Michael Review: Dragged-on action drama
- 03 Feb 2023 12:00 AM
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Micheal marks Sundeep Kishan's pan-Indian debut and the film hit the theaters today amidst decent anticipation, thanks to the impressive trailer. Here's what we have to say after watching the film.
Story: Michal (Sundeep Kishan) is nurtured and bought up by a rugged gangster. He follows the same path to rise to the top of the chain and resorts to extreme violence. But he has a soft and painting past. What is this past? How does this affect him?
How did the actors perform?
Sundeep Kishan look menacing in the role and he embodies this complex and demanding rugged role. His demeanour and suave work in sync with the character. Vijay Sethupathi is an absolute powerhouse and he looks top notch in his negative-shade character. Other cast, including Varun Sandesh, Divyansha Kaushik, and others put on fine performances on the screen.
What about the technical finesse?
The director Rajit Jeyakodi picks a novel plot and he presents it in three different timelines which is the USP of the film. But the issue here is that the drama doesn't have enough impetus to keep the viewers hooked. There's technical finesse but there's very little to offer on the story front.
The cinematography is top tier and so is the color grading for most parts. There is good optical changes for the three different timelines in the film and this sets up the mood well, despite the lack of drama factor to back it up.
The BGM and the production values are of elite quality as well. Good production designing also works in favor of the technical prowess of the film.
Analysis:
Michael is an attempted cult action drama that unfolds at its own pace. It is evidently aimed to be presented that way, inspired from Hollywood classics like Scarface and others. But the drama factor is not present which takes away the watchable factor.
The film mostly lags behind in terms of narrative speed and the effectiveness of the screenplay. A high-inducing scene is followed by a dragged-on ineffective sequence.
That said, there's very good technical finesse the film has to offer which is the saving grace to an extent. The opening half deals with the presentation of the main plot and this establishment goes on and on and on which isn't ideal.
There's a whole lot of hard work from the team and that is to be appreciated. The film banks on this technical finesse to make at least for an okayish one-time watch.
Verdict: Michael is only for those who love slow-paced action dramas. The film mostly labors along at its own pace but there are a few bright moments here and there that build up the anticipation.
Rating: 2.25/5
