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SPOILERS AHEAD... Bong Joon-Ho's Memories of Murder ends with Detective Park staring directly at the lens with his eyes brimming with tears. What does this look symbolize? Is he seeking for answers? Is he expressing his plight to the audience? Or is he using his eyes, like he did throughout the entire film, to conclude whether we, the audience, are innocent or guilty? There are very few films which acknowledge the presence of the audience. And when they do, they bridge the gap between the characters on screen and the audience. What ends up striking is an emotional resonance with the events that occurred in the film...

Set is in the late 1980s', in a rural town in South Korea, Memories of Murder recounts events that are based on real killings. Fourteen women were brutally murdered, and the detectives worked day and night to find the killer. The two main leads are Detective Park, who is a country detective; and Detective Suh who is a detective from the city of Seoul aiding in the investigation. A sense of tension and clash is prevalent between the two detectives. This sense of clash is reflected by the film's tone.

From the opening sequence of the film, Bong masterfully establishes the absurdity and clash of situations that was occurring in the 1980s'. On one hand, you witness adorable children laughing, playing around the paddy fields, and making fun of Detective Park's broken-down vehicle. And on the other hand, Detective Park discovers a young woman's dead body underneath a trench. And on top of that, it is a bright and beautiful sunny day.

Just like the characters, we experience the same emotions: confusion and appalment. The visuals begin with a warm and golden glow, signifying the delicacy of innocence and how it clashes with disorder and chaos. Taro Iwashiro's score does a magnificent job in accentuating the tone of the film. On the surface, the music utilizes the bright harmony of the piano chords as a reflection of the sunny weather; yet the piece embodies this underlying emotion of sadness, despair, and melancholy which persists throughout the entire film.

The 1980s' was an unsettling and disturbing time for South Korea. The country was underneath the military dictatorship, which caused the society to experience chaos and disorder on a frequent basis. The underlying sense of chaos is established in the next four scenes, when Detective Park fails to stop a tractor from mowing the footprints of the killer. In a single shot, the camera anxiously follows Detective Park, who demands every individual to stay organized and Song Kang-Ho brilliantly enunciates the anguish Detective Park feels at that moment.

The anguish and frustration of the detectives is reflected by the film's gray color palette. Every scene is filled with tension. This idea of a storm that is lurking behind the detectives is reflected by the gloomy weather. Unlike most crime dramas, the detectives are not the sharpest in this film. They are quite inept at their job. They use brute force to find the answers to this killer's motivation. Bong eases the tension by using black humor. The detective's ineptness is treated with humor. On one hand, Detective Park abuses one of the suspects, who turns out to be innocent. And in the next few scenes, he gifts the suspect a fresh pair of shoes. The sheer unreliability of the narrative and the character's actions is what makes the slow pace of the film invincible.

However, the humor does come to an end. The killings continue and the detectives continue to fail on their attempt to catch the killer. The emotions of fatigue and anxiety start to emit from the behavior of the characters. Just like the detectives, we, as an audience, are disgusted and frustrated by the death of these young women. The rise in the pacing complements the restlessness of the detectives. And the weather becomes even more dark and gloomy...

Bong brilliantly uses his actor's talents to communicate this shift in emotion and behavior. Song Kang-Ho beautifully channels the complexities of Detective Park. He maintains the balance between the brute and violent nature and the sad and desperate nature of his character so brilliantly. One cannot help but laugh at his ineptness, but one cannot help but empathize with his zest to catch the killer. The foil to his character is also channelized beautifully by Kim Sang-kyung. As the stern and meticulous Detective Suh, he brilliantly uses his body and his eyes to convey his commitment and dedication to the case. This is especially evident in the film's tear-inducing climax. Detective Suh's emotions are in harmony with the audience's emotions and his madness mirrors the audience's madness towards the grueling nature of the case. The explosive emotions beautifully brim from the screen. The sound of the rapid rain and Taro Iwashiro's haunting strings being in harmony is nothing but hypnotic. Even better, a crisscross of character arcs happens in the climax - how often does that occur? The in-depth exploration of both Detective Park and Detective Suh is highlighted in the film's climax. Detective Suh loses the belief that documents never lie; Detective Park loses the belief that his "special vision" works. Detective Suh has nothing but the zest to use brute force to bring justice and order to the case; Detective Park has nothing but the desire to detach from the fatigue that the case has enforced upon him...

The killer is not caught in the end. The story has no resolution to it. The memories of Detective Park's experience with the case will continue to haunt him. On the surface, it seems that he has a successful career as a salesman and a beautiful family. However, the sheer defeat from the unsolved case will continue to pervade in his future. Bong, once again, introduces the same paddy fields and sunny weather to mirror Detective Park's memories. As well as signifying the inevitability of these memories fading away from his existence. The thought of not knowing the killer and the soul-shattering guilt of that thought is symbolized by his sad look to the audience. He looks directly at the camera with the hunger and zest he had in his past. The brim in his eyes represent the fear and anxiety he has of failing to draw any conclusion...

