Non reviews from non-critics!
Welcome to Upodcast Presents the Wheel of Time Recap Show and our take on Episode 7, the one that got Amazon excited enough to commission a second season. We had a lot of opinions about this episode, which finally kicks… Read More »Ep 5- The Dark Along The Ways- The Wheel Of Time Recap Show
KHANDAAN: A BOLLYWOOD PODCAST is slowly coming back from hiatus with our end of year mini-episodes. Asim, Sujoy and Amrita would like to thank you all for your patience and the wonderful messages we’ve received while we were on break.… Read More »Ep 115- Khandaan Returns
In the latest episode of Upodcast Presents The Wheel of Time Recap Show, we discuss Episode 6 in which we are introduced to a major new character and see a twist in the tale. This was Amrita’s favorite episode of… Read More »Ep 4- The Flame Of Tar Valon- The Wheel Of Time Recap Show
Dropping in with a catch up episode with our Top Friend Beth Loves Bollywood. We’re still on hiatus but thought we would drop a casual episode! We discuss: Haseena Dilruba Compare Toofan and Sarpatta Parambarai Season 2 of Never Have… Read More »Ep 111- Haseena Dilruba, Toofan, Sarpatta Parambarai and Never Have I Ever S2 ft @BethLovesBolly
Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast is back with a selection of current streaming finds! We are joined once more by our old friend @Get_Filmy to discuss: Shownotes: Intro: A message to our listeners 15.10 DHOOP KI DEEWAR on Zee5, a controversial-ish… Read More »Ep 110- Dhoop Ki Deewar, Ray, Sherni and Jagame Thandiram ft @Get_Filmy
Welcome to Episode 109 of Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast where we continue our limited edition Other Khans series with the legendary Dilip Kumar. Born Yusuf Khan in Peshawar in present day Pakistan, Dilip Sahib is an icon for audiences and… Read More »Ep 109- Madhumati
Welcome to the third episode of Upodcast Presents the Wheel of Time Recap Show in which we discuss the fifth installment of the Amazon Prime series. Episode 4 was a high point for the show thus far, garnering universal praise… Read More »Ep 3 – Blood Calls Blood- The Wheel Of Time Recap Show
Welcome to Episode 108 of Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast. We are gathered here today to discuss all the hot buzz and trending shows in the desi space. 01:12 First, we received a lovely email from a listener. More of you… Read More »Ep 108- The Family Man Season 2 Review
Welcome to the second episode of Upodcast Presents: The Wheel of Time Recap Show with Asim (who doesn’t know anything about the books or the show), Sujoy (who’s never read the books but has read everything about the show), and… Read More »Ep 2- The Wheel Of Time Recap Show – The Dragon Reborn
Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast continues its limited edition Other Khans run with 2001’s PYAAR TUNE KYA KIYA. Starring Fardeen Khan (our Other Khan of the Day) and Urmila Matondkar, this redo of FATAL ATTRACTION through the lens of RGV’s The… Read More »Ep 107- Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya
Welcome to the first episode of Upodcast Presents: The Wheel of Time Recap Show with Asim (who doesn’t know anything about the books or the show), Sujoy (who’s never read the books but has read everything about the show), and… Read More »Ep 1- The Wheel Of Time Recap Show
Episode 104 of Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast marks a brief return to the world of current releases with Salman Khan’s Eid release RADHE. This incoherent mishmash of Bhai’s most wanted movies (you define “wanted”) brought up a lot of… Read More »Ep 104- Radhe
Episode 92 of Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast features 1992’s DAULAT KI JUNG. Our guest this week was Her Highness Pitu Sultan and this was her one and only choice for you, her adoring public. Loosely based on the Hollywood film… Read More »Ep 92- Daulat Ki Jung ft Pitu Sultan
Episode 91 of Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast sees us racing towards a century of episodes! We can scarcely believe it! So we start this stretch with a dive into our listener’s mailbag – featuring a little hate, a lot of… Read More »Ep 91- Listener Mail Bag, White Tiger and Master Review
BINGING BRIDGERTON is a deep dive into the eight episodes of the eponymous series on Netflix. Hosts Beth Watkins and Amrita Rajan are joined by Manish Mathur (host of the excellent It Pod to be You as well as Queer… Read More »Ep 3- Binging Bridgerton
BINGING BRIDGERTON is a deep dive into the eight episodes of the eponymous series on Netflix. Hosts Beth Watkins and Amrita Rajan discuss the events of the second episode, consider the importance of sexual education, the way women utilize whisper… Read More »Ep 2- Binging Bridgerton
BINGING BRIDGERTON is a deep dive into the eight episodes of the eponymous series on Netflix. Hosts Beth Watkins and Amrita Rajan discuss the events of the first episode, investigate the term “historical romance”, and question what sets this series… Read More »Ep 1- Binging Bridgerton
Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast arrives at Episode 86 – our last for the year 2020 – with special guest Pulkit Kochar! This week’s film is 2005’s MAINE PYAR KYUN KIYA starring Salman Khan, Sohail Khan, Sushmita Sen, Katrina Kaif, Arshad… Read More »Ep 86- Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya ft @kocharpulkit
Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast welcomes you to Episode 85 with special guest Pulkit Kochar! You know Pulkit from his work with everyone from EIC to FilterCopy – now you can catch him on his Instagram and his YouTube channel where… Read More »Ep 85 – Streaming wars, Ak vs AK Trailer and Durgamati Review @kocharpulkit
Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast has 2005’s NO ENTRY for Episode 82. Co-starring Salman Khan in an extended special appearance, this multi-starrer boasts of an eclectic line up: Anil Kapoor, Fardeen Khan, Bipasha Basu, Celina Jaitley, Lara Dutta, and Esha Deol… Read More »Ep 82- No Entry ft Jai Arjun Singh
Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast has a jam packed Episode 81. Joining us this week is film scholar Jai Arjun Singh, author of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron – Seriously Funny Since 1983 and The World of Hrishikesh Mukherjee. You can see… Read More »Ep 81- Ludo, Taish and Scam 1992 Reviews
Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast is not superstitious, but if ever there was a cursed project, it would have to be 1995’s Shahrukh Khan starrer TRIMURTI. A Mukta Arts production directed by Mukul Anand, this movie should have been a slamdunk.… Read More »EP 80- Trimurti
Season 2 of the Tolly Folly Podcast features a Bengali icon: Byomkesh Bakshi. The various adaptations of Byomkesh, starring some of the best talents of the day, span decades of not just Bengali cinema but also Hindi film and television.… Read More »TOLLY FOLLY S2 EP2: DETECTIVE BYOMKESH BAKSHY!
Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast dives deep into BAAZIGAR (1993) starring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol for its 78th episode. Shilpa Shetty’s debut feature (and what a historic debut it was!), Baazigar is hands down one of the best Abbas Mustan movies… Read More »Ep 78- Baazigar ft @JustinJRao
Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast has taken its time, but we’ve finally arrived at the film that forever changed the Hindi film industry: 2001’s DIL CHAHTA HAI. Farhan Akhtar’s debut feature had a glitzy starcast: Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye… Read More »Ep 74- Dil Chahta Hai
Episode 73 of Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast is part of our new format where we alternate weeks with general topics and our usual deep Khan dives. This week, join us as we discuss: 07.25: Listener’s Mailbag 13.40 Amrita continues her… Read More »Ep 73- Cargo, Khaali Peeli and Revisiting Mohra
Episode 69 of Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast brings you everyone’s favorite (or is it?) Bollywood sports movie: 2007’s CHAKE DE! INDIA. Directed by Shimit Amin, a less than prolific director of tremendous talent, this underdog Shahrukh Khan starrer surprised everyone… Read More »Ep 69- Chak De! India
Our very last CoronaCast episode before our return to the regular schedule has us catching up after nearly a month. In the meantime, Sujoy and Amrita collaborated with Beth from Beth Loves Bollywood for the Tolly Folly Podcast a limited… Read More »Ep 68- Breathe: Into the Shadows and Dil Bechara
Tolly Folly, our limited run podcast about Bengali film, anchored by Sujoy, Beth, and Amrita, concludes with this third episode featuring two separate performances by Suchitra Sen in AANDHI and Uttam Kumar in NAYAK. Aandhi (1975) is counted as one… Read More »Mini Series: Tolly Folly Ep 3 – Aandhi – Nayak
Tolly Folly, our limited run podcast about Bengali film, anchored by Sujoy, Beth, and Amrita, is back for its second episode. Join us as we discuss two vastly different performances that live and die on the basis of the famed… Read More »Mini Series: Tolly Folly Ep 2 – Saptapadi – Chaowa Pawa
Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast is back for Episode 67 with Salman Khan’s DABANGG! Directed by Abhinav Kashyap, this 2010 movie co-starred Vinod Khanna, Dimple Kapadia, Sonu Sood, Arbaaz Khan and introduced Sonakshi Sinha. For various unfortunate reasons, however, this movie… Read More »Ep 67: Dabangg
Tolly Folly is a brand-new limited run podcast about Bengali film, anchored by Sujoy, Beth, and Amrita. The first series focuses on the legendary movies of Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen. Episode One is on Agni Pariksha (1954), one of… Read More »Mini Series: Tolly Folly Ep 1 – Agni Pariksha
Welcome to Episode 9 of the Khandaan Podcast, where we turn our eagle eyes toward Kal Ho Na Ho (2003), starring Shah Rukh Khan at the height of his stardom. Commonly believed to be a remake of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s weepie… Read More »Ep 9- Kal Ho Naa Ho- Khandaan Podcast
Episode 5 of the Khandaan Podcast finds co-hosts Asim, Sujoy, and Amrita discussing the first film voted to screen by their audience – 2001’s Salman Khan-starrer, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (CCCC). First, however, we make a short foray into current… Read More »Ep 5- Chori Chori Chupke Chupke Review and Padmaavat Discussion
Denis Villeneuve has made enough better than decent films for Upod to give him his own episode, but what better opportunity than Blade Runner 2049 to get the ball rolling?! Much has been made of the original and its many… Read More »Ep 232 Blade Runner 2049 Review
British-Pakistani director Sarmad Masud’s t MY PURE LAND is this week’s Upodcast Review and it was also announced as Britain’s selection for submission to the Academy Award® in the category of Foreign Language Film . Based on true events, My… Read More »Ep 231 My Pure Land Review
At a time when trust in politicians, in pretty much all countries is eroding to the point it may never return in a meaningful sense, it is refreshing to say the least, to be made aware of how politicians can… Read More »Dennis Skinner: nature of the beast // A portrait of one of the UK’s most respected (and feared) MPs
What a great little (under 90 minutes) movie this is! Is it one of these movies that will herald the rebirth of the long lost & last seen in the 90s, genre movie? I’m not so sure, but it fits… Read More »The Vault: a missing John Carpenter
The debut feature from Amit Ranjan Biswas, Bridge, draws together a lot of big questions, into a relatively small setting. In summary, a simple story; two strangers, both at the end of their tether, encounter each other on a bridge… Read More »Bridge: review
This week’s episode the gang is talking about the new Netflix exclusive by Bong Joon Ho: Okja. Notable for many reasons, we talk about: Being vegetarian (or not) Factory farming Is a movie a movie if it doesn’t play in… Read More »Ep 225: Okja Review Upodcast
In director Amit Masurkar’s second feature, we land into the ever so old tussle between idealism and reality. Set in the backdrop of the world’s largest democratic election in India, with an extremely volatile political air, we see our protagonist… Read More »Newton Review LIFF 2017
This week we review Baahubali 2 The Conclusion also known as the most successful Indian movie every to be released. And for this mammoth task we have brought in the most knowledgeable and best online voices to dissect this breaker of… Read More »EP 223: Baahubali 2 The Conclusion Review
