The Academy Awards 2023 are upon us. While there were hundreds of films to watch in 2022, these few set themselves apart with their powerful performances, strong messages and just how beautiful the films were to watch. Some not such much, but since they were nominated, well I wasn’t going to not watch them.
Before the awards set the stage, I’m reviewing all the Oscars 2023 nominated films.
– Top Gun: Maverick
How many times has a sequel disappointed us, specifically more when it was to a classic? Top Gun: Maverick has totally rewritten the script on that end, by possibly making one of the best films, especially for the theatres.
One of the best decisions made was to watch this film in 4DX, which eventually turned out to be one of the cinematic experiences of my life. Not only was the film brilliant in every aspect, with regards to the story, the direction, the cinematography, and the music, but the 4D element took the experience to a whole new level.
Before breaking down any other aspect of the film, can we even talk about how amazing Tom Cruise is…? He’s magnificent on the screen, his physique is beyond amazing and the efforts that he puts into the film are clearly visible. Every frame he’s in is a beauty to watch.
The cast has been brilliantly chosen, with all the major characters giving a remarkable performance, and one who shines, even more amongst the rest, turns out to be Miles Teller. The role suits him like anything, and he fills the shoes of his character remarkably well. Also, a huge cheer for Val Kilmer for appearing in the film, continuing the streak of nostalgic moments in the film.
Speaking of which, and there are already so many amazing aspects of this film, another element that makes Top Gun: Maverick a masterpiece is the authenticity of the film. Right from how the jets have been shot (for example), to feeling a close first-person view in those action scenes, giving you the chills and the anxiousness in key moments of the film, to how Tom Cruise is riding the jet himself and how he even pushed the cast to train and do so as well, so the authenticity maintained in the film is unlike anything ever seen before.
Top Gun: Maverick gives you the nostalgic feels of its classic predecessor, and provides a great mixture of a feel-good film, emotional moments along with some hardcore action sequences. The screenplay is something to be quite appreciative of, considering it’s not easy to find a story given the foundation of the film. Maverick also keeps you on the edge the entire time, especially with the third act of the film.
I don’t remember a previous time when I was this happy after watching an English film in the theatres, my emotions were running peak-high and moments of the film kept running in my head for quite some time… Top Gun: Maverick is definitely one of the best films of 2022 and there’s nothing that cannot be appreciated enough in this film.
– The Fabelmans
There was a lot of chatter around this film, and when it came out, my only reason to go ahead with the film was Steven Spielberg, not having read the synopsis nor watched the trailer. To my surprise, the film was so interesting, and the delightful part was the progression of the storyline.
One, the film is based on Spielberg’s life which is quite fascinating in itself. Second, it highlights the love one has for cinema, and how grasping its power is in one’s life. But, not just that, but the environment of the family, the bond between the members and how it was showcased, or the college life of the central character, small moments add up to the beauty of the film.
Whilst the writing and the direction of the film were great, the cast – Gabriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen – all add to the brilliance of the film. The Fabelmans has quite a few moments that touch your heart and stay in your mind; the micro storylines play a huge role in the overall experience of the film.
In all, The Fabelmans is an amazing watch, which couldn’t be recommended more. The era it showcases, the tiny nuances, the micro storylines, the direction and the storytelling, multiple factors make the film this great.
– The Banshees of Inisherin
The Banshees of Inisherin isn’t what you’d expect at all in the first place; while it is slow and heavily dialogue-driven, when you’re patient with it is also when you start appreciating the film.
The film revolves around the topic of friendship and the events that occur when a close friend suddenly cuts off their ties, as the synopsis reads, and how the storyline portrays that is quite a watch. How such an event affects the parties involved, and how it plays out is the fascinating factor of the film.
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson have played such fantastic parts, and how their chemistry unravels throughout the progression of the film, it’s a delight to watch them together. By the end of the film, you’re equally amazed at how the film turned out and at your reaction to the film.
The film is a frontrunner for the awards season, along with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson up as contenders too, and is surely going to make some noise.
– Everything Everywhere All at Once
Only a handful of films have the ability to test the boundaries of logic, and yet make sense; packed with the power of storytelling, cast and cinematography; and in this case, checking off all the items is Everything Everywhere All at Once. Mesmerising! Powerful! and moreover, Extraordinary!
