Mahesh Narayanan comes to the film Patriot with the hope of making something big, with Mammootty and Mohanlal united in a film that was constructed on a grand scale, tensions and relevance to the times. Mammootty is given most of the load of the story to bear with thunderous ease, whereas Mohanlal, with little screen time, makes a calculated impression. The aching score by Sushin Shyam and Nervous camerawork by Manush Nandan keep the movie on technical toes, even when the script starts to lose its balance.
The main message, which is a surveillance mechanism in the form of welfare, is chillingly topical and immediately captivating. However, as the movie progresses through its second half, its stinging quality is eliminated. What is left is a combination of admiration and exhaustion, a film that soars high but takes longer than necessary.
Technical finesse is the first thing that is noticeable. Mahesh Narayanan with his incisive craftsmanhip yet again demonstrates good mastery of the medium. Co-edited with Rahul Radhakrishnan, the movie has a very tight narrative, even though its intentions are quite broad. The attempt to make it big, big-budget is palpable, particularly with two giant stars in the centre of it. The scale is delivered in a natural way and the staging is well thought out. The movie is an action spy thriller and is therefore more of a detail-oriented movie, with the tiniest of aspects to keep it going.
Special mention should be made of the action choreography. The sequences are constructed in a realistic manner which makes them more immersive. Among the highlights is a mid-air block in an airplane, an intense face off in a home, a high-speed car chase, and the last-minute battle. These scenes are effective not due to its exaggeration, but because they seem real and meaningful. The cinematography by Manush Nandan supports this strategy, through the candid framing and purposeful shakiness to maintain tension. A very vivid shot is the one in which three people are in a car and the camera moves around that in a 360-degree fashion. It creates a dynamic aspect on what might have been a one dimensional exchange.
Music is an important factor. Sushin Shyam provides the background score, which enhances the involvement of the film greatly. The intensity of some of the scenes is heavily contributed by the manner in which they are scored. The music at times appears to have some lapses in which the storyline falters.
Casting is another greatest strength of the film. It is an understatement to say that it is a pleasure to see Mammootty and Mohanlal on the same screen. Mammootty is the one who has the majority of the screen time as he appears throughout the movie whereas Mohanlal plays a smaller part. Nevertheless, both the characters are carefully written to warrant their existence. The movie does not diminish each to star value and that is an advantage.
The side actors contribute to the strength. Kunchacko Boban is a good actor who matches the requirements of his job. Babu Antony is a raw, high energy actor, particularly in scenes where there is a heated phone conversation which would intensify to a sudden outburst of emotion. The tone of the film is contributed by his unpredictability. Fahadh Faasil, Rajeev Menon, Revathi, Nayanthara, and Darshana Rajendran also play their respective parts well, and are all in their places without overdoing it.
But there are problems with the film. One thing that you should avoid doing is watching the trailer upfront. It is disclosing too much, even some of the main character lines, which makes the experience of viewing it rather weak. On a film that is approximately three hours long, this further condensing of so much into a short preview would greatly diminish its effect.
The initial half is also interesting and creates tension throughout and gives a deserved break. The second half though, starts to lose track. The story is far-fetched, though there are significant advances and progressions of actions. The tempo is slowed and some of the moments do not make the impact that they ought to make. The distance is getting more pronounced and in the last stretch an exhaustion is reached.
Indulgence is the root of the trouble. The movie attempts to fit too many ideas and storylines into one set-up. Although the ambition is evident, the outcome is bloated. A more stringent cut would have made a great deal of difference. Another weakness is the treatment of the character of Rajeev Menon. The concept of a man who is ready to die even his son to prove his idea is really strong, however, the resolution is underdeveloped, and it is not completely convincing.
Being a mass-oriented spy action movie, certain liberties are likely to be taken with logic. Realism is stepped aside at times, but they do not go too far out of acceptable genre conventions.
Ultimately, Patriot is an ambivalent character. It is technically well-done, supported by good acting and a number of good execution of scenes. Meanwhile, it has an issue with timing, outstays its welcome, and loses emotional control during its second half. It is most effective as a single viewing, with half participation and not necessarily fascinating.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5