Movies You Watched This Year – 2020

The Natural
On the way to a tryout with the Chicago Cubs, young baseball phenom Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) is shot by the unstable Harriet Bird (Barbara Hershey). After 16 years, Hobbs returns to pro baseball as a rookie for the last-place New York Knights. Despite early arguments with his manager, Pop Fisher (Wilford Brimley), Hobbs becomes one of the best players in the league, and the Knights start winning. But this upsets the Judge (Robert Prosky), their owner, who wants Hobbs to lose games, not win.

This is the second time I watched the movie. Had first watched it on @fearlesssoul recco in his post TOP 20 MOVIES OF ALL TIME – SPORTS. Liked it a lot again. Its a good sports movie involving baseball. Will try to write a more detailed review soon.

Robert Redford was excellent as the pitcher as well as the hitter. Glenn Close looked pretty and was good. Kim Basinger was good too in a negative role.

Highly Recommended

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99 Comments
  1. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Marriage Story
    Marriage Story is like an modern updated version of Kramer vs Kramer. Those who have watched Kramer vs Kramer may not be able to enjoy Marriage Story as it feels very derivative. Marriage Story is still a good watch because of the lead actor’s performances though.

    Scarlett Johansson is excellent as Nicole and she will definitely be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress and has a very good chance of winning too. Adam Driver is excellent as Charlie and will definitely be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor. Joaquin Phoenix will and should win though. Azhy Robertson is very good as Henry, Nicole and Charlie’s son. Laura Dern is excellent as Nora Fanshaw, Nicole’s lawyer. She will also definitely be nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and has a very good chance of winning too.

    Here is my detailed review.

    Recommended

  2. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Bombshell
    Bombshell is a revealing look inside the most powerful and controversial media empire of all time: Fox News, and the explosive story of the women who brought down the infamous man who created it.

    Charlize Theron is good as Megyn Kelly but don’t think she deserved an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Neither her role nor her performance was great enough to receive an Oscar nomination. Nicole Kidman is very good as Gretchen Carlson in a smaller role. Margot Robbie is good as the fictional Kayla Pospisil. She was great in a couple of scenes but she should not have received an Oscar nomination either for Best Supporting Actress. Kate McKinnon is good as another fictional character Jess Carr. John Lithgow is very good as Roger Ailes.

    The movie has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling which is well deserved especially for making Charlize Theron look like Megyn Kelly.

    Here is my more detailed review.

    Recommended

  3. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Hell or High Water
    Toby is a divorced father who’s trying to make a better life for his son. His brother Tanner is an ex-convict with a short temper and a loose trigger finger. Together, they plan a series of heists against the bank that’s about to foreclose on their family ranch. Standing in their way is Marcus, a Texas Ranger who’s only weeks away from retirement. As the siblings plot their final robbery, they must also prepare for a showdown with a crafty lawman who’s not ready to ride off into the sunset.

    Rewatched the movie after almost 3 years and liked it even more this time. The movie was excellent though it was slow paced. The movie was nominated for four Oscars including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing.

    Jeff Bridges was excellent as the cop Marcus and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Marcus playfully making fun of his fellow cop’s Native American and Mexican heritage was very funny. Chris Pine was very good as Toby. Ben Foster was good as his brother Tanner. The relationship between the brothers is depicted very well too. Gil Birmingham was good as the cop Alberto.

    Here is my more detailed review.

    Highly Recommended

  4. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Rewatched The Conspirator after almost 6 years and liked it more this time. Liked Robin Wright’s performance too this time.

    Here is the link to my detailed review.

    Highly Recommended

  5. cr7 4 years ago

    Sex Education S2-I liked season 1.It was a nice teen comedy .But this season is so much better.The show elevates to a exceptional relationship drama.A standard set for any coming of age movie/tv. great soundtrack as always.

    The outsider-Watched first 3 episodes and already looks like on of the better Stephen King adaptions.Very intriguing plot accompanied by a eerie atmosphere. Looking forward to rest of the season.

  6. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Harriet
    Based on the thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter, Harriet tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Haunted by memories of those she left behind, Harriet (Cynthia Erivo) ventures back into dangerous territory on a mission to lead others to freedom. With allies like abolitionist William Still (Leslie Odom, Jr.) and the entrepreneurial Marie Buchanon (Janelle Monae), Harriet risks capture and death to guide hundreds to safety as one of the most prominent conductors of the Underground Railroad. Witness the story of a woman who defied impossible odds to change the course of her life and the fate of the nation.

    Cynthia Erivo is excellent as Harriet Tubman and has been deservedly nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress. Harriet Tubman deserved a better movie than this but it is still worth a watch because it is a story of one of America’s greatest heroes.

    Here is the link to my detailed review.

    Recommended

  7. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Ford v Ferrari
    Academy Award® Winners Matt Damon and Christian Bale star in FORD v FERRARI, based on the true story of visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby (Damon) and fearless British-born driver Ken Miles (Bale), who together build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company and take on the dominating race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.

    Christian Bale is very good as Ken Miles but his British accent did not sound right. Matt Damon is very good as Carroll Shelby.

    The movie has been nominated for Oscars for Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. The movie will most probably win Oscars for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing.

    Here is the link to my detailed review.

    Recommended

  8. cr7 4 years ago

    1917-I like well made War movies.But there’s already so many of them that it’s difficult to be impressed by a new one. So I was skeptical despite overwhelming positive reviews for 1917.But it worked big time. Its an incredible story .The one shot take is not merely a gimmick but serves a purpose in the movie.The movie felt like a well made thriller. But what Nolan’s Dunkirk lacked “a character to root for”,emotional depth 1917 had in abundance. And unlike Dunkirk it has a fairly simplistic screenplay which made it more accessible. Best war movies in years. Its a clear favorite in Oscars. Deakins is sure to get his second straight Oscar. I’m up for more first world war movies.

