Filmy Fool | Films, Series, Books & more
Reviews and Opinions
Filmy Fool | Films, Series, Books & more
Reviews and Opinions
Nothing pathbreaking here which was not surprising. I went in to have a good time but that was delivered in very small doses, and rather sporadically. There isn’t much happening to keep you invested and there is no deep dive into the characters. Whatever is shown is from a consistent level of depth, occasionally surfacing from the shallow to crack some jokes. ...
Jackie Shroff has always intrigued me. Since the first time I saw him in Ram Lakhan (1988), I was in awe of his unconventional demeanour and body language. His screen presence was so overpowering that one could not look at anyone else while he was in the frame. Jackie came from a modest background. Born as Jai Kishan Kakubhai Shroff, he left school and did odd jobs before getting spotted by an ad-agency executive. That started his journey into modelling and subsequently led to his debut film Swami Dada (1982) where he had an uncredited role. Jackie's big break came in 1983 with Subhash Ghai's Hero. ...
I really wanted to watch this film since I saw the trailer. Not because of the star-cast (which is no doubt impressive) but because I really wanted to see how the subject of homosexuality will be handled in this new era of Hindi Cinema. I sincerely believe we have moved far ahead of the mockery that was shown in Dostana. Unfortunately, when it comes to Ek Ladki Ko Dekha..., the idea of creating a new-age romance that transcends boundaries was possibly limited to the creator's vision. It never gets translated into the actual film. So Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga is a massive opportunity gone lost. It will only be a spot even when it had the opportunity to paint the entire canvas, for generations to admire. ...
I don’t wanna get into the habit of pulling down the expectation of everyone but i don’t even wanna praise something just because its got an Oscar nomination. Having said that Slumdog by no means is a bad film. In fact its a superb film, one that takes you on a ride which is fast, crisp and exhilarating. The cast is fantastic specially the small kid who plays Jamal(junior most) along with Dev Patel and Anil Kapoor who plays the two faced host with perfection. Even the others like Irfaan Khan and Saurabh Shukla fit in very well. Also there are some scenes that will stay with you forever like the young Jamal running covered in shit to take the Big B’s autograph or the eye popping beggar scene followed by a heart wrenching chase.
However the most fantastic thing about the move is its screenplay which moves between present and past with such ease and purpose. Simon Beaufoy surely deserves the Oscar nomination and so does Chris Dickens the editor of the film for such sharp work.
Also if there is something else that is Oscar worthy it is the score by A.R. Rahman which complements the happenings of the movie phenomenally well, be it O…. Saya, Paper Planes or even Jai Ho. Its funky, peppy and very apt. A special mention for the brilliant cinematography (Oscar nominated) by Anthony Dod Mantle who captures the slum streets and brothels with utmost honesty.
So now the big question, Oscar? No. Not now, not ever. The only reason that it has reached such heights is because apart from being a good film it is directed by Danny Boyle and not Ashutosh Gowarikar or Rakesh Om Praksah Mehra. I see no reason why Slumdog can be nominated and Taare Zameen Par, Rang De Basanti and Lage Raho… can’t be.
One very important point. There is a scene where a driver beats up Jamal Junior for stealing something and Jamal tells the American couple that this is what real India is, and the American Couple say ” We will show you what real America is like” and hand over some cash. What does Danny want to prove here? That we Indians only know how to beat up and don’t have feelings? Or that Americans are so better of than Indians when it comes to forgiving someone? I really don’t know but i sure would like to ask him that. ...