Rajdhani | Restaurant Review

Place: Rajdhani 
Location: First Floor, Uptown Banjara, Opp. TV9, Banjara Hills 
Cuisine: Rajasthani, Gujarati 
Meal: Dinner (with bro) 

Rajdhani used to be one of my favourite restaurants while I lived in Mumbai. Their food was finger licking good, and the service impeccable. Though their restaurant in Hyderabad opened a while ago, I was hesitant to go for I was apprehensive on whether the food and service here would live up to the Mumbai standards. My brother visited this place a couple of weeks ago and said quite a few good things about it. So here I was to check it out myself.

Walking in, the place had a traditional touch, and the ambiance was good. Being a weekday, the place was pretty much empty. We sat down at a table for four. Like with De Thali, the thalis was pre-arranged on the table. Once we were seated, the service started.

They had a Mango festival all through the month of May, so most of the food had mango in it. This day, they had Aam ka Panna as the welcome drink, Punneri Misal, Khapoli Wada and Dal Bati Churma for starters, Lilla Kinda Pitlo, Paneer Hariyali, Batata Raswala and Ragada Vatana for Vegetables, Spicy and Sweet Dal, and Kadhi, Pulkas, Poori, Biscuit Bakri, Mithi Paratha, Kichidi, Biryani, Aam Ki Lungi, and for deserts, Aam Ka Ras and Fruit Custurd. Uff!!

The Aam Ka Panna had the perfect sweet and sour taste. The Punneri Missal was more of a mixture, Dal Bati Churma was very good, and the Khapoli Wada was excellent. I ended up having almost 3 or 4 Wadas. Off the subjis, my favorite was the Pitlo. It was besan (gram flour) curry, cooked to perfection. The paneer was so so, aloo curry decent and vatana alright. The Pulka was a little too dry for my taste, but the Pooris were awesome. Both the Dal’s were yummy, while the Kadhi was decent.

The Kichidi was rich and awesome. The Biryani was simple, with not much masala, but was equally yummy.

Both the deserts were just awesome. The Aam Ka Panna was not to sweet, and the custard was thick. Heavenly!!

Overall, an excellent meal. I should say that the thali was much better than what I remember from Mumbai. The service was exceptional, and all the waiters were courteous. Compared to De Thali, the place is expensive by about 70 bucks, but the difference is totally worth it. But just like the former place, it’s not a restaurant you can visit often.

Dig into the Khandani Rajdhani Thali soon!! Do check out their daily menu online before dropping in 🙂

Food: 9/10
Service: 8.5/10
Ambiance: 8/10
Meal for 1: Rs. 274/- (all-inclusive)

Verdict: 9/10

 

Relish (Mumbai) | Restaurant Review

Place: Relish – International Veg Cuisine
Location: Prem Court, Tata Road, Churchgate, Mumbai
Cuisine: Continental
Meal: Lunch (with a friend)

I’ve been meaning to write this review for over 6 months now. Relish was my favourite restaurant while I lived in Mumbai. Located in between Churchgate station and Marine Drive, Relish is a nice fancy restaurant. It’s brightly lit and is full on most occasions (which can make it quite loud). It’s got a huge menu, all vegetarian. From Italian to Mexican, Indian to Lebanese, they’ve got it all. And the best part is that they are all reasonably priced.

I was here with a friend back in December 2011 for lunch. Though I’ve had it before, I wanted to have the Veg Kaukswe (Indonesian curry served on a bed of buttered noodles) again, and also wanted to try their Mushroom Melange fondue (Delicately flavoured melted cheese with sautéed mushroom, dipping bread and assorted seasoning). Our appetite was quite limited that afternoon, but we still decided to go for both.

The Kaukswe is the best noodles I’ve had so far in my life. The curry was yummy, has this sweet and sour taste and tastes awesome with the buttered noodles. Season it with the crushed peanut served along, squeeze some lime juice, and it tastes splendid!!

I was having a fondue for the first time in my life and had nothing to compare it with, but I thought this one was excellent. It was just like mentioned, awesome cheese sauce, perfectly sautéed mushroom and crunchy dipping bread. Adding the spices served and some chilli flakes to the cheese sauce made it taste even better. Yum is not the word.

