sridhar-e Reviews

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

Masterclass in direction

[9/10 · 22 July 2023]

Oppenheimer is a masterclass in movie direction but for an average movie aficionado, it's a decent movie with stunning sound design and masterful acting. I am a huge Nolan fan and even with so much hype, he still doesn't disappoint. Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer is devastatingly magnificent and is extremely well supported by every single one of the cast including good actors playing small cameos. The sound design was one of the best I have heard in recent times. What impressed me the most was the restraint and subtlety exercised while telling this story. In hands of any other director, this could have very easily become a jingoistic and pathos-inducing average movie. So many of Nolan's stories work because of the emotions and bonds behind all the other stuff but i found that part a bit lacking here and that would be my only critique. For me it's a 9.5/10 movie but for a normal movie goer it would be 7.5-8/10 movie.

The Endgame (2022)

A binge worthy show

[8/10 · 5 May 2022]

I was surprised to see this having been rated about 6. This is a solid crime thriller. Everybody has done a very good job in terms of acting and the screenplay keeps you hooked. I watched all 10 episodes in one go so i was probably at an advantage. Its smart, its suspenseful and all the main characters have been developed nicely. Binge worthy.

Aspirants (2021– )

A Class Apart

[9/10 · 13 May 2021]

TVF's Aspirants is a truly heartwarming webseries. It has a lot of things going for it. Thematically it's very similar to Kota Factory but incorporates a more mature story telling. The songs are great but it's the background score that stands out. Every one of the main characters have acted very well with special mention to Naveen Kasturia who has owned the lead part. Sunny Hinduja as Sandeep bhaiyya is a revelation. Although relatively small part but he walks off with the best and most memorable lines and scenes. Watch Aspirants for some amazing poetry and dialogues, great background score, great acting but most of all, watch it for hope, which is massively needed in current situation. 8.5/10.

Gully Boy (2019)

Nearly perfect

[10/10 · 17 February 2019]

#Gullyboyreview: it was simply"Wow". It's not a movie which grabs you immediately but it slowly creeps up on you and by the end of the movie you end up wanting more. Every single actor had done justice to their parts. Ranvir and Alia are phenomenal as always but Siddhant Chaturvedi as MC Sher shines through. From the shy young boy in Inside Edge, his metamorphosis is quite remarkable. The film is not without it's potboiler stuff and there is an uncanny resemblance to '8 mile', but all of that fades away when the rapping and the rhythm begins. I don't remember wishing for a sequel to a movie in recent times but I can't wait for gully boy 2.

Zero (III) (2018)

A flawed love story

[7/10 · 30 December 2018]

"Zero" movie review: Is the movie bad? Yes. Does it have cringe-worthy moments? Yes. In recent times, I felt ashamed admitting that I am an SRK fan, but with Zero, I felt proud again. He is simply amazing in the movie. He has acted with fearless abandon and it shines through in every shot. Anushka has supported him wonderfully well and even outshines SRK in a few scenes. Katrina gets to pull a Kangna and she does a good job. The story is a let-down, but it has good comedy, some really great visuals and a whole lot of bauaa singh. I went in with zero expectations and came out with a smile on my face. I really liked the movie despite its obvious flaws but I am not sure many others will.

Simmba (2018)

Mindless fun

[8/10 · 30 December 2018]

#Simmba: This is an out and out mass entertainer. Rohit Shetty has packed this movie with punch-lines and crowd pleasers. Almost every scene is elevated by the brilliant peppy and apt background score. Acting was good throughout but Ranvir Singh stands out by giving his all to this role. Although for about half an hour in the second half, the movie tries to be preachy with utterly formulaic sappy crap but it recovers very well. I thought it to be better than "temper"(Telugu movie this is based on) and a total Paisa wasool. Perfect enjoyment for the pre-new year weekend. P.S: don't miss the cameo by Akshay Kumar at the end

Geetha Govindam (2018)

Fall in love with Geetha govindam

[9/10 · 6 September 2018]

It's been a long time since I really liked a Telugu movie of recent times, but I did with this feature. The is not much story in the film but it's the other things that make you Love this movie. Acting by Vijay devarkonda is simply superb. He has managed to play the exact opposite of his previous role in Arjun Reddy and it is very convincing. Comedy is also very good as are the songs. It's a feel good movie.

