Badlapur is an intense and captivating cinematic experience for those bored of the typical Bollywood shtick and looking for something refreshingly different. It also marks a scintillating return to form for director Sriram Raghavan. Sure, it may not stand the test of time and repeat viewings as his Ek Hasina Thi and Johnny Gaddaar have, but even a sub-100% Sriram Raghavan is a brilliant Sriram Raghavan. You’d be remiss not catching this film at a nearby theater this weekend.

In Whiplash, you get a film that is by far the most interesting and exciting musical in recent memory. You get a film that you’d be a fool to miss, a mistake for which you’d deserve to be stranded alone with music instructor Terrence Fletcher in a room for a day.

The film has its fair share of flaws, but that doesn’t overshadow its unique concept and ingenious narrative style. Aided by good performances, catchy music and an impressive debut for writer-director Vikramjit Singh, Roy is a great choice for Valentine’s Day weekend.

Jupiter Ascending may not be at par with previous Wachowskis films like The Matrix and Cloud Atlas, but it makes for a satisfying watch if you go in expecting a reasonably smart pulpy action extravaganza.

Shamitabh is too melodramatic and outlandish for its own good. It boasts of some great acting and a refreshing concept, but is let down by Balki’s crummy writing and ham-handed direction.

The film manages to start off strong, but never manages to create those defining moments that make ordinary films great. A career-changing performance by Steve Carell is squandered away by some measured filmmaking by director Bennett Miller.

Neeraj Pandey manages to mold a reasonably smart film within the realms of commercial cinema, putting it firmly in the win column for both him and star Akshay Kumar.

Director Shankar tries to follow the same path to success that he did with Robot, but fails miserably. Skipping this misfiring magnum opus is the only suitable course of action.

The film boasts of skillful direction by James Marsh and an applause-worthy performance by star Eddie Redmayne, which is more than enough to keep you hooked throughout the film.

Unbroken lowers your expectations with a promising but unspectacular beginning, only to take you on a moving and inspirational journey from a small town in California to prison camps in the heart of Japan. While it may not be path-breaking cinema, it marks an assured turn behind the lens for Jolie and star-making performance from Jack O’Connell. It’s a great start to the year for world cinema, one you should join in.