I enjoyed Bajrangi Bhaijaan more than I expected. At first, Salman Khan's naive character annoyed me a bit, but his innocent charm eventually won me over. I'll go out on a limb and say it is one of the best performances of Salman Khan. The movie takes a romanticized approach to politics, but overall, it’s a heartwarming, feel-good watch.
I have come to appreciate David Fincher even more after re-watching his films. His command over his craft: screenwriting, visual composition and direction, works in optimal synergy to bring the best out of material. And what's better than the meatier Zodiac killer that rocked San Francisco Bay Area in the late 60s. The opening scene in itself can be institutionalized for the filmmaking course. Although the opening scene is unnerving, given how Fincher masterfully sucks you in the cute romantic…
An old-fashioned, teary family melodrama centered around a death of patriarch who left his wife more than a decade ago with four young daughters. The film often jumps backward to reflect on how the relationships among the family turned over the absence in the light of a loving man who had to leave the family behind for reasons best known to him. It involves usual genre tropes but despite that the film works due to great performances from all the actors
Any idea, even if it sounds ludicrous, can be convincing and healthy in the hands of a great filmmaker and writer, and Subbaraj can definitely pull it off (recall Jigarthanda). However, more than anything, what is so frustrating and hugely disappointing that Subbaraj doesnt take effort to be half as good as he was in his early filmmaking career. Infact, had he put similar effort as in Petta, this would have been a decent film.
The politics the film wants…
He is a naive, part time theater actor and full time municipal officer. She is an instagram influencer. He is Barakah and she is Barakah. They meet, they meet again and gradually fall for each other. However, the only twist is that they live in Saudi Arabia, where a man and a woman can't be seen together in public places unless they are married. Their first date lasted for two minutes and second date for three minutes. It's an interesting…
Romantic Prelude offers a distinctive spin to the cliche romantic genre without abandoning the genre tropes. That's really commendable to achieve. However, the performances are so terribly single note that even their vulnerability doesn't make you completely invest in them. One of the crucial plot devices are rigged to steer the narrative for much needed sentimental payoff, though intially it sticks like a sore thumb, filmmaker manages to tie it up beautifully in the end, so it doesn't leave such a bad taste. A great idea that could have worked if not for better actors and some wrinkles in the narrative.
Election's fairly simple plot derives anxiety inducing tension and nerve-wracking thrills from the dysfuntional triad engaged in power struggle. It's the most fun I had in a long time watching out-ab-out action thriller that brazenly defies any sort of character buildup, channeling individual's greed in capitalistic world and lust for power.