Mini Review : Chhapaak, Tanhaji The Unsung Warrior and Jawaani Jaaneman

Due to lack of time and other priorities, I am gonna just post my short views on the films I watch. Will try my best to return back to normal long analysis posting once I get free maybe mid year or end of 2020. But, will make sure I do post on every movie till then even if its just 3-4 lines.

Chhapaak
Directed by : Meghna Gulzar
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9614460/

Silent pyaar... 

I was expecting a very hardhitting movie, when I came to know about this new movie of Meghna Gulzar, with Deepika in lead and also starring Vikrant Massey with story about real life incident of a acid attack survivor. But when the trailer was out, I knew this won't be on that level, and I was right, Chhapaak just never reaches to the point it should. Moreover, it feels like Meghna was trying too hard to show 2 stories, one about the incident and other how she has managed to live with all the struggles initally and enjoy the life.  That just made less impact on me, a linear narration or focus on just one aspect would had worked. Also, for me Deepika's performance didn't work much (No, it has nothing to do with her JNU visit, I aint that stupid and give low rating for that). Have enjoyed Meghna's previous two movies completely but this one just fails to make a mark on me except for the quite haunting title track and some good directed scenes.
My Rating : 5/10



Tanhaji : The Unsung Warrior
Directed by : Om Raut
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8108274/

Teri mitti jazbaat se judi hai aur meri akkal paani se.. tu jaan de sakta hai, main jaan le sakta hoon.

It takes a while for the story to get going almost like 20-25 mins before Tanhaji comes to know the intentions of Udaybhan Singh. All the scenes between Tanhaji and Udaybhan makes for a great watch including the climax. I specially loved Saif as Udaybhan doing all the evil stuff, minus the crocodile eating sequence which was quite yuck to see. I understand Kajol was necessary to have a romantic angle but if I was the director, I would had preferred showing more of Udaybhan, and maybe buildup towards the final battle. Liked the use of 'Ghamand kar' track's catchy tone at many places in narrative. Its a decent movie still with a enjoyable final 30 mins!
My Rating : 6/10

Jawaani Jaaneman
Directed by : Nitin Kakkar
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9248952/

I hate phonecalls .. 

Its fun watching Saif Ali Khan's character trying to act young despite knowing he is old now, and so is his hilarious dance sequence to a old classic song(I forgot the name). Alaya Furniturewala is good in her debut, Tabu is totally wasted, hardly gets 3-4 scenes in total, same case with talented actors like Farida Jalal and Kumud Mishra  Its the poor writing and the drama sequences that don't work because the characters has too much of sameness going in the narration. Oh but the interval sequence was one of most wierd and bizarre scenes I have ever seen with a irritating chorus of 'No Music'. Chunky Pandey looked slim in the movie, but still in his over-acting avatar. The subplot of property buying felt useless and just derails the screenplay further. If not for Saif Ali Khan, this would had been quite a torture, the father-daughter dynamic had scopes but the execution generates no emotion, watchable once at the most.
My Rating : 4/10 

Mini Review : Parasite and Jojo Rabbit

Parasite
Directed by : Bong Joon Ho
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6751668/

They are rich but still nice.. They are nice because they are rich!

Spoilers ahead.. 

Bong Joon Ho shows a poor family, Kims, who con their way as servants into the rich family of Parks.. but what looks like plan working perfectly goes totally haywire when one of the old servant of Parks catches their lies. The movie gets going with plenty of laughs in first half of the movie, some hilarious ways Kims find their family one by one working for Parks, I specially enjoyed the montage of the housekeeper replaced. Also, love how the music is used, like the scene where Kim Chung-sook kicks the previous housekeeper down to the hidden basement. The tone of movie totally changes after the Kims are having a casual drink session together in Parks living room when they had gone out for camping. And thats where I felt I had to adjust because the narrative now from dark comedy became a social commentary of the upper class and lower class, how they are seen by each other. Love how Kim Chung describes them behaving as nice only because they are rich! And then the constant talk of 'how lower class smell' by Park Dong-ik that eventually leads to his death as Kim Ki-taek can't take it anymore how he sees him ignore his dying son and daughter. There's plenty going with the use of rock, that's good luck in first half of movie and suddenly becomes bad luck later (atleast thats how I interpreted it, maybe some more meaning to it too). Would I have liked the 2nd half to keep the same tone and be just a dark comedy? Yes! Do I mind what I get instead? No, it makes for a interesting watch that tries to show both families are imperfect in their own ways. And I really liked the dream sequence of buying Parks house followed by the reality, telling it may not happen in real ever! Guess it deserved the oscar, even though it still isn't my fav movie of the year.
My Rating : 7.5/10


Jojo Rabbit
Directed by : Taika Waititi
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2584384/

Fuck off, Hitler!

