Lion (2016) Film Review

I must admit, I avoided watching this film for a while because, while I was curious to hear Dev Patel doing an Australian accent (awesome job there, by the way), I felt that I’d seen the whole film from the trailers. A young boy in India gets lost and ends up being adopted by an Australian couple, and years later goes back to track down his mother and brother. But no! I mean, yes, that is the story. But I though it would all be the tracking down – the first half of the film or so belongs to Sunny Pawar, the young boy who plays Saroo as a child getting lost. It is beautiful and tragic, and very, very wonderful. Yes, the later parts with Patel and David Wenham and Nicole Kidman are good, but only because they had such a strong start.

See it. Yes, have tissues, it’s clearly a tear-jerker, but in all the very best ways.

Lion was nominated for Oscars for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Dev Patel), Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Nicole Kidman), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Achievement in Cinematography and Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score). It was nominated for Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture- Drama, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Dev Patel), Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Nicole Kidman) and Best Original Score – Motion Picture. It won BAFTAs for Best Supporting Actor (Dev Patel) and Best Screenplay (Adapted) (Luke Davies) and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress (Nicole Kidman), Best Cinematography and Original Music.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) Film Review

A bunch of old English people go to India to spend their Autumn years in a luxury hotel. Each has reasons which are clearly outlined in the opening sequence. When they get there, things are not as they expected. Some learn and grow, some don’t.

I thought, despite the accolades and reviews, that this was going to be a tedious and predictable tale of fish out of water, perhaps with a few slight twists. What I found was a delightful and charming film with characters who I loved to love as well as loving to hate. It’s clever, entertaining and not just for the oldies.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical and a BAFTA for Outstanding British Film.

Judi Dench was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical.