MONEY HEIST - PART 4 MOVIE REVIEW CLICK TO RATE THE MOVIE

With loads of spine-chilling action, some genius writing and solid performances, Money Heist (La Casa de Papel in Spanish) soon became one of the most talked-about series, all over the world. The Spanish series debuted on Netflix in 2017 with an alternative English dubbed version available for subscribers to access. Yet, people mostly stuck to the Spanish version (with English subtitles) for its authenticity. After the roaring success of the first part, which was about a group of armed robbers taking control of the Royal Mint of Spain, the makers followed up with a fitting second part that ended with the group not only successfully robbing the bank but also developing a family-like bond within themselves. The intense emotions that flowed in-between all the abduction, gunfire, beef with the authorities and bloodshed, was what had its global audience hooked.

In part 3, the gang had bigger ideas. Lead by the Professor, the highly talented team of robbers in a red jumper-suit and Dalí masks were not after printed currency, but gold reserves from the humongous Bank of Spain. This begins a couple of years after their first heist, when all the characters, who assume names of popular cities, are living their exotic lives in different parts of the world. They are reunited by the Professor, who picks up his deceased brother Berlin's plan to steal 90 tons of gold bars by melting them into grains.

This time around, they're also aided by Bogotá, Palermo and Marseille, who are added strength to the team. They follow their existing tricks along with some intelligent planning, enter the Bank of Spain, take hostages and also successfully begin their work. But circumstances have it that by the end of part 3, Raquel a.k.a Lisbon is taken into police custody and another dynamic member Nairobi is tricked and shot in her ribs. Part 4 is all about bringing back Lisbon, saving the life of Nairobi, and managing their internal affairs. All of this, while still keeping their target in mind.

Right from part 1, the story-telling is non-linear, with cuts going back to their days in hiding, while they meticulously planned their moves. The show runs on a narration by Tokyo, who is one of the most loved and zestful characters on the show. Alicia Sierra, the assigned officer is determined to get the thieves running for their lives and she doesn't abide by the rules and protocols. This character certainly comes off as annoying and dangerous for her sarcastic yet genius moves in turning the table against the robbers. To add to the conflict, the bank's chief security and an almost invincible Gandia breaks from his chains to cause the gang one of its greatest problems. Meanwhile, the emotional and ego conflicts within the gang are also at an all-time high.

Everything seems to work fine, and the writers try to keep the adrenaline gushing throughout. But what served as a beautiful link between the emotional quotient of the show through the first few parts is probably what doesn't work in this part. Yes, the flashback cuts that take us through the reasoning behind each emotional conflict makes the intensity of the action portions very inconsistent. One might feel that this part seems quite elongated and that the core content could have been dealt with in fewer episodes and that they could have dived right into the action that takes place in the present day. Moreover, the first couple of parts seemed more time-bound and that kept the viewers on the edge of their seats. This time, though, that aspect seems to have been overlooked by the writers and the sense of urgency is missing.

On the technical front, Money Heist is a show to take cues from. The usage of the background score, the shot compositions and sound design are top-notch. One can barely complain about technical issues. Having said that, cinematic liberty plays a major role in this series and logic takes a backseat to provide some nerve-wracking action. The writers have been proving time and again that they can furnish brilliant payoffs and hopefully, the next part guarantees that. Coming to the performances, every character is at the top of their game. Since we're almost manipulated by the writers to root for the Professor, his solid performance is worthy of a mention. Apart from him, Nairobi, Tokyo, Rio, and almost every other character finds space to touch our hearts.

In part 4, we are thrown with subtle messages about the importance of mental health and we have characters dealing with trauma. This is depicted with a lot of heart. We have a woman who is emotionally manipulated and sexually assaulted, and how a group of hostages stand up against the criminality of the act is very heartwarming to watch. The power of women in Money Heist is very strong. The writers have sketched some unforgettable characters while we have many unforgivable characters to join the party too.

Ending on a high, there is a promise for a part 5 that is soon to come. Let's hope that this time, the makers get to the point faster, giving us the racy feel of the first couple of parts.