Movie Review: Mission Impossible - Fallout...falls below the mark

I know..I know...its touted to be the best of the franchise yet. Its breaking records world over. Its the most 'self-aware', 'action-packed' and 'thrilling'. Believe me, I went in hoping all that was true myself. To be fair, some parts are all that too. However, as an overall package and at the risk of a fallout with a lot of MI fans - I have to be honest, its just about better than its predecessor and isn't a patch on Ghost Protocol.

There is much that is good about Fallout as a standalone action movie. There are thrilling bike rides and car chases. There is a very poetic run through of a scenario with music in the background which is particularly special. We see Hunt pull it off yet again with the climax being particularly noteworthy. Yet, it doesn't feel like Mission Impossible - the scale needs to be there. I don't care enough about how 'true to life' the action' is, how exaggerated the gadgets are - in that moment, in that context - it just seems do-able, on the edge of impossible, but not out of reach for Hunt.

Another thing is, it is relentless - there's no time to catch a breath, not for Hunt and not for the audience either. Both with Rogue Nation and with Fallout, the movie slows down at multiple points, the stakes suddenly seem to disappear, the action is much more emphasized and not for its scale but how it gets pulled off. The cinematography and action is more than great but there's nothing jaw-dropping about the whole situation. Seeing Hunt manage to steer a motorbike against the run of traffic and figure out bylanes in a city is fun - but not thrilling. For the persona, we have of Hunt, this is a day job for him. There are many moments like this. Its either that, or he pushes forward - with no known skill, plan or agenda in a seemingly desperate move to not let his team down - sorry, but that's not the Mission Impossible we know and love. I don't care whether the critics find it ludicrous - it needs to be fun. Not every franchise needs to take the 'Skyfall' route.

Then there is the story which is not the franchise's strong points. Apart from the original which had a kickass storyline and plot progression, the others just managed to push through on a wafer thin plot. To its credit, Fallout tries to re-create some of the magic of the original. It too has that one moment where the movie raises the bar and moves to another level. Unfortunately it comes crashing back to normal post that pretty quickly. Much like its predecessor, it doesn't know what to focus one - characters and plot progression of the original or gravity defying action of the next installments. It does a bit of both and hits it out of the park with neither.

Character development is another chink in the MI armor. One of the reasons, the original was so brilliant is because it spent time with its characters. They were all knew, you didn't know whom to suspect and you were as bewildered as Hunt through the journey, trying to put the pieces together. Fallout, unfortunately, doesn't take you along for that ride. Its ambitious with where its trying to take the storyline and its characters, but the journey isn't smooth - its just a jump from this to that.

Rebecca Ferguson who was such a refreshing addition to the previous installment adds to the complexity. She pulls off, this time minor, role well enough - but her character just complicates things too much. Then there's Walker - who's played by the suave Henry Cavill, who's character could've been the ace in the pack but ends up being the joker for the way his character is handled. Simon Pegg, otherwise the funny man in the previous installments has the weakest and goofiest lines.

Cruise is, astonishingly, still pulling it off without a hitch and I'd called that marvel in the last movie itself - I'll have to find new words to describe it this time around. He just seems to keep going and going defying his age with every installment. I now fully expect him to be around if there's a no.7 as well.

Its apt to recall a line by Anthony Hopkins from MI 2 at this point to bring it closer to what the franchise really has been - this isn't Mission Difficult Mr. Hunt, its Mission Impossible. I think the franchise needs to heed those words more carefully and scale bigger heights than the Burj Khalifa in its next installment if its going to get back to its thrilling ways. One way to do that - bring back Brad Bird - he seemed to know what to do with Hunt and his team better than anyone else.

Movie Review: Sanju..un'question'ably brilliant

While the hype for this movie reached a feverish pitch after the release of the teaser and subsequent trailers - I was cautiously skeptical. Sure, the effects were good and Ranbir looked like Sanjay Dutt in a lot of scenes. However, given all the controversy that surrounds the larger than life star, I wasn't too convinced. Especially if, I felt, the movie will try put rose tinted glasses for me to view Dutt in a new light. I fretted unnecessarily. I should've just told myself this is a Rajkumar Hirani film and left it at that.

Yes, the master film maker has done it again. So sublime is his story telling, so perfect is his craft that you aren't sure where he is pulling the strings as a director and where he lets the story be king and chart its own course. Suffice it to say that in the 160 minutes of runtime, you are unlikely to glance at your watch, even once. There isn't even as much humor or laugh out loud moments as say, a 3 idiots had. Yet, it all just feels - right.

