(Mild Spoilers. I have tried to steer away from politics but with a film like Dhurandhar, you can only do that a limited amount) Going into Dhurandhar 2 (or Dhurandhar: The Revenge as it is officially called), the comparison that came to mind was Gangs of Wasseypur, with both film franchises shooting both parts simultaneouslyContinue reading “The Godfather Influence on Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar The Revenge: Or Why Dhurandhar 2 Fails to Live Up to the First Part”
Author Archives: ironmullah
Independent Spirit Awards 2025 : Winners and Who I Voted For
This was my first time voting for the Indie Spirit Awards and I have to say I enjoyed the process. It even led to a now abandoned project (though I did watch all the nominees). Below are my thoughts on the winners and what my choice would have been. BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM All That’s LeftContinue reading “Independent Spirit Awards 2025 : Winners and Who I Voted For”
Reviewing Every Independent Spirit Award Nominee (2025): Sorry, Baby
Eva Victor (pulling triple duty as writer, director, and lead star) walks a tightrope in Sorry, Baby. This is a film about trauma, rape & societal response to it, sexual politics, and all those timely buzzpoints that are often the subject of oh so serious films. And yet, Sorry, Baby can be convincingly called aContinue reading “Reviewing Every Independent Spirit Award Nominee (2025): Sorry, Baby”
Reviewing Every Independent Spirit Award Nominee (2025): Splitsville, The Testament of Ann Lee
Splitsville Despite boasting Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona in its star cast (they also serves as producers), Splitsville barely made a mark in the cultural consciousness. With Neon’s busy slate, it is not a surprise, but it’s a damn shame because this is a damn great film. Right from the off, the film establishes itsContinue reading “Reviewing Every Independent Spirit Award Nominee (2025): Splitsville, The Testament of Ann Lee”
Reviewing Every Independent Spirit Award Nominee (2025): Eephus, Good Boy
Eephus Eephus is a film you can’t hate. This is a film about a ragtag bunch of town residents playing one final game at their beloved baseball pitch before it is converted into a school. The film keeps its approach modest, and any grandstanding message about this baseball game being their refuge or their reasonContinue reading “Reviewing Every Independent Spirit Award Nominee (2025): Eephus, Good Boy”
Reviewing Every Independent Spirit Award Nominee (2025): Warfare, Train Dreams
Warfare I’ll admit upfront that I am not a fan of Alex Garland’s films, whether he be a writer or director. The fact that he was only co-directing this one didn’t mean much beforehand because, as I said I don’t even vibe with films he only serves as a writer. However, it seems co-director RayContinue reading “Reviewing Every Independent Spirit Award Nominee (2025): Warfare, Train Dreams”
Reviewing Every Independent Spirit Award Nominee (2025): Blue Sun Palace, Dust Bunny
Blue Sun Palace Blue Sun Palace arrived with some acclaim when it debuted on the festival circuit but I was unconvinced throughout. The opening scene, and the first about half hour really, are not too shabby. Cheung (Lee Kang-sheng) and Didi (Haipeng Xu) are a makeshift but somehow functioning couple, he having a wife backContinue reading “Reviewing Every Independent Spirit Award Nominee (2025): Blue Sun Palace, Dust Bunny”
What do Shoojit Sircar and Philip Roth have in common?
Well, aside from them being great artists? Both have released works that document a procession of surgeries as a narrative frame, I Want to Talk for Sircar and Everyman for Roth. And both have, I am sorry to say, produced uncharacteristic weak efforts. Talk is easily Sircar’s worst film, while I haven’t read enough of Roth’s workContinue reading “What do Shoojit Sircar and Philip Roth have in common?”
Things You Only Notice About The Godfather When Watching It for the 450th Time
I was finally able to watch The Godfather on the big screen* for the first time and noticed some things (perhaps new only to me) that had not gotten through even after watching it so many times. He’s agitated but keeps it under control. His anger threatens to spill over but he is composed. HeContinue reading “Things You Only Notice About The Godfather When Watching It for the 450th Time”
Picks for the NYT: My 10 Best Films of the Century
So, the New York Times has asked readers to vote for the best films of the 21st century (here) and I voted myself. Here are my picks, along with the alternatives that nearly knocked them out, which is my roundabout way of presenting my top 20. 1. Dogville (dir. Lars Von Trier) If you askContinue reading “Picks for the NYT: My 10 Best Films of the Century”
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