Story - brilliant, colors - vibrant, camerawork - creative, sound - unobtrusive, editing - slick, entire team - smart! Sorry, director saahab, I have run out of adjectives, so choose a superlative for yourself and I’ll agree.
What do I say? Where do I start? I must admit, it is the most difficult to write about a suspense thriller “without giving the movie away”. Any specifics that I would like to talk about will contribute to you knowing a bit about the movie. And that would be a crime in this genre. So, here is my attempt at being as unambiguous as possible.
This movie will be talked about a lot for the stylish homage the director pays to the people/styles of movie-making that have inspired him. And for a good reason too. The beauty with which the tributes have been interwoven with the narrative is not something one should write or read about. It has to be watched and applauded. Watch out for the way the subtle tribute to Anand has blended with and become a part of the story.
Acting - one of the departments missing from the list above - is not at its best. Dharmendra deserved far fewer lines considering his dialogue delivery was rather monotonous. Neil Nitin Mukesh is quite flat in some scenes, but overall, he has grasped and enacted the nuances of his character really well. For me, Vinay Pathak was the show stealer. In general, the versatility of this actor is just incredible!
Dialogues - my disappointment with this area might have more to do with the expectations set by the first 15-20 minutes of the movie. The general mysterious tone set in the beginning is missing at certain points later on. Especially, in the climax, keeping the dialogue enigmatic would have had much more impact. But, I am sure it was a balance the director must have struggled with - leave it to the audience to decipher or spoon-feed them.
What impressed me the most was how much I enjoyed the movie despite being a little dissatisfied with the two main departments of the movie - the two most visible ones. Though acting and dialogues are not necessarily the selling points of a movie in this genre. Just goes to show what a long way treatment of material can take a movie.
- meetu, a part of the audience
Comments (13)
Review - Johnny Gaddar...
It was refreshing to use my brain while watching a movie and finding out that the moviemakers have also done the same while making it. Not flawless, but completely entertaining, Johnny Gaddar is a must watch!...
posted 2 years, 11 months agobrilliant thriller!one of the most intelligent movies that has come out of indian cinema and a different movie in the real sense.go watch it!
posted 2 years, 11 months agoA must watch. Intelligent movie. No typical bolly crap. Great work by everyone. Lead actor impressive. Nice Very nice movie.
posted 2 years, 11 months ago[...] of a movie in this genre. Just goes to show what a long way treatment of material can take a movie. Review - Johnny Gaddar ? without giving the movie away? [...]
posted 2 years, 11 months ago[...] Movie - Johnny Gaddar is definitely my pick from bollywood. Bourne Ultimatum would be the hollywood pick. Johnny G is a [...]
posted 2 years, 11 months agoI loved this movie! The young Neil is fab. Story is brilliant! Amazing..!
posted 2 years, 11 months agoJohnny Gaddar is a must watch!…Very Good Movie.
It shows that those who do big crimes are not forgiven.
posted 2 years, 10 months agorimi and mukki looking good, once again hats off to shanker ehsaan and loy for beutiful composition a must watch movie. sattar dubai.
posted 2 years, 10 months agoAmazing - directors like Sriram Raghavan exist in Bollywood !!!
posted 2 years, 9 months agoSuperb edge of the seat thriller.
However if you are reading this Sriram,
Ek Haseens Thee was a notch above Jhonny G
Meetu, I have just one word for your web site. Fantastic!
I just watched Johnny Gaddar and just searched it on web in a dazed state. I landed on your web site. Some of your observations I agree with and some I disagree with. But best part is the observations you make about camera angles and cinematography that I can never make when I watch a movie for the first time. I can analyse only in second viewing. But you could do it and put ir comprehensively on your blog deserves a BIG thumbs up!
Keep on writing, will be a regular now on. :)
posted 2 years, 8 months agoThanks, Poonam!
posted 2 years, 7 months agoA must watch movie for suspense lovers. The story is so gripping that you won't move from your seat. A good use of old music in this movie.
posted 2 years, 7 months agoWoww.. is the word i can start with .. lol …what a movie.. yes without songs..but he didnt want to deviate the story with songs…all the more i could say.. EXCELLENT AND PERFECT HOLLYWOOD INDIAN MOVIE>>
Dan
posted 2 years, 7 months agoLeave a new comment