you guys are on crack
This is basically a response to the misguiding comments of ALL (without exceptions) previous reviewers of this movie on this website. All of you who havent seen this movie, and arent enthusiastic about watching it after reading the previous reviews, I hope this undoes the damage. Otherwise, you would have been criminally denied of on of the better two and a half hours you would have in your life.
I thought this movie was incredible. If you think Reservoir Dogs isnt meant to be funny, I dont know which movie you were watching. All Tarantino's good films come with humor like this (the most obvious example is Pulp Fiction).
Id seen Reservoir Dogs long before I saw Kaante, and when I heard that it was a copy, I was very apprehensive and scornful about watching it as I thought it would fall flat in every way, and most critically, in the end, when the tension on screen has to be brought to the audience, to be really appreciated. I was remarkably proven wrong. In every way imaginable - and then some!
Anybody who thought the acting in the film was lame really must be some dimwit Govinda, Shahrukh or Hrithik Roshan fan. If Mahesh Manjrekar doesnt get an award for this movie, it will be a much bigger crime than Shahrukh getting Best Actor for DDLJ over Aamir for Rangeela, and Salman Khan for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, over Manoj Bajpai for Satya - and prove even more what sellouts the judges for the Filmfare awards are. The direction and acting were as close to professional as Hindi movies have gotten, with no unnecessary Govinda histrionics, and the optimum level of seriousness needed. Granted Kumar Gaurav and Sunil Shetty didnt have very demanding roles, but they played them perfectly, without getting in the way of the three, maybe two, that stole the show, namely Sanjay Dutt, Amitabh; who was well within himself for a change, and played this with a sensibility that even an actor like Al Pacino seems to be lacking at this stage in his career, where he shouts way too much in every film, and tries to portray that he is above other actors, solely because of his (granted very good) track record; and an astounding performance like Mahesh Manjrekar.
I cannot think of many roles in the recent past that have been played with such honesty and involvement, so convincingly as Mahesh Manjrekar did IN HIS DEBUT AS AN ACTOR!
The only blemish on this film was an utterly weak performance by Lucky Ali, who couldnt even laugh convincingly at the genuinely funny jokes in the movie. Maybe Im wrong here though, and the director is above me - meaning it to be that, to show that Lucky Ali's character is actually nervous, for obvious reasons. But this is only a minor blemish.
The dialogue - what can I say about it - Id run out of adjectives to describe it - it is so well written. Granted some lines are directly lifted off(about the dog barking all day and not biting), but humor like this has hitherto never been seen on Indian cinema. If youd rather laugh at Govinda upset an apple cart and hold his lungi high while running away from an angered father whose daughter he was hitting on, then you shouldnt even be reading this post, cos youre obviously on a different wavelength from most other people who saw and thoroughly enjoyed this movie. To be more specific, WAY BELOW IT (the wavelength is what im talking about here, for you people with sub-100 IQ's).
Anybody growing up with some diversity in his/her life, not just in terms of cinema, but overall exposure and a different perspective, based on their upbringing and past experiences would enjoy this refreshing change of scenery thats been brought into the vista of entertainment, that is the Bollywood big screen. Short and concise movies like this; not involving unnecessary song and dance, tears and family get-togethers; with simple, short story-lines - not spanning 3 decades - are much harder to make as a director, editor, cinematographer - you name it! For the obvious reason that theres so much less to work with. Its never been done before, and it will require a monumental effort to match the expertise and professionalism that this film has been handled with.
As a closing note - the effects in this movie can only be enjoyed on big screen, so you guys in Houston, Texas and the rest of the world that didnt get to enjoy this movie to its fullest effect on big screen, my condolences to you. I saw this movie in Globus, a theater that boasts one of the best-sound systems in Bombay, and therefore, arguably the rest of India, and the slick surround sound effects akin to The Matrix, and scene-changers and rapid video movements ala Snatch, can only be experienced in its original packaging. I forgive you guys to a certain extent for lambasting this movie, as you were at a slight disadvantage. But the fact that you failed to appreciate the acting, the dialogue, and the other tide-changing efforts that were behind this landmark film, still counts heavily against you.
I hope you come to your senses and stop supporting unnecessarily weepy Barbie Doll actresses like Aishwarya Rai, and empty-headed conmen that parade as actors like Salman Khan and Govinda.
Catch this movie in the theaters if its not too late, or wait for the original copy to come out on home video. Its quality entertainment, and well worth 2.5 hours of your time, and also serves as a great conversation piece later on (needless to say, not with the other reviewers of this movie on this website and their equals, or even close superiors). Its way beyond them to appreciate quality productions like this.
-Tosh out.