Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins Review: A Stylish Snooze Fest
In a film that promises much but delivers little, Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins is a heist thriller that fails to impress. According to a review by NDTV, the film, starring Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat, is "all style and no substance" and is an "abomination of monumental proportions".
The film’s plot revolves around a red diamond that brings out the worst in two men – a criminal kingpin and a globetrotting con artist. The diamond, of African provenance, triggers a series of events that take the two men on a journey across the world, from Budapest to Istanbul and Mumbai. However, as NDTV notes, the film "piles inanity upon inanity and never pauses to ponder why".
Produced by Siddharth Anand’s Marflix Pictures, the Netflix film is directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal. Despite being from the same stable that delivered films like War, Pathaan, and Fighter, Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins fails to live up to expectations.
The film’s storyline follows Rehan Roy (Saif Ali Khan), a globetrotting con artist, who is blackmailed by Rajan Aulakh (Jaideep Ahlawat), an unscrupulous art collector, into stealing a priceless diamond from a museum in Mumbai. As NDTV notes, Rehan has a "dad somewhere in his backstory" and Rajan has a "blood fetish" that leads him into heinous deeds and dangerous deals.
As the story unfolds, Rehan and Rajan engage in a battle of attrition, with Rehan’s attention not just on the coveted stone but also on Rajan’s wife Farah (Nikita Dutta). However, the film meanders, and the heist shifts from the ground to the sky, from an art museum in Mumbai to a commercial jetliner ferrying a prince and his entourage to London.
Despite the efforts of the lead actors, including Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Kunal Kapoor, the film fails to lift itself out of its mediocrity. NDTV notes that the script "shortchanges" Nikita Dutta, with her femme fatale act failing to liven up parts of the film.
The film’s climax, which ends on a "the heist continues" note, leaves the audience hoping that better sense will prevail. However, as NDTV concludes, Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins is a "snoozer all the way, a shiny trinket long past its sell-by date".
In a scathing review, NDTV awards the film 1.5 stars, stating that it is "no patch on the namesake 1967 superhit" and fails to make it worthy of being regarded as a passable homage. As the review notes, "the twists and turns that follow are as lame as their game", and the film’s attempts to create memorable action set pieces and impactful war of words fall flat.
The review also criticizes the character of Rajan Aulakh, stating that despite Jaideep Ahlawat’s best efforts to radiate menace, the character "fails to break free from a drab, banal straitjacket". The film’s writing, courtesy of David Logan and producer Siddarth Anand, is unimaginative, and the character’s actions, including killing his pet Rottweiler, are gratuitous and lack impact.
Overall, Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins is a disappointing film that fails to deliver on its promise of a thrilling heist story. With its lackluster plot, mediocre performances, and unimaginative writing, it is a film that is best avoided.
The film raises questions about the current state of Bollywood and its reliance on formulaic storytelling and style over substance. With the rise of streaming platforms, the bar for content has been raised, and films like Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins will struggle to find an audience.
It remains to be seen if the makers of Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins will take heed of the criticism and strive to create better content in the future. For now, the film remains a stylish snooze fest that fails to impress.
Source: NDTV
