Adarsh_Kumar_Singh Reviews

LaRoy, Texas (2023)

LAROY, TEXAS!

[8/10 · 17 April 2024]

I am going to look forward for further up coming flicks either written or directed by Shane Atkinson.... This picture flew seamless. When I watch a movie - I often take breaks.... the breaks let me sink in fully and completely the past 20 or so minutes. For example "All The Presidents' Men" and intelligent pictures like those.

With Laroy, Texas I took breaks within each 30 minutes or so...... to let it sink in :) the characters were so natural - acting was splendid. The cinematography gave the feel of real place where it was shot. Until now.. this year - one of the best that I have seen. Give it a shot - it is worth its money.

Mare of Easttown (2021)

Super

[10/10 · 11 September 2022]

They never missed anything. Every single possible detail. Nothing happens without a reason. Not even a single word was wasted. Everything had a reason. In todays' world of tv(steaming) and cinema cliches, here is a story so very well told. The writing I think is pitch perfect. All the leads as well as the not so leads gave more than one hundred percent.

The setting, Easttown, I have seldom seen that kind of adapting an environment than here before. Well done!

I thing it is an Kate Winslet vehicle, all attributes and all those specific attributes unravelling, those have Kate stamp all over. But dont get me wrong, even Kate cannot get to those heights without the support. Possibly Kate's aura made all things streamlined, well ... possibly vice-versa, like for an example, Julianne Nicolson? Some others too ... Guy Pearce, Jean Smart, Thompson, Huff ... a few which comes to my mind. I dont know. The verdict is, "MUST WATCH".

Unbelievable (2019)

True Good

[10/10 · 6 September 2022]

Unbelievable, isn't that the title. You bet.... it is, truly unbelievable. It is there somewhere inside the titles that is based on correct events. It might be... cannot know... I live far from Colorado. If it is, well, then .... so superbly drafted. I mean, this can come only second to Spotlight(2015). Maybe even first. Technically too ... well done. All parts of cinema making - all departments. The story, the three leads, the second leads, the background, the score, the words(dialog), the frame, the capture - top notch. I met this accidentally, and am glad. Missed half a day's work, no remorse. Must see.

The Valet (2022)

Too many ..

[6/10 · 25 May 2022]

Too many cliché s . They could have done without it. I can understand this was speed vehicle for Eugenio Derbez.... and Samara Weaving contributed. So many past stories mingled into one, seems like watching a 100 movies into one. What made me watch the whole The Valet was Samara Weaving - she says things nicely and differently. Maybe one day she will go Spotlight way, just like -Rachel McAdams did. Also, while watching this movie Tha Valet, I got flashes back from Larry Crowne (2011), can anybody explain to me, why?

The Electric Horseman (1979)

Solid statement

[8/10 · 26 April 2022]

I am here now at 2022 (month of April) at an age of 48 years :( S Pollack would have been much younger, I assume when he courage..ed to make this movie. That too with 2 great actors Ms Fonda and Robert Redford.

Many will think the movie is about the horses or the horse breeds or the horse taming or horse treatment or horse riding or horse cowboys or even maybe .... horse breeding.

NOPE!

The movie is all about conglomerate greed, nothing else.

Happy kudos to Sidney Pollack - he chose horse theme to spread a good message.

This is not just good cinema, its great cinema.

Watch in end rolls, how the RISING STAR runs to meet his folks.

The Late Show (1977)

Good Detective picture

[9/10 · 14 April 2022]

I can agree with many critics that it is no Chinatown.... still .. worth a watch! The genre is almost gone long back. Today, it is 2022 and I was still able to watch this the 4th time.... all of them between 2000 until 2022. Never stops amaze me. Cannot put the finger at that exact spot where it hits, was it the director Robert Benton? Or was it the side kick Lily Tomlin... better yet, was it Art Carney as the protagonist...well!

I think it was Robert Benton ... bought together such diverse characters within a span of only a few days in Los Angeles, where else.

Great writing - 1st, great direction - 2nd!

Awesome acting among all - up there>

I Care a Lot (2020)

Under rated

[8/10 · 1 April 2022]

I cannot see a reason why this picture is not at least 7 rated with such a vast rating audience. Pike was great at it.... and so was Weist, Dinklage and Gonzalez.

Probably the scam was too unhealthy to digest - story line wise - I think Blakeson did a good job here.

Must see ... Technically - no faults. Acting / directing / score / screenplay etc and etc. Must see

My 8 goes here out of 10.

Cinema Paradiso (1988)

Giusepe Tornatore

[10/10 · 13 March 2022]

The tutor kept all the cuts until his end. Which in turn proved that the tutor was a better director then our protagonist here. It comes in the end. Hence you have to watch the complete movie to find out :) Warning: Do not jump ahead, you will not get it!

