Top 10 Hindi Movies of 2018

Top 10 Hindi Movies in 2018

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1. Stree

What I remember - New genre for Hindi movies (Horror Comedy) done right. Situational comedy and just lot of creativity with great acting.

From the Files - 

Stree - 4.5 Stars. PG. (Horror Comedy)

स्त्री तू बार बार आना

Stree - Trailer

Director - Amar Kaushik

Actors - Rajkummar Rao, Shradhha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi.

Writers - Raj Nidimoru, Krishna DK.

What a concept and well executed. For decades we see this genre relegated to B-grade movies, because of same limited concept of a 'bhoot'. Someone decided to flip the script and make 'horror' into a 'comedy'. Great writers can do anything! The movie has couple of winners - writers and then there is Mr Pankaj Tripathi. The rule has been written - if there is a movie with UP backdrop - you need to have Pankaj in it. The guy is on a purple patch, you can tell his confidence in his comic timing - when he says in the movie - हम सब जानते हैं.

The movie is about 'stree' a ghost who is taking away men during 4 day festival season. Rajkummar Rao is excellent as usual (it is his genre) Shradha Kapoor does very well to underplay the character to keep the mystery alive. Lots of laughs and hugely entertaining. Go watch it.

2. Mulk

What I remember - Problems of every minority beautifully put forward against an increasingly right wing crazy world. 

From the Files - 
Mulk - 5 Stars. PG13. (Drama)
गाए मुल्क नहीं बनाती


Mulk - Trailer

Director - Anubhav Sinha
Actors - Tapsee Pannu, Rishi Kapoor, Prateik Babbar.

Wah! Anubhav Sinha Wah! What a movie, you make me depressed. I watch the movie and feel all the emotions you pack into it. But why am I depressed is... the right wing friends and family will watch the movie, turn around and say it was a good movie and then go about their hateful business as usual! I don't get it! 

This movie is in the cult genre of 'Dev' few years back Pahlaj Nihlani did a powerful Dev with Amitabh and now this. I need to warn you - this is strictly in artsy category, if you like socio-political drama go watch it, else skip it. 

A Muslim family is asked to prove their innocence in a typical right wing way. If you are innocent prove it! Not the other way round. They don't want to fight but then they have to fight. If nothing else it clarifies the definition of Terrorism. Contrary to belief (Muslim guy killing anyone) it is actually different watch the movie. Tapsee and Rishi do an awesome job. Again I think Rishi himself is a right wing guy, so what my belief is - if you ask UP CM if he is a hardliner probably he will say he is the most liberal guy around!! They don't know!! They don't even know!! huh. Anyway go watch it.

3. Tumhari Sulu

What I remember - Sweet relationship drama comedy romance. Best couple of the year goes to Sulu and her husband. New, fresh and still seeped in old relationship formula.

From the Files - 

Tumhari Sulu - 5.0 Stars. (G.)
सुल्लू कमाल की, पति और कमाल का, और उनका रिश्ता माशा अल्ला 

Trailer

Director: Suresh Triveni

Actors: Vidya Balan, Neha Dhupia, Manav Kaul.

Beautifully done, What a Movie!! A perfectly imperfect couple, how cute relationship. A perfect husband, a perfect wife and an imperfect life. Vidya Balan is a great actor but what about this hidden gem - the husband Mr Manav Kaul. Hats off to him, what a performance. Then there is ever reliable Neha Dhupia. Sulu's over bearing family is just awesome for lack of a good superlative, perfect nuisance but a nuisance Sulu needs. How about the couple's plans to make life better? Their beautiful fights, when you know you are fighting the person you love the most... yea.. somehow they just show it on the screen. As I was writing this review... the rating went from 4.5 to 5 Stars! 

4. October

What I remember - Man stuck in an episode of his life, he can't move forward and can't understand how the world keeps going!! Incredible how someone thought of this as a movie and made it!!

From the Files - 

October - 4.5 Stars. R. (Drama.)
दर्द की कीमत चुकानी पड़ती है


Director - Shoojit Sircar
Actors - Varun Dhawan, Banita Sandhu

Trailer

Some movies get over and you sit there and don't move. You sit there and you can't shut off the TV. You move and go to bed but the movie is with you, not because it was exciting or entertaining but because it just made you feel something which you lose in day to day life.

Varun Dhawan does a Judwa2 and then he does an 'October'. He plays a regular person you can so identify with. He is not good at most things in life, but his human is alive in him. He is not successful in any way but he has something good about him. Then an incident happens on a new year. A co worker girl is critical in the hospital, something breaks in him. He can't let it go (similar to Rukh), he gets stuck with one thing. The regular stupid life which people live he can no longer live. He is stuck in his head and heart. No he is not in love, he just has love in his heart! O.. so beautiful. Watch it if you got loads of time and you still have something alive in you besides running around in your mechanical life.

5. Sui Dhaaga

What I remember - Loads of emotions, the lower middle class struggles, Anushka's outstanding acting and small things that make a difference for a common man. 

From the Files - 

Sui Dhaaga - 4.5 Stars. G. (Drama)
आम से ख़ास तक का सफर


Sui Dhaga - Trailer

Director - Sharat Katariya
Actors - Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghuvir Yadav.

Many people may not give it a high rating but for some reason something did connect with me. The perfect presentation of North and Ghaziabad, the ordinary lifestyle and the way small things and small successes are supposed to be very big in individual's life. The story is typical rags to riches story with struggles and triumphs, but there is something about Aditya Chopra's presentation that works. Again the side actors who are now a days the life of these movies are A-1. The Mom is awesome and at one point I fell down from my seat laughing. The movie got me thinking of all the struggles my Mom used to go through and the character of Anushka is very close to her, the iron lady who wants to do something of her own but has to get it done in various different ways including giving his doting husband enough courage to do it. Go watch it if not done yet.

Anushka as usual gets into the character and you can't tell she is not that lower middle class girl with ambitions. I was disappointed with Varun Dhawan, because I rate him as pretty good actor and a few scenes where he could have amped it, he decided to underplay it.

6. Manmarziyaan

What I remember - Creative, different, breaking all molds of love. The Music and the twins dancing to those tunes. Bachchan removing and putting his turban, Tapsee walking briskly with her mind not settled on what is right/ wrong and what is good/ bad and what is happy / sad. 

