Movie Reviews: Cash

By Taran Adarsh, August 3, 2007 - 13:12 IST

Okay, Anubhav Sinha unleashes his heist saga today -- CASH. Come to think of it, CASH is very similar to DUS. A plethora of stars, stunning locales/visuals, an energetic musical score and stylized action. CASH goes a step further -- it has animation too!

Sinha has mastered the craft and garnishes CASH well, but as you begin to savor the taste, you realize that the recipe isn't perfect. Perhaps, writers Yash-Vinay had the right intentions of making a chor-sipahi kahani, but the writing is just not convincing.

Where does the problem lie? Not with Anubhav Sinha, for the director is, without doubt, one of the most stylish narrators in Bollywood. The choice of subject is also right, but the writing lacks the meat to mesmerize the viewer. Clearly, the screenplay is the villain here!

Write your own movie review of Cash

To sum up, you expect a sangam of style and substance in CASH, but what you eventually get is style, style and only style!

CASH is a thriller set in Cape Town, South Africa.

The film revolves around an ace con artist [Ajay Devgan], who hires a set of topnotch robbers [Esha Deol, Zayed Khan, Dia Mirza and Ritesh Deshmukh] to steal a set of priceless diamonds in South Africa.

The group also faces a threat from underworld don [Suniel Shetty], who is after the same diamonds and also the Head of Security [Shamita Shetty]. How these three groups manage to thwart each other forms the rest of the story.

CASH bears an uncanny resemblance to some films. The concept of a guy hiring professionals to execute a plan brings back memories of SHOLAY. There's an uncanny resemblance with DHOOM 2 as far as the stylish stunts are concerned. Also, a number of individuals wanting to lay their hands on the priceless diamonds take you to SHALIMAR.

It's not blasphemous to be inspired by any film, past or present, but what the writers ought to know by now is that there has to be a riveting story at the end of the day. What you take back as a viewer is only style. The writing is unenergetic in the first hour, but the second hour, you've to admit, is far more absorbing. The marked currency notes and also the chase by the cops [Ritesh, Esha, with Zayed atop the speeding car] are pulse-pounding.

Director Anubhav Sinha does make a 'good looking film', but the writing curtails it from being called an engrossing saga. If Sinha deserves brownie points for making a visually enticing movie, all you want to remind him is that the viewer wants to listen to an absorbing story at the end of the day. As the captain of the ship, he should've ensured that Yash-Vinay gave him a smart screenplay that compliments his skills.

Anthony Stone's stunts are topnotch. A never-seen-before experience on the Hindi screen. Vishal-Shekhar's music is trendy and the visuals and choreography supporting the tracks make you exclaim 'Wow'. Ravi Walia's cinematography is mesmeric. The film bears a striking look all through. Dialogues are well-worded at times.

Ajay Devgan is not in form this time around. He looks unenergetic… something is missing! Suniel Shetty gets to play a role he has visited a few times in the past. Zayed Khan is strictly okay. The real scene stealer is Ritesh Deshmukh. Very confident and easy-going, he's sure to walk away with ceetees and taalis.

Shamita Shetty stands out. Esha suffers due to sketchy characterization. Also, her make-up makes her face look hard. Dia is far more appealing and enacts her part well. Ayesha Takia adds to the star-value.

On the whole, CASH has style, but rests on a thin plot and that is its biggest flaw. At the box-office, the film might attract the audience in its initial weekend, but a weak script will throw a spanner.



http://www.indiafm.com/movies/review/12800/index.html

First Day First Show Of Cash

http://www.indiafm.com/broadband/video/First-Day-First-Show/ d3XKDc79/3/First-Day-First-Show-Of-Cash.html

Cash can't do the Tango

Raja Sen
August 03, 2007 13:42 IST

They say money talks.

Cash evidently believes in brevity. A Little Less Conversation, as the King sang. Except in this film, the next line is cruelly paraphrased to: A Little Bore Action.

