sarthak889 Reviews

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)

Average movie carried to heights by SRK

[8/10 · 23 May 2024]

Shahrukh rules the screen both as the quiet and kind Suri and the boisterous Raj. His impeccable charm brings countless smiles to my face. Anushka is okay in acting but amazing in all the dance sequences.

The music sequences are top-notch: 1. That delicate beginning rush when you see big meaning in small acts of the person you love in the song 'Haule haule'.

2. Shahrukh dancing like an amateur and Anushka dancing like a pro in 'Dance pe chance'

3. The representation of the three major religions of India in 'Tujh me rab dikhta hai'. Possibly, symbolising how love transcends the boundary of religion.

A delight to watch for anyone who loves musical sequences and charming love stories.

Demons (1971)

Excellent visuals, but lacking any significance

[6/10 · 12 May 2024]

The whole mise en scene when Gengobe is being duped by the actors in on the ploy was a visual treat. Also loved the horizontal panning shots depicting person X sitting across person Y and the camera moving horizontally depending on who the speaker is.

The actors did their part, the directors did their part. But the script itself lacked any artistic merit or the call for philosophical discourse. There is no deeper meaning in any of the characters' actions. Sanguro needs money to get back in his father's good graces, Gengobe needs money to join the 47 ronin. Sanguro tricks Gengobe using Koman and Gengobe kills everyone. That is the entire plot of this film.

A special mention to Hachiemon, Gengobe's servant who tried everything to save his master.

Frankie and Johnny (1991)

incredibly human

[8/10 · 27 April 2024]

This movie is about giving yourself another chance and moving on from your past no matter how scary it is to venture into the unknown. There is also subtext about physical abuse and loneliness.

Frankie has given up on love after past abusive relationships and avoids getting hurt. Johnny has had everything taken away from him and understands that the connections he makes with other people make life worth living. Two contrasting personalities, one of quiet and uncertainty, the other vocal and certain about what he wants portrayed beautifully by two of the greatest actors of all time.

Frankie stares out her window to see various relationships of her neighbours: what she wants, what she is scared of. She finally learns that she can let go of her past when she sees that her neighbour has left her abusive partner.

I'm a sucker for piano pieces and the whole ending sequence with Clair de Lune was enchanting. Michelle Pfeiffer carries the screen with her empty stares through her blue eyes and the sudden, heart-piercing smiles.

Super Deluxe (2019)

Brilliant cinematography; over the place storyline

[7/10 · 21 April 2024]

I loved the use of colour and the camera movements with some brilliant long takes.

The various interconnected stories seemed all over the place. The use of a child's innocence to question societal norms and how society isolates people who are different was superb.

The director possibly tried to explore the same idea through the teenager who saw his mother in an adult film. The same mother acted as a goddess in another film; so for some people she is a goddess and for others, she is a (degrading-term-for-non-chaste-woman). Reminds me of the dialogue from Tarkovsky's film: "what's praised today will be abused tomorrow; they'll forget you, me, everything"

There's also an argument of how we try to find meaning in everyday events through the existence of God, as depicted by Soori's father. At the latter part of the film he realizes that the same co-incidence happened to another person and he isn't the God's chosen one.

Overall, the film needed more structure and poise to really showcase the power of the ideas it tried to depict.

Strangers on a Train (1951)

Good premise, but the execution is held back.

[7/10 · 20 April 2024]

The film starts off exceedingly well by setting up the meeting of Guy and Bruno. It's not exactly clear from the get-go that Bruno is not of sound mind until we see his family scenes.

There should have been more exploration about why Bruno became as he was; a dive into his family history and upbringing.

The film also goes through the usual cliche of a happy ending at the end where the bad guy loses and the good guy wins.

But, I can see glimpses of Hitchcock's fascination with psychopaths which he further realized in Psycho. Maybe Hitchcock held back because of how it would be perceived by the critics and audiences.

Aattam (2023)

Figuring out who did it

[7/10 · 13 April 2024]

Very similar to 12 angry men. Every person in the group tries to influence everyone else to his opinion, even by altering facts and hiding information. This results in the discussion becoming more and more convoluted and people lose track of what the problem they're trying to solve.

In the end, the person who suffers is the victim herself. She can no longer trust anyone in the group and to her, they are all the culprits. I really liked how, at the end, even when given a choice to know who groped her, the protagonist did not want to know since the damage was already done and she can no longer see the group the same way and go back to how things were.

There are the usual discussions and old ways of thinking common in our country: the girl should not have been drinking, not dressing provocatively, blah blah and a counter to these arguments from other people in the group.

