathy.

It doesn't end on a happy note, there isn't any way for it to do so. It simply highlights that for so many of us the struggle is both real and never ending. The performances are so realistic, it's hard at times to remember you're watching a drama and not a documentary.

Sorry We Missed You is a tender and devastating movie that is a must-see film for anyone who has ever had a crappy job. Probably, everybody would have! 😁

PS: Whenever, you shall see it, please ignore the Brexit that affected England.

Yesterday, I ventured into seeing #OhBaby. It has been a while since I have watched a Telugu movie. In 2010 and 2011 when I was a regular traveler to Hyderabad, Guntur, Vizag and Vijayawada, I have seen so many Telugu movies with my work mates then. I have seen so many Bollywood films in Telugu too. I remember watching Delhi Belly (Telugu) in Guntur and the entire theatre went crazy.

There are key imaginary things in Oh!Baby, if you can ride this fantasy, it will make you laugh and cry for a long time. It is such a fabulous movie that it keeps reminding multiple things to you. #OhBaby is a Korean remake of #MissGranny. It is so well made by Nandini Reddy. Congratulations Chhitra Subramaniam.

The simple concept of the movie revolves around a petulant 70-year-old Baby who's warm but overbearing, her bitterness a residue of her own rough younger days. What makes parents and grandparents become a bit of a pain? Can they breathe easy and can the younger generation also learn to not take their barbs to heart?

There are instances that make you cry and there are instances that make you laugh out loud. All these instances remind you of your mother and other elder relationships.

Don't stop reminding yourself the amount of love you possess for your mother/grandmother or anybody elder related to you.

Oh! Baby is an extremely valuable pack! It provides the elders a second shot to live! Go to the theatre, get stuck to it for approximately 3 hours. Try watching it with your mother/father/grandparents. Don't stop feeling happy! 😊

Sunday was dedicated to a movie that is incredibly well made. Please try and watch it whenever you get time.

Capernaum (#Capharnaum - Children of Chaos) made by Nadine Labaki is an extremely powerful #Arabic movie portrayed in Lebanon.

It features Zain al Rafeea (born in Syria) in a heart-breaking debut performance as a young boy fending for himself under dangerous circumstances. The entire movie revolves around #Zain. We generally don't expect incredible acting from an 11 year old kid. #Zain, the key protagonist, showcases an amazing performance in this heart-breaking story. You don't want to stop seeing him. He makes you, alternatively, smile and cry with immense grace.

The way they have shot the one-year old baby and his performance is exemplary too. You feel so good while seeing something that showcases love between people (kids) that spend time together under various circumstances.

Nadine Labaki takes these two most common statements: "I wish I never lived" & "I wish my parents never had me" and she develops a powerful film that gives humanity to these children who need it the most.

This movie will simply make you take a step back from your own reality and look closely at the reality of those who have no voice to speak and no means to rebel. The middle section of the movie, mostly shot on handheld cameras on the streets of Beirut, is breathtaking, topical, hilarious, tender and brutal.

The movie is nothing less than heartbreaking. Don't miss it. Please do watch it. 😊

If you wish to see a good movie this week do not miss #Virus.

One of the best Malayalam movie that I have seen.

Beautifully made by Aashiq Abu! Well done OPM Cinemas.

If you love fantastic survival movies, it shall hold and twist your nerves till the curtains draw.

Go watch it. 😊