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8x10
Tasveer**
**ing: Akshay Kumar, Ayesha Takia, Sharmila Tagore,
Javed
Jaffrey, Anant Mahadevan and Rushid Rana
Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor
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MStrictly
(technically) speaking, 8x10 Tasveer is a milestone for Nagesh
Kukunoor. As a storyteller, Kukunoor has tried changing his
genre, stepping out of his comfort zone and right into the suspense-thriller
genre. For a filmmaker, that stepping out can go either way.
Where one was hoping for an intelligent film, one gets a technically
brilliant but otherwise weak supernatural thriller gone awry.
The film sees Akshay Kumar as Jai, a forest ranger in Canada
who can look into the past through his unique powers. Not exactly
premonition, in fact don't even try going into the science of
it. It is illogical. Jai can look into the past for exactly
a minute or less via an eight by ten picture. Hence, the stupid
film name.
Anyhow, the death of his father, which looks natural enough
at first but soon turns into an investigation, turns Jai towards
his powers. Jai comes across often as a loon because no one
believes him. But with some curious questions from a kind but
odd and a tad obsessive cop, Happi (Javed Jaffrey) leads Jai
to hunt down the answers. |
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What
begins as an interesting outing, though, gets boring in the end
and the answers don't give too much of a clue. Indeed, only the
identity of the villain is the highpoint.
It isn't that the film isn't engaging but it simply loses points
because it drags on; this despite the fact that there is only one
song in the actual film.
Shot in Canada and South Africa, 8x10 Tasveer looks gorgeous on
celluloid. It's green, lush and shot extremely well. It's very stylistic
for an Indian film, certainly flashy but it works.
The problem is with the script. It meanders on endlessly in the
grand tradition of long Bollywood films, a trap that Kukunoor fell
into instantly. And even though Akshay Kumar is gripping (it is
a nice change to see Akshay Kumar attempt something other than just
comedy, which has become his overdone forte), it doesn't save the
film.
When he Òenters the pictureÓ, Akshay becomes lifeless
and he does this sequence in various instances quite convincingly.
The idea is to show that he is in the past and vulnerable to the
real world and Akshay does a splendid job. His demeanour throughout
the film is sober, subdued and slightly peculiar and it's a relief
to see Akshay attempt this challenge. But where he delivers, one
wonders why Sharmila Tagore signed the film in the first place.
She plays the mother and her role is neither as explosive as a one-off
scene cameo and is inadequate for a performer of her caliber. Sharmila
Tagore's presence may add to the film's star power but it hardly
adds to the film.
The other person, who does add slight charm to the film include
Ayesha Takia who plays Jai's girlfriend Sheela. In the first half,
she is plain boring but by the end, Sheela plays so many different
shades that one is completely thrown off.
In the end, the biggest problem is the moral correction in the film.
The ending is moralistic and Jai is the goody-goody who continues
to battle for good. These preachy undertones make the film unbearable
by the end.
Despite the fact that 8x10 Tasveer is the last film to have hit
Indian multiplexes before talks broke down between producers and
exhibitors there, one would've thought that the film would work
since it's the only one out there. But even Akshay Kumar's star
power and one film in the multiplex couldn't save this show. In
India, the film was beaten by Hollywood's Fast and the Furious and
soon it was declared a flop.
In a nutshell, 8x10 Tasveer begins as a supernatural thriller and
turns into a moralistic family saga and the suspense is too thin
to keep one engaged. Watch this film only if you're a fan of Akshay
Kumar and want to see some flashy and beautiful cinematography.
Otherwise, skip it.
Ð Maheen
Sabeeh
8x10 Tasveer is currently playing in cinemas
*YUCK
**WHATEVER
***GOOD
****SUPER
*****AWESOME
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"So, does Nagesh Kukunoor's dalliance with sci-fi meet
this criterion? Not really. For though the film is based on
an unusual premise and focuses on a new hero-type, the plot
simply plods along, with undue repetition and the sci-fi biz
is just a ploy to peddle a regular whodunit. Also, the search
for the murderer ends up in a conclusion that is riddled with
loopholes. Too many, to be brushed aside as creative licence."
wÐ Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India
ÒÔI have a secret,Õ Akshay Kumar says glumly
in a scene from his new thriller film 8 x 10 Tasveer. Well,
the secret's finally out, Akshay. Now the whole world knows
your film stinks. Intended as a suspenseful thriller, 8 x 10
Tasveer is a hopelessly dumb film that suffers on account of
an ill-conceived script that's ridden with logical loopholes.
At every turn you find yourself befuddled by all the inconsistencies
and creative liberties you're expected to turn a blind eye to.
When the suspense finally unravels, it delivers a back-story
so convenient, you could throw your hands up in the air and
laugh at the sheer stupidity of the enterprise.
Ð Rajeev Masand, CNN-IBN. |
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