The beautiful thing about cinema is how it uses images to shape our knowledge and beliefs about a particular experience. It uses the face and eyes of the characters on screen to shape our understanding of the situations and the outcomes of those situations. It transcends the lines of division and we, as an audience, become the characters for those two hours. In those two hours, when there is no resolution, like Detective Park, we too will be haunted and overwhelmed by the reality that our memories of this beautifully tragic film will never fade away, even when the screen itself will, inevitably, fade to black...

Lee Chang-Dong is a Korean auteur recognized for presenting the frail and fragile nature of human beings. His films depict the idea of how sociopolitical situations can play a pivotal role in shaping the personality of an individual. His second feature film, Peppermint Candy (1999), a narrative told in reverse chronological order, presents how the dark and dictatorial history of South Korea contributed to the jaded protagonist's loss of innocence and poetic curiosity for life. Like Peppermint Candy, Secret Sunshine tells the story of an emotionally wounded woman by the name of Shin-ae (Jeon Do-Yeon), who is yearning for a fresh start in the small of town of Miryang, which is where her deceased husband was born and raised. She moves into the town with her adorable son, Jun, and earns a living as a piano teacher.

Secret Sunshine does not employ a complicated narrative structure, lavish visuals, and boisterous camera movements to tell its intimate story. This is a normal film. It deals with the mundane activities that the people of the town Miryang engage in within an apt and simple approach. Even the biggest plot points, which in another film would be portrayed with heightened crescendos and dramatic overtures, are portrayed in a sophisticated and subdued manner. Even the color palette, which has blue and white pervading the visuals, is very plain, simple, and normal... The camera moves, but you forget that it is even moving. The screenplay foreshadows the biggest plot points by subtly using the interactions Shin-ae has with the people of Miryang. Every element of Secret Sunshine is a reflection of our daily lives, which is what allows Lee Chang-Dong to tell a story that is authentic and intimate. Just like his previous films, this too is an in-depth case study of an individual who is trying to make peace with the reality they are a part of. Instead of using the sociopolitical situations that are permeating in the town of Miryang, Lee Chang-Dong deals with the themes of God and religion as the pillar of discovery for Shin-ae. But this film is neither preachy nor a criticism towards religion; it is an unbiased reflection of how organized religion functions and how people attain a sense of spiritual enlightenment through it. Shin-ae deals with the graceful nature of religion as a coping mechanism for the tragedies she faces later on in the film.

If Peppermint Candy conveyed the idea that innocence can be lost at any moment, without one realizing it, then Secret Sunshine conveys the idea that our inner notions can be rejected by reality at any moment. At times, Shin-ae is presented as an idealistic character. She is in peace when the reality is mirroring her inner notions; she becomes rebellious when reality fails to mirror her inner notions. Her character may seem obnoxious from this lens, but Lee Chang-Dong allows the audience to empathize with her emotions because she is a woman who has experienced every depth of calamity one can ever experience. She lost her husband in a car accident, her family does not keep in touch with her, and the people that know her very well don't have a favorable opinion about her. Of course, this does come from how the screenplay establishes the building blocks of Shin-ae's character, but if it weren't for Jeon Do-Yeon's performance, Shin-ae's humanity may not have come to fruition on the screen.

The Queen of Cannes, Jeon Do-Yeon, is indeed phenomenal. The sheer physical nature of her performance is just brilliant. When she runs her hand all over her chest, her stomach, and coughs endlessly, one can't help but experience the fatigue and exhaustion with her. Her grief becomes our grief. Her moment of catharsis becomes our moment of catharsis. Her moment of epiphany becomes our moment of epiphany. The greatest achievement of her performance is that her vulnerability and flaws have a graceful nature to them. Her sad and lonely eyes beautifully enhance the interior nature of her character. As a piano teacher who is trying to teach her students how to craft melody and harmony, she too is trying to learn how to bring melody and harmony into her life. Her want for grace is mirrored by Song Kang-Ho's character, Jong-chan. Song Kang-Ho easily could have overstayed his welcome, but he does not do that. Just like Shin-ae, he too is a lonely soul yearning for affection and impact. In some moments, he is someone who has one-sided feelings for Shin-ae and does everything he can to help her walk on a straight path. In other moments, he is a sad and lonely person who thinks of himself as a loser and has this deep desire to leave an impact and obtain a sense of affection from someone. It's a brilliant and graceful performance.

The natural demeanor of the actors' performances is reflected by how the film utilizes nature as a character. The film opens with the image of a blue sky, shrouded by clouds and sunshine. The film closes with the image of the moist soil and chucks of Shin-ae's hair being gently blown by the breeze. Nature as a character is what grounds the melodramatic narrative of the film. It represents the "secret" in the film's title. This is one of Lee Chang-Dong's more philosophical films. It does not embody the socially relevant nature of his previous films. The idea of duality becomes the antagonist that the characters grapple with.

