Race: With the pace missing

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Race: With the pace missing

Race, the much hyped film of the director duo, Abbas-Mustaan is out today. Can this film be a thriller like their previous ones? Will this film be a perfect wash for the stains their directorial skills suffered post Naqaab? Read on.

CJ: Amit R Agarwal

Fri, Mar 21, 2008 17:12:56 IST

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3071
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3.13 / 79 votes

Race Movie Bollywood :

ABBAS-MUSTAAN is one director duo that have always found their calling in the thrillers (though they strayed around with an occasional Chori Chori Chupke Chupke) - Khiladi, Baazigar, Soldier, Ajnabee, Aitraaz are their five best works. Will Race be an ace amongst these?

Not quite. For, any thriller to work, the narrative should have edge-of-the-seat moments and characters who catch you unawares; however, Race misses both of these attributes. The only solace is that the film is infinitely better than their recent outings, Tarzan –The Wonder Car, 36 China Town and Naqaab.

Though, the initial reels give a feeling that Race, as the title gives away, is set against the backdrop of horse racing. It is in fact a game of conceit and deceit between the principal players Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna, with their prized trophies (of course the girls have nothing to do) – Bipasha and Katrina.

The film is set in Durban, South Africa. Ranvir (Saif) and Rajiv (Akshaye) are stepbrothers. Ranvir owns a huge stud farm and his horses are a favourite at the races.

Sophia (Katrina) is Ranvir’s secretary and is smitten by his charm. However, Ranvir has hots for an upcoming model Sonia (Bipasha Basu).

However, on learning that his younger brother Rajiv has fallen for Sonia, Ranvir forgoes his love and gets Sonia married to Rajiv; but Sonia is not happy with Rajiv. To further complicate the matters Rajiv, who feigns to be an alcoholic, is in fact after Ranvir’s money.

Thus the stage is set for a thriller. The point is: Is the movie really thrilling?

As already mentioned, a thriller primarily works on two attributes: A narrative with edge-of-seat moments and characters that catch you unawares. If Race misses on these attributes, it is because of Abbas-Mustaan’s earlier films, particularly, Ajnabee and Naqaab.

The cross machinations of the couples: Saif-Bipasha, Akshaye-Bipasha, Saif-Katrina, Akshaye-Katrina is so similar to the Bobby-Urvashi, Akshaye-Urvashi, Bobby-Urvashi track in Naqaab. Similarly, Saif’s death and his sudden appearance in the pre-climax is a straight lift from Bipasha’s death and her sudden appearance in the pre-climax in Ajnabee; while in Ajnabee it strikes like a bolt from the blue, over here the viewer is expecting it.

The discerning viewer even knows the interval point, entry of investigative officer RD (Anil) and his dim wit assistant Mini (Sameera). Like Sherlock Holmes and Watson!

The production values are rich, Ravi Yadav captures the scenic South Africa in the best possible manner he could. Background score by Salim-Suleiman adds more than the required punch to each scene.

Music by Pritam is good. However, the best song of the movie “Pahli Nazar Mein…” is a perfect example of how to spoil a beautiful song with grossly unimaginative filming.

More than the screenplay, it is the dialogues that keep the movie afloat.

While almost everybody in the cast is good, it is Akshaye Khanna who takes the cake. He is the perfect antagonist. In fact, it seems he is forming a team of sorts with Abbas-Mustaan (Humraaz, 36 China Town and Naqaab). His is the best and the most natural act. Katrina Kaif with her new trimmer look, is simply stunning.

Directors Abbas-Mustaan are very competent in a couple of scenes, particularly the scene, where Saif blows up his jockey, Monto. The dialogue “Koyee mujhe harakar maar bhi de… to parvaah nahin; per dhokha dene waale ko mein kabhi maaf nahin karta” (I don’t care if somebody defeats and kills me but I never forgive a person who deceives me) sets the tone for the whole movie and most importantly the character of Saif.

Definitely not an ace amongst the thrillers, but an average fare for the audience with an eye for thrillers.

