Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Hollywood debut 'Broken Horses' underwhelms

A boy once promised his younger geeky brother that he’d build him a ranch, named after him, and complete with a white stallion. Cut to adulthood, the brothers reunite after being separated for eight years, at the promised ranch.

The name-board reading ‘Jakey’s ranch’ hangs over the gate, much like what the little boy had painted out when he was six years old.

It’s this unconditional love that two orphaned brothers share that Bollywood filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s unhurriedly captures in his Hollywood debut ‘Broken Horses’.

Much like his 1989-hit Hindi action drama ‘Parinda’, he sets the brothers in a world torn by gang wars, this time along the Mexican-American border.

Jakey returns to his hometown ahead of his marriage to his Italian girlfriend Vittoria after his older brother Buddy convinces him that he needs to come home to see his wedding present.

They embrace each other, and stutter and stammer, as they attempt to catch up on the years apart. Despite, the separation, it’s evident they share a strong bond.

Hours on, they find themselves sucked into a bloody battle from which there appears no return.

Although Chopra succeeds in abandoning many Bollywood clichés, and surrenders wholeheartedly to Hollywood basics, there are setbacks in his rather outlandish metaphors. Juxtaposing shots of many killings with that of oranges being squeezed appear tacky.

It’s when he mutes out loud background scores to allow extended, noiseless frames to capture the raw emotions, that you sense he’s slowly learning on the job. He even lets us listen in as human bodies crack and crumble, leaving us genuinely unnerved.

Cinematographer Tom Stern’s outstanding frames captures Vidhu’s and writer Abhijat Joshi’s story, but numerous inept dramatics punctures the narrative.

Of the cast, Anton Yelchin wins us over with his agonising take on Jakey’s turmoil. While Maria Valverde lends charm and grace to Vittoria, Chris Marquette is unable to create any credibility for Buddy. Despite landing the lead part, he lacks finesse or maturity in tackling Buddy’s conflicts and insecurities.

Had ‘Broken Horses’ been made in Bollywood, it would’ve impressed as an unconventional action drama, but it doesn’t quite make the cut for Hollywood.