|
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
(2022)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
The Last Wish is that rare thing: an animated sequel that actually delivers.
Posted Jun 02, 2023
|
|
The Whale
(2022)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Charlie [is] played brilliantly by Brendan Fraser...
Posted Jun 02, 2023
|
|
Magic Mike's Last Dance
(2023)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Mike’s lost his magic.
Posted Jun 02, 2023
|
|
Creed III
(2023)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Creed III comes alive as a result of Jonathan Majors and Michael B. Jordan's emotionally charged performances.
Posted Jun 01, 2023
|
|
What's Love Got to Do with It?
(2022)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Written by Jemima Khan and directed by Shekhar Kapur, ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’ is an easy-breezy romantic comedy infused with warmth and lightness.
Posted Jun 01, 2023
|
|
John Wick: Chapter 4
(2023)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
The latest installment of the John Wick franchise offers a vast canvas for stunt work and action choreography with a sincere and brooding Keanu Reeves as the anchor.
Posted Jun 01, 2023
|
|
Bheed
(2023)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Anubhav Sinha’s black-and-white film exposes social injustice with pieces arranged for a big bang, only to splutter and subside, but not before raising some uncomfortable questions.
Posted Jun 01, 2023
|
|
Bholaa
(2023)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
The screenplay (there are a number of writing credits) is confusing and chaotic with choppy timelines.
Posted Jun 01, 2023
|
|
Gaslight
(2022)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Gaslight is let down by its writing—performances by Vikrant Massey and Akshay Oberoi emerge as some rays of sunshine...
Posted Jun 01, 2023
|
|
Polite Society
(2023)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Manzoor compromises on the film’s emotional graph, favouring high flying kicks and teenage belligerence over a coming-of-age story that exploited the potential of an action comedy set within polite society.
Posted Jun 01, 2023
|
|
Fast X
(2023)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
It's been a long time on the road but Jason Momoa's maniac villain gives the franchise a jolt.
Posted Jun 01, 2023
|
|
The Little Mermaid
(2023)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Rob Marshall's no-risk reboot avoids pushing along conversations of identity, belonging or choice.
Posted Jun 01, 2023
|
|
Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway
(2023)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
I wanted to feel more, or at least feel something, for the anguish of these parents separated from their children. I wanted to root for Debika as she fought for the return of her children...
Posted Mar 16, 2023
|
|
Raksha Bandhan
(2022)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Raksha Bandhan is a regressive film that compresses the potentially most interesting plot point into a song montage (more on that later) and expands the melodrama.
Posted Aug 11, 2022
|
|
Sharmaji Namkeen
(2022)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
The strength of the film lies in the seamless shifts between the two Sharmas, played by Rishi Kapoor and Paresh Rawal.
Posted May 04, 2022
|
|
Looop Lapeta
(2022)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
This reworking does enough to be distinctive.
Posted Feb 08, 2022
|
|
Ankahi Kahaniya
(2021)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Untold love stories are the broad strokes glue to this anthology, yet the explorations of reality and imagination and the finer themes of acceptance and parting resonate, particularly in Chaubey's striking contribution.
Posted Sep 20, 2021
|
|
Pagglait
(2021)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Malhotra steadily travels Sandhya's journey and studiously conveys her emotional ambivalence. By showing her as betrayed and bereft, the filmmaker pushes the audience towards sympathy for Sandhya...
Posted Apr 08, 2021
|
|
Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi
(2019)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
An accomplished ensemble cast and glib dialogues keep a film about death, expectations and duty afloat.
Posted Jan 13, 2021
|
|
Bulbbul
(2020)
|
Uday Bhatia
|
Taken together, these three films are a loose trilogy of supernatural feminine power, each concerned, in its own way, with the injustices women have faced, and continue to face...
Posted Jun 30, 2020
|
|
Onward
(2020)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
While it isn't as emotionally involving as some other Pixar films, there is sufficient artistry and joyful storytelling here
Posted Mar 06, 2020
|
|
Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
(2020)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Writer-director Hitesh Kewalya is not shying away from the same sex conversation. He's not subtle about it either, but treats the relationship between the lead duo with respect and sensitivity.
Posted Feb 22, 2020
|
|
Jojo Rabbit
(2019)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Taika Waititi's comedy about a budding young Nazi exhausts its satire early...
Posted Feb 11, 2020
|
|
Shikara
(2020)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
She captures vulnerability and optimism but the reactions are repetitive and unimaginative.
Posted Feb 08, 2020
|
|
Judy
(2019)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Judy, a musical drama, is both a warm and loving tribute to the actor and singer Judy Garland as well as a cautionary tale about the pressures and impact of celebrity.
