Thugs Of Hindostan Review: Great Actors Don't Always Maketh A Great Movie

Cast - Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, John Clive (let's just not insult Katrina further by adding her in this section. The makers have already done that. More on this later).

Director - Vijay Krish... Arre the same guy who helmed Dhoom 3.

Runtime - 2 hrs 44 mins

Genre - Adventure / Thriller (really?) / Action

Plot - Remember the The Boy Who Lived from Harry Potter? Bass vahi hain. Just replace Daniel with Fatima and voila! You have TOH (Not literally tho. I won't dare to compare THAT to THIS but you get it, right?)

A constantly double-crossing doube-double-crosser who double-crosses way too much. Or does he? This is basically the main plot point of the 2 hrs 44 mins film.

The perfectly choreographed action, the outstandingly good background score, cleverly blended fight sequences, first rate performances by the lead cast surely makes you sit up and watch but are these enough reasons for you to spend 3 hrs and INR300+ on?

All the actors give top notch performances and are one of the very very few saving graces but even gifted actors like Amir and Amitabh couldn't save the Indian version of Dumbledore-Snape equation from falling pale. Also, it's galling how Fatima Sana Sheikh isn't given anything more than 2-3 lines in the first 45 mins of the film. 

No! Not Katrina. It's sad how her role has been cut down to just 2 item numbers, although she could've been used for the action bits considering how good she is at it. But of course, what is a Bollywood film without a gratuitious dancer who is shimmering with gold on her body much like Aishwarya Rai did in Dhoom 2. And what on earth are these women doing to their lips and why?! Did I miss something like, "Katrina's lips are going to be in 3D so watch out!"  It is shocking that her choreography goes out of its way to make her steps exaggeratedly mechanical and look – absurd! Sure, it shows how strong her abs are, but where is the grace? Hello?

The story is bromidic and reminds you of many films (Yes, Race 3 being of them). The only saving grace in the plotline are its dialogues which are minimal but hard hitting for most part of the film. The lines feel honest because the characters seem aware of themselves, their actions and those of others too. 

The direction is shoddy along with poor CGI. The second-rate digital work and the even shabby editing snatch that attention away from the lustre of some interestingly conceptualised fight scenes.

The best thing in the film (for me) is how despite being clearly in the “masala” genre, Thugs of Hindostan doesn’t have a romantic sidetrack. The restraint is even more obvious and applaudworthy because there is ample opportunity for a love story. Or even two. Props to whoever thought of that. 👏

Thugs of Hindostan dulls down in the second half with the wit dying out and the story-writing deteriorating to the kind we saw in the multi-starrer masala films from the 80s and 90s. This includes the huge gaps in logical flow and things quite conveniently turning out the way they do.

If you are among the ones looking for a typical masala Diwala release,

TOH might just work for you but I'd still suggest you think before you press that "Proceed for Payment" option.

Ratings - 2.5 (Only for Aamir, Amitabh and the Sound-Makeup-Action Department)

PS - Sorry Katrina. Your amazing dancing skills and luscious lips deserved better. 

Christopher Robin Review - A Wonderful Reminder That Hope Is Alive In This Terrible World.

I bet y'all will agree that Christopher Robin + Winnie The Pooh = Childhood Nostalgia.

Marc Forster's live action Christopher Robin is the movie you didn't know you needed. Yeah yeah I know, the trailer and everything suggests that the film is a honey syrup sweet thing you might want to stay away from. But hey, you're highly mistaken. This version of A.A. Milne and illustrator E.H. Shepard's 1920 classic has an enchanting, low-key vibe that is, here and there, brushed with a lots of traces of adult melancholy. It’s good for kids, definitely, but maybe even better for adults who could use a little calming.

