Spoilers ahead... 


Citizen Kane
Directed by : Orson Welles 

You don't care about anything except you. You just want to persuade people that you love them so much that they ought to love you back. Only you want love on your own terms. Something to be played your way, according to your rules. 


The last word spoken by newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles) was 'Rosebud' as a group of reporters try to decipher the context behind it. A film considered iconic and often used in teaching at many film institutes or academies. Yet, I found it very over-rated, the story is very straightforward, routine rise and fall of a person with some relationships drama and a friendship angle. Not a film hard to sit through like 'Mank' was, there is enough going for you to feel engaged, its just I was expecting something special. I have seen some reviewers suggest its a film you should give more chances, so if possible I will do that. For now, I have to rate it low. 

My Rating : 4.5/10 


Collective
Directed by : Alexander Nanau 

When the press bows down to the authorities, the authorities will mistreat the citizens. This always happens, worldwide, and it has happened to us. 


A crime documentary at its best that covers the October 2015 Bucharest nighclub 'Collectiv' fire incident leading to 27 dead people and 180 injured, but what followed was the bizarre deaths in hospitals owing to poor hygiene, corruption, incompetent health minister, and the politics at play. What is really good to see is how right journalism could help bring justice even if its for a short period. You can easily connect to the journalist who feels like a lone hand against a powerful bunch of government yet he never shies away from talking truth and seeking answers. And you also feel for the new health minister, who clearly wants to follow right procedures but is almost at political pressure all the time. The film could easily be compared to our own setup, whether its the press vs govt where the govt is rarely questioned or be it the Covid angle where our own health minister was often giving stupid statements. In short, there's plenty to takeaway from this movie, that tells the history about Romania event but is a running commentary on how its the case in many other countries too where citizens life mean nothing and media plays a key role in helping government run their agenda. A bitter truth shown through this well made documentary. My only complaint is that journalist role I felt got sidelined in the 2nd half, would had liked more of his scenes, I totally enjoyed his direct hard-hitting questions posed at press conferences.

My Rating : 7.5/10 


The Cabinet of Dr Caligari
Directed by : Robert Wiene

Now I also know how to cure him. 


Hypnotist Dr. Caligari (Werner Krauss) uses a somnambulist Cesare (Conrad Veidt) to commit murders. Its a 1920 released film, ofcourse black and white, and I am guessing this is the oldest film I have seen ever. More than the horror, what is really interesting is the engaging story and the 3rd act very much blows your mind. To make you think and ponder for a movie released in that era, has to be some achievement. Though the expressionism style is new for me, and it took me a while to adjust, my main issue was no dialogues made the impact less, at times I wanted them to speak something. For the budget and creative restrictions around that time, you have to applaud the effort and how appealing the film turns out. Good luck if you are able to predict what the climax the story is heading to. 

My Rating : 7/10 


Soul 
Directed by : Pete Docter & Kemp Powers

You can't crush a soul here. That's what life on Earth is for. 


Joe (voiced by Jamie Foxx), a middle school music teacher who has passion for Jazz and dreams to make it big in the industry finally lands himself a gig of a lifetime. But in excitement he falls down a manhole and next moment he sees himself heading in a line to some blue colored wierd looking place learning its where souls go in the afterlife. Pixar studios deliver another terrific animation movie, not only its so good on the animation, lovely background and various beautiful loving characters it gives us, but the message the movie is trying to give, that you must live every minute of your life and rather than having purposes or sparks its about enjoying the little things that could be a simple sunset or hello from a person you like or anything in daily routine. There are many lighthearted fun and silly adorable moments to enjoy too. The pairing of Joe and 22 (voiced by Tina Fey) is fantastic, the way 22 makes fun of Joe's life citing he has done nothing worthy than live a robotic life or how Joe helps 22 find the spark she never knew she had with her hatred for Earth. I totally love 22's scenes with barber, Joe's Mom, Connie (one of Joe's student at school) and when in awe listening to guy singing at metro station. Also, film explores the moment 'when you are in the zone' and pursuing dreams/passion over regular career.  Soul comes very close to my top fav animation movies, 'Inside Out', 'Zootopia' and 'Coco'.  