Posted Jan 24, 2020
|
|
Dolittle
(2020)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
The drama and narrative is so flat you almost forget this is a 3D film.
Posted Jan 18, 2020
|
|
Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior
(2020)
|
Uday Bhatia
|
The film is never far from silliness, but there's often a reason attached... it's a nod to the Hindi cinema tradition of the climactic dance.
Posted Jan 11, 2020
|
|
Chhapaak
(2020)
|
Uday Bhatia
|
The film is careful to keep its central character in focus and its star and producer under wraps, but it's impossible not to think of Padukone in the moment when Malti is asked "ladna hai?" - up for a fight?
Posted Jan 10, 2020
|
|
Bombshell
(2019)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Bombshell avoids a big bang in favour of a firm commitment to a screenplay that succumbs to occasional theatrics, but understands the nuances of sexism, harassment and #MeToo.
Posted Jan 03, 2020
|
|
Good Newwz
(2019)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
For Kumar, Kapoor Khan and some truly laugh-out-loud moments, Good Newwz is the lightness needed to round off the year.
Posted Dec 27, 2019
|
|
Jumanji: The Next Level
(2019)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
The ending disappoints a bit with its easy resolution, but then Jumanji is not meant to keep you on the edge of your seat: it's just a game after all.
Posted Dec 17, 2019
|
|
Mardaani 2
(2019)
|
Uday Bhatia
|
In this slick, gruesome sequel, Shivani again steps aside and allows victims to exact revenge, in full view of the public.
Posted Dec 13, 2019
|
|
Pati Patni Aur Woh
(2019)
|
Uday Bhatia
|
The problem with Pati, Patni Aur Woh isn't that it's offensive, but that it's dull and predictable for too much of its running time.
Posted Dec 09, 2019
|
|
Hotel Mumbai
(2018)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Hotel Mumbai is a disturbing and haunting reminder of what so many endured.
Posted Dec 03, 2019
|
|
Ravening
(2019)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Bhaskar Hazarika's Aamis is bold and subversive.
Posted Nov 26, 2019
|
|
Charlie's Angels
(2019)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Banks gets the soundtrack right, and the costumes and hairstyles are impressive. But the action set-pieces are not, and the story itself is a weak spy thriller with a collection of caricatured men...
Posted Nov 22, 2019
|
|
Drive
(2018)
|
Uday Bhatia
|
Rajput has the fixed plastic smile of an actor who wishes his career were in another gear...
Posted Nov 06, 2019
|
|
Saand Ki Aankh
(2019)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Pannu and Pednekar are wonderful and spunky and embrace their parts even though their body language and posture is variable. Bakshi and Arjun provide admirable support.
Posted Oct 25, 2019
|
|
Laal Kaptaan
(2019)
|
Uday Bhatia
|
Laal Kaptaan is the sort of film I wish there were more of - an exploration of the richness and weirdness of old India, one which doesn't try to smooth the edges or create a Disney-esque franchise.
Posted Oct 22, 2019
|
|
Gemini Man
(2019)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Maybe it was a sign that this film was ill-fated when it took almost 20 years for it to get off the ground.
Posted Oct 22, 2019
|
|
Downton Abbey
(2019)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
This is a delight for fans of the drama series set in the world of the British aristocracy.
Posted Oct 22, 2019
|
|
Chhichhore
(2019)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
The humour in Chhichhore is so organic that one can forgive the film's contrivances.
Posted Sep 06, 2019
|
|
Angel Has Fallen
(2019)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
The unimaginative script matches the uninspired action scenes, which are worsened by shabby computer graphics. The laziness of this franchise is apparent in the third part...
Posted Aug 23, 2019
|
|
The Fate of the Furious
(2017)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Designed to appeal to their enormous fan base, the makers clearly have every intention of going out at full throttle.
Posted Aug 15, 2019
|
|
Kung Fu Yoga
(2017)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Not even Jackie Chan can save this ill-advised mash-up.
Posted Aug 15, 2019
|
|
Naam Shabana
(2017)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Much more effort has gone into creating an authentic milieu than crafting an engaging character study in the foreground.
Posted Aug 15, 2019
|
|
Raabta
(2017)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
This reincarnation drama with convenient plot-points doesn't quite come together.
Posted Aug 15, 2019
|
|
Sonata
(2017)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
Sadly, the theatricality of the piece has not transitioned smoothly to screen.
Posted Aug 15, 2019
|
|
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
(2017)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
The plot is as flimsy as the garments on the beauties.
Posted Aug 15, 2019
|
|
Housefull 3
(2016)
|
Udita Jhunjhunwala
|
The brand of humour aligns with previous Housefull films, with a few funny gags but mostly stupid ones.
Posted Aug 15, 2019
|