On this week’s episode we review the first 6 episodes of Marvel’s Iron Fist, the final Marvel Netflix series before The Defenders kick in to gear. We’re joined by our friend and comic book connoisseur Akin Aworan to breakdown the… Read More »Marvel’s Iron Fist Review Upodcast
Legendary hitman John Wick is forced back out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of a shadowy international assassins guild. Bound by a blood oath to help him, John travels to Rome where he squares off… Read More »Ep 220 John Wick Chapter 2 Review Upodcast
We recorded this episode during the holidays but never got a chance to post it, so with this UPOD brings you a belated festive cheer! Returning with a Santa’s sack of new TV to consider Ahmed talks about Hulu Original… Read More »Ep 216: Spectral Upodcast Review
After many troubles Ae Dil Hai Mushkil finally released this weekend and we’re joined by Anisha Jhaveri (@Jhavanis) writer for Indiewire, to talk about Karan Johar’s new movie starring the all star cast of Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Fawad Khan… Read More »Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Review Upodcast
This week we review Marvel’s Doctor Strange starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams and Tilda Swinton directed by Scott Derickson. From IMDB: A former neurosurgeon embarks on a journey of healing only to be drawn into the world of… Read More »Doctor Strange Review Upodcast
This episode of Upodcast we discuss Mira Nair’s uplifting Disney produced story Queen of Katwe, starring Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi who came from the streets of rural Uganda to becoming an… Read More »Queen Of Katwe Review Upodcast
Milind Dhaimade’s Tu Hai Mera Sunday is a charming little surprise of a movie. This story of five amiable friends in Mumbai trying to navigate a little football time for themselves isn’t really attempting to re-invent the wheel – and… Read More »Tu Mera Sunday LFF Review
Mira Nair’s Queen of Katwe tells a traditional tale of the underdog who triumphs against insurmountable odds over the space of three acts but tells it so well and in such fresh context that it must be a hard heart… Read More »Queen of Katwe LFF Review
Our best episodes are the ones where we see things completely differently. Rakesh Omprakash Mehra’s adaptation of the Mirza Sahiban folktale is one such movie. Mirzya stars Harshvardhan Kapoor, Saiyami Kher (Check out our interview with her by clicking here),… Read More »Mirzya Review Upodcast
The big question going into Neeraj Pandey’s M.S. Dhoni: An Untold Story was – why? Why does it exist? Given the sheer number of articles, think pieces and news reports that come out annually on the Indian cricket captain, who… Read More »M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story Review
Dressed in a golden embroidered jacket, sitting center stage on a bar stool and accompanied by a simple back up band, the heir of Pakistan’s qawwali legacy, Rahat Ali Khan performed before a sold out crowd at the London O2… Read More »Rahat Ali Khan at the O2 Concert Review
Although Shekhar Kapur was at the BFI Southbank to talk about making Elizabeth (surely this would have sat better at the London Film Festival than the London Indian Film Festival? #justsaying), I was not so secretly hoping that he would… Read More »SHEKHAR KAPUR: A LIFE WITH ELIZABETH LIFF 2016 at the BFI
The devotion some fans have towards their favourite superstars can be witnessed on a daily basis on many a Twitter thread but as this insightful film shows, the dedication some Rajnikanth fans have for him not only dictates the course… Read More »For The Love of a Man Review LIFF 2016
Before we even start talking about Song of Lahore, do yourself a favour. Go and watch the following video. This was the video that started it all. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Andy Schocken’s Song of Lahore is a documentary that chronicles… Read More »Song of Lahore Review LIFF 2016
It does sound ironic that the film industry across the world has chosen digital media over film as its preferred future, even though it’s named after it. Much has been already said about this deviation, and only a select few… Read More »Cinemawala Review LIFF 2016
For this week’s major Bollywood release Sultan, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and starring Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma, we are joined by Sujoy (@9e3k) and Anisha (@jhavanis) to break down a myriad of topics: We gingerly discuss the topic… Read More »Sultan Review: Bhaicot, Feminism and Muslim Superheroes Upodcast
The team of Sujoy Ghosh (this time as producer) , Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Vidya Balan (switching roles as lead vs guest appearance) that brought us one of the best Indian movies, Kahaani, of the last few years comes together again… Read More »Te3n Review Upodcast
Releasing this week in the UK, The Nice Guys stars Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in a retro 70’s buddy action comedy like they used to make when Shai Hussain, our guest of this week, and I used to be… Read More »The Nice Guys Review Upodcast
The third installment in Marvel’s Captain America franchise, Civil War, pits our superheroes against each other. Will our host be on different teams when reviewing this movie? We keep it spoiler free until our spoiler warning towards the end of… Read More »Captain America Civil War Review Upodcast
In one of the only emotional scenes of this movie, a very old Punjabi grandfather character (played wonderfully by the veteran Indian TV actor Arun Bali) speaks of the horrors of getting uprooted from what you once considered home, and… Read More »Review: Airlift’s screenplay never takes off!
