Basmati Blues (D- or .5/4 stars)
Filmed in 2013, post-production in 2015, released in 2018 … is there any world in which this film ISN'T crap? The answer: No. 'Basmati Blues' (directed by Dan Baron) is a feeble American attempt at a Bollywood-styled musical. The "story" {eye roll} goes as follows: scientist Linda (Brie Larson) has invented a new kind of super, genetically-modified rice {riveting, I know}. With the help of corporation Mogil -- run by CEO Gurgon (Donald Sutherland, what are you DOING in this!?) -- her rice is about to have a big launch. But as it turns out, the company's salesman rubbed the locals in India the wrong way, threatening to founder the whole thing. So Gurgon selects goggle-eyed, amiable Linda to head over to exotic India to sort out everything.
Over there, she meets Rajit (Utkarsh Ambudkar), who briefly studied agriculture at University but was forced to leave college due to lack of $$. Though he's physically attracted to Linda, Rajit clashes with her over his more organic views on rice growing. Linda also meets William (Saahil Sehgal), a well-dressed corporate decoy for Gurgon; and of course ... he falls for Linda, as well. But what Linda doesn't quite know yet is that once the Indian farmers sign their Mogil contracts, they would be obligated to buy new seeds every year. It's up to Rajit to convince Linda of the truth in time. And it's up to him to win-over her heart, as well. Cue the cringe-worthy Slumdog Millionaire-like Bollywood end credits sequence. Gag me.
What an embarrassing bust this is for everyone involved. Too earnest, too sappy, too sickly sweet, too amateurish ... too everything except 'too good'. Right off the bat I knew I was in for a bumpy ride when Brie Larson started busting out in song with her high-toned soprano. The movie does contain a handful of nice and/or lively moments, but mostly, 'Basmati Blues' inspires frustration & major eye-rolling. As mentioned earlier, 'Basmati ...' was shelved for years, only to resurface because of Brie Larson's growing fame {in the wake of her Best Actress win for 2015's Room}; I'm nearly positive that Larson would have wanted this film to remain buried. You know, it's difficult to dislike Brie Larson. She has her charms. Though I didn't care for the tone of her voice, she can and can carry a tune. One of the "best" {I use that term loosely} scenes in the film IS a musical number set in a nightclub containing Larson. That said, her Linda is so dopey, naive, easily fooled & pushed around that I found it extremely difficult to believe she's a scientist.
The original songs here are instantly forgettable -- no memory of any lyric or tune. I couldn't believe my eyes & ears every time Donald Sutherland & Tyne Daly opened their mouths to sing a villainous tune; truly horrifying. Scott Bakula is in this thing as Linda's father; minor, ineffective role. As for the Indian characters in this story, well, they don't come across as authentic; more, generic & stereotyped (portrayed predominantly as kind, simple, life-loving locals & farmers with stereotypical physical ticks) -- BIG disappointment. In today's day & age of multicultural film standards, this type of generalization is unacceptable. And I loathed the concept that Linda would be so aloof about someone else's culture. Now, it's cool, of course, to have a film that villainizes corporations/corporate greed, but 'Basmati Blues' is just so vacuous, half-witted & amateurish to take seriously {or for fun}. The movie even LOOKS bad; like a TV pilot, or something akin.
Over there, she meets Rajit (Utkarsh Ambudkar), who briefly studied agriculture at University but was forced to leave college due to lack of $$. Though he's physically attracted to Linda, Rajit clashes with her over his more organic views on rice growing. Linda also meets William (Saahil Sehgal), a well-dressed corporate decoy for Gurgon; and of course ... he falls for Linda, as well. But what Linda doesn't quite know yet is that once the Indian farmers sign their Mogil contracts, they would be obligated to buy new seeds every year. It's up to Rajit to convince Linda of the truth in time. And it's up to him to win-over her heart, as well. Cue the cringe-worthy Slumdog Millionaire-like Bollywood end credits sequence. Gag me.
What an embarrassing bust this is for everyone involved. Too earnest, too sappy, too sickly sweet, too amateurish ... too everything except 'too good'. Right off the bat I knew I was in for a bumpy ride when Brie Larson started busting out in song with her high-toned soprano. The movie does contain a handful of nice and/or lively moments, but mostly, 'Basmati Blues' inspires frustration & major eye-rolling. As mentioned earlier, 'Basmati ...' was shelved for years, only to resurface because of Brie Larson's growing fame {in the wake of her Best Actress win for 2015's Room}; I'm nearly positive that Larson would have wanted this film to remain buried. You know, it's difficult to dislike Brie Larson. She has her charms. Though I didn't care for the tone of her voice, she can and can carry a tune. One of the "best" {I use that term loosely} scenes in the film IS a musical number set in a nightclub containing Larson. That said, her Linda is so dopey, naive, easily fooled & pushed around that I found it extremely difficult to believe she's a scientist.
The original songs here are instantly forgettable -- no memory of any lyric or tune. I couldn't believe my eyes & ears every time Donald Sutherland & Tyne Daly opened their mouths to sing a villainous tune; truly horrifying. Scott Bakula is in this thing as Linda's father; minor, ineffective role. As for the Indian characters in this story, well, they don't come across as authentic; more, generic & stereotyped (portrayed predominantly as kind, simple, life-loving locals & farmers with stereotypical physical ticks) -- BIG disappointment. In today's day & age of multicultural film standards, this type of generalization is unacceptable. And I loathed the concept that Linda would be so aloof about someone else's culture. Now, it's cool, of course, to have a film that villainizes corporations/corporate greed, but 'Basmati Blues' is just so vacuous, half-witted & amateurish to take seriously {or for fun}. The movie even LOOKS bad; like a TV pilot, or something akin.