Cinemawala [2016] : A heartbreaking ode to the single screen theaters!
Cinemawala is a well intentioned film that works on multiple grounds. The performances are all great. The relationship between the master and the servant, that doesn’t necessarily prove to the most important aspect of the film is in fact, the strongest. The film could have worked greatly if Ganguly envisioned it a little better. What we are left with is a family drama that wishes to make a bold statement over the condition of…
United 93 [2006]: “Real World Situation !”
United 93 1
Every time I watch a 9/11 movie, the first thing I do is dig about the film’s authenticity. How much of it was true to the original happenings and how much of it was fictionalised to create drama and if I am comfortable with the added drama. The thing with 9/11 is that it leaves a lot of room for dramatisation and unnecessary heroism and when handled by a not so mature filmmaker,…
Absentia (2011) : Indie Horror Gem
An under-rated indie horror gem that falls somewhere between art and commercial mainstream, Absentia is a rare effective horror film…
Imperium [2016] – An Effective Thriller about the Multifaceted Extremism
Daniel Rasgussis’ directorial debut “Imperium” is not just a pulpy thriller about American neo-Nazi organizations. Yes, the plot’s inherent pulpiness…
Iraivi [2016] : In the shadow of arrogant men!
Kartik Subbaraj is just 3 film old. With every film he has proven that he has a great knack for creating distinctive, well-rounded characters. He also weaves wonderful stories around them, throwing into them a little bit of his own struggle to make films in the first place. In his sophomore effort ‘Jigarthanda’ he placed himself in Siddhartha’s shoes who played a film-maker forced to make a violent gangster film in order to make a…
Rustom (2016) Movie Review: A Mildly Entertaining, Wasted Opportunity
I enjoyed Rustom. Despite what the title of this article suggests or whatever idea you get in the end of it, I am making it clear that I liked watching it and not at all regretted the two and half hour long experience (totally unrelated, but I do regret the Mohenjo Daro experience, which I braved before Rustom by the way). But Rustom is not a good film. It is overly long, has a flawed…
Fire At Sea [2016] — An Elegiac Reflection on the Unimaginable Agony
In “Fire At Sea” aka “Fuoco Ammare”, Gianfranco Rosi uses the language of cinema to reinforce a tranquil as well as a turbulent reality. His images are a lament for the sufferings of fellow humans, concealed from our collective conscience. This documentary/docu-drama contemplates a desensitized tragedy through an unforgettable, humanistic perspective.
Maggie’s Plan [2016] : A refreshing take on familiar tropes.
“Maggie’s Plan”, though deals with regular tropes of the genre like confused people, love and marriage, but it is so well written and smartly made that the audience actually end up having a good movie time, which is thoughtful and intense, but breezy and entertaining as well. And there lies the triumph of this movie.