ENTERTAINMENT
Tanaav Season 2 Volume 2 Review: Al Damishq, STG come to blows in this fitting conclusion to Kashmiri Fauda
Undoubtedly, the standout performance in Tanaav 2 is that of Manav Vij who, as Kabir, portrays the pain of losing his father (and then his lover) to near-perfection. Also doing complete justice to his role is Rajat Kapoor, who, as the head of the operation leaves no stone unturned to keep peace in the valley, even as he faces pressure from his superiors.
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Agni Review: Pratik Gandhi, Divyendu’s film sensitively portrays the perils of firefighting and raging against the system
Agni review: The commentary on the poor city infrastructure and lack of support from the government might just be too ‘on-the-face’ but when it comes to grave matters like civic safety and lack of support for firefighters, nothing can be too blatant.
ENTERTAINMENT
Pushpa 2: The Rule Review: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna's Actioner Is Less Fire, More Flower
*Pushpa 2*, starring Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna, released to packed theaters on December 5. The film kicks off with Pushpa traveling to Japan via the Dunki route to recover money lost from a sandalwood consignment. Amidst thrilling sequences, he learns Japanese, humorously sings "Mera joota hai japaani," and ends up falling into a river, setting the stage for more drama.
ENTERTAINMENT
Divorce Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega Review: Fresh humour, novel premise make this comedy drama immensely Bingeable
Rishabh Chadha might have delivered a breakout OTT performance of the year. Abigail Jain and Chadha's fiery, crackling chemistry on-screen will convince you that they can be both lovers and professional rivals in what seems like a Mr and Mrs Smith-esque dynamic.
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I Want To Talk Review: Abhishek Bachchan, Shoojit Sircar's film is a masterpiece that is equal parts tragic And celebratory
Sharp writing, witty humour and emotional gutpunches make Shoojit Sircar's film a phenomenal tale of survival, grit and perseverance. Dialogue by Ritesh Shah will have you smiling through tears. I Want To Talk is as much a father-daughter story as it is a heroic tale of survival.
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All We Imagine As Light Review: Payal Kapadia’s Grand Prix-Winning Film Is All Kinds of Brilliant
All We Imagine As Light review: The winner of the prestigious Grand Prix Jury price at the Cannes Film Festival, Payal Kapadia's movie premiered in theaters today, November 22.
ENTERTAINMENT
Dune: Prophecy Episode 1 Review: Watching this spice-less, sleep-inducing prequel feels like an endurance sport
If Dune: Part Two was gripping and sucked you straight into the world of sandworms and explosions, Dune: Prophecy is simply too dull and lackluster to make you the slightest bit of emotion for the characters on-screen. The show does a rather shoddy job at introducing its protagonists in the opening episode.
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale Review: Nayanthara-Dhanush's war-of-words is more interesting than this overly-rehearsed documentary
Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale offers some interesting revelations about the Lady Superstar's life. We also see her address some of the controversies she was embroiled in. However, the bitter truth is that the drama between Nayanthara and Dhanush is way more entertaining than these revelations.
ENTERTAINMENT
Gladiator II review: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal's historical epic is underwhelming, forgettable and makes for a laborious watch
Gladiator II doesn't hold a candle to the OG Gladiator. While Paul Mescal tries his best to channel Lucius's rage, the actor can only do so much to save a film which offers a bland plot which is not memorable.
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Anora review: Sean Baker's screwball comedy is an anti-cinderella tale with strong eat-the-rich sentiment
Anora is an anti-cindrella tale where the glass shoe doesn't really fit. Or rather, when Cindrella finds her prince charming, his family gets their marriage annulled. The subtle commentary on social inequality and the portrayal of stigma around sex work is simply phenomenal.
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The Sabarmati Report Review: Vikrant Massey helms this hate speech of a film presenting lopsided view of journalism
Exactly how can one expect a film with clear-cut political undertones to portray the objective truth when it very clearly has biases which are evident from the many montages and voiceovers? The Sabarmati Report is best watched with a fact-checking app.
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Freedom At Midnight Review: Old world charm is the saving grace of this reductive, dense historical drama
Barring the nukkad naatak-esque prosthetics and self-serious dialogues which seem overdramatic, ‘Freedom At Midnight’ is a decent attempt at exploring the inner-workings of India's Partition. A behind-the-scenes sneak peek of sorts into India's freedom struggle.
