Sachin Chatte

If you are curious about the significance of the asterisk in Thunderbolts*, it denotes the New Avengers, as revealed at the film’s conclusion. Maybe they could have revealed it earlier but it was probably a marketing decision, like most things in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The follow-up to Raid (2018) takes place in the late 1980s and reflects the style of films from that era, where politicians are portrayed as antagonists and the protagonist must outwit them.

It is impossible to watch this film set in Kashmir without keeping in the mind the tragedy that unfolded in Pahalgam, a couple of days ago. Ground Zero, which draws inspiration from the valor of BSF officer Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, is set within the context of the Kashmir conflict, albeit during a different period.

Since his acclaimed debut film, Fruitvale Station (2013), and the subsequent Black Panther installments, Ryan Coogler has adeptly transitioned from independent cinema to high-budget productions, establishing himself as a director of significant interest. In an era where quality standalone films are increasingly scarce in Hollywood, overshadowed by a flood of sequels and superhero narratives, it is refreshing to to encounter a film like Sinners, which reflects a writer/director’s desire to convey a story rather than conform to studio demands.

Barring the title and the fact that both films are about patriotism, Kesari 2 has no connection with its predecessor. Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, this film, titled The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, is indeed a patriotic narrative; however, its central storyline, which revolves around a courtroom drama, is fictional.

Amateur, directed by James Hawes, is a contemporary adaptation of the novel of the same name, which was previously made into a film featuring John Savage and Christopher Plummer. This spy thriller, while not groundbreaking, delivers sufficient thrills. It could easily be likened to a Jason Bourne or Jack Reacher film, but instead, we follow Charlie, the titular Amateur. Unlike James Bond, who possesses a license to kill, Charlie holds a license as a cryptographer for the CIA. With an IQ exceeding 170, he adeptly gathers and synthesizes information from diverse sources, quickly proving his exceptional skills. It is also evident that he is deeply in love with his wife, Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan), and their affection is reciprocated. However, when Sarah embarks on a business rip to London, she never returns, having been taken hostage and subsequently killed.

Jaat marks the directorial debut of Gopichand Malineni, who has primarily worked in Telugu cinema, blending the characteristics of a North Indian hero with southern elements. In this action film, Sunny Deol portrays an angry old man capable of single-handedly confronting and defeating an army of villains. It has been nearly twenty-five years since he famously uprooted a hand pump to vanquish his foes; this time, he utilizes a ceiling fan, a wooden column, and other unconventional objects as weapons. At one point, he proclaims, “Yeh dhai kilo haath ko awaaz North sun chuka hain ab South sunega“ (The sound of these two-and-a-half-kilo hands has been heard in the North; now the South will hear it) This film is a quintessential action movie that could be classified as a ‘masala film’; however, the masala genre typically does not include scenes of decapitation. In some instances, heads are tossed into someone’s hands, while in others, headless bodies are seen moving about, raising questions about the medical plausibility of such scenarios, where men walk akin to a headless chicken. Many acclaimed action films, such as Pulp Fiction, feature blood and gore but often with stylized action choreography. In contrast, this film relies heavily on sickles and swords to sever body parts, to the extent that the censor board had to pixelate several graphic scenes.

In his approximately 35-year career, director Steven Soderbergh has made more than a handful of remarkable films. Although he occasionally takes breaks, but he still remains a highly prolific filmmaker. This year, he has two new releases: Black Bag and Presence, the latter is a horror film and both are written by David Koepp. Black Bag is a gripping and entertaining spy thriller that showcases Soderbergh’s distinctive style. The film features an exceptional lead duo, Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett, who portray a married couple, George and Kathryn. Both work for the British intelligence agency and appear to be deeply in love—until complications arise. As a spy thriller, “Black Bag” combines the intellectual depth of a John Le Carré novel with the romantic tension characteristic of a Hitchcock film, a director not typically associated with romance. The film successfully balances style and substance, a rarity in cinema these days.