Race 3 (2018)

Worst of the worst

[1/10 · 6 September 2018]

One of the worst movies I have ever seen. Race part 1 was very good. The sequel was somewhat palletable. But this one is simply unwatchable. The only thing that is half decent about this movie is the cinematography. It has been shot in beautiful locales. Give this movie a hard pass

Stree (2018)

A horror film which is a laugh riot

[8/10 · 6 September 2018]

"Stree" is a wonderfully weird movie. It's a very well crafted horror- comedy where neither genre overpowers the other. Every actor shines throughout the film except Shraddha Kapoor. Special Kudos to Rajkumar Rao and Pankaj Tripathi. An award winning effort by the dialogue writers. The story could have been better and there are quite a few loopholes. Also the ending is really weird but overall this movie will keep you engrossed and engaged for the entire run time. The sound effects are simply amazing and the movie ought to be watched with a good surround sound setup to fully enjoy the movie

Gotham (2014–2019)

Simply Excellent

[10/10 · 14 November 2014]

To create a TV show about such a revered and famous character in itself is a very courageous thing to do. James Gordon has been played by many people in the past but none compare to his portrayal in the Dark Knight series. I started watching this series because I like Ben Mckenzie. He did a great job in The OC and Southland but in Gotham he has given the performance of his lifetime. The tale is gritty, dark, beautifully written and pacy.Almost makes you feel as if it was a Nolan product. The sets are beautiful, the cinematography is breathtaking. You get to fill in some of the blanks. Even the origin stories of great DC villains like Penguin and Puzzler have been wonderfully portrayed. I would recommend it to every DC fan. Its a good story with mind blowing performances throughout. Watch out for the young penguin and fish mooneys characters

Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014)

Stylish and mind blowing

[10/10 · 21 February 2014]

I was very intrigued by the title of this series. Sons of ANarchy is a very stylish name. Add badass harleys to the mix and you have got a great way to lure the viewers. But to sustain the viewership the show needs to be irresistible. Sons of Anarchy has all that and more going for it. The acting is top notch. You can actually feel his emotions on his face. The series reminds me of the wild west where revenge and killing ruled over the law. The series has politics, team work, manipulations, deaths, gore and most of all the wonderful recurring sounds and sights of bunch of harleys. Addictive and awesome. After Dexter and Game of Thrones, this is my newest addiction. Double thumbs up

Drinking Buddies (2013)

Beauty in Simplicity

[8/10 · 11 December 2013]

After I watched the movie, I knew that many people wouldn't like it. Unlike other movies this movie doesn't have a point to put across. It doesn't have a definite beginning and a definite end. It is just the portrayal of a small part of life of 4 people. This film captures the reality of it life and relationships. There are no evil masterminds, nor there are any earth shattering twists... its a simple story, simple dialogues and simple situations. The acting is good throughout..What I really loved about the movie was that it was very different from the other movies I have seen. add to that an Olivia Wilde nude scene and you have a great one and a half hours of good movie watching ahead of you

Rectify (2013–2016)

A classy affair

[10/10 · 22 May 2013]

In recent times TV channels have been spewing out shows after shows but without any class. Sundance has come up with Rectify which defies all the current trends. Rectify is not a show which is recommended for people who like fast paced storyline and actions. Rectify has a slow narration. It allows room for the characters to feel the feelings and act without saying words. The direction is beautiful. you almost feel like its a work of art. The background music is the life of the show. It has been beautifully crafted to capture and express every emotion the lead is feeling. Some of the dialogues feel straight out of a novel. Rectify is TV at its best. I am really glad to have taken the time out to watch the entire first season. I hope the second season doesn't commercialize and dilute the offering of the show.

Misfits (2009–2013)

Nothing like Heroes

[5/10 · 19 May 2013]

I was really disappointed with the series. I watched it because people told me it was like Heroes. but let me tell you this is nothing like heroes. Heroes had a storyline, good actors, some light moments. Misfits on the other hand has none of those. There doesn't seem to be a common end point where the show and its characters are headed towards. Its just one problem after another and some crude lewd jokes in between. Even the visual effects aren't cool enough. Decent acting by some of the actors but nothing worthy of mention. There is one character whom you'll not be able to understand without proper subtitles.All in all if you want to watch a darker, much crappier version of Heroes, this is the show for you

Parade's End (2012)

Subtle Brilliance

[10/10 · 1 November 2012]

I don't like watching series or movies based on the wars but I watched this because of Benedict Cumberbatch and I have fallen in love with this series. I have not read the novels or have any idea about the writer but if the books are even half as good as the TV adaptation, they must be a must- read. Christopher Teijens is a brilliant, very committed and decent gentleman. He has a wife who cheats on him and he is love with a girl. At the backdrop is the world war 1. If you are looking for a story, there is not much of it but the true star of the show is the direction, cinematography, amazingly poetic dialogues and unblemished acting by the whole cast. The music compliments the settings and the backdrop very well. Benedict Cumberbatch has shown the world how talented he is. Flawless acting, deep emotions and superb voice modulations. Rebecca Hall and Adelaide Clemens have made the characters of Sylvia and valentine unforgettable.

