Amyth47 Reviews

Society of the Snow (2023)

You can tell it's a special film.

[9/10 · 1 February 2024]

My Rating : 9/10

I have just watched the 'making' of the film and knowing the behind the scenes makes it even more special. All the hardwork of finding the right actors for the characters, having these excited unknown faces create this artistic work in harsh environments based on real events is a great achievement from the cast and crew. Immense amount of attention to all the finer details have been beautifully and thoughtfully put together to what is an incredibly terrible and shocking story of survival and humanity.

This is not to be missed. The cinematography, soundtrack and editing is superb. Must-see.

Fighter (2024)

Packs a solid punch!

[8/10 · 27 January 2024]

My Rating : 8/10

'Fighter' has it all - sublime action sequences, gripping storyline, memorable characters, patriotism, emotions - everyone has brought their A-game to the table for this heart-pounding Bollywood actioner!

The film is a testament to Anand's ability to craft a gripping storyline that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish. His meticulous attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-octane entertainment is evident throughout the film.

The collaboration between Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone is nothing short of magical. Their on-screen presence and chemistry elevate 'Fighter' to unprecedented heights. The dynamic between the two leads is a perfect blend of action, emotion, and sizzling romance, creating a cinematic experience that will appeal to a wide range of audiences.

Hrithik Roshan, known for his charismatic screen presence and impeccable dancing skills, takes on a role that pushes the boundaries of his physical prowess. As the titular character, he delivers a performance that goes beyond mere action-hero clichés. Roshan's portrayal of a complex and layered character adds depth to the film, allowing the audience to connect with the protagonist on an emotional level.

'Fighter' is a triumph of storytelling, cinematography, and performance, setting a new benchmark for Bollywood action films.

Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

Heartwarming courtroom drama.

[8/10 · 15 December 2023]

My Rating : 8/10

Complex yet simple to follow, dynamic and nuanced at the same time, 'Anatomy of a Fall' is not the sappy seat of the pants type courtroom drama. What makes it unique is the underlying humour and seriousness with which it is portrayed, not something you get to see very often. Call it repetitive if you will but I disagree. The ambiguity is seriously addictive and creative. It's deeply entertaining to observe this strange study of psychology and also compelling.

'Anatomy' is not for everyone. You have to have the eye for the implied interpretation of topics at play here. Go in with an open heart and mind and perhaps you will be convinced as I am. Peculiar entertaining drama.

Reptile (2023)

Slow-burner like no other.

[7/10 · 15 December 2023]

My Rating : 7/10

Standout thriller with a well-paced storyline, 'Reptile' grips the viewer into a murder-mystery puzzle in the vein of 'True Detective' or 'Twin Peaks'. Slow, meticulous and skilfully directed, 'Reptile' has many twists and Lynchian undertones such as upright characters in double-dealing situations, dark suburbia and noir.

Benicia del Toro gives off a moody yet moral detective vibe with a dark sense of humour. On the flip side, it is very slow so viewers who want a fast-paced thriller will perhaps not enjoy it, it can drag unfortunately. However, if you like small towns, mysteries, Polanski then 'Reptile' is your thing. Go seek it out. It's not only a slow-burner, it's a slow-but-confident crawler!

Fanny and Alexander (1983)

Haunting farewell to cinema from Bergman.

[10/10 · 30 April 2023]

My Rating : 10/10 ♠ Tour de Force ♠

What an end to a career, one of the greatest to ever do it goes out with absolute integrity, clarity and confidence.

With so many masterpieces, my favourites being 'Winter Light', 'Wild Strawberries' and 'Cries and Whispers', Ingmar Bergman - a master of cinema - gives it his all in this semi-autobiographical work. The cinematography by Sven Nykvist is exquisite as usual.

Harrowing and profound, cold and clear; Bergman took hold of his demons and went for it.

While he hides from his demons in his grandmother's lap, she reads: "Anything can happen, anything is possible and likely.

Time and space do not exist.

On a flimsy ground of reality Imagination spins out and weaves new patterns."

'Not for pleasure alone'.

Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat (2022)

Almost Anarchy with a Gen-Z Kashyap.

[7/10 · 4 February 2023]

My Rating : 7/10

After 2018's excellent Manmarziyaan Anurag Kashyap takes on a much more wilder take on love with 'Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat'. The usual dark ingredients are all there which we have come to love about him - controversial themes, political awareness, rebellion for mainstream, and to top it off - Amit Trivedi's beautiful soundtrack weaving it altogether in a nice tasty tapestry of a coup d'état of Bollywood and box office.