It begins with Christopher's farewell party with all his forest friends in the 100 Acre Wood. What follows is a 5 minutes montage narrating the happenings in Christopher's life after leaving the place - boarding school, job, family, daughter, work pressure etc.
The incidents are introduced via chapters that are dead ringers for artist E.H. Shepard’s illustrations in the books — (a sublime touch, this. :'))

Director Marc Forster, the type of player who’s done everything from batshit absurdism-lite (Stranger Than Fiction) to Bond flicks (Quantum of Solace), intense character dramas (Monster’s Ball) and postapocalyptic zombie epics (World War Z), evokes the same magic here. Every time things start to get a bit goopy, we get silent-comedy slapstick from Pooh and other characters.

Screenplay from Allison Schroeder (Hidden Figures), Tom McCarthy (Spotlight) and Alex Ross Perry (the guy behind Listen Up, Philip?!?) is so powerful, it hits home.

There's one moment, where...
Pooh said “I thought you’d know where my friends are.” 
Christopher Robin: “How am I supposed to know? I haven’t thought of them in 30 years.”
Pooh: “Well, we think of you everyday.” 
The theater gasped. I am telling ya'll. Floodgates were opened but little did we know there was a Tsunami coming. There are so many times during this movie that my heart shattered and the next moment, held me tight. 

In such moments, Christopher Robin feels less like a movie for children than it does a movie for adults — specifically, adults that grew up watching Disney's many Winnie the Pooh cartoons and who are now, like Christopher, struggling against the often unfortunate aspects of adult life.

As we get older, it becomes harder to relate to the carefree nature of Pooh, whose favorite day is always "today" and whose biggest concern is satiating the "rumbly' in his "tumbly."

Kids in the audience will have no problems there, and there are plenty of antics and cute moments to keep them occupied and entertained while their parents nod along to Christopher's grown-up troubles.

If you're a workaholic and gradually let work importance slip in front of your family time... and love getting kicked square in the nuts... Then Yes. This one's for you, my friend.


Performances -

McGregor’s game performance as a confused, conflicted man fighting REAL obstacles like paternal guilt, a marriage on the rocks, missing papers that could cost him his livelihood and his inner selfish self. He’s an actor who can roll with this movie’s punches, whether it requires him to be light on his feet or dragged down by existential despair, exhilarated by childlike play o anything.

A huge factor in this is the fact that Jim Cummings returns to voice both Winnie the Pooh and Tigger — characters he has now portrayed in Pooh cartoons for decades. This film would not have worked as well as it does if Pooh didn't sound exactly as you remember him sounding.

The secret star of “Christopher Robin,” however, is Eeyore (voiced by Brad Garrett). With his sour and cynical asides –“Looks like a disaster; why wasn’t I invited?” – Eeyore does more than steal the show, he undergirds the action with his heightened sense of doom. Sometimes you feel you're Christopher and most of the times, Eeyore.

Verdict - The film has lighthearted moments, but it's not a lighthearted movie. Christopher Robin is a deathly blow to all of us once-kids who made a contract with Winnie the Pooh and the other Friends. It is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking.
Every adult needs to watch Christopher Robin and remember the important things in life – Growing up is inevitable, but never forget to look back on what's important.

Sometimes the timing of a good story is everything, and this particular story comes at a time when the world at large needs a little more hope, a little more innocence and a lot more Pooh.

This is gonna be one of my favorite movies of all time, I just know it. And anyone who tries to break Pooh’s heart and not watch this film, is getting one from me.
Hold my honey jar, Mom! I am getting my stick. 👊🙄

Ratings - 4.3/5

Karwaan - A Ride For Life

Cast - Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar, Amala Akkineni, Kriti Kharbanda

Runtime - 2 hrs

Director - Akarsh Khurana

Hardly ever does Bollywood come up with such subtle yet magnificent storytelling.  Karwaan is a story of rumination and awakenings, and as in life, here too, such things rarely happen with drumrolls and festoon shows. And that's exactly why the film shines.

Akarsh Khurana, Bejoy Nambiar and Hussain Dalal's writing ensures this "drive," is smooth and pleasant. 

The scenic journey from Bengaluru to Kochi through the beautiful Western Ghats and Prateek Kuhad’s soothing songs cocoon you inside a familiar world and convince you that, may be, it’s time to stop being so hard on yourself, much like the characters in the film.

