tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post4326285314890307481..comments2024-03-27T14:57:37.031+05:30Comments on Jabberwock: Some thoughts on ShanghaiJabberwockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-5032287291627081562015-01-23T10:36:13.146+05:302015-01-23T10:36:13.146+05:30I always feel like Emraan Hashmi is a dark horse o...I always feel like Emraan Hashmi is a dark horse of bollywood. If you watch his movies than you will realize that he carried whole and every movie on his shoulder. <br /><br />He just amazing in the realistic roles and we love him for that.<br /><br />My Top 10 of him >>> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HKSXwVDlQI" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HKSXwVDlQI</a>Sushanthttp://actressheight.tumblr.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-84896509091230040852014-09-28T06:53:11.681+05:302014-09-28T06:53:11.681+05:30I am very late to this discussion...having just wa...I am very late to this discussion...having just watched the film. Loved your post, Jai. <br /><br />This is my first Abhay Deol film and, as a TamBram, I loved how he nailed the TamBram IAS officer in every way. After all the "aiyyo rama" annoying filmi caricatures of my childhood, his accent and body language was spot on, and even the Tamil he mumbles to his mom when watching the dance was perfect. Bravura casting! I will have to look for more of this guy's films.<br /><br />And Farouque Shaikh- what an actor. We lost him way too soon.<br /><br />I have to refute snickersnee now- DBs college was NID, about as far removed from a path to the IAS as you can possibly get! Though lots of NIDians end up not practicing design, rescue me from bizarro universe if someone actually ended up in the IAS. :)Deepahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16219562673830710247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-23854621473194006932012-12-07T18:23:21.786+05:302012-12-07T18:23:21.786+05:30Hye... Awesome post as always. But it is strange t...Hye... Awesome post as always. But it is strange tht no one mentions Prosenjit's activist character who "works" for the people here but he himself lives in a foreign country. Abhineshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-74013939300869761732012-06-19T21:50:39.103+05:302012-06-19T21:50:39.103+05:30I guess posts like this make it such easy work for...I guess posts like this make it such easy work for the uninitiated to understand cinematic details and its particular lingo. Loved the post, I too agree with most of what you have said. But after reading this, I feel I would love to see this a couple more times to read more deeply. I was planning on writing a review, but I think you have done such a nice job of it.Sen.sushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02754831379193939721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-5622127635100341882012-06-15T20:54:14.706+05:302012-06-15T20:54:14.706+05:30I wasn't trying to be cool. Sorry if it came o...I wasn't trying to be cool. Sorry if it came off that way. <br /><br />Actually, no, I'm not sorry. Did you even <i> notice </i> I put the word cooler in scare quotes? Did it signify anything? <br /><br />The point is simple: we allow ourselves to be distracted by things that are only tangentially important. There's nothing "wrong" about this. But you got to accept it, or argue against it. (In a sense, even the comment I posted earlier is an example of this.)<br /><br />Instead, you launch a personal attack, whereas I was only trying to point out a feature of an <i> argument </i>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-37087528937928939562012-06-15T01:35:21.734+05:302012-06-15T01:35:21.734+05:30Re: why a tamil officer...apparently the character...Re: why a tamil officer...apparently the character is also loosely based on someone (a tam guy who went on to become an IAS officer) DB knew in college.<br /><br />I thought the movie was rather evocative and nuanced, with the cast putting in some superb performances. But I did think he was ultimately more interested in making the film 'look' good and added a lot of directorial touches to bring that out. And also, as Bikas Mishra has pointed out at Dear Cinema, the character of Dr. Ahmedi is very sketchily drawn. The fact that he lives abroad, is famous because of his book in a village like Bharatnagar is a little difficult to believe. <br /><br />Kalki's acting also seemed a bit like a deer caught in the headlights. Tillotama Shome is superb and like Emraan, plays a character whose approach and attitude are driven by human pathos and not just notions of good and evil.Jitterplatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08197998699285598664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-20604803588166879732012-06-14T19:22:38.114+05:302012-06-14T19:22:38.114+05:30having just watched some 04/05 nadal-federer highl...having just watched some 04/05 nadal-federer highlights I'm going to retract the "'03 federer" comment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-67832619549909288202012-06-14T11:48:11.009+05:302012-06-14T11:48:11.009+05:30Just a few points:
