sagniknath

Thoroughly enjoyable popcorn flick based on a unique premise that extols the virtues of Amazon Prime delivery and Ice Cube's deadpan acting skills alike. Every thing depicted about how computers and hacking works is 100% true. Movie does not deserve the hate it's getting online. At the end of the day however , this movie is mainly about family and that's what's so powerful about it.

I can easily say this is one of those films that make you feel lucky you were born in that correct timeline to experience them firsthand on the big screen. I am afraid many audience reviews will trash it because it is certainly not going to appeal to everyone and thus the box office collection might not break even with its rather expensive budget of 35 million dollars (for an A24 movie).

However, I think like Blade Runner, which was also a flop upon its release back in 1982, the movie will slowly gain traction with cult followings in the next few years and will probably play to more packed crowd in future midnight screenings.

In terms of plot, I would use the same term which IMDB used ti describe it, " Kafkaesque" . You will find yourself asking if this film is based in fantasy or reality or if it is meant to take place in that fine line between the two extremes where dreams and real life merge and commingle. Similar movies which came to mind upon reflection were Brazil(1985), Paprika(2009) and The Truman Show(1997) . Personally, I think it is Ari Aster's best; definitely a huge improvement over the rather tepid and predictable Midsummer (2019) and just surpassing the excellent Hereditary(2018).

Joaquin Phoenix deserves a special round of applause for his performance and lends verisimilitude to an otherwise very heightened sense of reality in the events depicted.

Buba is a refreshing change from the usual barrage of foreign films that Netflix adds to its catalogue every year, with the scripts and performances of the latter being very one note.

Buba however immediately holds your attention from the very first scene, huge thanks in part to the lead actor who gives off a very likeable and charming persona and also has great comic timing. He reminds me a lot of French actor Gerard Derpedaeu from the 80s-90s You instantly start rooting for his down on his luck character to succeed.

Another thing I liked about the film is that it smartly avoided any gratuitous sex scene or even implied ones. There is a love interest for our main character but verges more on a Platonic affair that is more appealing emotionally to the audience.

However, the film really starts losing momentum by the time it reaches the 3rd act and seems to be in a rush to somehow patch up all the plot points they had introduced earlier without properly concluding them.

But despite its flaws, Buba provided amicable entertainment for a 1 time watch.