I’ve had their pizza (Spicy Indiana) before and it is perfect. Their German Potatoes, Baked Nachos, Lasagna are all equally good.

Overall, an awesome meal. The quantity of food served was exceptional and we were struggling to finish what we ordered. The service is very good, and their prices include all the taxes (except 5% service charge). This is one restaurant I would suggest to anyone living in or visiting Mumbai. I wish they opened up in Hyderabad.

Food: 9.5/10
Service: 9/10
Ambiance: 9/10
Meal for 2: Rs. 588/-

Verdict: 9.5/10

Hugo | Movie Review

When was the last time you watched a film which made a difference to your life? When was the last time a movie made you question your purpose in this world?? Well, Hugo makes you do all that. It is one of the best films I’ve watched in my life. I loved it more than the Oscar-winning The Artist

Though I’ve watched only a handful of his films yet, I love Martin Scorsese for his type of film making. He, without doubt, is one of the finest film makers in Hollywood. But Hugo is not a typical Scorsese film, for it aint got a dark side to it, there are no screenplay gimmicks, and no freeze frames. This one is an honest film with heart. It’s an adventure with which almost everyone can connect, where Scorsese tells the story of a twelve-year-old Hugo Cabret in the most affectionate way. Based on Brian Selznick’s novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the film is shot splendidly. Though the pace tends to get slow at times, it has these beautiful moments which make it an amazing film. Be it the budding romance between the Station Inspector Gustave and Lisette, or the one between Monsieur Frick and Madame Emile, or the moments created when Rene Tabard tells Mama Jeanne how beautiful she is, all are brilliantly shot. The direction is superb, and so is the screenplay by John Logan. Scorsese ends this masterpiece as an homage to cinema and the pioneers of film. He deserves a tribute himself, period.

Every character in the movie is finely crafted. Asa Butterfield wins your heart with his awesome performance as Hugo Cabret. His portrayal as the kid who is curious to fix broken things while longing to solve the mystery associated with the automaton is absolutely brilliant. Ben Kingsley’s performance as the pioneering French filmmaker Georges Melies is beautiful. He portrays the emotions to perfection.  Chloë Grace Moretz is lively as Isabelle. The chemistry between her and Hugo is entrancing. Every other actor is perfect in their respective roles. It is, I believe, one of the best ensemble cast in a film in recent times.

On the technical front, Hugo is a magnum opus (5 Oscars prove it: Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing). Music by Howard Shore might not be that great, but the sound mixing was awesome. Cinematography by Robert Richardson was without doubt the finest work I’ve seen so far. The breathtaking opening shot of Paris, zooming into the railway station, moving in between the passengers on the platform and finally swooping up into the clock chambers setting onto Hugo is by far the best shot I’ve seen in any form of world cinema. Magnificent!! Editing by Thelma Schoonmaker is the only privative (I am inspired by Isabelle) of the entire film. A little over two hours, the film seemed long, and had some, I wouldn’t call them dull, but slow moments which could have easily made the cut. Art Direction by Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo is splendid. The 3D effects are fluid and flawless.

Overall, Hugo is an epic masterpiece expertly crafted by one of the finest directors of our time. It might be a little too long, but the heart wrenching tale of the twelve-year-old hooks you to  your seat and makes you a part his adventure. It’s a film with a message, one which tells you that you have a purpose in this world, one which tells you never to stop chasing your dreams. I am inspired, and hope you will be too. Go watch it!!

Acting: 9.5/10
Story-Screenplay-Direction: 9/10
Technical Aspects: 9/10
Is it worth your time and money??: Absolutely!! It’s a must watch for every film buff!!

Verdict: 9/10

Vicky Donor | Movie Review

So finally, after 2 weeks, here I was watching Vicky Donor. Having heard so many good things about the film, I was quite apprehensive on whether I would actually like it for I was going in with huge expectations. 10 minutes through, and it looked like I was in for a disaster. But then, it got better and better, and there was no looking back. It’s an awesome movie.