We're perfectly fine with senseless action movies. I put my feet up and completely grooved to Anubhav Sinha's last effort, Dus. Sure, it's a loopy ride, but we aren't looking for logic if the rollercoaster's fast enough. It's a genre Bollywood largely overlooks, and if it doesn't make sense, who cares? Neither does Die Hard.

So this review isn't a tirade against plot holes or item numbers -- we're more than used to overlooking both. We're not even going to @#$%& the bloopers. It's just that this time the action -- which frequently flipflops into amateurish animation -- leaves you distinctively sleepy. The stunts are strictly okay, at best. And that just isn't done.

In essence, there are three diamonds, and six people -- capering around fancy sounding international airports -- out to get them. Fair enough. So let's have a fun and fast little heist shooter, shall we? Um, not quite.

The film moves sluggishly, pausing and slowing down to introduce its motley crew of insignificant crooks, with names like Uncle and Doctor. Each character is mentioned, zoomed into, and turned into a rough cartoon -- which looks better than the original, for sure, with bizarrely recoloured hair. So Riteish Deshmukh suddenly goes bright blonde. This happens a half dozen times as the plotless film continues to unravel.

We wait, schooled by many a heist film (or ripoff), for the set-up to end. Basically, we should meet the gang, know the heist, and have a little bit of backstory, all before the end of Act I. In Cash, the introductions bewilderingly go on and on past the interval, after which a climax is haphazardly slapped onto the film. Oops.

The debris from this disastrous film -- not to be confused with a disaster film -- will most affect the actors. Ajay Omkara [Images] Devgan turns into modern-day Shekhar Suman, all bicepped and unbuttoned and awfully wooden -- sigh, what price an actor pays for jumping from a helicopter. Diya Mirza's [Images] completely wasted, as is Riteish, who'll feel the maximum impact from this turkey. Finding a foothold as an interesting actor, this overwritten dialogue sees him falter, bad.

A still from CashConversely, Esha Deol [Images], Zayed Khan [Images] and Suniel Shetty, of course, are lucky to be cast in anything. And Shamita Shetty [Images] actually does well in the film, keeping a straight face and showing off her abs without looking ridiculous.

And a big grouse: the prettiest member of the crew is conspicuously absent from the opening credits; and the most talented actors in the film -- a maitre'd, an airplane passenger -- are kept away from the promos. Reprioritise, dude.

Is the film a rip-off? It's hard to imagine, considering there really isn't the remotest stab at a cohesive story. And while that was the case with Dhoom: 2, the wow-factor was slick enough. Here we stifle a yawn.

There is the occasional smart moment -- radio controlled airplanes, a man with a 'blurry' face -- but the scenes are stretched out, made overlong. In an attempt to milk a scene's potential, the film constantly overstays its welcome.

Cash could have been a ride -- if only they paid half as much attention to the script as they did to the title song.

Rediff Rating:*1/2

http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/aug/03cash.htm

Cash

**1/2

The advertisements come to a halt. The CBFC's accreditation certificate flashes on screen, quickly followed by the disclaimer ('All names and characters in this film...' blah, blah, yawn).

Then suddenly, the Dolby Surround Sound thunders awake; the ground beneath your feet begins to vibrate to decibel busting beats. Grooving stylishly and in sync are a bevy of young, energetic actors and extras. Yes, it looks like the beginning of director Sinha's previous Dus.

And it's not restricted to merely the beginning. All across Cash, Sinha uses the same formula, to the same attention-grabbing effect. Formula, in fact, is key to Cash; Sinha has engineered the movie with the same building blocks (including using many of the same actors) that made Dus (and incidentally, also made Dus a hit). Resultantly, Cash is very similar to its predecessor.

To begin with, and most obviously, Cash is also a "comic book thriller" (Sinha himself has described it as such in an interview; Cash is especially, er, "comic book" because it's big on animation) that has all things 'cool', which rev up its sex factor enormously. Racy bikes. Swanky cars. Vrooming speed-boats. Scenic foreign landscapes. Funky hairstyles. A smorgasbord of sunglasses. Long legs, made longer with mini-skirts. Bikini tops. Bikini-ed bottoms. Flat stomachs, emphasized with slinky chains. Hairless chests. Peppy music. And actors in daredevil character – rock-climbing, parachuting, para-sailing, and what-have-you.