From the Files - 

Manmarziyaan - 4.5 Stars. R. (Romance)
मेरी मर्ज़ी तेरी मर्ज़ी और उसकी मर्ज़ी


Manmarziyaan - Trailer

Director - Anurag Kashyap
Actors - Vicky Kaushal, Tapsee Pannu, Abhishek Bachchan.

When you hear that Anurag Kashyap has directed a Love Story.... you are like Whaaaa.... Anurag is Anurag and he does what he does. Thanks Mr Kashyap for being. 

The love story is not your regular Love Story to say the least, it destroys all codes and rules of a love story. Girl is irresponsible, stupid, silly, in fact does not fit anything 'good' we have known for so long. The boy has nothing to be loved for. They won't change the way they are, nothing will change 'for love'. So what do we do? We have a film at our hands. Then there is someone called Mr Bachchan Jr who knows a thing or 2 about underplaying a character with intensity. He has his own manmarziyaan who is stuck on marrying the 'bad'. No one is a good personality, none of them make much sense just like humans... you know humans are all too human. Every character has their own way of living their own manmarzi they will live with, along the way all the societal norms fall, who made these rules about love anyway? You can love and not take it all the way to some kind of fruition! You can love and take it to an ending too. It's all yours to decide.

Then there is something called direction - the twins pop in and out of each song the moment any of the 3 protagonists are in 2 minds, Abhishek drops his pug whenever he is plotting. And then the reason this movie is still in my head - the songs. Take a bow Mr Amit Trivedi. I don't like Punjabi music, the party sharty, daaru shaaru songs filled in every movie because they have to be put in. Amit trivedi shows us what Punjabi music can do! lilting melodies to creative rap. All in one album. As eros entertainment aptly puts it - From Punjabi vibes to electric, from club songs to sangeet music, and from love songs to an ode to heartbreak.

Do yourself a favor and listen to it one more time - Here

7. Mukkabaaz

What I remember - Rustic north. Throw back romance. Powerful and impactful and surprising ending.

From the Files - 

MukkaBaaz - 4.5 Stars. PG13 (Action / Drama)
मुक्का मार, दिल हार

Director - Anurag Kashyap
Actors - Vineet Kumar Singh, Jimmy Shergill, Ravi Kishan, Sadhna Singh.

Trailer

Anurag Kashyap directing a rugged UP lifestyle Love story, you cant go wrong here. This blogger has bias towards Kashyap and UP based movies, this one tops with awesome regional folksy songs. the product is ugly, sad and beautiful love story. A regular guy wants to become a boxer if that is not tough in a corrupt system, that's not all, he is an eccentric and falls in love with a girl who as eccentric as him. Troubles mount on them, Jimmy Shergill proves he is perfect in any role, but when it comes to villainy he has made a name for himself. Jerk, corrupt and typical UP politician all in one, you loath him and more. You root for the Boxer and the lover in protagonist 'shravan' but it is too much of a stretch to think he will win it all. Ending is something straight out of Anurag Kashyap's eccentric mind. Watch it!

8. Manto

What I remember - Drunk poet commenting on the world! You just can't go wrong!

From the Files - 

Manto  - 4.5 Stars. PG13. (Biographic)
दुनिया बुरी है तो में क्या करू?


Directors - Nandita Das
Actors - Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rasika Duggal, Tahir Raj Bhasin.

Manto - Trailer

Manto (Saadat Hassan Manto) was a poet / bollywood writer and a social activist and more during independence era. The guy had guts and was made out of the same stuff as Ghalib. Similar disdain for society and similar failures in life. Drunk failure in life is a charm of a poet and Manto had it all. 

After  a long time Nawazuddin figured he has stopped being an actor and took over a role that challenges him. After disappointing with his type cast roles like Sacred Games, he comes out and gives a great performance. 

Manto lived in Bombay and then partition happens and he left to Pakistan. Beautifully done by Nandita Das (a great director) showing the era with Ashok Kumar era of bollywood and how people's lives and friendships were changed due to independence. The guy has some great lines - ज़माना ही नाकाबिले बर्दाश्त है. And इतना मुसलमान तो हु की मारा जा सकू. The stories that Manto wrote are intermingled beautifully in the narration  and we can't tell what is reality and what is his writing. uff.. as I type I feel I need to watch it again.

9. Mom

What I remember - Sridevi showing how to be a superstar. Old school revenge drama. 

From the Files - 

Mom - 4.5 Stars. (R)
श्रीदेवी तुस्सी कमाल थी 

Trailer

Director: Ravi Udyawar.
Actors: Sridevi, Akshaye Khanna, Nawazuddin.

Sridevi could act and what an actor she was! In this movie she displays the art of being a super star not just an actor but she was a Super Star. This is a modern day 'Aakhri Raasta' or any revenge drama you like of yester years. Story is wafer thin, there is nothing to hold the movie together but who cares there is Sridevi! Her anger, her longing for being loved by her step-daughter all is shown on her face effortlessly. She goes for the kill and revenge. Then she goes in the face of the Villain and says - 'dekh uski maa aa gayi'. Perfect. This is how an old school revenge drama is done, but main ingredient is an old school stalwart who understands how to do it! Sadly this is the last of this great actor we will see.

10. Beyond the Clouds

What I remember - Life for some people is not easy. A new actor is born.

From the Files - 

Beyond the Clouds - 4.5 Stars. R. (Drama)

ज्यादातर लोगों की ज़िन्दगी ऐसी है 

Beyond The Clouds - Trailer

Director - Majid Majidi

Actors - Ishaan Khattar, Malavika Mohanan.

Theory is the actor got famous because of the movie 'Dhadak' and this movie could be released, which was made before Dhadak. The dude is a stud, what an actor. The kid has screen presence and has a cool confidence about him. Good actor.

The movie is one depress fest which all who are reading this blog should see to get used to the idea of what life is for most of the world. The story is of Brother and Sister who are trying there best to kick the life they were born in. Living in slums, drugs, prostitution, society, cops and hope. Audacity of Hope is it still tries to pull you into living. Living for something good to happen. The movie has some beautiful moments when our hero becomes the savior and best friend of the villain. Ahh... what a beauty of a plot.

