Udita Jhunjhunwala
LiveMint·Firstpost·Scroll.in·Hindustan Times
War Machine
2026 · Firstpost
Brad Pitt struggles to make his character McMahon more than a caricature.
Malang
2020 · Firstpost · Feb 2020
A whole lot of time is wasted setting up the story; far less is assigned to unravelling the mystery or providing adequate backstory to all the characters. It feels like misdirection to bring you into the world of Malang through Advait and Sara's superficial, chemically assisted love story but place greater emphasis on the twisted minds of the cops in charge.
Panipat
2019 · Scroll.in · Dec 2019
Gowariker finds the emotional connect in the scenes between Kapoor and Sanon, but there's a been-there-seen-that feel to the battle scenes and the drama of the royal court. This is an interesting chapter of history to revisit, because the winners were not the real heroes of the Third Battle of Panipat.
Laal Kaptaan
2019 · Firstpost · Oct 2019
Singh, the director, had all the pieces to craft an effectual Indian western: the terrain, the long-suffering sadhu, an age of flux, elements of magic realism, and touches of Shakespearean tragedy. But Laal Kaptaan falters on an over-written script and visually over-told story.
Prassthanam
2019 · Firstpost · Sep 2019
The style of the film veers from domestic soap opera to dramatic crime and action stitched together by political drama. Structured like a Shakespearean tragedy, Prassthanam is built on countless conflicts, awash with textbook characters and dated in its story-telling.
Chhichhore
2019 · LiveMint · Sep 2019
The tropes of campus films abound, yet the humour in Chhichhore is so organic and the characters so particular, you feel like a member of the crowd hoping Hostel 4's strategy makes them champions. It's almost enough to make you overlook the present day prosthetics and script conveniences that lean heavily on the kind of Bollywood melodrama one is not nostalgic about.
Batla House
2019 · Firstpost · Aug 2019
John Abraham's dramatic film seems burdened by its patriotic ambitions...
Dumbo
2019 · LiveMint · Apr 2019
'Dumbo' gets by on the charm of its titular character...
Junglee
2019 · Firstpost · Mar 2019
Vidyut Jammwal's action-adventure film is well-intentioned but lazily executed
Badla
2019 · LiveMint · Mar 2019
Bachchan is commanding as always but Pannu earns neither sympathy nor surprise, whereas Amrita Singh achieves both in her decisive role. If revenge is a dish best served cold, this one isn't icy enough.
Luka Chuppi
2019 · Firstpost · Mar 2019
Utekar directs what can best be defined as an overwritten dummies guide to live-in relationships. There is so much drag in this 126-minute film that even the occasional build-up of momentum is punctured by the next chapter of humourless nonsense, such as a bizarre dream sequence with a child getting married and a scene at a temple.
Total Dhamaal
2019 · Firstpost · Feb 2019
...the film attempts to deliver a mixed message about how animals living in captivity need to be saved from avaricious developers. In the process, as they set aside their selfishness, this collective of crazies finds their conscience and we find a quick exit from the cinema.
Thackeray
2019 · Firstpost · Jan 2019
The timeline of Thackeray is conveniently engineered to delete the unflattering, the sensitive and the problematic mandate. What remains are elements that buoy up the founder of the Shiv Sena and paint him in resplendent saffron. The colour-agnostic are likely to find this portrait as fascinating as it is disturbing.
Why Cheat India
2019 · Firstpost · Jan 2019
Emraan Hashmi plays conman with flair but is bogged down by convoluted screenplay
The Accidental Prime Minister
2019 · Firstpost · Jan 2019
I came away with Akshaye Khanna's smug smile and his jaunty walk. He is conspiratorial throughout, occasionally pensive and seemingly having the last laugh in an inelegant adaptation.
Uri: The Surgical Strike
2019 · Firstpost · Jan 2019
What Dhar squanders on the screenplay, he makes up for in the details. Stefan Richter's carefully designed and executed action scenes, Sashwat Sachdev's thunderous background score, sound mix, sound design and special effects simulate authenticity. As far as war dramas go, Uri: The Surgical Strike is a confidently made film that comes out guns blazing. And when the guns are not blazing, Kaushal certainly is.
Zero
2018 · LiveMint · Dec 2018
As a pure fantasy feature, there was an interesting idea in Zero. Carefully designed to appeal to Khan's core demographic – the family – while providing scope to invent an endearing character. The flaws of Zero lie not in the physicality of the characters, but in the story. Too ambitious in its vision and indiscriminately illogical, Rai falters in exploring both inner spaces and outer space. Even at 164 minutes, the narrative lurches from scene to scene, and before you can say 'Houston we have a problem', incredulously Bauaa is suiting up for a space odyssey.
Kedarnath
2018 · LiveMint · Dec 2018
Khan shines in these later scenes, shedding the earlier self-consciousness to throw it all into the physically challenging finale. Rajput is natural as the compassionate Mansoor, though at times he seems to be searching for the soul of his character, which could have been another casualty of a confused script. Fortunately for Kapoor, the performances manage to keep things afloat, taking the emotions to a crescendo matching nature's wrath.
