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Shamitabh
Critic reviews and ratings
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This is one of the few films we experience and not just watch. We revel in and relish the unusual story, the characters, their equations, and soak in the performances and aesthetics.
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...a film that tries to be different and is refreshingly cute.
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...this is one movie where the performances of the lead actors are so dazzling and mesmerising that they camouflage the huge flaws in the film's writing and pace and make Shamitabh a delightfully delicious character-study which may have many moments that leave you speechless.
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What works is the unconventional story and Balki's style of story telling.
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Shamitabh's striking story could leave you speechless.
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...absolutely the most original film I’ve seen lately...
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Despite flaws, Balki is definitely a brave director who has attempted something new in Shamitabh. The concept is novel and he deserves a pat on the back for it.
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Shamitabh’s strength lies in the mighty performances of its two leading men, which to a large extent fill the holes in the plot and allow us to look beyond the many flights of fancy.
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...a film unlike any other. Its themes are dark and deep. Its observations are candid and funny. Like any good film, its a mixture of art and mart.
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Watch this movie for those sequences when the two leading men are on screen together — men as different as could be, but yet bound by the power of their undeniable talent.
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Here are the offbeat story, the easily flowing and witty banter, the quirky and urbane characters, and the light-hearted touch. But here are also the unwieldy and stretched narrative (153 minutes), the unresolved climax, the gimmicky nature of the material and the inability to expand on the movie’s premise.
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...has an out-of-the-box and unusual plot that will appeal only to a niche audience. Go for it only if you are a hardcore Bachchan fan.
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...despite the flawed writing, Dhanush and Bachchan make Shamitabh a pleasant enough outing to the movies.
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Dollops of stylistic flourishes and narrative sleights are added to the mix and stirred with utmost vigour. The result of the exercise is too uneven to be consistently enjoyable.
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A tribute to a baritone, Shamitabh serves well for the voice's fans. Unfortunately, stretches imagination and its length a tad much making it repetitive and tiring.
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...a fascinating premise choppily executed.
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...high on concept, short on story, and plain indulgent in its second half.
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...a lovingly crafted film that doesn’t quite pan out. Which is a shame, because there is much to savour here.
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There are a few moments which sparkle, and we laugh in acknowledgement. But the rest of it is overpowered by unabashed reverence.
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A smart short story idea contrived and stretched into a mess of a movie.
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...is too melodramatic and outlandish for its own good. It boats of some great acting and a refreshing concept, but is let down by Balki's crummy writing and ham-handed direction.
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...ultimately morphs into the film equivalent of medical marijuana. It aims for a necessary high, the concept is barely legal, but once the plot is lost it becomes a moody epidemic of inopportune giggles.
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The film derails post interval. It's almost as if the director didn't know how to take his story forward.
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A disappointing film despite Amitabh’s engaging performance and a decent story idea.
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It all ends at the hospital, as most of Balki’s films do. Coming out of the theatre, I couldn’t help but think of his morbid fascination with sickness, disabilities and abnormalities. Sadly, the film feels more manipulative than sensitive. And also extremely boring.
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Bachchan is excellent, Dhanush does well, but both are straitjacketed by a flimsy, uneven story that is eventually just exhausting.
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Gimmicks don’t translate into good cinema. Shamitabh is a stone cold film.
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