Nope Movie Analysis: Jordan Peele’s Alien Story Attempt

Jordan Peele's decent attempt at an unconventional alien invasion story, but weakened by a lackluster third act.

Directed by: Jordan Peele

Imdb link -> Nope (2022) - IMDb

" What's a bad miracle? ”

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Spoilers ahead...

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Plot: Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer Discover a UFO Ship

The Haywood siblings—OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer)—discover a UFO encounter over their ranch in Agua Dulce Valley, California. Eager to capture the 'Oprah shot' and earn fame and fortune, they have little idea of the alien ship's true intentions.

This sci-fi horror mystery explores themes of exploitation and human greed throughout the narrative. The Gordy 'Chimp' story is particularly effective. The movie begins with a birthday TV show event that turns chilling with background noises suggesting an attack on everyone present. It's creepy, with most details wisely left unseen.

It's ironic to see Ricky "Jupe" Park (Steven Yeun), a survivor of the Gordy incident, now exploiting his own tragedy for money. During his live show 'The Starlight Lasso Experience,' he faces another beast—an alien—feeding it horses he bought from OJ. Jupe believes he's protected by God again, unaware he just got lucky the first time.

Expectedly, there's a character, Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott), who gets greedy for the fame shot, resulting in his demise. Meanwhile, Angel Torres (Brandon Perea) plays a supportive role, intelligently taking precautions to avoid the hungry alien (or extraterrestrial creature).

Issue in Nope: Oprah Shot Subplot is Too Long

The alien plot is a mixed bag. Initially, it maintains a mysterious feel, but once revealed, the entire ship as a single alien behind a stationary cloud, the following scenes lack the expected intensity. The 'Oprah shot' subplot drags too long. A more thrilling final act, focusing on escaping the alien's havoc, would have been better.

The movie's social commentary on human carelessness and greed, reminiscent of 'Don't Look Up,' highlights the tendency to exploit dire situations for personal gain rather than ensuring safety.

Verdict on Nope

Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer complement each other perfectly in contrasting roles—Kaluuya as reserved and observant, Palmer as talkative and sometimes silly. Despite their differences, they support each other when it matters most.

Overall, 'Nope' is a likable movie with some trademark Peele-style horrific moments. However, the third act could have been executed differently. I prefer 'Us' and 'Get Out' over this one. Still, I appreciate Peele's unconventional ideas and enjoyed this unique take on aliens, even if the execution wasn't fully satisfying.

Rating: 6/10

Also, Check Out Movie Analysis of Murder Mystery 2

Hit-The First Case Movie Analysis: Pacy but Flawed 2nd Act

A decent watch thanks to Rajkummar Rao and a pacy narrative, but a weak 2nd act and final reveal lets the movie down.

Directed by: Sailesh Kolanu

Imdb link -> Hit: The First Case (2022) - IMDb

" Tujhse sach kabhi chup hi nahi sakta.."

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Spoilers ahead...

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Plot: Rajkummar Rao as an Investigator Cop

Vikram Jai Singh (Rajkummar Rao), who is suffering from PTSD, on advice from his doctor and girlfriend Neha Mehta (Sanya Malhotra), goes on a few months break from his police duty. A few weeks later, he’s informed about Neha going missing, and soon Vikram realizes that the case is connected with another girl, Preeti Mathur (Rose Khan), who was kidnapped a few months earlier.

Pacy Whodunnit with Rajkummar Rao as Lead

A fast, really fast-paced whodunnit crime drama is always great to watch. There are very few distractions; the romantic angle is actually underdone, while the songs never feel unnecessary, plus they are used in small portions only. Rajkummar Rao, as the lead, plays this character with a past we are never fully told about, making him a cop that is all the time risking his mental health while trying to solve cases. He does a great job in each and every frame.

Weak Writing and Climax in Hit: The First Case

It’s the small choices that the writing team makes that spoil the movie, and I am not yet talking about the big reveal in the end. For instance, why would a neighbor divorcee, Sheela (Shilpa Shukla), who’s been friendly with Preeti, suddenly decide to get attention by sending a handwritten note about the body? Are some people so out of order that they would risk police torture just to get some limelight?

Then, there was that unnecessary death of Ibrahim (Milind Gunaji), who’s been one of the main suspects all along, which I felt was brilliantly done in the screenplay (even the trailer cut suggests that he may be involved). Yet, in that night rain scene, we see him for no reason go missing only to come back and get hit by a bullet. If that wasn’t enough, we see this other cop, who has always been boring you with the rivalry, suddenly appear out of nowhere to save Vikram’s life.

