Some excellent reviews and missing a movie...

GreatBong has two excellent posts reviewing Pather Panchali and Aparajito. These are pieces that you read and go ' I wish I could write like that ...' ! And even though he claims that the reviews are intensely personal, as the comments sections to his post and my thoughts while reading them shows, the themes resonate with us all.

Jai Arjun is also doing a series of reviews on the Ray movies he watched during the Cinefan festival at New Delhi. All good stuff.

Meanwhile, Asif Kapadia's 'The Warrior' starring Irfan Khan has finally released in the US but not at a theatre near me :-( . Not even the so-called 'artsy theatres' in the triangle are are carrying the film. I have been looking forward to this for a long time - guess I have to wait for the DVD release or go to DC/Philly/NY to watch it !

Made by British-born BBC documenterian Asif Kapadia with British backing, but in Hindi, the movie was nominated by British Academy of Film and Television as the UK entry for the 'Best Foreign Language' entry at the Oscars. Strangely, the Academy in their infinite wisdom decided that since Hindi is not the native language in Britain (while tikka masala can be their national dish!), it could not qualify as a British entry ! As the trailer indicates, the images (it was shot on location in the Rajasthan deserts) should be breathtaking and then there is Irfan, who I would consider to be among the best actors in India at the moment (truth be told though, I haven't really kept up with Hindi, far less other language movies in India for the last year or so). His potrayal of the college activist (read thug) come aspiring politician Ranavijay Singh in Haasil, is one of the best I have seen since Nana Patekar in Parinda and Prahaar. He delivered a great performance in Maqbool as well. Hopefully, he will not be slotted into the dark, brooding, soft-speaking yet menacing villain stereotype by Bollywood.