Three life-is-crap-but-there-is-always-a-good-bidet-around movies on #Netflix…
1. 42
Those who have read Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker trilogy (with 4 books!) would remember that the answer to ‘What is Life?’ Is 42. Perhaps Mr Adams got it after the shirt No. 42 'owned' by Jackie Roosevelt Robinson, the first African-American to play Major League Baseball for Brooklyn Dodgers. Harrison Ford is delightful as the cigar-smoking version of Krishna Paramatma. Key message: A hero doesn’t fight to burn down but to fight and keep the fire on. One hit at a time. One run at a time. #PitchPerfect (4/5)
2. Green Book
What if a black pianist, Dr Dominic Shirley sophisticated to the core, wants to travel Deep South in the US during early ‘60s on a concert tour? Mad, you would say. What if the same pianist (Mahershala Ali in an Oscar-winning performance) employs a white, racist Italian (Viggo Mortensen) to be his driver-cum-valet for the trip? Possible and the inevitable happens. Both grow up during the long drives experiencing, by now familiar, situations of how segregation was so deep-rooted. There was this poignant scene where the negro farmers look at their ‘brother’ pianist with awe, respect, disbelief and a bit of pride when they see him being served by a white man. Key message: The best way to fight bigotry is through dignity. #TunedPerfect (3.5/5)
3. Yesterday
It’s a hard day’s life. Jack can’t Let It Be. His manager who yearns to be his lover, Wants to Hold his Hand. But Jack is still stuck in Yesterday In His Life. Then miracle happens. Whole world forgets that Beatles ever existed except Jack. Promptly whips out the songs and becomes an overnight star. Did the star become a black hole or a true polar one? Danny Boyle casts yet another Brit-Indian to play the struggling musician. Oh, Ed Sheeran is in it too! Key Message: Character is doing the right thing even when no one knows that your are cheating. #JudePerfect (3/5)