After a somewhat shaky start, the flashback onwards has Raju Hirani in his element. So much could've gone wrong. The scenes could be more laboured or even unnecessary (yes, MS Dhoni - I am looking at you), there could've been unnecessary razzmatazz around 'Baba's entry' , the fanfare, the hype, the sensationalism - and yet, none of it is there. The narration is as simple and natural as it can be.

If this movie's one pillar is its director, the other is surely Ranbir Kapoor. His voice may not match the deep baritone of Sanjay Dutt but even that comes close in a few scenes. In the scene where he is Munnabhai, I actually suspect they played Dutt's dialogue in the background. What is fantastic is that at no point do you feel that Ranbir is copying Sanjay Dutt. Instead, he melds into the personality, slips into those shoes - its simply effortless and in equal parts consistent. His gait, his mannerisms, his behavior, his antics and most importantly, his emotions - everything looks and feels like Dutt himself.

If the mainstream act is solid, the supporting cast is stellar as well. Paresh Rawal may look nothing like Sunil Dutt, but he definitely embodies the persona. The father-son relationship is deep, emotional and wonderfully portrayed. The bromance between Sanju and Kamli comes to life due to the convincing act by Vicky Kaushal, someone who is just going from strength to strength with every movie. Even the female support cast, Manisha Koirala as the supportive mother Nargis and Dia Mirza as Manyata Dutt do a good job in their limited roles. So much so, that even Sonam Kapoor is somewhat bearable in her limited act. Anushka Sharma, however, is wasted in a minor role.

The songs are nothing to write home about. However, the story brings to life 3 classics from the yester-year, at pitch perfect moments, which are sure to gain popularity after this movie.

Of course, you can always debate how close this movie is to the actual life and therein lies the snag. By no means, has Raju Hirani condoned the life and times of Sanjay Dutt. He has openly shown the ill-effects of a drug addled life, the impact on the family as well as the infamous blasts. Yet, he hasn't exactly pinned responsibility on Dutt for most of it. Saying anything more, will spoil your experience - so I'll refrain.

For the best experience of Sanju, forget how true to life the movie is and how much is shown vs how much is hidden. Watch it as an example of sublime story telling, superlative acting and a journey that you rarely get to witness in Hindi cinema.

Movie Review: Raazi..more than acceptable fare

We are all acquainted with a certain stylish and suave super spy who claims to do all in the name of Queen and country, that too with a swagger that makes it look all too easy. Raazi is the story of another spy, who too goes above and beyond in the name of, well, country. Far from swagger though, for this one its all a struggle, presence of mind needed despite months of training and in place of the razzmatazz - a sense of quiet deftness as she goes about doing what she has been trained to do and hoping fervently that she can deliver on the high expectations set from her.

I've perhaps already given away much more than I intended to, but you can blame the trailers for that. One peek at the trailer and you already know too much about the storyline, build up and even climax to an extent. That, I believe, is one of the bigger flaws with how this movie will reach its audience. The classic dilemma of how much to give away in the trailer to attract audiences vs having a tightly woven plot with multiple twists and turns to keep the audience guessing and on the edge of their seat rears its ugly head with Raazi and spoils to some extent what is more than acceptable fare.

However, despite knowing exactly how things will play out, you still want to root for its protagonist, hope that things will work out well and dread that any moment things will turn nasty. Plaudits to the director and screenplay for keeping the interest going. They go for simplicity and realism rather than the sensational and that is why it works.

Surprisingly, Alia Bhatt is a bit of a mixed bag. She is by no means bad but she has set the bar so high for herself with the past movies that her performance can't be viewed from a rookie lens anymore. While her innocence simply radiates through, its an over effort on scenes where she is almost caught, that pulls her down a bit. Especially in the light of a strong supporting cast, especially her counterpart Vicky Kaushal who puts in a particularly admirable understated performance, her attempts seem to over-dramatize in sharp contrast. However, she considerably makes up for that in scenes of pure emotion - her tortured soul screaming for redemption. In fact, there is much depth about this character that we genuinely miss, but Alia brings some of it through from her portrayal alone.

There is no over-emphasis on background score, thankfully. Rather the tension is built through dialogues and code-words. The songs are nice and don't get in the way of the story. The spy act is pulled off particularly well. If there is room for improvement, its perhaps in getting to know our protagonist at a deeper level- the moral challenge or conflict she faces, how she chooses to overcome them and the story of her subconscious. Some elements of that would've really made this a complete drama.

However, that's nitpicking. There is much to appreciate with Raazi as it stands and it has more than my consent for a watch.

Movie Review: Avengers Infinity War...its not about fun anymore

Many many moons ago, when I'd written the review for the original Avengers movie, I had labeled it as being 'super fun'. While not a great description, it perfectly captured the spirit of the movie - highly capable but conflicted heroes coming together in a humor filled, feel good movie with an epic battle sequence that brought some real thrills.