Honorable Mentions 

Badhai Ho, 102 Not Out, Fukrey Returns, Secret Superstar, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, Once Again, Lust Stories, Bhouri, Hope Aur Hum, Rukh.

Q4 2018 - Tansformation of Bollywood is complete, No more Formula Movies.

POPULAR BOLLYWOOD

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Andhadhun - 4.0 Stars. PG13. (Mystery / Thriller)
खेल है ... खेल में कुछ भी हो सकता है


Andhadhun - trailer

Director - Sriram Raghavan
Actors - Ayushman Khurrana, Radhika Apte, Tabu

Sriram Raghavan rarely disappoints, this taut suspense thriller keeps a brisk Raghavan pace with enough twists to keep you entertained. The plot revolves around a blind man who 'witnesses' a murder or 2. He runs into situations and problems and the plot thickens and characters get added by a dozen. Actors go through the motions and even the great Tabu does not really leave an impact on the powerful character she plays. In trying to get the pace up and twists going the characters take a back seat and twists are at the forefront. But still it's a enjoyable ride with no time to relax.

Bhadhai Ho - 4.0 Stars. PG. (Comedy / Drama)
बच्चा ना हुआ बवाल हो गया


Badhai Ho - Trailer

Director - Amit Sharma
Actors - Ayushmann Khurrana, Sanya Malhotra, Neena Gupta

This is probably rated as one of the best movie of the year. So obviously the movie is a good movie. Why is it not rated higher here? - The answer is trailers. I don't watch them, but I heard the trailer due to others watching them. The trailer was the entire movie. Some movies have a great concept but they never move from there. So obviously the movie is in the moments and not in the story. They do a great job of putting together some great emotional moments in the movie. Parents (in their 40s) are having a kid and this does not sit well with anyone, not with grown kids nor with society. The movie is all about  how the tide turns for them. I would give this movie a 3.5 if it was not for the Daadi (grand mom) - she is hilarious and later she puts in a great emotional scene to pack it all in.

Manmarziyaan - 4.5 Stars. R. (Romance)
मेरी मर्ज़ी तेरी मर्ज़ी और उसकी मर्ज़ी


Manmarziyaan - Trailer

Director - Anurag Kashyap
Actors - Vicky Kaushal, Tapsee Pannu, Abhishek Bachchan.

When you hear that Anurag Kashyap has directed a Love Story.... you are like Whaaaa.... Anurag is Anurag and he does what he does. Thanks Mr Kashyap for being. 

The love story is not your regular Love Story to say the least, it destroys all codes and rules of a love story. Girl is irresponsible, stupid, silly, in fact does not fit anything 'good' we have known for so long. The boy has nothing to be loved for. They won't change the way they are, nothing will change 'for love'. So what do we do? We have a film at our hands. Then there is someone called Mr Bachchan Jr who knows a thing or 2 about underplaying a character with intensity. He has his own manmarziyaan who is stuck on marrying the 'bad'. No one is a good personality, none of them make much sense just like humans... you know humans are all too human. Every character has their own way of living their own manmarzi they will live with, along the way all the societal norms fall, who made these rules about love anyway? You can love and not take it all the way to some kind of fruition! You can love and take it to an ending too. It's all yours to decide.

Then there is something called direction - the twins pop in and out of each song the moment any of the 3 protagonists are in 2 minds, Abhishek drops his pug whenever he is plotting. And then the reason this movie is still in my head - the songs. Take a bow Mr Amit Trivedi. I don't like Punjabi music, the party sharty, daaru shaaru songs filled in every movie because they have to be put in. Amit trivedi shows us what Punjabi music can do! lilting melodies to creative rap. All in one album. As eros entertainment aptly puts it - From Punjabi vibes to electric, from club songs to sangeet music, and from love songs to an ode to heartbreak.

Do yourself a favor and listen to it one more time - Here

Dhadak - 3.5 Stars. PG. (Romance)
मराठी फिलम की बढ़िया कॉपी


Dhadak - Trailer

Director - Shashank Khaitaan
Actors - Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana.

Old school love story done with a lot of sincerity. A very typical desi love story. Poor Boy meets rich girl. A typical desi boy who just runs around the girl but won't face her, I thought that era was over in the 90s in my adolescence,well I guess somewhere it continues. The girl is the stronger and braver of the 2 and hence the love story forms. A good one, not much happens and it is perfectly ok because the story remains true to the love.

Sui Dhaaga - 4.5 Stars. G. (Drama)
आम से ख़ास तक का सफर


Sui Dhaga - Trailer

Director - Sharat Katariya
Actors - Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghuvir Yadav.

Many people may not give it a high rating but for some reason something did connect with me. The perfect presentation of North and Ghaziabad, the ordinary lifestyle and the way small things and small successes are supposed to be very big in individual's life. The story is typical rags to riches story with struggles and triumphs, but there is something about Aditya Chopra's presentation that works. Again the side actors who are now a days the life of these movies are A-1. The Mom is awesome and at one point I fell down from my seat laughing. The movie got me thinking of all the struggles my Mom used to go through and the character of Anushka is very close to her, the iron lady who wants to do something of her own but has to get it done in various different ways including giving his doting husband enough courage to do it. Go watch it if not done yet.

Anushka as usual gets into the character and you can't tell she is not that lower middle class girl with ambitions. I was disappointed with Varun Dhawan, because I rate him as pretty good actor and a few scenes where he could have amped it, he decided to underplay it.

Fanney Khan - 2.0 Stars. G. (Comedy / Drama)
सपने हो गए आउट ऑफ़ कण्ट्रोल


Fanney Khan - Trailer

Director - Atul Manjrekar
Actors - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao

Anil Kapoor plays a wannabe musician who is a worker by profession, his daughter inherits the passion of music too. Fanney Khan decides to make sure his daughter got what he did not. Aishwarya plays a celeb singer the daughter wants to emulate and Rajkummar Rao plays a friend of Fanney Khan. The movie has it's moments but falls flat on the script and weird to weirder twists the movie takes. The movie gets confused between becoming a out and out senseless comedy to a serious emotional drama between Father and Daughter. You can miss this one.