Somewhere along the way, these characters bond, lighten up, change and grow up.

What remains consistent from start to finish is cinematographer Avinash Arun's inventige, expansive frames. I mean a low angle shot of DQ reading a paper framed against a backdrop of thick green trees is breathtaking to say the least.

As someone who has followed Dulquer Salmaan's career from the beginning, I confess I was apprehensive when I realized that Akarsh Khurana would be directing his first Bollywood film, considering what a fuzzy bomb Sumeet Vyas starrer High Jack was. 

But I an glad I was proven wrong. Karwaan sure isn't a bone crushing beauty of the sort of movies DQ has done in the past.

But here we have a director and a star collaborating to give a script priority over everything else, which is something Bollywood rarely does.

So yeah, Props to Mr. Khurana for that.

At one point, a character in this movie explains that he is not sure whether Mr. X was a "good person" but it is clear that he was "not bad" which, in itself, is quite something in this day and age.

It has its share of shortcomings like the white racism and "appropriate clothing" gyan but it is admirsbly purposeful and unwavering. By emphasizing that a girl and a guy can just be friends, this road-trip film is also proof that you can find yourself without letting a manufactured love story derail it.

The appropriate description for Karwaan would be -

It isn't earth shattering, but it isn't bad at all. Which is another way of saying it is an intelligent, funny, thoughtful, an "almost" flawless movie and a pleasant experience. 

And if for nothing else, Karwaan can be watched for its performances alone.

This kind of dry, dark humor is made for actors like Irrfan Khan. His impeccable style of delivering lines with deadpan eccentricity makes even a deadbeat situation funny. I mean, who else could make "Aye, Maiyyat pe romance nahi ha," sound funny?

 Kriti Kharbanda is disarmingly fresh as her character is required to be. Why don't we see more of her in Bollywood?

Likewise, Dulquer Salmaan brings just the right amount of intensity to a character who is bored with his life but doesn't bore you.

His understated and quiet performance strings the narrative into a smooth flow. 

Here you don’t get a glimpse of the star from  Malayalam cinema, rather, you realise why he’s a star. 

With the limited screentime, Mithila Palkar is decent as the quirky millennial.

It's essentially a meditation on mortality, grief, and letting go - an ingenious set up that gives birth to a terrific coming-of-age drama. 

The strength of this film lies in its ability to find humour in hair-brained situations.

This one will stay with me forever. ❤️

So go, get your tickets! You can thank me later. 

Ratings - 3.5/5

Why Is Bojack Horseman So Important?

So many people have been asking me about the unconditional love I have for Bojack Horseman (after The Walking Dead and Twin Peaks, of course). 

So here...

It has redefined what animated comedies can be in a big way. Not only is it consistently funny or an increasingly impressive watch during the age of sad comedies but it’s also an emotional one.

I mean, Bojack has made me contemplate life more than any other show.

I understand it's hard to believe it from its embarrassing lack of awards attention but it’s consistently one of the best, funniest, and most emotionally raw shows on television. ABSOLUTELY transcendent in places.

Any screenwriting class will tell you that one of the most crucial things in storytelling is making the audience care about your characters. And this show aces it perfectly. 

The thing in life is that even when we get everything we want, they may not particularly be what we want a few years down the line. We can strive for perfection but that elusive aim always shifts as we grow and change as people. And on some level, our pursuit of happiness becomes similar to a coyote chasing a fake rabbit that’s wired to always be a step ahead of us. 

That's the case with Bojack, an anthropomorphic horse. He may have seemed like everything we want to be, but the tragedy is that he is actually everything most of us really are. I MOSTLY AM. 

Depressed, self-centered, everlastingly unsatisfied and obsessed with his own past life - both trying to escape and relive it. 

Like many amazing characters from different shows, he holds a mirror up to us, but UNLIKE most, he holds a mirror to the PARTS OF OURSELVES THAT WE ARE NOT SO INCLINED TO SHARE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD. And that's what makes Bojack, so special.

