Movie Analysis : Glass Onion - A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)

Directed by : Rian Johnson

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11564570/

It's a dangerous thing to mistake speaking without thought for speaking the truth. 

Spoilers ahead... 

Set in the Covid times, Billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) invites 5 of his friends Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson), Duke Cody (Dave Bautista), Andi Brand (Janelle Monae), Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn) and Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr) to his Greek island for a fun weekend involving a murder mystery game where the victim is Miles himself. The catch here is that all these 5 friends got motives to actually really kill him. Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) joins them for ofcourse finding the killer.

Normally this plot would make for a very good suspense whodunnit thriller specially coming from Rian Johnson who impressed a lot in Knives Out. Unfortunately, that never happens in this movie.

The start is very dull where the rich people status and their way of living got to me within few minutes. The first real fun moment comes when Andi tears apart the gift box rather than opening it in the puzzle manner like everyone else irritatingly did before. And with the introduction of Benoit Blanc there's atleast some respite, I love how he pokes fun regularly at the setting of Glass Onion in the Greek Island about how the lifestyle of rich is larger than life.

None of the 5 friends including a good performance from Dave Bautista is engaging enough to keep your attention. All their stories either feels too not my type to or just plain boring. The twist to Andi's story to some extent works but then its totally spoiled by that bizarre silly stupid final act. 

Both Daniel Craig (his accent bothers at times) and Edward Norton do their best to overcome the average writing and screenplay. I feel the whole idea of Miles playing a murder game based on his own murder would had been good to actually take place rather than getting spoiled by Benoit. 

Overall, Glass Onion was a big disappointment. I would rather prefer watching Knives Out again!

My Rating : 4.5/10 

Movie Analysis : Govinda Naam Mera (Hotstar)

Directed by : Shashank Khaitan

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16077702/

Sir, sab jaante hai murder ke baare mein, police ko chorhke.. How sad!

Spoilers ahead ...

Govinda Waghmare (Vicky Kaushal) is one of those guys who has problems a plenty - from a controlling wife Gauri Waghmare (Bhumi Pednekar) who won't give divorce unless the 2 crores taken as dowry is returned back, a step brother Vishnu (Akkshay Gunaawat) fighting court case to win his father's bungalow, a cop Javed Khan (Dayanand Shetty) who wants his borrowed money back soon, an insurance agent Baldev (Viraj Ghelani) who is also boyfriend of his wife and demands a crore for helping him out, a druggie's dad Ajit Dharkar (Sayaji Shinde) whose packets he just stole, a maid Manju (Trupti Khamkar) who insults him daily and a girlfriend Suku (Kiara Advani) who could breakup any moment if he doesn't sort all the mess soon. Also, being a background dancer, Govinda dreams to be a well known choreographer. 

The only takeaways I had from this movie was Vicky Kaushal's comic timing is something that could be explored in future by other directors, Sayaji Shinde is hilarious in the few scenes he gets and Ranbir Kapoor's special appearance is written well in comparison to how bad the rest film's writing is.

There's a character called 'Six Pack Sandy' that irritates to the core, and how badly Renuka Shahane is wasted playing role of Govinda's mother. The twists in 2nd half keep coming one after another, while few do land successfully, it just felt overdose with a climax that tries very hard to justify every bit of it. 

If the inspiration behind the title of film was the actor Govinda and the movie was an attempt to do similar to what he did in 90s then it was a failure attempt. A silly stupid story that entertains to the core isn't something that can be achieved so easily and Shashank Khaitan previously hasn't really impressed me in any of his original films either. 

Overall, Govinda Naam Mera is strictly one time watch. 

My Rating : 4.5/10

Movie Analysis : Top Gun : Maverick (AmazonPrime)

Directed by : Joseph Kosinski

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1745960/

Trust your instincts! Don't think, just do. You think up there, you are dead. Believe me.

Spoilers ahead... 

36 years later, as a top naval aviator, Pete Mitchell/Maverick (Tom Cruise) is still a Captain with no promotions and despite his attempts of dieing he keeps surviving dangerous situations including a Mach10 test exercise recently. Maverick is told to return back to the Top Gun but as a teacher only and train 12 of the best of the best for a mission which he feels may result in someone not coming back home. Another problem he has to deal with is, one of the pilots is none other than Bradley Bradshaw/Rooster (Miles Teller) who is the son of Goose (Maverick's close friend and wingman that died in earlier film). 

