Note: Spoilers ahead so please read at your own risk. 🙂 I don’t intend to spoil it but I just can’t stop myself from saying my piece about the new Vijay film after watching it on Netflix.
“The Greatest of All Time”, or GOAT, is a 2024 Tamil-language action thriller that stars the iconic Vijay, known for his long list of successful films. As a Filipino viewer unfamiliar with Tamil but relying on English subtitles, I found this film to be another powerful addition to Vijay’s filmography, continuing to display his remarkable versatility and depth as an actor. Having watched Leo, Beast, Varisu, Master, and other Vijay films, I can confidently say that GOAT lived up to my expectations, especially in its high-octane action scenes and emotional depth.
Vijay’s performance, particularly in the heart-wrenching emotional moments, is what truly makes GOAT memorable. He plays MS Gandhi, a member of the anti-terrorism squad, and excels at portraying the layers of his character’s pain and duty. Though the twist in the story felt somewhat predictable (I had an educated guess about it early on), the way the narrative unfolded still kept me engaged, and I appreciated the execution of the story arc.
However, I did find some gaps in the storyline. While Gandhi’s professional excellence was well established, the film missed an opportunity to explore the emotional and psychological journey of Jeevan, especially during the years after he was presumed dead. It would have been compelling to see more of the backstory and the impact of his traumatic experiences, especially how Gandhi might have emotionally dealt with it. Jeevan’s traumatic past wasn’t given enough room for him to recover or reconcile with his family properly, which could have added more depth and closure to his character.
The Greast of All Time – Official Trailer
That said, I recognize that the film might have aimed for a more realistic portrayal, showing that not every hero can recover from trauma (plus villain’s brainwashing) and be fully reunited with loved ones. It feels more grounded and true to life, even though, as a Filipino, I tend to lean towards stories with happy or satisfying resolutions. The film still delivers a strong emotional punch, making me feel genuine pity for Jeevan’s fate.
Finally, knowing that this is potentially Vijay’s last film before entering politics in 2026 added a bittersweet layer to the experience. His performance in GOAT felt like a powerful swan song, cementing his legacy as one of Tamil cinema’s greatest talents. Despite some minor shortcomings in the plot, GOAT is a film I’d highly recommend to fans of action thrillers, especially for Vijay’s standout performance and the intense emotional journey his character undergoes. P.S. Don’t skip the END CREDITS of the movie, you will definitely either get excited or confused. 🙂
If I will rate this movie, I will give it an 8.0 out of 10 (or even 10 out of 10) as I really love all of Vijay’s film.