findmuralli Reviews

Animal (I) (2023)

The Good, Bad and the Ugly all in one Movie

[7/10 · 27 January 2024]

The Good - The performance - Ranbir, Anil Kapoor, Rashmika, Tripti, and Bobby all have done a great job, one of the best in their careers. Ranbir of course has blown it out of the park), Music - Great songs and lyrics, with great placement, none of them feel forced, the BGM was also perfect and counter-intuitive, Style - Costumes (except for Rashmika), Cars, Guns, the house, sets, everything was top-notch as it would be in the richest of the richest.

Attention to detail - From the first second, there is a connection between every word spoken to the back story and the background. Everything makes sense.

Cinematography - Some of the shots are truly innovative and give a very different perspective.

Dialogues - There are many great dialogues in the movie, especially the ones between Ranbir and Anil Kapoor.

The Bad: Some plot points were weak. The character of Zoya (played well by Tripti though) was not weaved well into the plot. It was a drag in terms of the pace and even the characterisation of Ranbir's character arc. He really lost any respect left after that episode. The audience was no longer clapping.

There is no show of any law enforcement agencies even when the law is being broken in almost every scene. At least a shot of the police being bribed or being too scared etc should have been shown. Our audience will always feel, 'where are the police' ?

Some of the violence was really overdone. It never feels good, in any movie, when there are 200 ppl with guns who are beaten by one guy. At least they showed he was heavily injured later.

The Ugly: Sandeep really overdid it when he thought of including his reply to critics in such a blatant, raw and ugly manner. Is it really necessary to talk about pubic hair, sex positions, balls etc in detail? Just for the sake of making it vulgar, these were overdone. No one was laughing nor was it funny. What was the need? Just to show that I can make a movie like this and still mint 1000 crores? Silly. Really silly.

The chat between Rashmika and Ranbir in the second half was not vulgar, though it talked of sex positions, condoms etc,. That was well-placed and didn't feel forced. It had a point. But not the others.

Violence against the character played by Rashmika was again unnecessary. He is not an Animal to his lover. He promised to be loyal. Ok if he is the one who does all these things if he is just a crazy animal, then where is the redemption for the woman? Did she leave her? The costumes were also so bad. Somewhere the intent of the film-maker to revolt and rebel against his critics, spoilt the movie greatly.

Still, it is a good piece of filmmaking. A different take on how movies are made and the characterisation drew out really good performances. If the Ugly scenes could be cut off it would be a great movie and reduce the length too.

Swades (2004)

More than just a movie!

[10/10 · 6 August 2023]

What makes a good movie? Is it the story which is engaging and unique? Is it the technical aspects around it which makes it for a splendid alround experience? Is it the performances which draw the audience into their world? There are movies which satisfy all these criteria and are rated as brilliant movies.

But then there are movies which are just more than a screen experience. Some rare pieces of art inspire a generation, force the audience to not only introspect but also think about mending their ways. What Ashutosh, SRK , ARR and others have created is nothing less that one of those rare pieces of art. I personally know of a few people who changed their life's path due to this movie. Rang De Basanti is another such masterpiece.

So whenever anyone asks what is your favourite movie, when I say RDB or Swades, most do not understand why they are great. It is because they were life changing, especially if you are from that generation of Indians.

Appatha (2023)

An easy evening watch with family

[8/10 · 4 August 2023]

First understand where this movie belongs. It's not aiming at any awards or a blockbuster status. It has no star-power other than the we'll deserved Urvashi. It is meant to be an easy evening watch with family. It is preachy, doesn't have any other performances to speak of, has a lot of loop holes and few illogical situations. Set all those aside and sit with a few friends or family and watch.

Urvashi's brilliant performance, witty and quick dialogues, the dog and some of the noteworthy concepts preached elevate the movie from watchable into a much enjoyable movie. Watch it for a lazy but engaging watch. Kids, elders and those.who love dogs will love the movie.

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

The Best Biopic ever.

[10/10 · 26 July 2023]

It is a Nolan movie. It is a biopic. It is about the life of the most important man in the world at that time. His complexities, his flaws, his challenges and how he was treated. Those aspects cannot be changed by Nolan. It is based on a book. But Nolan takes the source material adds his flavor of intertwined timeline, epic visuals, brilliant dialogues (the best in any Nolan movie), mind-blowing sound and a fantastic screenplay.

Add to this the performance of a lifetime by Cillian. His eyes under the IMAX lens sucks us into the shoes of Oppenheimer. We feel the man. Intensely. Some of the scenes bring tears to the audience's eyes, but Cillian just stares into the camera and pierces our heart. He looks and feels like Oppenheimer. Even in the interviews promoting the movie, he still looks tired from the performance.

