Before the last stretch in movies like The Bluff, one almost expects someone to utter the done-to-death line about feeling death in the air. Given that one is watching an action film about pirates set in 1846, this statement seems as clichéd as it is redundant, because by then a good number of body bags have already piled up.

Here, one person chopping up the bad guys is Ercell Borden (Priyanka Chopra-Jonas), the seemingly pedestrian wife of a fishing ship’s captain (Ismael Cruz Córdova), who walks around wearing clothes more appropriate for a supermodel (no one else on her island is nearly as stylishly dressed). Irrespective of her fashion sense, and despite her preference for the mundane, she is a killer — and not just in terms of looks.

Ercell was once the notorious pirate captain Bloody Mary, the cohort, protégé and former lover of Captain Francisco Connor (Karl Urban). In what we assume was a conflicted relationship — thanks to snippets of flashbacks — Bloody Mary escapes with Connor’s gold after stabbing him for good measure.

By the time Connor finds her, she has nearly forgotten her bad old days and is content caring for her disabled teenage son (Vedanten Naidoo) and her young, titillating sister-in-law (Safia Oakley-Green). However, as the pirates invading her house quickly learn, knives, daggers, guns and bombs are barely a stretch of the hand away for Ercell.

The Bluff isn’t as half-bad as one would think, which means it’s not half-good either

I’d been hearing a lot of bad things about The Bluff, and the trailer didn’t inspire much confidence either. However, the movie isn’t half-bad — meaning it’s not half-good either.

The screenplay, by director and co-writer Frank E. Flowers and co-writer Joe Ballarini, was once a hot property that Netflix won at auction in 2021. Initially developed as a Zoe Saldaña vehicle, by 2024, it moved to Amazon MGM Studios, where Chopra-Jonas replaced Saldaña as the lead and also stepped in as a producer. The producing roster also includes Anthony Russo and Joe Russo — of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame fame — who had last produced Citadel, another high-profile Chopra-Jonas action project for Amazon.

Given the backstory and star power, one would assume the movie to be a spectacle worthy of your monthly subscription cost. Screenplay-wise, one would agree — it doesn’t let up. However, direction-wise, the movie needs to up its game. Flowers directs with an unsure hand, forcing his actors to take the lead.

Cinematographically, he often half-pursues shots that could’ve turned out good. Because of this, the editing starts feeling rough and janky at times — though it’s not as bad as most action films; just unpolished. The sound, clumped together and badly mixed, is a major let-down.

Acting-wise, Chopra-Jonas takes a while to settle into the role — her accent and delivery still leave a lot to be desired — so she lets her facial expressions do the heavy lifting. In comparison, her action training pays off in spades.

The Bluff’s main draw is Urban. Adding a touch of Irish flair to his accent, he is deliberately given solo hero shots (ie centre frame, commanding frames) as he delivers his lines with precision. The man does not disappoint, keeping The Bluff from turning into the usual bad fluff one sees on streaming platforms.

Watch it when you have nothing to do, or simply want to watch a forgettable action movie.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, The Bluff is rated R for bloody violence (it has no nudity). But then, what does one expect from a revenge-action film?

The writer is one of Icon’s film reviewers

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 15th, 2026

Move Over, Ranveer Singh

Actor Hammad Shoaib has been praised for his performances in several TV serials. However, he recently sparked discussions among his fans and colleagues due to his resemblance to Bollywood A-lister Ranveer Singh. In response, Hammad S said that, while Ranveer S is a great actor and a brilliant performer, he does not aspire to be like him, because he himself is talented enough and wants to carve his own individual identity. Fair enough. But hold on. Is Ranveer S a great actor? You lost us there…

Reel Boost

To boost Pakistan’s film industry, the Punjab Film Fund (established by the Government of Punjab and led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb) has released the first tranche of 15 million rupees of a 30 million rupees production grant for filmmakers. As per the structural plan, the funds will be given in three stages to approved filmmakers: the first tranche (50 percent) will be given upon signing agreements; the second (30 percent) will be issued after principal photography and the first edit; the third (20 percent) will be released after censor certification and compliance submission. This is good news, especially since the fund was announced way back in 2023. Let’s hope cinema and not just filmmakers will benefit from the opportunity.

The Scarpetta Sisterhood

Hollywood heavyweights Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis seem to be becoming close friends after portraying sisters in the Amazon Prime series Scarpetta. Mind you, it’s not just acting that’s strengthening the bond between them. Jamie LC says, “We are both the mothers of daughters. We share that we both have a respect and a professional appreciation for the fact that we get this life, that we get to do this job, and from that comes responsibility.” Meanwhile, Nicole K gushed, “I don’t think there’s anyone in this industry that does not bond with Jamie Lee. There’s nobody who doesn’t go, ‘Oh yeah, Jamie Lee Curtis — she’s one of my best friends.’ She’s capable of that.” Clearly, nothing compares to sisterhood.

