While the cinema industry's functioning came to a moribund standstill due to shut theatres and physical distancing measures rendering shoots near impossible, Take Off (2017) director Mahesh Narayan seems to have made the most out of this constrained environment by scripting, shooting, editing, and directing a picture, entirely shot in a virtual milieu, riding on the backs of previously produced similar films like 2014's Unfriended and 2018's Searching. c u soon, starring Fahadh Faasil, Roshan Mathew, and Darshana Rajendran, released today on Amazon Prime Video, making it the third Malayalam picture to have a direct release on an OTT platform. Director Mahesh Narayanan carries the entire narrative of c u soon through a set of video calls, personal chats, google map images, screengrabs, and everything that a laptop or phone screen can accommodate. c u soon kicks off as Jimmy (Roshan Mathew) swipes right and left on his Tinder account. When he gets a match in Anu (Darshana Raj...

Honey Trehan's debut film, Raat Akeli Hai , released digitally on Netflix on the 31st of July. Starring a talented crop of fine artists such as Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte, Shweta Tripathi, Tigmanshu Dhulia and many others, Raat Akeli Hai was touted to be a film in the crime thriller genre, with many already labeling it as an Indian Knives Out. Here's our review on the desi crime thriller. A dead man, that too a powerful patriarch/politician, shot point blank in a sprawling mansion in the rural hinterlands of Gwalior, a posse of family members with unclear intentions who have not heard a thing or the commotion that ensued before it, and an unwanted newcomer to the family whose origins and backgrounds are shadier than those of the family members combined. Add to that a cop, like in other similar movies of the genre, hell bent on digging up the truth. What debutant Honey Trehan and writer Smita Singh orchestrates here is the perfect setting for a gripping whodunit. Whethe...

Geetu Mohandas's second directorial, Moothon (The Elder One), released on the OTT platform, ZEE5, after doing it's rounds in the festival circuit, including the acclaimed Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Mohandas returned to the director's chair after National Award-winning 2013 film, Liar's Dice, which starred Geetanjali Thapa and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Moothon had a fine and talented crop of technicians behind the camera, including the likes of Rajeev Ravi, who handled the cinematography, B. Ajithkumar, who was in charge of editing, and most of all, Anurag Kashyap, who penned the Hindi dialogues in Moothon.  The film is currently streaming on ZEE5. Moothon tells the tale of Mulla, a teenager in Lakshadweep, who travels to Mumbai in search of her elder brother, Akbar, whom she calls Moothon, who, in turn, had left for the city many years ago. Mulla's journey takes her to the dark, sordid underbelly of the city, where she has to fight several odds to find h...

Dil Bechara, Sushant Singh Rajput 's final screen outing before his untimely demise last month, released yesterday on Disney+Hotstar. Directed by debutant Mukesh Chhabra and starring Rajput along with Sanjana Sanghi, Dil Bechara is the Indian adaptation of the popular John Green novel,  The Fault in Our Stars , which had it's own Hollywood adaptation in 2014. Dil Bechara is currently streaming for free on Disney+Hotstar . Like it's parent novel, Dil Bechara follows the life of Kizie Basu (Sanjana Sanghi), a cancer patient, who falls in love with a cancer survivor, Manny (Rajput), who infuses in Kizie an infectious but joyful energy to "seize the moment" and to make the most of her life. Kizie meets Manny for the first time, as he effortlessly sways to the title track, a peppy urbane 'Dil Bechara' by A.R Rahman. Kizie and Manny bond over Kizie's infatuation and fascination over an incomplete song, penned and composed by a mysterious musician named Abhim...

Greyhound , a World War-II thriller, directed by Aaron Schneider and starring Tom Hanks , released on Apple's streaming platform, Apple TV+, after a theatrical release became difficult, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Greyhound is based on the fictional nautical war novel  The Good Shepherd, written by C.S Forester , which narrates the treacherous voyage of a naval escort group protecting a merchant ship convoy carrying supplies to England. Here is our review on the film. Months after the U.S made it's entry into the Second World War, first-time US Navy Commander Ernest Krause (Tom Hanks), who frequently utters Bible verses and fears his inexperience, is tasked with commanding a Fletcher- class destroyer, codenamed Greyhound, which escorts a merchant ship convoy carrying supplies from the U.S to England. As they enter the 'Black Pit' in the Atlantic Sea, an undefended area beyond the range of antisubmarine aircrafts, Greyhound and it's accompanying escort group face...

