Rustom movie review: Akshay Kumar shines, but will it be a Rs 100 crore hattrick for Khiladi?
Akshay Kumar's Rustom hit the screens on 12 August. The film, which is based on the 1960 Nanavati case, stars Illeana D'Cruz and Esha Gupta in pivotal roles.
The Tinu Suresh Desai-directorial garnered quite the buzz ahead of its release. Does it meet expectations? Let's take a closer look:
What may work for the film
Akshay Kumar is, hands down, the best part about Rustom. The actor seems to slip into his character of a decorated navy officer with ease and appears to wear the uniform with patriotic pride.
Rustom is one of those films that make the viewers want to applaud every time Akshay enters the frame.
Pawan Malhotra's interrogation sequence in the first-half stands out as one of the film's most powerful sequences.
Also read: Rustom vs Mohenjo Daro: Will Akshay Kumar win 1st day battle against Hrithik Roshan?
While the court room sequences in the second-half are nail-biting, the plot manages to infuse an element of subtle humour into its crisp writing, which manages to hold one's attention throughout.
What may not work for the film
The Nanavati story has been told and retold for decades now. Therefore, Rustom is a story that should have been wrapped up in a runtime of 120 minutes. The screenplay seems to lag in the first-half and hampers the pace of the plot.
While the court room sequences are convincing, the outdoor sequences appear rather tacky as the film is let down by the shoddy VFX work.
The climax is rather unconvincing. What's more, it appears incomplete!
Not only is Esha Gupta's character poorly drafted, but her wooden acting adds on to the woes of the film. The supporting cast is loud and unbearable throughout the film. The average performances of the cast may be attributed to the fact that not many actors can match up to Akshay Kumar's terrific screen presence.
Also read: #CatchChitChat: Ashutosh Gowariker on Mohenjo Daro, Hrithik Roshan, Shah Rukh Khan, and clash with Rustom
Will Rustom do well at the ticket window?
Rustom is expected to register a decent start at the Box Office and record a healthy growth over the four-day extended weekend.
The distribution rights of the film have been sold for Rs 40 crore and the film will break even at collections close to Rs 80 crores in India. Not only will the distributors break-even but will also entail slight profits.
The film will majorly appeal to the multiplex audience as it lacks the elements to draw in the crowds at the mass circuits.
A Rs 50 crore weekend is on the cards for Rustom. However, it would be interesting to see if the film manages to breach the Rs 100 crore mark. The word-of-mouth of the film is expected to be mixed, with positive reviews.
Box Office Predictions:
- Opening Day: Rs 11.50 crore
- Opening Weekend (4 days): Rs 51 crore
- Lifetime: Rs 90 crore
Expected Verdict: Rustom will be a Box Office hit.
Also read: When Alia Bhatt promoted Akshay Kumar's Rustom by being sexy Raveen Tandon!
First published: 12 August 2016, 10:52 IST
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