Comments on: Bollywood Shuffle

By: dcairns

dcairns — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 08:57:12 +0000

Beckinsale’s learned to act a bit since her earliest days, but I don’t see many of her films. Given her beauty, it feels like she should have had a better career, but it’s the lack of a powerful onscreen personality that’s held her back.

Bollywood movies are choreographed, including the camerawork. Luhrmann just splurges chaotically — I’m sure those numbers made sense on the set, but by the time they reach the screen they’ve been diced into fruit salad.

By: Jenny Ketcham

Jenny Ketcham — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 01:51:54 +0000

Love the “resonant emptiness”…poor Bob. I liked him in the film, too, and agreed that he did seem to fit the role pretty well when I saw it. Mia didn’t really seem to me to be your standard Twenties ideal of feminine pulchritude, or even a Seventies ideal, for that matter. Not a bad actress, but not one to pine after and die for, either.

I agree completely with your assessment of Baz Lehrmann. I feel the same way about Kate Beckinsale, haven’t liked much that she’s done since Cold Comfort Farm. I loved Strictly Ballroom, and kept taking people to see it when it was in the theaters, so have seen it more times than I’d care to think about. Alternatively, I’ve never even made it through Moulin Rouge, not once. Despite it’s supposed Bollywood inspired excesses, he went too far for me. Too much going on, and I’d rather go back to the original…I think he was aiming for something like this (you know I wouldn’t be able to resist another clip :-)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EKngVDrfEw

By: dcairns

dcairns — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:57:08 +0000

Oh, you’re ahead of me, I’ve never actually been in a room with AB! I only know people who have.

Yes, the Gatsby trailer (with misspelled Ziegfeld Follies neon sign) didn’t really appeal to me. But I haven’t liked anything from that guy since Strictly Ballroom. Moulin Rouge really wanted a pitch invasion of Mel Brooks cowboys to punch the crap out of everybody.

If Jack Clayton, an intelligent and sensitive filmmaker, struggled with the Fitzgerald (which I admit he did) I really don’t see how this numpty is going to pull it off.

Amitahb’s casting is cheeky, no doubt, but I can’t see it being a huge problem. Redford’s casting as Gatsby’s was wilder, in a way (though he brought a resonant emptiness to the role).