Duality is unpredictable. Duality sometimes has no face, which is what causes Shin-ae's obstacles and disillusionment to be much more daunting and challenging. Lee Chang-Dong utilizes the symbols of the sky, the ground, the color blue, and the color white as a reflection of Shin-ae's companions. Without her awareness, these elements are providing her with the moral support she needs to cope with her hardship - they are her secrets which she is withholding. Jong-Chan becomes her companion too; his outfits reflect the colors of nature. These abstract metaphors are what allow Lee Chang-Dong to prevent the conventional characteristics of a melodrama from permeating in the narrative.

The end result is a film that deals with these existential and philosophical questions with an unfiltered, unbiased, and subdued approach. Secret Sunshine does have its fair share of hard-hitting and grim moments, but ultimately, it is a film that represents the notion that hope is right in front of us. When one acknowledges its existence and impact, it becomes less of a symbol of secrecy. It becomes a symbol of grace, catharsis, and sunshine...

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY AARON SORKIN In 1969, American Activist Fred Hampton was shot and killed in his own apartment by the Chicago Police Department. This tragic event was followed by Black Panther Party leader Bobby Seale being bound and gagged in the courtroom for taking back to Judge Julius Hoffman. What happens 51 years later? In March of 2020, a 26-year-old African-American Woman by the name of Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in her own apartment by the Louisville Police Department. This tragic event was followed by another tragic event of a 46-year-old African-American Gentleman by the name of George Floyd being restrained and eventually murdered by the Minneapolis Police Officers. What distinguishes these tragic events that are 51 years apart from each other? Has history been used to create a better future? Or has it been used to mirror the future? These are the pivotal questions that Aaron Sorkin posses with his masterful drama about the trial of seven anti-Vietnam war activists being put on trial by the federal government for conspiracy and for crossing state lines in order to incite a riot. Aaron Sorkin's masterful storytelling blurs the lines between the events that occurred in 1968 and the events that have occurred these past four months. The film is a classic Sorkin drama. It has all the exciting ingredients that make Aaron Sorkin the most respected and loved screenwriter working today. Rapid fire, quick-witted dialogue, non-linear storytelling, repetition - all the delicious tropes that craft a compelling Sorkin drama are embodied in this film. After making an impressive debut as a director in the exciting 2017 film Molly's Game, Aaron Sorkin returns as the captain of the ship and the individual behind the camera. There were moments where Sorkin's direction stood out more than the dialogue. Take the scene towards the beginning when the first day of the trial is about to begin; in a single shot, the camera fluidly moves across the front of the courtroom showcasing every member of the trial preparing themselves for the notorious events that are about to unfold in front of them. It almost felt like a moment from a play, expect rather than just solely relying on the staging and blocking of the actors, the movement and vocabulary of the camera accentuated the feeling of immersing the viewer in the rapid sensation of anticipation. Or take the scene when Bobby Seale (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is just terrific) gets gagged in the courtroom; there is pure silence except for the haunting sound of Seale's handcuffs and footsteps. Aaron Sorkin has truly grown as a filmmaker; his sense of staging and blocking a scene in order to be in harmony with the words he has written on the page are evolving into, just like his writing style, a rhythmic and musical style of filmmaking. And boy does the dialogue get even more exciting as the film progresses. Lines such as, "You can do anything to anything by taking it out of context.", reminded me of a steroidal version of "You can't handle the truth!". Or the line, "If our blood is going to flow, let it flow all over the city.", is a classic representation of how, sadly, anything can be taken out of context. The cast is tremendous. Each actor has given a remarkable performance. The standouts being Sacha Baron Coen as Abbie Hoffman, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Bobby Seale, Mark Rylance as William Kunstler, Eddie Redmayne as Tom Hayden, and Frank Langella as Judge Julius Hoffman. Everyone beautifully brought life to Sorkin's stylistic writing. Each one of them brought a humanity to their character which felt authentic. Especially towards the rousing climax, which would empower any individual to consistently commit the act of respect. The editing by Alan Baumgarten complements Sorkin's non-linear screenplay. The editing adds a wholesome feeling to the entire rhythm of the movie. The running time is sharp and clean, not a moment affects the pacing of the film. The Trial of The Chicago 7 is a moving and haunting portrait of the frightening parallels that run between the 1960s' and 2020. It is the perfect story to be told in times like these. Aaron Sorkin's watertight screenplay and direction, the terrific performances from an incredible ensemble cast, the fast-paced and rhythmic editing, and the terrifying relevance and parallels between the events portrayed in the film and the events that have occurred in the past four months culminate to make The Trial of the Chicago 7 the most pertinent reflection of the times we are living in. The film asserts that acts of violence, corruption, discrimination, brutality, racism, and every other traumatic incident will be worked towards being prevented by the citizens of a society who believe in civility, empathy, and compassion, because the fact of the matter is - THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING...

