Rocky Handsome

wogma rating: Add to that never-watched 'To Watch' list (?)

quick review:

Action choreographers do their job best. The rest couldn't be bothered.

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Director: Nishikant Kamat
Cast: John Abraham
Running time: 120 minutes
More Movie Info

Rocky Handsome - Preview

Rocky Handsome's trailer opens with a romantic track and it plays long enough for you to wonder if Rocky Handsome is only about John Abraham being handsome. As the track switches, you see the romance fade away into gloom and you wonder if it is yet another revenge saga. And then, everything you have seen so far seems to have no bearing to what you are currently watching.

Thankfully, this last bit is the longest and most interesting part of the trailer and makes me look forward to the film. The action to go along with it is stylish, gruesome and leaves a mark. Add to that, the name of a director who has a decent record with thrillers and you wish to forget the apprehension that the first half of the trailer brought. Maybe it was just a tool to get the viewer watching. But then again, what does it say about the film, if they have to use tools for engagement tactics, play games with the audience?

Music Reviews:
Bollywood Hungama – "2.5/5"
glamsham – "3/5"
Milliblog - "Sunny and Inder definitely show promise!"
rediff - "2/5"

- meeta, a part of the audience

Even if it mostly involved thorough research and referencing to put together a bunch of choreographed action sequences, it is a job well done. It is brutal, it is gruesome and it is well-edited. That is about the only good thing you can say about Rocky Handsome. Other than it attempts a sensitive track without engaging emotionally even for a bit; and tries its hand at thrilling with little to surprise you.

The big reveal is no reveal because you are expecting it and because it is unfolded rather mechanically. The issues addressed are way too many from drug-trafficking to human-trafficking to organ-trafficking. If the idea was to just display the brutality of the said “businesses”, it came through alright. However, none of it is not new. Except for the numbers maybe. It was cute the way the writers introduced the statistics involved in the movie instead of having them run as end credits.

Yes, this is trying to grasp any visible straw. The performances are wooden, this despite cute Baby Diya Chalwad. John Abraham broods and manages a smile here or there. The villains instill fear but it is more because of the way in which they operate rather than their performances. Those seem more comic than villainous. Shruti Haasan's special appearance seems to exist only to add some oomph to a story that didn't have it. It is another matter that the story didn't need it either.

This is where the film suffers further. Use of slow-motion under the garb of “stylization” is bad enough, it is used rather randomly too. Same goes for the background music. It takes special effort to ignore the music so that you can somehow stay connected to the story and what's on the screen.

The story itself is all over the place in terms of the issues it wishes to take on. The cartels have a familiar hierarchy and the changes within are predictable too. The caricatures trotting around as menacing villains because of their quirks get annoying really soon.

Rocky Handsome came out as rather poorly written than anything else. Maybe, we could have excused the lapses in execution and narrative had it been for a gripping story or even if it had somewhat interesting characters. Pure action it wanted to show you and that it does well.

- meeta, a part of the audience

33 reviewers(?) - 4 yays 9 so-so 20 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up, by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice : ...Child actor Diya Chalwad’s sunshine-girl act is over-done... full review

Thumbs up, Bollywood Hungama : ...Despite the film having a simple plot, it has been garnished with engrossing drama and action stunningly. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Mehak Khurana, Desi Martini : ...Shruti Haasan in her brief role is impressive and the anti-heroes have done a pretty decent job! ... full review

Thumbs up, by Atka Ahmad Farooqui, India Entertainment : ...Shanker Raman’s breathtaking cinematography is a highlight of the film and as usual police is a mute spectator while the killing machine John takes away all the fun.... full review

So-So, by Anna Vetticad, annavetticadgoes2themovies : ...In the role of his brother is an actor desperately trying to blend menace with eccentricity and falling flat in the attempt. ... full review

So-So, Deccan Chronicle : ...Shruti Haasan has a special appearance in the film but looks like it was only during the editing of the film that the makers realized that her role has nothing to offer.... full review

So-So, by Smita Vyas Kumar, Desi Martini : ...Handsome he is. But that's about it.... full review

So-So, by Sarita Tanwar, DNA : ...meant for hard-core action fans... full review

So-So, by Zehra Abbas, fullhyd.com : ...Rocky Handsome certainly scores high on atmosphere and feel, thanks to the work of cinematographer Shanker Raman. ... full review

So-So, by Shubha Saha-Shetty, MiD DAY : ...More duels between Rocky and Atilla would have been a treat to watch. ... full review

So-So, by Jaidve Hemmady, Movie Talkies : ...Only for John Abraham loyalists... full review

So-So, by Renuka Vyavahare, Times of India : ...Nishikant's decision to play the mafia ganglord Kevin Pereira doesn't help the film either. ... full review

So-So, by Raghav Jaitly, Zee News : ...Director Nishikant Kamat was not at all a bad choice for the antagonist and he decently takes his character forward as per demand of the script... full review

Thumbs down, by Baradwaj Rangan, Blogical Conclusion, The New Sunday Express : ...A thoroughly underwhelming remake ... full review

Thumbs down, by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com : ...ROCKY HANDSOME has neither anything like ROCKY nor its HANDSOME enough to be given a chance spending your hard earned money and time. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Tushar Joshi, Bollywood Life : ...Despite an earnest performance by John Abraham, the action flick FAILS to hold our interest!... full review

Thumbs down, by Krish Sripada, Desi Martini : ...Drab, pretentious attempt at an action thriller!... full review