Right off the bat, let’s start with the storytelling, the thread that keeps this film intact right from the start to the end, whether it’s the focus on the message of life, how its experience/ impact is measured; and how such a serious message is told in a fun, quirky way with the concept of multiverses – a concept which has been mishandled by bigger players, but here, so beautifully put together.
Not for a second would you feel what’s happening or an element of confusion. Everything Everywhere All at Once is told in simple language, with a mix of quirkiness, laughable/ sad moments (alongside a bunch of many other emotions), deep thinkable moments and sometimes just say-to-day relatable stuff.
Putting that storytelling on a pedestal is the appreciative production design and the framing of the shots, anything less and the end experience would’ve been just mild and not been the strength of the film.
Speaking of strength, Michelle Yeoh is FANTASTIC in this film, what an applause-worthy performance! To enact this complex character, going through this wide range of emotions and then expressing all these character traits whilst also staying true to the core of the character/ the message of the film – it’s not an easy task and she has simply excelled at it. Another shout out to Ke Huy Quan whose character is equally important and core to this film and delivers remarkably well.
Everything Everywhere All at Once is mesmerising, and its concept is even more. The storyline itself and at the back end what it’s actually trying to convey, both are equally great to watch and at the end of it, you’re simply glad that you chose to watch it.
– The Whale
WOW! To be mesmerized by this film is an understatement… how The Whale has brought forth its message, the cause and effect, the characters, their relationships, every factor was a beauty to watch.
First and foremost, Brendan Fraser take a bow! WHAT A PERFORMANCE! To get into the skin of this character and to convey all those emotions is no easy task and the way he has showcased it all is simply remarkable. You’re in awe of his performance whilst also getting absorbed in that storyline, and the mix of the two is just fantastic.
Speaking of which, the layers of the story and its effect on the character behaviours, the habits and repercussions, the dynamics between different relationships, there’s something to be seen and spoken of for everything… The cause and effect of the emotional takeaways and addictive behaviours were one of the most fascinating and realistic aspects to watch in this film.
While the film seems compact, Darren Aronofsky shows us how can you do more with less… One location but there’s something to be noticed in every shot; few characters but each with different characteristics. While Fraser is already brilliant here, Sadie Sink and Hong Chau are no less, both with characters and their personalities interesting to watch.
The film is short with a slow pace, but you’re too invested in the film to notice that or let that bother you. In all, The Whale has so much depth and so many emotions, there’s much to absorb here. Be ready to shed some tears at the end… Absolutely recommended.
– TÁR
Powerful! The rise and fall of an artist/ a known individual in the public eye, and their relationship with power, people and the dynamics of such life is brilliantly showcased in TÁR.
The most appreciative and brilliant aspect of this film is Cate Blanchett’s performance – while the pace of the story seems slow at times, or while it may seem flaking away from its core, or at times feels too dialogue-driven, it is her performance that holds the film together and carries you through the emotional journey of the character and the message of the film.
Through the storyline, it’s not just about the progress of it that is speaking out, but the tiny details of the character behaviour and the environment that add to the depth of what’s being showcased – and while it was from the creators or the cast, the little additions did add to the appreciating factors of TÁR.
It is long, there’s no denying that and sometimes stretched – yes, the creators wanted the viewer to get into the depths and absorb the emotions, but that approach then becomes limiting and not for everyone.
The last 15 minutes were a show of brilliance; mainly how the film starts and the words being spoken and then how the film ends speaks volumes; it wasn’t only shocking, but the reality check was a daunting sight to see. In today’s times, it seems like a recurring story in reality, and TÁR takes you on that journey quite well.
– Triangle of Sadness
I did not know what to expect going into this film, but it was weird, not knowing what was going to happen next, with this eerieness in the background and yet, the film keeps you hooked from the first frame onto the last.
Triangle of Sadness is a satire, commenting on a lot of topics, including power dynamics, capitalism, Marxism, socialism, relationships, and the perspective with which it is shown is great to watch. The subtlety with which it syncs with the flow of the story, and how this storyline keeps building up, building the tension is another appreciating factor of the film.
There are a bunch of laughable (dark) moments in the film, which may not be counted as comedy, but because they seem true and real, you cannot help but giggle a bit during those scenes.
From the entire film’s perspective, there’s so much happening, and so much to process, that you don’t realize how you’re already halfway through the film or when it’s over too. Sometimes it’s not only about the pace or the duration, but the material, and that’s the beauty of Triangle of Sadness.