Infinity War also brings together the heroes - over 60 of them at that but this one is anything but 'feel-good. However, unlike the garbled mess that was Ultron, Infinity War plays like a well oiled machine. Sequences flow seamlessly into one another. Parallel plotlines playing out without confusing the audience a whole lot. There's a ton of action and if the airport duel in Captain America:Civil War gave some hope that the Russo brothers had a vision for action - Infinity War emphatically stamps its approval.

However, Infinity War is no fun and games with the good guys winning all the way and spouting fancy one-liners as they show off. Surprisingly, for the context in which Infinity War plays out, that's actually a good thing. The stakes are higher than they ever were. Right from the opening scene, with its grim background chatter and even more grim context and developments, the message is clear. Its not about fun anymore. No friendly banter, no chit-chat, there's no time - war is imminent and its toll will be heavy. So much so, that in the few sequences that Stark tries to be 'Stark' and StarLord tries to be 'StarLord' - it pretty much fails. That's not to say there isn't humor in the film - but these are dark times indeed, and humor almost feels out of place in multiple instances. At other times though, you feel relieved that Marvel has still preserved the funny bone.

The challenge with this approach though, is that there are less personality conflicts, character development or even time to stop and take a breath. The hits just keep on coming - one more devastating than the last. Yet despite this, the movie doesn't feel rushed or hurried. There are some astounding battle sequences, something that comes close to the airport magic in Civil War as well, yet there is a character to the movie that looms large above all of this. Infinity War has a formidable villain, who continues to gain strength and that's such a terrifying prospect that every action, effort starts seeming pointless.

In terms of the act, well they are all well versed with their parts now. Robert Downey Jr. is effective as always, Mark Ruffalo is in a very different avatar for Hulk, Chris Evans is a little too intense as Captain America, Chris Hemworth is vintage Thor and Zoe Saldana is emotive in  a surprisingly meaty part as Gamora. Also, Dr. Strange's powers are really on display in this movie as against his own origin movie. Scarlett Johansson has nothing to do as Black Widow, and I think she's just in for it since she gets to be an Avenger and likes the franchise as such. Nothing else explains her continuing to play the part.

If I have a bone to pick, its with the climax and since its the climax that's all we'll say about it here since I don't want to give any spoilers. Suffice it to say that the ending will baffle you, crush you and stay with you long after you've exited the hall. However, there's ample reason to believe that all is not as it seems and this is more of a gimmick to create a finale for part 1, since there's also a part 2 separately arriving in 2019. If so, then I am dismayed for them having used this cheap parlor trick. And if not, then I bow down to the sheer courage of taking the path the movie does take. (Think Dumbledore being dead before the 7th book in the Harry Potter series - only several times worse).

I had my misgivings about Infinity War before I went in for the movie, despite the hype, especially after the mess they made with Ultron. There were 14 million possibilities (wink) where things could've gone wrong. Still, the Russo brothers have truly matured the franchise and its characters to  come up with the one plotline that made sense. Infinity War is truly a spectacle, a befitting finale for Earth's Mightiest Heroes to engage in a battle that might well end it all. I can hardly wait for the sequel to come.

Movie Review: October..an unconventional blossom

The title of this movie itself seems strange given the context in which it sets up. Save for a line well towards the end of the movie there's little that explains the title. But then, Shoojit Sircar's October is not a movie that is easily explained. This isn't great storytelling, plot progression or phenomenal acting. And yet, it has its own bloom.

Those looking for a conventional love story of boy meets girl should simply stay away. October is unlike anything you would've seen before. Its a brave attempt at unconventional yet very real cinema that is unbecoming of Bollywood and deserves the kudos for that alone.

Slow and measured - there is nothing urgent about the storyline or plot progression with October. It takes a simple premise and then focuses the lens very strongly on the characters - their motivations, their innocence, their emotions - everything and the movie lets that do the talking rather than explaining everything. There are those who would find the movie painstakingly slow, but if they are willing to be patient, they get to see some very nuanced direction from Shoojit Sircar. Still, October isn't one to have universal appeal.

While the direction is nuanced and masterful, Varun Dhawan's performance only lifts the movie further. A character that is quite the opposite of what he has largely portrayed on the silver screen, October might be his best performance till date. Banita Sandhu, given her character's state has little resources to pull off her act, yet she does so convincingly. Gitanjali Rao is striking in her support role as the mother and her courage and strength shine through with her presence alone.

The conversations and dialogues feel real - the kind you would have heard or are likely to hear in these circumstances. None of it feels forced and there is little that is crammed in. In fact, less is more in October, with scenes of scant, if any, dialogue that let the silences do the talking.

