P S The script is the key. And it shows here again, that no amount of talent can rescue poor script. The movie has a stellar cast and impressive visuals/techniques and yet it fails miserably due to poor script. Some reviews puts it in to Agatha Christie genre and alleges it to be the reason people hate it. Well I am a great fan of Agatha Christie, and let me break it down - You don't understand Agatha Christie. Her hallmarks are uncomplicated plot, diminutive characters, amazingly simple setting, understanding of human behavior and a very high dose of logic and common sense. This movie on the other hand has a illogically complicated plot, sickeningly boastful and loud characters, incoherent setting, and a bizarre human behavior. Lets not even talk about logic and common sense. I am surprised that none of the people (and big names indeed) associated with this movie bothered to read the script to see how comical (not in a good way) and logically inconsistent it is. This is only possible if they are either stupid or were distracted or drunk while reading the script (if they ever read it). This movie builds an expectation of delivering a smart and suspenseful plot from the synopsis. However, I was surprised how quickly/early that illusion was shattered. And the movie is a comical drag after that. Few of the things that are likely to give you good laughs - 1) The movie gives impression that Hindi speaking Indians are dominating the Thai politics. The fact is that Indians make up just .008% of Thai population. While it may be theoretically possible, its utterly improbable that a loud criminal who plots in Hindi with a side kick would ever do it. 2) International Vigilance or whatever it is seems to be based in every country but has only Indians speaking in Hindi during work. The Police force that has sweeping international jurisdiction does not exist even in theory. Interpol is just an administrative liaison; they have to contact local police force for the actual job. 3) DNA sequencing gels floating around on flat screen panels in cop's office? Well cops just get the drab report. Even technicians in the crime lab don't stare at gels on flat screen. Software does that job. 4) A modern sophisticated police force with sweeping powers cannot determine whether there was firecracker blast in the trash bin???? Firecrackers don't disappear after bursting. Even a kid can detect one. A firecracker blast would not leave a calm burning flame in trash can. It would force the contents out the bin and there would be a mess with no flame in all likelihood. 5) They invoked an evil twin but evil twin does not try to do the obvious, kill and replace replace himself with the billionaire quietly. Well, I can go on and on but its pointless. You can watch the movie and figure out yourself....... Some people may like the movie despite any number of glitches, but please don't insult Agatha Christie to defend it.

Sherazade The presence of some of my favourite Hindi cinema actors (Anupam Kher, Kangana Ranaut, Shahana Goswami, Boman Irani, Jimmy Shergill & Abhishek Bachchan) will not stop me from calling out this film as a major suck- fest with a flashy budget. So what if they got to shoot on a private Island in Greece, got shuttled around in pricey looking speedboats and private jets and some characters got to ride about in BMW sports cars, none of that improves on the fact that the film was poorly written, averagely acted and woefully directed. Don't get me wrong, the concept of a whodunit set in the middle of a scenic private Island in Europe was brilliant enough. I think the writers then got way ahead of themselves and started all sorts of additional senseless sub-plots, twists and turns that in the long run helped turn a great idea on the page into a ridiculous one on celluloid. The normally on-point Ranaut looked in some scenes like she was ten seconds away from actually scratching her head in confusion. Oh! And the dumb love story between Bachchan's character and newcomer Sarah Jane Dias was forced and unbelievably corny at best. Watch this only if you're a fan of one of the stars and you feel the need to say you've watched everything they've ever starred in.

Avinash Patalay The makers have ensured "Game" has all the ingredients a suspense thriller should encompass - style, sleek and surprises. Sadly there are not in palatable proportions, therefore as the plot thickens the content starts to give away the weight. The premise perhaps is an interesting read but translating it to a nail-biting viewing experience requires smart directorial sensibilities and precisely here Abhinay Deo spills the beans of a newcomer leading to an amateur end product. Additionally the end hardly makes you jump out of the seat as the breadcrumbs are so prominently highlighted in the narrative that the audience is denied of playing guessing game.ᴥ Junior B:: Suave & confident with some great tongue-in-cheek lines.ᴥ Sarah Jane Dias:: Her character though central to the premise hardly leaves an impact owing to the soul-less performance. ᴥ Kangana:: Attempt clearly inspired by Lara Croft which sadly falls flat. Her body language and expressions don't really pull off the feat. Bipasha perhaps?ᴥ Anupam Kher & Boman Irani:: Reliable as usual.ᴥ Jimmy Shergill, Shahana Goswami & Gauhar Khan:: Hardly any meat in the role. Songs hardly register. The inflated production costs are owing to the unwarranted foreign locales. The best thing about "Game" is the editing which has ensured the length is no more than audience staging a walkout."Race" is an ideal benchmark on how a suspense thriller should be delivered.PS: Under the watchful supervision of Mr. Perfectionist it wouldn't be a surprise if Abhinay reclaims lost ground in his next outing (Delhi- Belly).

