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Race***
*ing: Saif Ali Khan, Bipasha Basu, Akshay Khanna, Anil Kapoor,
Katrina Kaif and Sameera Reddy
Directed by duo Abbas-Mustan
Tagline: Wake up and feel the pace; don't stop, life is a race
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Have
you ever been in a labyrinth? If you have, then you'll be aware of
the twists and turns you have to go through before making it to the
end. If the maze is too long, chances are you'll get bored but since
you're in so deep, you can't quit until you're out. Throw in a dark,
looming thunderstorm for extra effect and that's Race, in a nutshell.
The good thing is that this labyrinth is so well manicured that for
the first hour or so you don't even want to get out, you just sit
back and enjoy the scenery.
Bollywood's list of exotic locales just added the breathtaking landscape
of South Africa and with the three long legged and highly bronzed
heroines in tow, the landscape gets a little more appealing in the
film.
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Ashfaque's
struggle pays off and he does break into Bollywood. And he transforms
from an honest, young lad into 'Sameer Khan', an actor who cheats
on his wife, lies about his childhood to gain publicity and sympathy
and uses his celebrity to screw with other actors.
But everything changes with one murder. And thus begins Halla Bol...
The film is heavily inspired by Jessica Lall's murder that took place
in Delhi in 1999. Jessical's murder involved some influential people's
kids. Testimonies were turned around, corrupt officials were bribed
and threats were made and not surprisingly, the murderers were acquitted.
But it was media pressure that eventually became public outcry on
a massive level that led to the conviction overturn.
In Halla Bol, media is not the only that fights. It is Sameer Khan.
And what comes out of this story is a reflection of some serious problems
in modern-day India even today. Sameer's effigies are burnt. This
is in fact what happened with Aamir Khan when he was involved with
Narmada Bachao Andholan. His last three films have struggled to be
screened in the state of Gujrat. |
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Visually,
the film is picture perfect, from the fabulous cinematography to the
styling (you can tell that it is several notches above Manish Malhotra)
and from the stunts to the songs. Bollywood has officially stepped
out of an era of frumpy cars (the Indian Ambassador to be exact, epitomized
in the Amitabh Bachchan starrer, Khuddar) and clunky dhishoom dhishoom
action scenes. In this new, glossy genre, heroes don't get their hands
dirty; they simply blow up the enemy with the push of a button. And
leading pairs do not frolic around the pine trees of Ushu Forest anymore.
Sandy beaches and bikinis are the new 'forest scene'.
This is a genre of cinema that was initiated by films like Dhoom 2;
in Race you can almost feel Bipasha Basu try and step into Sunehri's
(Aishwarya Rai) shoes. Films like Race and Dhoom capture high life
with cars, bikes, pedigreed horses, glamorous nightlife and of course,
babes. There will be crime, but it will be operated by smooth criminals.
To top everything off, the high maintenance ensemble cast keeps one's
interest piqued throughout. It makes for attractive cinema and it
is the feel good factor films like these thrive on. |
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However,
beyond the eye candy it provides, Race is more or less an empty
candy wrapper. It's glossy and engaging on the exterior but unfortunately
void of substance inside – the storyline is unoriginal; there
are too many convolutions, the characters are absolutely flat and
the film has far too many loopholes to be convincing cinema. But
then again, it's not supposed to be convincing or realistic cinema.
Race is the story of two brothers Ranvir and Rajiv Singh and the
games they play to outbid each other for their inheritance (insurance
money to be exact). The way the story has been etched out is reminiscent
of the Michael Douglas starring film, Game. Throw in a couple of
murders, a few adulterous bedroom scenes, more deceit and betrayal
that even the Sopranos would be able to digest and you have the
gist of Race. To dive any further in the plot would be a dead giveaway,
a spoiler, as every half hour of the film has been punctuated with
a sudden shock value. By the end of it, you learn to be suspicious
of every single character, even the neighbour's dog.
While the three leading men – Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Khanna
and later Anil Kapoor – are engaging in their characters,
one has got to say that the ladies are mere cut outs. They all look
beautiful but they are nothing but props. Sameera Reddy, above all,
is a prop that wasn't even used. Abbas and Mustan could have saved
money by doing away with her altogether but then they probably wanted
an even number on the cast.
Saif Ali Khan, despite being a bit of a cardboard hero, is difficult
not to like; Akshay Khanna returns to the screen in his negative
avatar and Anil Kapoor, looking absolutely smashing, enters with
a dose of comic relief.
At the end of the day, one enjoys this film despite its lack of
originality or story line. Once you start watching, you just cannot
stop.
India is on its way to becoming one of the world's largest consumers
of luxury products and it is only natural that the 'high life' would
be reflected in Indian cinema. It's a lifestyle everyone aspires
for, a dream world. And as long as people continue to dream, they
will continue to buy it.
-- Aamna Haider Isani
*YUCK
**WHATEVER
***GOOD
****SUPER
*****AWESOME
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