If the movie's setting is unconventional, its climax is even more surprising. One that you might not agree with as it unfolds, but given a moment, you have to appreciate the courage of the director and where he is willing to take the story.

Its fair to say that October doesn't blossom in a predictable manner.Comparatively, Shoojit Sircar's earlier offerings (Vicky Donor and Piku) were a much easier watch. Like certain flowers that bloom only in a specific set of circumstances, not everyone would see October in all its glory. Those who do though, might well consider it a rare treat.

Movie Review: Hichki...prescribed pretty ordinary treatment

Apart from introducing its audience to a rarely know syndrome and educating them about it, there is little that is special or unique about Hichki. Highly predictable fare, the condition, prescription and treatment feel terribly dated. Its been done too many times and 'To Ma'am with Love', doesn't really project freshness or a new approach.

Hichki shows up a host of issues - educating us on the peculiar syndrome its protagonist has,  what education is all about, the class divide between students, standing up for what is right and just - or perhaps none of these, since it doesn't really focus the argument in any one direction. While we see the plight of the students, there is little social commentary. Its all in service of a painfully predictable plotline. Pity, Hichki could have been so much more.

Much like its title, the movie stutters its way through to a very ordinary first half. It picks up pieces from multiple movies and severely lacks originality. In fact, its only towards the climax that the movie shows us something new, and moves to a somewhat higher plane. Most of the other time, one can too clearly see, where the 'inspiration' for this particular set of scenes comes from.

Rani Mukherji tries her level best to breathe life into her character as the protagonist of the story. I had no clue about the syndrome prior to watching this movie so I can't judge whether she pulls it off convincingly - it sure appears like it though. Her determination, cheerfulness and more emotional moments do come to the fore quite well. Of course, its nothing she hasn't done before and Hitchki doesn't really challenge a stalwart like her. Some of the kids in the movie also pull off a good performance.

The songs are few and far between but still the movie feels overlong. It doesn't have as much to say, especially in the first half. The surprise towards the climax is truly worth appreciating. Also, the relationship between the protagonist and her father is particularly well handled. Not overly melodramatic and yet delivers the impact. If only the rest of the movie was also like that.

Released 10 years ago and preferably before gems like Taare Zameen Par - Hichki might have stood a chance. In 2018 though, with a string of movies that have broached the same subject and done a great job of it - Hichki doesn't get one to sit up and take notice.

Movie Review: Black Panther...Not king of the jungle

Like the regal animal itself - Black Panther makes a unique imprint of its own. Unlike the panther though, who's supposed to be fast and furious, Marvel's Black Panther is slow and measured. If its story didn't suspiciously resemble that of another king of the jungle and a beloved one at that, I might have given it more credit. Still, this one has claws that are sharp enough.

The start is important. While most pre-opening credit scenes are minor pieces that set the tone, this one starts in a flashback that is of vital importance to the storyline so make sure you don't miss it. Those expecting this to be yet another Avengers fest are bound to be sorely disappointed. Black Panther looks to make its own mark, there's not even a hint of any of the others. The story is less that of a superhero than a hero, raw and visceral, though it doesn't strike a very emotional chord.

The world of Wakanda is one to behold. The technological marvel it is shown to be sets up exciting possibilities for Infinity War (I fervently hope they do justice to that one). The movie has a lot of subtle under-tones - what is the meaning of power, how is it best used and who decides what is best. While brimming with potential and spending so much time getting us to believe in and appreciate the world of Wakanda, the plotline ultimately falls short. It all happens too easy and predictable.

There's also a surprising lack of humor in this one, for a Marvel movie. Chadwick Bose does a good T'Chaka aka Black Panther, not that his role needs much in the way of acting anyways. The movie does a nice job of stitching together the events from Winter Soldier into the storyline of the MCU we've seen so far.

One of the biggest challenges for Black Panther is that it misses a formidable foe. Don't get me wrong, to make a 'villain' of this sort takes courage and I respect the deep-rooted nature of his very being. However, whatever his motivation, the villain succeeds when he is terrifying due to his unpredictability, alarming in his ruthlessness and having his own twisted sense of a moral compass that justifies (to him) his every action. With Black Panther, the villain hardly gets to spread his wings and in some senses we can't even see his as a villain per se. Enuff said.

 People are raving about it as if its the most thoughtful movie Marvel has ever made. I wouldn't go with such high expectations. What Marvel does seems highly familiar. I found Ragonarok smarter and braver.

The Black Panther has bounded up the charts with the grace and speed of its namesake. It makes no such progress in my books - expect an average watch, with a bit less of the Marvel humor and more serious undertones that sets it up nicely for Avengers: Infinity War.