Revealing the true story and inspiration behind Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, the new film from Ron Howard recounts the tale of the Essex, a whaling ship from New England. Based on a book by Nathaniel Philbrick, (in the heart of… Read More »In the heart of the sea: review
Bond is back business with the hotly anticipated SPECTRE, the latest in a long line of blockbusters in 2015. Upodcasting casts its critical eye over the ghostly goings on of Daniel Craig, acting outside the control of British Secret Service… Read More »Spectre Review Upodcast
This episode we talk about the new Woody Allen movie, an Irrational Man and the Netflix Original Series, Narcos. Of course, Woody isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but Asim has a strange relationship with the director (OK, it’s not THAT… Read More »Narcos and Irrational Man Upodcast Review
Haraamkhor is exactly the kind of film one hopes to see at a film festival – a film that pushes the envelope, has been made with care and attention and has lots of soul. Keeping a packed audience engaged throughout,… Read More »Haraamkhor (The Wretched) Review LIFF 2015
Debutante director and lead actress Churni Ganguly’s semi-biographical take on controversial writer Taslima Nasrin is absolutely soul stirring. In Nirbashito (Banished), even though the protagonist has no name, and is always referred to as Lady, or Madam, the resemblance to… Read More »Nirbashito Review LIFF 2015
Most fans of popular Hindi cinema will be familiar with films like Zubeidaa (2001) and Welcome To Saajanpur (2008) but as The Master: Shyam Benegal shows, Bengal has a formidable body of work before mainstream success; films that won many… Read More »Review The Master: Shyam Benegal LIFF 2015
AntMan oh AntMan! Upodcasting has been looking forward to this one for so long now that the sense of anticlimax was a real and present danger. It proved to be unfounded in the final analysis but the possible overexposure through… Read More »Ant Man Review
The yearly London Indian Film Festival started with the usual festivities and since we don’t take half measures here at Upodcast. We decided to give you 2 different perspectives by our good buddies Bhushan Kumar (@bogeyno2) and Sujoy Singa (@9e3k)… Read More »Umrika Review: Opening Night LIFF 2015
This is the latest film by director Patrick Brice and executive produced by Jay and Mark Duplass and Adam Scott. Alex (Adam Scott) and Emily (Taylor Schilling) have recently moved to LA with their son RJ. Looking to make new… Read More »The Overnight: review
San Andreas is the new film starring Dwayne Johnson and imagines what would happen if the biggest earthquake ever recorded struck in California, devastating Los Angeles, before travelling along the San Andreas faultline to wreak destruction on San Francisco. It… Read More »San Andreas: review
In cinemas today, Broken Horses is Vinod Chopra‘s debut Hollywood feature and makes him the first Indian filmmaker to write, produce and direct a Hollywood film Set in the shadows of the US-Mexico border gang wars, Broken Horses is an epic thriller… Read More »Broken Horses: review
“How did we end up here? This place smells of balls.” says the disembodied voice of Birdman; the alter-ego of Michael Keaton’s Riggan Thomson in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s ‘Birdman or (The Virtue of Ignorance)’. What’s Riggan doing whilst his inner… Read More »Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Review
Warning, review contains mild spoilers Black Sea, is the latest from director Kevin MacDonald (Last King of Scotland). It features Jude Law (Sleuth, Dom Hemmingway) as submarine captain Robinson, on the hunt for a submarine, lost somewhere in the… Read More »Black Sea: review
Let’s get rid of the obvious to begin with. If you are here to know if you should consider watching Haider, releasing in cinemas on the 2nd October 2014, then here’s my comment. Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider might possibly be his… Read More »Haider Review: Hamlet in Kashmir
Wei Ling Soo, (real name Stanley Crawford) renowned magician and exposer of fake mediums and scam artists, is summoned to the south of France by an old school friend and fellow magician to reveal and expose Sophie Baker who is… Read More »Magic In The Moonlight Review
This Episode of Upodcast we are joined by the always wonderful Anisha Jhaveri in our search for Fanny. Before we get into our review of Homi Adijani’s follow of Cocktail starring the lumiscent Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, Pankaj Kapur, Dimple… Read More »Finding Fanny Upodcast Review
In true tradition, the closing night of the 5th London Indian Film Festival featured one of the biggest and highly anticipated movie premieres of the festival – Samruddhi Porey’s biopic Hemalkasa. Based on the life of renowned social worker and… Read More »Hemalkasa Review Liff 2014
The moment I was walking out of the screening of Anima State I was accosted by an elderly Pakistani gentleman. He asked me if I was from a TV channel (I said no) then he started a 15 min diatribe… Read More »Anima State Review LIFF 2014
[Disclaimer: Due to messed up scheduling at the screening venue (for London Indian Film Festival), I missed the first 30 minutes of Ulidavaru Kandante, as I was still watching Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya (review link here). This post is hence,… Read More »Ulidavaru Kandante Review LIFF 2014
