Johnny Gaddaar (Raghavan, 2007)

[sandeep]

After a long time have I enjoyed a suspense-thriller... a very well made 2nd film by the director whose 1st film was Ek Hasina Thi, a remarkable movie which brought out the best villain in Saif and the best psycho/helpless lass in Urmila...

This movie introduces Neil Nitin Mukesh, son of Singer Nitin Mukesh... he looks a lot like his dad, looks a lot like Hrithik too, but manages to come out a winner. His acting, for his first movie, is phenomenal... his transition from the beginning of the movie to the end is done brilliantly... Dharmendra, Vinay Pathak, Zakir Hussain, Rimi Sen, Ashwini Kalsekar, Govind Namdeo, Rasika Joshi,  all play effective characters, and move the film along...

No where in the film did I feel the pace slowing down or never did I loose interest... right till the last scene, it was an entertainer, through and through...

Johnny Gaddaar, a weird name you would think, watch the movie to find out more!

4/5

[kaytee]

I have been hearing good things about this movie, haven't seen it yet but shall try and catch it soon.

[sulphurhead]

I watched this with shariq, and both of us loved this movie. It's done very stylishly and the references, tributes and stylization of the 60's and 70's films is amazing, and done well.

[kaytee]

Watched it last nite...this was one brilliant movie...though I didn't like Dharam paji's dead pan face and robotic english, but the movie is a treat to watch, especially for the direction and the pace...the homages paid to Parwana and Guide was a nice touch by the director...Neil Mukesh was strictly ok but he does have huge potential...for me the show stealers were Vinay Pathak, Zakir Hussain and Gobind Namdeo, all brilliant stage actors who are finally getting their due on the big screen...

This is defintely one of the better movies that have come out this year.

[shariqq]

Homages and references all over the movie. Itefaq, Johnny Mera Naam, Jewel Thief, Dhund...

Yes, excellent movie. I'm so hoping to take the time out to write a proper review for this.

[kaytee]

Homages and references all over the movie. Itefaq, Johnny Mera Naam, Jewel Thief, Dhund...

What part was the homage to Dhund? I like that movie.

[shariqq]

Don't remember it now, but I was reminded of these during various parts of the movie.

Dhund was an excellent suspense thriller. Danny was excellent!


Kaytee: did you listen to the soundtrack of Johnny Gaddar? It's got the title-sequence trqck too - the redone version of Johnny Mera Naam's theme music!

[kaytee]

Yes the soundtrack has been playing in my car for the past 2 weeks, really brilliant stuff for a movie with no songs in it. SEL excel in all departments to create an ultimate rock album.

[shariqq]

It's SEL, eh? I didn't even check who it was and assumed it must have been Vishal Shekhar. They have indeed done a splendid job.

I remembered the Itefaaq reference: That's the last club song in the end, when Neil Nitin Mukesh's character comes back to the club in the rain (a double reference - the song, as well as the protagonist coming to the place of murder in the rain). Can't recollect the Dhund one yet - but will come 

[shariqq]

Hey, Johnny!! Makes my Best of 2007!

Johnny Gaddar



There is no dispute on Vijay Anand being the de facto Master of Suspense/Thriller in Indian Cinema history. So when we have a movie that pays tribute to this master (starting from quite an obvious title), purists like me sit up and get ready to tear apart any fallings. Consider the astonishment when the movie not only lives up to the name, but dignifies it! That this movie actually got made, and then received a wide-release is in itself a surprise - hardly are any studios or distributors in India who support movies that do not conform to the fabric of established norms of Bollywood. Yet we have this movie. Raghavan gives us a genuine film-noir that is so rare that it is easy to lose it in the mêlée of mediocrity that Bollywood blockbusters represent.

An almost grayscale visual theme with shocks of Red (very Sin City - nobody is innocent), no break-out sessions for song&dance and a crisp running time (135 minutes) alienates it frm regular cinema. The movie revels in what it is, and religiously refers to the works it inspires from. Yet, and in doing so, it establishes a unique identity that would live through the said mêlée.

The casting choices of the movie also make for a great ensemble, especially with the presence of Dharamendra, whose stature and age are also put to great use. Neil Nitin Mukesh makes his debut, and is already lost in the shadows while lights shine on other star-kids. Yet he plays the most daring and convincing maiden role to establish a sure-fire position on the "to-be-watched" list.

Raghavan makes the most inherently "cool" movie of the year, complete in 60's retro garb of filmmaking (cinematography, editing, character focus, color grading) that fits right in with the film-noir subject. If not for the obvious anachronisms, this could easily have been a movie from the 60s, if not from the Master himself.

[kaytee]

One of the best of the year...

[sulphurhead]

Definately

[shariqq]

<Bump>

Fizz: For Your Consideration. For the only Hindi movie to break our Top 10 in 2007.

Hey, Johnny!! Makes my Best of 2007!

Johnny Gaddar



There is no dispute on Vijay Anand being the de facto Master of Suspense/Thriller in Indian Cinema history. So when we have a movie that pays tribute to this master (starting from quite an obvious title), purists like me sit up and get ready to tear apart any fallings. Consider the astonishment when the movie not only lives up to the name, but dignifies it! That this movie actually got made, and then received a wide-release is in itself a surprise - hardly are any studios or distributors in India who support movies that do not conform to the fabric of established norms of Bollywood. Yet we have this movie. Raghavan gives us a genuine film-noir that is so rare that it is easy to lose it in the mêlée of mediocrity that Bollywood blockbusters represent.

An almost grayscale visual theme with shocks of Red (very Sin City - nobody is innocent), no break-out sessions for song&dance and a crisp running time (135 minutes) alienates it frm regular cinema. The movie revels in what it is, and religiously refers to the works it inspires from. Yet, and in doing so, it establishes a unique identity that would live through the said mêlée.

The casting choices of the movie also make for a great ensemble, especially with the presence of Dharamendra, whose stature and age are also put to great use. Neil Nitin Mukesh makes his debut, and is already lost in the shadows while lights shine on other star-kids. Yet he plays the most daring and convincing maiden role to establish a sure-fire position on the "to-be-watched" list.

Raghavan makes the most inherently "cool" movie of the year, complete in 60's retro garb of filmmaking (cinematography, editing, character focus, color grading) that fits right in with the film-noir subject. If not for the obvious anachronisms, this could easily have been a movie from the 60s, if not from the Master himself.

[sulphurhead]

Shariq, I don't see your rating out of 5 on this one.

[shariqq]

4.5 of 5