Guild Reviews
Waack Girls
Drama (Hindi)
Six Kolkata girls create Waack Girls, a dance group in a city unfamiliar with waacking. Led by Ishani, an expert waacker and managed by Lopa, this light hearted story is filled with music, dance, comedy and drama.
Cast:
Mekhola Bose, Achintya Bose, Barun Chanda, Rytasha Rathore, Anasua Chowdhury, Chrisann Pereira, Priyam Saha, Ruby Sah
Director:
Sooni Taraporevala
Writer:
Iyanah Bativala
Prime Video show is good-natured, well-intentioned
Fri, November 22 2024
An underdog dance group making something of itself: right from the opening frame of Waack Girls, you know that this will be the trajectory of this rag-tag bunch, based in Kolkata. But this Sooni Taraporevala-created-and-directed nine part series attempts to build in differentials. First off, Kolkata is still not a city you’d think of when it comes to street style dancing and underground meetings where dance-offs occur. A lovely Cal feeling is captured in a crumbling old mansion, in a tony club, in the corner puchka-wala, and in the accents people use. You do see some familiar structures on the skyline, like the Howrah Bridge, but they are just there, no emphasis laid. That is refreshing.
Freedom at Midnight
Drama (Hindi)
Freedom at Midnight is the electrifying story of India's struggle for independence. Based on the bestselling book of the same name, it recounts the partition of India and Pakistan, and the religious and socio-political dynamics of the era.
Cast:
Sidhant Gupta, Chirag Vohra, Rajendra Chawla, Arif Zakaria, Ira Dubey, Rajesh Kumar, Luke McGibney, Cordelia Bugeja, Malishka Mendonsa, K.C. Shankar
Director:
Nikkhil Advani
Writer:
Abhinandan Gupta, Adwitiya Kareng, Gundeep Kaur, Divy Nidhi Sharma, Revanta Sarabhai, Ethan Taylor
A pacy, layered account of Partition politics
Mon, November 18 2024
Once a purveyor of Bollywood entertainment, director Nikkhil Advani of late is exploring drama surrounding real, epochal events – life-altering situations where the decisions are not made based on right and wrong, but on the pretext of consequences. A slippery ground to navigate, he got it right in Mumbai Diaries set against 26/11 terror attacks in the metropolis and doesn’t disappoint in Freedom At Midnight either.
Nikkhil Advani's Faithful Adaptation On Partition Is Respectful And Compelling
Mon, November 18 2024
One of the most painful and fraught chapters of India’s history is brought to life in the SonyLIV series Freedom at Midnight, created by Nikkhil Advani. With a large ensemble cast of Indian and foreign actors, the series moves forwards and backwards in time to depict what went through the minds of India’s political leaders as they bargained and argued with the British empire for their freedom. Through the seven episodes, the threat of partition looms large, and the tense finale brings with it a melancholic feeling that lingers.
(Writing for Binged)
A Sensitive, Well-crafted Show On The Politics Around Partition
Sat, November 16 2024
After years of struggle, the idea of an independent India doesn’t seem a distant dream. The British looks ready to hand over the reins to the country by 1946, but at what cost? Nehru is at odds with Gandhi’s ideals and the interests of the Congress party, while Patel prefers to be the bad cop. A bitter and ailing Jinnah is desperate for the formation of Pakistan. Who has the last laugh?
Silo S02
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama (English)
In a ruined and toxic future, thousands live in a giant silo deep underground. After its sheriff breaks a cardinal rule and residents die mysteriously, engineer Juliette starts to uncover shocking secrets and the truth about the silo.
Cast:
Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, Rick Gomez, Tim Robbins, Shane McRae, Billy Postlethwaite, Remmie Milner
Dystopian Sci-Fi Series With Rebecca Ferguson Deepens Mystery Of Outside World
Mon, November 18 2024
Based on the novels of Hugh Howey, the world of Silo easily captivated sci-fi fans when it first premiered in May 2023. The dystopian drama is set in a future where thousands of people have isolated themselves in a giant underground silo to protect themselves from the outside. But what exactly is outside? The gripping new season, led by Rebecca Ferguson, finally takes us beyond the silo we’ve known for the first season.
Bad Sisters S02
Comedy, Crime, Drama (English)
The tight-knit Garvey sisters have always looked out for one another. But when the toxic brother-in-law they all wanted dead actually dies, it turns their lives upside down and tests their bond like nothing before.