Bohemian Rhapsody
2018 · LiveMint · Nov 2018
Describing the band to manager John Reid (Gillen), Freddie says, "Now we're four misfits who don't belong together, we're playing for the other misfits. They're the outcasts, right at the back of the room. We're pretty sure they don't belong either. We belong to them." This is why Queen remains iconic and, even though the movie may not do either the band or the singer justice, you will be singing Bohemian Rhapsody all the way home.
Thugs of Hindostan
2018 · LiveMint · Nov 2018
Like previous works, which include Tashan and Dhoom 3, Acharya's Thugs of Hindostan is big but hollow.
Namaste England
2018 · Firstpost · Oct 2018
Arjun Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra's romance suffers from a dull, infantile script...
Tumbbad
2018 · LiveMint · Oct 2018
A visually rich blend of fear and folklore...'Tumbbad ' is a technically accomplished and edgy home-grown horror fantasy
Pataakha
2018 · LiveMint · Sep 2018
'Pataakha' has the fuse, but not the firepower...Vishal Bhardwaj's adaption is buoyed by crackling performances
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
2018 · Firstpost · Sep 2018
The trailer of this film tells you almost all there is to know. Take that three minutes and add another 172: The main feature is a bloated narrative that skirts almost three hours. If the filmmaker had cut out the vapid first 15 minutes, and the black and white scenes (a narration device), think how much electricity and time could have been saved – not to mention how much more tolerable this film would have been.
Gali Guleiyan
2018 · Firstpost · Sep 2018
There are shades of his tour de force performance as Professor Siras in Aligarh in Gali Guleiyan, with Bajpayee reiterating his command on his craft as he conveys so much while given so little to say or do.
Paltan
2018 · Firstpost · Sep 2018
Paltan is more testosterone and male ego than strategy or drama and, surprisingly, it's tentative even in its jingoism.
Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se
2018 · Firstpost · Aug 2018
Looking back at my thoughts on the second part of Yamla Pagla Deewana in 2013, it struck me that, besides changing a few names here and there, I could copy paste the analysis, sentiment and pain of that experience and it would be equally applicable to Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se.
Satyameva Jayate
2018 · Firstpost · Aug 2018
Satyameva Jayate is a fairly illogical commercial thriller fronted by two actors who deliver forceful performances. It may not be the most intelligent thriller, but its lack of pretence is its greatest asset. It's entertaining for some of the right reasons, and plenty of unintended ones.
Fanney Khan
2018 · Firstpost · Aug 2018
A weak script with some directing inconsistencies, Fanney Khan had room to be an enjoyable comedy or satire. Instead it careened towards over-the-top melodrama with debatable messaging.
Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3
2018 · LiveMint · Jul 2018
The weakest of the trilogy, this story takes exceedingly long to set up the key players and their motivations. Dhulia does end part three neatly poised for a follow up. That might work too, as long as Gill and Sheirgill are at the epicentre and the gangster is not required to dance and sing romantic songs amidst sand dunes.
Deadpool 2
2018 · Scroll.in · May 2018
Deadpool is a trash talker, but the brash attitude and incessant chatter are the balm that Wade spreads over his pain. His jibber-jabber gets tiresome after a while, however, and irreverent, subversive and shocking humour is funny only upto a point. After which, the grand action scenes aside, it feels like a pattern: Offend. Kill. Make an inside Marvel joke. Repeat.
Beyond the Clouds
2018 · Firstpost · Apr 2018
An energetic and physically immersed performance compensates partially for an absence of tenor. Mohanan too cannot overcome her rawness and one wonders if this is a fallout of the director's inability to breach the language barrier. Together their effort might be sincere but the effect of a lack of cohesion eschews the very emotional gravitas Beyond the Clouds works so hard to achieve.
Hichki
2018 · Scroll.in · Mar 2018
At times Hichki feels too righteous. Loaded with messages from equality, right to education, tolerance to a gratuitous walk through a Mumbai slum with the camera gingerly peeking into the difficult lives of class 9F. Fortunately the story is strongly underlined by the instances of the resourcefulness of the students and the idea that education should not be a one-size-fits-all concept.
The Square
2018 · Firstpost · Mar 2018
The Square is actually the sum of its parts, rather than a seamless whole. Viewers are probably going to pick differing scenes as their favourites. Ostlund arranges these scenes around Christian – a character who constantly looks like he's about to go off the edge. Claes Bang is fantastic as he faces challenges and weirdness, and he also rocks a dinner jacket.
3 Storeys
2018 · LiveMint · Mar 2018
The narration saunters along such that even a judicious running time of around 100 minutes feels uncomfortably long. Mukherjee manages to achieve a sense of voyeurism, but once you have seen enough of their lives, you leave the characters behind in their milieu without a backward glance...
Welcome to New York
2018 · Firstpost · Feb 2018
The 3D part in the film is a waste. The intent behind Welcome to New York leaves many questions – why is the main one. Why 3D, why make this movie, why give Karan Johar a double role, why not use more cameos? Why watch this indulgent snoozefest? That last question is the only one with a clear answer.
Pad Man
2018 · LiveMint · Feb 2018
Padman is sanitised and sweet, and its message is not just to encourage the use of sanitary pads, but that with the right motivation, imagination and a whole lot of patience you can solve problems with ingenuity
Vodka Diaries
2018 · Firstpost · Jan 2018
Despite their best efforts, the moments between Bedi and Menon are awkward and though the seasoned Menon throws in all he's got, even his handlebar moustache looks weary by the end of this sobering slog.
