Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 163
June 24, 2023
Kafas Review – Melodramatic but Riveting
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
When a middle-class Mumbai couple let their 15-year-old son pursue his Bollywood dreams, they are shaken to the core to learn that the lead actor abuses the teen. When they decide to take the matter to court, the star’s team offers them a hefty sum to bury the issue. Despite accepting the hush money that affords them several luxuries, the incident slowly tears the family apart. Will they just let it go, or will they get justice for their son?
Mona Singh and Sharman Joshi portray the married couple, Seema and Raghav Vashisht, in the six-episode series “Kafas” directed by Sahil Sangha. The series is an official Indian adaptation of the 2018 BBC mini-series “Dark Money”. Mikhail Gandhi is the stand-out star of the show, playing Sunny Vashisht, the teenager traumatized by abuse, who musters the courage to confide in his parents about his experience. Vivan Bhatena is perfectly cast as super-star Vikram Bajaj, a successful dual-faced man. In the public eye, he is charming and adored, but beneath his charismatic facade lies a ruthless sexual predator.
The plot of “Kafas” takes center stage, with frills-free cinematography featuring straightforward shots and settings. The series begins with a visceral and bloody murder scene, only to rewind seven months back and explain the events leading up to that point. The first episode effectively introduces the main characters and establishes the primary conflict. While the six episodes are largely gripping, the creators slow down the pace of the series by devoting undue attention to the complications arising between Sunny’s parents due to his father’s ex-wife and son.
Mona Singh and Sharman Joshi’s characters, Seema and Raghav, lack chemistry, which actually complements their already strained relationship as a couple. As they struggle to cope with their son’s precarious situation, their differences worsen. However, despite their differences and errors of judgment, their love and support for Sunny is poignant. Tejasvi Singh Ahlawat portrays Shreya Vashisht, Sunny’s older sister who also dreams of becoming an actor. Despite numerous auditions, she fails to land a role, leading to a rift between the siblings. While the desi-fication of the story is well-done, the writing gets too theatrical and melodramatic in between. For instance, in a scene where Seema should be consumed by worry for her son’s well-being, she instead resorts to attacking Raghav’s ex-wife with hurtful jibes.
What “Kafas” excels at is delving into an often overlooked issue: the sexual abuse of underage boys. due Due to the societal taboo surrounding homosexuality in India, many male victims choose to remain silent or are silenced by various forces, including their own circumstances. Mikhail Gandhi delivers a rousing performance as Sunny, a well-mannered sweet boy, who who eagerly enters the world of filmmaking with starry-eyed aspirations, only to have his innocence brutally stripped away by the very person he admired. The creators conclude the show with a somewhat inconclusive ending, yet it leaves the viewers with a sense of hope, allowing them to draw their own conclusions. Overall, “Kafas” is a series that is definitely worth watching.
You can stream the series on Sony Liv.
65 Review – Should’ve Been A Short Film
65 million years ago, a visitor crash landed on earth. This is the text that follows the title sequence of the 2023 movie “65” starring Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt and a bunch of CGI dinosaurs.
Directed and written by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, “65” presents a captivating sci-fi plot centered around Mills (Adam Driver), an interplanetary spaceflight pilot who crash-lands on an unfamiliar planet; a minor girl called Koa (Ariana Greenblatt) is the sole survivor besides himself. Unfortunately, the script fails to go beyond the basic premise of an older adult taking charge of a child while they navigate through dinosaur-infested terrain and make their way to an escape pod. A sentimental sub-plot about Mills having a dying daughter (Chloe Coleman) back home does little to make the audience emotionally connect with the story.
Netflix’s “Troll” was much more entertaining than this, and I’m only drawing the comparison because both films target viewers who enjoy titles like Jurassic Park. “They probably thought that since pairing Pedro Pascal with a kid in anything turns into gold, why not pair Adam Driver with a kid and roll with it,” a friend who also watched the film in fragments told me. However, the interactions between Mills and Koa are dry, mundane, as the dialogues suffer from lack of imagination and we are supposed to laugh at Koa making faces behind his back. Additionally, the cinematography fails to capture the breathtaking essence of the Mesozoic Era as one would expect.
