Race Hindi Movie Review
(16 votes, average: 3.69 out of 5)
Subhash K. Jha, Film: “Race”; Cast: Anil Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, Saif Ali Khan, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Sameera Reddy; Director: Abbas-Mustan; Rating: **
Glamour, a ritzy gorgeousness and hedonism runs across “Race” like a bolt of lightning cutting through a super-sleek surface reminding us that the “Bold And The Beautiful” are basically compromised souls.
So join them at your own risk. In Abbas-Mustan’s terribly sleek thrillers, the glamorous characters are fatally flawed. The women specially pull out all stops when it comes to realizing their ambitions and tapping into those areas of their conscience that are conventionally considered taboo for women.
In “Aitraaz”, we had Priyanka Chopra lusting after her employee under her husband’s nose. In “Humraaz”, Amisha Patel plotted with lover-boy Akshaye Khanna to marry and disinherit hubby Bobby Deol. And of course in “Baazigar” Shah Rukh Khan threw Shilpa down a high-rise without a second thud.
In “Race” too Bipasha pushes one of the heroes down a high-rise. Though telling which would be a ‘dead’ giveaway. If you know what I mean.
The mean machine has never been meaner. None of the characters says what he/she means. And they all want to get rich. As rich as Abbas-Mustan, who have been marketing the murky side of affluence for over a decade now.
Suffice it to say money continues to be the main motivation for making the Abbas-Mustan’s characters’ world go round and wrong. The four main characters sparkle sartorially like walking-talking endorsements for botox and boutiques.
Full marks to stylist Anaita Adajania for making the attractive star-cast look ready ripe and riveting.
Then there’s Allan Amin’s action sequences… not world-class, mind you… we’ve seen ritzy cars somersaulting in the skyline with more élan in scores of forgotten car-chase adventures from the West.
But yes, it’s been a while in Bollywood since the heroes chased cars more vigorously than skirts.
Despite the presence of three sensuous ladies, “Race” is a very boys-night-out kind of thriller. Skidding wheels compete with Pritam’s high-octave dance numbers to create a beguiling blend of the bowled and the bountiful.
Every one of the four main characters could be a wolf in disguise. The chic script plays an amusing cat-and-mouse game with the audiences’ perceptions, shifting the needle of suspicion from one to the other character with numbing velocity until you just give up and go with the ‘flaw’.
Editor Hussain Burmanwallah doesn’t spare the material. Even the coolly -choreographed dance numbers are driven by a demoniacal desperation to beat the clock.
Everyone, the editor included, is shown running out of time as the two brothers Akshaye Khanna (robust and enjoying his part of the money machine) and Saif Ali Khan (scowling in transparent disdain) race to the finishing line.
Ironically the co-directors take the title a tad too literally. For a large part of the narration Saif and Akshaye are seen racing each other on cars.
The two actors seem to have enjoyed being in a film that extends the line of morality into the grey zone and makes acquisition seem like the only way to be faithful to the times that we live in.
Mid way, Anil Kapoor talking fast and furiously enters with dumb assistant Sameera Reddy to do an encore of Pankaj Kapoor and Sushmita Mukherjee from the zany detective serial “Karamchand”.
Ah, a touch of historicity in a tale where people live for the present only.
“Karamchand” chewed on carrots. His modern day avatar chews on every seasonal fruit in pursuit of a phal-proof plan to nab the culprits.
We chew on Abbas-Mustan’s inverted morality tale where the bad have all the fun. We wouldn’t know what happens to the good. They stay out of this film.
As for the leading ladies, Bipasha is naturally saucy. Katrina tries.
— IANS
Completely rubbish movie..
Did not like it at all!
saif……. movie..
Racy Ambitious Complicated Entertainer
RACE is Abbas Mustan’s attempt to find the golden touch that they had displayed with Baazigar, Khiladi and Ajnabee. ‘Naqab’ failed because it was too complicated and this is the same with RACE too. In a bit to give a super hit, AM duo put in too much- the result , a slick but complicated thriller in which everyone double crosses the other.
A story of absolute mistrust between two loving brothers Saif and Akshay Khanna, the thriller starts off with the usual élan of a Abbas Mustan movie and keeps the pace going for the first half an hour. The story builds up with Akshay falling in love with Saif’s girlfriend Bipasha. Saif sacrifices his love thinking that his alcoholic brother would quit drinking. Akshay and Bips marry each other as a scheme to usurp the 100 million insurance that they would get if Saif is killed in an accident.
Everything goes as per plan but after Saif’s death, Katrina playing Saif’s secretary , claims that Saif had married her before dying hence the money is hers. What follows thereafter is too complicated with each one backstabbing the other. We will leave the cinema hall absolutely not trusting the director duo for the state of affairs after building up the tempo for a fantastic thriller.
Nevertheless, the touch of the duo is evident in the twists and turns, the business strategies and the backroom operations. Saif has come of age and has started playing different shades and experimenting with films like Omkara, Dil Chahta Hai and this. He adequately plays his role of the elder brother who plays to win. Akshay as the younger brother who seeks revenge against his brother is good at times . Bipasha as the sexy siren, fits the role and has shades of grey. She is glamorous as the model, seductive as the lover and plays her role to her limited best. Katrina looks beautiful and has not much to do except looking good.
Anil Kapoor enters the fray as the fruit loving inspector along with his stupid secretary Sameera Reddy a la Karamchand and kitty. He lends comic credence to the second half with his double entendres and corrupt methods. Anil Kapoor has these days made a mark for himself in these side but important roles.
The locales and cinematography of South Africa and Dubai are breathtaking. The action scenes are also well picturised. Music by Pritam is inspired and is one of the high points of the film. The background music by Salim-Sulaiman is also thrilling and adds to the effect.
All in all , Race seems to be another misled but good attempt by Abbas Mustan. They should concentrate more on simple thrillers like Baazigar and Ajnabee instead of complicating things too much like Naqab and Race. They are still the masters of the game and have the energy and verve to direct thrilling moments like no one else in the industry.
Rubbish movie..nothing new, same old boring stuff.