A family affair

 "A family affair".

Watched English movie "A family affair". 

This movie is directed by Richard LaGravenese. Written by Carry Solomon. Produced by Joe Roth and Jeff Kerschenbaum. Cinematography by Don Burgess. Music by Siddhartha Khosla. It features Zac Effron, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, Kathy Bates, Liza Koshy. Film runs for about 1 hour and 54 minutes and was released in 2024. I watched it on Netflix with Aditi on 5th July 2024.

Zac is a movie superstar. His superhero flicks are hit. Joey works as his assistant slogging and running around to satisfy all his whims, enduring in the hope of becoming assistant producer and then producer. Nicole is her mother, a successful author and a widow. One day fed up with Zac, Joey quits her job. Zac realizes that he can’t do without Joey and comes to her house to apologize and ask her to come back. Here he meets Nicole and sparks fly.

Zac is full of himself. His world centers around himself. He is afraid of relationships, has no friends and is really alone despite being famous. He behaves like a kid in man’s body. Nicole hasn’t married or had no relationship since her husband died more than ten years ago. She is a successful author but in a way she is lonely despite having a daughter and loving mother-in-law. Joey tolerates all the whims and tantrums of Zac hoping to make assistant director and then director. She knows how shallow Zac is. She is livid about Zac and Nicole’s affair because she knows this won’t end well. For her it’s difficult to be the daughter of a successful mother but loves her mother and is protective about her.

A nice tangle, isn’t it? It’s not a fast paced movie but still you are involved. The emotions run high. Every character is well thought. There are no unnecessary scenes. Although it’s a feel good movie, audience goes through the ups and downs of the relationship. Zac’s character needed a little more elaboration to make his transition smooth.

Zac portrays the lonely man in crowd. His insecurity manifests in his childish behavior, tantrums and whims. Nicole plays a good mother who is distanced from love for too long. She loves her daughter but likes Zac too. However, Nicole’s looks are nowhere near to what she used to be. Joey plays the protective daughter, aspiring producer and a good girl. Kathy plays the pragmatic mother-in-law who considers Nicole more as her daughter than daughter-in-law.

It’s a good movie. Enjoyable. Likable.

Positives: Overall movie. 

Negatives: Limited elaboration of Zac’s character. 

Recommend watching. 

Laapata ladies

 "Laapata ladies".

Watched Hindi movie "Laapata ladies". 

This film is directed by Kiran Rao. Produced by Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao, Jyoti Deshpande. Written by Biplab Goswami. Music by Ram Sampath. Cinematography by Vikash Nowlakha. The film stars Pratibha Ratna, Nitanshi Goel, Sparsh Shrivastav, Ravi Kishan, Chhaya Kadam, Durgesh Kumar, Samarth Manohar, Pranjal Pateriya. The film runs for 2 hours 4 minutes and was released in 2023. I watched it on Netflix on 29th Apr 2024 with Aditi.

Deepak marries Phool. The couple is traveling back to his village by road, boat and train, when by the quirk of fate, Deepak brings another dulhan in Ghoongat (Pushpa) unknowingly to home. Here the household doesn’t know what to do with Pushpa. There Phool gets down at an unknown station in the middle of night. She doesn’t even know what the name of her husbands village is. Then there is an inspector who is trying to make money through the missing brides cases.

Sparsh plays the groom. He portrays an honest and simple groom. Nitanshi plays his wife and the first missing bride. She portrays an innocent and little too simple girl who doesn’t even know the name of her husband’s village. Pratibha plays the other missing bride who lands in Sparsh’s house by mistake. She portrays good natured but mysterious bride. Ravi Kishan plays the corrupt police officer. His bearing is impeccable and he plays the role effortlessly.

The story is very simple. The brides are thrown in alien environment and are helpless but don’t encounter any nasty elements. Kiran Rao handles the movie deftly. She brings the best out of little known actors and cooks a delicious dish. It’s a treat.

It’s a movie set in rural setting. A story that has the flavor of earth. Then why give an anglicized name like that? It’s completely out of sync with the movie.

It’s basically a feel good movie.

Positives: Direction. Acting. 

Negatives: A little too simplistic. Name.

Recommend watching.

Cleaner

​"Cleaner"

Watched English movie "Cleaner". 

Directed by Renny Harlin. Written by Mathew Aldrich. Produced by Steve Golin and others. Cinematography Scott Kevan . Music by Richard Gibbs. The film stars Samuel Jackson, Ed Harris, Eva Mendes, Luis Guzmán, Keke Palmer. The film runs for about 1 hour 29 minutes and was released in 2007. I watched it on Netflix on 11th Feb 2024.

Samuel Jackson runs a cleaning agency. But it’s not a normal cleaning service. He cleans up after violent death. One day he gets a job to clean a murder scene, from police. Keys to the house are left below mat. However, after the clean up, he forgets to return the key to its place. Next day he goes to return the key and finds a wife waiting for her husband. She has no idea about yesterday’s order. Something is fishy.

Samuel has retired from police after the murder of his wife and convenient murder of her killer in prison. He keeps avoiding his partner Ed, who is also godfather of his daughter, until this business. Investigation against current police chief is launched and Samuel suspects that the murder scene he cleaned, is somehow connected to it.

Who was killed? Who is the murderer? Why was Samuel asked to clean? Is he in trouble?  Can he solve the mystery?

Samuel plays the cleaner very well. He is a good guy at heart. He is father and mother to Rose. He keeps avoiding Ed under one pretext or another. But he is terrified as he doesn’t know who to trust. Ed plays his partner who considers Samuel family but is frustrated by his avoidance. Rose (Keke) likes Ed and loves Samuel. Eva plays wife of the murdered guy who tries to pry truth out of Samuel. She looks vulnerable but firm.

