Bluffmaster! (2005)

Unlike books that leave much to the imagination of the reader, movies shape imagination via the actors chosen to play roles. If there are positive attributes associated with the actors, they spill-over and create a halo effect irrespective of the role. For instance, did you develop more empathy for cheaters after SRK, the emperor of romance, played one in KANK? When I first watched the movie, I had anything but empathy for the character. The unfairness of it all stung me deep. Especially since the consent of the respective spouses had not been obtained.

As I later reflected on the movie, I saw that SRK eventually did the ‘right’ thing by opting for the divorce, staying away from his lover and then got married to her after a gap. Marriages to affair partners don’t last as easily, but why bring in dosages of reality?

After writing about it in the context of neuroticism, I have found myself thinking about the role that Abhishek Bachchan’s casting has played in making con artists more acceptable. He comes across as a nice, funny guy who is westernised, and this has got highlighted multiple times in movies, including in KANK. In ‘Bluffmaster’, he cons and lies to his girlfriend and somehow by the end of the movie, he is back with her after a series of events that can pass off as light-hearted comedy.

Listen to this song. Does anything suggest that a con artist is at play? Or are we happy ignoring signs when he sings, “Yeah I'm a bad boy” because she is quick to sing, “But I'm a good girl” and asks him to come to her so that things get better. 

It takes a special woman, that's all?


 

Blood Diamond (2006)

Whenever mentions of unrequited love or finding husbands are made, I think of the maturity shown by these two characters who fall in love, but realise they can't be together.

Jennifer Connelly's character remains my benchmark for strong, mature women. Watch the scene where she bids goodbye.

Joker (2019)

11 years ago, when I watched the Dark Knight, I didn’t imagine that Christian Bale would one day stop playing Batman, and Joaquin Phoenix would eventually play Joker. Watching Joker come alive in 2019 made me think of how well the story has been written – it turns out that the director of the movie (Todd Phillips) is one of the writers. He has the Hangover series and Due Date among his earlier writing credits.

There is much to be said about the violence shown in the movie, the method acting of Phoenix that has prompted him to dangerously drop weight, the joy of watching Robert de Niro, and the storyline connecting Joker and Bruce Wayne. However, there is something else that struck me way more.

I expect to see more articles cover how mental illness has been portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix - for good and bad reasons. For instance, I would have liked to see his descent into violence portrayed differently given how stigmatized mental illness is and how popular media readily associates the mentally ill as perpetrators of violence. The movie links his violent streak with the absence of medication, and I would love to see how this can be challenged in real-life as tapering of medication is reality for many recovering patients.

Three other things struck me as remarkable.

• His relationship with his original counsellor - he is candid and shares how he feels, how he takes his medication and enquires about dosages, and how she offers the right combination of challenging him and staying supportive as she works with him
• What he writes in his journal regarding mental illness - "The worst part of having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don't"
• How the underprivileged don't have ready access to mental health care, and how it can suddenly be withdrawn due to lack of funding - so even if someone is willing to take help and stay the course, it isn't possible to do so

The movie is conflicting more than once, and that perhaps is the mark of a great movie as it prompts one to assess one’s own views on what it means to be underprivileged and ill. What it means to go through childhood trauma and lose one's livelihood as an adult. What it means to get attracted to the people one does, given everything.

Recommended watch.

An Affair To Remember (1957)

There are some movie titles that act as catchy phrases used in writing. I haven't watched 'An Affair to Remember' for instance, but the words are romantic and positive. No mentions of illness or random goodbyes.

Sometimes, it takes a lot of testing to find out how one survives. I remain confident that writing that stands the test of time is being encouraged by sites like Twitter too. If powerful imagination helps one survive, then there is much merit to see how this can be replicated in chat bot experiences too, without blocking certain types of users.

For now, watch the trailer.

Bharat (2019)

With references to Wagah border and Attari station, there is plenty to write about when it comes to 'Bharat'. I am refraining from doing so as I want to see if box office collections go beyond Rs. 300 Crores - the amount spent is Rs. 100 Crores.

There is something that Salman Khan understands about love that the other two Khans don't. When he chooses to be non-violent, i.e.

Plenty to write about the casting of heroines, and I will write about DP i.e. Disha Patani instead of JD i.e. Jahnavi Dave, an acquaintance from my days of watching improv comedy in Mumbai. Watching her in a Salman Khan movie says more than any feminist move will ever do. I rest my case.

Refreshing to see as many bespectacled women in #Bharat. Wondering why Disha Patani played the stereotypical Radha and with the item number to boot. Age is on her side, not on Tabu's side. Think. #BollywoodCelebs

— Anuradha Sridhar / Sochi🎋🎗🎈 । सोचा / Wimbledon! (@anuradhasridhar) June 16, 2019

Memories of 2012/ 2013 will not go away, but as I get new chances to form new memories in the same place, I am grateful and thankful. From 'Dabangg 2' to 'Bharat', life can change :)

The Big Bounce (2004)

Not every heist movie is entertaining or a hit, but there are some lines that stay for unexpected reasons.

Like Owen Wilson mouthing them, and my being able to watch a 9 p.m. movie for the most part.

From 'The Big Bounce'. Tennis lovers might spot the Tommy Haas link to the movie!

"Yeah, we're friends. But, you know, it's the type of friendship where if you're in trouble, I probably won't be there for you. Just like I wouldn't expect you to be there for me. It's a more honest friendship. It's not like this phony thing. It's a genuine friendship. I can't trust you. You can't trust me. I'm not gonna take a bullet for you. I'm not gonna jump on a grenade for you. I'm gonna..."

In earlier circumstances, I would have posted this on Facebook and now I am not going to do so. There's a certain freedom in being able to write in spaces that don't offer as much engagement.