ugly movie reviews

Subscribe Now! Get features like

• Latest News

• Entertainment
• Real Estate
• Election News Live
• My First Vote
• T20 World Cup 2024
• World Cup Schedule 2024
• World Cup Most Wickets
• World Cup Most Runs
• The Interview
• World Cup Points Table
• Web Stories
• Virat Kohli
• Mumbai News
• Bengaluru News
• Daily Digest
• Election Schedule 2024

Ugly review: A dark, gripping movie that is a must watch

Watch ugly for its cinematic brilliance; for a simple, touching and mind-blowing message. watch it for ronit roy, rahul bhatt and vineet kumar singh. but skip the movie if blood and shootout are all you want to see in an anurag kashyap venture..

Ronit Roy, Rahul Bhatt, Surveen Chawla, Tejaswini Kolhapure

Anurag Kashyap

Ugly won't make your Christmas merry: it is a simple, hard-hitting and dark movie. It shows you how we mess up our own lives because of ego, jealousy and misunderstood notions of people around us.

Director Anurag Kashyap earned critical acclaim two years ago for Gangs of Wasseypur, a movie about greed and violence in small-town India. Ugly is set in Mumbai and if not more powerful than Gangs of Wasseypur it is definitely worthy of featuring somewhere on top of Kashyap's best films' list. For a film written and directed by Kashyap, actors like Ronit Roy and Vineet Kumar Singh (Gangs of Wasseypur) are added advantage.

Ugly does not have over-loaded music, loud background or any of those cliches most Bollywood films survive on. And, without the help of any of these formuale, it still manages to put across its message. Ugly traces a week into the lives of people around a ten-year-old girl Kali (Anshika Shrivastava) who is kidnapped. Unlike Kashyap's movies, Ugly does not have too much of political and social innuendos. This one is about human follies and emotions.

Ronit Roy plays Shoumik Bose, a character who is indifferent to the people he loves the most. He is brilliant in the movie and for once he is not playing an alcoholic (Udaan) or wife-beater (2 States).

Rahut Bhatt is convincing as the bashed-up unmployed man, waiting for the big break in Bollywood and losing all of his personal relations (wife and the kid) in the process. The character of Surveen Chawla, on the other hand, looks forced. Ugly was meant to be her debut movie as well but due to delay in the release, Sushant Singh-Jay Bhanushali-starrer Hate Story 2 was what hit theatres earlier. Chawla is a little over-the-top as a model-actor who is happy changing her partners for the sake of money and is forever decked up in startling blue lipstick and eye-shadow. Tejaswini Kolhapure plays a battered wife and brings out the pain of a barren life perfectly.

Unlike the Kashyap-style that we know, Ugly does not have excessive violence. Rather than blood and gunshots all over the screen, all we see is the turmoil of a character just before violence. By using blank screens and abrupt cuts, Kashyap manages to keep the suspense alive and bring across crucial twists.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Sample some of the characters where Kahsyap brings out the worst human follies:

A struggling actor's wife and child leave him because he cannot provide for them well. He is allowed to meet his daughter only once a week. He also happens to be the one who left her all alone when she is kidnapped. The scenes of father's pain and struggle with guilt prove Kashyap's brilliance as director. When the father rushes to the police station, he is told, "Humein kya pata, tune apni beti ko gayab karwaya hai." The man cannot be expected to think rationally but he does. Because for once, he might be able to pull off his responsibilities towards the estranged wife and kid. Painting the man's struggle with one's own follies to prove to himself that he is not worthless is what Kashyap achieves with Ugly.

A woman is married to a top police officer but all she has got is the social benefits of getting married. She is well provided for, but does not have money of her own. His husband taps her phone and listens to her conversations along with his colleagues. The suffocation of a marriage that happened out of convenience and has now turned into a liability. A husband who tells you, "Do peg laga ke so jaao," when you tell him you feel alone is scary.

A friend who has never really been much of a friend and yet has been tagging along all your life. A friend who does not think twice before using your problem to solve his issues, even if it means trouble for you.

check other news on bollywood section

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now! . Get more updates from Bollywood , Taylor Swift , Hollywood , Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.

Sweta Kaushal has 13 years of experience covering Bollywood and regional movies, TV shows, national current affairs and social issues. ...view detail

Join Hindustan Times

Create free account and unlock exciting features like.

• Terms of use
• Privacy policy
• Weather Today
• HT Newsletters
• Subscription
• Print Ad Rates
• Code of Ethics

• Live Cricket Score
• T20 World Cup India Squad
• T20 World Cup Schedule
• Cricket Teams
• Cricket Players
• ICC Rankings
• Cricket Schedule
• T20 World Cup Points Table
• T20 World Cup Stats
• T20 World Cup Australia Squad
• T20 World Cup Pakistan Squad
• T20 World Cup England Squad
• India T20 World Cup Squad Live
• T20 World Cup Most Wickets
• T20 World Cup New Zealand Squad
• Other Cities
• Income Tax Calculator
• Budget 2024
• Petrol Prices
• Diesel Prices
• Silver Rate
• Relationships
• Art and Culture
• Taylor Swift: A Primer
• Telugu Cinema
• Tamil Cinema
• Board Exams
• Exam Results
• Competitive Exams
• BBA Colleges
• Engineering Colleges
• Medical Colleges
• BCA Colleges
• Medical Exams
• Engineering Exams
• Horoscope 2024
• Festive Calendar 2024
• Compatibility Calculator
• The Economist Articles
• Lok Sabha States
• Lok Sabha Parties
• Lok Sabha Candidates
• Explainer Video
• On The Record
• Vikram Chandra Daily Wrap
• EPL 2023-24
• ISL 2023-24
• Asian Games 2023
• Public Health
• Economic Policy
• International Affairs
• Climate Change
• Gender Equality
• future tech
• Daily Sudoku
• Daily Crossword
• Daily Word Jumble
• HT Friday Finance
• Explore Hindustan Times
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Subscription - Terms of Use

• International
• Today’s Paper
• Join WhatsApp Channel
• Movie Reviews
• Tamil Cinema
• Telugu Cinema

Ugly movie review: Anurag Kashyap takes darkness to an extreme, much more than Paanch

'ugly' film review: it takes that darkness to an extreme, even more so that his first, unreleased 'paanch': a little girl goes missing, and what happens subsequently (and consequently) does not just flow from the fear and anguish..

Ugly Film Review: It takes that darkness to an extreme

Rahul Bhat, Ronit Roy, Tejaswini Kolhapure, Vineet Singh, Girish Kulkarni, Surveen Chawla, Sidhant Kapoor

Director : Anurag Kashyap

You wonder, sometimes, about Anurag Kashyap’s inner life: what is it that makes him veer so much towards the dark side? All his films, even in their upbeat parts, celebrate that part of ourselves which we prefer keeping in the shadow, hidden even from our own eyes. Because some things are too hard to watch.

‘Ugly’ takes that darkness to an extreme, even more so that his first, unreleased ‘Paanch’: a little girl goes missing, and what happens subsequently (and consequently) does not just flow from the fear and anguish that result from the disappearance, but also from anger and old resentment and twisted feelings and present torment.

There’s a parade of fury and ugliness in the film right from its first frame. We see a woman reach the end of her tether, and teeter back from the brink at the appearance of her young daughter. The girl is waiting for her father, her mother’s former husband : he turns up, they go off, and then she vanishes. Did she wander off on her own? Did someone snatch her?

There can be nothing more disturbing a hook than this: it leaves us anxious and worried, and we want for the little girl to be found, because we know the things that can happen to little girls who are lost. But almost immediately after, I was pushed back by the film’s insistence on dragging me through a distracting maze, which keeps looping back on itself.

Characters keep showing up, violence is unleashed, and we are left looking for the focal point. Yes, Kashyap’s point is to show up the ugliness that all humans have within them, that no one is innocent. But the plot starts to get a little too busy and begins to shoot off here and there.

There’s a fine cast and performances on display, meanwhile. Girish Kulkarni, well-known in Marathi cinema, plays a droll cop with superb timing. Tejaswini Kolhapure, who was also in ‘Paanch’, plays the little girl’s mother and does justice to her complex part, matching the darkness of the film. Rahul Bhat is good too, playing his twin strands: the girl’s father, and a struggling actor with over-reaching ambition. Sidhant Kapoor and Surveen Chawla and Vineet Singh, all stand out.

The other actor who has major screen time is Ronit Roy, playing the chief cop leading the investigation, as well as the man married to Tejaswini Kolhapure, as well as the guy who has an old beef with her former husband: he does the roiling sufficiently, but at full-tilt, without giving it a rest: the anger he is enveloped in goes straight to boiling point and stays there. He’s excellent but the relentlessness of him gets tiring. After a while, you want him to pause, and breathe.

And that goes for the film. Parts of it grab you, especially the interplay between the deeply unhappy Tejaswini Kolhapure and the unsmilingly vicious Ronit Roy: I wanted to know more about these people, and what makes them tick. But the film backs off from them, and stays a zig-zag between being a police procedural and a human drama that wants your jugular.

