Crazxy
wogma rating: Add to 'must watch' list (?)
It’s crisp. It’s intense. It’s experimental. It’s relevant. Its grey characters get you involved in the story without ever being on screen because the only person you see properly on screen is Sohum Shah. If only it didn’t resort to being gimmicky every once in a while.
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A man wakes up not looking forward to the day ahead, only to watch it worsen by the hour. The cornered man is whirling into a vortex, and you realise why his name is Abhimanyu (Sohum Shah). “aah…clever,” you say and hear the riff of a song from your teenage years. “Naaaice!” you say, and a few minutes later, the song blares out loud. I felt a little disappointed that the makers didn’t trust us to get it without them spoon-feeding us. That about sums up how the film made me feel. I appreciated it mostly, but would sense a slight, “oh no…why did they do that!” every once in a while.
The one sequence post-interval, though, Sohum Shah outdoes himself by showing all of this at once. And without once letting it feeling like a “performance”.
I enjoyed the ambience created from the word go. The sense of urgency comes through even in its super-slow first few minutes. And that the makers picked that pace is a testament to their skill. The film is only 90 minutes long and has a lot going on, yet it chooses to take its time to expose us to the set-up and set the tone for the film. All departments seem perfectly in sync with the camerawork, and the editing doing a lot of the heavy-lifting.
And then, of course, Sohum Shah takes over. He’s the only actor you see completely on screen until the last scene. Most of the others are either voices on the phone or faces on DPs or photographs, and there is one on a video call. There are these two bit-roles, one of whom is masked, and the screen has only half a face of the other. I wouldn’t say they created fully fleshed-out characters before you despite none-to-very-little screen time. But they did their job, which was to tell you the relevant past and present of Abhimanyu’s life.
Sohum Shal, on the other hand, is mind-blowing. You know Abhimanyu is the kind of character who is composed and loving when he wants to be but pretty self-centred otherwise. Not the most likeable character, but you understand his motivations. The one sequence post-interval, though, he outdoes himself by showing all of this at once. And without once letting it feeling like a “performance”.
The film then goes ahead and wraps it up with a nice message, but it also made me wonder, “What if that person* wasn’t as capable?” and “Do we really want to say end justifies the means?” I am not too sure about that, and it bothered me enough to not like the movie as much as I liked most of it.
- meeta, a part of the audience
Thumbs up, by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice : ...You know those racing-against-time thrillers that somehow never come out right in Hindi cinema? Well, that’s just changed. Crazxy (why such a frivolous title?) takes you for a ride that will be hard to forget.... full review
Thumbs up, by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare : ...Watch this zippy, one-of-a-kind thriller for its road movie vibes, intriguing plot, gutsy acting and the powerful message that all children are special. Sohum Shah carries the film on his shoulders and is ably supported by the voices of Nimisha Sajayan, Shilpa Shukla, Piyush Mishra and Tinnu Anand.... full review
Thumbs up, by Ganesh Aaglave, FirstPost : ...On the whole, Crazxy is easily one of the best Bollywood thrillers in recent times and must be watched on the big screen to enjoy the engrossing experience.... full review
Thumbs up, by Baradwaj Rangan, galatta.com : ...At the end, we see that Crazxy is a kind of message movie, and that may be the smartest thing about it. This is a thriller that makes you think!... full review
Thumbs up, by Sana Farzeen, india today : ...The film Crazxy is well-shot, with detailed storytelling Sohum Shah shines as an actor and producer in the engaging film Voiceovers by seasoned actors amplify the narrative... full review
Thumbs up, by Jaya Dwivedie, India TV : ...Dr Abhimanyu Sood, a character played by Sohum Shah, is his shining light. He carries the entire film on his shoulders, making the audience go through this rollercoaster of choices and emotions. He is an actor who marvellously showcases the conflict and moral ambiguity through the internal tussle of a man confronting the harsh repercussions of his past deeds. He surprisingly holds the story together, performing so finely that it will stand out as one of his best.... full review
Thumbs up, MiD DAY : ...At a time when movies are sticking to formulas and are dictated by safe bets, Thank God for this film that decided to bet on an extraordinarily wacky idea.... full review
Thumbs up, by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV : ...Crazxy isn't an average crowd-pleaser. It dares to be different and sticks to its guns. That is where the appeal of the film lies.... full review
Thumbs up, by Isha Sharma, NewsBytes : ...Looking for something different? Watch it; 3/5 stars Films with only a handful of characters are rare in Bollywood, so Crazxy charts new territory. Apart from the acting and the direction, the music department is just as strong, and the credit list includes Gulzar, Kishore Kumar, and Anand Bakshi, among others. I wish Crazxy didn't go for such a predictable climax, but apart from that, it's worth your time.... full review
Thumbs up, by Rishil Jogani, Pinkvilla : ...Despite slight lags in the screenplay, Crazxy emerges as a bold, interesting film that dares to be different. While not flawless, its newness and Kohli’s vision make it a compelling watch. Fans of survival thrillers will find plenty to love, from Sohum Shah’s powerhouse performance, to the chilling cinematography and heart-thumping background score.... full review
Thumbs up, by Dhaval Roy, Times of India : ...With its Tarantinoesque blend of tension, style, raw intensity, and a homage to Amitabh Bachchan, Crazxy pushes boundaries and is a must-watch for its bold storytelling and character study. You won’t forget the cinematic experience long after the credits roll.... full review
So-So, by Murtuza Iqbal, Free Press Journal : ...The songs in the film are decent, and the recreated version of Goli Maar Bheje Mein doesn’t impress us much. But, the background score given by Jesper Kyd is amazing.... full review
So-So, by Shubhra Gupta, indian express : ...The absence of other actors – their presence reduced to their voices–is a problem too, leaving Shah to gamely handle the screen practically single-handed, which makes it even more of a stretch. And finally, there is only so much implausibility, and clunky computer graphics that we can take.... full review
So-So, by Sameer Ahire, Movie Talkies : ...Crazxy features a gripping screenplay in the final hour, but it could have been stronger in the first half. The film rides high on Sohum Shah's efforts, and honestly, he has performed very well. The second half of the film sees him in some incredibly difficult and unbearable moments, and he ensures that we feel that tension and pain.... full review
So-So, by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu : ...The conversations are sharp, meaningful, and engaging and create a sense of urgency as the characters sound crazy at one point and sympathetic and rational at another. The background score and cinematography generate an adrenaline rush and play with the mind.... full review
Thumbs down, by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times : ...Overall, Crazxy has a few things going for it. But it is far from being a delicious ride, with quite a few loopholes along the way. It has released in theatres.... full review
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This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.
Parental Guidance:
- Violence: Show of torture.
- Language: Clean
- Nudity & Sexual content: None, a couple of lines of dirty talk between a couple over phone.
- Concept: A doctor’s daughter is kidnapped.
- General Look and Feel: Slick and realistic
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