Comments on: Goodfella’s Best of ‘08

By: satyam

satyam — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:51:48 +0000

Aarohi: That’s a fair point though I’d be kinder on the film. I think that the plot does go haywire in a sense in the second half but Rathnam maintains a remarkable consistency of tone throughout the film.

By: goodfella

goodfella — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:25:26 +0000

Aarohi, yes, certainly among films in recent history, Dil Se… makes a great case. I have revisited it a ton since first having seen it, but mostly just jumped around to favorite scenes, and of course, the visually transcendent music sequences.

By: Aarohi

Aarohi — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:13:54 +0000

In my books, the ultimate ‘not-a-sum-of-its-parts’ film is Dil Se..

By: goodfella

goodfella — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:11:02 +0000

Abzee – thanks very much! Certainly, as far as films that are not the sum of their parts go, Tashan ranks high.

Thanks, Ravi.

By: Ravi

Ravi — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:53:19 +0000

Very nice summation Goodfella, a pleasure to read as always.

By: ăbzee

ăbzee — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:16:20 +0000

Wonderful list here Goodfella. Haven’t seen OLLO, but agree with the ret. In fact, OI’m pleased as punch that you chose those scenes from BAH and Tashan. The others, given their calibre, one expected as choices in a list such as this from someone with a cinematic acumen such as you. But with those two choices, you’ve shown that you also have that rare gift- the ability to also see a film, not just as a sum of parts but equally as parts that may not necessarily add to a great whole.

On a personal note, while my heart really loves the MMJ epilogue, I have to say that I’ve had most fun in the Bachchan Pandey intro scene. That for me is the scene of the year.

By: Aarohi

Aarohi — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:46:29 +0000

OLLO is a must-see.

By: rks

rks — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:43:36 +0000

Nice read and different insights. Haven’t seen OLLO, Ghajini.

By: goodfella

goodfella — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:30:11 +0000

Thanks, Akshay…Mithya I’ll have to revisit since it seems I’m in a pretty big minority here.

By: akshay shah

akshay shah — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:27:39 +0000

This is a stunning piece Goodfella…still surprise you didn’t like MITHYA(i consider it the years best film though i’m still to see A WEDNESDAY and MUMBAU MERI JAAN!
A.Shah

By: Tony Montana

Tony Montana — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:23:09 +0000

You are not alone Goodfella. I didn’t like Mithya either but then again I am not a big fan of Wednesday either. OLLO & Rock On are my fav. Good list btw.

By: goodfella

goodfella — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:58:29 +0000

Thanks very much Saket!

By: saket

saket — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:41:21 +0000

Fantastic read, Goodfella. Quite illuminating, to say the least. Your choice of words to describe each and every scene is just impeccable. Extremely fluid writing! And props for deciphering the psychology/alternate meanings of scenes that are just as powerful, in a literal sense.

By: goodfella

goodfella — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:32:43 +0000

Aarohi, yes. I am the only one I know who did not like Mithya!

By: Aarohi

Aarohi — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:26:30 +0000

@Goodfella: Have you seen Mithya?

By: goodfella

goodfella — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:17:36 +0000

Thanks all.

Manoj – Didn’t find KKG all that enjoyable, strangely, just a nice film with some tender touches. By comparison, OLLO is just a far more involving film.

Rocky – Though I had quite different reaction to MMJ’s final scene, it certainly has a longer length than what the multiplex/arthouse kind of movies are accustomed to offering. But that’s what I liked about it…took time getting where it did.

Shahid, I would urge you to see both films, but especially OLLO. For me it’s the best film of the year.

By: Rocky

Rocky — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:51:43 +0000

Great List GF.
I was not planning to see Oye Lucky, now will have to see that one.
As a movie i found Wednesday so much superior to MMJ.
Paresh Rawal was very good but by the time his climax speech came, I was tired and restless and wanted him to just shut the F.. up so that the damn movie would end.
The best scene for me was Paresh’s reaction when his asistant tells him – kya 35 saal mujhe aapkee tarah jeena padega ??

By: Arun

Arun — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 12:53:32 +0000

Wonderful compilation here, Goodfella! The MMJ climax would be my favourite out of these.

By: Shahid

Shahid — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:30:50 +0000

A wonderful selection of scenes (am yet to see Oye Lucky and Mumbai Meri Jaan tho). The scenes that resonate the most with me would be Bachna Ae Haseeno and Jodha Akbar. It might sound shocking to say this but Benegal could well learn from Bachna Ae Haseeno. He gave Kunal a similar part in Welcome to Sajjanpur (the husband of the love interest) and it was pretty much a thankless cameo.

By: Gabber

Gabber — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:38:07 +0000

This is easily one of the best writeups on NG.

By: jayshah

jayshah — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:18:32 +0000

Great write-up. Agree with the choices from SR and JA. The latter was a bit of a surprise as I vaguely remember, the former was shocking!

By: manoj16_391

manoj16_391 — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:16:01 +0000

Goodfella,
Its laconic yet quite articulately explained.

BTW, “who previously debuted with the nice but overrated Khosla Ka Ghosla”

I dont think KKG is an overrated movie.It was quite enjoyable.

By: afsu

afsu — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:51:26 +0000

Wonderful choices Goodfella.

By: satyam

satyam — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:57:55 +0000

Very nicely etched choices here Goodfella..

By: Aarohi

Aarohi — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:30:47 +0000

Great list, Goodfella.

By: Som

Som — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:30:11 +0000

Wonderful list Goodfella!Agree with most of the choices barring “Jogi bares his soul in the forest”.