    Jojo Rabbit-It shows what satire as a genre could achieve if well made. Its simplistic take on a very dark period of history but its effective. It has very sharp comedy writing as well as couple of devastating scenes.The kid was brilliant as well as his friend Yorkie.And what a year for Scarlet .The marvel movies she kept doing kinda made me forget she can actually act.Sam Rockwell is one of the best character artist now.Don’t know the name of the girl who played elsa but she was great.

    Bojack Horseman- One of my favorite shows of last decade ended this week.I am not articulate enough to write what a brilliant show it had became over the six seasons. And an honest and melancholic ending is perfect goodbye to it.

    • Author
      sputnik 4 years ago

      Watched both 1917 and Jojo Rabbit and will comment and write detailed reviews later.

      Liked 1917. Its good and agree with you that it is better than Dunkirk. After a point the one shot take felt like a gimmick to me and the movie dragged a lot towards the end.

      Liked Jojo Rabbit. Its good and reminded me of Life is Beautiful. Agree with you on “The kid was brilliant as well as his friend Yorkie.” and “Sam Rockwell is one of the best character artist now.Don’t know the name of the girl who played elsa but she was great.”

      Scarlet was good but I don’t think that it was a perfomance which deserved an Oscar nomination. She definitely deserved her Oscar nomination for Marriage Story.

    • Author
      sputnik 4 years ago

      Haven’t watched Bojack Horseman but have you watched We Bare Bears? I think its somewhat similar in concept. Its about 3 Bears living among humans. I have watched a few episodes and like the Ice Bear character who is very cool.

      You might like it.

  9. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Parasite
    Meet the Park family, the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity. Masterminded by college-aged Ki Woo, the Kim children expediently install themselves as tutor and art therapist to the Parks. Soon, a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families. The Kims provide “indispensable” luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks. By turns darkly hilarious and heartwrenching, Parasite showcases a modern master at the top of his game.

    Bong Joon-ho’s direction is excellent. This is one of Bong Joon-ho’s best movies. It is almost as good as Memories of Murder. He deals with class, wealth and poverty once again after Snowpiercer. Here the Park family lives in a house with a stairway whereas the Kim family lives in basement just above the ground while Moon-gwang lives in a bunker underground.

    Parasite is excellent and one of the best movies of the year. The movie has been deservedly nominated for 6 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film, Best Production Design and Best Film Editing. The movie will definitely win the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. The movie deserves every Oscar that it has been nominated for.

    Here is the link to my detailed review.

    Highly Recommended

    • cr7 4 years ago

      Well said.Loved the movie.Should win best director,screenplay and editing

  10. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Jojo Rabbit
    Jojo is a lonely German boy who discovers that his single mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. Aided only by his imaginary friend — Adolf Hitler — Jojo must confront his blind nationalism as World War II continues to rage on.

    Roman Griffin Davis is excellent as Jojo Rabbit. Scarlett Johansson is good as Rosie, Jojo’s mother but don’t think she deserves an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Thomasin McKenzie is excellent as Elsa, a Jewish girl hiding in Rosie’s house. She should have instead been nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

    Taika Waititi is good as Adolf Hitler, Jojo’s imaginary friend version of the infamous figure. Sam Rockwell is excellent as Captain Klenzendorf, an army officer who runs a Hitler Youth camp. Rebel Wilson is very good as Fräulein Rahm, a brutish instructor in the Hitler Youth camp. Archie Yates is very good as Yorki, Jojo’s best friend. The rest of the cast is good too.

    Taika Waititi’s screenplay and direction is very good. Its not easy to make a satire where antisemitic jokes/stereotypes are used and Adolf Hitler is portrayed as someone’s imaginary friend. The movie actually mocks the Nazis while appearing to mock the Jews. Jojo Rabbit reminds one of Life is Beautiful. Jojo Rabbit is a feel good comedy even while the underlying subject is dark.

    Here is the link to my detailed review.

    Highly Recommended

  11. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    1917
    Sam Mendes, the Oscar®-winning director of Skyfall, Spectre and American Beauty, brings his singular vision to his World War I epic, 1917. At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield (Captain Fantastic’s George MacKay) and Blake (Game of Thrones’ Dean-Charles Chapman) are given a seemingly impossible mission. In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers—Blake’s own brother among them.

    Screenplay by Sam Mendes & Krysty Wilson-Cairns is contrived. The movie starts off well but drags a lot towards the end. Many scenes seem forced just to increase the running time as the movie has barely any plot. Why would they waste their time in some underground barracks when they are in a race against time?

    They come across a abandoned farmhouse with fresh milk readily available. Schofield fills his canteen with milk just because he has to give that milk to a French woman with a baby few scenes later. That whole French woman with a baby track felt out of nowhere.

    Schofield inexplicably keeps running away from a shooter instead of turning around and shooting him back. He even encounters a huge waterfall. When he is almost at the Devons to deliver the message he has to keep asking multiple people in the trenches for Colonel Mackenzie and then has to sprint across the battlefield, just as the infantry begins its charge.

    1917 has been nominated for 10 Oscars. It doesn’t deserve all these nominations.

    It deserves nominations only for Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. It will probably win the Oscar for Best Cinematography due to its one shot take effect. The one shot take felt like a gimmick and its not even a novelty anymore. Birdman had already done the one shot take six years back.