Various characters in the film, all with shared limelight and each representing their respective personalities and flaws, which is understood after watching the film and getting a grasp of the story.
In all, Triangle of Sadness is a great watch, loved the tone of the film, and the only suggestion would be to not watch it while eating food, or while travelling. Other than that, a recommended watch.
– Elvis
We’ve heard of Elvis Presley and his songs, but do we know his journey or the events occurred that shaped his life, this film Elvis does a great job at it, keeps you engrossed throughout and moreover, what’s the sign of a good film? If it gets you so invested, you become tearful at the end of it… that’s Elvis!
Baz Luhrmann has done a brilliant job with this film, right from the flow of the storyline to the showcasing of the emotions, of the characters and from the scenes that speak more than the words. There’s some right and so much wrong that occurs throughout that those moments keep pinching you, and it shows how powerful the film is to watch.
The film, I feel, does justice to the man and brings to light a perspective through you which you get to view Elvis’s journey and everything that happened around him. Another factor responsible for this output is the power-packed performance from Austin Butler, the efforts put in for the role can be clearly seen and appreciated. Right from capturing the style to the energy on stage, Austin Butler quite brilliantly performs the role of Elvis Presley and rightly gets the Oscar nomination for the Best Actor Role.
Tom Hanks hasn’t been seen in such a role before, and while there could be a lot to say about the character, Tom Hanks has done quite a good job at it.
With all the songs, and the story, the film Elvis is a delight to watch, along with Austin Butler’s performance, the final result is something. All in all, it was a vibe to watch!
– Avatar: The Way of Water
One year, you receive a gift with exciting packaging, but when you open it, it is all shiny but a generic gift. Another year, there’s another gift with some catchy packaging, only to find the exact gift within. That’s Avatar: The Way of Water.
You can keep peeling the layers of an onion, but it will still remain an onion. James Cameron tries to introduce a new world and introduce new characters and arcs that come along with them, but at its core, it feels like a newly packaged Avatar 1.
While I personally don’t understand the hype around the film, what I can agree upon and also appreciate is that Avatar: The Way of Water is truly a film for the theatres and even more so, when experienced in 4DX… it gives you a first-hand experience of the film, making you a part of it and that’s the only enjoyable factor of this film.
Another appreciative factor is the detailing that has gone into creating this world, and the tiny nuances of the environment, creatures etc. While the film is 3 hours and 12 minutes LONG, the amount of development around this detailing and the exploration of it is what keeps you engaged through the film (along with the 4DX experience).
Remove James Cameron’s name from the film, and it’d be quite interesting to see if the film receives the amount of appreciation that it gets. When it comes to the characters or the storyline, there’s really not much to explore or talk about… it all seems very generic in nice packaging and we’re probably going to get the same in the future parts as well.
The Oscars contention was my only reason to watch this film, and while I’m not extremely dissatisfied with it, I’ll only suggest that if you have to watch it, then it’s one for the theatres and not for the home screens.
– Women Talking
Women Talking is one of those films which you feel you won’t be watching and you end up liking it once you’re done with it; a film with a great premise and is quite powerful indeed…
While the film clearly states that it’s a tale of imagination, there are two aspects where the film shines – one, a perspective into the lives of women (and generally the people representing a certain point of view/ in a certain location). Second, the showcasing of a stark difference between the point of view/ world we are aware of vs a world of a smaller community elsewhere and what their lives could be like.
Sarah Polley sets the structure of the film in such a way, that within a few minutes of the film, you know what you’re in for, and while the film is purely dialogue-driven, the emotions/ the depth/ the insights that are coming out of those conversations are what’s interesting to watch; mixed with a few playful scenes to keep up with the highs and lows.
Since the film is all dialogues, the background or the other elements have a lesser role to play, and it all comes down to the emotional expression of the characters and the state of mind with which they’re expressing – herein, we get a great cast who do quite a good job with their performances, Claire Foy, Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, amongst others.
The film is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea; few will be able to watch and fewer will be able to absorb what’s being expressed, but if you do, you’ll be able to experience a great film indeed.
– To Leslie
While To Leslie was a good film to watch, I also felt that it was too generic, and there was nothing unique about the story; we’ve seen it before and we’re seeing it yet again. Does it resonate with the real world? Yes. But then again, there’s a limit to how many times can you watch the same stuff again and again.