LITTLE WOMEN Written for the Screen and Directed by Greta Gerwig Greta Gerwig does it again! After making an exceptional debut as a writer and director with the uplifting Lady Bird, she presents not only a faithful adaptation of the beloved novel, she captures the essence of relationships, family, and love. The screenplay is structured in a non-linear style; the narrative intercuts between the winter of 1861 and the fall of 1868. However, the film embodies a pleasing rhythm and fluidity, that the scenes intercut subtly. The winter of 1861 has golden and warm color pallet; while the fall of 1868 accomplishes a grim look with a gray color pallet. Nick Houy's editing beautifully accentuates the non-linear screenplay with motivated cuts, and tremendous visual cues that leave a profoundly powerful impact. Greta Gerwig's sense of staging and blocking a scene is just fantastic. She keeps the consistency and rhythm of her screenplay by pulling the best out of each actor; as well as creating a symphony of sounds with overlapping dialogue. The overlapping dialogue represents the wholesome spirit of the March family. Greta Gerwig captures both the happiness and sorrows that the March family experiences in the classic Louisa May Alcott narrative with sensitivity and compassion. The film embodies this grounded environment, barring the fact that each scene is perfectly staged and designed. The score, by Alexandre Desplat, is as harmonious and compassionate, as the spirit of the March family.

The cast is phenomenal! Each actor gives a very nuanced and thoughtful performance! Saoirse Ronan continues to evolve into a mature and sensitive actress. Her portrayal of the talented and perceptive Jo March is heartening. Her screen presence leaves an everlasting impact of joy and happiness with her portrayal of the free-willed Jo March. Emma Watson is equally brilliant with her compassionate performance as the older sister, Meg March. Florence Pugh portrays Amy with a sincerity that makes her character likable. Her performance as Amy adds another dimension to the characteristic of Amy March. Eliza Scanlen as the youngest sibling of the March family, Beth, beautifully evokes the most emotional moments in the film. Her character is the backbone of Louisa May Alcott's narrative, and she portrays the pillar of support and encouragement she is for Jo. Timothée Chalamet is sincere as Laurie. He makes his presence felt in every scene. Laura Dern as Mrs. March "Marmee" beautifully embodies the warmth, selflessness, and kindness of a mother. Her performance is the epitome of the gentle spirit of a mother. Meryl Streep is, as always, incredible as the stingy Aunt March. Each actor gives a brilliant performance and add brilliant dynamics to their character.

Greta Gerwig's Little Women beautifully presents the beauty of relationships. Little Women signifies the fact that some stories are truly timeless; and art is an imitation of life. The film's lessons of compassion, self-sacrifice, devotion, and passion is as relevant today, as it was in the 19th century. From the brilliant performances of the ensemble cast, the skillful and immaculate production design, the compassionate score, the emotionally intelligent screenplay, and Greta Gerwig's vision and visual language, culminate to make Little Women an equally sorrowful and uplifting film. Jo was inspired to write "For Beth", I rushed home to write "For the Audience".