Hats off to Giusepe Tornatore - what an achievement, no wonder the Academy rolled this 1 / 2 years later after its orginal release for best foreign. 10 out of 10.

Spencer (2021)

I rated eight

[8/10 · 8 March 2022]

I rated eight this movie Spencer just because of Stewart's acting. Isn't it a wonder that among all the leading ladies in the world today, it was Kristen who got Lady Diana right!! She deserves the Academy nomination.

As to the film, it could have been better. Possibly a better script first, and hence ... a better outcome.

P. S. - Hawkins was wonderful.

Nightmare Alley (2021)

A good cinema

[8/10 · 3 February 2022]

8 for all. For Bradley Cooper, its 9. Hence it makes my imdb rating at 8.5. But then imdb does not have decimal ratings, hence overall an 8. Do see this, good contender at academy 2022. TY Guillermo del Toro as always. Your research is always up to the mark.

Fugitive Pieces (2007)

Troubled past portrayed at its so best

[8/10 · 25 January 2022]

So sensitive yet so innocent! So lost. I know about the book, read a summary somewhere. This complicated a novel to put on screen, i think the whole film crew did good work. All the actors came together in one big old round and delivered what the script needed. Specially Stephen Dillane, Rade Serbedzija, Nina Dobrev as the sister (great), and of course Robbie Kay, Ayelet Zurer.

The central theme of troubled past, more troubled if the past belongs to WWII makes it rather more difficult to portray. Hence, here I give Stephen Dillane, Robbie Kay, Rade Serbedzija 10 points for their acting. I also give 10 points to all others here for corresponding.

The Power of the Dog (2021)

So slow

[7/10 · 24 January 2022]

..... and then "Power of the DOG" - how to make a movie real slow and pass it as modern neo noir.

Nice example here.

Leaves us wanting to know more, how, when and where the power came forth.

The patriarch did succumb!

Was it the s p l i n t e r? Was it something else.

Great acting, better than great direction. Greatest cast! Still ending nowhere.

Reminds me of another good movie ending nowhere - "Margin Call"

The only difference between the two, the former had pace, this had none. So so so slow ....... I loved it.

The Report (I) (2019)

Top Movie Making Example

[9/10 · 21 December 2021]

I think the acting, directing, producing, casting, script and screenplay, cinematography, editing, production design, art direction and art department, the costumes department, the sets and sound department and etc... did a great job on this film. They bought a good story on tinsel. What else you want?

The Unforgivable (2021)

Great film making

[9/10 · 11 December 2021]

I think Peter Craig, Hillary Seitz, Courtenay Miles, Nora Fingscheidt, Sandra Bullock and others here hit bulls eye. Such great film making.

9 stars out of 10.

Also, let us not forget about Sally Wainwright. Wow!!

Stillwater (2021)

A fathers' quest

[8/10 · 20 August 2021]

I do not get it. The average reviews as to the scenario of this film?

The story is told with the fathers' perspective. How he saw it ... whole thing until the very end. Strong by bonding of a different kind unheard of, finding support at strange places, the father was able to achieve a good goal. Truth. That was the story being told, why look otherwise.

Some people also complained about lack of drama at the end. Well, the way it ended, it ended - swift (learned), job well done. This world makes you do complicated things. Tiny, complicated with drastic outcome, sometimes. Must get to the basic theme this movie is based upon. Real life ... specially parenting real life. Must look into it.

I saw it through Bill Baker's eyes (still water), just being there, trying help her kin, I have no complaints.... 2 hours and 17 odd minutes well spent. I'm glad, worth waiting for.

Least can be said is that, this is one of the most "SEAMLESS" meandering cinema I've seen since a long - long time.

Remember? - Beautiful Girls .... different genre, comparable result.

Scene by scene, well written, well acted, well screen played, well edited, well directed and overall well executed. What else one require.

Maybe it is not Spotlight .... Spotlights come ever once in like every 25 years possibly.

But for what it is, Stillwater (2021) is better than good!

Nice work Lilou Siauvaud, Camille Cottin, Abigail Breslin, Matt Damon, Marcus Hinchey, Thomas Bidegain, Tom McCarthy and all other crew.

Solid 8.

Shiva Baby (2020)

Hmmmm...

[9/10 · 12 July 2021]

Did I miss something or did I miss something! Is it a new kind of Woody Allen ..... or is it only me thinking loud. Your call.

Nobody (I) (2021)

Nice

[8/10 · 16 April 2021]

A very good example of how an accomplished actor can make look nice an okay sripted action movie worthy to watch!

