Blink

This film deserves some more viewership and has been momentum since March 2024 mostly through word of mouth, so I'm doing my bit, you should check this out *conditions apply.

If you enjoy the "Bro, WHAT is going on?", predicting how things will unfold and getting it right, you should watch this. If you like looking for answers after the movie, you should watch this. Acting was okay I guess, nothing to write home about but - GREAT editing.

I don't think I've seen a whole lot of movies with such a plot in Indian cinema, and from what I'm reading, it's very new to the Kannada audience as well. If you're looking for something unique, this surely fits the bill.

Plot conveniences - you can play along with these, but dealing with plot holes is a pain, especially with the mind-bending genre. Looking for answers may sometimes not help either. The problem with this film though is that there are a lot of questions, and you can't tell if it's a convenience or a hole; parts of Kannada audience is chalking it up to 'bad-writing'. And I think I have to agree....? Dunno, haven't made up my mind yet.

But it's a solid and commendable debut film, not easy to make something like this in India and not get panned.

2014 movie, "Predestination" has similar time travel loop. "Blink" appears to be a simplified version of this. Even then, it is a good effort in Kannada movie, to bring a sci-fi story into life that can be understood easily. I enjoyed it. Happy watching.

PS: Netflix 2017 series "Dark" (my rating 10/10) and Night Shyamalan 2024 movie "Caddo Lake" (my rating 6/10) are other recommendations for sci-fi enthusiasts. "Looper" Bruce Willis 2012 movie (my rating 8/10) is another movie in this genre. Year 2000 movie "Frequency" (my rating 8/10) is another time travel genre movie that you all may like.

I don't think many people here have the German series Dark. The film Blink borrows liberally from the German series that was both about time travel and travel between universes.

Anyway, about Blink. A decent effort no doubt, but the back ground score!! My God, too loud and jarring. Indian films are slowly learning the value of silence. Obviously, not this one. Literally jumping in my seat with the unexpectedly loud score. Also I didn't feel the interspersing of songs were necessary in a film of this nature. Took away from the tautness of the narrative.

Acting was good and dialogues were passable.

Some continuity issues, could have been addressed with tighter editing.

Hope the team, now a movie old, will do a better job of it during the making of their next.

Apoorva is yet to get financially stable and struggling to get a part time along with passing his final exams. He is dating Swapna, who helps him financially at times. Apoorva does feel insecure about not having a job and to add for his woes, he constantly feels being followed by a man named Arivu and even hallucinates seeing himself, but is it really his hallucination? Apoorva was raised by his single mother after his dad left him when he was five years old. The mysterious Arivu tells Apoorva that his father is still alive. How does Apoorva figure out what's happening with him and will he be able to figure out the mystery behind his father's disappearance? Is Arivu really trustworthy, forms rest of the story.

This is a film truly made by a cinephile and there are cinematic reference galore throughout the film. The director even acknowledges the films he took inspiration from. Merging Oedipus Rex with sci-fi time travel narrative is not an easy task and that too for debut director. On that front, it is a brave attempt which muse be lauded. To speak of what didn't work for me was the different actors cast in the same character as the timeline progresses and it just wasn't justifiable casting though the actors did their job well. I usually refrain from mentioning editing in reviews, but here better editing was required especially in the first half.

Even the inspirations taken, those aren't easy to sell it to the audience. Here the director gets the support of his able cast who carry the complex story forward. The usage of Janapada songs was definitely impactful while the couple of other compositions were fine. The main focus of the narrative should have been between Apoorva and Arivu from early on but first half mere gives the glimpse of it with Apoorva chasing him. It is only in the third act where these two characters flourish together and that throwback to Oedipus Rex play comes out effectively. Overall, this must be watched for the attempt and to support the talent that dares to think outside the routine.

I was totally blank about it's concept before doing deep dive into the movie. Initial 45Min was such a painful to watch because we didn't have any clue ; what the hell in going on the screen? The chemistry between the leading couple was also not that exciting in that period of time. BUT in the 2nd Half this movie it turned extremely upside-down. When the actual concept of the movie got revealed at the 50-55Min excitement for this movie came back rapidly. And from that scene it's peaked it's pace and screenplay got interesting. It kept going on until the climax situation came, where we can notice a major loophole, which simply bend our mind! And we felt like WTF was that? And with so much confusions here and there they just ended it aesthetically.

So basically this movie is not for everyone, especially who loves fast paced movie will surely leave this film at the middle part. For a cinephile it will feel like an average movie. And those who watched such concepts before will feel like something is missing in this entire movie! But in my personal view I can assure that if we consider the entire plot and the leading character's act in the climax blended the plot nicely and plot is justified somehow!

Acting performances of all the characters were too good. Music was good as well. Cinematography was brilliant despite a strict budget movie. Editing was well and good except the first half where storyline got dragged in extreme where an average cinema lover will leave his/her attention from the plot.

Good to Go with Family. From my side it will be 6 Out of 10 Stars for it..