Clearly then, Cash has style - oodles of it. Just like Dus. But when it comes substance, it has little to offer. Just like Dus. The plot is so feeble (made even more so because it is convoluted) that Esha Deol could crush it with one of her stilettos.

The story, set in Cape Town, South Africa, revolves around a gang of high-class thieves. Aditi (Dia Mirza) is one, hand-in-glove, and in love, with another, Angad (Suniel Shetty), a formerly jailed thief who wants to steal a priceless diamond. Then there is Karan / Doc (Ajay Devgan), a conman who could put Charles Sobhraj to shame, wanted as he is in 15 countries world-wide. Currently, he is living in with Shania (Shamita Shetty), a senior law-enforcer (with the loosest tongue ever) who is given the task of guarding the diamond.

Shania, for all her supposed cunning, has no idea that Karan is a criminal, or that he has hired three others - Lucky (Ritesh Deshmukh), Pooja (Esha Deol) and Danny (Zayed Khan) - on behalf of Aditi, to steal the same diamond. They are all awesome at what they do best, and they all try to outwit each other. But you have to watch Cash to know the winners from the losers.

Despite its vacuous razzmatazz, Cash is not a thorough lost cause, mostly because Sinha's skills as a director seem to have improved since Dus. The film has a lot going for it visually, musically (the songs are busting charts, and they are, predictably, shot stylishly - Sinha was a music video director of great repute) and acting-wise, too. Only, it seems to stop there.

Each actor does what is expected of him/her (though Ritesh, er, steals the show on more than one occasion). The girls look killer, shake a leg now-and-then, even kick some butt. The guys look slick, flex muscle, and make plenty of funnies. The dialogue is quite entertaining in places, especially in the exchanges between Shania and Karan.

All said, Cash is plenty of style, but unfortunately not as much substance. If you are looking for mindless timepass and promise not to regret it, this one can be fun for you.

Devyani Srivastava

www.fullhyderabad.com/scripts/profiles.php3?section=Movies&n ame=Cash&ID=4787

Anubhav Sinha's Cash leaves a very unpleasant rash

Direction: Anubhav Sinha

Cast: Sunil Shetty, Dia Mirza, Ajay Devgan, Ritesh Deshmukh, Zayed Khan, Esha Deol, Shamita Shetty

Okay, I've got a question for you - what happens when a bad film does well? The answer to that is, more bad films get made. This week's new release Cash is a perfect example of the point I'm trying to make.

If director Anubhav Sinha's last film, the very idiotic Dus hadn't turned out to be a hit, he wouldn't have been inspired to make another film on similar lines.

Now Cash is a heist film, but it's made with zero intelligence and no skill whatsoever on the part of every single person who's worked on it, barring perhaps the action director who's designed some cool stunts.

The film itself is like one of those mindless video games in which all characters walk and talk like robots, delivering lines that are so corny, even schoolchildren could come up with better.

There's a convoluted plot involving the search for a missing diamond, and a gang of crooks flown into South Africa to steal the damn diamond.

Sunil Shetty and Dia Mirza hire Ajay Devgan to pull off the heist, who in turn hires Ritesh Deshmukh and Zayed Khan to help him. Somewhere in the middle of this muddle, there's a very under-dressed Esha Deol who helps the boys, and on the right side of the law there's Shamita Shetty trying to nab the thieves.

Don't even ask me to comment on the screenplay of this film, it's got so many holes it would resemble a fishing net. The director's focus is clearly on the look of the film, giving it a slick, racy feel, even merging live action scenes with Japanese animation or manga.

But you know, none of that adds much to the overall viewing pleasure because very little of it makes any sense in the context of the script. The actors perform so mechanically and look so disinterested, I'm convinced they weren't paid to do this film.

