Bollywood used to make fun crime films. This is the country “Don” of “Bunty Aur Babli” by not one but three “dhoom” movies (OK, maybe two). Heck, NetflixLast “Dhoom Dhaam” (which is not related to the aforementioned franchise) threw his hat in the ring at respectable results. And while the other examples may come from a bygone era of joy abandonment, the present moment leaves much to be desired.
In his defense, Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal’s “Jewel Thief” do not claim to be some kind of capers, but the self-compliant Wannabe-Action drama in its place leaves much to be desired. One cannot misprint siddharth anand to have undertaken more of the same After the success of the project Like “Pathaan”, “War” and “Tiger” – but it was theatrical editions, unlike this, and not star Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat.
Khan plays Rehan Roy, a notorious jewel thief who worked successfully abroad after his father (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) denied him for his career choice. Rajan (Jaideep Ahlawat), a rich art collector with criminal bands, puts his views on the magnificent red soldier and threatens Rehan’s family to attract him home and get his help on the heist.
The film Tragically, Ahlawat, who chews landscapes impressive as a villain but lacks any real depth or motivation. It is suggested early on that Rajan lives a double life with his illegal activity, but David Logan’s script does not further investigate this (except when he kills a dog; you should know this before you look at). Despite his chemistry with Khan, the characters are not a convincing rhythm-at least not one who still signs up after just an exciting phone call between Rehan and Officer Vikram Patel (Kunal Kapoor), who has clearly played cat-and-mouse for several years to the point of mutual respect and even affection. Again, this is not explored and to the disadvantage of the film.
The only relationship “Jewel Thief” really wants the audience to invest in is the most taxation of all: the alleged love that blooms between Rehan and Rajan’s wife Farah (Nikita Dutta, who cannot act and seemingly not hired to do so). It is not Dutta’s fault that the character was written with all the depths on a gold fishing tank, or that the casting does not put such a heavy burden on someone who is more experienced or expressive. Does Farah love her husband? Is she even attracted by Rehan? Does she want to leave everything behind to strive for her own life? I could not tell you, because it is not written into the story or noticeable on the screen, even as a subtitle. Sometimes she looks worried. I can relate.
The undeniable highlight of “Jewel Thief” is to watch Khan enjoy himself (if he is not, it only makes the spectacle more brilliant) even when the filmmakers do not seem to encourage it. He jokes with Vikram’s underlines when they escort him through an airport; He gets a lot of action scenes, including one where the camera tracks him that goes up a wall; And he sells Heck from Sumit Arara’s dialogues with both attention to character and a tribe of star power that seems to be intended to die with his generation.
All this makes the actual heist more of a job than an adventure, where more time is spent on the inner function of a safe than taking advantage of Chekhov’s laser field. And according to the entire title – “Jewel Thief: The Heist begins” – there is hope for a sequel, and Anand usually gets what he wants in that department. Part 1 has some cores that can raise their successor – heck, even diamonds come from coal.
Rating: c
“Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins” is now flowing on Netflix.
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