Hotel Mumbai revisits the 2008 terror attacks that ripped across the heart of India. But, in his directorial debut, Anthony Maras shows the horror through the eyes of the terrorists as well as their victims, including those who happened to be staying at – or working in – the luxurious Taj Hotel on that fateful day.
We’re first introduced to the group of terrorists as they arrive in Mumbai on a rubber dinghy, getting their instructions from an unseen presence, before quickly splitting up and jumping in taxis, spreading out across the city to begin their reign of terror.
The camera then pans to the hotel staff preparing for the day ahead, unaware of what is waiting for them. Waiter Arjun (Dev Patel) kisses goodbye to his young family, and quickly falls foul of head chef Hemant Oberoi (Anupam Kher) over a uniform debate. Hemant sets the tone for the rest of the staff – and the film itself – constantly reminding everyone that ‘guests are God’. Those God-like guests include seemingly slimy Russian businessman Vasili (Jason Isaacs), and Zahra (Nazanin Boniadi) and David (Armie Hammer), along with their newborn baby and nanny Sally (Tilda Cobham-Hervey).
It doesn’t take long for the attacks to begin, with two gunmen leaving a slew of bodies in a busy train station. But at the Taj it is business as usual. Even after a shooting in a nearby café, staff and guests are seemingly unaware of the drama – until the terrorists walk right through the hotel doors.
From then on it’s a three-day fight to stay alive, with the gunmen running rampant around the property, shooting anyone they come into contact with. Hemant rounds up (most of) the kitchen crew who choose to stay, and he heroically vows to keep as many guests safe as possible.
There are harrowing moments where we see just how far the staff are willing to lay their own lives on the line to ensure the safety of their guests. And a scene where the nanny has to hide a newborn baby from the terrorists in a hotel suite is almost hard to watch.
It’s an uncomfortable look at terrorism for many reasons, with the action intertwined with real-life footage from the attack. Anthony manages to show the terrorists as desperate, impoverished young killers, without humanising them to a point, and steers totally clear of the white saviour trope, with Arnie Hammer in a supporting role. There are moments you will jump out of your skin at, and scenes you will stifle a laugh through – mostly thanks to Jason.
However, others come off as slightly more clunky. An attempt to broach racism between Arjun and a stuffy hotel guest, when he is forced to quell her fears over his turban, ends up feeling patronising. And a movie which is billed as championing the bravery of the hotel staff inevitably falls victim to the antics of action hero films we’ve all seen countless times before.
At some points along the way, we lose sight of the story’s true heroes.
Hotel Mumbai is released in UK cinemas, and on Sky Cinema, on 27 September.
Got a showbiz story?
If you’ve got a story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk Entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: The Chase’s Paul Sinha channels inner Madonna as co-star Jenny Ryan joins Celebrity X Factor