    Sam Mendes direction is ok. The problem is the lack of story. 1917 is not bad but it certainly doesn’t deserve all the acclaim and Oscar nominations that it has received.

    Here is the link to my detailed review.

  12. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Knives Out
    The circumstances surrounding the death of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey are mysterious, but there’s one thing that renowned Detective Benoit Blanc knows for sure—everyone in the wildly dysfunctional Thrombey family is a suspect. Now, Blanc must sift through a web of lies and red herrings to uncover the truth. From acclaimed writer-director Rian Johnson comes this suspenseful, twist-filled whodunnit with an all-star ensemble cast including Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Michael Shannon, Jaeden Martell, and more.

    Knives Out is a somewhat old fashioned murder mystery. It is mostly set in one house. Its a good engrossing murder mystery with some good twists. Knives Out was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

    Daniel Craig is good as Benoit Blanc, a private detective but his accent seemed forced and unnecessary. It reminded of the Murder episode of The Office where Michael was trying the Savannah accent. Ana de Armas is very good as Marta. Chris Evans is very good as Ransom. Jamie Lee Curtis is very good as Linda.

    Here is the link to my detailed review.

    Recommended

  13. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Rewatched A Few Good Men after a very long time and decided to write a review for the movie.

    Had already wrote about it in my post on Best Hollywood Courtroom Dramas.

    Had posted it as Scene of the Week before.

    Highly Recommended

  14. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Rewatched 12 Angry Men after a very long time and decided to write a reviewfor the movie.

    Had already wrote about it in my post on Best Hollywood Courtroom Dramas.

    The Hindi movie Ek Ruka Hua Faisla directed by Basu Chatterjee was a scene to scene dialogue to dialogue copy of 12 Angry Men. Had made a post on Ek Ruka Hua Faisla Inspired/Copied from 12 Angry Men with scenes from 12 Angry Men and the entire movie Ek Ruka Hua Faisla..

    Highly Recommended

  15. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Rewatched Dallas Buyers Club after 6 years and decided to convert my comment from last time to a review for the movie.

    Highly Recommended

  16. cr7 4 years ago

    Dark Waters- I listen to Bernie Sanders’ “Big corporations” speeches and often think of it as a crazy rant . And then I watch a movie like this which gives his rants relevance .A fascinating story of greed,negligence of big corporation and heroic of one man. Liked it a lot.

    • Author
      sputnik 4 years ago

      Thanks for the recco. Will check it out. Had liked the trailer.

      Bernie makes great points but I don’t understand how some middle class people can be against him saying he is a socialist. Big corporations and the billionaires get all kinds of tax breaks but it is not socialism but when poor and middle class people get any benefits then its welfare and socialism.

      I like Benie Sanders and want him to win the democratic primary. Not sure if the democrats will let him win though.

      • cr7 4 years ago

        Same here .I’m amazed by the unexplainable love some have for capitalism. Like other economic systems capitalism failed too. Just the chaos is well managed so the visibility is less.its nothing but oligarchy right now.

        I admire Bernie’s consistency .So rare in today’s politicians. Implementation of his ideas will require immense work though and will be a big challenge . Democratic establishment will do everything in it’s power to stop him but I guess he’ll sail through this time.

        • Author
          sputnik 4 years ago

          Agree. Let’s hope he sails through this time.

    • Author
      sputnik 3 years ago

      Finally watched Dark Waters. Loved it. Mark Ruffalo was excellent. Tim Robbins was good too. Anne Hathaway seemed miscast in the role.

      Recommended

  17. cr7 4 years ago

    I’m not okay with this-I really like the variety of teen dramas in Netflix. I’ve disliked some in past but this one I liked. The supernatural angle is very well done.The awkwardness between Syd and Stanley(specially Stanley) is adorable. The leads are a perfect casting. Only 20+ minutes per episode length also helps it to never drag.Overall a Good show.
    P.S.-The lovely soundtrack is a bonus.

  18. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Rewatched the movie The Untouchables after more than 6 years. Had almost similar opinion as last time except that I liked the background score this time. So decided to expand my comment from last time to a review.

    Here is the link to my detailed review.

    Recommended

  19. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    The Help
    In 1960s Mississippi, Southern society girl Skeeter (Emma Stone) returns from college with dreams of being a writer. She turns her small town on its ear by choosing to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent white families. Only Aibileen (Viola Davis), the housekeeper of Skeeter’s best friend, will talk at first. But as the pair continue the collaboration, more women decide to come forward, and as it turns out, they have quite a lot to say.

    The movie is a comedy while it still deals with serious issues of racism and segregation. The movie is hilarious with just a few dramatic moments. The movie was nominated for 3 Oscars including Best Picture. The Help is excellent and highly recommended.

    Here is the link to my detailed review.

    Highly Recommended

  20. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    War of the Worlds
    A contemporary retelling of H.G.Wells’ classic, the sci-fi thriller reveals the extraordinary battle for the future of humankind through the eyes of one American family. Fleeing from an extraterrestrial army of killer Tripods that annihilate everything in their path, Ray Ferrier (Cruise) races to keep his family safe.

    Its an alien invasion movie. Some of the scenes are ridiculous with Ray leaving his kids alone initially. The ending is quite stupid. Robbie suddenly appearing in Boston was ok for a happy ending but it did not make any sense as to how he reached there.

    Tom Cruise was ok as Ray. He seemed miscast as a father of a teenager. Dakota Fanning was good as Rachel. Justin Chatwin was good as Robbie. Tim Robbins was good as Harlan in a small role.