1. The english speaking class s...Just a few points:<br />1. The english speaking class scene was a follow up on the comment Pritobash character makes to the mama that damle says learn some english and you can be manager in the election scene or something on those lines. Also it was to show that Damle has promised these people a lot of things (such as paying their fees, etc.) which he was in reality not doing.<br />2. The accent of Deol was spot on I think. It was not a caricature (which is usually the case in most commercial films). he came across as someone who is fluent with his Hindi, having worked in the bureaucracy for so long, and yet the Tamil accent slips in once in a while.<br />3. The use of shallow depth of field, which were jarring to the eye intentionally, was very effective in some scenes - added to the mood of the scene brilliantly.<br />4. Yes, I too felt Hashmi gave a very nuanced performance, which is very uncharacteristic of him. Especially in the early scenes.parthohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12142820696773038723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-55007369694593841862012-06-13T23:05:03.258+05:302012-06-13T23:05:03.258+05:30"What more do you greedy b******s want?!"..."What more do you greedy b******s want?!"<br /><br />How about one convincing win against Nadal on clay, in a best of five? Or not even that, how about just one match where he really lets his shots go and doesn't do the whole nerves-and-shanking-and-sighing and AHHHHH FOREHAND DROPSHOT GAAAAAHHH<br /><br />wouldn't care if he lost (he probably would), I just want one match like that. what 2003 federer would have played like against nadal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-3401482466110714932012-06-13T14:26:36.452+05:302012-06-13T14:26:36.452+05:30Pessimist Fool: watched it again, yes. Don't h...Pessimist Fool: watched it again, yes. Don't have the time for another post just now - later perhaps.Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-37526153960905352412012-06-13T12:44:13.530+05:302012-06-13T12:44:13.530+05:30@ Jai - Did you watch Shanghai again? Writing a lo...@ Jai - Did you watch Shanghai again? Writing a longer piece?Pessimist Foolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06057153008708242962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-49276649647266647862012-06-13T07:19:13.797+05:302012-06-13T07:19:13.797+05:30Great blog. I don't think the tennis discussio...Great blog. I don't think the tennis discussion went out of hand. Some people wanted to use it to advance a particular reading of the discussion - and that's it. You shouldn't let that stop you talking about the tennis. <br />On topic, I thought the treadmill scene was also a fantastic instance of bureaucratic subservience. Farooque Shaikh stops running to take a call from 'Madamji', before even pausing to catch breath. In that sense, while he is far above the power hierarchy, he is not entirely different from the minion holding water and fruit for him. <br />I loved the movie, though there were things here and there that jarred. Especially making Abhay Tamilian. But my husband pointed out that accents are not consistent - education and environment tend to change the way you speak, though you return to your accent now and then. By that argument, Abhay's accent in the film is not a problem. <br />I wish the film had explored Emraan's caste issue a bit more, though it would have been incidental to the main plot.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03007495939639770792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-66089220625853434372012-06-12T21:46:42.300+05:302012-06-12T21:46:42.300+05:30Okay, seriously let's end the tennis talk here...Okay, seriously let's end the tennis talk here. It only began because I made an offhand remark to Gradwolf (knowing that he was a tennis fan too).Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-50925287338295173992012-06-12T21:43:51.473+05:302012-06-12T21:43:51.473+05:30Yeah and maybe thats why Federer loses to Djoker b...Yeah and maybe thats why Federer loses to Djoker because Djoker has more chance to beat Nadal than himself.Rahulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08600228969911790479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-6824660461516293562012-06-12T20:30:19.969+05:302012-06-12T20:30:19.969+05:30by the end, we are discussing a tennis tournament ...<i>by the end, we are discussing a tennis tournament in Europe, because this is "cooler"</i><br /><br />Anon: not because it's cooler, but because it too is a "reflection of reality". The only attempt at being cool here is your sad comment.Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-63131390845901180992012-06-12T19:44:29.750+05:302012-06-12T19:44:29.750+05:30this comment thread is exactly what mr banerjee is...this comment thread is exactly what mr banerjee is talking about<br /><br />(1) a discussion of art begins<br /><br />(2) this art is supposed to be a reflection of reality<br /><br />(3) and by the end, we are discussing a tennis tournament in Europe, because this is "cooler"<br /><br />touche! well done, all!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-50788426372979439412012-06-12T19:04:15.990+05:302012-06-12T19:04:15.990+05:3011 he has won. assuming he plays till 30, 3-4 fren...11 he has won. assuming he plays till 30, 3-4 french open, that takes his tally to 14. i think he is pretty close. cynically speaking may be thats why Fed is still playing :))Pessimist Foolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06057153008708242962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-7143630504755097632012-06-12T15:56:24.632+05:302012-06-12T15:56:24.632+05:30Pessimist Fool: no way. He's already won far m...Pessimist Fool: no way. He's already won far more than I ever expected him to, and 16 is a long, long way off for someone who is very old in tennis years, even if he's only 26.Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-47138383200346509302012-06-12T14:50:34.312+05:302012-06-12T14:50:34.312+05:30@Jai - Betting on him breaking Fed's record of...@Jai - Betting on him breaking Fed's record of number of grand slams?Pessimist Foolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06057153008708242962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-83050365588158089372012-06-12T03:05:20.815+05:302012-06-12T03:05:20.815+05:30i just love your blog more and more every time i r...i just love your blog more and more every time i read it.. informative.. books, movies.. your blog is about everything that i love and just the mammoth amount of information overload i have to deal with while reading.. i love it :)Tanayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11441135498892383581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-38650121519693780562012-06-11T21:14:57.052+05:302012-06-11T21:14:57.052+05:30Oh dear God.
But what did I tell you? Always trus...Oh dear God.<br /><br />But what did I tell you? Always trust the words of a Federer fan :P<br /><br />Congrats!Gradwolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07031246793161524667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-49861858579082688182012-06-11T20:39:30.405+05:302012-06-11T20:39:30.405+05:30RAFA WON HIS 7TH RG and you losers are talking abo...RAFA WON HIS 7TH RG and you losers are talking about Abhay's accent?!<br /><br />Priorities, people?<br /><br />Vamos!!!!Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-50761397405050359442012-06-11T19:36:39.598+05:302012-06-11T19:36:39.598+05:30Just a few thoughts on the comment thread here:
a...Just a few thoughts on the comment thread here:<br /><br />a) I think there's too much emphasis on Abhay Deol's Tamil accent and his suitability for this role because he's not a Tamilian etc and not enough on the gravitas, the 'thehrav', as Indian Idol judges like to put it, that he brings to his performance (here and on B Rangan's blog; the discussion spaces seem to have merged). Incidentally, I agree with Rangan and the accent seemed beautifully done to me -- living in Bangalore and talking to many Hindi-speaking Tamilians here, it didn't seem fake to me. Patchy yes, but that's how it often is IRL.<br /><br />b) I feel there's too much over-reading going on, especially around scenes such as the slipping on water one. I think Jai is right when he refers to it as a visual gag<br /><br />c) I overall like the way humour is used in the film and interjected at unexpected moments, even the gallows humour of a policeman making a quip about Baba Ramdev and making corpses dance during an especially gut-wrenching sceneShrabontinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-27248870481401123282012-06-11T16:12:15.176+05:302012-06-11T16:12:15.176+05:30Of course there is a mismatch between character an...Of course there is a mismatch between character and actor there, which is why a lot of people have raised the why not Tamil actor for that role then question.Gradwolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07031246793161524667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-26424644566241619732012-06-11T16:10:17.224+05:302012-06-11T16:10:17.224+05:30I did think Prosenjit and Abhay Deol's Tamness...I did think Prosenjit and Abhay Deol's Tamness were cast to fit into stereotypes. The whole protestor aura and the IIT-ian background Tamizhian etc. But I don't know if it is a good or a bad thing. But you could ask, why not a Tam actor then? Fair question.Gradwolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07031246793161524667noreply@blogger.com