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Directed by Marielle Heller The first five minutes of Marielle Heller's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood are pure nostalgia. Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-Blue's screenplay beautifully crafts Mr. Rogers as the storyteller of a troubled journalist. I was instantly reminded of my childhood when the film began in the same manner and rhythm as Mister Rogers Neighborhood would begin. Marielle Heller, her cinematographer, Jody Lee Lipes; and her editor, Anne McCabe, beautifully and subtly immerse the audience in the world of Mr. Rogers. The use of the cameras that were used to film Mister Rogers Neighborhood augments how personal this film is on a technical and emotional level. The 4:3 aspect ratio of the TV cameras, expanding to the 16:9 aspect ratio of the film convey the film's theme on how, as adults, we leave our childhood behind. As adults, we forget the essence of what makes life, truly, worth living and acknowledge the people who have helped us become the person that we want to become. Matthew Rhys' character, Lloyd Vogel, who is a jaded journalist from Esquire, embodies this sad emotion of how, as we get older, we tend to feel uncomfortable in expressing our feelings and emotions. The angel that comes into his life, and patiently listens to him, is none other than the most beloved human being, Fred Rogers, played by America's Sweetheart, Tom Hanks. Lloyd Vogel is sent to interview Mr. Rogers and write a profile on him. However, the roles reverse, when Mr. Rogers starts asking Lloyd about his family and his childhood. And this is where the film becomes a therapeutic form of cinema and storytelling. Tom Hanks, as Mr. Rogers, telling the audience, on the silver screen, that, "I like you, just the way you are!", is equally as comforting as getting a warm hug from your parents. Tom Hanks embodies the spirit, personality, and mannerisms of Fred Rogers with a very nuanced and spiritual performance. Every time he is on screen, one feels an everlasting emotion of happiness, love, and joy! Tom Hanks not only portrays the everlasting kindness and compassion of Fred Rogers; he beautifully portrays the spirituality and resilience of Fred Rogers in a countless number of scenes. Whether he sings all the iconic songs from Mister Rogers Neighborhood, uses the puppets to convey his innocent feelings, or smiles ruefully at everyone he meets, Tom Hanks gives one of the best performances of his career since Captain Phillips. Matthew Rhys is equally brilliant as the cynical Lloyd Vogel. His screen presence and subtle performance makes the audience empathize with him and root for him, as he is being listened to Fred Rogers. Matthew Rhys gives an empathetic performance as someone, who doesn't realize the value of his childhood and his family. As he gradually becomes more accepting and forgiving, one is truly moved to tears by the end of the film. Chris Cooper as Lloyd's father is excellent; especially in one scene, where he beautifully symbolized the essence of self-reflection and forgiveness. The performances in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood are incredibly ethereal. Marielle Heller directs the film with an immense amount of sincerity and sensitivity. She beautifully prevents the film from being too melodramatic. Marielle Heller her editor, Anne McCabe, transitioning from scene-to-scene by using the toy model from Mister Rogers Neighborhood, innocently convey the film's endearing sentiments on acceptance, forgiveness, and kindness. However, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood does suffer from certain scenes that are oddly placed. Particularly a dream sequence, which didn't really retain to the genuineness that were present in the scenes prior to the sequence. The humor in these scenes feel out of place and could've easily been cut from the film. The use of songs, in small moments, feel a bit intrusive to the rhythm of the film's screenplay. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is film that reinforces the idea and fact that a simple act of kindness can truly leave an everlasting impact on someone. This film reminds you that it is ok to convey your feelings. It is ok to feel sad at times. It is ok to make mistakes. Tom Hanks' beautiful and compassionate portrayal of Fred Rogers, Mathew Rhys and the entire cast delivering remarkable performances, a beautifully structured screenplay by Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-Blue, and Marielle Heller's nostalgic and sincere directing style culminate together and craft A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood as being the most healing film of the year. As you leave the theater, you will truly feel that listening to others and being accepting towards everyone make life worth living. We should seek blissful moments of silence and think about all those people who have helped us become the person we are today. With moments of self-reflection, we will realize that, "It's such a good feeling to know you're alive." (-:

PARASITE Directed by Bong Joon-Ho How often does one get the opportunity to see a film, on the silver screen, which leaves you enriched by the immaculate craft of the filmmaker's original voice and style of storytelling? How often does a movie leave you inspired to just grab a stack of paper and a pen, and begin writing your very own story? Bong Joon-Ho's Parasite is definitely one of those movies which left me moved and inspired. It's one of those movies which beautifully broadened my view towards the world. This film tackles social issues in a visually visceral and cinematic manner; it doesn't rely on preachy monologues and melodramatic action to convey its underlying themes of class discrimination, greed, family, and morality. Bong Joon-Ho and his writer, Han Jin-won, craft the screenplay in a subtle style in order to convey the social issues that are revolving around the film. Parasite tells the story of the Kim family, which is made of four individuals: a father, a mother, a teenage boy, and a teenage girl. This family takes interest in the Park family, who are incredibly rich and wealthy, when the teenage boy, played exceptionally by Choi Woo-shik, takes over his friend's job as an English tutor for the daughter of the Park family, who is a sophomore in high school. The film proceeds with the Kim family obtaining the various jobs around the house of the Park family, who are unaware of this. From there one, Bong Joon-Ho and his writer, Han Jin-won, tell a beautiful story of family, class discrimination, empathy, and morality in a satirical and dark manner. Parasite embodies a countless number of flawless moments of storytelling, which can leave one entertained, thrilled, and moved. Bong Joon-Ho utilizes visual storytelling to not only heighten the thrills, but using minute details to depict the discriminations that are made between the rich and the poor. There are two scenes which depict the way the rich and the poor perceive heavy rainfalls. The Park family are enamored by the sight and scenery of the rain from their window. Whereas the Kim family, struggle to grab their personal belongings due to their basement apartment being flooded by the rainfall. Yang Jin-mo's editing immerses the viewer in these visually engaging scenes. There is one moment where she uses the shot of the overflowing water transitioning to a bird-eye shot of the Kim family and their neighbors struggling to take the water out of their homes by using buckets. This is what makes Parasite shine as this visual experience, where we as an audience, understand both sides of the coin. The audience is able to grasp a sense of the struggles that the poor have to face, and this is done with incredible cinematography by Hong Kyung-pyo. The performances of Parasite are incredible. Each actor provides a nuanced and authentic performance; they faithfully portray the psychology of their characters. Another incredibly refreshing aspect of this film was how Bong Joon-ho and his writer, Han Jin-won, portray the Park family. They aren't portrayed as stingy rich people, they are kind, caring, and naïve. They are naïve to the point where they are baffled by the smell of a poor individual. Bong Joon-ho authentically depicts the humanity of both the wealthy and impoverished characters of the film. The way the characters are crafted and portrayed is what allows the film to augment Bong Joon-ho's original voice as a storyteller. Parasite is not only the best film I have seen this year; it is the best film I have seen this decade. Thank you, Bong Joon-ho for crafting a tour de force of a film. Thank you for reassuring me, as an aspiring storyteller, that stories build bridges of unity. Thank you of inspiring me to write a story that is original and deeply resonates with my memory and my heart. As the great Japanese filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa once said, "If you genuinely want to make movies, start writing screenplays. Take a lot of paper and a pen, and just write, write, and write." Bong Joon-ho's masterpiece, Parasite, inspired me to go home and take a lot of paper and a pen, and just write the stories I want to tell. Thank you, Bong Joon-ho for shrewdly crafting a masterpiece that beautifully depicts the themes of class discrimination and filiality.

Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi once again exemplify how crafting a screenplay with wonderful content, engaging scenes, and sincere depiction, will truly triumph within the audience. Sanju, just like the riveting life of Sanjay Dutt, is truly a roller coaster ride of humor, emotion, and courage.

Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi have crafted beautiful scenes that depict the significant aspects of Sanjay Dutt's life. From his fight against drugs, his complex relationship with his father, and his response to his false accusations, signify the daunting tragedies that have occurred in his life. And how he faced these tragedies with courage and bravery. The striking aspect of the screenplay is the input of two different emotions into one scene; there are many scenes in Sanju in which one will have a difficult time to hold back their tears; yet there are also many scenes that will leave one in splits. Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi evoke so many heart-warming and moving scenes. The beautiful father-son and friendship story can easily strike an emotional chord within the audience. There are a countless number of scenes in Sanju which are conveyed in a very effective manner. For instance, the scenes between Sanjay Dutt (Ranbir Kapoor) and his mother, Nargis Dutt (Manisha Koirala) are a delight to watch on the big screen. Especially in the song sequence of Kar Har Maidaan Fateh; one will easily sob and feel inspired when that sequence occurs in the film. In other words, the screenplay by Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi is beautifully and effectively written.

Words cannot describe how outstanding the performance of Ranbir Kapoor as Sanjay Dutt is. Ranbir Kapoor beautifully embodies the vulnerability yet bravery of Sanjay Dutt as a human being. Ranbir Kapoor's performance as Sanjay Dutt is extremely natural; his performance never comes off as a caricature. After Barfi, this is truly one of the finest performances of Ranbir Kapoor. Paresh Rawal as Sunil Dutt is also outstanding; he effectively portrays the humility and tolerance of Sunil Dutt as a human being. His performance as a loving, encouraging, and supportive father is praise-worthy; he beautifully symbolizes the noble aspect of a father. Manisha Koirala as Nargis Dutt is heart-warming, touching, and tender. Her persona as a loving mother is extremely touching; she conveys the essence and support of a mother beautifully. Vicky Kaushal as Sanjay Dutt's best friend, Kamlesh, is wonderfully natural and sincere. He performs effortlessly in every single moment in the film. His scenes with Ranbir Kapoor beautifully signifies the contagiousness and importance of friendship. Vicky Kaushal as the supportive and gentle Kamlesh will truly bring a smile to your face; no words can describe how wonderful and effective his performance is in this film. Sonam Kapoor as Ruby is also wonderful with her effective portrayal as Sanjay Dutt's girlfriend; one will easily empathize with the impact her character showcases. Anushka Sharma as the dedicated and committed biographer is also wonderful in a special appearance; her performance is the thread of the film that symbolizes the interest in Sanjay Dutt's intriguing and inspiring story. Jim Sarbh as God is also wonderful; he perfectly embodies the bad influence of a friend and the insensitivity of a selfish and careless friend. Boman Irani in a special appearance as Ruby's father is also a delight to watch on screen. Dia Mirza as Manyata Dutt provides effective support; she gives a delightful performance as the cautious and supportive wife. The rest of the supporting cast lends wonderful and effective support. The performances in Sanju are absolutely phenomenal

Music composed by Rohan-Rohan, Vikram Montrose, and A.R. Rahman beautifully serve the narrative; the songs are situational yet extremely melodious. Main Badhiya Tu Bhi Badhiya is a very jolly song composed by Rohan-Rohan; the song wonderfully signifies the humorous situation in which the song occurs. Ruby Ruby is a foot-tapping and upbeat song composed by A.R. Rahman, which effectively depicts the intoxication of Sanjay Dutt and his frightening addiction to drugs. Baba Bolta Hain Bas Ho Gaya is a very endearing song composed by Vikram Montrose; the appearance and picturization of the song is heart-warming and will definitely bring a smile. Kar Har Maidaan Fateh is the highlight of the film; the song is beautifully composed by Vikram Montrose and the song truly brings tears to one's eyes. Kar Har Maidaan Fateh effectively signifies Sanju's brave fight against drugs; the lyrics and composition of the song truly strikes an emotional chord. The background score by Sanjay Wandrekar and Atul Raninga is wonderful; the background score beautifully heightens the drama and emotion that is required in the scenes. The music of Sanju is absolutely wonderful and melodious.

