My Name is Khan review

 Number 495 on the top 1000 films of all time is the Indian-produced social drama film 'My Name is Khan.'

Rizwan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) is an Indian Muslim with severe Asperger's Syndrome. Searching for a better life, he emigrates to San Francisco where he meets the single mother and Hindu, Mandira Rathod (Kajol.) However, in the wake of 9/11 and the rise of Islamaphobic attitudes, Mandira and her son suffer awful discrimination. Rizwan Khan resolves to travel across the US to speak with the president.

I've seen a few Bollywood/Indian films since starting this list, but this is the first time I've seen the Bollywood style in an American setting. It was refreshing to see. There was strong acting especially from the leads which should be no surprise considering they are both stars of Indian cinema having won 22 Filmfare awards. Shak Rukh Khan researched autism extensively and spent long periods of time with them to ensure the most accurate representation of the condition. Sure it might not have been Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man or Priyanka Chopra in Barfi! but Khan played the role with great sensitivity.

My Name is Khan also offered some pertinent social commentary regarding the immigrant, more specifically, Muslim experience in the US. Hatred of the other has always existed. This is as true now as it was twenty years ago as it was two hundred years ago. Humans are unfortunately a tribal society who distrust anybody who doesn't look like them,

Unfortunately, the film's social commentary was almost lost in its melodrama. Indian Cinema loves melodrama and that was certainly the case here. To say that Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's score was over-the-top would be the understatement of the century. It reminded me of bad reality TV trying to manipulate your emotions. Director Karan Johar could have relied on his strong actors or Shibani Bathija's script for that. Similarly, we didn't need the slow-motion, montages or multiple camera angles of the same thing. It was all so unnecessary. At least there wasn't any spontaneous singing and dancing.

I would also agree with some reviewers who said that the film became lost in its own lofty ambitions. The first half of the film was definitely tighter than the second, even if it did spend too much time setting up Rizwan and Mandira's relationship. Indian film critic Vinod Mirani criticised Karan Johar's direction as being meandering and slow-paced through his desire of trying to say too much. 

This is especially true of the film's second half where Rizwan embarks on his journey across the US getting involved in lots of different obstacles along the way, most of which were either resolved too easily - like how he was falsely imprisoned by the FBI or too diversionary from the main plot like how Rizwan befriends a mother and son in Georgia, later protecting them during Hurricane Wilhemina.

My Name is Khan was an admirable film with strong characterisations and good social commentary, but a lot of that was lost in its melodrama.

The Fall review

 Number 404 on the top 1000 films of all time is Tarsem Singh's adventure-fantasy film 'The Fall.'

In 1915 Los Angeles, stunt man Roy Walker (Lee Pace) is hospitalised after a stunt gone wrong. In hospital, he forms an unlikely friendship with fellow patient, eight-year-old Romanian girl Alexandria  (Catinca Untaru) who is recovering from a broken arm. He entertains her with a wild and fantasy tale about a rag-tag group of rebels to team up to kill a common enemy, but he has an agenda of his own. 

I think this is a film that you have to see more than once to truly appreciate. Upon the first watch, I decided the film wasn't for me, being critical of the story-within-a-story format. On other occasions such as with the Chinese Wuxia Hero, this format fell flat because the framing story wasn't as interesting as the secondary story.

Upon a rewatch, I can say this was not the case for the Fall. I really enjoyed watching Roy and Alexandria's relationship progress. The two of them had great on-screen chemistry. Catinca Untaru was adorable and she worked well with the much older Lee Pace who became a surrogate father figure for her. I'm not sure whether Untaru went onto have a big acting career, but she was very good here. So was Lee Pace. It was a relationship with lots of pathos.

*spoilers*

This pathos extends into Roy's dark secret. In exchange for entertaining Alexandria with these stories, he asks her to steal morphine for him. Ostensibly, this is to help him sleep, but he actually intends to commit suicide. His beloved has left him for the actor he was doubling for. Now he no longer wants to live. This was suitably tragic with Pace and Catinca giving good performances.

While the B-story has great visual flair reflective of the countless different filming locations as well as director Tarsem Singh's insistence that the film be shot on-location with minimal special effects, the framing story is suitably more muted and dour. 

The B-story sees a range of quirky characters including a masked bandit, a silent Indian warrior, an ex-slave, an Italian explosives expert and Charles Darwin. They all team up to take revenge on a governor who has wronged them all. The fantasy land they inhabited was marked by bold colours and a distinct look - similar to the Chinese Hero film. I enjoyed seeing this colourful cast of characters and it was sad watching them meet their respective ends.