Main takeaway is perhaps not using lies, telling people to tell things in certain ways to influence the discussion and convolute it more and more. Also, how being a victim in such situations is an irreversible process and you always carry that experience with you.

Premalu (2024)

Hilarious rom-com with superb cinematography

[8/10 · 5 April 2024]

Do we ever fall in love with the person that we want? This film is unrealistic and I don't see someone like Neeru falling for Sachin. But that's not what makes this film magical. Reality aside, this film, like most of Malayalam films accepts the carnal aspects of human nature and finds humour in it. It is a full of life retelling of the most common love story. Excellent supporting characters like Amal Davis and Aadhi add an extra dimension to the humour in the film.

Some absolutely beautiful shots are there: loved the shots Hyderabad and the lush-green vistas of Tamil Nadu; the train scenes, Neeru under yellow lights when Sachin wakes up after drinking.

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Falling from heaven, rising to human

[9/10 · 29 March 2024]

Absolute class acts by James Stewart and Katharine Hepburn with added comedic moments by Cary Grant. Three legends at their finest.

Tracy, a high society girl, who has put on a facade of perfection in front of society finds herself with encouragement from Connor and Dexter. Katharine Hepburn's character is present in many women out there in the world and this film tells us how we sacrifice ourselves to put on a show of stability and normalcy.

Tracy thinks she'll be happy by marrying a simple man like George but the whole idea is put to test with the introduction of Connor, portrayed by the eternally charming James Stewart.

There are some scenes of absolute beauty when Katharine and Jimmy are on screen. Their chemistry is infectious, and they speak of a yearning of love through their eyes, which is reflected in the viewer's eyes as they see this movie.

I thought that Tracy would end up with Connor, but that was a nice twist by making her choose Dexter. I realize now why the marriage of Tracy and Dexter broke apart in the first place, and why Dexter, still in love with her, helped her find herself.

We shouldn't idealize the person we yearn for, but treat them as human-beings full of flaws and beaming with an infinity of stillness and countless virtues.

Mirror (1975)

A childhood half-remembered

[10/10 · 24 March 2024]

As I grow into adulthood, I begin to appreciate this film more and more. Sometimes, I sleep a very deep sleep, filled with dreams and realities. In those dreams, I recall my childhood, my mother and father, friends I didn't get to say goodbye to, and people who moved on to better places. As I wake up, I see the world awaking, with the dawn breaking. The hue is dream-like, the blue is breaking away from the black of the sky, the landscape is dreamy like fire and rain reminding me of the fire scene from this movie. I feel joy, sadness at the loss my loved ones, at promises never fulfilled, at promises never made yet fulfilled, longing for lost friends and a yearning for newer ones.

Watching this film is like going through that dream and the after-thoughts of waking up. This film is made to be felt with heart and maybe not understood with the brain.

There is discontinuity, the narrative lacks structure, and timelines shift back and forth much like dreaming. Tarkovsky is apologetic to his mother, recalls his childhood as a quiet child growing up without a father, and leaving Moscow during the worst years of World War 2 in Russia. Through fragments, he also recalls the rise of communism and the the fall of Stalinism.

Tarkovsky masterfully used the same actress as both the narrator's mother and his wife. And what an actress Margarita Terekhova is. Her face expresses the inexpressible, and evokes all that is spirital and holy in this world.

One of my all time favourite films that I'll be revisiting in the years to come as I grow older and learn even less about life than I do now.

Laapataa Ladies (2023)

A film made with love

[7/10 · 23 March 2024]

One can see from the opening and the closing credits how much thought is put into this film.

The film shows how women, especially in rural areas, are kept in a social and emotional bondage through practices like not saying their husband's name or not cooking the food they like. As time makes them prisoner, hope fades away. As they grow up, they forget their individuality and oppress the newer generations as they have been oppressed earlier; and the cycle of societal honour, societal shame, the sacrifice of individual and independent thought and ambition continues.

But this film falls into the cliche of a happy ending that is common to Indian cinema. It's good for a light-hearted film but I yearn for a day when films with a pessimistic take on things would be shown in cinema. I'm recalling Bunuel's Viridiana as I mention this.

Loved the artworks in the closing credits, loved the use of local language and the symbolic use of the veil throughout the film, even how Phool's veil is removed by the wind recalling her newfound independence.

Special mention for. Pratibha Ranta's performance; she's a joy to watch and a new crush for me.

