Film Review - The Man From U.N.C.L.E

 

Spy Hard

Film: The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Cast: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer

Directed by: Guy Ritchie

Duration: 1 hr 55 mins

Rating: * * * 1 / 2

Based on the television series of the 60’s, Guy Ritchie’s reboot of the spy series is a delight to watch. Even though a story based during the cold war where a Russian and American agent team up to save the world may not be as relevant now but all the ingredients are in the right measure in this action comedy flick to give you your time and money’s worth. 

Guy Ritchie has taken up challenges in the form of Sherlock Holmes giving it a slick look and manages to pull this one off as well. The Snatch (1998) and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (2000) directors touch is still very much intact. 

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. also works as a period film. Set during the America Russia conflict, two spies are forced to come together for an assignment. Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill of Amn of Steel fame) and Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) of the KGB refer to each other as cowboy and Peril respectively. They have a rather bumpy start with each other and the repartees continue pretty much throughout the film. Giving them company on the mission is Gaby (Alicia Vikander) who has been smuggled out of East Germany. 

The cause of concern is a nuclear warhead manufactured by a seemingly normal corporate house but they do have nefarious plans. 

Ritchie goes all out to ensure that the pace never slackens and the next action scene or clever line is never too far. Even though the two main characters are American and Russian, the humor is essentially British with the suave Solo getting some of the best lines. 

The film focuses on all aspects in equal measure – it never gets too serious like a Jason Bourne film nor does it appear like a parody at any point. The production design is fantastic and add to it, there is also vintage music to complete the package. On the acting front, Armie Hammer has to look tough and expressionless which he does while Henry Cavill fares very well as the more charming of the two spies.  Their exploits are eminently worth a dekko. 

Published in The Navhind Times on 6th Sept. 2015
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Film Review - Baby

Spy Games

Film: Baby

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Danny Denzongpa, Kay Kay Menon

Directed by: Neeraj Pandey

Duration: 2 hrs 40 mins

Rating: * * 1 / 2

Neeraj Pandey’s Baby belongs to that rare genre of espionage thrillers although now-a-days there isn’t much of differentiation between those films and ones that tackle the issue of terrorism. Baby offers a mixed bag, by and large it remains predictable for most parts but the redeeming factor is the finale that is reminiscent of Argo, but keeps you engrossed all the same. That may not be the only film that Baby reminds you of, there is also a bit of Nikhil Advani’s D-Day in the storyline.

Akshay Kumar plays Ajay, an elite member of an intelligence unit called Baby which is formed to foil and counter terror attacks in the country. It opens with an action sequence in the heart of Istanbul which is nicely shot but has little meaning in the context of the film. The scene then shifts to India where a dreaded terrorist Bilaal (Kay Kay Menon) manages to escape from the police in broad day light. Meanwhile the intelligence unit learns that some attacks are being planned by the Lashkar group with a Mullah (Rasheed Naz) being the mastermind. 

The trail leads first to Nepal and from there to the climax in the middle-east where Ajay and his team (Rana Dagubatti, Anupam Kher) manage to catch the big fish. 

The problem with the screenplay is that it takes too long, almost the whole of first half to establish itself. The politics of the films and the portrayal of Muslims is also way too simplistic. Instead of seriously addressing the issue, Pandey brushes it with very broad strokes – he was better off leaving them alone rather than delving on them in this fashion.

The action is quite well choreographed, whether in Nepal, Turkey, India or the climax it ranks right up there. Particularly enjoyable is a fight scene between a lady agent (Tapsee Pannu) and the rogue dealer (Sushant Singh) in a hotel room.  Since our hero is so invincible, we know exactly how it is going to end but to Pandey’s credit, the climax though predictable, is riveting.

Of the cast, the ever reliable Danny Denzongpa adds a lot of credibility to his character as Intelligence chief. The supporting actors, Anupam Kher, Rana Dagubatti and Kay Kay Menon are aptly cast. It is so refreshing to see Akshay Kumar play a role that he pulls off so well rather than those mundane comedy films that he does so often. 

Published in The Navhind Times on 25th January 2015

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