Happy Wednesday! I had a lovely lovely day yesterday, and now I am at work and sleep-deprived, the price I pay for a lovely lovely day.
I’ll start!
Reading: Not much, pretty dead in the brain right now. There’s the Film Companion homophobic article of course, but otherwise not much.
Watching: SO MUCH! Over the weekend I started Poldark. Such a sexy show! Oh my goodness, BBC I hardly knew ye. More importantly, I watched Why Women Kill on impulse. The first episode is trying too hard and stilted and too campy, but wow does it improve and get really kind of deep as the show goes on. In a way that makes me think the first episode was a conscious experiment, sucking people in by making you think it will be a campy shallow farce and then going deeper and therefore revealing the audiences own hypocrisy in accepting that was all there was. And then I started Unforgotten, which started slow and confusing in the first episode too, and then I finally got into the rhythm and it is quite good. Oh, and last night I watched War again. Still gay.
Thinking: Letterman special! It’s coming up soon. Does anyone know if Netflix drops things at midnight eastern time, midnight pacific time, or some other time? I’m planning/hoping to stay up and watch it ASAP, take notes, and write my review. And then go to work with two hours sleep (fun times!).
Listening: Thanks to my nephew and his Yo Yo obsession, this song has been stuck in my head. Seems awfully appropriate for a 2 month old, doesn’t it?
Question: Yesterday I put up a post (which you should all comment on!) asking if you want Shahrukh to be your father, son, or lover movie by movie. What other actors fall in that grey area where you somehow want them to be your lover and also your father/son? Taking Anil Kapoor in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha as a given?
dontcallitbollywood 
Watched The Sky is Pink, and I’m still wondering why Abhishek walked out of it. This kind of slice-of-life drama is something I think he’d have excelled in.
Just found out that Anurag Kashyap’s next will have Roshan Mathew and Saiyami Kher in the lead roles. I’m intrigued.
I have the Laila Majnu soundtrack on repeat. The whole thing.
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I didn’t know Abhishek walked out of The Sky is Pink. How interesting. I think he made the right decision, if only because it looks too similar to Manmarziyaan to me in terms of the audience for it and acting style. If he really wants to commit to challenging himself as an artist, he should change things up.
As one of the two people in the world who love Mirzya (Hi Angie!), I am excited to see what Saiyami Kher does next.
On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 9:22 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I watched Mauli just for Saiyami Kher and she is so cute in it! It is a marathi movie with Riteish Deshmukh with a HUGE Karan-Arjun meets Judwaa hangover but might be worth watching just for Saiyami.
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She had such an interesting different look in Mirzya, it made me want to see more of her just because I want more strong tall actresses instead of skinny little short people.
On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 10:29 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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You just sold me Mauli. Putting it on “Must watch” list 🙂
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Yay! And also, now I am scared. Just setting some expectations. It is a Marathi action film. So, I wouldn’t go in expecting crisp editing or high-level cinematography (the fight scenes are too long, blood looks a little like ketchup, etc.)
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As long as there will be some good drama I don’t care about other things 😉
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Unforgotten is such an interesting show. I love the relationship between the boss cop and Sunny, but I’m also glad that the focus is a bit more on the case than on their personal lives. Hope they keep that balance in remaining seasons.
I had not one, but two lousy dads–a bio-dad and then a step dad who adopted me legally but was awful in whole new ways. So I have to say Prithvi’s father roles kind of confuse me. He remains very hot, but also would be a compelling dad. I found this especially in Ivide–where he’s super angry but never at his extremely cute and precocious lil girl.
I can’t think of anyone else I feel that way about. Mmmm, maybe Spencer Tracy?
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Spencer Tracy in Desk Set is my everything. A super smart man who falls in love with a super smart woman because they like being super smart together, and it is SEXY. But as a father he has never really appealed to me.
Harrison Ford maybe for me? Which is a sign of my youth. I saw him in all kinds of things and thought of him as “Dad” because he was my Dad’s age. And now that I am the right age for Han Solo, I still look at him and think “Dad, but now I feel weird about it”.
On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 9:56 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Generational differences for sure. Both Han Solo and Deckard in Blade Runner were key to my developing sexuality. He and Sean Young were an electric (pun intended) couple in Blade Runner. My, my my.
Yay for Desk Set!
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Harrison Ford in Patriot Games and Working Girl, Robert Redford in All the President’s Men, I look at them and go “oh look, it’s the same jacket/briefcase/haircut my father had when I was little! I feel all cozy and warm and just want them to pat me on the head and make me cereal for breakfast”. It’s a terrible terrible loss.
