"bROCKenSTAR"

Rating: 4/10 (14 November 2011)

Watching the promos I wanted to watch this movie for nothing else but Ranbir. Knowing Imtiyaz's track record (except Love Aaj Kal) I was even more interested in Rockstar. Ranbir's look, the portrayed theme of the movie, Kun Faya Kun (this song made me feel that Rehman would have put some of his long anticipated magic in this movie), etc. were enough reasons to take the risk of watching a mainstream Bollywood movie. (I must mention, it was a fierce battle for the tickets over the weekend)
The start was good Ranbir (Jordan/JJ/Janardan) in angry, aggressive, wild look walking through equally feral crowd and a concert about to begin. Just pumps adrenalin through your veins. As expected, the movie goes in past: a simple, innocent guy trying to make his career in singing, but something, some fire/reason/passion missing in him is not allowing him to achieve it. "Only a heart with deep grief can awaken the artist in you" he's told. So he TRIES to fall in love with the 'heart breaker' in college. He and Heer (Nargis) get really close and he brings out wildness in her. They do all the crazy things before she gets married to a rich guy in two months. Watching Joshili Jawani, drinking Desi Daaru and other stuff tows you in a very beautiful part of the movie. Jordan misses his audition to be with Heer. He goes to Kashmir to attend her wedding where their wild stuff (Gandh Machana) continues. The day before her wedding we see Heer falling for Jordan. You expect them to sprint which they don't. Despite all this, his innocence keeps him away from pain. Then the movie gets really exciting, the flow of past and present and Jordan's career buildup and his transition into a singer are portrayed spectacularly.
Jordan's career takes him to Prague where Heer is settled after marriage. However, she is ill and undergoing treatment. As decided during Heer – Jordan separation, they continue their "Gandh Machana" in Prague too. Heer finds her life back, her health improves and they again land in a situation to make a decision.
It was Interval and I was very happy to come for the movie. It seemed like a right decision. I'm thinking, 'The movie lived up to the expectation. Movie has good flow, awesome acting by Ranbir, Nargis is bearable. This movie is better than Ra.One.' However, there's a saying in Formula1, "It ain't over till it's over'. After the interval, the movie starts its open fire on you when you are least expecting. Escape routes are closed and you have no way except to tolerate the incoming.
All the expectations and excitement built in first half are destroyed one by one. The series of Jordan's fights with media, police arrest him, he has legal issues (surprisingly, nothing much happens to him) because of his carelessness and he comes out shouting and singing; only to again land up in same situation. Heer comes back into his life and he tries to improve her health with his magic touch which stops working once he gets her pregnant as that's too much for her already weak body! Story just takes a complete halt and scenes seem to be repeating in this half. A series of unnecessary songs to fill up the time don't even let you sleep. I don't like to spoil the movie watching experience by revealing the climax. But this movie has no climax.That's the suspense for you!!!
There is nothing in the movie that justifies the name Rockstar. However good Jordan's look and Ranbir's acting OR his attitude, it doesn't hold the movie together as there's not much to emote after a point. In the promos, Jordan seems to be a revolutionary, a person fighting the society and its cliché's to live his life in his own way. In the movie, he's just a pathetic, careless 'loser in love!' Many in the audience heaved a sigh of relief as it ended and left the auditorium as fast as they could. Overall, absolutely pathetic movie! Better to watch online, that also STRICTLY for Ranbir's work. 4/10 – only for the first half! "bROCKenSTAR" it is!!