kunalkhandwala In a refreshingly slick thriller, director Abhinay Deo has quite a cast to work with for his Crime Scene Investigation – 'Game', which keeps announcing that 'it's a game...'. Yes, we get the point. There are shades of the Akhtars being in charge of writing some of the story especially in the second half. While Game offers many twists in its investigative second half that differs from the first (which deals with a conspiring meeting of distinct individuals on a Greek Island), its back stories and meandering sub-plots tend to take the Game all over the place. Nevertheless, it does make up a decent Sunday afternoon DVD rental.Four strangers from different parts of the world are summoned by the reclusive business magnate Kabir Malhotra (Anupam Kher) to his private island in Greece where he offers to help them in their crisis weary lives. After a welcome by Kabir's assistant Samara (Gauhar Khan), they are all greeted by Malhotra who reveals stories about each one's dark past and accuses them of being a part of his daughter's life and death. He also warns them of the impending arrival of the International Vigilance Team that will look into the proofs he provides against each of them the next day. But morning brings with it a shocking event that triggers a series of twists, sub-plots and mysteries that unfold before the intrigued viewer.Boman Irani plays the Thai Prime Ministerial candidate Ramsay, who keeps more secrets than the number of pills that subside his high blood pressure. His portrayal as the sinister politician is the film's dark element. Jimmy Shergil plays the popular bollywood actor Vikram Kapoor whose guilty conscience disturbs him enough to cause his films to flop. His is an insignificant character to whom one cannot really relate to or even empathize with. The alcoholic journalist Tisha Khanna (Shahana Goswami) is the other inconsequential revelation as Malhotra's second daughter, the twin sibling of the murdered Maya. One may wonder where she disappeared in the second half. Neil Menon (Abhishek Bachchan) is a casino owner and drug peddler based in stunning Istanbul where he falls in love with Maya and subsequently loses her to an accident. The film's surprise element is Abhishek's character and he does enjoy this exciting twist. Kangana Ranaut as the investigating officer looks determined but hardly credible. Sarah-Jane as Maya plays a brief role, looks good in some scenes but the characterization for her failed to draw any emotions from the viewer. With each unfolding mystery, the story keeps throwing more twists that keep the suspense alive. Unlike the C.I.D. Mysteries where analysis reveals all new characters or observation, the story tellers manage to keep it all secretive till the very end while the analysis by investigators reveals facts that were depicted in front of us which we may overlook. This is one of the intriguing aspects of the film's story telling that tends to impress. Surely, it has something to do with Javed Akhtar's skills that gave us so many thrillers in the 70's. Unfortunately, the film is not quite balanced overall. The numerous sub-plots, poorly scripted characters and direction that did not do justice to the story, all bring mediocrity to a well written plot. The film could've been a genuinely fun Game to play along but it simply lost focus in the middle and was left upon Abhishek to hold it together. Shankar Ehsaan Loy's score is average with only the end credits song 'Kaun hai ajnabi' being worthy of a download. If the story was the backbone of this film, the cinematography was its beautiful face. Istanbul has been depicted in all its splendour with slick shots from rooftops and its Bosphorus strait showcasing the city's fine architecture. Game is a slick looking thriller with a good amount of twists that engage the viewer for some time. Its problems of lengthy back-stories and poor characterization tend to disrupt the steady flow of informative investigation but blame that on its inexperienced director. Too bad for Abhishek though as he had a role to capitalize on; had everything else been done right around him. It still is worthy of the home video rental if not the expensive movie theater outing. Watch it for the stylish camera work through Greece and Turkey and to engage your mind into a murder mystery that will keep you guessing.....7.011 on a scale of 1-10.