SPOILERS: Don’t read this (reblogged) review if you have not yet seen or don’t want to know details from the most recent episode of Game of Thrones (Breaker of Chains).
Tag: Romance
The Lunchbox (2013) starring Irrfan Khan
Viewer comments:
…this gentle and thoughtful director shows human nature running a very natural course.
It had humor, seriousness, lessons, insight, beauty, love, family, decision-making, sadness, reflections, invisibleness, self-doubt, invention, perseverance, respect, aging, determination, coming to terms when enough is enough and genuine affection in how feelings grew by words alone…
Here is the perfect film (from a first-time director) for smart/sensitive viewers who want an alternative to Bollywood. Neglected middle-class housewife/mother, Ila (Nimrat Kaur), yearns to win back the attention and love of her husband Rajeev, one of the many strivers in the new India. Rajeev barely looks at Ila, is glued to his cell, and often comes home late at night. With the help of her (unseen) upstairs neighbor, she creates delicious (vegetarian, as she’s Hindu) recipes, and packs them in his tiffin (lunchbox).
This lunchbox is supposed to be picked up each afternoon and delivered (via rickshaw, truck, and bus) to his office. However, it goes to a Sajaan Fernandes (Irrfan Khan from The Namesake, Life of Pi, etc.), a lonely/Christian government accountant just a month away from retirement. He likes the food, so an empty lunchbox is delivered back to Ila. Feeling appreciated, she decided to write him a thank-you letter.
The two lonely people begin a correspondence, bringing (much-needed) hope and optimism into each other’s lives. They share thoughts in their letters that no one else knows, from the mundane to the deeply personal. Are they just pen pals? Or is there possibility for more?
Saajan is dreading retirement, and postpones the training of his replacement, Shaikh (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a younger Muslim man eager to learn/succeed. I enjoyed the slow reveal of Shaikh’s life- he’s got a fascinating story under that big grin. His character’s struggles and yearnings embody that of many modern, urban men. Siddiqui (still in his 30s), played a pivotal role in Midnight’s Children, and is an actor to watch. Nimrat Kaur is very easy to relate to; I’d never seen her before. She had a make-under for this role; she’s a very glamorous woman in real life. Irrfan Khan continues to (quietly) create magic- he simply becomes the character! He still has a long career ahead (only in his mid-40s). This is a must-see!
Game of Thrones: Season 4, Episode 1 (“Two Swords”)
SPOILERS: Don’t read this review if you have not yet seen or don’t want to know details from the season premiere of Game of Thrones.
Where did you get this much Valyrian steel? -Jaime
From someone who no longer had need of it. -Tywin
In the opening (wordless), the Hand of the King, Lord Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance), is having Ned Stark’s sword (heavy/long) melted down into 2 separate ones. It’s an unexpected sequence for a season opener. Tywin presents one sword to his first-born son, Ser Jamie (Nicolaj Coster-Waldau), who now has to wield it w/ his good (left) hand. However, Jamie disobeys Tywin’s order of leaving the Kingsguard and settling down at Casterly Rock, the Lannisters’ ancestral home. (What do you think of Jaime’s new hairdo?)
Keep it, a one handed man with no family needs all the help he can get. -Tywin to Jamie
Tywin is disappointed by Jaime’s decision (basically disowns him), but lets him keep the sword.
Viewer Comment: “Two Swords” can be applied in many ways. the greatest symbols of House Stark are destroyed (Grey Wind’s pelt) or recast in someone else’s image (the great sword, Ice). As Ned’s sword is destroyed, Arya – who has been reforged by her adventures – reclaims one of the clearest connections to her past, her own sword, Needle. It’s also interesting to see that as great as the Lannister’s are, they lacked an heirloom Valyrian sword (like other great houses), and no amount of gold could buy one.
You took too long. -Cersei to Jaime, rejecting his advances
Jaime (fitted by Qyburn w/ an ornate/golden hand) is very hurt/shocked to be rejected by his twin/only love Cersei (Lena Headey), who we know had been messing around with cousin Lancel. Some viewers wondered what were “those symptoms” that (ex-maester) Qyburn mentioned? The twins’ break-up scene is interrupted by one of Cersei’s spies, who heard Shae yelling inside Tyrion’s chamber. Uh oh!
