Movie Analysis : Mumbai Saga (Amazon Prime)

Directed by : Sanjay Gupta

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10483386/

Agar tumhare paas woh Dubai wala hai na, toh mere paas Dadar wala hai. 

Spoilers ahead...

Loosely based on real life Amartya Rao (John Abraham) who from a lower middle class status rises up to become a famous gangster taking over the areas Gaitonde (Amole Gupte) rules, thereby having the control over Mumbai becoming Bhau's (Mahesh Manjrekar) main man. Encounter specialist Savarkar (Emraan Hashmi) takes it upon himself to finish the chapter of Amartya Rao. 

Off-late most of the gangster (real or fiction) based hindi movies follows a similar template, lots of punchlines, many one to one fight sequences, item number and eventually cop triumphs over the criminal. Almost all of these films lack one thing, no connection between the events, same happens in Mumbai Saga, there are few seeti maro kind dialogues delivered by leads or even other cast, Amartya vs Savarkar fight scenes specially the well edited washroom one but none of these make any impact because the characters aren't layered. No work is done on any of them because the story just moves in one note which is Amartya has to become the top gangster and then Savarkar has to kill him. Infact it felt funny how Savarkar character out of blue gets introduced after more than half film is gone and starts killing Amartya's men one by one. We know nothing about Savarkar's past life, even his motive to earn money by killing Amartya is challenged by his own long Singham kind speech making you wonder did he change his stance and become a police officer who is bound by the duty or was he faking it earlier. You never would find the answers because the writing team didn't bother. 

The only plus point apart from Emraan Hashmi's acting (its hard to not like him even in a bad film) was that the loud screeching dialogue scenes we saw in trailer were thankfully the only ones in the film too, so we do get saved from that torture. However, the use of slow motion and extreme close ups is done in excess, no respite on that front. 

I would even have loved some backdrop on why Bombay became Mumbai, with Bhau who clearly was playing Thackeray in here. Aneways, Sanjay Gupta just wanted to show non-stop action and even have a character of Seema (Kajal Aggarwal), girlfriend of Amartya who would in whole story support him in every violent act. Even the brotherly act of Amartya and Arjun (Pratiek Babbar, I almost struggled to recognise him) didn't work because again you didn't bother to develop these characters. Amole Gupte seemed to be enjoying his performance which felt like an extension of Bhope Bhau from Kaminey. And there's a blink and miss scene involving Sunil Shetty, no idea why they needed him for this scene. 

Mumbai Saga is a very tiring watch in the end, more so because there are tiny places where it works and entertains too only to be totally let down by the characters as you just don't care for them.

My Rating : 4/10 

Movies Analysis : The Half of It (Netflix)

Directed by : Alice Wu

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9683478/

Love is messy and horrible and selfish... and bold.

Spoilers ahead.. 

Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis), a shy introvert Chinese American high school girl reluctantly begins to help out a jock, Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) who loves a popular girl of the class Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire) through letters. But Paul ain't aware, Ellie herself has got feelings for Aster. 

Even though its a different kind of love triangle with gay angle involved, the premise still gives feels of a cliched routine rom-com but that isn't the case, we get a really good enjoyable movie. Lovely animation story at starting credits to pull you in instantly and then Ellie Chu's narration throughout with her daily routine life and the unusual friendship that develops with Paul. They both make for a great pair, both helping out each other on what they don't know about wooing a girl. 

There are  fun moments when Paul gets impatient and Ellie finds ways to rescue situation everytime, specially the dining scene where Aster and Paul talk to each other through text despite sitting in front of each other, with Paul pretending texting which is ofcourse done by Ellie watching from outside in car knowing Paul is gonna mess up. 

The use of various quotes like chapters of movie is done well too including the final quote with Ellie's own take on 'Love'. And I loved that 'Ek Villain' scene where Ellie is making remarks on how guy's speed always matches with a running train. How Paul tries to do same and fails at end scene was funny too. I also loved every scene of Paul hanging out with Ellie's father. And Paul helping out Ellie first in dress choice for the school stage act and then later on guiding her to sing the song with guitar when the piano was ruined by some of her daily bullying gang.

Leah Lewis and Daniel Diemer are both perfectly casted and deliver great performances. Alexxis Lemire adds to the glamour and isn't limited to it as she gets plenty of scenes to shine mostly in the 2nd half of the movie. Specially enjoy the scene where she spends a day with Ellie. Also, all the scenes with Paul are awkwardly (in a comical way since Paul struggles to talk) fun to watch.

The ending is good in a way it doesn't try to say everything will work out, rather gives hope of it might. That guy who Aster is been forced to marry was the only one that irritates throughout the movie, but its tolerable as he gets very minimal screentime.  

The Half of It is definately worth a watch, a rom-com that rarely goes the cliche route, some interesting thoughts and emotional at times. More than the love, its the friendship between Ellie and Paul that stands out bringing a smile on your face. 