The movie builds up very well but the end doesn’t keep the graph going up. It’s a bit abrupt and not dramatic enough.

Positives: Acting

Negatives: The end.

A one time watch! 

Sam Bahadur

​"Sam Bahadur".

Watched Hindi movie "Sam Bahadur". 

This movie is directed by Meghana Gulzar. Written by Shantanu Srivastava and Meghana Gulzar. Produced by Ronnie Screwvala . It stars Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Neeraj Kabi, Anjan Shrivastav, Govind Namdeo. Cinematography by Jay I. Patel. Music by  Shankar-Ehsan-Loy. Film runs for 2 hour and 28 minutes and was released in 2023. I watched with Aditi on Zee5 on 9th Feb 2024.

This is the story of Sam Manekshaw, first Field Marshall of India. It takes us from Sam’s childhood to youth to mature years to retirement.

Some called him loud, some called him cantankerous, some called him stickler. Many disliked him but his patriotism and his acumen were always above argument.

Vicky Kaushal plays Sam superbly. His bearing is perfect. He has crawled into Sam’s skin seamlessly. You don’t see Vicky, you see Sam. Some even argue that he was the rightful owner of Filmfare award this year. Sanya Malhotra plays Sam’s wife Siloo. She portrays the love, dread, jealousy and support of a wife to capable and successful husband very well. Fatima Sana Shaikh plays Indira Gandhi but fails to project her aura. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub plays young Yahya Khan and the character comes out as an honest man.

It’s a good movie and gives you insights about Sam, the person and the persona as well as the political situation in India at that time.

Positives: Vicky, Direction.

Negatives: Umm…

A must watch!

Murder on the Orient Express

​"Murder on the Orient Express".

Watched English movie "Murder on the Orient Express". 

This movie is directed by Kenneth Branagh. Produced by Kenneth Branagh and others. Screenplay by Michael Green. Cinematography by Harris Zambarloukos. Music by Patrick Doyle . It features Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penelope Cruz, Josh Gad, Tom Bateman, William Dafoe, Leslie Odom Jr, Derek Jacobi, Sergei Polunin. Film runs for about 1 hour and 52 minutes and was released in 2017. I watched it on 27th Jan 2024 on Netflix. 

Orient express. Multiple passengers in first class. So is Hercule Poiroit. Murder. Whodunit?

Many people have a chance. But who took it? Poiroit is methodical, intelligent, has power of deduction and is proud to be called best detective in the world. But he too is baffled until he finally solves it.

It’s hard to capture the details of a novel in a movie of less than 2 hours. But director does a decent job. He also plays the lead character. It’s the snow that finally helps solve the murder.

Acting is ok. Johnny Depp impressed with his cameo. Other big names play supporting roles to make the movie interesting and keep the excitement.

This movie is based on one of the best novels of Agatha Christie by same name.

Positives:  Story.

Negatives:  Doesn’t have all details. 

Recommend watching if you are Agatha fan.

B&B Merry

​"B&B Merry"

Watched English movie "B&B Merry". 

This film is directed by Paula Elle. Written by Hayley Carr, Guy Yosub. Produced by Costa Vassos and others. The film stars Jesse Hutch, Jen Lilley, Marnie Mahannah, Peter Louis Chouinard, Kate Twa, Nick Preston, Shelly Williams. Cinematography by Jason Habicht. Music by Michael Neilson. The film runs for about 1 hour 22 minutes and was released in 2022. I watched it on Amazon Prime on 16th Dec 2023 with Aditi. 

Jen is very famous and successful travel blogger. Jesse runs a B&B with his mom and it’s not doing well. To boost sales, he invites Jen and her boyfriend for a stay. Jen also gets a possible job opportunity with a very famous magazine. As a test piece she is asked to review a hotel from a short list. She selects the one that’s in the town of B&B. Upon reaching there, her boyfriend ditches her and breaks off over phone.

Now Jen, B&B, Jesse and the town occupy the movie. Things happen on a very expected line till the very end. No surprises. No twists and turns. No drama. Audience knows how the movie will end in about 10-15 minutes after start. Due to this predictability and lack of excitement, it becomes a very plain offering. Jesse is handsome and acts well. Jen is also good looking and acts well. 

Positives: Simple.

Negatives: Too simple.

OK as one time watch, not wow.

Leave the world behind

​"Leave the world behind"

Watched English movie "Leave the world behind". 

This movie is directed by Sam Esmail. Produced by Julia Roberts and others. Screenplay by Sam Esmail. Music by Mac Quayle. Cinematography by Tod Campbell. This movie features Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Kevin Bacon, Myha’la Harold, Farrah McKenzie, Charlie Evans. This movie was released in 2023 and runs for about 2 hour 22 min. I watched the movie on Netflix on 15th Dec 2023.

On the spur of the moment Julia books a home for a short vacation with her husband and two kids on Long Island. At the vacation all sort of strange things start happening. An oil tanker grounds on the beach, owner of the house they are staying makes an appearance in the middle of the night, there is a nationwide blackout, animals start to appear in the backyard, flamingoes are in swimming pool.

It’s an apocalyptic movie. But it’s a strange apocalyptic movie because there is hardly any action. Everything is implied or indirectly narrated. 

Mahershala Ali is impressive as the owner of the house. His presence keeps the movie afloat.

A lot of things happen for no reason. For most of the movie the audience is lost. Icing on the cake is the end. The movie ends suddenly and audience keeps wondering what they watched? The movie appears absurd. Or May be I didn’t understand the movie!

Positives: Ali. 

Negatives: Pace, absurdity, end.

AVOID.