Here is my Animal Movie Review:
I watched the Animal movie by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, and let me tell you my Animal movie review. After diving into a plethora of reviews and discussions, I realized that after years of reviewing, I can no longer experience a film solely as a viewer. Instead, I approached this film with a multi-faceted perspective.
The thing is, my second favorite director after Adrian Lyne—the genius who gave the world Nine and a Half Weeks, Fatal Attraction, and Lolita—once said, "A film should evoke strong reactions—people should debate and disagree over it." Well, that is just what Sandeep Reddy Vanga has done with ANIMAL, and he did so with panache!
This film is destined to be a topic of heated discussion long after its box office run concludes. I genuinely believe it has the potential to catalyze a cultural shift with its raw and unfiltered honesty.
Personally, I found myself less invested in the family feud or the father-son dynamic. I felt the absence of a pivotal scene where Anil Kapoor deeply converses with his wife about their son, which could have provided a richer emotional context.
However, Sandeep’s clever use of clichés merely as springboards to craft unprecedented scenes is commendable. He presented familiar content in an innovative manner, exposing the hypocritical moral standards often upheld by traditional filmmakers.
The film jolted me multiple times, which some critics attribute to its so-called slow pacing and extended runtime. Yet for me, that very pace enhances the element of surprise.
One standout moment was when Ranbir’s character defied all expectations—my own included—by returning not with a baseball bat but with a machine gun. That was pure cinematic brilliance!
Ranbir's character struck me like lightning when he delivered the profound line, "Happiness is a decision,” blending innocence with conviction. This line encapsulates Sandeep’s mindset, much like many other dialogues throughout the film.
The buildup leading to Ranbir's declaration to his father—“I will destroy the world if anyone lays a finger on you”—felt akin to watching the meticulous process of cake-making before the icing is applied. It was simply delectable!
The pre-interval fight scene set to Arjun Velly’s song reminded me of Michael Jackson’s iconic “Beat It” music video. While some may dismiss this unconventional approach, it’s essential to remember Ayn Rand’s words: “Art is not what it is; art is also what it could be.” This philosophy makes Sandeep an artist in the truest sense.
The inclusion of seemingly random comedic moments—like the bra strap spanking or discussions about sex with doctors—may appear out of context but serve as subconscious tools to hammer the protagonist's character into our minds.
One aspect I found less appealing was the interval fight with masked characters. While many loved it, I felt it strayed from the film's overall tone. Additionally, the body double sequence and climax fight at the airstrip didn’t resonate with me either.
In the masked men scene where they kill a decoy, I questioned why the lead villain would remove his mask if their intent was anonymity—a moment that surprised me regarding Sandeep's choices.
The sister’s confrontation with Vijay after discovering he killed her husband was nothing short of brilliant. Sandeep elevated this moment beyond what Francis Coppola achieved in The Godfather, as here, Vijay directly tells his sister about her husband’s fate.
Bobby's introduction as a villain stands out as one of the most original in cinematic history—unveiled like a bride through a split-screen effect. Pure genius!
Another striking moment occurs when Vijay walks naked to symbolize his regained health—a bold statement that left me speechless!
The only time Vijay's character faltered for me was during his shoe-licking command to the mole; perhaps it was due to the brilliant casting of that actress, who evoked instant empathy from her first close-up.
Rashmika's confrontation about condom usage was impeccably written and executed; her performance blew me away!
From the trailers, I had concerns about Ranbir potentially overacting, but after watching ANIMAL, I found myself questioning whether his performance overshadowed the character or vice versa. I've never witnessed such consistency in an actor's portrayal except for that one shoe-licking scene.
While Ranbir may have been physically naked in one scene, his emotional vulnerability throughout the film showcased far greater strength than mere physicality.
Hey Sandeep Reddy Vanga, please send me a photo of your feet because:
- You’ve shattered every conventional filmmaking rule since the advent of professional cameras.
- Your film will force the industry to rethink its clichés.
- From Hitchcock to Spielberg and beyond, who advocate brevity in filmmaking, you took your time—and I cherished every second (pun intended).
- Stars across languages will aspire to embody characters like these, paving the way for new writers and directors who will expand cinematic horizons.
And finally, for that JUMP CUT from Anil’s last line to the closing shot showing Ranbir weeping in Shakti Kapoor’s lap—I want to kiss you on your mouth and worship Ranbir Kapoor’s feet!