It is exactly as one would expect it - going over risqué territory without taking itself too seriously. Kashyap knows he's not aiming to make another 'Gangs' or 'Gulaal' - this is a bit more pretentious but on purpose and it works well I reckon.

The theory, history and culture of film is loosely discounted more or less - the viewer isn't expected to look for something transcendental, existential or spiritual for that matter. The script aptly responds to the talent of the newcomers and the style and poetics of the world created by the director. It's taken seven years for this to be taken from three to two-dimensions.

The final crescendo is the director casting off his known ingredients into a modern crucible, and transmutating into perhaps his rendition of Generation Z love - The climax shows the characters preparing for the proverbial kill in all its vulpine forms - a form of power play that the director hopes in a culture of paranoia, nihilism and misogyny can be recovered through that four-letter word in English. No, not that one, the other one.

Distinctively Kashyap!

The Vast of Night (2019)

Impressive low-budget, sci-fi gem!

[7/10 · 3 January 2023]

My Rating : 7/10

How does one make a good film with a low-budget and still not compromise on the vision? Here's the answer. Unique and extremely fun, 'The Vast of Night' is a real gem and the excitement of watching something new and mysterious unfolding for the audience is superbly executed by the director.

It is paced wonderfully and the simplicity of the high-concept works brilliantly. The use of music, dialogues and the retro cinematography shows it's made by a cinema lover and in earnest.

I applaud the ingenuity of the director and screenwriters on a small budget and I would not be surprised that bigger and better things lie ahead for each of these creatives.

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

Confusing but silently comforting and beautiful.

[6/10 · 2 January 2023]

My Rating : 6/10

It looked good and pretty promising coming from the team behind 'In Bruges' however it is not as good or exciting to watch unfortunately. What shines through brilliantly though is the infinite charm of the leading and supporting actors but is it enough to get it over the line? I guess if you don't take it too seriously and not complain about the overall dullness of the screenplay and lack of any meaningful plot which creates a barrier for the viewer to fully engage and make any real sense about the cause of the impasse.

All in all, 'The Banshees of Inisherin' is not as memorable as 'In Bruges' and it seems this kind of comedy drama plays out within its genre peculiarities and does so somewhat well but its convoluted and often boring and unnecessarily existential like my review. Like what's the point? The dialogues are not witty enough at times and seem too simple for a well-made movie.

I enjoyed the ending, Colin Farrell's always nice guy character finally answers to the idiocy and that's when finally something normal happens!

Silence (I) (2016)

One of the finest religious movies ever made.

[7/10 · 10 December 2022]

My Rating : 7/10

Martin Scorsese's passion project of 25 years, 'Silence' is a religious movie dealing with themes of faith, doubt, hope, suffering, salvation and one's belief in God the Almighty - both sacred and profane.

The pacing of the film is purposefully slow with interesting cinematography to keep the viewer engaged with sparse narration and dialogue. It is Scorsese's most minimalist film and does away from his usual theatrical quality of violence - though there is some violence in the second half - an unusual combination of religion and violence not often seen in movies of this kind.

The strongest, clearest way to understand the story of Silence is through the character of Rodrigues, because his arc hangs on a double thread: that of his role as a European missionary in Japan - what from the 21st century might seem like a "white savior" complex - and that of his place as a priest struggling to understand how to imitate Christ and realizing, slowly, that he can't, or at least not the way he thought he should.

It's a long film and you really need to be in the mood for it to enjoy and absorb it fully as it is very simple and often gets repetitive.

Enjoy it for what it is, Scorsese seldom makes such arthouse movies, the others being The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) and Kundun (1997) and Silence (2016) which rounds up Scorsese's trilogy of spiritual films.

Inception (2010)

The Most Stylish Sci-Fi Thriller You Will Ever See (With the Exception of just The One).

[10/10 · 16 November 2022]

My Review : 10/10 ♠ Absolute Must-See ♠

On rewatching 'Inception' in 2022 as of this writing makes it 12 years old and yet it is just as exhilarating and absorbing and in my opinion one of the most stylishly-shot yet mature-themed thrillers with no unnecessary gimmicks or MacGuffins. It holds its own and is far superior and intelligent than many of its peers - 'Arrival', 'Gravity' and also Nolan's own 'Tenet'. Only 'Blade Runner 2049' would be on the same level - 'Matrix' is God-Tier and sacrosanct to compare it with just about anything so we won't go THAT far - you get the point.

