LEO: BLOODY SWEET- CAREER BEST PERFORMANCE BY THALAPATHY VIJAY IN THIS ALMOST MISFIRE BY LOKESH KANAGARAJ

Hi everyone, I am Artist. Living in the city of dreams aka illusion-MUMBAI, it has been quite an adventure I would say. So, this is my Blog about what I am which means that I am Movies, Movies are me. My only source of entertainment are movies. SO LETS START!!

ABOUT THE FILM: 

Box office emperor Thalapathy Vijay joined forces with sensational filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj for the action drama, Leo. The film has been making noise right since its announcement, and its hype reached unprecedented levels now. Let’s see if this much-hyped film lived up to the expectations or not.

Date Of Release: 19th October 2023

Genre: Action Thriller, Suspense, Drama, Gangster, Crime Film and Crime Fiction.

Runtime: 164 Minutes

Languages: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi

Budget: 285 Crores all inclusive of promotion cost and 120 Crores as the salary cost of Vijay.

Box Office Collection: 592.95 Crore

Directed And Written By: Lokesh Kanagaraj

Cast: THALAPATHY Vijay, Sanjay Dutt, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Trisha Krishnan, Arjun Sarja, Babu Antony, Mysskin, Mathew Thomas, Priya Anand, Mansoor Ali Khan

• Cinematography: Manoj Paramahamsa
• Music: Anirudh Ravichander
• Producer: Ramkumar Balasubramanian And Seven Screen Studio

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR: 

Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Vijay film ‘Leo’ captivated fans of Thalapathy and the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) with thrilling action, poetic cinematography, realistic VFX, and top-notch editing. Furthermore, it redefined Vijay as a middle-aged man. However, despite its successes, one aspect of the film received criticism – the portrayal of its villains. This departure from Lokesh’s usual standards was a point of contention even among dedicated Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Cinematic Universe (LCU) fans.

Unlike the MCU where there’s a mix of genres, all the LCU films will only be action-entertainers. I see the LCU as an action-packed universe, whose heroes are loud about their message towards a drug-free society. I recently went to a few colleges where I made about 12,000 students take a pledge against drug usage. When stars talk about it, the reach would be multi-fold.” 

The director has his hands full for at least another couple of years. “As of now, there are two more films in the lineup. Up next is Rajinikanth sir’s film which will go on floors from April 2024. After wrapping that up, Kaithi 2 will happen. However, Rajini sir’s film will not be a part of the LCU; it’s a standalone experimental film.”

Lokesh Kanagaraj breaks away from his usual filmmaking conventions in this film, offering a narrative that demands the audience’s active engagement in connecting the dots. The true intrigue lies in the movie’s unpredictability – you’ll be constantly surprised, never quite sure where it’s heading to.

Story: 

Theatres echo with cheers from Vijay’s ardent fans, and eager audiences rush to the morning shows, adding another impressive chapter to Thalapathy Vijay’s legacy. Is Leo another remarkable achievement for him? Absolutely. It’s safe to say that Vijay’s transformation in the movie, under the direction of Lokesh Kanagaraj, is remarkable. In Leo, he portrays Parthiban, an animal rescuer and cafe owner, living with his wife (Trisha) and their two children. 

Despite boasting a baddie gang consisting of the likes of Sanjay Dutt, Arjun, Babu Antony, Mysskin, and Anurag Kashyap, and a formidable army of henchmen, ‘Leo’ received criticism from both fans and film analysts in this regard. A close look would reveal that filmmaker-actor Mysskin, who was impressive with his portrayal of the witty, cruel, and at times helpless Shanmugam, the leader of a contract killer gang, was the only one who enjoyed a well-developed villain character in ‘Leo’.

However, there is a vicious and ferocious villain in ‘Leo’, sometimes even more merciless than Rolex Sir, who remained elusive to all.
Spoiler Alert: If you have not watched ‘Leo’ yet, drop this here and please come back after watching it.
Parthiban fought with this elusive adversary from the beginning of the movie. And when he won the battle with every other opponent, he lost the war to this nemesis. Leo Das!

