Dhurandhar

Dhurandhar (2025)

Runtime: 214 minutes (not a misprint)

Directed by: Aditya Dhar

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Madhavan

From: B62 Studios/Benetone Films/Jio Studios

I was hoping to see more than two movies from India in the month of March; alas… I’ll try to see one at the least in April but before my Netflix subscription lapses (given that they’re raising prices AGAIN, it might be some time before I rejoin that platform) in a few days, this popular Indian Hindi spy thriller needed a viewing. The lengthier sequel to an already lengthy first film is still on cinema screens for the next few days in my area but something 229 minutes long is a lot even by my standards. However, I still want to eventually check out the sequel at home.

Inspired by a few real-life events, an agent named Hamza goes undercover to study then infiltrate the gangs in Karachi, Pakistan to topple a terror network plotting to terrorize India. Of course, I’m greatly simplifying the scenario and not discussing the revenge killings, the drama among the gangs in Karachi, the political machinations, the gruesome violence-including something straight out of a Miike movie-the romance, the shootouts, etc.

The film still had what I stereotypically expect from Indian cinema: OOT moments, slow-motion, men with beards and/or mustaches smoking cigarettes, etc. There are even a few song-and-dance numbers, although the dancing was always organic to the scene. Much of this installment leans towards the crime drama aspect rather than the terrorist angle. One day in the future, I’ll check out its sequel (The Revenge); the first installment was an exciting crime drama full of characters which never become tired or confusing despite the 3 ½ hour length, filled with the Indian flavor that makes the country’s cinema unique.

That includes a catchy score/soundtrack. I was happy to have seen a role from a legend in that country’s film world—Sanjay Dutt. He portrayed a grizzled old badass rather well; I was amused after the fact to learn that the earworm tune which played during his first scene was from a film he did in the 90’s.

 

The Bank Dick

The Bank Dick (1940)

Runtime: 72 minutes

Directed by: Edward F. Cline

Starring: W.C. Fields, Grady Sutton, George Moran, Una Merkel, Shemp Howard

From: Universal

For fans of older cinema, you’ll likely be delighted that I check out the most famous picture from a famous figure of the past (W.C. Fields) that erroneously had the reputation of a man that “hated dogs & babies” but his love of alcohol was not phony. Regardless, I knew he had an acerbic wit and in The Bank Dick, he bonked his young daughter on the head after she struck him; her striking him became a running gag where only fate prevented him inflicting grievous bodily harm towards his own flesh & blood. This played on Turner Classic Movies last night, one of a few Fields films they played on a random Sunday.

Fields was Egbert Sousé (the accent grave on the e is important), a curmudgeon alcoholic whose focus is on detective novels and drinking at the Black Pussy Cat Café, where Shemp Howard is the bartender. As he’s a henpecked husband, I can’t entirely blame him. He becomes a bank dick (i.e. detective working for the bank) after mistakenly being credited for capturing a dude named LOUDMOUTH MCNASTY, one of a duo that just robbed the bank. The script has an onslaught of wacky names: A. PISMO CLAM, MACKLEY Q GREENE, EFFINGHAM HOOFNAGLE, OG OGGILBY, & J. PINKERTON SNOOPINGTON.

I was happy to not be a luddy-duddy or a mooncalf and finally tackle this movie. Egbert began the film as a bum lacking in most redeeming qualities and his character changed little by the end, even after earning a new job, being swindled by con artist J. FROTHINGHAM WATERBURY, convincing future son-in-law Og-the most amusing supporting character, as portrayed by That Guy actor Grady Sutton, to steal from the bank, & more. 

Fields had creative control over the script after some successes at Universal; he was out of films for awhile due to illness & depression over the death of several friends in a short amount of time. He (credited under the name MAHATMA KANE JEEVES) brewed a satisfying concoction where Sousé was an agent of chaos, an instrument of destruction causing havoc everywhere he stumbled himself into, yet through dumb luck, Ol’ Egbert always came out of the increasingly ludicrous events smelling like roses. For less than 75 minutes, this was a satisfying meal full of witty banner & sight gags.

If Fields played funny jerks like this constantly, eventually-even if it’s many months in the future-I’ll check out more of his films.

