On November 26, 2008, a group of young men went to Mumbai to launch a grisly series of terrorist attacks on the city. They were egged on by the voice of their boss Bull who brainwashed them to strike back those who caused their poverty. These boys opened fire and threw grenades on big crowds at selected targets, causing countless casualties.
Four of those young men laid siege on the posh five-star hotel for the rich and famous, the Taj. The film focused on how some hotel employees, like head chef Hemant and food server Arjun went over and beyond the call of their duty to stay and try to help their valued guests survive the bloody ordeal at the hands of these Muslim extremists.
I first knew Dev Patel when he was much younger in critically-acclaimed Oscar Best Picture "Slumdog Millionaire" (Danny Boyle, 2008). The last time I saw him was in another Oscar-caliber film "Lion" (Garth Davis, 2016). Here, Patel played Arjun, a young father who needed to work extra shifts to earn for his growing family. He was supposed to have been spared from working that night of the attack because his shoe fell out of his bag, but fate had a lot more in store for him.
Arnie Hammer played David the American husband of an Indian-Muslim heiress Zahra (played by Iranian-British actress Nazanin Boniadi). Australian actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey played the Sally, the nanny of their infant son. David and Zahra were at dinner during the attack, while Sally and the baby stayed in their suite. This created a tense situation where the parents were willing to risk their safety and their lives in order to get together with their son.
Indian actor Anupam Kher (also seen in films like "Lust, Caution" and "The Silver Lining Playbook") played the head chef of the Taj, Hemant Oberoi, who calmly and nobly took upon himself the task of keeping their guests safe inside the secret exclusive Chamber lounge, staying true to the Taj's mantra -- "The guest is god."
English actor Jason Isaacs (better known as Lucius Malfoy in the "Harry Potter" series) played the role of Vasili, a Russian guest of shady reputation and a taste for exotic women. In her final screen role, the recently departed Australian actress Carmen Duncan played Lady Wynn, a paranoid prejudiced society matron.
Even if these events happened only a little over 10 years ago, I had no memory of them at all. That was why I was totally riveted as the recreation of the attacks unfolded on the screen, shocked that I don't remember any of these. Australian director Anthony Maras told the stories in a most compelling manner, from various points of view -- the terrorists, the hotel staff, the VIP guests, and the local police. Even if the brutality was hard to watch, this film was very effective as both a dramatic vehicle, as well as a suspenseful thriller. 8/10.
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