JioCinema OTT: In the world of cinema, certain films transcend mere entertainment, leaving a profound impact through their storytelling, performances, and themes. Let’s take a deep dive into five such remarkable films, each offering a unique cinematic experience.
1. Maqbool
Directed By- Vishal Bhardwaj
Written By- Vishal Bhardwaj and Abbas Tyrewala
Starring- Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Om Puri, Pankaj Kapur, and Naseeruddin Shah
Based on Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Maqbool is a crime drama in which Irrfan Khan plays the titular character Maqbool. The film is set against the backdrop of the Mumbai underworld. I am a little late to the Vishal Bhardwaj game mostly because I was a toddler when this film came out but once I watched it I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Irrfan Khan is a scene stealer. He is perfect and so is everybody else, from Om Puri to Naseeruddin Shah to Tabu To Pankaj Kapur.
2. Last Night In Soho
Directed By- Edgar Wright
Written By- Wdgar Wright and Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Starring- Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Rita Tushingham, Diana Rigg, and Terence Stamp
Last Night In Soho is a psychological horror film written and directed by Edgar Wright. The plot follows a young British woman who gets accepted into a fashion school in London. Upon finding her new living situation unbearable, she starts renting a room from an old woman. Soon she starts getting dreams about an aspiring singer from the 1960s who is forced into prostitution by her boyfriend. The rest of the film follows her finding the truth about the aspiring singer. Although Last Night In Soho received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office, I still find it a charming film maybe it is because the film is directed by Edgar Wright or maybe because the film is actually pretty good. I think it’s worth a try.
3. 12 Monkeys
Directed By- Terry Gilliam
Written By- David Peoples and Janet Peoples
Starring- Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, and Christopher Plummer
12 Monkeys is a science fiction thriller directed by Terry Gilliam based on the short film La Jetee by Chris Marker. The movie is set in a post-apocalyptic future in which almost all of humanity has been wiped out, forcing the rest to live underground. James Cole is a prisoner, who is selected to travel back in time to find the original virus and help scientists find a cure in exchange for a shorter sentence. Love the film, the acting, the set design, and the music. If you enjoy this film, then you should also watch the original short film which is told entirely through photos and narration.
4. Hot Fuzz
Directed By- Edgar Wright
Written By- Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg
Starring- Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Jim Broadbent
Hot Fuzz is my second Edgar Wright entry for this list. I am not a huge fan of action films and buddy comedies but this is the perfect film ever. The editing, the jokes, the acting, the original kill scenes, everything about this movie is excellent. Hot Fuzz is the second installment in the unofficial Cornetto Trilogy by Pegg and Wright. The plot follows police officer Nicholas Agent who is transferred to a small village for being too good at his job. Angel, soon realizes that something is amiss at the small village as prominent members of the community start dying mysteriously before the ‘Village of the Year’ competition.
5. Aligarh
Directed By- Hansal Mehta
Written By- Apurva Asrani
Starring- Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkumar Rao, and Ashish Vidyarthi
The plot follows Dr Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, a professor on whom a sting operation was carried out to determine his sexual orientation, who forms a special bond with the journalist who covers his story. Aligarh is based on the true story of linguist and author, Ramchandra Srinivas Siras who died by suicide due to the excessive harassment he faced by people in the community.