In all the to-ing and fro-ing, it starts feeling too long, and too much, without the requisite emotional pay-off. There are three potentially gripping films in here : one would have been enough.

Children can be subversive change-makers Subscriber Only

Love at first vote: Gen Z is no longer apolitical

Journey of a political meme: From digital war room to Subscriber Only

Managing teen anger

Great Butter Rebellion to Gaza: History of student protests in Subscriber Only

Without vets or hospitals, how do wild animals treat themselves Subscriber Only

All We Imagine As Light is a meditative soliloquy on

Why breakups in the 30s feel different for women

Bhaiyya Ji does Manoj Bajpayee no credit

• Anurag Kashyap
• Tejaswini Kolhapure

A day after the Pune Police chief said that they were probing the attempt to show that the juvenile wasn’t driving the Porsche car that crashed and killed two IT professionals, the cops have arrested the grandfather of the minor on Saturday. The unregistered Porsche car was being driven by a 17-and-a-half-year-old, who was initially granted bail but was later sent to an observation home.

More Entertainment

Best of Express

May 25: Latest News

• 01 Bengaluru’s annual Mango Mela begins at Lalbagh but sellers worried over low crop yield
• 02 Defense spending measure would bar Chinese lidar sensors in US military systems
• 03 SRH vs RR emotional rollercoaster: Sunrisers at home in Chennai, stunning Heinrich Klaasen six, the inevitable Mr. Trent Boult
• 04 SC stays Uttarakhand HC order for its relocation out of Nainital
• 05 BMC appeals to residents to shift from landslide-prone locations ahead of monsoon 
• Elections 2024
• Political Pulse
• Entertainment
• Movie Review
• Newsletters
• Web Stories
• Premium Stories
• 🗳️ Elections 2024
• Express Shorts
• Maharashtra HSC Result
• Brand Solutions

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Forgotten username or password ?

• Start a new list…
• Add all films to a list…
• Add all films to watchlist

Add to your films…

Press Tab to complete, Enter to create

A moderator has locked this field.

Add to lists

Where to watch

Directed by Anurag Kashyap

A team of the best cops in Mumbai is dispatched to find a girl who has gone missing from her father's car. As the hunt for the kidnapper begins, fingers suspiciously point to closer home.

Ronit Roy Rahul Bhat Vineet Kumar Singh Tejaswini Kolhapure Girish Kulkarni Surveen Chawla Siddhanth Kapoor Abir Goswami Anshika Shrivastava Madhavi Singh Saharsh Kumar Shukla Alia Bhatt

Director Director

Anurag Kashyap

Producers Producers

Anurag Kashyap Vikramaditya Motwane Vikas Bahl Madhu Mantena Varma Vivek B Agrawal Arun Rangachari Vivek Rangachari

Writer Writer

Casting casting.

Mukesh Chhabra Mandar Gosavi

Editor Editor

Aarti Bajaj

Cinematography Cinematography

Nikos Andritsakis

Assistant Directors Asst. Directors

Karuna Dutt Saqib Pandor Vyshakh RV

Art Direction Art Direction

Mayur Sharma

Stunts Stunts

Sham Kaushal

Composers Composers

G. V. Prakash Kumar Brian McOmber

Sound Sound

Mandar Kulkarni Pranit Purao

Costume Design Costume Design

Divvya Gambhir Nidhi Gambhir

Phantom Films DAR Motion Pictures

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

Hindi Marathi

Releases by Date

17 may 2013, 26 dec 2014, releases by country.

• Theatrical A

128 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Michael James ★★★½ 2

A gripping dark thriller from Anurag Kashyap, who smartly takes a straightforward kidnap situation, throws in some interestingly written ambiguous characters and manages to hold the suspense throughout, while at the same time reflecting on the various dark shades of emotions. The whodunit setup isn’t about its investigative thrills, but rather an exploration into the ugly moral psyche of humans, making it a much more interesting watch.

Review by Arsaib Gilbert ★★★★ 6

[ Favorites—2010s ] [ Anurag Kashyap: Ranked ] [ Indian Cinema: 2010s ]

It would be an understatement to say that Ugly more than lives up to its title. The latest from Anurag Kashyap, one of the finest Indian filmmakers working today, is set in a dark and decadent world filled with immoral, selfish and spiteful people, each desperately tying not only to outdo the other but also to overcome his or her own past failures—by any means necessary.

There’s Ronit Roy’s police-chief Shoumik Bose, a chauvinistic and brutal individual who records his wife’s phone conversations and hasn’t forgotten about a slight he experienced years ago in college. There’s Rahul Bhat’s Rahul Kapoor, a struggling, indebted actor who is always willing to take his frustrations out…

Review by Milez Das (Rohit Shivdas) ★★★★ 3

Anurag Kashyap is right now Bollywood's most influential director. His last few films have changed the image of cinema in India. Independent movies are being made and even appreciated by the audience.

Even as a Producer he has brought many great films to light. But Ugly is not a light movie...

I missed the chance to watch this movie on the big screen. so I had to wait for a month and half to watch it on blu ray alone.

Ugly is a story termed with selfishness, ego, money and politics. For the runtime of 140 minuted the movie revolves around it. It just get deeper and uglier and I had to accept that sometimes human's forget who they really…

Review by HBSpade ★★★★½ 4

It is probably a testament to Kashyap and his team’s film-making skill that Ugly remains gripping throughout its 2hr runtime, despite every. single. fucking. character being the kind that makes you immediately want to take a shower after coming into contact with them. It helps that he populates this film with a greater percentage of actors over mere children of actors.

A 10-yr old girl goes missing, setting off a web of interlinked events involving the people in her immediate periphery.

The father, a deadbeat wannabe actor, washed up before he ever began, taking his frustration out on everything around him; the mother, a soulless husk of a woman completely defeated by constant abuse from the men in her life…

Review by Homelander ★★★★

the way this film explores the greed inside every human is disgusting and so fuckin true at the same time, the ending broke me, this is what cinema is.

Review by Shahzaann ★★★★

There has never been a title so accurate.

. Filled with amazing performances.Humans are so ugly. . This is Kashyap in his truest essence. . Kashyap as a writer is brilliant. . Such a powerful climax.Absolute chills.Excellent music. . Well there are some loop holes to the plot, and it gets messy at places, still a worth watch for people who love thrilers.

Review by Mike Apps🍿 ★★★★½ 5

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Mystery thrillers suck these days! The "mystery" in question lacks real intrigue, and the "thriller" lacks suspense. The problem seems to be directors failing to engage their audience. We roll our eyes at the obvious red herrings, waiting for the director to arrive at the conclusion we've already seen coming a mile away. A good mystery sows doubt, makes us question the characters we've come to know, until we form a theory in our heads that is then flipped like a burger. Writer-director Anurag Kashyap understands this better than most.

His film Ugly is basically a story about a kidnapped girl and the attempts to find her and nab the kidnappers. But that's all on the surface - the real…

Review by Goliwadekar ★★★★ 8

Of kidnappings, desperation and ugliness.

An ugliness that seeps beneath all the glitter and glow of a metropolis is what we get to see a lot of here. A child of ten vanishes into thin air in broad daylight. What follows is a journey into the underbelly of Mumbai. The chief subject matter itself is not a pretty topic, but the film goes beyond just that and is more interested in its characters. The first big twist comes fairly early into the story as it subverts expectations.

During my first watch, although I liked the film, it felt very nihilistic with no redeeming value as everyone seemed ugly. My feelings are still is the same, except the fact that there…

Review by zuhair vazir ★★★½

A missing ten year old named 'Kali' (flower-bud); A ruthless, tall and towering, suave, extremely well-dressed and groomed, angry, and 'more disciplined than necessary' cop, played by virtuoso actor Ronit Roy who is also on the extreme right side of the law and who keeps his wife imprisoned in their home and his pistol in an unlocked drawer (never mind), a woman who is addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol and on the verge of squeezing the trigger on a Mumbai Police Pistol, whose barrel is snugly fixed in her mouth as the film opens; a reckless and aspiring actor and by now (film-time) a hopeless shadow of himself, Rahul (Rahul Bhatt); his friend and casting director, a sleazy motherfucker…

Review by Ashwani Kumar ★★★★½ 1

Kashyap's last great film.

Review by LadySasori ★★★★ 2

Rahul and Shalini, the parents of 10-year-old Kali, are divorced. The girl now lives with her mother and her stepfather, Shoumik, head of a Bombai police brigade. One Saturday, while Kali is spending the day with her father to go to the movies, Rahul has to stop by his agent Chaitanya (Vineet Singh) to pick up a script. When he returns to his car, his daughter is no longer there, she has disappeared...

"Ugly" is a thriller based on a subject all the more serious as it is inspired by real events. Anurag Kashyap reveals to us the worst, the unthinkable, the ineffable. Like Erik Matti in the Philippines "On the Job", a part of Korean cinema (Na Hong Jin…

Review by nik0teen ★★★★

mfs be like "fuck i lost my kid" and then just forget

Similar Films

Mentioned by

Select your preferred poster

Upgrade to remove ads.

