Directed by Sriram Raghavan
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1395025/
Moscow aur Morrocco ki police bhi pooch taaach kar rahi hai .. Aap qataar mein hai.
I am fan of Sriram Raghavan, because his earlier two films 'Ek Haseena Thi' and 'Johnny Gaddar' were quite special. The expectations were very high, specially after loving its theatrical trailers. But, the film is a big dissappointment.
RAW Agent Vinod (Saif Ali Khan) has a task to discover what is '2 4 2'. A number one of his colleague discloses before dying. The search makes him change identities, and travel from one place to another.
There are just too many different locations used, as a result it almost becomes tough to like the film as a whole. What eventually happens is, you like a certain sequence/location only. For instance, the starting of film with 'Death of Desert' is pretty likeable, leaving asides the pov shot of Rajan (Ravi Kissan) which disturbs the view of the action scene. And the use of new version of background theme with lyrics was surprising, along with the stylish credits, introducing Saif with the dialogue 'Aapka naam kya hai' - 'Govind bolo chahe gopal bolo'. Also, 'isko plastic glass mein beer dena, bada shaatir hai yeh' was one hillarious scene.
There are some very long sequences in the film (special reference to conversation between Saif and Dhritiman), which doesn't serve any purpose at all. Simply poor editing! Add to it, the way action scenes are edited..most of them fail to excite you, only place where I liked action was the Sri Lanka parrallel cut shots of Vinod fighting same guy simultaneously now, and some time back with the regional (probably sri lankan) song running alongside.
Also, I would had liked Iram (Kareena Kapoor) to be in a negative shade. That would have made her character more powerful, instead it weakens when we know her truth after Interval. Her performance was okay, only scene where I liked her was the medicine she gives to Vinod to know his real identity.
What the film lacks the most is the edge of the seat sequences, a thriller demands that especially a spy thriller. The background themes aren't properly used, save that 1st sequence. Some unusual mistakes done in screenplay too, why does Vinod let Colonel (Adil Hussain) call his people when he could easily pinpoint gun at him to avoid that ? Why Iram has to do a Mujra knowing people would easily recognise her.. must had been some other way of using the item song if the desperation was that high ? What was Vinod doing in that security uniform standing near to a Pakistani guy who he knew knows him ?
Among songs, 'I do the talking tonight' is stylishly used, while 'Raabta' is a very well executed single tracking shot. 'Dil mera muft ka' despite used illogically, is very pleasing to see for the great choreography of Saroj Khan.
Cinematography is good, and lots of references to movies done by Sriram something he did in Johnny Gaddar too. The dialogues could had been more humourous like 'yaadon ki baaraat disturb karne ke liye sorry'.
Saif Ali Khan's performance is nice, at places his dark humour fails because the movie isn't going the way you want. For instance, 'aap qataar mein hai', was lovable when seen in trailer, but not in the film. Prem Chopra gets a good small cameo, the mom sequence was very funny. Gulshan Grover and Ravi Kissen are wasted. Ram Kapoor's look was odd, else I liked his small villianeous act.
Dhritiman Chatterjee was good yet again, but he is getting repeated in same kind of roles (Kahaani his last film). If it doesn't change then we would well in advance know what he is in reality in the film.
The person who profits the most from this film is Adil Hussain, the one who was husband of Vidya in Ishqiya. As colonel, he comes across as a person who is very clever and full of right plans to get his work done.
In the end, Agent Vinod fails due to a screenplay that doesn't interest you at all. It ends up as a long tiring movie. Every director has one bad movie in career, this was Sriram's that movie.
Verdict : BELOW AVERAGE
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1395025/
Moscow aur Morrocco ki police bhi pooch taaach kar rahi hai .. Aap qataar mein hai.
I am fan of Sriram Raghavan, because his earlier two films 'Ek Haseena Thi' and 'Johnny Gaddar' were quite special. The expectations were very high, specially after loving its theatrical trailers. But, the film is a big dissappointment.
RAW Agent Vinod (Saif Ali Khan) has a task to discover what is '2 4 2'. A number one of his colleague discloses before dying. The search makes him change identities, and travel from one place to another.
There are just too many different locations used, as a result it almost becomes tough to like the film as a whole. What eventually happens is, you like a certain sequence/location only. For instance, the starting of film with 'Death of Desert' is pretty likeable, leaving asides the pov shot of Rajan (Ravi Kissan) which disturbs the view of the action scene. And the use of new version of background theme with lyrics was surprising, along with the stylish credits, introducing Saif with the dialogue 'Aapka naam kya hai' - 'Govind bolo chahe gopal bolo'. Also, 'isko plastic glass mein beer dena, bada shaatir hai yeh' was one hillarious scene.
There are some very long sequences in the film (special reference to conversation between Saif and Dhritiman), which doesn't serve any purpose at all. Simply poor editing! Add to it, the way action scenes are edited..most of them fail to excite you, only place where I liked action was the Sri Lanka parrallel cut shots of Vinod fighting same guy simultaneously now, and some time back with the regional (probably sri lankan) song running alongside.
Also, I would had liked Iram (Kareena Kapoor) to be in a negative shade. That would have made her character more powerful, instead it weakens when we know her truth after Interval. Her performance was okay, only scene where I liked her was the medicine she gives to Vinod to know his real identity.
What the film lacks the most is the edge of the seat sequences, a thriller demands that especially a spy thriller. The background themes aren't properly used, save that 1st sequence. Some unusual mistakes done in screenplay too, why does Vinod let Colonel (Adil Hussain) call his people when he could easily pinpoint gun at him to avoid that ? Why Iram has to do a Mujra knowing people would easily recognise her.. must had been some other way of using the item song if the desperation was that high ? What was Vinod doing in that security uniform standing near to a Pakistani guy who he knew knows him ?
Among songs, 'I do the talking tonight' is stylishly used, while 'Raabta' is a very well executed single tracking shot. 'Dil mera muft ka' despite used illogically, is very pleasing to see for the great choreography of Saroj Khan.
Cinematography is good, and lots of references to movies done by Sriram something he did in Johnny Gaddar too. The dialogues could had been more humourous like 'yaadon ki baaraat disturb karne ke liye sorry'.
Saif Ali Khan's performance is nice, at places his dark humour fails because the movie isn't going the way you want. For instance, 'aap qataar mein hai', was lovable when seen in trailer, but not in the film. Prem Chopra gets a good small cameo, the mom sequence was very funny. Gulshan Grover and Ravi Kissen are wasted. Ram Kapoor's look was odd, else I liked his small villianeous act.
Dhritiman Chatterjee was good yet again, but he is getting repeated in same kind of roles (Kahaani his last film). If it doesn't change then we would well in advance know what he is in reality in the film.
The person who profits the most from this film is Adil Hussain, the one who was husband of Vidya in Ishqiya. As colonel, he comes across as a person who is very clever and full of right plans to get his work done.
In the end, Agent Vinod fails due to a screenplay that doesn't interest you at all. It ends up as a long tiring movie. Every director has one bad movie in career, this was Sriram's that movie.
Verdict : BELOW AVERAGE