Director Shoojit Sircar brings onto screen a beautiful, lighthearted rom-com, set against the backdrop of sperm donation. In a country where the concept of sperm donation is still considered a taboo, and in a film industry where there are more double meaning dialogues than simple ones, he comes up with this brilliant masterpiece, throwing light on the tabooed subject without stooping low. He handled the subject in a very sensitive way, while making sure to insert some subtle comedy into the film. The direction is very good and he was able to generate best performances from the relatively new cast.  Though it tends to get cheesy at times, Sircar comes up with some beautiful moments – mother and grand mother episodes, the wedding episode – brilliantly picturized. The dialogues by Juhi Chaturvedi are very well written, and help set the mood for the film. They have this typical Delhi flavor to them. The screenplay, also by Juhi, was very good.

I’ve never liked Ayushmann so much, until now that is. He couldn’t have asked for a better debut. He is fun to watch on-screen and it never seemed like was trying too hard either. His Punjabi accent and comic timing are his best assets. Yami Gautam is perfect as his love interest. She so got into the role, that I actually thought she was a Bong. She’s got a beautiful smile. Kamlesh Gill and Dolly Ahluwalia are the best saas-bahu pair I’ve seen in a long time. Their chemistry is extraordinary, especially in the drinking episode. Jayanti Das is very good as Ashima’s father. The scene where he talks about sex with Ashima is hilarious. The hands-down winner in the acting department though is Annu Kapoor. Be it his comic timing, or sensibility in serious episodes, he is an absolute delight to watch. There is no Vicky Donor without Dr. Chaddha, period!!

On the technical front, the movie is flawless. Music and background score is decent, and never too loud. Cinematography by Kamaljeet Negi is simple, yet perfect. Editing by Shekhar Prajapati is crispy. It’s a perfect debut for John Abraham as a producer. I only wish he didn’t flaunt himself in the end title credits.

Overall, a lovely movie with some impeccable direction and acting. The fact that a tabooed subject with sex as its background is able to run packed houses without being derogative in any sense shows how good this film actually is. It’s one film you might enjoy with your family as well. The second best film of the year for me (after Kahaani).

Acting: 9/10
Story-Screenplay-Direction: 8.5/10
Technical Aspects: 9/10
Is it worth your time and money??: Yes, don’t miss it!

Verdict: 9/10

The Avengers | Movie Review

Whoa.. what a movie!! The Avengers is two hours of non stop fun and action. After Mission Impossible, this is one film I’d love to watch over and over again. I’m Hulk smashed!!

It is quite a task to bring four super heroes into one film, and the expectations are pretty high. But director Joss Whedon does full justice by creating a spectacular action film. The script, co-written by Zak Penn, is pacy in itself, and Joss made sure that the story remains close to its roots. I thought there were a few instances which couldn’t be connected well with the previous films, but otherwise the direction was perfect. The way he inserted witty humor (Hulk smashing Loki was hilarious!!), and canned action episodes is commendable. The screenplay is very good. The last 30 minutes of the film was simply superb.

On the acting front, Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) takes the lead with his ever-charming arrogant flair. He mouths some of the best lines in the film as expected.  Chris Evans (Captain America) is perfect. I would have expected him to act a little more surprised with the happenings around him after waking from 70 years sleep though. Mark Ruffalo was good, but I liked Edward Norton (Incredible Hulk) better. His character is the best sketched one in the movie, and this might be the best Hulk movie ever. Him smashing Loki was one of the best scenes in the movie (almost every one in the theater was clapping and hooting for it). Chris Hemsworth (Thor) was excellent, but I thought he had minimum footage. I would have loved to see more of him. Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) looked hot, but I thought her character was not very well explained. Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) is great. The best act of the movie for me though was by Tom Hiddleston (Loki). His expressions and mannerisms were excellent. His character could have been more fearsome though. Samuel Jackson (Nick Fury) was alright.

On the technical front, music by Alan Silvestri is very good. Cinematography by Seamus McGarvey is of top-notch quality. The action episodes were excellently picturized.  Editing by Jeffrey Ford and Lisa Lassek is crisp and perfect. You are left wanting more towards the end of the movie.The graphic work is excellent and the 3D effects deserve a special mention.

Overall, an entertaining film. Some great acting, good direction and amazing effects make this a must watch for every action film fan. Whether you’ve watched the rest of the series or not, you’ll surely enjoy this one. Go get Hulk smashed!!

Acting: 9/10
Story-Screenplay-Direction: 9/10
Technical Aspects: 9/10
Is it worth your time and money??: Yes, totally worth it!!

