The coming weekend will witness an interesting clash of two Hollywood biggies, Charlie’s Angels and Ford v. Ferrari and the latest offering from Pakistani cinema, Talash. With the box office witnessing a more sedate than usual second half, films such as Joker, Terminator: Dark Fate and Maleficient have kept the ticket counters buzzing with activity, and it seems the clash this week too is poised in favor of imports from across the Atlantic as Talash has the look of an indie project with no major names attached. Having said that, the box-office is always unpredictable and we are hopeful that Talash will bring positive news for those who root for local content.

Talash

Helmed by first-timer Zeeshan Khan, Talash is the story of a group of young doctors who venture into interior Sindh. The film, according to its makers, is a romantic comedy with all the bells and whistles of a mainstream entertainer, including a socially relevant plot said to involve the issue of malnutrition.

Starring a host of promising newcomers along with some established names like Saleem Mairaj and Mustafa Qureishi, the film’s trailer showcases plenty of comedy, chases, thrills and even some very Sindhi flavored song and dance.

Ford v. Ferrari

This retro-themed period piece from the ’60s starring Hollywood biggies Christian Bale and Matt Damon combines fast speed and thrills with a story that is based on real-life events, centering on the rivalry between automakers Ford and Ferrari.

Directed by James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma, Walk The Line) the film is titled Le Mans ’66 for its North American release and has fared quite well with the critics, with the Rolling Stones terming it as “mission accomplished” and awarding a glowing four-star rating. It’s likely to do similarly well with the ticket paying audience as well, and in all likelihood will lead the worldwide box office this weekend.

Charlie’s Angels

The badass female trio is back in action with this latest movie reboot of the much-loved television show from the ’70s. Elizabeth Banks takes over the director’s megaphone for this latest installment, and the film features popular stars Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinksa in a thrilling plot said to revolve around a systems engineer sabotaging dangerous top-secret technology. The film features a host of action set-pieces and adrenaline-fueled chases that scream girl power, which will sate the appetites of most demanding of film viewers. It hasn’t performed too badly with the critics, either.