As the series progresses, we see how disenchanted and confused about her direction in life, BoJack’s seemingly sorted ghost writer turned friend Diane is. 

We see a growing sense of worthlessness in the otherwise charming slacker Todd and the endless frustrations of BoJack’s agent Princess Caroline.

And in the center of it all, we have Bojack - 

A man who was so busy chasing things he believed he wanted when he was young and reckless, he missed out on so many chances at happiness. A man who constantly sabotages himself and everything around him out of a dangerous combination of cowardice, bitterness and spite. 

The greatest masterstroke of this show is choosing the format of an animated sitcom to give the viewers a reality check. BoJack’s shift from a funny, witty comedy into a dark, existential, character-driven drama in just 2 episodes is a thrilling surprise and when it hits you and you realize what's happening, it sends you into a different zone. The show is laden with trigger warnings for people already suffering from any mental condition. Believe me when I say this, according to me, it's actually how you take it - on a deeper note, it helped me get out of my habitual dolour, something I've been struggling with since the beginning of this year.

The way the show deals with the differences in people's attitude and attributes is somewhat a hopeful suggestion that just because things seem doomed, doesn’t always mean they are.

This is the kind of show that can make even an uproariously funny gag into a sly commentary on maturity and how much on some level we are all just kids with no idea what we’re doing, trying and often failing to grow up.

And that is exactly why it getting SNUBBED at the EMMYs again this year, rubbed me off the wrong way.

I mean, Jessica Biel kills and eats Zach Braff and yet SHE gets an Emmy nomination, but "Bojack Horseman" gets none. This is a crime. I have a bone to pick with you, Emmys.

My frustration has reached a point where I am turning to conspiracy theories.

This is a show we need to celebrate — a show that’s willing to take tonal and creative risks all while being sensitive to its characters and inclusive. Instead, the same few shows were nominated yet again for Outstanding Animated Program. *slow claps*

To quote a wise woman, the Emmy people can "Suck a d**k dumb shits!"

Black Panther Review - The Superhero Movie We All Deserve, Thanks Marvel. This Was Long Overdue.

Genre :- Fantasy/Action/Sci-Fi

Run-time :- 2 hrs 22 mins

Cast :- Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita N'Yongo, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Sterling K Brown, Winston Duke, Letitia Wright, Andy Serkis

Director :- Ryan Coogler

Plot – As we saw in Captain America: Civil War, King T’Chaka of Wakanda, was killed in an explosion at the United Unions meeting. Black Panther picks up with King T’Chaka’s son, T’Challa, returning home to Wakanda to participate in the ritual ceremony making him the new king of Wakanda, and Black Panther.

There are a great many things that make Black Panther a Marvel film like no other, but one of the most striking things about it, is how thoroughly familiar the world of Wakanda feels. Not in the sense that you’ve seen anything like it before (trust me, you haven’t) but rather that seeing it feels like coming home, where the reality kicks in.


Direction and Cinematography: 

Ryan Coogler is already a 3/3 with all his movies being a hit and there's no doubting his mettle. It's because of his direction coupled with cinematographer Rachel Morrison's craft, we get breathtaking, on-the-ground shots that give Wakanda’s streets a texture and vibrancy that blends old-world hustle and bustle with gleaming accents of the future.

Screenplay:

While Coogler is known predominantly for his directing work, his writing is equally superb (just look at Creed as another example), making Black Panther the most grounded and humane Marvel films.
And Coogler and Joe Robert Cole’s screenplay shines in their outstanding character development and ability to elicit empathy.

The testament to this claim is Erik Killmonger’s (Michael B. Jordan) villainous motivation which is immediately understandable and completely relatable. If you knew what he knew, you’d want to fight T’Challa, too. Even in the moments where Killmonger’s ambition to take the Wakandan throne boil over into overt bloodthirstiness, there’s a voice in the back of your head reminding you what brought him to that point, and why maybe he has a point.
And that speaks a lot about perfect scripting.