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Emilia Pérez Review: Selena Gomez's stylistic queer musical crime drama fails to deliver an impactful trans story
In its pursuit of being edgy and stylistic (think J Balvin-esque Spanish dance numbers, rap songs), the film forgets to treat trans issues with the kind of seriousness and gravitas they deserve.
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Vijay 69 review: Anupam Kher shines as an angry, foul-mouthed triathlon aspirant in this endearing takedown of ageism
While this critic doesn’t agree with Vijay's incessant need to prove himself to a world that constantly undermines him, Vijay 69 is a brilliant attempt at exploring the alienation and social exclusion faced by the elderly. It is a must-watch, even if it doesn't get everything right.
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Citadel: Honey Bunny Review: Varun Dhawan, Samantha kick some serious butt in Raj & DK's engrossing spy thriller
Writers Sira R. Menon and Raj & DK craft a masterful spin-off to Prime Video's most-expensive show ‘Citadel’ which starred Priyanka Chopra and opened to mostly lukewarm reception. Contrary to the OG Citadel, Honey Bunny is immensely bingeable and entirely engrossing, and keeps you engaged through its six episode run.
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Singham Again Review: Rohit Shetty, Ajay Devgn film has good action, simplistic plot
Singham Again Movie Review: The action in the second half of Singham Again is simply stellar. Rohit Shetty is indeed a maven when it comes to directing action setpieces. But the lack of an engaging plot in Singham Again will leave you feeling underwhelmed. There is no novelty, no sudden surprise or a departure from Ramayan we are familiar with.
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Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 movie review: Kartik Aaryan's film tests patience but offers an impactful climax that is 'too little, too late'
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Review: The first half of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is difficult to sit through. Annoying gags, punches that don't really land play a spoilsport. I wish I could say the film picks pace from the second half onwards but the situation doesn't really improve.
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Mithya Season 2 Review: Huma Qureshi's subpar psychological thriller relies too much on shock value
Besides being a psychological thriller, Mithya season 2 also doubles up as a whodunit where the cops try to nab Rajguru's murderer. With underwhelming twists and turns, which are neither intriguing nor convincing, Mithya: The Darker Chapter is indeed a dark chapter in the series.
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Girls Will Be Girls Review: Shuchi Talati’s Film Is A Celebration of Girlhood And Maternal Love That Perseveres
What I loved about ‘Girls Will Be Girls’ is how succinctly it portrays the unnecessarily strict and oppressive school environments in India. The bizarre rules, sucking up to the authority and abstinence from any romantic relationships is expected of school children. God forbid they go on a movie date, all hell breaks loose!
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The Substance Review: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley-Starrer Is A Searing Takedown of Ageism And Unrealistic Beauty Standards
The Substance debunks “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder” and other lies we tell ourselves. A sharp critique of ageism and unrealistic beauty standards, The Substance makes its message clear—none of us are immune to aging—at some point in our lives, “Jurassic fitness” might just become a reality for us.
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The Wild Robot Review: Breathtakingly Beautiful, Thought-Provoking Sci-Fi Animation Might Just Be Film of the Year
What does it mean to be a human? Let a robot teach you. Heartfelt, thought-provoking, emotionally devastating and a breathtakingly beautiful film, ‘The Wild Robot’ might just be the best animated film this year (beating a worthy contender ‘Inside Out 2’). Watch it with your kids and cry your heart out.
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Do Patti Review: Seeta Aur Geeta Meets Crime Patrol In This Moving Yet Unconvincing Cop Thriller
Do Patti doesn't really offer anything unique. The tropes play out exactly how one would expect them to. There are no subversive themes and the characters are black-and-white, lacking the nuance one expects from crime thrillers.
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Venom: The Last Dance Review: A Lackluster Plot Makes This Dance Routine Spin Out Of Control
Is ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ a fitting conclusion to the trilogy? Maybe. But it leaves much to be desired as a standalone Marvel film. Rest, as Venom says (in a meta wink), “I am done with the multiverse bullshit.
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Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives review: Dilli ki billis clash with Mumbai twats in a drama-filled third season
What works well for this season is obviously the three additions—all of whom bring their unique flavour to the show. The most interesting to watch is Shalini, who would have changed five outfits by the time you are done reading this.