Gold - 2.5 Stars. G. (Sports Drama)
एक ज़माने में हॉकी महान थी


Gold - Trailer

Director - Reema Kagti
Actors - Akshay Kumar, Mouni Roy, Kunal Kapoor.

In the era of independence Hockey was THE sport India played. Story of one man who wanted Hockey glory of a free India. Many things changed in the team, half the team became pakistani team and then typical sports corruption etc. I think we have seen many Hockey movies and many sports movies recently. This one is a little bit like a biopic of a man who is Hockey manager. Akshay does a good job acting like a Bengali, but I loved Mouni Roy as her wife, she is so cute and perfect for that role. You can watch it if you like patriotic hockey movies :)

Batti Gul Meter Chalu - 3.5 Stars. PG. (Social Drama)
बिजली की चोरी की आड़ में थ्रिलर


Batti Gul Meter Chalu - Trailer

Director - Shree Narayan Singh
Actors - Shahid Kapoor, Shradha Kapoor, Divyendu Sharma

There is a love triangle, there is major depression, there are 3 friends, there is 'wake up Sid' kind of moments in everyone's life. All this forms the story of this social drama about how local electricity boards cheats people and how it affects their lives. It is probably a semi-fiction story of a social revolution that brought the electric companies to book.

Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir se - 0 Stars. G. (Comedy)
भाई लोग हमें माफ़ करो


Yamla Pagla Deewana - Trailer

Director - Navaniat Singh
Actors - Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol

Who is going to bell the cat? Who is going to tell the deols that they are not funny? First time it was a fluke guys.... can you guys stop? If you say anything to Bobby and Sunny they will start crying and tell you how much they love their dad. Yes, we get it. But please keep it within the family.

One of the movie's hilite is - Dharmendra sees fairies around him all the time and talks to them. Go figure. This is supposed to be funny.

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ARTSY

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Manto  - 4.5 Stars. PG13. (Biographic)
दुनिया बुरी है तो में क्या करू?


Directors - Nandita Das
Actors - Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rasika Duggal, Tahir Raj Bhasin.

Manto - Trailer

Manto (Saadat Hassan Manto) was a poet / bollywood writer and a social activist and more during independence era. The guy had guts and was made out of the same stuff as Ghalib. Similar disdain for society and similar failures in life. Drunk failure in life is a charm of a poet and Manto had it all. 

After  a long time Nawazuddin figured he has stopped being an actor and took over a role that challenges him. After disappointing with his type cast roles like Sacred Games, he comes out and gives a great performance. 

Manto lived in Bombay and then partition happens and he left to Pakistan. Beautifully done by Nandita Das (a great director) showing the era with Ashok Kumar era of bollywood and how people's lives and friendships were changed due to independence. The guy has some great lines - ज़माना ही नाकाबिले बर्दाश्त है. And इतना मुसलमान तो हु की मारा जा सकू. The stories that Manto wrote are intermingled beautifully in the narration  and we can't tell what is reality and what is his writing. uff.. as I type I feel I need to watch it again.

Mulk - 5 Stars. PG13. (Drama)
गाए मुल्क नहीं बनाती


Mulk - Trailer

Director - Anubhav Sinha
Actors - Tapsee Pannu, Rishi Kapoor, Prateik Babbar.

Wah! Anubhav Sinha Wah! What a movie, you make me depressed. I watch the movie and feel all the emotions you pack into it. But why am I depressed is... the right wing friends and family will watch the movie, turn around and say it was a good movie and then go about their hateful business as usual! I don't get it! 

This movie is in the cult genre of 'Dev' few years back Pahlaj Nihlani did a powerful Dev with Amitabh and now this. I need to warn you - this is strictly in artsy category, if you like socio-political drama go watch it, else skip it. 

A Muslim family is asked to prove their innocence in a typical right wing way. If you are innocent prove it! Not the other way round. They don't want to fight but then they have to fight. If nothing else it clarifies the definition of Terrorism. Contrary to belief (Muslim guy killing anyone) it is actually different watch the movie. Tapsee and Rishi do an awesome job. Again I think Rishi himself is a right wing guy, so what my belief is - if you ask UP CM if he is a hardliner probably he will say he is the most liberal guy around!! They don't know!! They don't even know!! huh. Anyway go watch it.

Halkaa - 3.0 Stars. G. (Social Drama)
भारत का टॉयलेट प्रॉब्लम ठीक करो नहीं तो फिल्म बनती रहेंगी


Halkaa - Trailer

Director - Nila Madhab Panda
Actors - Paoli Dam, Vipin Katyal, Ranvir Shorey.

The kid in slums has a dream and also has an attitude about it. He cant do it in the open, he is laughed at for his obsession for privacy. But he wants his privacy while doing the daily ritual. The movie takes a twist when he finds like minded people who want a simple thing. A place where they can go do potty in privacy! is it too much to ask? The movie is not at all melodramatic or sad, in fact it is light and fun, that is definitely good thing about this movie with this kind of a subject.

Love and Shukla - 3.5 Stars. PG13. (Romance)
रिक्शा चलता हूँ और प्यार करता हूँ


Love And Shukla - Trailer

Director - Jatla Siddhartha
Actors - Saharsh Kumar Shukla, Taneea Rajawat

Shukla Ji is in love .... in love with his wife! Is that too much to ask? Love in Indian culture is not allowed, further if it is in chawl it is a sin. Shukla has to fight 1000s of years of culture, or at least his Mom and Sister. Very well done, though a tad bit too slow, but hey! this is artsy movie so its ok.

Hope Aur Hum - 4.0 Stars. G. (Drama)
हम सब एक जैसे हैं


Hope Aur Hum - Trailer 

Director - Sudip Bandyopadhyay.
Actors - Aamir Bashir, Naseerudin Shah.

Everyone has same issues ... everyone. From 6 to 60 everyone. Kids has to conquer their seemingly stupid fears and so do old people and everyone in the middle. This movie brings this reality to life in a beautiful tale of a Kid and his grand Dad. Very well done by Naseer and Aamir.