Coming to the climax, I felt the reason for the murder and the murderer both were good, and even the motive was understandable. For me, she didn’t appear silly; people can be obsessive, and in love, that obsession can lead anywhere. She even kills her accidentally. Where it misfires is that the character in question is seen so little in the narrative, which feels like cheating. Most of the best whodunnits feature the character who commits the crime present at least 70% of the time on screen, so you can’t guess it right.

Sanya Malhotra also gets very little screen time, and her character is mostly used to confuse the narrative rather than to do anything else. Dalip Tahil and Akhil Iyer are good in their supporting roles.

Verdict on Hit: The First Case

Overall, Hit: The First Case is decent because of its pace and the strong lead acting of Rajkummar Rao, but the writing issues are apparent throughout the narrative, especially in the second act, with the final reveal only making it worse.

Rating: 5.5/10

 

Also, Check out Movie Analysis of Dasvi

English Songs Discovered in Unique Ways: Part 2

This week, it’s time to remember two more gems of songs.

Hurt by Johnny Cash 

First Heard in Logan Trailer

Logan Trailer

Full Version Link

Hurt by Johnny Cash - YouTube

Thoughts on Hurt 

A brilliantly cut trailer with this song that told a story of its own about Logan and how well it portrays Wolverine's (Hugh Jackman) character. It wasn't a surprise to see so many fan-made edits based on 'Wolverine-Hurt.' And when I heard the whole track, its impact is even deeper. The lines 'What have I become, my sweetest friend? Everyone I know goes away in the end' hit you so hard. A very emotional and depressing track with lyrics that I relate to very easily for the most part.

I wear this crown of thorns upon my liar's chair

full of broken thoughts, I cannot repair...

Familiar by Agnes Obel 

First Heard in Dark Season 1 Episode 3

Dark Season1 Episode 3 Familiar Scene

Original Version Link

Familiar by Agnes Obel - YouTube

Thoughts on Familiar 

Since Dark is my all-time favorite series, it will feature a lot in these posts. 'Familiar' was a track that's used at a point in the 1st season when things were getting very complicated, so this song comes as a relief to help know who is who, but at the same time it also captures the situation of every character at that point brilliantly. Also, it is sort of when I got that feeling that how madly I am going to love this series. The starting tune of the song itself draws you in, and then the vocals of Agnes Obel (including the chorus that sounds like a male voice but is actually Agnes with pitched-down vocals to make it feel like a ghost) talk about unconditional love wanting to go to a place where only you and your lover can be.

And our love is a ghost that the others can't see

It's a danger

Check Out My Previously Posted Songs, Spiraling and Separate Ways

Dasvi Movie Analysis: A lighthearted Abhishek Bacchan movie

A lovely lighthearted movie that tells a story about how important education is even for a minister.

Directed by: Tushar Jalota

Imdb link -> Dasvi (2022) - IMDb

" Yo kitaab badi gazab ki cheez hai madamji, bilkul neend ki davaayi jaise.”

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Spoilers ahead...

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A Comedy Drama Starring Abhishek Bachchan Telling the Importance of Education

Chief Minister Ganga Ram Chaudhary (Abhishek Bachchan) of Harit Pradesh gets arrested in a school-related money scam and is under the supervision of strict lady cop Jyoti Deswal (Yami Gautam) in jail. Meanwhile, he asks his wife Bimla Devi (Nimrat Kaur) to be the new CM in his absence. Ganga Ram develops a keen interest to pass the 10th and starts to study hard for it, while on the other side Bimla Devi gets addicted to power and does not want Ganga Ram back again.

There are many hiccups in the narrative. For instance, the whole Bimla Devi act of becoming evil wasn't fully convincing. Or how much support Ganga Ram gets in jail from even the cop Jyoti felt a little too much. Some songs also loosen out the story, which could have been done away with. Yet, I mostly found myself smiling and enjoying the movie, which also delivers a message about how important education is, even if you are a minister.

Innovative Education Learning Methods in Dasvi

The tutorial ways were my favorite bits, especially how Ganga Ram learns probability, chemistry, and active-passive voice (everyone loves Deepika was hilarious), with references to Taare Zameen Par in Hindi teaching and much more. The history lesson could have avoided making Ganga Ram be part of the past events; that felt unnecessary and silly.

Also, seeing him earn 57% in the results was good. Most writing teams in such scenarios would go overboard as if a miracle would happen and the person would get 80% or more. The scenes involving Jyoti and other junior cop Satpal Tomar (Manu Rishi Chadha's comic timing is top level as always) were fun, especially the 'Woh loomad hai' replied with 'Aur aap sherni'.

