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Masters of the Air Episode 5 Review

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Overview: Austin Butler and Callum Turner portray American Air Force officers Major Gale Cleven and Major John Egan, nicknamed Buck and Bucky, leading the 100th Bomb Group in England for an offensive against Germany in the 2024 World War II series “Masters of the Air.” Created by John Orloff, who’s co-produced the series with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, this historical drama is based on a book by Don Miller.

Part five of “Masters of the Air” is a lot like episode 3, which was tense and packed with a lot of violent mid-air action. Navigator Harry Crosby (Anthony Boyle) is promoted after successfully guiding his mates back to safety once again, which allows him to be on the ground to chart navigation plans, while the rest of his friends and colleagues are faced with the daunting task of flying missions almost every other day. Once again, the 100th bomb group is assigned to go into the heart of Germany to bomb crucial rail lines, and this time the new face, Rosenthal (Nate Mann), gets to take the center stage.

This edition poignantly captures the dread, despair of war and how it doesn’t spare the winning side either. The Allied pilots who were full of bluster about bombing Nazis before they went on their first missions are no longer enthused about taking to the air, not after the heavy losses and horrifying wounds they continue to endure in their missions. Except for anomalies like Major John Egan, AKA Bucky (Callum Turner), who rushes back to base after learning about Buck’s fate in episode 4 of “Masters of the Air,” determined to seek revenge and bomb the Germans into defeat.

The fact that the focus shifts among different characters throughout the episodes, except for a few faces who survive multiple missions, is a brilliant risk undertaken by the creators. It truly underscores the reality that only a fortunate few are able to witness a war from start to finish while being in the thick of combat. Viewers might yearn to know what happened to X, Y, or Z, but the fate of many pilots remains unknown forever. Did they perish when their plane exploded? Did they manage to escape in a chute, only to meet a grim fate, drown, or worse yet – fall into the hands of the enemy? We’ll never know. I basically suffered second-hand anxiety for most of this episode, scared about the kind of death awaiting some of the pilots who are surrounded by enemy planes and facing heavy flak from all sides. But with four more episodes left in the series, we might yet get to know what happened to some of the characters.

The second half of episode 5 was harrowing, as the survivors return from their mission and delve into the investigation to report what happened to the others. It’s a scene where nobody displays any passionate emotion, yet it’s heartbreaking. The survivors couldn’t register what was happening to the other planes, but deep down, they know that most others must have perished, either to their deaths or in the flames with their planes. “Masters of the Air” is turning out to be gripping war drama and its world-building continues to be quite impeccable.

You can stream “Masters of the Air” on Apple TV+.

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Expats Episode 5 Review

Created by Lulu Wang, the 2024 series “Expats” is an adaptation of Janice Y.K. Lee’s novel, “The Expatriates.” The series delves into the lives of three American women residing in Hong Kong, each grappling with their distinct and profound existential crises.

“People often think that death is the worst resolution. But it’s a resolution.”

If episode 4 of “Expats” was somber in tone, this edition is even gloomier, the mood exacerbated by a rainy setting – Hong Kong is drenched, with a typhoon alert. Hilary (Sarayu Blue) has decided to split with David (Jack Huston). Clarke (Brian Tee) and Margaret (Nicole Kidman) finally confront each other properly over whether they should be moving back to the U.S, the face-off triggered by Pastor Alan’s (Blessing Mokgohloa) visit to their home. Meanwhile reaches out to her new friend Charly (Bonde Sham) and the two girls bond over food, drinks and a swim.

Titled “Central,” episode 5 serves as the penultimate edition of “Expats” and consequently boasts an extended runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes, nearly equivalent to that of a feature film. The edition opens with a riveting scene of Filipino women singing Katy Perry’s “Roar” while it rains, their vocals are beautifully in sync and one of the singers is Hilary’s help Puri (Amelyn Pardenilla), who dreams of becoming a singer. This edition succinctly captures the awkward and unpredictable nature of the dynamics that exist between helpers like Puri and Essie (played by Ruby Ruiz) and their employers. Despite the employers’ claims of treating them as family, there’s always a palpable divide between the employer and the employee.

