FX’s 8-part limited series “Dying for Sex” overcomes a few early speedbumps in its writing to culminate in one of the most powerful pairs of episodes of television in a very long time. At its core, it’s a dramedy about two things that the human body knows how to do, often without much intervention: orgasm and die. While that might sound simplistic, “Dying for Sex” is ultimately a moving reminder of what truly matters: getting the most out of every minute of life. As someone increasingly anxious about mortality (it comes as one approaches the half-century mark), “Dying for Sex” touched a nerve, serving as a reminder of embracing every moment we have on Earth, and how important it is to enable those you love to do the same. As clichéd as that sounds, it’s not just a story of empowerment but allyship. When someone is struggling through a nightmare like cancer, don’t wallow in their misery, let them live harder. And maybe have some great sex too.

Michelle Williams plays Molly, a woman whose cancer has returned with a vengeance. Her doctor (an excellent David Rasche) tells her that she has, at most, five years left, and possibly less. And that’s with painful chemo treatments to give her as much time as possible. Realizing her mortality clock is quite literally nearing midnight, Molly makes a tough decision and leaves her husband Steve (Jay Duplass), with whom she has been in a sexless marriage for years. Steve is an interesting character, one that reflects the subtle writing of a show that often “gets big” with its sitcomish set-ups but anchors everything around those scenes in relatable humanity. Steve isn’t a bad guy. He was there with Molly through her first fight with cancer. He’s just not what she needs for the final lap of her life. And so she takes off, planning to explore her sexual liberation via online hook-ups, supported by her best friend Nikki (a never-better Jenny Slate).

The first half of the series has arguably too much fun with the concept of a sexually vibrant dying woman, but the emotional seeds are being planted for the back half. Through these encounters, we learn more about Molly, who has never had an orgasm, her sexual growth stunted by abuse in her childhood, something that has divided her from her mother Gail (a breathtakingly good Sissy Spacek). Most of how we come to know and care about Molly happens through two relationships: the one with Nikki and one with a neighbor who first disgusts and then fascinates her. Rob Delaney plays the neighbor, and it’s the best acting work of his career. He’s a perfect partner for Williams in a relationship that first feels like a kinky subplot but becomes something much deeper as it unpacks issues of control and maybe even love. He gets off on her ordering him around; she likes the idea of controlling another person’s body maybe because she no longer controls her own. It’s one of the most fascinating relationships on a TV show in a long time.

There are times when “Dying for Sex” feels like it’s rushing certain dramatic beats, especially the dissolution of the relationship between Nikki and her partner Noah (Kelvin Yu) due to her spending more time with Molly than at home, but these are minor issues for a show that builds to something truly impressive. As good as everyone is for those first six episodes—all close to 30 minutes, by the way, which helps the show avoid the narrative sag that plagues modern television—it’s all setting the stage for the inevitable, and writers Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock deliver on a premise that tonally balances the humor of sexual freedom with the stark closure of death. Neither are perfect; both are messy. There are sharp writing choices in these final episodes involving what the previous six have set up about these characters that blew me away.

Of course, it helps to have an ensemble without a single weak link. Williams, one of the best of her generation, avoids the predictable arc of a prude discovering she’s a pervert by playing Molly as inquisitive more than exaggerated. She has no reason left not to be. Williams understands the freedom that comes with knowing the finish line is near. It’s a perfectly calibrated performance that is the main reason the tonal balance works because she finds the truth even in the most ridiculous scenes.

Everyone matches her. Slate captures the commitment of a true friend; Duplass avoids the sad-sack potential of his character; Spacek proves why she’s a legend; Delaney becomes an essential grounding force in the show. He’s just a guy who unexpectedly gets swept away by the passion and pathos of the woman who happens to live next door to him, a reminder of how many Mollys there are out there: living, dying, and hopefully having some great sex in between.

Whole series screened for review. Premieres on FX on Hulu in its entirety on April 4^th.