The start is ditto resemblance of 'Danger Zone' track but the visuals are much clear to watch this time. Beauty of the film is the writing that uses Nostalgia in a very effective manner. The entire Maverick-Iceman (Val Kilmer) plot is exchanged with Rooster- Jake Seresin/Hangman (Glen Powell) including a similar climax hug scene. If I start listing all the references then it may take a long while, my personal favourite however was use of 'Great Balls of Fire' which was such a fun track involving Goose and his family along with Maverick in the last movie but here its Rooster singing the track with his friends while Maverick through the window watches with the good and then the bad memories returning back (brilliantly enacted by Tom Cruise) to his mind clearly consumed with regret and the new fear of losing Rooster too in upcoming mission. 

Among the pilots, Rooster stands out because he very well carries the emotional arc 1st film had created with Goose death and by his looks you could easily say that has to be son of Goose. Even if you can predict all will be good between Maverick and Rooster by end of movie, it creates for some quality drama scenes. My pick of the scene was how angry Rooster reacts sarcastically to Maverick whose plane is inverted (again reference to a scene from last film) during one of the air exercise challenge. 

Another new character to love is Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly). If you watched 1st film carefully, then there's 2 mentions of Penny in it just through dialogues. Jennifer plays Penny with a perfect attitude visible in the initial bar scene and also the love/support she has for Maverick despite him all the time leaving her in the past. 

Glen Powell is also great in playing a version of Iceman, and again I am happy that this competition rivalry stays within the limits and the own team victory matters the most. Totally enjoyed the only scene between Iceman and Maverick, its emotional, brings back the memories of all scenes between Maverick and Iceman in last movie, how much their relationship has changed since that 1st meeting, and 'who's the better pilot' ending dialogue was fun one. 

Lady Gaga's 'Hold my Hand' is a pretty good track to finish the film at, I enjoyed One Republic's 'I ain't worried' much more with great visuals of beach and everyone playing football (it was volleyball in last film). I specially love the whistling in the song, and the lyrics that talk about enjoying the moment without any stress, something thats not so easy to do for majority of people.. maybe it very much suits Tom Cruise's personality. 

Tom Cruise over the past decade keeps coming up with performances (Mission Impossible franchise, Amercian Made etc) that could be applauded on the basis of just the action stunts alone for how good he is, but you gotta also admire that the other aspects of the character he is also able to bring out so well. I enjoyed him playing the dad kind figure to Rooster with one brilliant scene where Rooster says 'Talk to me, Dad', and we are cut to Maverick giving the much needed calm advice. 

Its fun watching his teaching methods, which expectedly aren't textbook based. Just watching that one scene where Maverick all by himself demonstrates that the mission is very much possible, you can't help but feel this movie would make for such a good experience if seen on big screen (I saw on mobile sadly). 

The eyecatching visuals, the thrill of watching Tom Cruise pull off unbelievable stunts with atmost ease and Hans Zimmer background score, can't really get better than this. The camera-work is pretty  good too as we are many times shown closeups of the pilots when they are attempting something that would stress their body muscles or make them blackout. Its breathtaking as a viewer making you feel the pain they are going through to be successful in this mission. 

The only reason why someone would not love this film I believe can be if they wanted a total original sequel with minimal references to past. I would have liked that too, but then did I still not enjoy this movie? I totally did.. Minor issues I had was, one they didn't tell much details about the enemy and other was that even after 36 yrs of commitment to see Maverick not been valued by seniors was odd even if I take under consideration that its Maverick's methods they are against. 

Overall, Top Gun is one of the best sequels ever, it delivers in every possible way. A super entertainer that also will get you emotional at many moments and it very much improves over the issues I had with last film. 

My Rating : 8.5/10 

Also, CHECK OUT -> Top Gun (1986) Movie Analysis

Movie Analysis : Top Gun (AmazonPrime)

Directed by : Tony Scott

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092099/

Talk to me, Goose.

Spoilers ahead.. 

Based on the elite school formed by the United States Navy whose purpose was to teach the lost art of aerial combat ensuring that the handful of men who graduated were the best fighter pilots in the world. Pete Mitchell/Maverick (Tom Cruise) gets a lucky chance to be one of them in Miramar and he considers himself a very dangerous proud American pilot. He along with his navigator/Rio Goose (Anthony Edwards) try to top all the challenges given to them whether its the aerial combat exercises or the theory situation based classes. The aim for Maverick is not be the second best!