  21. cr7 4 years ago

    Motichoor Chaknachoor-I liked the first 30-40 minutes .It was charming .But then there isn’t much of a storyline to make an intriguing film. Athiya was really good so was her aunt.

    Tanhaji- Entertaining movie.Very nicely paced .Wish the vfx was better.Looked very amateur at times.

    Schitt’s creek- Started watching this Candian sitcom.First couple of episodes is weird but gets better when the characters get familiar.A decent entertainer without annoying laugh track.

    Broadchurch- This was fantastic.The mystery is intriguing.And the sadness is deeply affecting. Casting couldn’t have been better. Only watched season 1 though as I find the ending of season 1 provides closure.Read on internet that season 2 takes the story forward and I wasn’t really sure about that.

    Wild tales- Apt title.Six crazy stories told in a very entertaining manner. Perfect mix of humor and tension.

    The war on democracy – The part about Venezuela’s social security programs didn’t age well though   .But other than that its a well researched and informative documentary .makes you think that we don’t usually have clues what goes underneath major political changes in the world.

  22. cr7 4 years ago

    And hope everyone doing fine amidst the corona outbreak .Take care 🙂

    • Author
      sputnik 4 years ago

      Yes. Hope everyone is safe.

      Bangladesh hasn’t had any Corona virus cases so far I think and I hope it stays that way.

  23. cr7 4 years ago

    Watched contagion.Felt eerie due to the uncanny resemblance with current circumstance. Don’t know how it would have looked If I watched in a different time.

    • Author
      sputnik 4 years ago

      Have been wanting to watch it because of the current circumstances. Thanks for the recco.

    • Author
      sputnik 4 years ago

      Watched Contagion and loved it.

      Agree with you that “Felt eerie due to the uncanny resemblance with current circumstance.”

      Contagion is so topical with the prevailing Coronavirus. Contagion is excellent and is a must watch for everyone right now.

      Here is the link to my detailed review.

      Highly Recommended

  24. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    School of Rock
    Jack Black stars as a hell-raising guitarist with delusions of grandeur. Kicked out of his band and desperate for work, he impersonates a substitute teacher and turns a class of fifth grade high-achievers into high-voltage rock and rollers. Joan Cusack portrays the principal of the private school where Black is prepping the kids for a Battle of the Bands.

    Re-watched the movie after many years. Had liked it the first time too. Nice entertaining comedy.

    Jack Black was very good. The kids were very good too. Joan Cusack was good as the principal. Sarah Silverman was good too.

    Recommended

  25. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Empire of the Sun
    Based on J.G. Ballard’s autobiographical novel, Empire of the Sun stars Christian Bale as a spoiled young British boy, living with his wealthy family in pre-World War II Shanghai. During the Japanese invasion, Bale is separated from his parents. With the help of soldier-of-fortune John Malkovich, Bale learns to survive without a retinue of servants at his beck and call. By the time Malkovich and Bale are tossed into a Japanese prison camp, the boy has picked up enough street-smarts and developed enough intestinal fortitude to regard his imprisonment as an exciting adventure. The story ends during the 1945 liberation: on the verge of manhood, the 13-year-old Bale will never again be the pampered, privileged brat whom we met in the early scenes.

    Christian Bale is very good as Jamie/Jim and the movie shows that he was always an excellent actor even from such an young age. Unfortunately many of his scenes are ridiculous. John Malkovich was good as Basie but we never know his backstory or his intentions. The rest of the cast is ok.

    The Cinematography and the art direction are very good. The movie was nominated for 6 Oscars including Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design and Best Sound.

    Its one of the worst movies ever. Its boring and too long. Spielberg’s direction is horrible. Its such a wannabe epic. Its like Spielberg wanted to make the greatest movie ever but unfortunately the screenplay is horrible. Many scenes and many of Jim’s actions don’t even make sense.

    Here is the link to my review.

  26. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Sophie’s Choice
    Stingo (Peter MacNicol), a young writer, moves to Brooklyn in 1947 to begin work on his first novel. As he becomes friendly with Sophie (Meryl Streep) and her lover Nathan (Kevin Kline), he learns that Sophie is a Holocaust survivor. Flashbacks reveal her harrowing story, from pre-war prosperity to Auschwitz. In the present, Sophie and Nathan’s relationship increasingly unravels as Stingo grows closer to Sophie and Nathan’s fragile mental state becomes ever more apparent.

    Revisited the movie after more than 5 years. Had same opinion as last time. Decided to convert my comment from last time to a review.

    Meryl Streep was excellent as the Polish immigrant Sophie. She looked really emaciated in the concentration camp scenes and she was absolutely brilliant in the scene where she has to make the choice. She deservedly won an Oscar for her performance.

    The movie is quite slow paced and boring for the most part but it has a very interesting back story which actually should have been the main story. The back story is told in flashbacks and is excellent. The concentration camp scenes are very good and the scene where Sophie has to make her choice is excellent. The movie is recommended only if you are a Meryl Streep fan and for the few concentration camp scenes and the Choice scene.

    Here is the link to my detailed review.

  27. cr7 4 years ago

    Panchayat-Delightful,feel good drama by TVF .
    Tiger King- Its crazy.You can not write stuff like this .Really stranger than fiction.
    Succession- On to episode 5 of season 2. Intense and entertaining . I like these dramas about despicable but interesting characters.
    Schitt’s Creek- Nothing groundbreaking about this form of comedy but It was very entertaining.made my quarantine days fun.