If you were left unimpressed watching this film once, do yourself a favour and watch it again. You might just be surprised.

My top ten films of all time

 In 2015, I embarked on the challenge of watching the top 1000 films of all time. Six years later, I am sadly only 307 films into my quest, but I've watched enough to films to form my top ten list.

Most of these films I've only watched because of this list, but one or two of my all-time favourites have also slipped in. Apart from my number one film, which I'll save until last, this list is in no particular order.

The top ten list

City of God (2002)

One thing that I've loved about this challenge is that I've been able to witness the best that World Cinema has to offer. And City of God is undoubtedly the best. It tells the unflinching story of two boys growing up in the drug-fuelled favelas of Rio De Janerio. It is a brutal and painfully realistic look of how drugs can destroy somebody's life. Expect a roller-coaster that doesn't slow up for a minute.

Old Boy (2003)

Another classic of World Cinema. This Korean film is a revenge thriller focussing on Dae-su Oh who seeks vengeance on the man who locked him up for fifteen years. Brimming with gorgeous Korean proverbs, this film will keep you guessing all the way to the shock ending which is one of the biggest twists in movie history.

Rang De Basanti (2006)

We've come to the realm of Indian cinema. 3 Idiots was a close second but Rang De Basanti edges it for the sheer power of its narrative. Following the story of a British film maker who is producing a documentary about early leaders of Indian independence, this film will have you laughing, crying and everything in between. Sure there are a lot of musical numbers, but what else can you expect from Indian cinema?

The Hunt (2002)

Onto an absolutely fantastic Danish film. Lukas (Mads Mikkleson) is a school teacher falsely accused of sexually abusing one of his students. A witch-hunt ensues and the whole town turns against him. In a film where truth and lies merge into one, you'll be on the edge of your seat. This outstanding film blew me away.

Full Metal Jacket (1987) 

Forget The Deer Hunter or Apocalypse Now, Stanley Kubrick blew every other war film out the water with his brutal portrayal of the Vietnam War. Full Metal Jacket left me in absolute awe. From Vincent D'Onofrio to Lee R Ermey to Adam Baldwin, this film is littered with acting talent. Some might say that the film is unbalanced and mismatched, but I think the two halves compliment each other beautifully. A must-see.

Her (2013)

Finally we're onto a film with slightly more happy subject matter. I say slightly as Her will still be tugging at your heart strings. Rom-coms aren't my thing which is why Her surprised me so much. Subverting the genre with a science-fiction twist, Her tells the story of lonely divorcee Theodore Thwombly (Joaquin Phoenix) who falls in love with an operating system voiced by Scarlett Johanson. With much to say about the importance of human connection, Her  is a very underrated film.

Three and Out (2008)

Speaking of underrated, we come to the Indie British black comedy Three and Out. Panned by audiences and critics alike, I must be the only person in the world who would put Three and Out, on a top ten list, but I am. Paul Callow is a train driver/writer who wants nothing more than to leave the hustle-bustle of London and write on an island. When he runs two people over with his train, his colleagues tell him that if he runs over a third person, TFL will pay him off with ten years wages. Ensue hilarity and heartbreak as Paul tries to find his third victim. Mackenzie Crook, Colm Meaney, Imelda Staunton and Gemma Arteton all turn in winning performances. But perhaps this film is an acquired taste.

The Full Monty (1997)

I have never officially reviewed this film as I watched it long before I started this challenge. However, it remains one of my favourite films ever. Having won the Bafta for the best film in 1997, this movie was adored by many. We follow a bunch of former steel workers and layabouts becoming strippers in the hopes of improving their lives. While the premise might sound spurious, the execution is anything but. The Full Monty tackles themes like masculinity, father-son relationships and suicide in powerful ways. Tom Wilkinson and Mark Addy are great in supporting roles, but can we all agree that Robert Carlyle is one of the best actors that Scotland has ever produced?

Snatch (2000)

Out of all these films, Snatch is the one film I could watch over and over again. A fantastic crime-caper, Snatch will have you laughing in the aisles. We see two interlinking narratives: one follows boxing promoter Turkish (Jason Statham) as he navigates the criminal underworld, but we also see every gangster in London trying to get their hands on a rare diamond. Snatch is one of the most quotable films ever with brad Pitt offering his most unlike-Brad Pitt performance ever, as the Gypsy bareknuckle boxer Mickey O'Neil. Bloody hell, does he do that Irish accent well?

