Bihari Baabu is back and how! Yes, Neeraj Pandey who gave us the sleeper hit "A Wednesday" in 2008 is back, with a film that finally justifies the use of the term CON in Indian movies. Yes, this is no Hollywood Copy Paste Con film, it's fresh and entertaining. Though some of the screenplay techniques used are Hollywoodish, it has the Neeraj Pandey stamp all over it.
FYI, I watched this film in Patna and it was an awesome movie viewing experience. Much better than Mumbai, but that discussion is for later. Let me tell you why this movie works.
Neeraj Pandey gave us the taut thriller "A Wednesday". What worked there was a Good Script, Excellent Screenplay, Good Acting and Peppy soundtrack. Special 26 benefits from all of this. So you see the same trademark fast cut screenplay, rapidly moving camera shots following the actors, context setting panorama stock shots and hard hitting dialogues. Things move fast and are only slowed done by unnecessary song sequences between Akshay Kumar (Tolerable) and Kajal Aggarwal (Horrible).
The film quickly sets up the context by showing us our team of 4 conning the pants out of a politician. Jimmy Shergill ( Competent - underused) , a constable on duty is left Red Faced and he sets out to catch these conmen. As the team of 4 consisting of Akshay Kumar (Straight-faced for a change), Anupam Kher (Terrific double act),Rajesh Sharma ( A brilliant actor wasted) and Kishore Kadam ( living on the sidelines). So Jimmy goes to the real CBI and asks for help. The real CBI puts this case in the hands of their best man Manoj Bajpai ( 2nd Bihari to steal the show) on the case. And then starts the game of cat and mouse.
The Con is decided and the trap is set. Who will come out victorious? Will Bajpai get his men? Or will Akshay Kumar (Supposedly the coolest Con Man on the block) outwit his opponent? If you know how Con films work, you know the outcome. But how? Well, again if you know how Con films work, you will work it out. But it's not lame. Infact, it's tolerable! There are many questions that you can ask, which make no sense at all, but then let's not nitpick. Simply because it's probably the best Con Movie made in India in a long long time. And that it is based on a real story, makes it even more appealing. Also, the Art Direction team has done a fabulous job of recreating the 1980s, apart from a few gaffes like the Airport and the trains which are actually passable.
It's a must watch. Coz every other weekend we get conned off our hard earned money by a film. This weekend for a change the Con movie actually is Value for Money! Apart from a useless Love angle and forgettable songs, this is totally worth it just for the brilliance of Anupam Kher and Manoj Bajpai. Cheers to Neeraj Pandey. Kisi ne sahi kaha hai ... Asli Power Script main hoti hai!!!
Rating: 7 /10 ( 2013 finally comes good!)
And here's why watching the film in Patna was better than Mumbai. Cinepolis has a simple, quick Online Ticket Booking procedure, the theater is excellent with good seating and the Caramel Popcorn was very very nice. Also it was just 120 Bucks! Mumbai main toh bhia LOOT hai. ticket+ travelling+ food takes away 600 bucks easily and usually, the movie is not even worth 6 Rs!
Anyways.. if you LIKE the Review, do LIKE and spread the word. thanks.
FYI, I watched this film in Patna and it was an awesome movie viewing experience. Much better than Mumbai, but that discussion is for later. Let me tell you why this movie works.
Neeraj Pandey gave us the taut thriller "A Wednesday". What worked there was a Good Script, Excellent Screenplay, Good Acting and Peppy soundtrack. Special 26 benefits from all of this. So you see the same trademark fast cut screenplay, rapidly moving camera shots following the actors, context setting panorama stock shots and hard hitting dialogues. Things move fast and are only slowed done by unnecessary song sequences between Akshay Kumar (Tolerable) and Kajal Aggarwal (Horrible).
The film quickly sets up the context by showing us our team of 4 conning the pants out of a politician. Jimmy Shergill ( Competent - underused) , a constable on duty is left Red Faced and he sets out to catch these conmen. As the team of 4 consisting of Akshay Kumar (Straight-faced for a change), Anupam Kher (Terrific double act),Rajesh Sharma ( A brilliant actor wasted) and Kishore Kadam ( living on the sidelines). So Jimmy goes to the real CBI and asks for help. The real CBI puts this case in the hands of their best man Manoj Bajpai ( 2nd Bihari to steal the show) on the case. And then starts the game of cat and mouse.
The Con is decided and the trap is set. Who will come out victorious? Will Bajpai get his men? Or will Akshay Kumar (Supposedly the coolest Con Man on the block) outwit his opponent? If you know how Con films work, you know the outcome. But how? Well, again if you know how Con films work, you will work it out. But it's not lame. Infact, it's tolerable! There are many questions that you can ask, which make no sense at all, but then let's not nitpick. Simply because it's probably the best Con Movie made in India in a long long time. And that it is based on a real story, makes it even more appealing. Also, the Art Direction team has done a fabulous job of recreating the 1980s, apart from a few gaffes like the Airport and the trains which are actually passable.
It's a must watch. Coz every other weekend we get conned off our hard earned money by a film. This weekend for a change the Con movie actually is Value for Money! Apart from a useless Love angle and forgettable songs, this is totally worth it just for the brilliance of Anupam Kher and Manoj Bajpai. Cheers to Neeraj Pandey. Kisi ne sahi kaha hai ... Asli Power Script main hoti hai!!!
Rating: 7 /10 ( 2013 finally comes good!)
And here's why watching the film in Patna was better than Mumbai. Cinepolis has a simple, quick Online Ticket Booking procedure, the theater is excellent with good seating and the Caramel Popcorn was very very nice. Also it was just 120 Bucks! Mumbai main toh bhia LOOT hai. ticket+ travelling+ food takes away 600 bucks easily and usually, the movie is not even worth 6 Rs!
Anyways.. if you LIKE the Review, do LIKE and spread the word. thanks.
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