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Recent Reviews by Sonal Pandya
Times Now, Zoom

Sonal Pandya is the Associate Producer for Times Now and Zoom, and earlier worked at Hindustan Times, and Cinestaan.com as deputy editor. Prior to becoming a film journalist, she worked as a CG artist and digital compositor in the animation industry.

Films reviewed on this Page

Girls Will Be Girls
Before
Do Patti
Paris Has Fallen
Shrinking S02
The Wild Robot
Lonely Planet
Raat Jawaan Hai
Abbot Elementary S04
Disclaimer

Girls Will Be Girls
Shuchi Talati's Coming-Of-Age Saga Is Awkward And Poignant

Writer-director Shuchi Talati's debut rests on the capable shoulders of her two leads, Kani Kusruti and Preeti Panigrahi, who bring home her affecting screenplay.

Every viewing of Shuchi Talati’s excellent Girls will be Girls, produced by Richa Chadha, will probably elicit a different response. The coming-of-age film focused on a mother and daughter is tender, moving and nuanced. The period story is set around a boarding school where rules and regulations reign supreme. But through them, these women break free, to live a little.

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Read all 3 reviews of Girls Will Be Girls here

Before
Billy Crystal's Psychological Thriller Is Tedious And Unnecessarily Creepy

Created by Sarah Thorp, the suspense drama features Billy Crystal as a child psychiatrist who helps a young boy with an unnatural connection to his life.

Billy Crystal is known for his roles that show off his comedic range like Harry Met Sally… and City Slickers. With his latest project, Before, the veteran actor is trying out a different side to his talent. He plays a grieving widower who finds purpose treating a young boy named Noah with unprocessed trauma. Written by creator Sarah Thorp, the psychological thriller delves into coincidences, fate and things science can’t explain. The Apple TV+ has a shaky narrative that gets repetitive fast and leaves its big reveal too late.

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Do Patti
Kajol, Kriti Sanon Headline Weak Thriller Revolving Around Twin Sisters

The Hindi thriller, directed by Shashanka Chaturvedi, features a police officer who stumbles upon a complicated triangle of twin sisters who are complete opposites.do-patt

Both Kajol and Kriti Sanon embark on a couple of firsts in Shashanka Chaturvedi’s directorial debut Do Patti. Written by Kanika Dhillon, the Hindi film sees Kajol as tough-on crime police officer and Kriti takes on a double role as twin sisters. The Netflix suspense drama relies on a couple of red herrings eventually emerging as a wobbly thriller with a message.

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Read all 17 reviews of Do Patti here

Paris Has Fallen
Spinoff Series Of Absorbing Action Film Franchise Has Formidable Antagonist

The small screen version of the Has Fallen franchise is off to an intriguing start with a daunting villain.

Paris Has Fallen is the first in the franchise that won’t feature Gerard Butler’s Secret Service agent Mike Banning. The actor will continue on with the character in the films; however, this spinoff series forges its own identity with new protagonists and a deadly plot in this European adventure. With only the first two episodes premiering so far, Paris Has Fallen has set up an interesting scenario in which the villain has had the upper hand; it remains to be seen how and when the ‘fall’ will come.

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Shrinking S02
Jason Segel, Harrison Ford's Optimistic Comedy About Flawed Therapists Charms Again

From the makers of Ted Lasso, the comedy series starring Jason Segel returns to find its characters grappling with life's issues head-on.

Created by Bill Lawrence, star Jason Segel and Brett Goldstein, Shrinking focuses on a grieving therapist who decides to change his approach with his patients. Becoming more proactive, he becomes more involved in the lives of those around, both to his detriment and betterment. The second season of Shrinking charms with its loveable, goofball characters and some unexpected new faces.

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The Wild Robot
Astoundingly Beautiful Animated Story Of Love, Friendship And Empathy

Adapted from Peter Brown's best-selling children's book, the DreamWorks Animation film is a triumph on every level.

DreamWorks Animation turns 30 this year, and its latest presentation, The Wild Robot, is a great example of what the studio gets right. Adapted and directed by Chris Sanders, the animated feature follows the adventures of Rozzum 7134 (voice of Lupita Nyong’o), who discovers a whole new side to herself after she reluctantly adopts a gosling. The family film is filled with humour and meaning, and it teaches you what it means to be kind and love another in need.

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Read all 4 reviews of The Wild Robot here

Lonely Planet
Laura Dern, Liam Hemsworth's Aimless Romance Is A Waste Of Time

Directed by Susannah Grant, the romantic drama has no real spark between its leads.

A foreign locale, two individuals at a crossroads… on the surface, the Netflix film Lonely Planet had the right ingredients. But the Susannah Grant film does nothing with it. Starring Laura Dern as an established writer and Liam Hemsworth as a finance guy who meet at a retreat in Morocco, the film wastes our time with their ineffectual romance. It ends up being a tourism guide for the country.

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Raat Jawaan Hai
Sharp Writing, Likable Cast Boost Up Funny And Relatable Family Comedy

Starring Anjali Anand, Barun Sobti and Priya Bapat, the engaging comedy is both heartfelt and hilarious.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a comedy that you can see yourself in. SonyLIV’s Raat Jawaan Hai focuses on a trio of friends who are there for each other through thick and thin. Developed by Khyati Anand-Puthran and Sumeet Vyas, the series features very real characters, the kind of people you’ve met in life. Backed by a solid cast who deliver genuine performances, Raat Jawaan Hai is the feel-good watch for this month, nay, this year!

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Read all 5 reviews of Raat Jawaan Hai here

Abbot Elementary S04
Quinta Brunson's School Comedy Is Still Endearingly Awkward And Funny As Ever

The Emmy-nominated comedy series is back to school with a new season and plenty of hijinks.

After a shortened season earlier this year due to the Hollywood strikes, Abbott Elementary is back on schedule with a full season. This time, the teachers’ gang at the Philadelphia school convene for a new school year with plenty of hijinks. The biggest change this season is that the perennial will-they, won’t-they couple Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) have made it official. But what does this mean for the rest of the season? Let’s find out!

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Disclaimer
Alfonso Cuaron's Devastating Thriller Series Looks At Truth And Memory From All Angles

Cate Blanchett is fantastic as journalist who is confronted by past secrets by a stranger who brings them alive in a book.

Gravity and Roma director Alfonso Cuarón’s latest project, Disclaimer, is a fascinating and at times uncomfortable drama about a woman accused of being heartless in her past. Oscar winning actress Cate Blanchett steps up to play the aloof Catherine Ravenscroft who finds her perfect life falling apart with the publication of a book. Kevin Kline plays a former teacher who relishes the chance to teach her a lesson. The Apple TV+ series is a riveting story that unfolds chapter by chapter, like a novel.

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