Letterboxd is an independent service created by a small team, and we rely mostly on the support of our members to maintain our site and apps. Please consider upgrading to a Pro account —for less than a couple bucks a month, you’ll get cool additional features like all-time and annual stats pages ( example ), the ability to select (and filter by) your favorite streaming services, and no ads!

Straight From a Movie

Pensive Thoughts on Paper – Movie Reviews & Analyses

Ugly Movie Review (2013): The Paradox of Human Integrity

Guillermo Del Toro once said ‘The most tyrannical thing we invented is nice, the tyranny of nice chokes me. I think we are all complex people; we are all paradoxical people. 9 am You are a saint, 9:30 you are a ****, 10:30 you are a great father,11:45 you are a bad son and that’s you, you should be or can be every color in the rainbow, you should not be black or white and I think the monster is that imperfection is beautiful. I make the voice of the monsters in Pan’s Labyrinth and Pacific Rim , and I completely identify with them.’

In Anurag Kashyap ’s Ugly, there is no Hero or villain, but each character has the composition of both in a subjectively complex way. All the characters organically contradict themselves in the impulse of human emotions like envy, greed, lust, and pride. Even the instinct of protecting an innocent soul cannot win over the selfishness of every corrupted adult in the film. Kashyap’s eclectic thriller explores the depth of human integrity, where intangible emotions and characteristics cannot be quantified to certify anyone as a saint or evil. Circumstances, life experiences, desires, impulses, and inner convictions direct people to change their mindset in minutes or be stubborn for change.

The dichotomy of human character

Ugly reveals the labyrinthian side of humans, which is beyond good or evil. The characters are saints in some circumstances and selfish in others. Shoumik Bose is a stubborn patriarchal husband who controls his wife through money. He later turns out to be a psychopath for taking revenge on Shalini for rejecting her in college by marrying her, only to keep her in captivity. But Shoumik turns out to be the only person to care about his stepdaughter Kali till the last. Shalini and Rahul were terrible parents, but their protective instincts towards their daughter arise when she goes missing.

Shalini was suicidal due to her second failed and unhappy marriage. Thus, she does not properly look after Devi due to her depression. Devi’s father Rahul is still a struggling actor and an immature adult to give proper attention to her. Both are incompetent but not abusive as parents, which is the bare minimum. Rahul’s best friend Chaitanya seems to be a true and supportive person initially but gets corrupted for money. He pretends to be a gangster and asks for ransom. The same cycle gets continued by Rahul’s girlfriend and Shalini’s brother to extort money.  They all get money and try to leave the city to start a new life. Some succeed and some fail, including Rahul himself.

The six deadly sins

Anurag Kashyap’s characters swing on the edge of morality as they ignorantly commit the sins of greed, envy, wrath, lust, pride, and sloth. Rahul’s friend Chaitanya is Shalini’s brother, and in the end, Rahul prioritizes money and his jealousy of Shoumik over the search for his daughter. Shoumik’s humiliation in college transforms into wrath and pride in his adulthood. His anger directs him to penalize Shalini for rejecting him for Rahul. The daughter suffers neglect from the plight of her dysfunctional family. There is a sense of hopelessness in Ugly, where no one comes as a knight in armor to rescue the little kid and earn laurels from the audience.

Those who search for the kid neither have honest motives similar to real life. Lust and adultery get hidden behind the curtains as no one apart from the committers ever comes to know about the transgression. Kashyap signifies that humans are the existent evil who have turned the heaven-like earth into hell. They have made a system where the suffering never ends. There is no karma as the vicious adults escape with the money to start a new life, but innocent souls pay the price.

Masculinity

Rahul and Shoumik represent two types of masculinity. Rahul represents modern masculinity, who has chosen an unquantifiable career that is dependent on luck, destiny, and subjectivity. It does not guarantee certainty, stability, and success to support a family. When the position of the patriarch is questioned to gather resources, he starts searching for another companion who can offer her financial stability. Here, financial stability is not linked to the emotional and mental stability of Shalini. Shoumik represents traditional masculinity, who has chosen a quantifiable career that is dependent on hard work, consistency, and objectivity.

 It does guarantee to support a livelihood. The patriarch Shoumik uses the power of his position to take revenge on Shalini and Rahul. Although Shoumik’s behavior is not revealed to be of a regular person as he sticks to his insecurities and frustrations for too long. Although money plays a bigger role than directing the financial condition of Rahul and Shoumik, Shalini continues to face the atrocities in both households, which ultimately sulks her to depression.

Dysfunctional Family in reference to ‘Amorres Perros’ and ‘Titli’

In Ugly, Kali’s fate has not been good since her birth. Kashyap released a  short film on Youtube for the origin story of how Kali was born. Kanu Behl’s Titli (2015) and Alejandro Gonzalez ’s Amores Perros (2000) deal with the tragedy of growing up and living in dysfunctional families due to poverty. These households are often home to frequent fights, gaslighting, and arguments, which can affect a person mentally. Shalini and Rahul often quarrel over food and other necessities after marriage.

However, marrying Shoumik didn’t do any good to Shalini either, as her expenses were limited and her going outside was not permitted, which is necessary for anyone’s welfare. All this failure in marriage forced Shalini to attempt suicide. She could barely focus on Kali due to her anguish. Neither of the parents was attentive to the daughter even after their separation. In Titli and Amores Perros, the central character lies in the lower middle class, who are tired of their dreadful profession and dream of escaping to start a new life with their lovers. These characters didn’t have many responsibilities, unlike Rahul, who eloped with the ransom money of his daughter’s kidnapper.

If you like the above post, you can check out more on our website.

Cinematography

• Brilliant message
• Extraordinary Cast
• Outstanding peformances
• Some scenes stretched too much

Related Posts

Project Power Movie Review (2020) | An Opportunity Lost

The Menu (2022) Review: An Artist’s Revenge Lampoon

Killers of the Flower Moon Review (2023) | At the Heart of Human Vice

Leave a reply cancel reply.

• Daily BO Update
• Daily Breakdown
• Hits & Flops
• All Time Grossers
• Highest Grossers
• Highest Openers
• Highest Weekend
• Best of Overseas
• Hollywood Highest
• Fact-o-meter
• Entertainment News
• Bollywood News
• Television & Web
• Fashion & Lifestyle
• Bigg Boss 17
• Hollywood News
• What To Watch
• Bollywood Movie Reviews
• Hollywood Movie Reviews
• All South Movie Reviews
• Tamil Movie Reviews
• Telugu Movie Reviews
• Kannada Movie Reviews
• Malayalam Movie Reviews
• Marathi Movie Reviews
• Web Series Reviews
• Music Reviews
• Box Office Reviews
• Trailer Reviews
• BO Filmometer
• Stars’ Power Index
• Directors’ Power Index
• 100 Crore Club
• Worldwide 200 Crores+
• Profitable Films
• Recommended Movies
• Upcoming Movies
• Released Movies
• Web Stories
• About Koimoi

Home » Movies » Bollywood Movie Reviews

Ugly Review

Star Cast:  Ronit Roy, Tejasvini Kolhapure, Rahul Bhat, Vineet Singh, Girish Kulkarni, Siddhanth Kapoor, Surveen Chawla, Vipin Sharma

Director:  Anurag Kashyap

What’s Good:  When you get to see noir at its best in a Bollywood film. The film true to its name is Ugly . It is dark and certainly not for the faint-hearted. Anurag Kashyap is one of the few directors who knows how to build a plot with multiple characters and yet leave us wanting for more as we meander into their lives and try to find a reasoning to their actions. Unraveling the true nature of human greed, this film is a mirror for all of us who have demons inside us.

What’s Bad:  Well, not all would want to sit through a grim film that stretches for over two hours. The film is not a regular drama and if you are one of those who want cinema to be an enjoyable experience, this is certainly not for you.

Loo break:  Control it! This is life unfolding in front of you.

Watch or Not?: Once again stressing on the fact that this film is not for those weak and those who want to ease their minds off while watching a film. This is a complete Anurag Kashyap masterpiece and if you are familiar with his style of film making, this one is a must-watch for you. He does what he is best at, give us a something that is unforgettable. Don’t make the mistake of comparing it to his previous works, this one is a gem in itself.

A 10-year-old Kali goes missing in a bustling street after being left in the car by her father Rahul, who is a struggling actor. Thus, follows a story of kidnapping, ransom and a string of grim characters who come under the radar of the police. As Kali’s step-father, a cop, takes on the mission to find this little girl, he encounters a lot on his way including his current wife’s ex-husband and his college enemy Rahul.

In the midst of the disappearance of a young child, can these adults move over their past and put behind their egos or will they hold onto their grudges and sacrifice the life of a 10-year-old mid way?

Ugly Review: Script Analysis

Bollywood has always stayed away from dark dramas and among the very few filmmakers, Anurag Kashyap is one who dares to bare it all in his films. Ugly is raw, grim and a in-the-face film which deals with multiple characters who falter prey to their own greed as they are caught up in a strange situation. The script is bang-on and probably Kashyap’s best.

