A thread for "The Namesake" (the film)

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Quite good overall, I thought. Mira Nair seems to have a slight weakness for schmaltz (though nothing compared to most working American directors) and for slow sensuous scenes with languid sitar music (again, not as much as an American director dealing with India probably would), but even when she exoticizes India I think she does it in a self-aware way that reflects the immigrant and second-generation experience.

Irfan Khan is phenomenally good and the rest of the cast is mostly good. Kal Penn was at least adequately subtle when needed, although at times I felt like he thought his character was just "really cool mellowed-out genius."

Nair has a beautiful way of expressing emotion through cinematography and color, and I loved the exaggeratedly stark greys of the states when the couple first arrives.

― Hurting 2, Sunday, 15 April 2007 17:07 (eighteen years ago)

I want to see this movie. Too bad I'm stuck on Crazy Island.

― Beth Parker, Sunday, 15 April 2007 18:31 (eighteen years ago)

Have you read the book Beth? I haven't, but my wife says the film does it about as much justice as one can expect from a major film.

― Hurting 2, Sunday, 15 April 2007 18:38 (eighteen years ago)

I haven't seen this movie but based on the movies of hers I've seen, I don't see Nair exotifying India.

― horseshoe, Sunday, 15 April 2007 18:41 (eighteen years ago)

Ultimately the film did ten times as much to de-mystify India and Indian people as it did to mystify them, so it's not a real compaint.

― Hurting 2, Sunday, 15 April 2007 18:47 (eighteen years ago)

In fact living somewhere where I have so much superficial interaction with Indian people but so little deeper interaction, there was something very satisfying about seeing such a full, complex portrayal of an Indian family on screen[/white liberal guilt]

― Hurting 2, Sunday, 15 April 2007 18:49 (eighteen years ago)

I was a little concerned at times that the film tried to pack a whole novel/life into two hours, but by the end it didn't bother me.

I found the film very, very moving. I can't think of a better cinematic treatment of a father and son's relationship. Kal Penn growing up to the point where he stops taking his parents for granted was so well handled. The scene where he's told about the train crash and asks his father if he thinks about it every time he says Gogol's name, just floored me.

Irfan Khan is phenomenally good

Seconded. Best performance I've seen this year, I think. A perfect portrayal of that kind of reserved man.

― Alba, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:14 (eighteen years ago)

It kind of helped that I'm called Nick and my dad's Indian, but still.

― Alba, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:15 (eighteen years ago)

I don't think I've ever cried so much at a film, btw.

― Hurting 2, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:16 (eighteen years ago)

I felt the father-son stuff very strongly, as my dad is a similar sort of man and has a much more traditional (Jewish) background that I have somewhat shunned.

― Hurting 2, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:17 (eighteen years ago)

Wait, your last name isn't Jh1r@d is it?

― Hurting 2, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:18 (eighteen years ago)

I mean there are probably lots of Nicks with Indian dads and non-Indian moms, but I thought I'd ask.

― Hurting 2, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:18 (eighteen years ago)

No, that's not me!

I don't think I've ever cried as much in a film, either, at least not with tears that felt so personal.

― Alba, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:26 (eighteen years ago)

I'd like to see it. I didn't think much of the book, alas -- an attenuated short story, essentially.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:33 (eighteen years ago)

I don't think I've ever cried so much at a film, btw.

ha, Alba's description made me think, god, this movie is going to make me sob.

― horseshoe, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:34 (eighteen years ago)

xpost yeah, I haven't read the novel, but I had heard it was a bit of a sophomore slump.

― horseshoe, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:34 (eighteen years ago)

apparently Mira Nair + Jhumpa Lahiri recently held a talk or something about the movie/novel at the NY Public Library. my sister went and said Nair was the most charming person ever, but Lahiri seemed sort of depressive. which, because I am evil, made me feel better about the fact that she is an acclaimed author + so goddamn pretty.

― horseshoe, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:49 (eighteen years ago)

What if she'd had a limp?

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:50 (eighteen years ago)

look, I acknowledged that I'm evil.

― horseshoe, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:52 (eighteen years ago)

okay, I don't wish her depression but if she's socially awkward or something, well, that only seems fair.

― horseshoe, Sunday, 15 April 2007 22:52 (eighteen years ago)

this movie can justify all its schmaltz because it is so affecting.

― lfam, Sunday, 15 April 2007 23:05 (eighteen years ago)

are Kal Penn fans gonna toke up before this one?

― Dr Morbius, Monday, 16 April 2007 13:30 (eighteen years ago)

I told you you were going to cry at this, Horseshoe!

― jaymc, Monday, 16 April 2007 13:40 (eighteen years ago)

The only real complaint I had was that both of Nick's love interests seemed a little too one-note -- or at least, they were too obviously set up in order to be torn down.

― jaymc, Monday, 16 April 2007 13:51 (eighteen years ago)

(Otherwise, I found it to be a very affecting and broadly entertaining film.)

― jaymc, Monday, 16 April 2007 13:51 (eighteen years ago)

are Kal Penn fans gonna toke up before this one?

that's racist

― gabbneb, Monday, 16 April 2007 14:04 (eighteen years ago)

The only real complaint I had was that both of Nick's love interests seemed a little too one-note

Good point. My wife says they're both more complex in the book.

― Hurting 2, Monday, 16 April 2007 14:19 (eighteen years ago)

Kal Penn does toke up in one scene - if I were him I would have had that scene written out as part of the deal.

― Hurting 2, Monday, 16 April 2007 14:20 (eighteen years ago)

One thing about the film that's been staying with me is its portrayal of American culture as a bit cold and shallow -- I keep hearing the mother's voice saying "this lonely country" and thinking about how I also find the States to be a bit lonely even though I'm fourth generation here.

― Hurting 2, Sunday, 29 April 2007 15:56 (eighteen years ago)

i think it's lonely too

― lfam, Sunday, 29 April 2007 18:39 (eighteen years ago)

and my family has been here for centuries

― lfam, Sunday, 29 April 2007 18:39 (eighteen years ago)

I guess that's why we're here - gi-hyuck!

― Hurting 2, Sunday, 29 April 2007 22:16 (eighteen years ago)

one month passes...

a little obvious or heavy-handed at times (what else is new?), but also on-target and funny and affecting enough at others, and Irrfan Khan (especially) and Tabu really put it over. i think the biggest problem i had was with the jumps between life stages. you get the feeling that the thing really should have been many hours long. like a, uh, long rail journey or russian novel or something.

― gabbneb, Saturday, 23 June 2007 05:41 (eighteen years ago)

That "lonely country" line still haunts me all the time.

― Hurting 2, Saturday, 23 June 2007 05:44 (eighteen years ago)

lately i feel lonely pretty much all the time

― lfam, Saturday, 23 June 2007 06:58 (eighteen years ago)

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