Igetnojoy

A three and a half hour film sounds daunting before you walk in, but Dhurandhar makes you lose all sense of time. The storytelling is so well written that you find yourself completely wrapped in it. Inspired by real events, the film does justice to them by presenting things as they were unflinching and honest. The horrifying scenes, the bloodshed, and the humiliation are portrayed without dilution.

The cast is powerful and delivers across the board. Ranveer Singh undoubtedly shines here, but what Akshaye Khanna brings to the screen is on another level altogether. That stare, the hunched posture, and his dialogue delivery mark the work of a master actor. Another performance that deserves mention is Arjun Rampal's. Based on a real person, he carries the look and presence convincingly. I found myself waiting for him to reappear, wanting more of his screen time, but unfortunately it wasn't enough, though the sequel does seem promising.

The love angle, the usual ingredient, didn't quite held my attention. While it made sense within the plot, it wasn't particularly engaging. That said, it did introduce energetic, modern music that worked well and felt like the butter on the bread. The touch of the newbie NE and the Bahraini rapper has stayed living rent-free in everyone's mind.

What truly sets this film apart is that it doesn't pretend about reality. It is a raw expression of what actually happened. Based on real life events and Aditya Dhar's creative vision, this becomes a genuinely captivating piece of art. It deserves the success it has received, despite being shunned by parts of the industry. Even the audience's lighthearted touch of "1st day being a spy" has now become part of the culture. To be rewatched soon on Netflix...

Going by the poster and early reviews, The Conclave looked like it had all the makings of a powerful film but it ended up being a slow, dull watch that didn't deliver.

The acting was solid, especially from Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci. Fiennes brought real depth to Lawrence, a well-written character with a strong moral compass. The cinematography and sound design were also highlights especially the use of silence in moments of reflection & contemplation. You could hear the characters breathing, which was a nod to the theme of age, mortality.

The film did a good job portraying the inner workings and issues within the Church with accuracy and seriousness. But despite all that, it just couldn't hold my attention. From the start, it struggled to build any real tension or sense of importance around the conclave. The pacing dragged, and I found myself constantly checking how much time was left. It lacked mystery or build-up, which really hurt the overall film experience.

And then there was the ending as if the previous plots of sins of the past, corruption and conservatism wasn't enough they decided slide this at the end-completely out of nowhere. The twist felt sudden, radical, and kind of undermined everything the film had been building. It came off as politically driven and a sign of the time we're living in.

Despite strong performances and technical strengths, The Conclave turned out to be a disappointment. Not a bad film, but definitely a one-time watch.

Bringing back the old "retired assassin's past catches up to him" formula, this one stars Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Ciarán Hinds - and a special shoutout to the adorable baby! Unfortunately, even a strong cast couldn't save this fast-paced mess of a movie. The script is weak, the plot is predictable, and the overall execution feels lazy. Dan's kids' performances are half-hearted at best, lacking any charm the film desperately needed. Apple's choice to back this project feels questionable - it's disappointing and forgettable. Honestly, you might end up regretting the time you spent watching it.