Stereotypical Saheefa

Actress and model Saheefa Jabbar Khattak recently put out an over-the-top video of herself having a meltdown while driving. She was wiping tears and crying about people leaving negative reviews about her restaurants. For those not in the know, she recently opened two restaurants in Lahore and, during the launch of one of them, she posted on Instagram that she was looking for staff to run her business but that she prefers to hire Pakhtuns because they are “zubaan ke pakkay” [true to their word]. Not only that, she also said that she no longer trusts members of the Punjabi and Urdu-speaking communities. Talk about self-sabotage! Unsurprisingly, this comment received harsh criticism from netizens who claimed that she was projecting stereotypes and prejudice. We hope an apology is forthcoming.

Stranded in the UAE

The war in the Middle East is creating all sorts of difficulties for people from all walks of life, including showbiz celebs. As a sizeable number of Indian actresses live in Dubai (or go there often for a variety of reasons), Iran’s bombing of the UAE caused some of them to be stranded in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. For example, Nargis Fakhri, Sonal Chauhan and Esha Gupta were forced to stay on in the UAE due to the war. They expressed concern about the situation and, at the same time, praised the UAE government for taking care of people who were stuck at the airport. However, they did not comment on their own (Indian) government. Perhaps that’s because they didn’t have anything positive to say on that account?

Speaking Out

Several Hollywood stars are, as they should be, speaking out against the war that Israel and the US have initiated on Iran. Jane Fonda, John Cusack and Rosie O’Donnell are among them. Mark Ruffalo, who has been courageously outspoken about the genocide in Gaza, has also commented on the subject, referring to an article about Donald Trump’s adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, pointing out, “He was sent to make sure we went to war.” Now that’s exactly how responsible artists around the world should behave. Wake up, Bollywood!

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 15th, 2026

THE WEEK THAT WAS

Tum Larrkay Bhi Naa | Hum TV, Daily 7.00pm

A contemporary script from the king of social satire, Faseeh Bari Khan, Tum Larrkay Bhi Naa explores the lives of two generations.

Faiza Hasan and Vaneeza Ahmed play two sisters with strikingly different personalities and parenting styles, while their children lead parallel lives under their noses, and navigate break-ups and make-ups. At the centre of the serial are Badrika (Aina Asif) and Zoyan (Ali Dayan), whose love life cannot run smoothly due to the latter’s immaturity.

Khan is known for writing about strong women who follow their whims and earn their way, unlike the traditional, dependent ‘good girl’ clichés we usually see on screens, and this drama is no exception. In contrast, all the men are weak and ineffectual, while the younger generation lacks ambition and is only interested in their love lives. Furthermore, there is a lot of subtle humour and plenty of quiet digs at the drama industry in the drama, which regular viewers of Pakistani serials will pick up on. Yasir Nawaz’s direction keeps the show moving at a brisk pace, and the serial showcases a lot of great talent from the younger cast.

Ishq Mein Tere Sadqay | Geo TV, Daily 9.00pm

Zulfikar Shah’s (Muneeb Butt) obsession with Noor (Anika Zulfikar) results in her being an easy target for her enemies, who begin to question her moral character. In the meantime, Salar (Ali Abbas), who was forced to marry her, finally breaks off their on-paper relationship.

After she is humiliated by Salar’s new wife, Noor runs away to avoid pain and constant rejections, only to be found by the stalkerish Zulfikar. When her aunt, her only protector, realises Noor can never be safe at her home, she pushes Noor to marry Zulfikar, who promises to always protect and honour the orphaned Noor. However, life is never easy for this Cinderella, and she faces rejection yet again, this time from Zulfikar’s scheming father, a corrupt businessman.

This masala-style soap serial is a big hit and bucks the trend of family comedies and clean-cut romances that are usually aired — and do well — during Ramazan.

Despite the melodrama, black-and-white characterisations and clichés, the script has an ethical compass that highlights the hero’s extreme behaviour. Noor may be poor and “mazloom” [helpless], but even she stands her ground against the man who forced her into marriage. Muneeb Butt and Anika Zulfikar make an unlikely couple but have won over many viewers.

Fasaana Mart Ka | Green Entertainment, Fri-Sun 9.00pm

Despite a reasonable script and some entertaining performances, this series has failed to catch the eye of the masses, because of the almost depressing focus on its sponsors.

The story centres on a group of retail employees at an Imtiaz Supermarket outlet in Karachi; the glaring artificial lighting and the fact that almost all the action is confined to the store feel claustrophobic. Aena Khan and Shuja Asad make a cute couple, and the quiet longing between the older pair of Faryal Mehmood and Omair Rana is endearing. What is missing are the domestic and personal lives of the staff that Pakistani audiences are used to.

The direction, pace of the show and the whole concept are too slow to create any attachment among viewers, especially during the busy Ramazan season. However, there are strong chances that fans of Korean-style dramas (which often focus exclusively on the protagonists’ professional lives) will tune in.

What To Watch Out For (Or Not)

Sirf Shabana | Hum TV, Coming soon

A thought-provoking new series from the pen of Sanam Mehdi, directed by Aabis Raza, tells the story of a young woman who survives without her father, who abandoned her. The serial features Sohai Ali Abro and Durrab Khalil as a poet.

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 15th, 2026