Project Hail Mary

Project Hail Mary (2026)

95% on Rotten Tomatoes (out of 354 reviews) 

Runtime: 156 minutes

Directed by:  Phil Lord/Christopher Miller

Starring: Much of the film is just Ryan Gosling

From: Amazon MGM Studios 

So, I saw a 70mm presentation of this motion picture. As screenings in this format aren’t that plentiful worldwide, there’d be outrage if I revealed there was a print in Orlando and I selected the digital experience instead.

While not the masterpiece many proclaim the film to be, I can still state that Project Hail Mary was pretty good. Those that haven’t followed me for too long, many films in the past 10 to 15 years are rated lower than typical. Positive comments can be made immediately: this was better than the similar Interstellar & this was only the second Lord & Miller joint for me, so strong my dislike was for their The Lego Movie.

Now, the contrivances and the nitpicking that could be done concerning the linguistics between Grace & Rocky, that is likely at the feet of Andy Weir. I wouldn’t want to read any of his novels, if the (admitted) cherry-picking of his “Reddit writing” passages posted on Twitter are anything to go by. However, the prevalent “humor” and how unfunny much of it was… I’ll blame Lord & Miller; I don’t recall The Martian as having that issue. Never bothering w/ either 21 Jump Street movie looks better every day.

Those elements are unfortunate, along w/ the assumption that I wasn’t suppose to detest the character portrayed by Sandra Huller, karaoke skills aside. Otherwise, Project Hail Mary does a lot right and represents what I want in modern blockbusters, the “borrowing” of certain ideas from the past acknowledged by me. The focus on hard science in attempting to solve a universe-ending problem is always welcomed by me. The score from Daniel Pemberton & cinematography from Greig Fraser: aces. Rocky brought to life by puppetry rather than CGI: great. So is the decision to avoid any usage of greenscreens.

All those details + my acknowledgement that a soundtrack full of nice older songs you never hear in cinema was also appreciated by me, of course it was Ryan Gosling and his great performance that made the film work. Most of the film is either him solo or interacting w/ a rock puppet. A lesser performance & that flawed character wouldn’t have come across as so charming & likable to me… a middle-school science teacher on a hero’s journey alone would have played as preposterous.

Despite my criticisms, by modern blockbuster standards, Project Hail Mary can still be considered a success, a thumbs down-many already know why I made this statement. The screening last night was in a large auditorium that probably was at least 2/3 full; fears were high that it’d be a bad audience experience. For the most part, it wasn’t; I wish the random people sitting by me would have snuck in some Raising Cane’s for me as well, but them sneaking in those large containers of food was an impressive feat…

Ultimately, I was relieved that Project Hail Mary wasn’t mediocre or even worse in my eyes. The unconventional yet lovable team of Ryland Grace & Rocky delighted me and especially delighted the crowd at the screening—many reacted quite positively. To reiterate, the desire is for an increase in films like this (or The Martian) at the cineplex rather than the nonsense we’ve received for much of the 21st century.

Problem Child 2

Problem Child 2(1991)

Runtime: 90 minutes

Directed by: Brian Levant

Starring: John Ritter, Michael J. Oliver, Laraine Newman, Jack Warden, Amy Yasbeck, Ivyann Schwan

From: Universal

RIP James Tolkan

He passed away a few days ago but the news broke last evening. He will forever be known as Principal Strickland in the Back to the Future franchise-although was a recognizable face in other famous movie and television efforts like Top Gun and Masters of the Universe. While diminutive, he had an outsized personality with his gruff demeanor & bald head, making him a perfect fit for either tough guys or those in positions of authority, like a high school principal, a coach, a police Detective, or a military man.

His small role as an elementary school teacher in Problem Child 2 was far from his most dignified (there’s a joke concerning him penguin-waddling to the toilet to have a bowel movement!) yet this was selected as the film’s script was fascinating-I’ll elaborate at the end of the review-and I saw the first two movies as a kid. The first was reviewed 4 years ago; an OK rating was given, the same as for the sequel.

