Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Race -- My Review

Finally saw Race. Though I knew most of the story and the climax by reading the reviews, many of the twists still caught me by surprise. I think that's the film's USP. The film doesn't impress in other departments.

Bipasha looked hot and acted well. Katrina and Sameera were disasters.

Saif looked good in the stills but was wooden in the movie. He deosn't have a single good scene. Anil couldn't pull of his comic role.

Rediff is right. Akshaye has the lead role in the movie.

Surprisingly, I thought Akshaye looked good in the first half when he was a bit chubby. That suited the role of the alcoholic he was playing. When he lost weight in the second half, his hairpiece didn't suit him anymore and that spoilt his look.

The problem with Akshaye's role is everything about the character is revealed within the first half hour. From then on, all the surprises belong to other characters and Rajeev moves from one situation to another never taking control.

Akshaye was really good in the first bit. Once we knew his plans and he got into this territory when he was simultaneously shouting at Saif and playacting for us the audience, Akshaye missed the cue really badly. The "suicide" scene is the worst scene of his career. Fortunately, he recovers in the second half but from then on his role is just passive and petulant. It doesn't help that Rajeev makes some really stupid blunders.

On the whole, I think Akshaye was plain bad in the latter part of the first half. He overacted there and couldn't pull of the dissimulation bit but he as quite fine in rest of the movie.

His dancing just got goofier and his wardrobe worse, if that's possible.

It's clear he'd worked out hard for the shirtless scene. He was awesome. He should stop being lazy and work out all the year round, not just for one occasional scene.

He had some nice chemistry with both Bips n Kat; he had some great sleazy hot scenes with his ladies, first time ever. He's gettin there. A great kiss scene in you next one, Akshoo? Wish there'd been a hot song for him and Kat though.

Though it an awful piece of dialog, it was so delightfully corny to hear him scream "Come to Daddy" to Kat. I think that's the part I enjoyed most in the movie!

All in all, I think he was much better in other Abbas-Mustan movies, performance wise. But Race is a hit; it's the first time he's worked out n stopped being shy on screen, he's got the lead role sure to be relished by the audience n the critics, so that's not quite bad in the end.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I thought Akshaye didn't do good in that one scene where Anil and Sameera see him and Bips for the first time- after Saif's character dies. If you know what I'm talking about, the scene when he's weeping and Bipasha's comforting him. I was really surprised to see how awful he did in that one scene. I expect better from him.

And his hairstyle did not look good at times. His clothes were not so good. His best outfit- was the business suit, he wore when him Anil's interrogating him at his office- the grey jacket, pant suit-with the black shirt. He looked superb there.

I personally thought he looked better in the second half- since he was on the thin side- he lost weight.

Anonymous said...

Also did he have an intimate scene with Bipasha??

Anonymous said...

^Also I thought the performance of Akshaye was good overall, but deja vu- considering I've seen him act like similarly in the past- in the shirtless scene- he was putting on 36 China Town act- Naqaab act going on in first half, and middle was like Humraaz.

I personally think its time he takes a break from abbas mustan films. He's becoming a little repetitive.

Hope Priydarshan film will do the trick for him.

Anonymous said...

My God, I'm shocked with your review, Akshayefan! But, whatever you said on the whole is true! Still, it's Akshaye Khanna's performance that stands out.

Anonymous said...

"It's Priyan's best film" - Akshaye Khanna

IndiaFM.com

http://www.indiafm.com/news/2008/03/26/11104/index.html

Anonymous said...

akshaye fan, pls dont post any negative reviews on akshoo's performance here. Even the worst scene that u hv mentioned will be better than the histrionics of the so called BADSHAH'S of hindi cinema

Anonymous said...

I agree with your Review, AkshayFan! But, the overacting and the chubby look of Akshaye Khanna suits the character - Rajiv Singh who is jealous of his elder brother, a drunkard acted, a lowly lad and who is the shrewd villain.

However, you are right..."The problem with Akshaye's role is everything about the character is revealed within the first half hour. From then on, all the surprises belong to other characters and Rajeev moves from one situation to another never taking control."

The role of Akshaye Khanna could have been tighter!

Anonymous said...

^^^^^"Akshaye was good overall, but deja vu- considering I've seen him act like similarly in the past- in the shirtless scene- he was putting on 36 China Town act- Naqaab act going on in first half, and middle was like Humraaz."

Well, I don't think that Akshaye Khanna's acting and performance are deja-vu and similiar as in Humraaz, 36-China Town and Naqaab. Because Race - the film, the plot, and the character - role of Akshaye Khanna - are completely different.

Akshaye Khanna has played the most complex and toughest role this time in Race so brilliantly! It's not that easy to play such a shrewd rogue onscreen! But, Akshoo has done it with great aplomb!

Yeah, of course...the role-character of Akshoo could have been "tighter" and meatier too!

But, on the whole I love AKSHAYE KHANNA in Race because his character and performance are just that he makes me to love to hate him and also to love to love HIM! He's simply fantastic and the show stealer!

Anonymous said...

http://www.radiosargam.com/films/archives/3668/top-10-villains-1997-2007.html

Rank 1: Ashutosh Rana (Dushman & Sangharsh)
Rank 2: Saif Ali Khan (Omkara)
Rank 3: Akshay Kumar (Ajnabee)
Rank 4: Priyanka Chopra (Aitraaz)
Rank 5: Nana Patekar (Apaharan)
Rank 6: Ajay Devgan (Deewangee)
Rank 7: Irrfan Khan (Haasil)
Rank 8: Kajol (Gupt)
Rank 9: Suniel Shetty (Dhadkan)
Rank 10: Akshaye Khanna (Humraaz)

Hanumant Bhansali

Anonymous said...

It seems that all fans of Akshaye Khanna have such high expectations about him. I'm glad about this!! Hope, Akshoo improves himself and his performance in other movies.

By the way, Akshoo finally rocks in Race all the way. He is really superb as Rajiv Singh.