Twenty Five years later, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Parinda has returned as Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Broken Horses, with setting in cowboy state Texas near Mexico border instead of Mumbai’s mean streets.
‘Somewhere near the Mexico border’, a sheriff is killed while admiring how good a shot his elder son Buddy. The younger one, Jacky, is more inclined towards violin than guns, and is safely at school at the time. Soon after the funeral, Buddy is paid a visit at the diner where he works by Julius Hench (D’Onofrio), who tells him that ‘a bad man’ killed his father and so he should take revenge. So while Jacky heads for New York and the Philharmonic Orchestra, Buddy grows up to be the henchman of Hench. Something keeps Jacky away from his hometown, and while you may think the reason is clear, apparently the younger one has no clue what his elder brother, who can’t keep no secrets, does. Jacky finds a pretty Italian girl to marry, and Buddy calls him home to give him his wedding gift. Soon enough, for reasons that remain unconvincing. D’Onofrio, modelled after Nana Patekar, is as ruthless and convinced of his own brand of justice. The role of Buddy was played admirably by Chris Marquette. As the brother who has been shouldering the family bravely but is also acutely aware of his own shortcomings.
Overall, Broken Horses was broken at many levels leaving loose ends, missing chemistry between characters and it’s definitely not what one expects from the seasoned maker of Parinda and one who gave such blockbuster hits like 3 idiot and PK. It was an okay attempt made to brake into Hollywood market by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.
