Brick Mansions

Brick Mansions

Paul Walker’s last ever completed film proves to be more than just an action flick

The last thing I expected out of the action-packed flick Brick Mansions — Paul Walker’s last completed film — was a political statement.

Picture this: in 2018 Detroit, run-down mansions now house criminals. They litter a corrupt area abandoned by the government, stripped of schools and hospitals and sectioned off with a containment wall. Tremaine Alexander (RZA) is the unofficial leader of desolate Brick Mansions, an ex-soldier who turned to drug dealing to ease the pain of those left behind.

Enter Damian Collier (Walker), an undercover detective seeking revenge, and his unlikely partner, ex-convict Lino (David Belle), who is trying to restore normalcy to Brick Mansions.

The film features an abundance of dramatic parkour — Belle is one of the eight founders of the building-jumping sport, and it definitely shows — and semi-gory brawls. But there’s a surprising underlying message about gentrification, i.e., the replacement of lower class neighbourhoods with middle class ones, as the film tackles corrupt governments that neglect underprivileged communities.

In a nutshell, the movie is about class warfare and the things it encompasses — such as racism. (It was no mistake that Brick Mansions housed mostly people of colour.) The lines between good and evil are challenged and those characters who were villainised at first became heroes, while faux champions fall from grace.


Of course, having Walker’s character as the protagonist tinges the film with a white industrial saviour complex, but he seems less like the catalyst for change and more like an oblivious vessel through which it occurs. Another cliche is the damsel in distress storyline once Lino’s girlfriend is kidnapped, making her one of two women in the film — frustratingly typical for a male-centric action flick.


Read Full Review

2 States - A Watchable, Above Average Fare!!

2 States - A Watchable, Above Average Fare!! (Hindi) : Film Review
Chances are high for this film to be liked by the ones who didn't read the novel than the ones who read it! | Subash Sabu, Yentha.com

I must confess that Chetan Bhagat's latest big-screen adaptation after 3 Idiots, Hello and Kai Po Che, 2 States is just nowhere near those. Perhaps the debutant director Abhishek Varman missed a trick by adapting the novel as such,very much unlike the other two.

2 States, Chetan Bhagat's autobiographical novel, narrates the cross cultural romance between a Punjabi lad Krish Malhothra and a Tamilian Brahmin girl Ananya Swaminathan, which blossomed at IIM, Ahmedabad. Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhat enacts those respective protagonists.

The story is all about the pair seeking their parents' consent and blessings for their wedding. Ronit Roy and Amritha Singh gives life to Krish's parents Vikram Malhothra and Kavitha Malhothra, while Shiv Kumar Subramanium and Revathy portray Ananya's parents, the Swaminathans.

       

The bubbly and gorgeous Alia Bhatt has gone miles in terms of histrionics considering her performance in 'Student of the year'. The mother roles having different cultures, attires and attitudes were safe in the hands of Revathy and Amritha Singh. I bet you can't find a better actor to play the loving yet strict and adamant dad Vikram Malhothra than Ronit Roy.(Remember the Dad role in 'Udaan', who just frightened you with a mere stare!).

Read Full Review

One By Two-A Sincere Experiment

One By Two-A Sincere Experiment (Malayalam) : Film Review

Arun kumar's One By Two is a daring psychological thriller, that may test the patience of conventional mass masala lovers, but please film lovers seeking freshness!| Subhash Sabu, Yentha.com

Plagiarism charges,an unproclaimed, informal ban,criticisms from political circles...The iconoclastic Arun kumar's brief career has been eventful so far. But whatever the charges are,you cant deny the fact that each of his films has been better than the best in their respective genres,atleast for a section of audience. As expected,One by two is a daring attempt. Whether he succeeded in that is a question I asked myself after I left the theatre. A few questions and confusions apart,I will say that it did please me as an film lover seeking freshness! An experiment that satisfied me,though not to the core,but as an experiment, and by the sincere efforts of the cast and crew.

Storyline:Hari and Ravi,two identical twins,are close but have varied demeanour.Things are cockeyed when one of them gets killed in a road mishap. An eye-witness to this accidental death,Yousuf Marikkar,a Karnataka police officer,traces it,sniffing some money gushing in! The story narrates the confusion concerning the accident,and the identity of the deceased twin brother. 

