Rashid Irani
Hindustan Times·DNA India
Most Divergent Takes
- Nine Lives (2016)1.0 vs TRM 4.6-3.6
- CHiPs (2017)1.0 vs TRM 4.5-3.5
- A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)1.0 vs TRM 4.4-3.4
- Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017)1.0 vs TRM 4.4-3.4
- Maggie (2015)9.0 vs TRM 5.6+3.4
Captain Marvel
2019 · Hindustan Times · Mar 2019
Viewers may need superhuman abilities of their own in order to keep track of the diverse plot strands.
Aquaman
2018 · DNA India · Dec 2018
Motion sickness ahoy! Expect subpar storytelling, non-stop action and constantly swirling camera work.
The Meg
2018 · Hindustan Times · Aug 2018
Don't go expecting The Meg to be the catch of the week and you won't be too disappointed.
Book Club
2018 · Hindustan Times · May 2018
Four veterans together for the first time — Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen — should have been a delight. A lazy, tacky story spoils the plot.
Avengers: Infinity War
2018 · Hindustan Times · Apr 2018
Still, …Infinity War is a treat, and a welcome addition to the now-decade-old Avengers series. Already, we can't wait for the next one.
7 Days In Entebbe
2018 · Hindustan Times · Mar 2018
The script is riddled with platitudes. Even so, the second half builds up to a fairly exciting climax. The intercutting between a contemporary dance performance in Tel Aviv and the fierce fighting back in Entebbe is particularly noteworthy. All in all, though, a turbulent ride to a known destination.
Red Sparrow
2018 · Hindustan Times · Mar 2018
There are a couple of scenes of graphic torture and violence. Red Sparrow will leave you cold.
Game Night
2018 · Hindustan Times · Feb 2018
Game Night provides a pleasant enough diversion for the fluff seekers.
12 Strong
2018 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2018
To be fair, some of the action scenes are photographed with genuine flair, but none of the actors make an impression. Not even Trevante Rhodes. You'd be better off watching his previous outing, Moonlight, instead.
The Greatest Showman
2017 · Hindustan Times · Dec 2017
Thankfully, a couple of barnstorming melodies — chief among them, 'This is me', performed with great gusto by the Oddities troupe — do raise the roof. Otherwise, for a biopic that purports to celebrate humanity in all its diversity, The Greatest Showman is surprisingly flat.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
2017 · Hindustan Times · Dec 2017
Director Rian Johnson has made the best, most spiritual Star Wars movie since the Empire Strikes Back. It is one of the finest blockbusters of the year.
Ferdinand
2017 · Hindustan Times · Dec 2017
Ferdinand may not measure up to the standards set by such recent animated blockbusters as Inside Out or Coco. Still, the beloved bedtime story provides sufficient entertainment for the young at heart.
Anna Karenina: Vronsky's Story
2017 · Hindustan Times · Dec 2017
Tolstoy's timeless tragedy gets a Russian makeover that is visually sumptuous but dramatically inert.
A Bad Moms Christmas
2017 · Hindustan Times · Nov 2017
A Bad Moms Christmas is a vile film. It's a shameful low in the careers of Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn, three supremely likable actors that are radiant in nearly everything else they've ever done. But fortunately, this is the last time either of us will be discussing it.
My Little Pony: The Movie
2017 · Hindustan Times · Nov 2017
The movie is clearly aimed at kindergartners (who may be frightened by some of the violent images); accompanying adults, expect to be left squirming in your seats.
Victoria & Abdul
2017 · Hindustan Times · Oct 2017
Don't be taken in by the delightful sight of Queen Victoria speaking in broken Hindi, and don't fall for a dreamy-eyed Ali Fazal reciting the decadent history of the Taj Mahal. Victoria & Abdul is a shameful attempt to normalise evil. Everyone involved could, and should, have done better.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
2017 · Hindustan Times · Sep 2017
Kingsman: The Golden Circle isn't a film Matthew Vaughn had in him. It's a film that was squeezed out of him, perhaps as leverage for something he has real passion for. It's his weakest one, by far – his best, in my unconventional opinion, is his other, more minor Mark Millar comic adaptation, Kick-Ass. There's none of the exuberance, none of the tongue-in-cheek wit, and none of the subversive charm one associates with a Matthew Vaughn film to be seen here. Were Kingsman a more established property, fandom would be picketing Twitter and calling for boycotts by now.
