Sometimes ambition is not enough. Even good intent is not enough to salvage a story that does not know its own pulse. Such is the case with the new SonyLiv series Jazz City. From the large, expansive frames to the many little paths this story takes to navigate a turbulent time of national importance, I see how much has gone into making the show. But that does not help its case, or for creator Soumik Sen, as the show remains inert despite its full-blown capacity, incurious despite all the concoction of different factors, and mostly, out of depth even with so much space to fill. Jazz City holds promise, but it seems like that is everything it can hold after all.
Soon, she finds a roof beneath her head for the two of them when she comes to work for a wheelchair-bound old woman (a terrific performance from Dolly June).
The actor brings a quiet vulnerability to Justin, and he is unmatched in the scenes that demand his comic timing- thereby creating a beautiful portrait of a man who has to take control of his own life and choices.
HOMEBOUND is a beautifully told story about the friendship between two young men striving to become police officers in modern-day India, hoping to build better lives for themselves & their families. The performances from Vishal Jethwa, and particularly Ishaan Khatter, are deeply affecting, eliciting more than a few tears in the emotional final act. While this gem of a film occasionally veers into overt melodrama, it remains a powerful look at the struggle for survival & the enduring power of hope in a competitive & unjust world.