Spoilers ahead .. 

A satire based on the setup of  World War II when a young german boy, Jojo, finds out his mom is hiding a jewish girl in their attic. What I love is how Jojo (played wonderfully by Roman Griffin Davis) has a imaginary friend Adolf Hitler (played by director Taika Waititi himself) totally blind to his beliefs, but his 'Hail Hitler' turns to 'Fuck off, Hitler' when we reach the final portions of the movie. Another fantastic scene is use of 'Hail Hitler' to each other that seems never ending when some soldiers come to Jojo's home to confirm there's no Jew hiding in there. Sam Rockwell is turning out to be my fav actor, another solid supporting act. And then there's Scarlett Johannson you wish had a longer role, but how well she shines specially her scene where she enacts the hubby part to make Jojo mood go happy. Jojo's scenes with Elsa (jew girl played by Thomasin McKenzie) makes for some funny initial altercation scenes before their bonding grows. There are places the narrative went slow making me lose focus, otherwise I quite enjoyed the movie. And happy they ended it on that dance between Elsa and Jojo followed by the beautiful quote 'Let everything happen to you, Beauty and Terror, Just keep going, No Feeling is Final'.
My Rating : 7/10

Mini Review : 1917 and Marriage Story

1917
Directed by : Sam Mendes
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8579674/

I hoped today would be a good day. Hope is a dangerous thing.

In April 1917, two british soldiers are sent to deliver an urgent message to an isolated regiment from stopping them fall in a trap and get massacred. They have to not only race against time but also go through the enemy territory on the way. Again unpopular opinion, but 1917 is a very over-rated movie for me. Sure technicality wise, its a achievement to film such World War based movie with no cuts and also brilliant cinematography to admire throughout. But a movie works for narration and drama and feelings more, all of which were minimal for me. It does give the perspective of what the soldier is feeling not knowing where the next step would lead, but after a while I wanted some kind of relief which never comes. For most that was the reason to love the movie, not for me. Its still a decent movie, but not worth the hype.
My Rating : 5/10

Marriage Story 
Directed by : Noah Baumbach
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7653254/

I never really came alive for myself. I was only feeding his aliveness. 

Spoilers ahead.. 

Story based on 'someone who is dying' or 'a falling apart relationship' always makes for a very unpleasant viewing for me. And Marriage Story falls in the same category that explores life of a couple who are seeking divorce and custody of their only boy. Adam Driver and  Scarlett Johansson are both brilliant as Charlie and Nicole. The movie begins with both telling the good things about each other during their married life shown through montage, and then cut to both sitting at a place wanting to get the divorce done without using lawyers...  I liked how Charlie gets to read what good things Nicole wrote about him right at the end of the movie in a quite emotional scene. Then there are 4 hardhitting scenes that I loved, first where Charlie calls Nicole on phone leading to a arguement and a small fight, 2nd one involving Laura Dern (excellent and deserved to win oscar) who talks of how womans life is and what narration she wants from Nicole at the court, 3rd when Charlie sings a track 'Being Alive' letting his emotions out after how the divorce hearing had been going, and lastly the ugliest scene to watch when both Charlie and Nicole have a fight that reminded me a lot of 'Before Midnight' fight scene as if everything in movie was leading to this one moment. Tough to watch this movie, the light scenes are not that many even though it ends on a good note giving hope that who knows things will work out better for them, which is what you expect always from life even if it may not happen.
My Rating : 7/10

Mini Review : A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood and Just Mercy

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood
Directed by : Marielle Heller
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3224458/

We are trying to give the world positive ways of dealing with their feelings. 