I haven’t felt the chills of his story telling ever since Black Friday and this is a second. His three lead characters are messed up, one being the struggling actor Rahul (Rahul Bhat), other being his ex-wife Shalini (Tejaswini Kolhapure) who is suicidal and now a caged wife of a ruthless cop played by Ronit Roy. While all three have a back drop, they keep struggling to get in terms with their life then and now. Ego and greed being the two main angles in this story, Ugly really gets ugly as the course of the story builds. The pace is amazing and this is a truly gripping script. Right from the first scene of the film where a listless Tejaswinin Kolhapure is contemplating her suicidal thoughts, the film sets its tone. This is an excellent story and with its blissful casting it shines in every frame.

Ugly Review: Star Performances

One person who truly enthralls us in this film is undoubtedly Ronit Roy who plays a ruthless cop. He is fearless and determined to find his step-daughter Kali but is at the same time held back by his haunting past. A male-chauvinist, he would rather cage his wife than let her out of sight. Ronit does a fine job and truly plays his character with full might.

Rahul Bhat who plays Kali’s dad and a struggling actor does a good job too. The actor who is seen after a decade in a film is quite surprisingly up to the mark and we wonder why the hibernation period.

My other favorite pick is certainly Vineet Singh. He is flawless as the casting agent who is slimy and sly as required.

Siddhanth Kapoor does not have a plum role in the film but his most iconic scene for sure will remain in memory as he dances with bundles of cash tucked in his underpants.

All I will remember Surveen Chawla who plays Rakhee the item girl will be for her ‘Nichod De’ performance. A good mockery on the item songs.

But out of all the aforementioned character, you truly feel sad for Tejaswini Kolhapure’s character which she pulls off with complete finesse as one who remains to be nothing but a woman who is conquered by both the men in her life and I mean ‘conquered’ instead of being loved. She portrays a torn woman who could neither receive nor give love.

Ugly Review: Direction, Editing and Screenplay

Anurag Kashyap is a director who believes in presenting the human nature and its raw elements on celluloid. This time on his radar is greed and the demons inside us which even overpower our usual emotional sides. A story of a 10-year-old being kidnapped transforms into much more complex as each character flips sides according to their suitability. This film is evocative of raw emotions. The lighting in the film is as dark and dim as all of its characters.

One of the best scenes captured by the director is that of the police station where Rahul Bhatt who is the father of the kidnapped child comes to file a complaint but is cross questioned and asked to talk about call phones and explain how to set a contact photo in a cell phone. Can you imagine the frustration one would go through if this happened? Well, that’s what this all about.

The editing is tight and in spite of having multiple characters, we rarely find a character missing and the director gives us no chance to forget them. As perverse as his characters are, the locations too speak a lot about them and thus as always in any of Kashyap’s films, the atmosphere too tells the story.

Ugly Review: The Last Word

Ugly is a mean, dark and unsettling film that will rip you off in its last scene. This film is for the strong-hearted. It is honest, bare and raw in all its sense. As disgusting as the characters are, you want to watch this film for their diverse personalities and just to see what goes on in warped brains that bring out the worst in them. I loved the film for its brave nature and I am going with a 4/5 for its bold content.

Ugly Trailer

Ugly  releases on 26th December, 2014.

Share with us your experience of watching Ugly .

Bhai kaun se theatre nmein lagi thi……….

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Related articles.

Deepika Padukone’s Viral Yellow Pregnancy Dress Gets Sold Out In Record 20 Minutes & You Won’t Believe The Amount!

Aryan Khan Is Laughing, Giggling & Expressing! That’s It – That’s The News & The Internet Can’t Keep Calm [PS. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai...

Is Taha Shah Dating Heeramandi & Laapataa Ladies Actress Pratibha Ranta? Actor Reacts

Check this out.

Every ‘American Idol’ Winner & Where Are They Now

Is Laapataa Ladies A Copy Of This 1999 Film? National Award...

Who Is Doja Cat’s Father Dumisani Dlamini? All About The Parents...

Anees Bazmee Opens Up About Working With Salman Khan and Akshay...

Did Hardik Pandya & Wife Natasa Stankovic Split Up? As Wild...

Panchayat Season 2 Recap: Best Rated IMDb Episode [9.6] To Best...

Don't miss.

Janhvi Kapoor Reveals How Sridevi’s Death Influenced Her Religious Beliefs &...

Ananya’s Call Me Bae, Fahadh Faasil Diagnosed With ADHD, Payal Kapadia...

Aranmanai 4 At The Worldwide Box Office (After 23 Days): Sundar...

Maharagni Teaser Review: Kajol’s Maa Kaali Meets Maleficent Avatar In Prabhu Deva’s Action Flick Will Make You Ask Rohit Shetty – How Did You...

House Of Lies Trailer Review: Sanjay Kapoor Enters Another Murder Mystery Tunnel With Tens Of Suspects After Murder Mubarak – But This Time With...

Panchayat Season 3 Review: Jitendra Kumar’s The Hero & Faisal Malik Is The Star Of This Series Making The P In Panchayat Stand For...

Atlas Movie Review: Jennifer Lopez & Simu Liu Battle For The Future Of Earth And AI In This Strange Netflix Film

• Privacy Policy

FOLLOW US ON

• Critic Movie Review
• User Movie Reviews

Ugly Movie Review: Ugly Movie

Ugly review 2/5 & rating. watch ugly official trailer video, listen songs, movie news updates, movie review and checkout public movie reviews soon., ugly review {2/5} & review rating.

Anurag Kashyap revels in portraying Real characters who mouth expletives, kill-like-animals, and the actresses in his movies have to glorify the no-makeup-look to such a degree that they start looking abhorable. UGLY lives up to Kashyap's world view perfectly. As a viewer you are left with disturbing images that continue to bother you long after the movie ends. Yes if you are a pseudo intellectual then you'd start decoding the hidden nuances but for the ticket buying aam janta there's very little that holds attention.

The find of the movie is Girish Kulkarnj who as the inquisitive police inspector asks some really quirky questions about why actors adopt screen names from a struggling film actor (Rahul Bhatt) and his hapless friend (Vineet Singh). Kulkarni's queries about mobile phones is equally engaging and entertaining.

The plot of UGLY revolves around Bhatt's 10 year old girl Kali's disappearance from his car. Kali's mom (Tejaswini Kolhapuri) is lost in her world of alcohol and pills. Her second husband (Ronit Roy) is a tough cop who has a propensity for tapping her mobile phone and he also relishes torturing Bhatt. Ransom calls start doing the rounds with inexplicable participation from various characters in the film. The free flowing usage of expletives and gory torturing starts to bother after a point of time.

Technically the film is brilliant. Nikos Andritsakis' (Dibakar Bannerji's SHANGHAI and LOVE SEX AUR DHOKHA) cinematography is brilliant. It's moody, psychedelic and extremely engaging with a very minimal usage of lights. Soundtrack by GV Prakash and Brian McOmber is outstanding. The usage of Rock music in key sequences is simply fascinating. The song 'Papa' sung by Shilpa Rao will leave you with a lump in the throat and moist eyes.

Rahul Bhatt made a failed presence with the forgettable NAYEE PADOSAN but as a failed actor he has given a riveting performance in UGLY. Tejaswini Kolhapure as the lonely beleaguered wife brings out various shades in her personality leading to an ambiguous conclusion about her persona. The wife, who slept with her husband's friend, or a hapless suicidal woman with absolutely no hopes from life, she excels. Surveen Chawla as the item girl who oscillates between Bhatt and her producer husband brings in spice to the proceedings but she also brings more ambiguity about some of her actions which are never explained. Vineet Singh is excellent as the friend who could be a villain and a victim. Ronit Roy is in great form and his performance reminds you of the raw hardened fiber of UDAAN.

Anurag Kashyap is the quintessential rebel. He has had a disturbed childhood and it shows in the choice of his movie subjects which turn out to be disturbing for the aam janta. The patrons of Hollywood and European cinema are inherently far detached from the harsh poor realities of life. Patrons of Indian cinema go through the grind of hardships every single day. Movies for them is more of an escape and in many cases the only mode of good entertainment. A film like UGLY is not meant for the wide section of Indian audience that patronizes fun, entertaining escapist cinema. When the reality is so ugly for them why would they want to spend money on buying a ticket for UGLY.

On the whole, technically brilliant with some wonderful performances, UGLY strictly caters to a niche audience. Moreover the choice of releasing it during a festive period isn't a great idea either. Watch it if you are an Anurag Kashyap fan, else avoid!