American Assassin
2017 · Hindustan Times · Sep 2017
A band of terrorists, a lone ranger, a nuclear conspiracy — all of it goes nowhere, and takes a long time getting there.
Logan Lucky
2017 · Hindustan Times · Sep 2017
The far-fetched but equitable resolution will likely warm the cockles of genre geeks' hearts.
Atomic Blonde
2017 · Hindustan Times · Aug 2017
Atomic Blonde has a messy Cold War-era espionage plot that would not have worked at all had it not been for two things — Charlize Theron, and a host of crisply choreographed action sequences. Following physically demanding roles in Mad Max: Fury Road and Fast & Furious 8, Theron consolidates her reputation as the toughest heroine of the new millennium.
Dunkirk
2017 · Hindustan Times · Jul 2017
Dunkirk is one of the greatest war movies ever made – it's certainly the tightest, most unwaveringly propulsive film of Christopher Nolan's career. But it's also as meditative as The Thin Red Line, as brutal as Saving Private Ryan, and sometimes, even as surreal as Apocalypse Now. It deserves to be seen big and loud.
The Big Sick
2017 · Hindustan Times · Jun 2017
Heartwarming, compassionate and wholly human, The Big Sick is highly recommended.
The Boss Baby
2017 · Hindustan Times · Mar 2017
The Boss Baby should make for a pretty good family outing on a scorching afternoon.
CHiPs
2017 · Hindustan Times · Mar 2017
All seen and sniggered at, this cheesy cops-versus-criminal caper doesn't even qualify as a decent diversion.
The Salesman
2016 · Hindustan Times · Mar 2017
Farhadi's love of theatre is evident in his stage-bound direction, which is chock-a-block with contrivances. For a purported revenge thriller, there is precious little tension. The tale quickly devolves into a mushy melodrama.
Hidden Figures
2017 · Hindustan Times · Feb 2017
Despite the stellar cast, though, the film is weighted down by an overload of subplots, including one about a budding romance between the single mother math whiz and a veteran guardsman (Mahershala Ali). Coincidentally, both Ali and Janelle Monae also have prominent roles in Moonlight — which also hit screens this week, and is a far better bet if you're looking for a movie that inspires.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
2017 · Hindustan Times · Feb 2017
Even given that videogame-to-film transfers tend to be moronic, …The Final Chapter is exceptionally unendurable.
The Founder
2017 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2017
The film occasionally loses momentum, especially in its exposition-heavy first half. Overall, The Founder does not amount to a gourmet meal, but it's worth a drive-through.
Passengers
2017 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2017
The effects or the experience of the movie doesn't stand anywhere in comparison to the slew of exceptional sci-fi films we have had the good fortune to witness recently. So even if you are interested in nothing but space and spaceships, I suggest you pop on a Gravity or Interstellar Blu-Ray instead.
Arrival
2016 · Hindustan Times · Dec 2016
Ambitious, cerebral and profound, Arrival is a one-of- a-kind big-screen experience. The pulsating background music score by the Icelandic composer Johann Johannsson adds immensely to it, and the finale will leave you gasping in awe.
Shut In
2016 · Hindustan Times · Nov 2016
There's a campy attempt to create unnatural sexual frisson. None of the supporting actors, including the normally dependable Oliver Platt (playing a fellow therapist), brings any complexity to their roles. Watch Shut In at your own peril.
Trolls
2016 · Hindustan Times · Nov 2016
Suffused with cover versions of such chart-topping tunes as 'Hello', 'True colours' and 'The sound of silence', it also features a rousing rendition of the theme song 'Can't stop the feeling', by Timberlake. The cheerfulness of Trolls is infectious. Go for it.
