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Reviews
Messiah (2020)
To be or not to be....
A preacher, hailed as Messiah, beginning journey in middle East after sudden arrival in oppressed lands and goes all the way to challenge the mightiest.
Season one of this ambitious series is shot brilliantly, directed superbly and acting is way above the par. It's a fiction not based on any true event. Disclaimer is not needed. What is needed is clarity about what exactly the story wants to say. The whole American media circus and the whole religious frenzy that occurs when anyone shows them a chance to get out of 'current state' is depicted so brilliantly and candidly. Yet it doesn't go beyond a certain red lines. The religious political story remains within the exploratory sphere of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. There is healthy criticism of Christianity and Judaism to some extent. But apart from 2 second shot of a token Buddhist monk, it doesn't include anything of the east. And that is because the notion of Messiah is not a very profound in eastern faiths. So the Buddhist monk is all the more jarring as Buddhism is least bothered about Messiah of any kind!
The whole human search of truth is about asking questions, beliefs and doubts, masters and disciples etc etc. Yet the film is not about that, but about a man who seeks to be Messiah. I say seeks to be, as the series doesn't seem to know the answer. Though the protagonist begins in Muslim world, the journey is totally mirroring that of Jesus, and not of the last Prophet of muslims. Like Jesus he makes statements and challenges old scriptures but says absolutely nothing which is out of the books. In that the film keeps itself within its brief. Basing it on Jesus is a lot safer maybe, and criticising Him is ok. Miracles follow one after the other, which are not kept beyond doubt. The political adventure of the Messiah also makes him doubtful.
There is clear intention of the producers, to keep second season relevant and in demand. And that made this lose some points.
There is no story of Jesus after he 'came back' from death. So of the series doesn't get a second season that's okay too. That way it does make sense.
So the series doesn't tell you of the lead character is indeed a Messiah but aptly captures what may happen if someone comes along. It only falters on originality of the whole storyline of the character irself
Choked (2020)
Typical yet not so typical Kashyap film
Shot in a typical Anurag Kashyap lighting n camera angles, with some exquisite short lines in dialogue writing and good story plot, this film seems to be made for net/ mobile screen.
Weather he intended that with obviously small budget involved, is not for us to decide but as a viewer it is outright small screen film.
Those who have lived in such old small buildings or chawls in better parts (Shivaji park/ Ghatkopar) of Mumbai will immediately connect with the whole life into which the story is woven.
Though made on the base of demonetization major part of story seems to be exploration of little people in little houses with small dreams and big problems. Good hearts but constrained by demands life makes on them. They have their politics and schemes which are even 'funny' if you have experience of that life.
The whole movie revolves on the 'no one is a saint here' kind of common man philosophy.
I felt the demonetization was just a sub plot used to make a good ending to a story. And that's the only spoiler to be revealed in any review of this movie. That has taken a small reel time, but when you see the old notes and sheer amount of the currency you know that demonetization will come into the plot. That part could have been given more footage or maybe it's for one more movie from Anurag?
Takatak (2019)
Average. End of story is handled well
Acting is average at best. Male leads, Prathamesh sometimes hams, Abhijit is average at best. Prathamesh will do well to observe how village Turks actually behave. He acts how city boys think a villager will act. So he seems over acting, at least immature. Sonali Bhalerao can't act but she is not in the movie for acting. She has dared to do kind of scenes vet few marathi actresses will dare, so that's her plus point. As for real emoting she is so below par. Ritika Shrotri shines among this. She is not great but plays the wild teenager to the fullest.
Overall story line is pretty average. But ending is mature. There is a sense of understanding of modern times, friendship without being too 'urban modern' like most marathi movies which often fall short. This village movie shows a maturity in the end.
The Report (2019)
Perseverance of a believer in democracy
As an indian, the depth of democratic values and process is so shocking as shown in this movie. A lone 'rebel' without actually acting like one, just doing his job played admirably by Adam Driver, can actually do his job! He is not 'silenced' in unconstitutional ways, nor his team barred or stopped to do their work after push backs is unbelievable for an Indian.
Acting, direction and cinematography is on par with all good films but what stands out is such 'stories' can happen and they are allowed to be made and released, is worth watching for us.
A Paying Ghost (2015)
Too casually made
On a such unusual concept and such good actors n director, the film should have been much better. I saw this on Hotstar, and maybe on a big screen it would experience better.
I felt the subplots too contrived, and the intention for a sequel kept some of them unfinished. The social message seemed forced into with the Dahi handi ban and court cases were in the news that time. The way the movie started, there were laughs. Then some smiles and later on yawns.
Also the makers don't have the real idea of chawl life, both lower middle class or actual middle class. The setting looked movie setting till the end though it was not a set. Nor did they give it an outright fantasy look.
The actors are good. The entry and glamour shot of Umesh looked cliche. Spriha seems at ease. Some of the characters in office n chawl look outright dramatic , not very real. And the ghosts look like they are acting in a drama, bit that's justified as they are not real anyways.