Dasvi is Among Abhishek Bachchan’s Career-Best Performances

I also enjoyed Abhishek Bachchan sort of doing 'Joker happy dance' at one moment; I think it was when he told Jyoti that he would do the Dasvi exams. His Haryanvi dialect is up to the mark too, which is actually the case with the entire cast. Definitely can add this among his good performances of his career, more of an entertaining role that he did pretty well.

Yami Gautam is Impressive in Supporting Role

Yami Gautam does a great job; it is very enjoyable how she treats Ganga Ram as not above the law and then helps in his transformation, which as I mentioned before goes slightly too far.

Final Verdict on Dasvi

Overall, Dasvi entertains despite some issues in the narrative. The final end result is still good and a lovely lighthearted movie to watch.

Rating: 7/10

Also, check out my Movie Analysis of Gaslight

Murder Mystery 2 Movie Analysis: Very Few Enjoyable Moments

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston chemistry aside, not even worthy of being a guilty pleasure.

Directed by: Jeremy Garelick

Imdb link -> Murder Mystery (2023) - IMDb

" You've done hostage negotiation ?

I'm married to this lady. Everything's a negotiation. I got it.”

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Spoilers ahead...

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Plot of Murder Mystery 2: Another Whodunnit

Nick Spitz (Adam Sandler) and Audrey Spitz (Jennifer Aniston) have been struggling to make money out of new cases and their failed detective agency after getting famous in their previous chance detective case at their 15th-anniversary vacation. They couldn't have asked for a break at a better time when Maharajah (Adeel Akhtar) invites them to his wedding. We already know what happens when the Spitzes attend an invite; in this case, Maharajah gets kidnapped, and we have another whodunnit.

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston at an Indian Wedding

It was adorable to watch Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston try to dance to Indian wedding songs, with some good music choices like the 'Ghungroo' track from War or some Punjabi ones. Audrey tries to fill her plate full of food and then feels guilty later. Nick and Audrey remember how they gifted flip-flops at their wedding while they are getting new iPhones here. I wish this film had stayed based on the Indian wedding setting and didn't shift to the Paris locales, Eiffel Tower, etc., which it sadly does after 10 or so minutes.

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston are once again great to watch for their amazing chemistry and comic timing, yet they are offered poor dialogues and situations. The laugh-out moment for me was when Audrey is worried that Colonel (John Kani) is going to have no arm left the way he keeps trying to save people, and when she mimics that weird laughter of one of the characters.

Few Likeable Characters in Murder Mystery 2

If I felt the other characters were not interesting enough in the last film 'Murder Mystery', then this one is even worse in that regard, with not a single likeable character except for Francisco (Enrique Arce), who plays a lusty guy and keeps coming onto Audrey, giving some awkward yet fun moments. Just a reminder, Enrique is our very own Arturo from Money Heist. What's worse this time around is that the case is sillier, and it won't take long before you can deduce the possible killers.

Some fun moments I found were Nick using whale noises as his alarm tune. I even liked the ringtone he had set, 'an Indian Punjabi track,' for Maharajah, who probably must have helped him with that. The puzzle way of suggesting to pick the damn gun and shoot in the van from Nick was another funny sequence. Also, how last time around Nick missed driving a Ferrari, and it's a Lamborghini this time.

Verdict on Murder Mystery 2

Overall, Murder Mystery 2, I would mainly remember for the Indian wedding scenes. It is way below average and not the kind I would even want to watch again for guilty pleasures. I would prefer a better lighthearted whodunnit movie than this.

Rating: 4/10

Also, Check Out Movie Analysis of Murder Mystery

Murder Mystery Movie Analysis: A Lighthearted Whodunnit

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston chemistry saves this average whodunnit detective comedy.

Directed by: Kyle Newacheck

Imdb link -> Murder Mystery (2019) - IMDb

"You're an actress, right ?

All women are actresses, dear. I'm just clever enough to get paid for it.”

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Spoilers ahead...

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Plot: A Vacation Turned into Murder Mystery

On their 15th marriage anniversary, the American couple Nick Spitz (Adam Sandler) and Audrey Spitz (Jennifer Aniston) decide to go for a European vacation. Nick is trying to become a detective but keeps failing the exams for it, while Audrey is a hairdresser. Audrey happens to meet a certain rich guy, Charles Cavendish (Luke Evans), on the flight, and accepts the invitation to his uncle's yacht for a family gathering. Unfortunately, what sounded like a fun time ends up in a murder mystery when Charles' uncle dies there.