It's films like this that give Hindi cinema a bad name. A film like Cash is the perfect example of exactly what's wrong with Hindi movies. It's a shame someone agreed to finance a film like this, and it's a shame that actors agreed to work in this film. But most of all it's a shame we have to watch this film.

I'll go with one out of five and a thumbs down for director Anubhav Sinha's Cash, the one star strictly for the film's superior technical values. It's a mind-numbing experience that you don't deserve to subject yourself to. This Cash left me with a very unpleasant rash.

Rating: 1 / 5 (Poor)

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/anubhav-sinhas-cash-leaves-a-ver y-unpleasant-rash/46180-8.html

By Ashok Nayak

Cash directed by Anubhav Sinha is yet another action thriller. The director's last effort DUS was impractical, yet kept the audience engrossed to some extent. For Cash, Anubhav has managed to pool in a good star cast and made use of animations which is new to Bollywood, but failed to work on the all important script.

So what's the story all about? Although there isn't any... Let me try explaining the initial introductory scenes. There are three diamonds on which Angad (Suniel Shetty) a don, Doc (Ajay Devgan) an ace con artist, and Shania (Shamita Shetty) head of security have set their eyes on and are planning hard to take possession of it. Angad's girlfriend Aditi (Dia Mirza) helps him in executing his task. Doc employs Lucky (Ritesh Deshmukh), DJ (Zayed Khan) and Pooja (Esha Deol) in accomplishing this task given by Aditi. Shania is unaware of the fact that her boyfriend Karan, whom she considers to be a writer, is in fact Doc. Who overtakes whom, who wins the diamonds forms the rest of the movie.

Well, so far it seems to be a fun and thrilling heist. But not quiet. Anubhav Sinha (the director) sure has made a visually enticing movie but Vinay - Yash (the writers) have let him down big time. The first half of the movie moves at an extremely sluggish pace with all the unnecessary introduction of the characters, who suddenly turn into weird cartoons. Out of nowhere a fast paced climax is arbitrarily slapped onto the film.

The movie moves at a faster pace in the second half with a few comic scenes, but again far from satisfactory. In short it lacks the Brilliance of a Dhoom 2. But then it's a bit too much to expect a Hrithik Roshan out of an Ajay Devgan! Editing is below average. Most of those animations should be chopped off. Music (Vishal-Shekhar) is a major plus point. The title song stays with you even after you come out of the theatre. The background music and action is great. Choreography needs a special mention, its brilliant.

It's Ritesh Deshmukh who steals the show and delivers a good performance. Ajay Devgan all bicepped and stylish is awfully expressionless. Throughout the movie he shows no energy that his role demands. Such roles are just not meant for him. Zayed Khan is competent. Suniel Shetty is average. Shamita Shetty looks glam and acts well enough. Diya Mirza's looks ravishing but is completely wasted. Isha Deol wears a plain look and in some scenes looks manly! Awful makeup.

Overall, Cash has heavy duty stunts, action, thrill but no story. At the box office, the Cash will start flowing in heavily in the first week but second week onwards it should crash.

All style, no content. Disappointing.

Rating 1.5 / 5

http://www.nowrunning.com/film/review.asp?movieNo=3431

Such a rash bash

Khalid Mohamed
Mumbai, August 03, 2007
First Published: 20:13 IST(3/8/2007)
Last Updated: 20:36 IST(3/8/2007)

Cast: Ajay Devgan, Suneil Shetty, Riteish Deshmukh, Dia Mirza
Direction: Anubhav Sinha
Rating: **

All right, get this straight – unless you want to waste two hours and more trying to decipher which diamond has been split into three. Why Devgan is looking stern? Why Riteish Deshmukh has regressed into childhood by going all over the place on a skateboard? Why Shamita Shetty and Esha Deol are in itsy-bitsy costumes?

