Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Aakrosh Review - Priyadarshan at his Best

Aakrosh Review - Priyadarshan at his Best


The film might not have got that amount of hype or publicity, but Priyadarshan has made a skillful movie which is completely away from his regular slapstick fare like Khatta Meetha and Hera Pheri. This is Priyadarshan at his strongest and best with the right amount of anger and arrogance mixed with a hint of compassion.


The story is simple, with tiny shades of Mississippi Burning in it, but the director has a way of telling the story that is unique and different from the rest. And through this the two protagonists, Akshaye Khanna and Ajay Devgn, makes the most of their characters. Akshaye as the young idealist is perfect, while Ajay is in his cynical and simplified best. A man who does not like complications and cares not for the rich society, he steals the show. But the one man who should be mentioned for being at his consistent best is Paresh Rawal. Bipasha Basu is sort of superfluous, but looks good. The editing and technicality is well-chalked out too and keeps a steady pace throughout.


Watch this film for a good hint of gripping drama. Of course, there are moments of slight disparity but they soon wash out in front of brilliant filmmaking.

Rating***

Knock out

What is it with our filmmakers making frame-by-frame remakes of Hollywood films? It isn't as though we lack ideas or even talent. Knock Out is basically a copy of Phone Booth and there is no two way about it. Not really sure what Mani Shankar, director to the film was thinking, but he has basically made a film that didn't do too well in the west but is totally inapplicable to 2010; a day and age where modern technology runs the world and PCO's are a thing of the past. Anyhow, somehow he managed to bag Sanjay Dutt, Irrfan Khan and Kangna Ranaut to be a part of the film and before you knew it, Knock Out was out and about ready to create mayhem.

An unknown man (Irrfan Khan) finds himself in complete shambles when he is asked to enter a phone booth but not pick up any phones. For some odd reason he agrees. The phone then rings and he finds himself picking up the phone and has basically been taken hostage by a banker (Sanjay Dutt). The media and police get involved in this whirlwind and then begins the film. Or something along those lines at least.

Knock Out is so half-baked, that it is virtually impossible to understand or even write the plot. As a director Mani Shankar has totally lost the plot. Granted it is a copy but in all honesty, it needed to have more than Phone Booth had in order for it to have any impact. And because of this, it falls flat. The characters in the film themselves look confused and lost. It seems like they themselves are unsure as to why a film is being based on a PCO phone when everyone has mobile phones in this day and age. A film that is deemed a thriller all of a sudden becomes patriotic and filled with national pride which is even more confusing. Not only are you left wondering what on earth is happening but feel the need to walk out.

Sanjay Dutt is the only reason to watch Knock Out. His performance is worth it because he is the only actor that doesn't ham or fake his role. In fact, he depicts the most real character in a film. Irrfan Khan disappoints in Knock Out. He hams, screams, shouts, hollers and over acts like no other. Kangna Ranaut is a waste of time in this film. Her role is hardly understood within the film let alone applicable to Knock Out. And lastly, we see Apoorva Lakhia debuts in a film and makes no mark.

Yes, you are knocked out with Knock Out; knocked out of your sense and logic. It screams useless and basically, KO can go down as one of 2010's dumbest films.

Rating: *