In one particularly tense scene, Hilary insists on having David tell her whatever he wants in front of Puri, but she is forced to dismiss the help when David drops a shocking truth about his affair, which proves to be extremely humiliating for Hilary. Their heated outburst and fight are followed by one of the most subtly hilarious scenes in the show – David leaves the flat, but makes sure he grabs his coffee machine on the way. David is easily the most flawed character on the show, but Jack Huston’s earnest performance makes him so much more humane than everybody else on “Expats”.

What was quite distracting for me in this edition was the introduction of a new character, a wealthy expat housewife named Olivia (portrayed by Flora Chan), who is friends with Hilary. Additionally, there is significant emphasis on protests in the city by students and common citizens advocating for universal suffrage. The extent to which this new character’s life and the street protests intertwine with the lives of the main protagonists will likely become clearer in the finale.

Pastor Alan’s visit to Clarke morphs into a tense experience when Margaret returns home earlier than expected, displeased that a religious man is visiting her family. The children pose some pertinent questions to Alan about God and Gus (their missing brother), to which he doesn’t have any answers. However, Clarke makes compelling arguments about the necessity for hope and faith in times of crisis. Depending on the type of viewer you are, the Pastor Alan subplot might irk you, as it does Margaret, or perhaps leave you feeling a little inspired, like Clarke.

It seems like all the major characters are heading towards significant closure and life-changing decisions, making this a particularly interesting penultimate episode.

You can stream “Expats” on Prime Video.

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Open to It Review – Funny, Sassy, Saucy

Rating: 3 out of 5.

“Let’s set some ground rules. Make sure we’re always on the same page. Like the Obamas”

Cam and Greg are happily in love, and they decide to take things to the next level in their relationship by deciding to invite a third person into their bed. Thing get hot, messy, and out of hand soon.

Created by Frank Arthur Smith, “Open to It” is a featuring Tim Wardell and Frank Arthur Smith as the central couple, Cam and Greg. Unprepared for the uproarious, unpredictable consequences of opening their relationship, they find themselves plunged into a whirlwind of hilarity and surprises.

Spread over six swiftly paced episodes, “Open to It” wastes no time in setting up its primary premise. Titled “Open to Threesomes,” the first episode begins with Cam and Greg engaging in a low-key hilarious conversation about how one of them should behave if the other decides to take a bathroom break during a steamy threesome session. Jason Caceres plays the confident, young, hot Princeton, the first boy toy Cam and Greg hook up with. Meanwhile Kimberly Pace-Nieva and Elizabeth M. Boone plays their nosy-goofy neighbours Elsa and Reggie, who always show up on their door at the wrong time.

For a sex comedy, this series doesn’t disappoint when it comes to sex, skin show, and intimate scenes. Tim Wardell and Frank Arthur Smith exhibit a very domestic chemistry between them as Cam and Greg, akin to the comfort that sets in between a couple who’ve been together for a long time. While there may not be fireworks, their dynamic exudes a sense of familiarity and ease.

The cinematography often evokes a cozy atmosphere, since a lot of the plot unfolds indoors, while the sex scenes are playfully and comedically shot. In episode three, titled “Open to Break-Up,” a lively backyard party takes center stage, complete with a talent show where Cam makes his debut as a drag queen. While the writers occasionally indulge in stereotypes, they also vividly celebrate queer culture and friendships. Throughout most episodes, a cleverly shot transitional scene featuring a road crossing in the vibrant shades of the LGBTQ+ flag offers a refreshing departure from generic stock transition shots.

Tim Wardell delivers a consistently measured performance as Cam, a schoolteacher who exudes confidence and self-assurance. He also impressively embraces drag for the first time, infusing it with a generous dose of sass. On the other hand, Frank Arthur Smith’s portrayal of Greg comes across as flaky, with the character’s depiction appearing somewhat confusing. Despite being a mental health practitioner Greg’s own behavior is often erratic. However, both of them are extremely fickle in the way they tackle their sex lives. After Princeton, the couple gives a bunch of other people a shot too. Each new guy comes with his own quirks.

Todd Lien is bartender Kenny, who is riotously ridiculous in the way he behaves when Greg and Cam invite him over. It’s embarrassingly clear and funny that he is only interested in one of them, so the other ends up being a bored voyeur in the encounter. And even though Greg and Cam try to phase out the hot Princeton from their lives, he is an entertaining recurring character throughout all episodes. Jason Caceres is a bundle of energy and is quite funny-cute as the self-centred Gen Z ‘fuckboy’ Princeton. Kimberly Pace-Nieva ranged between annoying and endearing as the giggly bisexual Elsa, who is always snooping around to find out what’s happening with Cam and Greg.