The first Problem Child was odder than you’d expect; the same goes for 2. Poor sap John Ritter and son move to another town, where he’s suddenly the hottest hunk in town-an opinion I know at least one Letterboxd mutual agrees with. Specifically, he is eyed by Laraine Newman, the richest dame in town; all her ex-husbands (shown in photos) is Ritter in different disguises, which made me chuckle. There’s something to be said for that, or that Amy Yasbeck returns, but playing a different role. I’m sure many fall for those that resemble their ex-partner, although the obvious reason is that this movie brought back many actors for the immediate sequel, including Gilbert Gottfried.

2 is PG-13 rather than the first’s PG; the crass level does in fact increase. Junior gives someone the middle finger, urinates in a pitcher and tells a pair of twin girls it’s lemonade, says “bitch” in reference to a woman twice & turns up the speed on a version of a Tilt-A-Whirl to make everyone on the ride projectile vomit! Right after this was a serious heartfelt scene concerning Junior’s still-lingering fear that his adopted father won’t love him any longer.

After that, the buffoonery continued, including an inexplicable scene involving a pair of animal control officers shot like a dog food commercial where there’s a brief tease of a homosexual relationship between the two… but they managed to fix the failed hypnosis attempt that Junior tried on grandfather Jack Warden’s dog. At least Junior is better at setting up A/V equipment, in that he somehow created a projection of his babysitter making out with her lover in a bedroom, with the men in the neighborhood watching on!

Please don’t ask.

In fact, the screenwriters of the first film returned, but were miffed that the studio rushed this into production due to fears that child actor Michael J. Oliver would age out of the part so they went OOT in gross/weird ideas; somehow, Universal accepted this weird script. The “big idea” of this sequel is that Junior meets a girl who is even more outrageous than he is. The film’s nonsense yet laughs were still present-I can’t proclaim this as a catastrophe. There’s a Bryan Adams song that opens the film & there’s another tune from-no kidding-before they were famous Alanis Morrisette!

Oh, and there were no memories that this was filmed in Orlando. For those that remember the brief moment in the opening credits where father & son purchased ice cream from a building shaped like a soft-serve ice cream cone… Twistee Treat still exists in Florida, & those buildings are the same. One’s literally a few minutes from where I live. Also amusing me was something more subtle: a background vehicle seen even more briefly; Truly Nolen pest control still uses bright yellow company vehicles.

Apologies for the longest review of Problem Child 2 you’ll ever read. Tolkan’s role wasn’t as extensive as I faintly recalled. In the future, a more substantial part for a memorable actor will be discussed here.

Kiki's Delivery Service

Who names their dog JEFF?

There was no review posted yesterday; several factors caused that, including but not limited to an internet outage and my watching the start of the Major League Baseball season. However, free time was had last night and I did not want to turn down the opportunity to see my first new (to me) Studio Ghibli movie in years… & theatrically to boot. To answer a question someone would ask, I saw the subtitled version.

Not even Ghibli film has been viewed by any means and not every one of Miyazaki’s movies has been rated as high as everyone else. Thankfully, people don’t have to take out their pitchforks & torches to go after me-I agree with the consensus, re: Kiki’s Delivery Service. I’m a heterosexual male in my 40’s yet this tale of a 13-year-old witch leaving her family w/ her black cat Jiji to a city resembling one in the Europe of the past as part of her path to maturity & the typical teen struggles she experiences… incredibly charming, this was.

An extensive discussion concerning the studio’s animation and the Joe Hisaishi score aren’t necessary-both are as top-notch as expected. Instead, I’ll note that the journey Kiki undertook was pleasant; while she naturally came across some that didn’t understand her due to her differences, many kind people were met along the way, some becoming friends. It was simply nice seeing her start up her own courier service and become more mature while at the same time dealing w/ typical teenager anxieties and fears. I don’t know why there’s a dog named JEFF, but of course that’s not a criticism of the film itself.

I enjoyed this pleasant, methodical trek that Kiki took where my attention never wavered as she figured out w/ the assistance of everyone from Jiji and the bakery owners who took her in to potential love interest Tombo and an artist living in the woods to determine her path in life; it was irrelevant that only the finale featured any peril when I was so enthralled in this world.

This successful viewing of Kiki’s Delivery Service also served as a reminder to seek out more from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli in general.

