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‘Criminal’: Underrated piece of cinema
Film: “Criminal” (in Hindi); Director: Ariel Vromen; Cast: Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones and Gal Gadot; Rating: ***
Having read the vicious reviews, “Criminal”, which I braved in Hindi, turned out to be as misunderstood and misinterpreted as “The Jungle Book” would be if it was taken literally to be a jungle fable (did someone just say, it is?).
There is a lot more to “Criminal” than the outrageously absurd premise of a ruthless criminal Jericho(Costner, knock-out in his malevolent makeover) whose brain is implanted with a slain CIA agent’s memory to get vital earth-saving information on a terrorist before catastrophe strikes civilisation.
Catastrophe struck this film in angry welters with critics dubbing “Criminal” as one of the worst films in recent times. In brief, a ‘criminal’ waste of time and energy, the critics chorused.
In actuality, “Criminal” has a lot going for itself. The action sequences on the streets of London are among the best I’ve seen in recent times, comparable if not better than what we see and savour in “Captain America”. Then there is Kevin Costner. If you admire this actor as much as I do, his proclivity to transform from his habitually genial roles to an evil violent criminal is beyond admirable.
As Jericho, the venom machine, Costner spreads vitriol across the screen in rippling motions. Then begins his moral and emotional transformation as Jericho begins to think with another, obviously more evolved and empathetic brain. He is bewildered and bitter about losing his psychotic rage. He is a man reluctant to feel.
“They’re called emotions,” explains Jericho’s Frankenstein Tommy Lee Jones, playing the doctor who undertook the brain-transplant surgery.
Lee Jones, one of America’s most versatile actors, wears a constantly worried look. He knows he has unleashed an entity that can go either way. There is a brilliant scene in a medicine store between Costner and Lee Jones which ends with a stumped saleslady offering Costner medicines “on the house”.
She is the audience. We are equally stumped.
Costner humanises Jericho with compelling dexterity. As he enters the dead CIA agent’s home and meets his beautiful grieving wife (the stunning Gal Gadot) and little daughter, his venom alchemizes in unexpected ways, giving to the monster a new window into human emotions he never knew existed.
Israeli director Ariel Vromen exercises firm control over the action drama. While Jericho changes, the narrative remains steadfastly true to the action genre, implanting into the stunts the kind of irresistibly dark and seductive tension that Curtis Hanson once imposed on his cinema.
The script is furiously unapologetic about the implausibilities, pushing through the virile material with unrelenting enthusiasm. Some of the verbal exchanges are decidedly over-heated and unconvincing and stilted. I also wanted to know more about the dead CIA officer’s (Ryan Reynolds) life. What was he like? His absence is the strongest presence in the film.
“Criminal” cuts across the chase to give us an entertainer with brains and a moral backbone to the relentless and sometime reprehensible violence. Most of all, Costner walks the talk with such confident strides that you are with his reformation from monster to human being even as the world all around goes up in flames.
It’s apocalypse unplugged.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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