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Mild spoilers ahead (though nothing the trailers didn’t already reveal).

I recently rewatched the original “Gladiator” to set myself up for success when going to the theater for its long-awaited sequel. Instead, I found myself wondering what happened to director Ridley Scott. The original “Gladiator,” released in 2000, is a borderline classic that stands the test of time. In contrast, some of Scott’s most recent work seems uninspired and grasping to be something it’s not. I’m specifically referencing “Napoleon,” “House of Gucci,” and now “Gladiator II.”

While “Gladiator II” has its grand moments that get you all giddy in your seat because the action is so epic, I mostly found myself bored in the “between” parts of this 150-minute movie. This film has pacing issues. “Gladiator II” ebbs and flows between one set-piece sequence to the next with no regard to the audience. A few of the story moments around the identity of Paul Mescal’s character, “Lucius,” specifically feel as if the writers thought they need to hold the audience‘s hand to the reveal, despite the trailers and all marketing material already revealing who he is. 

On top of the pacing issues of the film, I never fully bought into the other story points around “Gladiator II.” Some narrative moments feel like a lazy retelling of the first film while others seem shoehorned in order to give the high-paid actors something to do. 

The Bouncer, 2024.

Directed by Massimiliano Cerchi.
Starring John Ozuna, Costas Mandylor, Rosmary Yaneva, Vincent Rivera, Nick Turturro, Gerald Okamura and Tayah Kansik.

SYNOPSIS:

In Romania, fugitive Frank Sharp takes a job as a bouncer. Saving a woman from abuse, he discovers she’s trafficked. They escape together but are relentlessly hunted.

Opening with Frank Sharp (John Ozuna) starting his new role as a nightclub doorman in Romania, The Bouncer wastes no time in setting its story into motion. Sharp has barely started his job before we get a sense of his moral fibre as he struggles to standby when the crime boss, Kane is using his hands to discipline his girlfriend, Silvia (Rosmary Yaneva). Despite his cohort’s warnings to turn a blind eye, Sharp inevitably can’t and when he does intervene he and Silvia (who has been trafficked) go on the run with a criminal organisation on their tail. Fight scenes and car chases ensue.

If it all sounds familiar, it’s because The Bouncer takes a tried and tested formula that feels like the kind of film that was almost limitlessly turning up on the shelves of your local Blockbuster or Ma and Pa video store back in the 90s. Where we get a little variation is that Ozuna, whilst playing a character haunted by a troubled past, isn’t a dark, brooding and flawed hero. He has a strong moral code, drawn to help the good folk overcome their evil oppressors. That’s not to say he takes the softly softly approach, because Sharp (with help from Ozuna’s martial arts background) delivers no shortage of double dick punch beatdowns. 

Ozuna has enough sincerity and humility to make Sharp likeable and he’s backed by a solid cast. Mandylor always relishes playing the villain and is suitably gruff and menacing as Kane, whilst Turturro (as always) brings his A game in a small role as a Doctor. Then there’s the always-welcome presence of the inimitable Gerald Okamura whose inclusion definitely makes this feel like a lost video action special from the 90s (which is obviously a good thing). Prolific producer/actor, Simon Phillips also pops up as Ozuna’s fellow bouncer who helps him along the way. Phillips has also just unleashed one of the barrage of Mickey Mouse-themed public domain horror riffs racing to get to audiences first. The Mouse Trap managed to get over the line first. 

Massimiliano Cerchi has been there, done it and got the T-shirt (and the gold chain, which he dons in an enjoyable director’s cameo). The budget leaves it rough around the edges in places but Cerchi manages to bring it on home and unlike all too many action films these days, keeps things lithe with a runtime that comes in at comfortably under 1 hour 20 minutes. As said, there are some refreshing touches laced throughout thanks to Adrian Milnes’s script that doesn’t retread that tired miserable (anti-)hero trope (as seen with Jean-Claude Van Damme’s jaded and broken anti-hero in Darkness of Man) that every film of this ‘Taken style’ ilk seems to follow.

One other pleasing aspect here is the use of Romania as a location. 20 years ago it was a staple of the DTV action realm with the likes of Van Damme, Seagal and Lundgren virtually residents they made so many films in the country. Of late, Romania doesn’t seem to be as frequently used. Here we get a nice mix of cold modern streets, grimy back streets and remote buildings as Sharp and Silvia try to stay ahead of their enemies. Those action scenes set within the Romanian locales are nicely put together but have a ceiling due to budgetary restrictions. The car chases are short and to the point but perhaps leave you longing for a car flip or explosion here or there. You can’t have it all, I guess and having worked in low-budget cinema I know all too well how difficult it is to eek out every cent to deliver bang for the buck. 