Why Suneil Shetty wears itsier-bitsier expressions? Why there's talk about Chinese mafia? Why there are Oceans 12 rip-off scenes? Why someone wants to steal the worst painting in the world? Why bombs are being planted around bridges? Why everyone's having an intensely bad-air day? Why the action keeps switching to cartoon footage? And why..oh forget it.

Tip top tip: Don't be RASH, don't waste your CASH. Even an old CASHmera Shah movie would be better.

www.hindustantimes.com

Cash

By Our Correspondent 2007 Bollyvista.com

After 'Dus', Anubhav Sinha brings you a heist film, 'Cash'. While you watch the film, you will wish "Kaash, Cash mein thoda screenplay bhi hota!"

The film is about a master con artist, Karan (Ajay Devgan), who gets an assignment from Aditi (Dia Mirza) to steal some diamonds. Karan gets three people to help him execute the job, Lucky (Riteish Deshmukh), DJ (Zayed Khan) and Pooja (Esha Deol). Angad (Suniel Shetty) is a gangster, who is the man behind this entire plot. Incidentally, Shania (Shamita Shetty) is the Head of Security and also Karan's love interest! Obviously, she is oblivious to the fact that Karan is a criminal.

Omnipresent in the film are chases, double crossing and lots of cash! The plot is set in South Africa. The film has brilliant action sequences and engaging and funny moments as well. Yet, the screenplay lags once too often, and you start losing interest, but you latch on as soon as an action scene surfaces! There is plenty of animation in the film, which has been used very effectively throughout the story as well. As far as action and style goes, the film is a notch above 'Dhoom 2'. The only missing factors here are the suave Hrithik Roshan and Bipasha in a bikini!

Ajay Devgan seems to be sleepwalking through the film. Shamita Shetty gets the meatiest role of her entire career and does not disappoint. Zayed Khan gives a performance, which is on par with all his previous films – insipid! Sunil Shetty also gives Zayed company in that department! Esha Deol is good. The scene stealer is Ritesh Deshmukh, who performs very well and actually looks cool. Dia Mirza gets a good role, after a long time and she makes the most of it by acting well and also looking good. Ayesha Takia, in a short special appearance leaves her mark.

Ravi Walia's cinematography is good, the editor seems to have gone berserk with the digital platforms provided to him though. The music by Vishal Shekhar is excellent and so is the background score by Ranjit Barot. The screenplay by Yash-Vinay is a disappointment, but the dialogues are good. Action by Anthony Stone is excellent. The mix of 2D & 3D animation by Graphiti is impressive.

Directorially, 'Cash' is a fair attempt by Anubhav Sinha, but all are let down by a faltering screenplay. Nonetheless, 'Cash' is definitely worth your cash and deserves a watch, that is, if you can are not too finicky about looking for a storyline!

(** 1/2) Two and half stars

http://www.bollyvista.com/article/a/29/7910

Such trash!

By: Tushar Joshi
August 4, 2007

Director: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ajay Devgan, Zayed Khan, Esha Deol, Shamita Shetty, Riteish Deshmukh
Rating: * 1/2

What's it about: Remember the 4 Non Blondes song, "What's going on?" That's what comes to mind as I try to decipher what Cash is all about.

Name-dropping comes easy to Anubhav Sinha as he puts together an ensemble cast of some of the most thankless characters ever created.

Lucky (Riteish), Danny (Zayed) and Puja (Esha) play the cool trio, wearing hip clothes and showing off their camera-enhanced skills of being the smoothest thugs in the world.

They work for Karan (Ajay) who looks like a cross between a failed hitman and a carnival dancer lost in Rio, traced back to Cape Town. Baddie Angad (Sunil Shetty, who I think has worn one single suit throughout the film) and his decked-up accomplice Aditi (Dia Mirza) have their eyes on three expensive diamonds.

But hold on, that's what Karan and his gang want too. Before you think this is the plot, hang on: there's Shania (Shamita) who's a cop (don't let her hair extensions, lip gloss and kilos of make-up fool you). For over two hours, all these guys chase diamonds, blow up cars, dance, fall in and out of love to keep themselves occupied.

