'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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Hansal Mehta's Faraaz is a heart-rending recount of the 2016 terrorist attack in Dhaka. The movie moves at a snail's pace but documents the real-life incident with aplomb. Mehta deserves credit for not fictionalizing a real-life incident and maintaining subtlety throughout.
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Plot twists are always fun, but the best suspense thrillers do not rely solely on the shock value of the revelations. Gaslight is all about shocking the audience with plot twists, which all seem interesting on paper but preposterous in practice.
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Notwithstanding the unbelievable action on screen, "John Wick: Chapter 4" works mainly because it puts more emphasis on storytelling than any other film in the franchise. It builds on the man, myth, and legend while concluding one of Hollywood's most spectacular franchises.
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'Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat' spends a long time shifting between two strands of narrative but fails to connect these. Likewise, the Hindi musings of DJ Mohabbat about love go on and on with no impact on the story. For long, one wonders what Kashyap is even trying to do here.
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Anubhav Sinha makes strong political points as well as messages about caste and class divide in Bheed. Amazingly, these ideas go well with the larger narrative about the plight of the workers during COVID.
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Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga is a slick and entertaining film that works despite its flaws. The action shifts between the past and present while revealing new, interesting facets of the protagonists. It is like fast-forwarding a Sriram Raghavan film.
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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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Kuttey has all the ingredients that remind you of Vishal Bharadwaj's cinema, including corrupt cops, gangsters, a bounty, and many bounty hunters. But there is something missing in this movie. For one thing, there is hardly any humor, and almost every moment seems derivative.
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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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