• Ugly Review
• Ugly Rating
• Ugly Movie Reviews
• Ugly Public Review
• Ugly Movie Release Date
• Ugly Film Release Date
• Ugly Critic Review
• Ugly Movie Review
• Ugly Reviews
• Ugly Film Reviews
• Ugly Film Review
• Ugly Hindi Movie Review
• Ugly Hindi Movie Reviews

Ugly Movie News

Subhash K Jha speaks about Ugly

PK swamps theatres, Ugly, Lingaa run for cover

The 'Ugly' truth about Tejaswini Kolhapure

Ronit Roy is excited about Ugly being finally released

No script was given to Ugly actors

Censor Board incorporates anti drinking warning in films

• Facebook Comments

User Reviews

swastik_shuvam543

swastik_shuvam

• Chhota Bheem And The Curse Of Damyaan Movie
• Dedh Bigha Zameen Movie
• Mr. & Mrs. Mahi Movie
• Dharamraobaba Atram Movie
• Hamare Baarah Movie
• Malhar Movie
• Munjya Movie
• Phooli Movie
• Bajrang Aur Ali Movie
• Bhaiyya Ji Review
• Atlas (English) Review
• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (English) Review
• The Garfield Movie (English) Review
• IF (English) Review
• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (English) Review
• Srikanth Review
• Heeramandi Review
• The Idea Of You (English) Review
• The Fall Guy (English) Review
• Crew Public Review
• Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya Public Review
• Fighter Public Review
• Salaar Public Review
• Dunki Public Review
• Animal Public Review
• Sam Bahadur Public Review
• Tiger 3 Public Review
• Thank You For Coming Public Review
• Mission Raniganj Public Review
• Bhaiyya Ji Box Office
• Kartam Bhugtam Box Office
• The Three Musketeers: Milady (English) Box Office
• IF (English) Box Office
• The Garfield Movie (English) Box Office
• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (English) Box Office
• Srikanth Box Office
• Boonie Bears: Guardian Code (English) Box Office
• Tipppsy Box Office
• Kasoombo Box Office
• Akshay Kumar
• Katrina Kaif
• Ranveer Singh
• Deepika Padukone
• Vaani Kapoor
• Salman Khan
• Rashmika Mandanna
• John Abraham
• Ayushmann Khurrana
• Tara Sutaria
• Rajkummar Rao
• Box Office Collection
• Analysis & Features
• All Time Top Grossers
• Overseas Box Office
• 100 Crore club
• 200 Crore club
• Top Actress
• Box Office Collection 2022
• Box Office Collection 2021
• Box Office Collection 2020
• Bollywood News
• Featured Movie News
• Latest Box Office News
• Box Office Updates
• Box Office Business Talk
• Box Office Overseas News
• Latest News Slideshows
• Upcoming Releases
• Movie Reviews
• Bollywood Hindi News
• Parties and Events
• Latest Celeb Photos
• Celeb Wallpapers
• Movie Stills
• Movie Wallpapers
• Top Movie Video Songs
• Celebrity Interview Videos
• Movie Trailer Videos
• Party & Event Videos
• Exclusives & Specials
• Maharagni | Glimpse | Kajol | Samyuktha | Prabhu…
• Phooli - Official Trailer | Avinash Dhyani, Riya…
• Roya Jab Tu - Teaser | Mr. & Mrs. Mahi |…
• Dhadak 2 - Film Announcement | Siddhant…
• Bajrang Aur Ali | Official Trailer | Directed By…
• Munjya - Official Trailer | Sharvari Wagh | Abhay…
• Latest Hindi News
• Latest Bhojpuri News
• Celebs@twitter
• Hungama.com
• Artist Aloud
• Hungama Games
• Music Reviews
• Bharat Official Trailer
• Download Celeb Photos
• Download Celeb Wallpapers
• Download Movie photos
• Download Celebrity Party Photos
• Download Movie First Look Poster
• Download Magazine Cover
• Download Movie On Set Photos
• Download Movie Wallpapers

• Date of Birth Month January Febuary March April May June July August September October November December Date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Year 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913
• Gender Male Female

Skip this step for now

• Your Rating Click to rate on scale of 1-5
• Review Title

5000 characters remaining

Thanks For Rating

Reminder successfully set, select a city.

• Nashik Times
• Aurangabad Times
• Badlapur Times

You can change your city from here. We serve personalized stories based on the selected city

• Edit Profile
• Briefs Movies TV Web Series Lifestyle Trending Medithon Visual Stories Music Events Videos Theatre Photos Gaming

Janhvi Kapoor for 'Mr And Mrs Mahi', Alia Bhatt for 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' to Vidya Balan for 'The Dirty Picture': The art of method dressing and its effects!

Annu Kapoor seeks police protection as the team of 'Hamare Baarah' gets death threats post the teaser launch

Netizens react as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan sets the internet on fire with BTS pictures from Cannes in a robe: 'She should have gone on the red carpet like this'

Aishwarya Rai, Sonam Kapoor, Alia Bhatt: Actresses who dazzled in saree on global platforms

Natasa Stankovic drops another cryptic post amidst divorce rumours with Hardik Pandya: 'Praise God' - PIC inside

Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli enjoy a dinner date with friends Zaheer Khan and Sagarika Ghatge after RCB's loss at IPL 2024

• Movie Reviews

Movie Listings

Barah x Barah

Marriage.com

Boonie Bears: Mumma Ki...

Desh Ke Gaddar

The Sabarmati Report

Hansika Motwani’s Bold Black Outfit Is an Unmissable Fashion Choice

Fashion Lessons Inspired by Keerthy Suresh

Exploring the remarkable films of Rishab Shetty other than 'Kantara'

​Aishwarya Lekshmi enchants in elegant ethnic attire​

​Attractive looks of Anju Kurian​

Shruti Haasan radiates elegance in her white saree

Rani Chatterjee's pics in stylish gym outfit

Aditi Rao Hydari channels her inner Barbie in a pastel pink gown at Cannes 2024

Radiant clicks of Puja Joshi you shouldn't miss

Anupama Parameswaran Spreads Joy with Her Soft Girl Fashion Outfits

The Beach Boys

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Thelma The Unicorn

The Three Musketeers - ...

The Garfield Movie

The Boy And The Heron

Kingdom Of The Planet O...

Pagalariyaan

Konjam Pesinaal Yenna

Padikkadha Pakkangal

Inga Naan Thaan Kingu

Uyir Thamizhukku

Aa Okkati Adakku

Prasanna Vadanam

Paarijatha Parvam

Inti Number 13

Family Star

Tillu Square

CID Ramachandran Retd. ...

Sureshanteyum Sumalatha...

Guruvayoorambala Nadayi...

Marivillin Gopurangal

Malayalee From India

Avatara Purusha 2

Chow Chow Bath

Hide And Seek

Somu Sound Engineer

Nayan Rahasya

Bonbibi: Widows Of The ...

Pariah Volume 1: Every ...

Shri Swapankumarer Bada...

Shinda Shinda No Papa

Sarabha: Cry For Freedo...

Zindagi Zindabaad

Maujaan Hi Maujaan

Chidiyan Da Chamba

White Punjab

Any How Mitti Pao

Gaddi Jaandi Ae Chalaan...

Buhe Bariyan

Swargandharva Sudhir Ph...

Naach Ga Ghuma

Juna Furniture

Alibaba Aani Chalishita...

Aata Vel Zaali

Shivrayancha Chhava

Devra Pe Manva Dole

Dil Ta Pagal Hola

Ittaa Kittaa

Jaishree Krishh

Bushirt T-shirt

Shubh Yatra

Your Rating

Write a review (optional).

• Movie Reviews /

Would you like to review this movie?

Cast & Crew

Ugly Movie Review

• Times Of India
• Navbharat Times
• Mumbai Mirror

In-depth Analysis

Our overall critic’s rating is not an average of the sub scores below.

Ugly: Trailer

Ugly: Nichod De

Ugly: Title song

Kali-Katha: The prologue to 'Ugly'

Ugly and Bombay Velvet will change the yardst...

Ugly is PK's alternative, says Anurag Kashyap

Actors of Ugly drink alcohol during shoot

Anurag Kashyap has been cost conscious about ...

Ugly Trailer

MONEY Official Video - UGLY - Ronit Roy & Sur...

Sooraj Hai Kahaan Official Video | Ronit Roy,...

Nichod De Official Video - UGLY - Surveen Cha...

UGLY - Title Song | Rahul Bhat, Ronit Roy, Te...

Papa Full Video | UGLY | Shilpa Rao | Rahul B...

UGLY - New Theatrical Trailer | Anurag Kashya...

Users' Reviews

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

K Gopalakrishna Bhat 49423 1462 days ago

Very interesting movie . Suspense till the end . Difficult to guess the ending . Ronit Roy excels in acting

Bhavesh Shah 11 1490 days ago

Shubham kumar 14 1539 days ago, aditya kesarwani 45 1540 days ago, new interesting technology 24 1540 days ago, visual stories.

Entertainment

8 South Indian Egg dishes to try for breakfast

Candid Looks of Sreethu Krishnan in Bigg Boss Malayalam 6

​Kritika Kamra stands out in traditional attire​

10 types of wolves and their unique habitats

9 most important minutes of your day to strengthen parent-child bond

Tejasswi Prakash's 15 trendy blouses for sarees

News - Ugly

Is Nayanthara pairing up with Ajith for the fifth time ...

Top 5 Regional Entertainment News of the Day: Ajith's '...

Ajith looks smart in the latest click with fans at the ...

Ajith's 'Good Bad Ugly' OTT rights sealed; fails to bre...