Don't watch this if you are a fan of fast paced action. This is for patient, connoisseurs of literature and romantics. Watch it for intelligent viewership.

Inside Men (2012)

Wonderfully thrilling!!

[10/10 · 4 February 2012]

I have never been a believer in watching pilots. For me if a show is only good enough if it has lasted at least a few seasons before I get hooked on to it. But having a lot of free time I decided to give Inside Men a chance and boy was I glad to have done that!

The show is about a group of men working in a cash warehouse deciding to go for the long haul. So overview seems simple enough but mind you! there are a lot of things in store for you. The pilot was almost an hour long and was shot at a good pace, although some of the scenes appear quite slow but the overall pace of the pilot was great.

Steven Makintosh was superb and the acting was generally good on the whole. Although I didn't see any actors that I could recognize but they have done their part amazingly well.

It has got me hooked and I cant wait for the next episode.

Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place (1998–2001)

Class apart from all the other Sitcoms

[10/10 · 29 August 2011]

I had no knowledge of such a series even existing. It doesn't feature in any top lists and I found it really hard to find. But fortunately I managed to get a hold of all the 4 seasons and I was very impressed to say the least. First of all it stars Ryan Reynolds who is one my favorite actors, so naturally at first I thought that this would be a one-man show with the others playing second fiddle, but i was grossly mistaken. Each and everyone of the cast members are endearing. They have played their parts to perfection and thus this show cannot be called two guys... it should be more like 3 guys and 2 girls. Now for the content part. I have seen countless number of sitcoms in my short life and one thing that I have found common in everyone of them is that there are always a lot of jokes about sex, innuendos and other vulgar stuff. Don't get me wrong, all that stuff is hilarious but this doesn't have any of the vile stuff. This is purely humor at its best, the proper situational comedy. I loved each episode of it purely because I could relate to almost all situations. This is a story about real people and not the ones to whom fantabulous things happen to. Ryan Reynolds, as Berg, is awesome. He has brilliant comic timing and can pull of almost anything with a charming smile. Richard Ruccolo, as Pete, was surprisingly great. In fact he has outdone Ryan in many scenes. He is obsessive, panicky, crazy and funny. Traylor Howard, as Sharon, is brilliant too. She is bubbly, charismatic and really cool. She plays the girl-next-door to perfection. Nathan Fillion, as Johnny, better known as Castle by some, is actually really great. Its like he knows that he is not the lead, yet he manages to hold on. He has this sheer presence in some scenes. He is adorable, honest, smart and really talented. This is a great and intelligent series and everyone must watch it for pure fun.

Friends (1994–2004)

Once in a lifetime phenomenon

[10/10 · 6 July 2010]

FRIENDS is an out and out awesome sitcom. You just cannot stop laughing..It has got everything.the sweet romantic moments, the adorable tiffs, the inarticulate desperation and of course the mind blowing and hilariously funny jokes.

Chandler is the guy whom i love the most in the show. He is simply outstanding in his one liners and the sarcasm..Joey just cracks me up. He's like the cool guy with whom everybody loves to hang out with. Even though you know that Rachel is supposed to be with Ross but when Joey falls in love with Rachel, you just cannot stop rooting for joey to be with her. That was really a heartbreaking episode.

The episode where chandler proposes, the one where Rachel and Ross get together for the first time, the one where U2 song was played, were all extremely special episodes. It just broke my heart when the show ended and i cant describe how much i wish that the show would start again.

Its my stress buster..everyday after a long,hard and tiring day at work i come back home and watch an episode of FRIENDS and it all goes away.

I just love FRIENDS and its cast..Each and every episode is a magnum opus. I wish that they could come together one more time and even if they not they have managed to create something out of the ordinary which will remain etched in the viewers hearts for generations to come.