While “Open to It” promises to be an entertaining exploration of polyamory initially, it eventually misses the opportunity to delve into how inviting a third person into a relationship doesn’t necessarily have to be a rollercoaster ride of chaos. But well, it’s a series that doesn’t itself seriously and is out there just to serve some laughter with a generous dose of saucy scenes. Overall, it’s a sexy, sassy, silly series, which makes for a fun one-time-watch.

You can stream “Open to It” on Out TV.

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Bottled – Graphic Novel Review

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

There’s a box. There’s a knife. And then we meet protagonist Jane, lying on a bed, asking her boyfriend if he’d still love her if she became fat. She already has body issues, hates living at her mother’s suburban little home, but cannot afford to move out in the graphic novel “Bottled” by Chris Gooch. So, when her successful model friend Natalie comes visiting from Japan, a bitter Jane does something unthinkable to exploit her friend for money. Okay, maybe not unthinkable, but it’s pretty bad.

Chris Gooch uses a three-color palette for “Bottled” – black, white, and brick red, or well, I am no color expert so it could just be something else. Regardless, this black-white-red color works well for the angst-y themes of the story. The artwork is kind of engaging, but the character illustrations aren’t consistent, and I don’t know if it’s deliberate, because in certain different angles, Jane looks like a completely different character. In some panels she has a rectangular boy-ish face, in others her head looks more rounded. However, some of the more static panels are quite striking, where the creator simply sets a scene without any dialogue. For example, the opening pages feature four panels depicting a box lying on the ground, with a hand grabbing it in the fourth panel. Another instance is a page with three panels showcasing a flight soaring through the sky.

In the tale, there are three primary characters: Jane, her boyfriend Ben, and Japan-returned Natalie, their conceited model friend. One detail the author fails to clarify is why Jane is seeking to rent an expensive room with Ben when he seemingly already has a place of his own. Is he also living with his parents, or is his lease expiring? This ambiguity leaves readers puzzled. Although, through various little incidents, the author does establish that Natalie can be exceedingly selfish.

“Bottled” essentially presents a peculiar and somber narrative about a bitter young woman who betrays her friend’s trust for her own benefit. One of the most compelling themes in this contemporary graphic novel is the exploration of friendship, particularly the enduring bonds people maintain even when they no longer genuinely like their friend. This dynamic is depicted through the Jane’ actions as they continue to bottle up their negative emotions for the sake of friendship. Eventually, this pent-up animosity reaches a breaking point, resulting in harmful consequences.

The graphic novel ends rather abruptly, but there’s some sense of resolution regardless. I didn’t particularly enjoy “Bottled” but it’s a decent one-time read about contemporary friendships and personal struggles (of people who aren’t likable).

Rating: 2.5 on 5. “Bottled” is also on Kindle Unlimited.

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Dunki Review – Dreams, Delusion & a Love Story

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Uff yaar, Shah Rukh Khan is only a few years shy of 60 in the 2023 film “Dunki”, but he is still ruling the romance genre – even now very few actors can look into the eyes of a woman with the kind of sincere passion King Khan does. In “Jawan”, SRK primarily fought against a corrupt system, but in “Dunki,” he is in his best element – fighting for love.

Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, who has co-written “Dunki” with Abhijat Joshi and Kanika Dhillon, the film opens with a picturesque shot of the Big Ben in London, with its soft chimes rhythmically playing in the background. The story is about four friends from a town called Laltu in Punjab, who dream about going to London to better their lives, and do everything they can to get to their city of dreams. When the legal ways don’t work out, they decide to go the illegal way – of crossing borders by whatever means possible.

Taapsee Pannu plays Manu Randhawa, a young woman whose family is drowning in debt, living in the outhouse of their own bungalow. So, Manu wants to go work in the UK and restore her parents’ ancestral property. Her friends Buggu Lakhanpal (Vikram Kochhar) and Balli Kukkad (Anil Grover) are also tired of being poor and hope to go find work in London. New in Laltu for an errand, Hardayal Singh Dhillon AKA Hardy (Shah Rukh Khan) befriends the trio and decides to help their dreams come true, falling in love with Manu along the way. The song “Lutt Putt Gaya” charmingly captures Hardy’s love for Manu, and SRK dancing hopelessly in love is a nostalgic reminder of all his hit songs where he dreamily croons odes to his leading ladies – from “Tujhe Dekha To Yeh Jaana Sanam” to “Haule Haule” or “Tumhe Jo Maine Dekha”. Although the ‘younger’ version of SRK’s clean-shaven Hardy isn’t convincing, he is a lot more charming when he plays his own age and appears as the older, grey-haired Hardy in the second half.

