Note:- I saw the Telugu version of this movie, titled GRUHAM.

Siddharth is back after a long time with a solid horror flick with Andrea Jeremiah, which chronicles the journey of a young couple who are forced to cope with a Chinese family of ghosts.

The movie starts with a Chinese song between a mother and her daughter and cuts to Sid and Andrea. This is the best possible opening for this movie if you ask me. Then comes the entire family of Atul Kulkarni where the trouble begins. Atul and Siddharth who've proved themselves as reliable actors further reinforce this fact and deliver the best output. The beautiful Andrea compliments Siddharth perfectly. The romantic scenes can be called a bit overboard, but are essential to the story. Anisha Victor delivers a solid performance as a troubled youth and stands out. Rest perform their roles accordingly. Special mention to the Chinese family which creates an apt chemistry and chills our spines.

The movie can be broadly called the greatest hits collection of every successful horror film in history, to say the least. It shamelessly copies from the greats like The Exorcist, The Exorcism Of Emily Rose, The Conjuring, etc. but combines them in perfect proportions that you'd love to ignore the former fact. The visual effects are nothing new, just the good old scars and peeling skin. Sound mixing isn't that effective, when you consider most horror movies are driven by it. Nevertheless, the movie manages to touch your senses and comes off as a satisfactory experience.

If you love to be scared, this one can barely do the trick.

Christopher Nolan is a phenomenon. He made few movies from very few genres, and uprooted them from their roots, to say the least. He made The Dark Knight(Best comic book based film), Inception(Best heist film), Interstellar(Best space film) and The Prestige(Best magic based film) and defined new heights in their respective spaces. With Dunkirk, he enters into the elite by stepping into the notoriously difficult WAR movies.

Cillian Murphy stands out in the limited cast of Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance, Harry Styles(Ladies, calm down. Please.) and the newcomer Fionn Whitehead. Murphy pours his soul into the role of a PTSD stricken soldier, giving a chilling portrayal of the outcomes of war. Tom Hardy is mostly seen with a mask for the entire film but still manages to make a lasting impact in a way only he can do. Fionn gets ample screentime on par with the great stalwarts along him, but barely manages to be remembered after the movie. Part of it can be attributed to the movie's survival approach. Others perform their roles accordingly.

Nolan is known for getting the best out of his technical crew, but he entirely knocked this one out of the park, earth, galaxy and the universe. This is the most immersive movie I've ever seen, after Gravity. The scene where the bombs keep going off one after the other, slowly approaching the camera and knocking it the sand off your legs is the most effective shot of the movie.The sound mixing is one of the best ever shot in a film. Not to mention the conscious decision to avoid any backstory to any of the characters and focus solely on the tragedy at hand is a HUGE gamble. But the studio's faith in Nolan, his intellect and his brand paid off, and the movie is expected to get Nolan's hands on the Coveted Gold next year for the best director.

This is as good as experience can get. If you already missed this in the cinemas, repent. It's worth it.

Gangs Of New York brings together two of the finest actors of two generations, Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis. Directed by Martin Scorsese, it also stars Liam Neeson in a short role, and Cameron Diaz.

Leo moves away from his Jack-Dawson-like roles which mostly base on his unbelievable good looks, and charts dark territories with this one. He is adequate to play the role, to say the least. He visibly can't get into the skin of the character, part of which can be attributed to the impeccable Daniel Day-Lewis on the other end. He breathes fire into every second he is on the screen, effortlessly overshadowing a rather brilliant DiCaprio and the rest of the stellar cast. The scene where he talks Leo about his father draped in an American flag is the one that stuck with me the longest. Cameron Diaz plays her role wonderfully. Liam Neeson makes an impact in a short but important role.

The production of this movie is MIND-BOGGLING. New York is constructed from scratch as aesthetically pleasing as possible. The set plays a major role in the now immortal scene where DDL delivers a killing monologue atop Leo. The story and screenplay are something we've been seeing for years. Scorsese brings practically nothing new to the table in this regard, but the treatment is commendable regardless. Special mention to the opening score and fight. One of the best opening sequences of all time.

Watch this if you like war and have some time to kill.

A movie based on an unsung hero and the injustice committed against him, The Imitation Game was a movie long overdue in the honor of the late Alan Turing. It has all the makings of a decent biopic. a stellar cast, wonderful production values, Oscar timing, etc.

Benedict Cumberbatch gives the performance of his lifetime. His best one, on par with Sherlock, and even better if you ask me. Rightfully nominated for The Academy Awards, he brings subtlety and enigmatic feel to every move just like the man the role is based upon. He is ably supported by Kiera Knightley, the British beauty who was also nominated for the coveted Gold. Matthew Goode is another revelation.

In spite of the wonderful acting chops and budget, the film's in-your-face screenplay sort of diminishes the impact it could've made with a more ambiguous approach. The movie trades historical accuracy for entertainment quotient, a perfectly sound decision depending on the way to see it. But in my opinion, the movie which is a self-proclaimed biopic, should be more accurate to the real events. For example, the real Alan Turing was never blackmailed by his teammate in lieu of his sexual orientation, nor did Turing trade the country's security in turn for his life. This is a pure insult to the genius of the man. Nevertheless, the movie keeps you engrossed with ample emotional investment that you diss the government for the end they gave to the pioneer of Computers.