Storks
2016 · Hindustan Times · Sep 2016
Clocking in at a breezy 89 minutes, Storks merits the attention of its targeted kiddie audience. Adults will relate to its pleasures too.
Robinson Crusoe
2016 · Hindustan Times · Sep 2016
The intrepid adventures of Crusoe and his band of talking animals are sanitised for family-friendly viewing. There are no references to slave trading, cannibals, religious conversions or the rampant misuse of power. Still, Robinson Crusoe is spirited enough to appeal to its target audience.
Nine Lives
2016 · Hindustan Times · Aug 2016
Despite the collaboration between celebrated cinematographer (Raising Arizona)-turned-director Barry Sonnenfeld (the Men In Black trilogy) and two Academy Award-winning actors (Spacey and Walken,) Nine Lives fails to ignite even the smallest of comedic sparks.
The Secret Life of Pets
2016 · Hindustan Times · Jul 2016
All seen and savoured, Secret Life of Pets makes for an ideal rainy-day matinée.
The Nice Guys
2016 · Hindustan Times · Jun 2016
A no-holds-barred throwback to the hedonistic 1970s, The Nice Guys is one of the most fun movies you are likely to see this year.
Alice Through the Looking Glass
2016 · Hindustan Times · May 2016
Curiously lacking a sense of the 'uncommon nonsense' and freakish fun of the source novel, Alice Through The Looking Glass falls short of its potential.
Triple 9
2016 · Hindustan Times · Mar 2016
Certainly not in the class of gangster flicks by such masters as Martin Scorcese or Michael Mann, Triple 9 is nevertheless worth the price of admission.
Point Break
2016 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2016
Another addition to the endless list of remakes, Point Break merely leaves us bemoaning the dearth of original ideas in Hollywood nowadays.
Silver Linings Playbook
2012 · Hindustan Times · Nov 2015
Russell convincingly manages a risky blend of humour, sadness and genuine unpredictability. In one of his rare recent film roles, Chris Tucker is in fine fettle as the inmate forever attempting to flee the loony bin. And our own Anupam Kher fetches up in the small but significant role of a somewhat ineffectual therapist. A comedy-drama with a subversive tone, Silver Linings Playbook is recommended for romantic cinephiles.
Spectre
2015 · Hindustan Times · Nov 2015
There is speculation that Craig may holster his Walther pistol following this quintessential-if-unduly-lengthy outing. No matter, for aficionados will still wait with bated breath for Bond No 25. Bring it on. Soon.
Crimson Peak
2015 · Hindustan Times · Oct 2015
Del Toro creates an effectively eerie atmosphere in the spooky period piece. Skirting the shock tactics and jump scares commonplace in horror movies nowadays, Del Toro opts instead to build up a poetically imagined nightmare.
We Are Your Friends
2015 · Hindustan Times · Sep 2015
We Are Your Friends is devoid of any discernible rhythm. Straining for kinetic energy, the overall effect of director/co-writer Max Joseph's first feature is of a tired, overambitious effort.
She's Funny That Way
2015 · Hindustan Times · Sep 2015
One of the breeziest romps of the year, She's Funny That Way marks the big-screen directorial comeback of the Hollywood historian-critic Peter Bogdanovich. Blending his own comic sensibilities with a touch of Ernst Lubitsch, the old-school maestro whose final completed film Cluny Brown (1946) provides the inspiration for a running gag involving squirrels and nuts, this is Bogdanovich's valentine to the classic screwball comedies of the 1930s and '40s.
Fantastic Four
2015 · Hindustan Times · Aug 2015
Essentially a throwback to the cheesy sci-fi fantasies of the 1950s, Fantastic Four winds up as the weakest link in the three-film-old franchise.