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SMALL BUDGET POPULAR MOVIES

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Satyameva Jayate - 1.5 Stars. PG. (Thriller / Action)
मार पिटाई के एक सौ एक बहाने


Satyameva Jayate - Trailer

Director - Milap Zaveri.
Actors - John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee, Aisha Sharma

I remember last year I anointed Mr John Abraham as an actor. A miracle I never thought will happen. Well..... John has taken his action movie acting to a limit now. All he does now is that acting - low tone dialogues and flexing muscles. Another actor turned non-actor is Manoj Bajpayee, he over plays things and lost his touch. The movie is a typical revenge pot boiler with lot of action. It has pretty good twists but somehow this looks jaded and old school and you just go through the motions. It looks like a copy of a south Indian movie for sure. It has all the formula in it. 

Karwaan - 3.75 Stars. G. (Drama)
सब कुछ होता है और कुछ नहीं होता


Karwaan - trailer

Director - Akarsh Khurana
Actors - Irrfan Khan, Dulqueer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar.

Simple story about nothing. Well done and beautifully done. Irrfan is the side kick to the couple and couple are side kicks to the plot. It's story of the journey a boy takes to figure out how to cremate his dad's body which is mixed up with another dead body. Things happen and he takes an across the state journey with his friend. At times its a comedy and at times it is not much but simply life playing itself out. Also the journey presents beautiful country locales of south India. Good movie.


Happy phir Bhaag Jaayegi - 2.0 Stars. G. (Comedy)
यह हैप्पी वो हैप्पी नहीं है.


Happy Phir Bhaag Jayegi - Trailer

Director - Mudassar Aziz
Actors - Sonakshi Sinha, Diana Penty, Jimmy Sheirgill

Last time they went to Pakistan and made it hilarious with Pakistani likable cop making it refreshing and comic. This time they stick to the same formula but in China. They go to china with some racist Chinese jokes and chinese characters. For good measure they still hang on to the pakistani cop because he was a hit last time. This time they wanted to up it and so they decide to make a shakespearean confusion with 2 Happy characters one Diana and other Sonakshi. Somehow trying to do everything, took the fun out of it. New jokes did not stick and old jokes were already old. hmm.. sometimes it is difficult to make a sequel of a semi hit movie.

Loveyatri - 2.0 Stars. G. (Romance)
वही घिसा पिता फार्मूला


LoveYatri - Trailer

Director - Abhiraj Minawala
Actors - Aayush Sharma, Warina Hussain, Caroline Wilde.

Take new actors (preferably some industry relationship kins) make a love story. Don't budge from anything that we already know works from earlier movies. A supportive uncle, and unsupportive others in the family. Rich NRI girl, Poor Kid. Poor kid should be happy go lucky, Rich girl is sad and trying to find herself. They meet and they fall in love, but then misunderstandings need to happen and some tears need to be shed. You know the drill.

Mitron - 3.25 Stars. G. (Romance)
कुछ नहीं करना तो प्यार भी नहीं करो


Mitron - Trailer

Director - Nitin Kakkar
Actors - Jackky Bhagnani, Kritika Kamra, Prateik

Jackky Bhagnani I think is a producer's son, and he had earlier tried to become an actor and failed. This is his second coming in a small budget movie so not much of a pressure. He does a pretty good job. He plays a loser gujrati guy who doesn't want to do much in life but then love makes you do everything you don't want to do. The guy meets girl in some funny circumstances they relate to each other and the flashback works through the movie. A typical love story which has its moments. Again a tad bit slow going but overall an ok watch.
You will see a glut of 3 to 3.75 starrers now because the general standard of hindi movies have gone up so I have become picky to push anything to 4. I guess good problem to have. This one is a lower end of 3.


Soorma - 3.25 Stars. G. (Drama)
गोली खा हॉकी खेल


Soorma - Trailer

Director - Shaad Ali
Actors - Diljit Dosanjh, Tapsee Pannu, Angad Bedi

It is good to know there was this star who fought against all odds. A great sports comeback story. There are a lot of hockey movies now a days. Diljit Dosanjh does a good job as Sandeep Singh and Tapsee Pannu is obviously awesome. I have noticed if there is a role for a punjaban playing Hockey the role by default goes to Tapsee. The movie takes you through ups and downs of life of a hockey star with quite a few cliches that come with sports movies. A good watch, then why is it not more than 3 stars? Good question, I don't know, it seems like I have seen enough of these.

Helicopter Eela - 3.0 Stars. G. (Drama)
माँ है या पूंछ


Helicopter Eela - Trailer

Director - Pradeep Sarkar
Actors - Kajol, Ridhhi Sen, Tota Roy Chowdhary

There are some Dev Anand kind of actors. Actors like Raj Kumar, Dev Anand, parts of SRK - these are actors adored for their acting during their days.... but if you see their movies removed from the era they were in, you are like... what the heck this actor is doing?? Add to that list - Kajol, she used to be my favorite actor during KKHH days.... now she comes off as screechy, loud, over the top bad actor nothing has changed except in that time it all looked good.

Anyway ... another problem is Kajol does not want to look a Mom either, she is dressed and made up like she is going to give a tabloid interview with a photo-shoot. She wants people to say - Look at Kajol she still looks so good, instead of fitting the character. Anyway the movie is about a Mom who is possessive over her son that she even joins his college. To get to that point the plot has some ridiculous logic to it. Anyway it's an ok attempt and the movie has its moments.

Tigers - 3.0 Stars. PG. (Drama)
गन्दा पानी या गन्दा दूध


Tigers - Trailer

Director - Danis Tanovic
Actors - Emraan Hashmi, Geetanjali Thapa

A nice whistle blower movie, I think it is based on true story of a whistle blower in Pakistan who found out that milk powder companies are pushing their products in countries that dont have safe water to drink and hence milk powders for infants are fatal. Indirectly corporations were killing infants. Emraan Hashmi breaks away from his traditional role and does a good job with his new challenge. As can be said about every hindi movie, please make it shorter and edit it better.

Rajma Chawal - 3.75 Stars. G. (Drama)
बाप बेटे का फॅमिली ड्रामा


Rajma Chawal - Trailer

Director - Aparshakti Khurana
Actors - Amyra Dastur, Rishi Kapoor

A Son loses his mom and husband loses his wife and the drama starts. Dad wants to get into relationship with his son that never existed before. The son is trying to work himself out of depression of losing his mom. So the drama starts, Dad does some uncalled for tricks to get close to his Son. The girl Amyra Dastur is pretty good, she is the modern girl with cool hairstyle who is life of the movie. Rishi Kapoor does a Rishi Kapoor the boy is pretty good too. All in all not a bad try from Netflix.

