After the roaring success of Straight Outta Compton, the news of a movie chronicling the short, yet poignant life of Tupac Shakur.
He was a man of many faces. On one hand he’d let you know that he loved women making song like “Keep Your Head Up” or “Dear Momma”. Then he’ll turn around and drop a song like “I Get Around” talking about all the women he sleeps with. Speak on how the black community needs to stick together and then make a song like “Hit Em Up” (which is still in the top 5 most vicious diss tracks in Hip Hop). Being a Hip Hop Head myself I was leery of the end product of this film but I was both pleasantly surprised and massively let down by this film.
The acting from the leads was pretty good for the most part. Demetrius Shipp Jr. plays Pac pretty damn well. His mannerisms, speech pattern, even the way he performs on the stage mimics Shakur quite closely. Afeni Shakur was a woman of intelligence, and courage but not so much in this movie. The way that Danai Gurira played Tupac’s mother was not so much that way. She constantly dropped the word motherf**cker, which made her seem less than studious. I also, disliked her delivery of her lines which came off like she was playing a slave.
Dominic L. Santana who had to play the infamous Suge Knight had it easy playing a fairly straight forward gangster that did business through fear and intimidation. He did his job but there was not much to the role or the portrayal. The guy that they got to play Snoop Dogg was the worse. He looked nothing like the man that cooks with Martha Stewart. I also suspect that Snoop did voice over for the young man that played him in the film as it sounded far to close to his voice.
The movie kind of rehashed a lot of commonly known knowledge about the man, the myth, the legend. The greatest sin of this story is the content of the theatrical cut of this film. It showed all of the trouble Tupac got in to and hardly any of the good he did throughout his lifetime. They mention the T.H.U.G. Life movement he wanted to start but never spoke on how he was implementing it to help his people. They never mentioned the speeches he gave or the poetry he wrote. He was a multifaceted man and that was never touched upon by the finished product we receive in All Eyez On Me.
I spoke with a white couple after they saw the movie. The husband was a Tupac fan and had a lot of the same issues that I had with picture. He felt like they made him seem really gullible because he was too ready to do dumb stuff and never was shown using the vast intelligence he truly possessed. The wife knew little of Tupac but it peaked her interest in what the Black Panther Party stood for an what they went through. This was important to me cause anytime something brings questions and a spark for knowledge on the plight of The Black Panthers it is urgent to cultivate that interest and spread that part of how crazy this country really was for a portion of it’s citizens. We actually had a rather lengthy conversation about the subject and she thanked me for filling her in and promised to research more. I walked away glowing.
This movie could’ve been more with a run time of almost two and a half hours. They took a pretty safe route with the film and ended up with a boring outcome. This should of never happened with none of Hip Hop’s most influential contributors. I’m leaving this film with 2 out of 5 stars.
Genre: Crime Thriller / Mystery
Run Time: Approximately 123 minutes
Studio: SRT Entertainments
Where to Watch: Streaming now on Aha (Telugu OTT platform)
Director: Ashok Teja
Writer: Sampath Nandi
Lead Cast: Hebah Patel, Vasishta N. Simha, Sai Ronak, Poojitha Ponnada, and George Maryan
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Odela is a gripping Telugu-language crime thriller that weaves the mysticism of rural India with the suspense of a murder mystery. Based on true events, the film is set in the culturally rich village of Odela, where a series of brutal murders shakes the community. When fear takes over, the villagers believe the killings are the work of a supernatural force, but a determined young trainee IPS officer decides to uncover the truth.
Ashok Teja makes a confident directorial debut, and with the support of seasoned writer Sampath Nandi, the film blends folklore and investigative elements seamlessly. The narrative doesn’t rely on jump scares or gore but rather on tension, cultural realism, and atmosphere, making it stand apart from typical crime thrillers.
Vasishta N. Simha delivers a strong and brooding performance as the local suspect whose silence hides secrets. Hebah Patel brings depth and credibility to her role as the determined officer, breaking stereotypes of female leads in regional thrillers. Sai Ronak and George Maryan round out the cast with solid support, while Poojitha Ponnada adds emotional texture to the story.
The cinematography captures the beauty and eeriness of the village setting, while the score subtly enhances the suspense. What truly stands out is the film’s effort to incorporate the Odela temple culture and beliefs into its storyline, making the mystery feel both grounded and unique.
Unique Setting: Odela village and its spiritual legacy are treated with respect, giving the film a haunting authenticity.
Strong Female Lead: Hebah Patel’s character is refreshingly written and well-acted.
Tight Storytelling: No unnecessary detours or filler content; the movie maintains its pace and tension throughout.
Cultural Depth: Balances folklore and realism without leaning too heavily on superstition.
Rating: 8/10
Odela is a tightly woven, atmospheric thriller that doesn’t rely on spectacle but rather storytelling and culture. It’s a solid step forward for Telugu cinema in the crime-thriller space and worth a watch for fans of mystery films that respect both narrative and regional authenticity.
“Vidaamuyarchi,” now streaming on Netflix, is a 2025 Indian Tamil-language action thriller directed and written by Magizh Thirumeni. Produced by Subaskaran Allirajah under Lyca Productions, the film boasts a runtime of 150 minutes. The narrative follows Arjun (Ajith Kumar) on a relentless quest to rescue his wife Kayal (Trisha Krishnan) after she is abducted by a mysterious group in Azerbaijan. The ensemble cast includes Arjun Sarja, Regina Cassandra, and Arav in pivotal roles.
Drawing inspiration from the 1997 American film “Breakdown,” “Vidaamuyarchi” offers a familiar storyline but is elevated by compelling performances. Ajith Kumar delivers a commendable portrayal of a husband battling against time and adversities, while Trisha Krishnan effectively captures the emotional depth of her character. The film’s cinematography by Om Prakash enhances the tension and atmosphere, and Anirudh Ravichander’s music complements the narrative’s intensity.
However, the film’s predictability and pacing issues may deter some viewers. Despite these shortcomings, “Vidaamuyarchi” provides an engaging experience for fans of the action thriller genre.
Rating: 6.5/10
Only one man has the particular set of skills… to lead Police Squad and save the world! Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) follows in his father’s footsteps in THE NAKED GUN, directed by Akiva Schaffer (Saturday Night Live, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) and from producer Seth MacFarlane (Ted, Family Guy). Joining the cast are Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, with Danny Huston.
only in theatres August 1st.
A Riveting Rural Whodunit Rooted in Tradition Movie
VidaayMuyarchi
Justice has a new Daddy. Watch the new trailer for NakedGun,
Fifteen years after the original animated film took flight, this live-action adaptation proves that its story is as powerful and relevant as ever.
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