“Magazine Dreams”

(Drama: 2 hours, 04 minutes)

Starring: Jonathan Majors, Harrison Page and Michael O’Hearn

Director: Elijah Bynum

Rated: R (Violent content, drug use, sexual material/nudity and strong language)

Movie Review:

Say what you want about Jonathan Majors, but he has the best-toned physique of any actor. He fits this role physically because of that. More impressively, he can act. He delivers powerful performances.  “Magazine Dreams” gives Majors a chance to shine magnificently, even if one resents his character’s actions here. Majors carries this movie as an optimistic but crazed bodybuilder.

Majors plays Killian Maddox, an amateur bodybuilder whose dream is to one day be featured on magazine covers like his idol, Brad Vanderhorn (a nice turn by pro bodybuilder Michael O’Hearn). His only interaction comes from taking care of his ailing grandfather, William Lattimore (Harrison Page). Maddox has a past that haunts him daily. He suffers from childhood trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder tendencies regarding violent thoughts, health issues from drug use, and social isolation. Maddox’s ambition for recognition leads him down dangerous paths.

Just when one feels compassion for Killian Maddox, he does something repulsive that makes him a priority case of confinement in a mental facility. He does retain some sympathy as one realizes he has been through multiple traumas in the past via flashback scenes. He also faces issues in the present. Majors is an impeccable actor in these scenes, even when Maddox becomes repugnant and difficult to tolerate.

One of this movie’s best moments has Maddox on a date with Jessie, played well by Haley Bennett. Jessie is a longtime crush of Maddox’s. He purposely goes to her job at a grocery store to see her often. When they finally go on a date, Maddox is anxious yet finally getting the attention he craved. The moment is awkward to the point that Bennett’s distraught portrayal of Jessie in this scene appears actual. The scene creates a nice mood of trepidation.

Killian Maddox’s idol, Brad Vanderhorn, is played by Michael O’Hearn, a fitness model and professional bodybuilder who is a four-time Mr. Universe and has appeared on over 470 magazine covers. This is a nice facet of this photoplay and works to make this authentic to the fitness sport that is portrayed. Maddox searches for perfection, and he believes Vanderhorn has achieved that.

Elijah Bynum’s directorial debut was the 2017 movie “Hot Summer Nights,” starring a youthful Timothée Chalamet. Bynum is also a writer. As such, his problem is he gives characters, primarily the main player, too many tragedies at once. Audiences barely have a chance to get to know his characters before Bynum has them endure continual catastrophes.

Otherwise, Bynum takes his audiences on a mental trek through the dreams of a megalomaniac. Bynum teases with foreshadowing, only to pivot and surprise his viewers. However, Jonathan Majors is the impressive main attraction and makes “Magazine Dreams” worthwhile cinema.

Grade: B (“Magazine Dreams” deserves some attention on magazine covers.)

“The Alto Knights”

(Biography Crime/Drama: 2 hours, 03 minutes)

Starring: Robert De Niro, Debra Messing and Kathrine Narducci

Director: Barry Levinson

Rated: R (Violence and pervasive language)

Movie Review:

Robert De Niro leads this cast, playing two actual notorious leaders of organized crime. While De Niro is incredible, this movie seems an attempt to show his skilled acting ability. Audiences know he is talented. But the crime drama aspects are repetitive tropes that clash with the documentary-esque scenes inserted in between one mob hit after the next.

De Niro plays Frank Costello and Vito Genovese. The two grew up as best friends in New York City. After Genovese returns from overseas, Costello has changed; he is trying to live a legit life with his wife of 38 years, Bobbie (an exquisite Debra Messing). Costello’s influence on government leaders, unions and charity organizations gains him considerable power without any crime syndicate tactics. He is known as a good citizen and for the people. He wants to leave his mob days behind him. Genovese does not like what Costello has become and wants to rub him out. After Genovese’s hitman fails to assassinate Costello, a mafia cold war commences.

Director Barry Levinson (“Rain Man,” 1989) and producers, led by Irwin Winkler (“Rocky,” 1977) along with Winkler’s sons Charles and David, have enough influence and capital to have cast someone opposite of Robert De Niro. The actor’s ability to superbly play two very different people is a diverting part of this period crime drama. His performance usurps attention away from a cyclical story. This is reasonable considering Nicholas Pileggi’s screenplay consists of overused mobster stereotypes interrupted by documentary-style interviews of De Niro playing an older version of Costello.