1921
2018 · Firstpost · Jan 2018
A fellow audience member described it best: It's like an onion—you cry as you peel it and you can keep peeling it and keep crying, but you can also stop at any time.
Kaalakaandi
2018 · LiveMint · Jan 2018
'Kaalakaandi' is an inconsistent but madcap film, with a couple of terrific performances
An Insignificant Man
2017 · Firstpost · Nov 2017
This is a film that can bring up the question of how one can stay impartial when afforded this kind of intimate access over two years. But as a passionately told capsule of the birth and rise of a party, as an insight into party politics, while almost voyeuristic, An Insignificant Man is invaluable and fascinating nonetheless. The film stops in 2013, and the present position and future of AAP offers enough drama to be the stuff of a sequel.
Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana
2017 · Firstpost · Nov 2017
A mash up of Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Bareilly Ki Barfi, Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana is one romantic drama that even Rajkummar Rao's reliable performance cannot rescue.
Ribbon
2017 · Firstpost · Nov 2017
Not all ideas translate well to film and though are some moments of note, if Ribbon works at all, it is credit to Koechlin's and Vyas' committed and convincing performances.
Ittefaq
2017 · LiveMint · Nov 2017
In order to be curious, fascinated, intrigued about these deaths, one needs to care about the characters, believe in their stories. The look and feel is in place and so is the big twist. These two factors make Ittefaq a serviceable thriller, but not a genre-defining experience.
Jia Aur Jia
2017 · LiveMint · Oct 2017
Two capable actors—Richa Chadha and Kalki Koechlin—are left floundering in this unending journey of a road trip movie
Golmaal Again
2017 · Firstpost · Oct 2017
I must admit that this might be the most enjoyable of the four Golmaal films because there is actually a plot and the by-now-familiar characters are less annoying while the annoying ones are partially relegated to the background. Kudos to Shetty for reinventing a mindless comic brand to a duo-genre and giving it a new lease of life.
Haseena Parkar
2017 · LiveMint · Sep 2017
A compromised film on the godmother of Nagpada...
Bhoomi
2017 · Firstpost · Sep 2017
Bhoomi is better dressed, better filmed and better performed than the old-fashioned revenge drama it actually is. And the big differentiator is that this film has Dutt showing us that his wrinkles have their own stories to tell. While the idea of an eye-for-an-eye and taking the law into one's hands is hard to justify, Dutt's performance is affecting. He's tender, he's tormented and helpless, and when he's vengeful, you feel his pain.
Lucknow Central
2017 · Firstpost · Sep 2017
Tiwari's handling of the jail scenes are commendable even if the climax is a little contrived. And while this jailhouse rock-on see-saws between musical drama and message movie, its origins in a true story (about a real life prison band called Healing Hearts) and it's notation on the merits of reformation give it soul.
Daddy
2017 · Firstpost · Sep 2017
Daddy demands patient viewing as it sets out to explore a new story delivery style while tackling the ever-popular gangster genre. As it walks the fine line between judgement and glorification, Daddy often feels like a bunch of headlines stitched together with fine handwriting managing to suck you back into a time that has shaped modern Mumbai.
Logan Lucky
2017 · LiveMint · Sep 2017
With a gentler pace, less swag and more humane characters than the Ocean's franchise, Lucky Logan comes with a twist, plenty of spirit and is gratifying in its own way.
Baadshaho
2017 · Firstpost · Sep 2017
The screenplay of Baadshaho is unduly non-linear and includes indulgent scenes like one of police torture. Baadshaho's finale unfolds in a sandstorm and is the one scene that is visually arresting, though the story loses itself somewhere within the vortex.
A Gentleman
2017 · Firstpost · Aug 2017
The comic parts of A Gentleman score over the action and as an action-comedy is falls short of taking any real risks.
Toilet: Ek Prem Katha
2017 · LiveMint · Aug 2017
Instead of sticking to social satire, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha takes on the mantle of an extended propaganda film—it's just as tiresome, but with better production values and performances.
Mubarakan
2017 · Firstpost · Jul 2017
Fortunately, the humour does not degenerate to crass double entendres. Family entertainment is clearly at the core and Mubarakan manages to deliver enough laughs.
Munna Michael
2017 · Firstpost · Jul 2017
Director Sabbir Khan and writer Vimi Datta have designed a film that is serviced by Shroff's two skills – dancing and action. In spite of being predictable story with slack storytelling, Khan once again (Heropanti, Baaghi) showcases just what is needed to keep Shroff's fans satisfied. Put in enough of these two elements and who cares about logic, story, acting or originality.
Behen Hogi Teri
2017 · Firstpost · Jun 2017
Rajkummar Rao, as always, is hugely watchable and endearing...
Wonder Woman
2017 · LiveMint · Jun 2017
This is a Gal Gadot show all the way. She's athletic and has undeniable screen presence. May this be the start of an empowered female superhero franchise.
Meri Pyaari Bindu
2017 · Firstpost · May 2017
Nostalgia is one of the strongest characters in Meri Pyaari Bindu, but it's unlikely that the target audience for this kind of frothy romcom would warm up to that, and those who would are perhaps seeking more heft.
