What will need to happen for Ashutosh to make... - Page 8

The guy is full of over-confidence. Hes still got me baffled as to WHAT he was eating or thinking while making Jodha Akbar????!!!!?!?!?!? And TELL MEEE, who was part of the JURY who gave the movie soo many awards? I need to have a one-on-one chit chat with them all.

And he still has the guts to blabber about his movies. Talk about arrogance. He can give some competition to the one-hit wonder Freida Pinto.

Originally posted by: -bluemoon-

Sincere he might be, but I don't think he is all that great of a filmmaker. And part of what prevents him from becoming better is his attitude, which is reflected in his controversial statements.

Jodha Akbar was hardly a good film forget about being best of the year (according to me).

LOL well I mentioned Swades in my post, not Jodha Akbar :-) And I will reiterate that I thought it was an awesome movie. I liked Jodha Akbar too....I guess we all have our personal preferences. He may not be the greatest filmmaker but I still don't consider him worth writing off over a few 'controversial' statements and a movie like WYR.

^Not trying to have an argument, but what about Baazi and Pehla Nasha then? I am judging him based on those too.

I didn't mention Swades because people had already discussed it but I was going to say that it was a little too preachy and could have been shorter. It was an above average film as opposed to JA which wasn't very good according to me.

His "controversial statement" are a part of this discussion I think because it reflects on how he feels about his films. Which kind of gives an insight into why they are so long.

@bluemoon: Ok, then I'm not trying to get into an argument either and I'll just drop the subject from my end.....I don't feel as passionately about this issue....lol

I don't mind the length of a film if I enjoy it....so length was not an issue for me in Swades, Lagaan or JA....I'm not judging him based on his movies before Lagaan cuz I haven't watched those.

Originally posted by: psychobalehead

Ashutosh Gowarikar is bald Ekta Kapoor in disguise. There's nothing that can be done to edit his work. But everything has an expiration date. Give him one more flop and he'll be history.

You are right that in general a film's length is not a problem, but I think it is a problem in Ashutosh G's case. Simply because of those lingering shots that don't achieve anything and the subplots that go nowhere.

I might be one of the few people who actually tried to watch WYR, but that film actually did remind me a bit about Ekta Kapoor serials with the melodrama toned down a few notches.

And yes the bulb scene was very anti-climactic.

I think my passionate dislike for his movies is indirectly proportional to all the acclaim/awards he has won. He might not be as bad as say Rumi Jaffrey (I saw Life Partner as well 😳) but then when is he going to get to call himself an "Oscar-nominated director".

I don't have much to add. Anu, I think you are right that he is sincere. That is true, and he certainly has a vision as a filmmaker. But I guess I wish he could realize his full potential as well. Maybe, I could have framed it a bit more conclusively and say, make a more gripping film. Certainly, length alone is not the issue, because I have sat and watched 3 of the LOTR films back to back in a theater. As long as something is engaging, I don't mind it and don't really notice the time passing by. Just would like to see him reach his full potential.
Actually, I think both Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ashutosh Gowariker, have it in them to stay true to their styles and make a good film. They aren't necessarily gone cases, but I do think sometimes their egos get in the way. But I do appreciate the fact that they are willing to go big or go home. That is rare. Sometimes, it can work i.e. Lagaan and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam or it can go bust i.e. Saawariya and What's Your Raashree.