Cast:
Sharon Horgan, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, Eve Hewson, Owen McDonnell
Sharon Hogan Delivers Another Fantastic Instalment Of Irish Dark Comedy
Mon, November 18 2024
The first season of Bad Sisters was adapted from the Belgian show Clan, which only ran for one season. The second season, which begins on November 13, takes the story of five close-knit sisters in a whole new direction. Set in Dublin, writer and actress Sharon Hogan brings the black comedy and forges the show ahead in a surprising and moving direction. Bad Sisters retains the shocking surprises, awkward moments, and dark humour that the first season was known for.
The Diplomat S02
Drama, War & Politics (English)
In the midst of an international crisis, a career diplomat lands in a high-profile job she’s unsuited for, with tectonic implications for her marriage and her political future.
Cast:
Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ali Ahn, Rory Kinnear, Ato Essandoh
Keri Russell's Thrilling Political Drama Constantly Pulls The Rug Out From Under You
Mon, November 18 2024
The second season of The Diplomat returns with more urgency as the US ambassador to UK, Kate Wyler, tries to uncover who is behind two terrorists attacks on British targets. The political drama is led by the excellent Keri Russell who navigates the exciting twists and turns along with the audience. Debora Cahn’s The Diplomat gives viewers a front seat to an unfolding international crisis, where the stakes have never been higher.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Family (English)
Justin Russo has chosen to lead a normal, mortal life with his family, Giada, Roman and Milo. But when Justin's sister Alex brings Billie to his home seeking help, Justin realizes he must dust off his magical skills to mentor the wizard-in-training while also juggling his everyday responsibilities — and safeguarding the future of the Wizard World.
Cast:
Janice LeAnn Brown, David Henrie, Alkaio Thiele, Max Matenko, Taylor Cora, Mimi Gianopulos
Magical Disney Series Leans Into Nostalgia, With Help From Selena Gomez
Mon, November 18 2024
If you’ve wondered what happened to the Russos of Waverly Place, Disney’s latest series Wizards Beyond Waverly Place gives you an update on the family. The new sequel and spinoff rolled into one is more focused on Justin Russo (David Henrie), who returns to his old life in magic, thanks to a new student, a young wizard named Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown). Aimed at a young new generation, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is a nostalgic watch that fans of the old series can now introduce to their own children.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Action, Comedy, Science Fiction (English)
A listless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life with his days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. But when his homeworld faces an existential threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctant Wolverine.
Cast:
Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Dafne Keen, Jon Favreau, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Jennifer Garner
Director:
Shawn Levy
Writer:
Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy, Zeb Wells
A Spotify Review
Sun, November 17 2024
Deadpool & Wolverine, the only Marvel Cinematic Universe movie this year, levels up in terms of budget but isn’t bothered about evolving emotionally. We discuss the film’s relentless humour, the ugly CGI, and the confusingly complicated plot. There’s time for self-reference, but not for self-reflection in the Deadpool films, as Ryan Reynolds continues to overwhelm every aspect of them. We also talk about where the film stands in the ever-expanding MCU, and whether it would even work five years down the line.
Too focused on the now
Thu, July 25 2024
In Deadpool & Wolverine—the new superhero movie that ushers both title characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe—Deadpool is obsessed with doing something worthwhile. He wants to matter and serve a higher purpose. And he does, for Marvel Studios has pinned all its 2024 hopes on a foul-mouthed wisecracking guy it had no hand in creating. In fact, this is the only MCU movie in a 15-month period. Talk about timing. Deadpool wasn’t part of Marvel’s gargantuan, all-consuming shared world until its parent company, Disney, forked over $70 billion a few years ago and ate up one of its Hollywood rivals, Fox. For a Deadpool concerned with his place, this is like being handed two gold-plated .50 calibre Desert Eagle pistols on a silver platter.
Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot
Documentary (English)
Prolific South African artist and filmmaker William Kentridge chronicles how he creates intricate, wall-sized charcoal drawings of the vistas from his childhood in Johannesburg and life-sized paintings of himself — all while ruminating on the puzzle of self-knowledge.
Director:
William Kentridge
Chaos and creation in the studio
Sun, November 17 2024
A portly white-haired man walks into the frame and, even before he’s sat, addresses the camera with some urgency. “Before he arrives, there are some things I just want to say. It’s about the nature of the structure of, and the destructure, and the non-structure of what we see." He lists the disparate thoughts running through his head: a green cake he once ate in Naples, the fish pie he must take out of the freezer, a line from Mayakovsky, digging in The Great Escape and as a young boy on the beach, a row of coffins for mass burial, the impending birth of his granddaughter
Against the Tide
Documentary (Marathi)
Two friends, both Indigenous fishermen, are driven to desperation by a dying sea. Their friendship begins to fracture as they take very different paths to provide for their struggling families.