  28. cr7 4 years ago

    Rewatched some Hindi comedies during the quarantine. Hungama and Dhol were as hilarious as the first time . Due to all the memes I thought I would like PHP more but it was so so. Really liked Khatta meetha.

  29. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Something the Lord Made
    Two men–one a wealthy white chief surgeon, the other a poor black lab technician achieve a monumental medical breakthrough that earned one accolades…and the other a painful lesson in racism and unequal opportunity in 1940s Baltimore. Alan Rickman and Mos Def star in this ‘HBO Films’ drama.

    Had watched this movie first time may be around 18 years ago. Have watched this movie like 3 or 4 times and it is one of my favorite movies ever.

    Though it has a made for TV feel it has a great story about how two people, a White surgeon and a Black lab assistant, worked together to perform the first heart surgery during a time of racism and segregation.

    Alan Rickman is excellent as Dr. Alfred Blalock. Mos Def is excellent as Vivien Thomas and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television. Both Alan Rickman and Mos Def were nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.

    The movie was nominated for 2 Golden Globes including Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television. The movie was nominated for nine Emmy Awards and won three Emmys for Outstanding Made for Television Movie, Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie and Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special. The movie also won the Peabody Award.

    Direction by Joseph Sargent is very good. The movie uses quite a bit of medical terminology and doesn’t try to dumb down the medical procedures. Joseph Sargent won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing in a Television Film. Something the Lord Made is excellent and one of the best movies ever.

    Here is my more detailed review.

    Highly Recommended

  30. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Revisited Rudy after 7 years and had the same opinion as first time. So decided to write a separate review this time.

    Rudy has always been told that he was too small to play college football. But he is determined to overcome the odds and fulfill his dream of playing for Notre Dame.

    Movie started off well with the whole underdog thing. But at many places he seemed more like a crazy guy than a man with a dream or a mission and he was lucky to get help that he got which many others would not have. While the movie showed that he put a lot of heart and fight during the training sessions it felt like that the others looked at him more with sympathy because of his lack of height/physique and that the final game was more like a charity thing. I thought that the movie would be of him becoming a successful player but it turned out that he played just one game.

    Here is the link to the detailed review.

  31. cr7 4 years ago

    Extraction-I think action fans will love it. But as someone who is not very fond of the genre I had a really hard time keeping interest during the long action sequences.The plot is very straightforward and gets very tedious quickly.
    About the portrayal of Dhaka,I think they shifted a Latin american plot to Dhaka for whatever reasons without making any necessary adjustments.It was way off.

    Little Women- Due to the looks and trailer I had a preconceived notion that it would be boring .But very pleasantly surprised.It was entertaining .Young amy and adult Meg character needed some work .Saorise rocked in an author backed role.

    Inside Llewywn Davis- Dark comedy and melancholy .Loved the combination.Great soundtrack.

    Bad education- Decent film.Interesting story .It could have been more revealing .Hugh jackman was brilliant .

    • Author
      sputnik 4 years ago

      I saw some people going gaga over Extraction on twitter. Heard it was set in Bangladesh. hmm…. So they just shifted Latin American plot to Dhaka.

      Little Women and Bad Education are on my watchlist.

      Had watched Inside Llewyn Davis 6 years back and liked it. Saw your comment there that you downloaded it then. So you got to it after 6 years 🙂

      Here is my Inside Llewyn Davis review.

      • cr7 4 years ago

        Haha . Streaming services and Lockdown has helped me to catch up on some films I missed earlier.

  32. cr7 4 years ago

    Never have I ever-Flawed but cute. Took a downhill turn after episode 5.McEnroe’s narration was funny.

    Veep-I always keep a comedy show to watch 2-3 episodes everyday.Veep is currently the show and I’m really enjoying it. The writing is sharp.

    Ayyappana Koshiyum- Basic plot but credits to the writers to turn it into a intriguing movie.Its like a modern day western,battle of egos.

    • Author
      sputnik 3 years ago

      Watched bits of Never have I ever. Looked cute and entertaining. Agree with you that “McEnroe’s narration was funny”.

      Maitreyi Ramakrishnan was good as Devi. Loved Poorna Jagannathan as Devi’s mother.

  33. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Searching for Bobby Fischer
    After he beats his dad (Joe Mantegna) in a chess match, Josh Waitzkin (Max Pomeranc), a 7-year-old, gets noticed for his talent. He becomes interested in speed chess at the park and learns the game from a hustler named Vinnie (Laurence Fishburne). However, Josh’s parents invest in the services of Bruce (Ben Kingsley), a famous coach who has very different practices. Between Bruce’s methods and the stress of the competitions, Josh learns that even a chess prodigy cannot make all the right moves.

    The movie is based on the true story of prodigy chess player Joshua Waitzkin adapted from the book Searching for Bobby Fischer by Joshua’s father Fred Waitzkin.

    Max Pomeranc is excellent as Josh. Joe Mantegna is very good as his father. Joan Allen is good as his mother.
    Ben Kingsley is good as Bruce Pandolfini. Laurence Fishburne is very good as Vinnie. Michael Nirenberg is very good as Jonathan Poe. William H. Macy is good in a small role.

    The movie was nominated for an Oscar for Best Cinematography. Steven Zaillian’s direction is very good. The movie is about how Josh is afraid of losing at Chess and thereby losing his dad’s love. The movie very sensitively portrays a young Chess prodigy who doesn’t want to win at any cost.

    Here is my detailed review.

    Recommended

  34. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Paatal Lok
    A down and out cop lands the case of a lifetime when four suspects are nabbed in the assassination attempt of a journalist. The pursuit of it leads him to ‘Paatal Lok’, and to shocking discoveries in the past of the four suspects.