Jalebi - 1.5 Stars. (Romance)
घुमा फिरा के वही सब कुछ


Jalebi - Trailer

Director: Pushpdeep Bhardwaj
Actors - Rhea Chakraborty, Varun Mitra & Digangana Suryavanshi

It's a Mukesh Bhatt Movie.Yes the guy is still at it. He uses a line in his love story and tries to make a story around it.Pretty cool eh? Not so much this time. He does attempt a few different ways of presentation, a complete flashback of a love story with story coming back in present on a train ride. 2 women talking about their love. There is a suspense of a broken heart. Why a perfect love story did not turn into a happy ending?

Well...after watching the movie I still am confused why things happened the way they happened. There are no compelling reasons for the breakup!!Anyway... watch the movie if you are really really doing nothing. Its not that boring if you forward it along.

Jaane kyu de Yaaron - 0 Stars. PG13 (Drama)
जाने दिया होता तो अच्छा था


Jaane Kyu De Yaaron - trailer

Director - Akshay Anandd
Actors - Raghu Raja, Daya Pandey, Kabir Bedi

When you try to take the title of one of the greatest dark comedies you better have something to say and something similar to present. This movie is a regular movie about scandals and scams and how common people are caught in it and then rise over everything to fight! OK big deal, its all very low cost low production value stuff. The director has seen many movies and knows what all previous movies did. But you know that ain't cutting it today. And yes .... Please please Kabir Bedi uncle please stop acting, you don't look presentable on screen, I don't know what you have done to the face but it's not working.

Phamous - 2.5 Stars. R. (Thriller / Drama)
गुंडागर्दी का बखान


Phamous - Trailer

Director - Karan Bhutani
Actors - Jimmy Sheirgill, Shriya Saran, Kay Kay Menon. 

Since the time Gangs of Wasseypur was released it has started these north Indian underworld / politician movies. This movie is in the same genre, nothing wrong with this movie. It has a kamina politician, a nice guy who turns into badmaash. An old school daaku who will kill for honor. A gunda who changes allegiance etc etc. But we have seen all this before. Shriya Saran looks pretty, Jimmy looks so young that I think this movie was made a decade ago. Watch it if you like this genre, won't disappoint.

Q3 2018 - Small is Big, Big is Small.

MAINSTREAM BOLLYWOOD

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Stree - 4.5 Stars. PG. (Horror Comedy)

स्त्री तू बार बार आना

Stree - Trailer

Director - Amar Kaushik

Actors - Rajkummar Rao, Shradhha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi.

Writers - Raj Nidimoru, Krishna DK.

What a concept and well executed. For decades we see this genre relegated to B-grade movies, because of same limited concept of a 'bhoot'. Someone decided to flip the script and make 'horror' into a 'comedy'. Great writers can do anything! The movie has couple of winners - writers and then there is Mr Pankaj Tripathi. The rule has been written - if there is a movie with UP backdrop - you need to have Pankaj in it. The guy is on a purple patch, you can tell his confidence in his comic timing - when he says in the movie - हम सब जानते हैं.

The movie is about 'stree' a ghost who is taking away men during 4 day festival season. Rajkummar Rao is excellent as usual (it is his genre) Shradha Kapoor does very well to underplay the character to keep the mystery alive. Lots of laughs and hugely entertaining. Go watch it.

Parmanu - 3.5 Stars. G. (Thriller)

बम का खेल

Parmanu - Trailer

Director - Abhishek Sharma

Actors - John Ibraham, Boman Irani, Diana Penty.

A low key thriller with backdrop of India's foray into becoming a 'nuclear state'. It checks all the boxes for being a great thriller, to make a simple story into a thriller is pure art. Great direction and keeps you on the edge, even though you know the outcome. Well done Abhishek Sharma. I can't believe how John has re-invented himself, #anythingispossible.

Nawabzaade - 0 Stars. PG. (Comedy?)

नाचनेवालों की घर की पिक्चर

Nawabzaade - Trailer

Director - Jayesh Pradhan.

Actors - Raghav Juyal, Punit Pathak and Dharmesh Yelande

If you have seen ABCD or the Dance-Plus show on TV, you know these 3 judges/MC. So now sitting idle inbetween the filming of the show they say - we should make a movie, same way everyone in their free time wants to make a youtube video. But somehow these people also act on that thought and waste someone's money. Why would you do that? huh. The entire thing is cheesy and cringe worthy. I am sorry, I should not write the review because I did not finish the movie. It was supposed to be comedy with jokes that people think they are funny but when you put it in a movie they are not. In case you want to know the storyline - 3 friends fall in love with one girl and then it goes on and on. Good Luck.

Saheb Biwi aur Gangster 3 - 3.0 Stars. R.

एक चाय को कितनी बार उबालोगे?

Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster - 3 - Trailer

Director - Tigmanshu Dhulia

Actors - Jimmy Shergill, Sanjay Dutt, Mahie Gill

This is the third installment of a great first episode. After that this has really gone down hill. Jimmy Shergill in a movie that is going nowhere. This is a first, Jimmy ... we are disappointed in you. The movie starts as if everyone remembers and watched the first 2, in fact they behave as if we just watched a rerun of first 2 and have entered the theater giddy with excitement for the third one. A note to the director - NO ONE remembers the first 2, they were ages ago! Anyway, there is Saheb (Jimmy), there is Biwi (Mahie Gill) and this time the gangster is Sanjay Dutt, who has completely lost any motivation to work in a movie. He sleep walks through the entire role, no not the sleep walk that is his trade mark walk, which he used to do instead of dancing because he did not know how to dance. He really does sleep walk through the movie.

The movie is about How Saheb and Biwi play games and use a gangster to get back at each other. The movie does keep you guessing, who is going to win in their games? Is gangster being used? Or will he pull a fast one on them? etc etc... its a pretty ok thriller but the pace is slow, if you have the fast forward button and know how to use it, it can be a good movie to finish in an hour.

 

 

Race 3 - 0 Stars. G. (Thriller??)

यह क्या बकवास है

Race 3 - Trailer

Director - Remo D Souza.

