Bollywood used to make enjoyable crime motion pictures. That is the nation of “Don,” of “Bunty Aur Babli” of not one however three “Dhoom” motion pictures (OK, possibly two). Heck, Netflix‘s current “Dhoom Dhaam” (unrelated to the aforementioned franchise) threw its hat within the ring to respectable outcomes. And whereas these different examples could also be from a bygone period of joyful abandon, the present second leaves loads to be desired.
In its protection, Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal’s “Jewel Thief” doesn’t purport to be any form of caper, however the self-serious wannabe motion drama instead leaves a lot to be desired. One can’t fault producer Siddharth Anand for committing to extra of the identical after the success of tasks like “Pathaan,” “Warfare,” and “Tiger” — however these have been theatrical releases, not like this one, and didn’t star Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat.
Khan performs Rehan Roy, a infamous jewel thief working efficiently overseas after his father (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) disowned him for his profession selection. Rajan (Jaideep Ahlawat), a rich artwork collector with legal ties, units his sights on the magnificent Purple Solar diamond, threatening Rehan’s household to be able to lure him house and enlist his assistance on the heist.
The movie tragically underuses Ahlawat, who chews surroundings impressively as a villain however lacks any actual depth or motivation. It’s hinted early on that Rajan resides a double life along with his illicit exercise, however David Logan’s screenplay doesn’t discover this additional (besides when he kills a canine; it’s best to know this earlier than watching). Regardless of his chemistry with Khan, the characters don’t a compelling rhythm — at the very least not one that also registers after only one thrilling cellphone name between Rehan and officer Vikram Patel (Kunal Kapoor), who’ve clearly been taking part in cat-and-mouse for years to the purpose of mutual respect and even affection. Once more, this isn’t explored, and to the movie’s detriment.
The one relationship “Jewel Thief” actually needs the viewers to spend money on is essentially the most taxing of all: the alleged love blooming between Rehan and Rajan’s spouse Farah (Nikita Dutta, who can not act and was ostensibly not employed to take action). It’s not Dutta’s fault that the character was written with all of the depth of a goldfish tank, or that casting didn’t place such a heavy burden on somebody extra skilled or expressive. Does Farah love her husband? Is she even interested in Rehan? Does she need to go away all of it behind to pursue a lifetime of her personal? I couldn’t let you know, as a result of it’s not written into the story or discernible on display screen, whilst subtext. Generally she appears to be like anxious. I can relate.
The indeniable spotlight of “Jewel Thief” is watching Khan get pleasure from himself (if he’s not, that simply makes the performing extra good) even when the filmmakers don’t appear to encourage it. He banters with Vikram’s underlings as they escort him by an airport; he will get fairly a couple of motion scenes, together with one the place the digicam tracks him strolling up a wall; and he sells the heck out of Sumit Arora’s dialogues with each consideration to character and a pressure of star energy that appears destined to die along with his era.
All of that renders the precise heist extra of a chore than an journey, the place extra time is spent on the interior workings of a protected than making the most of Chekhov’s laser discipline. And per the total title — “Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins” — there may be hope for a sequel, and Anand normally will get what he needs in that division. Half 1 has some kernels that might elevate its successor — heck, even diamonds come from coal.
Grade: C
“Jewel Thief — The Heist Begins” is now streaming on Netflix.
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