Nolan wanted to explore "the idea of people sharing a dream space... That gives you the ability to access somebody's unconscious mind. What would that be used and abused for?" The majority of the film's plot takes place in these interconnected dream worlds. This structure creates a framework where actions in the real or dream worlds ripple across others.

For once - Blockbusters and art are the same thing! Very seldom is this combination achieved so go ahead and let yourself be engulfed in this intricate labyrinthine cinematic achievement.

Monica, O My Darling (2022)

Well-Crafted Idiosyncratic Neo-Noir Mumbai Thriller.

[8/10 · 13 November 2022]

My Rating : 8/10

Sriram Raghavan. Quentin Tarantino. And now Vasan Bala. 'Monica O My Darling' takes inspiration from the Pulp-Fictions and Andhadhuns of the cinema world where non-linear storylines, dark humor, stylized violence and excessive profanity all make a delicious appearance - and let's not forget a super catchy background score to tie it all together brilliantly!

At crucial junctures, Bala allows divine intervention to kick in. At one point, Bala literally shows the mirror to Jayant in between a beautifully-crafted scene. The sprinkling of multiple dialects by different characters with peculiar surnames makes the storytelling all the more flavourful.

Monica... is not to be missed.

"Dheele chhodne ka, feel ke saath"

Citizenfour (2014)

a lesson in resilience

[10/10 · 2 November 2022]

My Rating : 10/10 ♠ Must-See ♠

neither god nor master citizenfour is a masterclass of resilience in the face of inner morality. Edward Snowden is not just a technology wizard but a moral artisan. The debate of security, politics, technology, patriotism - every moral obligation if out there exposed thanks to the wizard.

A documentary which is eye-opening, interesting and shows so much without it taking itself too seriously. The wizard makes sure that everything is ok and no need to stress - he imparts valuable lessons, his core human philosophy, its super exciting to watch it unfold and really opens up the matrix.

Decision to Leave (2022)

Risky, stylish and everything cinema should be!

[8/10 · 28 October 2022]

My Rating : 8/10

'Decision to Leave' is one hell of a ride - it's a lot of movie and with a runtime of 2 hours and 18 minutes there's lots of things going on - like a puzzle with elements of melodrama and violence, lots of humour to not get too in your face, essential for a dark slow-burn movie that's trying to create something interesting and innovative.

This is a different type of a critique movie - it's more personal and not trying to be like 'Parasite' - this is more introverted and it's a beautiful love story given all the craziness - it's more a textbook movie than one which is open to reviews and interpretations.

Sublime, ethereal with all the dark humour anyone could ever ask for. Highest Recommendation.

Vikram Vedha (2022)

Top Notch work from Mr. Hrithik Roshan

[8/10 · 14 October 2022]

My Rating : 8/10

Famous for always playing the good guy with the dance skills, here in Vikram Vedha Mr. Roshan breaks stereotype to deliver a badass villain with killer action prowess as well as equally murderous dance moves.

The dialogue-baazi, humour and storyline are all engaging and everyone of the actors do a splendid job. While 'Alcoholia' the item song thrown in is a bit of a stretch though tolerable in spite of the cheese factor.

Great for multiple viewings, it's fresh and stands on it's own. I have watched the Tamil version and think it's a solid remake and rather a more interesting one if you are the Hindi-speaking audience. Go watch it on the big screen if possible, the background score alone makes it worth it!!

Chup (2022)

India's answer to Se7en! What's in the bouquet?

[8/10 · 25 September 2022]

My Rating : 8/10

Se7en is a phenomena in the genre of psychological crime thrillers. India, predominantly Bollywood, shuns from making such movies due to the high level of violence depicted on screen. 'Chup' challenges and changes (hopefully!) the status quo. 'Masterpiece', 'Classic' - the notion of using these words is too vacuous to have any meaning anymore. I'm going to term this film as a 'movement of transcendence'. Writing critical comments is not a worthwhile process.