Tell your father I’m here, and tell him the Lannisters aren’t the only ones who pay their debts. -Oberyn warns Tyrion
There’s a new kid in town, but he’s not like any other knight we’ve met so far! Prince Oberyn Martell (Chilean actor Pedro Pascal), nicknamed the Red Viper, travels to Kings Landing from Dorne, a desert land w/ customs very different from the capital. His “paramour” Elaria Sand (Indira Varma) is by his side; she played a supporting role in HBO’s Rome. When Olyver (now promoted to “procurer” in Littlefinger’s brothel) calls her “my lady,” she quickly corrects him. “I’m a bastard.” As Weiss and Benioff explained (extra segment), Dornish society doesn’t make outcasts of illegitimate children.
We also quickly learn that Oberyn, who is charismatic, dangerous, and vengeful, likes things his way! He tells Tyrion what’s up- he’s looking for revenge for what happened to his older sister, Elia, at the hands of The Mountain (following Tywin’s orders). I think the casting folks made the right decision to have a newcomer in this role.
We see more of Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Sansa’s (Sophie Turner) marriage. She’s deeply depressed, won’t eat (not even her fave lemon cakes), and seeks the godswood (trees representing the old gods). Poor Sansa! Later on, in the garden, Ser Dontos (the drunken/disgraced knight who’s life she had Joffrey spare), gives her his mother’s necklace (the only thing he has of any value). This is an unexpected and sweet scene. Turner’s really grown as an actress over the seasons!
Someone forgot to write down all your great deeds. -Joffrey says, flipping through The Book of Brothers
There’s still time. -Jaime calmly replies
Is there? For a 40-year-old knight with one hand? How can you protect me with that? -Joffrey retorts
Later on, in a scene w/ Ser Meryn (Ian Beattie) and King Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson), Jaime is once again cut down. Ser Meryn resents the fact that Jaime will be the one guarding Joffrey at his upcoming wedding. And Joffrey continues to be a little jerk- no shock there!
Lady Olenna Tyrell (Dame Diana Rigg) is not happy w/ the jewels in King’s Landing. She even tosses one into the garden- LOL! (My first thought: That could be a desi situation! No offense to any easygoing desi matriarchs out there.)
Aren’t you just marvelous! Absolutely singular! -Lady Olenna admires Brienne of Tarth
Brienne (Gwendolyn Christie) comes to speak w/ Lady Margaery (Natalie Dormer). On their garden walk, Brienne explains to the future queen that Renly (a man they both cared for) was killed by a shadow creature bearing the face of his older brother, Stannis. Oooh, I really want these ladies to be gal pals!
I can tell you it’s a very interesting season for Jon because he doesn’t have a paternal or commander looking out for him anymore. In the previous three seasons he’s gone through about six different patriarchal figures and I think now he’s, where he was being groomed, I think now he’s a leader and that’s what this whole season is about for him. -Kit Harington
If we beheaded every ranger who lay with a girl, the wall would be manned by headless men. -Maester Aemon
We learn, from Tormund, that Ygritte missed killing Jon (Jon Harington) on purpose. I liked the small scene between Jon and Sam, where Jon reminisces about his half-brother Robb. He’s coming into his own, gets a great scene in front of he Night’s Watch council.
Dragons, Khaleesi, they can never be tamed not even by their mother. -Jorah warns Daenerys
Whoa, those 3 dragons have grown! Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) points out that they can’t be controlled now. Another change: Daario is now played by Michael Huisman (who I’ve seen in HBO’s Treme). Hmmm… we’ll see how it plays out. I hope there are sparks between him and Dany (Emilia Clarke). “It looks like the cast the actor, not the look, which is a good thing,” said Joanna Robinson (co-host of A Cast of Kings podcast).
Little lady wants a pony. -The Hound teases Arya
Little lady wants to get away from your stench. -Arya retorts
Arya Stark (Maisie Williams), looking pretty grown, and The Hound (Rory Cochrane) happen upon an inn where she spies the man who killed her friend, the butcher’s boy (back in Season 1). He still has Needle (her sword).
You lived for the king, you’re going to die for some chickens? -Polliver (now a Lannister man) asks
Someone is. -The Hound replies matter-of-factly
Inside the inn, they are approached by that repugnant man (now part of the Lannister army; his band of misfits is under The Mountain’s command). The Hound takes his attitude for a bit, then attacks. Arya exacts her revenge, using Needle (a gift from Jon). This scene is sending a mixed message- a young girl killing and enjoying it (note the little smile).
Viewer Comment: Tywin is thinking that he’s pretty much wrapped up the rebellion, but Oberyn, the Tyrells, Dany, and ultimately Arya are all indicating in their own ways that the Lannisters still have a lot more battles to fight.