Maverick and Goose together having fun time is what makes this a good watch, whether its while up in the air or when they are enjoying partying or hanging out with  family. That scene where Goose comes to talk to Maverick about the failed challenge earlier in the day actually revealed to me (don't know if its the case for everyone) that Goose is definately going to die in future. 

The aerial scenes weren't totally enjoyable for me mainly because many times I struggled to know who is who and the longer the scenes were the more tiring I felt in those dogfighting action scenes, something I hope they have done better in the new part. Also, the father angle of Maverick was little too routine that never totally came out as much as it could have apart from that one photo look or the classified talk he has with the Head Instructor Viper (Tom Skeritt). 

Tom Cruise is fantastic as a guy who is very enthusiastic and plays out a character who could had otherwise come across as arrogant rather than confident. That is probably the reason why it gets to him how could he fail to save his buddy Goose. I like that 'Talk to me Goose' (if you noticed, the first dialogue of Maverick is this one only) moment, and also how he tries to get his confidence back to fly again and rescue his team. Also, his interactions with Charlie (Kelly McGillis) specially during classes are fun to watch including that 'I was inverted' scene. 

Anthony Edwards plays the character very well, the kind you would instantly like, always popular whereever he would go with his witty personality. I loved that sarcastic laugh he has when Iceman comments after end of a class. 

I also liked how Maverick's competitor at school Ice (Val Kilmer) isn't given a total dark tone which some other films would had done, the rivalry stays all the time but they never forget that they are on the same team. 

The songs are very well used, right from the 1st frame of movie with 'Danger Zone' to the ones that Goose and Maverick sing together like 'Great Balls of Fire' and 'You have lost that Loving feeling'. Also, 'Take My Breath Away' along with the main theme feels perfectly in synch with the visuals. 

Overall, Top Gun is a enjoyable movie, despite the mentioned issues, the screenplay is very engaging, entertaining for most parts and you also get some very good moving moments. 

My Rating : 6.5/10 

Also, CHECK OUT -> Top Gun : Maverick (2022) Movie Analysis

Movie Analysis : Brahmastra Part One : Shiva (Hotstar)

Directed by : Ayan Mukerji

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6277462/

Tum andhera laa rahi ho Junoon, lekin roshni aayegi.. aur Brahmastra ki har ladai mein jeet hamesha roshni ki hogi.

Spoilers ahead..

Some events and hallucinations makes Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor) realize that he's got some powers and is somehow connected to a Brahmansh Community lead by Guru (Amitabh Bachchan). There's Junoon (Mouni Roy) who is seeking the 3 pieces of Astras that will combine to make the Brahmastra eventually destroying the world. And Shiva along with her new found love Isha (Alia Bhatt) wants to stop her by finding the Ashram where Guru lives. 

I didn't watch the movie in theatre but could sense the VFX and all the eye catching visuals would have been lot more fun to watch. But it won't have changed any of the other experience when it comes to the story or acting. 

With Ranbir-Alia chemistry I was expecting lot more, but it clearly lacked spark (that vibe I felt in trailer itself that was underwhelming) and most of that has to do with how dull their initial scenes were that never really engages you in their love story specially when very late on film she is going to be the button or reason for the powers he has. Also, how poor the dialogues are throughout the film, at times even cringeworthy. 

Cameos were equally disappointing, the whole purpose of Anish Shetty (Nagarjuna Akkineni) felt of no use and so was the way he gets killed, rather I would have preferred him do more to help Shiva-Isha reach Ashram. And then there was the ever so not-reliable Shah Rukh Khan (playing Mohan Bhargav) who irritates with his un-necessary comic dialogues, and irony is that his dialogue was one of the fewest that I actually liked in the entire movie. 

Amitabh Bachchan is good minus again the poor dialogues, I however  felt his narration scenes were too long specially at the start or rather could had been totally avoided and let us slowly learn about Astras and Brahmastra through the character of Shiva. Mouni Roy in a negative role is pretty good but little one-dimensional with not much to her story apart from seeking the 3 pieces. I feel antagonist always must have more to their character, than just being evil for the sake. 

The biggest disappointment was Ranbir Kapoor, he was the sole reason I had high hopes (apart from Ayan) despite not loving the trailer but he just never for once felt like Shiva to me. Even the entire orphan angle felt staged rather than bringing any connection to his character. The only part of his story that worked was his fear for fire and way he overcomes it. 

