Reviews by Rajeev Masand from CNN-IBN
'Ishaqzaade' benefits considerably from Amit Trivedi's excellent soundtrack and Hemant Chaturvedi's sharp cinematography. Faisal creates a believable world with charming characters, and his leads have crackling chemistry. It's far from perfect, but you won't be bored.
For a large portion of Agent Vinod, you don't know where things are going… and then it all stretches on so needlessly that you stop caring. Given that this is a film that sees itself as a desi-style Bond, it has glaring loopholes that are embarrassing. The action in the film is choreographed slickly, but you can't help feeling a tad let down. Director Sriram Raghavan ,who gave us such taut thrillers as Ek Hasina Thi and Johnny Gadaar previously, injects Agent Vinod with so many varied influences that it never finds its own distinct identity. Agent Vinod is a spy who knows how to save the day; he just needs a better plan.
'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu' is a narrative that unfolds mainly through dialogue, and the lighter moments come at you as the odd couple gets to know each other. The humor hits the mark many times and falls flat occasionally, but the movie doesn't grate because the characters aren't trying too hard to be cute At 1 hour and 50 minutes, the film is light and breezy, and mercifully never turns too syrupy for your taste.
'Gali Gali Chor Hai' doesn't say much that hasn't been said before, and it doesn't say it interestingly either. Never smart enough to be described as a satire, it fails ultimately because it's dreadfully dull. Even a sleazy item song by Pakistani starlet Veena Malik is unlikely to shake you out of your slumber.
What fails the film after all, is the over-enthusiasm of its makers, who overstay your hospitality by dragging the film on for an unforgivable 2 hours and 45 minutes. Also, harsh as this may sound, the film suffers considerably on account of its dull cast. What could have been a satisfying entertainer doesn't quite achieve its potential.
Imtiaz Ali's 'Rockstar' is a far-from-perfect film, but it has honesty and depth, which is mostly missing in Hindi movies today. 'Rockstar' is never as surefooted as Imtiaz's breakout hit Jab We Met, but it's a braver, riskier film than any he's previously made. In these times of instant gratification, here's a film that makes you think. Not a perfect film, but one that stays with you long after the lights have come back on.
The film is a waste of time and money on the part of those who made it and those who're brave enough to watch it. It's the kind of film that critics must suffer so you don't have to!
My favourite scene is one in which Mahaakshay's character goes next door to demand that a noisy neighbor turn down his blaring speakers. In reply, the neighbor pours his glass of beer on Mahaakshay's head. If only the audience could do the same to the perpetrators of this lousy comedy.
The main culprit here is the sloppy script. The writers interrupt the basic storyline with such repeated distractions as a romantic track between Esha and Arjan Bajwa, a long-drawn sermon against female foeticide, and even some badly timed humor from Johnny Lever. Intended as a starring vehicle for Esha Deol, this 80s-style melodrama might have benefited from smarter writing and slicker direction. Plodding on for what seems like eternity, this is an earnest but exhausting film.
If the film still doesn't hold, it's because it's underlined by an uneasy comic tone that's working at cross purposes here. In one tasteless comic sequence, our hero rubs his ex-girlfriend's face in the fact that he has a new lover now. It also doesn't help that Himesh Reshammiya offers an affected performance as the conflicted lover. What could've been a sweet, simple love story turns into a confused film that never justifies its spirited title.
What's missing from 'Ra.One' is a sure-footed director's touch. Anubhav Sinha fails to bring all the elements together, and while this superhero film has plenty sound and fury, it's sorely lacking slickness. Like the spaghetti and curds concoction that Shah Rukh digs into in an early scene, 'Ra.One' is clearly an acquired taste.
'Love Breakups Zindagi' is an inoffensive film that has pleasant music and neat production design. First-timer Sahil Sangha directs with an easy hand, giving the film a light-hearted feel. Alas, he's working from a script that offers nothing new or exciting to chew on. It's a tiring retread of a once popular formula that's wearing thin now.
'Soundtrack' doesn't work consistently because it's amateurishly directed, and because even those scenes of Raunak's debauchery are so tackily filmed. Even if you survive this film’s every other flaw, chances are you'll be exhausted by those long, hallucinatory interactions between Raunak and his alter-ego that manifests itself as a clown. Somewhere in this tiring film is a promising idea that hasn’t been fully exploited.
Dhawan's films have always been sexist and regressive, but there was a time you could count on him to deliver the laughs regardless. 'Rascals', as it turns out, is infuriatingly unfunny. Unless grown men making silly faces is your idea of comedy. Donate your cash to charity instead of wasting it on this wretched film!
The only moments that work in this film are the relentless action sequences; and while John Abraham looks good when he flexes, a little loosening up in the dramatic sequences might have helped. This film is brawn porn, at best.