C/o Kancharapalem (2018)

The evolving nature of love and life

[9/10 · 20 March 2024]

As human beings, we go through various belief systems, reject some, discover new ones as we grow old. Alongside, the things we like, the things we hate, our hobbies, our loves, our friends, our families evolve with us.

This film wonderfully shows this through the different love stories at different stages of life. How innocent love blooms as a child, uncaring of worldly worries. Your world revolves around the other person. How reality sets in when you love as a young adult. You get introduced to societal constructs that get in your way. How you get humbled and grow a respect for love when it appears in your late 20s and early 30s. How love becomes a longing for friendship and respect in your 40s.

Not just about love, this film is also about looking back at your years as you have grown older, seeing your face in the mirror and noticing the lines that came up with every age you've lived. It's about accepting life as it comes, living with regrets, living with fond memories, longing for people you've lost and longing for people you want.

Realizing that all the loves in this film were of the same person was a very neat piece of filmmaking. A must watch film to celebrate life in all its ugliness and all its beauty. Despite everything, life is beautiful.

No Way Out (1987)

Plain characters, predictable twists

[6/10 · 14 March 2024]

The most one-dimensional characters ever seen on film. And what's up with the homophobia of having the mastermind of the conspiracy as gay?

I don't even know what to write about here. Kevin Costner's character is a simpleton, the lady he supposedly falls in love with is plain old boring; and her excuse for being boring is looking good. Maybe the same excuse is valid for Kevin Costner's character minus the running around and action.

Honestly, I don't even know how I went through this movie. Unnecessary car sex scene, contrived love story, homophobia, and the most obvious plot twist you can think of at the end.

Poor Things (2023)

Using a brain-child to to question the world

[9/10 · 2 March 2024]

In many ways, this movie is like the Indian movie PK. Both of the characters: Bella here and PK there, haven't been conditioned by society to be in a certain way and have an endless curiosity which often leads to questioning the norm, hilarity, and food for thought. In this film, we see Bella grow, and lose her innocence as she learns about the world (the scene in which she sees babies dying in a ditch); We see her coming to terms with the fact that the world can be both good and bad and perhaps the effort would be futile, it is worth improving upon. As she matures, she becomes increasingly self-assured and develops her own identity separate from her "God". It's like watching a gifted child grow into a phenomenal adult.

Emma Stone is born into this role and is absolutely stunning, and Mark Ruffalo adds essential humour to the film. These two are the standout performers for me. It is a unique film that should be revisited in the years to come.

Mahabharat (1988–1990)

Gorgeous beginning portion, rushed at the end.

[8/10 · 26 February 2024]

The beginning of this series and the glimpse into Bheeshma's life was well done. His taming of the horse in episode 2 had parallels to Alexander's taming of Bucephalus. The creators put tremendous amount of thought and love in the Krishna episodes and it shows. Loved all the Gokul episodes leading up to Kansa's death. Hats off to the actor who played Kansa.

The episodes of the game of dice and Draupadi's disrobing were amazingly executed. The dream sequence of Dhritharashtra with his ancestors was peak television; a surreal insight into philosophy of being a king.

All the actors have played their roles brilliantly; special mention to the actors who played Duryodhana, Karna, Krishna.

Krishna was just a delight to watch until the start of the war especially when he encouraged Arjun to abduct Subhadra. His dialogues and similarly the dialogues of other characters became dull and repetitive which felt rushed as the series progressed.

Now, for some of my opinions related to the story:

The Pandavas were hypocritical to question the birth of Karna while themselves having questionable parentage. Duryodhana was absolutely right in defending Karna and making him king.

Dhritharashtra was the true mad king: blind both in intelligence and in vision. He is the chief instigator of Kurukshetra. He simply could have sent Shakuni away while Duryodhana was still young and everything would be fine. A king who cannot make the right decision, a father who cannot rebuke his son. A true mad king.

Arjun as Brihanalla going off to fight in Virat war and every elder on Kaurava side being afraid was a goosebumps moment.

Also, in episode 55 with Yaksha questions, it is clearly mentioned that the caste system is based on actions rather than birth. Yet, we have fallen into a birth-based caste system in modern India.

And Bheeshma was a world-renowned warrior only as a young adult. As he grew older, he kept using his oaths to allow evil to happen. He just keeps using his oaths to defend himself and does whatever he wants. If he wanted to tell his enemy how to defeat him, then why even fight for the Kauravas? If he was on Pandavas' side from the beginning then why did he not raise objection at the game of dice. He has become a man of lots of contradictions in my eyes.

