Friday, September 12, 2008

tahaan vs padre neustro

it's like lycra - either you have it or you don't!...and we, indians definitely don't.

tahaan- thin plodding plot beautifully shot with fantastic performances by the boy, anupam kher and sarika. bose, on the other hand, should be banned. however hard he may think he tries, he cannot act and will remain as stuck up as frozen carrot. but above all, i was most disappointed with sivan's handling of the plot. didn't expect him to succumb to using the boy for some specious hair-brained terror act. showcasing kashmir in it's rugged beauty coupled with taufiq's music distanced me even further n left me cold (of course, 13 people in a freezing multiplex didn't help either;) i guess i keep going back to sivan only because of his brilliant "halo"...but then, that's what first films are all about - the passion, the exacting detail and control...no "cutting away" to beauty shots coz your plot lacks depth.

padre neustro had my heartbeat racing from the opening minute!...a lil like the way cidade de deus opens but there ended the comfort. such control, crisp succinct riveting dialogue, intimate in-your-face camera filmed at the just the threshold of exposure, your pupils dilated opening up every pore of experience and a sound track that melded atmospheric sounds brilliantly with music to heighten that unsettling edgy feeling...and this continued till the very end, by which time you let out this huge phew and go, 'fuckkk!' ...chris zaalaa - all of 35, had us wrapped firmly around his lil finger with this story of migration n identity. not for a second does he show you new york as the big apple...the big american dream. you are in that frame...face to face with each character, twisting at every turn, reeling n being repulsed by the city's underbelly...and what performances!...paola mendonza in particular.

kya hoga apun logo ka? mera toh, kuch nahi...with my penchant for the beautiful, glossing over all that is uncomfortable. my challenge to myself as i get back to my film...

6 comments:

Deepshikha said...

Havent watched padre neustro, but share similar views on Tahaan.
I think Shivans cinematography was very good -- they way he captured the present day state of kashmir (savaged lands, broken and deserted houses, the sad and cold feel of the place -- instead of showing the traditional all-happy and colorful valley like it has been always shown in bollywood movies from the time of silsila to mission kashmir) was brilliant and an achievement by itself, however, like you said, the missing depth in the plot ruined the show.. The mission of getting back the donkey by the 8 yr old went a little too far i think. I wish Victor was there a little longer, and since I am smitten by Rahul Bose, I will like him even if the whole world doesnt ;)

ajay noronha said...

ooofph you women and your love for bose!!

Anarchytect said...

will never ever figure out the rahul bose thing.i dont think the man can act to save his life but he gets away by pretending he is sooo profound and intellectual and talented. and since so many people seem to fall for his act- he must be a pretty good actor- except not in his films.
and i am keeping away from tahaan because i am afraid i'd find it too cloyingly cute.
is that a reasonable assumption?

ajay noronha said...

i dunno about cute!....but keep away, i guess :) n about bose - less said better!!

Mukul said...

oh man, i have never understood the bose thing with women. he is an awful actor, pompous and smug. and for me the ultimate unbearable combo would have been bose and kareena in chameli!

i'm going nowhere near tahaan.

ajay noronha said...

hahaha! don't don't!...welcome back!