Robert Downey Jr shatters and breaks through his Iron man cage. You wont be reminded of his Marvel role at all. And that says a lot about the performance. His anger and ego comes out strongly as any other dramatic performance of the decade.

All the other cast also have given their best. Emily Blunt shines in the few scenes that give her the opportunity. Matt Damon is also striking and a relief for the audience. Rami Malek, many of the Nolan constants (NO, Micheal Caine is not there ehre) have all done complete justice. The performances take the movie a notch ahead.

The music is also brilliant and draws in the emotions from the visuals and fills our ears. Brilliant score, haunting where it has to be and epic elsewhere.

Cinematography is a new leaf for IMAX where the focus is not on huge sets pieces or scenery but on the performances of the cast.

Finally Nolan pulls of one of his most daring ventures. He challenges the audience to focus on every word and every visual, which is not easy for the people used to the short attention on their phones everyday. But it pays off. You get the experience of being in the World war era and in the shoes of the man who had to design to kill to save lives. And the fear and horror of Nuclear bombs is as relevant as it was then.

Watch with an open mind and 100% focus. You will be transported elsewhere. And it will take a while to return to your usual self. And that is how great movies leave the audience.

Ennalum Ente Aliya (2023)

A fun movie with great performances. Worth the time

[9/10 · 22 February 2023]

When such a fun movie with so much laughs and ironic moments is not getting the attention it deserves, it needs to be propelled by word of mouth.

The laughs are great, unexpected and really funny. The parts inbetween are a let down, but the performances of Siddiqui, Lena and Suraj is top notch. Even the other actors have done their part well. The songs are a bore and so are the scenes where it is trying to be preachy. But it is definitely worth a one time watch.

Movies like these are meant for the OTT platform and hope the makers got their due. Now this is not a great film in a y aspect. But if you want to have a fun filled couple of hours, it's worth jt.

Pathaan (2023)

How much of your brain can you keep out of the theater

[4/10 · 27 January 2023]

Do you love over the top action scenes? Do you love any of the four lead actors? Are you big fans of any of them? Do you love flashy scenes shot in exotic locations? Above all, do you have the ability to keep your logical brain out and watch a movie? Then, only then this movie will work for you.

I respect the man who is SRK. Single-handedly brought himself up and created a stardom that is still unmatched. He is also a great actor in the hands of good directors. But he too has fallen prey to the usual formula based movies meant only to satisfy collection numbers. It will create box office history and be a commercial success. Critics who fancy this kind of movies will celebrate it. But those who have grown up watching good movies with a decent screenplay, writing, dialogues, acting and direction will be unable to bear it.

The four stars is for the hand to hand combat sequences which have been created well and some daring action performance by SRK in most hand to hand fight scenes and how the antagonist is written and performed by John Abraham. There's nothing else here. SRK will be found in cheesy dialogues, typical expressions and highly predictable characteristics. Deepika doesn't add much value here though there is some relevance to her role. The amount of glamour is never justified. There are a thousand loop holes in every scene , some of which even a child was pointing out in the theater. The music is nothing to talk about and so is everyone else's performance.

This movie will take in the numbers and it has all the formula for a commercial hit. And maybe that's what most in the audience want. Mindless action and mindless movies.

Suzhal - The Vortex (2022– )

Flawless. In everyway. In every aspect.

[9/10 · 1 July 2022]

The most important aspect of any movie or series is the script, screenplay and direction. Well in this series these three are not only complex and flawless, but it takes the audience through the vortex. The performance, dialogues, attention to detail, music and camera work all adds up to the great series this is.

Keeps one hooked from the first minute. It also handles all social issues effectively with out forcing any message. The director duo has done a brilliant job. Actors are also to be credited to bringing it to the screen. The veterans smoothly sail.is through the vortex, but the youngsters hot it out of the park. Watch ti without any hesitation.

The Lunchbox (2013)

Indian cinema at its best and that is more than world class.

[10/10 · 9 February 2022]

It is not often that you come across a movie (in any industry) which scores a perfect score in all of its aspects. This one does that in style, warming and crunching our hearts as it takes us through the journey of love and the lesser observed aspects of Bombay. The medium of communication through letters is a forgotten one but the movie rekindles the effect by choosing the perfect setting.

The late Irrfan Khan shows why he will remain one of the best in the field. Nawazuddin Siddiqui shines inspite of being in the same frame as Irrfan. Nimrat has also done a good job and her 'Aunty' echoes in my mind few hours after the movie is done.

Sad this was snubbed by the federation for the Oscars, would have definitely given a fight.

But none of these are the highlight of the movie. The highlight is how it reflects human nature of companionship, growing old and staying in the rut which we define as success. That's the success.

