Starring: Dev Patel, Amandeep Singh, Suhail Nayyar, Manoj Mehra, Dinesh Kumar, Armie Hammer, Jason Isaacs
Director: Anthony Maras
Release date: 27th September 2019
Mumbai, India, 26th November 2008 begins as just another ordinary day. Down on the river, a boat arrives containing a group of men. All have backpacks, disembark very quickly and immediately jump into taxis. Soon we are taken to the main train station in Mumbai and two of the men are in the toilet, assembling guns. A bloodbath begins and everyone who gets in their way is murdered. This is the start of a horrific series of events that leaves Mumbai in total chaos and disarray. The famous Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is taken over by terrorists and guests and staff are murdered in cold blood where they stand.. how will it all end?
Based on true events, ‘Hotel Mumbai’ tells the horrific story of the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 that were perpetrated by a group of men, controlled by their ‘leader’ through phones. The movie tells the incredible story of the staff and guests who risked their own lives to save as many people as possible.
The movie contains a lot of real archive tv footage from the siege, including police reports of what was happening as it occured at the time.
It’s a fast paced movie and from the start you feel like you are taken on a journey. You will feel a huge variation of emotions while watching ‘Hotel Mumbai’ and it’s quite harrowing in places when you think about the fact that you’re watching events that actually happened with the resulting loss of life. It also makes you remember that a whole life can change in a split second.
Not exactly sure what sort of audience this movie will have; it’s not exactly blockbuster material, but it’s definitely one to watch. Some great acting from Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire), Armie Hammer (On the Basis of Sex, The Lone Ranger) and Anupam Kher (Silver Linings Playbook) makes this fascinating and moving viewing. A very well told story, though harrowing in places, ‘Hotel Mumbai’ is one to watch on the big screen.
Overall: 7.5/10