Rajkumar Hirani once again showcases his effective and beautiful storytelling with his powerful direction. His depiction and display of Sanjay Dutt's tragic yet courageous life is truly phenomenal; he weaves magic with every scene he crafts. Whether it is the emotional scenes or the humorous scenes, Rajkumar Hirani's direction exemplifies a perfect reservoir of showcasing the purpose and intention of the scene. Rajkumar Hirani proves how insightful of a filmmaker he is. The production design of Sanju is visually stunning; it perfectly evokes the vibe of the 80s', 90's, and early 2000's. The production aspect of Sanju is outstanding.

As far as my flaws with Sanju is concerned, they are very minor; my flaws don't necessarily steal the beautiful craft and effect of each scene in the film. The pacing of the film once the second half begins can dip a bit; the first few scenes in the second half dip the pace of the film.

Overall, Sanju is a film that is engaging and will keep one on the edge of their seat. This film is a beautiful showcase of how one should face the unfortunate or challenging situations that may occur in their life with immense bravery and courage. It's a film that beautifully displays the human aspect of a superstar like Sanjay Dutt. It's a film that showcases the significance of relationships and how relationships can beautifully shape one's insight towards life. It's a film that will make you laugh, cry, and feel inspired. It's a film that acclaims how the opinion of others doesn't matter; however, most importantly, how honesty and truth can always triumph over anything. Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi's effective screenplay, the wonderful performance of Ranbir Kapoor and the rest of the supporting cast, and the wonderful imagination and insight of Rajkumar Hirani as a filmmaker. Sanju is a film that gives wonderful insight into a life that is tragic yet inspiring at the same time; the film conveys the power of embodying tolerance, courage, and bravery, when one deals with a challenging situation in their life. I will give Sanju a 10 out of 10. Take a bow Rajkumar Hirani, Ranbir Kapoor, Abhijat Joshi, and the entire cast and crew for creating an inspiring and intriguing film, Sanju.

Aamir Khan and his Production Team does it again! Secret Superstar is the most emotional family drama I've seen in a very long time! Advait Chandan has crafted such a beautiful family drama with a very important message on dreams!

Advait Chandan should take a bow for writing an almost flawless screenplay! The story about a 15 year old girl who dreams of becoming a singer but her strict father comes in the way of her dream coming true. The premise is simple but it's told in a very compelling way! From the first scene to the last scene you are immediately invested in the story of Insia. In between the main story line, the subplots are what keep the movie compelling. Advait Chandan has made a very impressive debut as a screenwriter and as a director! His realistic depiction of a highly orthodox Muslim family living in a small town, teenagers who wish to follow their dreams no matter what the circumstances are, and the infinite love and support a mother provides is outstanding. The most emotional aspect of Secret Superstar is the beautiful bond between Insia and her mother. This is one of the most beautiful relationship between a mother and a daughter ever put onto screen, their bond will bring tears to your eyes. This bond had a high chance of coming of as melodramatic and sentimental, but Advait Chandan doesn't let that happen and that marks a very strong quality in the director!

Zaira Wasim is truly a superstar! Her performance as a girl with aspirations and dreams of becoming a singer is praiseworthy. She carries the entire film with her shoulders and you connect with her from the first scene of the film. In the role of her mother, Meher Vij does a flawless job. Her performance as a timid and supportive mother will bring tears to your eyes. In the role of Insia's father, Raj Arjun is fantastic. His expressions with minimal dialogue will terrify you and you are immediately disgusted by his actions as an abusive and discouraging father. The rest of the supporting cast lends amazing and strong support.

Now let's talk about Aamir Khan's performance. What can I say about him, it's no surprise that he delivered a phenomenal performance! It blows me away to see him transforming from a grounded character that he played in Dangal to a character like Shakti Kumarr. His performance as a cheap, arrogant, and full of himself music composer is out of this world! Aamir Khan will leave you in splits every time he's on screen! Mr. Perfectionist, take a bow!

Music by Amit Trivedi is the sole of the film! The composition and orchestration of each song is fantastic! The songs are situational and they fit perfectly with the overall tone of the film! The placement of the songs are perfect and they don't feel out of place or unnecessary. Songs like 'Meri Pyaari Ammi', 'Nachdi Phira', and 'Main Kaun Hoon' are melodious and lovely songs.

As far as my flaws with Secret Superstar are concerned, they are very minor. The pacing in a few scenes is very inconsistent sometimes, particularly in the first half of the film. While you are invested in the characters from the very first scene, the scenes afterwards are a bit slow and those scenes slightly dip the overall pace of the film.

