Sold Fast: Stunning 4-Bedroom Home in Overland Park’s Regency by the Lake

Star Cast: Michael B Jordan Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton

Director: Ryan Coogler

Sinners Movie Review Synopsis:
SINNERS is the story of one wild night. On October 15, 1932, the twins Smoke (Michael B Jordan) and Stack (Michael B Jordan) arrive at their hometown – Clarksdale, Mississippi – after amassing a lot of money in Chicago. They buy an old abandoned mill and plan to turn it into a juke joint the same night. They go around the town to get people on board for their venture. Their cousin, Sammie (Miles Caton), son of a pastor, is employed as a blues singer. An old friend and expert piano and harmonica player Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo), is also recruited. A Chinese couple Bo Chow (Yao) and Grace (Li Jun Li) are asked to paint the board. Smoke’s ex-wife Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) comes on board to cook food and Cornbread (Omar Benson Miller) is hired as the doorkeeper. The twins promote the opening of the joint in the town. Hence, they get a decent turnout. All is going well and everyone is making merry. But suddenly, two mysterious men and one mysterious woman arrive and all hell breaks loose. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Sinners Movie Story Review:
Ryan Coogler’s story is imaginative and creative. Ryan Coogler’s screenplay is comprehensive and has many twists and turns. The dialogues are sharp. Thankfully, the subtitles are present which makes it easier to decipher the difficult dialect.

Ryan Coogler’s direction is supreme. The first and second halves of the film are very different from each other. The director uses the first half to establish the characters and setting and how they all turn up in the newly established club. At the same time, he also hints at how things are going to be messy and gory. The scene just before the interval point is gripping. In the second half, the film moves slowly but also keeps one captivated and even terrified.

On the flipside, a few aspects are confusing. The first half is a bit slow. The mid-credit scene is too long and though it’s novel, it doesn’t leave the desired impact. Lastly, the hype is limited for the film in India.

Sinners Movie Review Performances:
Michael B Jordan plays the role of the twins with panache. It’s also praiseworthy how he subtly makes sure that both characters are a bit different from each other. Miles Caton is very impressive and he has a crucial part in the narrative. Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo, Hailee Steinfeld (Mary) and Jayme Lawson (Pearline) leave a huge mark. Omar Benson Miller, Yao, Li Jn Li and Helena Hu (Lisa) lend able support. Jack O’Connell (Remmick), Peter Dreimanis (Bert) and Saul Williams (Jedidiah) are terrific as the villains. David Maldonado (Hogwood) also does very well.

Sinners movie music and other technical aspects:
Ludwig Göransson’s music is an intrinsic part of the production and is well woven into the narrative. The blues-style background score goes well with the film too. Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s cinematography is stunning. Hannah Beachler’s production design and Ruth E Carter’s costumes are very authentic. The VFX is classy while the action is very gory. Michael P Shawver’s editing could have been slicker.

Sinners Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, SINNERS leaves an impact thanks to its novel idea, supernatural touch and bravura performances.