Shaun the Sheep Movie
2015 · Hindustan Times · Aug 2015
Richly detailed, the dialogue-free adventure serves as a tribute to the visual ingenuity of silent cinema. Even though it tends to lurch about at times, the script manages to convey a cavalcade of emotions through expressive character design and a clever use of bleats, growls and mumbles.
Spy
2015 · Hindustan Times · Jun 2015
Top-lining a predominantly macho genre flick McCarthy shares cracking chemistry with her co-stars. Jason Statham deserves special mention for his hilarious performance as a rogue agent. Spy is recommended for those in the mood for escapist fun.
The Age of Adaline
2015 · Hindustan Times · Jun 2015
Quite predictably, the script contrives an encounter with a dashing philanthropist (Huisman). Their budding romance forms the core of the heavy-handed fable. The maudlin voiceover narration replete with pseudo-scientific jargon serves no purpose. Worse, the narrative is bogged down by the frequent jumps back and forth to the dilemmas faced over the course of a century.
Maggie
2015 · Hindustan Times · Jun 2015
Heading an excellent ensemble, Arnold Schwarzenegger brings unexpected complexity and compassion to his role of the distraught father. A zombie film of unusual depth, Maggie gives American horror cinema the shot in the arm it so desperately needs. Miss it at your peril.
Tomorrowland
2015 · Hindustan Times · May 2015
Celebrating the 'can do' spirit, Tomorrowland is a futuristic fantasy worthy of Steven Spielberg in his prime. So go ahead, be amazed.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
2015 · Hindustan Times · Apr 2015
Besides jaw-dropping action set pieces, returning director/co-writer Joss Whedon infuses the dialogue with plenty of laugh-out loud one-liners. The filmmaker also gets the viewer to invest in the character dynamics from the get-go. The budding romance between the gargantuan green-skinned Hulk (Ruffalo) and the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson, sultry as ever) forms the emotional core of the narrative.
Cinderella
2015 · Hindustan Times · Mar 2015
The special effects, especially the transformation of a pumpkin into the golden carriage, are uniformly impressive. Cinderella, which is preceded by an overly cute eight-minute animated short titled Frozen Fever, is more than likely to enchant adults and youngsters alike.
Big Eyes
2015 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2015
As much about the unravelling of an art scandal as about female empowerment in a male-dominated era with an indelible performance by Amy Adams. Even though Burton's storytelling is sometimes erratic, the end result is a poignant portrait of an artist who claws her way back into mainstream acceptance by reclaiming her creative legacy.
Nightcrawler
2014 · Hindustan Times · Nov 2014
The City of Angels is photographed with breathtaking virtuosity by Robert Elswit. A sonorous music score by James Newton Howard adds to the film's impact.
Annabelle
2014 · Hindustan Times · Oct 2014
A none-too-exciting prequel to last year's overrated The Conjuring, Annabelle plunders elements from its genre predecessors including the Child's Play series featuring that demonic doll.
Two Night Stand
2014 · Hindustan Times · Sep 2014
In effect, Two Night Stand leaves us tone cold.
The Maze Runner
2014 · Hindustan Times · Sep 2014
Graphics designer turned first-time feature filmmaker Wes Ball has done a commendable job in telescoping the story for the big screen.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
2014 · Hindustan Times · Sep 2014
There is an abundance of violence including the hacking of heads and limbs. Unfortunately, the cartoonish carnage comes at the expense of plot and narrative momentum. Clearly, Rodriguez and Miller opt for stylistic razzmatazz over thematic substance. If only for its visual virtuosity, it's worth plunging into the hard-boiled world of Sin City 2 : A Dame To Kill For.
Step Up All In
2014 · Hindustan Times · Aug 2014
The fresh-faced cast demonstrates a strong screen presence. The soundtrack is peppered with snatches of peppy tunes by Afrojack, Method Man and Celestine. With the exception of the murky and unnecessary use of 3D …All In is a Step Up in the right direction for the youth-oriented series.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
2014 · Hindustan Times · Jul 2014
The Grand Budapest Hotel is a trip to bountiful...