“Dunki” starts off as a fun story about a bunch of friends trying to learn English, so they can pass their IELTS exam to be eligible for their UK visa. Boman Irani plays Geetu Gulati, the English teacher whose classes Manu attends, learning helpful sentences like “I want to go to the lavatory”. The writers aren’t able to hilariously utilize the classroom setting, resorting to age-old toilet jokes which will only tickle a 5th grader’s funny bone. After a mildly entertaining first 50 minutes, “Dunki” then becomes a serious transformative story about how every year, thousands of people like Manu, Buggu, Balli and Hardy, try to illegally get to the countries of their dreams by putting their lives at serious risk. But once they get to London’s life isn’t the ‘piece of cake’ they imagine it to be. Amid the dreams, delusions of the characters, also comes of a love story which doesn’t meets its desired end.

Just like the protagonists’ turbulent journey to UK and after, “Dunki” is quite a moody, bumpy ride, with the writers relying on exploitative emotional stories to rouse the viewers. For example, Vicky Kaushal has a small cameo in the first-half as Sukhi, a young lad in desperate need of UK visa to see his girlfriend. While Vicky delivers a stirring performance as an angry young man who doesn’t understand why he must learn an entire new language just to go see the woman he loves, his entire sub-plot feels forced into the tale to milk a few tears out of viewers. But perhaps, for some it might work as a reminder of the different kind of motivations people have to leave for another country.

Rajkumar Hirani, Shah Rukh Khan, and the team might have had their hearts in the right place with this story, which essentially tries to expose a fool’s paradise, but often, their motives seem confusing. On one hand, the characters vehemently advocate for the need for open borders and the absurdity of learning a language of the colonists who once oppressed and stole from their country. On the other hand, there’s also the reality of how these poor aspirational immigrants soon become jaded with their life abroad, resentful of the second-hand treatment meted out to them in a foreign land. But perhaps the title should be indicative enough of the film’s true intentions and takeaway – only a Dunki (donkey) dreams of eating the carrot that will never reach its mouth. So, “Dunki” comes a full circle, first Mani and her friends are desperate to get to the UK, then, decades later, they are desperate to get back home to India.

The cinematography effectively captures the clashing worlds of London and Laltu; however, some aspects of the illegal immigration appeared overly unrealistic. For instance, in a scene where Manu, Hardy, and the others are onboard a train, it was glaringly obvious that it was all done with special effects. “Dunki” is often an awkward blend of overtly sentimental scenes and poorly written jokes, but Tapsee Pannu and Shah Rukh Khan make it watch-worthy with their charm. In a pleasant surprise, the climax is poignantly bittersweet and closes with a light moment. Definitely watch it if you are a big Shah Rukh fan and have a soft spot for sentimental stories.

You can stream “Dunki” on Netflix.

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Five Blind Dates Review – Came for RomCom, Stayed for Tea

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Lia runs an artisanal tea shop which attracts close to no customers, and she may have to close it down. However, when an astrologer suggests that her business fate is linked to her love life and predicts she will meet her soulmate within the next five dates, the asocial Lia decides to try blind dates in hopes of saving her tea shop.

Directed by Shawn Seet, the 2024 romantic-comedy “Five Blind Dates” is written by Nathan Ramos-Park and Shuang Hu, the latter also playing the primary protagonist, Lia. As soon as the introductory sequence of the film starts, one can already tell who Lia would most likely end up with. “Ugh, if she ends up with him, this is going to be such a bummer,” I thought to myself. Unfortunately, I was proven right. Why have a fun plot about a woman going on a bunch of exciting dates if she is going to settle for the most obvious choice? Anyway…

Shuang Hu is kind of likable as the frumpy Lia, whose entire family is keen on setting her up on blind dates. And there is a lot more pressure on Lia to find someone because her sister Alice is getting married, while nothing is working out in Lia’s life. So the first date she goes on is courtesy of her dad, who finds a wealthy playboy called Apollo (Desmond Chiam), who is looking for a very specific kind of deal out of the date. The next date is mom’s choice, the third is picked by her sweet, jittery sister Alice (Tiffany Wong). And the last two dates don’t even count. Not really. Throughout her entire dating ordeal, Lia’s best friend Mason (Ilai Swindells) is always present as a cheerleader, and their friendship is cute.