Grade: C+ (De Niro shines as usual, but this movie is not quite ready for full knighthood.)

“Locked”

(Thriller: 1 hour, 35 minutes)

Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Anthony Hopkins and Ashley Cartwright

Director: David Yarovesky

Rated: R (Strong language, gore, strong violence and drug use)

Movie Review:

“Locked” is an intriguing movie that brings together horror actors Anthony Hopkins (“The Silence of the Lambs,” 1992) and Bill Skarsgård (Pennywise in “It,” 2017). The two have an interesting battle of intellect, all from the setting of a luxury vehicle in this survival thriller.

Eddie Barrish (Skarsgård) is a thief and father to Sarah Barrish (Cartwright). Out of desperation, he attempts to steal a luxury SUV on a Friday. He manages to get into the vehicle but is unable to exit it. Enter William (Hopkins), a wealthy man tired of law enforcement’s inability to stop crimes. William has rigged the vehicle as a large snare for criminals. Eddie took the bait and is now William’s prisoner.

The best of this thriller is Bill Skarsgård and Sir Anthony Hopkins. They trade barbs regarding law and order, the nature of criminals, socioeconomic status versus need, and thoughts on family duties. Director David Yarovesky (“Brightburn,” 2019) should have made this the movie’s focus. Instead, the movie becomes something different ultimately.

This movie has a disturbing aura, although most of “Locked’s” runtime happens inside a very nice vehicle parked in a busy downtown parking lot. It could be a more intense thriller, but the writers did not know just where to settle their screenplay. The movie is an interesting psychological thriller but digresses into being a lesser terror-driven movie at points.

Grade: B- (Get locked in with an escape plan.),

“Snow White”

(Fantasy/Musical: 1 hour, 49 minutes)

Starring: Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot and Andrew Burnap

Director: Marc Webb

Rated: R (Violence, some peril, thematic elements and brief rude humor.)

Movie Review:

“Snow White” gets a modernized ending in this feminist version of the tale. The actual fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm is a short story that Disney expanded into an animated cartoon in 1937, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” This current “Snow White” is a live-action production that expands its story without improving upon the rich source of prior cinematic and literary works.

Snow White (Zegler) becomes the adversary of her stepmother, a vain evil queen (Gadot). With the help of seven dwarfs and a band of merry people led by a charismatic Jonathan (Burnlap), Snow White challenges the queen’s authority, hoping to return the kingdom to prosperity for all citizens.

This version of “Snow White” is easy to watch but its most memorable aspects are the Seven Dwarfs, whose parts are lessened here. They have always been an integral part of this fairy tale, but writer Erin Cressida Wilson’s screenplay makes this an empowerment story rather than an adventurous escape.

Grade: C (Not as endearing as its sources.)

“Ash”

(Science-Fiction/Psychological Horror: 1 hour, 35 minutes)

Starring: Eiza González, Aaron Paul and Iko Uwais

Director: Flying Lotus

Rated: R (Bloody violence, gore and strong language)

Movie Review:

Much of this science-fiction thriller happens in foggy outdoor scenes and dark interior spaces. It also features flashy psychedelic imagery. These aspects conceal bad set designs and a wayward narrative.

Riya (González) is part of a terraforming team on the planet Ash. Riya awakes with unexplained bruises. Even more, she finds others of the crew were viciously murdered. As she searches for answers, she experiences flashbacks of terrifying images she must use to determine what happened.

Voyage of the damned is the fate of this sci-fi story. The movie appears like someone did drugs and then decided to make a movie while under the influence. That may explain the 1960s-like trippy effects style.

González’s performance is engaging, but the story in which she exists is clumsily rendered. This feels more like a Syfy channel movie than the deep intellectual movie it attempts to be.

Grade: D (It is ashy.)