On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 10:07 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Siddarth Anand addresses the homoeroticism in War and it’s got an amazing quote from him:
https://www.filmcompanion.in/everything-you-need-to-know-war-siddharth-anand-shridhar-raghavan-hrithik-roshan-tiger-shroff
As one of my twitter followers said, i feel like it would have been more succinct for him to just say “I’d hit it” 🤣
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Ha! Totally what I said in my post! maybe. Kind of. Male stars are worshipped, and part of that is worshipping their bodies, both for the characters onscreen and the fans off screen.
On the other hand, I was stunned to learn Sidharth has a wife he mentions elsewhere in the article. Just assumed he was a Hrithiksexual.
On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 9:57 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Can we give him a shoutout though for being so matter of fact about it? He comes right out and says everyone looks at Hrithik with lust, including men, because good god look at him. Also, just because he’s married doesn’t mean he’s not feeling lust for Hrithik and it doesn’t mean his marriage is a beard or a lie either (I know you know this, but I think it needs to be spelled out that a man can be happily married to a woman and still feel desire for men and it doesn’t mean he’s closeted).
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Yes, I love it, and I also love how casual he is in another quote about people being free to interpret the movie anyway that is fun for them.
On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 10:10 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I just read Siddarth’s quote and was about to post it, but Alisa, you beat me to it. I love that quote so much. And yes, it does not matter if you are a man or woman, you are lusting after Hrithik in War.
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Oh also, if the sequel to War doesn’t have Tiger, then it should have Hrithik and Sid. Bang Bang + A Gentleman = War 2 = My Ultimate Fantasy!
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YES! Sid is so good at Handsome Action Hero.
On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 10:39 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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lol that’s a strangely great interview. I like that they don’t say they don’t agree or are against that reading or anything. A lot of people would be. His Hrithik crush is so cute!
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Just put up a related post!
On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 12:32 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Instead of “Unforgotten”, my brain read “Unforgettable” and for a second I thought you watched that bad movie I saw last week 😉 LOL
I’m still on my “the most random movies” string. Right after seeing Unforgettable, I decided I need something good and so I watched Aligarh. Manoj Bajpayee broke my heart with his acting. And I can now answer to your last week’s question: What times have you had to look away from the screen because the moment between the characters felt too private to watch? Aligarh is full of those moments. Every time somebody asked Manoj’s character about what happened between him and his friend he was so embarrassed and shy I just couldn’t watch him. Really heartbreaking.
And today I saw Fitoor. I have been avoiding this movie for years because I heard it’s bad, but you know why – I liked it!
I read your review and I agree that the message was too obvious, and characters a little too blank, but it was so stunning visually I just couldn’t stop watching. There wasn’t even one ugly frame. Everything was so lovely and rich in detail. Every costume, every interior, everyone. Aditya was super handsome and dreamy (also super stalkerish but who cares), Katrina beautiful, and when I thought they are the most beautiful couple in the world, Aditi Rao came and in few scenes stole the movie. I think I had a crush on her now because she was absolutely stunning.
I couldn’t help but compare this film with Jab Tak hai Jaan and Kalank, and in my opinion, Fitoor is 10 times better. It’s not the perfect movie, but definitely worth watching for all the beauty it has inside. The characters are messy sometimes but never flat, hollow and stupid like people in Kalank.
Can’t wait for next Abhishek Kapoor’s movie.
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Have you seen Kedernath yet? Definitely another one for you.
And have you watched Aashiqui? It’s soooooo bad, but then I also hated Fitoor, so maybe you will like it? Now I am just trying to think of bad romances I didn’t like for you. Ek Villain?
On the other hand, I will probably NEVER watch Aligarh. Really all of Hansal Mehta’s movies just look way too painful for me to handle. I want him to do something fun and optimistic just so I can see what he is like as a director, but that’s not going to happen.
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Kedarnath – watched and liked, but I’m still thinking what was going on in Sara’s house. How it’s possible that a guy was first engaged with her older sister and then with her? Abhishek Kapoor is not good in explaining family stuff.
Do you mean Aashiqui 2? I saw that, and hate it. Aditya was beautiful, Shraddha also, but the movie was so stupid! My sister wanted me to watch A star is born, because she loved it, but I couldn’t make it, because I had Aashiqui 2 in my head all the time.
Aashiqui 1 – should I watch it? There are only 2 old hindi movies on Italian Prime: Agneepath and Aashiqui, and I wonder often if the latter is something I would like.
Ek Villain – I haven’t seen or planned to see it, but who knows. It’s Mohit Suri, so I could give it a chance.
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Okay, glad to know there is a level of “bad illogical romance” that crosses the line for you. I think Ek Villain is better than Aashiqui 2, although the Ritiesh sections are really creepy and unpleasant. But they also aren’t super plot relevant, so you can fastforward them if you want.