Since the story is set in Australia, the cinematography has a pleasant beach-summer romance vibe throughout most of the runtime. With a 1 hour and 23-minute duration, “Five Blind Dates” is crisp, but there isn’t enough time to establish significant chemistry with any of her five different dates, so everything feels slightly rushed and chaotic.

The one thing I liked most about “Five Blind Dates” is Lia’s passion for brewing the perfect cup of traditional Chinese tea. The rest of the story follows a formulaic path – Lia goes on a few crazy dates, fights with her family, and finally settles for the guy one could guess from the minute the film started. So the climax is obviously predictable and Lia gets her ‘happy ending’.

You can stream “Five Blind Dates” on Prime Video.

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“The New Look” Episodes 1-3 Review

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Set largely during the Nazi occupation of France in the 1940s, the 2024 series “The New Look” follows the trials and triumphs of Christian Dior, who rises from obscurity to become the toast of the high-fashion world.

Created by Todd A. Kessler, “The New Look” is a heady mix of art, war, and fashion during the times of Nazi occupation, inspired by real people and events. Ben Mendelsohn plays Christian Dior, who works under French couturier Lucien Lelong before ascending to stardom as a designer, eventually surpassing the reputation of Coco Chanel (Juliette Binoche). But it’s not all clothes, beauty, and frills for these designers, who despite living in their own bubble, must also face fear, intimidation, and desperation that comes with being under the scrutiny of Hitler’s Gestapo in the 1940s.

“Darling, please. I don’t care about other designers. They bore me. Always have.” – Coco Chanel. Titled “Just You Wait And See,” episode one of “The New Look” begins in 1955 with Coco slighting Christian while being interviewed by journalists about her comeback. Viewers are then treated to a romantically shot display of Dior’s work at the Sorbonne (Paris University), models draped in exquisite Dior dresses walk around as a nostalgic French song plays in the background. The scene does ample justice to establish how popular Dior was at the time. But soon, the story goes back to the grim days of World War II, to showcase Dior’s turbulent ascent to fame firsthand.

The cinematography vividly captures the clashing worlds of the rich drinking their champagne, attending lavish soirees with unlimited food, while common French citizens starve in long lines for their rations while the Gestapo keep an eye on them. Christian Dior has his feet dipped on both sides, while he busily designs fancy ball gowns at work, primarily for the wives of wealthy Nazi officers, he also provides financial support and refuge for his younger sister, Catherine (Maisie Williams), an active member of the French Resistance movement against the Germans. Every day, he fears for his sister’s safety.

Episodes 2 & 3 of “The New Look” are tense and frenzied installments that wholly focuses on two parallel subplots: one highlighting Christian’s desperate attempts to save his sister Catherine from Nazi clutches, while the other follows Coco Chanel’s entanglement with the oppressors. Claes Bang plays the dashingly intimidating Hans Von Dincklage AKA Spatz, who seduces Coco and gets her knee deep into murky dangerous dealings. Nazi officers swarm around these episodes, and the story steadily gets more intense as the plot progresses. While Christian is running out of time to rescue his sister, the clock is ticking for Coco to extricate herself from the Nazi web in which she is entangled.

Juliette Binoche entertainingly portrays the dichotomy of Coco Chanel, portraying her as both a vacuous, vain woman prone to trouble and a calculating, clever opportunist adept at navigating tricky situations. A friend describes her as ‘treacherous’ and they are quite right in their choice of words, even though she doesn’t seem like the kind at first. Emily Mortimer portrays Coco’s friend Elsa Lombardi, a flamboyant socialite with powerful connections that Coco attempts to leverage for her own benefit. Ben Mendelsohn as Christian Dior seems to be a far more straightforward person, with a kind heart and his brotherly concern for Catherine becomes the highlight of episodes 2 & 3, where he practically goes door-to-door looking for help to save his sister.

