Date of Release: 19 October 2023
Starring are Gautham Vasudev Menon, Priya Anand, Mysskin, Mansoor Ali Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Thalapathy Vijay, Trisha, Arjun, and others.
Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj
Producer: Lalit Kumar
Director of Music: Anirudh Ravichander
Cinematographer: Paramahamsa Manoj
Editor: Raj Philomin
Rating: 2.5/5
Box office emperor Thalapathy Vijay collaborated with remarkable director Lokesh Kanagaraj on the action drama Leo. Since the film’s announcement, there has been a lot of hype surrounding it, and right now, interest in it is greater than ever. Judging by the advance reservations, Leo is going to wreak havoc at the ticket windows. Check out if the much-anticipated film lived up to the hype.
Story:
Parthiban (Thalapathy Vijay) owns and runs a café in Theog, Himachal Pradesh. Like any other family man, he lives with his wife Satya (Trisha) and their two children. One day, a couple of criminals threaten to kill Parthiban’s daughter and a cafe employee when they break into his establishment. Parthiban puts his family in jeopardy by killing the goons since he has no other option. During all of this drama, gangsters Antony Das (Sanjay Dutt) and Harold Das (Arjun) join Parthiban’s life, mistaking him for their relative, Leo Das (Thalapathy Vijay). Exactly who is this Leo Das? What happened to him? How was Parthiban going to get out of the pandemonium they were in? This is the central theme of the rest of the film.
Extra Credits:
The majority of the first half of the film is fascinating. This is where the tempo is intentionally maintained slow. The hyena scene and the ensuing family drama introduce us to the Parthiban universe. There is absolutely no rush to the process. The intention was to present the protagonist’s environment and people in an orderly manner. The movie’s best part is the fight scene that takes place in the cafe.
The combat scenes in the first hour are very satisfying since Vijay’s vulnerability is depicted so well. Apart from his fame, Vijay is also a talented performer. Leo skillfully showcases Thalapathy Vijay’s acting abilities. The combat scenes in the first half are masterfully choreographed, and Vijay’s portrayal and the action scenes are beautifully scripted to keep the action flowing.
The halftime block does a good job of setting the stage for the second half. Leo features some really strong action scenes with well-chosen cinematography. Trisha does well in her position. The pre-climax and climax scenes in the film have a faster pacing. Yes, the movie is a part of the LCU, and fans of the franchise will enjoy a few bits of this. Finally, there’s a little surprise.
Negative Points:
Always, the second half is crucial because it determines the film’s scope. However, the majority of movies these days suffer from the second-hour syndrome. Regretfully, Leo belongs to the same group. The writing style used in the flashback sections is actually quite unexpected. From someone who made amazing films, like Lokesh Kanagaraj, one wouldn’t expect such drab writing.
After the intermission, the speed slows down once again, with little narrative development. However, a few scenes carry the action through to the start of the flashback section, which is where the movie loses its momentum. The poor writing detracts from Sanjay Dutt and Arjun’s effect. As said, the writing department must take responsibility for this.
Priya Anand and other actors play supporting roles in the film. In the second half, a well-known actress plays a crucial role that is ill-designed. The supposed poignant moments are flat. The Naa Ready song is a huge letdown, but the Telugu dubbing is good. The battle scene in the cafe is accompanied by a Tamil song. For the Telugu version, it would have been preferable if the creators had included some Telugu music. The small details, such as significant paper clippings and text etched on a picture frame, were written in Tamil. These minor particulars also matter.
Technical Aspects:
Parts of Anirudh’s background score are strong. Comparing it to his greatest works, such as Master and Vikram, it is not as good. Due to poor translation, the songs also failed to make an impression. Manoj Paramahamsa’s cinematography is outstanding. The action block in the flashback sequence included excellent camera movement. While the first hour’s editing is excellent, the second half’s quality is subpar. The hyena scene’s VFX was excellent. The VFX in the automobile chase scene is mediocre because the entire scene has a cartoonish appearance.
Regarding the director, Lokesh Kanagaraj, he performed a passably good job working with Leo. Lokesh played a clean first half, but he was unable to maintain the same pace in the second. Undoubtedly, we have seen this narrative a number of times, but the telling of the story is what counts most. With his flicks, Lokesh has raised the standard, but he was unable to fully meet it with Leo, and the result is only passably good.
Verdict:
Overall, Leo is an action movie that heavily depends on Thalapathy Vijay’s performance. Despite moving slowly in the first half, the movie is interesting until the second half begins. The main flaws are the flashback sections and the shoddy character design. There are some moments that fans of the series will always treasure, and Leo is a part of the LCU. Leo lacks some of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s enchantment, and Vijay’s popularity and the LCU factor will determine how well the movie does at the box office.
