Recently Seen Movies - 12 - Page 23

Originally posted by: crispsy

Danielle Brooks wrote this farewell song for the casts. It was really great to see them using as credit song at the end. Felt like it was Taystee's journey all along not Chapman's.

Taystee is the star for me! She is definitely one of the best-written characters. In the first episode, I was freaked by her commenting on Chapman's 'TV Titties'. But in the end, she was the character that stayed with me the most.

The makers have said Chapman was a trojan horse. Get people interested in the story of this nice white upper-middle-class girl paying for a stupid choice in her youth - but unravel the US criminal justice system and how it is failing poor people and minorities in the process. I would have never imagined that I would bawl my eyes out for a redneck Pennsatucky - but I did. And that's the power of this show.

Dolly Parton's Heartstrings

First things first. I loathe country music. It is the work of the devil. But there is something about Dolly Parton. Jolene is a magical song anyone loves. And her whole oeuvre manages to transcend barriers.

Heartstrings is a campy, cheesy, over the top Netflix anthology. Each of the eight episodes is based on a Dolly Parton song. Since Dolly was part of the process the stories reflect her inspirations behind the songs. The show may not be one of those highly rated shows. In fact, its often silly. But boy does it have a lot of heart. And in true Dolly Parton style it passes on a message of love and acceptance. To not judge people and embrace everyone for who they are.

Before Madonna and Lady Gaga - Dolly Parton was the patron saint of the LGBTQ people. And even today Dollywood is a mandatory pilgrimage.

And with that note - here is how you actually cover a song. When a song is timeless you don't need to add a rap verse or electronic dance beats.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOwblaKmyVw

Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman

Vintage SRK. SRK and Juhi were such an underrated pair. I saw this sweet classic after ages. It is a sweet feel-good film. SRK plays an ambitious young engineer who learns that there are more important things than chasing wealth.

I'm seeing it after decades. I was maybe a pre-teen during this film,s heyday. Damn "Kehti Hain Dil Ki Lagi" is the song where they do it right? Just like "Baahon Ki Darmiyan" in Khamoshi. So sanskari Bollywood doesn't have sex. Just the subtle sex songs. 😆

Also, Raju critiquing Sapna's outfit - not cool. Sapna being vengeful towards Renu - not cool. But other than that - for a 90's film the female characters are well written. Neither of them are flowerpots.

Brittany Runs a Marathon

This is exactly the kind of film we need as inspiration during this holiday season of binge eating, drinking, and steaming. The film is hilarious but also deeply moving and inspirational.

Brittany is an overweight, underemployed slacker who likes to party. She's insecure about her weight and uses humor as a coping mechanism. When her doctor suggests that she lose weight or her elevated heart rate and blood pressure could be disastrous - she reluctantly starts running. The movie is about her journey to complete the NYC marathon.

The film reflects a very honest portrayal of the insecurity, self-loathing, self-doubt, and depression that comes with being overweight. It also very delicately navigates the issue of fat-shaming. Brittany is self-loathing and she begins to project the loathing on other overweight people. Eventually, she learns that the goal is not really losing weight - but getting your life into a healthy place - mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, and sexually. In order to successfully complete the marathon, Brittany has to cut off toxic friends, let in people who love her, stop judging others, and realize that even those with perfect lives have hidden pain and deserve empathy

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

Taystee is the star for me! She is definitely one of the best-written characters. In the first episode, I was freaked by her commenting on Chapman's 'TV Titties'. But in the end, she was the character that stayed with me the most.

The makers have said Chapman was a trojan horse. Get people interested in the story of this nice white upper-middle-class girl paying for a stupid choice in her youth - but unravel the US criminal justice system and how it is failing poor people and minorities in the process. I would have never imagined that I would bawl my eyes out for a redneck Pennsatucky - but I did. And that's the power of this show.

Me too. It was really really sad moment for me. She was a new person altogether. She had grown on me. She matured and learned yet couldn't survive. Wish she was alive to see her results. It was haunting when Taystee opened the envelope and sees Pennsatucky's result sheet. Each of these characters had so much to offer and shows despite their records, they are human just like anyone else.

Tbh I couldn't relate to Chapman much. She was hit and miss. The show really got better when they started exploring other characters especially Taystee Suzzane Pennsatucky Gloria. They had some interesting issues to explore in prison setting like Red's dementia, Lorna's post-natal depression. I would like the series to continue. It had a great impact.

Kettiyolanu ente Malagha - Movie review

Watched ketyolanu ente malagha


It's a movie that gives importance to the value of love in a husband-wife relationship. It shows that lust is nothing without love.

Positives and Negatives:

Of all the departments in the movie, it is the cast of the male and female actors that stood apart. The direction is above average. The story is predictable. The lyrics and music are average. The editing is not that crisp. The cinematography is not extraordinary.

Asif's acting was superb. Undoubtedly, it is his best role. The only negative about his performance is that his eyes failed to emote in the scenes he was shown drinking liquor. But he was awesome in the final scenes.

Though the heroine veena nandakumar has the same basic expression, she carried off the role very well. Basil Joseph and Jaffer idukki too performed nicely.

The ladies who played as Sleevachayan's sister and mother did a very fine job.

In short, ketyolanu ente Malagha is a feel-good movie marked by good performances and a good message.

Rating: 2.95 / 5

Instant Family

Fostering/adopting kids is hard. It is not for the fainthearted. And sadly the system is broken. There is a lot of emotional, physical, and even sexual abuse. Most kids from the foster system end up in the justice system or revolving in and out of rehab or homeless.