 Arun kumar's ONE BY TWO is a daring psychological thriller that may test the patience of conventional mass masala lovers.The first half started with some spicy scenes,paving way for some gripping moments,starting with Yousuf Marikkar's indulgence in the case. It proceeded forward posing questions and proffered some food for thought. The stage was set perfectly for the second half to unravel all the mystery. But it is exactly here where Jayamohan fails as the scriptwriter! Also it fizzles out in the early second half as a thriller,as the suspense element is lost right there!

Read Full Review

Ringmaster

Ringmaster - Let Sleeping Dogs Lie (Malayalam) : Film Review

Those who love quality films should stay away from such films opines Subash Sabu, Yentha.com

Everything is fixed for Dileep now-a-days - target audience, quality of films, directors, scriptwriters, support cast and crucially the collection.

As far as the collection is on the rise, such products keep coming ceaselessly. Moreover, there should be a supply where there is demand. At the end of the day, everyone is happy but down goes the quality of Malayalam films and you can proclaim with your heads down that these are the sort of films that hits your box-office by storm. This is a crisis considering cinema as an art form; meanwhile it triumphs as an industry, when such shoddy work become hot cakes. Even writing reviews for such films are as futile as sketching on water.

For someone who usually skips Dileep's holiday flicks, the name Rafi who was associated with many quality products in the past, lured me in. Ringmaster is Dileep's Vishu offering, scripted and directed by Rafi of the Rafi-Mecartin duo. This is his maiden venture after he broke ties with his long time partner.


Read Full Review

Polytechnic - A Strict No-No!

Polytechnic - A Strict No-No! (Malayalam) : Film Review

A very normal film till a death happens in the family but the film hardly stirs anyone says Neil Xavier, Yentha.com

The first thing that one saw about Polytechnic was a song in which Kunchacko Boban and Vijayaraghavan were seen in a verbal dispute. It was more than enough to decide on what not to expect from the movie Polytechnic. Did the techniques of Poly eventually work? 

The cinema hall was almost vacant, quite surprisingly for a first day first show movie. The Padmakumar movie started well but it just went on and on without saying much.

Boban plays Poly who is a true Communist activist and fights against the evils in society - ones we have seen ages ago. Bhavana is Poly's lady love and plays the character Aswathy, a police officer. 

Read Full Review

7th Day-A Watchable Thriller

7th Day-A Watchable Thriller (Malayalam) : Film Review

Shyamdhar directed and penned by Akhil Paul travails the investigation story of an unregistered case in 7 days | Subhash Sabu, Yentha.com

Prithviraj on his Facebook page said that no other film of his has garnered so much exhilaration among the online community than this. That too for a movie helmed by debutants is quite baffling. 

Such has been the adroitness he exhibited in choosing his roles for the past two years. Prithviraj's dialogue in that teaser in his deep, majestic, baritone did give goosebumps to many. 

But today as the film hits the theatres, after the festival of democracy that the state witnessed, it's up to the movie buffs to decide the festival winner at the theatres.

The Shyamdhar directorial 7th Day, penned by Akhil Paul travails the investigation story of an unregistered case by David Abraham (Prithviraj) in 7 days, which commences on Christmas day and culminates on the New Year's eve. 

Read Full Review

Gangster

Gangster (Malayalam) : Film Review

Shoddily made, this could be Aashiq Abu's worst till date says Subhash Sabu, Yentha.com

Prior to the release, Gangster had it all. Fans and haters eagerly waiting for a mass hit from the megastar, akin to a hornbill awaiting the monsoon! 

Aashiq Abu, the so called father of new generation films in Malayalam, trying every trick out of his kitty to woo the audience. Hype and marketing soared high and so did the expectations. Such was the festive ambience in the hall that even the ones who came to howl seemed to be clapping for a festive hit! All excitement was short-lived. 

The Aashiq Abu cinema called Gangster narrates the story of Akbar Ali Khan, with truckloads of clichés. The cast comprises Nyla Usha, Kunchan, John Paul, Aparna Gopinath, Harish Perady, T G Ravi, Dileesh Pothan and others.

Read Full Review