sudheerapte Reviews

Lakshya (2004)

Good story, well told

[10/10 · 20 June 2004]

Enjoyable, good story, well told. Farhan Akhtar has done it again, after his first movie Dil Chahta Hai.

Hrithik Roshan's character grows up from being a confused young lad to a man with a mission. Shades of An Officer and a Gentleman, Guns of Navarone, and a little of Saving Private Ryan.

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have created more of their world music, and it rocks. The first two songs were fabulous; the other songs should be skipped, I thought.

As in Dil Chahta Hai, the parents are all ultra-supportive. They also dress and decorate in expensive nouveau handlooms, rattan furniture, slip covers, etc. Boston Brahmin did a good review.

Very nice and straightforward; none of the Hindu Family Values reactionary material that Bollywood routinely churns out.

Midnight Run (1988)

An American classic

[10/10 · 13 March 2003]

This is the most enjoyable movie I have ever seen: hilarious situations, unforgettable lines, car chases, characters you care for, and even a dramatic scene that makes me cry every time. A real American classic: call it a road movie, action comedy, buddy film, whatever---it's a beautiful script, professionally executed. What a country, huh? What a country!

My friends and I rented this movie to celebrate a reunion after 12 years, and we were rolling with laughter in five minutes. Don't watch the TV version if it's got the f-words edited out---they are very important to the experience.

I can't believe: (a) this movie didn't get an Oscar, (b) it's not well known even in the U.S., and (c) there's no DVD version available any more. I want to buy it! Why don't they want to sell it???

Bollywood/Hollywood (2002)

Strained and long, but thanks for trying

[6/10 · 21 February 2003]

Nice attempt at a combination of Bollywood *and* Hollywood spoof, plus gentle fun being poked at the Indian-Canadian community. But too amateurish a production, and TOO LONG! After introducing the characters, the story drags and drags till you lose interest.

The silent subtitles are sometimes funny ("Non-veg scene. What to do?") but mostly just annoying and trying too hard. Similarly, uneven quality and terrible delivery by the young characters makes the dialogue embarrassing.

The biggest problem is the movie's own utterly predictable storyline. Just because it's spoofing Pretty Woman and numerous Bollywood movies doesn't mean its own story has to be such a cliche.

I gave it a 6 out of 10 for trying, but I think I was being too generous.

Junoon (1979)

Haunting, unforgettable

[10/10 · 25 January 2003]

I've seen this movie twice, and liked it even better the second time. Right from the title scene of the crazy-looking "pir", the atmosphere created is gripping and unforgettable.

The events of 1857 were shocking in their violence, and neither the British nor the rebels showed themselves to be very honorable. The word "junoon" (obsession) connotes a tinge of madness, and that kind of madness is a very appropriate way to view the period. The "love story" is also suffused with the same out-of-control emotion. (Also, only a crazy man would want to leave Shabana Azmi for another woman, even one as gorgeous as the young Nafisa Ali!) Shyam Benegal has made a masterpiece that captures that feeling visually.

Now, if only they would convert this film to DVD, I would buy it in a second.

"That Pathan, he's looking at me."

Road (I) (2002)

What a waste

[1/10 · 6 November 2002]

The Ram Gopal Varma name in the credits sets up expectations that are left unsatisfied.

The script and characters are all needlessly unrealistic. For example, Arvind and Lakshmi (Oberoi and Mali) live in a vacuum, set off on a road trip to nowhere in their SUV with a pack of biscuits, and don't display much emotion, either toward one another or toward anything else. It's hard to identify with either of these characters. The scenery is out of the world, too: petrol pumps spring up from nowhere next to lonely stretches of desert highway as if the landscape were the western United States.

Great locations, photography, and sound fail to dress up this dog. I can't believe at the time of posting this comment on IMDB that seventeen people have voted an average of 7.4!

Simhasan (1979)

Hard-hitting tale of political corruption

[22 August 2002]

Simhasan ("throne") was a gem of a movie set in the seventies in Maharashtra, against the backdrop of a political struggle for Chief Ministership. The story is told through the eyes of a journalist who witnesses the now-cliche nexus between politicians and criminals. The black-and-white treatment made the realism even more believable. The dialog was also very realistic: famous line: aamchya maage adusashta ahet, adusashta -- sixty-eight!

Alai Payuthey (2000)

Holds your attention to the end

[10/10 · 15 July 2002]

Many friends recommended this movie by Mani Ratnam. I had been impressed by the Hindi Dil Se (1998) by this director, so even though I don't know a word of Tamil, I rented the DVD since it has English subtitles.

I was not disappointed! The dialogue is very natural, and you start to identify with the young couple and the people around them. The location shooting is also vintage Mani Ratnam.

The DVD by Aingharan U.K. is superb---much better than most Indian DVDs, and comparable to the DVD of Dil Se by DEI. The colorful song sequences can be enjoyed by themselves.

Monsoon Wedding (2001)

Refreshing and authentic

[10/10 · 13 March 2002]

I have attended Punjabi weddings in Delhi, and I can vouch for the authenticity of Monsoon Wedding.

This is a very interesting movie: many of my Indian friends were confused because they were expecting usual Indian art-house fare. Many of my American friends liked it, but they didn't really get many of the humor and situations (nor did many film critics). For example, it's incongruous that Dubey the contractor would even try to put up a white tent, and then try to cover it up as a "modern style, very popular". The color wasn't just wrong---it's very inauspicious for a Hindu wedding to use white fabric, at least, a Punjabi Hindu wedding. Someone of the father's generation would simply never allow it.

I think this is Mira Nair's best film yet. I didn't really like her previous films. Very enjoyable!