If nothing else, Benedict Cumberbatch's moving performance is worth your time. Go watch it.

Making a movie on real-life incidents is a huge gamble in itself. Making a movie on an ongoing legal case? Criticizing the government in it? Welcome to Talvar.

It is based on the famous 2008 Noida Double Murder Case. (Names changed in the movie) Aarushi Talwar and the housemaid Hemraj were killed in the same night. The film deals with the investigation undertaken by the CBI in this matter.

Irrfan Khan is widely regarded as one of the best actors the country has ever seen, and you can see it why in this movie. He brings sly humor into the realistic world of the film and brings out the frustrations sincere officers have on their governments. Tabu cameos as his wife. Prakash Belawedi has an interesting character offering an entirely different chain of events, and he performs the role with ease. But the breakout stars of the movie are Neeraj Kabi and Konkana Sen Sharma, who portray Nupur and Rajesh Talwar as realistically as they can possibly be. They transform effortlessly between the various shades of the characters, carrying out the positive and negative vibes seamlessly. Gajraj Rao too steals the show as the negligent cop.

Making a film based on real events is a huge gamble especially in India, where people's religious and political frenzies are triggered easily. Meghna Gulzar took this gigantic challenge as her debut, and boy does she do it perfectly.The screenplay sometimes echoes a "Sorkinian" fatigue, which is a good thing to replicate. She easily offered one of the best debuts India has ever seen and gave the movie the very grit which defined the real-life case. This level of realism, never before on Indian Cinema, paid off as the movie was a critical and commercial hit.

This was a movie which affected me like no other, Hollywood included. Indian needs more movies like this.

FACEBOOK CHANGED THE WORLD.
Saying so wouldn't be an understatement. That's the level of impact it has. So, how was it founded?

Rather than saying it's a biopic of Mark Zuckerberg, it's accurate to say its the biopic of Facebook itself. It starts with Mark creating Facemash to piss off his ex and carries us through three different versions of what happened in this crossover from Facemash and Facebook.

Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher are the biggest stars of this film, period. Thanks to Columbia Pictures' faith in Fincher who was known for directing gritty action, this combination takes us on a roller coaster ride while inspiring us all the same. Aaron Sorkin, who also makes a little cameo in the film, takes his conversation-driven screenplay style to next level while Fincher ups his game to meet him. Their decision to show all the alleged three versions of events speaks volumes for their commitment. Combine this with the blending soundtrack, you have one of the best movies of all time which makes you take out your laptop and start building your own empire.

Jesse Eisenberg is adorable as the quirky nerd Mark Zuckerberg, with an unbelievable dream. He is perfectly complemented by Andrew Garfield who plays Eduardo Saverin, taking their chemistry to new heights. Justin Timberlake steals the show as the spoiled brat Sean Parker. Armie Hammer and Max Minghella also perform as required. I am a bit surprised by how many overlook Rooney Mara's performance though. In spite of having limited screentime, she manages to leave a mark.

Bottomline, it's Sorkin's child all the way. If you are looking for inspirational movies, you are at the right place.

Biopics are always tricky. One might be criticized for not having historical accuracy, while the opposite might do the same. Thank God the filmmakers had the guts to do this one just right.

My Left Foot is the celluloid version of the life of Christy Brown, a painter and writer born with cerebral palsy. The film starts with his birth and chronicles his experiences throughout his life, culminating on a happy note with his marriage(More on this later).

Daniel Day-Lewis stars as the crippled genius in a performance for ages. This method actor reportedly refused to break character thought the filming. He was carried around by the crew in a wheelchair and fed directly to his mouth, to familiarize himself with the embarrassments and hardships of the cerebral palsy ridden. He nails the character in every aspect, especially in speech. The way he says "All I've had my entire life was platonic love!" is enough to break the toughest hearts. This movie marks his beginning to establish himself as the best living actor on this planet. Brenda Fricker manages to hold her ground in a standout supporting performance among others including Fiona Shaw, who will go on to be hated by Potterheads around the world for being the irritating Petunia Dursley.

The filmmakers were criticised for leaving out the real-life tragic end of Christy. After his marriage to Mary Carr, he was reportedly abused and neglected all the time. He dies choking on his food years later, which is said to be a product of her negligence. I support the filmmakers who made the creative decision of leaving out this tragedy as it would mean the audience would walk out the doors depressed, which is not good for any movie. Quoting Aaron Sorkin, "What is the big deal about accuracy purely for accuracy's sake, and can we not have the true be the enemy of the good?"

Even if the film fails to strike a chord with some, Daniel Day-Lewis is sure to leave an impact on your hearts and minds. He alone is worth the money and time you give, if not more.

There are movies which entertain you, and there are movie which provoke you. Fight Club is in the grey area.

