What could have been a mind-blowing heist thriller ends up being a 2-hour rat race going nowhere.
Movie Title: Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Nikita Dutta, Kunal Kapoor
Directors: Kookie Gulati & Robbie Grewal
Rating: 2/5 Stars
The Plot:
In this high-octane battle of wits and wills, con artist Rehan Roy executes a daring diamond heist while attempting to outsmart his sadistic adversary, Rajan Aulakh.
Movie Review:
Except for the teaser, nothing about this film hits the mark. The original Jewel Thief (1967) starring Dev Anand and Vyjayanthimala still keeps you at the edge of your seat. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for this Netflix-backed rehashed titled thriller.
The Performances:
Jaideep Ahlawat as Rajan Aulakh feels like a (light version of Nawazuddin Siddiqui from Sacred Games or Munna Micheal). Saif Ali Khan’s Rehan Roy seems plucked from a Race sequel. Kunal Kapoor gives off Chacha Chaudhary vibes with his perfect guesses, yet somehow never catches Rehan. Nikita Dutta as Farah delivers a decent, no-nonsense performance.
The Technical Aspects:
It feels like Siddharth Anand handed over a template of Bang Bang, War, and Pathaan to the directors and said, ‘Just copy this.’ The result? Unoriginal shot angles and soulless execution. Cinematographer Jishnu Bhattacharjee appears restricted, and Shezan Shaikh’s score is forgettable, average in action, dull in drama.
Verdict:
With a hollow script and direction that goes in circles, this heist thriller sinks long before the credits roll and the Jaideep Ahalawat dance. There are far better thrillers out there, skip this one.
