I know. You’re now sighing and saying – right…another review on NY. But I had to write and purge it out of my system. Please bear with my ramblings. Here goes…
Imagine there is minor theft in your house. Let’s say a gold ring has gone missing. What’s the first thought that comes to your mind? I think most of us will shamefully agree that we would wonder right away if the maid has swiped it. That’s because she is the only other non-home member to wander freely in our premises. And also because she is the one in need. She had a motive for doing it – or so we assume.
This is really the mentality of post 9/11 America.
They were living content in the mirage that they are the most powerful nation in the world. That no one. Absolutely no one would even consider doing them harm. Let alone rock the very foundations of their presumptuous economic superiority. But one fine day they learnt what it is to feel fear and what it means to feel insecure. When 9/11 happened they were unprepared. And it left them scared and scarred. It made them view everyone and everything with suspicion. Now let’s apply the ‘suspect the maid’ mentality here. Who can they direct their fear and anger against? The immigrants of course! The people who didn’t really belong. The people who betrayed their trust and misused their freedom. They needed someone to blame for their misfortunes. They needed to let off their anger and frustrations. And the immigrants proved to be conveniently present in large numbers. Guatanamo Bay Detention Camp was born out of this fear, insecurity and hatred for the inexplicable enemy.
So were the Americans wrong? Post 9/11 it seems nearly 1200 innocent immigrants were tortured in the horrifying cells of this camp. But the Americans were afraid and angry. They were insecure and petrified. And everyone was seen as the enemy. Every action was a suspect. True, they over-reacted. But they were like over-protected children suddenly left alone in a jungle to survive. They felt that offence was the best form of defence. No I’m not trying to justify their actions here. I’m just trying to understand the motive behind it.
What about the poor immigrants then? They were caught and tortured for no fault of theirs. Simply that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Another issue that perhaps needs to be raised here: Why does the Islamic world hate the Americans so much? I was in Muscat when 9/11 happened. In fact on 9th September I was unwell and at home. I watched the carnage on television – alone. And I wept for the innocent people who died. In that state of mind I went to work the next day and was amazed to find that my Arab colleagues were actually jubilant! They were ecstatic that someone had finally attacked the Americans. Haven’t the Americans (through Israel) been harassing the Palestinians in this manner for years now? If this is an act of terrorism – what about what they are doing to innocent Palestinian civilians – isn’t that a terrorist act too? Hmmm…
I shall leave this question open ended. Just needed to build this background before I went into the movie.
Now let’s talk about the film New York. I emerged with mixed feelings. I loved the core thought of this movie. Beyond the conflict of friends. Beyond the love interest. The movie tries to find a villain – and in the end decides that there really is none. And I kind of agree with that theory. It’s hard for us to understand why the Americans behaved this way – because we are used to dealing with hardships every day. For them this fear and insecurity were alien emotions and they still have not leant to deal with it.
Three friends, happy college days…the beginning of the movie left me with a sense of déjà vu. I felt that I had seen it a million times. I also felt that this part dragged on for too long. A little too much attention is given to establishing John’s character. ‘Hai Junoon’ is a nice number and helps you somehow to stamp your feet and put up with this portion of the movie. Finally…at last…the movie moves on and 9/11 happens. It is perhaps the weakest scene of the movie! As the turning point of the movie, it lacks drama and poignancy. John smirks through it – like it were just another mosquito bite. Katrina tires her best to salvage it. But it simply does not work. A whole lot of American extras standing around look like they’re watching ET on TV. Neil looks confused – he is not sure if that’s the WTC falling apart or his own heart!
Neil though does a decent enough job in the rest of the movie. The second half only requires him to look perplexed or angry or confused and he does that pretty well. Katrina – I must say this has to be her best effort at acting. So I shall be nice and leave her pretty self alone. John! Methinks we can make a tree act, but not John. He simply continues to look wooden. His facial expressions vary from his customary dimpled smirk to wrinkling of the eye brows to crinkling of his eyes - in the most emotional scenes. In those nude torture scenes I was fascinated by some marks on his chest – some surgery perhaps? Eh?
Ah yes John’s torture scenes offer some of the best moments in the movie. I actually stopped munching popcorn to watch it. Well taken and quite impactful. It certainly helps you understand why so many people hate the Americans now.
And Irrfan. The life and soul of the movie. Here I send him my virtual hug! Thank God we have some actors who can actually act. He does it effortlessly like the pro that he is. His humor is fantastic and his poise throughout the movie is commendable. Hats off to Irrfan.
For me the best part of the movie was is middle when the build up to the climax happens. I thought the person who acted as Zergei did a fantastic job of it. Perhaps John needs to take a lesson of two from him!
The climax – was sadly all too predictable. The slow motions were annoying. The melodrama was excruciating.
The cinematography and locations were excellent. (If we overlook the Philadelphia part that is). Music was good in parts, jarring and annoying in other places. But decent overall. Script could have been much better. The most sensible part of the movie is Irrfan’s parting line – which says something to the effect of – it’s no one’s fault. It’s simply the circumstances. Of being there in the wrong place at the wrong time. And that line really is what made me like the movie.