Non-spoiler alert: This review does not give away film story or plot.
Verdict: ZNMD is a very competent film in its genre, never lagging and with some good cinematic moments. Worth a watch.
Like: Cinematorgraphy, locations, screenplay, direction, Farhan Akhtar
Don't like: Hrithik Roshan, 'flattish' emotional graph of film
One review I read on the day of the film's release said "Indian road movies have come of age". I agree, Zoya has hit the bullseye on the 'road movie' format. But I feel she hasn't gone the distance.
Traditionally, road movies involve a group of people, usually friends, going on a trip that 'inadvertently' brings them face to face with some aspect of themselves that they need to confront. By the end of the journey, the characters have learnt something, changed in a seminal way and are pretty much re-born. It's a metaphor for life's journey.
Director Zoya Akhtar does all of this with her characters, and it's well worth watching, but in the end, it falls just a little short because the transformation seems a little too easy. Here's why.
+ves: The screenplay is done quite well, with no scene really making you wish you'd spent your money somewhere else. This is the hallmark of a good formula film; you know what to expect and yet, it does not bore you :-) Spain looks phenomenal, thanks both to its azure beauty and the fab cinematography.
Farhan Akhtar simply crackles and snaps on screen, bringing new life to what could have easily been a trite, overdone 'funny-guy-with-surprising-depth' role. He body language is open, relaxed and he seems to be living the film. Katrina is a pleasant surprise package, and if she could've been just a little less self-conscious, she'd have been brilliant. Abhay is competent, but is playing within his known 'large-guy-who-speaks-softly' safety zone from other films.
-ves: The film's emotional graph, while it does the standard up-down-up-down of a good film, is restricted in its range. There are no real highs or lows. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that the film, insomuch as it is informed by the sensibility of its director, may well reflect the absence of too much existential angst in her life.
There are great cinematic moments, when the child-like physical experience of living vicariously through cinema can be felt strongly. For instance, when the guys are about to dive off a plane and your heart thumps as loudly as Farhan's does on screen, its the old unadulterated magic of cinema at work.
Where I felt a little let down was with the rather easy core transformation of the characters. It seemed like nothing inside them considered dark enough or serious enough to come in the way of the 'fun trip' theme of the film.I reserve my strongest negative mention for Hrithik Roshan, who is sadly becoming a caricature of himself. Even though he's supposed to have 'discovered how to live every moment fully' in the film, courtesy Katrina, he continues to hold himself back on screen, physically and otherwise, probably scared to mar his own greek god perfection by simply letting go.
All in all, Director Zoya has done a good job with ZNMD. Worth a watch.
Hi Mahesh,
ReplyDeleteI saw the movie yesterday and really liked it. I agree that Hrithik was badly cast. He annoyed me each time with his plastic face and orange hair. and he puts too much effort in. the other two were so effortless. even in the dance sequence he was the most affected even though he is the best dancer. he is the male aishwarya rai. too perfect and really too full of himself. he was sticking out like aamir khan in dhobi ghat, very tiring.
but farhan was great and so was deol. and for the first time i really liked katrina. i feel her body language was superb - she really essayed the right tone and didnt push herself in front of the camera too much. i just feel she cant do close up shots very well and then her dialogue delivery is off sometimes but on the whole i really enjoyed her tone. she pitched it just right.
as for the story graph being flattish, i didnt mind so much. i didnt want it to get too heavy. or sad and i quite liked the balance she maintained between goofy and exploring some degree of personality issues. and the landscape was done very well.
also, could you add Neeti to your list.
Hi Mahesh,
ReplyDeleteso says Hilsa.. i loved the movie for its fun moments.. I did feel that building on emotions was weak. Probably true that Zoya herself may not have experienced those sensational moments. Though i liked the fact that it was not louder than life. Guess we are numbed by the dozens of slapsticks that have been shamelessly splattered on our faces. I welcome this movie for its freshness.
Hritik was a good choice for the role. Though i do agree he needs to unwind and loose himself.
I could not relate to LUXURIOUS aspects in this flic, i do think i'd LOVE to be in that space. YES :))) Cinematically the visuals of SPAIN was mindblowing and well captured. We felt a part of the scene though, during those moments. Except towrads the end, the bar and the jail scene, they lacked the spontaniety of the other scenarios.
Achha hai! Chalega!
Farhan is the real star in ZNMD...his presence on the big screen is quite effortless and made me want to see more of him. My eyes were only on Farhan even in dance sequences, which are HR's strong points. HR, in his golden hair, looks haggard...
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