On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 3:40 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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LOL You forgot I saw and loved Half-girlfriend.
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Reading: Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar
Thinking: Local school board politics seem to be echoing those in Washington DC
Listening: X Plastaz, Tanzanian Rap – I like rap more when I can’t understand what they are saying
Watching: I’m TRYING to watch Fan. It is supposed to be one of his best, but I get so uncomfortable I snap the laptop shut after 10 minutes or so. Last night I didn’t even get through 10 minutes. He looked like he was about to attack an SRK detractor with a trophy and I got too embarrassed. Watching Fan makes me feel bad about being a fan.
Actor/character gray area: I always wanted Han Solo to be my uncle.
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Fan is extremely good, but also a very hard watch. Neither of the leads are good people, at least not 100%. Don’t look for perfection, or an escape from flawed humanity. But then, that’s what makes it brilliant, Shahrukh was willing to play these two troubled people and challenge us to live with them.
On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 12:31 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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“Watching Fan makes me feel bad about being a fan”
Yes! It’s such a innovative movie, but not very pleasant to watch.
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So I am thinking I should have listened to you and not watched Mission Mangal. UGH! I don’t know who I hated more: Akshay or Sanjay. Everything just felt poorly edited. No story line was given proper context or a complete ending. The only scenes I liked were the ones between Kriti Kuhari and H. G. Dattatreya. Such amazing talent was just wasted in this film. I just feel deflated after watching it because this movie could have been so good! It had so much potential.
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WHY IS EVERYONE WATCHING MISSION MANGAL????? It’s so sad, I went through that agony and now I have to live through it again through your eyes.
And yeah, it’s one of those movies that my mother describes as “bad taste in your mouth”. The stupid bad movies, the ones that you forget as soon as they are over, that’s one thing. But the ones that stick with you like acid reflex, that’s no good.
On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 2:53 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Hmm. Anupam Kher is probably the only actor I’ve ever wanted as my father, and that’s strict but wise Anupam like maybe in Wake Up Sid, not dippy Anupam like Raj’s father in DDLJ. Despite my username I’ve never considered him as a boyfriend. I was born with a maternal instinct and never picture anyone as a son (or daughter).
I’m getting further ahead with Made In Heaven, and last night got up to episode, I think, seven, where Arjun gets out of jail and Sobhita trashes Kalki’s apartment. Really liked this episode and how the relationship between Arjun and Sobhita is the heart of the series. Gay man/beautiful sad woman can be a stereotype, but they are avoiding this by the complexity of the characters (i.e. Arjun is not just there to rescue/be more together than Sobhita; she rescues him, quite literally in this episode). Also, can we give it up for Vinay. For my money the actor who can most easily break your heart. And Vijay Raaz is back! I reflected when I saw him that way back in the 1990s, in Monsoon Wedding, Vijay Raaz was P.K. Dubey who is the forerunner of modern wedding planners like Arjan and Sobhita and Ranveer and Anushka.
Then I got kind of hooked into Bard of Blood, suprisingly as (1) I have that Emraan Hashmi issue, and (2) it’s not very good. But somehow I kind of want to know how it turns out. It’s a really formulaic spy thriller with fight after chase after chase after fight,. Sobhita is in it and she’s fine. It’s called Bard of Blood because Emraan is a high school teacher of Shakespeare when he’s not a top spy, code name Adonis (uh, OK); but there doesn’t seem to be any point to that besides to make the title more alliterative. He’s not like quoting Shakespeare in between wasting Taliban operatives or anything.
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I started Malaal and OMG I absolutely love it. Super sexy guy with beautiful shaggy hair loves a girl but feels unworthy so in the beginning, he only sends her those long gazes I love so much. The girl has great clothes and there is a lot of beautiful music and dances (Meezaan dances so well!). There are also some darker scenes, family dynamics and stuff. I don’t know, maybe the movie will be terrible in the second half but first looks like written specifically for me.
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There is also a fight scene IN THE RAIN and Meezan wears a black unbuttoned shirt. If it’s not “a movie based on Angie’s diaries” I don’t know what it is 😉
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Tell me if it has a happy ending, and I may check it out!
On Thu, Oct 17, 2019 at 9:14 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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t’s a remake of tamil movie so I doubt there will be a happy ending, but who knows?
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Maybe he will just end up in a coma instead of dead.
On Thu, Oct 17, 2019 at 10:54 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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SPOILERS :
As expected there is no happy ending, but the movie is beautiful and worth watching. I think that everyone who likes Sanam Teri Kasam will like this one too.
END OF THE SPOILERS
I think I found the romantic movie I was craving for. and I recommend it to all romance lovers.
P.S Meezaan is too hot to handle
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