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
2017 · Scroll.in · Apr 2017
The action moves smoothly, even though the songs do slow down the narrative. You hardly feel the 171-minute running time, nor do you tire of seeing Prabhas and Anushka Shetty on the screen. Shetty, in particular, elevates the acting standard as the principled, independent, free-spirited princess Devasena who is dexterous with the bow and arrow. Her relationship with Baahubali leads to the most significant conflict in the plot.
Mukti Bhawan
2017 · Firstpost · Apr 2017
A heartwarming tragicomic tale about life, death and reconciliation...
Naam Shabana
2017 · LiveMint · Apr 2017
It barely works in this case largely due to the script, but in part because of Pannu's deadpan expressions and in part because of director Nair overtelling it. Much more effort has gone into creating an authentic milieu than crafting an engaging character study in the foreground.
Poorna: Courage Has No Limit
2017 · Firstpost · Mar 2017
The film handles that with reverence and sensitivity while addressing it's additional motive: to deliver a message about realising dreams, maximising opportunities, encouraging the marginalised to break out of community constraints and caste shackles.
Split
2017 · LiveMint · Feb 2017
M. Night Shyamalan comes close to recapturing his former touch...
The Great Wall
2017 · Scroll.in · Feb 2017
Then there's Damon, as a medieval Jon Snow. You can only surmise that there must have been a fat pay cheque for the Oscar-nominated actor to be a part of something so undercooked and soulless.
Kung Fu Yoga
2017 · LiveMint · Feb 2017
Kung Fu Yoga could have been a fun mash-up of Chinese martial arts and Indian acrobatics. But for that it would have needed a script, which seems to have been misplaced, and some decent performances. Chan shows some sparkle with his swift movements and appealing shyness in the presence of Patani, who delivers lines like she's reading a speech.
Kaabil
2017 · Firstpost · Jan 2017
If you are able to look past many of these niggles it's thank to Hrithik Roshan's committed performance which keeps you rooting for his Rohan all the way.
Haraamkhor
2017 · Firstpost · Jan 2017
Though the scenes are repetitive, Sharma does succeed in walking the edge between intensity and airiness and transporting the audience into this simple and confined world. As the uneasiness builds, you brace yourself for an explosive end. Unfortunately, when it does come there is a sense that everything that preceded it was designed to lead up to it and, as grisly as it is, like everything before, this scene too does not move you. I didn't feel for any of the characters and I was let down by this emotional disinterest.
Befikre
2016 · Scroll.in · Dec 2016
If a breezy, highly styled, armchair travel rom-com is your mood, then Befikre might be the ticket. But if you prefer insightful, warming and witty, skip this.
Office Christmas Party
2016 · Scroll.in · Dec 2016
As unimaginative as its title, Office Christmas Party starts strong but declines into nonsense.
Force 2
2016 · LiveMint · Nov 2016
Two scowling cops bumble their way through a contrived plot...
Shivaay
2016 · LiveMint · Oct 2016
Devgn has clearly put time and effort into his direction,but appears to have put less into his performance. Neither makes the grade. And let's face it, there can only be one Liam Neeson.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
2016 · Firstpost · Oct 2016
An enjoyable ride derails in the finale, and you wonder when will we see a film where Ranbir Kapoor, for all his efforts, dammit, gets the girl. A lazy attempt at emotional manipulation apart, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil delivers on nearly all it promised.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
2016 · LiveMint · Oct 2016
You are almost willing to forgive the cheesy emotional climax especially when it ends with Cruise's electric smile. This one's for Reacher, Cruise and Child fans alone.
The Girl on the Train
2016 · LiveMint · Oct 2016
As far as thrillers go, The Girl on the Train works hard to make every player seem suspicious but the result isn't as juicy or caustic as Gone Girl, a hit adaptation in roughly the same genre.
Beiimaan Love
2016 · Firstpost · Oct 2016
As the last scene ends, the following phrase comes up on screen: 'Never take a woman for granted'. A noble sentiment, but in filmmaking one should not take the script, screenplay or craft for granted either.
Freaky Ali
2016 · Firstpost · Sep 2016
Though it's called Freaky Ali, Siddiqui's Ali is the least freaky of all the characters and his performance is the only reason this film is not a complete washout.
Akira
2016 · LiveMint · Sep 2016
Director A.R. Murugadoss pays lip service to social causes such as acid attack victims, mental illness and the hearing impaired while triple-underlining the message of women's empowerment. For every stereotype Murugadoss sets out to break, he leaves behind one...
Island City
2016 · Firstpost · Sep 2016
These overlapping stories about Mumbai city display a variety of emotions...
Sunshine Music Tours & Travels
2016 · Firstpost · Sep 2016
Interspersed with PJs, rife with stereotypes and a shockingly insipid soundtrack of Hindi songs (not EDM), tackily shot, edited and styled, with a range of unschooled performances (I have seen 10 year olds behave with greater restraint and maturity than most of these adult characters), SMTT is at best a tacky advertisement for the EDM festival.
Nine Lives
2016 · LiveMint · Aug 2016
As a dog person, I feel life is too short to be wasted on a catastrophe such as Nine Lives (and one puzzles over why Spacey made this choice). You might as well watch the Youtube home videos of cat tricks instead.