    The show borrows a lot from real life incidents – the 2014 Badaun gang rape (though here the girls are not found hanging here), the Batla House encounter case (though the encounter doesn’t happen here) and the Junaid Khan case (lynching on a train on suspicion of eating beef). The show also highlights harassment of lower caste people by upper castes in Punjab, poor street kids being sexually abused and Islamophobia. The show also has a LGBT character. There was no need for that scene of child rape where a nude male is shown thrusting though they did not show the kid. The scene before and after was enough to show that the child was raped.

    Paatal Lok is a very good web series even with the somewhat disappointing ending. Paatal Lok raises a lot of important issues and shows a mirror to our society.

    Here is my detailed review.

    Recommended

  35. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Revisited Wadjda after 6 years and liked it this time too. Had already written a recco for the movie back then.

    Highly Recommended

  36. cr7 4 years ago

    Bulbbul- Interesting premise but I think writers were more indulged in giving a message than shaping the story. Gets dumber and more predictable as the story progress. Some of the visuals are excellent.BGM was nice.Tripti Dimri looked promising. Overall another underwhelming netflix india project.

    Kadakh-.Watched it only because its directed by Rajat Kapur.Not his best but a fairly entertaining one time watch.It has a very tight screenplay,natural dialogues and performances.Its only 90 minutes and keeps you intrigued.

    • Author
      sputnik 4 years ago

      Some people including Anurag Kashyap went gaga over Bulbbul but some of the honest people I know on twitter had similar view as yours.

  37. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Completed watching Season 3 which is the final season of Dark.

    Had watched Season 1 and Season 2 last year. Season 1 was excellent and Season 2 was not as good as Season 1 with too many Jonases and Claudias.

    Season 3 has the same issue. There are too many Jonases, Marthas, Claudias and multiple versions of other characters not only from different time periods but from different worlds also. While some parts of the show were still good it was very confusing and made my head spin trying to keep track of the different timelines and different worlds.

    The ending of the show made me feel its just like movie The Butterfly Effect Director’s Cut version which I had loved and written a recco many years ago.

  38. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Have watched lots of movies but have been busy and haven’t been commenting.

    Home Alone
    Macaulay Culkin rocketed to stardom as Kevin, a young boy who’s accidently left behind when his family goes to Paris for the holidays. Having the house to himself is a dream come true, and Kevin easily masters grocery shopping and laundry. He even takes on two determined but dimwitted burglars, who can’t believe the house is being defended by an eight-year old!

    Had heard so much about this movie when I was in school but had never watched it till now. The basic premise of the movie is ridiculous but its an entertaining movie. Some scenes are really funny. Some of the inventions that he creates to beat the robbers are too unbelievable.

    Macaulay Culkin was excellent as Kevin and he looked very cute. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern were excellent as the two thiefs Harry and Marv. Roberts Blossom was good as Marley, Kevin’s elderly neighbor. Catherine O’Hara was good as Kevin’s mother and John Heard was ok as Kevin’s father.

    Recommended

    ————–

    Home Alone 2
    Kevin’s back! Macaulay Culkin returns as America’s favorite kid in distress, and this time he’s on his own in the Big Bad Apple. Armed with Dad’s wallet and credit cards, Kevin’s having the time of his life! But uh-oh! Those two inept burglars from back home show up to rob a kindly old toy-store owner of the money he was planning on donating to a children’s hospital.

    Technically its a sequel but its more like a remake of the first one. Almost every trope from the first one is repeated. So many scenes are almost similar to the one from Home Alone. Its not as funny as the first one and somewhat boring.

  39. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Motherless Brooklyn
    The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Jonathan Lethem and it set in the 1950s. The movie plays out like a old school detective thriller and it has good suspense. It is a little slow paced though.

    Edward Norton was good as Lionel Essrog but his role and acting was somewhat similar to a role he played in the movie The Score. His ticks and blurting words became annoying. It also felt contrived as he seemed perfectly normal in some scenes. Bruce Willis was good as Frank Minna in a small role. Gugu Mbatha-Raw was good as Laura Rose. Alec Baldwin was very good as Moses Randolph. Willem Dafoe was very good as Paul Randolph. Bobby Cannavale was good as Tony Vermonte. The rest of the cast was good too.

    The movie is nothing great but a good one time watch.

    Recommended

    Here is my detailed review.

  40. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Rewatched the movie Contact and converted my comment from last time to a review.

  41. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Rewatched the movie The Last Samurai and converted my comment from last time to a review.

  42. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Re watched the movie Saaheb and loved it once again. This is one of my all time favorite movies. Had already written a recco many years ago.

  43. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Re-watched 2001: A Space Odyssey and converted my comment from last time to a review.

  44. Author
    sputnik 4 years ago

    Rewatched Rabbit-Proof Fence and converted my comment from last time to a review.

  45. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Rewatched Evelyn and converted my comment from last time to a review.

  46. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Richard Jewell
    During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, security guard Richard Jewell discovers a suspicious backpack under a bench in Centennial Park. With little time to spare, he helps to evacuate the area until the incendiary device inside the bag explodes. Hailed as a hero who saved lives, Jewell’s own life starts to unravel when the FBI names him the prime suspect in the bombing.

    Some scenes are excellent like the scene where the FBI agents search Richard Jewell’s home or the scene where Richard Jewell is being nice to the FBI agents interviewing him.

