OMG2

​"OMG2"

Watched Hindi movie "OMG2". 

Directed by Amit Rai. Written by Amit Rai. Produced by Aruna Bhatiya and others. Cinematography Amalendu Chaudhary. Music by Vikram Montrose, Hansraj Raghuvanshi, DjStrings, Pranaay, Sandesh Shandilya. The film stars Pankaj Tripathi, Govind Namdev, Akshay Kumar, Yami Gautami, Arun Govil, Birendra Kala, Pavan Malhotra, Aarush Varma. The film runs for about 2 hour 35 minutes and was released in 2023. I watched it on Netflix on 20th Oct 2023.

Pankaj Tripathi is a true Shivbhakt and works in a shop at Mahakal Mandir. One day his son’s video, masterbating in school toilet, goes viral and he is kicked out of the school. Overnight, the family becomes a pariah. Pankaj prays to Lord Shiv for salvation. The God sends Akshay Kumar as his emissary. Akshay’s ramblings give Pankaj directions to proceed and he files a case against the school for not giving sex education to the children.

What compensation does he ask? What role does Akshay play? Will he win? What about the Shame?

The idea of this film is good. The concept of an average father rising to the occasion when pushed to the corner is good. Being a good human being, he is not bitter, he just wants to get Justice for his son. Another good thing is Akshay’s role. It’s an advisory role, not an active role. Director must have resisted strong temptation to give more active role to Akshay. If he had, then the human aspect would have been lost.

Pankaj Tripathi delivers a scintillating performance. He has no special abilities or skills, but he has the drive. He is fighting for his family, their self respect, their existence. Akshay Kumar doesn’t look God’s emissary. He still looks Akshay Kumar. Yami Gautami looks beautiful and performs well, but her character is not properly developed and she is shown making absurd arguments. Arun Govil makes an appearance after a long time. Pavan Malhotra plays the judge who gets unexpected publicity and unprecedented audience due to this trial that generates public interest.

School’s reaction of kicking the boy out is over the top. There is no action taken on those who made the video. Isn’t it violation of privacy? Is the school responsible for setting the curriculum or is the board? Then should the school be sued or the board? School lawyer’s argument that it’s sin to masterbate is laughable.

Nevertheless, the movie touches an important aspect. India that was the originator of Kamasutra, has turned sex and sex education into a tabu. The education system imposed by British, to make India psychologically inferior, needs an overhaul.

Positives: Pankaj. 

Negatives: As mentioned above.

A one time watch!

Infinite

​"Infinite".

Watched English movie "Infinite". 

This movie is directed by Antoine Fuqua. Screenplay by Ian Shorr. Produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Cinematography by Mauro Fiore. Music by Harry Gregson-Williams . It features Mark Wahlberg, Sophie Cookson, Liz Carr, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Wallis Day, Dylan O’Brein, Johannes Haukur, Joana Ribero, Jason Mantzoukas, Kae Alexander, Toby Jones, Lili Rich. Film runs for about 1 hour and 47 minutes and was released in 2021. I watched it on Netflix with Aditi on 7th Oct 2023 .

Evan McCauley is diagnosed as a schizophrenic when he was a teenager. He sees dreams as if they were real and he loves it. He is arrested and two people try to take him away separately, Bathurst and Nora. The lady succeeds. She tells him that he is an Infinite. People who can remember all their births. There around 500 of them divided into two groups. Believers, the Good ones, and Nihilists, the bad ones. Evan is reincarnation of Treadway, who hid a potent weapon developed by Bathurst that will wipe the humanity in previous life before dying. Now everyone wants the egg.

Mark plays Evan. Sophie plays Nora. Both do decently. Chiwetel is better as Bathurst but the characterization makes him unconvincing.

This movie appears to be a mix of Matrix, Star Wars, Jason Bourne and what not. The story is very weak. Not enough thought in it. Or was it that one movie is too less for the story? If the Nihilists have perfected a method that can capture the souls on a chip, thus preventing rebirth, why Bathurst doesn’t use it on himself rather than trying to annihilate the world to prevent rebirth?

The chases are beautifully shot. The chase at the start is exhilarating. It heightens the expectations from the movie but the rest of the movie doesn’t live up to the expectation. 

Positives: Initial chase. 

Negatives: Rest of the movie. 

Not a must watch. 

Matchmaker mysteries: The art of the kill

​"Matchmaker mysteries: The art of the kill"

Watched English movie 'Matchmaker mysteries: The art of the kill'. 

This film is directed by Catherine Cyran. Written by Marcy Holland, Dave Thomas. Produced by Lance H. Robbins. Music by Steffan Andrews. The film stars Danica McKeller, Victor Webster, Bruce Boxleitner, Aliyah O’Brien, Andrew Dunbar, Cory Lee, Alisha Ahamed, Jane McGregor. The film runs for 1 hour 30 minutes and was released in 2021. I watched it on Qatar air on 6th Jun 2023. 

There is a death in a museum. Angie Dove, a matchmaker happens to visit the museum with her retired detective dad, who is investigating a series of thefts of personal items in the museum. Angie, being her inquisitive and intelligent self and a daughter of detective can’t help but investigate. The Detective assigned to the case is her friend and doesn’t mind her help/meddling. 

It’s a whodunit. However the reason for the murder is not very well hidden and the audience can guess why things happened. Otherwise the story has flow. It doesn’t slow down. The identity of murderer is well guarded. The matchmaker finds what neither the police nor the detective Dad can.

Danica McKeller plays Angie. She is good looking and acts well. Victor Webster plays the Detective.  He is handsome and pairs well with Danica. Bruce Boxleitner plays her father. He has limited scope. Alisha Ahamed plays assistant of the victim. She’s good. 