Movie Name : L2: Empuraan
Release Date : March 27 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Abhimanyu Singh, Tovino Thomas, Manju Warrier
Director : Prithviraj Sukumaran
Producers : Antony Perumbavoor,Gokulam Gopalan,Subaskaran Allirajah
Music Director : Deepak Dev
Cinematographer : Sujith Vaassudev
Editors : Akhilesh Mohan

Related Links : Trailer

Mohanlal’s L2: Empuraan, the eagerly awaited sequel to Lucifer (2019), has finally graced the big screens. Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, this political action drama has arrived amid immense expectations. Check out the review to see how it turned out.

Story:

Kerala Chief Minister Jathin Ramdas (Tovino Thomas) boldly decides to break away from his party and form a new one, aligning himself with Baba Bajrangi (Abhimanyu Singh), also known as Balaraj. His sister, Priyadarshini Ramdas (Manju Warrier), strongly opposes this move. Meanwhile, Khureshi Ab’raam, also known as Stephen Nedumpally (Mohanlal), returns to set things right. However, his other issues are his involvement in global affairs and his conflict with the drug cartel Kabooga. How does Stephen’s return impact Kerala’s political landscape? What is his rivalry with Balaraj? How is Balaraj connected to Zayed Masood (Prithviraj Sukumaran)? The film unravels these questions.

Plus Points:

Prithviraj Sukumaran presents L2: Empuraan on an ambitious scale, exceeding expectations in terms of grandeur and execution. The film’s strongest aspects are its visual appeal, large-scale action sequences, and Mohanlal’s commanding screen presence.

Mohanlal once again delivers a powerful performance. His silent yet authoritative portrayal and small yet impactful dialogues will delight his fans. His character is nice, and the forest fight sequence in the second half is a definite highlight.

Manju Warrier impresses with her performance, standing out among the supporting cast. While Tovino Thomas plays his part adequately, his character lacks decisive moments. Prithviraj Sukumaran has limited screen time but is okay in his role.

The film is a spectacle visually. The church fight sequence, Mohanlal’s grand entry, and several other moments are executed with a Hollywood-style richness, making for a visually immersive experience.

Minus Points:

While Empuraan has moments of brilliance, the overall story lacks substance. The film focuses heavily on character elevations rather than a gripping narrative. Murali Gopy’s writing falls short, failing to provide the depth expected from a sequel of Lucifer’s scale.

The slow pacing and excessive runtime work against the film. Even well-crafted scenes lose their impact due to prolonged storytelling. While Mohanlal’s presence adds weight, the lack of a tightly woven plot makes the film feel stretched.

One of the major issues is the inclusion of too many characters, most of whom are underdeveloped. Tovino Thomas’s character does not fit seamlessly into the narrative, and his role is not fleshed out properly. Similarly, Indrajith Sukumaran and several others suffer from inadequate screen presence and development.

The multiple subplots contribute to confusion rather than intrigue. The film’s slow pace, coupled with these scattered storylines, makes it difficult for audiences to stay fully engaged. The transition from the pre-climax to the climax is predictable and lacks the necessary impact, making it enjoyable only to a niche audience.

Technical Aspects:

Prithviraj Sukumaran’s direction is decent, but his focus on elevating characters, especially Mohanlal, comes at the expense of a strong and engaging narrative. The screenplay needed more refinement to keep the audience invested.

Sujith Vaassudev’s cinematography is outstanding, capturing the film’s grand visuals with finesse. Deepak Dev’s background score is passable, adding energy to some scenes but failing to create an unforgettable impact.

Editing is a significant drawback—had the film been trimmed, the overall experience would have been much more substantial. The production values are excellent, reflecting the film’s high-budget execution. The Telugu dubbing is fine.

Verdict:

On the whole, L2: Empuraan has stunning visuals and a few elevations, but it lacks the depth and gripping storytelling that made the prequel Lucifer a success. Mohanlal’s presence is a highlight, but the slow pace, underdeveloped characters, and lengthy runtime weigh the film down. Unless you are a die-hard Mohanlal fan, the experience may not fully satisfy you. If you choose to watch it, keep your expectations in check.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team