Aashiq Abu's faithful remake of "Bhargavi Nilayam" requires patient viewing and has some flaws. Nevertheless, it is watchable for the filmmaking and mostly excellent acting. To give Aashiq credit where credit is due, his film makes us want to rewatch the 1964 classic and appreciate it a little more.
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'Madanolsavam' is not as sure-footed as a political satire as it is as a piece of situational comedy. But the comedy is so good that it alone makes up for the minor flaws of the film. The laughs come at breakneck speed, and the actors have incredible comic timing.
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For a Priyadarshan film, Corona Papers is very intense. Despite some plot holes and contrivances, the movie works as Priyadarshan never allows the pace to dip a lot and draws some strong performances, especially from the likes of Siddique.
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Maheshum Maruthiyum is a film with a fairly simplistic plot and modest ambitions. The problems of the protagonist often come with easy resolutions. The ideas of the film work better on paper than in terms of execution. But the actors keep us invested in the proceedings.
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Purusha Pretham makes fun of the notion that cops are brave and masculine. It often works as a tight slap on male ego, while reminding us that cops can be emotional fools. The writers recognize this and use humor to deliver the film's big ideas.
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Vincy Aloshious and Unni Lalu are brilliant in this gonzo thriller from Jithin Issac Thomas. Some viewers may be put off by its gratuitous use of violence, but others will appreciate the movie for what it is.
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Christy walks a thin line between a story of one-sided love and two-sided love. At about the halfway mark, one wonders where Alvin and his writers, G. R. Indugopan and Benyamin, will take the story.
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A revolution is like war in that it is never fought alone. This means Thuramukham is not a call-to-action in the same way that a film like Padavettu is. The film powerfully captures the first stirrings of pent-up anger against the Chappa system in Kochi.
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Shaji Kailas' film has Mohanlal as a mysterious man living alone in an apartment during peak COVID. The premise of the film may be interesting, but the writing is poor. Even if you consider that Mohanlal is self-parodying these days, you cannot overlook the lousy writing he gets.
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For the good part, Ntikkakkakkoru Premondarnn rides solely on the charm quotient and charisma of the leads, but tedium starts to set in soon. The major deal-breaker here is the lack of fresh conflicts in the plot.
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It is refreshing to see a film where people are OK about their loved ones meeting their exes. Some movies may use this scenario to create some sort of domestic tension, but Pranaya Vilasam veers more towards the feel-good category.
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The writing in Iratta is a mixed bag, but the acting and plot are so good that the film is consistently fascinating. There is a big twist in the plot and an even better piece of narration that give a new dimension to the twin characters and the title of the film.
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