‘Jewel Thief - The Heist Begins’ Netflix Movie Review - A Serviceable Action Thriller

Jewel Thief - The Heist Begins is the kind of popcorn entertainment people watch for the stars and all the glitter. Hence, it's disappointing that neither element can erupt joyously in this action thriller directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal. It's not that Jaideep Ahlawat and Saif Ali Khan lack charisma or talent. The problem is that Gulati and Grewal tightly press the pedal, so the plot is constantly in motion. The directors never stop long enough to allow Khan or Ahlawat to prove themselves. We never catch them winking at us or get to join in on the fun with them. Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's movies allow us to admire the stylish surfaces. We love watching George Clooney, Brad Pitt, or Matt Damon doing ridiculously risky business with a suavity that lends the shenanigans gravity and a heavy dose of amusement. The performances elevate the material. An astute filmmaker knows they can introduce only so many twists and turns into their caper. Audiences need to be kept hooked by other means as well - like star power. The Ocean's movies, of course, aren't perfect or even the very best offering of this genre. However, they can be used for comparison in this case because Jewel Thief is as light and just about watchable as Soderbergh's crime caper. But Gulati and Grewal fail to charm us with the star power (this is where Soderbergh succeeded).

A reliable actor like Khan, who brings humor through playful comic expressions, does his job with a certain kind of detachment. There is no trace of that funny, charming Saif Ali Khan who, through his droll manners, makes you chuckle. And Ahlawat, with a constipated face, struggles to add a layer of menace to his screen presence. There is no mirth, no revelation, no joy in watching any of the actors. Kunal Kapoor initially promises to be a man with a loose screw, but he gradually turns into a source of inadvertent humor. Nikita Dutta, though, suffers the most. She gets one good line related to "majboori," and that's all the character development she gets. When Dutta's Farah and Khan's Rehan come close to each other for romance, there is no fire or sexual spark. Everything is impotent and impersonal - someone might have as well stolen the film's heart.

No wonder then that Jewel Thief moves forward with mechanical precision. There is not much flab in its body - there is also no room for discovery, accidents, or surprises. The film is nothing but a distraction. It's content to be mediocre, and the focus is more on arriving at the right twist at the right moment. You know the drill by now: The police are always one step behind the criminal. This means Kapoor's Vikram spends most of his time looking irritated. He is a smart officer, but he's trapped within the confines of a film that slavishly fulfills the requirements of the genre. Nonetheless, some plot turns are surprising enough, mainly because the movie's momentum gives you little time to think about the ongoing situation. There is also a nice scene involving the destruction of a mobile phone that cheered me up.

As far as the story is concerned, it's about Rajan (Ahlawat) blackmailing Rehan to do his work (steal a diamond - Red Sun - from a museum). Rehan is the best con artist, after all. But he's more than a con man. He's also a terrific magician. Harry Potter needs an invisibility cloak to hide himself. Rehan simply needs a crowd to move in front of him—or just turn your back for a few seconds—and he'll disappear. Rehan is also probably a fan of Deewaar, which is why he says, "Aaj khush toh bohot hoge tum," to two police officers. The Deewaar reference - with a twist - can also be found in a father's complaint that his son is a chor (nope, there is no "Mera Beta Chor Hai" tattoo on his arms). We also hear the name Vijay Anand in this film, and if you have watched the 1967 Jewel Thief, you will immediately scream, "Vijay Anand is the name of the director who made the 1967 Jewel Thief!" All these references, however, don't add anything of substance to the film. They merely remind you that instead of watching this serviceable Netflix thriller, you can (re)watch Vijay Anand's Jewel Thief or Deewaar.

Final Score- [4.5/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times