Many critics put this film in their list of the best films of 2008. It came strongly recommended from all friends. When I finally watched it last night I was not totally disappointed. For a first time film-maker it is a reasonable effort. It helps Neeraj Pandey when Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah act in his first full-length feature film. On the whole the film works. However, there are moments which don't fit in.
The film does a good job of creating tension for about ten minutes and then blows it away with a joke. Examples include Jimmy Shergill's 'pehla kaan saaf karoonga' act, the man who lived through 'haazaron volts ki bijli', 'yeh hain hamare hero' & the hacker receiving a call from 'babes', all of which throw the tension out of the frame. All these 'smart lines' successfully diverted my mind away from the seriousness of the situation. The thrill-factor slips a few notches & the atmosphere of suspense created in the last few minutes is completely destroyed. Why have such moments in a thriller? The 'hero' is not even integral to the plot and there is a flashback to tell his tale of woe!
Keeping these minor flaws aside 'A Wednesday' is a good film. Personally, I knew the four terrorists would be killed as soon as Shah's character asks for them to be freed but the 'the stupid common man' act was not something I'd guessed. It is definitely a fresh take on the incompetence on oft-repeated 'the whole system is flawed' philosophy. For this idea alone the film deserves praise.
It's March, 2009 and I am twenty-five years old, almost twenty-six, and I know what to expect from Kher and Shah. Kher's body language, his walk and his talk have an air of a man in control of the situation. Shah plays his part. All the while I was watching this film I kept thinking of something like this happening in 'Heat' where De Niro and Pacino act together but don't share too much screen time. If I were to pick an acting performance in this film it would be Jimmy Shergill. I'd not have cast him for this role if I were Neeraj. Hardly anyone would believe he could have done it. Man, does he do justice to his role. It's a stereotypical character, nothing special there but Jimmy brings the character alive with an intensity. He is the scene stealer in 'A Wednesday'. I am not sure if this performance will change the way industry views him but it will change my perception of him.
CONCLUSION: The film works to some extent. There are genuine moments of thrill. I like the film. Do I love it? No. Will I remember it for a long time? No. Is it one of the best takes on terrorism? No. However, the fresh view of 'the stupid common man' & Jimmy Shergill make it worth my while.
RATING: 3/5
The film does a good job of creating tension for about ten minutes and then blows it away with a joke. Examples include Jimmy Shergill's 'pehla kaan saaf karoonga' act, the man who lived through 'haazaron volts ki bijli', 'yeh hain hamare hero' & the hacker receiving a call from 'babes', all of which throw the tension out of the frame. All these 'smart lines' successfully diverted my mind away from the seriousness of the situation. The thrill-factor slips a few notches & the atmosphere of suspense created in the last few minutes is completely destroyed. Why have such moments in a thriller? The 'hero' is not even integral to the plot and there is a flashback to tell his tale of woe!
Keeping these minor flaws aside 'A Wednesday' is a good film. Personally, I knew the four terrorists would be killed as soon as Shah's character asks for them to be freed but the 'the stupid common man' act was not something I'd guessed. It is definitely a fresh take on the incompetence on oft-repeated 'the whole system is flawed' philosophy. For this idea alone the film deserves praise.
It's March, 2009 and I am twenty-five years old, almost twenty-six, and I know what to expect from Kher and Shah. Kher's body language, his walk and his talk have an air of a man in control of the situation. Shah plays his part. All the while I was watching this film I kept thinking of something like this happening in 'Heat' where De Niro and Pacino act together but don't share too much screen time. If I were to pick an acting performance in this film it would be Jimmy Shergill. I'd not have cast him for this role if I were Neeraj. Hardly anyone would believe he could have done it. Man, does he do justice to his role. It's a stereotypical character, nothing special there but Jimmy brings the character alive with an intensity. He is the scene stealer in 'A Wednesday'. I am not sure if this performance will change the way industry views him but it will change my perception of him.
CONCLUSION: The film works to some extent. There are genuine moments of thrill. I like the film. Do I love it? No. Will I remember it for a long time? No. Is it one of the best takes on terrorism? No. However, the fresh view of 'the stupid common man' & Jimmy Shergill make it worth my while.
RATING: 3/5
1 comment:
Para-1 - Agree
Para-2 - My memory of the movie is not as clear as urs is at the moment!... but i guess i can both agree and disagree with you on the "messing the plot" part... Jimmy definitely was't the movie's 'hero', Naseer was!.. Hero probably was referred to as good-looking dude in the movie's context!
And the thrill factor might have been affected... even tho i dont remember anything like that happening to me... but ur logic holds!
para-3 - Agree overall.. i did not think about the terrorists being killed tho... until pretty late... but i was smelling something fishy.. something unpredicatable! :-)
para-4 - No Comments
'Conclusion' - Dont agree. I would rate it as a v gud movie if not the best ones i have seen. certainly wud remember for a long time...
Rating - I wud give it 4/5 ... maybe i am more liberal or something... but thats me!
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