Overall this is a simple but enjoyable action film that delivers what audiences expect and yet still manages to lace in some fresh touches. It doesn’t resort to being relentlessly dour, or overly wise-cracking, striking a good middle ground that not many sit within nowadays. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but this motor definitely has a smooth ride. 

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

Tom Jolliffe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/playlist

BOTTOM LINE
A Cleverly Written Thrill

RATING
3/5

CENSOR
U/A, 2h 22m

What Is the Film About?

Ammachi (granny) goes missing from Basil Joseph’s home, and his neighbor Nazriya Nazim starts suspecting him for several reasons. Basil Joseph claims that Ammachi’s disappearance is due to her Alzheimer’s disease, but Nazriya remains unconvinced. Is there more to her suspicion? What serious turn does the story take, and what is the real reason behind Ammachi’s mysterious disappearance? These questions form the core plot of Sookshmadarshini.

Performances

Basil Joseph and Nazriya Nazim compete with each other in running the show with their seamless performances, delivering exactly what a thriller drama needs.

Both carry the film on their shoulders through the cat-and-mouse, tit-for-tat narrative. Though Sookshmadarshini is a thriller, it stands out in their filmography due to the superb balance and finesse they bring to their performances.

The styling and performances perfectly complement the story, as expected from a quality Malayalam film.

Analysis

Sookshmadarshini is directed by MC Jithin, who previously directed Nonsense, a film that also grabbed the attention of Telugu OTT viewers.

In Sookshmadarshini, director MC handles a simple plot with a suspenseful hook but needs to tightly guard the secret and maintain the viewer’s attention until the very last scene.

While the first half feels simple and slow, and the director seems to be trying too hard not to reveal even the slightest hint, the mix of humor and suspense keeps the narrative engaging.

By the time we reach the interval, the story pulls us in, yet the success lies in the fact that nothing is really revealed.

At the same time, it feels like the buildup in the first half raises high expectations for the second half, which must deliver big; otherwise, it risks becoming frustrating.

The second half introduces more intrigue through a sister character, and the suspense around the ‘secret’ driving all the drama becomes even tighter.

Although most of the story takes place in a neighborhood between two houses, the quality technical work -be it the camera or the background score -elevates the suspense as the director pushes the story forward.

It might not a perfect thriller but offers enough to keep you hooked, especially in the second half.

Some exaggeration or logical misses in Nazriya’s character might be noticeable, but they don’t affect the viewer’s engagement, which is the best part.

Also, the director successfully breaks away from the regular beats of a typical comedic thriller, adding a sense of freshness.

Overall, Sookshmadarshini is a cleverly written, smart mix of comedy and suspense, with the director maintaining the secret until the climax through an engaging narrative. The film also offers superb, fresh BGM and visuals that perfectly match the theme, making it a satisfying watch.

Performances by Others Actors

Sookshmadarshini is a film that relies on its supporting cast as well, and their selection is flawless.

Actors like Manohari Joy who plays Ammachi (granny), Kottayam Ramesh, Deepak Parambol, and Sidharth Bharathan, along with the female cast -Akhila Bhargavan, Pooja Mohanraj, and Merin Philip -may not be familiar to Telugu audiences, but their performances clearly demonstrate how perfectly they fit their roles. Each one proves to be an asset to the film.

Music and Other Departments?

First and foremost, the background score by Christo Xavier is terrific, we must say. It is one of the best BGMs of the year. It’s neither too loud nor too soft; instead, it sounds fresh and, most importantly, perfectly matches the situations, elevating them to a whole new level. He has justified every single penny of his remuneration.

Camera work by Sharan Velayudhan is perfect. The film moves between two houses for the most part, but the camera angles and visual quality never feel boring or low-budget. He has done full justice to what the film requires.

Editing by Chaman Chakko could have been sharper. Though Sookshmadarshini is an engaging watch, it does feel like it could have been sharper.

Though the small VFX work handled by Black Maria Studio is slick, especially showing WhatsApp conversations as text on screen, it came out trendy and of good quality.

Production values by Happy Hours Entertainment and Ava Productions are quite adequate and immersive for the simple setup it requires, pulling it off with quality.

Highlights?

Superb BGM that enhances most scenes

Sustaining suspense until the end

Engaging writing and narrative

Performances by Nazriya and Basil Joseph

Drawbacks?

Logical flaws or occasional exaggeration

Feels forced at times to keep secrets until the end

A bit of a slow first half

Did I Enjoy It?

Yes, it’s an engaging mix of humor and thriller.

Will You Recommend It?

Yes, without hesitation.

Sookshma Darshini Movie Review by M9