Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Kites
Kites
A post-Kites observation-- Bollywood technicians are far superior to its actors, and actors are far superior to its writers and directors.
A question: Exactly who is Kites for? A large chunk of the film is in English and Spanish, the Spanish bits have English subtitles, so that leaves out many Indian viewers. If it is meant for an international 'crossover' audience, then why would they want to see their own locations and style with a stale story packaged and offered to them, with just a bit of Bollywood garnish?
As it often happens with films that have ambitions bigger than capacity of delivery, Anurag Basu's Kites falls between the two vehicles it tries to ride-- it is neither truly Indian, nor truly international; when you see it as Indian, you are annoyed by the oft-repeated story, and when you see it as international, you are embarrassed by the loudness and melodrama.
Nothing is known about the 'hero' except that he is a hustler who wants to get rich quick. He has an odd name J Ray, and is Indian, or maybe half-Indian. If Basu expects the audience to care for him and condone his actions (that involve a huge body count or innocents and stupendous destruction of expensive props), a bit more of a background was essential
The Mexican girl Linda (Barbara Mori) is given more of a backstory, and you do end up feeling sorry for what she has to go through because of her poverty and misdirected love.
A part of J's hustle is to marry green card seeking women and she is the 11th he marries. Is it that easy to con the US authorities? Let that pass, it is after all a Bollywood film, and hence notoriously contemptuous of logic or authenticity. When he meets her again, she is the fiancee of the nasty son (Nicholas Brown) of Las Vegas casino king (Kabir Bedi), and J himself is dating the daughter (Kangana Ranaut).
He can't take his hungry eyes of her, and they end up on the run with Nick's hoods, cops and bounty hunters after them. The second half of the film perks up a bit and then falls into a predictable pattern of every moment of reprieve being quickly followed by a tragic one.
If it weren't for Hrithik Roshan's traffic-stopping good looks, Barbara Mori's effervescent sex appeal (the much-touted chemistry is very watered down in the Indian version of the film), and Ayanaka Bose's painstaking cinematography, the film would be unbearable.
Too bad then, with all the effort and expense put into it, Kites simply doesn't soar high enough. Give up these ridiculous crossover dreams and trying to please goras.. just come back to Mumbai, Bollywood.. we promise not to demand an Oscar... not even a Palme d 'Or or Golden Lion.
A post-Kites observation-- Bollywood technicians are far superior to its actors, and actors are far superior to its writers and directors.
A question: Exactly who is Kites for? A large chunk of the film is in English and Spanish, the Spanish bits have English subtitles, so that leaves out many Indian viewers. If it is meant for an international 'crossover' audience, then why would they want to see their own locations and style with a stale story packaged and offered to them, with just a bit of Bollywood garnish?
As it often happens with films that have ambitions bigger than capacity of delivery, Anurag Basu's Kites falls between the two vehicles it tries to ride-- it is neither truly Indian, nor truly international; when you see it as Indian, you are annoyed by the oft-repeated story, and when you see it as international, you are embarrassed by the loudness and melodrama.
Nothing is known about the 'hero' except that he is a hustler who wants to get rich quick. He has an odd name J Ray, and is Indian, or maybe half-Indian. If Basu expects the audience to care for him and condone his actions (that involve a huge body count or innocents and stupendous destruction of expensive props), a bit more of a background was essential
The Mexican girl Linda (Barbara Mori) is given more of a backstory, and you do end up feeling sorry for what she has to go through because of her poverty and misdirected love.
A part of J's hustle is to marry green card seeking women and she is the 11th he marries. Is it that easy to con the US authorities? Let that pass, it is after all a Bollywood film, and hence notoriously contemptuous of logic or authenticity. When he meets her again, she is the fiancee of the nasty son (Nicholas Brown) of Las Vegas casino king (Kabir Bedi), and J himself is dating the daughter (Kangana Ranaut).
He can't take his hungry eyes of her, and they end up on the run with Nick's hoods, cops and bounty hunters after them. The second half of the film perks up a bit and then falls into a predictable pattern of every moment of reprieve being quickly followed by a tragic one.
If it weren't for Hrithik Roshan's traffic-stopping good looks, Barbara Mori's effervescent sex appeal (the much-touted chemistry is very watered down in the Indian version of the film), and Ayanaka Bose's painstaking cinematography, the film would be unbearable.
Too bad then, with all the effort and expense put into it, Kites simply doesn't soar high enough. Give up these ridiculous crossover dreams and trying to please goras.. just come back to Mumbai, Bollywood.. we promise not to demand an Oscar... not even a Palme d 'Or or Golden Lion.
Labels: Cinemaah
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