On top of that, add all the Oscars controversy surrounding the film and the nomination of Andrea Riseborough in the Best Actress category, and it’s just a buzzkill. Good acting from Andrea Riseborough, notable performance, but contender material, I’m not sure.
The only thing I’d appreciate about the film is how it ends, and that final phase is the only good thing about it. Otherwise, other than the perspective with which they’re showcasing the film, I didn’t find any depth in the emotions, any of the relationship dynamics, or even the characters.
A forceful film that had to be watched, as it was Oscars nominated, but other than that, I won’t be recommending it to anyone.
– Aftersun
While not every film is everyone’s cup of tea, some have their genres aligned, and some are open to all, and while I prefer to be the latter one, there are only a few rare occasions when the film is good but it simply didn’t align with my tastes, and Aftersun is, unfortunately, one of those for me.
Knowing what the story is, and knowing what the filmmaker is trying to convey, one – is quite appreciative, and second, I can also understand why a lot of people are loving the film; the story has a lot of depth to it and requires an emotional bandwidth to grasp what is being told and is quite relatable to a lot of people (when you understand the perspective that is being told).
Speaking of depth, Aftersun has quite a powerful message and a bunch of powerful moments throughout the film, also knowing that the director, Charlotte Wells, is speaking from a personal experience adds a lot of weightage to it.
Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio are brilliant across the film, with strikingly mesmerising performances, making you fall in love with their characters. The camaraderie and chemistry between this father-daughter duo is quite a sweet aspect of the film.
While there’s much to appreciate about the film, it all comes down to a matter of personal taste and whether you were fully able to watch the film with enthusiasm and enjoyment, and both of those factors remained unticked for me… but I’d still recommend this film to those who have an interest in indie/ off-beat kind of films because, at the end of it, it’d be a good film to watch.
– All Quiet on the Western Front
Every year we get a few films based on the two World Wars, either from the front-end war point of view or from a behind-the-scenes strategy/ analytical point of view; this time, with All Quiet on the Western Front, we get a fresh and different perspective – shown through the eyes of this solder, Paul Bäumer.
The film progresses through how Paul and his friends are filled with enthusiasm to serve their country and participate in the war, only to then witness the reality and the life that is lived on a day-to-day basis.
All Quiet on the Western Front not only shows you the bureaucracy and the impact of the decisions that a few people in power take and their results on a majority of people, but it very well takes you on a journey of emotions that a soldier goes through, at various points in such war. Those story points, and those emotions captured, especially with the perspective they’ve shown it is what makes this film special and a great watch.
There are quite some films in this genre, and a lot more stories still to be told, but apart from the screenplay, there are two other aspects that set such films apart – the cinematography and the sound. If those aspects are equally focused upon, then you’ve got a great mix of a product to deliver and so is the case with All Quiet on the Western Front.
Because there are moments of darkness, sadness, regret, victory, pressure, relief and more, it is those aspects which complement the storytelling, along with the cast’s performance of course. Speaking of which, Felix Kammerer the central character in the film has performed remarkably well and holds the film quite firmly on his shoulders (overall, the entire cast has done a great job here).
The film sets a new benchmark for the storytelling of war films, it was a great perspective to watch, not only is it enjoyable, but the takeaways from it are something that stays with you/ something to ponder upon.
– Argentina, 1985
It is, only a few times when the important/ historical moments of a particular place are known globally, and through films, that entire process and outcome is then shared beautifully – you’re not only getting to watch a good film but also learning something new in the process – and that is Argentina, 1985.
The main attraction point of this film is their focus on the delivery of the story, not just the flow of it, or its emotional strength, but also how it is presented to the audience. The viewers will not know the history of this story, or the events around the democracy of Argentina, but Argentina, 1985 opens the doors giving you a glimpse of that.
It was quite an interesting film to watch, while I may not be aware of the cast members, their performances were one to appreciate. Again, from the duration point of view, once it begins, there’s so much happening with all the information to process, that the movie runs at quite a good pace, not realizing how that time has already passed. There are quite a bunch of moments that stay with you, sometimes for their comical timing, sometimes for their emotionality, and sometimes just for the power that is showcased on the screen.