700 workers, 7 days & 3 sets: How Ajith’s project with ...

Top 5 entertainment news: 'Good Bad ugly' forst look po...

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Get reviews of the latest theatrical releases every week, right in your inbox every Friday.

Thanks for subscribing.

Please Click Here to subscribe other newsletters that may interest you, and you'll always find stories you want to read in your inbox.

Popular Movie Reviews

Kartam Bhugtam

Laapataa Ladies

Pyar Ke Do Naam

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Real-Life Heroes on YouTube for Tweens and Teens

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

Common sense media reviewers.

Sweet visuals and songs are complicated by mixed messages.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Messages somewhat mixed. Intended messages are tha

Moxy is a lovable character who, after learning ex

A notch more intense than parents might expect: mu

Ugly Dog is interested in female dolls and says th

Infrequent use of words including "butt," "oh ehm

No product placement within movie, but movie is ba

At one point, a male character whips out a bottle

Parents need to know that UglyDolls is about a group of plushy toys who learn they're worthy of love despite their unconventional looks. While that core message is undeniably positive, other messages weaken its impact, including catchy songs that tell listeners they're unworthy if they're "ugly" and that it's…

Positive Messages

Messages somewhat mixed. Intended messages are that conventional beauty doesn't equal goodness, that an unconventional appearance doesn't equal worthlessness, that our differences are actually what make us unique and special. But often key characters say the exact opposite, so positive messages end up weakened. Still, movie joyfully proclaims "Let our freak flags fly!" and says that love and compassion are a doll's true purpose. Group of friends shows teamwork, perseverance in pursuing and fulfilling a goal.

Positive Role Models

Moxy is a lovable character who, after learning experiences, comes to fully accept herself -- and to launch toward her dream (which she ultimately achieves). Mandy, a complex character, starts out as something of a villain but soon reveals herself as sympathetic to main characters' aims; she makes an important emotional shift. A group of friends is supportive of each other. A few female "perfect dolls" are stereotyped as "mean girls," do most of the dirty work; they talk about hairstyles, lip gloss instead of anything deeper. Bad guy Lou is hyperfocused on perfection, has no tolerance for anyone who doesn't meet his rigorous standards.

Violence & Scariness

A notch more intense than parents might expect: multiple scenes in which characters fall or are thrown from great heights and fall down dark, scary holes. UglyDolls are frequently threatened with being "recycled"; in one harrowing scene, they're thrown into recycling chute, almost shredded by sharp metal teeth of loud, red, glowing monster machine. Dolls battle in hand-to-hand combat. Dolls go up against potentially scary robot dog (which grabs one, carries him away, possibly to his doom), a big vacuum (which sucks one doll up), and a looming robot baby. Many characters are kidnapped and transported in big sacks through threatening tunnel.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Ugly Dog is interested in female dolls and says things like "Feel the energy between us?" At one point, he whips out a table and some sparkling wine and invites a female doll to join him.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Infrequent use of words including "butt," "oh ehm gosh," "oh my doll," "imbecile," "sycophant," and hurtful phrases like "you shouldn't even exist" and "get lost."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

No product placement within movie, but movie is based on a toy line, and there are tons of offline merchandising tie-ins.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

At one point, a male character whips out a bottle of sparkling wine as a romantic gesture to a female character.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that UglyDolls is about a group of plushy toys who learn they're worthy of love despite their unconventional looks. While that core message is undeniably positive, other messages weaken its impact, including catchy songs that tell listeners they're unworthy if they're "ugly" and that it's important to follow conventional beauty standards if you want others to like you. Adults are likely to understand that these lyrics aren't intended to be taken at face value, but that's much less certain for kids. Happily, other songs have more positive messages -- including "your differences make you special." And characters demonstrate perseverance and teamwork in pursuing their goals. There's a bit more scary stuff and violence than parents might expect, including hand-to-hand combat (no blood or injuries); several scenes in which characters fall or are pushed from great heights or down dark, scary holes; and a very frightening bit in which dolls are threatened with being "recycled" and are almost shredded by a big, loud, monster-like machine with sharp metal teeth. There's no sex or romance, but a male character offers his crush a bottle of sparkling wine and asks whether she can feel the "energy" between them. A few characters are stereotyped as "mean girls"; they do the bad guy's dirty work and talk in a clichéd way about boys, hairstyles, and makeup. Other characters are more sympathetic, including a doll who's dreaming of having a child to love her and a girl who's been trying to appear perfect and learns that she's lovable even if she's not. Kelly Clarkson and Nick Jonas co-star. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (29)
• Kids say (28)

Based on 29 parent reviews

Don't give in like I did. Hard pass.

Dumb storyline, what's the story.

In a quirky little town called Uglyville, Moxy (voiced by Kelly Clarkson ) lives among the UGLYDOLLS and hopes every day that today will be the day when she finds a child to love her. But she's gotten impatient for the outside world to find her -- and now she's decided to go in search of the world. She brings a cadre of loyal friends with her: lovable big lug Babo (Gabriel Iglesias), slick Ugly Dog ( Pitbull ), shy Lucky Bat (Leehom Wang), and cranky Wage ( Wanda Sykes ). What they find is the Institute of Perfection, which is under the total control of gorgeous uber-doll Lou ( Nick Jonas ) and is where dolls go to grow "from pretty to perfect." Is it really necessary to be perfect to be loved? Or will the UglyDolls learn to embrace their imperfections?

Is It Any Good?

The visuals are bright and appealing, the songs are catchy, and the toy-looking-for-love setup is sweet enough to appeal to kids and adults alike. But there are more mixed messages about looks and self-worth in UglyDolls than many parents will be comfortable with. True, the movie's overarching themes are "love yourself" and "your differences make you special," but we get to these ideas relatively late in the movie, after we've watched the main characters get shamed at length for being themselves. Adding weight to the iffy messages are two prominently featured (and quite catchy) songs, "The Ugly Truth" and "All Dolled Up." The first one, sung by the movie's villain, is a little easier to dismiss, though its message -- "ugly = worthless" -- is pretty harsh, and there's a moment when Lou moves down a line of dolls explaining why each is unacceptably imperfect ("You're way too short! You're too thin! Is that a blemish on your double chin?") that's cringeworthy.

"All Dolled Up," sung by the sympathetic Mandy ( Janelle Monáe ), is more problematic. To adults, it's obvious that Mandy's heart isn't in statements like "When you're all dolled up, people only see what you want them to see." But to kids, the message the song sends is more uncomfortable -- as if the "solution" to being different is to pretend not to be. It's not until the movie gets to the song "Unbreakable" that parents will sit up and really enjoy the vibe being pumped out: Be yourself, and show them you can't be broken. Once UglyDolls turns that corner, it's all sweetness and smiles: Perfection and Uglyville merge, everyone learns to love and accept themselves, and Moxy finds her place in a child's arms. Spoiler alert? Nah, you knew it was coming. It's just a shame that this happy ending doesn't feel more earned.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about UglyDolls ' messages about appearance. Does everyone agree about what's beautiful and what's not? What do Moxy and her friends learn about finding happiness and accepting themselves?

What does Moxy's storyline tell us about self-image ? Why didn't she think a child would love her as she is? How did her adventures at the Institute of Perfection ultimately give her the confidence to believe in herself?

Which parts of the movie were scary? Why? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?

What does it mean to persevere ? How did the characters in UglyDolls show perseverance? How did teamwork figure into their quest? Why are teamwork and perseverance important character strengths ?

How does Mandy compare to the other "mean girl" doll characters? Do you think she was the only one of the four who had more depth to her?

Movie Details

• In theaters : May 3, 2019
• On DVD or streaming : July 30, 2019
• Cast : Kelly Clarkson , Nick Jonas , Janelle Monáe
• Director : Kelly Asbury
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Non-Binary actors, Pansexual actors, Queer actors, Black actors
• Studio : STX Entertainment
• Genre : Family and Kids
• Topics : Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
• Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
• Run time : 88 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : thematic elements and brief action
• Last updated : April 30, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

Toy Story 3

The Lego Movie

Offbeat Animated Movies

Best family comedy movies, related topics.

• Perseverance
• Great Girl Role Models

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Link to Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Hit Man Link to Hit Man
• Babes Link to Babes

New TV Tonight

• Eric: Season 1
• We Are Lady Parts: Season 2
• Geek Girl: Season 1
• The Outlaws: Season 3
• Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted: Season 4
• America's Got Talent: Season 19
• Fiennes: Return to the Wild: Season 1
• The Famous Five: Season 1
• Couples Therapy: Season 4
• Celebrity Family Food Battle: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• Tires: Season 1
• Evil: Season 4
• The Sympathizer: Season 1
• Outer Range: Season 2
• Dark Matter: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• Bodkin: Season 1
• A Man in Full: Season 1
• Jurassic World: Chaos Theory: Season 1
• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Bridgerton: Season 3 Link to Bridgerton: Season 3
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming

Asian-American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Movie Re-Release Calendar 2024: Your Guide to Movies Back In Theaters

Weekend Box Office Results: Furiosa Edges Out  Garfield in Worst Memorial Day Weekend in Decades

• Trending on RT
• Furiosa First Reviews
• Most Anticipated 2025 Movies
• Best Movies of All Time
• TV Premiere Dates

The Big Ugly

Where to watch.