“65” should’ve been either a 30 minutes short film, or should’ve had more characters and a dash of fantasy for it to be more interesting. Stream it on Netflix if you must.
June 23, 2023
Tiku Weds Sheru Review – Nawazuddin, Avneet Elevate Dramedy
Everything I do, I do it with passion. And that’s a fact. This is Sheru’s punchline, a junior Bollywood artist who hustles as a pimp to make ends meet in Mumbai. The dialogue also rings true for Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who plays Sheru, as only seasoned actors of his caliber can make the audience root for a lying, deceitful small-time criminal. And newcomer Avneet Kaur is a bundle of charm as the titular Tiku in 2023 movie “Tiku Weds Sheru”.
Directed by Sai Kabir, who shares writing credits with Amit Tiwari Anand, the film delivers on what the trailer promised: a quirky, entertaining dramedy about two individuals whose dreams defy their humble backgrounds. The story begins with a comical scene, introducing Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Sheru, an extra on a film set, exuding a delusional swagger of a leading hero. Struggling to make ends meet, Sheru resorts to illegal jobs to pay off his debts and rushes off to Bhopal for an arranged marriage. The allure of a beautiful bride called Tiku (Avneet Kaur) and a substantial dowry seals the deal for him. However, unbeknownst to Sheru, Tiku aspires to become an actress and sees the wedding as her ticket to Mumbai. What unfolds is a quirky romance filled with lies, exaggerations, drama, and broken dreams.
From the vibrant and lively wedding in Bhopal to the cramped one-room kitchen where Sheru resides in Mumbai, the cinematography skillfully blends colors and sets to create an engaging atmosphere. The music, for the most part, complements the mood of each scene, except for the final song number towards the climax, which wasn’t catchy enough. However, it is the lead pair’s portrayal of the aspirational class that truly shines. Tiku and Sheru represent the countless men and women who flock to Mumbai, in the hopes of making it big in Bollywood. While a fortunate few find their way to success, most others are lost in the shadows. Expect some dance, drama, betrayal, blood, drugs and a whole lot of emotions among other things.
The lead actors, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Avneet Kaur, deliver fantastic performances and infuse their characters with genuine emotion. Avneet’s portrayal sometimes brings to mind the talent and charm of Alia Bhatt, and that is certainly intended as a compliment. Starting as a foul-mouthed and spirited young woman unafraid to pursue her desires, Avneet skillfully portrays Tiku’s more vulnerable side, delivering an endearing performance. However, with their focus on Tiku and Sheru, the writers overlook fleshing out the supporting characters, resulting in the rest of the cast being relegated to forgettable side roles.
With an evenly paced 1 hour 52 minutes runtime, “Tiku Weds Sheru” is an entertaining romantic dramedy with solid leads. Often, stories of this nature tend to stumble towards the end, but even the film’s climax is delightfully “filmy”. The ending strikes a bittersweet tone, infused with comedy and optimism, and is likely to viewers feeling satisfied.
Stream the film on Prime Video.
June 22, 2023
Hack My Home – Netflix’s new renovation series
At first glance, “Hack My Home” sounded like a dystopian series portraying people breaking into ‘smart homes’ and wreaking havoc on people’s lives. Okay, maybe some of us have been watching too much horror and techno thrillers. However, Netflix’s trailer for the series promises a delightful show where a group of interior designers take over the homes of “deserving families” (as described in the trailer) and give them stunning makeovers. Think of it as a variation of “Tiny House Nation,” but instead of focusing on building homes from scratch, this series features regular homes.
The show features talents like Mikel Welch, Brooks Atwood, Ati Williams, and Jessica Banks. Each of them brings their expertise to different aspects of the renovation, ranging from design to engineering. “Hack My Home” will be available to stream on Netflix July 7 and looks like a show worth adding to you “to watch” list if you are a home-interior enthusiast.
June 21, 2023
Hello Meera – Quick Movie Review
Meera is a busy bride. Her wedding celebrations are starting in a day, and she is still running around making last-minute purchases and going for rounds to the tailor. Just when she starts to drive her car back home, she receives a call from the police informing her that she is the primary suspect in her ex-boyfriend’s suicide case. Will she make it to her wedding, or will she be arrested in what she claims is a clearly fabricated case by a jilted ex with powerful connections?
