Welcome to Film Friday’s special edition! Here’s a curated list of the top five films in the Last Week of August 2023. From mind-bending thrillers to heartwarming dramas, these captivating stories and performances have taken the industry by storm. Grab your popcorn and join us on this unforgettable journey through the best of 2023’s film .
Retribution
Retribution is a mediocre thriller starring Liam Neeson as a father who is forced to drive around with a bomb in his car while trying to save his children. The film has some suspenseful moments, but it is ultimately let down by its predictable plot and uninspired characters. Neeson does his best with the material, but he can’t save the film from itself. Overall, Retribution is a forgettable entry in the Neeson action-thriller canon.
Jules
Jules is arriving at a perfect time when it has actually been confirmed that the US authorities are in possession of UFOs and non-human remains. The sci-fi comedy film follows Milton (Ben Kingsley), a man living an ordinary life in a small town who encounters an alien when a UFO crashes in his backyard. He names the alien “search Jules” (Jade Quon) and becomes friends with it. However, the government gets involved, to which Jules, Milton, and his neighbors have to face a number of challenges to navigate this surprising experience in their lives. Bleecker Street’s Jules looks like a delightfully low-key gem in the midst of big-budget blockbusters.
The Retirement Plan
The Retirement Plan is a fast-paced action thriller that follows Ashley (Ashley Greene) and her young daughter Sarah (Thalia Campbell) as they are caught up in a criminal enterprise that puts their lives at risk. When Ashley turns to her estranged father Matt (Nicolas Cage), currently living the life of a retired beach bum in the Cayman Islands, for help, their reunion is fleeting as they are soon tracked down on the island by crime boss Donnie (Jackie Earle Haley) and his lieutenant Bobo (Ron Perlman).
The film is directed by Jon Avnet and written by Eric Garcia. It is a slick and stylish production with plenty of action and suspense. Cage is in good form as the estranged father who must come to terms with his past in order to save his daughter. Greene and Campbell are also good in their roles. Overall, The Retirement Plan is an entertaining and well-made action thriller. It is not the most original film, but it is sure to keep you entertained from beginning to end.
Dream Girl 2
Dream Girl 2 is a spiritual sequel to the 2019 film Dream Girl. It stars Ayushmann Khurrana as Pooja, a man who impersonates a woman on the phone for a living. The film also stars Ananya Panday as Zoya, a young woman who is trying to make it big in the entertainment industry.
The film is a comedy-drama that explores themes of gender identity, family, and love. It is well-acted and has some funny moments, but it also feels somewhat unoriginal and predictable. Overall, Dream Girl 2 is a decent film, but it is not as good as the original.
Abar Proloy
Abar Proloy is a Bengali crime thriller web series directed by Raj Chakraborty. It stars Saswata Chatterjee , Ritwick Chakraborty. The series follows the story of Animesh Datta, a police officer who is sent to the Sundarbans to investigate a human trafficking racket. The series is full of action, suspense, and drama, and it features some impressive performances from the cast. However, the series is also quite predictable, and the plot is somewhat convoluted. Overall, Abar Proloy is an entertaining watch, but it is not a groundbreaking series.