As Bong Joon-ho famously said once, “Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”, and yet again that quote is proved right, as this was my first Argentine film to watch, and I’m glad I did watch it. Argentina, 1985 is a great one to watch, and at the end of it, you’ll not only be impressed by it but also inspired by it.
– BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths
When you watch an Alejandro G. Iñárritu film, you realize that he is his own genre, his style of filmmaking and what he is trying to express is completely different from the rest of the films, and like or hate his films, but there’s some uniqueness to them and they always leave you in awe.
BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths – is another film that is added to that list. At first glance, you’re so invested in the weirdness of the scene that you don’t even understand what you’re watching, and then you realize the title of the film and then try to understand the layer beneath the scene and what is being expressed here. And not just one, but there are quite a lot of weird scenes that take a moment to digest, but when you see the entirety of the film, you know it’s different and you didn’t dislike it, but I still don’t know whether I liked it or not (somewhere in that middle ground).
The cinematography of the film and how well it gels with the highs and lows of the flow of the storyline is the most appreciable aspect of the film. Alejandro G. Iñárritu has a lot to say in this one, and quite powerfully too, those statements or rather the meaning of those statements won’t have the same impact in generic simple scenes; but here, with all the extravaganza with which it is shown, you’re not only taken aback for a moment, but those scenes stay with you, plus you go into the depth of those scenes – thus, the output of an impactful scene.
The film is not for everybody, and won’t be understood by everyone as well… It takes a while to settle into it, and some time to get into the minds of the creator and what they’re trying to showcase… Throw in the long duration of the film, and it becomes a game of patience. If you can endure it, then you’ll watch something unique, with a strong punch that comes with the storyline.
– Empire of Light
With the trifecta of Sam Mendes, Roger Deakins and Olivia Colman, there were a lot of expectations with the Empire of Light, but it turned out to be a massive disappointment.
Mendes tries to touch upon a lot of important topics in an era we are less aware of, but unfortunately, those issues fail to hit the mark in the larger scheme of things, i.e. the storyline. The story speaks something else, and the different sub-stories are at different wavelengths.
It’s not all bad, it’s a decent watch but when you have those names involved you expect something more. Amongst those three names, the one that shines is Olivia Colman, with yet again, an incredible performance, getting into that character with different emotional wavelengths at different points in the film and showcasing them all too well.
Touching upon the element of cinematography, I didn’t find anything great in this one… I’m not sure why Deakins is nominated here apart from the legendary status that is attached to his name.
Did I like the film? I’m not sure. Could it be better? I think so. Am I recommending it? Not quite; unless you’re also watching all the Oscar-nominated flicks.
– Living
There was such an intriguing factor attached to the film, Living; the moment you start watching it, it dwells you into it and as the story progresses, not only are you enamoured by the film and the characters but the ulterior motive of the film as well.
It has such a soft, innocent and loving tone and approach to it, that’s one of the first things you notice and appreciate.
Not only that, but it has so much to speak – about life, your perspective towards life, about relationships, towards a connection with yourself – and the story, quite nicely, hits all those points.
Since it is based in the 50s, the direction has a pivotal role in this one, not only to capture the vibe of that era but to capture the human characteristics of that time – an important factor that plays towards the storyline.
There were quite a few actors who are appreciable of their performance, but mainly Bill Nighy spectacularly nailed his performance… quite gripping, to be honest… how the character evolves with the story, and a showcase of his before and after characteristics were brilliantly acted out by him.
Going into the film, I didn’t think I’d be as impressed by or as appreciative of it, but Living is genuinely an enjoyable film to watch and Bill Nighy’s performance is as well. Recommended!
– Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Whilst watching the film, I wasn’t as appreciative of the film, as I was while watching its behind-the-scenes/making of the film, which added a little more appreciation to it than before.
The amount of effort and creativity with which they’ve created this stop-motion film is staggeringly impressive. The core of the storyline is quite heartfelt, but the progress and its execution felt too stretched, in my personal opinion.
Guillermo del Toro tries to showcase the story of Pinocchio from a humane lens, the expectations of such a character from the people around it, and a perspective of looking at the world from the characters’ eyes; while it was all good, it didn’t feel extraordinary enough.
This film could’ve been made much more maturely and with the same message expressed in a better manner. Reviewing it, there’s quite a battle between the fact that it was beautifully created vs the fact that the execution of the storyline could’ve been much better, and that chaos between the two didn’t make me a fan of this film, although I do understand why it is a frontrunner in the Best Animated film category and why it may win too.