Ben-Hur
2016 · LiveMint · Aug 2016
This Ben-Hur isn't a total washout, but it doesn't hit that much-needed high note that could distinguish it from its far superior predecessor.
Mohenjo Daro
2016 · Firstpost · Aug 2016
What Gowariker lacks in story and SFX, he makes up for with scale and action. There's an extravagantly mounted song and dance routine extolling the grandeur and fame of Mohenjo Daro and the creation of this legendary land is commendable and the fight scenes are well executed.
Bad Moms
2016 · Scroll.in · Jul 2016
Besides the innumerable sexual references (beeped out profanities and mentions of male and female genitalia), boozing and a smattering of laughs, the film doesn't push the envelope far enough. No matter how often the moms tell you their children are a joy and how much they love them, they seem to love cheap Chardonnay and single hot Hispanic men more.
Dishoom
2016 · LiveMint · Jul 2016
There's far more emphasis on style than script, but Dishoom won't disappoint fans of the buff leading men.
Madaari
2016 · LiveMint · Jul 2016
The narrative is not entirely smooth, the direction is uneven, the screenplay flirts with unnecessary cleverness and a pre-interval ballad makes you groan. But Irrfan Khan's soaring performance compensates for many of these niggles and leaves you thinking about the common man's angst.
Star Trek Beyond
2016 · Scroll.in · Jul 2016
The balance between wit, irreverence, philosophy, blockbuster tropes and action is deft, but if only the plot had been more convincing.
Great Grand Masti
2016 · LiveMint · Jul 2016
The 'Masti' series lowers the bar even further with this genre mash-up...
Ice Age: Collision Course
2016 · Scroll.in · Jul 2016
While the animation is topnotch, and there's enough for young audiences, the accompanying adults them might find this course a slog.
The Secret Life of Pets
2016 · LiveMint · Jul 2016
Kinetic at times, colourful and with scattered humour, The Secret Life Of Pets is a treat for children, but offers no great insights into the secret life of pets.
The Legend of Tarzan
2016 · LiveMint · Jul 2016
More than the adventure, the love story works like a charm, with Skarsgård and Robbie—who is just lovely as the brave, confident Jane—establishing a warm rapport.
Dhanak
2016 · Firstpost · Jun 2016
Dhanak is a simple story told simply. It looks at the world from the children's perspective and uses the journey to do what all road movies do — symbolise a coming of age. As to whether the children meet SRK and whether Pari makes good on her promise, sorry, no spoilers here!
Finding Dory
2016 · LiveMint · Jun 2016
Finding Dory succeeds in transporting us to a wonderful underwater world while enhancing the franchise's emotional core.
Now You See Me 2
2016 · Scroll.in · Jun 2016
Director Jon M Chu tries hard to make the sequel lively and more amusing, but the story is more far-fetched and bloated and too dependent on special effects. Casting the former Harry Potter as a bad guy incapable of any magic is admittedly funny. Now You See Me 2 gives the illusion of being a clever deception. While it might be more fun and flamboyant, the sequel is not magical enough.
Warcraft
2016 · LiveMint · Jun 2016
Warcraft is clearly a 3D fantasy adventure designed to appeal to fans of the novels and computer game series. For those unfamiliar with the worlds and wars within, let's just say Warcraft the movie is striving to be The Lord Of The Rings meets Game Of Thrones, but falls way short of its ambition.
The Nice Guys
2016 · Scroll.in · Jun 2016
Watching writer-director Shane Black's neo-noir comedy makes you feel naughty, like you have sneakily eaten the last piece of cake your mother told you not to touch, or jumped to the end of a thriller to find out whodunit.
The Angry Birds Movie
2016 · Scroll.in · May 2016
The Angry Birds Movie is childish and occasional cute and capitalises on the game's once addictive popularity.
Alice Through the Looking Glass
2016 · LiveMint · May 2016
The film misses Burton's odd charm, is largely devoid of humour and, in spite of Hathaway, Depp and Bonham Carter, is mostly a waste of time.
Veerappan
2016 · LiveMint · May 2016
Ram Gopal Varma's biopic of the sandalwood and ivory smuggler drowns out impressive production design and a captivating lead performance with jarring background music
Phobia
2016 · Firstpost · May 2016
Mishra, Vikal and Dayama are well cast and perform well as the players around Apte. What a spirited performance by this actress. Phobia is a strangely satisfying psychological thriller with one of the best performances of the year so far.
Dear Dad
2016 · Firstpost · May 2016
Swamy, whose Hindi film roles include Bombay (1995) and Raja Ko Rani Se Pyaar Ho Gaya (2000), brings some import to his part, and shares a gentle and believable camaraderie with Sharma. But there's only so much the actors can do with a script that started off boldly but blinked when it mattered most.
Pelé: Birth of a Legend
2016 · Scroll.in · May 2016
Yet, Pelé's ambition and struggles seem superficial and the resolutions too simple. The Zimbalist brothers do not effectively portray the claustrophobia of a Brazilian slum, or the poverty that propels the ambitions of people like Pelé.