Actors - Salman, Jaqueline, Daisy Shah, Anil Kapoor, and Bobby Deol.

Though it is a 0 star but it is a must watch. Sallu has lost it and so has everyone else in the movie. Over the top hamming from Anil Kapoor and the most disinterested Sallu (competing with Sanju baba) are leading this disastrous Race, which has no Race in it. For the interval scene which was just shot for the interval they for no reason stood in a Race Coarse mouthing stuff like - wo nahi jaante is race ka badshah kaun hai. Does not make any sense. Well that should be the movie tag line. Daisy Shah is the best part of the movie, yes Daisy is. She looks good, acts with purpose and fights well. Everyone else.... OK... If you are going to give a movie to Remo to direct you know you are going to create crap. I think around 1/5th of the movie Salma is either flying in a flying suit or fighting topless with Bobby Deol! Yes .. Bobby is now joining the act of drug filled bodies bloated stars. You better watch the last scene which goes on for ever. Then there is this thing of breaking into Haryanvi / western Hindi / Bhojpuri... or whatever they thought should be the language between Anil and Salman's hometown. O boi... there is a lot in this 5 Starrer.

Veere Di Wedding - 2.5 Stars. R. (Drama)

सिर्फ लड़के ही नीचे नहीं गिर सकते

 

Veere Di Wedding - Trailer

Director - Shashanka Ghosh

Actors - Kareena, Sonam, Swara Bhaskar, Ekavali Khan.

I have to admit, I never liked the new age bromance movie like - ZNMD, so how can I like the inferior version of it? Well this one is a sis-mance, I dont think that is a word. Story is about 3 friends who are going through their various relationship problems in life, one can't find a guy, one is having a white Boy Friend (Seems like a new trend in India), one is marrying but don't know why etc etc. Its all good but somehow all that does not jel well. The movie overdoes it's USP of making sure to prove the point that girls can also use cuss words and talk dirty and do gross stuff. It looks more forced than natural. Maybe it is the fact that it's a first or the fact that the girl's couldn't keep a straight face while doing it. Whatever it was, it didn't work for me. But I have heard it has worked for girls, so more power to such movies if that makes people happy.

 

102 Not Out - 4.0 Stars. PG. (Drama)

बच्चे का बचपन याद रखो

102 Not Out - Trailer

Director - Umesh Shukla

Actors - Amitabh, Rishi.

On the surface the movie seems to be pretty dumb but that works in favor of the movie. It is not a stupid comedy where a super old Dad is making fun of his Son and trying to send him to 'Old Age Home'. Sometimes movies just have that premise and then they show this one Joke they conjured up for the entire movie. Not the case, the movie after it's initial jokes of Older Dad being cool and Son being Old School, does move on and forms into a beautiful story of Dad-Son and Son-Dad and Son-Like Person and Dad. It goes on a roller coaster ride of fun times, and Sad times and happy times all mixed into one. The old hands at histrionics Amitabh and Rishi, again create magic when it's needed in some crucial scenes, that makes you realize why they were such a hit pair few decades ago.

Raazi - 3.5 Stars. PG13. (Thriller)

घर का भेदी बहार का होता है 

 

Raazi - Trailer

Director - Meghna Gulzar

Actors - Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal.

Moment of another confession - I don't like India - Pakistan type movies. Another confession - this is not your typical Sunny papaji style India - Pakistan Movie, obviously it is way more mature and subtle and layered because the Director's name is Meghna Gulzar. The movie is a spy story. A spy puts his responsibilities on his spy daughter. He ships her to Pakistan and asks her to work as a spy by getting married in Pakistan. Pretty darn difficult position to be in. The movie revolves around the Spy being torn between her Spy duties Vs being a wife.

I could not get any sympathy for the spy, which probably the movie was trying to get at. I could not feel the pain of her the way the movie unravels, I found her 'out and out' villain rather than any kind of hero. But I am sure most people don't see her that way. It's definitely a good movie that did not work for me.

NEW AGE HINDI MOVIES

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Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz - 3.0 Stars. PG. (Drama)

शायरी और whatsapp के बीच एक प्रेम कथा

Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz - Trailer

Director - Onir

Actors - Zain Khan Durani, Geetanjali Thapa.

Mausaki, aashiqui etc etc.... the movie starts with some poetry which is kind of different in today's movie. The movie has it's own different slowish pace which you don't mind. On the other hand it disturbs you with the lead female actor having some skin problems, which is another unique thing to see in a movie. Finally it shows WhatsApp and who makes these forwarded memes. So the movie has lot of different things to see. At the crux of it, it is society and a person dealing with societal problems. It is not a great entertainer but it is a good unique one.

Tikli and Laxmi Bomb - 3.0 Stars. R.(Thriller / Drama)

धंदे का भी तरीका होता है 

 

Tikli and Laxmi Bomb - Trailer

Director - Aditya Kriplani.

Actors - Chitrangada Chakraborty, Vibhavari Deshpande.

Sex workers go on strike and want to start their own 'sex worker corporation'. Tikli is the new kid who wants to revolutionize the business and Laxmi bomb is the older one who has been carrying the burden for some time. Both get together to do something special. But remember there is something called reality of life.

PS - Actors - can you make these name a little easy to type?

For Here or to Go - 2.0 Star. PG. (Drama)

जाओ तो मरो, न जाओ तो मरो

For Here or to Go - Trailer

Director - Rucha Humnabadkar.

Actors - Ali Fazal, Melania Chandra.

Some movies are made to satisfy the 'movie making itch'. That is the reason this movie was made. Someone had enough money to throw some to make a movie. One known actor was pulled in and then the girl who probably lives in US was given a chance to make this movie. I am not against it, but obviously the movie did not work.

It is about the struggles of immigrants who come to US as software coolies and keep jumping hoops of visa status. In that backdrop is weaved a love story. I liked the actor's north Indian friend who was pretty hilarious.

Brij Mohan Amar Rahe - 3.5 Stars. PG13. (Comedy/ Thriller)

भाग कुत्ते भाग 

Brij Mohan Amar Rahe - Trailer

Director - Nikhil Bhat.

Actors - Arjun Mathur, Nidhi Singh.