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	More than the review, I enjoyed your response to the comment.
	\| 22 March 2008 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse

thx

Amit R Agarwal | 23 March 2008

	Mr. Agarwal my sincere apologies but as a movie reviewer your main job is to tell the people what to expect from the movie but not give away the entire story. It is a cardinal sin to give away the ending of a thriller on the day it has been released. No sane reviewer would ever do such a thing. Please understand what writing a movie review is all about. I have great regard for your reviews but i am afraid you have spoiled the fun for all the merinews visitors after giving away the ending. I request you not to make such a grave mistake ever again. And as for me honestly i had bought tickets for the Sunday show but after your spoiler dont feel like going for the movie.
	\| 22 March 2008 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse

Quote Mr. Agarwal my sincere apologies but as a movie reviewer your main job is to tell the people what to expect from the movie UnquoteI guess I did it pretty well!Quote but not give away the entire story UnquoteRead it again, the review doesn�t give the entire story. Does it tell you, for example:� Who hooks up with whom?� Who dies or who survives?� Who is brought to book and who is let off?� What does Anil do or what does Sameera do?� Whether there is a romantic track between Anil and Sameera OR Saif and Katrina?� If Saif is dead, how is he found to be alive in the pre-climax?� Does he has his memory intact or has he lost it?� Is Anil with Saif or Akshaye or all the three characters are cross with each other?A two hour movie can�t be given away in a ten minutes review, if it can be, the movie is not worth watching, says Todd Cunnigham, National Editor, Hollywood Reporter: Premier EditionQuote It is a cardinal sin to give away the ending of a thriller on the day it has been released UnquoteWhere in the review have I committed the� ahem, �cardinal sin to give away the ending�. Please quote it for me, from the review; I am too keen to have a look at it!Quote No sane reviewer would ever do such a thing. UnquoteFirst quote the ending given; then let�s talk about sanity or vanity (as the case may be)Quote Please understand what writing a movie review is all about. UnquotePlease tall� oops� tell me what writing a movie review is all about!Quote I have great regard for your reviews UnquoteThanks for having great regard for the reviews, I am humbled!Quote but I am afraid you have spoiled the fun for all the merinews visitors after giving away the ending. UnquoteWhere have I, given the ending, read Quote Unquote 3 for reference. Also to quote from my review �The discerning viewer even knows the interval point, entry of investigative officer RD (Anil) and his dim wit assistant Mini (Sameera).� That means, the film doesn�t have any novelty; the viewers know exactly what is going to happen next. They know Saif isn�t dead. In fact, the review clearly quotes �over here the viewer is expecting it�; as was evident in the hall.Quote I request you not to make such a grave mistake ever again. Unquote�Grave mistake�, may be by responding to this comment I am making one.Quote And as for me honestly I had bought tickets for the Sunday show but after your spoiler dont feel like going for the movie. UnquoteRest assured; you won�t be missing much.

Amit R Agarwal | 22 March 2008

Yes Mr. Agarwal, i havent seen the movie obviously but you did throw light on the fact that Saif Ali Khan dies during the movie and comes back in the pre climax. Now how can a reviewer take the liberty of spoiling the thrill for an ordinary person who hasnt even seen the movie. It might not be the climax of the movie, but isnt it supposed to be the pivotal plot and you are giving it away. You might have seen the movie and thought his renunciation was an expected move. But what about the hundreds who are going to read your review and go for it. Havent you taken too many liberties in your review or story telling? I for one do think so.

Shishir Srivastava | 22 March 2008

Quote the fact that Saif Ali Khan dies during the movie and comes back in the pre climax. Now how can a reviewer take the liberty of spoiling the thrill for an ordinary person who hasnt even seen the movie UnquoteThat's the whole point, there is no thrill, forget the ordinary even a nincompoop in the audience knows Saif is gonna come back, as was evident in the multiplex; so unlike Ajnabee.Quote It might not be the climax of the movie, but isnt it supposed to be the pivotal plot and you are giving it away UnquoteIt is not the pivotal plot. Rest assured. Read other eviews and you will get the pivotal plot!Quote Havent you taken too many liberties in your review or story telling? I for one do think so. UnquoteNo. I haven't.

Amit R Agarwal | 23 March 2008