The makeup and styling department have done an excellent job transforming Maisie Williams into Catherine; she looks every bit the working-class French girl when introduced. However, Maisie appears to be almost three decades younger than Ben Mendelsohn (which she actually is), creating a dynamic that leans more towards a father-daughter relationship rather than that of siblings.

So far, the first three episodes have exceeded my expectations. “The New Look” initially seemed like a series that would focus more on the glamour, beauty, and facade of the fashion world. Instead, it’s a gripping war drama that explores how war consumes the lives of everybody in different ways.

You can watch “The New Look” on Apple TV+

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Did You Know These Valentine’s Day Theories?

Hey there, lovebirds and solo flyers! Ever wondered about the origins of the lovey-dovey extravaganza we call Valentine’s Day? Get ready to embark on a quest as intriguing as a plot twist in your favorite rom-com. Picture this: it’s a cozy night in, you’re snuggled up under a blanket, and just like in that iconic scene from “When Harry Met Sally,” you’re pondering life’s biggest questions. From ancient traditions to modern-day customs, we’re about to uncover some surprising facts that might just change the way you see February 14th. Here are the top five origin theories over how the day of love might have become a thing!

Ancient Roman Festival Lupercalia: Back in ancient Rome, they had this wild festival called Lupercalia, going down from February 13th to 15th. It was like the ultimate throwdown of love, fertility, and purification vibes. They’d do all sorts of crazy stuff like sacrifices and this whole lottery thing to pair up people. Some folks think Valentine’s Day might’ve borrowed a few tricks from this wild shindig.Valentinus, the Martyr: So, legend has it there was this dude named Valentinus, a real rebel with a cause back in the 3rd century. Emperor Claudius II wasn’t down with his soldiers getting hitched, but Valentinus was like, “Nah, love conquers all!” He kept marrying folks on the low, got busted, and ended up getting executed. But not before he sent a love letter signed “from your Valentine” to a special someone. And bam, a tradition was born.Fertility Festival: Some historians believe that Valentine’s Day has roots in ancient fertility festivals that celebrated the coming of spring. Back in the day, people would exchange flowers, gifts, and probably dance around some Maypoles, all in the name of getting the birds and bees buzzing.

4. Chaucer’s Influence: So, Chaucer, the poet dude, might’ve had a hand in making Valentine’s Day all about romance. In one of his poems, he talked about February 14th as the day when birds start hooking up, like they’re swiping right on Tinder or something. That poetic vibe may have helped set the mood for the day of love.

5. Celebration of St. Valentine’s Feast Day: So, February 14th has been known as St. Valentine’s feast day for ages. But here’s the thing, we don’t know much about this Saint. All we know is he was a martyr, and his feast day somehow got tangled up with love and romance. And boom, Valentine’s Day became the perfect excuse for flowers, chocolates, and sappy love notes.

These are just some theories about how Valentine’s Day came to be, but who really knows? Maybe it’s a mix of all of them, or maybe it’s just an excuse to splurge on heart-shaped everything.

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Upgraded Review – Camila’s First Class Ride is Turbulent

Rating: 2 out of 5.

For the first 20 odd minutes, the art-themed romantic comedy “Upgraded” is fun, cute, and entertaining. Then, things go downhill. Camila Mendes plays protagonist Ana, an ambitious art intern, who is sent on a work trip to London, and luckily gets upgraded to a first-class seat, leading to a chance encounter with a handsome young man called Will (Archie Renaux) who mistakes her to be an art director and Ana doesn’t bother to correct him. But this little white lie leads to a lot of adventure for Ana, and eventually also lands her in trouble.

Directed by Carlson Young, “Upgraded” begins with Ana seriously explaining a painting by Hilma af Klint to her sister Vivian (Aimee Carrero) and brother-in-law Ronnie (Andrew Shulz), but the latter couldn’t care less and just wants Ana out of his New York apartment. The whole dynamics between the family was hilarious, plus Aimee Carrero and Camila Mendes look adorable as onscreen sisters. Unfortunately, the sister and BIL are pretty much forgotten after the first few minutes. Marisa Tomei portrays Ana’s boss, Claire, a perfectionist who doesn’t tolerate tardiness and possesses a keen eye for both detail and talent. There’s a subtle “Devil Wears Prada” kind of situation going on with Ana, especially when Claire decides to make Ana her third assistant, but Ana gets to have a lot more fun than you’d imagine.