Before I say anything about the movie, can I just applaud director Shilpa Ranade first, to have thought of remaking a Satyajit Ray classic that has been loved by generations. The classic short story by Upendra Kishore Rowchowdhury has already… Read More »Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya Review LIFF 2014
Director Amit Masurkar’s slacker bromance ‘Sulemaani Keedha’ (SK) on the surface is pretty much what one of its characters wants a movie to be like. That character is Gonzo, a producer’s son, a big fan of out-of-the-box ideas and who… Read More »Sulemaani Keeda Review LIFF 2014
The London Indian Film Festival started with the UK premier of Sold, directed by Jeffrey D. Brown, Oscar winning director for best short film (Molly’s Pilgrim -1985) and starring Niyar Saikia, a 13 year old girl Lakshmi who under the… Read More »Sold Review Liff 2014
“I’ll let the product speak for itself” declares actor Madhur Mitthal enthusiastically when introducing the screening of Disney’s crossover offering Million Dollar Arm at the London Indian Film Festival. And that is precisely what Million Dollar Arm is – a… Read More »Million Dollar Arm Review Liff 2014
There are some films that remain with the viewer long after the fade to black – Qissa: The Tale Of The Lonely Ghost one of them. This haunting tale tells of Umber Singh (Khan) who is uprooted by the Partition… Read More »Qissa: The Tale Of The Lonely Ghost Review LIFF 2014
As the resident Upodcasting sport fan and thankfully for this release, long time Manchester United fan it was an absolute pleasure to see this for review. This is the story of how six 14 year-old working class boys (David Beckham,… Read More »The Class of ’92: extended collector’s edition – review
What does the “Rajini Effect” mean? It is extremely hard to encompass the meaning of these two words. No superlative feels adequate to describe the force of the superstardom and religious fan following of the one and the only Thalaivaar… Read More »The Rajini Effect Review
After the night is a portrayal of life in the slums of Lisbon. Directed by Basil da Cunha we see life through the eyes of Sombra, who returns to his life as a drug dealer after coming out of jail.… Read More »After the night (Ate ver a luz): Review
The Machine is a British indie sci-fi movie, first screened last year before its general release in 2014. Set in the near future, the West is in the midst of a new cold war with China that has sent the… Read More »The Machine: review
Almost a decade after dining in hell, we revisit the CGI vision of ancient Greece set through the eyes of Zach Snyder and Frank Miller. Ad Film maker, Noam Murro takes over the directing reigns with returning cast members Rodrigo Santoro,… Read More »300 Rise of an Empire Review Upodcast
Breaking up is never easy, and saying sorry can sometimes be just as tough – so it seems for Swedish House Mafia in Leave the World Behind, the new film from Christian Larson which documents the trio’s final million-ticket-selling world… Read More »Leave the World Behind Review
If you’re wondering what kind of war film George Clooney has made in The Monuments Men, it can be easily summed up a third of the way through the film. Two American soldiers share a cigarette with a German solder… Read More »The Monuments Men Review
First up, I’ll be candid and say that if you’re even vaguely curious to see this film, then I would urge to act on that impulse and watch it. The recounting of Ron Woodruff’s post-AIDS life is a remarkable one… Read More »Dallas Buyers Club Review
Warning, contains plot spoilers. A film right up my street to almost kick-off the year with. An interesting one this as Chris Pine is now the 4th incarnation of the seemingly evergreen Tom Clancy character, having been played previously by… Read More »Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit – review
Joy of joys in the season of goodwill, my co-host Asim was unable to attend our screening of Anchorman 2. One man’s pain is another man’s gain. It is a hard life, but sometimes you just have to take one… Read More »Review: Anchorman 2 – does the legend continue?
A Woody Allen movie, despite the annual appearance, is always an event. Upod casts its eye over Blue Jasmine, his latest release. Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) is a former New York socialite, broke (although still travelling 1st Class), homeless and a… Read More »Blue Jasmine review: Jasmine is truly Blue in Woody’s latest bid for another actress Oscar
Dial M for Murder 3D. During what has become my unofficial Hitchcockathon at the British Film Institute this month, I had the chance to watch a restored version of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1950s classic in 3D. Possibly a surprise given… Read More »Dial M for Murder 3D – a review in 2 dimensions
About Time is the latest film from British director Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Notting Hill, Four Weddings). A great cast of Brits, plus of course Rachel McAdams and Margot Robbie (Neighbours and the ill-fated/rubbish Pan-Am). With the exception of those… Read More »About Time: Review
A good title for this movie I have to say. Adapted from a truly horrific real life story Michael Bay‘s newest on screen adventure is a crime-comedy starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie. The film is based on a story published in a 1999 series… Read More »Pain and Gain review: Michael Bay’s best film?
