I recently decided to try a few Indian films, something I had not yet done despite being a massive fan of world cinema. Where better to start than the films that are in the IMDb top 250? First came Like Stars on Earth ... absolutely fantastic. Then 3 Idiots ... very very good. Then A Wednesday ... oh dear. I had such high expectations and was sorely disappointed.
It's not that this is a bad film (the 1 or 2/10 reviews are ridiculous). it's just that it is a 'nothing' film. The acting is totally forgettable, with not a single compelling character. The cop who is supposed to be the 'bad cop' does nothing worse than partake in some dreadfully executed slapping scenes, the police chief is perfunctory bordering on dull and even the 'common man' baddie is unconvincing.
The attempts at humour are cringe-worthy.
The whole film has an air of all-been-done-before. If it was Holly not Bollywood this film would sink without a trace, being enjoyed by people when it comes out and then swiftly forgotten as it joins the endless heap of films with the same construct. Yet it sits in the top 250! There is not one single thing about this film that is anything but ordinary at best.Of course it is a totally different film to 3 Idiots or Like Stars on Earth but those films had magical qualities and were so unique only Indian cinema could have produced them. This film could have been done anywhere,
Perhaps it is a mere aberration that it appears in the top 250 but suddenly I can no longer safely rely on such a film being at least high quality whether I enjoyed it or not. It really is mind-blowing that so many people think this is an incredible film.
I give it a generous six.
Review of A Wednesday
