nambivp-33248 Reviews

The Grudge (2019)

Don't watch this even if you want to waste your time

[1/10 · 23 June 2020]

This movie should have never happened. It is so bad. John Cho is like a clickbait for this movie. There are no good scary scenes and everything was clichéd. I almost dozed off while watching this movie.

Penguin (2020)

Feels hollow

[6/10 · 19 June 2020]

Penguin had the potential to become one of the finest thrillers of Tamil cinema. But sometime after the first hour, the director decides to let everything go down the drain. Keerthy Suresh plays the character of a pregnant woman, grieving the loss of her first child and undergoing treatment to heal old scars. When her lost son comes back, a lot of problem follows her. For the first one hour, everything was fine. The screenplay was gripping. The mystery around the serial killer was intriguing. Even though Keerthy Suresh keeps losing her son so many times, the events in the first hour were interesting. And then, everything went downhill. Towards the end, when Keerthy Suresh manages to track down the killer, there is an intense scene where she is in the house of the killer. Unlike a normal human being who would have called the cops, she tries to poke around and manages to get herself caught by the killer. It is like the director decided that everyone from that point should behave like absolute idiots. Even after the killer gets caught, Keerthy Suresh has a conversation with the killer which will remind you of the confrontation between Vikram and Vedha. The entire conversation between the killer and Keerthy Suresh felt like a rip-off of the conversation in The Silence of the Lambs. So at the end of the arduous conversation, Keerthy Suresh realizes who the real killer is and once again goes to the house of the killer without informing the cops about it. Notwithstanding all these stupidities, there was a curiosity to find out the real reason behind the kidnapping of the boy. But when the killer finally reveals that, it felt laughably simple. Why would someone go to such lengths to avenge for something as simple as that? That was the point when I felt let down. The music was amazing. Santhosh Narayanan tries to keep you on the edge and succeeds at that. The cinematography deserves a special mention. There are beautiful scenes of fog covered hills, lakes as still as glass and imposing forests. Over all, Penguin is definitely a disappointment.

Space Force (2020–2022)

Less jokes, more drama

[8/10 · 14 June 2020]

If you expect The Office kind of jokes here, you'll of course be disappointed. The comedy here is more subtle. Greg Daniels is slowly moving from comedy to drama, which is evident from both Upload and Space Force. I agree that in many places the jokes fell flat and did not work out at all. But the series is not bad either. It centers around Steve Carell and the Space Force. A few more good jokes would have made this on par with The Office, if not better than that.

Forensic (2020)

A film that demands your attention

[9/10 · 14 June 2020]

I think people are unnecessarily harsh on this film. May be this is because towards the end, a lot of things happen in a short span of time. If you lose your attention, nothing will make sense. Forensic is definitely an important film for Malayalam film industry given the scarcity of good investigative thrillers here. There are no unwanted elements inserted just to appeal to a wider circle of audience. There is no romance scene or a song here. Even the few comic scenes that you get is just placed to provide a break to the tension. The music does feel a little heavy and repetitive. There are many technical details involving forensic science that a layman will not comprehend. But those are actually needed here. The character played by Reba John is so poorly written that you wonder how a forensic science person does not make even a few suggestions about the evidences. Overall, Forensic is aimed at satisfying those hard-core fans of thriller genre.

Betaal (2020– )

Nothing new and scary here

[6/10 · 26 May 2020]

Betaal is your normal zombie series. There are few scary scenes and the atmosphere somewhat provides the chills. But, it is not engrossing at all. A few actors are so bad that you wonder how they were cast in the first place. The ending was the only novel thing in this series. Skip it if you want to watch some good series.

After Life (2019–2022)

A great show that should not be missed

[8/10 · 4 May 2020]

After life is all about navigating through grief. It will make you laugh, cry and think about life and death. The dialogues are really touching. The show is not preachy. It won't burden you with lectures about how you should move on. Rather, it will gently tell you that it is okay to grieve. It is okay to miss your partner. The jokes are actually funny. The characters are likeable. There isn't even a single character in this show that is irritating. But, all the episodes ending with Ricky crying might feel repetitive. May be, it is what grieving by one person is to others. We replay their life again and again and feel happiness in this repetition. You should watch this show to know what life and death can teach you.