The Godfather (1970)

Finally, we have reached my number one film of all time. What can I say about this film which hasn't been said already? Everybody knows Nino Rota's magnificent score, they know Marlon Brando as mafia don Vito Corleone, his son Michael as his reluctant protege, played by Al Pacino. This film reignited Hollywood's fascination with the mafia. At three hours long it is paced brilliantly with every shot pushing forward the narrative. It is not just the best gangster movie of all time, but the best film of all time. After all, it was the subject of my ten-thousand word dissertation. Let's just not talk about the Godfather part three.

Honourable Mentions

I've watched too many great films to not include at least a few honourable mentions. These are all great films in their own right, but not quite good enough to scratch the top ten.

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Originally RFAD was in my top ten but I demoted it because it's too upsetting to watch again. Amazing for sure, but too heartbreaking for repeat viewings. Charting the self-destruction of four drug addicts in New York, RFAD is the best anti-drug PSA you'll ever see with a killer theme tune and fast-paced editing. Watching this film gave me the best high but with an absolutely awful come down.

The Princess Bride (1987)

This subversion of the traditional fairy-tale still stands up even after thirty years. with so many quotable scenes and iconic characters, the Princess Bride will have you rolling in the aisles and reaching for the tissues. Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright, Andre the Giant...the amazing cast goes on and on. And who can forget one of the most quoted film lines ever: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

Mary and Max (2009) 

This Australian stop-motion, claymation dramatic comedy absolutely blew me away. I've never heard of it before, but it was simply fantastic. I've never seen anything like it before or since. Following the unlikely relationship of the two titular characters, this film is pure arthouse. If you're looking for something completely different, a movie with offbeat humour, a unique visual style and the most haunting rendition of Que Sera Sera, Mary and Max is the film for you.

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

I watched this film once many years ago and it was too upsetting to watch again, hence why there is no review. I've grown up on Studio Ghibli, so one of their films had to make an appearance on this list.  Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro were also in the mix, but Grave of the Fireflies is undoubtedly the best. Set in the twilight days of WW2 Japan, we watch a teenage boy and his little sister desperately try to survive the war. When you watch this, make sure you have the tissue box handy.

Untouchable (2011)

This French feel-good comedy drama rounds off my list nicely. I rewatched it the other day and it was still as magical as ever. Following the story of quadraplegic billionare Philippe and his unconventional carer Driss, this film holds a special place in my heart because of my own work as a carer. The anti-climactic ending is the only thing that stops it from going on my top ten.

So there we have it. My top ten films with a few HMs. But with 693 films left to watch, this list is far from being set in stone. Watch this space.

Rang De Basanti review

 SPOILER ALERT

"If your blood does not yet rage, then it is water in your veins." Chandrashekhar Azad

Rang De Basanti (Paint it Saffron) begins with these powerful words. Filmed in 2006 by Rakeyesh Omprakash Mehra, it is number 34 on the top 1000 films of all time.

Sue Mckinley (Alice Patten) is a British filmmaker and the granddaughter of James Mckinley who served as part of the Indian Imperial Police, during the Indian Independence Movement.  Upon reading about his interactions with five leading members of the movement: Chandrasekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, Ashfaqualla Khan and Ram Prasad Basmil, she travels to India to film a documentary telling the story of these five revolutionaries. 

Once there, she meets with her friend Sonia (Soha Ali Khan) and casts her four friends Daljeet "DJ," (Aamir Khan) Karan Singhania, (Siddharth Narayan) Aslam Khan, (Kunal Napoor) and Sukhi Ram, (Sharman Joshi) as four of the five revolutionaries.  The fifth revolutionary is played by a party activist Laxman Adley.  (Atul Kulkani) Whilst the five actors are initially hesitant about appearing in the film, they soon settle into their roles and begin to embody the roles they are playing.

I think this film was brilliant.  It was enlightening, uplifting and very powerful.  It was funny, brutal and very emotionally poignant.  Rang De Basanti engages with the themes of loyalty, family, patriotism and independence.  The film's content matter being the Indian Independence Movement gave the film an intriguing and interesting backdrop. 