Director Shoojit Sircar’s latest – Madras Cafe, sees him teaming up again with actor/producer John Abraham after the successful Vicky Donor to bring a different story to life. This time, John takes matters in his own hands, as he takes centre-stage as the… Read More »Madras Cafe Review
Everyone that listens to UPodcast knows that my tastes veer towards massy entertainers that have had some thought put into it. I don’t need added sound effects to punctuate punch lines but I cant’ stand slow, dreary movies that only… Read More »Shahid Review at LIFF 2013
The Heat is the latest movie from Paul Feig, director of the acclaimed and universally adored Bridesmaids. Starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy (also in Bridesmaids), The Heat is about an over-dedicated FBI agent teaming up with a no-nonsense… Read More »The Heat
Monsoon Shootout was the perfect opening film to the wonderful yearly non-Bollywood Indian film Festival LIFF. Not only was Amit Kumar’s 10 years in the making debut still riding on it’s praise from Cannes, it was a movie… Read More »LIFF Review Monsoon Shootout
Any new feature by Edgar Wright is guaranteed to get us excited here at Upod and with the concluding part to the Cornetto trilogy, we have not been disappointed. The action takes place in a sleepy English town when 5… Read More »The World’s End Upodcast Review
The Wayans have a particular brand of humor that straddles the line between spoof and gross out comedy combining it with what can be described as FLAVA. It gets derided by critics as low bro when it comes to movies… Read More »A Haunted House Review: More laughs than the Hangover
World War Z produced by Brad Pitt’s company Plan B had an uphill PR battle to face up to it’s release. The movie was a very heavy departure from the original source material by Max Brook’s zombie novel, which was… Read More »World War Z Review
The marketing collateral and trailers for the The Hangover III all promised that this final chapter would be “…the epic conclusion to an incomparable odyssey of mayhem and bad decisions…” As adverts always say the truth my expectations were set… Read More »Hangover 3 Review
Releasing this week is the movie adaptation of Beat Girl a novel by Jasmine Kallay, about young Heather Jennings (played by Louise Dylan known to some form BBC’s Jane Austin’s Emma) who after the passing of her mother has to move… Read More »Beat Girl Review
Suddenly, last summer. But for me, more a case of: finally, this winter. Courtesy of the BFI Southbank and their screenings of Montgomery Clift movies I was able to catch this excellent movie. Also starring Elizabeth Taylor and Katharine Hepburn,… Read More »Suddenly Last Summer BFI Review
Coming out this Friday, a new (but 2 years old…) Donnie Yen movie: Dragon / Wu-Xia. We love Donnie Yen at Upod so getting to see this was a treat. Spoilers below; you have been warned 🙂 Liu Jin-xi (Yen)… Read More »Dragon (Wu Xia)
As I stood up from the chair in the cinema, as the end credits rolled, I suddenly realised how desperately I needed a wee. And then, a few members of the audience started clapping. And I yelled “Are you fucking… Read More »Cloud Atlas Review
So last week I was trying to get psyched for A Good Day to Die Hard (OR as any normal thinking person calls it – Die Hard 5) a movie which until a month ago I had not even heard… Read More »A Good Day to Die Hard Review
Brilliantly laugh out loud Rom-Com with a perfect 50/50 blend of British bad gags accompanied with warm fuzzy lovely scenes between the unlikely (and obviously likely) couples. Overall the cast was perfectly handpicked for this movie (Rose Byrne, Rafe Spall,… Read More »I Give It a Year Review
Celebrating its re-release today, Samsara and Baraka, two “movies” that will stun the viewer. As a fan of Koyaanisqatsi, the Godfrey Reggio release from 1983, getting to take a peak at the newly refurbed versions of Samsara and Baraka was… Read More »Samsara / Baraka Blu Ray Review
Upod’s final fling with Bond culminates in an extravaganza of mind blowing proportions. This time we give you not one, not two, but four Bonds for your money and take a detailed look at Skyfall for good measure. We start… Read More »SkyFall and Final Part of 007 James Bond Retrospective
We were lucky enough to catch Deepa Mehta’s adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s novel Midnights Children at the London Film Festival, and Martin Cawley loved it. Here is his review if you didn’t get a chance to read it. But now… Read More »Midnights Children an Alternative Review
…or Psycho x 5 as was last week’s reality, at the Leicester Square theatre; screened with www.cigaretteburnscinema.com. Let me start with a brief description of the concept: 1 main screen showing Alfred Hitchcock’s original and 5 smaller screens showing the… Read More »Psycho versus Psycho
In August 2008, 22 climbers from various international expeditions reached the High Camp of K2, the final pit-stop before the peak of the mountain, on an expedition renowned among adventurers as extremely dangerous to attempt – far worse than Everest,… Read More »LFF 2012 The Summit Review
Salman Rushdie‘s first film screenplay adapts his own Booker Prize-winning novel – an allegory that parallels the upheavals in one family’s history with the events that would shape a post-colonial India, from the British exit to the partitioning of… Read More »LFF 2012: Midnight’s Children Review
After the massive success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon back in 2000 and it’s subsequent Oscar win for best Foreign movie, there has been a steady flow of what I like to call poetic/esoteric martial arts movies, none have them… Read More »Flying Swords of Dragon Gate Review
A young and in-love couple Kanya (Sadawo Abe) and Satoko (Takako Matsu) see their restaurant burn down in an accident and their savings are wiped out by a compensation claim. Not knowing where to turn or what to do. Kanya… Read More »LFF 2012: Dreams for sale / Yume Uru Futari
Here is a review from our guest blogger Miss FooFantastic from FrightFest in London, she’ll be posting a couple of reviews here, so if you are a horror fan, keep your eye out for them. (this one I’m actually quite… Read More »Sleep Tight (Mientras Duermes) Review
Here is a review from our guest blogger Miss FooFantastic from FrightFest in London, she’ll be posting a couple of reviews here, so if you are a horror fan, keep your eye out for them. A movie such as Remnants… Read More »Remnants Review
