Thugs Of Hindostan
A dull attempt at a masala potboiler that hopes star power will trump the script.
Nov 2018
Helicopter Eela
A terrible mother-son story with a Freudian subtext it doesn’t know what to do with.
Oct 2018
Andhadhun
Despite questionable second-half detours, Sriram Raghavan’s new film is a most entertaining ride.
Oct 2018
Sui Dhaaga
A surprise-free drama that’s well-acted, sweet-natured, and quite satisfying.
Oct 2018
Laila Majnu
An idiosyncratic take on the legend takes a while to soar, but it’s worth the wait.
Sep 2018
- Sep 2018
Gold
Unlike Talaash, which was incendiary material that could be handled in Reema Kagti’s tasteful style, Gold needs a director who’s a shameless hustler.
Aug 2018
- Aug 2018
- Aug 2018
Vishwaroop II
A not-exactly-needed sequel, but a solid delivery mechanism for Kamal-isms.
Aug 2018
Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3
...is a bit of an underwhelmer, but not unwatchable — and the reason goes back to what the Randeep Hooda character said in Part 1: “Is haveli ke sab log pagal hain.” Everyone’s bonkers — even the filmmaker.
Jul 2018
Soorma
An affecting biopic that, refreshingly, stays grounded and alert to its human beats.
Jul 2018
Sanju
Hirani is more interested in event and entertainment. He transforms a feel-bad life into a feel-good story.
Jul 2018
- Jun 2018
Bhavesh Joshi Superhero
A sombre not-quite-superhero tale whose flaws don’t make it any less fascinating.
Jun 2018
Veere Di Wedding
...is a lazy film, too content with easy zingers. Issues are raised and resolved in so little time, it looks like a new scripting technique: premature elucidation. But whenever the film doesn’t try too hard to show you how hip it is, it’s not entirely unlikeable.
Jun 2018
- May 2018
Raazi
I’m happy Raazi is a hit. We need more heroine-driven films to work broadly — and not just in a few metro pockets. But the film is broad, too, as is Alia Bhatt’s performance, though she is a victim of the writing and filmmaking.
May 2018
Daas Dev
The film is darkly funny, and a refreshing change from the staid classicism that undermined some of Mishra’s recent work.
May 2018
Hichki
...isn’t a bad film — it’s a mild, pleasant diversion, something that’s going to make a lot of people think they saw something “good” and “worthwhile.”
Mar 2018
- Mar 2018
Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety
Another Luv Ranjan film, aka some mild laughs buried in a mountain of misogyny.
Mar 2018
Pari
A rewarding slow-burn story that’s not a ‘horror movie’ so much as a horror-inflected drama about misfits.
Mar 2018
Pad Man
...Balki never loses sight of the fact that what he’s making isn’t an Oscar-bait biopic but a rousing audience-pleaser.
Feb 2018
Padmaavat
All of which is to say that people who don’t care for this filmmaker should stay far, far away — but even for fans, Padmaavat is an underwhelming oddity.
Jan 2018
Kaalakaandi
...made me wonder if Delhi Belly might be another instance of the famed “Aamir Khan touch,” where people who make good-to-great films under his aegis end up bombing outside.
Jan 2018
Mukkabaaz
I loved Mukkabaaz, but it took me a while to put a frame on it, to decide how to look at it. Kashyap’s reputation is so festooned with international art-house hosannas – screenings at Cannes! reviews in Variety! – that it’s easy to forget how rooted in Hindi cinema he is.
Jan 2018
- Dec 2017
Monsoon Shootout
...was a little too low-key for my taste — it isn’t quite as existential as I’d have liked, and the butter-smooth filmmaking could have used more rough edges. But there’s still a lot of skill on display, not least from Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Dec 2017