REVIEW: “Thunivu” (2023) | Keith & the Movies
The brand new Tamil-language movie “Thunivu” is a number of issues packed into one film. It’s loaded with kinetic motion, there’s loads of good humor, and (after all) there’s the occasional pulse-pounding musical quantity (typically if you’re least anticipating it). However greater than something, “Thunivu” is a heist movie. It could be not possible to nail it down into one single class, however the heist style is clearly baked into the film’s DNA.
Written and directed by H. Vinoth, “Thunivu” surprises by looking for to be each a searing indictment of economic techniques and establishments and unabashed massive display screen leisure. Every are (principally) efficient, and Vinoth does job conveying each thrills and his message. The place the film struggles is in weaving each elements collectively. Suffice it say we’re left with what appears like a movie of two very completely different halves.
“Thunivu” stars Ajith Kumar, a captivating and electrical lead who oozes charisma from his first scene until his final. The prolific actor and race automobile driver has appeared in over 60 films all through his outstanding 33-year profession. Right here he’s handed a meaty position that leans into his physicality, sly humorousness, and overflowing swagger. He provides a enjoyable (and at instances delightfully over-the-top) efficiency that’s as playful as it’s intense.
Vinoth wastes no time establishing and kicking off his elaborate story. The movie opens with a gangster named Radha (Veera) meticulously laying out his plan to rob the privately owned “Your Financial institution” within the coronary heart of Chennai. Inside minutes he and his closely armed crew storm the financial institution, taking out the guards and rounding up their hostages. However as they put together to money out, their plan is disrupted by a mysterious white-bearded man (Kumar) who takes out Radha’s males in a gloriously ballet of finely choreographed violence.
However this thriller man is not any angel. He’s truly a gangster himself often known as Darkish Satan, and he has focused the financial institution for his personal well-hidden functions. The police rapidly collect outdoors led by their decided commissioner (Samuthirakani). Quickly the tactical items arrives, a conflict room is ready up, and snipers are positioned on the rooftops. However with the assistance of his companion on the surface Kanmani (Manju Warrier), who’s observing and feeding him info from a distance, the morally ambiguous Darkish Satan stays one step forward of everybody, together with the viewers.
Because the high-energy, furiously paced first half steams ahead, Vinoth introduces a number of extra characters to assist fill out his story. There’s a timid constable (Mahanadi Shankar), a cut-throat journalist (Mohanan Sundaram), a sleazy inspector (Bagavathi Perumal), and a crooked banker (John Kokken) simply to call a number of. But there’s by no means a doubt that Kumar is the centerpiece, and his Darkish Satan drives the adrenaline-fueled, action-packed first 100 minutes.
However then the film takes a stunning flip. The motion is considerably dialed down as Vinoth hits us with a slew of reveals, many by some quite prolonged flashbacks. It’s a daring however jarring change of tempo that sees Darkish Satan go from ruthless gangster to a roguish Robin Hood of types. Quickly we’re speaking about financial institution scams, mutual funds, and bank card debt. And abruptly the villains aren’t simply gangsters. They’re additionally bankers, policemen, politicians, and the information media. In Vinoth’s story everybody has soiled palms.
The shift from full-throttled motion to biting commentary isn’t essentially the most sleek transition. Nevertheless it’s exhausting to not recognize the photographs Vinoth takes on the numerous types of corruption, particularly from the monetary sector. So far as different gripes, Nirav Shah’s cinematography is spectacular. However there are a handful of clips which might be awkwardly sped as much as the purpose of being distracting. And whereas Ghibran’s relentless rating matches the film, it may be a bit overpowering. I additionally wished extra of Manju Warrier. She’s a troublesome and fiery presence, however I want she was given extra to do.
However in the long run these are small quibbles, particularly for a film that packs this a lot enjoyable. “Thunivu” might not hit each mark, however I adore it when a filmmaker takes massive swings. Vinoth goes for broke, delivering a densely plotted, old-school heist film that’s bursting with a contemporary fashion and power. He feeds a full course to these hungry for giant motion, and rewards those that patiently watch for his story to unfold. By the top there’s probability you’ll nonetheless have a number of questions. I do know I did. However for essentially the most half Vinoth does job overlaying all his floor. The magnetic Ajith Kumar handles the remainder. He’s a power of nature who instructions the display screen whether or not he’s cracking bones or cracking jokes. It’s simply the type of star energy “Thunivu” wants.