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston Have Great Chemistry in This Netflix Original

These kinds of movies remind me of marriage functions, very few of which I attended in my life for the sole purpose of awesome food even if it means sitting through boring activities. Similarly here, when the story is not on the murder case, the movie entertains as we see Nick and Audrey have casual talks about anything from daily life routines to gossips. It's enjoyable because of Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston having such great chemistry and comic timing, especially related to food or being a miser. Even their small fights or arguments are fun to watch. For instance, the scene where Audrey is telling a flaw about Nick who takes offense and, in response, does the same about Audrey.

Murder Mystery: Silly Whodunnit Undermined by Average Writing

But when the focus shifts towards the case and who did it, there's not really much good to talk about. In fact, the whole whodunnit feels more silly, at times boring, and just not at all layered out thanks to very average writing.

Adeel Akhtar and John Kani Provide Some Laughs

Of all the other characters, I liked Maharajah (Adeel Akhtar), especially his opening scene where he makes Nick and Audrey bow many times. Colonel Ulenga (John Kani) provides a few laughs too, while Grace Ballard (Gemma Arterton) gets the dialogue of the movie about how women are always acting. Luke Evans is good, and for a large portion, I fell for the trap that he is the murderer.

It's a mixed bag when it comes to the jokes; some land very well while others miss the mark. I like the reaction of Audrey when told how much earbuds cost on a flight. Also, how Nick is unhappy to learn that euros cost more than American dollars. The poor shooting skills of the duo also lead to some good laughs.

That hotel scene where Nick and Audrey try to get into another hotel room through the ledge was funny, but at the same time, I couldn't help but overthink why anyone who isn't trained would try to risk their life knowing a slight slip will lead to a more painful death.

Verdict on Murder Mystery

Overall, Murder Mystery turns out to be just average despite the great chemistry between Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. Yet I will point out it belongs to that section of average movies that you won't mind watching again (mainly on TV), hence that example of marriage functions earlier. Can easily qualify in the list of ‘Guilty Pleasure’ movies.

Rating: 5.5/10

Also, check out Movie Analysis of Decision To Leave

Decision To Leave Movie Analysis: Atmospheric but Complex

Has a atmospheric beauty to admire, but the complex character of female lead including unconvincing 3rd act ruins the film.

Directed by: Park Chan-wook

Imdb link -> Decision To Leave (2022) - IMDb

"The moment you said you loved me, your love is over. 

The moment your love ends, my love begins.”

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Spoilers ahead...

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Plot: A Korean Mystery Thriller Where Cop Falls in Love with a Case Suspect

A man is found dead at a mountain peak in Busan, South Korea. Detective Jang Hae-joon (Park Hae-il) arrives at the crime scene and begins investigating whether it was a suicide or a murder. Jang immediately suspects the dead man's wife, Song Seo-rae (Tang Wei), of being involved. The more he investigates, the more he is drawn to Song, feeling an irresistible desire building.

The fact that Jang Hae-joon suffers from insomnia and frequently travels between his workplace and Ipo, where his wife Mee-jee (Jung Yi-seo) lives, adds depth to his character. He becomes active whenever a new case arises (a cliché), and his sleep deprivation means his mind isn't fresh, which is why he becomes obsessed with Song Seo-rae, even when it seems clear she is the murderer.

3rd Act of Decision To Leave Doesn’t Impress

Song Seo-rae is an interesting character who always seems suspicious. Her behavior, unusual laugh, and mysterious aura keep the audience guessing, as we are never given direct answers. This is why I couldn't fully enjoy the third act; I wanted valid reasons for her actions and her disastrous end. Her motivations for killing aren't justified, even if she is clever enough not to get caught.

Complex Narrative and Innovative Filming by Park Chan-wook

The film shows Song Seo-rae as Chinese and Jang Hae-joon as Korean, adding to the confusion as they often use a translator app, which I felt didn't fully translate the words. A song related to 'foggy night' and a scene where Jang's wife questions why Song would live in Ipo with her new husband just to enjoy the fog, while most people avoid it, adds to the mystery. The 'fog' likely symbolizes Song's character and the film's overall atmosphere, making direct conclusions elusive.

The narrative style further adds to the mystery, with innovative filming techniques showing conversations as if characters are face-to-face, creating a false (or perhaps true) sense of closeness. Comical moments mostly come early through Jang's colleague/friend, while the narrative focuses on a romantic tension that builds toward an erotic moment, which the director shies away from every time.

Verdict on Decision To Leave

Overall, Decision to Leave is a Korean film I liked for its atmospheric beauty. If only Song Seo-rae's character wasn't as complex and some questions weren't left unanswered.

Rating: 6/10

Also, Check Out Movie Analysis of The Son