Ring Master Review from Now Running!

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Rafi plays the perfect role as a ring master(director) in his latest film Ring Master and gave seatbumps with the comedies and humping each time. With creary loop rings in his script. Any which way you look at it, you fail to unearth the enthusiasm that should have made the acrobatics easier on your muscles.

Dileep plays as a dog trainer named Prince, who is assigned with a task of caretaker of dogs at each house, when the owner is away. Prince does seem to have a way with the dogs as well as with a blind girl Karthika (Keerthi Suresh), who enter into his life.
   
There's pretty much little that merits the analysis here, and when I say the protagonist's dog and his leading lady (Honey Rose Varghese) have the same name Diana in the film, I presume it should unmistakably presume our assumption of characterisations over each dialogue.

But this doesn't mean that the film is devoid lots to laugh. It does dole out gags in abundance, and if you are the kind who would break a rib watching the antics that the man is up to, you might even think it's an wholesome entertainer.

If you are pet lover, the film left you confused. I couldn't for the life of me figure out if Prince was indeed a man whose heart bled for these delightful doggies. The reason being that in an attempt to bring in hilarity on all possible occasions, the writing makes you wonder if the man is pulling a fast one on you or if he really means business.

It's become usual for Dileep to act in films like this over a long while after CID moosa where he plays th character of CID with Dog to do this investigations of Goons, and its alarming the way these characters get moulded to cater to the supposedly existing target audience. I guess this viewer can should indeed exist, as the box office potential of films as these have proven time-by-time.

Dileep comes up with no fresh surprises in the film, as an actor. In fact, the role as has been said earlier is tailor made for the actor, and all that he has to do is to get that spiked hair intact, which he does admirably well for the ladies, I liked Honey Rose Varghese better in her character, precisely because her role is a tidbit more interesting than the one that Keerthi plays.

This is a huge cast without doubt, and there is Aju Varghese, Kalabhavan Shajon, Suraj Venjarammoodu, Ranjini and Guinness Pakru in key roles. We have been there, and seen almost every bit of it, and yet at times a smile or two does flash across your face.

There is nothing much to rave regarding the technicalities as well. Shaji does no wizardry with the camera, and Gopi Sundar comes up with a musical score that does add up a little fizz to the otherwise worn out state of affairs.

'Ring Master' clearly falls into the category of brainless potboilers, and if you have got a taste for the same, you might end up enjoying it. I for one, am definitely not looking forward to leave logic back home when I venture out to watch a film, which is why Rafi's 'Ring Master' is one silly show that I would gladly give a miss.

Rating:****
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7th Day Review from Now Running!

Syam Dhar's directorial debut in '7th Day' quite impressive and clever attempt as a initiater, for the most part of the movie keep your mind arrested on seats. Although it could have been slingshot thriller, if it had covered up some of the potholes in the script. The punches it delivers are quite powerful and the way twists and turns are very appealing and tempting.

Shan (Vinay Forrt) and Vinu (Anu Mohan), Cycle (Praveen Prem), Eby (Tovino Thomas) and Jessy (Janani Iyer) are five friends. It startoff with a series of incidents send the group scavengerred for their life, and with none to turn to, the youngsters are looking for solutions for their own problems of the mess that they are embroiled with. And on a fine Christmas eve, Shan and Vinu meets David Abraham (Prithviraj), a cop who is under suspension, and delivers him what had upturned their lives. David confirms to help them , and goes out find the elements that creates their incident. Eventually coming up with startling disclosures.

The supposedly distinct twist that should make you pop open your mouth in sheer amazement comes by at the very last minute. However, I should not add that it should not be of no surprise for the diligent ones among you, as the revelation is quite obvious, if you have been keeping an eye on things.          

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This film could have made an even more delightful thriller, had the loopholes in the script been stitched together. But there are quite a few apparent loose ends hanging in and out there, still that does let you give an unfinished feel to the film.

It's surprising that Prithviraj had agreed to do a role that does not require him to do extraordinary motions, and at times it even feels like a sober version of the role that he had played in 'Memories'. He looks incredibly dapper, and this is why he is the man who makes this film work.