– Babylon
The best thing about Babylon is the truthfulness of its storyline and the worst thing about the film is its duration.
The first half of the film stands out for its quirkiness and messiness, capturing the vibes of the 1920s when filmmaking was a whole different ball game. Right at that half mark is when the pace starts to drop and with all the multiple character arcs running, some of them now start to feel overstretched and some unnecessary.
The focus on the journey/ progress and an outlook of an actor’s life, especially during a time when films were evolving is the standout factor of this film.
But at the crux of it all, Damien Chazelle’s style of filmmaking has its mark all over Babylon – right from the vibe of the film, to the expression of it, those aspects are the appreciating factors of this film.
The cast is quite fantastic here, Brad Pitt is incredible, Margot Robbie is the central highlight of the film, and amongst others, Diego Calva does a good job as well. Tobey Maguire’s cameo is one to watch.
With a good premise and a good cast, the film probably fails in its overextended duration, and a few storytelling areas where it simply fails to hit the mark; at a point when the viewer starts to feel what’s the point of watching this… But from a macro lens, it was a good attempt at making something interesting and showcasing a story that’s not often talked about.
– Blonde
The thing about Blonde is that it’s not a biopic, but a fictionalised story about a real person, and not any person, but one of the most popular names in Hollywood, so then does it deliver?
Where Blonde worked for me was a perspective with which it showcased the trauma, the turmoil, and the exploitations of Marilyn Monroe… was it all true? Probably not. What we do get here is a top-view of what her life at that stage and level could’ve been like… but at the end, it’s all a perspective of looking at things – which at most times becomes too much to watch and might I add, unnecessary. Most importantly, if it’s fiction about a real person, then why are we even watching it – and that question becomes the highlight here for many viewers!?
The only place where Blonde shines is with the performance of Ana De Armas, there’s that middle line where the story becomes the problem for the film but it’s Ana De Armas who saves Blonde for whatever is left of it. She is incredible in her role, showcasing all that pain and trauma (as per the story) and expressing all those emotions.
Another killing aspect of this film is that long-suffering storyline through which you have to survive to reach the end of the film; not knowing why you’re even watching it.
Had this been a film about a random film star and then showcased a perspective of what the popularity at that level brings with it, with a better flow and sense of the storyline and a decent duration, then this film could’ve been better. But Blonde is not.
– All That Breathes
It takes a certain level of skill set to hint at multiple different important topics through the lens of a story which in itself is meaningful and interesting to watch, and that is this documentary, All That Breathes.
It showcases, quite beautifully, this story of two brothers who are dedicated to saving this species of bird, the black kite. That particular story is touching, inspiring and optimistic to watch. But in that outer storyline, its layers that include the relationships between the characters shown, a glimpse of the changing city, the environment, climate change, religion, politics and mainly how that story speaks so much is beautiful to watch.
At times it felt like the pace of the documentary dropped rapidly, and felt quite slow, but a different perspective could also be that you’re able to absorb everything that’s shown more clearly rather than skipping those moments that captured the essence of the story.
What’s particularly to like about All That Breathes is the tone with which it is expressed, the message behind the name and the story, and the inspiring story of these individuals who are doing such incredible work that goes unnoticed in the world.
– Causeway
A simple, straightforward film, which at the brim feels like nothing’s happening, but at the core of it expresses so much that therein lies the beauty of Causeway.
Speaking of what the film is expressing and its storyline, how it talks about not only a soldier’s life and the aftermath of when they are not able to serve anymore, but the perspective that leads to the decisions of life, the topics of trauma, and relationships and life, in general, come out of the simplicity of this film.
Causeway is short, but with a slow pace, however, it works here because while not everything is said directly, it’s the silence and the emotions expressed that bring out everything.
Jennifer Lawrence, yet again, proves the talent powerhouse that she is… the tiny nuances, the emotions, the character portrayal, it’s all superb. And another actor who equally balances the film, and steals the film for many, whose character is of such importance to the story, Brian Tyree Henry is remarkable in the film.
Causeway is not for everyone, you have to absorb what’s being showcased and only then will you be able to appreciate the film and the talent that is being shown here.