As the film progresses, the characters begin to embrace the revolutionaries that they are playing; their lives begin to parallel the lives of their revolutionary counterparts.  Whilst, Azad, Singh, Rajguru, Khan and Basmil were fighting for independence from British Rule, DJ, Karan, Aslam, Sukhi and Sonia are fighting against the oppressive rule of their conservative elders.  The parallels that begin to grow between the revolutionaries and the actors who are playing them become progressively and startingly obvious as the film continues.

Sonia's is engaged to Ajay, a talented fighter pilot and close friend of the rest of the group. However, he sadly dies when his plane malfunctions and he steers it away from a populated town to crash harmlessly in a field. It is revealed that the Minister of Defence purchased faulty parts to save money, but he disguises his own greed and incompetence by claiming that Ajay's plane crashed not due to malfunction but due to pilot error. This enrages the group and they decide to protest. 

The five friends along with Alice, Sonia and her mother stage a peaceful protest at Ajay's memorial, but this is soon broken up by riot police who begin beating the protestors including Sonia's mother who slips into a coma.  In a move that mirrors the five revolutionaries assassinating a high ranking British officer, the group then murders the corrupt defence minister.  Just like their revolutionary counterparts, the group realises that violence is the only way to get their voices heard.  The extent that they go to for their fallen friend is touching and poignant.

Another thing that this film does well is create believable and realistic storyarcs for all of the characters.  DJ, Karan, Aslam, Sukhi and Sonia begin the film as just regular young men and women.  They like to drink, joke, talk about girls and just have a good time and enjoy themselves, which is where a lot of the film's humour comes from.  They are well-aware of the corruption in their country and their parents disapproving of them engaging in Western traditions and ideals.  However, none of them care.

 This changes with the death of Ajay and Sonia's suggestion to kill him.  The film opens with the five friends spending their free time drinking and dancing to Western music and ends with DJ, Karan, Aslam, Sukhi and Laxman all dying as martyrs for their cause.  Laxman Pandey's character arc is more interesting, because, to some extent, it is the reverse of his younger counterparts.  He begins the film as an older, conservative and very anti-Western political activist.  Yet as the film progress, he soon loses faith in his old beliefs and adopts new ones.  This character progression was also a great strength of the film, but this was not only down to the writing, but also due to the fantastic acting of the ensemble cast.  All of the cast depicted how their loyalty for each other and apathy to their country's corruption soon progressed into a burning loyalty and patriotism for India.

Rang De Basanti not only exposes the corruption in the Indian government, but it also mirrors how governments worldwide are corrupt.  You hear so many stories of corruption and greed and bribery within the American, English, Italian, French and numerous other governments and how these governments use the police and the army as repressive state apparatuses.  After the Defence Minister is hailed a martyr by the Indian government and media, the five friends take over a local radio station to confess their crime and denounce the defence minister. 

They are soon silenced by the police and army, who are told they are terrorists, shoot them all on sight, but not before the group expose the corruption within the government and enrage citizens across the country.  The fact that the five friends are dubbed as terrorists and shot as such, despite being unarmed civilians trying to bring some change to their country, reminds me strongly of how the U.S Government condemning Edward Snowdon as a terrorist, even though he did nothing more than expose the White House's own corruption. 

I also really liked the film stylistically.  When Sue is filming the documentary with her five actors, her footage is intercut with flashbacks to her grandfather's experiences with the five original revolutionaries and how they were brutally interrogated and tortured by the Indian Imperial Police.  These flashbacks were shot with a harsh yellow filter that not only gave the film an old-timey feel, but also represented the garishness and vulgarity of the Anglo-Imperial regime. 

Lastly, I loved the ending.  When DJ, Laxman, Aslam, Sukhi and Karan hijack the radio tower, my initial thought was that they were all going to be killed by the police, but somewhere, in the back of mind, I was worried that they might all survive.  Call me a pessimist, but in situations like this, I find it far too unrealistic that anybody would escape scot-free with accusing a government of corruption or hyprocisy.  This is why I was saddened and somewhat relieved that all five characters are shot by the police.  Not, because I wanted them to die, but because of how they all became martyrs for their beliefs. A revolutionary knows how dangerous their work is, they know they could be killed before they inspire change, but perhaps they could inspire masses to become revolutionaries too.  This is what these five friends do.

This film was amazing.  It was funny, touching and very emotional.  It had great acting, strong writer and a very powerful message.  I would definitely recommend it somebody wanting to watch a good film.  I promise it won't be an easy ride, but it will be a rewarding one.  Hey, it might even inspire you to make some change.