I aM WhAT i Am. Review on Namesake

Director: Mira Nair

Producer: Lydia Picher

What do you say to a film that means that you resemble OR are even known because of someone else!

*You callyourself by that name . thats NAMESAKE for you!

Easily identifiable, fantastic character play, super cinematography, super acts, super duper screenplay. NAMESAKE for you!

*I had the opportunity to read a lot of reviews here and also to retrospect because of all of you but what I want to say here is that you will never be able to identify yourself with a better film than this. thats NAMESAKE for you! It just is so simply filmed to let you know that you are amoungst those whoare acting on your NAMESAKE. It is so simple!

*Too late to write about this and too late to even acknowledge it. But I am going to talk about the making of this film more than the story. It is very intriguing the way this film has been made.

*CINEMATOGRAPHER: Frederick Elmes

Filmography: Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s) 1987 Won BSFC Award Best Cinematography

for: Blue Velvet(1986)

Camerimage Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s) 2000 Won Special Award Best Duo: Director - Cinematographer

Shared with:

David Lynch

Chlotrudis Awards Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s) 1998 Nominated Chlotrudis Award Best Cinematography

for: The Ice Storm(1997)

Emmy Awards Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s) 1997 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Special

for: In the Gloaming(1997)(TV)

Fantasporto Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s) 1997 Won Directors' Week Award Best Cinematography

for: The Empty Mirror(1996)

Hawaii International Film Festival Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s) 1996 - Excellence in Cinematography Award     Independent Spirit Awards Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s) 1993 Won Independent Spirit Award Best Cinematography

for: Night on Earth(1991)

1991 Won Independent Spirit Award Best Cinematography

for: Wild at Heart(1990)

1987 Nominated Independent Spirit Award Best Cinematography

for: Blue Velvet(1986)

National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s) 1987 Won NSFC Award Best Cinematography

for: Blue Velvet(1986)

Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s) 1986 Won Caixa de Catalunya Best Cinematography

for: Blue Velvet(1986)

WorldFest Houston Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s) 1997 Won Gold Special Jury Award Best Cinematography

for: The Empty Mirror(1996)

courtesy: imdb.com

He has used techniques that are quite simply OUTRAGEOUS! Why do I call it outrageous? Its because he has kept it to the simple values of close and mid close cuts. No long shots to live the glory of the scenes but just mid to close of the characters of the film who are supposed to be glorified! Thats it!

EDITOR: Allyson Johnson

She has been terrific. You would have to think twice if you had missed the earlier dialogue and what the characters have said to know that you did miss something. But not here, the sequencing has been done so beautifully that you would be absent for some time and yet be completely aware of what has happened in the earlier scene! The edit is so slick and so well done that you will never miss the follow up on the earlier sequence! Kudos to her.

*Now you must be wondering what is this all about? Its about the people who dont really hog the limelight like the Director does. Its about people who deligently stick to their job and do what they are supposed to all the time and also deliver within the timeline! Its difficult and its tough. The job done by the technical team is commendable and the Director thrives because of them. The film has its moments of glory because of the people who have sworn themselves to deliver and have made a life out of sleepless nights and relentless exposure to delivering the best at all times!

Mira Nair, is simply too good but the people behind her deserve an applause and rightfully so! I am sure that even Mira will do it! Acknowledge the support and live upto the expectations of not only the team but also of the people who crave to watch her work and the people who owrk for her!

*This review is dedicated to people who have been there done that and yet been above a lot of normal expectation of the audience. If Mira has done a wonderful job, its only because her crew has been fantastic! Her crew has been unforgiving on themsleves and her crew has been at it and Delivering all the time!

Hats off to this team and Mira to have been able to garner such admirable support!

Watch this film again & again only to feel CONTENTED that you have watched something that isRARE and something that comes only **once in a decade! Wish there would be more!

Remember the acccident that Irfan had?Do you also remember the way Irfan asked that he wants to look at his wannabe wife? Do you also remember the scene where the birth of GOGOL was so important to your viewing and Gogol's life too? Do you also remember the dialogue which says that its trerribly expensive to change names once it has been registered at the clinic? Yeah, true, scary and very very dark! thats NAMESAKE for you!

Good, thats because the makers knew what they were supposed to show and the editor knew what was to be shown. Mira you are terrific but what makes you that is your team, so lets hear ot for the team of NAMESAKE!

I would end here by saying that Mira has a namesake too.:)

Keep guessing.

Thats NAMESAKE for you! Delivered and Savoured!