Verdict: 9/10

Chillys | Restaurant Review

Place: Chillys 
Location: Next to Paradise, S.D Road, Secunderabad 
Cuisine: Indian 
Meal: Dinner (with cousins)

Met my cousins after a long time, and after having loads of fun at Alligator, dropped in at Chillys to hog. It was my choice for I’ve been to this place long time ago, and loved their food. It’s a brightly lit restaurant with an ambiance perfect for family crowd. We were courteously seated at a table for six towards the back of the restaurant. The waiters were quite nice and gave us our time to settle.

We were quite hungry, so skipped the soup and ordered a Veg. Manchuria, Paneer Tikka and Shanghai Rolls for the starters. For the main course, after a lot of khich-khich, we ordered Kaju Masala, Rajasthani Kofta and Hyderabadi Paneer. We went for the Roti Tokri which came with Tandoori roti, Masala Kulcha, Butter Naan and Paratha. We also ordered a portion of Nawabi Kulcha and Kaju Bhari Kulcha. For rice, we ordered Dum Biryani and Veg. Fried Rice.

In less than 10 minutes, the starters were served one after the other. The Manchuria was crispy and crunchy, a little spicy, but still tasted good.

The Shanghai Rolls were again crispy (maybe a little too crispy). The stuffing inside was yummy and overall, delicious.

The best of the lot though was the Paneer Tikka. The paneer was as soft as malai and pretty much melted in my mouth. They were very well marinated and it was one of the best Paneer Tikka I’ve had in recent times.

After another 10 minute wait, the main course was served. The Rajasthani Kofta tasted pretty much like the regular Kofta. The kofta balls were soft and good, the gravy was yum, but maybe a little too salty.

The Hyderabadi Paneer had the awesome paneer in it. The gravy was creamy and yum, but again, little salty.

I loved Kaju Masala the best. The gravy pretty much tasted like the one used for the Hyderabadi Paneer, but overall, excellent.

All the rotis and kulchas were really soft and good. The Stuffed Kulcha was the best.

The Biryani tasted very good, but was a little too oily. The rice also was more or less broken. Nevertheless, it had a nice flavor to it. The Fried Rice on the other hand was excellent. It was perfectly cooked, and I know I say this often, but the best I’ve had in recent times. Yummy!!

To end the meal, we ordered for one Mango and one Chocolate ice cream. The waiter was sweet enough to serve them one by two, and yet, the quantity in each bowl was as good as a full ice cream. Both of them tasted yum.

Overall, we had a wonderful time. The ambiance was perfect and let us be as loud as we could. The waiters were sweet enough to join us in our conversations. One guy was actually motivating my little cousin sister to finish her meal by telling her stories. The prices were very reasonable as well. Though there was nothing exceptional about the food, the overall experience was amazing. The paneer needs a special mention.

This is a perfect restaurant for family dining. Give it a shot with your loved ones!

Food: 8/10
Service: 9.5/10
Ambiance: 8.5/10
Meal for 6: Rs. 1763/-

Verdict: 9/10

Via Milano | Restaurant Review

Place: Via Milano 
Location: Road No. 36, Jubilee Hills 
Cuisine: Italian 
Meal: Lunch (with a friend)

After hearing a lot, and I mean a lot about this place, I was finally here for lunch on my birthday. We walked in into this bright restaurant, well-lit from the sunshine outside. On first look, I liked the place and the ambiance. It was quite full for a weekday and we were seated at a table for four in a corner, next to the bar. We had to move to a different one soon, for I had accidentally spilled water on the table.

We were offered a menu for the Executive Lunch, which was basically a fixed menu which included a drink, starter, an entrée and a desert. For 500 bucks (vegetarian), it seemed very reasonable, so we opted for it.

The moment we placed the order, a bread basket was served along with Olive oil, Vinegar, Chopped Tomatoes and Garlic sauce. The bread was fresh, and the garlic sauce was awesome. It was definitely the best I’ve had in recent times. Finger licking good!

