Melbourne Chauffeur Service
Posted : 6 years, 6 months ago on 21 November 2017 04:120 comments, Reply to this entry
An average movie
Posted : 7 years, 12 months ago on 31 May 2016 09:23For some reasons, I actually ended up watching this flick in the movie theater when it was released and I wonder what made me choose this movie at the time. I guess, back in those days, I was watching maybe 3 movies every week in the movie theater so I wasn’t exactly really picky. Anyway, to be honest, even though it was fairly entertaining, somehow, it didn’t really blow me away though. I don’t know, the plot felt slightly too pedestrian and predictable to me. I mean, the culture clash was interesting but it was also cliché-ridden in my opinion. Furthermore, since they were so many children in this family, all of them had their own specific sub-plot and, a a result, instead of one fully-fledged story, they gave us instead a whole bunch of half-baked little tales. After this movie, Damien O’Donnell would make ‘Rory O'Shea Was Here’ which was really impressive but, unfortunately, it would be his last full length feature and he hasn’t done much during the following 10 years which is rather surprising considering that he seemed to have some potential. Anyway, coming back to our main feature, even though I thought it was slightly disappointing, it was still a decent watch and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.
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Great film: Funny, charming, poignant, refreshing
Posted : 9 years, 5 months ago on 17 December 2014 01:21Om Puri especially gives a powerful performance as the patriarch of the family. While he loves his family very much the traditions make him a very strict father. Linda Bassett is great as his wife, and out of the younger cast, Jimi Mistry really stands out.
The sons yearn for freedom, and are resistant to the life their father wishes them to lead.
All in all, a great film that breaks the mould for films similar to it.
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Mixed Feelings, Mostly Good
Posted : 10 years, 4 months ago on 31 December 2013 03:41Manchester, 1971. George (Puri) is an old-fashioned Muslim and stern father of seven rebellious children, who are more white than Muslim and resent their father's interfering ways. Their mother, Ella (Bassett,) is an fairly assertive and modern British lady who tries to work out disagreements within the family. When Nazir (Ian Aspinall) panics during an arranged marriage ceremony and walks out on his bride, the clan is thrown into discord.
As George becomes increasingly domineering and abusive, Sajid clings to his childhood like his well-worn parka that he never takes off. Ella tries to maintain some control over the deteriorating situation, and George becomes determined to marry off two of his oldest sons to two ugly brides.
The odd mixture of strident comedy and domestic drama doesn't always work. Something like a amorous Great Dane or a vagina-shaped art project might seem mildly funny, but seems discordant among frank scenes of domestic violence. The acting is strong from the leads, and they help the movie quite a bit along the rough patches.
Jordan Routledge is cute and expressive as the youngest lad of the family. Linda Bassett is convincing playing the frustrated, beleaguered matriarch, and while I didn't agree with all her decisions, I sympathized with her for the most part. George is not a cartoon cutout villain, but I think his treatment of his family might have been treated a bit more seriously if he weren't a 'traditional Muslim man.'
Ella might defend her husband, but we modern girls know better- if a man gives us a black eye and menaces our children, he is O-U-T out! Religion is neither a defense or an excuse. I don't like how she gets back together with him at the end. I guess it happens, but it wasn't a satisfying ending. She should have shown that b**tard the door.
For the most part, "East is East" is a charming movie. I liked the character-based humor and the kids' antics. It would be annoying growing up in a big family like that. You wouldn't have any privacy! The kids were pretty much stacked on top of each other like a cheese sandwich. I had some problems with the film but overall I liked it.
I think the treatment of the unattractive women in the film could've been a little less cruel, but like the ending, it's a reality of life that might not be pretty to face, but exists all the same. The world has a long way to go when it comes to being unbiased and dispelling shallow values. Overall a good movie.
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