Star Cast: Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, Ananya Panday

Director: Karan Singh Tyagi

Kesari Chapter 2 Movie Review Synopsis:
KESARI CHAPTER 2 is the story of a man who shook the foundations of the British empire. On April 13, 1919, a group of protesters assemble peacefully at the Jallianwalla Bagh, Amritsar to protest against the Rowlatt Act. General Dyer (Simon Paisley Day) reaches the spot with his armed troops and instructs them to fire at the people without warning. It leads to the loss of hundreds of lives. The press is censored from talking about it. The official version given is that the protestors were armed and hence, General Dyer had to open fire. To calm down the criticism, the British government puts together an enquiry commission. Sir C Sankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar) is the only Indian in this commission. Though he’s an Indian, he believes in the British justice system. He’s such a devout servant of the Crown that the government has even made him a part of the Viceroy’s Council. He begins the inquiry and realizes that the British are trying to suppress facts. A chance meeting with a young revolutionary boy, Pargat Singh (Krish Rao), changes his viewpoint. He further has a change of heart when he talks to a law student, Dilreet Gill (Ananya Panday). Hence, he decides to go to Court and sue General Dyer for genocide. In an unexpected move, the Crown appoints Neville McKinley (R Madhavan) as the defence lawyer. Sankaran and Neville have a rough past and the latter is all set to hit back at the former through this case. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Kesari Chapter 2 Movie Story Review:
KESARI CHAPTER 2 is based on the book ‘The Case That Shook The Empire: One Man’s Fight For The Truth About The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre’ by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. Karan Singh Tyagi and Amritpal Singh Bindra’s story is incredible. Many are aware of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre but not about the case. Karan Singh Tyagi and Amritpal Singh Bindra’s screenplay moves at a decent pace and is replete with riveting dramatic and confrontational moments. Sumit Saxena’s dialogues are arresting.

Karan Singh Tyagi’s direction is uncomplicated, though he uses a back-and-forth narrative in the beginning. At a basic level, it’s a hero vs villain story. The hero is fighting a gigantic antagonist who has the full support of an unjust system. Hence, one can’t help but get disgusted by the villain and root for C Sankaran Nair all along. A few scenes that stand out are Sankaran Nair being stopped for accessing the courtyard as ‘dogs and Indians are not allowed’, Shankaran’s visit to Pargat and Dilreet filing the case with Shankaran’s sudden appearance at the court. Post-interval, the Martha Stevens track is very memorable. The climax might seem predictable and yet, it packs a punch. The film ends on an exhilarating note.

Kesari Chapter 2 – Official Trailer | Akshay Kumar | R. Madhavan | Ananya Panday | Karan S Tyagi

On the flipside, it’s strange that C Sankaran Nair, until the massacre, fully believed the British justice system and he never had any doubts about them. The courtroom drama follows a set template and hence, one might anticipate where the film is moving. Moreover, it’s an urban film and doesn’t offer much to the masses. The ‘A’ rating is also unwarranted for. Ideally, a film like this should have been awarded a U/A rating for a wider reach.

Kesari Chapter 2 Movie Review Performances:
Akshay Kumar delivers a stupendous performance. His change of heart and also the way he mouths powerful lines in the court make for a great impact. Ananya Panday proves her worth, especially during the Martha Stevens track and when she meets C Sankaran Nair at the railway station. R Madhavan has a late entry but dominates some of the scenes in the second half. Regena Cassandrra (Parvathy Nair) is wasted. Simon Paisley Day plays his part with perfection and steals the show with his villainous act. Krish Rao has an important part and he leaves a huge mark. The same goes for Amit Sial (Tirath Singh). Steven Hartley (Judge McArdie), Sammy Jonas Heaney (Harold Laksi; jury member), Mark Bennington (Michael O’Dwyer), Alexx O’Nell (Lord Chelmsford), Rohan Verma (Jaan Nisar), Alexandra Moloney (Martha Stevens), Jaipreet Singh (Kirpal Singh) and Luke Kenny (Appeal court judge) also do very well.

Kesari Chapter 2 movie music and other technical aspects:
KESARI CHAPTER 2 hardly has any songs. ‘O Shera’ is memorable but a film like this deserved a hit soundtrack considering that KESARI’s [2019] songs are remembered even today. Shaswat Sachdev’s background score is very arresting.

Debojeet Ray’s cinematography is appropriate. Rita Ghosh’s production design and Sheetal Iqbal Sharma’s costumes are reminiscent of the bygone era. Futureworks’ VFX is top-class. Florian Hotz and Sunil Rodrigues’ action is disturbing but it’s the requirement of the script. Nitin Baid’s editing is slick.

Kesari Chapter 2 Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, KESARI CHAPTER 2 is a hard-hitting courtroom drama and works due to the performances and treatment and also because it tells an untold and shocking chapter of Indian history. At the box office, it will need a strong word of mouth to sustain and emerge as a profitable venture. The adults only rating might restrict its business to some extent.