Apparently this is not the first movie in Matchmaker mysteries series. I hadn’t watched earlier ones, but that didn’t affect this movie.

Positives: Short length. 

Negatives: Matchmaker is better than police.

You may give it a try or miss it. Doesn’t matter.

Hunter Killer

​"Hunter Killer".

Watched English movie "Hunter Killer". 

This movie is directed by Donovan Marsh. Written by Arne Schmidt and Jamie Moss. Produced by Gerard Butler and others. Cinematography by Tom Marais. Music by Trevor Morris. It features Great Butler, Gary Oldman, Michael Nyqvist, Linda Cardinelli, Toby Stephens, Common, Gabriel Chavarria, David Gyasi, Ryan McPartlin, Michael Trucco, Ether Baird, Zane Holtz, Alexander Dyachenko, Michael Gor, Carter McIntyre. Film runs for about 1 hour and 56 minutes and was released in 2018. I watched it on 10th Jun 2023 on Netflix with Aditi.

An American submarine is following a Russian submarine. Explosion. Torpedo. Both submarines sink. Rear Admiral decides to send another submarine under unorthodox Commander Joe Glass who has worked his way up.  In parallel a seal team is sent to gather Intel from Russian naval base. There is a coup and Russian President is captured. America can extricate itself from the situation, without taking blame for the fall out, only if they can rescue the Russian President.

It’s a plot that’s not entirely convincing. Seal team of four and a submarine that can’t reach naval base is all that stands between WW III. The irony of America rescuing Russian President is not lost. There are several security issues that are not addressed in the movie. It focuses more on humans than on strategy and geopolitics. 

Gerard is the protagonist. He does well. Common plays his boss and does Justice to the role. Michael Nyqvist Plays the captured Russian captain. He has very few dialogues but is very impressive. This movie was released after his death. So, it was one of his very last roles. 

A lot of movie happens on the submarine. For an action thriller, it has limited action. Gerard Butler, who is known for action films, has no action in this movie. The end of the movie is also a little too easy and abrupt. Something more was needed. 

This movie couldn’t recover its production cost at the box office. It was a flop.

Positives: Pace, Submarine world. 

Negatives: The retaliation. The concept.

Watch if you have time.

Satyaprem ki Katha (सत्यप्रेम की कथा)

​"Satyaprem ki Katha (सत्यप्रेम की कथा)"

Watched Hindi movie "Satyaprem ki Katha (सत्यप्रेम की कथा)". 

This movie is directed by Sameer Vidwans. Written by Karan Shrikant Sharma. Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and others. Music by Multiple. Cinematography by Ayananka Bose. This movie features Kiara Advani, Kartik Aryan, Supriya Pathak, Gajraj Rao, Nirmiti Sawant, Shikha Talsania. This movie was released in 2023 and runs for about 2 hour 24 min. I watched the movie on Amazon Prime on 23rd Sep 2023.

Satyaprem (Sattu) is a good natured, good for nothing, LLB fail youth. He loves Katha, a beautiful, intelligent girl, way above him and with a steady boyfriend. One incident brings them close.

What incident? What happens to Katha’s boyfriend? What does Sattu do? Why is Katha aloof?

This movie addresses an important issue that is hush hush in the society. However the handling is more like a commercial movie and less like an issue based movie. 

Direction leaves a lot to be desired. There are numerous contradictions and inconsistencies. How is it possible that you don’t know the name of ex boyfriend of your sister-in-law? Who names their daughters Diwali and Christmas? Does Sattu complete his LLB? Does Katha get Justice? Do Sattu and Katha really become husband and wife?

Kiara plays Katha. She looks beautiful and acts decently. Kartik Aryan plays Sattu. He is his usual goofy, hilarious, innocent self. But now it has become repetitive. Gajraj and Supriya play Sattu’s parents and ably support. Nirmiti plays Supriya’s sister.

Positives: Kiara, Subject.

Negatives: Gaps. 

Not a must watch.

The Pale Blue Eye

​"The Pale Blue Eye".

Watched English movie "The Pale Blue Eye". 

This movie is directed by Scott Cooper. Produced by Scott Cooper and others. Screenplay by Scott Cooper. Cinematography by Masanobu Takanayagi. Music by Howard Shore. It features Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Lucy Boynton, Gillian Anderson, Timothy Spall, Toby Jones, Simon McBurney, Harry Lawtey. Film runs for about 2 hour and 10 minutes and was released in 2022. I watched it on 23rd Sep 2023 on Netflix. 

Landor is a retired constable, a detective. He is summoned by the Captain and Colonel of military school to investigate gruesome murder of a cadet and violation of his body. A young cadet called Edgar Allen Poe becomes his assistant. One murder turns to two.

Landor has a painful past. His wife is dead and his daughter has run off, never to return. He lives in solitude until he starts investigating the murder. Poe is a physically unattractive but intelligent cadet who is bullied by pretty much everyone. Lea is a beautiful daughter of the local doctor who has epilepsy that no medicine can cure.

Landor is getting closer but not close enough. That’s testing the patience of the Colonel. To complicate the matters further, Edgar has fallen for Lea.

It’s a good story. Intelligent viewers can recognize the culprit. However there is a twist that many wouldn’t see coming. It takes the end of the movie to a new high.

For an English movie, it’s a long movie. It’s old times. So things move slowly. But the audience remains with the story. Credit to the director.

This movie is based on book by same name by Louis Bayard. I haven’t read the book, so can’t say how true the movie is to the book.

Positives: The twist.

Negatives:  Why wait till the end?

Recommend watching.