The Princess Bride Reunion on GMA
GREAT Films about the Immigrant Experience
Avalon (1990)
This is a gorgeous film directed by Barry Levinson (Diner, Homicide, Liberty Heights, etc.) It’s a talent-laden (Armin Mueller-Stahl, Aiden Quinn, and a very young Elijah Wood play the male leads) drama set in ’50s Baltimore. The film explores 3 generations of a tightly-knit, middle-class, Jewish-American family. My dad really liked this story; it’s suitable for all ages!
Mississippi Masala (1999)
I tell all my desi friends (and anyone who likes good films) about this one! I first saw it as an undergrad. This small-budget/educational/realistic film was directed by Mira Nair; she also plays a small role as a catty auntie. The screenwriter, Nair’s close friend/collaborator Sooni Taraporevela, said the basis for the love story between Meena (Sarita Choudhury) and Demetrius (Denzel Washington) was partly inspired by a fellow Indian gal pal at Harvard who fell in love with a black (Jamaican) man. The dialogue is spot-on and the sweet romance between Meena and Demetrius is as hot as the setting (small towns of Mississippi). There is another kind of love in this story- Jay (veteran Indian actor Roshan Seth), Meena’s father/lawyer-turned-motel manager, desperately trying to get back property/citizenship in his native Uganda (scenes were filmed in Nair’s own Kampala house).
Sidenote: I saw Sarita at a staged play reading in NYC (back in 2006). Film does NOT do her justice; she’s stunning in real life!
My Family/Mi Familia (1995)
Unfair deportation, police aggression, gangs/crime, Catholicism, and the ties that bind families are explored in one of my all-time favorite films. I saw this first during my 12th grade American History class; later I saw it w/ my family (they all liked it a lot, too). It was directed superbly by a Californian of Mexican heritage, Gregory Nava (Selena, Frida). The music is an integral part of the story, as is the moral compass/strength of matriarch Maria Sanchez, who is played by Jennifer Lopez (younger) and Jenny Gago (older). The male leads are played by Jacob Vargas (Jose), Esai Morales (Chucho), and Jimmy Smits (Jimmy). Edward James Olmos plays the aspiring writer, also the narrator. Scott Bakula plays the husband of Toni (Constance Marie). The setting is primarily East L.A. (a long-established Latino neighborhood).
Nuovomundo/Golden Door (1996)
Don’t let the language (primarily Italian) deter you from this unique/educational film; it contains some magical realism. It was produced by the famed Martin Scorcese, himself a proud Italian-American. The (nearly unspoken) love story in the film is between kind-hearted Italian peasant Salvatore (Vincenzo Amato) and mysterious/redheaded Englishwoman Lucy (Charlotte Gainsbourg). Salvatore decides to sail to the U.S. so his family, which includes two teen sons and mother, can survive. Crops won’t grow on his land, and his brother is already settled in NYC. However, after their ship lands on Ellis Island, there are more tests/tribulations ahead!
Liberty Heights (1999)
Another of Levinson’s fine films- this time focusing on brothers who live in a Jewish-American enclave of ’50s Baltimore. The narrator, 17 y.o. Van (Ben Foster), and his college-going brother, Ben (Adrien Brody) are good kids trying to figure themselves out. You will relate to this film, especially if you are a 1st generation American, as the Kurtzman brothers navigate around heritage, parents, and wider racial issues of the ’50s. Van befriends Sylvia (Rebekah Johnson), the only black girl in his class. Ben makes new friends at a party and eventually falls for Dubbie (Carolyn Murphy), a gorgeous/troubled WASP. Yussel (David Krumholtz), Ben’s best pal/smart-aleck, provides a lot of the comedy. The parents in the film are portrayed by Joe Mantegna and Bebe Neuwirth.
The Namesake (2006)
This is the first film exploring two generations of an Indian-American family (Bengali in heritage); it is based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel and directed by Mira Nair. I saw it in 3 different theaters w/ different groups of family/friends (who all loved it). Gogol/Nikhil (Kal Penn) and his little sister, Sonia, grow up on Long Island, the children of successful/overprotective immigrant parents, professor Ashok (Irrfan Khan) and homemaker Ashima Ganguli (Tabu). Though the novel’s main focus was Gogol, Nair takes a deeper focus into the slow-burn love story between Ashok and Ashima (I enjoyed their scenes most). Irrfan Khan is amazing; too bad he decided not to come to Hollywood!
Knightleyemma 