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GENRE- Mystery, Drama

 Streaming On- Disney+ Hotstar

 Language- English

 CAST- Herculie Poirot, Penelop Cruz, William Dofoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer and Daisy Ridley.

 Directed by- Kenneth Branagh

 Release Date- 2nd November, 2017.

Plot- Based on Agatha Christie’s celebrated crime mystery novel, the film revolves around the murder of a dubious businessman aboard the luxurious first class compartment of the Orient express. With almost every co-passenger being a suspect, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot’s (Kenneth Branagh) sharp deduction skills are put to test once again.

Review-  Loaded with mysterious intentions, cheeky humour, clever repartee and an ensemble cast that comprises some of cinema’s biggest names, Murder on the Orient Express makes for an intriguing watch. Strangers being stranded on a stalled train makes for a great premise, given the thrill of finding a killer lurking around.

However, this dangerous train ride has its own delays if not derailment. Kenneth Branagh who plays the most crucial character of Poirot and directs the film as well, looks like he is trying to bite off more than he can chew. While he manages to infuse the necessary underlying tension, awkwardness and silence between his characters, he and his dramatic moustache and accent struggle to make this retelling of 1930s whodunit, appeal to the contemporary audience. To set an entire movie in just one frame (train compartment) and yet make it look engaging is another challenge. Branagh wins some, loses some. We particularly liked how he captures his characters as they steal a glance at each other. You wish the story played around their unspoken emotions a little more before diving straight into the investigation. Character buildup seems hurried and thus ineffective. Speaking of Poirot and his obsession for ‘balance’, only if Branagh had maintained that as a director as well. Barring Michelle Pfeiffer and Branagh himself, most talented actors like Judi Dench and Penelope Cruz get lost in the crowd.

 PROs-

l Intriguing mystery and Brilliant Performances

l Multiple Twist and turns.  

 FINAL RATING-  8/10

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GENRE- Biography, Drama

 Streaming On- Netflix

 Language- English

 CAST- Sacha Baron Cohen as Abbie Hoffman, founding member of the Youth International Party (Yippies), Eddie Redmayne as Tom Hayden, a leader and one time President of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Alex Sharp as Rennie Davis, organizer in Chicago for the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam and the national organizer of community organizing for the SDS, Jeremy Strong as Jerry Rubin, founding member of the Yippies

John Carroll Lynch as David Dellinger, leader of the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (MOBE), Noah Robbins as Lee Weiner, Daniel Flaherty as John Froines

 Directed by- Aaron Sorkin.

 Music- Daniel Pemberton.

 Release Date-  25th September, 2020.

Plot- The story of 7 people on trial stemming on various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

Review- In 1969, American Activist Fred Hampton was shot and killed in his own apartment by the Chicago Police Department. This tragic event was followed by Black Panther Party leader Bobby Seale being bound and gagged in the courtroom for taking back to Judge Julius Hoffman. What happens 51 years later? In March of 2020, a 26-year-old African-American Woman by the name of Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in her own apartment by the Louisville Police Department. This tragic event was followed by another tragic event of a 46-year-old African-American Gentleman by the name of George Floyd being restrained and eventually murdered by the Minneapolis Police Officers. What distinguishes these tragic events that are 51 years apart from each other? Has history been used to create a better future? Or has it been used to mirror the future? These are the pivotal questions that Aaron Sorkin posses with his masterful drama about the trial of seven anti-Vietnam war activists being put on trial by the federal government for conspiracy and for crossing state lines in order to incite a riot. Aaron Sorkin’s masterful storytelling blurs the lines between the events that occurred in 1968 and the events that have occurred these past four months.

The film is a classic Sorkin drama. It has all the exciting ingredients that make Aaron Sorkin the most respected and loved screenwriter working today. Rapid-fire, quick-witted dialogue, non-linear storytelling, repetition – all the delicious tropes that craft a compelling Sorkin drama are embodied in this film. After making an impressive debut as a director in the exciting 2017 film Molly’s Game, Aaron Sorkin returns as the captain of the ship and the individual behind the camera. There were moments where Sorkin’s direction stood out more than the dialogue. Take the scene towards the beginning when the first day of the trial is about to begin; in a single shot, the camera fluidly moves across the front of the courtroom showcasing every member of the trial preparing themselves for the notorious events that are about to unfold in front of them. It almost felt like a moment from a play, except rather than just solely relying on the staging and blocking of the actors, the movement and vocabulary of the camera accentuated the feeling of immersing the viewer in the rapid sensation of anticipation.

Or take the scene when Bobby Seale (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is just terrific) gets gagged in the courtroom; there is pure silence except for the haunting sound of Seale’s handcuffs and footsteps. Aaron Sorkin has truly grown as a filmmaker; his sense of staging and blocking a scene in order to be in harmony with the words he has written on the page are evolving into, just like his writing style, a rhythmic and musical style of filmmaking.

          The Trial of The Chicago 7 is a moving and haunting portrait of the frightening parallels that run between the 1960s and 2020. It is the perfect story to be told in times like these. Aaron Sorkin’s watertight screenplay and direction, the terrific performances from an incredible ensemble cast, the fast-paced and rhythmic editing, and the terrifying relevance and parallels between the events portrayed in the film and the events that have occurred in the past four months culminate to make The Trial of the Chicago 7 the most timeless reflection of today's times.

 PROs-

l Casting, Direction and Performance= Ek number.  

 FINAL RATING-  8/10

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GENRE- Comedy, Drama

 Streaming On- Netflix

 Language- Hindi

 CAST- Abhishek Bachchan, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Sheikh, Pearle Maany, Rajkumar Rao, Rohit Saraf, Aditya Roy Kapoor.  

 Directed by- Anurag Basu.

Release Date- 24th April, 2020.

Plot- A dark comedy anthology, which was supposed to be center on unavoidable jeopardize of life. And has 4 different stories set in a quintessential Indian Metro.

Review- As unpredictable as a game of Ludo itself is Anurag Basu’s (Ludo). It's Hands Down one of the best Bollywood films of 2020. 4 Divergent stories beautifully embedded into a single narrative. With four key players and one man, Sattu Bahiya (Pankaj Tripathi) a local gangster rolling the dice, Ludo is a crazy rollercoaster adventure with impressive performances. It's a Brilliant Dark comedy with Spellbinding writing & masterful direction by Anurag Basu. He is truly the King when it comes to making Anthology Films.

All the characters are very interesting and the manner in which the different tracks intersect is totally unpredictable. Hence, despite the long length (150 minutes), it keeps you hooked. As the name suggests, it's exactly like a Ludo game, every character's (Dress and surroundings) is described as the colour of each Ludo house. A true cinephile will understand and get the gist of the film immediately.

 Dialogues are written very well. The Cinematography is visually stunning and beyond Amazing. The entire album of the film is Pure Gold. Each and every song is uniquely addictive and infused situationally, making it a sweet musical comedy-drama as the film progresses. There’s thrill, emotion, drama, humour, and romance tightly packed together with an absurd climax where the key players strive to survive. Abhishek Bachchan & Rajkummar Rao deliver exceptional performances, Pankaj Tripathi is hilarious and once again impresses us with his acting skills. The youngest member of the cast Inayat Verma as Mini is truly a revelation and will make you fall in love instantly.

Since it's a Dark Comedy, there are a couple of adult scenes and a few cuss words so unfortunately, you can't watch this film with your family.

 PROs-

l Fast paced Screenplay

l  Wacky Humour

l Performances

 FINAL RATING-  8/10

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