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The Vietnam War (2017)
The definitive account of the Vietnam war
Each series is an elaborate, enthralling account of the occupation of Vietnam and the war waged by Vietnam within and against occupied forces.
My only grouse is that there's a lot of narration of the many battles in the war but much less emphasis on the strategy and thought behind it. I would have liked to know more about the brains behinds the war than the hands that fought it.
Despite its flaws, it remains an extraordinarily well-researched documentary with stunning visuals on the times when Vietnam was under siege!
Hindi Medium (2017)
A delightful satire on the new Indian education system
Hindi Medium tackles the relevant but tricky topic of school admissions in India and it does a great job at it. The strength of the movie lies in the fact that the director is focused on the subject which means love stories, songs, family ties take a backseat. However, he avoids getting into the familiar trap of preaching, instead adopting a subtle route to drive home the point.
Irrfan and Saba's earnest efforts make the characters relatable and believable in the craziest moments. One such moment is Irrfan dancing to Sukhbir's superhit in the party much to the chagrin of Saba. Another wonderful moment is when Deepak Dobriyal falls in front of a car to help Irrfan with funds. Deepak is in great form in this scene and throughout the movies but sadly the same can't be said about Irrfan who lands the punches well but falters in the emotional scenes of the movies. The director also seems to lose the plot in the last 20 mins giving the audience a cliched, preachy climax which doesn't fit well with the ingenious story.
These are however minor blips in what is meaningful wholesome entertainment for the family.
Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019)
The best Indian wartime movie
The list of good Indian war movies is rather short with Border, Lakshya, Madras Cafe coming to mind. However, given that the grammar of Indian war movies has always been emotion and never action, compared to the Hollywood flicks, these fall short when it comes to the action sequences. Uri is, hence, a welcome addition to this list.
The first five minutes set the tone with a heart-stopping capture of a militant attack on the Indian army. The movie proceeds in chapters with the right mix of family and field life. The scene of the last rites of an army martyr, though predictable, is really touching and leaves a lump in your throat. By intermission, the movie is set up nicely for an action-packed second half.
You are glued to the screen as the squads destroy POK launchpads in elaborate sequences never seen before in Indian cinema. The cinematography and sound is spot-on putting the viewer right in the middle of the action. There is a bit of your usual unbelievable bollywood masala with the hero killing the main handler single-handedly but this is a minor blip in what is an engaging climax.
Vicky Kaushal is brilliant as he moves effortlessly from playing an emotional son (particularly in a scene where he finds out his mother may be forgetting him) to donning the role of an operation-lead. His sister, niece, mother and brother-in-law have small roles in which they excel. However, the movies fails to develop the other key characters of the movie. Paresh Rawal is so out-of-place as Ajit Doval that every time he says something, you feel there is a comic punch line coming. Yami Gautam and Kirti Kullhari are just pretty faces and you would care less what happens to them. But Vicky's performances and the action scenes help you overlook these shortcomings of the movies.
Contrary to what was being said in the media, there is very little Modi-propoganda and hardly any Indo-Pak jingoism. Just some world-class battle sequences and an immensely watchable movie worthy of a theatre-visit.
Tumbbad (2018)
An original mythological thriller which could have unfolded a little faster
Through the 100 mins of the running time of this movie, there is not a second of relief for the viewers. The tension, which looms over the movie, stretches like a rubber band from the first scene till the end titles.
The plot which revolves around three generations of a family and the demon-god Hastar is simple to understand. What really stands out is the cinematography and the characterization.
Apparently, the director took 6 years to shoot this movie since he wanted a dark rainy backdrop to the scenes and could shoot only from Jun-Aug. This is commendable in today's age when CGI provides a more practical and even logical option. However, the efforts seem to have materialized as each and every shot is stunning.
Also thanks to the astute direction, every actor plays his/her part brilliantly conveying his/her dark side through the personality and mannerisms.
The movie however has its weaknesses, in the directors' indulgence in painting an immoral picture of the men of the family and the second chapter which has some flab. However, these are worth digesting for a stellar movie that gives you an experience that has no parallel in Indian cinema.
Shwaas (2004)
The most important Marathi movie of this century
I remember the pre-Shwaas era wherein going to the theatres never meant watching Marathi movies. In fact, in my teenage years, Shwaas was my first Marathi movie in theatres. Often cited as the movie that provided the "Shwaas" necessary for Marathi movies to live on, it is a lesson in acting by the great but unheralded Arun Nalawade. That it went to the Oscars is a proud moment for Marathi cinema but more importantly it created the ecosystem for Marathi cinema to prosper in the form of more screens, higher political interest, a new re-energised audeince, large production houses and an intelligent film fraternity.
Gulabjaam (2018)
A delicious take on food and relationships
Sonali Kulkarni gets a meaty role after a long time and makes full use of it. Siddhartha Chandekar is charming as the NRI who is back to learn the art of cooking Maharashtrian dishes. Credit to him for holding his own against a character like Radha played by an actor like Sonali. It is often said that a good story has as few characters as necessary. Gulabjaam definetely succeeds on that front.
Navra Mazha Navsacha (2004)
A fun-ride worth taking again and again
After Ashi hi Banva Banvi, it needed another Sachin special to allow Ashok Saraf showcase his legendary comic timing. Sachin himself, Supriya, Atul Parchure and Satish Tare play their parts well too. Ashok Patki's melodious music is another reason to watch this movie. But it stays a movie that belongs to Ashok Saraf. Check out his extraordinary delivery in his dialogue with the theatre owner right after the song "Jejuri la jau"
L'accordeur (2010)
Gripping
Came here after I was left disappointed by Andhadhun (the hindi movie which is inspired by this short film). The piano tuner ( i saw it in English) keeps you glued to the screen for the 10 min running time. It's great that they start with the climax scene where he says "I am playing not for the person in front of me but for the person behind me". Brilliant!
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (2017)
Witty till the last 15 mins of the movie
The Delhi setting looks so real. A difficult story is dealt with adeptly by the director and script writer. All characters are brilliant but Bhumi Pednekar stands out as someone who is vulnerable, hungry for love, eager for marriage, yet clear about what she wants in life.