The supporting cast is pretty much fine, and I would pick Tovino Thomas from among the lot as a favorite, who with his under toned performance almost saves the storyline, otherwise over the board climactic scene from being washed away.

Sujith Vasudev comes up with some brilliant visuals that has tremendously match the thriller air of the film. The art direction however does leave you puzzled at times, and at least on an occasion or two adds up a few questions other than the ones that have been devised by the script. Despite all the lingering questions that remain, '7th Day' could very well qualify as an appealing and thriller promising that keeps you guessing all for while. Here is a solid first-up effort from Syam Dhar & Co. that does deserve a loud round of applause.

'7th Day' is a film that does manages to focus your views, what with the numerous twists and turn-arounds in the plot that engage you presence consistently. There is plenty of intellectual gaming on, and the film never for a moment lets you off the hook.

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Rating:**1/2

One By Two Review from Now Running!

Hari Narayan and Ravi Narayan are twins they grew up inseparable all the time, theirs families were attempting to break the dependence on each other and wanted to grow of their own and have develop a self life. Hari becomes a reputed cardiac surgeon, while Ravi turns out to a Skilled Architect. This changes when the doctor's car crash with a truck in Highway, which eventually makes Ravi into a delirium and psychosis.

I wouldn't really blame the viewer for feeling stranded while watching Arun Kumar Aravind's '1 by Two'. What starts off as a psychological thriller with immense potential winds itself up in loops and loops of complexities until it becomes almost impossible to untangle itself from the knots that threaten to strangle the very last bit of thrill out of it.

This makes Ravi very distressed and lonely like, after the rest of the world around him are his parents and Dr. Prema (Honey Rose Varghese), a consultant surgeon at the hospital where Hari has been working, and whom he had been in love with. When Yusuf Marikar (Fahadh Fazil), an officer at the Crime Branch runs into an injured Ravi, his suspicions are roused, and he starts digging into the case with an obsessive vigor.

It takes a real long while for things to get into motion in the film, and even as the interval comes up, you realize that the plot has hardly proceeded much beyond the starting point. But it does manage to retain your interest now and then, courtesy the air of mystery that prevails all around.

For one, the suspense is revealed way beforehand, and the film tugs along for several more minutes before it draws to a close. It's a downslide all right in the second half, with the climax especially suffering daunting slope.

The narrations lets you down tremendously in '1 by Two', and while an attempt has been made to keep the story intact, it works only in parts since 1/2 is 1 in this movie. This is because the plot suffers from an taunting Disorder itself, just as the police officer in the film does, and it remains a bit too much preoccupied with its protagonist and little less everywhere.

All said and done, I would gladly watch '1 by Two' again for an unparalleled performance by Murali Gopy and team. This kind that I haven't had the opportunity to watch in Malayalam cinema in recent years. It is flawlessness that he brings into the portrayal of a man torn apart by the toes of a psychological disorder is to be seen to be believed.

I really do not think it would be unfair to focus on this one particular actor in this review, since he is the sole reason why '1 by Two' should be worth a watch. There are ample instances of his exemplary talent in the film, and yet there is a scene when he assures an ailing patient, that he would be back soon, and everything will be all right. For me, the compassion that ebbs straight out of his eyes as he utters those words, is what makes him one of the best actors we have at the moment, and without doubt for the rest of them, this is a tough act to follow in the coming year.

Honey Rose Varghese looks dazzling, and as the doctor who doesn't realize what she is actually a part of, is excellent. Fahadd Fazil is perhaps the odd one out in the circle, not because his performance any less, but on account of the way in which his character has been conceived, almost as a caricature made of mock strokes. Jomon's cinematography is top-notch, and contributes hugely to the sense of obscurity that is purposefully preserved.

The biggest letdown with regard to '1 by Two' is how unsurprising everything comes to ultimately, and the tired climax drives in the final spike in the casket. It's too jaded to be entertaining and a bit too static to cook up some excitement.

Rating:**

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