Johnny Gaddaar
2007 · Directed by Sriram Raghavan
Original language: Hindi
- crime
- drama
- thriller
The story
Five men get involved in a drug deal set up by a corrupt police officer, but the plan goes awry when the youngest member decides to steal the money.
What it’s like
Hard-edged Mumbai neo-noir lit in sodium-yellow streetlight, cramped apartment interiors and smoky backrooms, with a restless, handheld-leaning camera that keeps close to nervous faces and shifts to clean, deliberate framing when a double-cross lands. The palette runs on grimy greens, tobacco browns and the glare of cheap tube lights, while the soundtrack mixes twangy retro guitar and sly lounge cues against the hum of the city and sudden silences before violence. Violence is sharp and brief, with a few shootings and a tense, bloody confrontation, but there is no gore for its own sake and nothing sexual beyond a flirtatious undercurrent. The pacing is brisk and twisty, with the tension built on who is lying to whom, and the mood is cynical, playful and paranoid rather than comforting. The emotional arc follows a set of desperate men and one restless woman caught between them, each sliding further into greed and mistrust. It suits a late-night watch alone, and it will appeal to people who like crime thrillers with clever reversals, morally compromised characters and a dry, knowing sense of humour.
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