Is 'Chup' purely existentialist in nature? An existential death of the main character? Or his notion of life is rather a composite of the existential conception of being-towards-death and the traditional metaphysical conception of an artistic death? Limitations of cinematic space have thus raised the question of where to put the line of demarcation regarding the content of the artist's art and his place in the world. I prefer a close reading of the text - both sympathetic and critical.

'Chup' is a perfect marriage of concept, logic and metanarrative cinema. The overwhelming plurality of perceived items can be daunting whoever a desirable goal has been accomplished thus and I hope all audiences find the right entrance into it - that's what matters the most, not the circular process of criticism. Unconcealment is the essence of truth and 'Chup' asserts, it points out, it 'lets' what is 'be seen' in its uncoveredness.

'Chup' is infinitely illuminating - Jalaa do ise Jalaa do jalaa do - Sitaaro se jalaa do - go watch it right away.

Cuttputlli (2022)

Copy + Paste = Cuttputlli

[5/10 · 11 September 2022]

My Rating : 5/10

It's not like Akshay Kumar will star in a Christopher Nolan or Martin Scorsese picture - this is as close as it gets. Akshay Kumar is just doing the same acting in every other movie. He has put no efforts to perform the emotional scenes.

It's a half-decent thriller, keeps the average viewer engaged, dumped on OTT for mass consumption, nothing unique or ingenious. Oh it has this annoying thing where they use two similar-looking actresses for two roles, not sure why this unusual confusion? You'll know it when you watch it!

It's a copy of Ratsasan which it does justice to in the context of a Bollywood movie - OK for a one-time viewing! Go watch if you have nothing better to do!

Brahmastra Part One: Shiva (2022)

All the king's men cannot put it back together again.

[2/10 · 10 September 2022]

My Rating : 2/10

Boring and an absolute waste of time and money - both producers' and audiences'.

Cringe dialogues, bland storyline and lacks anything worthy of comment. The VFX are ok-good but it seems like trying too hard to show your animation skills, like forcefully overdoing it. Looks very childish and there is no emotional connection between the characters. Seems they just chose the locations and then decided the story and screenplay. Ridiculous, Bollywood will have to seriously think about how to make good films.

Snoozefest through and through. Mujhko itna bataye koi - aisi picture kyu banayi Ayan Mukerji?

Brahmastra Part One: Shiva (2022)

All the king's men cannot put it back together again.

[2/10 · 10 September 2022]

My Rating : 1/10

Boring and an absolute waste of time and money - both producers' as well as audiences'.

Cringe dialogues, bland storyline and lacks anything worthy of comment. The VFX are ok-good but it seems like trying too hard to show your animation skills, like forcefully overdoing it. Looks very childish and there is no emotional connection between the characters. Seems they just chose the locations and then decided the story and screenplay. Ridiculous, Bollywood will have to seriously think about how to make good films.

Snoozefest through and through. Mujhko itna bataye koi - aisi picture kyu banayi Ayan Mukerji?

Public Affairs (1934)

Bresson disowns his first work!

[8/10 · 8 September 2022]

My Rating : 8/10

Bresson's first venture as director was a medium-length comedy with nods to René Clair and Jean Vigo called ''Les affaires publiques''.

Bresson later admitted that he did have a fondness for it and it's failure prevented him from making other films.

Of all the lost films in cinema history's phantom filmography, the 'lostest', so to speak, at least ex aequo with the complete Greed, has always been Robert Bresson's Les Affaires publiques. All one knew was its title (which has turned out to be inaccurate), its date of registration (1934), its running time (approximately twenty minutes) and - most startlingly in view of the director's subsequent reputation - the fact that it was a comedy. Indeed, Bresson himself referred to it, with perhaps more than a soupçon of poker-faced malice, as 'like Buster Keaton, only much, much worse.'

Well, Les Affaires publiques has been found - a real achievement considering that the title on the can of film was Le Chancelier (The Chancellor) while that on the print itself was Beby inauguré (Beby Inaugurates). The can was chanced on by a group of film historians rummaging through the chaotically stacked archives of the Cinémathèque Française.

What, one asks, does a burlesque comedy by Robert Bresson actually look like? The answer: A circus with a plot; a piece of filmic doggerel; a cartoon with live actors - and like a cartoon activated exclusively by energy. For all that there is frankly nothing in Beby inauguré quite as memorable as the fact and the circumstances of its belated rediscovery, it is not just a curiosity, to be savoured solely for its rarity; and if scarcely the revelation that might have been hoped, it is very much better, funnier than Bresson's self-contradictory description had led one to fear.