Director:
Sarvnik Kaur
(Writing for HyperAllergic)
A Tale of Two Indigenous Fishermen in Mumbai
Sat, November 16 2024
The story of Mumbai, India’s largest city, is linked inextricably with the story of the Kolis, the lower-caste, Indigenous fisherfolk community whose koliwadas (villages) dot the coastline. Until the 1800s, what we know as Mumbai today used to be an archipelago of seven islands, harmoniously inhabited by Koli communities. These islands turned into a city due to human intervention — a product of several land reclamation projects that also enabled the displacement of Mumbai’s original inhabitants.
Gladiator II
Action, Adventure, Drama (English)
Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
Cast:
Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Peter Mensah, Matt Lucas
Director:
Ridley Scott
Director Ridley Scott Goes Through the Motions, Retreading Old Ground
Sat, November 16 2024
What happens when you take one of the most irreverent filmmakers of our times, and force him to be sombre, sincere and melodramatic? The result is a film like Gladiator II. It’s not to say that the sequel doesn’t have the campy goodness of the original, especially in the turns by Denzel Washington playing Macrinus (a gladiator-turned-influential figure in Rome), Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger playing Emperor twins Geta and Caracalla (a more sadistic version of Romulus and Remus), but there’s something amiss.
Half Love Half Arranged S02
Drama, Comedy (Hindi)
A rom-com of two 30 year millennials, Riya and Jogi, discover the world of ‘arranged dating’ and find themselves in the crazy circus of bad arranged matches, set-ups, matchmakers, astrologers and well-meaning aunties in an endeavor to get them to “settle down”.
Cast:
Maanvi Gagroo, Karan Wahi, Grusha Kapoor, Supriya Shukla, Amit Singh Thakur, Bhavya Grover, Shruti Jolly, Pulkit Makol, Aradhana Tripathi, Rithvik Dhanjani
Director:
Simarpreet Singh
Writer:
Ayesha Nair, Parikshit Joshi, Simarpreet Singh
(Writing for Binged)
A Superficial Yet Tolerable Rom-com
Sat, November 16 2024
Riya’s household has a new guest – Ved, son of her father’s close friend Dinesh. As the family gradually adapts to his presence at the house, Riya is desperate to stabilise her relationship with the divorcee Jogi. She finds a new friend in Ved, also her secret admirer. Meanwhile, aunt Rajjo is all set to enter wedlock with a neighbour but Riya is as confused as ever about her relationships.
The Sabarmati Report
Drama, Thriller, Crime (Hindi)
A Hindi reporter struggles with a deadly fact when a train full of Karsewaks is set ablaze in Godhra. Years later, he is asked to help expose the Sabarmati Incident backed by a buried report.
Cast:
Vikrant Massey, Raashii Khanna, Ridhi Dogra, Nazneen Patni, Barkha Singh
Director:
Ranjan Chandel, Dheeraj Sarna
Vikrant Massey boards the propaganda train
Sat, November 16 2024
In an interview that went viral ahead of The Sabarmati Report, actor Vikrant Massey, briefly turning political analyst, reflected on the state of the nation. “People say that Hindus are in danger, that Muslims are in danger. No one is in danger; everything is going fine. This is the best country to live in the world,” he declared in a podcast. The nervous naivety of Hindi film actors ahead of a controversial release is always enlightening to witness. It’s a balancing act no gymnast or slackliner can fathom.
Poorly Crafted Propaganda
Sat, November 16 2024
News is the truth that you choose to bring out, a cunning television journalist tells her artless subordinate early on in The Sabarmati Report. She’s the villain of the piece for concealing inconvenient realities and conveying only what suits her purpose and politics. Funny how The Sabarmati Report’s poorly crafted propaganda masquerading as a crusade for justice is nothing but a blatant embodiment of these very ideals.
Conspiracy Uncovered, Story Incomplete
Sat, November 16 2024
The communal bloodshed that tainted Gujarat in 2002 has been told and retold on film, in books, on TV debates. But there’s been a lid on the Godhra tragedy that preceded the riots, a lid that’s lifted occasionally to put out theories that suppress and mislead more than reveal. A gas cylinder, a cigarette? What sparked the fire that roasted 59 kar sevaks including tiny children inside a bogey of the Sabarmati Express outside Godhra station in 2002?