My Rating : 7/10

Mini Review : His House (Netflix)

Directed by : Remi Weekes

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8508734/

Many of us, we end up in places we never thought we would be.. but I think that's life trying to show you what kind of man you are. 

Spoilers ahead.. 

A refugee Sudanese couple, Bol Majur (Sope Dirisu) and Rial Majur (Wunmi Mosaku) who lost their daughter an year ago while crossing the sea, gets a probabational asylum to live in Britain on some very strict conditions that involves them not working and not leaving their house as they adjust into the new community. But they are unaware there's something else that lives in their new house with them. 

Starts on a good note, and for a good amount of time I thought maybe its another racism angle where that haunted house was given so the couple's life becomes dreadful. Was more of a love-hate kind movie, that talks about immigration and guilt leading to demons and finally redemption. The creature based horror doesn't appeal to me, so that was a minus and also I felt the final half was too dramatic.

Horror elements was well filled in though, even the jump scares were well executed. Also, liked how we see Bol trying to adjust and change to new setting, while Rial is rooted to her own culture, leading to conflicts. Some nice dark comedy involving Bol-Rial and the guy, Mark Essworth (Matt Smith) who is caretaker of the house. 

I just never felt satisfied with the revelation of main story, or maybe I was never in the same wavelength to what director wanted to show off here. If you like the twist about the story that leads to the ghosts in the house then you may enjoy the movie, for me that didn't work. 

Still a decent one time watch movie. 

My Rating : 5/10

Mini Review : On The Rocks

Directed by : Sofia Coppola

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9606374/

Women, you can't live with them, you can't live without them. That doesn't mean you have to live with them.

Spoilers ahead.. 

Laura (Rashida Jones) wife of Dean (Marlon Wayans) with 2 young daughters, suddenly gets suspicious about her husband who might be having an affair going behind her back. While having lunch with her dad, Felix (Bill Murray) she casually tells about her worries, not having an idea of how involved he will get to find out the truth about Dean.

There were some decent laughs but mostly I felt the screenplay was very dull. Its like that character Laura meets at school daily, who will tell about her feelings for some person while Laura listens with fake interest. Similarly, you just wait for Felix scenes to come so we get atleast some pleasure out of this film. 

The major issue was the movie does nothing really with the characters development, the relationship between Laura and Felix stays right where it starts initially. And even the truth about Dean isn't shown properly, making you wonder maybe he actually has affair but hiding it. 

Bill Murray is super fun for the playboy character he plays with uttermost ease and ofcourse his charming screen presence, despite the writing not giving him enough scope.

On the Rocks is strictly okay film, I don't think I can reccommend to watch it just for Bill Murray. 

My Rating : 5/10 

Movie Analysis : The White Tiger (Netflix)

Directed by : Ramin Bahrani

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6571548/

For the poor, there are only two ways to get to the top, crime or politics. Is it like that in your country too?

Spoilers ahead..

Based on Aravind Adiga's best selling novel 'The White Tiger', Balram (Adarsh Gourav) who is a lower caste halwai at his village, plots his way into being a driver for a wealthy rich family of The Stork (Mahesh Manjrekar). A tale of how he makes out of there and becomes one of top entrepreneur by committing some crime.

There's clear similarity with Parasite, how Balram fools around to get close to the Stork and eventually becoming driver of The Stork's son Ashok (Rajkummar Rao). We get to see the divide of upper and lower class, many times Balram is ridiculed and treated like a trash by the Stork or his brother Mukesh 'The Mongoose' (Vijay Maurya). In one of best scenes, Mongoose and Stroke are behaving like sweet masters much different to their routine way, as they are keen to get signature of Balram for a car accident which was rather fault of Ashok's wife Pinky (Priyanka Chopra) drunk driving. It is also the main point of the plot when Balram realizes no matter how much he devotes to his masters like every other servant does, he would get replaced one day.

Poverty, upper class ruling over lower class like they aren't humans, politics, corruption etc are some of the topics that the narrative goes through with the story told direct by Balram who tells us how he made it this far. And Balram has a family that never really supports him, rather his grandmother wants his earned money every month. So, he is mostly on his own, trying to lead a normal life which isn't easy when everyone wants a piece of you in some way. 

Adarsh Gourav is excellent, whether its how he showcases the clever intelligent mind he has got, or how there's a constant anger building inside him for not really getting what he should despite being loyal always. I specially enjoyed the scene where he looks in the plate just after Pinky had given him important advice, or the scene where he feels his mind was going crazy letting his anger out. Happy they showed less of his scenes when he's successful now, they weren't totally convincing for me, maybe because the idea of never getting caught  looked odd even though its justified by referring him as the 'White Tiger' considered to be one of rarest. 

Love the dig Balram makes indirectly at Slumdog Millionaire, as unlike that film, he has to get dirty and kill his master Ashok, only then he could dream of becoming a big person. Though in the end he also turns out to be like Ashok, bribing police to setup his business. The only difference however is, Balram is friendly to other drivers and doesn't see them as someone low or insignificant as Stork's family would do. I wish he killed Mongoose or Stork instead of Ashok, just didn't feel right, and they even have a dialogue where he is thinking the same. 