Minnal Murali (2021)

Minimal Murali Begins

[9/10 · 25 December 2021]

So many superhero movies from the west have made sure it is not easy to create one with some genuineness and relatability. India's trial so far has been scarce and nothing original.

Basil and co. Have done it. It might not be in the league of Nolan's Batman universe, but it's our own and it is original (comparisons are inevitable). There could have been a stronger villian portrayal but the actor has done a decent job. The music is brilliant and there is nothing unnecessary that's in any scene.

There are a plenty of references to both western and Malayalam cinema. Scarecrow reference is the easiest to note. An original superhero landing, an original and believable character arc, all make this one worthy of our encouragement and applause. Indian superhero saga begins.

'83 (2021)

Ignore the bad reviews

[9/10 · 25 December 2021]

For those who have lived through the 83 times, it will be a memorable reminder of what the feelings were in India at that time. For those who were born just within the decade of 83 it will serve as a showcase for the events that we have heard off and the legends that we have seen. For the kids and teenagers who are following the cricket of today, this movie shows how the game became a second nature to most Indians and how the glamorous game was once a pale event.

Every generation has something to take away from the movie. Yes, it could have been better, but given the fact that it is coming from a director and a production house which wanted to make a mass-entertainer, it has done a great job.

Ranveer almost becomes Kapi Dev and you won't remember him any other way towards the end of the movie. The rest of the cast has also done a superb job with Jeeva, Pankaj and Hardy taking easily the attention away. The game itself has been shot brilliantly. If you are lucky to be among a jubilant crowd in the theater it will be a much exhilarating experience.

Go watch! Ignore the negative reviews. This story needs to be told for the current generation.

Kaanekkaane (2021)

Another gem from the Malayalam movie world

[9/10 · 23 September 2021]

It's not easy to create a family thriller without falling into the trap if melodrama, overacting, loud music, unnecessary songs (though there are a couple), and cliches. This one rises above all and makes for a great watch!

Only issue I had was with the performance of Aishwarya Lekshmi. She tries but doesn't match up to Tovino or Suraj at all. Any other actress would have done it better. Overall this movie is yet another feather in the Malluwoods cap.

November Story (2021– )

High quality stuff, close to international standards.

[10/10 · 30 August 2021]

The premise, pacing and storyline keeps this complex and thrilling series alive. The performances are all good but Pasupathy is the star among them. It's not often that south indian TV content is so brave and intelligent.

Such content is to be encouraged and set as an example.

Watch it without any doubt.

Kuruthi (2021)

A gripping thriller and a social study!

[9/10 · 15 August 2021]

It is very tough for a movie to touch communal issues without being preachy but effective. This movie has not only achieved that but has also woven the issues with fantastic artwork. The performances (each individual performance is gripping), cinematography, music, dialogues and the writing, together, take the movie to great levels.

The movie doesn't take sides or preach what's right. But it (through the voice of Mamuka) explores the nature of hatred, humankind and emotions. The ending scene is a question mark on the viewers face, as they get to explore their values and beliefs.

Sara's (2021)

Malayalam cinema continues to set an example

[9/10 · 5 July 2021]

On paper this might not be a great script or story. But the way it has been showcased shows the talent in the director, technicians and the actors. The message,though is force-fed towards the end, is apt and the need of the hour. This made me give it a couple of points more in my rating

Kudos to the cast and crew to have the sense to belive the message and the script. Watch once, ideally with the family.

Breathe: Into the Shadows (I) (2020– )

Can not understand the negative reviews.

[9/10 · 11 July 2020]

I loved it. Couldn't find major loopholes. Performance was top notch.

Well it is a crime thriller and there are some very minor loop holes and the climax is a little melodramatic, but it works. AB's performance made it work. Amit is too good. Buffed up physically and the performance is also at the next level from S1. But apart from that it is brilliant. It's at the level of series like the true detective just with more thrills.

And unlike many Indian series and movies there is enough attention to details and no, it doesn't treat the audience as being stupid. It doesn't explain everything in a platter. And absolutely no loopholes as such.

Now if you want to find loopholes you can find many in Money hiest and even God Father and The Dark Knight. But we are not there to scrutinize every scene, if the movie takes us to another experience and makes us stay there, it has done it's job. And this series does it's job brilliantly.

AB and AS shine throughout, but all the ladies and the police make their mark too. No character or cast is wasted.

And there are connections to season 1 too.

I would place Into the shadows among the top 3 series coming out of India. And even ok an international level it finds it place.

Zero (III) (2016)

Brilliant attempt

[9/10 · 6 July 2020]

When most of the cinema industry is spoilt with the absence of originality and uniqueness, here is one which stands true to the art.

Though the second half could have been crispier, it deserves to be watched.

Music and cinematography is a huge plus.