Stories bound by love, driven by passion and led by sincerity never fail
to connect. Neither did PARINDA, nor does BROKEN HORSES. Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s doorway
to Hollywood; BROKEN HORSES is an emotionally charged, confident to the core
and a well-made thriller that consciously makes you revisit and relive the filmmaker’s
one of the bests in Bollywood PARINDA. So, the million dollar question on you
face must be, “Is it a remake?” Let me phrase the answer in a more welcoming
and established way. It is an effort to take one’s own highly regarded work to
a bigger scale and in a better framework. BROKEN HORSES successfully plants Mr.
Chopra in the league of those few technically evolved & resourcefully sound
in their art & craftsmanship regardless how different or difficult the
medium is.
Set in the outskirts of Mexican Border, the film involves the
heartwarming bond between two orphaned brothers. For them, the wisdom-quotes
from their childhood still go hand-in-hand in any given situation. If the big
brother is taught to protect the younger one, he would never lose his sight of
him for once. Meanwhile, the younger one would always let the big one win at
the checkers. Jacob Heckum [Anton Yelchin] returns to bring his elder brother Buddy
[Chris Marquette] for his wedding, without having any hint that Buddy is now the
most-loved killing machine of Mr. Hench [Vincent D’Onofirio]; and the only way
out of this deep, dark & dodgy mountain is to blast it inside out. Jacob
decides to stay and help to save his brother.
If you have seen and loved PARINDA (…and who hasn’t? I seriously want to
know), there are times you feel cheated as why wouldn’t Mr. Chopra has made it
clear and upfront that this is an adaptation of his one of the original works.
But try to calm yourself down, and you will also cherish the fact that this one
is less dramatic, more emotional and made for an unlike set of audiences. Vidhu
orchestrates some really delicious scenes to show off great caliber. In one,
the shootouts are shown with intercuts of oranges being squeezed and later,
being served in a glass to the mobster as the confirmation of the job being
done. The cinematography plays with mirror-images, iconic landscapes, the
sun-shades and is first-rate.
Film also sees some real-good performances. In Buddy’s simpleton yet
childlike vulnerable character, Marquette performs excellently and towers in
almost every scene he is in. Be it the emotional family union at dining-table
at the ranch or the menacing act at the theatre; he and the contagious grin on
his face are just superb. Don’t miss him interacting with the love of his
younger brother, Vittoria (Maria Volverede) with an unseen before love and care.
Anton Yelchin as the feared and alarmed younger brother is good. So is Maria
playing his love-interest! The talented D’Onofirio marks his presence felt with
his portrayal of a cool, crafty & convincing villain. Scenes with him corrupting
and controlling Buddy’s mind are an interesting watch.
To sum up, doing anything that involves a classic is a bad bad idea. I know the comparisons are inevitable. The element of surprise in the plot also comes late until the well-tweaked climax happens but if you can overlook the similarities between the two, there are chances to notice the ambitious and striving flight the film & the filmmaker take. Impressive debut, Mr. Chopra! [3.5/5]
To sum up, doing anything that involves a classic is a bad bad idea. I know the comparisons are inevitable. The element of surprise in the plot also comes late until the well-tweaked climax happens but if you can overlook the similarities between the two, there are chances to notice the ambitious and striving flight the film & the filmmaker take. Impressive debut, Mr. Chopra! [3.5/5]
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