Directed by Kakarla Srinivasu and written by Hiranmaye Kalyan, the 2023 movie “Hello Meera” stars Gargeyi Yellapragada as the titular protagonist. What sets this film apart from most other thrillers is the experimental decision to shoot the majority of the film during a car ride. Throughout almost 90% of the 90-minute runtime, Meera is driving her car and engaging in constant conversations with a multitude of people through her Bluetooth speakers.
Unfortunately, neither the plot nor Meera’s personality is compelling enough to carry the weight of the entire movie. To be fair, Gargeyi Yellapragada delivers an earnest performance, but the script isn’t foolproof and just watching her talk to people on the phone gets boring/annoying. Add to that – Meera has inconsistent personality traits. She is shown to be a confident, independent woman who earns a comfortable salary, drives a nice car, and has chosen a love marriage. However, strangely enough, she fails to be transparent about her problematic ex-boyfriend with her current boyfriend turned fiancé. While such secrecy might have made sense in the context of an arranged marriage, it feels unnecessary in Meera’s case. The climax turned out to be a little too convenient and unrealistic—so much so that it led me to wonder if someone would reveal it all as an incredibly elaborate psychological prank played on the protagonist. Now that would’ve been a good twist! But nope.
“Hello Meera” could potentially serve as a lesson for younger individuals to be more transparent about their lives with their prospective partners. While it’s not necessary to share every detail about one’s past, if someone has had an ex-partner whom they label as “psycho” to the police, it’s an important detail worth mentioning to your future spouse—unless, of course, the crazy ex is deceased. Well, or unless you are confident that your skeletons won’t come tumbling out of your closet to haunt you later on.
You can stream the film on Prime Video.
Also Read: School of Lies Review – Twisted & Sneaky
Village Review – Intriguing Setting, Collapses Slowly
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
So, the 2023 Japanese movie “Village” left me a little dazed and disappointed. It was a little like Stephen King’s “Carrie”, but with working adults and an old art form thrown in for cultural heft. Thanks to the film’s slow pace, I didn’t mind hitting the pause button to read more about “Noh,” the fascinating classical Japanese dance-drama art form that traces its origin back to the 14th century.
Written and directed by Michihito Fujii, “Village” stars Ryûsei Yokohama as the protagonist, Yu Katayama, who is trapped in his rural hamlet Kamonmura, working at a garbage disposal plant to pay off the debts of his alcoholic-gambling mother. He is bullied by everyone at work, treated like trash, and gets a rare chance to turn his life around when the new employee, Misaki Nakai (Haru Kuroki), suggests that he lead school tours for kids who come to visit the plant.
When Misaki’s character is first introduced in the film, she waves at Yu, and he has no idea who she is. As a viewer, I immediately jumped to the conclusion that she was perhaps his high school teacher. Almost until the end of “Village,” I assumed that Ryuto Sakuma’s character, Keiichi Nakai, was either her son or stepson. However, it turns out that Misaki and Yu are around the same age and used to learn “Noh” at the village temple together as kids. Due to this unfortunate initial age bias that had set in, the eventual romance between Misaki and Yu seemed painfully awkward.
The cinematography is actually great, largely due to the old-world charm of Yu’s remote village and “Noh,” at least when the story isn’t focused on the dirty, grimy disposal plant and the corrupt practices of those who run it. There’s the classic “city versus village” divide, the struggle to maintain cultural and heritage ties in the face of capitalistic vultures. The young Yu symbolizes both the best and worst of humanity—a man who cannot seem to escape the vicious cycle of poverty, violence, and helplessness. He is faced with the choice of either succumbing to his unfortunate circumstances or making sacrifices and joining the capitalistic cult of men who run everything. What will he choose?
Despite its interesting themes, the plot is too muddled, the pace painfully slow, and the second half needlessly builds mystery around an issue that is already too obvious. Instead, the filmmakers should have dealt with some of the “twists” in the story more directly, rather than hinting at them needlessly. Ryûsei Yokohama is brilliant in his portrayal of the tormented Yu, who undergoes a metamorphosis on screen, transforming from a pitiful man shunned by everybody to a charming, confident tour guide envied by his peers. However, the well-crafted performances cannot salvage the confusion of the script, making it difficult to recommend watching.
