chand-suhas

Rian Johnson's third entry to the Knives Out story is his complex one yet. This is where merges commentary on faith with the whodunit story. Father Jud who had sinned in the past, is atoning for that mistake by choosing to serve God. He is sent to a rural parish to be a assistant pastor and is not okay with the Monsignor Jefferson Wicks' way of preaching. There is an ideology clash and the loyal parishioners still prefer Wicks over Father Jud. The murder at the church paints Father Jud as the prime suspect and Benoit Blanc is summoned to solve this mystery.

Josh O'Connor's honest portrayal of Father Jud is what gave this film the emotional core while Daniel Craig continued to enjoy playing Blanc. I was worried about the lengthy runtime considering the set up itself is quite different from the last two films. The first act is reserved for Father Jud to settle at the new place and his disapproval of Jefferson Wicks' ways while trying to reach out to his loyal parishioners who also get to be the list of suspects. Each of these supporting characters have their own back stories which is convincingly executed to stay connected to them. The film rather picks up pace once Blanc enters but until then, the narrative serves it's purpose in firmly establishing all the players.

As said earlier, the blending of belief with the reveal was indeed tricky as it wasn't just about Blanc's brilliance in solving the murder mystery or the killer's intelligence in pulling off a near perfect crime. It balances the act perfectly while keeping the suspense intact. Ofcourse Father Jud's character is the one with no ulterior motive and Blanc siding with him feels a bit too convenient in the overall story. It's barely a complaint considering how the final act pulls it all together for a satisfying end. Father Jud's faith vs Blanc being Blanc, the power of Grace is what ultimately sets this case stand apart.

Narrated in 10 chapters, Aditya Dhar's highly ambitious magnum opus is that rare espionage thriller that enjoys proper research, aided by superb casting. The Director's confidence in his narrative, can be seen in the nearly 2 hours long first half with both halves getting 5 chapters each for a period of 10 years. Hamza infiltrates Pakistan's notorious gang run by Rehman Dacait and rises through the rank as his confidante. The way he gathers the information about how ISI uses these gangsters for their weapons is quite intriguing. The extreme violence is in sync with the current demand and I wasn't bothered by it. Despite the lengthy runtime, the film remains engaging though exhausting. The second half does get predictable and doesn't match the first half.

Ofcourse the other need of the hour, the whole politics of it is what leaves a bitter taste considering the original story was potent enough and the good performances carried the story forward. The jingoistic nationalism with Pakistan as the target was pretty much given and that is definitely not the issue. Yet, the opening disclaimer reads out loud and clear, that the film is inspired by true events and that it doesn't intentionally target anybody. When they resort to present this as the reality with the usage of actual terror attacks footage and call transcripts, it gets tougher to accept the politics behind this. Sure, the attempt is to trigger the strong emotional response which again was possible without over doing it. The film would have remained impactful even without the political appeasement it resorts to doing, not so subtly.

Jay Kelly is a beloved movie star who has entertained his audience for 35 long years. Ron Sukenick and Liz have been his manager and publicist respectively who practically have looked after him as well as made him the star he is all through these years. The life of a star demands an hefty price and not just from Jay but also from Ron and Liz. There is a tribute arranged in Italy to celebrate his career and Jay wishes to spend time with his family, the ones he lacks the connect after all these years while also forgetting the other family he had with him throughout. This is the story of Jay Kelly, an ordinary man who has to find his life's worth on screen.

I am a sucker for these stories and I simply loved it despite the over melodrama as that is exactly what I would like to consume. Casting George Clooney as Jay Kelly itself was a masterstroke as he lives this character and his nuanced performance makes you connect with him. Adam Sandler always delivers in non-comedy roles and his performance as Ron was truly exceptional. There were lots of sacrifices made, both willingly and unwillingly. Jay Kelly comes to realization as he is left all alone and wants to introspect whether it was worth it. On the other hand, Ron goes through an heartbreaking realization himself which he stayed in denial. It is Jay's desperate attempt to fix the issues one last time but life is never meant to be that filmy. To take this journey through this actor's life and to see him find meaning to his life, well on screen was one of the beautiful moments in the film. This one is all heart and I thoroughly enjoyed.