Merry Christmas #PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas

#PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas #FilmMovieDocumentaryOTTseriesReviews #InternationalFilmFestivalCircuit Film: #MerryChristmas #Hindi (#UniversalCommunications) Cast: #KatrinaKaif #VijaySethupathi #SanjayKapoor #VinayPathak #AshwiniKalsekar #TinnuAnand #LukeKenny #RadhikaApte Director: #SriramRaghavan Rating: * * 1/2 Runtime: 144 min. #everyone @everyone #everybody @everybody #followers @followers #TIPSfilms #MatchboxPictures

A slow-mo thriller dedicated to Shakti Samanta, this contrivance in search of an alibi, adapted from a French novel fails to sustain conviction. The thanda chemistry between the leads, lazy performances, unprepossessing, laid-back tempo fail to cut ice in a narrative with a typical neo-noir moody look, having sporadic flashbacks, film references, and twists that appear hokey and illogical. The background score is vibrant but there’s neither tension nor edge-of-the-seat thrills to keep you interested. Other than the belated Christmas festive look and the deeply saturated cinematography there’s nothing much here for you to engage with.

Aattam #PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas #Malayalam

#PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas #FilmMovieDocumentaryOTTseriesReviews #InternationalFilmFestivalCircuit Title: #Aattam #RelianceEntertainmentStudios #Malayalam Cast: #ZarinShihab #VinayForrt #KalabhavanShajohn #NandhanUnni Director: #AnandEkarshi Rating: * * * * Runtime: 139 min #everyone @everyone #everybody @everybody #followers @followers #FatemaNagree

Debutante director/writer Anand Ekarshi’s gem is a thrilling reflection of human behavior. Modeled on 12 angry men, the arguments centre around what action needs to be taken regarding a molestation that is claimed by the sole female member of the drama troupe. The intricate storytelling, the character revealing dialogues, layered and nuanced disputations and the finesse in the telling keeps you glued for all of its runtime. A wonderful screenplay, superlative direction, great casting and relatable performances are the hallmark of this small film that serves as an indictment against self-serving decision making.

Killer Soup #PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas #FilmMovieDocumentaryOTTseriesReviews

#PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas #FilmMovieDocumentaryOTTseriesReviews #InternationalFilmFestivalCircuit Title: #KillerSoup Cast: #ManojBajpayee #KonkanaSenSharma #SayajiShinde #Nassar #AnbuThasan #KaniKusruti #AnulaNavlekar Director/co-writer/co-creator: #AbhishekChaubey Rating: * * * Runtime: 45-60 mins/Episode (6 Eps) #Netflix #JioMamiYRP #PRPunditHavasRed #everyone @everyone #everybody @everybody #followers @followers

The first two episodes of Netflix crime thriller cum dark comedy is promising enough to garner a great deal of interest. The wicked tone, crazy responses, the self-aware absurdity of the characters, the sharp performances, the absorbing tenor, the growing body count, the saturated color palette, the amazing cinematography and the rich production value lends this tantalising killer-black-comedy a potent winning edge.

Safed #PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas

#PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas #internationalfilmfestivalcircuit #FilmMovieDocumentaryOTTReviews Film: #Safed Cast: #AbhayVerma #MeeraChopra #BarkhaBisht #ChhayaKadam #JameelKhan Director: #SanjaySingh Rating: * 1/2 Runtime: 122 min.

A directorial debut, Safed, showcasing the plight of a marginalised group is strident, over-the-top, facile and copiously melodramatic. The subject matter is treated in a formulaic and loud manner. Inept performances, unrealistic dialogues and poor production values add to the misery. The music though is the one bright spot here. #everyone @everyone #everybody @everybody #followers @followers #Zee5 #LegendStudios #KeeratPublicity #AnandPanditMotionPictures

Kho Gaye Hum Kahan #PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas

#PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas #internationalfilmfestivalcircuit #FilmMovieDocumentaryOTTReviews Film: #KhoGayeHumKahan Cast: #SiddhantChaturvedi #AnayaPandey #SuchitraPillai #AdarshGourav #KalkiKoechlin #DivyaJagdale #MalaikaArora #FarhanAkhtar #RohanGurbaxani Director: #ArjunVarainSingh Rating: * * * Runtime: 134 mins

A #DilChahtaHai revision for #GenZ this coming-of-age story delineating romance, ambition and heartbreak for 3 twenty-something-friends within the public domain of social media, treads a familiar path yet is entertaining. Tight direction, endearing gritty performances and original age-appropriate music lend strength to this telling. #everyone @everyone #everybody @everybody #followers @followers #Netflix #SpicePR #ExcelEntertainment #ReiteshSidhwani #ReemaKagti #ZoyaAkhtar #TigerBabyFilms #ZeeCinema #ZeeMusicCoLtd

Salaar Part 1 : Ceasefire #PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas

#PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas #internationalfilmfestivalcircuit #FilmMovieDocumentaryOTTReviews Film: #SalaarPart1CeaseFire Cast: #Prabhas #MeenakshiChaudhary #ShrutiHaasan #PrithvirajSukumaran #SaranShakthi #JagapathiBabu #RamchandraRaju #TinnuAnand Director: #PrashanthNeel Rating:* * Runtime: 172 min. @everyone #everyone @everybody #everybody @followers #followers #ChaluveGowda #VijayKiragandur #KVRamaRao #FridayEntertainment #MythriMovieMakers #PharsFilm #RedGiantMovies #NetflixIndia

An overdone action dump, it’s difficult to empathise with this film headlining criminals seeking vengeance for a criminal act. For action riders, the adrenaline pumping #KGF style tale might bring some recompense but for the more demanding, it’s a headache inducing bore.

Hey Kameeni Girl Gone Badass #PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas

#PicksAndPiques #JohnsonThomas #internationalfilmfestivalcircuit #FilmMovieDocumentaryOTTReviews Film: #HeyKameeniGirlgonebadass Cast: #AnjaliJoshi #AasheemaVardaan #DrishikaChander #BhuvanKaila Director: #ManiShankar Rating: * * Runtime: 122 mins #JioCinema #everyone #everybody @everyone @everybody #followers @followers #PictureNKraft #ParulChawla #BhairavFilms

Its hard to get around this story of opportunism, family corp intrigue and instant gratification. The best that can be said about it is that its different. Amusing for a bit and then the lack of substance makes it tedious.