Star Cast: Babil Khan, Rasika Dugal

Director: Amit Golani

Logout Movie Review Synopsis:
LOGOUT is the story of an influencer and a fan. Pratyush Dua (Babil Khan) stays in Delhi alone, away from his family. He’s a massive phone addict and also a popular influencer who goes by the name ‘Pratman’. His follower count is about to reach the 10 million mark. However, another popular influencer, Ankita (Anisha Victor), is also all as set to cross the coveted mark. The netizens are charged up to see who gets 10 million followers first. Pratyush’s friend and manager JD (Gandharv Dewan) insists that Pratyush should win the race. If that happens, a popular company will sign him up for a tempting deal, that will change things for him. But they would sign Ankita if she manages to get 10 million followers before Pratyush. As part of the strategy of getting more followers, Pratyush meets Bhuvan Bam at an event and shoots a collab video. He gets heavily drunk and goes live on his social media, asking his followers to help him amass 10 million followers. The next day, Pratyush wakes up only to find that his phone is missing. Since he was intoxicated the previous night, he’s unable to remember where he kept his phone. He opens his PC to track his device. This is when he gets an email from a girl whom he had met in Gwalior a year back, Aabha. She claims that she called his number and a cabbie happened to pick the call. She further claimed that Pratyush forgot the phone in the cab and that she’d help him get his phone back. Pratyush is relieved that his phone’s whereabouts are known. She makes him pay an amount to the driver, so that he can come all the way to his residence to deliver the phone. But while transferring the money, the OTP is sent to Pratyush’s phone. With no other option, Pratyush gives his phone password to Aabha, so that the driver can access the OTP. Soon, Pratyush realizes that he didn’t leave the phone in the cab and that Aabha is the one who has his phone. What’s worse is that Aabha is not her real name; she refuses to divulge her identity. She claims to be his biggest fan and wants to spend time with him; or else, she’ll expose him on social media. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Logout Movie Story Review:
Biswapati Sarkar’s story is terrific and very relevant for today’s times. Biswapati Sarkar’s screenplay is very captivating until the middle of the second half. To engage the audience when there’s just one actor on screen 90% of the time and the other character’s voice is heard is not easy. But the writing is very tight and hence, one doesn’t get bored. However, the climax leaves a lot to be desired. Biswapati Sarkar’s dialogues are conversational and realistic.

Amit Golani’s direction is supreme. To begin with, the various social media and email accounts shown in the film are all fictitious and inspired by real-life apps and websites. But this bit is depicted in a very authentic manner. Secondly, there are a lot of nail-biting moments in the film and it’s impressive they managed to do that since the setting is very unconventional. Moreover, it looks convincing when Pratyush divulges his phone’s password and he believes the fan. Also interesting is how Pratyush uses his brain to understand who this fan can be.

Sadly, the makers mess up the film in the second half. One of the biggest problems with LOGOUT is that one never comes to know under what circumstances Pratyush loses his phone. The makers chose not to present this crucial aspect at all. They also conveniently forget what happened to Pratyush’s ex-girlfriend Smriti, especially after the caller tried to harm her relationship with her fiancé. The climax tries to raise an important issue but the message doesn’t come across neatly.

Logout Movie Review Performances:
Speaking of performances, Babil Khan shines. He’s visible in most of the scenes and he makes good use of the opportunity to prove his worth. The character goes through a lot and Babil’s expressions, body language and his way of emoting are spot-on. Nimisha Nair (caller) has limited screen time and is quite good. She is seen less and heard more and her dialogue delivery is praiseworthy. Rasika Dugal (Pratyush’s sister) is lovely, as always, in a cameo. Gandharv Dewan, Anisha Victor and others are fair.

