RRR

I definitely meant to write a review for this movie when I watched it back in April, not sure why I never did. Maybe because for a short second there I realized this isn’t a job that I get paid for so there’s no reason to put in the time and energy that I do, and then not long after I was sucked back into Letterboxd’s grasp. Idk!! Anyways, wow. What a fucking trip. What an achievement for South Indian film. Following the earth-shattering response to the Baahubali movies, Rajamouli had no option but to up the stakes and push the scales. And push he did. RRR is truly the most impressive film to come out of the South in history, and most likely also the best. No stone is left unturned in the production of this film; the settings are grand and the action is jaw-droppingly large. I could point to every single action sequence in this film and pit it against the best of the best that Hollywood has to offer. In terms of creativity and impact, I can’t say I’ve seen five movies with better action as a whole, across any language. Both leads are just fantastic as well. Ram Charan is fiery and exudes strength in this role. But while Charan does a fine job in this film, it’s NTR that deserves the high praise. NTR is an emotional powerhouse that puts his entire heart on display throughout the film. He can switch between the aggressive, superhuman freedom fighter to the soft, warm, caring nurturer instantaneously. He delivers such a fucking home-run of a performance, and it would be a crime if NTR doesn’t receive some sort of award for this. I don’t mean to take away from what Charan has done, because he was also very effective, but NTR reaches new heights in this film. As for the movie itself, the film is three hours packed with much action, but it also provides an inspirational story around it that adds true depth beyond the fighting. The plot is engaging and thrilling, and while you may begin the movie as a skeptic, you will be at the edge of your seat with your heart racing by the climax.  If I was to find fault in the movie, I would say that it could have been somewhat shorter; at times the pace slows and scenes stretch on beyond what’s required. But it’s so easy to overlook that when you have a movie that excels everywhere else. This movie is a groundbreaking achievement for Rajamouli and, in my opinion, blows both Baahubali 1 and 2 out of the water. I feel like calling it the greatest South Indian movie ever is a bit too aggressive considering the high quality of films being churned out in Tollywood, but I’ll be waiting here until someone shows me one that’s better. RRR is a milestone in Indian cinema, and Hollywood has officially been put on alert.