Kingdom Movie Review: Vijay Deverakonda shines in thrilling Spy
After the great success of Jersey, Gowtam Tinnanuri takes a different tone with Kingdom. He delivers a spy thriller with so much tension that it is packed with politics, drama, and intelligence. It is the first of two expected films and does a wonderful job of setting a serious and grounded tone from the very beginning.
A Rebel against corruption
The plot follows a young man (played by Vijay Deverakonda) on the right side of the moral compass versus a politically corrupt system. He does not play the role of your typical loud action hero. His hero is calm, intelligent, and emotionally grounded.
Direction and Writing
Gowtam Tinnanuri plays to his strengths with a slow, measured narrative, but we feel Groove in the first half, which establishes the building of suspense without explicit conflict, is admirable. The subtext is subtly political but includes a lot of background noise in the first half. The weak point comes in the second half; there are still powerful moments, most notably the climax.
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Performances
Vijay Deverakonda delivers one of his most mature performances. He takes on a serious role, stepping away significantly from his larger-than-life, attractive personality, and plays it with determination. His evolution feels authentic, letting go of one persona to identify the film’s emotional state. He easily carries both emotional weight and a couple of action scenes equally well. Satyadev, who has the potential to be in an acting class by himself, and Manish Chaudhari are a welcome addition to the cast fundamentals, while Goparaju Ramana keeps a more grounded and institutional feeling throughout. Bhagyashri Borse has a small role, but if credible and honest, and quiet strength even when necessary.
What Works
- The strong and mature performance from Vijay Deverakonda
- The visuals and background music are stunning and rich
- The storytelling feels realistic, and the politics feel real
- The climax is elevated, and the tension is engaging
What Could Have Been Better
- Some scenes were less impactful emotionally
- The pacing dropped in the middle
- Secondary characters could have used more depth