Logout movie music and other technical aspects:
There’s only one song in the film – ‘Tipi Tipi Tap’ – and it’s forgettable. Haroon & Gavin’s background score, however, adds to the tension. Pooja Gupte’s cinematography is appropriate. Sukant Panigrahy’s production design is cool, especially the interiors of Pratyush’s house. Special mention should go to the VFX team and graphics – the scenes of the computer screen are classy. Pampa Biswas’s costumes are straight out of life. Atanu Mukherjee’s editing is slick but could have been sharper in a few places.

Logout Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, LOGOUT raises an important issue and features a gripping, nail-biting first half, with Babil Khan’s impactful performance serving as the icing on the cake. However, the weak second half and underwhelming climax dilute some of its overall impact.

Star Cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Antonio Banderas

Director: Dougal Wilson

Paddington In Peru Movie Review Synopsis:
PADDINGTON IN PERU is the story of a bear trying to locate his lost aunt. Paddington (Ben Whishaw) is happily staying with the Brown family in London. However, he notices that everyone in the family has gotten distant, leading to a breakdown in communication. One day, he receives a letter from Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman) from Home for Retired Bears, Peru informing Paddington that his aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) is acting strangely. Hence, Reverend Mother requests Paddington to visit her. Paddington decides to take the trip and he’s joined by the Brown family, hoping that it’ll get the family back like the good old days. As soon as they reach Home for Retired Bears, they are informed that Aunt Lucy has suddenly gone missing. Paddington finds a map in Aunt Lucy’s room, which indicates that he should start his search at a place in the nearby Amazon Forest called Rumy Rock. Paddington and his family go to the nearby town where they meet Captain Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas) and his daughter Gina. (Carla Tous). Both run a boat for tourists. At first, they decline the request to go to Rumy Rock but agree when Paddington informs them about her aunt’s disappearance. Through Cabot, they also learn that Rumy Rock is the starting point for many travellers while trying to discover the lost golden city of El Dorado. Paddington is confused as Aunt Lucy is not someone who’ll run away to find gold. Meanwhile, Cabot has a hidden agenda to accompany Paddington on this trip. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Paddington In Peru Movie Story Review:
Paul King, Simon Farnaby and Mark Burton’s story is in the same zone as the previous two films. Mark Burton, Jon Foster and James Lamont’s screenplay is weak in the middle but manages to engage viewers in the second half. The dialogues are appropriate.

Dougal Wilson’s direction is simple. He tries his best to up the laughter and the emotional quotient of the film and succeeds to an extent. A few comic scenes emerge unexpectedly. For instance, when Paddington is told about El Dorado, he assumes that the Captain is speaking about the namesake eatery in London. The twist in the tale in the second half also keeps the interest going. The finale is emotional.

On the flipside, the writing suffers once Paddington and his family begin the expedition in the river. The way they get lost in the forest and the way they blindly trust Paddington to know the way is very unconvincing. The interest levels come up only when Paddington and the Captain reach the Incan fort. Secondly, some of the family members are there just for the heck of it. Lastly, the film has shockingly got a very delayed release in India. In certain regions, the film is already out on PVOD and it’s astonishing why such a raw deal was meted out to an important market like ours.

Paddington In Peru Movie Review Performances:
Ben Whishaw, as always, is perfect as the voice of Paddington. The same goes for Imelda Staunton. Hugh Bonneville (Henry Brown) is entertaining. Emily Mortimer (Mary Brown) is lovely though one can’t help but miss Sally Hawkins, who played the same character in the first two parts. Olivia Colman is aptly cast and her wicked smile takes the cake. Antonio Banderas, as expected, is quite entertaining. Carla Tous lends able support. Madeleine Harris (Judy Brown) and Samuel Joslin (Jonathan Brown) are wasted while Julie Walters (Mrs Bird) is lovely. Jim Broadbent (Samuel Gruber) is added just for the heck of it.

