What should a film do? At the very least, it should entertain, and at the very most, it should educate and enlighten. Bollywood has films that have done both. But the problem nowadays is audiences – or at least reviewers – who want that a film which sells for the maximum price of INR 350 per ticket should provide the solution to world peace, eradicate poverty, and maybe give the audiences immortality.
In such a scenario, directors and scriptwriters stand at great risk. See, an actor acts, picks up a pay check and is on his or her way. In the industry, the film an actor has previously worked on sticks more with the director and the screenwriter. In such a situation, there’s always the risk of directors failing – not because they read the audience wrong, but because they are scared stiff of actually making something that’s pathbreaking. And this brings us to my “Race 3” review.
Let’s get to the meat of the matter – “Race 3” actually has an interesting plot. It actually could have been like “Soldier”, and even reach the leagues of say, an “Ek Chaalis ki Last Local”. But this is a review, so this is a list of all those who stood in the way of this happening.
Remo D’Souza, the director needs to begin looking at direction with a fresh, new perspective. He needs to understand that the director should never be overawed by the product – Salman, in this case. Salman, as an actor, has at least played interesting characters in his films. He has failed, yes, but he has done it.
Next in line is the action director. There is absolutely no justification for the kind of action that the film has. Audiences have a full access to Hollywood – they do not want to see action sequences where Salman beats up 20 people, they do not want gun fighting sequences where nobody dies.
The audience sees it – they see the nod you give to the Rock’s rockbottom, they see the nod you give to the Rhonda Rousey fight sequence, the one between Jason Statham and Vin Diesel – hell, older audiences also remember how the climactic fight is so similar to the one in Bobby Deol’s “Soldier”. In some of the sequences, you can actually see where the green screen’s been removed.
Where was Remo D’Souza during this?
Salman’s films work because they are fresh. “Wanted” was fresh, “Dabangg” was fresh, the sequel was, too. “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” was fresh and so was “Sultan”. All this because the director added more rings to Planet Salman, not painted more face paint and showed it off.
The only two people who give an earnest performance are Salman and Bobby. Anil Kapoor shows flashes of his “Tashan” days, but that’s just in the end. Daisy Shah and Jacqueline are as dry as the sand grains in the desert locales used in this film.
Let me reiterate – “Race 3” actually has a good plot, but it is all hidden in those unbelievable action sequences and phoned-in performances.