Black
The grind has started in a way that I did not expect. I have had a couple of rejections from companies and a regional council for supporting us in making 'Nowhere to Love' - the strangest one being the rejection from Thames-Coromandel Regional Council. The guy I was talking to did not even seem remotely interested in listening to what I was saying and he had his answer ready even before I had asked the question. That was bizarre considering the fact that he was into public relations - i didn't see much of those skills. This is in complete opposite behaviour to Auckland City Council and North Shore City Council, who were fantastic when we were trying to sort out locations for 'Memories' - they never ever gave us a single chance to complain even though we were independent film makers making a movie without any money. I am having thoughts about wanting to shoot in Coromandel, especially when the regional council doesn't seem too keen on helping independent film makers or even seeing the opportunity in promoting their area to a worldwide audience. I guess what happens, happens for a good reason and what doesn't happen is because of an even better reason.I just finished watching 'BLACK' - a movie by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and it is a fantastic movie. It is unlike any bollywood film and I was crying for almost 30% of the movie's 2 hour running time (maybe I am going soft). The cinematography is stunning and definitely takes your breath away with the compositions and the subdued colours. The best thing about the movie is that there are no typical song and dance sequences, which you find in a typical bollywood movie.
Rani Mukherjee as Michelle McNally
The acting was fantastic and the first hour simply flies away. The first few minutes were hard to watch because of over the top acting by Amitabh Bachchan but he soon settles down into a very subtle and controlled performance and it was probably the best performance I have seen from him in a long long time. The performances from each and every person in the movie is fascinating and for better part of the movie the pacing is fantastic. The child actor who plays Michelle McNally was exceptional and so was Rani Mukherjee as the adult Michelle. The movie does slow down a bit in the middle but the story keeps on rolling. The movie is a huge leap for bollywood films and hopefully it's commercial success will open up the audience to different kinds of movies. BLACK is now one of my favorite hindi movies. Incase you are tempted to buy the movie - you can buy it from amazon.com - HERE. I would highly recommend the movie to anyone and everyone wanting to see good cinema.
I might go and see 'Night Watch', a russian blockbuster in a couple of hours if I am still in the mood for it. I will take leave for now but before I go here a couple of pics from the holiday trip.
Lance at Auckland airport
A view of Hong Kong that one misses - floating houses amongst high rises
A moment of Hong Kong madness
Till later,
Amit
{Update: Back from watching 'Nightwatch' and I was thoroughly disappointed. It is all technical achievement and no heart whatsoever. Suffers from story structural problems combined with editing rhythm miscues. It has some funny lines though.}
posted by Amit @ 7:13 PM
2 Comments:
Will have to agree to disagree with you about Night Watch - Ben and I both thoroughly enjoyed it. Granted, there wasn't any heart in the film, but it isn't a film about heart - it's a film about light/dark and good/evil and how very little practical difference there is between the two sides (I ended up comparing it to political parties - they are different ends of the spectrum, but they're all politicians).
Also interesting to note that it's the first of a trilogy, so hopefully the enmeshed complications will grow.
Was great to see you, though!
Yeah it was great bumping into you and Ben.
As far as the story for Night Watch goes - it is convoluted to say the least. The concept would have been cool a few years back but now it feels jaded {isn't Underworld a movie with a similar storyline except that good and bad is replaced by werewolves and vampires???}. Agreed that concept of good and evil is just a matter of perspective, that doesn't translate well in the film. But then that's my view.
Daywatch has been released and it treads the same path, great FX, weak story.
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