My Rating : 8/10 


The Father 
Directed by : Florian Zeller

I feel as if I am losing all my leaves. The branches and the wind and the rain. I don't know whats happening anymore. 


Anthony (Anthony Hopkins) living with his daughter Anne (Olivia Colman) starts to suffer from dementia and it keeps on getting worse. Another take on how losing memory slowly can be nothing less than horror for the person going through it. Infact for the entirety you feel for Anthony and also never sure if what he is saying/watching is real or just his imagination. At times you feel frustrated because there doesn't really seem to be any cure for it. Anthony Hopkins expectedly gives a performance to remember that got him the Oscar, even enjoyed his act in 'The Two Popes' previously.  Also, lovely supporting performance by Olivia Colman. Its not a easy film to watch, at times gives feels of very depressing tone but its quality cinema at its best, so give it a go. 

My Rating : 7.5/10 


Don't Look Now 
Directed by : Nicolas Roeg

He has the gift. Even if he doesn't know it. Even if he's resisting it. Its a curse as well as a gift. 


John Baxter (Donald Sutherland) and Laura Baxter (Julie Christie) arrive in Venice, been just some months to the loss of their daughter when she drowned accidentally. Both of them still recovering from the grief of losing daughter so young with John having taken up restoration work of a Catholic church. They end up meeting two sisters, Heather (Hilary Mason) and Wendy (Clelia Matania) at dining, where one of the sister who has psychic abilities suggests she can see their daughter in afterlife with an important warning for them. Don't Look Now is a terrific film when it comes to creating horror through chilling atmosphere, using city and the passages wonderfully, well done music and keeping you guessing with an added plot of a random serial killer creating havoc at same time in the city. John's incapability to make use of his own psychic abilities or sixth sense is what the entire story is about, and also eventual reason to where he lands in that unpredictable final scene. The only hiccup for me actually was the famous sex scene everyone talks highly of and some too extreme closeups. Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie chip in with great performances, its a slow art-feels movie, a genre that works very less for me but I enjoyed it a lot.

My Rating :  8/10 


Godzilla : King of the Monsters 
Directed by : Michael Dougherty 

Sometimes, the only way to heal our wounds is to make peace with the demons who created them. 


Five years after the last movie events, the story moves to a Russell family. After death of their son, Mark Russell (Kyle Chandler) leaves behind wife Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga) and daughter Madison Russell (Millie Bobby Brown). Emma works for Monarch, an agency that deals with these huge creatures that are to be destroyed or protected as per situation. Emma finds out a device that would help communicate with these creatures and control them. There comes our villain Alan Jonah (Charles Dance) and there's not much to keep track of after that, but this happens right at first scene! Except for the lovely Dr Ishiro Serizawa (Ken Watanabe), there's not a single human plot that you would remember once the movie ends. Have to admire Ishiro though, this dude simply loved Godzilla to the core. Talking of Godzilla, for those fans that had issue with him getting very less screen time in last movie (as I said then, I preferred him being less in film) would be happy, there are numerous fight scenes, so much that I had to anxiously wait when this will end. The supporting characters irritate, even Millie has a nothing role. Vera is confusing, unsure which side she is until the last scene heroics. I just didn't enjoy the movie at all. 

My Rating : 3/10


Godzilla vs Kong 
Directed by : Adam Wingard

Godzilla. Not. Enemy. Please.. be careful. 


Monsterverse has Godzilla pitted against King Kong, its almost as good a battle as say Batman vs Superman (sorry superhero fans if I offended with that odd reference). But you gotta be stupid if you believe that Godzilla and King Kong won't get on the same side after initial fight. There's the expected human conspiracies but unlike the last film, there's some human connection here which was a huge respite. Jia (Kaylee Hottle) who can interact with King Kong gives some touching scenes including the one where she warns Kong to remember who the enemy is (Hunger Games style, oops another wierd reference). To be honest, I was never keen for the Godzilla vs Kong fight scene, but its very engaging when it does arrive, they do film it very well. One question however that crossed my mind was, while enjoying these creatures help mankind in their ways, aren't they still causing so much destruction all around or maybe I shouldn't be thinking too much in what is a fantasy sci-fi film. I still prefer the 2014 version of Godzilla, but this one for most parts was fun to watch. 