The Fault in Our Stars
2014 · Hindustan Times · Jul 2014
Watch The Fault In Our Stars for Shailene Woodley...Based on the young adult novel of the same name by John Green, this tale of first love isn't such a many splendoured thing.
Chef
2014 · Hindustan Times · Jun 2014
Despite the burp-so-familiar storyline, Favreau manages to serve up a delicious blend of humour, sentiment and drama. In small but significant supporting roles, Scarlett Johansson is delectable as the restaurant hostess and Dustin Hoffman pops up as her unadventurous boss. Regrettably, the upbeat wrap-up is a coput.
Godzilla
2014 · Hindustan Times · May 2014
Viewers looking for wall-to-wall mayhem along the lines of Roland Emmerich's bloated 1998 version will be disappointed. But those who savour an immersive visual spectacle will likely go ooh-aah in the presence of the freshly-minted Godzilla.
Million Dollar Arm
2014 · Hindustan Times · May 2014
A romantic subplot involving a cutesy tenant (Bell) is wearisome. AR Rahman's background music score is straight out of a Bollywood potboiler. At best, this well-intentioned triumph of the underdog tale makes for an okey-dokey matinee.
Her
2014 · Hindustan Times · Feb 2014
Working from his own original script, the former music-video whiz, Spike Jonze, has crafted one of the most poignant love stories in recent memory. An invigorating exploration of identity, bonding, loneliness and pain, Her almost restores our faith in American cinema.
Elysium
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
His debut feature, District 9 (2009), was one the more dynamic sci-fi epics in recent years. Embracing a similarly dazzling visual style, Neill Blomkamp envisions another dystopian future in this follow-up fantasy set in 2154 when Earth has become a gigantic ghetto.
The Smurfs 2
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
More juvenile than joyous, the Paris-set adventure is a time-waster. Quel dommage!
The Wolverine
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
Also, the yarn devolves into blockbuster movie clichés during the extended end battle. Hugh Jackman is the cast standout. Rila Fukushima is sassy as the emissary who coaxes him out of self-imposed exile.
Diana
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
A spectacularly misjudged biopic about the late Princess of Wales, Diana spans the last two years of her life leading up to the car crash in which she died. The atrocious script is infinitely quotable, dropping as it does clunker after clunker.
Captain Phillips
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
Allowing the action plot to take over quickly, the director ratchets up the tension from the moment the four machine guns wielding pirates board the unarmed commercial vessel. The showdown culminates in a scene performed with such vulnerability by Tom Hanks that the two-time Academy Award winner will likely snag another Oscar nomination.
Thor: The Dark World
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
In the Marvel movie-verse, it is hammer time again. A $200 million-plus son-et-lumiere spectacle, Thor is recommended for those with a taste for a decidedly funny fantasy.
Insidious: Chapter 2
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
A scare-lite sequel to the haunted house horror flick Insidious (2011), the franchise motivated ...Chapter 2 fails to translate its paranormal premise into an interesting yarn.
Now You See Me
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
Despite its flashy trappings, viewers are unlikely to surrender to the spell of the on-screen legerdemain. Clues and red herrings abound around every turn as Now You See Me gradually spins itself into a tizzy especially in the plottier second half.
Frozen
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
Inspired by the 19th century fable, "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen, this animated musical may be excessively sweet but it doesn't induce the fatigue factor at all.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
Although The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is somewhat long-drawn-out, it's riveting thanks to the hyper-imaginative world it creates. This sci-fi thriller is elevated by its subtext of humaneness.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
The film makes for a fairly rewarding fantasy adventure. It also makes us anticipate There and Back Again, the concluding installment of the series which is due for release at the end of next year, writes Rashid Irani.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
As frenetic and insubstantial as the original 2009 animated fantasy, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 once again blends slapstick comedy with candy-coloured visuals.
Amour
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
An unflinching depiction of the agony faced by an octogenarian couple, Amour is one of the most compassionate films about ageing ever made. Simply put, Amour is unmissable.