Watch The Big Ugly with a subscription on Prime Video, Netflix, rent on Fandango at Home, or buy on Fandango at Home.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Scott Wiper

Ron Perlman

Nicholas Braun

Malcolm McDowell

Vinnie Jones

Leven Rambin

More Like This

‘The Big Ugly’: Great cast stirs up some West Virginia mountain mayhem

Vinnie jones leads an ensemble of tough guys and colorful characters including veterans ron perlman and malcolm mcdowell..

A British brawler (Vinnie Jones) goes hunting after his girlfriend disappears in West Virginia in “The Big Ugly.”

Vertical Entertainment

The British footballer turned action star Vinnie Jones is featured most prominently on the poster for the modern-day Western “The Big Ugly,” and his mob enforcer Neelyn is the narrator and driving force for the story, but I was more intrigued by the supporting players, a colorful array of wrong-side-of-the-law types including:

• Ron Perlman’s Preston, a West Virginia oil man/crime boss with a strict ethical code when it comes to respecting the sanctity of the land.

• Bruce McGill’s Milt, Preston’s loyal consigliere and gunman, who owes his life to Preston and will do his bidding, no questions asked.

• Brandon Sklenar’s Junior, a hybrid of two of Don Corleone’s sons from “The Godfather.” Junior has the volatile temper and violent streak of Sonny — but he’s as weak and sniveling as Fredo.

• Nicholas Braun’s Will, a recovering alcoholic who works for Preston and runs around with Junior, trying to keep him out of trouble, and Leven Rambin’s Kara, a tough but tender bartender who met Will in a recovery meeting and has fallen in love with him.

• Malcolm McDowell’s Harris, a London crime boss who forged an unlikely bond with Preston many years ago.

Throw ’em all together and what do you get? “The Big Ugly” (so named for a jagged tributary of the Guyandotte River), a wildly entertaining, over-the-top, blood-soaked, noir-Western from director/co-writer Scott Wiper that’s filled with stunning visuals of the breathtaking and sometimes foreboding countryside (with Morehead, Kentucky, standing in for West Virginia) and searing performances from the ensemble cast.

• Ron Perlman relishes his ‘Big Ugly’ role — and speaking his mind on Twitter

“The Big Ugly” kicks off with Jones’ Neelyn, the longtime muscle for McDowell’s upscale crime lord Harris, running through the woods and trying to dodge gunfire while voicing grave narration about how he “didn’t come here to West Virginia for God,” which seems pretty obvious given he’s a mob enforcer and he’s in the middle of a gunfight.

Flashback to a few days earlier, as Preston awaits the arrival of a private jet carrying Harris and Neelyn and their respective companions: Jackie (Elyse Levesque), a high-end sex worker on a permanent retainer with Harris, and Fiona (Lenora Crichlow), Neelyn’s longtime girlfriend. (I guess the fellas thought it would be a peachy idea to take the gals on a glamorous vacation trip from London to … Appalachia?)

Preston needs financing for his sprawling and very illegal drilling project; Harris is looking to launder some 25 million quid. It’s a win-win! Preston wears an oversized cowboy hat and rules the region with an iron fist, but he’s no stereotypical Western villain. He doesn’t frack, he takes care of the local mountain folk by providing them with food and jobs, and he doesn’t have any use for good ol’ boys displaying a Confederate flag from their pickup truck, telling them the flag is a tribute to men “who ripped our nation apart until finally [they just] quit. They gave up. They lost. You want to fly a flag, hey, go win something. Riding around with this just says, ‘Hey, I’m a f---ing loser.’ ”

After Preston and Harris consummate the deal, a night of wild celebration ensues. (“Only you could get 86’d from a bar called the f------ Eighty Six!” Harris exclaims to Neelyn after a barroom brawl.) Things really go sideways after Neelyn passes out and the troublemaking Junior invites Neelyn’s girlfriend Fiona to have one more drink. Cut to the morning after, and Fiona has gone missing, and her story will not have a happy ending.

At that point “The Big Ugly” becomes a revenge thriller, with the headstrong Neelyn ignoring orders from Harris to return home while vowing to end Junior, who is almost certainly responsible for Fiona’s disappearance. With power rock such as “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” blasting on the soundtrack, “The Big Ugly” introduces a number of subplots, from the romance of Will and Kara; to a backstory involving Preston’s beloved wife and how she was killed, to a seemingly peripheral character who is bound to resurface at a key moment in the story, or else why would we be introduced to him in the first place?

Jones is rock-solid as Neelyn, an anti-hero who is at the point in his “career” where he’s not going to win a fight against a much younger tough guy unless he finds a handy rock at just the right time. Brandon Sklenar gives a screen-popping performance as Junior; he’s fantastic as a monster cloaked in a James Dean persona. Best of all, “The Big Ugly” gives us 70-year-old Ron Perlman and 77-year-old Malcolm McDowell playing two very different sides of the same coin, who respect the hell out of one another but understand the rules of the game they’ve chosen to play, and find themselves sitting across from one another, each with a glass of something strong, each with a gun.

FlickSphere

21 Ugly Cry-Inducing Tearjerkers That’ll Leave You Sobbing Into Your Popcorn”

Posted: May 27, 2024 | Last updated: May 27, 2024

Let’s face it – sometimes, we just need a good cry, and what better way to start the waterworks than a movie with a heart-wrenching ending? Grab your tissues and get for an emotional ride as we look at 21 movies that master the art of the sad ending. Be careful – there’s plenty of tears and spoilers ahead!

The Green Mile

Who would’ve thought a movie about a gentle giant with supernatural healing powers would have us in tears by the end? In “The Green Mile,” Michael Clarke Duncan’s character, John Coffey, gets dealt a completely unfair card by fate. It’ll leave you questioning humanity and the legal system through tears of sadness.

You’d think a movie about a ship sinking wouldn’t surprise you with its ending, but here we are, tissues in hand! Whether it’s Jack sinking slowly down into the ocean or Rose’s bedside table, cluttered with photos of her living the life Jack wished for her, every part of the ending is a tear-jerker. The characters may be fictional, but the Titanic’s loss of life was all too real.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Just when you thought a film couldn’t twist the knife any further, this one goes and proves you wrong. The story of an innocent friendship across the fences of a concentration camp ends in a way that’s so heart-shattering that you’ll need a moment to remember it’s just a movie. But then you remember the history behind it, and – well, pass the tissue box, please.

Marley & Me

What starts off as a funny movie with a side of puppy-induced chaos gently guides you into a sob story about how life is short. The scene where the family says their final goodbyes to Marley will have you crying into your pet’s fur. Just thinking about the ending has got us welling up – no wonder people on Twitter called it the saddest movie ever.

A Star Is Born

This film takes you through almost every emotion possible, ending with a finale that punches you right in the feels. As Ally’s star rises, Jack’s fades, and we see him make a decision that’ll change how you think about love forever. It’s a sad reminder that behind the glitz and glamour, people are fighting their own battles in the shadows.

Schindler’s List

If you thought you were just signing up for a history lesson, think again. In this film, Spielberg shows the horrors of the Holocaust with a personal touch that leaves you haunted long after the credits roll. Schindler’s breakdown , realizing he could have saved more lives, is the kind of moment that stays with you.

Manchester by the Sea

This movie takes the cake for showing how to deal with grief poorly. Watching Casey Affleck’s character muddle through life with the weight of his past is completely gut-wrenching. You know it’s going to end badly, yet you can’t look away. Sometimes, life doesn’t give you a second chance.

Brokeback Mountain

The film tricks you into thinking you’re watching a beautiful story of love blossoming in the least likely of places. However, by the end, reality comes crashing down. It leaves you mourning what could have been for Jack and Ennis. Grab your cowboy hat and a box of tissues – this one’s a doozy.

The Fault in Our Stars

In a cruel twist of fate, the movie dares to ask, “What if your first love was also your last?” Watching Hazel and Gus celebrate their fleeting moments together as they both deal with cancer is both breathtaking and tragic. By the time the credits roll, you’re left with a heart full of love and a lap full of tissues.

Million Dollar Baby

Eastwood gave us the ultimate curveball with “Million Dollar Baby!” The film begins by making you think you’re getting a heartwarming underdog story before quickly yanking it away. Maggie, the waitress turned boxer, dreams big and hits hard, only to have fate deliver a knockout blow. It’s a sobering reminder of just how unpredictable and sometimes unforgiving life truly is.

“My Girl” tackles the idea of young love and loss in one of the most heartbreaking ways possible. We watch Vada’s bittersweet journey of growth and grief as she learns about the harsh reality of life. By the time you see Thomas J.’s tragic accident, you’re guaranteed to be a blubbering mess.

Grave of the Fireflies

This animated story about the impact of WWII on Japan would be sad enough if told by adults. But the fact that it’s told through the eyes of two siblings makes it even more haunting and mesmerizing. By the end, you’ll have a lump in your throat as you see the beauty of life contrasted with the brutality of war.

