Lie Movie Review
Starting from Nithin’s macho look to intriguing posters to interesting promos, Lie has been getting due attention from the film buffs. It is one of the most anticipated movies of the season for a reason. Director Hanu proved that he thinks out of the box and makes innovative cinema. 14 Reels Entertainment has spent a fortune on bringing Hanu’s vision on to the screen. Did Lie live up to the buzz around it?
Story :
Satyam (Nithin) goes to Vegas in search of his fortune. He takes the help of a girl named Chaitra (Megha) to get there. Meanwhile there is a Central Intelligence mission to find the ‘master of disguise’ magician Padmanabham (Arjun). Central Intelligence follows a suit that is ordered by Padmanabham to track him down. As the plot thickens we are in for many twists and turns.
Performances:
Nithin is superb in the lead role. His careless body language and powerful demeanor shows us the unseen side of the actor. His styling is spot on. This will be remembered as one of Nithin’s best performances for sure. Megha Akash is bubbly and cute. Arjun takes the cake with his sensational performance as the antagonist. His characterization drives the film and he is the soul of the movie. Confrontation scenes between Nithin and Arjun stands major highlight of the movie. Sriram and Ravi Kishan are good in supporting roles. Madhu got a meaty role as the main comedian.
Technicalities:
Mani Sharma’s music is impressive. Two out of four songs are very good. Bombhat song is well shot too. Background score of the legendary music composer elevates the drama to a whole new level. Editing is crisp although the second half needs a bit of trimming here and there. Cinematography is excellent. Every frame is rich and striking. Art department did a fine job is getting the locations right. Production values are top notch.
Hanu Raghavapudi’s earlier movies are made on a low budget. It is his first expensive film and he does a commendable job in making it a visual feast. He extracted fine performances from the lead cast and the film is technically slick. Mind games between the hero and villain are done well. Hanu does his best to offer novel treatment with a routine plot of a spy thriller.
Thumbs Up:
- Nithin
- Arjun
- Twists
Thumbs Down:
- Lengthy
- Confusing at times
Analysis:
Lie is a typical spy thriller where the police are tracing down an international terrorist. Hanu plays an intelligent game with the introduction of his characters. He uses mythological characters like Indra and Narada to set up the plot. There are numerous references to Hindu mythology and the epics in the narrative.
The director has summed up whole premise of the film into the title Love Intelligence and Enmity. The film starts off as a love story and later moves forward with the intelligent game between the hero and villain. Finally there is a stereotypical reveal towards the end which tells us the enmity between them.
Although it is a typical revenge plot with spy thriller kind of setup, director Hanu plays an intelligent game with the screenplay thus offering many thrills and fun. The story is narrated in an entertaining fashion despite the serious elements like international terrorism and central intelligence. Director used the villain character very well to keep us engaged and guessing.
People who love to watch intelligent spy thrillers will like Lie a lot. On the downside it gets a bit confusing for the common audience, which may limit the film’s reach in B and C centers. It is a bit stretched towards the end and gets on your nerves at times, but there are enough twists to keep the audience engaged. However the love story is too cinematic and unreal. Director should have taken care of it.
On a whole, Lie is not a super entertainer, but it will not entirely disappoint either.On the commercial front it must do well in A centers and overseas.
Verdict: Intelligent Show.
