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Players Movie Review
Ratings:2.5/5 Reviewer:Rajeev Masand Site:IBNLive
There’s an uncomfortable truth about Abbas-Mustan’s latest film Players that few critics will admit to – it’s not all bad! This fast-paced khichdi of two previous Italian Job movies and the director duo’s own last film Race has so much going on all at once that you’re left with little time to dwell on the gaping plot holes, the laughable dialogue, and the wooden performances. Unlike Don 2 recently, which openly aped action scenes and the very look and feel of polished Hollywood blockbusters, Players is a distinctly Bollywood-ised remake that celebrates its corny humor, and even throws a love-triangle into a heist plot.I’m going with two-and-a-half out of five for Abbas-Mustan’s Players. What could have been a satisfying entertainer doesn’t quite achieve its potential.Visit Site for more
Ratings:2/5 Reviewer:Taran Adarsh Site:Bollywood Hungama
First things first! PLAYERS is an escapist fare, packed with ingredients that are considered mandatory in a Bollywood film. PLAYERS stays true to their style, but the twists here aren't the type that shock, amaze or astonish. One of the twists -- about the double crosser -- does catch you by surprise, but the remaining ones don't and that's where the screenplay falters. It's a screenplay of convenience. The manner in which the gang sets out to execute the heist in Russia seems like a cakewalk or child's play, which is so damn difficult to absorb.On the whole, PLAYERS rides mainly on the clout of its credible director duo [Abbas-Mustan], daredevil stunts and stunning visuals. But, most importantly, it is deficient of a captivating screenplay. Also, the film could have done with judicious trimming for an enhanced impact. I for one went in with colossal expectations, but came out feeling downcast and disheartened.Visit Site for more
Ratings:3.5/5 Reviewer:Nikhat Kazmi Site:Times Of India
The Italian Job has been entertaining its viewers as amongst Hollywood's most fascinating thriller films.Can you expect something like this from our desi Players, a supposedly Indian vision of the Italian Job? Eventually, it is Neil Nitin Mukesh (Spider), the ultimate no-strings-attached man, wild gambler at heart with a twist in the soul and tango in the feet, who slam dances his way away as the ultimate crook. Music by Pritam is good while it lasts. Some editing sorely needed, visual imagery quite polished, and the look as usual is of new age Bollywood. All you brave Indian filmmakers, do pick up classics, but first, get a bit classic yourself and learn about cult film making which is so much different from commercial cinema. You'll find the difference. Your Bollywood ventures like Players end up like cold cuts - stylishly done - are so different from piping hot goulash.Visit Site for more
Ratings:2/5 Reviewer:Sukanya Verma Site:Rediff
The real problem with Players this official remake of The Italian Job is that instead of reproducing a perfectly nuanced screenplay as it is, it tries to act too smart, with excessive elements and needless tampering, in the process making a complete fool of itself. Why can't you stick to the plan, Bollywood? What you can rely on is the same old zigzag slyness that is more Race than Italian Job. Luckily the action sequences, while not many, aren't too bad. Did I say lacklustre? That's also how I'd sum up most of the Players of this rather long enterprise. For Abhishek Bachchan, the wise guy with a smirk, stubble and sun glasses, this is a role he can now play in his sleep. I have an inkling he is.Visit Site for more
Ratings:2.5/5 Reviewer:Omar Qureshi Site:Zoom Review Show
Ratings:Game Over(1/5) Reviewer:Kunal Guha Site:Yahoo
Desi versions of Hollywood thrillers are like ‘first copy’ bootlegs from Thailand. They initially look approximately the same but later the threads begin to wriggle out. So when director duo, Abbas-Mustan took on ‘The Italian Job’ with Players, Benny Hill became Neil Nitin Mukesh, everyone double-crossed and obvious lines were exchanged with a grim face. But our bad boys are, firstly, not all boys and their badness is mostly restricted to the leather jackets rented from MJ’s ‘Bad’ music video. But a remake of ‘The Italian Job’ which makes the defining chase sequence look like a rickshaw chugging over monsoon-corroded roads refutes both these rationales. Players is definitely a job taken not so seriously.Visit Site for more
Ratings:3/5 Reviewer:Piyali Das Gupta Site:NDTV
Players, the official remake of Hollywood’s heist flick The Italian Job (itself a remake of a British caper film of the same name) is no frame-by-frame copy. There’s enough desi masala to make it an entertaining action flick.Players ends up as a fun weekend flick, especially for action buffs.n the second half, the movie meanders and you almost wish Abbas-Mustan would have trimmed some of the desi fat to enhance the impact of the movie.I’ll go with 3 stars for this out-and-out entertaining flick.Visit Site for more
Ratings:2/5 Reviewer:Soumyadipta Banerjee Site:DNA
Well, Abbas-Mustan are those students who indeed copy from a topper, and still manage to fail. The duo would have been better off making their own original film. Because when you've watched the original, there are some expectations, and Players fails to even deliver a decent Bollywood version of the original. The awful acting, painful dialogues and tedious special effects do not help the cause of this washed out Bollywood remake.The saving grace of the film happens to be its action, but it can only earn the film half a star. Players is a forgettable experience and it has to be the worst to come out of Abbas-Mastan’s stablesVisit Site for more
Ratings:1.5/5 Reviewer:Shubhra Gupta Site:Indian Express
'Players’ comes off as a dismal first for Abbas-Mustan, with a flat script, flatter action scenes, and the flattest bunch of actors, all milling about in one film.You’d think with a ready tried-and-tested template, and Abbas-Mustan’s own skill-sets, ‘Players’ would keep things ticking swiftly over, at the very least. But practically from the beginning, dreariness settles upon the film, and refuses to lift. The A-M ingredients are all there. Characters with loose morals, women with too-tight, too-few clothes, item numbers where the twain twine. But the sharpness is missing. The badass-ness is missing. And the fun is missing.Visit Site for more
Ratings:3/5 Reviewer:Daily Bhaskar Site:Dainik Bhaskar
Touted to be an official remake of Italian Job, Players however, cries out a difference as the story is served with a desi tadka. Also, new dimensions in terms of characterization have been added. Also, Players is technologically well-advanced than original Hollywood flick although, original is rich in terms of content. But, the flipside is the length of the film and performances which leaves an intelligent direction in dilemma. The lack of energy in the actors barring Bipasha and Neil leaves on yawning at most of the times. Direction by Abbas-Mustan, Cinematography and edgy plotline are the strong points. Music, dialogues, performances besides Bips and Neil are the weak points.On the whole, Players is not flawless but can be given a shot for once.Visit Site for more