Here is a Battle of the Remakes review from our guest blogger Miss FooFantastic from FrightFest in London, she’ll be posting a couple of reviews here, so if you are a horror fan, keep your eye out for them. … Read More »Maniac Review: Battle of the Remakes
Yash Raj Films (YRF) and Salman Khan finally come together for the first time under the direction of Kabir Khan to bring us the story of what happens when a RAW Agent called Tiger starts using his “heart” when he… Read More »Ek Tha Tiger Review
Last week there The British Film Institute released it’s Sight And Sound Poll, a survey they do every decade with over 800 Film critics, distributors and academics. The big news this year was that Citizen Kane was knocked out the… Read More »Top Ten Movies of Upodcast – An Alternative to the Sight and Sound Poll
As July draws to a close, so does the small-scale marathon I’ve undertaken at the British Film Institute this month. I’ve already written about a classic Japanese horror, Onibaba but last week I had the fortune to watch Kuroneko, another Japanese… Read More »Kuroneko
Tin Drum AKA Martin’s continuing voyage into yet more “weird old movies”. If you thought I might have struggled with Onibaba‘s oddities and very loose write-up then that was a cake walk by comparison to what follows. At least there… Read More »Die Blechtrommel (The Tin Drum)
Onibaba On a strong recommendation from a friend, I signed-up to watch this 1964 black and white Japanese movie. I didn’t know the director, the actors or the plot so this was the movie equivalent of a blind tasting. It’s… Read More »Onibaba
Some Like it Hot. Although in Britain this “summer” we seem to like it mild and a bit damp. A members exclusive screening at the BFI seems like the perfect kick-off to a month of intense viewing on London’s Southbank.… Read More »Some Like It Hot
Yet another gangster flick made its London Premiere (the other one being Gangs of Wasseypur) at the London Indian Film Festival. And like a moth to the flame, I sniffed my way to the cinema screen to witness one of… Read More »Aaranya Kaandam Review at LIFF 2012
There can never be too many “children’s films”, especially ones which take you on a journey back to the days of innocence, where the mind was free from materialistic cravings, and all that mattered was to win a kite fight.… Read More »Gattu Review at the LIFF 2012
Our intrepid reporter Sujoy (@9e3K) continues his coverage at the London Indian Film Festival with a review of Dekh Indian Circus. What do you expect from a movie, which has a poster showing a young boy, with the fluttering Indian… Read More »Dekh Indian Circus Review at LIFF 2012
Our favorite suave and chique crime lord Don is back after escaping from Interpol agents Roma (Priyanka Chopra) and Malik (Om Puri) in the first part of this franchise. We pick up the story after a 5-year gap (most of… Read More »Don 2 (3D) Review
Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma and director Maneesh Sharma come together once again under the YRF banner after their sleeper hit of last year Band Baaja Baarat, Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl is called a Rom-Con puntastically and banks heavily and is… Read More »Review Ladies vs Ricky Bahl
Coming to the close of a huge year in Box Office but maybe not in complete tune with my personal sensibilities I was pretty much sold on Rockstar from the outset just because of 2 names: Imtiaz Ali and AR… Read More »Rockstar Review
Some interesting news greeted my inbox today and I’m not at all sure of where I stand on this one. In fact, even thinking of standing on Lego brings back painful childhood memories – especially when you step right on… Read More »Lego The Movie
The Artist is the latest film from director Michel Hazanavicius. Re-uniting Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo (also from Hazanavicius’ hilarious OSS117: Cairo, nest of spies) the Artist tells the story of the fall of a silent movie star, George Valentin… Read More »The Artist
Having heard a lot about The Pusher and having seen Bronson, I’m not sure why I was quite as surprised as I was by how damned fine the film is. It’s a pretty easy plot – stunt driver in the… Read More »Drive – quite possibly movie of the year
It’s Eid, a day of rejoicing after a pious month of fasting and introspection. And how do us Hindi Film fans celebrate? We go out to the movies of course! Since the past few years Eid has become synonymous with… Read More »Review Bodyguard
After the unexpected box office success of last year’s Raajneeti, a political drama with a huge star cast taking influences from Indian Mythology and the Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather, director and auteur Prakash Jha is back with his intense brand of cinema with Aarakshan (Reservation) starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Manoj Bajpai and Deepika Padukone. This time he tackles the issue of reservation, the practice of setting jobs and positions aside for certain social classes who were left behind as a remnant of the old Indian Caste based society, a bit like affirmative action but not entirely. So is Prakash Jha able to entertain and educate us? Does the chemistry of Deepika and Saif Ali Khan work wonders again after Love Aaj Kal? Check out our review after the jump!Read More »Review Aarakshan (Reservation)
When I first heard of another Apes movie planned, I didn’t feel I was the right audience for it. I almost have no affinity with animals in general, I don’t have or ever have had pets and I prefer giving… Read More »Review Rise of the Planet of the Apes
So this 2003 cop drama starring Surya, Jyotika and directed by Gautham Menon was available on Youtube (probably temporarily so check it out!) on some extremely shady channel but with some funtastic “paagal” subtitles. Having lamented the fact that there is no proper distribution system set up for South Indian movies, making it impossible to be completely up to date with new releases. I take any chance I get to catch up with this flamboyant film genre. Releasing in September in a Hindi remake directed by Nishikanth Kamat starring John Abraham and Genelia. We analyzed the trailer in an earlier post, but now check out our review of the original after the jump!Read More »Review Kaakha Kaakha (and what should be fixed for its Hindi remake “Force”)
