Martin Movie Review: Dhruva Sarja’s film prioritises spectacle over substance
Martin Movie Review: Critics Rating: 2.5 stars, click to give your rating/review,
Critic's Rating: 2.5/5
Martin is one of the biggest Kannada releases this year. The film, which took 3 years in the making, had a delayed start in several theatres, both single screens and multiplexes. On Friday morning, there were even rumours about the film’s release being pushed, again, on social media. But at last, Martin has arrived, in style, guns blazing, this festive season. Does the movie justify the three-year wait? Yes, and No.
The movie begins with a uniquely choreographed action scene set in Pakistan. The scene ends with a man wearing a ‘bad boy’ jacket falling from the building. There is no face reveal, yet. The scene then shifts to a hospital where we are then introduced to an Indian man, who is said to be a beast with a power of ten elephants. He hits everyone around him, and after much difficulty, doctors find out that the man is suffering from anterograde amnesia. He now has to find out who he is. In the course of the first 30 minutes, he asks ‘who am I’ multiple times in multiple languages, till it becomes boring and repetitive, making the audience wonder if he is going to ask ‘who is he’ in all 13 languages the film is releasing in. Thankfully he doesn’t, and stops at 5. He is then put in a prison in Pakistan, but he escapes and follows a thread only to find out that he is ‘Arjun’ who has landed in Pakistan to find ‘Martin’. Thus brings another set of questions - ‘Who is Martin’.
Martin rides solely on Dhruva’s hulk nature and his style of dialogue delivery, aimed at fans. Dhurva Sarja, in a dual role, has attempted to bring two different shades to his character. A good navy officer Arjun and a bad boy gangster Martin. He is more likeable as Arjun, as, after some point, the antics of Martin, especially growling and snarling, become too loud and too much to take. There is a decorative love story, too, but it doesn’t add much to the plot. The first half is all about Arjun trying to find Martin, and they eventually face off in the second half. The makers have taken too much commercial liberty, including making officials in Pakistan converse in Kannada. The epic climactic showdown with an army tanker has evident VFX glitches. Since the film is written by Arjun Sarja, the film has patriotism at its heart, and makes way into the climax, too. With two Dhruva’s taking over screen scene after scene, actors Vaibhavi Shandilya, Anveshi Jain, Chikkanna and Nikitin Dheer become mere fillers.
Martin’s screenplay is quite commendable. The first few minutes of the film really keep you hooked about what is happening. But then it starts riding on an action film template. It keeps going back and forth creating confusion in the minds of the audience. Everything is so loud and in-the-face that a scene doesn’t even get registered as there is always a chase towards another action set piece or another sequence. Satya Hegde’s brilliant cinematography is Martin’s other highlight. But overpowering graphics play the spoilsport. AP Arjun, as usual, has added another action film to his filmography. The movie is all sound and spectacle and no substance. Ravi Basrur’s background score is reminiscent of KGF music, especially towards the end. Martin's title track and give a break to the high-pitched film. Item number featuring Giorgia Andrani is solely aimed at titillating the audience.
The movie sure offers a cinematic experience, but is that enough? You can head to the theatres near you and find out!
The movie begins with a uniquely choreographed action scene set in Pakistan. The scene ends with a man wearing a ‘bad boy’ jacket falling from the building. There is no face reveal, yet. The scene then shifts to a hospital where we are then introduced to an Indian man, who is said to be a beast with a power of ten elephants. He hits everyone around him, and after much difficulty, doctors find out that the man is suffering from anterograde amnesia. He now has to find out who he is. In the course of the first 30 minutes, he asks ‘who am I’ multiple times in multiple languages, till it becomes boring and repetitive, making the audience wonder if he is going to ask ‘who is he’ in all 13 languages the film is releasing in. Thankfully he doesn’t, and stops at 5. He is then put in a prison in Pakistan, but he escapes and follows a thread only to find out that he is ‘Arjun’ who has landed in Pakistan to find ‘Martin’. Thus brings another set of questions - ‘Who is Martin’.
Martin rides solely on Dhruva’s hulk nature and his style of dialogue delivery, aimed at fans. Dhurva Sarja, in a dual role, has attempted to bring two different shades to his character. A good navy officer Arjun and a bad boy gangster Martin. He is more likeable as Arjun, as, after some point, the antics of Martin, especially growling and snarling, become too loud and too much to take. There is a decorative love story, too, but it doesn’t add much to the plot. The first half is all about Arjun trying to find Martin, and they eventually face off in the second half. The makers have taken too much commercial liberty, including making officials in Pakistan converse in Kannada. The epic climactic showdown with an army tanker has evident VFX glitches. Since the film is written by Arjun Sarja, the film has patriotism at its heart, and makes way into the climax, too. With two Dhruva’s taking over screen scene after scene, actors Vaibhavi Shandilya, Anveshi Jain, Chikkanna and Nikitin Dheer become mere fillers.
Martin’s screenplay is quite commendable. The first few minutes of the film really keep you hooked about what is happening. But then it starts riding on an action film template. It keeps going back and forth creating confusion in the minds of the audience. Everything is so loud and in-the-face that a scene doesn’t even get registered as there is always a chase towards another action set piece or another sequence. Satya Hegde’s brilliant cinematography is Martin’s other highlight. But overpowering graphics play the spoilsport. AP Arjun, as usual, has added another action film to his filmography. The movie is all sound and spectacle and no substance. Ravi Basrur’s background score is reminiscent of KGF music, especially towards the end. Martin's title track and give a break to the high-pitched film. Item number featuring Giorgia Andrani is solely aimed at titillating the audience.
The movie sure offers a cinematic experience, but is that enough? You can head to the theatres near you and find out!
