Sunday, November 06, 2011
BOLLYWOOD
Today's movie is a long one as it is produced in the Indian film convention known here as "Bollywood". I am seeing it in two sessions of 90 minutes.
Some perspective from the critic at the link,
As of this writing (2010), 3 Idiots is the highest grossing Bollywood film in India, and had the biggest opening weekend of any Bollywood film. This obliges me, according to the secret DVD reviewing code, to remind American viewers of some facts about Bollywood they may have forgotten since they saw all those news pieces about it when Slumdog Millionaire came out. First, Bollywood is an informal term for Hindi cinema, one of several regional cinemas in India. It also happens to be the largest center of film production in India, which makes it one of the largest in the world. Finally, Bollywood is known for being formulaic (in the best sense of the world), with long (sometimes epic) narratives, song and dance numbers, and themes about the tension between tradition and modernity. 3 Idiots captures these aspects of Bollywood cinema perfectly. Because of its familiar collegiate and road movie trappings, it's probably the perfect way to introduce the unfamiliar to Bollywood cinema.
My own perspective is that Bollywood films are highly formulaic (this one is no exception) and filled with a lot of cross cultural references that make for a bigger potential market in the west. But, the downside is that once you've seen one you've seen them all.
This bright film is a brilliant exception.
From the beginning the quality of the production, the stunts, the music and the stars have an unusually bright and attractive look. The filming is almost shocking in its use of fast camera work and color palette. Gaspable.
Some of the jokes are over the top but never too long. The pacing is really good. It is good fun, cleverly written. All in Hindi and English mix so there are subtitles throughout. Gratis. You don't even have to set it up.
Great acting. Comic and broad but intelligent throughout.
The story takes place in the best technical school. A great place to show old and new values as well as to demonstrate the strait jacketed mind at work. Technocrats versus alternate cultures.
Not much different than any similar campus comedy in the States.
What makes it different are the musical numbers that are so far over the top that they are wonderful fun. Satirizing the traditional numbers one sees in this kind of film but doing it so well that it makes "over the top" delightful.
There is a dark side in this film as well reminding us that the issues being discussed are, indeed serious. Some sadness and more than a bit of sting in the humor.
So. No rating so far but I am definitely enjoying myself.
The IMDb rating of this film is an ultra high 83!
Labels: films
