January 7th, 2012

Film Critic: Goher Iqbal Punn

Producers: Burmawala Bros

Directors: Abbas-Mustan

Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Bobby Deol, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Vinod Khanna, Skinadar Kher, Om Vaidaya, Bipasha Basu and Sonam Kapoor

Music: Pritam

Abbas-Mustan’s Players is out of the box now. The film was being much-awaited by the audiences and the cinegoers were crazy for the release. Now the final product is out for the entertainment. Players is the official remake of the Hollywood hit movie ‘The Italian Job’. But It is not the ditto copy of the movie rather it has the additional ingredients to entice the Indian audiences.

When the remakes are done, it is obvious that the comparisons are made. Thus in Abbas-Mustan’s lavish thriller, there is no need to make comparisons since it slightly differs with the original and has been made as per the tastes of the Indian junta. The duo in white, the directors of the film, is much popular to deliver the lush, action-packed suspense filled thrillers, and they do the same with their latest offering as well.

The film is laced with international look, superb daredevil actions and classy eye-pleasing locales to rave about. It is utterly like a Hollywood film in terms of appeal and actions. The film works on all departments but fails on scripting that is poor. The directors’ duo worked hard to make it a classy product but was letdown by the writers.

On their part, Abbas-Mustan did fine with direction and their execution is superb and deserves applauds but what can you do when the script is mundane? The film has been shot in various locations of New Zealand, Russia, Netherlands and India. These locales have been captured well. This all entices the viewers in addition to stunts and the lavish look of the movie but when you talk about the content, which happens to be the real life of a movie, it lacks in it. Often we see in Bollywood, when the thrillers are made they are churned out lavishly putting huge money into the making to give them international feel, but the makers forget to work on the content that takes the backseat. The same is the case with Burmawala’s Players.

Other prominent fault in the film is the unnecessary length of the movie that spoils the pleasures.

Players talks about the team of the adroit and sharp people consisting of Charlie (Abhishek Bachchan), Ronnie (Bobby Deol), Riya (Bipasha Basu), Spider (Neil Nitin Mukesh), Bilal (Sikander Kher) abd Sunny (Omi Vaidya). They all are on the mission to rob the gold worth crores. They succeed in robbing it but soon discover that someone out of them is double crossing them. Naina (Sonam Kapoor) joins the group now to re-get the booty and settle the scores.

The direction by Abbas-Mustan is superb. They get the viewers enjoy the product on screen. The cinematography is a work of class. Editing is fine. Action by Allan Amin is first rate and wonderful. Music by Pritam is classy and spongy. Only flaws are script and the unnecessary length that devalue the film.

Abhishek Bachchan does brilliant job. Bobby Deol is wasted. Neil looks great in acting. Skinadar is fine. Bipasha is sexy and enacts well. Sonam is glam doll and delivers the good aptly.

On the whole, Players is a lavish film with international feel but lacks in writing and unnecessary length.

Rating: 2.5/5