Bajirao Singham is an honest cop and darling of a small town, Shivgad, where his daddy is a rich merchant and crime seems to be very low as he keeps paying off every crime anyone does, maybe not the best… Read More »Review Singham
I’ll lay my cards out on the table; I am a sucker for Excel Entertainments cinematic sensibilities (production team of Farhan Akthar and longtime collaborator Ritesh Sidwani). Pretty much every movie they have had their hand in has worked for… Read More »Review: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
I have no idea why the producers of A Bout Portant chose to give this French thriller, directed by Fred Cavaye and starring Giles Lelouche, Gerard Lanvin and Roschdy Zem, the same name as the classic John Boorman– Lee Marvin… Read More »Review: Point Blank (A Bout Portant)
Delhi Belly is the long in the making black comedy produced by the illustrious Amir Khan Productions, a banner that is constantly on the threshold of that very coveted first potential Indian cross-over that gives Hindi cinema the acceptance and… Read More »Delhi Belly: The Anti-Slum Dog Millionaire
The promos have been playing night and day. The pocket pointy dance has become a fad. The public has been waiting for a time pass masala entertainer since January. Salman Khan is riding high after Dabanng and Wanted. Aneez… Read More »Ready Review
Continuing my theme of “old black and white films, good, new colour films, bad”, I hope the following proves inspirational enough that more people watch what has been voted the “best British film of the 20th century” by the British… Read More »The Third Man
As far as Upod is concerned, anything is game: who else would bring you reviews of Black Sheep, Let The Right One in, Lord of War and 500 days of summer? I recently had the opportunity, courtesy of the British… Read More »Upod gets serious: Metropolis, restored edition
Farah Khan’s comic caper has a lot riding on it. It’s Farah breaking out on her own, free from collaborations that were safe bets from within a comfort zone. In some way it’s a comeback for Akshay Kumar whose had… Read More »Review Tees Maar Khan
When I heard the words “Evil Santa movie” I was sold. The trailer was smart, brooding and promised a very dark film twisting the usual conventions of the annual bearded gift giver. So does this Finnish flick -that’s receiving some excellent reviews- live up to the promise? Check out our full review after the jump! Read More »Review: Rare Exports – A Christmas Tale
THE BEGINNING OF THE END: A Review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 by a self-proclaimed Potterhead, Anandini Sekhar The anticipation for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 has been building for much longer than… Read More »The Ultimate Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 Review
Director Todd Philips follow-up to the unbelievably successful Hangover is a re-imagining of the Steve Martin– John Candy classic: Planes, Trains and Automobiles. But this time it’s Robert Downey Jr and Zach Galafanakis taking the main leads. Due Date is… Read More »Review: Due Date
Lafangey Parindey (directed by Pradeep Sarkar ) is the product of a confused studio,Yash Raj films. Once the most illustrious production company in India now a factory of cookie cutter, bland and utterly forgettable products. A studio that just doesn’t understand… Read More »Review: Lafangey Parindey
From the mind of M. Night Shyamalan, Devil is the first part of “the Night Chronicles†, a trilogy of urban scary movies. The premise is simple. Five strangers get trapped in a high-rise elevator, one of them might be the Devil and he is killing them one by one whilst a cop tries to solve the riddle before everyone is killed in front of their eyes.  Check out our review after the jump!Read More »Filmblog Review: Devil
For those unfamiliar souls, Frightfest is basically as it says on the tin – a festival of fright and now the leading horror and fantasy film festival in the UK if not Europe. The Film4 organised and sponsored Frightfest was… Read More »Frightfest 2010
L’arnacouer is a French movie with a mistranslated English title starring French Heart throb and box office golden boy Romain Duris and the lovely singer-actress Vanessa Paradis. It tells the story of a Alex Lippi, playboy for hire specializing in… Read More »FilmBlog: L´Arnacoeur (HeartBreaker)
Well well, what’s been getting my goat this week then? TV has been a consistent theme of mine since I started these weeklies and no changes to this week’s format I’m afraid. However, not merely content with picking on a… Read More »Friday rant Virgin 1 & Navy Seals
Jean Pierre Jeunet’s long awaited follow up to A Long Engagement (his second and oscar nominated Audrey Tatou movie after Amelie) has finally arrived after a hiatus of 5 years. And for me it has been a long wait as… Read More »Filmblog: Review MicMacs
My Name is Khan… and I’m not a terrorist. A line spoken many times in this movie by Indian Superstar Shahrukh Khan, playing a good hearted Muslim man suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome, resonated with me in a very strong way.… Read More »FilmBlog: Review My Name Is Khan
Image via Wikipedia To anyone who has listened to our show, you must have figured out that it takes a lot for a movie not to be liked by me.( I gave Kevin Costner‘s Postman a pass in our Bonus… Read More »Filmblog: Review Armored
With the release of the Last Airbender trailer during the Superbowl (The SuperBowl has something to do with American Football a game no non-american can ever understand, but the also have cool movie trailers and Janet Jackson Nip Slip so… Read More »Movies to look forward to in 2010
A story in my book is effective if it makes you feel something that you have no first hand experience with. Indiana Jones puts you in peril and makes you feel the advernture of being a hero (and a life… Read More »Filmblog: Review Brothers
This is my vague attempt to try and give thought on most of the films that I watch…sounds ambitious right? Well, I guess there are criteria (no musings on Universal Soldier to be found here) There was quite a glut… Read More »Filmblog: Casablanca
A happy 2010 to everyone! This period of the year when we are curled up on our couches under a cozy blanket and a cup of soup, we start to reminisce about the year gone by. How we wish we… Read More »Favorite Movies of 2009