What's hot: Inspired by Michael Bay, Sinha goes for the kill with car chases, daredevil stunts, scenic locati- ons and even manages to get some foot-tapping music from Vishal and Shekhar. All this is of no avail thanks to the mindless plot.

What's not: There's too much happening. You feel you need a dummies' guide to know what's happening. Sinha loves showing off his toys.

Unfortunately, the cast looks like they had more fun off screen than in front of the camera. The best moments come when they either turn their backs to the camera or run away from the frame.

Ajay needs to fire his stylist pronto and learn to speak clearly. At times you can't figure out what he's saying. Esha looks stunningly stuck-up. Zayed is happiest when he has nothing to say. Riteish's new look works, but isn't he trying the Bluffmaster act again?

What to do: Don't waste cash on this trash. Instead stay at home and rent a copy of Gone in 60 Seconds if you need an adrenaline rush.

http://mid-day.com/entertainment/hindimoviesreview/2007/augu st/161815.htm

Cast: Ajay Devgan, Riteish Deshmukh, Suniel Shetty, Zayed Khan, Dia Mirza, Esha Deol, Shamita Shetty, Ayesha Takia (Sp. Appearance)
Director: Anubhav Sinha
Rating: *

Another film comes along when the director, the art director, the action director, the music directors, the editor and the costume designer come together beautifully to go that extra mile in showing their creative talent for the purpose of quality cinema. Nothing wrong in that, but that could have made so much of a difference had they planned to rope in a script-writer as well.

Ample cleavage, fast cars, rocking background music and animation sums up Cash. The plot line is thick but when a script is written in accordance to hairdos, female anatomy and diesel power you end up in a hash- not Cash .

A 20 karat diamond is cut into three pieces. Individually they have no value but when put together, it turns out to be a very expensive thing. (Still trying to figure out how three pieces of diamond can be joined back together)

So people are hired by other people to rob the three pieces and get them together. Sounds interesting doesn't it? It could have been but then we have to add a love triangle, larger than life characters that seems to have come out from a B-class beauty parlor, and a foreign villain called Uncle. I mean we have heard of Godfathers, Godmothers, Bhai jaans, etc. but was this relation really necessary.

The leading ladies Dia Mirza, Esha Deol and Shamita Shetty do a good job. When you have a fashion designer who believes in cutting cost and cutting a whole lot of other things, half your job is done. Director Anubhav Sinha has given a lot of thought to their individual entry as well. Shamita Shetty scales a mountain ala Tom Cruise from Mission Impossible II and Dia Mirza bends down to pick up something to show her assets to the world's second largest population. But the best comes in the form of Esha Deol. She is first seen in a song and doing something in it (think it was dancing). Nothing wrong in that but immediately after that she is driving her car suddenly we have another entry where the camera pans of her tresses and her eyes but not the complete face. Excuse me, I may not have done well in school but I can definitely remember a person whom I saw 20 seconds ago.

The guys somehow seem to fit in the action sequences. Zayed and Riteish rob French banks like they were unattended French fries. The girls also face competition from Ajay Devgan who too wants to show cleavage. He looks tired and sleepy in this outing. And finally our very own Anna Suniel Shetty. Being the main villain, he has the meatier of the dialogues but his constant Indo-Somali accent gets on your nerves.

Music by Vishal-Shekhar is top-notch and so is the slick editing. The background score gives you a feeling that something just exciting might happen but unfortunately there is a lot left to be desired.

Anubhav inserts animation in the film as well reminding you of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill . The animation is really good however one wonder how Riteish's black streaked hair becomes blond when he is animated.

Kudos to the writers Yash and Vinay. They have the guts to write something like this and take credit for it as well.

Enough of sarcasm. To sum it up, Cash is all style and technique but take that away and you have nothing. Needless to say, what had the seeds to be a good thriller ends up as dreadful mistake.

In the most clich line that I can think of- save your CASH and avoid this one.

http://movies.indiatimes.com/Reviews/Cash/articleshow/225293 5.cms