    Paul Walter Hauser is excellent as Richard Jewell. He makes you feel bad for his plight while at times you feel that he is being a complete idiot and brought this plight upon himself. He should have been nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor. Sam Rockwell was good as usual as his Attorney Watson Bryant. Kathy Bates was good as Richard Jewell’s mother Barbara. She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Jon Hamm was good as FBI Agent Tom Shaw. Olivia Wilde was good as Kathy Scruggs, the journalist. The rest of the cast was good too.

    Clint Eastwood’s direction is excellent. The movie shows how the media can destroy the life an innocent man and his family. The movie is very engrossing and one of the best movies of the year 2019.

    Here is my detailed review.

    Highly Recommended

  47. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Rewatched The Insider for like the third time. Love this movie.

    Here is my detailed review.

    Highly Recommended

  48. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    The Fugitive
    Wrongfully accused of murdering his wife, Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) escapes from the law in an attempt to find her killer and clear his name. Pursuing him is a team of U.S. marshals led by Deputy Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones), a determined detective who will not rest until Richard is captured. As Richard leads the team through a series of intricate chases, he discovers the secrets behind his wife’s death and struggles to expose the killer before it is too late.

    Had watched this in a theater when it released. Rewatched it after a long time.

    Harrison Ford was excellent as Dr. Richard Kimble. Tommy Lee Jones was very good as Deputy U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard. He won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

    The movie was nominated for 7 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Sound and Best Sound Editing.

    Andrew Davis’ direction is excellent. The Fugitive is an excellent thriller which still holds up after so many years of its release.

    Here is my detailed review.

    Highly Recommended.

  49. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    The Trial of the Chicago 7
    The film is based on the infamous 1969 trial of seven defendants charged by the federal government with conspiracy and more, arising from the countercultural protests in Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The trial transfixed the nation and sparked a conversation about mayhem intended to undermine the U.S. government.

    The Trial of the Chicago 7 is excellent and one of the best movies of the year. Its one of the best courtroom dramas ever. Its so topical with all the protests going on in US and elsewhere.

    Highly Recommended

    Here is my detailed review.

  50. cr7 3 years ago

    The Boys- One of the most entertaining shows across all ott platforms. Had a blast watching it.

    Patriot- Personal favorite among all the amazon prime shows. Very different from typical spy dramas. Its dark, funny and often very intense. Watch it if you like in Bruges kind of films.

    Looming tower- Solid drama. Looks authentic and well acted. Zero dark thrifty fans will enjoy this one.

    Red Oaks – Nice fun show. Good time pass stuff.

    Serious men- Decent watch.Interesting concept,lots of social issues covered.

    Tunnel-Not bad by any standard but probably the weakest among the holy trinity of korean thriller tv shows.(Stranger,Signal,Tunnel).

  51. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Rewatched Lawless after 6 years. Liked it this time too.

    Decided to convert my comment from last time to a review.

    Recommended

  52. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Rewatched The Quick and the Dead recently.

    Decided to convert my comment from last time to a review.

    Recommended

  53. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Rewatched Baby Driver.

    Here is my detailed review.

    Recommended

  54. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Rewatched Man on Fire after a very long time. Liked it a lot.

    Here is my detailed review.

    Highly Recommended

  55. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Watched The Greatest Game Ever Played after many years. Had recommended the movie in the past as a good sports movie.

    Liked it this time too.

    Here is my detailed review.

    Recommended

  56. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Rewatched Dead Man Walking.

    Decided to convert my comment from last time to a review.

    Recommended

  57. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Rewatched Invincible after a very long time. Liked it a lot.

    Here is my detailed review.

    Highly Recommended

  58. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Rewatched Wall Street.

    Decided to convert my comment from last time to a review.

    Highly Recommended

  59. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Watched JFK after a very long time.

    Here is my detailed review.

    Highly Recommended

  60. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Rewatched Witness after 7 years and liked it more this time.

    Converted my comment from last time to a review with some slight modifications.

    Recommended

  61. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    Watched Hillbilly Elegy. Hillbilly Elegy is worth a watch for the brilliant performances from Amy Adams and Glenn Close. Amy Adams is excellent as Bev, J.D’s mother. This is her career best performance and she will definitely be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress and should win too. Glenn Close is excellent as Mamaw, J.D’s grandmother. She will definitely be nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and should win too. Both Amy Adams and Glenn Close have been brilliant actresses and its high time that they win a Oscar.

    Here is my detailed review.

    Recommended

  62. cr7 3 years ago

    No thread for 2021?

    • Author
      sputnik 3 years ago

      No. Haven’t created a thread for 2021 as no one was commenting except me 🙂

      Have been posting trailers of new movies on the youtube channel for tanqeed and converted some plagiarism posts into videos.

      Been watching some movies but not commenting here.

      Completed Mare of Easttown yesterday and liked it a lot. Its a slow paced thriller with some drama. Kate Winslet was excellent.

      • cr7 3 years ago

        Came here to comment on Mare of East town. Probably one of the best in Broadchurch school of murder in a closely knitted community solved by Detective with personal issues. Kate was brilliant. The pace was perfect after episode 3.First 2 were slow.

        Also watched The fall.Season 1 was very very good.But then it dragged and dragged.Disappointing.

        P.S Sorry for not commenting often.I haven’t really watched anything in last 6-7 months.

        • Author
          sputnik 3 years ago

          No problem.

          Have heard Mare of Easttown being compared to Broadchurch but haven’t watched Broadchurch. Added it to my watch list just now.

          Murder and detective with personal issues is a cliche. The Little Things was similar in that manner too which I watched few months back. Denzel Washington and Jared Leto were good. Did not like Rami Malek though.