Thumbs down, by Johnson Thomas, Free Press Journal : ...In his attempt to leave plenty of room for a sequel, Kamat allows the back story about Kabir’s wife’s murder as a mystery to be solved at a later date.... full review

Thumbs down, by Martin D'Souza, Glamsham.com : ...is as imaginative and as naive as RGV KI AAG... full review

Thumbs down, by Rohit Vats, Hindustan Times : ...Shanker Raman’s breathtaking cinematography or Sharad Kelkar’s supporting hands are not expected to rescue an average film... full review

Thumbs down, by Suprateek Chatterjee, Huffington Post : ...Brawn Abraham is hardly known for his acting chops, but this may be a new low.... full review

Thumbs down, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...John Abraham performs these portions convincingly. He’s in beast mode for the bulk of the film, and there’s a strange thrill in watching him dispatch the bad guys systematically.... full review

Thumbs down, by Shubhra Gupta, indian express : ...But really who cares about such specifics in a film which is determined to plumb all depths when it comes to grisly violence ... full review

Thumbs down, by Abhijit Badgujar, koimoi : ...It would be a sin not to mention the 8 yr old girl Baby Diya Chalwad. She is the soul of the movie who runs the show.... full review

Thumbs down, by Lata Jha, Live Mint : ...look stylish but lacks emotional heft... full review

Thumbs down, by Kunal Guha, Mumbai Mirror : ...Handsome spends the rest of the film getting his wardrobe of black suits soiled, as he slashes and slays one gangster after another in search of Naomi. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV : ...This 'nowhere man' seems intent on a slow, unsteady walk back to where he has come from. Nowhere. That pretty much sums up the film.... full review

Thumbs down, by Sukanya Verma, Rediff : ...It takes concrete storytelling not style to camouflage John Abraham's limitations.... full review

Thumbs down, by Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Reuters : ...Kamat’s ability to turn a good original film into a credible remake was suspect even in his last film “Drishyam”, but “Rocky Handsome” is solid proof that Bollywood can ruin even the most straightforward of remakes... full review

Thumbs down, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...Rocky Handsome doesn’t work neither as an emotional drama nor an action flick.... full review

Thumbs down, by Namrata Joshi, The Hindu : ...However this isn’t the winsome, uber cute, tug at your heartstrings, Bajrangi Bhaijaan kind of bonding. The friendship with the little girl doesn’t quite strike a chord. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Pratim D Gupta, The Telegraph : ...Jazbaa last year and now this, the Korean roots in Bollywood seem to be running low on (kim)chi.... full review

Thumbs down, by Rummana, yahoo! India : ...By Bollywood standards it’s not really a long film but the bloodbath seems to stretch on forever.... full review

14 tweeters(?) - 8 yays 0 so-so 6 nays

wuagn28: A must and a need to watch rocky handsome @TheJohnAbraham just nailed it...

Vicari0: When is @TheJohnAbraham making Rocky Handsome 2 ? Just seen the movie in South Africa ! Loved it !

sallume5: Rocky handsome superb movie dont miss

NurAziana3: Rocky Handsome was great

Kishangudigar: Rocky handsome aswm movie

gambhirchakshu: Very well scripted must watch @TheJohnAbraham Rocky Handsome

bwoodtothepoint: #RockHandsome review: one of the most realistic action-thrillers in recent times! My rating: 4/5 @TheJohnAbraham https://t.co/YLBzs7ehMU

apurva024: I reviewed Rocky Handsome 4/5. Earn Rs.50 per review #WriteShareWin https://t.co/9Q8PAs5Lif via @MouthShut

TheJohnnews365: Review: John Abraham's body is the only good thing about 'Rocky Handsome'... https://t.co/gTGCdQBPg8 https://t.co/ihE9lpxm4T

rohannews365: Rocky Handsome Movie Review : John's hot bod and slick action can't save the... https://t.co/JdxWB5fim2 https://t.co/FSLYy83W5r

noordgp99: I reviewed Rocky Handsome 2/5. Earn Rs.50 per review #WriteShareWin https://t.co/a9mdDEKFdM via @MouthShut

DPsDictionary: Watched Rocky Handsome Last night, Still thinking who was Handsome ..

AmitSan_: Rocky handsome was nothing great la

almostinfamous: Rocky Handsome is John Abraham trying to be John Wick, stay away.

3 readers - 3 yays 0 so-so 0 nays

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Hrithik : The Movies Was nice.

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Jaidev : I liked John Abraham Madras Cafe alot..... This movie was also worth watching... I expect more movie

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Mohit Kumar : Rocky handsome is one of the best remake of the hollywood movie. It is a remake of the "The Man from

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Parental Guidance:

  • Violence: Lots and lots. Some of it pretty gruesome too.
  • Language: A few abusive words.
  • Nudity & Sexual content: A making out scene.
  • Concept: Setting a story of drug, human and organ trafficking around some exquisitely edited action choreography.
  • General Look and Feel: Grim and full of violence.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

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Rocky Handsome - Cast, crew, links

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Running time:
120 minutes
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Comments (3)

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Rocky handsome is one of the best remake of the hollywood movie. It is a remake of the "The Man from Nowhere" . I have seen both of the movies and frankly speaking both of the movies are damn good. I gave 4 out of 5 rating to this Rocky Handsome.

I liked John Abraham Madras Cafe alot..... This movie was also worth watching... I expect more movies like this from 2018 too....

Really Love John and his upcoming movie Parmanu is also awesome

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