From the topics of colonialism to populism, Black Panther doesn’t shy away from the conversations that need to be had. It would not have been as strong a movie had it not maintained a balance between contemplating the heavier concepts while portraying the absolutely joyous and reverent sequences about Wakanda’s magnificence.

The Highs -

Black Panther tackles many politically charged topics and is one of the most socially relevant action films in recent years. But wait, before the regular offenders hit the comments section and say, “Keep politics out of entertainment. MAGA”, you can relax and take another sip of that Redbull in front of you. This film isn’t saying “death to white people”; quite the contrary, in fact, as it promotes a concept of “one tribe.” There’s a deep and resounding moral to the story, which we could all learn from. I am serious, Moral of a Superhero story. Yes!

I really enjoyed how the film made it overly apparent that a lot of time and effort went into creating Wakanda, from the language, to the clothes, to the amazing technology.

Homage was paid to the African culture with the versatility in style and color patterns used in the wardrobe, the use of music and dance during rituals, and loyalty and strength within tribes. It was very futuristic and seamless, yet you could see how it was rooted in real world culture. All of it was so surrealistic it often made me think “Whoa! What if this really was real? It'd have been so awesome man!”

The movie wasn’t as comedic as the most recent Marvel movies (read: Thor Ragnarok) but it had its moments that kept it light-hearted. The movie’s comedic moments land squarely but they’re also subtle, often bubbling up suddenly—almost as if willed into existence by the chemistry between the cast. The timing is so accurate, it takes you by surprise and make you laugh harder than you should.

The casting choices were great. Black Panther truly does not rely on any other Marvel film to make it a good story. It is a stand alone film that makes a name for itself without using the rest of the MCU as a crutch to attest to its greatness.

Talking about action, If you thought you’d seen it all in the MCU, think again. Black Panther features some of the best fight scenes you’ll ever see in a superhero film, period. The battle between Winston Duke’s M’Baku and T’Challa is a visual treat as they slug it out over a scenic waterfall, as is Black Panther’s first butt-kicking appearance in the jungle fight where he kinda sorta looks like Batman's clinging-to-the-wall entry scene in BvS. Yeah, I had to compare it. Sorry not sorry.
Also, anytime Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, and Letitia Wright do literally anything in Black Panther is the best moment in Black Panther. Man are these woman the epitome of badassery in this movie!? Gimme a Hell yeah!

The real quality lies in the quiet moments where we get to peel back the layers of T’Challa, KillMonger and the other characters. PS - Describing Okoye (Danai Gurira) as simply the general of the Dora Milaje isn’t entirely accurate; she is in almost every sense of the title, Hand to the King, second only to his mother Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett). The relationship between T’Challa & Shuri & the banther that goes on between the two is genuine, which is another thing that Coogler nailed down perfectly.

This brings me to my next point: the “villain”, Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger. First, let’s throw our fists in the air, because a Marvel antagonist has finally been done right. Jordan’s performance is the main highlight of the cast as his character blurs the line between good and bad. The fact that several people in the audience cheered (I was the loudest) when KillMonger went on his diatribes, speaks volumes of how people connected with him and didn’t see him as a stereotypical villain.

Another thing we can’t ignore is the soundtrack. While other superhero films have mostly relied on horns and strings, composer Ludwig Göransson embraced Black Panther‘s African (and African-American) roots by merging tribal music with hip hop. There’s nothing eclectic about this combination and it works well to give an extra sheen of originality. Also, Kendrick Lamar dude, how can a film's score possibly go wrong with this man's magic?


The Lows -

My only major gripe lies with the overuse of CGI, which stood out like a sore thumb at certain points in the film. If we’re going to condemn Justice League for video game-esque graphics and obvious shortcuts, we need to do the same here. "There she goes. Talking like every DC fan out there!" Really now? Grow up!