Based on true story of the friendship between Tv celebrity Fred Rogers and journalist Lloyd Vogel. Fred was famous for his program 'Mister Rogers Neighborhood' that was highly educational meant for children but he helped adults too. I have no idea of these people so can't draw the comparisons in the movie, narration isn't played in a biopic fashion so that does help. Its hard not to love Tom Hanks in this performance as he tries to showcase kindness all the time when trying to help others or Lloyd who is very cynical and has been going through issues with dad. At times I felt it was going too much, maybe because I myself ain't into the 'kind' thing because you hardly see such people in today's age. But watching such person on screen for 2 hours (he has lesser screen time though) is a blessing. The Lloyd story is bit messy for me, it works at places while rest times I was feeling the need for 'get a Rogers scene next now'. Very much like Marielle's last movie 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?', this movie too keeps you interested mainly for the lead actor's performance (in this case its Hanks supporting act), while the movie as a whole is good in parts only even if the idea or the intentions to spread kindness is a noble one. Might work better for people who either have seen the show when it used to air, or they believe its a beautiful world.
My Rating : 5/10


Just Mercy
Directed by : Destin Daniel Cretton
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4916630/

Each of us is more than the worst thing we have ever done. 

Bryan Stevenson (played by Michael B Jordan) who is a civil rights defense attorney heads to Alabama to defend the wrongly condemned death row prisoners. He takes the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (played by Brie Larson) with his 1st case of Walter McMillian (played by Jamie Foxx). It may be unpopular opinion but my only problem with the movie was Michael B Jordan, who for me underplays the character. Brie does well in a supporting act, but its Jamie Foxx and his characters intereactions in the prison inmates that makes for a compelling and at times a hard watch specially the death by electric chair scene. You just feel for the people who get wrongly accused and die or live entire life in prison for a crime they never did. Just Mercy is a very moving story and despite my reservations against Michael, I enjoyed the movie a lot.
My Rating : 7/10

Mini Review : Richard Jewell, The Grudge and Dial M For Murder

Richard Jewell
Directed by : Clint Eastwood
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3513548/

I am sorry, the world has gone insane. 

Another event I wasn't aware of, based on 1996 olympics when a security guard who aspires to be a police officer, stumbles across a backpack that was lying under a bench with no one around. Unlike other guards, he felt it needed to be checked, and as it turned out it had explosives and thanks to him he ended up saving many lives. He gets lot of media attention, becoming a hero but the irony is that the FBI decides to question the bravery thinking it could had been an act of fake heroism to get the atttention. As a viewer you just feel sad with the way Richard Jewell is dealt despite having done nothing wrong. Since its a real incident, I just feel how bad he must have felt to fight the case and get the bad image from same media that presented him as the hero. Paul Walter Hauser is very good in the lead role and so his Kathy Bates who plays his mom, while Sam Rockwell playing his lawyer is hilarious in a supporting role, deserved a oscar nomination in my view. Another winner by Clint Eastwood as director, after his film 'The Mule'.
My Rating : 7/10


The Grudge
Directed by : Nicolas Pesce
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3612126/

What do we do when we are scared? We close our eyes and count to 5. 

Spoilers ahead.. 

Not seen the previous versions, so went blind knowing very little about the story. The premise is about a detective who tries to track past files about a particular house to which a lady found dead recently is related to.. only to find out about a vengeful ghost that attacks everyone who enters that house. The narration uses three different past stories along with present. Yet it fails, one reason is its shown in bits and pieces rather than linear, and other is the detailing its lacking in all of them. I did feel for the guy, the one where he gets killed by his own wife (played well by Lin Shaye, but still wasted in the role). Same is the case with John Cho, who gets very less scope, the only scary shower scene was already shown in the trailer itself. Muldoon and Goodman who get most of the screen-time have some scenes going painfully slow, and its a pity that Goodman's past with the case and the encounter with ghost isn't explored much at all. At the end, with the twist of ghost having not been defeated trying to kill Mulldoon (or does, not shown), actually didn't effect me one bit.  Nothing to talk about in terms of scare or atmospheric tension. The Grudge turns out to be my 1st horror movie of 2020, and completely forgettable one.
My Rating : 2.5/10


Dial M For Murder
Directed by : Alfred Hitchcock
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046912/

How do you go about writing a detective story? Well, you forget detection and concentrate on crime. Crime's the thing. And then you imagine you are going to steal something or murder somebody.