Finally, at Kurukshetra war, there were some inconsistencies:

1. Arjun alone was able to defeat the Kaurava army in Virat war, but all Pandavas together could not defeat Dronacharya?

2. Capturing Yuddhishthir was such a big issue when Dronacharya was alive that none of the Pandavas left his side. And yet Karna was able to defeat Yuddhishthir when no one was by his side?. Why didn't Karna just capture him then?

The Last of Us: Part II (2020 Video Game)

Ignore the negative reviews. This is one of the best games of all time.

[10/10 · 24 February 2024]

Noting down all my thoughts for this masterpiece of a game here. Some day, I'll write a more structured and proper review. Some day, when I play this game again.

Like a long TV show, this game engulfed me until I was drowning in its world. As a game, it far exceeds part 1 and any other game around it.

I felt multitudes of emotions while playing and still continue to ponder over the philosophical questions that this game asked me one year after finishing it: Did Ellie had the right to end her own life at the end of part 1? Shouldn't Joel also have a say in it because he loved her?

In part 1 I saw the character of Ellie grow from being fearful and angry to more like Sarah from the beginning of part 1. Alongside, I saw influence of Ellie on Joel: he was able to move on from Sarah's death and be like he was earlier.

Sarah is what Ellie would have been had the world not gone to ashes. You can see the glow of light in her eyes fade as the story progresses. Yet, her eyes shine more when she cares for someone. The monstrosity of the world around her is contrasted with her innocence, her playfulness. Behind the rough facade she is clearly a child unsure of the world around her, desperately searching for someone or something to hold on to.

She held on to the hope that through her, the world would be saved. But, that was taken away from her. Teenage Ellie is uncertain, without a purpose until Joel's death. She latches on to revenge as her only purpose in life.

The last battle with Abby reminded me of the final boss of MGS4. It felt like Abby and Ellie would have been great friends in another life. They are basically the same person. I liked how the gameplay constantly evolved, there was not a moment of repetitiveness, you always had to adapt to a new gameplay mechanic.

The guitar symbolizes the relationship between Joel and Ellie. It is the common ground for both of them to connect on. Ellie leaving behind her guitar symbolizes her finally accepting Joel's death and moving on. Life can still go on for her after Joel, and she accepts that.

In the last flashback, Joel says that he'd do it all over again. Even though it was Ellie's life, is it really okay for only her to decide whether to end it? Through her experiences with other people, she has made others a part of her, shouldn't they, too, have a say in it? I think that was what Joel meant. Ellie belongs to him also, perhaps more than she belongs to herself.

"She lost not only the last family member she had , but also the only example of love in her life, and had to grow up with that enviroment of violence, war and no mercy, and that explains a lot about herself in my perspective, just like Joel when Ellie entered his life we saw how much he changed, how he became his old self again , like before the virus broke out, same with Abby and Lev , we could see in Santa Barbara how Abby was more open with Lev , he made her became her old self again , just like Ellie did with Joel"

The Abyss (1989)

Well-made and unique alien movie

[8/10 · 24 February 2024]

Almost the entirety of this movie had me wondering how James Cameron even filmed this and how the actors went ahead with it.

This movie is perhaps another take on the Fermi paradox: Aliens don't want to make contact with us because we are childish and fight over petty things, destroying everything around us. But it also offers hope: in the world of hatred, envy, racism, there is also love, kindness, respect. The century of Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini was also the century of Einstein, Gandhi and film.

How can we be an intelligent species if we cannot overcome our basic vices; if we cannot set aside our individual differences? Why would a more intelligent species want to make contact with us?

I loved how the aliens weren't threatening and wanted peace. The entire cinematography is gorgeous and the deep sea scenes were engulfing to the eye, much like an abyss. A must watch for all the sci-fi lovers out there.

The Great Indian Kitchen (2021)

A harrowing critique of modern society

[8/10 · 18 February 2024]

This film shows how for most of India women what marriage life is like and critiques both society and patriarchal family values.

Witnessing the collective mania and regressive thinking of society reminded me of the epigraph of Dostoevsky's Demons:

"Strike me dead, the track has vanished, Well, what now? We've lost the way, Demons have bewitched our horses, Led us in the wilds astray."

Perhaps we've lost our way over the eons of time.

The film shows the men and even the women of the family scolding the protagonist for not doing something in a certain way and never appreciating all that she did for the family.

Men are shown to blindly follow rituals and deities but not the virtues the same deities are supposed to espouse. Behaviour of not just the protagonist, but every member of the family is restricted by the so called reputation in the society. Every member must follow what everyone else follows, there is no room to think different or you'll shame the family. Even the husband is chained by the same traditions and bound to act as per his father. If he allows any freedom to the protagonist, he'll be shamed by society and his father.

