Chup: Revenge of the artist (चुप)

​"Chup: Revenge of the artist (चुप)".

Watched Hindi movie "Chup: Revenge of the artist (चुप)". 

This movie is directed by R. Balki. Produced by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and others. Story by R. Balki. Cinematography by Vishal Sinha. Music by Aman Pant. It features Sunny Deol, Dulquer Salman, Shreya Dhanvanthari, Pooja Bhat, Rajeev Ravindranathan, Saranya Ponvannan. Film runs for about 2 hour and 15 minutes and was released in Sep 2022. I watched it on 25th Nov 2022 on Zee5 with Siddhant.

There is a serial killer who is killing film critics with stars on their foreheads. A gory death of different kind for each one. Sunny investigates. Dulquer runs a flower shop. He has a habit of talking to himself. Shreya comes into his shop and life. 

It’s a story of a serial killer but it’s not a murder mystery. Audience come to know the identity of the serial killer less than halfway into the film. It’s not who, it’s why?

The story has uneven pace. The murders are gory. It’s dark. But the motive behind the killings is weak. It’s nota strong motive. The common theme of childhood trauma is present here too. Story happens in Mumbai. However, certain locations look more like south India than Mumbai. 

Sunny is ok and so is Dulqar. Shreya impresses. Pooja looks horrible and so is her her voice. She is beyond recognition from ‘Dil hai ke manta nahin’. Direction is ok. I would expect much more from someone like Balki. Story has inherent flaws of weak motive. 

The killer throws his victim, bound and gagged, from third floor window and the victim only gets minor injuries. Then Sunny, a fit Police officer with free hands and legs, jumps from the same window but he injures his leg and limps. How?

Capture of the killer is also kind of anti climactic. One would expect a high octane action, race against time. Nothing of the sort happens!

This film has earned more than two times its production cost. So it’s a commercial success. 

Positives: Umm….

Negatives: Gory scenes. Overall effect. 

Not a must watch.  

Uunchai (ऊॅंचाई)

​"Uunchai (ऊॅंचाई)".

Watched Hindi movie "Uunchai (ऊॅंचाई)". 

This movie is directed by Sooraj Barjatya. Screenplay by Abhishek Dixit. Produced by Sooraj Barjatya and others. It stars Amitabh Bachhan, Sarika, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Danny Dengzompa, Nina Gupta, Parineeti Chopra. Cinematography by Manoj Kumar Khatoi. Music by George Joseph.  Film runs for about 2 hours and 50 minutes and was released on 11 Nov 2022. I watched it in theater on 23rd Nov 2022 with Aditi, Siddhant and Mihika. 

Amitabh, Anupam, Boman and Danny are best friends. Danny is obsessed with Everest. On his birthday, Danny tells his friends that they will go to Everest base camp together. He suddenly dies. His friends find that he has done bookings. They decide to honor his memory by going to Everest base camp. But the trip is fraught with challenges.

The story is slow. It’s also a very long movie. The combined effect is that it’s not very interesting. Director should have trimmed at least half an hour. It’s acting that props the movie up. 

This movie has skilled actors like Amitabh, Boman, Anupam and Nina. Each character is well thought.  Each one leaves his stamp on the movie. Sarika falters in this illustrious ensemble. So does Danny, despite being a good actor. His voice is also affected. Parineeti holds for against the giant actors.  

Although it’s about a trip to Everest base camp, in reality, It’s a journey of self discovery for each one of them. Each one has his own problems, own issues. They are fighting their own demons. The Himalayas, the height, the uunchai, the determination to reach destination gives them strength. Strength within that they didn’t know existed.

Director brings unnecessary storm on the bridge. Wasn’t necessary. Amitabh’s story is very unconvincing. Danny’s impressive voice has deteriorated beyond recognition. Does the director give a message to ignore medical condition?

The movie has almost recouped its production cost already. A commercial success. 

Positives: Actimy. 

Negatives: Pace, Length. 

Not a must watch. 

My summer Prince

​"My summer Prince"

Watched English movie "My summer Prince". 

This film is directed by Peter Sullivan. Written by Jeffrey Schenk, Peter Sullivan. Produced by Barry Barnholtz and others. The film stars Tylor Cole, Jack Turner, Marina Sirtis, Casandra Clementi, Lauren Holly, Banessa Angel, Walter Plathe, Ash Santos. Cinematography by Theo Angell. Music by Matthew Janszen. The film runs for about 1 hour 36 minutes and was released in 2016. I watched it on Netflix on 4th May 2022 with Aditi. 

Mandy is an assistant to PR executive who wants to do more than just being an assistant to the hot shot boss. Her firm is engaged by Queen of Edgemere to damage control the reputation of Crown Prince of Edgemere who takes bath in a fountain while on tour of America. Diedra (the executive) catches a bug and Mandy assumes her identity.  

It’s a romantic movie. So it’s not hard to imagine that Mandy and the Prince will come close. But how does it affect the Prince and his public image? How does Mandy handle her first assignment? Will her lie be exposed?

Tulare plays Mandy. She plays an aspiring girl from humble background who wants to achieve what her father could only dream of. She looks beautiful and acts decently. Her presence lightens the screen. Jack plays the Prince. He portrays the suffocated Prince who is expected to do what the position wants rather than what he wants. He looks handsome, has a very pleasant personality and lovely smile. Lauren plays Diedra, the stern, no nonsense PR executive. Marina plays the ‘all knowing’ Royal communications head. 

The story is good and on expected lines. It has good flow. Shooting has happened in limited locations. It was shot in Czech Republic, Switzerland and America. Director controls the narrative well. The end is a little hasty. If it had ended in America instead of Edgemere, it would have been better. 

It’s a Royal gala of a country and there are only 5-6 couples dancing. Looks like poor royals, although they are not supposed to be. 

It’s a feel good movie and you really feel good. 

Positives: Tylor, Jack, simplicity.  

Negatives: End. 

Recommend watching. 

The gray man

​"The gray man".

Watched English movie "The gray man". 

This movie is directed by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo. Produced by Joe Russo and others. Written by Joe Russo, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely. Music by Henry Jackman. Cinematography by Stephen F. Windon. It features Ryan Gosling, Ana de Ray, Chris Evans, Dhanush, Julia Butters, Jessica Henwick, Regé-Jean Page. Film runs for about 2 hour and 7 minutes and was released in July 2022. I watched it on 13th Aug 2022 on Netflix.

Past:  A murder convict is given a choice of being incarcerated for more than 30 years or walk out of prison. The catch - he works for CIA as assassin, code named Six. Present: He is asked to kill a persons by new chief, he does, but finds out that he was one of them. Now the Hunter becomes hunted.

The movie starts on an interesting note. It proceeds a little differently with the protagonist captured twice. But when you start to think that this movie might be different, he identifies the location of the hostage and then it simply becomes a masala movie. From this point it goes down hill. It loses its USP. 

Ryan plays the assassin. He looks a kind hearted soul rather than a ruthless assassin. As a result even his fight scenes are not very convincing. Ana plays another CIA spy who looks beautiful, is an expert marksman and is in two minds about Ryan and his fight. Chris Evans plays the antagonist. He is smart, has great body and acts well. Dhanush makes a guest appearance. His change of heart is unconvincing. Regè plays the bad CIA boss.

This movie ends such that the director can choose to make a sequel. 

This movie has recovered more than double its production cost in less than a month. A commercial success. 

Positives: First half

Negatives: Second half.

Not a must watch.