Spoilers ahead.. 

May not be my favourite among the Hitchcock's movies that I have seen so far, yet its another great edition to his well directed movies. At one stage I almost felt that Ray Milland's character might get away with the kind of accurate planning he had or maybe I somehow wanted him to get away with it. Loved Ray's performance, and specially the long sequence where he blackmails his friend to murder his wife. Nearly 90% of the movie takes place in the house and yet its gripping and intense watching how everything pans out. Quite a enjoyable movie, with some very good humor, and upto the point performances.
My Rating : 7/10

Mini Review : Bombshell and The Informer

Bombshell
Directed by : Jay Roach
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6394270/

People don't stop watching when there's a conflict. They stop watching when there isn't one. 

It deals with the Fox channel CEO Roger Ailes who gets accused of sexual harassment but no one before dared to come out openly. Charlize Theron specially gives a hardhitting performance, and so does Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie.  Love the scene where Roger tries to present the lying side of himself even when the proofs are out and then is told that no one is gonna buy his crap anymore. I felt there could had been a lot more to it though, maybe Trump angle could had been cut-off a bit if not entirely, because somehow proceedings happen at a pace, with the editing already quite crisp, making me long for detailing. Still a pretty good watch, and fact that I learned about this story, being a very non-political and away from daily news happenings kind of person.
My Rating : 6/10


The Informer
Directed by : Andrea Di Stefano
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1833116/

You go back inside.. you will never get out.

Whats good about the film is that the first scene is of the undercover ex-convict who is trying to help catch Polish druglord. So, there's no time wasted in the past life and how he got into this, instead we see how he fails and then signs up for another attempt which would put his life to even a bigger risk. The story is very cliche, tried many times before yet The Informer is engaging for most parts, because it doesn't waste time on any other plots, and the main actors Joel Kinnaman and Rosamund Pike deliver. There are moments that feel like stretching for too long mainly in the 2nd act, while the scene before the climax involving Pike felt hurried up and not convincing. Definately a one-time watch movie, though I may not mind rewatching it, one of those films that you don't love but still don't mind watching it, or I should say 2 hours don't feel wasted.
My Rating : 5.5/10

Movie Analysis : Knives Out

Directed by : Rian Johnson
Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8946378/

Just the thought of lying makes me puke..

Spoilers ahead.. 


Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate right after his 85th birthday. Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) gets a anonymous letter from some family member to investigate as slowly we learn who killed and why through some hilarious dialogues and sequences.

I enjoy dark crime mystery thrillers more than the comedy ones which 'Knives Out' falls under, yet I did end up enjoying the movie for most part. The suspense level about the death is actually revealed very early with 30-40 mins into the movie, but you know there's more to it and either something is not what is it being told as or someone is hiding key details.

With a dysfunctional family, the suspect goes to everyone, and we have seen many films like that before. Also the staff that works there could be involved too. The film takes a while to get going though, needs your patience to pass the interrogative first 15 mins.  Its the moment character of Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas) comes the proceedings start to get fun to watch. Reason being Marta who has been one of nice helper and used to give Harlan medical dosages, has a wierd condition, she always pukes if she speaks a lie. Now in a story where killer is to be found, Detective Benoit uses her like Watson (Sherlock way) and it helps lots of things getting revealed.

Its super fun to watch Ana de Armas play that role, specially love a scene where she holds the puke after lieing to get the confession out of somebody.

In the family, Ransom Drysdale (Chris Evans), Linda Drysdale (Jamie Lee Curtis), Walt Thrombey (Michael Shannon) and Joni Thrombey (Toni Collette) standout in the performances. Though I felt most of them could had been given more screen-time, but thats the problem you have when you try to have a big ensemble cast. Its a joy to watch Chris Evans play a spoiled son mouthing out plenty of bad words at his own family.

Daniel Craig, who is plain observer for first 10 mins, gets into the act, playing a detective who doesn't seem to be going right direction until the climax where we see him decode every event.

Knives Out works for its good humor, some hilarious dialogues, interesting situations characters land into and twists that keep you guessing till the end even though you feel you have got the story in your mind.


My Rating : 6.5/10