CinemaClown

A fascinating insight into the life & philosophy of all the adrenaline junkies out there chasing the next larger-than-life thrill, Point Break is a competently crafted & thoroughly entertaining roller-coaster ride that's charged with as much adrenaline as it is brimming with human spirit and makes for a wild, over-the-top & unabashedly exhilarating delight packing no shortage of style, swag, stunts & surfing.

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker & Zero Dark Thirty), the story follows a rookie FBI agent who goes undercover to infiltrate a gang of surfers who may be bank robbers only to find himself drawn to their thrill-seeking lifestyle. Bigelow directs with verve & buoyancy, keeping the action, adventure & dramatic scenes balanced and always on the move while manoeuvring the camera around with dynamic clarity.

The film also captures the addictive nature of the adrenaline rush, emotional highs & feel-good energy that thrill seekers get from living life on the edge, and portrays it through the developing bond between Keanu Reeves & Patrick Swayze's characters. Bigelow delivers some downright impressive action set pieces here and though dialogues are weak and the premise is a tad predictable, the good still outweighs the bad.

Overall, Point Break is a stylishly directed, vibrantly shot & finely acted actioner that does what it set out to do with energetic flair & unapologetic execution. There's a lot in here that shouldn't even work and yet against all odds, it does for some reason. Having garnered a strong cult following over the years for a reason, Bigelow's breakthrough feature is an uber-cool extravaganza that strikes a deeply primal & personal chord within all of us.

Paul Thomas Anderson's 10th feature film may as well be his most amusing & entertaining one to date. An incendiary adventure that comes brimming with a charged atmosphere, laced with rebellious spirit, packed with relevant themes and bolstered by a potent ensemble, One Battle After Another incorporates much of what's happening in present-day America to tell its tale of defiance & resistance.

Also written by Anderson (Phantom Thread & Licorice Pizza), the story concerns a group of ex-revolutionaries who reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own when their past nemesis resurfaces. Volatile from the get-go, the film gathers momentum right away while exhibiting an undercurrent of tension & urgency that the picture not only sustains with effortless ease but also sprinkles with hilarious bits along the way.

The technical aspects are sound throughout, be it the steady camerawork, smooth pace, neat editing, interesting score & some expertly choreographed action set pieces. It is also an acting powerhouse, with the entire cast contributing with excellent inputs. Leonardo DiCaprio renders his role with stoned perfection and he's brilliantly supported by Sean Penn's intense showcase, Benicio del Toro's zen act & Chase Infinity's fiery performance.

Overall, One Battle After Another is crafted with controlled aggression, unfolds with a sense of chaos & emergency and delivers a thoroughly fun ride despite its politically & thematically rich layerings. Presenting the esteemed auteur in complete control of his craft and also impressive enough to rank amongst the best all-round films of the year, Anderson's latest feature further affirms his status as one of the preeminent filmmakers of his generation.

From the writer-director of Knives Out & Glass Onion comes the third chapter in the whodunnit saga, this time bringing the famous detective into the ever deceptive world of faith, miracles & superstition. Not as ingeniously structured as the first entry but definitely more fun & involving than the second, Wake Up Dead Man makes for yet another amusing, entertaining & excellent addition to the series.

Written & directed by Rian Johnson (Looper & The Last Jedi), the story follows Benoit Blanc as he investigates a seemingly impossible murder case in a small town parish that defies all logic. The first act is slow, not very convincing with the setup, plus it doesn't pique the interest either but once our protagonist enters the setting, it all begins to align, the plot gets more compelling and new revelations add more intrigue.

The film features a talented ensemble and the actors plays their respective roles responsibly, with Glenn Close impressing the most. Daniel Craig is as always having a damn good time as Benoit Blanc. Still, the dialogue isn't as sharp as the narrative twists, most characters in here remain unappealing, there is also a predictability to how the premise unfolds, and it does feel overlong at times when it could've been much leaner.

Overall, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery delivers the desired goods & expected thrills of a whodunnit mystery and is a welcome entry in the franchise but the film as a whole is still no match to the brilliance of the original which as of now remains the only picture in the series with a consistently rewarding & high repeat value. All in all, for what it's worth, Rian Johnson's latest offering isn't without merit and is one of the better films of the year.