Larry Bone

Kill Dil is a sleeper hit often referenced by critics (some who might have realized they may have been too overly critical) when it is being compared with other similar films. The premise of the film is a bit illogical but the actors play their parts with such energy and conviction that most viewers become hooked on the story. It is a comedy which can detach the viewer from any realism in the action and employs the risky choice of the characters addressing the viewing audience directly. Also the characters give their own point of view comments on their dialogs while speaking them. Some critics might like to see the story straightforwardly unfold as it supposedly occurred so they can decide for themselves what they can believe or accept, like in the American thriller The Professional, which concerns an assassin who has second thoughts about his job after guarding a young daughter, whose whole family is cruelly wiped out in a mob hit. Ranveer Singh portrays the main protagonist so convincingly with not a lot of supporting detail. He switches effortlessly between innocence, cynical arrogance and cold cruel psychopathic behavior. The film is stylized in the manner of a burlesque or an over the top farce, which hampers believability. Critics don't like anything that strays from or puts them slightly outside the story. They also like conventional heroes, heroines and villians. The script is extremely witty almost like a restoration comedy with stereotypical characters who though clever, realistically might not actually say some of their best lines. Though brilliant in themselves, some of the best dialogs, put the viewer outside the story. Yet, Govinda is wonderful if a bit too much in his dialogues. Same for Parineeti Chopra and Ali Zafar and Ranveer. Kill Dil is an awesome film if still somewhat of an overwrought stereotypical story uneasily stuck between genres. It's confessional, realistic and heartbreaking (which could be an English translation of Kill Dil) yet is too much of a farce to actually be believed as true heartbreak. It could have been more brilliant if the script were edited into more authentic detail in the action and back story with less superficial wit (which draws a viewer's attention more on the writer than the characters, who are supposed to be served by the writer, not the other way around). Still it is extremely enjoyable and satisfying, with stellar if sometimes overwhelming acting by Ranveer Singh, Ali Zafar, Parineeti Chopra and Govinda.

I would give it a 5.0 straight, no doubts or reservations. It is so compelling on so many levels. The almost total inability to accept difference in language, skin color or thought and feeling if at all not one's own effortlessly emerges continually. And to only ever be able to feel truly comfortable only within's one's own group validated agreed viewpoint. Blinding perceptual ignorance. Some might say it's all to simple but confusion, trouble and worse result when there is inability to accurately observe any simple truth. The British were divisive in the extreme and their hatred seems to have driven them to lay down Partition of India as sadistic punishment for their having to leave after 200 years. Only irrational fear and hatred could drive the British to always use overwhelming, yet call it "sufficient" force, to counter Gandhi. This film is very clear eyed about the insidious nature of colonialism masked as good intentions. So there are numerous dichotomies beautifully filmed. This is one of those films where you scratch your head and are amazed that India gained and has maintained it's independence for 75 years and counting. The arguments over how to best narrow the class divide between truly representative democracy and true equality will continue on and on. But the profound beauty of this film is it's focus on the person, on the personal thoughts and feelings or lack thereof on display of common people and those who out of fear, distrust or malignant misunderstanding try to use, abuse or disrespect them. I wish this film will be India's entry in the American Oscar Academy Awards foreign film competition!

As other excellent reviews have stated, this one gets it totally right. "Killing Floor" is to thrillers, what Ferrari is to racing cars. Reacher is a difficult role to play because he is the perfect looking guy who is handsome, perfect looking like Tom Brady and should have been a supreme superstar as an athlete or in the military but he is a disaffected loner. Casting is so perfect because many of the details of the novel have been perfectly recreated. In some ways the book is like an updated Western where the hero rides into a really weird but suffering town. There's such tension between the so called elites, ivy league educated and the family oriented small town people trying to survive when expertise creates fortunes for big city types and crumbs for small town inhabitants. Jack Reacher never quite fits in to either group yet has roots in both. He's always at a remove and seems a little alien even to those who tilt towards liking him. And as a character, there are character shades of extremely successful in its day, The Fugitive TV series. Along with how well the series has been adapted from the book, the episodes read like one or two chapters of the book extremely well played. And their is bold demonstration of thriller literary technique in the quality of the characterization, the plot, the suspense in how it unfolds and the little touches of how a well written scene demonstrates motivation and action, underpinned or supported by telling details or cinematic images or tiny scenes or little bits that unlock the characters and we are on a wild ride and care about them. No matter how conflicted they are they really reach out to us. And opposites in contrast are extremely effectively used. And the amount of research used to make random coincidences seem so natural or very believable is astounding. This is the streaming series adaption of a powerhouse thriller at its best. Kudos to Amazon.

The first hour of Mili is so enjoyable with the great establishment of the father daughter relationship with solid veteran Hindi cinema actors. And then the film abruptly shifts. But the protagonist is so winningly played that the viewer can't stop watching or avoid seeing how things turn out. The characters in her life are well written and played. Though simply written the details are natural and similar people in your life are brought to view. Little stories like this with possible calamities pass beneath most people's radar. But they are encouraging even if there seems there are less nice people and more ratty people around. This is a great little film about big and small hearted people who somehow survive despite whatever happens on their journey. The music and lyrics are mostly excellent. Happy these little stories are still managing to get filmed and released.

This was a difficult film to watch because it was so true to how life can sometimes be. But it is ultimately redemptive and life affirming in the effect that a total stranger can have when others fall into dire straits and all hope is lost until it might miraculously appear in the compassion and care demonstrated by other(s). It is a really awesome little film that everyone should see. And amazingly it is based on an actual true event.