Leo

Leo, an action thriller, is the filmmaker's attempt at going big in terms of vision and scale which is only let down by lethargic writing. Far from roaring, Leo just squeaks past for its few moments of some action sequences and Vijay's terrific screen presence.

Leo rides on a wafer-thin plot – In fact, the storytelling is as linear and predictable as it gets. While the film works due to Thalapathy Vijay's towering presence and performance, the second half is a letdown with a poorly written antagonist and repetitive action sequences that fail to deliver the required punch.

While the craftiness may be bloody sweet, the writing feels rather bitter. Vijay's performance in emotional scenes evokes absolutely nothing, and the film is ultimately just another edition of Lokesh Kanagaraj's filmography about lawless violent men celebrating badass behavior rather than offering meaningful meditation on violence's consequences.

"Leo," a formulaic but satisfying Indian remake of "A History of Violence," both is and isn't exactly what it looks like. A good part of what makes "Leo" so charming is that it's already so familiar, both for its something-for-everyone mood swings and its pulpy stock plot. If you're watching "Leo," it should be to see Vijay show off in between animal attacks, car flips, and celebrity cameos.

Lokesh's Leo, to much disappointment, derails here, becoming his weakest film to date. It loses out on the whole 'Who is Leo Das and why did he turn against his own people?' question, the pillar on which the entire film rests. Even a stunningly-conceived car chase sequence cannot save this actioner from losing its zeal; the many boring knife fights only dampen it further.