Paddington In Peru movie music and other technical aspects:
Dario Marianelli’s music adds to the impact. Erik Wilson’s cinematography is spectacular and the locales of Peru are very well captured. The VFX is top-class, especially the lead character. Andy Kelly’s production design and Charlotte Walter’s costumes are satisfactory. Úna Ní Dhonghaíle’s editing is slick.

Paddington In Peru Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, PADDINGTON IN PERU has its share of cute and emotional moments. However, the extremely delayed release in India, limited buzz and competition from new and holdover releases will affect its prospects.

Star Cast: Nushrratt Bharuccha, Soha Ali Khan

Director: Vishal Furia

Chhorii 2 Movie Review Synopsis:
CHHORII 2 is the story of a woman trying to save her daughter. Seven years have passed since the events of the first part. Sakshi (Nushrratt Bharuccha) now lives with her daughter Ishani (Hardika Sharma) peacefully. Ishani suffers from a condition that can burn her skin if she is exposed to sunlight. Hence, Sakshi has taken a lot of care to protect Ishani. She stays with Inspector Samar (Gashmeer Mahajani). After killing her husband Rajbir (Saurabh Goyal) and his family, she went to the nearest police station to surrender. That’s where she met Samar. But since the bodies were never found, no case was filed against Sakshi. Meanwhile, both got closer and started living together. All is going fine until one day, Ishani and Rani Ma (Pallavi Ajay), who also stays with them, are possessed by an evil soul. Then, they get kidnapped by Rajbir’s villagers. Sakshi is devastated and she and Samar reach the village to rescue Rani and Ishani. Here, Sakshi is kidnapped by the evil residents and kept underground in a dungeon. They have a sinister plan in mind which can lead to Ishani’s death. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Chhorii 2 Movie Story Review:
Vishal Furia and Ajay Jagtap’s story has all the trappings of a scare fest. But Vishal Furia and Ajay Jagtap’s screenplay is weak and hence, the desired impact is not generated. Divya Prakash Dubey and Muktesh Mishra’s dialogues are normal.

Vishal Furia’s direction is not upto the mark. To give credit where it’s due, he manages to create an eerie atmosphere. Certain moments like the existence of a creature like Pradhaan, a complex evil maze beneath the ground and the ritual that the villagers want to follow, all make for an interesting watch. Yet again, the makers raise an important point about female infanticide.

On the flipside, the narrative is full of bewildering scenes. Sakshi escapes from her lock-up and yet the villagers don’t even get a whiff. In fact, no one cares to check on her. A few scenes seem too similar to THE SHINING and other famous horror films. The VFX is shockingly tacky. The character of Samar is laughable as it seems like he enters the place in the second half without a gun though he very well knows how dangerous the villagers are. Lastly, the climax is too quick and the cliffhanger ending doesn’t really work.

Chhorii 2 – Official Trailer | Nushrratt Bharuccha, Soha Ali Khan | Prime Video India

Chhorii 2 Movie Review Performances:
Nushrratt Bharuccha, however, gives her hundred per cent to the role and tries to rise above the script. Soha Ali Khan (Daasi Maa) is damn good and proves why she deserves to be seen more. Hardika Sharma is cute and performs well. Gashmeer Mahajani gives a sincere performance but is let down by the writing. Saurabh Goyal and Kuldeep Sareen (Taau) leave a huge mark. Pallavi Ajay and Siddiqui Arifa and Imtiyazul Hasan (Shaleen) pass muster. Mukul Shrivastava (Pradhaan Ji) looks scary as per the requirement of the script.

Chhorii 2 movie music and other technical aspects:
CHHORII 2 is a song-less film. Adrija Gupta and Rob Della Fortuna’s background score adds to the scare. Anshul Chobey’s cinematography is satisfactory. Sheetal Duggal’s production design is appealing while Priyanka Mundada’s costumes are realistic. Ajay Thakur’s action is passable. White Frames Technology’s VFX is very bad. Abhishek S Ojha’s editing could have been slicker.

