Rifle Club

"Rifle Club" is a Malayalam film that embraces a vintage style, offering a visually rich and action-packed experience. While it boasts an impressive cast and technical excellence, it falls short in storytelling and leaves an incomplete impact.

Positives:

One of the biggest strengths of Rifle Club is its stellar performances. Dileesh Pothan, Anurag Kashyap, Hanuman Kind, Vishnu Agasthya, Vijayaraghavan, Suresh Krishna, Vani Vishwanath, and Ponnamma Babu deliver strong performances. Among them, Dileesh Pothan, Anurag Kashyap, Hanuman Kind, and Vishnu Agasthya stand out with exceptional screen presence. Hanuman Kind, in particular, brings an effortless swag that elevates the film's vintage charm.

The technical aspects shine in Rifle Club, with excellent cinematography, well-executed action choreography, and an immersive background score. The color tones and camera angles enhance the film's old-school aesthetic, making it visually captivating.

Negatives:

On the downside, the film struggles with weak character writing, particularly for Unnimaya Prasad and Surabhi. Their roles feel forced into the narrative, attempting to create strong feminine leads, but their portrayal and attitude do not blend well with the overall tone of the movie. In contrast, Vani Vishwanath and Ponnamma Babu fit seamlessly into the film's world with their commendable performances.

The biggest letdown is the story itself. It follows a predictable revenge arc, failing to introduce any surprising twists or an impactful climax. While the film maintains a stylish and fast-paced execution, the script lacks depth, preventing it from reaching greatness. The direction is competent but not groundbreaking.

Final Verdict:

Rifle Club is a film that thrives on performances, vintage aesthetics, and stylish action. It delivers an engaging experience but lacks a gripping narrative to make it truly memorable. If you enjoy films driven by strong characters and stylish execution rather than a fresh storyline, this one is worth a watch.

The story begins with actor Shahjahan, who wants to change his romantic image and play a new, raw character. For this, he comes to the club. But the story takes a turn when the family starts to clash with a deadly arms dealer, Dayanand. Shahjahan's relative and his girlfriend flee from Dayanand and take refuge in the club, and this is why the clash begins.

How the elderly members of this club come together to face a formidable opponent like Dayanand and protect the family is the main part of the story. Although the story starts slowly, the tension increases, which keeps the audience hooked until the end.

"Rifle Club" is a family thriller. At first glance, its simple story and the wonderful relationship between the characters are striking. Especially the elderly members of the club are the lifeblood of the story. Their experiences and funny moments make the movie more enjoyable. Vijayaraghavan and Dilesh Pothen's performances were great.

The cinematography is really commendable. The natural beauty of the Western Ghats and the hunting scenes are portrayed very well. The fun evenings at the club or the exciting moments of hunting are also captured very easily.

The second half of the movie felt a bit slow, but it did not spoil the whole experience. Anurag Kashyap was quite scary as Dayanand, but it would have been better if his ruthlessness had been shown more.

Only Malayalam cinema can present a simple story beautifully. This movie is a real example of that. The simpler the story, the more extraordinary its cinematography is. I liked the location, action, BGM, climax. Apart from that, the acting of all the characters is Yes, it is. A must watch for those who like action movies.

Rifle Club is an action-packed tale of guns, vengeance, and family dynamics, centering on a rifle club family and their standoff with a gangster and his sons. The film starts on a slow note, spending time setting up the narrative and introducing a sprawling cast. While this deliberate pace may test some viewers' patience, it lays the groundwork for an explosive second half.

The turning point comes with a series of intense, high-stakes shootouts that showcase thrilling action choreography and keep you at the edge of your seat. However, the large ensemble cast is a double-edged sword; many characters feel underutilized, leaving some subplots half-baked.

Despite its uneven pacing and loose ends, *Rifle Club* delivers an adrenaline-pumping climax that action lovers will enjoy. It's a movie that thrives on its second-half spectacle but could've been more impactful with tighter storytelling and better character focus.

The film was great and I had a blast watching it. Nearly every aspect was very well done. The main performances especially from dileesh pothen and anurag kashyap are great. The side actors like vani vishwanath and vijayaraghavan provide good support. Vineeth Kumar has a good role. Some of the side actors are just alright. The much hyped Hanumankind was just alright and you can tell he's never acted in a film before. The music, cinematography, and editing are all great. The film goes in a very fast pace and you won't notice the time flying by. The only major problem is the dialogues which sound completely out of place some times. Whenever dileesh pothen says a double meaning joke, he literally says "double meaning double meaning" right after. That completely ruins the joke. There is a scene where dileesh pothen says dialogues in pure malayalam and another character translates them into english. If the audience needs to understand every word, they can just turn on subtitles right? Otherwise the film is a simple and well done film that you will definitely enjoy.

Although 'Rifle Club' lacks a deeply engaging narrative, Aashiq Abu delivers a cinematic firework that keeps the audience entertained for two hours without a dull moment.

This film cannot claim to have a great script, despite being penned by Shyam Pushkaran, Dileesh Karunakaran, and Suhas. Instead, it presents a fierce backdrop perfect for gunfights, enriched with all the essential elements for an action-packed drama.

Even in the photographs adorning the walls, Sunny and Aziz establish their distinct character presence, adding depth to the narrative.

It is also refreshing to witness the powerful screen presence of Vani Viswanath after a long hiatus. Just two or three impactful scenes highlight how much Malayalam cinema has missed her charisma.

However, Vani Viswanath's dominance in the scenes tends to overshadow Surabhi, Unni Maya, and Darshan, despite their efforts and training with firearms.

For Vijayaraghavan, portraying Kuzhuveli Lonappan posed no significant challenge, and he executed the role of a wheelchair-bound character with finesse.

Among the supporting cast, Vineeth Kumar as romantic star Shahjahan, Kiran Peethambaran as production manager Rappadi, Suresh Krishna as doctor Lazar, and Prashanth Murali as gun-wielding Pallilachan stand out as the most engaging performances.

Dileesh Pothen and Vishnu Agasthya's gun-toting appearances evoke memories of scenes from their own 'O. Baby,' including the presence of a white dog, which also finds its way into 'Rifle Club.'

Hanuman Kind Suraj's performance adds significant mileage to the film, particularly in the thrilling scene where Bheera enters the Rifle Club.

The real fireworks ignite with the entry of Anurag Kashyap, intensifying the action. On one side, Anurag Kashyap and his team unleash bullets from modern firearms, while on the other, Dileesh Pothan's secretary Avaran and his team counter with antique guns. 'Rifle Club' masterfully blends both styles, creating an explosive cinematic experience.

While Dileesh Pothan impresses as Avaran in Kaduvachal, some viewers may feel that Anurag Kashyap wasn't given enough freedom to fully explore his role as Dayanand Bare.

The song 'Gandharva Gaan..' bears resemblance to 'Ratipushpat' from Bhishma Parvat, although its melody and rhythm seem slightly disconnected. Setting this aside, Rex Vijayan's background score is commendable.

Visually, the cinematography outshines even Aashiq Abu's direction, pushing the film's aesthetics several notches higher.

Despite an impressive cast, the abundance of characters in the action sequences sometimes feels overwhelming, making it challenging to focus on individual performances.

If you enjoy gunfights and thrilling sequences akin to Amal Neerad's films, Aashiq Abu's 'Rifle Club' will not disappoint. This is a movie best experienced on the big screen.