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For the drinks, I picked Surf Song (Pineapple juice, Lychee juice, Coconut milk, Blue Curacao) and my friend had a Winter Breeze (Cranberry juice, Melon syrup, sweet and sour). The Surf Song was served in a Margarita glass and was very good. The other drink was served in a wine glass, half filled (as much as you see in the pic). It tasted just like regular Cranberry juice, nothing great. I was very disappointed with the quantity.

For the starters we had Fried Buffalo Mozzarella and Zucchini Rolls, with a tomato sauce, and Panzarotties filled with spinach, ricotta cheese and nuts served with a spicy tomato and pesto sauce.

The cheese and zucchini rolls were very well presented. The quantity though was minimal (It was the same for the rest of the meal, so I wouldn’t mention it again). The taste though was exceptional. The cheese was very good and was melting in my mouth. They tasted great with the yummy garlic sauce.

The Panzarotties tasted very good, crunchy, and I loved the spicy sauce served along.

For the main course, it was Spaghetti in a cream and tomato sauce, with herbs and sautéed vegetables, and Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli on fresh oregano scented light tomato sauce.

The Spaghetti’s quantity was much better than the rest. It was good and had a strong tomato flavor to it. I would have preferred it to be more creamy.

The Ravioli tasted pretty much like the Panzarotties. The sauce was creamy and yum.

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Finally, for deserts, we picked a Tiramisu with Italian Mascarpone cheese, Lavazza Espresso  and Rum, and a White and Dark Chocolate Mousse Terrine. The Mousse was excellent. The Tiramisu was good as well, but had loads of rum in it, too strong for me.

Though I was full, unable to stop my temptation to have a pizza (since I’ve heard that these guys serve really good pizzas), ordered a Quattro Formaggi (tomato sauce and four types of Italian cheese; mozzarella, parmesan, goat cheese and gorgonzola).

After having small portions of everything, was first impressed by the size of the pizza (I am guessing it was a good 12″). The crust was good, sauce perfect, but I thought the cheese was a lil too strong. It had an after taste which was quite weird. Though I liked it, I still prefer the 100 Degrees or the Viva Italia pizza.

Overall, a sumptuous meal. I loved the concept of the executive lunch. Though the quantities could have been way better, it was good enough to make you walk out without feeling stuffed. The ambiance is great, service was pretty good as well, except that it took unusually long periods of time for the food to be served (not that we had a problem with it). I liked the way they presented their food, and the food in itself was pretty yummy. It would now be tough to choose between this place and Little Italy.

I’d suggest you give the place a try. Who knows, you might have a new favorite restaurant in town! 🙂

Food: 9/10
Service: 8.5/10
Ambiance: 9/10
Meal for 2: Rs. 1555/- (Including the pizza)

Verdict: 9/10

Viva Italia | Restaurant Review

Place: Viva Italia 
Location: Ground floor, White House, Next to Lifestyle Building, Begumpet 
Cuisine: Italian 
Meal: Dinner

I’ve read good things about this place on Zomato, and was looking forward to try it out. And when I finally did, loved it so much that I returned in a span of a week. The first time around, I dropped in with a friend. It’s a small little stall located towards the exit of the White House building, with a couple of tables laid out.

The menu was quite huge and everything was very reasonably priced. It’s more of a self-service kinda place, so we ordered a Garden Fresh pizza and a Veg Alfredo pasta with Spaghetti, sat at one of the table and watched our pizza being rolled out from scratch. In about ten minutes, the pizza was served in a take-away box. It was a probably an 9″ thin crust pizza, and looked tempting. And trust me when I say this, it was heavenly!! It was very well-baked, the veggies really crunchy, and the cheese was just awesome. My only problem was it being served in the box, which made the crust soggy (because of the steam). Otherwise, the best pizza I’ve had in Hyderabad. The best compliment probably would be when my friend from Lithuania, Europe, said it tasted like pizza at home.

Next came the pasta in a small plastic container. It was cheesy, cheesy and more cheesy, just like I wanted it to be. On the down side, I though the spaghetti was a little under cooked, and  that there was too much Basil, which gave it a very strong flavor. Even then, it was yum!!

We ended our meal with an ice cream from Sweet Chill, their other venture. We had Mango and Chocochip, both of which were amazing.

I was so in love, here I was again four days later, this time alone. And ordered the same pizza, minus capsicum, plus olives. I wanted to try something more, so also ordered a Chilly Cheese Tomato Toast.