Thankfully, there are happy stories too. Inspired by real experiences 'Instant Family' is about Pete and Ellie Wagner, a blissfully childless couple who get moved into adopting. They get in way over their head adopting a teenager and her two younger siblings. But they learn and grow and the entire experience is rewarding.

This is a lovely film that uses great humor to share a heartwarming tale about the ups and downs in the adoption process.

Somethings of note

- Initially, Pete and Ellie are unsure of adopting. They don't see themselves as very charitable people who have it in them. But the system could do with having more good people taking the chance.

- Pete is also concerned about being the white savior taking in three Hispanic kids. But the social worker explains how that is silly given how many kids are there in the system without a home.

- The ripple effect of adoption. Ellie's sister Kim cannot conceive, but her and her husband are adamant about having a child related by blood. They are even planning to have in-vitro. But after seeing Ellie and Pete they warm up to the idea of adopting.

Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne give great performances as Pete and Ellie. BUT Tig Notaro and Octavia Spencer are a hoot as social workers guiding foster/adopted parents.

movie review---Girlz ( marathi movie )

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Ankita Lande plays Mati , a girl living in Kolhapur who feels stifled by her conservative mother's strict upbringing . She is not allowed to wear the short clothes she wants to wear , not allowed to poke out her bra out of her top and not even allowed to wear sunglasses after her mother catches her sex chatting with a boy on smartphone . The smartphone is whisked from her hands and replaced by an ordinary mobile phone . Mati's social media accounts are blocked by her mother ( Devika Daftardar ) and her ambition to travel far and wide is nipped in the bud .

But Mati makes friends with a boy ( Parth Bhalerao ) in college who tricks her mother into allowing her to go to Goa on a solo trip . But the mother keeps constant watch by regularly phoning and asking the lady hotel manager in Goa to keep an eye on her daughter . However Mati meets Maggie/Margaret ( Ketaki Narayan ) in her hotel , and dreams of wearing the hot and sexy clothes that Maggie wears . Also she meets Rumi , who is constantly reminiscing of the boy she once loved and lost---Aditya...but only after Aditya has had slept with her .

Rumi however is nothing compared to Maggie , who sleeps with numerous men and is a free bird . As the three hang out in Goa soaking in the nightlife , dancing in discotheques , partaking in adventure sports and lazying on beaches , Mati more and more wants to live the life Maggie lives . One day Maggie encourages her to wear nothing but a bikini on a beach and Rumi uploads the photos on social media .

But Mati's mother explodes in fury on seeing the photos and recalls her back , slapping her hard and curtailing her freedoms . However Maggie keeps on phoning her and one day Mati runs off back to Goa leaving her parents worried . She Maggie and Rumi paint the town red , drinking till they puke and uploading videos of that on social media .

But actually all is not well in Maggie's life and she comes from a broken household . The free life that she leads is a facade , and it is upto Mati to bring her to her senses and reunite Maggie to her father . Then the three girls teach a lesson to Rumi's ex Aditya , who is off to marry another girl . All this makes Mati realise the importance of remaining with her own family , and she returns home a bit tamed by her experience . Her understanding father helps her and her mother reconcile with each other .

The first half of the movie is full of fun and jokes and frolic , and the photography of Goa is really nice . Background music and songs are decent too . Second half is serious and the mood is a bit sombre . Acting is decent by everyone and comedy by Parth Bhalerao who plays Mati's friend . Ketaki Narayan looks really enticing as Maggie wearing sexy clothes and smoking pot in style .

Verdict---Decent .

Three stars out of five .

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Helen ~ Movie Review :

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More than an year ago, a film called Neerali released which starred Mohanlal thats based on "survival drama" theme. The film failed to thrill or keep the audience interested with the sequences which caused the fiasco. These are the areas where Helen scored!!

1) Characters are established well so that the audience can connect well. In Neerali, the makers opted for the star's charisma to connect which backfired. Before the frozen incident, we know who is Helen, her lover, her dad and the supporting characters, the circumstances she goes through etc.

2) Smart Detailing. Helen's father Paul is shown as a chain smoker. This detail later went onto play a pivotal role in the movie and also added to the beautoful father-daughter relationship. Its a win-win situation. Or Helen and her co worker entering into the freezer. Even why Helen was reluctant to tell her dad about her lover.

3) An Eye for Small but Beautiful Moments. Neerali's subplot featuring Dileesh Pothen & gang killed the movie while in Helen, we see how a rat plays a big role in the emotional quotient.

4) Direction & Scripting was brilliant. Irony is both are debutante directors while Mathukutty Xavier displayed his brilliance, Ajoy was listless. The dialogues especially the climax were beautiful.

5) Pacing & Editing was perfect. No unnecessary scenes. Also they were able to create tension with some sequences.

The above 5 points were not there in Neerali. Only place both films shared equal points is the attempts to rescue/survive never looked filmy. Plus the performances from the actors sans Aju Varghese were good. The issue with Aju Varghese was he couldn't just deliver 100% justification to the character with his performance. I felt the relatively unknown actor who played as C:I outshined him completely.

Still the movie is not perfect!!

1) I felt the political message it shared was a bit forced. The makers can still make the film without using it. Even the cameo was part of that campaign.

2) That Vineeth Sreenivasan song which played in bits n pieces started to look irritating towards the end of the movie.

Overall, Helen is a recco!!!

Ratings - 3.0 / 5.0

The Umbrella Academy Season 1

I am not fan of superhero genre. But decided to give it a chance. I loved it. Dysfunctional superhero family, power dynamics, relationships and compelling story. Each of the characters is so unique and interesting. The series can go a long way.

Green Book, what a heart warming movie. beautiful is the word.