Overall, Secret Superstar is an equally heartbreaking and touching film that you should see with your family. Aamir Khan yet again proves how perfect of an artist he is and no matter what he will always make a great film! This film is an inspiring adventure towards achievement, a beautiful bond between a mother and a daughter, and the harsh reality of having an abusive father who prevents your dream coming true. This film gives an important message to parents that no matter what the circumstances are, you should let your child follow their heart and let them achieve what they wish to achieve in life! I will give Secret Superstar a 9 out of 10 and I definitely recommend you go see this movie with your family!

Dangal is truly a masterpiece! It's literally a breath of fresh air watching a masterpiece like this. Dangal is a very inspirational and emotional movie that will leave you completely speechless once you leave the theater. Here are the Pros and Cons that I've found in the movie.

Pros: Performances: First and fore most, Aamir Khan is amazing in this movie! Like many people I consider him a perfectionist but if you are the kind of person who doesn't believe that, his performance in this movie will prove you wrong! Aamir Khan is so brilliant and outstanding in the film. In every single scene of this movie, he gets into the skin of Mahavir Singh Phogat and portrays that character perfectly. Aamir Khan is hands down one of the best actors in Indian Cinema! In the role of Geeta Phogat (the older daughter) both Fatima Sheikh and Zaira Wasim give an excellent performance. In the role of Babita (the younger daughter) Sania Malhotra and Suhani Bhatnagar both give an outstanding performance. Sakshi Tanwar as the mother is brilliant. The rest of the supporting cast do an outstanding job portraying their parts. This is one of those movies in which every single actor leaves a major impact in the movie. Overall, the performances are top notch!!

Direction: Nitesh Tiwari for his third film ( Chillar Party and Bhootnath Returns were his first two movies which were great) directs an incredible movie. His narrative style and visual perspective of the story is absolutely marvelous that you can't think of any other director who could have done a better job! Nitesh Diwali had done an amazing job directing this movie!

Music: The music and background score by Pritam are amazing. While all of the songs are situational, all of the songs are very well composed. Whether it's the title song, Dhakkad, or Gilehiriyan. All of the songs in Dangal are amazing. The music by Pritam is absolutely wonderful!

Story/Screenplay/Dialogues: The entire script of Dangal is absolutely marvelous. The screenplay of the movie is so well written with amazing dialogue. The first half of the movie has so many funny and light moments that you are amazed by how entertaining the film is. The second half is the sole of the movie, there are so many emotional and inspirational scenes in the movie that will make you tear up. The script of Dangal is wonderful and since it's based on a true story the story is so simple yet very impactful.

There are many more Pros in this movie.

Cons:

Honestly, there were barely any Cons in this movie. There was absolutely nothing in this movie that bothered me. I'll probably say that there are just about a few scenes in the movie that slightly dips the screenplay mainly in the beginning of the movie. Other than that I have no major flaws with this movie!!

Overall, Dangal is an outstanding film that will inspire you and motivate you. This is a great film on not just female empowerment but it's an amazing movie on family and human emotions in general. Dangal is a triumph and is one of the best movies I've seen this decade!!!

Dear Zindagi is a beautiful film that teaches you an important lesson about appreciating your life and the people that are around you.

First of all, I was looking forward to this movie because of Gauri Shinde. I believe she is one of the most talented filmmakers we have in Indian Cinema. Also the great cast: Alia Bhatt, and Shah Rukh Khan who are two actors that are very talented. After seeing the film, here are the Pros and the Cons I felt were there in the film.

Pros: Performances: This is one of Alia Bhatt's best performances, after doing a film like Udta Punjab (by the way an excellent performance by her!!) and this in the same year is an excellent feat that she has achieved as an actor. Alia Bhatt gets into the skin of the character Kaira and she does such a wonderful job of portraying a character that is going through mental depression. Amazing performance by Alia Bhat. Shah Rukh Khan as the therapist is also excellent, he does an effortless job in every single scene and I feel so proud that he's starting to choose projects in which he gets into the skin of his character just like his amazing performance this year in Fan. Kunal Kapoor who is such a wonderful actor gave an extraordinary performance in this movie. All in all, the performances are excellent in this movie.

Music: The music by Amit Trivedi is excellent. Songs like Love You Zindagi and Tu Hi Hai were the highlights of the movie and these songs are beautifully composed.

Direction and Screenplay: Gauri Shinde directed and wrote this movie effortlessly. She sets up the entire tone and mode of the movie so well and most of the scenes in the movie are a treat to watch.

There are many more Pros in the movie, now here are the Cons of the movie.

Cons: Pacing: While the screenplay is very well written, the pacing of the movie at times feels very inconsistent. Especially the first half of the movie, some of the scenes in the first half of the movie drag for such a long time and the audience starts to feel bored. Unfortunately, the second half of the movie has those moments as well especially the affairs Alia Bhatt's character has with other people.

Overall, I thought Dear Zindagi was a wonderful movie that I believe you should go watch and experience this wonderful movie in the theater!!