Gangster

The title - Gangster, the star - Mammootty and the director - Ashiq Abu had given me high hopes about the then upcoming movie. With the trailer revealing very little plot and setting up a dark and eerie ambiance, I was very excited to see the then expected to be hit of the year.

The movie started off like a below average anime, narrating the history of the protagonist. The storytelling was refreshing since I have never seen anything similar in another Malayalam movie. Unfortunately that's the only compliment I can give this movie. The plot was slow and very predictable. The movie lacked any character development. Some visual effects were good, but most of it were annoying. The story moves at the pace of a snail.

I appreciate Ashiq Abu for experimenting with the storytelling despite it's similarity with some Hollywood movies but he chose the same old over-told story to do this with.

Plus: production values Minus: story,screenplay,slow narration, no character development, worst character for mammooty, boring subplots, boring climax. Verdict: Aashiq Abu failed to use the potential of Mammooty.

Maybe this is the first Malayalam film with heavy CGI and special effects that has the power to numb its viewers. It even samples animation at the start and end of the film, probably inspired by Tarantino's Kill Bill & Grand Theft Auto styling. For these, I give it 3/10. For the story, well, it sucks.

It is basically a revenge story set in the gangster world. While the over-styled characters move around in their palaces in slow-motion and trance background music, the writers fail to realize that the slow- motion scenes are playing against the film and in fact, dulling the whole premise. Had the plot been fast-forwarded to 2x, the film might have been better. The story is about some guy for whom I have no sympathy because he kills for a living. When another guy who snorts coke and bangs chicks in BDSM style for pleasure, introducing himself as a masochistic vagrant, comes to power through his godfather, he fights for prominence with our title character and all hell breaks loose.

The women in here are either sex dolls, pimps or soon-to-die wives. Mammootty is average although his English skills need to be tested. In fact, all the English dialog in the film seemed like they were being spoken by Desi amateurs. Sekhar Menon is fine but he was not vindictive enough; having a fat bod and bald mane doesn't count. Supporting cast is fine. While the direction is good, the screenplay is to be blamed. I don't know how I sat through the 2 hours of unenthuastic slowness; maybe it was the use of style and glamor, although I hate to admit that. Frankly, Gangster is high on elegance and null on intelligence/logic.

But, still I cannot tag it as a bad film because I got to appreciate the art department, the western vibes that are clear in every single frame of this new-gen flick that depends on an old formula. It is not appealing as a narrative, but for the sake of art, I give it a nod.

BOTTOM LINE: Screenplay, cinematography and editing are the culprits of this chic flick that unfortunately considers glitter as a celluloid factor and solely depends on it, resulting in a tasteless recipe. If you get hold of a DVD, seek through the plot-line.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NO

Profanity/Vulgarity: Mediocre | Drugs/Alcohol/Smoking: Strong

One of the worst movies of Malayalam history.

Ashiq abu tried to do a Kill Bill in Malayalam and failed miserably.

Through out the first half, there is a narrator of the story, even when the scenes are very explicit. This gets you irritated immediately.

The complete set of actors except Mammootty acts terrible. Not sure why on earth they are showing the family life of a police man, role of Aparna Gopinath etc.

Kunjan, Sekhar Menon and John paul trio as villain was a very bad selection.

Director definitely need a coaching class on how to take slow motion scenes. And also about need of a story in a movie.

Nothing Good About it...! This is very lazy written and executed Product..! There is no story, No character development and nothing entertain you.I don't like to said much about the background Music.It is really irritating..! of course The movie has some stunning visuals but for a movie the visuals are not enough.

If you are expecting a good gangster story you will definitely disappoint..! Just one word , Its a disaster and only watch if you have not any other Job..!

Sex&Violence: Some Mild Kisses and Portrait of sexual torture.The Movie contain extreme violence.