For Bollywood worshipers, Netflix India came with exciting news as it unveiled the streaming giant's new slate of titles, including in-house productions, commissioned projects and acquired titles. Netflix's new announcement came as streaming platforms in the country, with the likes of Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, and Amazon Prime Video, are racing to acquire and release Indian films on their platforms, in lieu of the now dormant theaters.  In their announcement, Monika Shergill, VP-Content of Netflix India, stated,"We are excited to share our lineup of stories across formats and multiple genres. We know our members have unique tastes, moods and needs – sometimes, they want to lean back and watch a delightful comedy, and at other times, they want a pulse-pounding thriller that brings them to the edge of their seats. Together with the finest stories from around the world and our rapidly growing selection of licensed titles, we want to give our members something to discover and...

Gina Prince-Bythewood's latest outing, The Old Guard,   found its digital release on the OTT platform, Netflix. Adapted from the comic book of the same name by Greg Rucka, who also penned the screenplay, The Old Guard follows the adventures of a globetrotting team of immortal mercenaries, led by the mythical Andromache of Scythia, played by Charlize Theron. The film also starred KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Matthias Schoenaerts and others. Here is our review on the fantasy superhero film. The Old Guard narrates the exploits of a team of immortal assassins, most of whom who have fought in and been witnesses to historic wars and battles. Leading them is Andromache of Scythia, inspired from the mythological character, called Andy for the majority of the film. Instead of treating their trait of immortality as a gift, these mercenaries often consider it incarceration. They only find satisfaction and fulfillment by using their powers to save the world and prevent conflicts. Th...

Chintu Ka Birthday was one of the first Bollywood movies to release on an OTT platform, as theatrical releases have now become a far-fetched possibility owing to the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The film, helmed by debutant director duo Devanshu Kumar and Satyanshu Singh and produced by the popular ragtag of team of Indian comedians, All India Bakchod (AIB), had a fine crop of talented artists in the lead, with the likes of Vinay Pathak, Tillotama Shome and Seema Pahwa. Produced on a shoestring budget, Chintu Ka Birthday is currently streaming on ZEE5. C hintu Ka Birthday kicks off as we a see a middle class expat family, living in war-torn Iraq, readying their house for the birthday celebrations of the eponymous character, Chintu Tiwary(Vedant Chibber). Despite every Indian in Iraq leaving the country for their homes, the Tiwaris have not been able to escape from the perilous and conflicted environment, owing to a few technical hassles. Chintu's father, Madan, played by the ever ...

Sam Mendes is a director who has made his mark felt with his visually gripping narratives such as Road to Perdition and American Beauty. He even managed to make a spy movie, Skyfall, into a visually engaging masterpiece. Mendes’ new film, 1917, a World War I epic is yet another ambitious movie from the acclaimed director. Here's the Reviewer's review on the war epic. The movie chronicles the journey of two young British soldiers, Lance Corporal Schofeld and Blake who race against time to deliver a critical message that will save thousands of British army men from peril in enemy soil. From the British trenches where they get the message, the two soldiers brave airstrikes, dead bodies and explosions to deliver the message.  What works the best in 1917 is the simplicity of the narrative. There are no complexities in the storytelling, even though the on-screen ordeal of the army duo is indeed complex, if not heart-touching. It touches on the more humane side of the war...

In what seemed an appropriate show of support to the criticism by cine lovers on the instances of racial prejudice in the industry, actor Joaquin Phoenix lambasted the 'systemic racism' currently prevailing in the industry, while accepting his Best Actor statuette during the BAFTA Awards ceremony on Sunday. In his critical speech, he pointed out that while he felt "honored" with the recognition from the British Film Academy, he also felt "conflicted" as actors of his stature failed to get the necessary and worthy recognition for their performances. The British Academy received flak over two weeks ago, as its nominations list contained only white actors and actresses, while it snubbed performers of color. Cynthia Erivo, Awkwafina, Antonio Banderas and Jennifer Lopez were some of the performers from diverse backgrounds, who had been snubbed for their acclaimed performances in the past year. The Academy had also failed to recognise women directors in their n...

Like it or not- the decade that passed belonged to the superhero genre, or more specifically, to Marvel. No other entity has been able to create the impact that Marvel brought into filmmaking, pop culture, fandom and above all, the movie business. Despite its’ humble beginnings in 2008 with Jon Favreau’s Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe grew in popularity and scale, that finally culminated in the cinematic event that was Avengers: Endgame.  Here’s a look into how Marvel owned the 2010s. The establishment of a production house solely dedicated to the making of films based on the Marvel superhero canon and its’ acquisition by the media juggernaut, Disney, was in fact what turned the tables in favor of Kevin Feige and Co. In the hands of a big powerhouse, Feige would have clearly seen the possibility of fulfilling his dream of creating a cinematic universe with all of the comic books’ characters in it. Fans are certain, even today, that the Marvel Cinematic Universe di...