          Had watched Army of the Dead a few days back. Its a masala heist zombie thriller. Nothing great. Not sure why Huma even did that useless role.

          • cr7 3 years ago

            Broadchurch is must watch.I will highly recommend. I know Detective with personal issues is a cliche.But broadchurch combined so brilliantly with a murder in closely knitted community that it became a genre in itself.

            • Author
              sputnik 3 years ago

              Thanks for the recco. Will start watching Broadchurch.

            • Author
              sputnik 3 years ago

              Completed Season 1. Loved it. Excellent show. I was able to guess the killer though. Will start watching Season 2.

              • cr7 3 years ago

                Glad you liked it.Great show obviously.Peak Coleman and Tennant was a treat to watch.Do you feel like watching season 2? I was so reluctant to start season 2 because Season 1 ended on such a perfect note.No cheap cliffhanger or anything.Just gave closure after a really emotional journey.Ended up watching season 2 much later and it didn’t disappoint either.

                • Author
                  sputnik 3 years ago

                  Yeah agree that Season 1 ended on a perfect note. Have started watching Season 2 and in 3rd episode now. The killer deciding not to plead guilty and the court case felt unnecessary but hoping it gets better with the Sandbrook investigation.

                  No, haven’t watched Family Man Season 1 either. I am not interested in India Pakistan spy series. Last Indian series I watched was Paatal Lok which I liked a lot.

                • Author
                  sputnik 3 years ago

                  Completed Season 2. It kind of dragged a bit and there was some unnecessary drama but it was still good.

                  • Author
                    sputnik 3 years ago

                    Completed Season 3. The last few episodes were very interesting. Hated the drama involved Mark and Beth which felt so unnecessary in season 3.

                    While browsing over Tubi I found out there is an American version of Broadchurch called Gracepoint starring the same lead actor David Tennant. The rest of the cast is different. It was cancelled after only 1 season.

  63. cr7 3 years ago

    Btw did you watch Family man season 2?

  64. Author
    sputnik 3 years ago

    AlRawabi School for Girls
    The bullied outcasts at prestigious Al Rawabi School for Girls plot a series of risky takedowns to get back at their tormentors.

    Its a Jordanian Netflix series.

    It starts off as a middle eastern version of Mean Girls but is very engrossing. It addresses serious issues of bullying, sexual assault, patriarchy and honor killing.

    Performances were excellent.

    Recommended

  65. Author
    sputnik 2 years ago

    Ted Lasso
    Small-time football coach Ted Lasso is hired to coach a professional soccer team in England, despite having no experience coaching soccer.

    Very good show. Liking it a lot so far. Just finished 4th episode of Season 2.

    Jason Sudeikis is excellent as Ted Lasso. Hannah Waddingham is very good as his boss Rebecca Welton. Jeremy Swift is good as Leslie Higgins. Phil Dunster is excellent as Jamie Tartt. Brett Goldstein is excellent as the angry Roy Kent. Brendan Hunt is good as Coach Beard. Nick Mohammed is good as Nathan Shelley. Juno Temple is very good as Keeley Jones.

    Recommended

    • cr7 2 years ago

      One of the best feel good,comfort shows out there.Really liked it.Loved how simple they kept it.

      • Author
        sputnik 2 years ago

        Completed season 2. Some episodes like the Christmas one and Coach Beard one weren’t that good. Liked the season ending though.

  66. cr7 2 years ago

    Sex education season 3-Remains one of the better teen shows out there. You have to appreciate how maturely they handled some aspect. But again part of it was also very on your face and looked like activism.Still enjoyed it.But its probably should end very quickly. Its for the best.

    Started watching Squid game too.So far so good. Will post details after finishing.

  67. cr7 2 years ago

    Only murders in the building- Not the most unique but the suspense is intriguing enough to keep hooked.Martin Short and Steve Martin were charming as always.Their chemistry made it very enjoyable. Selena was a odd choice and she was inconsistent. Last three episodes felt a bit messy with unnecessary characters. Overall a decent watch.

    Coda- Indie coming of age is one of my most favourite genres of all time.And this one is a great addition.Very pleasant watch.

    Chandigarh Kare Ashiqui- Another nice concept poor execution movie by Ayushman.

    Dopesick- Halfway through it.This could be the chernobyl moment of tv this year.Hope last 4 episodes live up to the expectations.

    • Author
      sputnik 2 years ago

      Thanks for the recco for Dopesick. Haven’t watched any series for some time.

      Have watched these movies recently.

      Don’t Look Up
      Nice satire but not sure everyone will like it. Its obviously a crack at how nobody cares about climate change and global warming. Leonardo was excellent. Joanah Hill was very good. Meryl Streep was good as usual. Jennifer Lawrence was good too. Mark Rylance was excellent as the tech billionaire.
      Recommended

      Red Notice – Masala heist entertainer.

      In the heat of the Night (1967)
      I think I had watched it many years back but did not remember much. Good movie set in the south. Sydney Poiter was good but Rod Steiger was excellent as the somewhat racist Chief. He deserved the Oscar for Best Actor that he received. Suprised that Sydney was not nominated. The movie was nominated for 7 Oscars and won 5 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Editing.
      Recommended

      The Unforgivable
      Decent movie. I thought that she must have killed a kid or something the way it was setup but it was not the case. Sandra Bullock was excellent.

      Darkest Hour
      Movie was ok. Gary Oldman was excellent.

      • cr7 2 years ago

        Similar views on Don’t look up.Really liked but this is going to have divisive opinion.Very well made satire.Great performances too.

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