Thappad (2020)

Excruciatingly slow

[6/10 · 3 May 2020]

The story is much needed for today's society. It highlights the struggles homemakers go through and how their contribution is not recognized by many. It also shows how our society has come to accept a slap as a normal thing between a husband and wife. But, the main problem with this movie is its pace. 150 minutes is too long for this film. All the scenes are stretched out. After the first hour, I got impatient. The pace was that slow. Also, it shows all the men in the story as either arrogant or mute to the things happening around them. It is only after two hours that a guy from the office tells him that it was his mistake. When you want to highlight one thing, you need not tarnish the other thing. Overall, Thappad deserves a viewing for the topic it has chosen to talk about.

Dangerous Lies (2020)

Another boring movie from Netflix

[5/10 · 30 April 2020]

This is another boring movie from Netflix. You can sense the twists from miles ahead. The characters are plain and predictable. Watching this movie felt like watching a bad thriller from a decade ago. Just skip this.

Homecoming (2018–2020)

Works because of its screenplay

[7/10 · 30 April 2020]

When you finish watching Homecoming, you'll definitely wonder, "This is it?". Till the 9th episode, there is an element of suspense in the story. The way each episode is directed keeps you from shelving it. But, after the suspense is broken and you finally get to know what it is, you feel that the story is really thin. The narration is new. Apart from that, it is just an above average thriller that works largely because of the way the story is narrated.

Undone (2019–2022)

A show that will mess up your mind

[9/10 · 14 April 2020]

This is an excellent show with a brilliant story that is unlike anything you've seen previously. The animation is much needed in a story like this and you'll understand why once you start watching this show. As the story progresses, you wonder if you're the one going insane and not the lead character. The story jumps between the present and the past but it is not a transition that you normally come across in regular shows. May be that's why the creators decided to go with this kind of animation. Not many people spoke about this show when it was released. But this deserves a viewing, that too without any distractions.

Dia (2020)

You have to experience this movie at least once

[10/10 · 9 April 2020]

Dia is a movie that must be experienced at least once in your lifetime. You'll be astonished how a single movie can give you happiness, hope, despair, love and sadness. Each character shines in this movie. The music is soul stirring. Dia should not be missed.

Madha (2020)

A mediocre thriller let down by sloppy writing

[6/10 · 8 April 2020]

The problem with Madha is, it takes itself too seriously inspite of having a muddled story that becomes pointless in the third act. A good mystery must make you guess. It must keep you guessing till the end. But Madha makes you wonder where the story is heading towards. Except Trishna Mukherjee, everyone is bland and expressionless. But Trishna gives a stellar performance and tries to keep the movie from sinking. The cinematography deserves a special mention. Even in low light scenes, the camera work is beautiful. The main problem of Madha is its story. There is a big twist in the third act that comes with its own set of questions. Even some of the actions of the people feel pointless. It looks as though some scenes were made just to give that 'big reveal' feeling. Overall, Madha is a poorly written and executed film.

Up in the Air (I) (2009)

Life is better when you have someone

[7/10 · 7 April 2020]

Ryan Bingham spends most of his time, traveling around and firing people from their jobs. He gives seminars about shunning relationships and being alone. What happens when he finds someone he loves forms the rest of the story. George Clooney is in every frame. He makes you fall in love with him. When the movie begins, you can't help but hate him. He is oblivious to the pain and struggles of the people he is firing. What he considers as his job is the end of life for many people. As the story progresses, you feel for him. He gets hurt by his family and the person he wants to be with. There is a warm feeling in the heart when the movie ends. No one should be alone. Everyone deserves someone to brighten their life.

Along Came a Spider (2001)

An average movie

[5/10 · 5 April 2020]

Many things don't make sense here. A lot of things happen as coincidences. Along came a spider is nothing but an average thriller movie that has a few good scenes. The movie started out nicely. A man kidnaps a girl from her school and Alex Cross has to locate her. For half an hour, the movie held my attention. After that, it got boring. There were too many logic holes. There is a big twist towards the end that doesn't make any sense. Towards the climax, the movie became quite boring and dull. Overall, this is an average movie.

HIT (2020)

You should not miss this movie

[9/10 · 2 April 2020]

There are no unnecessary romance scenes or illogical item songs. This movie will satisfy all those lovers of pure investigative thrillers. The director gets into the story right from the first frame and there are no scenes just to extend the run time. The way a case is investigated in this film is as close as one can get to see a real police investigation. The police are not shown as dumb and ineffective, like so many thrillers where the lead actor with very few resources beat the police in finding out the killer. In this film, the police follow the protocol. The editing is crisp and neat. The background score feels heavy. Sometimes, the score even spoils a few scenes. All the actors have done their part pretty well. This movie could very well be one of the finest thrillers of this year.

Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal (2020)

At last, a fresh film from Kollywood

[8/10 · 31 March 2020]

If you can digest the first 20 minutes of this movie, which is nothing but a bunch of romance scenes, then you'll certainly fall in love with this film. The cast is great. Dulquer and Ritu Varma are exceptional. The music is mediocre. The editing is crisp and neat. The way the story progresses will keep you hooked. All the scenes feel fresh and new. Once the story picks up pace, it does not slow down anywhere. Even very minute scenes make sense later in the story. Overall, this is a great movie that you should not miss.

Mafia: Chapter 1 (2020)

Looks like the editor loves slow motion scenes

[7/10 · 26 March 2020]

There are some good scenes in this movie. But, the total duration of those scenes is not even 1 hour. So, the director and the editor decided to add so many slow motion scenes just to fill the gap and make this feel like a feature film and not a short film. Shoot out scenes too are in slow motion. How can you appreciate the speed of a bullet train if you are shown a documentary of that which is slowed down to an annoying level? Also, everyone in this film speaks English. It made me wonder if this is even a Tamil film. Apart from all of these flaws, the narration is good. A few scenes are extraordinary. The climax trumps everything. This could have been a great film had the director given enough importance to the screenplay. Still, it is worth watching.

Guilty (II) (2020)

A complete mess

[5/10 · 7 March 2020]

Guilty lacks the seriousness of Pink and Section 375. A college student tags her college mate in a MeToo post and he files defamation case against her. His girlfriend believes him and the guy's counsel investigates the matter. It could have turned into a wonderful mystery, if not a powerful film that talks about sexual assaults. But, it turns into a messy attempt by an new filmmaker. Since, it is just a defamation case, all the seriousness that we had in Pink and Section 375 is just missing here. The college students in this film have nothing to do besides taking drugs and churning out bad songs. Had it been a police investigation, it would have been engaging. A detailed court session is also missing here. What we get instead is a five minute long scene inside a court. Kiara at last finds out that his boyfriend is indeed guilty and reveals about him during a music fest in the college. Then she goes on to give a monologue rather than let the victim speak. Also, it is clear evident that she is struggling to act. Instead of becoming a superb commentary on sexual assaults and how the victims don't get a chance to speak out, this film becomes a teen drama about kids smoking weed and kissing inside classroom even when the professor is taking lesson.

The Invisible Man (I) (2020)

Leigh Whannell doesn't want you to use your brain too much

[7/10 · 29 February 2020]

The first 15 minutes of this movie is more gripping than the entire length of many movies that came last year. A woman escapes from her abusive husband but soon experiences events that make her doubt his death. There are numerous scenes in this movie that are shot excellently and they really give you the chills. The emphasis is not on jump scares; the atmosphere itself causes goosebumps. A big house occupied only by two people; an abusive husband who wants to control even his wife's thoughts; the premise is great. It is very easy to scare your audience using jump scares. But it is very difficult to make them shiver at the thought that even a small holding facility can have an invisible person. The director excels at that. In some scenes, you expect a jump scare but it ends on a plain note. That is good directing. Don't give us what we have in our mind. Make us crave for more. Surprise us. Towards the end, the screenplay goes downhill. Yes, the husband wants to stalk her and torture her. But, why does his brother promise the protagonist that he would help her get out of prison, if she agreed to raise her child with her husband who is indeed alive? It does not make sense. If her husband really wants to be with her again, why send her to prison in the first place? The director does not give enough answers to satisfy us and that did let me down. But, this movie is a really good thriller with a lot of scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I Am Not Okay with This (2020– )

Teen rage

[8/10 · 28 February 2020]

Yes. The series resembles so many movies. Yet, it is engaging. The first episode was fine. After that, the screenplay was slow. It felt like the director really wanted to recreate that TEOFW magic. But, it did not happen. The last three episodes are brilliantly written. If the entire season is just a prequel, it should have been short. The character Sydney reminds you of Alyssa. Don't expect sitcom kind of jokes here. The series is meant for people who love dark comedy and deadpan characters.

Tumbbad (2018)

Bollywood completely over looked this amazing film

[7/10 · 24 February 2020]

I was very surprised when Tumbbad wasn't included in any major awards. This shows how bad Bollywood has become. It promotes films with famous actors and cheap stories. Tumbbad is a retelling of 'chicken that lays golden eggs' story. The film is filled with gorgeous shots. Most of the film takes place in an area where there is incessant rain. Yet, every shot is unique. Even the low light scenes are beautiful. Some scenes are surreal and creepy. But, even with a runtime of 100 minutes, it feels slow. A huge chunk of the second act tests the patience of the viewer. The music doesn't intrude every scene. In many scenes, silence evokes fear. The actors have given an excellent performance. The computer graphics is really bad. If there had been enough budget, it would have turned out well. Tumbbad is a rare gem from Bollywood that should not be missed.