Money Monster
2016 · LiveMint · May 2016
Unlike The Big Short, Money Monster does not tie itself up in jargon and practices, but explores the larger conspiracy and its human impact, particularly on the small investor. Foster deftly handles tonal shifts between humour, satire and comment to deliver a timely and thrilling entertainer.
1920 London
2016 · Firstpost · May 2016
Besides one extended exorcism scene, and the painstaking make-up that shows Veer's gradual degradation by the spirit, this is a drab effort with hardly a shock sandwiched between all the frills, frocks and Rajput finery. Perhaps all the horror there was, has been sucked out of 1920.
10 Cloverfield Lane
2016 · Scroll.in · Apr 2016
The suspense is built around the possibility of escape and the threat of what lies beyond and, worse still, within the sealed-off bunker. The climax is a bizarre and hard-to-swallow genre-shift with some plot points left frustratingly unresolved.
The Man Who Knew Infinity
2016 · LiveMint · Apr 2016
The Man Who Knew Infinity is moving, but not as compelling as the real life story of the genius it celebrates. The definitive film on Ramanujan remains to be made; one that will have the heft of The Imitation Game or A Beautiful Mind; one that will sidestep the formulaic screenplay and exotica, but won't shy away from solving equations.
Nil Battey Sannata
2016 · Firstpost · Apr 2016
Using locations, sets, costumes, language and setting (Agra), Iyer Tiwari creates an authentic world with a universal emotional core. However, at the close, the narrative trips over its own benevolence. The relationship between Bhaskar and Pathak Shah is a touch overdone and, while it managed to skip melodrama and manipulation throughout, the end succumbs to sermonizing (and a kitschy song called 'Maa') which dilutes the impact of an otherwise assured debut delivered with a lightness of touch and a positive message.
Rocky Handsome
2016 · LiveMint · Mar 2016
The moment when Handsome's real identity is revealed is tepid and underlines the emotional vacuousness of the script. The punch-by-numbers action scenes are not enough to save a poorly adapted film with poorly pitched performances, out-of-tune casting and tacky execution.
The Program
2016 · LiveMint · Mar 2016
Foster works hard on the character, but the portrayal is rather one-dimensional as he interprets the disgraced racer as twisted, shrewd, arrogant and ambitious. We feel no sympathy for this man at all in this rather straightforward account of Armstrong's dramatic life story.
Race
2016 · Scroll.in · Mar 2016
At over two hours, Race feels like a mini-marathon, partially due to side plots that dilute the drama. The tension of the competition, usually the staple of sporting films, is sorely missing. You don't get a sense of the rigour of Owens' training and the enormity of his achievement, which is otherwise so well documented.
Zubaan
2016 · Scroll.in · Mar 2016
The first half of Zubaan plays out like with a soap opera, with heightened performances and extreme situations. It isn't until much later that the protagonist's modus operandi is established. The narrative moves with greater energy and conviction in the post-interval portions. Zubaan is about aspiration, ambition and the dark direction life can take. It's also about self-confidence, taking chances and swimming against the tide.
45 Years
2016 · LiveMint · Mar 2016
If this dramatic piece holds your attention, it is because of Rampling's ability to convey so much through her eyes and expressions, Courtenay's understated performance providing her with the requisite cues.
Carol
2016 · Scroll.in · Feb 2016
A showcase for the towering talents of Blanchett and Mara, Carol is a sumptuous watch. Blanchett's coldness and occasional aloofness are offset against Mara's portrayal of Therese, who is vulnerable at times, displaying controlled devotion at others, and occasionally wide-eyed at her own unfettered self-discovery.
Trumbo
2016 · Scroll.in · Feb 2016
Trumbo provides a snapshot of what was clearly a very dark time in Hollywood and American history, but it stays a bit thin on the ground.
Deadpool
2016 · Scroll.in · Feb 2016
Director Tim Miller and screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick turn the superhero formula sideways. Deadpool advocates murder and revenge. When guns fire, brains splatter. This is no cutesy, do-gooder superhero for kids. Deadpool is the antihero and he loves it.
The Finest Hours
2016 · Scroll.in · Feb 2016
This is a by-the-book disaster-rescue saga with elevated moments of drama. The ocean scenes leave you feeling a little bit seasick, but in awe of the bravery of these men. The 3D is perfunctory.
Ghayal Once Again
2016 · LiveMint · Feb 2016
The emotional core is also intact and compensates for the shrill supporting cast and tacky CGI. Deol is sincere and still evokes whistles when he lets loose his right hook. Fans of the Deol brand of action won't be disappointed.
The Choice
2016 · Scroll.in · Feb 2016
Sappy and corny, The Choice will either make you bawl your eyes out or dull you into a coma.
The Boy
2016 · Scroll.in · Jan 2016
When the twist ending comes, it is so shoddily executed and so unoriginal that The Boy degrades into a spoof. This is one for genre-fans only.
The 33
2016 · Scroll.in · Jan 2016
There is plenty of drama and suspense in this true-life story, but the screenplay relies too heavily on formula and is swathed in Hollywood sentimentality. The performances are uneven, while some actors are simply miscast.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
2015 · Scroll.in · Dec 2015
It all comes together nicely as the actors breathe vulnerability, fallibility and personality into their roles, with Daisy Ridley being quite the commanding presence. My favourite, hands down, is the cute and rotund droid BB-8.
