Filmy Fool | Films, Series, Books & more
Reviews and Opinions
Filmy Fool | Films, Series, Books & more
Reviews and Opinions
Lootcase directed by Rajesh Krishnan is a satirical comedy that is elevated way beyond its predictable plot by a magnificent ensemble cast and memorable dialogues. Kunal Khemu plays Nandan, a simple technician in a printing press, living in a typical Mumbai Chawl. Rasika Dugal plays Nandan’s wife Lata, whose name is part of one of the legendary dialogues towards the climax. The banter between Nandan and Lata is very cute, so is their love-talk full of Chinese dishes. ...
Sample the fact that District 9, the 2009 Sci-fi film was considered by the Industry to be a low budget marvel. That is because District 9 was made at a budget of 30 million USD while Star Trek (2009) had a budget that was 5 times. Now that the context is set, let's talk about the film in question. Upgrade is a 2018 Sci-fi film that beautifully mixes various genres. It has elements from cyberpunk sub-genre along with the obvious 'action' overtones. The film also has ample flavour of the dark comedy genre, in addition to an evident stamp of body horror. Though Upgrade has enough highlights from a creative standpoint, all those are elevated many notches when seen alongside the film's paltry budget. Upgrade had a budget of 3 million USD and was made 9 years after Neill Blomkamp's District 9, the low budget marvel of the time. ...
Finally, a show where I can safely declare, 'The finest piece of writing...ever', without any qualms. Phoebe Waller-Bridge, please take a bow, for creating, writing and performing Fleabag. She created the idea of Fleabag due to a challenge by a friend, where she had to create a 10 min sketch for a stand-up storytelling night. Waller-Bridge followed this up by creating a 'one-woman play' and performing it in 2013. Season 1 of Fleabag released in 2016 and the second one streamed in 2019. Even though the show has received massive acclaim and fan following, Phoebe Waller-Bridge as all but confirmed that this is the end for the show. ...
Luck by Chance (2009) was one of the finest films made on the 'insides of the Hindi Film Industry' (and one of my all-time favourites). There is a scene in Luck by Chance, where Mac Mohan is invited to the graduation ceremony of a small acting school. In that scene, one of the students requests him to enact Sambha's famous dialogue from Sholay. Like a good sport, Mac Mohan obliges, and says, "Poore Pachaas Hazaar". Students clap and sing loud praises -end scene-. Our character artists, the ones who support our stars and our storylines, have unfortunately been reduced to this. And the emotions at display in this particular scene are only the tip of the iceberg. The rest is hidden deep down, under layers of glamour, stardom, presumptions and hypocrisy. ...
Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota (MKDNH), written and directed by Vasan Bala is an unusual Hindi film. That's because it is really difficult to classify it into a specific category. It is an action dramedy but it is also a satire and above all, a love letter to the whole action genre of the '70s & '80s, especially martial arts films. Much to its credit, the references in the film stretch far beyond the '80s and Bollywood. There are elements that celebrate legends like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan apart from multiple shoutouts to genre-defining films like Drunken Master, Big Trouble in Little China, Rocky and many more. ...