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

Considering that the weather outside isn’t exactly frightful during the winter months in SoCal, our concert calendar manages to keep our social lives plenty warm in between all the extra meals and family gatherings scheduled to descend upon us in the coming days.

It’s in that spirit of giving that we offer a brisk yet bountiful list of ways to spend your time in the company of fellow fans, all basking in the gift of live music this holiday season. Cobbling together a slate that bears a gift of a little something for everyone — from the metalhead, to the pop princess to the avant-jazzer. Here’s our guide to 10 must-see concerts to enjoy from post-Thanksgiving through the top of 2025.

Each year, starting around Thanksgiving, culture vultures get to unwrap an early present: a raft of films, TV shows, concerts and more that fill the calendar through the end of the season. And this week, The Times is happy to be your guide to some of the most noteworthy offerings, from Oscar contenders and crowd-pleasers to holiday specials you and the family can curl up with. Read on!

Advertisement

Dawn Richard + Spencer Zahn / Zebulon / Dec. 2
Richard deserves a clean break from any Diddy news in her life. She’s a hell of a modernist R&B singer in any setting, but even better with adventurous pianist and composer Zahn in tow. “Quiet in a World Full of Noise,” their latest collaboration in a fruitful string of them, is a tender, vulnerable meditation on grief and deserves its own flowers. — August Brown

TV on the Radio / El Rey Theatre / Dec. 4, 5 & 7
Twenty years after the release of its acclaimed “Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes,” this adventurous New York art-rock crew has reunited to play its first gigs since 2019. TV on the Radio’s 2004 debut mapped the bewildering psychic landscape of a post-9/11 America, so it’s fitting that the band chose this moment of exuberance and fear to make its return. At the El Rey, you’ll see singer Tunde Adebimpe, guitarist Kyp Malone and drummer Jaleel Bunton onstage; Dave Sitek, the band’s guitarist and studio mastermind, opted to sit these shows out. — Mikael Wood

KIIS-FM Jingle Ball / Intuit Dome / Dec. 6
For the acts on the bill — all of them eager to hear their songs on the radio into the new year — this annual all-star holiday concert is a way to kiss the powerful programming rings at KIIS (and its corporate parent, iHeartMedia). For fans in the audience, it’s efficient one-stop shopping for what’s happening on today’s Top 40, including SZA’s wonderfully digressive R&B, Benson Boone’s earnest nice-guy balladry, Tate McRae’s neo-Britney dance-pop and Shaboozey’s post-hip-hop country music. Also due to perform are Meghan Trainor, Kane Brown, Madison Beer, T-Pain, NCT Dream … and Paris Hilton. Some things never change. — M.W.

Metallica / YouTube Theater / Dec. 13
Between two SoFi Stadium dates and a headlining appearance at Indio’s Power Trip festival, Metallica hasn’t exactly been hard to see in Southern California over the last year and a half. But here’s a rare opportunity to catch the veteran metal band in the kind of small(-ish) room it hasn’t played regularly in decades. The occasion for Metallica’s visit to Inglewood’s 6,000-capacity YouTube Theater is the group’s biannual Helping Hands benefit concert, which aims to raise money to fight hunger and to support technical education. Jimmy Kimmel will host the evening, and expect additional acts to be announced. — M.W.

Billie Eilish / Kia Forum / Dec. 15, 16, 17, 20 & 21
On the road for the first time without her brother and producer, Finneas, as a permanent part of her live band, the 22-year-old pop superstar stops at the Forum for five shows in support of “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” which just became the siblings’ third straight album to be nominated for album of the year at the Grammy Awards. (Nobody else has done that with their first three LPs.) Before the tour, Finneas said he’d join his sister onstage occasionally when his schedule permits; here he’ll serve as Eilish’s opening act on Dec. 21. — M.W.

Jeff Parker ETA IVtet / Zebulon / Dec. 16-17
The guitar genius was the beating heart of the late, great Highland Park jazz club ETA, whose residencies spun off a number of compelling combos like the experimental group SML. Fans of his IVtet — a small cadre of jazz and session heroes who are among the city’s best improvisers — will be thrilled to see the combo back in action in person and on record with “The Way Out of Easy,” a refined slate of free-flowing jams. — A.B.

Besame Mucho festival / Dodger Stadium / Dec. 21
Shakira recently postponed a 2024 arena tour to 2025 so she could meet fan demand by upgrading some dates to stadiums. But the Colombian pop icon — whose latest album, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” chronicles her messy breakup with Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué — is still on the books to headline the third Besame Mucho festival at Dodger Stadium, where she’ll be joined by Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Los Tigres del Norte and Banda MS for an expansive overview of Latin music spread across multiple stages. Among the dozens of other acts on the bill: Ivy Queen, Juanes, Café Tacuba, Caifanes, Los Tucanes de Tijuana and Carlos Vives, the last of whom was just named person of the year at the Latin Grammys. — M.W.

X / The Observatory / Dec. 27
What on earth is Los Angeles going to do without X? The standard bearers of SoCal’s punk scene for more than five decades promised they’d hang it up with “Smoke & Fiction,” a compelling valediction of an LP released this year. Who knows how many gigs they have left in the tank? While you should see them any chance you get, this Christmas show should be an especially meaningful one. — A.B.

Latin Mafia / Hollywood Palladium / Jan. 22
The Mexico-based De La Rosa brothers won a new artist nod at the Latin Grammys for their debut album, “Todos Los Días Todo El Día,” which deftly straddles urbano, trap, R&B, EDM and indie. They’ve already played Coachella and Camp Flog Gnaw. What’s next? A recent listening party in Mexico City that drew the 18,000 fans suggests they’re about to get much bigger stateside. — A.B.

Jamie xx / The Shrine / Jan. 23
You’re not going to have a better night on a dance floor than whenever Jamie xx is on deck. The producer and erstwhile member of the xx beat his own high standards with this year’s “In Waves,” a joyful and heartfelt insistence on the redemptive power of the club. Whatever other dark stuff is happening in late January in the United States, know that you can still go hear “Baddy on the Floor” with a roomful of jubilant friends. — A.B.