In this case (actor) Bob Odenkirk (The Post), directed, excellent camera work (with help) and editing (with help) by Ilya Naishuller (POV Music - Biting Elbows: Bad M ** F **).

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

SUPER

[10/10 · 4 November 2020]

It took me three viewings to get the depth of this picture. That makes me a moron! right .... first view - i liked it second view - i was in with it third view - engrossed in it for a great novel written by the great John le Carré , the movie makers did a great job too, only missed maybe some small details / or not. Even though ..... not with standing the fact that they had 2 nice up and coming hardy as well as cumberbatch going top guns which I suppose they were lucky with :) getting them together. Gary Oldman and Firth were what was required of them as always which is permanently soothing. This is how you make a complicated movie so simply. Thanks to Tomas Alfredson / Bridget O'Connor / Peter Straughan / Tim Bevan. Great work!

Author! Author! (1982)

A very happy picture

[8/10 · 29 October 2020]

I was just a little skeptical for like the past 6 years .... 2020 October now. Had this that long without watching it. It was because of the 6 something rating. Although my fav AL Pacino is in it ... still. But, wow, saw it today, one sitting, and oh! boy.... am I glad. Al Pacino can do it all... such ease into an almost simplistic role, and he played it to its perfection. And the kids, they too are a high point of this movie.

I am sure Israel Horovitz dserves a lot of credit, still it was Al Pacino and the kids who rode this home. What a sweet little movie to make you happy!

If you are skeptical too, trust me, go for it.

On the Rocks (2020)

Nice

[8/10 · 25 October 2020]

There were some very bad reviews for this movie latest from Sofia Coppola and then there were some very good reviews for this movie latest from Sofia Coppola ....

I am completely with the later ones.... i.e. the good reviews.

Just go with the good reviews and forget about the bad reviews.

That above, is all I can say in most plain, simple, English.

Knockaround Guys (2001)

Five Hundred

[8/10 · 19 August 2020]

500 .... 500 fights! That is the number I figured when I was a kid... 500 street fights and you can consider yourself a legitimate tough guy. You need em for experience.... to develop leather skin.... so I got started. Of course along the way you stop thinking about tough and all that .... starts beating the point, get past the silliness of it all ....but then! after ... you realize that is what you are ...

I tell you, you learn a lot ta things on your way to 500, none more important than this? - "CRUNCHES THE HEAD OFF THE TOUGH GUY"

The above alone is cause enough.

Many other great things in this particular full length screen feature. Its a mob movie, its a friends' movie, its a corrupt cop movie, its a turn around in your life movie, its a father-son movie, its an under boss - boss' son relation movie, .... but most of it all, its a five hundred, coming of age of vin diesel's 500 movie. FIVE HUNDRED.... the actor was cultivated only here.

Good acting by all major involed,... nice direction.. up to the notch.

City Hall (1996)

Deserves atleast a 7

[7/10 · 17 August 2020]

Yes ... deserves at least a 7! The story was solid, no doubt. The acting was solid, all major characters..... including the very thin line between the so called "antagonist" -- first, and then the "protagonist", second. What else you want. Good movie. If you have not yet watched it ... just because it has some bad critic review, well ... watch it now. A nice Al Pacino / Paul Schrader / John Cusack classic.

Downton Abbey (2019)

Beautifully done.

[8/10 · 6 December 2019]

A little fast for my taste, you know, when compared to the original series, but still, so beautifully done. Could not take a break while it was on. Maximum marks to all involved. 8/10.

Urban Cowboy (1980)

Must see country ......

[7/10 · 24 September 2019]

Came so many times under my list ... the 6 something rating did not help ... hence somehow I missed it all this time. Boy, am I glad i finally saw this tonight. My only qualm is that ... they could have done this within a much shorter span !! For what it is ... specially the music, the taps, the rage.... and in the end .. commitment .... must see. 6.5 out of 10, 7 if this would have been 20 minutes less.

State and Main (2000)

Wanted to give it an 8.5

[8/10 · 18 July 2019]

I wanted to give it an 8.5 just for the courthouse scene/twist. Gave an 8 as there are no decimals voting. Gave a 9 to "The Shawshank Redemption" only 1 less from here. Hoffman, on the contrary as in general, was not gloomy "which is cool enough". Everybody actually had a great time, specially Baldwin, which he always does. Macy and Pidgeon took most of the highlights. Seamless direction from Mamet capturing the burnt mill town and town folks. Romance was the wavelength of this movie, not the movie being shot. Must try this if you have not yet ..... it just does not get as simple as this. Nice entertainment.