As for the plot, if that is the correct word, it is indescribable, being nothing more than a sequence of gags centred on two adjacent republics, Crogandia and Miremia (shades of Duck Soup), a Miremian aviatrix whose monoplane crashes on Crogandian soil, the solemn inauguration of a statue by the frock-coated Crogandian Chancellor (Beby), and the no less solemn and no less snag-infested launching of a ship. Actually, despite glimmerings of Duck Soup, The Navigator (in the semi-choreographed animation of inanimate objects) and Million Dollar Legs (in the quaint surreality of the situation), Bresson's maybe insufficiently anarchic sense of humour comes closest to the human puppetry of Clair's Le Dernier Milliardaire. That said, there are, amid some stillborn bubbles of wit, a small cluster of absolute knockout jokes.

Nobody's Fool (1994)

Profound.

[7/10 · 11 May 2022]

My Rating : 7/10

Paul Newman, the blue-eyed devil goes to work on this emotional, loving story of his failure as a parent and his reconciliation with never wanting to grow up and how it has shaped everyone around him.

It's a nice drama with surprises which you would be hopeful of anticipating akin to a sweet suspense of how the movie will turn out given the issues.

It's a cute movie, look for it.

Kes (1969)

Honest, painful yet so much fun!

[8/10 · 9 May 2022]

My Rating : 8/10

Krzysztof Kieslowski named 'Kes' as one of the films that affected him most as a cinema-goer and so I had to take the plunge and I wasn't disappointed. It's a laughter-riot steeped in oodles of tragedy. Equal parts primitive and intelligent, 'Kes' is full of life and the atmosphere of the film is very upbeat and practical.

While I do not like to see the main character in such conflicting situations at such a young age, it is a straight-up, rough around the edges look at the reality of his life. Utterly relatable and a very well-made film too.

Small, significant and sublime. Clicks tongue.

Thar (2022)

To make a film is to connect living beings through looking.

[6/10 · 8 May 2022]

My Rating : 6/10

Employing subjects of violence and gore, 'Thar' is profanely sublime. The subliminally slow and suspenseful plot makes for a rather interesting movie.

I won't go into the usual filmic critique as it's value is lost thus. The only souvenir is the harshness of crime and the coldness of the protagonist's tears.

Ok for a one-time viewing or multiple, your call.

Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy (2022– )

Kanye West on the top of the world.

[10/10 · 4 May 2022]

My Rating : 10/10 ♠ jeen-yuhs ♠

Kanye West - however distorted his public image maybe, no stranger to controversy (all thanks to the media!) - here in 'jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy' we see a humble man struggling for his dreams, a regular guy whose creativity shook the world of hip-hop, out with the money, women, drugs and in with faith, God, life and everything good in it.

All the fame, controversy, money, shoes, flashing lights mean nothing - seeing Kanye with his mother happy and absolutely having the best time of his life is what life is all about, that's the authentic world of this young boy making his mama proud and always drawing his inspiration from her love and positive encouragement to pursue his dreams.

It shows the real Kanye, the old Kanye, the remarkable beat-making Kanye, the faithful philosopher Kanye (the name means 'the only one', after all) with his trademark singular mindset of living and appreciating life inspite of the knocks it throws at you.

This is Yeezy unfiltered, living it up with grace, faith and his signature overconfidence and arrogance that we all love!

'The giant looks in the mirror and sees nothing'.

Saint Maud (2019)

Spiritual violence of the highest order.

[7/10 · 25 April 2022]

My Rating : 7/10

Is it a master-masterpiece? Oh well, I don't know since that term gets thrown around a lot.

It takes a lot to make a female-oriented religious movie. The storyline and interior drama of the protagonist is a bit violent in nature hence it's aptly put down in the Horror category. For those who have watched Priest movies like Paul Schrader's First Reformed or Ingmar Bergman's classic 'Winter Light' you're in for a treat, this is far more extreme.

It's loud, repulsive and if you like your art visceral, watch Saint Maud.

Raising Arizona (1987)

Funny and oddball comedy done really well.

[8/10 · 25 April 2022]

My Rating : 8/10.

Just watched it the other day and loved it.

Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter are super cute, Joel Coen and team have done a fine job.

The humour is non-stop, the tragedy is undoubtedly comic in nature. Must-see.