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From the moment Parthiban takes on the spotted hyena (Subrahmani) in Himachal to the time he sets out to rescue his son, we see him constantly fighting the ‘Badass’ Das. The bread crumbs dropped by Lokesh, leading to his supervillain, are always a layer beneath the snow. They surface only when you revisit those scenes after Parthi reveals his true identity to his uncle Harold Das (Arjun). Till then Parthiban being Leo is a mere possibility or a case of mistaken identity. In real-time, while watching the film, an external adversary seems to be the cause of Parthiban’s fear and despair. However, he is worried about the reappearance of an inner demon, who he had successfully confined to the dark alleys in the depths of his soul.

• From gulping down the pain of wounds he sustained after a face-off with the hyena, crying out in despair after the shoot-out at the cafe, standing guard by windows sleepless at nights after the incident, shutting himself down and confining himself to the four walls of his house after tasting the smell of blood, and pushing the authorities to give his family 24-hour police protection, they were all part of last stance against Leo and not against any external force.
• Vijay has done an incredible job showcasing the agony of Parthiban, who wants to hide the heinous past from his wife and children. Though in ‘Vikram’, Karnan (Kamal Haasan) has also been shown as someone in a constant struggle to keep his ‘Ghost’ self – Vikram – hidden from all. He is never at war with that alias. It’s undeniable that this film marks a career-defining moment for Thalapathy Vijay. Even if you’re not a devoted fan, you’ll likely find yourself applauding Vijay’s performance throughout.
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• A detour: The father-child relationship has been a pivotal element in all three movies within this franchise. In ‘Kaithi,’ Dili embarks on a rampage to reunite with his baby girl, while in ‘Vikram,’ the character invokes his Karnan persona to seek vengeance for his son, ACP Prabhanjan IPS (portrayed by Malayali actor Kalidas Jayaram).
• Thalapathy Vijay and Lokesh Kanagaraj successfully hid their supervillain in plain sight. All other villains were just decoys for the ‘Badass’ one.

Best Performances: 

Undoubtedly, it’s Vijay who consistently steals the spotlight, and given his immense stardom, it was imperative for the film to feature an equally formidable antagonist. Sanjay Dutt steps into that role with great finesse, exuding a remarkable aura of villainy that perfectly complements the movie. Trisha delivers a commendable performance, even though her role in the movie doesn’t carry major prominence; she holds her ground with grace. Arjun, portraying yet another antagonist, impressively exudes style and charisma in his character.

Apart from Vijay, what truly propels the movie forward is Anirudh’s exceptional background score and music. Anirudh, basking in the success of ‘Jailer,’ adds yet another powerful track, ‘Badass,’ to ‘Leo.’ The background score is a sheer delight, exciting the audience with its ability to maintain focus on the movie’s style, even during intense or unsettling moments. With all that in mind, ‘Leo’ is a complete entertainer for those who appreciate grand spectacle and drama. However, for those seeking a logical or intricate story, ‘Leo’ may fall short of expectations, lacking a standout element in its storyline. But, when compared with Vijay’s past films like ‘Varisu’ and ‘Beast,’ ‘Leo’ undoubtedly brings a breath of fresh air. It’s important to acknowledge that the movie, like ‘Leo’, isn’t without its flaws.

It’s evident that the movie is primarily designed for mass entertainment, with the central spotlight on Vijay. While actors like Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Sarja had the potential to be formidable villains, their roles were not fully realized. As the movie unfolds, it becomes apparent that the antagonists pose little challenge to Vijay, and in certain emotional scenes, even Vijay’s expressions come across as somewhat underwhelming.

Before the release of ‘Leo,’ Lokesh Kanagaraj had emphasized that he poured his heart and soul into the film, and that commitment is evident on the big screen. This movie is crafted exclusively for the theatrical experience, and it would be a missed opportunity to leave it to arrive on OTT platforms. As ‘Leo’ concludes, it leaves the door open for a potential sequel, consolidating its place as a golden addition to Lokesh’s movies.

I had a question to ask you all that how was the film to you. Did you like it or have any more to add.

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