However, if slow, artsy existential films are your jam, you can stream the film on Netflix.
Also Read: School of Lies Review – Twisted & Sneaky
American Born Chinese Series Review – Action, RepresentAsian
June 20, 2023
Cosmoknights Volume 1 Review
“Cosmoknights” by Hannah Templer is a dazzling explosion of colors that will lighten up your mood, as if disco lights were swirling around or you were witnessing the northern lights (but with way more shades).
Protagonist Pan works at her father’s body shop during the day and sneaks off in the evenings to find her friend Tara. The two are brought together by their shared love of food, music and laughter, but divided by their contrasting backgrounds. You see, Pan is the daughter of a mechanic, while Tara is the princess of their planet, destined to be married off to a random suitor after an upcoming jousting tournament! However, Pan helps Tara run away, which incurs the wrath of the royal family. Consequently, Pan lives the rest of her life quietly working until she encounters two captivating space-fighters who are on a clandestine mission to dismantle patriarchy throughout the galaxy.
The artwork in “Cosmoknights” is a vibrant fusion of bold and lively shades that seamlessly complement the genre-bending space adventure. This tale takes place across multiple planets, in a distant future where paradoxically patriarchal medieval practices still persist, and royalty appears to thrive with unwavering prominence. Despite the slight dystopian nature of the story, there’s some great LGBTQ+ representation.
While protagonist Pan’s personality is still under-cooked in volume one, so far, she is this enthusiastic reliable friend, who knows a lot about machines and still needs to figure out her own place in the world. It’s the space gladiator Cass stands out best. Cass is strong, fierce, with a “never give up” attitude and can kick anybody’s butt and has a solid fascinating back-story. Overall, this was a pretty fun volume, with fantastic artwork!
It’s a 4 on 5 from me. Volume is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Teaser – Picture hai ya parody?
The YouTube thumbnail for Dharma Productions’ “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” teaser looks like it’s the poster for Ranveer Singh’s 2013 film “Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela”. Except that there’s Alia Bhatt with him, instead of Deepika Padukone. And once you play the teaser for the Karan Johar venture, all you get is a montage of rehashed scenes from a bunch of older Bollywood titles (a lot of them Dharma Productions). In several instances, lead actors Ranveer and Alia seem to be parodying Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.
The teaser is filled with scenes that bring to mind movies like “Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham,” “Dilwale,” “Devdas,” “Om Shanti Om,” “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil,” “I Hate Luv Storys,” and others. Yash Chopra’s signature style is evident throughout, with vibrant and opulent sets as well as lavish locations. There is the obligatory romantic number set in the snow, where the heroine wears a delicate saree with a sleeveless blouse while the hero stays warm in a bomber jacket. Even the background music in the teaser was a re-hashed track.
The teaser appeared exceedingly dull, and unless it is intended to be a lighthearted parody film in which Karan Johar playfully mocks his own style of movies, there seems to be little hope for “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” to be entertaining.
June 19, 2023
Demon Slayer Swordsmith Village Arc – Ep 11 Review
By Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Rank 4 Hantengu is arguably one of the ugliest and sneakiest demons in the action anime series “Demon Slayer” so far. While lacking in character, this hideous abomination makes up for it through his alternate personalities and cowardly tactics. With a runtime of over 50 minutes, episode 11 serves as a near-perfect season finale for the “Demon Slayer Swordsmith Village Arc” (Kimetsu no Yaiba)! It is definitely more entertaining and intriguing than the 11-episode-long “Entertainment District Arc”.
Titled “A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light,” the episode begins with Tanjiro, Genya, and Nezuko chasing the tiny Hantengu through the dense forests of Swordsmith Village. Meanwhile, the Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji engages with his clone, Zohakuten, in order to buy time for her juniors to decapitate the main body. While the extended runtime of the season finale made me worry if it would be a long and overstretched battle royale, it surprisingly packed in much more than just a clash between demons and slayers.