RajKumar Rao is strangely a weak link, not just the accent but his character comes across confused, always changing sides, almost dominated by his father Stork. Priyanka Chopra is decent, as only person who almost in entire role supports Balram planting the idea how much Balram deserves more than be a driver only, though her accent also was little irritating. 

One thing I kept wondering, having all the money why would Balram not travel in an AC Class. 

Certainly a better movie than the very hammy Slumdog Millionaire but doesn't reach the level of Parasite for me, yet 'The White Tiger' is a pretty good watch with Adarsh Gourav performance stealing the show. 

My Rating : 6.5/10

Mini Review : Judas and the Black Messiah

Directed by : Shaka King

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9784798/

It's not a question of violence or non-violence. Its a question of resistance to fascism or non-existence within fascism! You can murder a liberator, but you can't murder liberation. You can murder a revolutionary, but you can't murder revolution. And you can murder a freedom fighter, but you can't murder freedom!

Spoilers ahead.. 

Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya) a young activist who becomes Chairman of the Black Panther Party, making him a very unlikeable person for the Police, FBI and the government as they want to stop out the revolution that would create loud noise.  Bill O'Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) gets hired (or blackmailed) into working as a spy for FBI as we get to see the rise of Fred Hampton and also how brutal the end is. 

In 'The Trial of the Chicago 7', we got little glimpse about Fred Hampton but we get to know him more here, though the story is told from the point of view of Bill O Neal. Some may complain that we get to see less of Fred Hampton, but I didn't felt so, maybe a reason of it is Daniel Kaluuya makes a deep impact in every scene he is present in the film portraying Fred Hampton brilliantly. By now everyone including me love his special speech as Captain Fred, the kind that would motivate people easily, for the passion and energy and most importantly belief he spreads in the people. Little angst mixed in for how Jimmy Palmer (Ashton Sanders) was killed off. I think for that scene alone, Daniel deserved the oscar. Also, love Deborah Johnson (Dominique Fishback) expressions changing in that speech. 

LaKeith Stanfield act is enjoyable to watch too for all the various emotions he has to put in that character who is at one side betraying his own people but you may argue if he had any options, because any other black guy in his place would had done the same than preferred going to jail for long term. He's always afraid of getting caught, there's 2 wonderful scenes, one involving Judy doubting him to be involved with FBI and other where he is stuck in a gunfire happening at the Black Panthers headquarter when Fred is in jail. His scenes with Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons) are fun to watch, at times I was wondering if he was just using him for his purpose or maybe there was a decent bonding between them, maybe it was just occasional though he did help him out in the end only after making Bill commit something he didn't wanna do. 

The ending is ofcourse brutal and depressing.. Judas and the Black Messiah works both as a narrative about some of the main events of Black Panthers Party very well handled by the director Shaka King, and also the performances from both the leads. One of my top favourites from 2020. 

My Rating : 8/10

Movie Analysis : Onward (Hotstar)

Directed by : Dan Scanlon

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7146812/

Long ago, the world was full of wonder. It was adventurous. It was exciting. And most of all, there was magic.

Spoilers ahead...

Two elf brothers, Ian Lightfoot (voiced by Tom Holland) and Barley Lightfoot (voiced by Chris Pratt) go on a quest to get their dead father back for one day as they battle against the time, obstacles on the way, curses that comes with the magic spells while finding themselves bond like never before.

There's tiny things that makes this a better movie then it would had been. For instance, Ian and Barley's mom is included as part of adventure and plays key role. We never get to hear their father talk, not even in that last scene of his with Barley, rather we are told through Barley what he said when he talks to Ian. It starts off as a routine 'another story' where guy is missing father who passed away long back and will go to any extent to just have one talk with him through magic, but the screenplay is all the time building towards an entirely different storyline which makes it fun to watch.

The scene where Ian is ticking off all the 'to do things with dad' and suddenly remembering how he already did all of that with Barley during their failed quest was easily my most favourite. Also, enjoyed most of the magic spells, loved the disguise one where one has to tell truth or disguise would get revealed. Barley giving up on his favourite van when Ian's magic fails and the chase scene of those tiny (whatever they are called) when Barley was shrunked were other fun highlights. 

Had two problems with movie, felt the starting took too long to get going, though it was made up with 2nd act full of lovely adventures and an even better final act that gives some nice touching moments. Also, many creatures (its a fantasy world with no humans) ended up playing total sides, leaving asides Manticore and those tiny things on bike, would had liked some more involvement of them either as help to Lightfoot brothers or more obstacles. 

Tom Holland and Chris Pratt were perfect choices for the brothers voiceovers. Barley at start would feel irritating but as the movie goes on, his character develops really nicely. I would say Onward is very much for guys what Frozen is to girls for the sibling (sisters in their case) bonding and the magic resemblance too. 

In the end, Onward is a very good watch, more than just a timepass, its an adventurous fun ride full of emotions. 

My Rating : 7/10