Bejoy Nambiar's 'Wazir' is well-acted, even crisp, but overall, this thriller doesn't thrill. Reason? The uneven writing & predictability. Any thriller works due to its unpredictable nature, which sadly, this one lacks!
'Wazir' Synopsis: A traumatized police officer (Farhan Akhtar) is befriended by a grieving, paralyzed father (Amitabh Bachchan) who is being threatened by mysterious forces linked to terrorism.
'Wazir' begins strongly & catches your attention right away. Its indeed interesting to watch the protagonist take on those who took his daughter's life. The pace maintains even after the protagonist forms an unlikely friendship with a fellow grieving father. But, the second-hour falls apart. The pace drops & the thrills become very predictable. One can foresee whats going to happen next & even the twist in the concluding moments, holds no surprises. In short, the first-hour works, but the second-hour spoils the fun.
The game of Chess is a recurring metaphor & forms the backbone of the story, but Writers Abhijat Joshi & Vidhu Vinod Chopra, don't use it to great strengths. The Writing does have some absorbing moments, but the thrills go amiss, thanks to its uneven tone & the predictability in the narrative. A Tighter Screenplay was a must for 'Wazir'! Bejoy Nambiar's Direction is stylish. Cinematography is classy. Editing is very crisp, as the film culminates within 100-minutes! Art & Costume Design are fair. Action-Sequences are raw. Music by Various Artists is melodious.
Performance-Wise: Amitabh Bachchan & Farhan Akhtar are in fine form, yet again. The Legendary Bachchan adds depth & grief to his sensitive part, while Farhan displays true intensity & emotional devastation, without missing a beat. The on-screen chemistry between the two, is undoubtedly, the film's highlight. Aditi Rao Hydari looks gorgeous, but doesn't get much to do. Manav Kaul is superbly wicked, enacting the conniving politician with great power. John Abraham is wasted in a brief role, while Neil Nitin Mukesh hams in that one scene he appears in.
On the whole, 'Wazir' has its moments, but it could've been smarter & sharper.
12 out of 22 found this helpful