We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
Citadel: Honey Bunny: A desi spinoff to the American spy thriller series ‘Citadel’, this version, helmed by Raj & DK stars Varun Dhawan as Bunny the stuntman, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu as the actress Honey, who are also mired in the world of espionage. When the two reunite after a gap of years, they must go on one last tour, while also looking out for their daughter and protecting their family.
Reviews are middling. The Quint calls it “a show that is interesting and engaging enough to make the ‘Citadel’ universe feel more durable”. Shubhra Gupta in Indian Express found the show “clunky” but was all-praise for Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s performance, dubbing her “the best part of this enterprise”. Our take: The Citadel universe has been long due for an upgrade. We’re going to check this one out. You can watch it on Amazon Prime.
Khwaabon Ka Jhamela: A new addition to the 2024 resurgence of romantic comedies, this one is a film by Danish Aslam of ‘Break Ke Baad’ fame, and looks at the life of Zubin (Prateik Babbar), a finance guy who decides to enlist the intimacy coordinator Ruby (Sayani Gupta) to help him get better in bed with his partner (played by Kubbra Sait). The film is a look at how intimacy and chemistry play out in modern-day relationships.
Reviews are decent. Scroll calls it a “a sanitised adaptation of the Canadian comedy My Awkward Sexual Adventure (2012).” Times of India concludes: “Overall, Khwaabon Ka Jhamela is an engaging rom-com with strong performances, charm, and visual appeal.” Our take: An Indian sex comedy? Sure, bring it on! You can stream the film on JioCinema.
Pedro Páramo: This Spanish movie is based on one of the most popular Mexican novelas—‘Pedro Páramo’ by Juan Preciado—which has already been adapted into a movie once—in 1967. The story takes you to the haunting town of Comala—where a son is searching for his father—so as to keep his promise. The non-linear narrative unpacks love and violence, father-son relationship and generational trauma through magic realism—as the ghost town comes alive to tell the story.
Reviews are good as well. Variety calls it a respectful adaptation and labels it as “magical realism meets a grand family saga”. OTOH, ScreenRant complains: “This is a magical realism movie that faithfully captures the realism but ditches the magic at every possible opportunity.” Our take: We are excited to see how this visceral literary masterpiece translates cinematically. The movie has been streaming on Netflix since Wednesday.
Here: This film directed by Robert Zemeckis known for work like ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Back to the Future’ is based on a graphic novel Richar McGuire by the same name, published in 2014. The non-linear narrative, with multiple characters, is centred on a single piece of land. Generations come and go, from the historical past to the contemporary present. The filmmaker at times, uses frames within frames from different time periods. It starts Tom Hanks, Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly, and Robin Wright.
Reviews range from lukeward to brutal. Los Angeles Times, says, “The story of ‘Here’ surrounding Richard and Margaret is relatable, entirely predictable and utterly dull.” New York Times, issues a fair bit of warning, “Don’t force a plot to emerge. Better to experience 'Here' like open-eyed meditation, nodding at connections and ideas so fragile they’d disintegrate if said aloud. Our take: We are not pinning our hopes on it, but may still watch it for Tom Hanks. The film is out in theatres.
Fresh off the big screen…
The Buckingham Murders: Hansal Mehta’s ‘The Buckingham Murders’ is about a British-Indian detective called Jasmeet Bhamra who relocates to a new town, only to find that she has a child’s murder to solve, while she’s also dealing with the trauma of her own child’s death. Kareena Kapoor Khan plays the sombre but tough detective, with Ranveer Brar, Ash Tandon, and others in the cast. The film opened to tepid reviews, but Khan’s performance is one for the books. You can stream the film on Netflix.
It Ends with Us: An adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s massively popular book, the film looks at the love story of Lily (Blake Lively) and Ryle (Justin Baldoni). They fall in love but when Lily finds out about Kyle’s anger issues, she seeks a safe haven in her first love, Atlas (Brandon Sklenar). The overarching themes look at breaking the patterns of generational trauma, and it makes for a compelling watch. Fair warning: the film has themes and portrayal of DA and SA. You can watch the film on Amazon Prime.
Vettaiyan: Headlined by Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan, this blockbuster brings attention to fake police encounters and ed-tech moguls who exploit children from the backward classes of Tamil society. Rajini dons the cap of a cop—in support of police encounters—while Amitabh is an advocate who supports the absolute rule of law to bring justice. While on a mission that is too personal, Rajini kills an innocent man and then uses all his powers to rectify that mistake. The film is available on Amazon Prime.
Devara Part 1: Fans of NTR Jr rejoice! His newest release is set in a fictional world and follows a fearless fighter Devara—who is the protector of his people. But a conspiracy against him sets off a revenge journey. Also starring: Janhvi Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan. You can stream it on Netflix.
Despicable Me 4: For those who missed the newest instalment of this iconic franchise, worry not as you can catch it any time now! This sequel is all about that father and son bond. Gru Jr despises Gru, now a retired villain turned undercover agent of the Anti-Villain League. When a villain from their past kidnaps Gru Jr, our hero pulls up all forces—with minions (of course!)—to save his son. You can watch it on JioCinema.