The Peanuts Movie
2015 · Scroll.in · Dec 2015
The Peanuts Movie is like many daily cartoon strips stitched into one 88-minute film. It assumes that audiences would either be well acquainted with the idiosyncrasies of the characters or young enough not to question them. However, the former group, of which I am a member, is left feeling nostalgic but underwhelmed. What is heartwarming is the simplicity of the story and the storytelling with a faithful adherence to the original ethos. Lucy charges just five cents for psychiatric counsel, Snoopy uses a typewriter, and flying a kite successfully is considered an achievement.
The Good Dinosaur
2015 · Scroll.in · Dec 2015
After the edgy Inside Out and the superb short film Sanjay's Super Team that precedes the main feature, The Good Dinosaur is disappointingly unadventurous. Peter Sohn designs the film like an American Western, but the coming of age story is a familiar one.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
2015 · LiveMint · Nov 2015
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is a touch too sentimental and does not turn up the heat enough. However the political undertone comes to the surface, loud and clear, and Lawrence neatly presents how politics and showbiz are uneasy bedfellows.
Secret in Their Eyes
2015 · LiveMint · Nov 2015
This Hollywood remake of an Argentinian Oscar-winning film comes loaded with expectations. Sluggish pace and some contrived plot points dilute the unsettling moments, like when Jess enters an elevator to see the man accused of murdering her daughter walking free. Secret In Their Eyes does not meet expectations, and, unlike the characters that are unable to forget, the film is disappointingly forgettable.
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo
2015 · LiveMint · Nov 2015
...an endlessly long saga with a sheesh mahal at the end of a treacherous precipice propped up by illegitimate children, fake football matches and overly made-up actors. You can imagine brides-to-be making mental notes of which lehengas and saris they want copied as they watch this opulent, colour-coordinated costume drama.
He Named Me Malala
2015 · LiveMint · Nov 2015
Malala is highly confident, well spoken yet cheeky, and the story is powerful and inspiring. The documentary on her short life, which has had a far-reaching impact, is a bit reverential, safe and rather straightforward, giving one the sense that it might be aimed at children and adults alike.
Hotel Transylvania 2
2015 · Scroll.in · Nov 2015
Littered with clichés and rehashed gags, the sequel's strength rests on the impressive art and animation. The simplistic gags might just work with young audiences.
Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2
2015 · LiveMint · Oct 2015
You really have to ask yourself about the maturity of the scriptwriters who have clearly given vent to their misogyny through this immature sequel to the 2011 film.
Bridge of Spies
2015 · Scroll.in · Oct 2015
The sets are stark, effectively conveying the winter chill as Hanks sniffles through his negotiations, keeping warm with doses of whisky and brandy. As far as espionage thrillers go, it's a fine watch, elevated greatly by class acts by Hanks and Rylance.
Crimson Peak
2015 · Scroll.in · Oct 2015
This is when del Toro finds his true playground, painting every frame with intricate details and colour coding even the apparitions. With his core team of production designer Tom Sanders, cinematographer Dan Laustsen, costume designer Kate Hawley, editor Bernat Vilaplana and composer Fernando Velázquez, del Toro creates haunting and visually arresting images. Even when the ghosts appear, you find yourself unable to look away.
Singh Is Bling
2015 · LiveMint · Oct 2015
With its lame script and tiresome gags, you'll forget Singh Is Bliing within seconds of leaving the cinema.
She's Funny That Way
2015 · LiveMint · Sep 2015
Peter Bogdanovich's romantic situational comedy is a blend of the conversational sparkle mastered by Woody Allen, the texture of Wes Anderson's quirky characterization and a throwback to the Hollywood films of the 1930s and 1940s. She's Funny That Way is similar to Bogdanovich's earlier works, like Noises Off and Paper Moon, in its theatricality.
Manjhi: The Mountain Man
2015 · Scroll.in · Aug 2015
Ketan Mehta's absorbing biopic of Dashrath Manjhi is powered by an intense performance by Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Gour Hari Dastaan
2015 · LiveMint · Aug 2015
On paper, the story of Gour Hari Das is compelling and moving. The film does not capture all this adequately. It's repetitive and reverential, painting the protagonist with one brushstroke—as a saintly, deserving Gandhian.
Brothers
2015 · Scroll.in · Aug 2015
'Brothers' is a melodramatic remake that is high on style, low on subtlety...
Shaun the Sheep Movie
2015 · Scroll.in · Aug 2015
Shaun the Sheep has a fun story that subtly extols the virtues of a simple life and appreciating what you have rather than craving the greener grass on the other side. It also touches on themes of loyalty and compassion. A heartwarming, fun, smart experience is kneaded into a simple, delightful and insightful story.
Bangistan
2015 · Scroll.in · Aug 2015
There was surely a good idea in Bangistan at some point but sadly Karan Anshuman's directorial debut takes no risks. With over-designed sound, juvenile lyrics, obvious in-film references to other films and filmmakers and a weak lead actor in Samrat, the result is a film devoid of subtlety, layers and wit.
Pixels
2015 · LiveMint · Aug 2015
It takes a little getting used to seeing the cute and hungry Pac-Man attacking Washington, DC and accepting the lazy special effects and plot points. The film catalogues the worst set of performances seen in a while, particularly Dinklage's accent and Gad's pubescent antics.
