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The influence of Hindi cinema on Hollywood has been more than what one can think. Apart from Indian actors portraying Indians as well as Americans or other non-Indians, we have had Indian characters, even songs and most importantly, an Indian ethos in the storytelling quite often.
Films in the past like even Star Wars (1977), Meet the Fockers (2004) and The Holiday (2006), have shown such influences in specific situations, but in many later cases, the screenplays and depictions of individual sequences have been so much ‘Indian’ in concept and execution that just when we think that this may be coincidental, some filmmaker abroad admits to Indian influences and admiration for “Bollywood” in general or specific talents and actors. It is the Emotional Quotient (EQ) that is most emulated in several cases though obviously that follows contemporary Hindi cinema and does not descend into melodrama.
(On the other hand, many a Hindi film has shown a decline in the Emotional Quotient, thereby showing a Western influence in treatment!)
With The Bluff there is a wider reason: Priyanka Chopra is not just the lead actor but also one of the key producers. The setting, the background, even the timeframe may be completely out of sync with Indian cinema of today, but the story and screenplay, and again its emotional tenor, are more than identifiable as our style.
It’s a simple vendetta and betrayal story with some natural Western touches. The woman protagonist is Ercell Bodden (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), someone who is a product of her past circumstances and has kept her dark backstory a secret from her son Isaac and sister-in-law Elizabeth: that she has been a pirate, Bloody Mary by name! She is still technically wanted by the law even though she has now changed her identity and turned over a new leaf. The villain is Captain Connor (Karl Urban), who is a pirate with a great grudge against Ercell.
Connor attacks Ercell’s husband and sailor Theodore Bodden’s ship and holds him captive as she is in possession of the cache of gold that he wants. Theodore, who is overdue home for almost two months, is missing so far as Ercell, Isaac and Elizabeth are concerned. Connor’s gang attacks Ercell’s home at Cayman Brac (The Bluff is the highest part of the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean Sea) and she escapes along with Isaac and Elizabeth after annihilating the attackers. She has hidden the treasure in a hideout she has developed among the nearby caves and tells Elizabeth and Isaac to stay safe there while she deals with Connor and his men.
From here, the story moves to what happens to Theodore, the real reasons behind Connor’s current hatred for her and how Ercell deals with him after being forced by circumstances to reveal as well as explain her past to Isaac and Elizabeth. This is achieved after a long chase and a series of fights in which, a la Salman Khan and our action heroes, she fights multiple pirates all at once, and finally has a climactic face-off on top of the Bluff, where Elizabeth helps her turn the tables on her enemy. And, of course, there is a small twist in the tale so far as the cache of gold is concerned.
Technically spruce, with some great action and fireworks and crisp dialogues, the film is a Priyanka Chopra Jonas vehicle from beginning to end and she delivers. Sadly, no one gave her such a super action role in India, which she seems to be getting quite frequently abroad! The actress’ interpretation of her complex character is perfect and she is the one reason for watching this film, just like she was in Heads of State last year, Quantico and Citadel.
She gets able support from Safia Oakley-Green as Elizabeth and Vedanten Naidoo as Isaac. Temuera Morrison as Lee, a Quartermaster and Connor’s second in command. David Field as Pastor Bradley of Cayman Brac’s church, who was formerly a pirate too, and Temuera Morrison as Quartermaster Lee, Connor’s second-in-command, are also impressive in relatively briefer roles. As Theodore, Ismael Cruz Córdova makes a brief mark. But Karl Urban shines as the suave, angst-ridden and completely pitiless Connor.
Director Frank E. Flowers, who has co-written the script with Joe Ballarini, scores with his blend of action, emotion and drama and the fast pace that culminates the story in a deft 106 minutes, and I, for one, found it super entertaining like a classic pulpy, masala Hindi movie.
Rating: ***
Amazon Prime Video presents Purple Pebble Pictures’, AGBO’s, Cinestar Pictures’ & Big Indie Pictures’ The Bluff Produced by: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot, Michael Disco, Cisely Saldana & Mariel Saldana Directed by: Frank E. Flowers Written by: Frank E. Flowers & Joe Ballarini Music: Henry Jackman Starring: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Karl Urban, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Safia Oakley-Green, Vedanten Naidoo, Temuera Morrison, David Field & others