Can't Stop the Music

Can’t Stop the Music (1980)

Runtime: An overlong 124 minutes

Directed by: Nancy Walker

Starring: The Village People, the person now known as Caitlyn Jenner, Valerie Perrine (RIP)

From: More than one entity that soon went out of business, this movie bombed so hard

RIP Valerie Perrine. I’m sure she’d be honored that I chose THIS instead of Lenny or Slaughterhouse-Five for tribute! After all, she got along w/ director Nancy Walker-yes, the actor-so poorly, the movie’s cinematographer had to direct her scenes. The direction wasn’t bad yet the movie failed so badly and wrecked two entities (EMI Films & Associated Film Distribution), she never directed another film. Perrine passed away at the age of 82 due to Parkinson’s Disease.

As a little kid in the 80’s, I’ll always know her as Eve Tessmacher from the first two Superman movies. For someone who has seen similar movies of the era (Xanadu, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Apple) & guffawed at each one, I was glad to have tracked down a copy of the film in better than potato vision-nevermind how-& give my thoughts on a movie that helped give a certain organization the inspiration to create The Razzies, which is not a positive but that's another topic for another time.

Yes, Can’t Stop the Music is preposterous; a Hispanic dude name Felipe wears a scanty amount of clothing while cosplaying as a Native American out in public, among many weird and sometimes even off-color moments. The film shouldn’t have been two hours long and the attempt to make THE VILLAGE PEOPLE (including the guy dressed like an extra at the Ramrod club in Cruising!) a heterosexual act failed, regardless of this being an origin story, of all things. Then there’s the person known now as Caitlyn Jenner… I know not to use their deadname. The band aren’t great actors, but compared to her—it’s clear why they are best known not as thespians. At least Jenner wore Daisy Duke shorts & a white crop-top for those interested in such things…

No wonder Music has ratings across the spectrum, one of the more polarizing motion pictures on Letterboxd. Your opinion of disco music is a factor, and to address the elephant in the room, your sexual orientation is a factor. I’m a heterosexual man; those of a different persuasion will naturally feel different. I can admit that the film is subversive, featuring numerous characters that were obviously queer or queer-coded. There’s also a progressive (for the time) line concerning acceptance of those that are “different.”

Wisecracks concerning their acting aside, I’ll echo the thoughts of a few & note that the movie was less interesting and undoubtedly dull as dishwater when The Village People weren’t on screen. Yes, there are legit funny moments to go along w/ the unintentional ones; however, I’ll always gravitate towards such wackiness as the split screen and other period visual effects used during the singing of YMCA, or the big song-and-dance number devoted to… MILKSHAKES.

Can’t Stop the Music has its lulls yet there are more than a few campy moments. While Steve Guttenberg & his charisma in the leading role was the acting highlight, Perrine was charming herself as a recently-retired model who doesn’t engage in romance w/ Guttenberg but instead Jenner—in hindsight, not a surprise their romantic chemistry wasn’t great…

As strange as the movie is, it served as a nice time capsule of an infamous (yet fun, IMO) musical genre, New York City, and several other ideas. Even if it’s far in the future, I’ll view something serious featuring Ms. Perrine.

Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror

I’m thankful that Netflix documentaries are better than their fictional movies. Yes, there is knowledge of controversial & polarizing documentaries on that platform-those are avoided by me. However, the ratio of hits to misses is far better, at least from what little has been tackled. As an American of course I remember the April 19, 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; this occurred at the age of 14.

This documentary is less than 90 minutes yet was still satisfactory in explaining the bombing, the trauma inflicted upon the innocent who survived but were forever emotionally damaged, why those SOB’s Timothy McVeigh & Terry Nichols committed those heinous acts, the first responders, and the law enforcement that quickly solved the case. No, I won’t comment on the far-right movement that played a critical role in the atrocity nor the ethnic biases that created the initial assumptions that the “Middle East” was responsible, including innocent people being looked at suspiciously solely due to their skin color.

A topic such as the Oklahoma City Bombing is worthy of books, longform podcasts and/or shows of multiple episodes. That said, American Terror does a swell job informing the viewer that knows less about the incident than me & don’t have the hours to become informed. The presentation was solid, was not overly flashy, & best of all, showed that after the horrific act, many people came together to help those in need. Oklahoma City isn’t constantly downbeat; don’t let those fears dissuade you from a view if you’re at all interested.