Movie review – “Om Shanti Om” (2007) ***

A Bollywood film to out-Bollywood Bollywood films, complete with a plot that revolves around filmmaking and a cast that features several Indian stars in cameos. It’s bright and cheerful with some terrific production numbers (often very poorly motivated plot wise), a good heart and a good knack for emotion. It goes on for almost three hours and the last bit – the Hamlet-esque “let’s send them mad” section – goes on far too long. Also some of the songs could have been better placed eg the title track really belongs at the end.

Movie review – “Bride and Prejudice” (2004) ***

An attempt to make a Bollywood movie that crossed over to the West. It would seem to be a half-success – I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was wrong, the casting isn’t quite 100% or something. Aishwarya Rai is very beautiful as Elizabeth Bennett – perhaps too beautiful, she lacks a little spark; Martin Henderson is handsome Darcy, though again without a twinkle. It is still bright, colourful and very entertaining, and Jane Austen adapts brilliantly to Indian culture. Gurinder Chadha likes a bare chest and the blokes here are pretty thoroughly exploited. The supporting cast are all fine and I didn’t mind the tunes.

Movie review – “Bend It Lie Beckham” (2002) ***1/2

One of the most sheerly likeable films of the decade, made with an infectious good nature that’s hard to beat. The two female leads are very sweet – Keira Knightly is inexperienced and a bit wonky but already has charisma. (I do remember one person who saw the film saying “what was that supermodel doing in the film?”) Jonathan Rhys Meyers has a role perfected suited to his talents, the non threatening leading man. (At the end he doesn’t get with the girl but plays cricket with her dad while she goes off with her best friend – is this a first generation immigrant girl’s fantasy?). I remember watching this scene in the cinema and when Rhy Meyers appeared in a coloured shirt there were these guttural grunts of appreciation from females around me. Bright music and colours. The script is a bit undeveloped here and there with probably a few too many subplots based on people being gay and an over-rushed finale but you’re having such a good time watching it that it hardly matters. Love the extraneous detour to Germany.

Movie review - "Lagaan" (2001) ****

Bollywood movies really are the modern day equivalent to 60s beach party films - wholesome, predictable musicals that are a lot of fun. Curiously, both genres place a lot of emphasis on the group, though they have heroes. This goes for three and a half hours though it didn't need to be. It has a strong Syd Field plot, with its set up, hero, overcoming obstacles, complications etc. The hero has a great intro scene trying tosave deer from hunting Britishers; the baddy gets to show how evil he is forcing a vegetarian Raja to eat meat and also killing a bunny rabbit.Although the baddy is really evil his sister is nice - she falls in love with the Indian and teaches him cricket. Jolly good. And the head Britishers aren't bad, even though many of the Indian cricket team are very anti-British (the British umpires make several decisions in favour of the Indians - there's no implication of bias).
What's nicest about the movie is its sense of inclusion - the Indian team comprises of a crazy fortune teller (the most Aussie of the cricketers, like a cross between Rod Hogg, Dennis Lille and Ian Callen - I love his send offs of the British players), an older doctor, a Muslim, a combative fast bowler, and most touching of all an untouchable with a withered arm who is a hopeless batter and fielder but an at times unplayable spin bowler(what makes it especially moving is that there was a player like that,Chandra - only I don't think he was an untouchable).
The final cricket game is a joy, very gripping, and shows how well cricket adapts to cinema - there is sledging, a beamer, dropped catches, fours and sixes,a dramatic last wicket stand, a runner (NB who is Mankadded and because he's a small boy I think we're supposed to feel sorry for him - but he deserved it, really, he was out of his crease a long way, its cheating),he's and hitting a six off the last ball. Entertaining tunes and production numbers.

Movie review - "Bride and Prejudice" (2005) **1/2

The world of Jane Austen adapts comfortably to Indian society - no kissing, and lots of class division, with mum worried about marrying off her three daughters. It's bright and colourful and a bit dim with some not very memorable songs - the lead girls are all stunners and it is good natured with a lot of Austen's dark stuff removed (even the idiot sister comes to realise the bad man is bad by the end). All the shots of the male torsos here indicate the "female gaze" from its director.