Yaar ek toh kaun Liam Neeson ko ek hi genre ki ghisi piti movies karne bol raha hai? Kya majboor hai bhai? You know the deal, Neeson’s been churning out these tough-daddy thrillers for a while now, and “Retribution” is no exception. But hey, maybe this time it’s different? Well, not at all. In the realm of Liam Neeson’s recent cinematic endeavors, “Retribution” emerges as another addition to the assembly line of ‘seen that 4593 times’ thrillers that have become synonymous with his career over the past decade. Idk why he is wasting his potential like this man.
Plot
So, what’s the deal with “Retribution”? Neeson plays Matt Turner, an investment banker based in Berlin who’s married to his job, and hence he is stranded from his family, duhhh. But one fine day, he’s driving his kids to school when his car turns into a ticking time bomb. A mysterious caller tells him that if he steps out or tells anyone about it, kaboom! Matt must follow the orders of the caller to save himself and his kids, while the police are behind him thinking he’s the bomber. Kya hi crazy sound kar rahi hai na plot? Well, it starts that way, but the tension fizzles out faster than a deflated balloon at your cousin’s birthday party.
Performances
One thing about Liam Neeson, you gotta love his dedication man! Ek hum hain jinse paani ke bottles nahi bhare jaate, aur ek ye hain. He dives into every role like his life depends on it. But here’s the thing, even his A-game can’t save “Retribution” from its frustrating plot and ridiculous dialogue. Embeth Davidtz and Matthew Modine, who play Matt’s estranged wife and boss, respectively, are kaafi seasond actors. They try to do as much as they can, but their characters simply lack depth. The kids, I’m sorry, are more annoying than sympathetic, and it gets more and more difficult to feel for them. All in all, the makers fumble with the characters and heavily under-utilize the talent they have at hand.
Direction and Writing
Nimród Antal has literally directed ‘Predators’ and some episodes of ‘Stranger Things’. Direction mein toh unki expertise hai, but “Retribution” misses the mark. The action sequences, crucial to any thriller, lack excitement and fail to engage you. And that ticking clock thriller promise? It’s like a clock that’s stuck on snooze. To make things worse, the writing feels like it was assembled from a template for generic scripts. The characters are as interesting as watching paint dry, and the plot twists are about as surprising as your morning coffee. Even the final reveal which is supposed to be a mindfck, is pretty easy to make out way before it actually happens. You see how this review is turning into a rant session? That’s how disappointed I am right now.
Screenplay and Cinematography
Ruko zara, sabar karo, abhi toh aur rant karna baaki hai. The screenplay here is where “Retribution” really drops the ball. With a setup that could have explored deep emotional and psychological terrain, it opts for the tried-and-tired formula. What a wasted opportunity, smh. As for the cinematography, it’s about as memorable as yesterday’s lunch. The visuals lack creativity, and the film’s overall aesthetic fails to leave a lasting impression. Kitna intense aur dramatic way mein portray kar sakte the, but it just feels so damn bland and boring.
So, “Retribution” is bound to vanish from your memory faster than a Snapchat message. Isse achha toh Dream Girl 2 hi dekhlo (yes Charansh ki line churayi hai). “Retribution” is like trying to find meaning in an empty box of cereal. You might as well spend your time and energy on something more rewarding. You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. And for the time being, Liam is the latter zone.