Jobs
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
Neither great nor ghastly, the warts and all account of the titular titan, merits a viewing.
The Croods
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
Young audiences will soak up plenty of colour and relate to the bunch of goofy characters from prehistoric times. Briskly paced, the escapades of the surviving clan of cave dwellers also manage to provide a family-friendly message about filial duty, co-existence and self-discovery.
Riddick
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
Riddick is hampered by portentuous dialogue but the creature design is imaginative and the lone female in the cast is eminently camera-friendly!
Grown Ups 2
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
When it comes to scraping the bottom of the comedic barrel, Adam Sandler reigns supreme. Marking the eighth collaboration between the former Saturday Night Live entertainer and director Dennis Dugan, this sequel merely refashions the basic plot of the 2010 original.
Fruitvale Station
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
The disheartening trend of according significant films a limited release continues with this docudrama. Fruitvale Station recreates the last day in the life of a 22-year-old African-American. Melonie Diaz who portrays his girlfriend and Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer as his mother are very good but it is Michael B Jordan's virtuoso performance that forms the core of the film. A film that deserves a wide audience.
Zambezia
2012 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
With its consistent invention and visual deftness, Zambezia provides popcorn-ready entertainment for the entire family.
The Wolf of Wall Street
2014 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2014
Though it does not measure up to GoodFellas (1990) or Casino (1995), the two previous Scorsese masterworks with which it shares thematic similarities, The Wolf of Wall Street still makes for compelling viewing.
Ender's Game
2013 · Hindustan Times · Nov 2013
Much of the films' appeal comes from the forceful performance of Asa Butterfield. Harrison Ford as a ruthless colonel passes muster, while Ben Kingsley, sporting Maori face tattoos, manages to register a strong screen presence. Don't expect originality of either content or style from Ender's Game and you won't be disappointed.
About Time
2013 · Hindustan Times · Oct 2013
A genuinely engaging cast contributes to the enjoyment level of the rambling story about an aspiring young lawyer (Gleeson) who is blessed with a gift which enables him to find the girl of his dreams. ... Recommended for the young at heart.
Gravity
2013 · Hindustan Times · Oct 2013
Filmed wondrously by Cuaron's longtime cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki, with an accent on black, silver and indigo textures, Gravity restores our faith in today's Hollywood cinema. Miss it at your own risk.
The Frozen Ground
2013 · Hindustan Times · Sep 2013
A promising feature debut by New Zealand-born writer-director Scott Walker, this icy crime thriller is based on actual events. The story sustains a blistering pace and there are enough thrills to propel viewers to the edge of the seat. Shot in the locations where the murders took place, cinematographer Patrick Murguia ably integrates the snowy vistas of a small town in Alaska with interiors shot in seedy bars and nightclubs.
Man of Steel
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jun 2013
The movie springs into belated flight during the ferocious finale. The body count would turn mayhem-meisters Roland Emmerich and Michael Bay green with envy. Besides some blatant product placements, there are none-too-subtle allusions to the 9/11 devastation. A curiously empty exercise in blockbuster filmmaking, Man Of Steel is full of sound and fury signifying... you know what.
Fast & Furious 6
2013 · Hindustan Times · Jun 2013
The sixth entry in the blockbuster franchise which first vroomed across the multiplexes in 2001 focuses squarely on what the gearheads want: tyre-screeching mayhem, death-defying heroics and camera-caressing femmes.
Star Trek Into Darkness
2013 · Hindustan Times · May 2013
In effect, the sequel lacks the consistent creative vision of the 2009 outing. Nevertheless, Star Trek Into Darkness should satisfy the hardcore Trekkers while reaching out to audiences unfamiliar with the mythology surrounding the long-running space opera.
Life of Pi
2012 · Hindustan Times · Dec 2012
A tale full of sound, fury and state-of-the-art special effects, Life Of Pi is a one-of-a-kind dazzler. Oscars ahoy!