Review of Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1 (2012) by Jenna P — 04 Jan 2016

A veritable masterpiece in the gangster genre, GANGS OF WASSEYPUR covers three generations of the Khan clan in a corrupt mining state in northeast India. The Khans vie against the Singhs for power, control, and revenge. This is a little more like watching Fredo raise a family than capturing Michael's astute rise to power, and it's all the more fun for it. We don't get enough of the catalytic patriarch Shaheed Khan (Jaideep Ahlawat). We spend a little too much time with his philandering asshat of a son Sardar Khan (Manoj Bajpayee), but even he occasionally amuses and leaves us with several sons sparring for the role of don. The ultimate godfather being Faizal Khan (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), who is certainly my favorite.

The movie is admittedly long (technically 2 parts). It could be shorter if the montage sequences set to music (but not dance!) were cut, but I'm not sure I would want that. The soundtrack is dope as hell, and while the story isn't really moving during the not quite Bollywood as I knew it music scenes, the lyrics and beats are killer. GANGS opens with a one shot capturing an attack on the current Khan in charge. I didn't think the action scenes could be more epic than the opening, but I was mistaken multiple times. Also, what an excellent use of slow motion! This movie is not for the faint of constitution, but if you're a HARDBOILED fan, do yourself a favor and check out GANGS OF WASSEYPUR.