Even though Camila Mendes is charming, the story is boringly predictable and pushes the problematic cliche – fake it till you make it. So Ana just lies and impersonates her boss without thinking of the consequences of her actions; her white lie morphs into an elaborate deception, which would be considered criminal in the real world, but is supposed to be cute in this romantic comedy. So, her character’s growth in the story is ridiculously magical. A stroke of luck and chance meetings turn her career around.

“Upgraded” started out as a relatable tale of a girl trying hard to make it to New York, and then just lying and pretending to be something she is not. Lying gives Ana exclusive access to rich boy William’s fancy circle of artists, including his flamboyant actor mom Catherine (Lena Olin). Lena Olin is gracefully riveting as the rich, beautiful Catherine, who loves to get drunk and host parties; her lifestyle feels out of a Jazz Age novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Ana is able to leverage her newfound friendship with Catherine in the art world. The writers should have just tweaked the script and focused on making this a story about platonic relationships instead of the barely-there romance.

The cinematography is visually pleasing, but it really doesn’t matter in the second-half of the film, because of the cliched plot developments. If you want to watch a heart-warming romance that starts with two strangers meeting at the airport, watch “Love at First Sight” on Netflix.

“Upgraded” is available on Prime Video though.

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‘The Exorcist: Believer’ Movie Review

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Okay, first off, for a movie called “The Exorcist: Believer,” the person who gets to be the exorcist has one of the shortest screen times. There, you’ve been warned, so adjust your expectations accordingly.

Director David Gordon Green has co-written the story with Peter Sattler and Scott Teems for this 2023 film, which exists in the same universe as William Peter Blatty’s 1973 hit “The Exorcist,” which is the first horror film to win an Oscar. Set decades later, “The Exorcist: Believer” follows two young girls – Angela (Lidya Jewett) and Katherine (Olivia O’Neill) – who go missing in the woods, only to appear days later with no memory of what happened to them, but disturbingly changed from the experience. Angela’s father, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.), reaches out to elderly author Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) for help, as she had experienced something similar with her own daughter.

“The Exorcist: Believer” takes its time to establish the main story, opening with a flashback scene set in Haiti, where Victor Fielding is on holiday with his pregnant wife. A young boy lures Victor’s wife at the market, promising a blessing for their baby by local shamanic women. The baby grows up to be Angela, one of the girls whose life is endangered due to demonic possession. Leslie Odom Jr. is convincingly portrayed as Angela’s father Victor, who, despite being a skeptic and non-believer, is willing to take extreme steps to save his precious daughter from whatever is affecting her. Actors Lidya Jewett and Olivia O’Neill deliver subtly terrifying performances as the young girls whose bodies have been overtaken by something sinister.

The cinematography, particularly the camera work and angles in the first half of the film, can be quite jarring. There are numerous long shots, giving the impression of someone clandestinely tracking the protagonists with a high-quality spy camera. However, the settings aptly suit an atmospheric horror movie, ranging from the vibrant Haitian markets to the eerie dark woods and oppressive hospital corridors.

With demonic activity largely confined to the second half, the creators minimize the use of special effects, and surprisingly, there are fewer jump scares than expected. Director David Gordon Green cleverly sets up several scenes to evoke classic horror tropes, only to subvert expectations by taking the scene in a different direction. There are very evident nods to the original “Exorcist” movie, whether it’s the classic puking scene, which has become a standard cliché in most horror films, or, of course, the iconic body getting raised in the air, which never gets old and was fantastically executed in the recent “Evil Dead Rise” film.

“The Exorcist: Believer” may be lacking in chillingly scary scenes, gore, and screams, but it steadily builds the story like a psychological drama. Religious themes and discussions play a significant role, which may deter some viewers, but given the film’s title, it’s to be expected. The climax unveils an interesting twist, which isn’t as clever as the writers seem to think, but regardless, things conclude on a tragic note, yet there’s a hopeful epilogue scene afterward. While horror fans seeking a fast-paced, tension-filled experience may be disappointed, I found it to be a worthwhile one-time watch.

You can watch “The Exorcist: Believer” on JioCinema or rent it on Prime Video/YouTube.

Writer’s note – The Pope’s Exorcist is a better film & is also on Netflix.

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