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'Sara'S' review: Anchored by a powerful script, this simple film breaks the conventions of the feel-good template

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Jude Anthany Joseph's third feature, after Ohm Shanti Oshana and Oru Muthassi Gadha, released on Prime Video at midnight today. This seemingly feel-good film, also seemingly made in limited spaces and with a shoestring budget, tackles a concept and issue never tested before in Malayalam cinema  circles. In Sara'S, we follow the life of Sara Vincent (Anna Ben), a young, bubbly, yet unapologetic filmmaker who struggles to make it big in the industry. She continuously assists male directors and is in the scripting works of her dream film. Sara has decided, from her school days, that she would not bear any kids. This is when she meets Jeevan (Sunny Wayne); her relationship with him subsequently brings her ideology and decision into a confrontation with the established norms of society, family and child-rearing.  Anna Ben in Sara'S The best aspect in which Sara'S has excelled, without doubt, is its hard-hitting taut script. Debutant Akshay Hareesh deserves praise for managin...
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Now You See Me 2 - illusionist thriller

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Here's the review on the sequel to the illusion-themed heist thriller: Now You See Me 2



With only one slight change in the female member of the Horsemen (Isla Fisher gives way for Lizzy Caplan), the quartet of illusionists/tricksters/robbers-turn-to-Robin-Hood are back to blow off hidden agendas and cruel intentions of white-collared billionaires and fraudsters. When one of their stage performances to uncover the deceit by a tech mogul goes horribly wrong, they are forcibly recruited by tech maniac/wizard Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe) to steal a chip that can read and have access to every computer in the planet- a typical thread that forms the crux of every heist/sci-fi/spy thrillers. The plot becomes even more messier with more characters- Chase McKinney, evil twin of Merrit McKinney (Woody Harrelson), Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine), looking to tie old strings. The writers try to wedge part-cooked subplots, those of Dylan Rhodes' (Mark Ruffalo) still-not-over vengeance against Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), and Merrit and Chase's twin relationship.

Dave Franco, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson


  Despite all the ruses and tricks pulled off with visual splendor thanks to the excessive CGI, we seem to be scammed by what appears to be unrealistic illusion-ism: let it be Atlas' (Mark Zuckerberg...oops, Jesse Eisenberg) disappearance into thin water and a card being played passing-parcel so accurately (thanks, CGI). Although the second installment is a way better revamp than its' predecessor, with its' messy subplots and exhausting run time, Now You See Me 2 turns to over-cooked heist/illusion thriller. 
  Whenever magic has been the theme of 21st century films (eg: Scoop, The Prestige), people always expect acts of incredible feat and illusion. The audience may feel a little betrayed with NYSM2's utopic illusion-ism, but we surely seem to get the expected outcome.
  Lizzy Caplan and Daniel Radcliffe add to the already starry ensemble cast. Albeit the grand entrance by Radcliffe, his motives and techniques are those of a commoner tech wizard with no chili to spice things up. Caplan makes a good job as the newcomer Lula, her TV charisma and knack of gentle comedy, might give this messed-up thriller a little relief. 
  Ruffalo is as good as always, but his talent is betrayed by a subplot i.e before-mentioned vendetta against the proprietor of his father's death. While Harrelson does a pretty good job with his rustic attire, Zuckerberg only shines as the lead of both Horsemen and the movie. 
  Spectacular display is on show here, and if that could provide this setback of a franchise a little boost, Now You See Me 2 is a success.

 Now You See Me 2 might dazzle the audience with splendid visuals (albeit unrealistic), great effects and twists, but the eyes of the audience might soon start to tear up with an exhausting run time and stuffed-up plot that sure betrays the acts the Horsemen perform.

Reviewer© rating : 2 1/2 stars

MPAA rating : PG-13 (For violence and some language)

Run time: 115 minutes

Reviewer-The Blog©

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