Romeo + Juliet

Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet” is a modern take on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, but that doesn’t make it any less sad. The young lovers’ fates, sealed by miscommunication and family feuds, seem even more tragic in a modern-day setting. Even 25 years later , the film is just as upsetting as when it was released.

The Notebook

Imagine a love so strong that it lasts through decades, illnesses, and even memory loss. That’s Noah and Allie for you! After a lifetime of love, they leave this world together in the most peaceful yet heart-shattering way. It’s the ultimate “till death do us part,” making you wish for a love that deep, minus the moments where you’re crying your eyes out.

Les Misérables

“Les Misérables” is the definition of a bittersweet symphony. Characters like Valjean, Fantine, and Eponine sacrifice everything for love, justice, and a shot at redemption, leaving us humming tunes of their unfulfilled dreams. It’s a rollercoaster of highs and lows, with a finale that feels like a punch in the gut.

Requiem for a Dream

By the end of this film, you’ve seen dreams crumble under the weight of addiction, leaving each character isolated in their own nightmare. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion, knowing you can’t do anything but watch as everything that once held promise turns to dust. Sadly, not all dreams have happy endings.

Life Is Beautiful

Who knew a film could make you crack up one minute and bawl your eyes out the next? “Life Is Beautiful” does just that by showing a father trying to keep his son shielded from the horrors of a concentration camp with nothing but love and imagination. And that ending? It’s the definition of heartbreak, showing just how far a parent will go to protect their child.

“Old Yeller” is like that first childhood lesson in mortality that nobody asked for but everyone got. After bravely defending his family, the beloved dog faces a tragic end, teaching us all about the responsibilities that come with love. It’s such a powerful ending that the Library of Congress decided to preserve it in the National Film Registry.

Saving Private Ryan

This film drops you in the thick of WWII, only to leave you thinking about how ugly war truly is. After an intense journey through the battlefield, the realization hits – countless sacrifices were made for the life of one. That final scene, with an older Ryan asking if he’s lived a life worth those sacrifices, hits you right in the feels, leaving you to reflect on the price of freedom.

Bridge to Terabithia

This film lures you in with the promise of adventure and the magic of friendship, only to end with a harsh lesson in loss and the importance of imagination. Leslie’s untimely death shatters both Jess’s and the audience’s world, teaching us to cherish every moment. On the plus side, it reminds us to be a little more grateful for the friends we have.

21 Notoriously Awful Movies That People Secretly Love

18 Formerly Beloved TV Shows That Would Flunk the Political Correctness Test Today

18 Films That Went Too Woke in the Last Decade

Empty Screens: 18 Movies Where Almost Nothing Really Happens

More for You

"Mr. Miyagi" From 'Karate Kid': Pat Morita's Tragic Death

‘Home hack queen’ shares trick to rid your yard of pesky weeds: ‘I have been doing this for years’

Trump trial moves toward end: 5 takeaways on the closing arguments

Hannah Waddingham Turns Down People Who Are 'Now Suddenly' Interested in Working With Her: 'We Remember'

I left Russia and moved to Florida. These were the 5 biggest culture shocks.

Caitlin Clark Makes WNBA History In Latest Indiana Fever Loss

If You See a Swollen Gas Can, This Is What It Means

Homeowner shares impressive before-and-after photos following their 66-hour battle with invasive species: ‘The impact this will have … is huge’

Fed Rate Cuts Are Coming. Get Ready for the Stock Market’s Next Phase.

“I did 900 movies in a row”: Lea Thompson Felt She Couldn’t be a Movie Star Anymore After Back to the Future and Movie With Tom Cruise Because of Motherhood

What Happens if You Deposit More Than $10,000 in Your Bank Account?

This Abandoned Ford Dealer Is Filled With Perfectly Preserved '80s Cars

12 Bad Life Habits to Get Rid of ASAP

Captain Theresa Claiborne, U.S. Air Force’s First Black Female Pilot, Talks Her Final Flight And Diversity In Aviation

‘From deny to spin’: Inside the Trump campaign's meltdown in aftermath of Access Hollywood tape

How 'Ozempic face’ is altering the way people look

“He wasn’t even a good pilot”: Trying to Become the Next Val Kilmer in Top Gun 2 Made Glen Powell Storm Off the Sequel Before Tom Cruise Saved the Day

Jesse Eisenberg Applied for Polish Citizenship Since He and Wife Want a 'Greater Connection to Poland'

'Barney Miller': The Cast Then And Now

Paris Jackson steals the show in black mini dress at party in Cannes

Good, Bad, Ugly, 5-20-24

• Podcast Episode

Add a plot in your language

User reviews

• May 20, 2024 (United Kingdom)
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 16 minutes

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now streaming on:

Here is the third of the Dollar Westerns, so named after the first two ("A Fistful of Dollars" and " For a Few Dollars More "). All three have been tremendously popular and, curiously enough, all three have been pretty good. That is strange. Stop to consider:

All three were shot on low budgets in southern Italy. Their American actors -- Clint Eastwood , Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach -- had no box-office followings. Most of the other actors were unknown Italians, largely amateurs, with their English dialog dubbed.

Yet "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and its two predecessors have been great successes during a period when many U.S. Westerns have bombed. Their secret, I think, is their understanding of the Western bad man: mysterious, without a name, absolutely ruthless.

The Dollars have no good guys to dilute the action. They also gain immensely by being shot on location in Italy. The back lots of Hollywood studios have been worn smooth over the years by countless posses, but the landscape of the Dollars looks barren and deserted. These are new Old Hills.

And they are populated by cheap Italian extras, apparently chosen because of their appearance rather than their acting ability, if any. All three movies are filled with close-ups of memorable faces, and these are not Hollywood extras with stuck-on whiskers but Italian peasants who have worked in the sun all their lives and will go back to work tomorrow. Most of them -- like the legless beggar or the witnesses at the hangings -- populate scenes only a few minutes in length. Yet they supply atmosphere, like those strange people who hover in the shadows of Dickens novels, and when the beggar crawls into the bar and says, "Hand me down a whisky," that is the kind of macabre detail unthinkable in Hollywood.

"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" has only the thinnest of plots: Three criminals are searching for a gold shipment during the Civil War. But the plot hardly matters, because the method of director Sergio Leone is to create a series of short, self-contained scenes. There are some good ones, as when Wallach finds a wagon of dying and dead men in the desert or when two men hire Van Cleef to kill each other, and he does.

There is a fine scene in which Leone's style seems to follow Hitchcock's. Eastwood is shown in his hotel room, taking apart his pistol to clean it. Horse-drawn cannons are being pulled down the street. Their rumble covers the clink of the spurs of three hired killers, coming upstairs to Eastwood's room. Leone cuts back and forth: the spurs, the cannons, Eastwood's pistol being put back together. Then he releases the suspense with split-second timing. Then, like Hitchcock, he ends the scene with an ironic, unexpected twist.

"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" is probably 30 minutes too long, but it's filled with good stuff like that for those who treasure Westerns.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

Now playing

Kaiya Shunyata

Taking Venice

Matt zoller seitz.

Monica Castillo

Evil Does Not Exist

Glenn kenny.

The Roundup: Punishment

Simon abrams.

The Big Cigar

Robert daniels, film credits.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1968)

161 minutes

Clint Eastwood as Joe

Eli Wallach as Tuco

Lee Van Cleef as Setenza

From a screenplay by

• Age Scarpelli
• Alberto Grimaldi

Screenplay by

• Luciano Vincenzoni
• Sergio Leone

Latest blog posts

Saved! at 20: Religious Satire and the Millennial Generation

Killer Klowns from Outer Space Is a Total Blast

Cannes 2024: It's Not Me, Filmlovers!, Misericordia

The World's Biggest Jewelry Box: Kristin Joseff on Hollywood's Favorite Jeweler, Joseff of Hollywood

• Andhra Pradesh
• Arunachal Pradesh
• Chhatisgarh
• Himachal Pradesh
• Jammu and Kashmir
• Madhya Pradesh
• Maharashtra
• Uttar Pradesh
• Uttarakhand
• West Bengal
• Movie Reviews
• DC Comments
• Sunday Chronicle
• Hyderabad Chronicle
• Editor Pick
• Special Story

Muhurat Fixed for Thala Ajith's Good Bad Ugly Release

Ajith is currently in Hyderabad, filming Good Bad Ugly. Directed by Adhik Ravichandran of Mark Antony fame, this film is being produced by the Tollywood production house Mythri Movie Makers.

In an exciting update for Ajith fans, the makers have unveiled the film's first look poster. The poster features Ajith in three distinct personas, reflecting the film’s title, and surrounded by an array of weapons. Ajith is currently filming high-octane sequences and is reportedly performing all the risky stunts himself, without a body double.

The production is moving swiftly, with the makers aiming for a Pongal 2025 release. Music for the film is being composed by Rockstar Devi Sri Prasad. Additional details about the female lead and other cast members will be announced in the coming days.

Latest News