For all that is lost in older people, the film shows a glimmer of hope in the form of the little girl who periodically visits the protagonist and even meets her when no one else would as she is menstruating. Maybe, it's another tale of how children are pure but lose their purity as they grow older.

Overall, a great depiction of how modern Indian society expects women to be submissive and how men are pressured to encourage this submissiveness and how children are pure and offer hope.

12th Fail (2023)

Good movie that prevents itself from achieving greatness

[8/10 · 26 January 2024]

There are too many cliched and generic characters that take away from the breadth of the experience this movie could have offered.

There is no depth to the character of Shraddha. Why is she even in the movie except to add a love story to a non-romantic movie. And their love story is contrived and unoriginal. Her character is just present as eye-candy in the movie to attract audience, nothing else.

It would have been better if her privileged upbringing was contrasted with Manoj's. Was even thinking of a split-screen montage in the vein of Better Call Saul to showcase this. But alas, let's leave it for the filmmakers who are true to their craft to the core.

The journey of Manoj is good but could have been greater if the filmmakers wanted it. But, no, let's leave it for independent and arthouse cinema.

Sex Education: Episode 8 (2023) Season 4, Episode 8

Not the show we wanted, but the one we needed.

[9/10 · 23 September 2023]

What an amazing show. I know people wanted Maeve and Otis to work out but we need to realize this show is not a sappy romantic comedy that people wanted it to be. It was a joy to watch these characters grow; Aimee moving on from assault, Eric being unafraid in front of the world to be himself, Maeve escaping her troubled past to an uncertain, bright future; My favourite has been Adam, what a performance and transformation there; truly happy for him. And Ruby is so wonderful and soft and kind; wished she and Otis ended up together but alas. One complain is perhaps that Otis didn't change much throughout the four seasons of this show. But that's maybe asking too much.

This show sucked me in as a romantic-comedy and turned out be about accepting others and accepting myself. Perhaps it's unrealistic that the characters are always so vulnerable and talk about their feelings, but I appreciate the show for the wider message. Acceptence, love and peace. Everyone is struggling with something, and it takes nothing to be kind, it's probably an effort to hate. Yes, the world is biased towards accepting certain demographics.

Photograph (I) (2019)

Never heard silence this loud

[9/10 · 17 September 2022]

"You know, the great love stories, the classics. No kissing. Nothing at all. Very pure. Hence great. Unspoken feelings are unforgettable"

Gorgeous film that deals with multiple issues. The isolation of city life compared to a rural existence (reminds me of similar contrasts in Anna Karenina).

Actions of the female lead are often restrained and she feels caged with an apathetic family. Compare to the male protagonist who has caged himself by taking on the responsibilities of his dead father. Both seek to break free and found something in common with each other.

Beautiful cinematography and piano score make this film almost perfect.

Cape Fear (1991)

Expected better from Scorsese

[7/10 · 19 September 2021]

Robert de Niro is superb as usual. Danielle Bowden is somewhat confusing as a character, unable to decide whether she likes Max Cady or hates him (I understand that Max is manipulating her).

Expected some Goodfellas-esque immersive shots, but disappointed. Some shots look as though they are straight from a horror movie, especially in the final third of the film.

Carlito's Way (1993)

A gem of the crime genre

[8/10 · 26 June 2020]

Amazing tracking shots, especially the climactic chase scene. As a whole, this movie is enjoyable and keeps you hooked. Al Pacino is his usual self, finely supported by Sean Penn.

Changeling (2008)

Interesting premise. Could've been shorter.

[7/10 · 19 June 2020]

Some of the scenes were totally unnecessary, and the film felt a bit dragged. That said, Angelina Jolie is a natural in the lead role, and is probably her best recent work.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

Every frame a painting

[9/10 · 6 April 2020]

This film's cinematography is beyond perfect. Every scene appears as though it was taken out of a masterpiece painting. The only other work I recall even close to its visual poetry is Barry Lyndon.

Every actor, especially the two leads, have done their job amazingly. Watch it if you haven't. This movie is art at its finest.

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Charming, lovable, a delight!

[9/10 · 17 June 2018]

The background piano score does justice to the impeccable cinematography. It's poetry in motion. MacFadyen is an amazing Darcy, and a fine actor. But it's all Keira Knightley stealing the show from there, with her bewitching charm and countenance. Every expression of hers is immaculate. Literally can't take eyes off her, much like Darcy in the film.