Rating : 8/10
Running Time : 154 Minutes
Release Date : 21st Mar ‘08
Director : Abbas-Mastan ; Writer : Shiraz Ahmed ; Music : Pritam
Starring : Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Anil Kapoor and Sameera Reddy, Dalip Tahil
One non stop adrenalin rush….more twists and turns than the crookedest street in the world (San Francisco)…a plethora of pretty, skimpily clad (young ?) things…a horde of handsome hunks and highly strung horses …and full of fast cars and even faster double-crosses … kind of like ‘Wild Things’ on skates…
Life is not easy for Ranbir Singh (Saif), elder brother and primary heir of a large horse racing empire. He is ruthless and plays hard but fair (unlike the Aussie cricketers who only pretend to do so). He is saddled with a few double crossers, an alcoholic good for nothing younger brother Rajiv (Akshaye) and some unidentified people trying to kill him…but he’s indestructible and aided by a gorgeous girlfriend (Bipasha) and sexy secretary (Katrina) he’s not doing too badly, despite the evil machinations of rival horse owner (Dalip Tahil)….
Now, that’s all I can reveal about the story – else I will start giving away key plot elements…suffice to say that the next 150 minutes go very easily in one breathless rush, hardly giving pause for air, in a very slick, sensational mix of cross and double cross…
Its very nicely done. The key characters are sufficiently built, they (and some of the stunts) are definitely over the top but not beyond the point of losing credibility or stepping into the territory of ridiculousness. And its very slick, very heady and you’re begging for more when it ends (I really hope they’re thinking of a part2).
Star of the movie, beyond a doubt was Saif. The man has reinvented himself so many times that you’ve run out of counting fingers…this is a new, lean, mean, muscular action hero. Looking every inch the part…no more adorable, boy next door, no more the lovable rogue. This is a serious, restrained, brilliant performance. And he looks every inch the part – in fact the only time he looks out of sorts is when he is dancing some silly steps in one or two songs. Akshaye was good – he’s got a meaty role and does enough with it to make it credible. Bipasha was hot as ever as was Katrina (in a slightly smaller role). Sameera and Anil Kapoor come on as detectives in the second half – I thought some of the humour here was out of place, not needed – too slapstick and unnecessarily crude / sexist. Both did their roles justice though and I really admire the way Anil has managed to reinvent himself as well. Sameera also proves she can act if you can look beyond her more obvious assets.
It was a very enjoyable experience and having it set in one of the most beautiful countries in the world (South Africa) helps add to the glamour quotient. Like this review, most of the movie is about hyperbole but there are enough thrills and spills to make the price of the entry ticket worth it ! a very well spent three hours…beautiful people, beautiful places and some very evil thoughts and devious plans…I’ll fall for it hook, line and sinker every time…
Running Time : 154 Minutes
Release Date : 21st Mar ‘08
Director : Abbas-Mastan ; Writer : Shiraz Ahmed ; Music : Pritam
Starring : Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Anil Kapoor and Sameera Reddy, Dalip Tahil
One non stop adrenalin rush….more twists and turns than the crookedest street in the world (San Francisco)…a plethora of pretty, skimpily clad (young ?) things…a horde of handsome hunks and highly strung horses …and full of fast cars and even faster double-crosses … kind of like ‘Wild Things’ on skates…
Life is not easy for Ranbir Singh (Saif), elder brother and primary heir of a large horse racing empire. He is ruthless and plays hard but fair (unlike the Aussie cricketers who only pretend to do so). He is saddled with a few double crossers, an alcoholic good for nothing younger brother Rajiv (Akshaye) and some unidentified people trying to kill him…but he’s indestructible and aided by a gorgeous girlfriend (Bipasha) and sexy secretary (Katrina) he’s not doing too badly, despite the evil machinations of rival horse owner (Dalip Tahil)….
Now, that’s all I can reveal about the story – else I will start giving away key plot elements…suffice to say that the next 150 minutes go very easily in one breathless rush, hardly giving pause for air, in a very slick, sensational mix of cross and double cross…
Its very nicely done. The key characters are sufficiently built, they (and some of the stunts) are definitely over the top but not beyond the point of losing credibility or stepping into the territory of ridiculousness. And its very slick, very heady and you’re begging for more when it ends (I really hope they’re thinking of a part2).
Star of the movie, beyond a doubt was Saif. The man has reinvented himself so many times that you’ve run out of counting fingers…this is a new, lean, mean, muscular action hero. Looking every inch the part…no more adorable, boy next door, no more the lovable rogue. This is a serious, restrained, brilliant performance. And he looks every inch the part – in fact the only time he looks out of sorts is when he is dancing some silly steps in one or two songs. Akshaye was good – he’s got a meaty role and does enough with it to make it credible. Bipasha was hot as ever as was Katrina (in a slightly smaller role). Sameera and Anil Kapoor come on as detectives in the second half – I thought some of the humour here was out of place, not needed – too slapstick and unnecessarily crude / sexist. Both did their roles justice though and I really admire the way Anil has managed to reinvent himself as well. Sameera also proves she can act if you can look beyond her more obvious assets.
It was a very enjoyable experience and having it set in one of the most beautiful countries in the world (South Africa) helps add to the glamour quotient. Like this review, most of the movie is about hyperbole but there are enough thrills and spills to make the price of the entry ticket worth it ! a very well spent three hours…beautiful people, beautiful places and some very evil thoughts and devious plans…I’ll fall for it hook, line and sinker every time…
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