Again, in about ten minutes, the pizza was served, and looked as yummy as the last time. But I found that the crust was a little under-cooked, and the co-owner was more than happy to replace it for me when I pointed it out. In the mean time, my toast was served.

The toast was served in silver foil, and looked quite heavy. And again, trust me when I say this, it was one of the best sandwich I’ve had in Hyderabad. For 30 bucks, it was an awesome deal. It was cheesy, well-toasted, and had a nice flavor. Yum!!

And then came my pizza, this time crispy. It tastes delicious, as good as the last time!!

Overall, an excellent find. Amazing Italian food, easy on the pocket. The ambiance is pretty neat, and the service, if you can call it that, is very good. The owner was around most of the time, was very friendly, and made sure that every customer was satisfied. The desert place next door is also very good.

I now have a new favorite pizza place in town. And guess what, it’s very affordable!!!

Food: 9.5/10
Service: 9.5/10
Ambiance: 9/10
Meal for 2: Rs. 210/- (Pizza and Pasta)
Meal for 1: Rs. 140 (Pizza and Toast)

Verdict: 9.5/10

Titanic (3D) | Movie Review

Now how does one rate a classic like Titanic?? I was 11 years old when the movie first released and I still remember the first time I went to watch it. I barely had any knowledge about movies back then, but the sheer grandeur and brilliance of this movie made me watch it a billion times over and over!! (Twice in the last five days in 3D!!)

After working on action classics like The Terminator, Rambo, Aliens and True Lies, James Cameron comes up with one of the best romantic, epic movies of all times. The way he adds fiction to the true story is absolutely brilliant. The script is too long, dialogues a little cheesy, screenplay a tad slow, but the whole package together is so beautiful that you end up falling in love with the movie. Bottom line, I’m no one to talk about this man.

Twenty-two year old Kate Winslet looks gorgeous as Rose DeWitt Bukate, and plays her role to perfection. Her performance in the climax is so bloody haunting that I have goosebumps even now thinking about it. Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal as Jack Dawson is one of his best works to date. The chemistry between them is probably the finest you will ever see on-screen. The rest of the cast, Billy Zane, Bill Paxton, Kathy Bates, Victor Garber, and every other actor, is excellent. It’s a shame that it didn’t win any Oscars for acting!

Cinematography by Russell Carpenter is absolutely splendid. The way he captured the romantic moments between Rose and Jack in the first half, and the disastrous sinking in the latter half is terrific. It is one of the best work on cinematography I’ve seen to date. Editing by James Cameron, Conrad Buff IV and Richard A. Harris is perfect. Music by James Horner is absolutely brilliant. Be it the foot tapping Irish music for the real party under-decks, the musicians playing till the last-minute before the sink, or the ever loved “My Heart Will Go On”, master-pieces!!

James Cameron spent over a year with 300 people to digitally remaster the 1997 version into 3D. And the effort pays off, for it was fantastic to watch this masterpiece on big screen again. The 3D effect wasn’t so great, but seriously, who cares?? It’s TITANIC!! 3D or not, go re-live this magnum opus all over again!

Verdict: NA

 

The Artist | Movie Review

I knew this was the toughest review I was ever going to write even before watching the movie, but boy, was it an experience. Jean Dujardin, man, take a bow, for you were out of this world!! (He now joins the list of my all time favorite actors :))

The moment you know that it’s a black and white silent movie, you have this notion in your head, a notion you cannot describe. But having enjoyed the all time Indian silent classic Pushpak years ago, I kinda was motivated to watch this film (even before it won the Oscars). I am glad I did.

The Artist is a movie which you can connect with. It’s very predictable at times, but brilliant, moving yet humorous performances by Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo and every other cast member, not to forget the dog, Uggy, make you fall in love with the movie. Every character is so well written that you can emotionally connect with them. The cinematography, though in black and white, is absolutely mind-blowing, and the direction perfect. The background musical score adds so much life to the film. The screenplay was good, though, pardon my ignorance if that’s how it’s supposed to be in b&w classics, was kinda slow at times.

Overall, a fabulous film, one of the best I’ve seen so far. If you wanna have a delightful experience, go watch The Artist, with pleasure!

Verdict: 9/10