From bloodied face-offs, grim flashbacks, disturbing revelations, and a painfully moral dilemma that plunges Tanjiro into an existential crisis, episode eleven brings together all the elements that made this series exciting in the first place. Moreover, fans finally get to see the meticulously crafted sword by Hotaru Haganezuka, which was first teased in episode two, “Yoriichi Type Zero.” With time ticking away, can the slayers kill the demon before dawn breaks and he runs away? It’s a tense edition!
However, the most unexpected and gripping part of this episode was Lord Muzan’s historical flashback, revealing what drove him to become the top demon boss and his current agenda.
Muzan traces his devious origins back to the Heian period (between 794 and 1185), when he was a young lord suffering from a mysterious disease. The animation for his flashback was rendered in black-and-white, with a slight grainy effect, creating a dark antique tone for the past. To heighten the drama, the artists add the color red only to the scenes that feature blood in them. The demon boss’ past perfectly ties up with the events occurring in the present and only spells more danger for the corps.
This season finale delivers two fantastic twists that will not only thrill fans but also bring tears, as it leaves ample room for future seasons. This means it’s back to waiting for the continuation of Tanjiro’s adventures once again!
Stream the series on Netflix.
June 18, 2023
MerPeople – Netflix’s Splashy Docuseries
Click here or scroll to the bottom for audio version of this review
When Netflix first released the trailer for its short documentary series ‘MerPeople’, the teaser looked fascinating and promised to provide viewers with an intriguing glimpse into the lives of real people who portray these mythical creatures as professional performers in water parks, conventions, cruises or pool parties. As I began streaming the 4-part series, I was mentally prepared to skip forward whenever things became a bit dull, but was pretty surprised by how engrossing it was for most parts.
Directed by Cynthia Wade, the series is shot like a reality show, with fewer direct sit-down interviews and more direct coverage of what life can be for different kinds of performers. Some bits seems a little staged and rehearsed, but they didn’t disrupt the flow of the show. From seasoned, successful professionals to those struggling with their bills and hustling to live their underwater dreams, we get to meet an interesting set of people, some odd, some endearing.
Titled “No Dead Mermaids,” the first episode kicks off with a group of gorgeous ‘mermaids’ & ‘mermen’ gracefully performing in a tank, captivating the audience with their smiles and blowing kisses to the crowd. The kids, especially, are absolutely thrilled and in complete awe of the spectacle. But the moment the performers emerge from the water, their smiles wash off, their eyes are burning, and they inquire whether the pool guy went overboard with the chlorine dosage. It’s at that moment the illusion shatters. However, for the spectators, who never get to see what’s happening behind the scenes, the magic remains unbroken. Within the first minute of the documentary series, the essence of the mermaid industry is vividly portrayed – a contradictory fusion of enchanting fantasies and perilous realities.
Props to the creators for featuring older women who were mermaid performers in the 1960s at Florida’s Weeki Wachee Springs, a renowned water park. These performers played a significant role in showing children that being a mermaid could be a full-time job. While the mermaid industry is massive, with an estimated worth of half a billion dollars according to the creators, the show doesn’t delve deeply into many of the field’s issues. Instead, it focuses on a select group of characters and events, providing viewers with a surface-level understanding of the mer-person’s life. The cinematography is captivating, bright and has some mesmerizing shots of underwater performances.
Some of the key individuals in the series include Morgana Alba, the founder of Circus Siren Pod, who trains and hires some of the industry’s best talents. We also meet Brittany Sparkles, who works as a waitress to support herself while striving to establish a reliable career as a mermaid performer. Another fascinating person is Blixunami, a non-binary individual whose parents do not support their chosen lifestyle. Finally, there’s Eric Ducharme, who started as a merman at Weeki Wachee Springs when he was just seventeen. However, due to health issues, his father made him quit. Undeterred, Eric went on to become ‘The Mertailor’ and is renowned for creating some of the industry’s finest tails for performers.
The final episode features a colorful and fun mermaid pageant aboard a luxurious cruise ship, along with a heartwarming reunion of former mermaids in Florida. If the documentary’s premise intrigues you, you can catch it streaming on Netflix.
