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Post by dangermom on Jun 3, 2015 14:43:52 GMT
I went to the movie theater last night to see a non-Bollywood movie and there was this preview for Learning to Drive. Ben Kingsley plays a Sikh driving instructor (who can't get a different job because he would have to take off his turban? Sikhs in America can't get jobs ever?). I spent the whole time annoyed. Plus we then went straight into another Ben Kingsley movie preview. Amitabh would do it better! Name other actors you want to see...
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Post by emily on Jun 3, 2015 14:49:57 GMT
Technically Ben Kingsley is half-Indian, but yeah, I get what you're saying I think I would have gone with Irrfan Khan in his stead; his sassy driver's role in Piku was brilliant, and he'd fit in well here.
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odadune
Star of the item number
not around much due to stuff in my personal life.
Posts: 1,494
Favorite actor: Currently a certain Kumar, but I like most of them
Favorite actress: whoever's in films I'm interested in this week
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Post by odadune on Jun 4, 2015 2:09:00 GMT
The MCF had some work-related dealings a while back with a self-made Sikh businessman, about the age of Kingsley's character, who remarked that 20-30 years ago, when he started his business, he was kind of in the same predicament this character talks about. Irrfan has been busy proving to the west that he's a major drama queen as well as a major talent, and between that and the fact that Kingsley is of Indian descent, and does seem to be in touch with his roots, I don't have a problem with him being cast. Looks like he's sleepwalking through the role, which I do have a problem with, but it seems so poorly directed that I don't think anyone else, including Amitabh would do much better. Kingsley has really brilliant comic timing when he bothers-see Without a Clue or Iron Man 3 for examples-and although Irrfan can be funny I don't think I've seen anything of his that equalled Kingsley's best comic work (to judge by the trailers and reviews, Piku is really not my kind of thing, so if that's his best comic work, I'm going to have to remain in ignorance. )
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Post by dangermom on Jun 8, 2015 14:33:58 GMT
Technically Ben Kingsley is half-Indian, but yeah, I get what you're saying I did not know that! He's played so many 'ethnic' roles. Well I will feel a little better then. And yeah, it looks like a dopey movie no matter which way you cut it. Kingsley is very funny, and I like him as an actor, mostly. My favorite is Twelfth Night. But sometimes I feel like he's Hollywood's idea of a vaguely ethnic guy so they never think of finding anybody else. There can be only one, you know. I'm sure you are right about the problems of being Sikh and getting a good job 30 years ago. I am a little skewed, having lived the past 20+ years in either the CA Bay Area/Silicon Valley or next door to Yuba City.
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Post by corbie on Jun 9, 2015 4:04:23 GMT
What has Irrfan done to be a drama queen? I haven't read anything.
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odadune
Star of the item number
not around much due to stuff in my personal life.
Posts: 1,494
Favorite actor: Currently a certain Kumar, but I like most of them
Favorite actress: whoever's in films I'm interested in this week
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Post by odadune on Jun 9, 2015 23:43:31 GMT
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ranranbolly
Guest appearance
Posts: 108
Favorite actor: Ravi Teja
Favorite actress: Deepika Padukone
Upcoming release you're most excited about: Bengal Tiger
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Post by ranranbolly on Jun 16, 2015 0:42:15 GMT
Well, he played Gandhi, so I'm not surprised he played another Indian role. Kingsley is a great actor, so that doesn't bother me terribly. But Nana Patekar might be cool in the role.
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