Chhorii 2 Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, CHHORII 2 rests on fine performances and a strong message but suffers due to a weak script, underwhelming climax and tacky VFX.

Star Cast: Rami Malek, Laurence Fishburne

Director: James Hawes

The Amateur Movie Review Synopsis:
THE AMATEUR is the story of a man trying to find his wife’s killers. Charles Heller (Rami Malek) works in the Decryption and Analysis department of George Bush Center for Intelligence, the headquarters of CIA in Langley, Virginia. His wife Sarah Horowitz (Rachel Brosnahan) goes to London for work for 5 days. She asks Charles to join her but he declines, citing work. A group of terrorists attack the hotel where Sarah’s conference is held. Sarah is taken hostage and a terrorist kills her. Charles is devastated. He uses his surveillance devices and his intelligence to identify the killers and even the whereabouts of one of them. He submits the report to CIA Deputy Director Alex Moore (Holt McCallany). However, his findings are not taken seriously. This is when he cleverly blackmails Alex and his associate Caleb Horowitz (Danny Sapani). Charles asks them to help him train so that he can go after his wife’s murderers and eliminate them; or else, he’ll expose their wrongdoings, which he has access to. Alex has no option but to comply. Charles is sent to the CIA training facility, Camp Peary, where his handler is Robert Henderson (Laurence Fishburne). Alex and his team are obviously unhappy with being blackmailed and they vow to destroy his life. Charles not only has to outsmart them but also train well so that he can face his wife’s killers, who obviously are professionals and hence, much more dangerous. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

The Amateur Movie Story Review:
THE AMATEUR is based on the book of the same name by Robert Littell. The story is fantastic and different from the rest of the action and spy films. Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli’s screenplay is tight but suffers due to several cinematic liberties.

James Hawes’ direction is engaging. The writing is such that one marvels at the smartness of the lead protagonist. At the same time, the protagonist is an amateur, as the title suggests. Hence, he even falters in places. Both these contrasting aspects are brought about wonderfully. The track of him losing his spouse is moving but the film goes on a different level once he starts to train. A few scenes that stand out are madness in the allergy clinic in Marseille, the chaos that ensues in the Madrid hotel and the chase sequence in Turkey.

On the flipside, the writing is also that of convenience. It is difficult to believe that after one of their officers went rogue, the CIA were left twiddling their thumbs. Agreed that the protagonist is super-smart and learnt his tricks, thanks to the CIA. Yet, to see the CIA being so helpless seems unconvincing. The protagonist also finds it easy to defeat his opponents. Lastly, the climax, though unexpected, fails to give a high.

The Amateur Movie Review Performances:
Rami Malek plays a complex and unconventional role with panache. His character is not a killer but he has gone out to kill. Hence, we see him hesitating and even chickening out at times. The way he brought out these aspects looks realistic. Laurence Fishburne, as expected, is too good but he’s let down by the writing. Caitríona Balfe (Inquiline) leaves a huge mark in her limited screen time. Holt McCallany and Danny Sapani are decent while Julianne Nicholson (CIA director Samantha O’Brien) makes her presence felt. Rachel Brosnahan is lovely. Jon Bernthal (Jackson; secret agent) is wasted. Marc Rissmann (Mishka Blazhic), Michael Stuhlbarg (Horst Schraeger) and Barbara Probst (Gretchen Frank) do well. Barbara needs special mention as her France scene is very memorable.

The Amateur movie music and other technical aspects:
Volker Bertelmann’s music is generic. Martin Ruhe’s cinematography is spectacular. The film has been shot in various parts of the world and it adds to its visual appeal. Maria Djurkovic’s production design is rich while Suzie Harman’s costumes are realistic. The VFX is very rich. Jonathan Amos’s editing is satisfactory but the narrative could have been crisper.

The Amateur Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, THE AMATEUR works due to its clever script, a few edge-of-the-seat scenes and Rami Malek’s performance.