A Netflix original movie, this unknown actor is pretty ok at his craft. The entire movie revolves around him. The guy jumps from one problem to next and keeps digging bigger and bigger hole for himself. Can he ever get out of it? This is kind of a comedy thriller. In the backdrop of Delhi the guy keeps dodging his death. Good part of the movie is - no one is good, I think all characters in the movie are villain-ish which makes the movie a different experience. It has a good ending too.

 

Bhavesh Joshi SuperHero - 4.0 Stars. R. (Thriller / Drama)

जो अन्ना न ख़तम कर पाए वो भावेश ख़तम करेगा?

Bhavesh Joshi - Trailer

Director - Vikramaditya Motwane.

Actors - Harshvardhan Kapoor, Priyanshu Painyul.

A serious movie about a boy and his friends who are fed of corruption want to do something about it. They do somethings, but then they keep at it. Obviously corruption is in the society in the system and everywhere. There effort take serious turns and they decide not to back down. Bhavesh Joshi becomes a thought and not a person. A good but disturbing movie to watch.

 

Harshvardhan Kapoor does a good job in the movie. He is son of Anil Kapoor, and has been panned before, I think he does a pretty decent job. Sometimes people are hard on star kids, hey! they are kids! Obviously they won't be here if they were not star kids. But think about this - you won't be where you are if you were not your parents kids. So? Get over it! That's my take on nepotism debate.

Once Again - 4.0 Stars. PG13. (Love Story)

प्यार किया नहीं जाता हो जाता है

Once Again - Trailer

Director - Kanwal Sethi

Actors - Neeraj Kabi, Shefali Shah.

Shefali Shah is an actor par excellence. She takes an ordinary reular love story and heightens it to a high level. Beautifully portraying a mom of adult kids who are themselves looking to get married, but she her self is getting involved with someone. She makes it look so natural as she plays a lover with twinkle in her eye, and at a moment's notice becomes a old tired mom who is carrying the entire burden of family.

Angrezi Mein Kehte Hein - 3.75 Stars. PG. (Drama)

प्यार  अंग्रेजी वाला वार्ना...

Angrezi Mein Kehte Hein - Trailer

Director - Harish Vyas.

Actors - Shivani Raghuvanshi, Anshuman Jha. 

The movie has a very simple goal, which it beautifully explains in the title. As the song goes - Angrezi mein kehte hein ke - I Love You. It explains how the 'I love you' love is better than the traditional old school Indian love mentality. There is a distinction between Responsibility, Duties and Love. Love is above and beyond the structure of Duties. Very well done.

Black Mail - 4.0 Stars. R. (Thriller)

कौन किसके साथ क्या कर रहा है?

 

Blackmail - Trailer

Director - Abhinay Deo

Actors - Irrfan Khan, Kirti Kulhari, Divya Dutta, Arunoday Singh.

 

This is a cat and mouse game, which has its moments. The crazy guy (Arunoday Singh) really really plays the character 'crazy' he is good, he is the life of the movie, in fact him and Divya Dutta that this movie to whole another level. Arunodaya jumps from hot pan into the fire!

 

The story is a winner, it is fast and it changes and it is original. It is entertaining, it if thrilling but it has it's awkward moments too. The story is about a husband who wants to black mail his cheating wife or wife's BF or both. Other people also have ideas about black mailing, lot of blackmailing starts happening that makes black mailing not a rare thing. Then things go crazy and crazier. One downer is the lead actor has a gross obsession of stealing other people's wife's pictures and go to restroom.... Why would you gross us out when you have a great story to tell!!

 

Vodka Diaries - 2.0 Stars. PG 13. (Psychological Thriller)

Diary कहीं से तो मारी है. 

Vodka Diaries - Trailer

 

Director - Kushal Shrivastava.

Actors - Kay Kay Menon, Raima Sen.

 

The psychological thriller is a Genre that is not very Hindi movie thing to do. So I am guessing they lifted the story from somewhere and tried to fit it in to hindi movie scene. Actually they don't do a bad job, and Kay Kay Menon has always been a good actor to lift anything to a level of intensity. These movies always keep you in the dark and you keep guessing what is going on and sometimes you get bored too. All that will happen, the movie won't move but it is not a bad watch. If you know how to use the forward button efficiently you can do it.

 

Again ... a request to all Hindi movies, you are not serving buffet, the more you show the more audience you get. People I hope don't look at the length of a movie and say - wow I get to see TV on pirated site for 2 hours!! so i will watch this movie. Reduce the length of your movies please!

 

 

Post Graduate - 0 Stars. (Drama)

फिल्म चैलेंज - पूरी देख के बताओ  

The Indian Post Graduate - Trailer

 

Don't watch it. Some one on their handycam decided to make a movie. Sorry did not complete it.

 

 

ARTSY

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My Birthday Song - 0 Stars. PG13. (Psychological Thriller)

कोई समझा दो क्या हुआ!

 

My Birthday Song - Trailer

 

Director - Samir Soni.

Actors - Samir Soni, Nora Fatehi,

 

Sometimes you come across movies that make no sense and you love the magical ethereal sense that you could not put together but you understand. AND then you come across a movie like this one. Which in the end you get up and slam your remote and say - what the ..... yeh kya bakwaas hai, saara time waste ho gaya. Maybe it was beyond me, I don't know what happened. Some psychological stuff that stays in the mind and some is reality some is not. some goofy stuff like that.

 

Beyond the Clouds - 4.5 Stars. R. (Drama)

ज्यादातर लोगों की ज़िन्दगी ऐसी है 

Beyond The Clouds - Trailer

 

Director - Majid Majidi

Actors - Ishaan Khattar, Malavika Mohanan.

 

Theory is the actor got famous because of the movie 'Dhadak' and this movie could be released, which was made before Dhadak. The dude is a stud, what an actor. The kid has screen presence and has a cool confidence about him. Good actor.

 

The movie is one depress fest which all who are reading this blog should see to get used to the idea of what life is for most of the world. The story is of Brother and Sister who are trying there best to kick the life they were born in. Living in slums, drugs, prostitution, society, cops and hope. Audacity of Hope is it still tries to pull you into living. Living for something good to happen. The movie has some beautiful moments when our hero becomes the savior and best friend of the villain. Ahh... what a beauty of a plot.