Locke & Key (2020–2022)

A good fantasy series from Netflix after a long time

[8/10 · 22 February 2020]

I don't know anything about the comics and this review is solely about the series. It was not perfect but it made me remember the time when Stranger Things season one was released. The series starts off on a high note. Somewhere around the 8th episodes the pace falters. The final episode was thrilling but some of the twists can easily be predicted. The high school romance was completely boring. If the editors had removed the portion, each episode would have been around 30 minutes which would have been perfect. The actress who plays the mother of the Locke children was mildly irritating. Others were good. The cinematography deserves applause. I can't understand why each episode must end with a song. Many characters make poor choices and I felt like I was in a badly written horror movie. Still, Locke & Key is not to be missed.

Sillu Karuppatti (2019)

Love triumps

[9/10 · 13 February 2020]

Sillu Karupatti is an anthology of four stories each featuring people from different age groups. Though the first story, does not have as much impact as the others, it sets the stage for them. The second story featuring a guy with testicular cancer falling in love with a girl who he meets during a car pool ride, is handled deftly by the director. The director does not make crude jokes about his condition. She knows where to draw the line. The fourth one is my favourite. A husband and wife rediscovering their love for each other. At one point, the wife confesses to her Alexa speaker that she needs meaningful sex and not the one where her husband goes to sleep immediately afterwards. This shows the maturity of the director in approaching a topic which is still considered a taboo in India. The third story is about finding your soul mate even after the sixties. This movie will surely satisfy you and leave you with a smile on your face.

Knives Out (2019)

A treat for the fans of Agatha Christie

[10/10 · 12 February 2020]

Rian Johnson brings to screen Agatha Christie type of mystery. A murder takes place. The people in the house are the prime suspects. They can't leave the house until the murderer is caught. There is also a big reveal towards the end. This movie is everything that a fan of mystery novels can ask for. There are red herrings in this movie and you actually fall for them. Ignoring a few things that are very illogical, like a girl who vomits after telling a lie, this movie is engaging. There are no loose ends when the credits start rolling. Rian Johnson finishes the story neatly without leaving any room for plot holes. The screenplay deserves a special mention. The editing is brisk and racy, effectively keeping you on the edge of your seat. The music is at best, forgettable. Over all, this movie is a gem among trash like sequels and superhero movies that Hollywood made in 2019.

Parasite (2019)

A disturbing story of class struggles

[7/10 · 9 February 2020]

In the opening scene of Parasite, a family struggles to get the WiFi signal in their phone. Ki-Woo gets on top of the shelf and manages to catch the singal. This scene describes the entire film: a family of poor people trying to reach the top. They devise a cunning plan and the entire family gets into the house of a rich family, fooling them in the process. What follows is a story that sometimes struggles to maintain a brisk pace. The film is loaded with metaphors. Beneath all those metaphors, is the concept of disparity between the poor and the rich. The rich, oblivious to the plight of the people who work under them, continue to lead a life sucking on the blood of the poor. This is shown in the scene where a man hiding in the basement of the house of Mr. Park switches on the lights in the stairs everyday when Mr.Park comes home. Mr.Park however believes that is the work of the motion sensors. There is even the fight among the poor to get their hands on the wealth of the rich. The entire second half of the film is not about the tensions between the Parks and their servants. It is between two groups of servants of the family, each trying to suppress the other. The idea that the Parks live in a house unaware of a man living in their basement is an allusion to the perpetual, simmering tensions between the working class and the affluent. The final moments of the film are a complete mess with violence and bloodshed. Critics of Joker should have spoken about this too. The hate the poor have towards the rich is more pronounced in this film than in Joker. Leaving aside the social commentary, the pacing of the film is very irregular. There are scenes that bursts with energy and freshness and there are those that test the patience. Also, the reason why Mr.Park gets killed is obscure. May be, Kang-Ho song was pushed to his limit. May be, Mr.Park crossed the line, which Kang-Ho song didn't. May be he was anguished when his daughter gets stabbed. May be, it is the combination of all those reasons. Parasite is a disturbing film that will leave an indelible mark on you. Still, the screenplay loses its focus in a many scenes.