When the film was more grounded and focused on great acting, practical effects, and fight choreography, it was pitch-perfect. Once the CGI came in, well, it was hit and miss. The lesson is the same as it’s been for the past couple of years: CGI doesn’t always make a movie better, so less of it, please.

It gets a little slow in the middle with unnecessary flashbacks and all, making me look at my watch more than once.

On the same note though I feel like there could have been just a little more character development for Erik Killmonger. I wish there was a little more justification behind his anger. His motivation was implied by his story, but it could have been a little more well-rounded and believable with a little extra detail.

Performances :-

Chadwick Boseman proves that he can stand on his own & stand firm. Even with veterans like Angela Bassett, who plays T’Challa’s mother Ramonda & Forest Whitaker, who plays Zuri, at his side, Boseman shines bright with charisma & maintains the strong presence he brought to the big screen in Captain America: Civil War.

Michael Jordan nailed it as KillMonger with his uniquely casual delivery style and irresistible appeal. You know one's a great actor when they can make you see both sides of the character they're essaying.
“Throw me into the ocean where our ancestors jumped off the slave ships because they knew death was better than bondage” says Killmonger at one point and I am not kidding I got literal goosebumps.
Jordan's KillMonger made me sit through the movie going "He's right... Well he's right, too... Now, that's a good point! I had to silently give myself the "PICK A SIDE!" speech. I need to reflect and maybe see it again without the mental noise. :)

Black Panther had me fan-girling so hard over Lupita Nyong’o. That woman has some cray cray moves in the film. Stuff which even dearest Boseman doesn't get to set his claws on. Beyond perfect for the character, I have no more words to describe her performance.

Letitia Wright as Shuri, is a sister we all wish we had. This 16 yr old actor is one of the highlights of the movie. She is the Tony Stark of Wakanda, but with cooler tech. Ahem! The way she yelled, "Whaaat areee thoooseeeee!" with the enthusiasm for tech spoke a lot about the genius of the character.

Bassett & Whitaker’s characters were mainly in the background but still contribute lightly to the progression of the plot. Listen up, I need a recording of Angela Bassett screaming "SHOW THEM WHO YOU ARE" to get out of bed every morning.

Daniel Kaluuya, who played T’Challa’s best friend W’kabi, did a solid job but suffered from a non-visible connection to T’Challa, which was necessary for the growth of his character in the third act.

We’ve already seen what Gurira is capable of in The Walking Dead, but she takes it to a whole new level here as the unstoppable Okoye. Someone needs to put her, Valkyrie, and Black Widow in a team-up movie now and you know who I'll be rooting for!

Martin Freeman‘s Everette Ross has definitely stepped in as the new Agent Coulson, which works perfectly. I hope we see more from Freeman outside of the Black Panther films.

Andy Serkis‘ Ulysses Klaue withheld his comedic tone that he brought to the table in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Winston Duke‘s M’Baku was more interesting than than both Klaue and T'Challa at some places, especially since fans of the Black Panther comics know that he is a thorn in Black Panther’s side. I am looking forward to seeing more from Duke in Avengers: Infinity War and hope they show more of him butting heads with Black Panther in future films.

Watch o Not ? 

Definitely. Arre please do. With all the talk of superhero fatigue, Black Panther is a breath of fresh air for the genre. This isn’t your stereotypical Marvel film; it has a maturity and depth to it that separates it from the pack. When we talk about the likes of The Dark Knight and Logan changing the game, we might soon be adding Black Panther to this illustrious list.

Verdict :

Black Panther is a daring and beautiful spectacle in all things black - the culture, history, resilience, and the aesthetics. Its refreshing depiction of Africa as a strong and powerful continent and engagingly addressing issues is awe-inspiring.  WakandaForever!!

It’s the kind of Marvel movie that definitely benefits from more than a single viewing, and it’s one that’ll draw you in—and blow your mind every single time.

Also, If I shake your hand and hit you with the X and I don’t get it back... You cut off from my life fam! 😝

PS - It’s 2018, you should know better than to leave the theater during the credits of Black Panther. Amateur!

Ratings -  4.5/5