#Leo Review

#Leo 
2023-Tamil
Starring: Thalapathy Vijay, Arjun , Sanjay Dutt , Trisha , Gautham Menon , Priya Anand, Sandy , Mansoor Ali Khan and Mysskin
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj

Plot : Parthiban, a Café Owner in Theog, Himachal Pradesh becomes a Local Hero when attacks a gang of robbers when they try to rob his café. This Fame puts him into the crosshairs of Das & Co who think he is Leo Das , a Dreaded Gangster who faked his death. How Parthiban tries to prove his innocence and save his family forms the rest of the crux.
Vijay has done a wonderful job portraying two different shades. Though Leo Das character only appears for a few mins , he makes his mark. His acting in Emotional Sequences are completely fantastic. A Career Best performance for Thalapathy in recent times after Kaththi. Trisha as his pair is good and gets a solid role. Arjun and Sanjay Dutt as Antagonists are good but their arcs and role is poorly written. Sandy scores as a Psychotic Negative Character. Mysskin okayish. GVM gets his moments and has done a good job. Priya Anand wasted. Madonna Sebastian in a cameo role is decent. Mansoor Ali Khan in a minor role registers his crazy Presence. Babu Antony wasted.

Technically the film is Top Notch. Right from Manoj Paramahamsa's Cinematography to Phliomin Raj's Editing to Anbariv Masters Stunt Choreo everything is great. Special Mention to Art Director Sathees for making the Tobaco Factory feel so real. Anirudh's BGM and Songs are fantastic. His Surprise track "Iam Scared" is just ingenious and the way Loki showcased it was brilliant.
Wonderful VFX on Hyena scenes.

On the flipside, the film's second half becomes way too dragged beyond a point. Also the most important factor, the Flashback portions feels a bit generic. Though the screenplay becomes predictable beyond a point. , the film moves on a rapid pace... But the prolonged fight sequences gives the feeling of a lag. The VFX during the pre climax car chase dipped a bit (felt a bit unrealistic). The LCU connect also feels a bit forced at times .
Writers Rathnakumar, Deeraj Vaidy and Director Lokesh Kanagaraj chose a age old core plot but decided to modernize it with the LOKI touch Screenplay and have succeeded partially in that.  
The first half moves at a rapid pace and keeps on the guessing factor on , but post Interval the film falls into generic trope as the film falters in the flashback sequence. The film tries to give an emotional connect between the characters but that also feels incomplete beyond a point. As Lokesh said , this is 100% a Director's film where Actor Vijay has performed. The Climax Portions and Post Climax Twist standout as a Highlight (though it was expected, the Execution made it much more stronger).The most hyped LCU connect felt a bit forced and out of place at points but very eager to see what Lokesh has planned to go with it further. Seems like Leo will play a major role in the future of LCU.

Also want to add this point , CBFC has butchered Naa Ready Song which unfortunately looks so silly and unfinished ...The Lyrics are changed and has the song has lost its coolness..

Highlights:
1) Thalapathy Performance
2)Intro Hyeana Sequence 
3) Tobaco Factory Fight Scene
4) Highway Chase
5)Sandy's Unexpected Deadly Performance
6) The Single Take Emotional Scene performed by Thalapathy Vijay
7)Tobaco Factory Stunt Sequence 

Overall: Leo is a decent revenge drama that boasts of Thalapathy Vijay's Riveting Performance,Anirudh's Bombastic Work and Lokesh's Smart Writing. Though the film suffers from Predictablity and Lags here and there ,film works majorly. Definitely not Lokesh's Best but not his worst also...And is an Unusual Film in Thalapathy's Filmography!

Rating : 3/5

Running In Theatres only Now

Television Rights : Sun TV
Digital Rights : Netflix




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