The Wedding Guest

I saw the bad reviews and thought they were wrong. This is a really novel story a Bonnie & Clyde with a subcontinental twist. Acting and scenery were beautiful. Worth a watch.

Beautiful shots through some beautiful locations all natural light. Story might work for a 3 minute music video but such a stretch for 90 minute film. Not one thrilling moment in the entire movie.

Highly respected writer/director Michael Winterbottom created this fast-paced, near inscrutable thriller that allows the viewer to follow the strange trail of a hired kidnapper whose assignment goes oddly off center. The visually stunning and emotionally tense story is viewed through the actions of Jay (Dev Patel), a man with a secret who travels from Britain to Pakistan on an assignment from one Deepesh (Jim Sarbh) to attend a wedding - armed with duct tape, a shotgun, and a plan to kidnap the bride-to-be. Despite his cold efficiency, the assignment quickly spirals out of control, sending Jay and his hostage, the bride-to-be Samira (Radhika Apte), on the run across the border and through the railway stations, back alleys, and black markets of New Delhi - as all the while attractions simmer, loyalties shift, and explosive secrets bubble to the surface. Murder may appear to be the nidus of the reason the assignment fails, but the oddly complex interaction between Dev and Samira - and Deepesh - sets an entirely different tone to the adventure. As much a diatribe about men's control over women (forced/arranged marriages by fathers, abandonment by lovers, secrecy and emotional aloofness by escorts) as it is a suspenseful unwinding of an assignment gone wrong, the unspoken aspects of this story make it at times problematic while at other times completely engrossing as a thriller. Fine acting on the parts of the three main characters as well as from the cameo roles complete the success of this unique film.

It is an Indian movie, with Indian actors within India locations, with an India story. if you knew how hard would take all the aspect of the India cinematographic and turn it over to some thrill watchable for nonindian viewers you would be not giving so low rates. it is a great movie to watch. if you are looking for shoot outs do it else where.

It was great movie. Excellent story and acting. Ended on the right note. Brilliant screenplay. This is something similar to what happen with Jason Statham Movie, where he has a package to deliver and things doesnt go as planned. Superb. Must watch.

Acting - Dev was good. He is clearly growing as an actor. Radhika was unnecessarily expressive. She needs to come out of her Bollywood-esque over acting methods. Story and Direction - Worst movie of Michael Winterbottom. The whole movie slowed down after 40 minutes. There is no plot twist. There is not a single memorable scene in the movie. There's no character development. Motivation of the characters isn't clear either. For example, Dev's character Jay is a remorseful cold hearted killer. He kills two people in the movie. Radhika's character Samira sleeps with Jay, and kinda seduces him. Or was she suffering from Stockholm syndrome? She was unreactive when her long term lover Dinesh is killed by Jay. So is she a psychopath too?

To feel The Wedding Guest dies after the 1st ½-hour is to miss the evolution of the relationship of the couple as they go through life changes -- Samira finding out her love hadn't been returned & not wanting to marry ANYONE, Jay not having much to live for, falling for her, & starting to feel a sense of belonging & starting to dream of a future with her. It's noteworthy that she says she doesn't want to be married at all BEFORE they fall in love, so it's understandable that she splits instead of letting their relationship evolve that far. It's not Bollywood or Transformers or a Hallmark movie. You'll like this movie if you like human characters, feelings, & relationships, along with a "slice of life" style, where you witness the characters move through a time & set of shared experiences together & may end well, badly, or anywhere in between. Patel is now a mature leading man -- in this movie, a bit of a Jean Reno type. He's deadpan, but I like it. I think there's a lot of India/Pakistan local color & info about people & customs to learn -- beautiful places, barren rural places, & dirty, smoggy places -- for an American like me. Try it again & think a bit outside the box.