– RRR
I watched RRR in the theatre, and I’ve got three words for it… WHAT A SPECTACLE!
SS Rajamouli sure knows how to make the film extravagant for the big screen, moreover, this film was more about that cinematic experience, enjoying those visuals, the cinematography along with the background score on the big screen, which wouldn’t have been even remotely enjoyable at home.
Ram Charan and NTR Jr shine with their stellar performances, absolutely brilliant. The fieriness and the calmness that their characters portray on screen, and through the progress of the storyline is quite something to watch.
P. S. Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn have some good roles in there, contrary to the “just cameo performances” flying around.
What can you say about the songs… the beats, the lyrics, the rhythm, the setup, the choreography, and the mix of it all is such an experience, both in audio and video form.
The duration is three hours long, but you don’t think about that for a second… The film touches upon a bunch of topics including the British rule and their torturous regime, the journey and the struggles of those who fought for their country, and mainly, brotherhood and friendship – which is the crux of the story, mixing it all up into a nicely knitted storyline, along with those visuals and the music and the cast, making this into a complete package film for the big screen.
– Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
There are a few rare moments when a character becomes an actor’s legacy and in this case, Chadwick Boseman will always be remembered for his role as King T’Challa and the Black Panther, the duo of roles he fitted in perfectly. A big question loomed over the sequel how Ryan Coogler/ Marvel would address him but how they continued his legacy and mourned his loss whilst also moving forward with the storyline was something they did a great job at.
Right from the introduction of the film to Marvel’s opening credits, it was quite tearful to watch. Speaking of the cast, Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, and Winston Duke all performed magnificently. Another beautiful aspect of the film was the songs and the background score that was really good to listen to and synced quite well with the depth of those particular scenes.
In the grand scheme of things, Black Panther Wakanda Foreveris a great watch, moving forward the storyline well, keeping a balance of emotions and action throughout the film, whilst also honouring King T’Challa’s legacy. Nothing too forceful when looked at from a macro lens.
Now, when the film is broken down in the micro, is when you can see a few cracks that are the real issues here. The film has quite an uneven pace, where sometimes it feels too slow and sometimes it jumps so quickly, what feels like the important bits of the story and other times, feels forceful/ just for the sake of the storyline.
Not just that, but while the macro emotional essence is aptly expressed, it’s the micro important scenes which lack an emotional element and doesn’t quite connect with the audience. Speaking of which, the third act of the film seemed quite unsatisfactory and forced upon and the topic of uneven pace gets attached to as well.
Could the film be better than this? Yes. Did they honour their central character’s legacy and not butcher the story? Yes. Over the years, would you feel it’s a good watch? Maybe. But, when it’s Black Panther how can you not watch it in the theatres and also continue with the flow of watching each and everything that Marvel releases… Meanwhile, Wakanda Forever!
– The Batman
What changes every few years
And yet amazes us every time?
The Batman.
We have a solo Batman film after a decade, and a new Batman/ Bruce Wayne too, this time being played by Robert Pattinson and directed by Matt Reeves. Of course, the expectations are high, but does it deliver?
Matt Reeves has brought to the screen what the Batman is at its core, giving the film a retro and a dark vibe. Reeves’ Batman is all about vengeance and there’s fear and chaos in the air, and the world’s best detective is doing what he does best.
A perfectly-casted Robert Pattinson who delivers quite magnificently, his character is wounded, scarred and the vengeance and darkness can be seen in his eyes – what a performance. He knocked it off with the role of Batman as well as of Bruce Wayne’s.
But that’s not all. Whether it’s Jeffrey Wright, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, Colin Farrell, John Turturro, oh what castings and brilliant performances all around.
The film is three hours long, and not for a second can you take your eyes off the screen, wondering at the end where did all that time go… What gives it the extra boost is that stunning background music which keeps us constantly amped up, from Michael Giacchino.
The cinematography’s outstanding, some of the shots are just impeccable. Overall, the story, the direction, the music, the casting… Everything’s on point. Without giving into the specifics, another extraordinary aspect of the film was the storyline’s arc, which was quite refreshing to watch.
It’s been a while since we’ve seen a solo Batman film and the excitement can be clearly seen, but it does deliver and out of the world too. Maybe the DCEU is finally reviving itself, and there’s some brilliant stuff already incoming from Matt Reeves himself, so all eyes on that now!
RTH24 