Jack(Not named in the movie, but called the same in the script) is a typical everyday guy, trying to find the perfect balance between the expansions of his personal effects and his bank account. He runs into Tyler Durden, an impossibly self centered man with radical ideas who's sexy enough that it's illegal. They start a Fight club, a place where (quoting Jack) you can be GOD for a few minutes. How Marla singer fits into this, Fight Club metamorphosizing into something more sinister and the real identity of Tyler Durden forms the plot.

Edward Norton plays the narrator, an everyday man suffering from insomnia before finding a cure that satisfies his inner demons. He is slyly hilarious and brings the necessary gravitas to the character. But the character to stay with you is Tyler Durden played by Brad Pitt in a career defining role. While he oozes charm effortlessly, he also brings a lot to the table which is absent in the original Chuck Palahniuk's novel. Helena Bonham Carter plays Marla Singer, a tragic dark mess with sufficient charm. You won't even notice the other characters until familiar faces like Jared Leto pop up once in a while.

David Fincher took quite a gamble in directing Fight Club after the debacles of his previous releases. This was a movie which was way ahead of its time(and was expectedly rejected by the then audience). But his faith in the source material paid off in the long run, and Fight Club is now considered to be one of the best films ever made and rightfully so. The cinematography is impeccable, consistent with Fincher's works. The dialogues are sure to stick with you for years to come. Almost every line Tyler speaks is frame-worthy. The vinegar burn scene is the stand-out, though. Special mention to the opening credit graphics.

I made sure this review stays spoiler free, but the internet is not so kind. Stay away from spoilers if you don't want to ruin the experience of your life.

Originality, no matter abnormal or extraordinary, must be appreciated.

When Sir Nolan was riding high in the unprecedented critical and box office success of TDK, the logical move would be to cash in on that craze by bringing in a sequel asap. But just like he made The Prestige after Batman Begins' extravaganza, he turned his attention to a 10 year old idea that was born between the Nolan brothers. This marked the inception of INCEPTION.

The premise is complicated, to say the least. If you somehow convince yourself that a technology which allows users to have shared dreams is feasible, boy you are in for a ride. Dom Cobb, an extractor, and his ingenious team takes this already unbelievable idea to next level to do the reverse i.e. Inception. More specifically, they enter the subject's dream within a dream within a dream.

Sir Nolan, who was an ardent fan of Leonardo DiCaprio's work, wanted to work with him and also approached him a few times, but nothing caught the attention of the Academy award winner until 2010. While literally anyone could've essayed Cobb's role, Leo brings the subtle touch he's known for and succeeds in making his own impact in a story-driven-film. He portrays the vulnerability and complexity of Cobb perfectly. Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe and Ellen Page portray their roles as expected as the story doesn't leave a lot of room for improvisation and subtlety. The biggest revelation is Marilon Cotillard, who eats the biggest chunk of the acting-accolades pie. She's required to be loving, scary, vulnerable, pitiful and clever at the same time, and she nails it in every one of them. Michael Caine makes a small cameo and is, well, Michael Caine.

The biggest challenge in making a movie like this is to make it seem intelligent enough, yet dumb it down just so the audience can keep up. This amazing art, brought into limelight by Spielberg, is mastered by Nolan as evident from the movie. The underlying emotional currents, however, fail to stick at some point of time. The visuals are impeccable, to sum it up. It took Hollywood 3 years to come up with such immersive experience (Gravity). Hans Zimmer usually makes scores worth remembering, but he knocks this one out of the park. TIME is one of the most emotionally-charged music I've heard in a long time.

If you're in for originality and cerebral cinema, this should be on the top of your list on the lines of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Before anything, I would like to salute Sir Nolan to have the guts to return to the Batman franchise after TDK. He knew the expectations and tacked them head on, succeeding for the most part.

TDKR has clear signs that it's inspired from Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Rises. This is not the Bruce we saw in TDK. He is old, broken, hopeless, recluse who comes out when a danger akin The Joker ? appears in Gotham who would test not only his mental rigidity but also physicality.

Stepping into the shoes of the dearly missed mighty Heath Ledger, Tom Hardy gives his everything and is near-perfect. His commandeering frame, which must've been a pain to attain, compliments his dark voice perfectly. He had greater pressure than Heath had, and satisfied the expectations for most part. The Knights all sequence stands out, thanks to him.
Christian Bale gives his most matured turn of Batman in this last piece of one of the greatest trilogies. His starts off as an old, broken man and segues into the mean Batman perfectly, thanks to the acting chops on this man. Knightfall sequence belongs to him as much as it belongs to Hardy. That's when we realise Bane is a force to be reckoned with, and both the actors nail it to perfection. Michael Caine brings out a new shade of Alfred, and nails it. Morgan Freeman gets a larger role compared to TDK. The new revelations in the franchise are Anne Hathaway and Marilon Cotillard. Both act out their parts perfectly.

Sir Nolan doesn't play around with the screenplay as he usually does, but offers the tragic tale of a city and its hero straightforward. He managed to nail the desired task of superhero movies perfectly i.e. satisfying both comic and non-comic audience. The accomplished the gigantic task of improving the visuals of TDK. Being an eye candy is where TDKR outshines it's predecessor. But the story turns out to be a bit weak, with a lot of plotholes. Nevertheless, the actors and the visuals keep you occupied enough to make it an engaging watch.