Alia Bhatt has very few good moments, other than that she was irritating with the constant 'Shiva Shiva', I can't recall last time someone would call your name endlessly. This is first time since her debut movie when I couldn't enjoy her performance. 

Music was average, with a song  'Dance ka Bhoot' that just didn't make any sense whatsoever. Was that the only way Ayan could find to introduce Isha ? The rest songs atleast were used effectively with the screenplay specially 'Deva Deva' and the themes, I however couldn't love Kesariya like everyone do. 

In the end, Brahmastra Part One : Shiva is a very mediocre movie because when you see Ayan-Ranbir duo work together, you surely expect much better than this. It doesn't explore all the possible mythology it could had, and on the lines of entertainment it fails too. Didn't even feel invested in the long final action sequence. The ending does give hopes of a better 2nd movie involving Dev (is it going to be Ranveer?)

My Rating : 4.5/10 

Movie Analysis : Red Notice (Netflix)

Directed by : Rawson Marshall Thurber

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7991608/

I am big on forgiveness. I always have been. But I am not so big on forget-ness. 

Spoilers ahead... 

When FBI agent John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) catches the much sought after thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds), he isn't aware that The Bishop (Gal Gadot) is going to double cross him. The whole plot revolves around assembling all 3 bejeweled eggs from ancient history when Cleopatra had got them as a wedding gift from her husband. 

The comic timing of all 3 leads makes it watchable but the story is too ordinary and also the twists specially the climax one makes you question what you saw so far. I didn't even bother to remember if they cheated in some scenes. Actually one comes to mind, didn't John came to the back of van to check the Egg while The Bishop is hiding as if she needs to be afraid of him!

Some of the action setpieces are enjoyable specially the 1st Nolan-John chase, the flashback story of Nolan is nice. Then there's the gorgeous Gal Gadot performing action along with Dwayne and Ryan. All this is not enough to hide the fact that the story has no emotional connect and even fails to entertain as it could had if the writing was good. Ryan Reynolds is fun but getting little repetitive. What's ironic was the person for whom so much trouble was done to get those 3 eggs and be gifted for her wedding.. she actually cared more about an Ed Sheeran singing performance. 

Overall, Red Notice is very below average that entertains in patches. 

My Rating : 4/10 

Movie Analysis : Doctor G (Netflix)

Directed by : Anubhuti Kashyap

Imdb link -> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9054970/

Mujhe bahut bahut khushi hoti hai tumhe jeet-te huye dekhke,

aur usse jyada khushi hoti hai tumhe ladte huye dekhke. 

Spoilers ahead... 

Uday Gupta (Ayushmann Khurrana) secures a low rank in competitive medical exam and has to take a seat in Gynaecology rather than his preferred Orthopaedics. He joins the work at Bhopal Institute of Medical Sciences 10 days late and meets the fellow doctors that includes Dr Fatima Siddiqui (Rakul Preet Singh) while senior most Dr Nandini Shrivastav (Shefali Shah) wants Uday to get serious or leave the department. 

If there was any other actor in place of Ayushmann Khurrana, this film might have been more engaging because in parts it tries to convey 2 plots some of which does work, one is ofcourse about how it feels for a male to take up Gynaecology (I am unsure about the facts if in reality very few males take up this field). And other is about the struggle of understanding what a girl is trying to say because Uday never understands all the women that are part of his life, whether its the girlfriend he just broke up with being too possessive about her, his mom (Sheeba Chaddha is too good in this supporting role) who wants to be a famous chef but her interest in Tinder irritates him or his new building friendship with Dr Fatima that he feels is more than just that. 

With a very mediocre music, its just 2 actors who really standout in this movie, one is Shefali Shah and other is Abhay Mishr who plays close friend of Uday. I also liked Rakul Preet Singh, good to see not the routine ending where she would had cancelled her wedding with fiance and gone with Uday instead. Indraneil Sengupta playing brother of Uday was highly irritating. 

Overall, Doctor G is just an average movie, its fun in parts, but hard to overlook when it gets cringy and preachy. I like that Ayushmann keeps taking up taboo topics, but his roles have to get some variations, so far there are some films that I haved liked and some like Doctor G I couldn't. Give me AndhaDhun anyday!

My Rating : 5/10