Mr. Holmes
2015 · LiveMint · Jul 2015
While this Sherlock Holmes relies on memory rather than the elementary powers of deduction to recast the case, it also proves to be a journey where he comes to terms with his own loneliness and mortality.
Amy
2015 · LiveMint · Jul 2015
Amy is not just a study of the tragic life of a talented and misdirected young woman and a record of the Grammy-winning artist and her journey. It is also a thesis on the darker side of celebrity, fame and addiction. As one music professional says, "In our business, nothing can prepare you for that level of success."
Entourage
2015 · LiveMint · Jun 2015
The TV series was cheeky, witty, outrageous, over-the-top and entertaining. While the film has dashes of that, yet it feels like a haughty 104-minute-long episode with watered down wit and not enough Ari-isms.
The Duff
2015 · LiveMint · Jun 2015
In spite of a juvenile script, the bonding between Bianca and her friends Jess and Casey, her quirky relationship with her mother and the chemistry between Whitman and Amell, draw you in to make The Duff surprisingly enjoyable.
Maggie
2015 · LiveMint · Jun 2015
The idea of an emotional drama that looks at the conflict of turning into a zombie is distinctive. However, barring one or two textbook shocks and a few disturbing scenes, Hobson's narrative moves at such a lethargic pace that it's unlikely that this zombie terminator will be back.
Tomorrowland
2015 · LiveMint · May 2015
A futuristic Disney fantasy in a choppy and tiresome narrative...
Ab Tak Chhappan 2
2015 · Hindustan Times · Mar 2015
This sequel stands as an example of why every part 2 (or 3) is not necessarily a good idea.
Exodus: Gods and Kings
2014 · LiveMint · Dec 2014
...sometimes campy and shallow, sometimes solemn but mostly absorbing, interpretation of the story of Moses.
Action Jackson
2014 · LiveMint · Dec 2014
This chop suey of Chinese action films, Tarantino aesthetic, south Indian histrionics, 1980s' chauvinism, overused background score, Devgn machismo garnished with Prabhudheva's overstylized direction, is enough to give one a splitting headache.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
2014 · LiveMint · Nov 2014
Those familiar with the book would know what to expect and may be satisfied with Part 1. However, if you have not read the book and base your expectations simply on The Hunger Games and Caching Fire, Mockingjay—Part 1 is dissatisfying.
Big Hero 6
2014 · LiveMint · Nov 2014
Visually and technically well-executed, and a tad long, Big Hero 6 is an enjoyable movie event for children, left wide open for the making of a sequel.
Sonali Cable
2014 · LiveMint · Oct 2014
Stuck beneath this insipid and shallow film is a great idea. Through the example of a local cable operator fighting off threats from a shiny big business with a multi-crore marketing budget, Sonali Cable touches on a modern capitalist reality. The gobbling up of small business by big companies is conveyed by juxtaposing a run-down one-room cable business with a chrome-and-glass high-rise.
Bang Bang!
2014 · LiveMint · Oct 2014
Fans of Katrina Kaif shall not be disappointed with her cutesy act (which she nails) and her jerky dance moves. But then there's Roshan—freshly worked out, hair carefully set. He makes light of the action scenes with as much confidence as he glides across the dance floor. He alone puts the bang in 'Bang Bang'.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
2014 · LiveMint · Aug 2014
Although directed by Jonathan Liebesman (Wrath Of The Titans), the movie has Bay's signature of explosive action written all over it. Even Fox is unable to alleviate our tedium as she pouts and pants as a journalist with highly questionable competence.
Hercules
2014 · LiveMint · Aug 2014
The film delivers exactly what this suggests. Former wrestler Johnson is not much of an actor. So it helps that stringy wet hair partially covers his face almost throughout, thereby saving him the effort of having to emote.
Amit Sahni Ki List
2014 · LiveMint · Jul 2014
Director Ajay Bhuyan uses a number of devices to overstretch his story: speech bubbles, voice-overs, flashbacks, etc. Everything is spelt out and reiterated, but in some smart, entertaining and contemporary touches, Bhuyan shows his potential as a film-maker. Das' acting skills augment these scenes.
Fugly
2014 · LiveMint · Jun 2014
Fugly is faux-righteous, and the punctured script makes it silly, pretentious and technically wanting. The acting too is extremely patchy. The four newcomers are unable to bring any depth to the poorly-etched characters that pay lip service to headlines and social networking-driven angst.
3 Days to Kill
2014 · LiveMint · Mar 2014
...sometimes cheesy, sometimes quirky and occasionally stylish. It does not quite hit the balanced note, bouncing haphazardly from family drama to action thriller to black comedy.
Sholay 3D
2014 · LiveMint · Jan 2014
The characters are electric; the dialogue still packs a punch; and the songs are crackling. In 3D, the occasional projectile makes you involuntarily whoop and jump in your seat. However, Sholay's running length, 3 hours and 18 minutes, is challenging in the 2010s.
What The Fish
2013 · LiveMint · Dec 2013
Given the wishy-washy story and the inept direction by Gurmeet Singh, the usually dependable actors, Kapadia and Manu Rishi, are unable to make anything out of it.