My Rating : 6/10 


The Vanishing 
Directed by : George Sluizer

You start with an idea in your head, and you take a step.. then a second... Soon, you realize you are up to your neck in something intense, but that doesn't matter. You keep at it for the sheer pleasure of it. For the pure satisfaction it might bring you. 


Rex Hofman (Gene Bervoets) and Saskia Wagter (Johanna ter Steege) are a young couple on vacation, driving in France as they stop at a petrol station. Saskia goes in to buy some drinks at the busy service station, and disappears. Its been 3 years when Raymond Lemorne (Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu) who abducted Saskia, tries to get in contact with Rex. The movie basically does a deep character study of 2 individuals, one is Rex who is obsessed to know what happened to Saskia, so much that he keeps visiting the place Raymond asks him to come to through postcards in these 3 years, even his current girlfriend feels his feelings for Saskia will never go off and then the big leap/risk (or stupidity as some will call) he takes with drinking the coffee. Other is Raymond, who looks like a normal guy among the crowd but is a very cold blooded sociopath who since childhood has been testing himself, one of the event being where he jumps off a window telling himself its predestined that no one jumps so he has to go against the destiny, and other event when he saves a drowning person getting labelled as hero by his daughter and now he has to prove himself that to be called a hero he must prove to himself that he isn't capable of doing something very evil. The director sets up both stories wonderfully, Raymond is mostly told through flashbacks. I personally don't feel Rex made a wrong decision, yes it lead to his death but thats better than living a whole life where he won't have made peace with the fact that he never came to know what happened to Saskia. I mean yes as a viewer you would say that she must have died is the easiest answer and move on, but for that person its not as simple as you would feel it is. Totally enjoyed the act of Bernard, yes the ending is shocking not because you can't predict it coming but more because you know these kind of people exist in reality. Its fun to see the detailing they show how he reaches to the point where he tries to abduct Saskia, with all his chloroform, scream tests and the funny awkward moments he lands himself into while learning to be a pro in kidnapping. If you wanna see the themes of obsession and a psychopath, what happens when they meet each other then this film would work for you. I still however didn't understand the eggs dream part, maybe in future watch. 

My Rating : 7.5/10


The Woman in the Window 
Directed by : Joe Wright

I don't know, I am just not made that way. I wish to God I could, believe me, but I can't. Everyone else can move on, I can't. 


Seperated from her husband and a young daughter, Anna Fox (Amy Adams) a child psychologist lives all alone in her Manhattan brownstone apartment with a tenant living in the basement. Having agoraphobia, Anna never steps out of her house. She develops interest in her new neighbours, the Russell family specially after the son and wife come over to meet her. The spying from Anna results in her witnessing murder of Jane Russell (Julianne Moore), but can Anna be trusted or is she going through hallucinations with the overdose of alcohol and the depression she's been handling for a long time. Firstly, its a story done many times, hell even our own hindi films did a wonderful take through Radhika Apte starrer Phobia (watch it if you haven't yet) . The starting is engaging, despite the plot not so new.. you like Anna feel eager to know more about Russell's and if what she saw really happened. The hiccup comes very early, that long conversation scene of Jane and Anna somehow felt very odd and fake to me, maybe its the dialogues or how its filmed or the situation because its the only time they would talk together. But the main issue is the final act, and how poorly they use Gary Oldman in an almost nothing role. Also, it doesn't help when you see cops almost wanting to not believe Anna at all, like not giving a 1% chance even. I mostly love Amy Adams performances, but this one is very forgettable, mostly because its just a very average film, not much scope for her to do anything special and also its a role (not ditto, but similar shades) she has played a lot offlate, prefer it more in 'Sharp Objects'.

My Rating : 3.5/10